Chapter 53

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 53

Chapter Title: Flight

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Ten minutes earlier, inside the dream world of the "Corpse Mobille."

―Unnie!

It was Ji-yu's voice. That voice she'd longed for her entire life slipped through the gaps in the music box melody.

"Ji-yu... you? Ji-yu, are you there right now?!"

―Let's take a picture together here too!

―Didn't we just take one?

―You had your eyes closed last time, Unnie!

'My voice...'

As she trudged toward the source of the sound, the conversation grew clearer.

―I'm gonna go take some with my friends too~

―I reserved a spot at the Chinese place for lunch, so hurry up and come back!

―Haha, you're so excited for graduation.

Clunk.

"Ah... I see."

This was the dream world. A dream detached from reality, merely reflecting her own wishes.

―When are we going to buy my uniform? Can I just wear yours?

―We have to buy a new one. Mine's all worn out.

―You wore a donated one from school, right? I wanna wear yours too.

―No way, we're getting you a new one.

This dream was Ji-yu's elementary school graduation day. A moment Ji-yu had never experienced—and one Shin Ji-ui had desperately wished for just as much.

―Ji-yu! Let's go to the orientation together!

―Okay!

Damn that music box—Ji-yu's voice coming from it was frustratingly sweet. The Ji-yu buried in her heart hadn't aged past eight, but the one in the music box had already grown old enough for middle school.

Rattle.

"Found it."

After walking a long way toward the sound, her toe bumped into a small music box.

―Hurry up and come, Unnie~

―I'll be right there.

―Ah, come quick, pleeease~

What had been so urgent that she went ahead?

Squatting in front of the music box, she quietly listened to Ji-yu's voice. Her eyes kept stinging from the laughter brimming in it. Ji-yu was whining for her to hurry, and she pretended to be annoyed even though she loved it deep down.

A sweet dream. One she'd want to listen to forever...

―Last time you said that too and didn't come.

"Gasp!"

Crack!

Without thinking, she smashed the music box with her fist. The lid crumpled slightly.

―Even on the day I died, you didn't come see me, Unnie.

"That's...!"

This wasn't Ji-yu's true feelings. Just a vile illusion created by this disgusting dream world.

But knowing that didn't stop Ji-yu's voice from dredging up the moment she'd regretted her whole life. Guilt choked her throat and crushed her limbs.

―You won't be able to protect anything, Unnie.

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heart pounded fiercely the moment she heard those words.

'I... won't be able to protect anything...?'

She slowly lifted her head and stared straight at the music box.

"Won't be able to protect anything." It was the one statement from the fake Ji-yu that she could shake her head at.

"Thank you so much for helping. I really didn't know what to do..."

"Thanks. Now I've finally come to my senses."

"Thank you, Unnie."

The voices of those she'd helped pushed out the fake's voice.

She had cleared the karma from sacrifices made, and now she had the power to avoid more.

"No. I can protect them."

She wouldn't waver from mere words of a fake.

Crunch!!

She stomped the music box flat. It shattered pitifully, tiny gears rolling across the pink floor.

She hadn't protected her beloved little sister's final moments, but she bore the mission to protect the world her sister had loved.

'I'll definitely complete this mission and bring Ji-yu back to life.'

Bzzz, bzzz.

The insane pink space vibrated violently, and her body began to float lightly.

"Guh!"

Air suddenly flooded her lungs. A gasp of it went down wrong, forcing out ragged breaths that made her whole body buzz. She'd doubted if it really self-destructed just from hanging, but fortunately, the status window blinked before her eyes.

"Ji-ui!"

"S-Shin Ji-ui Hunter, are you coming to?!"

Awoo! A―woo!

Nokdu let out a high howl while licking her face wildly, as Han Jin-woo Hunter and Ha Mi-jun Hunter leaned toward her.

'Anyway, this place...'

Looking around, flames surrounded them. They were inside the "Air Raid Shelter," it seemed.

"What happened?"

"That's what I want to ask. What got you, Ji-ui?"

"Ah, the Corpse Mobille. Seemed like a mental skill hit."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter touched his forehead with eyes closed for a moment, then soon wore his usual languid smile.

"Phew... Thought something bad happened."

"Anyway, what's the situation now? There's still one monster left."

"Ah, that monster was about to attack Shin Ji-ui Hunter, so Choi Min Hunter opened the Air Raid Shelter."

So that's what happened. She needed to get out quick and check the monster's status window.

Rustle.

"Huh...?"

As she tried to rise, a familiar trench coat rustled beneath her.

'This is Se-bin's...'

Grabbing the trench coat and jumping up, she saw Se-bin standing a few steps away, watching her.

"Se-bin."

Se-bin's black eyes brimmed with tears ready to spill, her slightly parted lips twitching as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠choosing words.

'Made her worry again.'

It was the same look from the hospital right after awakening. Shadows on her face flickered unnaturally.

"I'm okay."

As she walked right up to reassure Se-bin, she lowered her head to meet eyes.

"Sorry."

"...Not your fault, Ji-ui."

"Still sorry."

Plop.

Se-bin buried her face in her shoulder, quietly exhaling. Amid the soap scent, a faint metallic tang mixed in. She hugged Se-bin tightly, patting her back. Se-bin's heart pounded so hard she felt it through her body. Her back rose and fell with each breath.

"Think we can head out now?"

"Ah, yes."

Responding to Ha Mi-jun Hunter, she let go of Se-bin. They walked to the shelter wall, enduring the heat as they passed straight through.

Step.

"Huh...!"

The moment she stepped out of the shelter, a status window popped up, followed by the mission reacting. Past knowledge seeped into her mind like water into a sponge.

'This guy's a monster that reflects the psyches of those who entered the boundary.'

It stops attacking and self-destructs when everyone's minds calm, but indiscriminately targets if they're agitated. That's why it paired well with the Corpse Mobille. No one pulled into its dream world would stay calm.

Crunch.

The collapsed "Today's weather is clear" turned to dust and scattered.

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, do you know why that monster's like that?"

"Ah. It says it self-destructed because our minds stabilized."

"Haha, peace of mind."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter glanced at Se-bin and chuckled slyly.

'Something solid must've gone down no matter what.'

The full destruction status appeared. Then a barrage of other windows followed.

Rumble.

The shattered sun reformed overhead, the pitch-black sky turning blue. The abnormally stretched tiled roof walls returned to normal. Everything was truly reverting.

"Haaa..."

Drained of energy, she collapsed there, exhaling deeply.

'The battle with the most hair-raising moments so far.'

Lifting her clothes slightly, she checked her belly pierced by the paper crane. Thanks to Han Jin-woo Hunter's "Healing Hand," it was clean, but a faint scar remained up close.

But she'd gained more. Clearing karma recovered much past memory and unlocked a new Ego form.

Getting her gut pierced for this? Not a bad deal.

Awoo―

"Good job, Nokdu."

Nokdu yawned lazily and nuzzled her leg. Kim Min-sook Hunter, staring, bent down to pet its head.

"Must be really tired."

"Seems like. Nokdu, go inside if you're sleepy."

Kyawoo!

Kiiing!

Nokdu glowed green and returned to the bracelet.

If you're that tired, stay in—seriously can't help it.

"Kang Se-bin Hunter, any contact?"

"No. Later than expected. Boundary clears usually take longest."

From the briefing, clearing all internal monsters plus the boundary completed dungeon destruction. Lifeforms exit, gate closes, then dungeon vanishes. No word from the internal team yet.

"Send two to the internal team. Boss defense probably up, giving them trouble..."

Thud!

Something heavy shook the ground. Se-bin's words drowned in the noise; they all slowly turned toward it.

"Wh... why is this here?"

A worn wooden door with a taegeuk emblem in the center. It should've been at the dungeon entrance, not before the internal team.

The gate to the A-Rank Gyeongpodae Dungeon.

Chills ran over her like she'd seen the forbidden; her chest thudded unpleasantly.

Everyone else too. Confused faces glared at the sudden gate, frowning or clutching heads to make sense of it.

"Gate exploding... could a new dispatch enter?"

"No. Exploding gates only open inward."

Kim Min-sook Hunter answered coolly. Wrinkles on her brow showed how seriously she took it.

Ring ring.

Se-bin's phone rang. Before the tone finished, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tapped to answer.

Static―

Noise blared from the speaker. Se-bin winced, pulling it from her ear, then hit speaker.

―Cha Do-yun here. Cleared up to the boss. But...

Cha Do-yun Hunter trailed off, then continued.

―A hidden monster appeared.

"Hidden monster?"

―Humanoid in scholar garb. Name's 'Wanderer Searching for People.' Invincible skill—attacks don't land. Attribute...

Rumble―

A massive boom through the phone. Screams and urgent voices mixed chaotically.

―Details should pop like boundary monsters! Heading your way now!

Se-bin furrowed her brow slightly at the surprise, glancing at the others. No one answered what it was. No such monster had appeared before.

"Gate still there?"

―Vanished when hidden monster spawned. You too...?

"Yes. Came to boundary team."

―Haa... So that's where it went.

Cha Do-yun Hunter sighed long.

―Sending combat-ready to boundary anyway. Be careful.

"Got it."

Call ended; silence fell. Sudden gate shift, unknown monster. Chaos loomed.

Thump, thump, thump.

Everyone staring at the internal team, the hidden monster, this heavy atmosphere—all familiar. Her pounding heart and twisting guts tried to summon past memories.

What was it? What happened?

Detected karma meant an irreversible mistake here—usually someone's sacrifice.

'Even a tiny fact—remember something!'

Forcing strength into buckling legs, she squeezed her eyes shut. That situation only she remembered. She needed it now.

No more deaths. Steadying breath, she focused on incoming memories.

"'The healing hunter's coming soon. So...'"

"No need... for that."

Choi Min Hunter's voice. He spoke labored, on the verge of death.

"This body... guh... wasn't meant to live anyway."

"Stop. Stop talking."

"But while with you..."

Beeeep―

A horrific ring swallowed his last words.

"...Next time, I won't fail."

The past memory ended with her dry mutter.

The mission reacting fiercely on entry, facts she remembered (Ego aside), her past self's murmur. Piecing it gave the key fact.

'This regression wasn't my first...'

"Urp."

Bile rose suddenly. The thing erasing her memories had struck again. Glancing around guiltily, mouth covered, her eyes met crimson ones over Se-bin's shoulder.

'Choi Min Hunter...'

He turned back to the dungeon depths.

The karma piled here was probably Choi Min Hunter's death.

Thump, thump, thump.

Beast-like footsteps echoed like rallying her mind. Beyond the endless dirt path, a black silhouette ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠approached amid massive sandstorm.

Step.

It emerged through the sand.

Black hat, blue-tinged robe, worn straw sandals. A monster in historical drama garb walked slowly toward them. As it fully entered view, text floated calmly above.