Really? It'll Be Fine, Right?
Just as fear spreads quickly, so does reassurance. Especially when backed by the world's number one.
The moment Kwon Yul handed the mic back, the Gate began to hum ominously. Its suction grew stronger. Her hair whipped wildly in the wind as the Gate expanded.
At least the whole area hasn't turned into a dungeon or triggered an immediate wave... That's a relief!
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ adds that it seems inevitable this place will be destroyed.
The two lowly creatures are getting annoyed, wondering when they'll finally arrive.
"Your Majesty!"
"Lee Seonjwa-nim!"
"Hurry and help, both of you!"
At that moment, the air split open, and Ryu Shin-ah and Joo Young burst through.
Joo Young quickly assessed the situation and opened dozens of portals across each floor and spectator section. Ryu Shin-ah gestured toward them, urging evacuation.
"Get in, hurry!"
"No pushing—enter calmly, one by one."
Yul chimed in, and the audience plunged into the portals with surprising composure.
"Double Black, you guys too—over here."
Yul turned toward the five. Just as they started descending the stage following her gesture—
"Ah... How heartless."
Kim Jae-won staggered to his feet. Rubbing his sore neck, he sneered.
"I thought you were merciful since you just gave me a warning last time, but to go this aggressive..."
"Be grateful I held back so your head didn't fly off."
"That won't do. After all I've done for the Proxy."
"Done? What have you even done?"
"It's true."
Kim Jae-won chuckled. Steadying his wobbly stance, he fixed his golden eyes—peeking through his fingers—on Yul.
"This time, I let your mom live."
His words froze the stage in icy silence.
Even Double Black, midway down, halted and instinctively turned back. Those maintaining the barrier, Joo Young opening portals, Ryu Shin-ah guiding evacuations—all of them. No one could utter a word, their gazes shifting between Yul and him.
"...Hey."
The voice crushed the air. Suffocating killing intent and pressure. Even Ryu Shin-ah tensed, his face hardening.
Yul slowly turned to face him. Her wavy black hair seemed to ripple faintly.
"What the hell did you just say?"
A chilling calm underlaid her voice, laced with murderous rage. She'd dropped even the nominal polite speech.
Ryu Shin-ah knew exactly what that meant.
"...Your Majesty."
"Shut your trap if you don't wanna open it?"
Ryu Shin-ah called out, but Yul ignored him. Even as Joo Young and Lee Yu-na shrank under her aura, Kim Jae-won grinned wickedly.
"How could a mere unawakened survive the Tower's descent that day?"
"..."
"Didn't you hear? There was one Hunter who helped with evacuation... Oh, right, you wouldn't have."
"..."
"I erased it."
Mental Hunters specialized in brainwashing and control.
"You think she's still in one piece right n—"
And that was his last word.
BAM—!
Before he could finish, his body rocketed backward, smashing through the backstage at terrifying speed.
"Director! Emergency contact from the Record Forger Hunter!"
At that moment, in the Hunter Management Bureau director's office.
The message from Ryu Shin-ah was a dizzying barrage of info just from skimming it: an absorption-annihilation Gate appearing smack in the arena center, Kim Jae-won's sudden outburst... and Yul's response.
Most spectators had evacuated to Gocheok Dome and nearby gyms—a small mercy—but what was happening inside remained a mystery.
"Kim Jae-won is a mental-type Hunter?"
Jeon Se-han echoed in disbelief, and the messenger nodded.
"Per the Record Forger's assessment, his rank is estimated above C-grade."
"...His rank?"
"...Yes."
Jeon Se-han removed his glasses, pinching his throbbing temple.
Faking traits was one thing, but ranks were another. Hunter ranks were measured by the System. While the Bureau's database recorded them, initial measurements were purely System territory.
Yul hadn't altered her actual measured rank—just hacked the Bureau's network. And even that required Ryu Shin-ah's help.
Kim Jae-won had done it alone. Meaning he'd fooled the System single-handedly.
Jeon Se-han grasped the situation swiftly.
"Mobilize every available Hunter now—split into three teams for dispatch. Two teams to the civilians Joo Young evacuated, one on standby outside the main arena."
"Understood."
"And summon Gu Se-ji immediately."
He had questions for him.
Jeon Se-han stood. Gu Se-ji probably knew nothing, but Kim Jae-won was Daehwanjang Guild's. As guild master, he bore responsibility.
Yul hated mental-type Hunters.
More precisely, she despised the abilities lumped under "mental" traits.
Traits were tied to contracted Constellations—barring grueling post-awakening acquisition—so they weren't up to the Hunter. Knowing that, she always tried to separate the ability from the person.
But for someone with a heart and memories, it was never that simple.
Ryu Shin-ah understood this well. He'd seen all of her.
He couldn't not know.
His own "records" ability might seem similar on the surface, but it wasn't. The "people's memories" in his records overlapped one mental trait domain, but while mental Hunters manipulated minds directly, Ryu Shin-ah could at best alter fragments of a being's memories.
A blessing—and a weakness.
Ryu Shin-ah rushed to Yul.
"Your Majesty!"
"Outta my way."
"Your Majesty, wait—just a moment...!"
"I said move."
Yul glared murderously. Even bandaged, her presence made him flinch.
"I'll drag that bastard back myself, so you finish evac."
"Evac's almost done! Just calm down now. Please, Your Majesty...!"
"Don't block me."
"Your Majesty...!"
"You know you can't."
Ryu Shin-ah's grip on her jacket loosened limply.
Yul in this state was dangerous. One step from rampage. A misstep could obliterate not just the arena, but the whole district.
But Ryu Shin-ah cared less about the city than Yul herself.
She'd never lost control—but once, just once, she'd come close.
He knew how agonizing that similar situation had been for her. No matter what, he had to stop her.
...But how?
"...Do what you want."
He whispered.
"Just bring him alive. I'll get the truth out of him."
"Got it."
At her firm reply, Ryu Shin-ah finally stepped back. He turned to Double Black.
They'd been heading backstage but were stuck at the stage edge, path blocked.
"You guys, come here. I'll escort you to the portal—gotta get outta—"
"Wait. There are way more staff back there than us. Help them first."
Kim Yu-jun cut in with a request.
Ryu Shin-ah finally glanced at the wrecked backstage, biting his lip. Joo Young had opened portals, but who knew how many had made it.
He looked between Double Black and the rear.
Kim Yu-jun nodded firmly: Don't worry.
"...Be quick. Stick by Joo Young, Hunter. Fanboy! Open portals below!"
Ryu Shin-ah shouted, bolting down the stairs.
Seo In-ah bit his inner lip.
This situation... could it be...?
The Gate swelled larger. Debris from the gale-force winds was sucked in.
One wrong move, and they'd be caught too...
Seo In-ah grabbed Park Sa-ha's arm.
"Hyung?"
"Sa-ha. You go first."
"What? What're you saying—we go tog—"
"No. You first. Soon as that Hunter gets here."
Park Sa-ha stared in bewilderment, but Seo In-ah was resolute, gripping tighter. Feeling the faint tremble, Park Sa-ha blinked.
"...Hyung?"
"You can't stay here."
It wasn't like the usually quiet, impassive, detached-yet-rational Seo In-ah.
Park Sa-ha finally nodded. Han Jun-yeol and Kim Yu-jun, overhearing, chimed in agreement.
Park Sa-ha scanned them.
"Gu...ys..."
He froze.
His voice caught mid-word. His eyes dulled behind the blue lenses.
Face stiffening, he whirled around.
"Sa-ha?"
"Sa-ha hyung?"
Before they could stop him, Park Sa-ha leaped onto the stage.
Seo In-ah cursed in frustration.
"Damn it, stop!"
He snatched Park Sa-ha's wrist.
Unawakened as he was, he could feel it. Park Sa-ha was under control.
And that meant Kim Jae-won was still kicking.