You Can't Avoid Hayang's Eyes!

Ryu Sea-ah stared at me with dazed eyes. I could feel the question of how did you do that? radiating from her gaze.

"Ehehe… W-well, the truth is, one of my skills removes abnormal statuses. I tried it on the off chance it might work, and luckily, it did."

"Removes abnormal statuses? H-huh, but even the highest-grade potions didn't…"

"Probably because the level of abnormal statuses I can remove is higher than that."

"…So that means at least level 80 or above."

Oh, spot on.

"Um, Sea-ah. Didn't you mention last time that your guild has a lot of people struggling because of those illegal awakening drugs?"

"Yes. A lot of our members fled here from there, after all."

"Could you call those people here right now? I want to heal them before we go."

"Ah…!"

At my words, Ryu Sea-ah let out an exclamation. She looked around urgently and shouted.

"Suyeon! Sorry to interrupt your work, but call Yeobin and have her gather all the guild members in headquarters who've taken awakening drugs!"

"Yes, got it."

The woman called Suyeon hurried out of the infirmary. Soon, a voice echoed through speakers outside, like an apartment broadcast.

Thud thud—like an earthquake had hit. Vibrations rumbled up from the ground.

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"Master! You called for m… Huh?"

The door burst open, and women poured in. Roughly a dozen or so. Including those not here, there were probably way more.

"I'll explain later, so line up in a row first."

"Pardon? Oh, form ranks!"

Like soldiers on TV, they straightened into lines at Ryu Sea-ah's command. Once ready, she nodded at me pleadingly.

Seeing that, I…

"Roooaaar!"

I unleashed the Lion's Roar skill again. The people standing there blankly, eyes wide open…

"…Huh?"

"W-what is this?"

"Hey, did you get a message too?"

"Just now?"

"You too? Me too."

They started murmuring among themselves. Just in case, I checked my status window, and sure enough, all abnormal statuses were gone.

"No way, did you heal us?!"

"Kid, was that you?"

"What's your name? What was that cute roar?"

"That was a skill too?!"

"Ugh, uh, um…"

Up to there was fine. But suddenly, over ten women rushed at me en masse.

Unable to do anything, I flailed my innocent hands in the air—

Grab—

Something yanked me from behind. My body floated into the air. It was Jeong Yujin, who'd scooped me up in one arm.

Whoa, she's strong…! No, that's not it! Put me down! I'm embarrassed!

"Sorry! We're in a rush! We'll chat later!"

"See you next time, Black Rose Master."

"Pardon? Oh, uh, yeah. Later."

Despite my kicking and squirming, Jeong Yujin ignored it. She made a cool anime-style salute with index and middle fingers, and Han Yuseol bowed politely to Ryu Sea-ah before turning away.

But why am I like this! She could've just taken me normally! I'm grateful she saved me, but now I look like a little sister who messed up big and is getting dragged to big sis for a scolding!

After leaving Black Rose Guild HQ like that, Jeong Yujin and I headed into the gate, while Han Yuseol went to the investigation team.

Now came the most important part. No matter how many people we saved, if we didn't catch Bae Deokjun here, there was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again.

No separate contact from Han Yuseol yet—she probably hadn't reached the site. So after casually clearing nearby monsters, I sat on a sawn log.

"Ugh, without detection skills, it's so unsettling. Makes me jealous of Yuseol at times like this."

Even after killing monsters, Jeong Yujin anxiously scanned around. Since the "trial cleared" message hadn't appeared in my view yet, monsters were probably still lurking nearby, making her nervous.

But if we didn't provoke them first, they probably wouldn't come charging. They'd seen how their comrades died.

"It's fine. I can somewhat see incoming attacks from around us."

"Oh, right? But seriously, it's such an all-purpose skill. How do they even make something like that?"

"It's handy. But not totally all-purpose—areas I can't see are useless."

"I see? Different from regular detection skills, then?"

I nodded emphatically and explained.

"Probably very different from Yuseol's skill. Hers hits you like bam in the head—instinctively telling you where enemies are or dangers. But mine's meaningless if I can't see it."

"Another ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drawback like that. Should we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stick ten eyes on you? To see behind too."

"That'd be convenient."

It really would be nice if possible. Or if someone could act as my eyes.

♪~

As I had that silly thought, the song I'd been waiting for finally played. I got Han Yuseol's call right away, and a familiar voice came through.

"Yes, loud and clear."

"Really? That's great."

Well, no matter how amazing an awakener he was, he couldn't maintain that cheat-level illusion 24/7 all year. Tails get stepped on eventually, exposing weaknesses. The detailed info I'd given the police beforehand paid off.

"Still, be careful, Yuseol. Even if I can see, I can't tell you everything."

Her reliable reply brought a smile, but it froze when I saw the shared camera view.

An abandoned factory. Straight out of anime—textbook villain lair. Dim light seeped through broken windows, only to be swallowed by darkness. Rusty machine parts littered the floor like corpses. Just looking made my breath catch.

Perfect for a shady, black-hearted creep like Bae Deokjun.

"Yuseol, watch the drum barrel left of the entrance. Looks deliberately stacked to block view."

She gave a tiny nod at my warning and slipped soundlessly into the factory. Veteran for sure—no footsteps even over the speaker.

Police squad followed her in, faces tense. Facing an illusion skill user, fear of friendly fire hung heavy.

The razor-sharp tension held—until

The screen shook wildly. The factory interior warped like ink in water. Dozens of huge eyes appeared on the ceiling, staring down.

"Calm down! It's an illusion!"

In my eyes, the eyes vanished, replaced by a black-coated figure on the 2nd-floor railing right side.

I briefed urgently to calm the squad. "Yuseol! Dead ahead, 11 o'clock, 2nd-floor railing! Black coat guy there!"

Han Yuseol kicked off without hesitation, soaring up. Her white sword flashed midair, slicing through the illusory curtain.

"Gah?!"

A short scream, and someone tumbled over the railing. Bae Deokjun? No, too burly.

"Yuseol, that's not Bae Deokjun! Decoy!"

The guy who'd slammed into the floor seemed one of Bae Deokjun's underlings. He staggered up, pulling a small vial from his pocket. Obviously the illegal awakening drug.

"No! Don't let him drink!"

As I yelled, Han Yuseol reversed her grip, smashing his wrist with the pommel.

"Argh?!"

The vial shattered, purple smoke rising—then

Rumble—!

The whole factory shook and began collapsing. No, transforming. Walls turned to flesh, floors sprouted huge mouths licking tongues. Nauseating just to see. Good thing it was illusion—vanished from my sight quick.

But the problem was…

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"Damn it, what now?!"

"Gaaaah!"

Squad members who couldn't distinguish illusion panicked instantly. Only Han Yuseol to trust now.

"It's okay! Yuseol, just follow my word! Everything you see is fake!"

I directed her swiftly. "Ignore all mouths ahead! Floor's fine! Instead… right! Behind the right structure! Trust me and swing there!"

She leaped from the 2nd-floor railing straight to the structure, slyly touching her sheathed sword hilt.

Her whisper was chillingly serene. White flash filled the factory. A massive slash cleaved the structure and half the wall.

No, a bit late!

"Now! Three steps forward 2 o'clock, then upward area attack!"

She moved fluidly on my order. Hundreds, thousands of blades sprouted from her back, shredding everything in sight.

"Gah?!"

Like a curtain bisected top to bottom, a man tumbled pathetically from the navy curtain.

Bae Deokjun. The guy from the CCTV.

"Fuck, how the…!"

Even creepier up close. His eyes shook unnaturally—like a mind shattered. Overdosed on awakening drugs to survive? Not my concern. Just take him down.

Gulp gulp—

He chugged from a vial, gathering mana again. Next scene: him fleeing beyond the torn curtain.

Catch him first!

"Yuseol, he's escaping through another illusion! Grab him somehow!"

Flash—!

My shout barely faded when light converged on her sword tip from everywhere.

Freakish shapes reappeared as decoys. His body split into five clones instantly—but useless against me.

"Yuseol! Ignore—second from left!"

Slash—!

"Gaaaaah?!"

Her resounding cry, and the sword cleaved Bae Deokjun and his illusion. He rolled on the floor, staring up in disbelief.

"F-fuck…! Why isn't it working! You bitch!"

"Simple."

Han Yuseol's voice came directly into my ear, not the speaker—like whispering right there.

"The one I serve isn't someone a worm like you can toy with."

Hehe. In that moment, inside the gate felt like outside. A goofy, leaky laugh slipped out unbidden.