Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Chapter 28: Human Hunt (6)
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The military had finally stepped in to secure me properly.
It seemed they'd rushed over after hearing that I'd made contact with the NIS this time.
I glanced sideways at Unit Leader Yang Jo-cheol's complexion.
He looked clearly flustered, so he probably hadn't known about this.
'Well, that's a relief, at least...'
If he'd voluntarily sold out my movements, all the trust I'd built up would have gone up in smoke.
In the brief moment I was checking on Unit Leader Yang Jo-cheol, a middle-aged man who had approached introduced himself.
"I'm Colonel Kim Jong-hwa."
He didn't state his affiliation, nor did he present a business card or ID.
But there was no need to doubt his identity.
He seemed to know Unit Leader Yang Jo-cheol, after all.
There were a few other pieces of information I could read from Colonel Kim Jong-hwa's attitude.
'He's definitely not friendly toward me...'
Just the fact that he'd brought a swarm of clearly military personnel to greet me made that obvious.
They knew full well they couldn't beat a Player with physical prowess alone.
So the implication of those dozen or so men was clear.
'They're going to pressure me with state authority?'
I could roughly see Colonel Kim Jong-hwa's intentions.
Instead of reacting specially to it, I just quietly watched him.
In response, Colonel Kim Jong-hwa straightened his shoulders a bit more and spoke.
"It may be sudden, but as a person of interest in the ongoing anomalous phenomenon, you'll need to come with me."
"......"
"This is a decision from the Provisional Countermeasure Headquarters for Anomalous Phenomena, established by presidential decree. If you comply obediently, there will be no issues with your safety."
He must have thought his sturdy build for his age and flaunting his affiliation would let him seize the initiative.
That might work on ordinary people, but not on me.
To someone like me, who'd gone through first, second, and now third awakenings, his efforts seemed downright laughable.
That's why I couldn't hold back the sneer that escaped my lips.
At the blatant mockery, Colonel Kim Jong-hwa's eyes twitched.
He immediately furrowed his brow and opened his mouth.
"You don't seem to grasp your current situation..."
"You're the one who doesn't."
But I snorted and cut him off.
"You don't seem to know what happened in the US and Mexico a few days ago."
That's why he was blocking my path like this.
"Just so you know..."
I crossed my arms, standing relaxed, and continued.
"If you draw your guns, things will get messy. No other meaning—just thought you should be aware."
Right then, the mana that had been quietly dormant in my core began surging through my body.
The aftermath of the flame-attribute mana quickly heated the surrounding air.
I hadn't materialized it, but a massive blaze was roiling inside me.
"Whoa, isn't it hot in here?"
"Did they crank the heater too high?"
People exiting the arrivals hall muttered similar things, and some even stealthily shrugged off their coats.
At the stark, vivid change, Colonel Kim Jong-hwa's expression stiffened.
Meanwhile, I chuckled lightly and stepped forward.
Our distance shrank in an instant.
When I reached out my hand in that state, the colonel flinched and took half a step back.
His face flushed red, as if ashamed of his reflexive retreat.
Ignoring his reaction, I kept extending my hand.
This time, the colonel didn't back away, so I was able to firmly grip his shoulder.
Smoke began seeping from his clothes, accompanied by the smell of burning fabric.
If this standoff dragged on, the colonel wouldn't escape burns.
"Guh...!"
Sure enough, he tried to pull away, unable to bear the heat.
But I didn't let him go easily and tightened my grip.
The colonel was about 10 cm taller than me.
I leaned in slightly to meet his eyes, and I heard him gulp dryly.
Then, pressing my head close to his ear, I murmured lowly.
"Don't rile me up for no reason, and don't dig into my background."
Unless you want to see Incheon Airport go up in flames like Plaza in Mexico.
At my small but clear warning, Colonel Kim Jong-hwa gritted his teeth.
His glare was fierce, but he didn't retort.
He seemed to be treading carefully, thinking I might actually set the place ablaze.
Just then, a monitor near the arrivals hall was broadcasting the scorched streets of San Diego.
Talk about perfect timing.
Colonel Kim Jong-hwa's eyes, reflexively drawn to the screen, began to tremble.
'I have no intention of actually starting a fire.'
But if you asked if I could? The answer would be different.
That's why Colonel Kim Jong-hwa had lost his initial momentum and quieted down—he knew it well.
As the burning smell persisted, people around started murmuring about a possible fire somewhere.
Only then did I release his shoulder and withdraw the attribute mana back into my core.
His clothes were slightly singed, but fortunately, not enough to call it burns.
I'd planned to let go before he actually got hurt.
'I threatened him, but I shouldn't cause actual injury.'
Just as they'd wielded state authority to threaten me.
I could threaten them back with a Player's power.
In the harmony I envisioned, that level of tension was necessary.
The state needed to keep Players in check with public authority, and Players needed to keep the government in check with their own strength.
But I didn't want to swing my transcendent power around like it was some kind of authority—and I shouldn't.
The moment I did, the harmony I aimed for would come crashing down.
'And all that'd be left is ruins.'
I slowly straightened up and looked him straight in the eye.
"Let's part on good terms next time."
No handshake. There wasn't that much goodwill between us yet.
Right before stepping away, I turned to Unit Leader Yang Jo-cheol and gave a brief greeting.
"Thanks for real this time. Sorry it's like this—I'll head out first."
"...Yes, take care."
With that, I passed by Colonel Kim Jong-hwa.
None of the black-suited soldiers behind him stopped me.
Thanks to that, I easily melted into the crowd and used invisibility to completely slip from their sight.
* * *
No sign of heat-sensing drone cameras or other tracking.
Even so, I double- and triple-checked.
Because of my near-obsessive verification, I didn't arrive at the Seo family's house until after 10 p.m.
"Lately, this drama's got tons of viewers."
"Yeah, adultery's always a juicy hook."
"The hospital's buzzing with it every day too. Mostly guys hating on the male lead."
I paused at the front door, ears tuned to the murmured conversation from inside, and swallowed dryly.
My stomach churned a bit at the familiar voices.
My hand hesitated on the door lock.
Of course, that didn't make the beeping any quieter.
Soon, with a click, the door opened, and I stepped in, taking off my shoes.
"Oppa Jae-hyuk must be home."
Looks like Jae-hyuk hadn't returned yet.
I took a few hesitant steps toward the living room.
"Oppa, you're late today..."
Then Yeon-woo, approaching from the living room down the hallway, bumped right into me.
She froze on the spot, too shocked.
I inhaled without showing it and approached her.
Then, with the same touch as always, I ruffled her hair.
"You holding up okay? Listen to Uncle..."
She barreled into my arms like a charge, and I caught her just as a clatter erupted.
It was Jin-woo charging from the sofa.
The twins claimed my embrace in no time.
I hugged them tight without thinking, and there was Jong-hoon with a complicated look.
"You're back."
"...I'm home."
"Not that—come in. Dinner?"
"Not yet."
"I will!"
Jin-woo, clinging to me like a cicada on a tree, yelled and bolted to the kitchen.
"I'll set it!"
"Me too, me too!"
Yeon-woo scurried after him.
Now free, Jong-hoon pulled me into a tight hug.
Finally, it felt real—I was back with family.
"You've been through a lot."
I was grateful and sorry for their welcome, knowing I wouldn't talk about what happened and asking nothing.
That night was peacefully ordinary for once.
I caught up on my siblings' stories after so long, shared a beer with Jong-hoon, and even took a punch from Jae-hyuk when he got home late.
Back where I could exist as my whole self, everything felt serene.
Maybe that's why I overslept the next day—very uncharacteristic.
'Guess the tension's finally eased.'
First time in the past half-year I'd slept over 10 hours.
Unlike usual, it took forever to wake up.
When I finally dragged myself from bed to the living room, no one was there.
They'd all gone to the library, school, hospital.
Left alone, I scratched my back.
'I'm the only bum here.'
My expanded inventory was stuffed with cash and gold bars from the sudden Busan trip, but no real job.
Still, it let me lounge while everyone else was busy, gazing at the sky outside.
Watching the cars and people pass below wasn't bad.
Staring at the unchanged daily scenery, as if nothing had happened, I suddenly wanted to capture it in a painting.
That way, I could keep looking at it forever.
Lost in uncharacteristically sentimental thoughts for a moment.
'Time for food.'
I headed to the kitchen and rummaged the fridge.
Dumped the side dishes into a stainless steel bowl, heated some cold rice.
'Bibimbap's not complete without an egg.'
I grabbed a frying pan for fried egg and set it on the induction.
「Third Player Selection in progress. (500,000/500,000)」
The message window updated without any precursor.
I froze.
After months down to 60,000, Players were increasing again.
To 500,000, no less.
Staring coldly at the message, I headed straight to my room.
Picked up the phone by the bed and called the twins' school.
Then Jae-hyuk and Jong-hoon.
Fortunately, all four were free from the game.
"Whew."
My expression darkened right after confirming their safety.
'Not as big an increase as before.'
First 100, then 10,000, 100,000, now 500,000.
'The odds are climbing.'
At this rate, next could be a million.
No guarantee my family wouldn't be swept up.
At first, I was too busy surviving my own crisis to think about it.
Early days, all my effort went to not dying.
Later, with some leeway, I had Karos's authority.
I'd planned to use it if the twins or Seos got involved.
It excluded misfortune, so I figured it could keep them out of this game.
Their involvement in this war would be a disaster for me—a true catastrophe.
But I'd used that Karos authority recently.
"Whew."
I let out a deep sigh that seemed to cave the ground, rubbing my face hard.
Goddamn system