Run When You Can't Fix It!
The best way to handle something you can't fix is to run! At Bosinsak Square, tangled in misunderstandings and misconceptions, the first to break the silence wasn't the Collector or Si-hyun—it was someone else entirely.
"Getting on in years, my body's not what it used to be..."
"This is Yi Ha-dongmun, Headquarters Chief."
It was Seo Ji-hoon and Han Do-jin, who had been sent flying dozens of meters by a single blow from the girl.
"Cough... Looks like my ribs are cracked... How about you?"
"My left leg and right arm aren't responding."
"Heh, I always prided myself on being pretty tough. Never thought I'd go down this pathetically."
Even with the superhuman durability of Awakeners far beyond ordinary humans, their bodies were battered without a single intact spot.
Thud.
Yet they didn't stop advancing toward the square. Despite the agony of shattered ribs piercing their lungs, both men's gazes fixed on one spot.
"Is that black gentleman the infamous Phantom we've heard so much about?"
"Probably."
The pitch-black man who had suddenly appeared in Bosinsak Square, holding the girl in his arms.
What the hell is this existence?
Why had the mengmang-grade ghost story approached him first and embraced him?
Why was he unshaken amid all this chaos?
And above all, what they were most curious about...
"Phantom, what the hell are you?"
Whether he was human or not.
"Why are you saving us?"
Even to Do-jin's question, Phantom gave no answer. His deep, profound eyes simply held the darkness in silence.
It almost felt like he was deliberately refusing to respond.
"Seems the black gentleman has no interest in chatting with us."
"...Yeah, doesn't look like the type we can talk our way around."
The two men had learned one thing from dealing with ghost stories: the stronger the being, the less likely it was to open its mouth easily.
Phantom... Feels like facing a massive wall...
However.
No matter how strong the opponent seemed, Ji-hoon and Do-jin couldn't back down. The lives of the citizens gathered in Bosinsak Square rested on their shoulders.
Thud.
"Phantom, why do you have that girl—"
The moment Do-jin took a step forward and spoke.
"Don't come closer."
"...?"
The Collector in Phantom's arms turned her head slightly and issued a firm warning.
"...Don't come closer..."
Right after the girl's quiet warning.
Rumble—
A dark crimson energy exploded outward, and an invisible force began swirling through the space.
"Don't come... She's mine..."
The girl simply murmured softly, her golden eyes gleaming.
Rumble—
What the hell was this insane pressure?
"Headquarters Chief... I can't move a single step..."
"...Embarrassing, but same here. Can't even twitch a finger."
Like being crushed under immense gravity, the two men were rooted in place.
Binding.
Crushing.
Ultimately shattering even the will to resist.
The absolute influence emanating from a mengmang-grade being.
A power that trampled the will to survive, forcing knees to buckle.
That force was swallowing not just Bosinsak, but all of Seoul.
A-at this rate... Not just Awakeners, even ordinary citizens...!
He had to stop it. If that girl released any more power, a massive catastrophe could unfold!
Thinking that, he tried to push forward.
Tremble.
"Urgh...!"
Like an ant defying a giant's might.
The two men couldn't pierce the mengmang-grade's killing intent-laced aura.
Are we really going out like this... so pathetically...!
Was there truly no way out?
The moment despair threatened to set in.
Tap.
"...!!"
Phantom, who had shown no reaction until now, quietly placed a hand on the Collector's head.
Phantom's noble, low voice echoed calmly across the square.
"...?"
Just one word. With a gentle touch and just one word.
"...Okay."
The girl nodded slightly and reined in all her energy.
As if nothing had happened.
Ah, I'm seriously gonna puke.
No joke, I really felt like puking.
Squeeze—!
The Collector had her arms wrapped around my waist, face buried in my chest. She looked like nothing but a tiny, cute girl on the outside.
What the hell kind of grip strength is this?
She was squeezing so hard it was hard to breathe, and it wasn't letting up.
She clung so tight I couldn't even answer the guild master's questions.
Not that I wanted to, honestly.
—Phantom, what the hell are you?
If they asked my identity, it'd only be right to answer!
...But that reaction was pretty normal, I guess.
Do I look like some Rocket Grunt? I'm just a regular human!
Of course, I turn weird at night!
I'm a normal person! Human!
I wanted to say that.
But.
Looking at their eyes... Explaining wouldn't help anyway.
The expressions on people's faces as they stared at me.
It was the look you give something scary or awe-inspiring.
I got it, honestly. Objectively, my "night form" had some cool factor to it, right...?
A black gentleman shrouded in black vortex-like energy. Visually, it screamed lines like "Kukuku... I see the light..." or "These eyes... pierce the darkness."
While I was thinking that, our Collector(?) got upset about something again.
"Don't come closer..."
Rumble—!!
She was emitting a seriously menacing aura, threatening everyone.
Head already hurts, and now you're stirring shit up too?
They say extreme situations make people calm instead?
From the moment she hugged me, I'd been racking my brain on how to escape this mess.
Once the Collector latches on, I can't just run away recklessly.
Silver-haired princess-like girl. True to her name "Collector," once she took a liking to something, she never let go.
No matter where it was or how far, she'd cross space itself to claim it—a ghost story like that.
Fine, since it's come to this... Best to calm things down as much as possible and bail.
—Si-hyun, please save her.
It pissed me off a bit doing that damn Notification Window a favor.
But watching people die in front of me felt wrong too.
And above all.
Squeeze—the silver-haired girl clutching my lapel like it was precious. She tugged at my heart for some reason.
So please, just calm down a bit—
The moment I thought that, my body moved on its own, placing a hand on the Collector's head.
Tap.
What the fuck?
In night form, sometimes words or actions slipped out on their own.
Didn't expect it now...!!
Touching a mengmang-grade casually? Was I dead meat?!?!
But unlike my panic.
"...?"
The Collector just tilted her head slightly and looked up at me blankly.
No signs of snapping my neck or ultimate attacks.
Sh-he accepted it...?
Since she didn't mind my touch.
Let's take one more step!
I carefully opened my mouth, hoping to calm her.
"...?"
Honestly, I doubted it'd work.
No matter how interested she was in me, would a mere human's words sway the Collector?
"...Okay."
...Huh?
She listened better than expected?
Whoosh—she calmed instantly, reining in her energy.
I had no idea what was going on, but she seemed to heed my words to some extent.
Then if I ask her to let go...?!
Squeeze.
...Yeah, that's a no-go.
Looked like letting go wasn't even on her mind.
Haa...
At least I'd calmed the Collector. Good.
But maybe because she obeyed me so readily?
"Phantom... What are you...?"
"Whoa, can that thing actually calm a ghost story?"
People's stares felt even more intense now.
Screw it, I give up!
Truth be told, I couldn't explain in this state anyway.
And with so much happening at once, I just wanted a break.
So please take me home already, Notification Wiiiindow!!!
Activating 'Shadow Move'.
Whoosh—!
Oh? It worked?
As if reading my mind, a black whirlwind like the one that first sent me to Bosinsak began enveloping me.
"Wh-what...?"
"Phantom's leaving...!"
"W-wait, Phantom...! Who the hell are you?"
People's eyes widened, sensing my departure.
Some wept tears of relief, thinking they'd survived at last.
The guild master and headquarters chief shouted, begging for any info.
Hmm... Should clear up the misunderstanding before I go?
As if answering, a message popped up in the air.
System Suggestion: Automatically output a reassuring message to calm people?
YES / NO
Like an auto-reply function?
I could leave this to the system or whatever.
Tap!
Like signing another leaked personal info consent form.
I instinctively hit YES.
"Guild members, swiftly secure the Bosinsak area and send citizens home."
"Got it!"
Do-jin efficiently handled cleanup as master of a major guild.
For a unprecedented mengmang-grade ghost story rampage, casualties were low—thank goodness.
"Haa, guess we should be grateful it ended like this."
A sigh mixed with anxiety and relief.
The incident was over, but doubts still bloomed in Do-jin's mind.
—
"A ghost story that's not our enemy... huh."
The words left by the veiled man in black as he departed.
"Not your enemy" kept echoing strangely in his head.
No point brooding now; won't get answers.
Flick.
Do-jin pushed aside complicated thoughts, lit a cigarette, and stared at where Phantom had vanished.
"Fuu..."
Sending smoke skyward with his unease.
Dawn's Light's vice-master slipped in beside him.
"Master. I've told you smoking's bad for you a few times."
"Haha, cut me some slack today. Kinda out of sorts."
"Haa..."
She shook her head and stood next to him. Having served him long, she knew why he acted this way.
"...Because of what Phantom said?"
"Mm..."
To the vice-master's question, Do-jin blankly stared at the cigarette's glowing tip.
"You're bothered too, right?"
"Yeah... But ghost stories often deceive with lies, so best not to trust it."
"Mm... Probably."
Ghost stories were humanity's enemies. Beings that toyed with, killed, and devoured people.
Yeah... Definitely those kinds of things...
—
Why did Phantom's words linger in his heart?
"...Still don't know."
In the end, Do-jin couldn't answer that question.