Under Creature Chapter 8.1

50m to the south. All clear… nothing.

“Haaah.”

Yigeom let out a low sigh. Even as he set out to find Cha Jewoo, he was constantly persecuting and pushing himself.

He couldn’t trust himself. Really? Are you sure there’s nothing? What if you actually saw something but missed it? He kept doubting himself, thinking he needed to re-check places he’d already confirmed.

“Jewoo will be okay.”

Even Seo Dohyun’s comforting pats couldn’t stop his focus from scattering. How can you be so detached? Even I, who has known Cha Jewoo for less than a year, am anxious out of my mind, so how can you be so calm?

Soon, 50m to the north….

Yigeom furrowed his brows. A lone water bottle lay abandoned in the bushes.

Just as he was about to dismiss it as nothing and shift his gaze, he couldn’t simply pass by after seeing the writing on the bottom of the bottle.

The people at Latter have a habit.

‘Where’s my jeyuk-bulgogi cup rice that was here?’

‘Hyung, I ate that. The mapo tofu cup rice wasn’t enough for me.’

‘Yoon Yigeom, I even wrote my name on it so neatly.’

Because Jewoo would devour any food left in the office in the blink of an eye, he would write his name on anything he had dibs on.

And it was the same for Cha Jewoo. What started as a joke, imitating Yigeom, became a habit, to the point that he had come all the way to Busan and written his full name with a permanent marker on a water bottle that was in his own dorm room, where no one would steal it.

‘Cha Jewoo >×<’.

His name was written on the bottom of the bottle, along with a small drawing.

‘Found him.’

He had found a trace of the Cha Jewoo he had been searching for.

“North. It’s to the north.”

Cha Jewoo was somewhere to the north. Who threw that bottle away? What time is it now…. It was almost time to go back. In the next repetition, he had to focus the search on the north. And it would be great if the person who threw the bottle away showed up too.

Following that trace, praying for something to turn up, Yigeom repeated time.

Including the previous battle and searching for Jewoo by expanding the range in all four directions-east, west, south, and north-Seo Dohyun had used his ability a total of six times today.

Now, it was entering the seventh time. Yigeom immediately went after the water bottle somewhere to the north.

The memory palace. He instantly memorized and scanned through all the images, searching for a scene that matched Cha Jewoo’s handwriting.

Not this, not that…. Faster. A little more…. Found it.

‘Cha Jewoo>×<’.

Just then, someone threw the water bottle on the ground. He was lucky. If he had thrown the bottle away any earlier, they wouldn’t have been able to find the trace even with Seo Dohyun’s reset.

The person reflected in the water inside the bottle was someone he recognized. He had run into him occasionally at the dorms.

Someone who works at Iryeon? Is that the man named Lee Piljin from the letter? He was probably the culprit who led Jewoo to the creature breeding ground.

And there was another person next to Lee Piljin. They moved in the 11 o’clock direction relative to the water bottle.

So where is the creature breeding ground? A back road a little way from the dorms? The surrounding scenery was filled with trees.

Probably the mountain behind the dorms. Somewhere there were Lee Piljin’s group, the creature breeding ground, and Cha Jewoo.

Just as he was about to shift his view again, a bright light enveloped his eyes.

“Ugh.”

Yigeom covered his eyes and examined the place more closely. The scene that appeared was of Cha Jewoo, curled up with his knees drawn to his chest, and a single blue flower placed on the ground in front of him. And the creatures surrounding him.

“…Cha Jewoo.”

Yigeom unknowingly shot up and muttered. His eyeballs ached. They stung and throbbed as if someone was poking them with their bare hands.

But Yigeom was so shocked that he didn’t even register the pain.

The creatures weren’t attacking Jewoo.

“…Why.”

No answer came back to the question he uttered into the empty air.

“Gyeom-ah?”

But that wasn’t what was important right now. The reason could be figured out later. First…

Yigeom grabbed both of Seo Dohyun’s arms. His vision blurred and he staggered slightly from overusing his ability.

“I found him. North. Somewhere in the mountain behind the dorms.”

That was the best he could find out right now, the limit. The rest had to be found by running around the site themselves.

“Alright.”

Seo Dohyun covered Yigeom’s eyes and muttered. Along with that, time turned back once again. The pain, like needles piercing his eyes, was all washed away now.

“Let’s move.”

Seo Dohyun shouted to everyone. It was the result of using his simulation eight times.

Seo Doa, who was telling Bae Sangwoo and Yeho what had happened to Jewoo, asked urgently.

“Where? Right now Cha Jewoo…!”

“I know. I know where Cha Jewoo is.”

When Yigeom spoke, Yeho looked at him quizzically. Bae Sangwoo, who roughly knew about Yigeom’s ability, just figured he must have seen something and let it slide, but Yeho was different.

“Wait. How do you know that?”

He had just heard the information about the creature breeding ground and Cha Jewoo’s crisis from Seo Doa, yet it was suspicious that Yoon Yigeom was moving as if it were a matter of course.

“…That’s my ability.”

Yigeom didn’t feel the need to explain Seo Dohyun’s ability as well and make things bigger, so he vaguely explained that his own ability was something like that and tried to hurry.

Because for now, finding Jewoo even a second sooner was urgent.

“So for now, let’s get the kid first…!”

“Yoon Yigeom. Where is the exact location?”

“…I don’t know. I’m sure it’s the mountain behind the dorms, but I’ll have to go there myself to know for sure.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Bae Sangwoo contacted the vigilante corps, telling them to hurry to the mountain behind the dorms, and left the Director’s office. Even as he opened the door, he didn’t forget to be cautious, in case an enemy was hiding.

As the group headed out to find Cha Jewoo, Kim Yiseong and Noh Jeonggyu had no choice but to follow.

One would think they would quickly leave Iryeon and head for the mountain behind the dorms, but Bae Sangwoo designated positions for the group to maintain even while moving. It was to maintain a formation in case of a surprise enemy attack while exiting Iryeon.

Seo Dohyun, as if he had experienced this many times during his vigilante days, took his position without needing Bae Sangwoo to tell him, and then efficiently placed the other members according to their respective abilities.

“Gyeom, you’re here. Doa is here.”

We don’t have to do this. Yigeom, who had a clear view of Iryeon’s interior, had known for a while that there were no enemies.

He felt a bit frustrated, having his time wasted on something like this when he was so busy trying to save Jewoo.

But arguing here would only cause more delay, so he silently fell into formation as they commanded.

Bae Sangwoo and Seo Dohyun were at the front. In the middle stood Yigeom, Doa, and Noh Jeonggyu, and at the rear was Kim Yiseong, who was well-suited for defense and counterattack against unexpected ambushes.

The plan was to exit Iryeon like this, get in the car, and head to the mountain behind the dorms.

And they entered the first floor.

So far, there was nothing particularly strange.

But he found himself instinctively looking away from the corpses of the two Blood Hunters that Seo Dohyun had dealt with.

Bae Sangwoo, who had been on friendly terms with the Director, if you could call it that, was surprisingly indifferent to his corpse and went about his business.

Does he have a lot of experience with this kind of thing?

For Yigeom, it was an experience he could never get used to.

Glancing to his side, Seo Doa merely frowned at the corpses but didn’t try to avoid them, diligently scouting her surroundings. It was the same for Noh Jeonggyu.

Just as Yigeom was about to expand his own field of vision to do the same,

“Look out!”

BANG-!

Along with the gunshot, Bae Sangwoo’s urgent shout rang out, and his vision was stained red.

Yigeom, who was right behind Bae Sangwoo, caught him as he collapsed from the gunshot, and they sank to the ground together.

“…Mister?”

Beeeeeeeeep-.

For a moment, his mind went blank, and it felt like a loud ringing was sounding in his ears. Stunned, Yigeom patted the limply collapsed Bae Sangwoo in his arms with a careful hand.

“…Mister.”

Then, he lifted the hand that had been on his chest. Blood was pooling wetly in his palm. This wasn’t his blood. Then whose blood was it?

He slowly lowered his gaze to check on Bae Sangwoo.

“Why… why.”

“Heueup…! Mister!”

“Everyone, move!”

Whether it was Seo Doa, who was holding back her tears as she unbuttoned the red-stained white shirt to check the wound, or Kim Yiseong, who was pushing everyone aside to approach and heal Bae Sangwoo.

Yigeom couldn’t see any of them clearly.

He could only stare blankly at the gushing red blood that was welling up from the gunshot wound, right in the chest.

“…Mister.”

It was a call with no answer.

“Mister, mister. Snap… snap out of it.”

Bae Sangwoo lay there as if dead, only blinking his eyes like a goldfish in a bowl.

“The bullet! We have to get the bullet out first!”

Kim Yiseong shouting, the pool of blood gathering around Bae Sangwoo, a sobbing Seo Doa, a panicked Noh Jeonggyu scanning for the enemy, and Seo Dohyun.

For some reason, his face looked uncharacteristically dazed.

“…Seo Dohyun. This…, ah, Mister.”

“……”

“Seo Dohyun? Hey, hey…. Dohyun-ah….”

After a moment’s hesitation, Seo Dohyun turned back time. And.

“…out!”

BANG-!

Yigeom caught Bae Sangwoo as he was pushed toward him, collapsing backward with a thud. Then, he silently mouthed words.

…The timing.

“Heueup…! Mister!”

“Everyone, move!”

The reset point.

“The bullet! We have to get the bullet out first!”

The reset point is strange.

Yigeom pressed his hand to Bae Sangwoo’s bleeding chest and looked up at Seo Dohyun.

“Why…”

Seo Dohyun, like someone who had lost his mind, did nothing but look back and forth between Yoon Yigeom and Bae Sangwoo.

Kim Yiseong, who had been pushing aside Bae Sangwoo’s shirt to inspect the wound, suddenly fell silent. The gunshot had pierced the heart precisely. There was nothing he could do, even with his ability.

“Why, why are you stopping? Hurry up and heal him! Mister, please…. Mister! Mister, snap out of it! It’s me, Doa!”

“…It’s already too late.”

This was probably the ninth time. One more time and it would be ten. After that, it’s the end. One last chance. He had to somehow save Bae Sangwoo with this chance.

Yigeom calmly replayed the situation from a moment ago.

They were just about to exit the entrance, and Bae Sangwoo, having noticed something, had shouted that it was dangerous. Then the gunshot rang out.

What did Bae Sangwoo discover? He was at the very front.

Yigeom looked toward the entrance where the bullet came from. There was nothing there. Then who fired the gun? Surely…. someone must have been there.

No, more importantly, saving Bae Sangwoo comes first….

“Ah…”

Disjointed plans muddled his mind.

Calm down. Let’s sort through this calmly.

He rehashed what had just happened and how to save Bae Sangwoo.

With a shout, Bae Sangwoo had jumped in front of Yigeom and taken the fatal wound. In other words, he had taken the bullet for Yigeom.

What if he rushed forward and pushed Bae Sangwoo aside as he jumped in front of him?

Yigeom ran the simulation in his head. And the result would be him getting shot instead.

Shot? Where? If it was an arm or a leg, he could push Bae Sangwoo and take the hit anytime. But what if it wasn’t? Seo Dohyun could use his ability one more time.

What if he misjudged that one time and he himself was shot in a fatal spot?

Yigeom instinctively trembled. What should I do…. How can I…

Yigeom didn’t have the courage to jump in for someone else like Bae Sangwoo did. At least, not right now.

Yigeom subconsciously looked at Kim Yiseong. The fact that he had let go of Bae Sangwoo meant that the situation had reached a point where nothing more could be done.

‘I…’

Plunged into chaos, Yigeom calculated other alternatives.

Where was Seo Dohyun right before Bae Sangwoo was shot? Seo Doa? Where was Noh Jeonggyu? Kim Yiseong was in the rear, so he was excluded, but he somehow managed to narrow it down to those who were close to Bae Sangwoo.

But it was difficult to give an order to Seo Doa and Noh Jeonggyu in that short amount of time, and Yigeom was closer to Bae Sangwoo than Seo Dohyun was.

In the end, Yigeom was the only one who could break through this situation.

He could make one of two choices.

Either let Bae Sangwoo do as he did, or push him away and get injured himself.

But where he would be injured was random. Since he would be pushing Bae Sangwoo and standing in his place, there was a high probability it would be the same spot as him.

“……”

The group, excluding Dohyun and Yigeom, surrounded Bae Sangwoo, and amidst that chaos, Yigeom looked at Dohyun as if searching for an answer.

Seo Dohyun… was frighteningly silent. That silence was terrifying.

Tick-tock.

The repeating time that had always saved Yigeom was, for a moment, approaching as a terror.

The time to decide whether to step up or not.

Yigeom couldn’t make any choice and just lowered his head, staring blankly at his own blood-stained hands.

‘What do I…’

Only five minutes given to decide a person’s life. Isn’t that too cruel?

Yigeom was not a god, nor was he omnipotent. But right now, everything depended on his decision.

Had Seo Dohyun ever made a decision like this before? If so, what was his decision? In the end, after all the deliberation, it was always him he sought.

Only he, only he knew the answer. He knew, and he had to. He should have…

“Why… why aren’t you saying anything?”

“……”

Why has he been silent since a while ago? If you’re like this, what am I supposed to do? What should I do?

“Seo Dohyun…. Dohyun-ah. You do something. Do something…”

“……”

You’re usually good at everything. You always managed to do something. Do it this time too. Do anything. Please, just help me.

Tears streamed down Yigeom’s cheeks.

But reality was cold, and crying wouldn’t change a thing.

Eventually, time returned.

“…out!”

BANG-!

Yigeom couldn’t move a single step.

The moment he embraced Bae Sangwoo who was pushed toward him and fell backward. He saw it clearly. A blurry figure at the entrance. The person aiming the gun.

‘I heard there’s a new firearm weapon out. I came to see it.’

‘With my ability, a gun is a better weapon.’

‘…Kwon Sanghyuk.’

And then he disappeared in an instant. It wasn’t that he hid behind an object or ran away, he truly vanished. Like a chameleon. As if turning invisible.

Suddenly, Yigeom’s pupils dilated. Yigeom had encountered an ability similar to that before.

When the mutant creatures attacked the Association, there was definitely something invisible.

‘f5! b4 inside it!’

Kwon Sanghyuk, who had revealed himself for a split second, vanished as if nothing had happened. In just a brief moment. And in that moment, Yigeom’s eyes met his.

That was all. There was nothing he could do.

“Heueup…! Mister!”

“Everyone, move!”

Nothing changed. It was a bleak reality. In the end, Yigeom chose his own safety, and Bae Sangwoo met a noble sacrifice.

It’s because of me. Because of me…. All of this is because of me.

He couldn’t choose, and when time turned back, he didn’t move. He couldn’t move.

But even ‘not moving’ was a choice. That’s why this was entirely his fault.

“The bullet! We have to get the bullet out first!”

For a moment, it felt like Bae Sangwoo’s gaze was on him. His pupils were dying.

“…Yoon… Gyeom….”

This was the last turn. It was time to let Bae Sangwoo go.

But Yigeom couldn’t bring himself to face him, so he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Why, why are you stopping? Hurry up and heal him! Mister, please…. Mister! Mister, snap out of it! It’s me, Doa!”

“…It’s already too late.”

After Kim Yiseong’s lamenting mutter, Seo Dohyun walked over to Bae Sangwoo and lowered his posture. Then, he called him quietly.

“Mister.”

And silence followed.

“…hyun….”

A tiny voice, like air mixed intermittently with his breath.

Seo Dohyun paid no mind to his blood-stained hand and held it tight.

“Oppa. Oppa…. Mister is…. He can live, right? If we treat him, he can live… right?”

He silently examined Bae Sangwoo’s wound. It was no ordinary wound. He was in a state where his life hung in the balance even if he were shown to a high-level healer right away.

It was a judgment he could make because he had often seen teammates die during his time in the vigilante corps. Death was close at hand.

It was time to let him go. The final goodbye….

And yet, one more time.

Dohyun swallowed down the lump that was welling up in his throat. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

The eleventh time.

“…out!”

BANG-!

“Heueup…! Mister!”

“Everyone, move!”

As expected. Nothing changes.

And yet, one more time.

The twelfth time, the thirteenth time….

“Cough!”

He finally coughed up blood. His insides were a mess from the excessive use of his ability.

But again, one more time.

Yigeom clenched his fists so tightly that blood dripped from his hands.

‘How much of a coward are you going to make me?’

Every time he repeated time, a moment of choice came for Yigeom. The choice of not moving.

He had become an onlooker to Bae Sangwoo’s death several times. In front of it, Yigeom was a coward and a craven.

Because of that, on the fourteenth time, he pushed Bae Sangwoo. Yigeom’s judgment was correct. His judgment, which had kept him from moving an inch during the several repetitions, was not wrong.

As soon as he pushed Bae Sangwoo, the bullet accurately pierced Yigeom’s heart.

“…Oppa!”

“Yoon Yigeom! You idiot!”

Warm blood began to spread on the floor. It was an enormous amount, hard to believe it came from a single person’s body. Above it, Bae Sangwoo’s urgent face filled his vision.

An idiot? Mister, did you know? You did that idiotic thing several times.

For a moment, Yigeom’s lips curved into a smile, and a laugh seeped out.

An out-of-place thought came to him. How amusing. Why did I hesitate over this small action? Dying is nothing. I’ve died many times. What was I afraid of? What was there to be scared of…. Dying, dying is….

“It’s no use.”

At Kim Yiseong’s words, which were like a declaration of death, a sudden surge of sorrow burst out.

What’s so scary about death? What is this thing? This… this thing.

“……sca…”

Scary. I’m afraid. I…

The murmuring voices of the others scattered into pieces.

Thus, the fifteenth time.

Yigeom chose to be a coward. Catching the falling Bae Sangwoo, he couldn’t bring himself to lift his head. The guilt made him do it. He felt a hand patting his shoulder.

“Gyeom-ah.”

“……”

“Let’s say goodbye now.”

It was as if he was saying to let Bae Sangwoo go now, to watch over his final moments, and he unknowingly lifted his head to look at Seo Dohyun.

Seo Dohyun’s roughly wiped face was stained with blood. From his eyes, nose, and mouth, blood had pooled and burst due to the side effects.

Three days ago, blood had flowed from Yigeom’s eyes when he discovered the creature breeding ground.

‘Hey, I’m not going to go blind, am I?’

‘That won’t happen.’

‘That’s a relief. But you seem to have been through this before? You know quite a lot?’

They had even had that joking conversation back then.

‘A few times.’

‘Did it hurt?’

‘Back then, a little. I think it hurt.’

Yigeom pressed his lips together tightly. He couldn’t easily utter any words.

The decision made after choice upon choice was Bae Sangwoo’s death. He had heard that humans come to respect those who easily accomplish what they themselves could not.

Bae Sangwoo was exactly that to Yigeom. But even if Bae Sangwoo wasn’t a god, he must be afraid of death.

Probably, even if Seo Dohyun turned back time again, the result would be the same. Because Yigeom would make the same choice.

And Yigeom had a premonition that he would carry this day, this guilt, in his heart for the rest of his life.

“…Seo Dohyun.”

Yigeom muttered without taking his eyes off Bae Sangwoo.

“Just one more time. Turn it back just one more time.”

He knew it was an unreasonable request. That Bae Sangwoo’s injury wouldn’t change. Still, just one more time.

Dohyun glanced at Yigeom and silently gathered his power. The pain of his organs being squeezed and the agony of the blood in his body flowing backward washed over him.

Beeeeeeeeep-.

A ringing sounded in his ears, and blood trickled out.

And time turned back.

“…out!”

BANG-!

In time with the gunshot, Yigeom also took out the gun he had packed from the supply room earlier and aimed it at Kwon Sanghyuk.

Thinking back, his relationship with Kwon Sanghyuk had been a series of ill-fated encounters from the very beginning.

‘The probability of a regular hunter encountering a Blood Hunter is, um… almost nil! Like winning the lottery? You’re really lucky, Mr. Yigeom!’

He should have known then.

‘I’m scared of hunting creatures, so I’m going to wait downstairs.’

He should have realized then! Then… then!

BANG-!

Before his mind went blank with rage and his fingertips started to tremble, he quickly pulled the trigger. But at the same time, Bae Sangwoo fell onto Yigeom, causing his aim to waver for a moment.

The muzzle, aimed precisely at the heart, missed and pierced Kwon Sanghyuk’s shoulder. Kwon Sanghyuk’s eyes widened for a second, and his gaze met Yigeom’s. Then, invisibility.

If I lose him…!

Yigeom carefully entrusted Bae Sangwoo to Seo Doa and was about to quickly chase after Kwon Sanghyuk.

“……Yi…gyeom…!”

But that single call held Yigeom’s feet.

“…Mister.”

Yigeom stopped running and once again approached Bae Sangwoo, collapsing in front of him.

He bit his lip hard and grabbed his hand, which was growing cold.

I, I should have been the one who got shot, I’m sorry. But I couldn’t do it. Probably… even if I went back, I would make the same choice.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Unable to say the preceding sentences, he swallowed them down his throat and, like a madman, just repeated the words “I’m sorry.”

You foolish idiot. In all that repeated time, didn’t you ever think about what last words you would say to Mister?

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He muttered, tears streaming down his face.

“…cket…. po…cket….”

“Pocket. His pocket!”

Seo Doa, who had quickly understood, wiped her tears and rummaged through Bae Sangwoo’s pockets. Could there be something that could miraculously heal him?

Though she knew it was impossible, Doa searched every single pocket on his clothes with trembling hands.

And she found a small case.

“…This is.”

A useless metal stick. It was just a silver pin. Why this…. Looking closer, she saw the name ‘Yoon Yigeom’ engraved on it.

Doa bit her lip hard to hold back her tears and handed it to Yigeom. Upon seeing the contents of the box, Yigeom couldn’t help but immediately recognize its use.

‘What’s that?’

‘This? A creature blood identifier.’

‘But why don’t I have one?’

‘What? You’re an outsider. …What an audacious student. Happy now? Are you satisfied with taking this old man’s lifeline?’

“……”

Time had repeated back then. Because of that, it was a conversation Bae Sangwoo didn’t even remember. But why, for what reason….

Satisfied with taking your lifeline? Do you think I would be? What is this? Why are you giving it to me? Why is my name engraved on it? I didn’t even say I wanted it, so why….

“Mister.”

Seo Dohyun called out to him. He placed his hand on his chest, where blood was welling up, without hesitation and continued speaking.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll take good care of Doa, and of Latter. You said you wanted to retire and rest in the countryside, I’ll do that in your place.”

“……”

“What you wanted to do, what you tried to achieve, what you couldn’t achieve. I will carry it all on.”

It was a gentle touch patting his chest and a voice like a lullaby.

“So please, rest peacefully.”

And so, Bae Sangwoo entered into his final rest.

🦅࿐

“…oor…! …shut…!”

Had he been making flowers bloom in the darkness for a long while?

From beyond the thick door, he heard someone’s voice. Was it another person captured like him, or was it his colleagues who had located him and come to his rescue?

Jewoo placed his hands on the floor, surrounding the entrance with sturdy, giant trees. He made thorn bushes sprout in front of them to fend off the creatures’ approach.

Although he himself wasn’t one of them, ordinary hunters could be targets of attack for the creatures.

Soon, the door opened.

“Are you alrigh-!”

KWAANG!

A dozen or so creatures, all at once, threw themselves against the giant trees and charged at the vigilante corps.

The giant trees, which seemed like they would never break, began to slowly tilt after being rammed a few times.

Heek! The terrified vigilante member quickly pulled Jewoo by the scruff of his neck and escaped outside. Then, his colleagues hurriedly closed the huge door of the breeding ground and sealed it tightly.

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere?”

“Yes… yes. I’m okay.”

Jewoo answered dazedly and looked at the people who had saved him. The members of Latter were not among them.

‘I thought the hyungs would come to save me….’

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed.

“Don’t get too close.”

His senior berated the vigilante member who was making a fuss and checking on Jewoo’s well-being.

“What? We need to get him to a healer right now…!”

His senior shot a cold glance at Jewoo.

That person…. He had seen that face before.

‘…You protected Doa?’

‘Yes, …yes! Do-, Doa suddenly awakened, so I, I soaked her clothes in a lot of my blood and wrapped them around Doa, then hid her behind a creature! It’s a temporary measure, but it should be fine for a little while! Ju-, just in case, I also set up a shield here with wood! Like this, like this!’

The young Jewoo, afraid that the man might kill him, eagerly proved his usefulness.

This person is Doa’s older brother?

His first impression was ‘scary’.

He wasn’t an adult, his appearance making him look like a middle or high school student at most. And yet, he was terrifying, covered in blood from head to toe.

Furthermore, Seo Dohyun had just slaughtered the creature that was idolized in ‘Dello’.

It had happened right before his eyes, and he had no power to stop it, nor did he have any intention to.

It was the thing that had bewitched his parents, and he himself had been forced to drink its blood, as if shackled to the creature. While he felt a sense of relief, it was a natural course of things to feel a pang of sympathy for the creature instinctively.

Seo Dohyun left the trembling Jewoo behind and approached Doa, who was collapsed as if dead.

Her pulse was beating normally. Not a single scratch was visible. Great pain comes for a short while during the first awakening, so she might have fainted, unable to bear it. He looked at Jewoo again with an indifferent gaze.

Then does that mean what that kid said is true?

He said his parents were Blood Hunters, so he was forced to drink blood at a young age.

He knows it’s an incredibly difficult thing for a Blood Hunter to watch a creature die right before their eyes, trembling like a leaf in the wind, yet not looking away and watching until the very end.

He seemed to be around the same age as Doa, but he also looked to have a strong spirit.

‘Seo Dohyun! What are you doing! Team 3 is requesting support! If you’ve found Doa, hurry up and move!’

At his colleague’s call, Dohyun slung the unconscious Doa over his shoulder and said to Jewoo.

‘If you want to live, follow me.’

April 5th, seven years ago. It was the day Dello was annihilated, a day that left an indelible scar on Seo Dohyun and Seo Doa’s past, but for Jewoo, it was a day like a blessing.

He had lived almost his entire life as if confined. There were many days when he starved because he couldn’t eat if he didn’t drink blood.

If you want to live, follow me?

That day was also the second birthday of a certain boy who wielded plants with his ability.

“If I tell you not to get close, then don’t get close! No back talk, get over here.”

“…Yes.”

It was the man who had called for Dohyun seven years ago, saying they needed to go support Team 3. Back then, he used to glare at Jewoo with a look of displeasure as he desperately followed behind Dohyun.

It was understandable, as most of the vigilante corps members were uncomfortable with Blood Hunters, even if they had repented.

Jewoo voluntarily put some distance between himself and them and cautiously asked.

“Um… how did you know where I was and come to find me?”

“Because my superior told me.”

At the blunt reply, Jewoo’s face fell once more. He had seen the message and thought that maybe the hyungs had reported it, but that wasn’t it either.

Just then.

“Your colleague who was with you gave us a rough location, so it was easier to find you.”

“Ah…!”

Gyeom hyung did…. Jewoo’s face brightened, and his lips twitched as he tried to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up.

The vigilante member who saw Jewoo clicked his tongue, tsk.

He looked just as naive now as he did seven years ago.

He was actually young, too. He thought that since he had drunk blood at a young age, he wouldn’t be able to hold back and would only crave blood again. Indeed, in the beginning, he couldn’t adapt to the shelter, but now he was enduring more tenaciously than anyone and living the life of an ordinary hunter.

He was a case of being forcibly turned into a Blood Hunter in his childhood in the first place. A tragic life. Apart from his disgust for Blood Hunters, he couldn’t help but offer praise to Jewoo.

“You’ve endured well.”

Then and now.

He muttered it as he passed by, turning his back to Jewoo. Jewoo was not one to miss it.

“Yes! I’m confident in my endurance. Hehe.”

“…The mission is complete, let’s go back now.”

At the senior’s words, the vigilante member next to him checked a message from a colleague and said.

“Yes, A is currently at Iryeon. It’s less than a 5-minute drive from here…”

“A? A is here?”

They ignored Jewoo, who was looking up with wide eyes, and checked the message again, continuing where they had left off.

“Team 2 has arrested two Blood Hunters who were in the vicinity. And…. um?”

Does two people mean Lee Piljin and the one who snuck up from behind and choked me unconscious? Jewoo listened attentively to his words, waiting for him to add more.

“…Mister.”

“What? What’s the rest of the message?”

“The message… is that Bae Sangwoo, Sangwoo hyung-nim, has passed away.”

🦅࿐

Yigeom took out and put on the black suit he had tailored at Iryeon a few days ago.

The incident that occurred in Busan, at Iryeon, had come to a close.

The Director was revealed to be a Blood Hunter, and people from the Association came down to Iryeon to start a large-scale investigation.

The total number of people arrested was seven. They were the ones who worked at Iryeon and pushed people into the creature breeding ground as food.

The organization’s name was ‘Orca’, and besides the arrested members, there were numerous other members, but they had already pulled out and fled long ago.

A declared that he would hunt them down. That was a matter of course. Because ‘Orca’s’ Kwon Sanghyuk had murdered Bae Sangwoo.

Kwon Sanghyuk was revealed to be a Blood Hunter, and based on Yigeom’s testimony that he had seen him hide himself with invisibility, he was classified as a ‘Plural Ability User’.

It was concluded that every time the Association did a blood test, he had manipulated the data with his inherent ability, ‘Illusion’, and that he was indeed the unidentified person who had used invisibility during the Association raid.

Perhaps the reason Bae Sangwoo attacked Seo Doa was also due to Kwon Sanghyuk’s illusion.