The Weight of Power and a Friend's Crisis
The day after forming the contract with Wonhee and returning to reality, Han Yujin once again visited the post-apocalyptic Earth. It wasn’t to obtain anything special this time. He simply wanted to confirm a few things.
First, he sought out the suited ghost and had Wonhee absorb its abilities. As expected, the suited ghost—which had been annihilated during the process of the Ghost Soul Banner consuming it—had reappeared in that same place.
Since the spatial awakening ability would clearly prove quite useful, and now that he knew more about Wonhee, there was no reason not to let her absorb it.
Next, he stopped by the school for a moment to check if any unexpected changes had occurred. Once again, as predicted, since Wonhee had already formed a contract with him and existed within his shadow, no second version of her appeared.
Finally, he naturally headed to the Beijing area to explore the crater.
It was the most unpredictable, anticipated, and worrisome matter, so he even employed the Hyeongjo Hyeoneung-sul and agonized over it repeatedly.
The result was extremely ominous, yet he still decided he had to go at least once. He thought that if he went and observed it directly, he might intuitively realize something.
However.
He hadn’t expected that, now that his realm had risen to the Nascent Soul stage, he would be detected even faster than before.
Before he could even catch a glimpse of the Honwon Stone’s form, an attack from what was at least a Void Refinement level being flew toward him. He was killed almost before he could resist.
It was truly an overwhelming strike. The moment he recognized the pitch-black finger, he had already been crushed and killed.
He tried reviving once with Monghwan Yusim, but he was killed again immediately afterward.
‘I’ll have to put off the exploration for now.’
Even if he went to the world where the Karmayusgul Empire had conquered Earth, the situation would likely be similar.
The Nascent Soul stage was certainly not a level that could be easily ignored anywhere under normal circumstances, but it was still far from enough to compete over something like a Honwon Stone.
Therefore, what he needed to do for the time being became clear.
He would handle matters on Earth and accumulate karma in the process.
The amount of karma he had spent to half-rescue Wonhee had reached nearly seventy percent, so replenishing it was truly urgent.
Fortunately, it wasn’t very different from his original plan, so he willingly fixed the entrance of the Mountain Sea Pearl at his underground hideout in the wild mountain and began spending his time there.
* * *
The spiritual energy density inside the Mountain Sea Pearl had become slightly thicker than that of the Primordial Forest. It was all thanks to the two Honwon Stone pillars.
Originally, placing two of them should have raised the concentration much higher, but a significant amount of spiritual energy was being used to grow the Mountain Sea Pearl itself, so the density had stopped at this level.
Still, the fact that it was impressive remained unchanged. Naturally, he began considering bringing Park Heewon and Lee Won-hee here to train.
However, before that.
While Park Heewon might be fine, if he was going to bring Lee Won-hee, he needed to inform Ghost Wonhee in advance.
She happened to be in the second-floor living room of Brenar’s house, where he was staying.
Her eyes were closed, yet she was carefully appreciating the wedding photo of Han Yujin and Brenar.
“Wonhee.”
When he called her, she reacted a little late and turned her head. Immediately after, she approached with her usual faint smile and hugged him. Once again, Mu-yong was displaced and had to hurriedly flee to his shoulder.
Jjik—! Jjijik…
Mu-yong protested, but Wonhee barely paid her any attention. She knew Mu-yong was precious to Han Yujin, but it seemed she felt no other particular emotions beyond that.
‘Is it because of her loss…?’
It was truly hard to believe she could remain this indifferent even while looking at the adorable Mu-yong. So naturally, that was the only conclusion he could reach.
In any case, Wonhee was currently a very special existence to Han Yujin.
Especially the fact that she could stay with him in the waiting area while sharing consciousness.
He suspected it was possible because the contract had been formed through the Honwon Stone as a medium. Or perhaps it was because she too possessed yearning power.
“I’m thinking of bringing the young Lee Won-hee who exists in this world and having her train here. You know, the one I mentioned before.”
Although the two of them shared a deep connection as the living and the dead, they were clearly different beings. However, no matter how rational that judgment was, emotions were another matter.
“I’m telling you in advance. In case you get startled.”
In response, Wonhee shook her head from side to side.
“…You’re not startled? You’re saying it’s okay?”
When he asked again, she nodded.
From what he had observed so far, she tried to speak as little as possible. It seemed she disliked having to use the ghost’s unique telepathic speech every time she talked.
After smoothly finishing the discussion, he gently separated Wonhee from his embrace.
Upon closer look, she was not wearing her school uniform this time. She was dressed in a bright beige blouse that created a harmonious tone overall, a dark checkered skirt, black stockings, and a white coat.
- I bought these clothes but never got to wear them even once.
She suddenly spoke and lowered her head. The way she fiddled with the hem of her clothes somehow stirred a sense of pity.
“…That illusion you showed me before, the one from your past—how different is it from your original memories?”
In the end, Han Yujin couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.
- It’s almost exactly the same.
Wonhee answered without hesitation.
- Senior… you really were a kind senior.
It was an answer that relieved the slight anxiety he had felt, wondering if he shouldn’t have asked.
- And, that wasn’t an illusion.
“It wasn’t an illusion?”
- Because it was so similar that there was almost no difference. Both I and Senior were completely sincere there.
Having said that, she lifted her head again and looked at him.
- Senior’s ability, that mirror… you need to examine it closely. For reasons different from what I said, it’s probably not a simple illusion.
“…I suppose so. Thanks for the advice.”
Half out of habit, he raised his hand to stroke her hair but quickly withdrew it. Yet her cheeks flushed with satisfaction.
- And also, even if they’re from a parallel world, I think they’re ultimately not that different. Because their essence would be the same. Though… the current me has lost a lot of that.
Afterward, she melted into darkness and vanished into his shadow in an instant.
Jjik!
While soothing Mu-yong, who immediately reclaimed his arms and protested, he fell into brief thought before leaving the Mountain Sea Pearl.
* * *
Park Heewon finished his training at the Ability Verification Training Center once again and stepped outside.
The weather had grown quite chilly, but his attire was lighter than most people’s. It was thanks to his resistance to heat and cold having skyrocketed compared to when he was ordinary.
“What a ridiculously beautiful world.”
He muttered while looking at the sky—one side dyed in sunset, the other maintaining an exquisitely clear blue.
Every time he trained, he could clearly feel his skills growing even if only a little, so each and every day felt worthwhile and happy. Every time he realized that an undeniably hopeful future was approaching, his heart would race.
‘I’m going to become at least an A-rank hunter no matter what.’
And if he was a bit luckier, he might even reach S-rank. Perhaps he could become an even more terrifying existence than that.
Because his friend Han Yujin had told him, when handing over the ‘Awakening Kit,’ that he could grow all the way to the late Core Formation stage.
‘If I grow to that level, maybe I could do those kinds of things too.’
Thinking that, he took out his smartphone from his pocket and accessed the community he frequently visited.
That place was constantly buzzing with talk about Han Yujin’s increasingly well-known feats.
Countless hunters who had returned after handing over their duties during the Ahehti race subjugation were pouring out all sorts of interviews about just how impossibly incredible the things he had done were.
Some hunters even created image and video data using their own awakening abilities and provided them, delivering even greater shock and amazement.
The community overall had a rather friendly atmosphere, expressing amazement while throwing out all kinds of memes. There were also posts neatly organizing the various ‘good deeds’ Han Yujin had performed so far, including the dissemination of the training methods currently being implemented.
Of course, there were voices of anxiety and concern, but they were at a level that could simply be ignored.
Park Heewon smirked again as he looked through the interviews various countries’ hunters had given about Han Yujin’s feats. He naturally didn’t miss the summarized reports from famous media outlets around the world either.
It felt similar to watching a national pride TV channel. The fact that the person causing such a global stir was none other than his own friend gave him an immense sense of vicarious satisfaction.
‘Just staying by his side and holding his spot is going to be an absolute honey pot.’
Even while concentrating on his smartphone like that, he walked for quite a while without bumping into any obstacles, thanks to his awakened senses.
Just as he was almost home.
He suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease and lifted his eyes from his phone.
At that exact moment, he reflexively twisted his upper body to dodge. A sharp projectile grazed past where he had just been. The sound of air being torn apart arrived belatedly, sending chills across his entire body.
‘An ambush…?!’
It was something he had never once imagined would happen to him. Yet, as if his training so far hadn’t been in vain, he instinctively moved quickly to find cover.
Clang!
The moment he hid behind a van, another unidentified projectile shot toward him with a sharp sound. Park Heewon, who luckily caught a glimpse of it bouncing off and rolling across the ground, had his expression grow gravely serious.
It was a special drug-filled tranquilizer dart, the kind used to subdue large beasts.
‘They’re trying to… kidnap me?’
Feeling his heart pounding wildly, all sorts of thoughts swirled through his head as he stayed alert to his surroundings.
Why was this suddenly happening?
The probability that it was a simple money-driven kidnapping was low, so the only reason that came to mind was that he was Han Yujin’s friend.
Then were they trying to kidnap him just to threaten his friend? Since his family had already fallen apart long ago, was he the closest person to him?
‘No, there’s another reason…!’
He had become an ability user thanks to the unidentified ‘Awakening Kit’ that Han Yujin had given him.
Even if they didn’t know that fact, he had awakened at a late age just like Yujin and was making quite a name for himself.
‘So they’re trying to find out why Han Yujin is so strong through me?!’
The moment he reached that conclusion in shock.
He saw people appearing from various spots around him, surrounding the area. Just a glance was enough to tell that they were all awakeners.
“F-fuck…!”
The moment he realized he was really about to be kidnapped, he nearly fell into a panic.
Something occurred to him belatedly, so he hurriedly manipulated the smartphone in his hand, but the connection—which had been working fine just moments ago—was now cut off.
‘Jamming…?!’
This wasn’t something amateur kidnappers could pull off. These were the real deal.
As he was thinking that.
“Stay still if you don’t want to die.”
A slightly awkward Korean accent reached his ears. At the same time, a blade that he hadn’t noticed approaching was pressed against the back of his neck.
The moment his body froze from the chilling killing intent.
He felt a prick on the other side of his neck, and in an instant, strength drained from his body as his consciousness faded.
‘N-no…! I have to at least scream….’
With that final thought, he lost consciousness.