Chapter 8
**Chapter 8: The Shadow of the Quiet Dawn**
I forced a calm expression, but I was slightly startled.
Normally, when one reached level 50, the total of their stats would hover around 320 points.
The difference came from what each person started with.
Yet my total stats reached 560.
That meant a difference of 240 points compared to hunters of the same level.
In other words...
“Almost... approaching level 100.”
I looked at my body, glowing faintly.
If this were holy power, it would be excellent... but...
Whoosh!
I lightly dodged the skeleton’s fearless charge and examined the newly acquired skill.
It was a skill that had changed due to a trait application.
‘Dark Absorption...?’
Skills like this could be obtained by hunters of similar classes, even if not unique.
That was why I knew of **Shadow Absorption**.
It was a skill that absorbed the opponent’s shadow to reinforce weapons.
It had decent utility, so assassins would covet it.
‘But...’
I had never heard of a skill called **Dark Absorption**.
As someone who prided himself on knowing many assassin-related skills, it was surprising.
**[Dark Absorption] Lv.1**
- Absorb part of the opponent’s despair, energize it, and detonate it into an explosion.
- Cooldown: 10 minutes.
- Trait activation condition: When dealing damage to five or more targets simultaneously.
“Absorb despair and detonate...?”
Shadow Absorption absorbed the opponent’s shadow to strengthen weapons.
But detonation?
‘I’ll have to try it myself to understand clearly.’
I looked at the skeletons.
They charged toward me with glowing red eyes and a murderous intent.
I gripped my dagger and activated the skill.
“Dark Absorption.”
Swoosh!
At that moment, black flames began flickering above the heads of the skeletons that had been attacking me.
I could instantly tell what it was.
‘Despair...’
They expressed despair as black flames.
But how was absorption done?
‘I’ll absorb.’
I absorbed one skeleton’s despair.
At that instant.
[12%.]
A fleeting image crossed my mind.
I absorbed the despair of another skeleton without hesitation.
[36%, 84%.]
Despair rose rapidly.
It rose just from thinking of absorbing it.
However, the despair of the distant skeletons could not be absorbed.
It seemed the absorption distance was important.
And before long, it reached 100%.
Whoosh!
My dagger began to flicker with black light.
I understood that it was ready.
“Explosion.”
With a small murmur, I swung my dagger toward the skeletons surrounding me.
Boom!
With the explosion, the skeletons flew off in all directions.
It was only one explosion, yet...
“Hah.”
Almost twenty skeletons were completely shattered.
And...
**[Reset condition met. The cooldown of Dark Absorption is reset.]**
Black flames began to reappear above the heads of the remaining skeletons.
The corners of my lips lifted slightly.
This skill could compensate for the fatal weakness of assassin hunters.
My eyes flashed.
“Absorb.”
Eventually, I gave them complete rest.
* * *
It was a shabby office that matched the guy’s X-shaped face.
When I entered the untidy office, Woon frowned.
I hadn’t expected to see that ugly mug again.
“Hehehe, what brings the great Red Circle hunter here to this pathetic place?”
“...I have to assign him one job.”
“What job? Another runaway girl?”
“Shut up and don’t talk nonsense.”
Thud.
Woon tossed a USB onto the desk.
His gaze turned to the USB.
“Inside it are the guy’s ID card copy and the mana code used during mana measurement.”
When hunters used mana measurement devices, each one had a unique mana code.
It was merely a way to express a hunter’s aptitude in English and numbers, but because it was unique, it was sometimes used as identification.
He picked up the USB, grinned, and said,
“I’m incredible at finding people. So what’s the pay?”
“Ten million.”
“Eh? If you’re looking for him, it must be at least a few hundred million. Why just ten million?”
“Greed got you killed.”
“...Fine. How long do I have?”
“Five days.”
“I’ll have to hurry.”
Then he grinned and added,
“I won’t raise the pay above two million.”
Next, he opened an old cabinet.
Inside were knives and strange electronic equipment.
Looking at them, Woon clicked his tongue reluctantly but then nodded.
The guy was as elusive as a ghost when it came to finding people, just as he said.
‘...Chuno-gon Seong-il.’
Once this guy got involved, finding him would be easy.
Now it was time to think about the next step.
If caught...
‘He’ll need to be cut into pieces.’
Woon’s eyes flashed with ruthless intent.
* * *
“Take it easy for a few days.”
“Huh?”
When Dojin suddenly said that, Seong-hyun looked flustered.
I hadn’t worked long with him, but I figured he knew me to some extent.
Dojin was a machine-like person.
He never missed the promised time by even a minute and never let any variables disrupt the schedule.
He was the ultimate embodiment of a planned personality.
Yet Dojin had suddenly decided to take a day off?
“I have somewhere I need to go for a while.”
“Ah... Then what about tomorrow’s schedule?”
“I think I’ll have to batch three or four jobs per day later. I’ll contact you once I’m done.”
“Is that possible? It might be tough...”
“It’s fine.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Seong-hyun nodded.
Then he looked at the car and said,
“Shall I take you home?”
“Up to Dunteon Station is fine?”
“Dunteon Station? Wait a second, where’s that...”
Seong-hyun quickly turned on the navigation app and searched for it.
The distance was a little far, but the traffic wasn’t bad, so it wouldn’t take long.
“ Yongin? Do you have business there?”
It was slightly outside the city limits of Yongin.
When Seong-hyun asked, Dojin nodded.
“I have something I need to do.”
“Ah... Yes. Then I’ll take you.”
Seong-hyun got into the car and began driving toward the destination.
Inside the moving car, there was only quiet ballad music.
Dojin was naturally quiet, and Seong-hyun was careful not to disturb his rest.
But then, what wind blew through?
Just as we were approaching Dunteon Station.
“Hey, hyung.”
“Yes?”
“Kim Cheolsu... That’s not his real name, right?”
Seong-hyun suddenly asked.
It wasn’t a question I expected from him.
Dojin looked at Seong-hyun.
Seong-hyun stubbornly kept his gaze forward, but his hands gripping the steering wheel looked tense.
Dojin nodded.
“Yes, that’s not his real name.”
“Th... That’s right?”
He had intended to answer ‘That makes sense’ if Dojin said ‘It is his real name.’
But at the unexpected reply, Seong-hyun unconsciously raised an eyebrow and looked at Dojin.
Squeak.
The car had finally arrived at the destination, so Dojin stepped out and said,
“Then I’ll contact you later.”
“Ah! Yes, okay! Be careful, hyung!”
— Yes, that’s not his real name.
Seong-hyun watched Dojin’s retreating figure and recalled what he had just said.
Something...
“I’ve become a little closer, huh...?”
Seong-hyun scratched his cheek.
* * *
After a long absence, home felt both foreign and strangely nostalgic.
I had originally planned to return only after everything was prepared, but I could no longer delay it.
— Customer, this is a request for interest repayment.
One text message flashed on my smartphone.
The sender was a staff member from Red Capital.
When I borrowed money from Red Capital and left, I had bought out one of their employees.
It was easy.
I gave her far more money than expected.
What I asked of her was simple.
To send me just one message if anything went wrong because of me.
The message coming from her meant that a problem had occurred at Red Capital because of me.
‘There are dozens of ways the bastards will find me.’
And if a problem arises, they won’t care what means they use.
Unfortunately, since they already know the name Ha Dojin...
“He’ll definitely come here too.”
Whoosh.
I looked at the four-story villa in front of me.
It was the place where I was born and raised.
But after the dungeon break that took my parents from me in my previous life, I had never returned.
A feeling of longing entered my eyes.
But at that moment.
“Son?”
Hearing the voice from behind, I turned my head.
The two people I had dreamed of seeing again were standing there.
My pupils trembled.
“...Ah.”
That’s why I planned to return later.
After I had become more familiar with the current situation.
I had thought my emotions were completely dried up.
But what was this flowing down my cheeks?
“...Son? Eh? Son, why are you crying?”
I could not help but feel flustered when my big son was dripping with chicken-droplet tears.
She took one step and came close to me.
Soon her hand wiped away the tears flowing from my eyes.
“Son, what happened?”
“I missed you.”
At that instant, I did not hold back.
I simply did as my heart told me.
Whoosh.
I pulled her into my arms.
* * *
“You got a job?”
To break the awkward atmosphere after I came home, I changed the topic.
“Yes. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused during that time.”
“I thought you were just playing around all day. I didn’t expect you to be suffering mentally.”
Father chipped in with one word from beside me.
It was extremely strange to see my son, who had suddenly appeared, hugging my mother and crying.
“But the hunter guild... Isn’t it quite difficult to get hired there?”
“I was hired as a special hire.”
“Good work.”
Though I didn’t say it, I continued to worry about my son who was playing around.
They had refrained from intervening out of fear of being scolded.
But now that this fool had gotten a proper job and come home, I felt good.
However, that was not the end.
Whoosh.
I handed over an envelope.
It contained a travel itinerary including airplane tickets.
Both parents’ eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“Since I was hired as a special hire, I received a travel voucher for overseas trips. It’s a two-person European trip schedule, but there was no one to go with, so it’s unfortunate.”
“European trip?”
Mother’s eyes sparkled.
Hadn’t I said that traveling to Europe was my dream?
“But the timing is a bit tight... Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Can we go? You don’t have to come.”
“I got permission from the company and booked everything in advance. Accommodations, flights, and even a guide are all provided by the company. And the money inside is for spending money on the trip. I didn’t put in much since I’m still a rookie.”
I spoke with feigned casualness.
This was how it had to be.
But the sudden European trip schedule made my parents look a little bewildered.
I scratched my cheek.
“If it’s too much, I can transfer it to another staff member.”
“No!”
Mother shouted.
Soon, after checking the schedule, her eyes gained firm resolve.
“A flight tonight? If this is the plan, you should have told me earlier.”
However, she had no intention of giving up.
“Honey, is it okay to cancel the couple’s weekend get-together?”
“Of course. We’ve finally achieved our long-awaited dream, honey.”
Father smiled with satisfaction.
“Since my son is doing the work I should be doing, I feel good too. Hahaha.”
Father let out his characteristic hearty laugh.
Mother, as if in a hurry, went to the room and began packing her bags.
“If I had known, I would have bought some new clothes...”
“Going there and buying is fine, right? Honey, I’ll handle the shopping. Don’t worry and just pack lightly.”
Both parents looked happy.
And Dojin’s face, watching them, also curved into a smile.
I had worried about schedule conflicts, but...
‘That was needless worry.’
That night, I talked with my parents until late. And the next day...
“Take care.”
“Son, thank you.”
Mother kissed my cheek, smiled brightly, and boarded the bus to the airport.
After seeing them off, I returned home.
The empty house.
‘I’m waiting.’
My eyes gradually grew cold.