Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Boy Dreams (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Soo-hyun rolled up his sleeve, showing off the all-access pass wristband.
“If you come to an amusement park, you have to ride at least one or two rides, right? By the way, when are you two getting married… Hey, hey.”
“What is it?”
Park Si-woo practically clamped a hand over Soo-hyun’s mouth, his voice laced with annoyance.
Unlike Soo-hyun, who had shown up casually wearing only sunglasses, Park Si-woo was quite heavily disguised.
With sunglasses, a mask, and a hat pulled down low, it was hard to recognize him as Park Si-woo unless you were up close.
“I came to have fun! Hey. Let me join you. If you were coming to a fun place like this, you should have invited me! So selfish, coming just the two of you. Huh? Ah, am I interrupting a date?”
“Hah, do whatever you want.”
Park Si-woo turned his back, half-resigned.
The three of them naturally got in line for a nearby ride.
On the surface, they looked no different from any other guests at the park.
In reality, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.
They stood in line, rode the attractions, ate lunch when they got tired, and bought snacks from street vendors while waiting in long queues.
As the sun set and disappeared, indoor lights took its place.
People in flashy costumes danced and roamed around to the sound of loud music.
“We’re both going through a lot.”
“What do you mean? I told you, I came to have fun.”
Soo-hyun, with a lollipop in his mouth, glanced up at the fourth floor where the gate was located.
The old mansion, a dungeon featuring Kobolds as monsters, could be cleared in half a day.
It was about time for them to be coming out.
“Putting Song Eun-young’s dungeon entry on hold, recommending her for a temporary project, and then going on a date to keep an eye on her. There’s a limit to how many things you can handle at once.”
It was no coincidence that Eun-young had entered the dungeon in the amusement park.
The person who had recommended her as a project Hunter and chosen the date and dungeon was none other than Park Si-woo.
“I was just doing my job. You, on the other hand, seem excessively concerned about Song Eun-young.”
“What are you saying to someone who’s been playing hard all day?”
“I have something to ask…”
“Soo-hyun! Si-woo! Over there, over there!”
An incredibly excited Cho-ah pointed toward the stage.
They made their way through the crowd toward it.
“About what we were just talking about… Is something wrong?”
His train of thought constantly being interrupted, Park Si-woo tilted his head.
“Oh, it’s nothing. What were you saying?”
*Crunch.* Soo-hyun bit down on his lollipop and turned his eyes to the stage.
Park Si-woo looked in the direction Soo-hyun was staring, but besides ordinary park-goers, there was nothing unusual.
“What happened to that guy from last time?”
“Ah. The one named Yoo Ji-han?”
“I don’t think that was the name I knew.”
“It’s an alias. The one I just said is his real name. I heard it from Kang Han-gyeol.”
“What a naming sense.”
Soo-hyun didn’t argue with Si-woo’s muttering.
Even knowing Kim Yoo-han’s real name from Han-gyeol changed nothing.
‘Nothing’s coming up.’
He had used his authority at the Association to search for not only Hunters but also civilians named Yoo Ji-han across the country, but all he found were people with the same name. No plausible candidates emerged.
There was a chance Kang Han-gyeol had given him false information, but considering the current situation, it was unlikely.
‘He has no reason to. Just what is that guy?’
A Hunter who existed but left no trace.
He was practically a real-life ghost.
Unless he had suddenly dropped from the sky one day, it was realistically impossible.
‘My imagination always runs wild in this direction.’
It was a side effect of reading too many comics and novels at work recently.
“He bolted.”
“Bolted?”
“Yeah. What happened after his arrest was beyond my authority, so I couldn't do anything. The Management Bureau is supposedly looking for him… but I don’t know what happened after that. I mean, being a Black Hunter isn't a crime, is it?”
“Still, I wish he’d at least paid for the building he wrecked before disappearing.”
He hadn’t mentioned it to Han-gyeol, but the damages for the destroyed building, resulting from Ji-han’s disappearance, had all been billed to the Aria Guild.
There was no way to prove the circumstances, and Yoo Ji-han hadn’t been the only one to destroy the buildings.
Soo-hyun’s phone vibrated.
“Ah, looks like the kids are out. Well then, enjoy the rest of your night. I’m off.”
“Soo-hyun, you’re leaving already?”
“Yes. Believe it or not, I’m on duty. It’s almost closing time, so you should probably head home too, miss. They say all men turn into wolves at night…”
“Choi Soo-hyun. Stop talking nonsense and get lost…”
Soo-hyun and Si-woo simultaneously shut their mouths and looked in the same direction.
A few seconds later, the entire amusement park shook as if an earthquake had struck.
* * *
The Hunters who emerged from clearing the dungeon were a mess.
Their disheveled appearance wasn't the issue; the problem was their mood.
Unlike the trembling Hunters, Eun-young’s expression seemed much brighter than when she had entered the dungeon.
Unable to watch any longer, an Association official asked Eun-young, who was whistling nonchalantly.
“What on earth happened in the dungeon?”
“Nothing happened. Just a tiny little accident.”
“It doesn’t look like a tiny accident.”
Eun-young quickly slung an arm around his shoulder and whispered something in his ear.
“I’ll write you a detailed report. We made it out alive, so that’s all that matters, right?”
“That is… Ah, I understand.”
Faced with Eun-young’s firm attitude, he reluctantly nodded.
Eun-young didn’t know that Choi Soo-hyun had already told them he would take responsibility for anything that happened in the dungeon.
“Well then, I’m clocking out. Good work! Phew, the whole day’s gone. I’m gonna go home, take a nice bath, and relax.”
Eun-young ignored Chae Seol-ha’s fierce glare from behind her and descended the stairs.
As she looked for the exit, a café caught her eye.
“I should grab some coffee before I go.”
Perhaps because it was just before closing, there were hardly any people, and the café was also about to close.
“Are you still taking orders?”
“Ah, yes.”
“One Americano… huh?”
The bag slung over her shoulder was open.
“My wallet!!”
“Ma’am? Excuse me…”
“Ah, please ring me up first!”
Eun-young used her phone to pay for the coffee.
After grabbing her coffee, she hurried back the way she came, including the fourth floor where the dungeon was.
Her bag had a habit of opening on its own, which had caused her trouble before, but she never imagined she would drop her wallet.
“That wallet cost a fortune!”
It was a luxury brand she’d bought to celebrate quitting her job!
Along with the closing announcement music, the lights illuminating the interior were going out one by one.
Just in case, she retraced her steps, including the fourth floor.
[The number you have dialed is unavailable due to the customer’s personal circumstances…]
She tried calling the Association staff member, but he didn’t pick up.
*Thump, thump.*
Footsteps echoed from the entrance of a closed ride.
Thinking it was the Hunter Association staff, Eun-young turned her head.
“Who is it?”
Quickly realizing it was a stranger, Eun-young grew wary of the approaching man.
The fourth floor was closed off because of the dungeon, and now, so close to closing time, there was no reason for anyone other than a Hunter or an Association official to be here.
Neon light filtering through the open window slits illuminated the fourth-floor interior, revealing Ji-han.
Dressed in jeans, a loose shirt, and sneakers, Ji-han looked like any other ordinary guest in his twenties.
Eun-young was certain he was a Hunter.
It was because she couldn't find a single opening in his posture.
“Are you Song Eun-young?”
“You know me?”
Eun-young moved the hand holding her phone behind her back.
This was purely a gut feeling.
‘This guy is dangerous.’
I can't fight him.
‘He definitely said he was just hanging out, right?’
When she came out of the dungeon, Choi Soo-hyun was nowhere to be seen.
She didn’t know if he had gone home or was still around.
Eun-young quickly called Choi Soo-hyun.
Just as the phone started ringing, Ji-han appeared in front of her.
Eun-young, who prided herself on her dynamic visual acuity, was shocked that she had lost track of him.
Almost instinctively, she swung her leg toward him.
“What?”
Ji-han caught her ankle with one hand.
Expecting him to dodge, Eun-young had already been calculating her next move. She spun her leg around in his grasp and retreated.
She had pulled back quickly, but her ankle was slightly sprained from the impact.
“Too bad. I was trying to break it.”
“You crazy bastard! Hey! What the hell are you?”
Eun-young stumbled as she got up from the floor.
She belatedly realized her phone was gone.
“My phone…!”
“Ah, this?”
Ji-han dangled the phone by its rhinestone-studded strap, which was looped around his finger.
The only time he could have stolen it was just now.
‘It wasn’t enough that I lost track of his movements, he even took my phone…’
Eun-young took a slow, deep breath.
Ji-han pressed the end call button on the unanswered call and then dropped the phone.
*Crack.*
“You son of a…”
Seeing her phone mercilessly crushed under Ji-han’s foot, Eun-young bit her lip, suppressing her anger.
As if losing her wallet wasn’t enough, now her phone was destroyed too. It was truly the worst day ever.
An unexpected name came from Yoo Ji-han’s mouth.
“Where is Kang Han-gyeol?”
“You… Are you the guy who attacked Han-gyeol?”
Han-gyeol had recently been attacked by an unknown Hunter.
As a result, his house was destroyed, and he was staying in a hotel provided by Park Si-woo.
Eun-young had heard the gist of the story from Han-gyeol and Choi Soo-hyun.
However, she didn’t know who had attacked him or for what reason.
Han-gyeol had said it was a personal matter.
Eun-young slowly relaxed her body and tried to reason with Ji-han.
“I don’t know what you want, but Han-gyeol is in a dungeon right now. If you have a problem, talk to him after he comes out.”
“You’re a believer of the same god as Kang Han-gyeol, Soter, right?”
“So what if I am?”
“Have you considered quitting?”
As Yoo Ji-han took a step forward, Eun-young took one back.
Her ankle, where he had grabbed it, throbbed with pain.
‘He was trying to break it?’
Eun-young was a Hunter with an A-rank Strength stat.
To think he intended to break her leg—there was a limit to how crazy one could be.
“Looks like you have time to think about other things.”
With his hands in his pockets, Ji-han calmly walked toward Eun-young.
Her back hit a wall, and Eun-young realized she had nowhere left to retreat.
‘I hope that bastard noticed.’
The call had connected.
But because Ji-han had ended it, it would look like she had called Soo-hyun and then hung up immediately.
Eun-young wiped the sweat trickling down her neck with the back of her hand and got into a stance.
Asking if she had considered quitting as a believer of Soter?
‘As if.’
The question wasn’t even worth answering.
Eun-young ran toward the railing, intending to get to the floor below.
Even though it was closing time, the park wasn’t completely empty.
Ji-han blocked Eun-young’s path.
Realizing she couldn’t escape, Eun-young changed her posture and attacked him.
Ji-han ducked slightly, dodging her kick.
His fist slammed into her body.
“Keoheuk…!!”
A pain so intense it was hard to breathe shot through her, and Eun-young’s body crumpled forward.
While she struggled to stay conscious, gasping for air, Ji-han looked utterly composed.
As if he were out for a light stroll.
“First Kang Han-gyeol, and now you. I don’t understand why you’re all so obsessed with that god. It would be easier if you just gave up.”
“Ugh, what are you talking about? The one who’s obsessed isn’t me, it’s you!”
Buy time, no matter what!
Eun-young slammed Ji-han to the ground and mounted him.
Worried he might fight back, her hands went for his throat.
In that instant.