#44 The Exit is Over There.
Seoul outskirts.
Ku-gu-gu-guung!—
“Catch her!”
Awakener pursuers were charging ahead. It was Napa's chase team, one of the Big 3 guilds. Their sole target: the Phantom right in front of them.
Thud!
The Phantom wore a skintight black suit that hugged her curves. Her long hair, tied back tightly, whipped in the wind, and dark goggles shielded her eyes. She'd never been caught in the city—not once.
But today, Napa's team was on the verge of an unprecedented capture.
Thud thud thud thud!
In an instant, she darted between buildings, scaling walls and leaping onto rooftops.
'They're closing in.'
She gritted her teeth. Today's pursuers were relentless. Napa's elites had gathered, artifacts in play. Blood streamed from her side, her thigh pierced clean through.
A massive moon hung in the sky. Rain had poured moments ago, but the storm clouds had vanished, leaving a scene straight out of an ink wash painting.
Thud! She kicked off a rooftop and soared like she was flying, long hair streaming behind her.
Then, a long spear hurtled toward her back.
Whiiish!
She twisted midair, dodging like an acrobat.
“Yahoo!”
Suddenly, a man stood behind her, gripping a translucent spear. S-rank #4, codename Jet. He spun the spear effortlessly and rested it on his shoulder.
“Gotcha, you infamous cat burglar.”
Click! Beside him appeared S-rank #8, Carron. He held a billiard cue, a monocle over one eye.
“Napa's bounty on you is juicy. We nabbed her first, so we split it, call?”
Jet extended a fist. Carron nodded.
“Call.”
“Tch.”
The Phantom clicked her tongue. No wonder today's chase felt different in quality—they'd secretly put out a warrant to S-rank Awakeners. It had happened before. Messing with the Big 3 was always risky.
Normally, she wouldn't be cornered like this, but today she was wounded.
Because of him.
Click! A man dropped from the sky like a ghost. White hair, body wrapped head to toe in bandages—even half his face. She knew his codename: SS-rank Awakener, Ghost.
Ghost was Napa's fixer. She'd been injured fleeing him.
Two daggers spun in Ghost's hands.
'Gotta run.'
She spun and bolted. Mana surged through her body.
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Swift Sprint!
The urban chase resumed. She flew across rooftops like a phantom. Even Ghost couldn't match her burst speed.
But...
'Hah... hah...'
Blood poured from her wounds. Ghost's blade—an artifact effect. The bleeding would worsen.
How long had she run? As her vision blurred...
Swaaang! A gust grazed her neck.
“......!”
Ahead: a man in a suit. Slicked-back hair with pomade. She clicked her tongue.
'King...'
SS-rank Awakener, King. His value had skyrocketed after beating Lebadon in a recent ranking match.
King ahead, Ghost behind. No escape.
Then, King—after some visible deliberation—sighed in resolve.
Swaaang! His wind shoved her body aside.
“Ah...!”
She tumbled off the rooftop.
Falling endlessly, she landed on something impossibly soft.
Poof!
“Hah... hah... haaah...”
She gasped for air. Far above loomed the forest of skyscrapers.
Where...?
She tried to rise, but her strength was gone. Her eyes drifted shut.
* * *
Suddenly.
Arrrf! Seol-a bared her fangs from within his coat.
Kang-ho halted his steady stride and spoke toward the alley's shadows.
“Come out.”
A man emerged from the empty darkness.
Kang-ho eyed him steadily.
“Ghost. What brings you here?”
Ghost bowed silently before speaking.
“Seen a cat around?”
“A cat, huh.” Kang-ho smiled faintly. “Not looking to raise one. Got a Shabel Tiger and a fox already.”
“......”
Ghost stared, then dipped his head and brushed past.
Whoosh! He vanished in a flash.
Kang-ho glanced at Furball's back. Something was buried in the fluffy fur.
'Hmm......'
* * * * * *
She awoke in the afternoon sun high overhead.
“......”
She realized she lay on a plush bed.
“......?”
Glancing around, she jolted in shock.
“Um, guys, am I okay? This might be the end for me.”
“It... doesn't feel right. Gives me the chills.”
Three men bantered on. She cracked her eyes, then squeezed them shut.
Her arms and legs weren't bound...
'Not even? And I'm in comfy pajamas?'
Her deep thigh and side wounds were healed, enveloped in unspeakable coziness.
“......?”
A fox curled beside her.
Kiiing. It cracked an eye and whined low.
'Shh!' She pursed her lips instinctively.
The fox's eyes widened, mimicking her.
Kyuuing!—meant to hush, but...
“......”
The three men's gazes turned.
'Eek!'
She flinched upright. Scanning frantically for escape, she froze.
“King?”
“She knows me.” King glanced at Kang-ho. “Hard to find folks who don't these days.”
Slowly pointing at Kang-ho, she murmured,
“Choi... Choi Kang-ho.”
“Same here, bro.”
“Tiresome business.”
Her gaze shifted to Theo, his face oddly expectant. Theo—resolved to look stern—stared intently.
“Uh......”
Theo nodded, urging her on.
“Uhh......”
She hemmed, then plopped down.
“Wh-why are you big shots here...?”
Theo tilted his head, glancing at Kang-ho.
“'Cause your screen time was like three seconds, bro.”
“Including the bit where Kang-ho hyung smacks your head.”
Theo grumbled. Kang-ho raised a hand silently. Theo quieted.
Now Kang-ho turned to her.
“Your guts spilled out. Robbing the Big 3, huh.”
“......What do you want from me?”
“Nothing particular.”
Kang-ho shrugged, then poked King's side—the one fidgeting nearby.
“'Cause our kid here wanted it.”
Suddenly.
“......!”
King beamed at Kang-ho, touched.
“Our?”
“......Not you guys.”
“I'm super moved.”
Kang-ho studied her. Beastkin? No. Not human either. Witch? Not Mu continent's. But her natural aura was unmistakable.
He nodded faintly.
'Druid.'
She was a druid. Mu continent druids wielded nature's power.
Kang-ho asked slowly,
“Heard you only steal unjust goods. Even valuables, if legit, untouched.”
“......!”
“What'd you take from Napa?”
“......”
She met his gaze, then countered,
“If... if I tell you... will you let me live?”
Kang-ho blinked, shrugged.
“If that's what you want.”
“......”
She hesitated, then spoke.
“A gem... treated as treasure by the Druid tribe.”
“Treasure?”
Kang-ho's eyes gleamed.
“Last year, Napa prepped for Kanda's jungle raid, asked the Druid tribe for help. They agreed, demanding a specific dungeon item.”
Staring at King, she continued,
“......Napa broke the promise.”
King sighed.
“Not just one. Got looped in, snuck a peek at their books. Unpaid subs, diverted loot, rewards... total disillusionment.”
Kang-ho smiled wryly at King's words. This era's ills mirrored the past's. Maybe because humans ruled the world.
King's main gig: stay true to the martial faction's roots. Mercenary work across guilds, securing dungeon raid priority. He was green on the rest.
Eyes flicking between Kang-ho and King, she slid off the bed. Large brown eyes, waist-length hair swaying. Sans black tights, her skin gleamed pale.
“C-can I go?”
Kang-ho nodded. We'll meet again, he sensed.
“The exit's over there.”
“......”
Incredulous, she stepped forward. Kang-ho pointed to her clothes on the table.
“Your gear's here.”
“Ah...”
Only then did she realize they'd cleaned and healed her.
Her face flushed. Bowing deeply, she hesitated, then pointed at Seol-a.
“Th-that... White Fang... right?”
“Silver White Fang subspecies.”
“Knew it...!”
She swallowed, nodding.
“S-saw the two tails... figured.”
“Figured?”
“Druid tribe has a legend about it.”