Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Epilogue
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《The scene you are watching now is the ‘Final War’ that took place three years ago at the sanctuary of Illusion, known as Gaikan. It was, quite literally, the last war fought against Illusion. Do you see the giant monsters densely covering the plains?》
《Even though it has been three years, it is a sight that still sends shivers down my spine.》
《Yes, that’s right. Gaikan was the place where the head of Illusion, God R'hell, was hiding. And what’s astonishing is that one cadet from Seoul Academy, one visiting professor, and one Holder defeated God R'hell here.》
《Three years have passed, but it’s a topic that is still being debated among netizens. Honestly, who would believe it? And according to a witness who was at the scene at the time, a monster-like person with horns on its head and a tail on its buttocks, and another angel-like being with wings on its back, were said to have fought on their side.》
《I understand. It’s a fact that’s hard to believe even for someone like me, who’s been around the Hunter world for a while. However, it is a common testimony from all that God R'hell was defeated through the sacrifice of that cadet, and as for the monster with horns and a tail or the winged angel-like being, it is not a verified testimony, so we do not know if it is true.》
《That’s true. All sorts of YouTubers have been clamoring to find the two and reveal the truth, but they couldn't find any trace of them.》
《Oh-! That scene is coming up now.》
《Ah, the cadet who underwent monsterization. He was a cadet braver than anyone in the world, who had to become a monster himself to catch a monster. Although his end… was a sacrifice.》
《According to an interview, at the end of the battle, the cadet took off his mana filter and put on a special device.》
《That’s the one, the so-called ‘Mana Booster’, right?》
《Yes. Now, boosting technology has developed based on that device, but the one the cadet wore at the time was a prototype, so its filtering ability was said to be poor. However, its mana conversion and amplification power were so outstanding that it absorbed all the dark mana into his body. A technology that can absorb dark mana has still not been developed.》
《That’s why he underwent monsterization.》
《That’s right. However, both Hunter Park Na-yeon and Holder Kim Hye-seo gave the same testimony that they would have surely been defeated without that Mana Booster device, so it seems to have been the best choice at the time.》
《And fortunately, with the overall command of Guild Master Han Baek-ho, who arrived late to the battlefield, the monsters were subjugated and the monsterized cadet was suppressed, allowing them to win the war. Guild Master Han Baek-ho said that it seemed the cadet self-destructed.》
《Self-destructed?》
《Yes. Although he had been monsterized, he was said to have attacked the monsters instead.》
《Does that mean that a certain degree of human reason remained?》
《Unfortunately, that fact cannot be confirmed. Anyway, with the death of God R'hell and the high-ranking executives, Illusion became a ragtag group, and now, three years later, the Monster Management Bureau has officially announced that about 70% of the villains have been subjugated.》
《It could be said that it is a precious result obtained through the sacrifice of one cadet.》
《Today marks exactly three years since this Final War took place. For today, at least, everyone honoring the sacrifice of this cadet, ‘Han Tae-jin’, would be a good way to commemorate him.》
《Then, we will honor him with a minute of silence and conclude today’s broadcast. Thank you.》
“…Has it already been three years?”
Na-yeon, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle with her head leaned back, staring blankly out the window, muttered.
The events of three years ago, which she heard through the radio, came to her mind.
Due to the aftereffects of that day’s decisive battle, she could no longer swing a sword or hold a bow, but the memory of fighting alongside Tae-jin, and with Renia, Ercia, and Hye-seo, remained as a source of honor.
“Renia…, Ercia… I wonder if they’re doing well.”
Na-yeon muttered in a low voice.
“Yes? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
The driver, Park Dong-jin, who heard Na-yeon’s muttering, asked as he looked at the rearview mirror.
He was originally Hye-seo’s assistant, but Hye-seo had connected him to Na-yeon when he was lazing around, saying he had no work.
Saying that he was a reliable guy, so there would be no worries no matter what.
Na-yeon chuckled and said.
“Are you driving on an unpaved road?”
A witty joke that the ride was poor.
Dong-jin, who had assisted her for two years, chuckled along.
What they were riding in was a zero-gravity transportation means, the [Mana Glider].
“Hey, why are you being like this again? Just yesterday, you said you loved this road.”
“It is nice.”
Na-yeon looked at the trees passing quickly outside the window.
It had to be a nice road.
“By the way, what’s Hye-seo up to these days? I haven’t heard from her in a while.”
“Same as always. You know well why the Holder refused the deputy director position, don’t you?”
“Is she still going around beating up villains?”
“Of course. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Holder caught half of that 70%.”
Na-yeon clicked her tongue as if she didn’t like it.
“Tsk tsk, she’s stealing all the work from her juniors.”
Although she said that, the corners of Na-yeon’s mouth were turned up.
She had heard it.
The reason she was obsessed with God R'hell, the reason she beat up villains.
It was just that she said it out of a wish for her to step back from her revenge and find some leisure.
“We’re almost there.”
“Okay.”
Hwoong—
Na-yeon, who had been immersed in the sentiment of the 3rd anniversary, lifted herself from the seat.
The Mana Glider was a special vehicle used to move to the outskirts of the city.
Na-yeon, who visited this place every day riding it, got out of the glider and stretched her stiff body to the fullest to loosen it up.
“Ughhh…!”
“Hunter-nim, here you go.”
Dong-jin had taken something out of the passenger seat of the glider, handed it to Na-yeon, who was stretching.
It was a fruit basket.
With a 3rd-anniversary celebration placard stuck in it.
“Thanks.”
“Then I’ll be waiting here.”
“Alright.”
The glider was stopped in front of a certain hill.
It was a gentle slope that could be climbed by the glider, but Na-yeon always walked up from the entrance of the hill.
It wasn't to hide something from Dong-jin.
Because he already knew the reason for her visits here.
It was just that she loved the peace she felt from the entrance, so she walked up on her own two feet.
“Heheheung~”
Na-yeon hummed a tune as soon as she set foot on the entrance.
Her footsteps climbing the hill were endlessly light, and her body swayed pleasantly.
It was a place she visited every day, but it was a place that felt good every day.
The mountain birds sat huddled together on the branches, chirping as if to say that there was no more danger on this earth, and the squirrels playing among the bushes chased after the mountain birds, as if to say that they were the danger.
“Heheheung~ The air here is so nice~”
After about thirty minutes of climbing the hill, her long black hair, grown down to her waist, fluttered behind her.
On top of the sparsely populated hill, where there was not even a paved road and the weeds lay down to make a path following Na-yeon’s footsteps, a single house could be seen.
It was still in an unfinished state.
Nevertheless, it was a house like a landscape painting.
The soft, pastel-toned colors and the large tree planted next to it were truly like a painting.
“Hoo.”
Na-yeon, who had arrived in front of the house, let out a deep sigh and turned around.
Then, she raised one hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the warm sunlight, creating a shade.
“The view is just amazing. How can I never get tired of looking at it?”
A hill overlooking the capital city of Seoul, where the open blue basin and river captivated the eyes.
It was certain that if developers saw the view here, they would immediately rush in to redevelop it.
Na-yeon, who chuckled and shook off the silly thought, turned around again.
And then…
Tap-tap-tap—
She looked up at the roof where the sound of hammering was coming from.
An ordinary person would not be able to build a house alone on this hill.
But whether it was moving heavy materials, strengthening the foundation, or welding, it was possible for a capable awakened person.
Moreover, a reliable assistant, the Black Dragon Drogh, was bringing good quality timber with a sharp eye.
The problem was…
“That he’s using that talent in the construction industry.”
Well, that’s why I like it though.
It was Na-yeon who helped complete this house with all her heart and resources, all for the sake of Renia, who would return.
Tap-tap-tap—
“Feed me~!”
Even though she had arrived in front of the house, only the sound of hammering was heard, so Na-yeon shouted.
Tuk!
The sound of hammering stopped.
“I bet you’re hammering away without even eating lunch.”
As Na-yeon paced back and forth with her arms crossed...
“Ah, you’re here? I didn't realize.”
Someone appeared from the top of the roof.
He was wearing a straw hat that didn't suit him, and the sunlight was shining from behind him, so it was impossible to tell who it was, but Na-yeon looked at him and held up the fruit basket.
“Let’s have a 3rd-anniversary party. I brought dessert.”
“Ah, is today the 3rd anniversary?”
“Yes. The date has already come to that.”
“Hold on. I’m coming down.”
The man jumped from the roof and landed.
The straw hat was pushed back by the wind, and his sweat-drenched face was revealed.
“Take it easy. You’ll collapse at this rate.”
Na-yeon wiped the face of the man who had landed in front of her with the towel he had on his shoulder.
The pretty pastel-toned house she had seen once, the tree that stood next to it as if protecting the house and creating shade, and even the small swing hanging from its branch.
It was Tae-jin, who was building the house he had seen in the fantasy dream exactly as it was, for the sake of Renia, who would return.
And it was Na-yeon, who visited him every day.
For the sake of Renia, who would return.
“I’m getting impatient because it’s almost finished.”
“Well, it’s good to have something to concentrate on.”
“Thanks. Na-yeon.”
“For what?”
“Just. For everything.”
Hmph!
Na-yeon pouted her lips.
“Forget it. If you’re thankful, then make me some food. You know I’m terrible at cooking. I’m learning these days, but it’s slow.”
“Pfft, you’re cooking?”
“What. Can’t I?”
“I can’t imagine it.”
“Just you wait. You’ll be surprised.”
“So I can’t be surprised today, right?”
Tae-jin teased Na-yeon with a sly smile.
He was probably the only person in this world who could tease Na-yeon.
Of course.
“Our master-disciple relationship isn't over yet, want to train until your body aches?”
“Ah, you just said I would collapse….”
“I think it’s better for me to make you collapse myself.”
“I’m sorry, Master.”
The disciple was still lacking to defeat the master.
Tae-jin, who had exchanged a joke, smiled, and Na-yeon also smiled.
Tae-jin stood next to the open front door.
“Come in. We have to have a 3rd-anniversary party. Ah, isn’t Mr. Dong-jin here too?”
“Yeah. He’s waiting downstairs.”
“What’s your schedule for today?”
“I’ve cleared it all.”
At Na-yeon’s triumphant voice, Tae-jin said ‘as expected’ and smiled again.
“I was just craving a cool somaek, come in. For today, I’ll clear my schedule too.”
“Yay! I’ll tell Dong-jin to buy a ton of alcohol~!”
Na-yeon was happy like a child and entered through the open front door.
Tae-jin looked outside for a moment, then followed Na-yeon in.
As always, with the door left open.
《Ah! Let’s call Hye-seo too!》
《Good idea.》
Hwoong—!
Just then, Drogh, who had gone to gather wood, also returned home, and a boisterous commotion began to stir in Tae-jin’s quiet house for the first time in a while.
Hweeing—
And then…
Through the wide-open front door, a pleasant wind began to blow.
It was a fresh yet cozy, pleasant wind that had blown for the first time in three years.
—Finally (2)