Chapter 53

 

Subsequently, I waited for the linked quest to proceed. But there was no window in front of my eyes.

 

“What? Is this the end of the quest?”

 

It couldn’t have happened. Linked quests always give me a huge reward many times at the end.

 

“What about my skills? Give me my skills! Quest!!!”

 

Main quest #4

 

The condition has not been met.

 

Fortunately, the system window appeared intact; maybe it was over. But it was grayish and inactive.

 

“The condition? What condition are you talking about?”

 

You have to tell me what it is. Can I do it or not? While I was grumbling while looking at the system window with no movement, I saw a door that opened behind the translucent window. I got up in a hurry and stood up as if I were fine. 

 

As soon as I woke up, I couldn’t even think of looking around because of the system windows that came up in front of me, but now I’m in a space I’ve never seen before.

 

‘I totally forgot about it while watching the quest.’

 

Coming in through the door, it was Seong San-ha.

 

“I thought you were sleeping because you were quiet.”

 

“I just woke up……. Where are we?”

 

Without realizing it, I answered obediently. But when I asked again sharply, Seong San-ha answered indifferently.

 

“Cheon Rang.”

 

“Chen Rang? Yeah, you know, in the cave……!”

 

My eyes widened at the last memory. As I was pointing, Seong San-ha approached me and gestured near my leg.

 

“There was a pattern of Hamal on your ankle.”

 

“When did you see that? How did you know I was in a cave in the first place?”

 

“The leash.”

 

‘A leash like a dog. It has all sorts of functions……. Wait, but there should be a distance limit. Does he mean he’s been all over Dungeon?’

 

I frowned at the truth that I didn’t want to know very much. I now realized that my body that rolled in the cave was clean, and the clothes were changed to clothes that I had never seen before. A little horrified, I jumped up from my seat with a dubious expression.

 

“Thank you for saving me. I will go now.”

 

As soon as I passed Seong San-ha, my arm was immediately caught. A voice filled with laughter reached my ears.

 

“We still have a lot to talk about.”

 

“I have nothing to say to you.”

 

“It’s quite a different attitude than when you said you wanted my body, right?”

 

“What bullshit are you sprouting?”

 

As I shook my arm off and looked back, Seong San-ha said with a calm expression, as if the purpose was to provoke me in the first place.

 

“Things have changed a little. I’m responsible for protecting Hamal. But since you have Hamal, naturally you…….”

 

“Who said that I get protection from you? Don’t you know that it means that Hamal is guarding the protected area?”

 

“What are you going to do out of here right now? The center thought you were dead. What happens when you find out you’re alive?”

“……Are you threatening me?”

 

“I’m sorry if it sounded like that. It’s just that there doesn’t seem to be any plans or measures.”

 

I almost told him the plans I had prepared for a long time because I was angry at the words that he seemed to ignore.

 

‘Let’s get it together. This madman is the leader of the Cheon Rang Guild.’

 

After observing Tae Jae-heon, I knew the power of the large guild very well. At least, the Esper and Guide Center was said to be a gray zone, but since I ran out of the center, it was safe to say that there was no place outside where the guilds could not reach.

 

‘I was going to hide it until the foundation to protect me was established, but how did this punk…….’

 

“I don’t need you to know my plans, but what the hell is wrong with you?”

 

“That’s what my puppy doesn’t need to know. Why don’t you be nice and hide under the protection of your master?”

 

“Fuck, you speak so noblely of kidnapping and confinement. You need to know what it is to be convinced.”

 

Seong San-ha looked down at me with noble eyes. I felt frustrated when I saw the look in his eyes that said he didn’t need my consent. I replied, shaking off my arm that was still held.

 

“You must have got something wrong, but from my point of view, I’d rather not say anything than bother with you.”

 

“You can’t just get rid of Hamal at will.”

 

“What do you know when you don’t have Hamal? Just kill it, and it’s over.”

 

A long cry of sheep seemed to be heard somewhere. Inside, I felt a little guilty.

 

‘Cloud, I’m sorry……. I’ll give you carrots once we leave here. No, sheeps eat grass. Hang in there, anyway.’

 

Seong San-ha burst into an absurd smile at my spitting words.

 

“Ha, you’re saying that because you know what it’s like.”

 

“How would I know, you bastard? You didn’t tell me.”

 

In the end, it was Seong San-ha that stepped down first. Calling someone, Seong San-ha stared me in the eyes and said,

 

“Bring me an oath of allegiance……Yes. Someone wants to be deeply involved with me.”

 

***

 

The car entered the intersection. It was a place where apartment complexes were concentrated. I glanced at the sign and said,

 

“Get me off here.”

 

When asked to stop on the street, Seong San-ha laughed and asked.

 

“Are you homeless, puppy?”

 

“Shit……. Why should I trust you and tell you my hourse?”

 

“Hiding doesn’t mean hiding it. It’s a consideration to not lose strength for no reason.”

 

I swore at myself and grabbed the door hook because I didn’t even think before hiding that he was going to do a background investigation. 

 

When I was about to get off, something was swung from behind. I grabbed it. It was a business card of Seong San-ha that I had seen before.

 

“Read it and don’t forget.”

 

“Don’t worry about that. And don’t stalk me.”

 

The driver in the driver’s seat looked back at me as I closed the door with a bang.

 

Well, well. I lifted my chin and knocked on the top of the car, telling it to go on, and only then did it start and drive off.

 

Only after the car was completely gone did I look around to find the apartment I needed to go to.

 

“Versailles Castle Building 107 Room 1709……. Oh, there it is.”

 

I moved toward the address I had memorized in advance. The apartment complex itself was quite large, so I was able to find 107 buildings after wandering a little. I went up to the 17th floor, pressed the password, and the neat interior welcomed me.

 

I thought it would be empty because I rented a place to stay until I got a studio, but it was pretty cozy and well decorated.

 

After running away from the center, I was relieved that I was left alone and had entered a safe place. I opened Joo Ho-hyun’s inventory, which I wanted to see when I was left alone on the sofa.

 

“Inventory.”

 

The three inventory spaces given to Awakeners by default have become visible. As expected, there was nothing special. A cheap potion and a ring attached to a silver chain. Even the last compartment was empty. I took out the ring and looked at it. However, seeing as there was no emotion, it seemed like it was not an item.

 

“Now that I have escaped the center, should I just throw it away….?’

 

As I reached out to take it out, I heard the sound of footsteps. When I jumped up thinking about it, Cloud, who had escaped, was running away to the far corner.

 

“Hey, hey! Cloud!”

Cloud, who looked back at me, turned his head away as if he were ignoring me. I roughly guessed why he was at the cornerㅡto gnaw at the wallpaper, so I rushed to catch him.

 

“Cloud, I’m sorry.”

 

“Behhhhh!”

 

“No, that bastard was threatening hyung with you. Oh! Don’t bite me……No, bite it. I was wrong. Bite me and let go of your anger.”

 

“Behhhhhhhh.”

 

It took a long time to soothe Cloud. Why is the small one so stubborn?

 

I was lying on the sofa with Cloud, who had finally let go of his anger, and quickly fell asleep. What woke me up was the sound of the password being entered at an insane speed.

 

Dididididi. Beep.

 

The door opened suddenly, and Yeon Sung-yeon, holding a large bag of groceries in both hands, looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

“Ho-hyun nim!”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon, who threw away the bag he was holding, ran straight to me and hugged me. In a state of being less woken up and dazed, I hit Yeon Seung-yeon’s back with one hand.

 

“The hospitality is intense. Long time no see.”

 

“Ho-hyun nim…. I knew you’d be safe, but you didn’t appear for so long…….”

 

“I had some work to do. Did you know I was here?”

 

“Yes. I knew right away because the location of the delivery box in front of me was changed. How on earth did you come out…….”

 

I sat down with Yeon Seung-yeon, who was in tears, and looked around to find Cloud. I couldn’t see it, realzing that it had gone back quickly.

 

“I ran away from Dungeon. Sorry. I can’t tell you in advance.”

 

“Of course I understand.”

 

“What happened to the center after I left?”

 

At my question, Yeon Seung-yeon continued to speak slowly. There were some things I couldn’t understand, but it seemed to have gone roughly as I thought.

 

“The Bureau of Investigation? What is that? Anyway, if I had been caught, I would have been screwed.”

 

“How on earth did you avoid the pursuit of the Investigation team’s Esper? It must have been difficult to avoid because it was made up of Espers specialized in search.”

 

“Because I know a side road. Well, I had work in the middle.”

 

“What happened……. Is that why you were late?”

 

The words “I almost never saw you again” escaped my lips. However, when I saw the squirrel with tears in my eyes, words did not come out easily.

 

He quit the center because I had persuaded him to become my assistant. I was worried about Yeon Seung-yeon, who would have been left alone if I had died, and I was also embarrassed by the fact that I was saved by Seong San-ha.

 

‘Well, it’s not like I can even talk about Hamal because of the oath of allegiance in the first place.’

 

The conditions that Seongsanha set for releasing me were that I would keep quiet about Hamal, and that I would be safe as long as I had Hamal with me. There were two things. In particular, I barely managed to stop them from attaching security by talking about safety. If not…….

 

I kicked my tongue and shook my head.

 

“Well, it’s all over well, so it doesn’t matter now. Where have you been?”

 

“I bought some ingredients in case Ho-hyun would come.…. Have you eaten?”

 

As soon as I heard the sound of lunch, my stomach grumbled. Come to think of it, the last meal I had before entering Dungeon was from a few days ago.

 

“No. I’m dying of hunger. I don’t even know how many days I’ve been starving.”

 

“Oh, my God!! I’ll get ready. Ho-hyun, please have a seat. Ah, Ho-hyun’s clothes are all in the bedroom of the big room over there…….”