Puuk! The Witch's Final Breath
Puuk-!
The dagger, gleaming with brilliant white light, pierced straight through the witch's heart.
System alerts chimed continuously in Jae-min's ears. But he had no time to check the flood of messages.
Right now, I can't turn my head.
He poured more strength into the dagger embedded in her heart, keeping his gaze fixed forward. He had to clearly witness the witch's death.
About ten seconds passed like that.
<…….>
The life faded from the witch's eyes. The crushing pressure that had dominated the area was now completely gone.
"Phew…."
Only then did Jae-min relax, stroking his chest as he pulled out the dagger.
Thud.
Behind the witch's limp, collapsing body stood Gift, panting heavily with an exhausted face.
"…If it weren't for you, how the hell would I have beaten that monster."
-Kiiiuuung….
"Thanks, Gift. You're the best."
The wolf understood his master's intent without words and had fulfilled his role perfectly. No one could deny Gift was the MVP of this victory.
Jae-min grinned, flashing his teeth and giving a thumbs-up.
-Kiiiaaaang….
The beast couldn't hide his pleasure but flopped down flat, utterly drained.
After sending a gaze full of gratitude and apology toward Gift, Jae-min finally checked the delayed system messages.
['Unity'] is beginning to解除!
The Hall of Honor is in uproar due to the near-impossible achievement!
Immense penalty imposed on the constellation 'Witch of Eternal Sleep' for disrupting the 'Balance of All Things'!
"It's over…."
The system never lied. 'Unity' beginning to解除 meant this battle had truly reached its conclusion.
"Phew…."
The realization that he had survived brought a wave of calm. But even in that calm….
"Ah, damn. Why no level-up message, though."
It felt frustratingly incomplete.
Well, it made sense, in a way. Experience points only came from killing monsters.
"Shit, but that was one of the strongest foes ever…."
Not giving even a single point? That was just too harsh. The cost-performance was abysmal.
Jae-min grumbled bitterly and let out a deep sigh.
'Sung Hyun-sook' consoles 'My Son♡', saying Quit whining—you're alive, isn't that enough?
"Yeah… you're right. Life's the most important thing."
Jae-min shook off the lingering regret and flopped onto the floor.
Whether from aftereffects or exhaustion, his mind grew hazy fast. His fatigued muscles refused to move.
"The Association will send people soon enough."
'Sung Hyun-sook' urges 'My Son♡' to rest, saying They'll handle cleanup—sleep well!
"Yeah. I'm totally beat. Retire mode, retire."
What a long day. He never imagined this rollercoaster when he visited Eul in the morning.
How many events crammed into one day?
…Gonna rest and do absolutely nothing for a while.
With that small resolution, Jae-min soon fell into deep sleep.
Any third party witnessing the scene would have been horrified. Over fifty people, including kids, all unconscious on the ground—it was a sight straight out of a nightmare.
…….
Silence lingered only briefly.
Thud-.
Footsteps shattered the quiet, echoing solemnly.
Thud, thud, thud-.
The emotion-laden steps didn't continue far. Exactly four steps.
They stopped abruptly right in front of the oblivious, sleeping Jae-min.
Soon, the owner of those footsteps spoke.
<If you're going, then go—but I'll kill you first…!>
The owner, the Witch of Eternal Sleep, glared down at Jae-min with bloodshot eyes.
The body of Oh Chae-rin she controlled was in ruins. Her face cracked like shattered pottery, ominous sparks flying from the fissures in her skin.
A black scythe materialized over her bulging-veined hand.
With 'Unity' nearly undone, this was the last dregs of power the Witch of Eternal Sleep squeezed out. Her obsession to kill Jae-min temporarily defied even the system's absolute authority.
The scythe's razor edge rose high, then—
Kwajik-!
A gruesome sound tore through the silence.
But the witch's face twisted in utter distortion.
The scythe had slammed into the ground, not Jae-min's head.
As confusion clouded the witch's face—
<Hey, you fucking bitch.>
A vulgar curse rang in the witch's ears.
Her gaze, fixed on the ground, shifted forward. There….
<If you're gonna die, die pretty. Who the hell do you think you are, playing ghost on my son?>
Jae-min, in a perfect landing roll, glared back with fierce eyes.
But the witch knew the one facing her wasn't Jae-min.
As a constellation, she could see what humans couldn't. The massive shadow looming majestically behind Jae-min.
<You're that beast's constellation.>
<Beast, beast… Your word choice is shit, you know?>
Sung Hyun-sook, in Jae-min's body via Steel Body, snorted derisively. It was so ridiculous she couldn't help laughing.
<Where do you get off, you rootless piece of trash, yapping shit at my son?>
<…Wait. Then you… you're contracted to that beast—.>
A casual question, but the response was anything but.
Sung Hyun-sook shot forward like a bullet, grabbing the witch's throat.
<Guhk…!>
It wasn't Oh Chae-rin's throat. Red lightning crackled across her entire body—the witch's spirit leaking out as 'Unity' unraveled.
<Because of you, I wasted real money earlier… You're practically begging me to kill you.>
And with a constellation's power in Jae-min's hand, grasping that spirit was possible.
<People always call me overprotective, so I didn't wanna step in this far unless I had to.>
The witch's gaze, choking in agony, locked onto Sung Hyun-sook's eyes. Meeting the raw killing intent there—
and now touching my only son?>
Chill-.
The death-overseer witch felt a fear deeper and stickier than death itself.
<If I were alive, I'd rip your limbs off myself.>
Despair sank like the abyss's depths, etching into the witch's mind.
Pajijik-!
Her already fragile existence began collapsing rapidly.
Constellation 'Witch of Eternal Sleep' has violated the Hall's rules!
Reason: Direct killing via 'Unity', excessive intervention.
The absolute authority judges this constellation!
<Kuh, kuuu… Ah, no! Nooo…!!>
<It is. You fucking bitch.>
<Kwaaaaaah-!!>
With a resentful death cry, a storm of lightning raged.
Sparks scattered like flesh tearing apart.
Sung Hyun-sook surveyed the scene once.
<Serves you right, you dogshit.>
She shook her hand like she'd touched something filthy.
Now her chest felt clear, refreshed. Time to release Steel Body and return to the Room.
Her body was already fatigued—no need to push further.
But first, one more thing.
<Kid's tired too, but sleeping on hard floor like this….>
Sung Hyun-sook walked to the soundly sleeping Gift nearby.
She lay down, using his soft, fluffy side as a pillow. No way she'd let her precious son's head hurt on the hard ground.
Sung Hyun-sook murmured with a lazy smile.
"Sleep well, son."
When I opened my eyes, a pure white ceiling greeted me. Association hospital.
"…Why do I smell like Gift all over?"
'Sung Hyun-sook' greets brightly, asking Sleep well?
"Yeah. Slept like a rock. Must've been exhausted. Can't believe I slept so deep on that floor."
'Sung Hyun-sook' smiles, saying Glad to hear it!
"My head feels super clear? How long was I out?"
"Exactly two days and seven hours."
"Two days and seven hours?!"
No, wait—who just said that?
"Over here."
A thick voice came from the left. Turning my head, I saw Choi Kwang-hyun lying in the next bed, waving with a grin.
…Right, a double room.
"Good thing they put us in a double. Back then, things were too chaotic for a proper chat."
"Haha…."
"You and your sponsor must be close. First time seeing an agent talk casual to their constellation."
"Uh, yeah. Pretty much."
Whew, dodged calling her 'mom' there. That would've been bad.
Anyway, 55 hours asleep? Makes sense. Considering the marathon I ran that day, I earned it.
"When did you wake up, Mr. Choi?"
"Just now too. Maybe two hours ago."
Choi Kwang-hyun yawned and stretched. His gown buttons looked ready to pop.
Shaking off the stiffness, he added jokingly.
"I'd still be sleeping forever without you."
I awkwardly scratched my cheek. No idea how to clap back at jokes like that.
An awkward silence followed, broken by him again.
And his tone was dead serious.
"Thanks. I owe you big this time. Huge debt."
His face was solemn as I looked over.
"Remember you said buy me a drink when I hit S-rank?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah…."
Totally forgot. Kinda rude of me.
"Waited forever, no contact. Figured one drink wouldn't cut it."
"S-sorry…."
"No apologies. You more than paid that debt this time. Now I owe you."
Choi Kwang-hyun opened his wallet on the bedside table and handed me a business card. Plain one with name and title. Déjà vu city.
"Another free pass?"
"Nah, this one's a summon ticket."
"Summon ticket?"
"Good for three uses. Use wisely."
Why's he talking like he's my familiar? I already got a smart one named Gift.
…Kidding. I get the gist.
"Call me if you're in trouble or need help. Whatever it is, I'll come running."
"…An S-rank from the Association? I can just summon you anytime?"
"Obviously. You saved my life. I'd make it ten if I could… but you know I'm busy."
Yeah. Association S-rank—mandatory gate raids on orders. Like a brigadier general in the military.
Getting that kind of help anytime, three times? This card's value rivals a free pass.
Endless uses for this.
I tucked the card away safely.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Only natural. Alright! Urgent stuff done. Now the real talk…."
He trailed off, leaning toward me slyly.
…What?
His most serious face yet had me tensing up unconsciously.
"That dragon… yours?"
Ah, shit. Right. Where's Gift now?
***
Thankfully, he's safe at the Association's large familiar management center.
Doesn't really need protecting, but whatever. No complaints about trouble means he behaved without me. Good boy. Like his owner.
…Now just worry about myself?
"Seriously, tell me. Who's your constellation to tame something that strong?"
"How'd you tame a dragon even Jin Soo-hyun gave up on… C'mon, details!"
"This is my little wish. Spar with me sometime? Just once!"
Guy prepared a question list while I slept. The barrage is dizzying.
And all unanswerable ones.
As I dodged and sweated,
"Damn. Lee Tae-ho. Calling a sick guy in."
Choi Kwang-hyun grumbled, getting up after the chairman's summons.
Uncle, nice timing. Thanks.
Just before leaving, he turned with a creepy whisper.
"I'll be back. Wait."
…Terminator much?
Anyway, peace restored. One guy out, and nature's comfort floods in.
'Sung Hyun-sook' shakes her head with a sigh, hating chatty guys.
Genetic warfare, Mom.
"More sleep it is."
Worked hard, now hardcore rest.
…Oh, right.
Forgot to ask amid the interrogation.
What about the kids?
Thinking that suddenly tightened my chest.
Damn, tried to sleep and now I'm restless.
***
"…Hup!"
Chest really tightened, eyes snapping open.
Whined about unease but slept anyway. Typical me.
But… body feels crushed, like sleep paralysis.
Familiar heaviness. Eyes darting, I glanced beside the bed, unable to move.
<Awake?>
Lee Ji-yoon sat cross-legged on a chair, looking down. But I knew instantly it wasn't her speaking.
"Sublime Transcendent…?"
<Enough. Don't say it. Don't wanna torment the sick. Straight to the point.>
-Snap!
The moment Sublime Transcendent snapped her fingers crisply,
===== Sublime Transcendent's Request =====
Clear Condition: Save Lee Ji-yoon.
Time Limit: None
Reward: Resurrection of the Modified Undead
[You have completed the 'Entrustment Ordeal'.]
[Reward granted.]
Oh, right. I had something coming from her.