First Friend
“Let's go through the jungle forest~! Crawling along, wiggle wiggle~!”
There are countless gates in the world, and just as many worlds inside those gates. Not just mountains and seas, cities and countrysides—there are even gates with entirely different genres. From medieval fantasies with swords and magic to martial worlds of wuxia and heqi filled with machines. And since the eras differ too, the monsters emerging from each gate are completely unique.
The reason? The diversity of the Constellations. Famous ones everyone knows, obscure ones no one's heard of. With so many Constellations out there, it's the most credible theory that each creates worlds suited to them.
Among the endless variety of gate worlds, the one Yoo Haneul found herself in was a forest.
“When the swamp appears! Crocodile packs come out!”
Tall grasses and trees as high as her loomed densely in the forest. Visibility was poor, the air thick and sticky from the heat, bugs everywhere—somewhere in that mess.
“Crocodile packs!”
Humming the tune while roasting and eating croc meat, Haneul tilted her head.
“Huh? This feels kinda familiar... Nah, just my imagination?”
Actually, it would be weirder if it wasn't familiar. Having spent eons wandering alone, she'd explored everywhere imaginable. Finding a place she hadn't been was the real challenge now, so a forest like this felt downright nostalgic.
Still, she tilted her head because of a nagging déjà vu—like she'd once sat in a spot just like this, humming the same song while grilling croc meat.
“Hmm... crocodile packs? When was that?”
Recalling it was tough. Memories from before she gained the Authority of Perfect Recall were hazy even for her. A distinctive structure or landmark would jog it instantly, but in this endless green sea of a forest? No dice.
She could expand her 'vision' and map the whole forest to pinpoint the answer. But nah—Haneul just kept walking aimlessly. She didn't want to ruin a fresh adventure like that.
“I'll figure it out eventually. Whoooaaa—!”
Not one to dwell, Haneul cleared her mind and chomped into the well-roasted croc meat. Trunk as thick as a ten-thousand-year world tree, over ten meters long.
“Urk.”
But it tasted like shit. Trying to keep the adventure vibe, she'd skipped all seasoning—big mistake. The hide was chewy, the flesh reeked of swamp muck and fishiness... So awful it dragged up a distant memory.
That time, the croc meat had tasted just as bad. She'd suffered brutal stomach cramps afterward too.
That memory convinced her: this wasn't her first time in this forest. Back then, she'd burned the whole thing down.
Memorably so—one match, and it all went up in flames. Probably because the meat sucked so bad she'd teared up and torched it in rage. Something like that.
But she wouldn't do it again now. Back then, she was alone. These days, hunters were probably hustling everywhere, grinding for cash. Burning their workplace? No way.
I love peace and tranquility... Wait, no— I, who cherishes peace and rest, can't do that.
Patting her plump belly, Haneul stood. Belly full, time to roam the forest again. Curious what lay at its end, sure—but more than that, she wanted to watch hunters fight.
Eons rubbing elbows with weirdos had her craving pure, human combat.
That woman from earlier, the one with the qi deviation vibe? She'd trained in martial arts. Her escort guy felt more fantasy assassin than wuxia killer.
People from clashing worldviews smashing random swamp crocs? Epic.
Might even catch Heavenly Demon vs. T-Rex.
Just imagining it made her chest swell with grandeur.
“Wiggle wiggle through the forest...”
In case a T-Rex bolted, she murmured the song and pressed on. Soon enough, she spotted people.
Nine hours after entering the gate.
Kim Seung-hyeok, ex-gangster turned four-year hunter freshly minted B-rank, let out a hollow chuckle as he stared at his gushing gut wound.
The past four years, he'd freelanced—no guild. Partly 'cause he chafed under authority, but mostly for his dongsaengs. Had to stay free for them.
Dodging death, feeding the crew, training the ones who awakened—they'd grown into a real outfit.
But just an outfit, not a guild. B-rank schmancy? Nah. He didn't want their cash like some boss, didn't wanna pit them against each other like guild drones.
Finally ditching the gangster life, he craved something new. B-rank gave him the means.
So what the hell was this mess?
“Fuck...”
Another hollow laugh as he looked up. Gut wound spewing blood, his favorite dongsaeng holding a blade to him. What a clusterfuck.
“...Don't do something you'll regret, Seok-hyeon.”
“If I was gonna regret it, I wouldn't have started, hyung-nim.”
It was a trap. No clue what pissed them off, but his dongsaengs had set him up to die.
Like always, he'd brought them into a D-rank for experience. But the ones already inside herded dozens of monsters his way.
Even then, he hadn't suspected. He'd gone all-out, cleared 'em all. Then one dongsaeng stabbed him in the back.
He fought back. No apostle contract, but B-rank meant business. Pushed 'em off, subdued as many as he could.
But he'd already fought big earlier. Couldn't last. And holding back from killing? Brutal handicap.
Result: him bleeding out, facing Choi Seok-hyeon ready to finish it.
“Did I ever shortchange you guys?”
“Never. Best hyung-nim ever.”
“Then why the fuck...!”
“Why this shit? All together too. No bad blood or nothing.”
“Got an apostle contract offer.”
“What...”
“Conditions were what, to pull this crap?”
“Kill the one you cherish most.”
“You ungrateful little—!”
Kim's eyes squeezed shut. Happy he was their favorite? Or curse 'em for trying anyway? Latter, obviously.
He'd gotten the same offer. Turned it down flat. Couldn't kill his favorite—Choi Seok-hyeon right there.
Too pathetic. Maybe that's why that Constellation dangled the same bait to them.
Fucking asshole.
Glare at the star-scattered sky of Constellations, then spat:
“Contract starting that twisted... You wanted apostle that bad?”
“Dunno about the others, but yeah.”
“Even killing me?”
“You killed the hyung-nim you served back then—my real bro too—and took me in. Same deal.”
“Oh my god...”
Five years back, gates fresh, pre-hunter era. Rumor was killing an awakener made normals awaken.
Choi Seok-il, Kim's boss and Seok-hyeon's bro, fell for it. Tried killing his awakened lil' bro.
Seok-hyeon, abused by dad and bro since kidhood? Kim couldn't watch. Killed Seok-il, made Seok-hyeon his dongsaeng.
Never spilled the details. Kid finding out his only family tried murdering him? Heartbreaker.
Said it was an accident. Guess he heard otherwise.
“Constellation tell you? That I killed your bro?”
“Yeah. Why hide it? What'd you think, watching me as your dongsaeng?”
“Obvious divide-and-conquer...”
“Seok-hyeon. You dumb fuck. That's not the full story. You're played. Drop the knife. You'll regret it for real.”
“Regret? REGRET?! You fucking dog!!”
Veins bulging, Seok-hyeon surged mana.
“I saw you kill our hyung! Ours—mine! Didn't he tell you to drop it too? Said you'd regret it later—do you? Huh?! Regretted it even once?!”
“This is straight-up cuckold revenge plot...”
“Bet you regret now. Right before dying!! Fuck, wish I'd done it different back then!!”
“Eh, no way...”
“Fuck this shit!”
Interrupting voice made Seok-hyeon whip around like a maniac. Locked eyes with a white-haired girl perched in the tree.
“Who the fuck are you, piping up like that?!”
“Oops, keep going. I'll be quiet now!”
She beamed, hands over mouth. Seok-hyeon spun back to glare at Kim, who smiled bitterly.
“Seok-hyeon, head cooled? Think again. I'm good. Can explain. Let's talk first.”
“Think again... Me... Ha, what a shitshow.”
Mood killed. No fixing this—Seok-hyeon eyed the girl again.
“You first. Get down before I make you, you pint-sized bitch.”
“Okay!”
The girl hopped down from the tree.