Chapter 97

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 97

Chapter Title: Nightmare of Jealousy

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Wow, Hwi-yeon sunbae mentioned Jin-woo oppa again."

"Did you guys swap numbers?"

"No way. She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said she listens to our songs on Q-App too."

The Level Five members chattered excitedly while staring at their phones. The woman who looked like their manager grinned as she turned the steering wheel.

"Looks like Han Hwi-yeon was really impressed by your performance. Your music video views have spiked."

"Jin-woo oppa's fan cam views shot up like crazy too... I mean, they're through the roof!"

The youngest-looking member quickly corrected herself and finished her sentence.

"But hyung, why'd you turn down Hwi-yeon sunbae's offer to film a mukbang collab?"

"No way, really? Why not? You should've done it!"

One of the members twisted around to face Han Jin-woo Hunter, who was seated in the very back. The others gaped and turned toward him too.

"...It just felt too overwhelming."

"Whoa~ This guy's got it too good."

Han Jin-woo's face in the back seat turned ashen. There was no malice from the members, but he looked utterly wounded already.

'How could he possibly say in a situation like that, that she was tormenting him?'

Wiieeing—

That was when an ominous siren blared from everyone's phones. A message popped up on the navigation screen too.

The moment I saw the navigation alert, my mind went blank.

'Right, this guy had something even worse than a nightmare involving Han Hwi-yeon.'

This insane...!

A massive black shape barreled toward the van, and the manager slammed on the brakes.

Kwaaang!!

My body floated up, a massive explosion ringing in my ears. No pain hit me, but I could tell I was being tossed around.

"Aaahh!!"

"Help us!"

"Mom! Dad!"

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them to find myself standing in the middle of a ruined road. Sirens wailed nonstop amid screams, acrid smoke riding the wind.

It was the Yeouido S-Rank Gate Explosion—one of the domestic gate explosion disasters.

The second S-Rank gate explosion in Korea after Yeouido and Gapyeong. Kim Kang-hee Chairman's Heavenly Mandate had detected it, but it detonated far faster than expected, turning central Yeouido into hell in an instant.

'Maybe he just stood by and watched.'

"This way!"

"We'll find the survivors! Citizens, please evacuate quickly!"

Looking around, this seemed like a relatively safe zone. Injured hunters and civilians were getting treated off to one side. Ambulances rushed nonstop, loading and hauling people away.

Kwang!

A sharp gust of wind announced someone's landing.

"Kang Se-bin Hunter! The boss monster's fleeing toward Hangang Park!"

"Got it. Use Sky Breeze for wide-area healing and camp protection."

It was Se-bin and Cha Do-yun Hunter. Se-bin, her arm wrapped in bandages, leaped high into the air after her words and vanished. Cha Do-yun Hunter swung his arm, activating Sky Breeze, and the wounds on the fallen office workers began healing ever so slightly.

But they still grimaced in agony, barely breathing.

Kiing.

The Gourmet's Fork slipped from my hand again, streaking across the road.

'Can I finally meet the real Han Jin-woo Hunter now?'

Using Word Without Feet to step over monster debris and corpses toward the main road revealed an even more horrific scene.

"Help!"

"Hold on just a bit! We'll get you out soon!"

"M-Mom! No!"

Monsters were pouring from the gate. They smashed everything in sight, roaring skyward. Each roar brought more desperate cries from all around.

'Horrible.'

An unprepared S-Rank gate explosion looked just like the Hell Path emergence. Black smoke billowed from burning buildings, blood trailing along sidewalks.

Kkigik, kkik.

A monster like a chimeric beast emerged from the gate—a lion's head on a human torso. It dragged its mechanical legs across the asphalt, destroying everything nearby.

Kwaang!

"Min Ji-ho Hunter! Need backup here!"

"On it!"

A massive water jet pierced the lion head, and at the same time, Ji-ho unnie on her water dragon kneed its solar plexus. As the floating torso was bound by thick vines, crimson flames engulfed it.

Peobung!

Burning debris rained down. Hot smoke filled my lungs, forcing out ragged coughs.

As I hacked and caught my breath, I spotted Choi Min Hunter through the smoke. She looked utterly fed up now, her eyelids half-closed over black eyes.

"N-Noona! Guys, snap out of it...! Ji-hoon, Min-jae!"

'Han Jin-woo Hunter's voice!'

Seemed like the nightmare's late stage. Time for the real Han Jin-woo Hunter to appear.

Penetrating the inferno revealed a wrecked van, mangled beyond recognition. The Level Five members, alive and well just moments ago in the van, lay scattered, covered in blood, motionless as the dead.

"H-Huhk, h-heuk, u-ugh...!"

Han Jin-woo Hunter was the only one from the van still conscious, but his body was wrecked too. A huge glass shard jutted from his side, his leg twisted unnaturally.

"Han Jin-woo Hunter! Get it together!"

"S-Save us...!"

Kiing.

The Gourmet's Fork hovered over Han Jin-woo Hunter's head. This had to be the real one. The one trapped in this scene after enduring all the nightmares I'd witnessed earlier—the genuine Han Jin-woo Hunter.

The moment he saw me, he grabbed my arm and begged.

"Han Jin-woo Hunter, this is a nightmare. One made by the Gourmet."

"P-Please, my dongsaengs, the m-manager noona too..."

"Han Jin-woo Hunter! Get up now!"

Woo-oong—

I pulled out Ego and spoke right into his face, making his form flicker briefly.

"Eugh...!"

But he still couldn't grasp who he was or where he was, tears streaming down his face.

"It's all my fault..."

Huduk.

Han Jin-woo Hunter slowly rose. Tears streamed down his face.

"If I'd just done that mukbang with Hwi-yeon... we wouldn't have been passing through here at this hour."

"...It's not your fault, Han Jin-woo Hunter."

"I-It was all m-my stupid pr-pride..."

He dragged his broken leg, crawling toward the members. Blood poured endlessly from the glass shard in his side.

Teop.

I grabbed his shoulder. He came easily, then gasped as our eyes met. I had to bring him back to reality somehow.

'Not sure if this is the best way, but...!'

"Mi-rae-ssi got hurt!"

"...What?"

Han Jin-woo Hunter's eyes widened. Color flooded his pale face.

Definite reaction. Sorry to Mi-rae-ssi, but pushing like this would make him remember who he was.

"Mi-rae-ssi got hurt right now! Only you can heal her, Han Jin-woo Hunter!"

"M-Me? Heal, what?"

His hazy focus sharpened. Light returned to his vacant eyes, swollen lips parting slowly... then wide.

"Sh-Shin Ji-ui Hunter? Ugh!"

"Whoa!"

Pain hit as soon as his mind cleared, and he toppled toward me. I caught him and peered into his face again.

"Remember now? This is the Gourmet's nightmare."

"Augh, ugh..."

"Haa, heal yourself first."

Sararak.

Recalling who he was summoned Healing Hand around Han Jin-woo Hunter. Green leaves mended his leg and side. As his body restored, he slowly straightened up. His face and ears flushed red.

"...My crush on Mi-rae-ssi is a secret."

"Ah, yeah..."

'Feels like everyone knows.'

His first words after realizing it was a nightmare... I bit back a laugh.

"But how'd you get in here, Shin Ji-ui Hunter?"

"Ah, I'll explain on the way. There's something you need to take care of, Han Jin-woo Hunter."

"Me?"

I needed to find Han Hwi-yeon. To do that, I had to see this nightmare through to the end.

"Han Jin-woo Hunter, heal everyone here like you did before. We need to finish this nightmare first."

"Y-Yes!"

Han Jin-woo Hunter took a deep breath and extended his hands forward.

Basrak.

A massive shadow loomed over us. Looking up, a giant leaf floated down like a butterfly, positioning behind him like a radiant halo.

As he slowly spread his cupped hands outward, the leaf shattered into hundreds of smaller ones, flying toward everyone around. It felt like witnessing a miracle.

Woo-oong—

The nightmare rippled, shifting to the next scene. Han Jin-woo Hunter poured more power into his skill, scattering Healing Hand again.

'Come to think of it, what does the Savior's Pupil show for an awakener?'

I half-closed my right eye and looked at him.

Touching the skills brought up details. This part resembled the Creator's authority, but the three lines below were new.

What the Savior's left pupil showed was how to use this person to save the world.

'In other words, Han Jin-woo Hunter must survive until the Hell Path opens, no matter what.'

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter?"

"Ah."

Han Jin-woo Hunter leaned in. I startled, opening my eyes fully, and the text vanished. Looking around, the Yeouido explosion was gone, replaced by a dim hospital corridor.

"Can I ask how you got in now?"

Han Jin-woo Hunter blinked at me intently.

"I escaped my nightmare first, and it gave me this fork."

'Technically, I didn't escape a nightmare.'

Recalling memories was the nightmare itself, so close enough.

"Anyway, this fork lets me enter others' nightmares."

"Ah... So I guess I..."

"...Sorry."

Han Jin-woo Hunter stared blankly, then bowed his head. He chuckled softly and spoke.

"It's fine. Couldn't be helped. No need for Shin Ji-ui Hunter to apologize!"

"I won't tell anyone, so don't worry."

"Of course not! I know you wouldn't, Shin Ji-ui Hunter!"

He looked straight at me as he added.

Good to have his trust.

"So, how do we break this nightmare?"

"Ah, stab the root of the nightmare with this fork..."

"Jin-woo!"

Suddenly, Han Hwi-yeon appeared, covered in black soot.

Teop.

"You awakened! Anywhere hurt?"

She grabbed Han Jin-woo Hunter's hand, face full of worry, pouring out affectionate words. He gaped in disbelief, glancing between his hand and her.

People in the ward peeked at them. Han Hwi-yeon smirked, enjoying it, staring at him obsessively.

"Stab the root of my nightmare with that fork, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"Hoo..."

I handed him the fork. He freed his hand from hers and gripped it. He knew without me saying—the root was Han Hwi-yeon.

"Hey."

'Wow.'

First time hearing Han ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jin-woo Hunter talk like that. Even Han Hwi-yeon flinched, her brow twitching.

Puk.

A sound like stabbing a steak with a fork. Han Hwi-yeon, covered in black dust, hardened like a wax doll. He pulled the fork out, and she melted entirely, black liquid splattering stickily on the floor. Han Jin-woo Hunter bit his lip watching her.

He exhaled shakily, lips parting carefully.

"Stop being jealous of me."