Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Simultaneous Incidents (1)
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Ji Ye-won left with a smile. Whatever intentions she harbored, she departed smiling all the same.
He touched his stunned, frozen face. If she had left smiling, he should have seen her off with a smile too—but had he really sent her away wearing such a dumbfounded expression?
Unable to hide his bitter feelings, he gazed down the path where traces of her lingered. Worry and lingering attachment chased after footprints that couldn't possibly remain on the drab gray sidewalk blocks.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📜 NEW QUEST 📜 Unprecedented Overrank Double Dungeon: 'Knight's Grave'! Join the raid and lead it to success!
This raid features Korea's top hunters! The connections you make along the way will surely aid you in future stories!
🛡️ Rewards:
1. Guard Rate +10% (Current: 18%)
2. <Skill: Academy Guard> Grade Up
A system message popped up in front of him, blocking his view. As if telling him not to dwell on lingering regrets. As if urging him to focus on what he needed to do now.
'...Right. I have things to take care of right now.'
He needed to join the Knight's Grave raid, but first, if possible, secure Kang Haneul's cooperation.
And as a bonus, uncover her true identity if he could.
With that in mind, he texted Kang Haneul, who should be in class right now.
Let's meet alone tonight.
I have something to discuss.
The reply came two hours later.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Midterms loomed, and Greenhouse Academy students were burning the midnight oil with theory studies or practical training.
Kang Haneul was no exception. Though she'd once considered dropping out due to lack of motivation, lately she was approaching her studies with genuine seriousness. Maybe she'd decided that if she was going to stick with the academy, she might as well give it her all.
On schedule, he headed to Training Ground 3, where Kang Haneul was practicing. It was a place full of new memories for him—his first assignment back in his General Division days, before Special Countermeasures.
He wondered if Kwon Chang-wook, his partner from back then, might be on duty, but the guard at the post was someone else. Mindful of the guard's watchful eyes, he waited for Kang Haneul. She appeared soon enough.
Kang Haneul wore tight training gear: a form-fitting functional T-shirt on top—the kind common in gyms from his old world—and black leggings emblazoned with a brand logo below. Beads of sweat clung to the ends of her hair; she'd clearly just finished an intense session.
"Oppa, hi! Have you been waiting long?"
"Nah. I just got here."
"Sorry. I scheduled our meetup too late. I was training with my classmates, so I couldn't help it."
"No worries. I'm just grateful you made time. Wanna take a walk?"
"Sure! A night stroll sounds romantic and nice!"
The awkwardness from when they'd parted last Sunday was gone from Kang Haneul. Whether she was happy to see him or for some other reason, her face beamed with innocent joy. She started to stick close to his side, then...
"Ah."
...pulled back about two hand spans.
"I-I'm probably kinda sweaty-smelly..."
"Isn't there a shower in the training hall?"
"I don't really use the communal ones. Usually, I head back to the dorm and shower in my room after training."
She sniffed her arm, her collar, her sleeve, checking her own scent. Her cuteness drew a natural smile from him.
It was the same pure, innocent Kang Haneul as always. But now, even that felt like it might be a mask.
"Let's head to the lake."
"Okay!"
The two of them made for the artificial lake within the Greenhouse Academy grounds. It was usually bustling with students, but with exams underway, hardly anyone was out for a leisurely night walk.
They walked the lakeside path in silence, shrouded in deep darkness.
How long had they gone like that?
"...This feels nice."
Kang Haneul spoke first.
She took a deep breath, spreading her arms gently as if savoring the night's essence with her whole body. Soon, her soft gaze turned to him.
"I've been so busy with exams lately. It's nice to take a relaxed night stroll like this sometimes. The air's so fresh—feels like it's clearing my head right up~."
"...Yeah."
"The vibe's all quiet and atmospheric. Perfect for laying out a mat after exams, cracking open a beer. Oh, but mosquitoes might be out by then?"
"Dunno."
"Superhumans don't get bitten, but those buzzing pests are annoying as hell. And with all the woods nearby, there'll be tons. Better grab an electric swatter from the mart before summer hits—"
"Haneul."
The everyday chatter flowed on as if nothing had happened.
Unable to bear it, he cut her off impatiently.
Kang Haneul tilted her head and looked up at him. A faint crack appeared in her expression—likely from seeing his cold, hardened face.
"W-What's wrong?"
"The reason I wanted to meet you tonight... I actually have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Yeah. No pressure—you don't have to say yes."
"What kind of favor...?"
He explained the situation to Kang Haneul.
His actions in the double dungeon had leaked to the outside.
Because of that, Han Yeoreum had approached him, half-threatening him to join the raid.
If word got out to the public or media, it'd be a huge hassle, so he'd agreed to her coercive invitation.
And for the battle with Wilhelm in the dungeon, he needed her abilities.
"Ah..."
After hearing him out, Kang Haneul averted her uncomfortable gaze.
"...S-Sorry."
She cast her eyes down and to the left. Licking her dry lips, her restless hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
Her fidgety demeanor.
The way she seemed to be hiding something.
He'd suspected as much, but Kang Haneul refused his request. And as expected, she was concealing something about her abilities.
"If it's okay, can I ask why?"
As proof, she didn't answer right away. Her lips twitched as she prolonged her silence, as if scrambling for an excuse to tell him.
Helping with an overrank dungeon raid is too much pressure.
That dungeon gives me trauma—I don't want to go in.
Exams, or some schedule conflict.
I can't control that ability freely.
Countless plausible reasons for her refusal flooded his mind. Yet even he could rattle them off easily, but Kang Haneul offered no response. She couldn't.
She was bad at lying. Bad at deceiving others or hiding the truth. So she hesitated. She held back her answer in her dilemma.
And that silence proved she was hiding something about her abilities—something she wanted to keep hidden.
"..."
Kang Haneul said nothing. Maybe she couldn't. Unlike Sunday, asking about her abilities tonight had caught her off guard.
She probably hadn't prepared an excuse.
Should he press her on it?
Corner her like prey and force out the truth?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Ji Ye-won's parting words resurfaced.
Don't push Kang Haneul too hard.
Give her time. Be patient.
Let her sort out her thoughts.
It might take time, but she'll tell you the truth eventually.
That's the kind of girl she is.
Even calling herself a rival, Ji Ye-won had sincerely considered Kang Haneul's situation and urged him thus.
Recalling that, he let go of any intent to interrogate her.
"...If it's hard to explain, you don't have to."
At his words, Kang Haneul glanced up with a troubled look. Anxiety spread across her face. To calm her, he continued as gently as possible.
"I don't know what's going on, but you must have your reasons. I won't pry."
Slowly.
"Of course, I'd like to hear them. But I won't force you."
Clearly.
"Take your time, think it over. If you feel like telling me someday, do. If not, you never have to."
He repackaged Ji Ye-won's advice and passed it straight to Kang Haneul.
Truth be told, he was curious.
Insanely curious.
What she was hiding. Why she'd borrowed Ryu Tae-hyun's talisman backstory when explaining her ability's origin. How she knew it. What her ability's true nature was. Just who Kang Haneul really was.
It gnawed at his bones, but he wouldn't ask. He'd promised not to.
His emotions screamed to press her, but reason told him this was right.
"...My ability has a penalty."
Did his consideration reach her? Or had she finally come up with an excuse?
Kang Haneul, who'd been silent until now, finally spoke.
"A penalty?"
"My second ability, Cherry Blossoms of Linked Hearts, activates through five petals etched into my body."
"Come to think of it, a flower pattern appeared on your chest when you used it."
It had definitely been a pink cherry blossom shape. He couldn't recall if it had five petals.
"Those five petals represent the number of times I can use it."
"Per what? Or..."
"For life."
"Then if you use them all up—"
Can you never use it again?
Before he could finish, Kang Haneul cut in.
"I die."
"What?"
"I die. Using up the petals kills me. That's the penalty."
Her eyes trembled intensely as she said it. Yet she met his gaze steadily.
He sensed instinctively: her words were true, or very close to it.
Her ability's penalty was death. Or something equivalent.
"...Sorry."
His first reaction upon judging that was to apologize to her.
"What do you have to be sorry for, oppa?"
"Just... various things."
"It's fine. I never explained, so how could you know? If anything, I'm sorry. What if this puts you in a tough spot because I can't help..."
"No. It's okay."
Failing to secure Kang Haneul's help was within expectations. Fighting Wilhelm without her ability would be tough, but he had raid info on the Knight's Grave from the original story. Using it wisely should clear the quest smoothly.
"Really...?"
"Yeah. There are ways you can help without fighting."
"...I see. That's a relief."
Relieved, Kang Haneul smiled softly.
One sudden question arose.
Her ability's penalty was her death. Yes, shocking info.
But recalling her earlier fidgeting and anxious expression when she couldn't answer—it didn't quite add up.
'That doesn't seem like something worth hiding so desperately...'
Was there still more he didn't know?
The thought flickered, but he couldn't press her further here.
'...No rush.'
Iliana's investigation results weren't in yet. He could mull over Kang Haneul later, once they came.
"Eh?"
To ease the tension and break the awkwardness, he placed a hand on the hesitating Kang Haneul's head and gently stroked her hair. Like praising a good child.
"??"
She looked up at him, puzzled by the sudden petting, but closed her mouth. Eyes shut, she swayed her head left and right with his hand, like a dog enjoying its owner's affection.
"...Ah."
After savoring it briefly, she let out a gasp. Removing his hand from her head, she spoke awkwardly.
"I-I'm still sweaty and haven't washed my hair..."
He chuckled along with her awkward "heh heh."
"Anyway. Sorry. And thanks."
A tangled mess of a situation. He wasn't even sure what exactly he was sorry or grateful for.
"...Yeah. Me too."
Since Kang Haneul replied the same, he didn't dwell further.
The nighttime lakeside exchange concluded clearly yet ambiguously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Gyeonggi-do, Yongin-si.
Yeoil Group-affiliated Superhuman Rehabilitation Research Institute.
Ji Ye-won peeked from an alley corner, observing the institute building from afar. Even late at night, every floor blazed with light.
Starting tomorrow, she'd infiltrate as a cleaning company employee. This was reconnaissance beforehand.
'Security's pretty tight.'
Tall walls, ironclad guards at the entrance. ID cards mandatory for entry, and incoming/outgoing items seemed thoroughly inspected.
She'd need to be careful bringing in surveillance gear.
As Ji Ye-won pondered while eyeing the distant building...
"What? You wanna get into that lab too?"
The cheerful voice from behind made her jolt back in alarm.
'How?'
Someone had approached within arm's reach of her back undetected. Unthinkable for her, trained as a Dawn Legion spy.
With panicked eyes, she turned to the voice's owner.
"I tried everything to sneak in, but no security card means you can't even pass the gate! Been circling this area for days because of it! Hahaha!"
The man was a boisterous young guy. Wavy blond bangs swept back halfway, tank top hugging his frame, work pants. Thick muscles and tendons bulged on his exposed shoulders and arms.
"Who...?"
He chatted like old friends, but Ji Ye-won didn't know him. At her flustered question, he laughed "Ahaha!" and scratched his head sheepishly.
"Look at me! Talking to a stranger out of the blue again! But now that it's happened, we introduce ourselves and boom—acquaintances, friends! That's how I met Jin-su too?"
"E-Excuse me, but who might you be—"
"Nice to meet ya! Name's Heo Seong-chan!"
Heo Seong-chan. Mercenary from Uijeongbu's slums, who'd schemed to kidnap Kang Haneul on Na Ju-yong's orders.
Grinning broadly, he offered a handshake.
"Man, you're super pretty!"