Chapter 67: All Puzzle Pieces Fall into Place to Save the Family

All the puzzle pieces had fallen perfectly into place to save the family. But Ryu Sea-ah wasn't happy about it at all. No, it was more like utter disillusionment.

"Bae Deokjun... that rotten bastard touched my precious family?"

"...That's the situation as it stands."

As Inspector Kim Minsu spoke heavily, Ryu Sea-ah's clenched fist trembled.

Bae Deokjun. I'd heard the name before. He wasn't the master of Vendetta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Guild, but he was the real power behind it. He propped up the master like a puppet and schemed from the shadows—a filthy man. Most of the crimes had been pinned on the master, allowing him to slip through the investigation net unscathed.

Rumor had it that his unique skill made it possible. Back then, it was just a rumor, but judging from the current situation, it seemed to be true.

"So many kids are still suffering because of that asshole, and now he's pulling this shit again...!"

A string of curses poured from Ryu Sea-ah's mouth. Her ferocity was so intense that I let out a sharp Hik?!

I trembled and clung to Han Yuseol, who stroked my head soothingly before speaking softly. There was something in what she'd just said offhandedly that couldn't be overlooked.

"Ryu Sea-ah-ssi, what do you mean by 'kids suffering because of that man'?"

"...I'm sorry. It's such a dark story that I didn't want to bring it up, but now that things have come to this, hiding it would be rude."

Ryu Sea-ah steadied her quivering lips, placed her hand on her thigh, and began to speak haltingly, her expression pious as if in confession.

"As I mentioned before, our guild has many members who've been hurt in various ways. The most prominent cases are the kids caught up in Vendetta Guild's atrocities."

"...You're talking about the illegal awakening drug incident."

Superintendent Jeong Jae-il murmured as if he'd caught on immediately, and Ryu Sea-ah nodded with a bitter face.

Illegal awakening drugs. They were once the hottest scandal in society. As the name implied, they were traded on the black market with claims of turning non-awakened people into awakened ones. For awakened users, they supposedly boosted stats dramatically or unlocked rare skills, drawing in a huge number of victims.

Non-awakened users sometimes died outright. Awakened ones suffered damaged mana circuits, brain or muscle issues that ruined their normal lives—cases like that were rampant.

It was the incident that brought Vendetta Guild's evils to light, but even that was pinned as the guild master's solo crime. Many guild members escaped the investigation net.

"I heard the three missing friends joined Vendetta Guild after hearing about those expensive illegal awakening drugs. They were used as test subjects and barely escaped."

"Bad people...!"

I couldn't hold back my anger and muttered quietly. Ryu Sea-ah gave a wry smile and expressed her thanks.

"Fortunately, a treatment drug came out afterward, which the guild bought and distributed regularly... but it's no complete cure. They suffer insomnia, occasional seizures..."

"The aftereffects are severe. I had no idea it was that bad."

Han Yuseol, who had once lived almost cut off from the world, ground her teeth—a rare sight—upon learning the full extent of Vendetta's horrors.

"I've dragged this out. Anyway, assuming it's him, I'd like your opinions on resolving this."

As Ryu Sea-ah's gaze turned to the two police officers, they exchanged looks and nodded in unison.

"First, we'll deploy people to arrest Bae Deokjun. But since his illusion skill can fool machines too, I can't say we'll catch him right away."

"Exactly. But if your little sister lends her power, it'll be different."

"Me?"

I tilted my head, and Inspector Kim Minsu affirmed it.

"You're the only one immune to illusion skills right now."

"Ah..."

It made sense, but I couldn't bring myself to say yes. It wasn't reluctance to help the investigation—far from it. I wanted to contribute however I could to catch that guy. The problem was that my ability to see through illusions was limited to inside gates.

Han Yuseol knew this roughly too. She didn't know exactly how her skill worked, but it was clear I could only distinguish illusions within gates.

So she stepped in to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠propose a solution on my behalf.

"On that note, there's something I'd like to say. Would you hear me out?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"If possible, I'd like real-time access to the investigation team's footage. Sending my little sister to a dangerous scene is something I'd rather avoid."

"That's spot on. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We'll do it that way."

The targets were awakened. They'd need guns and gear, so body cams were standard—sharing vision was no issue. Plus, it protected me. Win-win for everyone.

We already knew I could distinguish illusions via footage alone.

"Um... and there's something I want to tell Sea-ah-ssi privately..."

"To me?"

"Yes."

"Got it. We'll talk after the police leave."

Ryu Sea-ah had a hunch that this was even more important than the previous conversation.

Slurp— I quietly sipped the chocolate latte the secretary had brewed. The room was so silent, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the only sound.

I couldn't keep my hands still, fidgeting and stealing glances at Ryu Sea-ah. The topic I'd brought up felt awkwardly uncomfortable even to me.

"...Is it true? That you can save my comrades."

"Yeah, like I said before... it might be possible. No guarantees, though."

"Even a 1% chance—tell me. Please."

That's right. I had the ability to save Ryu Sea-ah's missing comrades. Or maybe I did. The uncertainty came from no guarantee they were alive, and no way yet to overcome the practical limits.

But I couldn't stay silent. If there's a way to save lives, I have to try—even if it fails. That's not just her thinking.

"Actually, I have a skill that lets me enter gates."

"What? Another unheard-of skill..."

"Ehehe... it just kinda happened."

I scratched my head sheepishly, and Ryu Sea-ah sighed. But a smile tugged at her lips—like she was laughing in disbelief.

"Haa, nothing surprises me anymore. Maybe Hayang-ssi is an angel sent to save me."

"N-no, that's not..."

Angel? The cringey expression made me look away in embarrassment, but she kept her eyes on me. Uwuu, so shy.

"The problem is, the skill has some restrictions."

"What kind?"

"The person inside the gate has to be alive. If the skill doesn't activate..."

"...They're beyond hope."

"Yeah."

I chewed my lip at the harsh truth, but she smiled as if she'd expected it.

"It's fine. Without your help, I'd have given up long ago. What's the next restriction?"

"Second, only one person at a time. I'd have to enter the gate alone, rescue them, and come back alive."

"Doesn't matter. If I abandon them like this, living wouldn't feel like living."

"Still..."

Entering a gate alone. Two erosion gates, no less—pretty dangerous for C-grade. Even most A-grades would hesitate solo.

Maybe sensing my worry, she smiled confidently.

"Not as good as your big sis, but I'm called an S-grade hunter for a reason. Erosion gates don't scare me."

True. But still, what if...

"How about I go instead?"

"No. They're my family. Handing this to Yuseol-ssi too would leave me ashamed even if they came back alive."

"Understood. If that's your will..."

She firmly rejected even Han Yuseol's offer, then flashed her brightest smile yet. The joy of a chance to save her precious people outweighed any fear of death.

"And this is the last issue..."

"There's more. Tell me."

"Yeah."

This wasn't even my biggest worry up to now. The final limit was the real problem.

"The skill's cooldown is a week. Even attempting rescues would take a full two weeks."

"Unless they survive two weeks in there, it's impossible."

"Right...?"

This was the sticking point. Even if all three were miraculously alive now, surviving another two weeks was unlikely. Gates weren't places where you could even eat properly.

"There's a way for that."

"Huh? A way?"

"Yes."

Click— With her answer, she unclasped her necklace and showed it to me. Instantly, I recognized what it was.

"Use this. And take me to my friends. Please."