The Resurrection

Seiko's manager, Damagochi, scowled the moment he opened the door to Seiko's apartment. The scene before him looked as if a hurricane had swept through. Broken porcelain, shredded paintings, shattered window glass, and overturned tables. Damagochi clicked his tongue, navigating through the wreckage to enter the living room. Amidst the chaos, Seiko was sleeping on the only sofa that remained intact.

"What a fine state of affairs."

Seiko was an A-rank hunter, through and through. There was no way he wouldn't have sensed Damagochi's presence. Seiko opened his eyes and pushed himself up.

"Stop with the nagging from the crack of dawn."

Damagochi shook his head and let out a sigh.

"I'm going to call people to clean this all up, so you stay at a hotel for the time being."

Seiko laughed loudly.

"Hahahaha! Hyung, you were such a cold person until yesterday, aren't you changing your tune a bit too fast?"

Damagochi's expression stiffened in an instant.

"You brat! Do you have any idea how much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I've suffered?"

His voice was laced with irritation and exhaustion. "I gathered every single piece of footage from Taiwan and burned it all to ash so it wouldn't leak!"

At Damagochi's words, Seiko's eyes gleamed. He had dealt with Cheon Yooshin, but the remaining footage had been the real problem. And he had destroyed it all? This was why he kept this ordinary man as his manager. He moved just like the tongue inside his own mouth.

It didn't end there. Damagochi continued.

"I'm going to officially announce it to the press. I'll frame it as: Cheon Yooshin launched a surprise attack on you while you were exhausted from clearing the C-rank boss monster, and he stole the Elixir, the spoils of war."

"That won't be easy, will it? The Taiwanese hunters were inside, too. If we don't shut their mouths..."

"Don't worry about that. I'm planning to make ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a deal with the Taiwanese government. I'll tell them that if they just keep their mouths shut about this, we'll actively support their uncleared gates."

A smile spread across Seiko's lips.

"As expected of you, Hyung! This is why I like you."

How could he not like a manager who not only solved his worries but even looked after his reputation?

Damagochi's expression softened slightly.

"It was heaven's luck. That Cheon Yooshin happened to die in a plane explosion."

"Yeah, heaven's luck."

No matter how close they were as manager and friend, he intended to take this secret regarding Cheon Yooshin to the grave.

Just then, Damagochi tapped Seiko lightly on the shoulder.

"Go pack your bag. I'll take you to the hotel."

"What's there to pack? Money is the one thing I have in abundance. Just go."

After the two left, the voice of an anchor reporting news about Cheon Yooshin lingered in the empty living room on the TV.

The Japanese public was ecstatic. The majority reacted with, "That's just what Koreans do." Within Japan, Seiko boasted the feat of proudly taking 1st place in the rankings of the most influential hunters.

Meanwhile, at a funeral home in Korea, a heavy air filled the hallway. White chrysanthemums were piled high in front of the altar where Cheon Yooshin's portrait stood. Those who knew Cheon Yooshin, and even those who didn't, had already come and gone. The face in the portrait, glimpsed between the chrysanthemums, wore a bright smile that didn't fit the current atmosphere.

And Hunter Baek Woohyun stood in the mourner's seat next to it. With Cheon Yooshin's father absent, he had taken on the role of the chief mourner. Section Chief Lee Eunsoo was taking charge of order in the funeral hall. Joo Jowoon was organizing the guest registry, and Yoon Heewon was arranging the floral wreaths. The other hunters and agents of the Hunter Management Department were also helping with the funeral with as much sincerity as if they were sending off their own family.

Cheon Yooshin's mother and younger sister were greeting the mourners. Both of their eyes were swollen and bloodshot, but they were desperately suppressing their sorrow and offering faint smiles to the guests. Every time the younger sister's shoulders trembled, Baek Woohyun would pat her back and comfort her.

Meanwhile, as everyone from the Hunter Management Department was busy moving inside the funeral hall, a man sitting alone in the corner stood out. It was Team Leader Park Haesu. There were already four empty soju bottles in front of him. But the others didn't frown at him or criticize him. Everyone knew. That he was the person closest to Cheon Yooshin, the one who had known him the longest.

Cheon Yooshin's image shimmered before him. That reckless appearance when they first met. That dignified look when he easily cleared gates that others said were impossible. That overwhelming appearance when he closed the Sudden Gate all by himself. And even that look of him pouting his lips as if it were nothing, right until the end. All those moments flashed by like a revolving lantern.

"Were you really the type to go so easily..."

A low mutter leaked from Park Haesu's lips. Gripping the soju glass in his hand tightly, he continued to mutter.

"You shouldn't have died like this. Can't you hear the sorrow of the citizens who were looking up to you? They were finally relieved that they could sleep soundly, and you leave like this."

His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠words trailed off. The tears that had welled up in his eyes eventually flowed down his cheeks.

Just then, someone sat down heavily in front of Park Haesu. But Park Haesu's dazed gaze did not turn toward him. He was simply lost in his own world. And the person who had just sat down said to him:

"Anyone watching would think you lost a lover you were in love with."

"……?"

Did he hear wrong? It was a voice he heard often. It was a tone he heard often. But the person he knew was already dead?

Park Haesu's gaze slowly turned toward the person sitting across from him. It was a man he was seeing for the first time. A bitter smile spread across Park Haesu's lips. He had hoped, just in case. That it might be Cheon Yooshin. But the man before his eyes was not Cheon Yooshin. Because his face was completely different.

However.

"This is disappointing, not recognizing me."

"...Do you know me?"

Park Haesu had a memory good enough to pass the civil service exam at the top of his class at a young age. So naturally, he didn't easily forget a face he had seen once. But the man before him was definitely a face he was seeing for the first time. But listening to the man's words, it seemed like they should know each other.

The man smirked, snatched the glass from Park Haesu, and drank it straight down. He scowled violently.

"This tastes like crap. Why do people like drinking this stuff?"

He set the soju glass down on the table with a clatter, stood up, and said to Park Haesu.

"I'm disappointed. Let's do it like we used to. Like we used to."

Then, with a smirk, he disappeared outside the entrance without even looking back.

Park Haesu watched his retreating back and poured soju into the empty glass again. And another shot.

"Disappointed? Who the hell is that guy? 'Like we used to'—what 'used to'...?!"

Park Haesu's eyes, muttering to himself, widened rapidly. His tone sounded like he knew him, even though it was definitely a face he was seeing for the first time. Moreover, 'like we used to'....

'That was something I said when taking a picture?'

Come to think of it, that man just now was wearing a Mickey Mouse T-shirt. It was a different shirt from the one he had gifted Cheon Yooshin, but the synchronization was enough to match the picture and color of Mickey Mouse. If so.

Park Haesu, who had sprung up from his seat, ran outside in a hurry. Section Chief Lee Eunsoo called out to him, but he ignored it. That wasn't what was urgent right now. Perhaps....

'He might be alive!'

It sounded like nonsense. But his gut was telling him strongly. That the man just now was Cheon Yooshin. Although his face was different from the one he originally knew, Cheon Yooshin's abilities were infinite. To the point where he didn't know where the end of those abilities lay. So, he must have used another method this time, too. A method that other people couldn't even think of.

However, when he went outside, what greeted him was only the cold air of dawn. The current time was 2:00 AM. It was natural that there was no one walking around.

"Was it just a delusion after all."

His rapidly beating heart began to return to a deathly silence. His shoulders slumped again. But then.

"Did you look into it?"

At the sudden voice, Park Haesu jumped in surprise and turned around. There was a man standing there. His face reflected under the moonlight. It was Cheon Yooshin.

"A, are you really Hunter Cheon Yooshin?"

Park Haesu stammered.

"Then am I a ghost? Did you find out who the bastard was that messed with the plane I was on?"

Park Haesu gasped.

"Y, you really are Yooshin-ssi."

Yooshin shrugged playfully.

"If you thought I would have died from something like that, I'm disappointed."

"H, how..."

Yooshin stepped closer.

"That's not important. What's important is which bastard touched me. It was definitely not a coincidence."

Cheon Yooshin continued.

"You have a plan for where to start crushing them, right? Team Leader? I believe you will. If not, I'll be disappointed."

He grinned. Park Haesu swallowed hard in silence.

"Are you really going to keep it a secret?"

South Korea was currently in despair. That a hunter capable of clearing C-rank gates had died. That alone was understandable. But the Cheon Yooshin before his eyes told him not to announce his survival. Even to his family. Why on earth?

Yooshin grinned.

"If it's revealed that I'm alive, the guys who touched me might hide in a mouse hole. So, let's keep it a secret until we completely eradicate them."

"Hoo, I understand. Then, please take a look at this first."

The document he handed over had the face of a man. Yooshin also knew that man. The name in the photo was Seiko.

"Is it this guy?"

At Yooshin's question, Park Haesu nodded.

"Yes. He is the most likely suspect. Before the plane explosion incident, the person who suffered the most damage was Japan's Hunter Seiko."

Yooshin tilted his head.

"Really? I was thinking of China or the US."

Just before the accident, China and the US had taken turns making scout offers to him. And he had rejected them. So he had put those two on the suspect list.

"If they tried to kill someone just because they rejected a scout offer, hunters would have disappeared from this world. They are not the suspects."

Park Haesu said firmly and handed over another document.

"These are his articles after the announcement of your death."

Yooshin read them slowly and grinned.

"What a son of a bitch, I'm completely..."

Judging only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by the articles, Cheon Yooshin was a piece of trash who stole the final kill of the boss monster that Seiko had already caught and even snatched the Elixir. The reality was the exact opposite, though.

Park Haesu said in a bitter voice.

"If that clearing footage remained, it would be perfect evidence..., but that's how it turned out."

"So you're saying this guy blew up the plane?"

But Park Haesu shook his head.

"Eh? Weren't you saying he was the culprit until now?"

"That's correct. But also not correct."

Yooshin scowled.

"Ah, are you playing games with me now? Don't beat around the bush and just say it."

"He probably orchestrated the explosion. But he wouldn't have done it himself. According to the investigation, the bomb installed on the plane was a high-precision high-explosive bomb. It's one of the bombs mainly used by special forces."

"What, then are you saying the Japanese military also participated?"

"No. In my opinion, it is presumed that an organization called Ninja Assassin stepped forward."

"...Ninja Assassin? What is that? What's with that chuunibyou-sounding name?"

Park Haesu said in a heavy voice.

"It is a legendary group that existed as an assassin group in the chaos of the Warring States period, even before hunters appeared."

Yooshin's expression went blank. What on earth was this setting that seemed like it would only be seen in a comic book...

"It's not a joke. The National Intelligence Service also considers it highly likely that Ninja Assassin was behind the plane explosion incident. Most of the incidents where famous people lost their lives in the past were carried out similarly to what you suffered, Yooshin-ssi."

Yooshin tilted his head and said.

"So you're saying a guild called Ninja Assassin or whatever touched me? Where is it? Let me go crush them right now."

Park Haesu shook his head.

"It's impossible. Do you know why they are called a legendary group? It's because it's extremely difficult to find their traces. It's highly speculated that they committed the crimes, but no one knows. Who the head of Ninja Assassin is, or where their base is. So, they can't be caught easily."

Yooshin scowled violently.

"No, then are you telling me to just leave the guys who attacked me alone?"

To him, who was bursting with anger, Park Haesu hesitated for a moment and then said in a low voice.

"...Of course, there is a way to contact them."

"Why are you saying that now? What is the method?"

Park Haesu hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

"There is a route."

"A route?"

"A route where you can request them."

"A request?"

"For instance, a murder request like this time."

There was a brief silence between the two. And.

"I apologize. Please pretend you didn't hear what I said."

Park Haesu stood up, hurriedly packing the documents into his bag.

"I will go find more detailed information."

And the moment he turned to leave the studio apartment.

"That's perfect. Let's make a murder request. To those guys. And let's make the target me. Since I'm alive, tell them to kill me."

Park Haesu's body stiffened. And a playful smile began to hang on Cheon Yooshin's lips.