Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Simultaneous Incidents (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Overrank Dungeon. Knight's Grave.
All the executives from every S-rank guild in the country had gathered in the Black Dragon Society headquarters conference room for a strategy meeting on that brutal dungeon—one that had even decimated the scouting party from an S-rank guild.
The participating guilds were as follows.
S-rank No. 1: Royal Knights.
No. 2: Asteroid.
No. 3: Black Dragon Society.
No. 4: Winter Alliance.
And No. 5: Brave Men.
Those assembled were hunters from the absolute top guilds in Korea. Not only that, but nearly every hunter present held a position of at least executive level within their guilds.
There were just two exceptions. Two people who weren't even official members, let alone executives.
One was Han Yeoreum, attending as a student intern from Asteroid Guild. Yet no one in the room objected to her presence. Even setting aside her backing from the Hanseong Group, her skills were on par with anyone there.
The other person, however, drew doubts from almost everyone present.
The eyes of Korea's renowned hunters focused on one spot. At the end of those gazes sat Ahn Su-ho, who bit his lip awkwardly under the scrutiny of these famous figures.
"...The pressure is no joke."
Ahn Su-ho scanned the faces around the table, thinking that.
S-rank guild executives might sound intimidating, but to him, they weren't all that familiar. No matter how famous they were in this world, to Ahn Su-ho from the outside, they were just strangers.
At least Han Yeoreum had shown him the attendee list with photos before the meeting, so he could somewhat tell who was who.
"Now that everyone's here, shall we get started?"
At the innermost end of the long rectangular table, the woman in the head seat stood and spoke.
She had a youthful face that could pass for a high school student at first glance. Her bright yellow hair, tied into cute twin tails, only accentuated her girlish look. It was so striking that even her office blouse seemed like a school uniform shirt to others.
Yet no one there dared underestimate her because of her youthful appearance.
They couldn't afford to.
She was one of the top three strongest among the eighteen superhumans present.
The woman's name was Seol A-hyeon.
She was the guild master of the S-rank Black Dragon Society and famously known as the Black Dragon Lord—one of Korea's undisputed strongest superhumans.
"As I mentioned when calling this meeting, it's because we've obtained new information on the owner of the Knight's Grave... Wilhelm. The source is none other than Mr. Ahn Su-ho, whom you've all been staring at since earlier."
Ahn Su-ho gave a wry smile at Seol A-hyeon's mention.
"Would anyone like an explanation about him?"
"No need, A-hyeon. We heard about him at the last meeting."
Those words came from Seong Yu-jin, who had recently been promoted to sub-master of Winter Alliance. He met Ahn Su-ho's eyes and smiled warmly.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Ahn Su-ho. I've been interested in you for a while now."
Ahn Su-ho was the most recent security officer Min Chae-ryeong had scouted under her. Naturally, Seong Yu-jin—who had been keeping tabs on her—had some interest in him too. But Ahn Su-ho was unaware of that. He could only guess.
'Seong Yu-jin's a villain too.'
In the original story, Seong Yu-jin was a director at Yeil Group and closely tied to Na Ju-yong. He'd surely looked into Ahn Su-ho after he disrupted their plans during the Kang Ha-neul incident. With that in mind, Ahn Su-ho averted his gaze uncomfortably.
"Mr. Ahn Su-ho encountered Wilhelm before our guild's scouting party and fought him alone. In the process, he gathered various intel on the boss. Before we dive in, let's have him share what he knows about Wilhelm."
"Black Dragon Lord. A moment, if you will?"
A deep voice interrupted Seol A-hyeon.
"Yes, Hunter Oh Ji-hoon. What is it?"
"Something's been bothering me since earlier."
The one raising his hand was Oh Ji-hoon, sub-master of Royal Knights. The middle-aged man with a prominent scar across his face narrowed his eyes sharply.
"You just said this meeting was called because of new info on Wilhelm, sourced from that man Ahn Su-ho. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"That's what I don't get. As I recall, we decided to include him in the raid at the last meeting because of his combat prowess, not for any 'intel.'"
Oh Ji-hoon had picked up on a subtle inconsistency in Seol A-hyeon's words. It almost sounded like they were recruiting Ahn Su-ho as an informant, not a fighter.
"Sure, he might know a thing or two about Wilhelm. But wouldn't it be more or less the same as what the scouting party already reported?"
In dungeon raids, the scouting party gathered internal intel—especially on the boss's combat strength and attack patterns—to ensure smooth clears.
Even though Black Dragon Society's team had been devastated by Wilhelm, they'd fulfilled their role. No matter that Ahn Su-ho had faced him first, it was unlikely he'd gathered more info than a full team.
Yet Seol A-hyeon had called this meeting for intel sharing.
"Black Dragon Lord. Do you believe the info he has is worth that much?"
"Yes, I do."
"Can you vouch for it?"
Oh Ji-hoon's question implied whether Ahn Su-ho's info was truly valuable—but it carried another layer too.
"Even if he has game-changing intel on the raid, can you guarantee it's true?"
The scouting party's info was reliable. They were proven hunters, and their reports could be cross-verified.
Ahn Su-ho was different. They had no way to verify his claims. Kang Ha-neul's testimony? From an unvetted student, it was too risky for an Overrank Dungeon raid.
An Overrank Dungeon was a hellscape where even S-rank superhumans couldn't guarantee survival.
Blindly trusting bad intel could cost them dearly.
"I can see why you'd think that. In fact, it's only natural."
As Seol A-hyeon conceded, Oh Ji-hoon's doubts weren't unique. The other hunters shared similar suspicions.
Even Han Yeoreum felt a bit the same. She didn't doubt Ahn Su-ho's strength—she'd secured Kang Ha-neul's pre-censorship testimony via Iliana and verified its truth with a lie-detecting artifact.
But even if true, she doubted he'd learned more about Wilhelm than the scouting party.
'Why is this unfolding like this?'
Normally, Ahn Su-ho should've been introduced as a new fighter, per Oh Ji-hoon, and that'd be it. Sure, he might share some info, but not as the main agenda.
Yet things were going sideways. Han Yeoreum didn't know why, but she could guess.
'Something must've happened when they met privately.'
Before the meeting, Ahn Su-ho had asked her to arrange a private word with Seol A-hyeon.
It wasn't hard. Even as a student intern, she was a Hanseong Group heir. Her request would get the guild master to spare a few minutes pre-meeting.
And as expected, Seol A-hyeon agreed. They'd met briefly in her office beforehand.
"But rest assured. From here on, I'll vouch for whether Mr. Ahn Su-ho's info is real or not..."
Something had clearly gone down. That's what Han Yeoreum thought.
"...so everyone can relax."
Otherwise, Seol A-hyeon wouldn't show him that attitude.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About 30 minutes before the meeting started. Seol A-hyeon's office.
Seol A-hyeon sat across from Ahn Su-ho on the sofa, her eyes wide with shock.
"You... what did you just... say...?"
She stammered in disbelief. Ahn Su-ho repeated himself in a low voice, like a verdict.
"Black Dragon Lord Seol A-hyeon. I know you're a regressor."
Seol A-hyeon appeared to others as a self-made success story, the epitome of a winner who'd only known victory.
She'd graduated the academy with top honors, founded her own guild right after, and rocketed it to S-rank. She aggressively invested raid earnings for thousands-percent returns, her own combat prowess earning her the youngest S-rank title. She was beloved, always surrounded by people, her reputation overwhelmingly positive. That was her legend at just 26.
With such a dazzling resume, many sought her secrets. The public guessed her superpower, 'Foresight,' played a huge role. It was partly true, but the real key was deeper.
She wasn't just prescient—she was a regressor who'd returned from the future to the past.
"Mr. Ahn Su-ho? I don't understand what you're saying. Regressor? My ability is Foresight, but that lets me see the future, not go back to the past."
Seol A-hyeon belatedly denied it in panic, but Ahn Su-ho shut it down with one sentence.
"April 15, 2019."
"...Pardon?"
"The day your comrades were wiped out in your first life—and the day you used the Regression Stone artifact to return to the past. Right?"
"How do you...?"
She trailed off, too stunned to finish.
'How? Because I read the original novel.'
Seol A-hyeon was a heroine from the original story, a key ally to Ryu Tae-hyun in the mid-to-late game. What Ahn Su-ho had just said was her confession to him later on.
That's how he knew. He remembered the story in detail.
But as a mere novel character, even a regressor, she couldn't know that.
"Who... exactly are you?"
Her face mixed anxiety with odd delight. Ahn Su-ho could guess why.
'She thinks I'm a fellow regressor.'
Mind-reading superhumans were rare. And she knew Ahn Su-ho wasn't one. So, she assumed anyone knowing her secret must be like her—a regressor.
Why the delight, then?
'Because she's anxious.'
She was a regressor, but no longer. Her regression point was April 15, 2019—nearly a year ago. The future she knew had ended. Her Foresight only glimpsed seconds ahead; longer visions had heavy limits. So, she'd been increasingly uneasy.
Having always known the future, the uncertainty terrified her.
In her first life, she'd lost all her precious comrades and survived alone. Would it happen again? Would tragedy strike? Those fears had gnawed at her for the past year.
Then came the Overrank Dungeon crisis.
Han Yong-su, comatose from the scouting party, was one of her dearest comrades from her first life.
Her anxiety spiked.
That's why a new regressor's appearance thrilled her. She couldn't confirm Ahn Su-ho yet, but if he was one, he could ease her fears.
That hope showed on her face. As Ahn Su-ho paused without answering, she pressed impatiently.
"I asked who you are. Don't tell me you're...?"
"Does it need saying?"
He answered ambiguously on purpose. She might have a lie-detecting artifact.
But his vagueness convinced her more. Overwhelmed by shock, anxiety, relief, and joy, she stammered silently.
"A-hyeon. I know your anxiety. Walking from a world of certainties into an uncertain future is terrifying. But if you help me, I can help ease that fear."
This wasn't a lie. As a possessor transmigrated into the novel, he seemed like a regressor to characters inside. He remembered major plot points up to the latest chapters, so warning her and her allies of dangers was easy.
"My anxiety...?"
The sweet offer was devilish temptation amid her turmoil. She echoed it, entranced.
Meanwhile, Ahn Su-ho thought,
'Lucky break.'
He'd been seeking a chance to meet her. Posing as a regressor to exploit her anxiety seemed an easy way to gain an ally.
The issue was getting a private audience as a mere guard. Han Yeoreum solved that.
'I thought the censored testimony was a crisis, but it turned into a boon. Perfect timing too—their scouting party's heavy losses must have her anxiety at a peak.'
Before the meeting, he aimed to pull her to his side. It'd make convincing the others easier.
'Come on, Seol A-hyeon. What's your move?'
He figured she'd agree. At least 90% odds.
In the original, she'd depended on Ryu Tae-hyun to cope with future anxiety—her mental state was fragile. She'd never refuse his help.
"...You want me to help? What do I need to do?"
Her answer came, and Ahn Su-ho smiled faintly, proven right.
"I'll reveal Wilhelm intel at the meeting."
"Wilhelm info? Wait, you don't mean...?"
"Yes. I know how Wilhelm and the Knight's Grave were cleared in the future."
Her face lit up visibly. For her, dreading the Overrank raid, this was welcome news.
"All I ask is that you vouch for my info's reliability during the reveal. Mention your ability."
"My ability—you mean Foresight? But it's not like that."
"I know. Yours glimpses short futures within a minute. But with physical contact on a target, you can randomly glimpse far-future scenes related to them, right?"
"How did you know? That's not public..."
"Some people know."
It wasn't public, but guild executives like today's attendees would. Ahn Su-ho assumed.
"Did future me tell you?"
"Imagine what you like. Not the point right now."
He explained: Say at the meeting she'd glimpsed his far future via contact—a successful Knight's Grave clear.
Knowing her ability, the executives would at least hear him out. Not fully believe, but consider it worth noting.
That was enough for a strong first impression.
"If you do, our raid success odds skyrocket. Your comrades' survival odds too. Right?"
"Yes... probably. But..."
"But?"
"I'm anxious. What if you're lying?"
"Why would I?"
"If you're not friendly—if you want to harm me or my guild—you could lie easily."
Ahn Su-ho admired her caution but was relieved too. No lie-detecting artifact, apparently.
"Even if I say I'm on your side, you won't buy it. So, what now?"
He already knew the answer. Sure enough, she gently took his hands.
"You may not know, but for things involving me, I can narrow the future glimpse range—even far ahead."
"And?"
"I'll glimpse your future now. Specifically, our relationship's future."
Ally or enemy? The glimpse was momentary, but her only basis to judge him.
"What if we see us at gunpoint?"
She didn't answer. She couldn't. If so, she'd kill him without hesitation.
It was natural. For her near-anxiety-disorder worrywart self, a future-knowing regressor turning foe was nightmare fuel.
"Activating now."
Her eyes closed, faint red light leaking through her lids—her Foresight sign.
Ahn Su-ho doubted he'd ever antagonize her, but he was uneasy. Futures were unpredictable; zero chance he'd target her later? Not quite.
"...Huh?"
But the future she glimpsed shocked them both.
'Ahhn♡ Su-ho... enough teasing. Untie me already? I'm begging so nicely...♡'
'Your begging needs work. Looks like you haven't reflected enough.'
'Hic♡! S-sorryyy. No, forgive your slave A-hyeon♡ Master, see? A-hyeon is repenting so haaard...'
"........................Huh?"
The scene bleached Seol A-hyeon's mind. Even as a battle-hardened S-rank, she couldn't process it. It was that shocking.
'Wha...t the...'
Too embarrassing to describe aloud, she turned away. But the vision projected directly into her mind—no escaping by look or blink.
It lasted mere 10 seconds, an eternity to her. Finally, the pink-tinged scene faded, returning her to the office. Ahn Su-ho's slightly puzzled face greeted her.
"A-hyeon? You okay?"
"Hweh?!"
She yanked her hands back, hugging her shoulders. Seeing his face intensified the shame. Her ears burned red as he asked carefully,
"So? What'd you see? Our future."
"D-did you... kn-know?!"
"Pardon?"
He blinked in genuine confusion. But to her, it seemed like teasing foreknowledge.
'No. Even in the future he came from, no guarantee we were... like that. But this future means... in this world, someday, him and I will...'
"A-hyeon? What on earth did you see?"
"W-we two... were..."
She couldn't say it straight. Voicing it was mortifying; even imagining it embarrassed her.
"...v-very close? Later on... Yeah..."
She mumbled tiny, avoiding his eyes.
"Close, huh. Looking forward to it."
Unaware, his words flushed her cheeks deeper.
This happened 30 minutes before the Knight's Grave strategy meeting.