Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Ghost Hunter
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"Anyway, so when are they coming back home?"
Yang Jeong-hyun waved off the heavy atmosphere and broke the silence.
"As soon as Han Gyeol regains consciousness. It seems it'll be less of a mental burden to get proper treatment in Korea."
"I see. What about Chairman Han?"
"He just asked us to focus on preparing for the re-examination. Nothing else."
"Chairman Han must be on edge. We'd better double-check everything to avoid any blame."
"Yeah. And we'll head out for the Inex Gate raid tomorrow evening. Ru-ri, that okay with you?"
"Yes!"
They chatted about this and that for a while before leaving the lab to adjust their conditions.
For some reason, Lee Ru-ri didn't refuse Han Seung-woo's offer to escort her to the guest room.
Sensing she had something to say, Han Seung-woo waited until Choi Si-jin had entered headquarters before speaking first.
"You have something to tell me, right?"
"Yes. Could we talk in my room? Is now a good time?"
"Let's go."
Lee Ru-ri watched Han Seung-woo sit on the sofa, pondering how to start.
"The re-examination. I don't know what to do."
"In what way?"
"If I go through it as is—solo raiding and all—it'll probably cause a huge uproar."
"I think the same. Since it's official, it's best to hide what we can for now."
"You think so too, Seung-woo."
"Chairman Han's backed into a corner, so he'll squeeze anything that catches his eye. I don't want you getting tangled up in that."
"Ha, it's tricky. Oh, and I learned a bit about the Inex Gate."
"What?"
"We should be able to enter freely now. That's how the chairman and vice chairman got in."
"So we can enter without issue right away?"
"Yes."
"No point asking how..."
"That's why—let's stick to the official guild raid tomorrow, but how about you and I go separately at dawn?"
"Just us two?"
"You know what happened in the Tokyo Gate, and now this gate break. I don't want to watch helplessly as someone sacrifices themselves again. Just to scout it out."
"Got it. I'll wrap things up at headquarters and come over."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
After seeing Han Seung-woo out, she stretched out long on the sofa he'd sat on.
'Can I show him Afterimage? Well, he owes Keres his life too... Somehow, I feel like I'll be teaming up with Seung-woo from now on. Solo's easier, but I won't always be able to do everything alone...'
As she unraveled her various worries and thoughts, an overwhelming fatigue she'd been holding back washed over her.
Thanks to that, she fell into a deep sleep for the first time in ages.
Back at headquarters, Han Seung-woo replayed what Lee Ru-ri had told him.
'Now we can enter... Now... We couldn't before, but now we can... Hmm, so things revolve around Ru-ri here too.'
[Han Eun-woo (A)]: Bro, I'm going tomorrow.
Han Seung-woo hesitated a moment before replying to Han Eun-woo.
[Han Seung-woo (A)]: You heard Gyeol got hurt, right.
[Han Eun-woo (A)]: Yeah. I'll arrive before lunch. You're going to the Inex Gate, right? Take me with you.
[Han Seung-woo (A)]: Got it.
Han Eun-woo's words reminded him of Lee Ru-ri's suggestion to scout ahead.
It felt like a stroke of luck.
Having chatted in Yang Jeong-hyun's lab for quite a while, he'd finished sorting the pending approvals and paperwork.
Rubbing his stiff neck from fatigue, he glanced at the clock—2 a.m.
'Time to head out.'
Han Seung-woo tidied his desk and made for Lee Ru-ri's room.
"Who are you...?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"Oh! You're the guy who asked me for directions, right? What favor...?"
"Let me see the chairman."
"The chairman...?"
When Han Seung-woo arrived, Lee Ru-ri was talking to a strange man in front of the guest room.
"Who are you?"
Han Seung-woo strode up warily, blocking the man.
"You... Han Seung-woo?"
"Who... Dae-hee hyung?"
"You didn't die?"
"Why would I? No, what are you doing here, Dae-hee hyung?"
"Where's Chairman Han? I need to see him."
"You've been in hiding all this time, and now you want the chairman? And why approach Ru-ri?"
"Isn't she Il-won hyung's daughter?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"Il-won...?"
Lee Ru-ri, who'd been listening quietly, jumped in at the name Il-won.
The three went inside to continue talking.
"What makes you think that?"
"I've never seen mana like that except from Il-won hyung."
"You... can see hunters' mana?"
"Yes. That's my ability. I can tell hunters' powers without the system."
"That's right. That's why Chairman Han's been searching for Dae-hee hyung all this time."
After hearing Han Seung-woo's explanation, Lee Ru-ri asked Ham Dae-hee.
"Then why were you near headquarters that time?"
"I heard from Teacher Jin. She said she proposed guild activities. I can't hide forever, so I came to Seoul to face it head-on... but everything's changed so much, I don't recognize a thing."
"Teacher Jin...?"
"Oh, Jin Mi-seon, owner of A-Market. We hunted as Ghost Hunters together, and she took the lead in backing us, settling into the lounge."
Han Seung-woo finally understood and said to Ham Dae-hee.
"So that's it—the 'Ham' that Jin Mi-seon mentioned was you, Dae-hee hyung."
"Yeah. She said let's team up again, but first, I need to settle things with Chairman Han."
"But is it true Teacher Yu and Ru-ri have the same mana?"
At Han Seung-woo's question, Ham Dae-hee stared steadily at Lee Ru-ri before continuing.
"Not exactly the same, but it's definitely black mana."
"What's black mana?"
"No idea. I just know it's different from normal hunters. Il-won hyung's was a subtle gray. Hers is pure black."
"Ru-ri, is this true? Is that why you're worried about the re-exam?"
"Yes. Once I could use black mana, my attack power shot up hugely."
"We'll talk details later. But Dae-hee hyung, why were you hiding all this time?"
"Chairman Han asked about Il-won hyung's mana back then. I told him without thinking. But soon after, Il-won hyung... ended up like that in a gate. I never imagined."
"You mean..."
"It was definitely Chairman Han. So next was me, obviously. Had to hide to survive."
Ham Dae-hee's words plunged Lee Ru-ri into instant chaos.
Yang Jeong-hyun had said her mana control resembled Yoo Il-won's.
According to Ham Dae-hee, Yoo Il-won used similar black mana and even mistook her for his daughter.
All these circumstances were enough to suggest a deep connection between Yoo Il-won and Lee Ru-ri.
Han Seung-woo also sensed that Chairman Han's watch on Lee Ru-ri and this new info from Ham Dae-hee weren't to be taken lightly.
After a moment organizing his thoughts, Han Seung-woo opened his status window, sent a message to someone, and continued.
"I contacted Teacher Yang. She'll be here soon."
A short time later, Yang Jeong-hyun burst into Lee Ru-ri's room, out of breath.
"Ham Dae-hee?"
"Jeong-hyun-ah."
"You crazy bastard, showing up now?"
"Sorry..."
"Teacher, the guy who asked Ru-ri for directions near headquarters before—he's Dae-hee hyung."
"No wonder! No info on him. Chairman Han was pissed and wiped all his data."
"Teacher, can I leave Dae-hee hyung with you? We have somewhere to go before it's too late."
"Where?"
"Scouting around the Inex Gate before tomorrow's raid."
"Fine. No harm in being careful. I'll take this guy."
"Thanks."
Ham Dae-hee was dragged off by Yang Jeong-hyun, grabbed by the collar.
The two watched them go, then silently headed to the Inex Gate in Gangnam.
Lee Ru-ri couldn't shake the flood of thoughts about Yoo Il-won.
'Keres's story about weapons too—I need to look into it properly. First things first, the Inex Gate.'
As she steeled herself inwardly, Han Seung-woo spoke first.
"We'll figure out Teacher Yu later."
"Yeah, thanks. I'll enter the Inex Gate first."
"No."
"Why?"
"It's dangerous. Just follow carefully."
Han Seung-woo took the lead, striding ahead even bigger than Lee Ru-ri.
"Seung-woo, don't freak out once we're inside."
"What are you planning now?"
"Something that'll make you keel over."
Han Seung-woo shook his head at her playful expression and cautiously entered the gate.
As she'd said, no pushback like before—he slipped right in.
Lee Ru-ri followed obediently behind.
'Afterimage.'
Afterimage appeared in an instant, awaiting her command.
Han Seung-woo, scouting carefully, spotted Afterimage with Lee Ru-ri and yelled.
"Danger!"
"S-Seung-woo. Calm down a sec. This is Afterimage."
"F-Friend?"
"Yes. Remember the SS-rank beast Keres we owe our lives to? This is like... his gift to me."
"I have no idea what you're saying. Is it really safe?"
Han Seung-woo approached warily, on high alert.
"Afterimage, tell Keres about Seung-woo? Have Keres come himself if he wants."
―Understood.
Confirming Afterimage vanish instantly, Han Seung-woo stuck close to Lee Ru-ri.
"Scared?"
"Of course not. I'm worried you'll get hurt."
"It's totally safe!"
"You've been doing this alone inside gates all this time..."
As unease rose that his nagging would start, Afterimage returned.
―Hmm?
"Keres?"
Keres, arriving through Afterimage's body, approached Han Seung-woo.
―This one's no slouch.
"What do you mean?"
As Keres neared the wary Han Seung-woo and placed a hand, a black whirlwind like Lee Ru-ri's rose—not from her hands, but rippling from Han Seung-woo's chest.
Feeling the wind ripple in his chest, Han Seung-woo confronted the same killing intent he'd felt when Lee Ru-ri faced the Im siblings, and when she'd crushed them mercilessly.
―This human...
Keres eyed the aura enveloping Seung-woo, then trailed off.
"What? Something wrong?"
―A headache if he's an enemy.
"He's not."
―Useful.
As Lee Ru-ri conversed with Keres, the wind around Han Seung-woo subsided.