Chapter 59
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Windy Welcome
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Long-haul flights were just another word for fattening people up. They handed out welcome drinks the moment we boarded, which I sipped alongside some cookies, and then lunch came right after takeoff. After dimming the lights for a short nap, dinner arrived not long after, followed by another round of sleep.
"Feeding us like this has to be borderline torture..."
The flight attendants offered menus with various snacks in between, but I politely declined.
Any more food, and I'd start regurgitating it for real...
After what felt like an eternity, we finally exited through the private gate and rendezvoused with the Dungeon Academy staff. I took a deep breath and stretched, my joints popping with satisfying cracks as a groan escaped my lips.
"You okay?"
"Everything's so stiff..."
Se-bin eyed me with a genuinely concerned look just as Ha Mi-jun Hunter handed over an auto-translator. Once I plugged it into my ear, the English announcements shifted seamlessly to Korean in the same voice.
No matter how many times I see this, it's still amazing.
Marveling at modern tech, I followed the staff outside, where warm sunlight bathed my face.
"Hello! You must be Kim Kang-hee Chairman, right?"
A Black woman around Mom's age, leaning against a pillar, spotted us and greeted the chairman with a bright smile and a handshake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Joan Felt from the Windy Guild."
"I'm Kim Kang-hee, Chairman of the Korea Hunter Association. These are our association's S-Rank Hunters."
"What an honor! You must be tired, so let's head to the hotel first."
Three limousines waited where Joan pointed, their doors sliding open automatically as we approached.
They look like they're about to transform or something.
"We'll head to the hotel two at a time."
"See you all at the hotel, then."
The chairman climbed into the lead car, and as if by prior agreement, Han Jin-woo Hunter and Ha Mi-jun Hunter joined him.
"Ji-ui-ya, let's go."
"Oh, yeah."
Se-bin led me by the hand into our car, cool AC air hitting my face as the driver greeted us warmly. The wide roads and clear blue sky outside already felt worlds apart from home.
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Paul from Windy Guild. I'll get you to the hotel safely."
"Thanks."
Paul accelerated with a cheerful greeting, flipping on the radio with one hand. A pop song I'd heard in stores back home played as the limo cruised along the waterfront. Everything felt so peaceful—it was hard to imagine doomsday or even a single gate popping open here.
Wise, Will, Windy
A massive airborne LED billboard advertised Windy Guild. The navy book emblem beside their slogan revealed the guild's identity.
The U.S. had no central hunter association; regional guilds managed hunters instead. Guild masters were usually S-Rank Hunters, and each guild's character varied wildly based on their leader.
Windy Guild, the one hosting us, specialized in research—focusing less on dungeon raids and more on byproducts and developing items for assaults.
"Windy Guild is research-oriented, right?"
"Yes! We study dungeon byproducts and gate explosion timings."
Paul's eyes lit up, his passion for the guild evident.
"We don't have many combat specialists. Lots of Creators and even plenty of non-Awakeners."
"Fascinating."
"We prefer researching how dungeon materials can protect the outside world over slaying monsters inside. So everyone's glued to their desks all day."
Dungeon materials to protect the outside world...
An intriguing approach. That must be how they developed their barriers.
"Speaking of which, doesn't the Korea Hunter Association have Director An Mi-rae?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"You have no idea how much her papers and experiments have advanced dungeon research! Modern tech changed before and after her debut—it's no exaggeration."
Mi-rae-ssi’s reputation still floored me no matter how often I heard it.
No wonder they call her a once-in-a-century genius. She's got that prickly personality, but not purely unlikeable—like Schrödinger's tsundere.
"I hear Windy Guild has some famous researchers too..."
"Pardon? Haha, you're too kind."
I subtly probed to draw out talk of the Azadivar siblings.
They were already rising stars during their barrier research reveal, so he'd surely mention them.
"Dr. Naomi's stamina potion paper and Chris's byproduct processing method were huge in academia. They halved production times."
"Right, right. And they're working on other stuff too. You know, that one...?"
"Ah! You mean that!"
Paul snapped his fingers, eyes widening as if struck by inspiration.
Yes—now for the barrier research...
"Matt's enchantment research!"
"...Pardon?"
"Oh, that was brilliant. Using byproduct solutions like detergent to boost clothing durability! It'll take time to commercialize, but..."
Paul launched into an endless spiel about this enchantment research I'd never heard of, like a motor had kicked on in his mouth.
What? Why no mention of the Azadivars? Are they not around in this timeline? That can't be—Ego remembers them up to the last loop, and this change dwarfs even Cha Do-yun Hunter's attitude shift.
"You researched Windy Guild? You know a ton."
"Uh? Oh, yeah... Gotta know who we're dealing with."
I brushed off Se-bin's comment and gazed out the window again. They weren't Mi-rae-ssi level, but the Azadivars had drawn massive attention in Windy. They'd achieved solid results even before the barrier paper...
Screeech.
The highway cruiser slowed. The road had been empty earlier, but now traffic built up ahead—explaining why.
Skyscrapers pierced the sky alongside older, uneven buildings, signaling the city's edge with a flashing 'CHICAGO' at the tunnel entrance. The crude, tacky design somehow charmed me.
We passed a huge mall, crossed a bridge, and pulled up to a hotel amid the skyscrapers.
"We'll deliver your luggage to your rooms later. Enjoy your stay!"
"Thank you!"
Inside, a sleek lobby welcomed us with soft classical music and courteous staff. A typical high-end hotel scene.
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui~"
"Oh, over there."
Lost in the lobby, I spotted Ha Mi-jun Hunter waving from a sofa. Everyone clustered around Joan; I sat beside Han Jin-woo Hunter.
"Everyone here? Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Joan Felt, D-Rank Hunter with Windy Guild. I'll assist with the conference schedule. Nice to work with you!"
We clapped lightly; Joan smiled and checked her tablet.
"First, the itinerary. Rest freely at the hotel today."
"Tomorrow starts in the morning, right?"
"Yes. Opening ceremony at ten, so be in the lobby by nine. After that, presentations and events are optional—enjoy at your leisure."
Joan pulled out five keycards, handing them to Ha Mi-jun Hunter.
"All executive rooms with lounge access. Make yourselves at home~"
"Thanks. This'll make it comfy."
"No problem! See you in the lobby at nine tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Joan hurried out; the chairman rose slowly from the sofa.
"Long flights hit harder with age."
"You're in your prime. Anyway, here are the keys."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter distributed them like a tour guide.
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui gets 809, and I'm 808..."
Snatch.
A hand swiped a keycard from Ha Mi-jun Hunter's grip.
Room 807
Card trick?
Ha Mi-jun Hunter's 808 had swapped to 807. And 808 was now...
"I'll take 808."
In Se-bin's hand.
"This prime youth is driving me nuts. Do whatever~"
"Can I come hang in your room later?"
"Huh? Sure!"
Craving that school trip vibe?
Come to think of it, last time we roomed together was middle school trip. We went to the same high school, but she skipped more than she attended.
Suddenly, the move felt kinda cute.
"Ahem."
The chairman cleared his throat, drawing our attention.
"Rest up today. See you tomorrow."
"Yes!"
"They're really not showing up..."
Searching 'Mina Azadivar' and 'Muha Azadivar' online yielded nothing on them—just the occasional celebrity namesake.
Hey, you remember the Azadivar siblings too, right?
Azadivar?
Yeah, the twin siblings who made the barrier.
Oh, the ones with the liquid barrier enveloping whole buildings?
Exactly! Them!
Ego remembered them up to the previous timeline. So why are they gone now? This is way bigger than Cha Do-yun Hunter's personality tweak.
My mind swirled in chaos. I set down my phone and stared blankly at the ceiling. Alone in this spacious room—bigger than my house—the silence amplified. Mom and Dad practically lived at Ji-yu's hospital, so sleeping solo was routine since childhood. But this quiet hit different; sleep wouldn't come.
Maybe leave the TV on?
Ding-dong.
I reached for the remote when the doorbell rang.
Who is it?
Slipping on slippers, I opened the door—and soap scent wafted in before I could check.
"Knew you weren't asleep."
Se-bin. She grinned and slipped inside, heading straight for the bed.
"Yeah. Can't sleep. Jet lag, I guess."
"Same."
Creak.
Se-bin perched on the bed's edge; I climbed back in and pulled up the covers.
"Why'd you come? Can't sleep?"
"Yeah. Body's tired, but mind's wide awake."
Click.
Se-bin turned on the TV. Incomprehensible news droned; she lowered the volume.
"Too quiet, and sleep won't come, right?"
"Yeah, exactly. I was just thinking of turning on the TV."
"Remember high school? We did this before."
Sudden nostalgia trip?
Se-bin reminisced about high school antics, chuckling to herself. I'd thought hunter life left little room for memories, but we shared plenty.
From me beating up a bully senior to winning the track meet—Se-bin remembered it all.
Getting sleepy now.
Her stories blended with the news into a soothing haze. The plush bedding hugged me tight as sounds faded away.
"Ji-ui-ya."
"......"
Ji-ui didn't respond to Se-bin's call. She'd drifted off, breathing steadily. Only then did Se-bin switch off the TV and rise.
She knew Ji-ui struggled to sleep in overly quiet places—unlike herself. And sure enough, Ji-ui had been awake when she arrived.
Click.
Se-bin flicked off the light. Moonlight from the window was the only glow in the darkened room.
She gazed down at Ji-ui's face. Tense since deplaning, it now relaxed in peace.
Thump.
For a split second, it overlapped with the dream version—Ji-ui smiling relieved after being stabbed by 'Shadow'. The resemblance was eerily identical.
Silly thoughts...
Se-bin brushed Ji-ui's hair aside. Feeling the warm breath on her hand finally eased her mind.
Creak.
She buried her unease in the shadows and left the room. The dark silhouette trembled unsteadily.