Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Lightbearer
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Thanks to "The Lightbearer," finding the gate's location had been a breeze. We'd swiftly taken down the spawning regular monsters, and now only the boss remained.
"Shall we get started?"
"Yeah."
Rumble...
As Joshua placed his hand on the gate, the domed ceiling of the observatory above began to slowly part. Based on the patterns so far, the boss monster would likely drop from above as well. I summoned my shield in advance and stepped back a little...
Boom!!
Dozens of telescopes crashed down at once.
Clank, clink.
The telescopes that had fallen from the sky began assembling themselves, soon merging into a single sea-urchin-like form.
'Big body means a bigger hit zone—works in my favor.'
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui."
Joshua sidled up beside me then, tilting his head slightly to meet my eyes.
"Mind giving this monster just five minutes? Leaving it be, I mean."
"...You want to scout it out first?"
"Exactly. Knowing the patterns will make things easier next time."
With the risk of monsters leaking out, prioritizing strategy seemed off, but his mindset rubbed me the wrong way. Still, I nodded.
'If things go south, I'll just end it quick.'
Click.
The silence shattered as a rifle chambered a round from the pile of telescopes.
Bang-bang-bang!!
Black constellation models fired out like bullets. Using "Bird That Heeds Daytime Words," I stepped through the air, dodging them all, and shattered the few that didn't explode with Ego. Each constellation that broke sent glass shards tinkling to the floor.
"Even among C-ranks, its attacks are pretty straightforward!"
Crack.
Joshua slashed the telescope's lens with the jackknives in both hands, offering a curt assessment. The lens thudded to the ground heavily but soon extruded a new one, restoring itself.
"Self-healing type, huh... If soloing, it'd suit a hunter who can unload everything at once."
He spoke with the earnestness of someone sharing攻略 tips.
Thud, thud, thud.
The telescope spat more constellations, all hurtling toward me in unison. Too many to dodge, so I held Ego's trigger down long—pure white sound waves rippled out, shaking the entire space.
Screeech.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the telescopes, sparks flying everywhere.
Rumble.
Once the constellations hit the floor, I landed too. Joshua spun his jackknife idly in one hand, eyeing the telescope with keen interest.
"It's been targeting only you since earlier—looks like it prioritizes light-attribute hunters."
"Ah, that explains it. Wasn't just my imagination."
"No injuries?"
I shook my head, and his lips curved up in a broad grin.
"Think that's enough. Care to finish it?"
Joshua bowed politely, so I raised Ego and took aim at the telescope pile.
Bang!!
The pristine white bullet from Ego pierced its center. It burst apart without a single counterattack.
Psssh...
Telescope debris scattered across the dungeon floor, small batteries—like byproducts—rolling to my feet amid the wreckage.
[Item Acquired]
[Used Battery / Mid-grade Byproduct]
"Mid-grade byproducts from this difficulty? Not bad at all."
"Let's head out. Need to close the gate first."
Thud.
I dragged Joshua—who was still inspecting the byproducts—out of the dungeon. Only then did the gate begin sealing shut. Testing it, I reopened it to see the starting point's scenery clearly.
"Y-You cleared it so fast!"
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui handled it quick."
'Well, aren't you smooth?'
The staffer at the gate jumped in surprise, greeting us, while Joshua casually credited me.
"So, now..."
Joshua spun around to face me squarely.
"Shall we talk guild matters?"
"...Haha."
Not something to discuss standing here.
Joshua flashed a beaming smile and bowed slightly toward me.
"Where to start? Rewards first?"
"Kinda urgent, yeah..."
"Or maybe the records on every gate explosion and the Boundary?"
My eyes widened involuntarily. Joshua chuckled low, leaning in to whisper.
"You seem awfully interested in dungeons."
"Can't say I'm not."
'Boundary intel does sound tempting.'
Even in that Gangpo Fortress A-rank, I'd recovered bits of memory from the Boundary. Even if Joshua only had records, they might reveal my past and the apocalypse. And if they helped clear my karma...
Whoosh—
Suddenly yanked backward, a large hand landed on my shoulder. Joshua's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at me, and I turned to see whose hand it was.
"Gate closed okay? No injuries?"
It was Se-bin. She'd mopped up all the leaked monsters and stood pristine behind me.
"Hm."
Joshua straightened from his bow and grinned brightly at her.
"Hunter Kang Se-bin, right? First time meeting in person."
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
Se-bin offered a businesslike tone with a faint smile, and Joshua extended his hand first.
"Bullet Guild Master, Joshua Chester."
"Kang Se-bin."
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui, everything go okay?"
Before awkward silence could settle, Ha Mi-jun Hunter and Han Jin-woo Hunter arrived. Ha Mi-jun had reverted "Lumberjack" to his eyebrow piercing and positioned himself between me and Joshua, while Han Jin-woo checked me for wounds.
'Treating me like I'm helpless.'
Joshua calmly took in the scene before stepping aside to address me.
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui, could I have that business card back for a sec?"
"Oh, here."
As I handed it over, he pressed its corner with his pinky.
Sizzle.
Smoke rose, imprinting his fingerprint on the card.
"It's a free pass to our guild's owned dungeons. Use it anytime—I'll be waiting."
"...Thanks."
"Looking forward to seeing you again."
Joshua smiled and departed first.
"Mr. Joshua, the car's almost here...!"
"It's fine! Nice day for a walk."
He waved to the staffer and strolled down the lakeside path. A faint scent of burned wood lingered in his wake.
"No trouble?"
Only after he vanished from sight did Se-bin revert to her usual warm expression.
"Nah. Monsters were weak, dungeon super short."
"With him?"
"Huh?"
Her dark eyes fixed on me steadily.
"No trouble with him?"
Se-bin leaned in closer, dipping her head. Her sculpted face loomed suddenly; I jerked back on instinct.
'Jeez, that scared me.'
I nudged her pouting face away and brushed it off.
"What trouble? First time meeting the guy."
Se-bin nodded slowly. She seemed displeased but dropped it.
"Hunter Kang Se-bin said you're used to sacrifice."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter's words resurfaced.
Was that why Se-bin worried so much?
I sifted through memories of her while waiting for the car.
We met in elementary school, became friends, went to the same middle and high schools. Her sudden awakening in high school meant few standout memories, but we'd spent plenty of time together.
After my awakening, it was like now: clearing dungeons with her, containing explosions, the Hell Path...
'...Huh?'
A chill swept over me. Unexplained dread and fear gnawed from my toes up, my heart pounding unpleasantly, throat tightening with unresolved questions.
Soon, my anxiety crystallized into a single thought.
'Why are my memories of Se-bin so spotty?'
I twisted slightly, viewing her only with my right eye.
If it held my memories, it should know more than I recalled. Otherwise...
Kang Se-bin
My Precious Childhood Friend
'What the hell is this?'
The info was too sparse. Less than on Joshua, whom I'd barely met. Se-bin was an S-rank hunter across all timelines, my friend.
That fact never changed—yet why couldn't I remember specifics? Like someone had carved out memories of her. I recalled others from the same timelines—Choi Min Hunter, Ha Mi-jun Hunter, Han Jin-woo Hunter—just fine.
"Ji-ui?"
"Gah!"
Slap.
I swatted Se-bin's hand off my shoulder without thinking. The air grew heavy; her eyes widened. Frozen with her hand raised, she just stared. Feeling suffocated by her gaze, I blurted something.
"N-No, I mean..."
"You okay?"
"Just startled..."
"Not hurt anywhere?"
Instead of excuses, she pressed her hand to my forehead, unleashing worries.
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui doesn't look well. Let's get back to the hotel."
"Need another Healing Hand?"
"N-No, I'm fine."
Even Ha Mi-jun and Han Jin-woo fussed. They forced smiles, clearly startled. After reassuring everyone, I grabbed Se-bin's hand.
"Sorry. Wasn't on purpose."
"I know. You always jump if someone touches you mid-thought."
Thud.
She leaned her forehead on my shoulder. A comfortable weight and soap scent tickled my nose.
"I'm fine, really."
She murmured softly. I wanted to say something, but guilt and confusion clogged my throat. All I could do was pat her shoulder, feeling her presence beside me.
"Hey, come out."
The moment I entered my room, I summoned Ego.
Whirr.
Ego appeared instantly in my silhouette form, as if waiting.
'Because of Kang Se-bin?'
'Yeah.'
Ego tapped his forehead and sighed deeply.
'I held back telling you 'cause it'd confuse you.'
'Spill it.'
'I just met your childhood friend for the first time this timeline.'
Thud!
"Ha... damn it."
I flopped onto the bed, groaning aloud.
'Gone from the very start?'
'Yeah. Didn't exist at all.'
If Ego was right, even the last timeline had no Se-bin. And I remembered timelines without her existence.
'What were the ones with her like?'
Se-bin hadn't died like Choi Min Hunter; she'd steadily cleared dungeons. Her whereabouts got murky after Hell Path opened, but...
'Ji-ui.'
Ego leaned over the bed, gripping my shoulder.
'Remember when you first met me this timeline? You asked who the traitor was.'
'Yeah. Still don't remember... wait.'
No way he was about to say...
Creeak.
"You think Se-bin's the traitor?"
'Could be. Possibilities are everywhere.'
I shot up from the bed, yelling at Ego.
'Only her and the traitor are memory blanks—that's plenty suspicious.'
'Timelines where Kang Se-bin doesn't exist at all. She couldn't betray if she wasn't there.'
'Ever think you can't remember the traitor 'cause you never knew them?'
'No. I knew who it was in the last timeline.'
The more we talked, the deeper the maze. Se-bin's shadow merged with the traitor's. She couldn't be, but I couldn't be 100% sure—and I hated myself for it.
'...Let's gather info. I'll look into who's erasing your memories too.'
Bzzz—
My pocket phone buzzed as Ego finished. Didn't want to check anything. My head felt ready to explode.
Bzzz—
"Ugh... what now."
I unlocked it to the messenger app; the clan chat was flooded. Tapping it brought up Kim Hyun-wook Hunter's messages first.
[Alert!]
[Everyone!!!]
[Got the Aoshima Cat Dungeon entry permit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]