Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Deadlock (1)
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The Evil Zone was under Branch 1's jurisdiction. And from that morning, An Ji-young was puzzled by the report that its monsters had been completely wiped out.
"What? It's been cleared?"
The entire Branch 1 had been at Branch 5's training field, and since joining the Dead Zone raid, it had been quite a while since they'd last gone to the Evil Zone.
The monsters that should have already multiplied and swarmed everywhere were nowhere to be found. It was beyond strange—it was downright bizarre.
An Ji-young tilted her head mid-bite, even setting down her chopsticks.
"Is there another branch clearing the Evil Zone besides us?"
At An Ji-young's question, the Branch 1 Hunters tilted their heads in unison.
"I don't think so?"
As Kai Qing finished speaking, Takahiro, seated beside him, chimed in with his halting Korean.
"As far as I know, no one goes to the Evil Zone except for training purposes. Ji-young."
That only deepened the mystery. Even if another branch had gone for training, clearing the entire Evil Zone would have been impossible.
"Is something going on?"
An Ji-young nodded at Takahiro's question.
"We got a sudden report that the Evil Zone's been cleared."
"The Evil Zone?"
The Branch 1 Hunters all piped up, looking baffled.
"The Evil Zone's been cleared? Just like that?"
"Did monsters from the Last Zone swing by or something? It's so saturated over there they can't even scrounge food anymore."
Last Zone. It was possible. The Last Zone was at full capacity right now, with Branches 2 and 3 barely holding back the teleport gates by force. They must have come down to the Evil Zone through some connected pathway in search of food.
If Last Zone monsters had truly descended and massacred the Evil Zone's inhabitants, Branch 1 needed to stay on high alert too.
"Let's stay cautious for a while, everyone. If Last Zone monsters really came down, we're in danger too."
They were all nodding gravely when a familiar face entered the cafeteria.
"Huh? It's Su-ho."
At Kwon Oh's words, every gaze turned toward Cha Su-ho. He hadn't been seen for days, and everyone had been wondering about him.
"Enjoy your lunch, Hunter Cha Su-ho."
Cha Su-ho bowed politely to Takahiro, who had greeted him, then spotted the Branch 1 Hunters and Helpers.
"Looks like you're all in the middle of a meal."
Cha Su-ho walked over to Branch 1's table.
"Yeah, we sparred once this morning and now we're eating together."
They were still at it with the sparring.
"So, what have you been up to all this time? We haven't seen your face around."
"Ah... I was in my room. Did some mental training and slept."
"That doesn't look like a well-rested face."
His features were etched with exhaustion—not the mark of good sleep.
"Ah... I must've overtrained. Kept waking up from sleep. Feels like I got plenty of rest, but I'm still wiped out."
An Ji-young patted the table invitingly as Cha Su-ho fumbled through his excuse.
"Grab some food and take a seat."
"Yes, ma'am."
It was then, as Cha Su-ho brushed past An Ji-young to fetch his food, that her expression—and Kai Qing's beside her—turned peculiar.
A faint monster stench wafted from him. From Cha Su-ho's body. An Ji-young froze for a split second before whipping her head toward him.
"Cha Su-ho, you..."
"Yes?"
She seemed about to say something as he gazed back innocently, but then she clamped her mouth shut—only to open it again.
"Never mind. Load up your plate."
"Ah, got it."
Whether thrilled that An Ji-young was looking out for him or not, Cha Su-ho started humming cheerfully. Watching his back as he hummed over at the food station, An Ji-young's face took on a complicated shade.
That faint whiff when he'd passed by was unmistakably monster. And a smell that foul could only come from the Evil Zone.
"Ji-young."
It was right then that Kai Qing murmured her name softly.
"When Hunter Cha Su-ho walked by just now, I swear I caught a whiff of Evil Zone monster."
"Yeah."
Cha Su-ho had sworn he'd stayed cooped up in his room. Yet that telltale monster scent clung faintly to him.
"You'd have to be drenched in Evil Zone monster blood and live to tell the tale for it to stick like that."
Kai Qing's voice carried a pointed edge as he continued.
"Don't tell me... the one who cleared the Evil Zone was Helper Cha Su-ho? Right, Ji-young?"
Right on cue, Cha Su-ho returned with his food and slid into the empty seat across from Kai Qing. An Ji-young spoke up as he casually picked up his chopsticks.
"Just got word."
"Pardon?"
She pressed on, eyeing his utterly clueless expression.
"The Evil Zone's been wiped clean."
Cha Su-ho's chopsticks halted mid-air.
"We haven't cleared the Evil Zone ourselves. So where'd all those swarming monsters vanish to?"
Cha Su-ho flashed an awkward grin in reply.
"Haha, yeah, right? Isn't that great news? They're gone either way."
He resumed eating without a hint of unease. Everyone watched him quietly for a moment before stealing glances at An Ji-young.
"Yeah, whatever. Good for us—less work on our plate."
'Dodged a bullet there?'
No sooner had An Ji-young finished than Jin Seong-hyeok chimed in.
'Your heartbeat's echoing like a drum.'
Cha Su-ho was pretending to be cool, but his heart was hammering like mad. He'd been holed up in the Evil Zone for days straight, slaughtering every monster in sight to fully internalize his new technique. Thanks to that relentless grind, when he ran into those undead pests he'd dreaded meeting again, a mere two finger-snaps wiped them out completely.
Even the ever-stoic Jin Seong-hyeok let out his first-ever gasp of genuine awe at Cha Su-ho's progress.
Preparations were complete. All that remained was the Dead Zone. He'd sweep the lingering Catchers aside and face Deadlock.
Deadlock.
His heart thundered anew.
"Su-ho."
Cha Su-ho looked up at An Ji-young's call.
"Thing is..."
"Yes?"
An Ji-young's gaze locked onto the fingers gripping his chopsticks. More precisely, his right thumb and middle finger.
"You've got calluses."
"Ah..."
Endless cycles of blisters forming and regenerating had toughened the skin on his thumb and middle finger—the ones he used for snapping.
"Wounds heal right up, but keep regenerating over and over, and calluses are inevitable."
Her long lashes lifted, and An Ji-young's eyes met his squarely.
"Killed a ton of monsters, huh?"
"Pardon? Uh, yeah?"
She waved off his fluster.
"Relax. I won't say a word. No one else knows but us anyway. And we've spent enough time in the Evil Zone to recognize the smell anywhere."
"Ah..."
Cha Su-ho set down his chopsticks.
"Guess you all figured it out."
No use hiding it now that they'd caught on.
"The smell just wouldn't fade. Must've showered five or six times."
Liu Xian chuckled at that.
"It'll linger for a good while. Evil Zone bastards reek something fierce."
"Exactly. You step into the Evil Zone and the stench alone makes you want to hurl."
Kai Qing grumbled in agreement.
"So, if you took out every last Evil Zone monster..."
An Ji-young mimicked him with a snap of her own thumb and middle finger.
"You've got this technique down pat now, huh?"
Cha Su-ho grinned as he replied.
"Yeah. Think I could solo-clear the Evil Zone now."
Solo-clear the Evil Zone? Everyone burst into disbelieving laughter.
"You're unreal, Cha Su-ho."
"I need to get even stronger."
His face was more solemn than usual as he continued.
"The Last Zone's already at capacity. If those teleport gates break open, it's game over for everything."
The word extinction darkened every face at the table. Branches 2 and 3 were pooling every ounce of strength to seal the teleport entrances, but no one knew when they'd give way. If they did, Last Zone monsters would come pouring out—and the world would end, just as Cha Su-ho said.
With Jin Seong-hyeok—the only one capable of clearing the Last Zone—dead, no one else could stand against its monsters.
The sole hope for holding them back was Cha Su-ho. And he knew it better than anyone.
"That's why I have to clear the Last Zone first."
No one dared chime in lightly. The weight of his words hung heavy.
"So for starters..."
Cha Su-ho flashed a smile at the grim-faced Branch 1 members staring back at him.
"How about we clear the Dead Zone?"
Clear the Dead Zone?
An Ji-young blurted out, stunned.
"Dead Zone? You saying you can take on Deadlock?"
Deadlock. Its mere existence struck terror into everyone's hearts. Last Zone bosses and other powerhouse monsters felt abstract since only Jin Seong-hyeok had ever faced them—but Deadlock was different.
Every chance encounter in the Dead Zone had forced Hunters to flee for their lives, barely clinging to breath.
Branch 5 knew its terror best of all. With their frequent Dead Zone runs, they'd felt that crushing aura of dread time and again.
"That's why I learned the technique—to face it."
"Your spar with Eun-woo... that was prep for Deadlock too?"
"Yeah. Heard it wields a sword."
An Ji-young nodded as understanding dawned.
"When're you heading out?"
"Huh?"
"To the Dead Zone. For Deadlock."
"Well... was gonna go after lunch."
"What?!"
Everyone looked utterly flabbergasted. This wasn't a casual trip next door—he was talking Dead Zone, boss hunt, right after a meal.
"Hahaha, oh man, that's hilarious."
Kai Qing couldn't stop laughing, and the others wore equally incredulous expressions.
"Today? Like, right after this."
An Ji-young jabbed a finger at Cha Su-ho's half-eaten meal as she went on.
"Finish that bowl and you're off?"
"Yes."
"You're insane. You weren't planning to go alone, were you?"
"Yes."
The alone part hit her like vertigo all over again.
"I told you not to wander solo like Jin Seong-hyeok. What if something happens out of nowhere...!"
She trailed off in anger, then let out a deep sigh.
"I'm coming with."
"No thanks."
"Cha Su-ho!"
Undeterred by her shout, Cha Su-ho picked at his food with calm chopsticks.
"Hunter Jin Seong-hyeok probably felt the same. Easier to fight flat-out without holding back than drag others along and watch someone get hurt."
Deadlock demanded total focus. Cha Su-ho would unleash everything without restraint, and Deadlock would do the same. Anyone nearby could get caught in the crossfire.
And if they got hurt—or worse.
"Unthinkable."
He muttered to himself before meeting An Ji-young's eyes.
"Put simply, you'd just get in the way of the fight."
It might cut deep, but there was no other choice.
"My fight with Deadlock."