DTD 19

The first time I acknowledged my true feelings was while wielding <Bloodletting Sword>.

The reason I tried to protect Sang, the reason I tried to bear the curse alone… it was all for my own sake. If I’d truly prioritized Sang from the beginning, I wouldn’t have done things that would hurt him.

I wanted to hide this selfish inner side of me as much as I could. If he found out about this side of me and found it disgusting…

“At the very least, I wanted to close my eyes peacefully, in the end… and just forget everything.”

I can say it without hesitation.

“……..Hyung.”

His wretchedly contorted face filled my view.

“You’re really the worst, you know that?”

“Yeah. I know.”

Without a trace of hesitation, I looked straight into his eyes and smiled.

“So, go ahead and hate me. Please.”

****

Since that day, I hadn’t been able to see Sang. I went to Jeongdong Cathedral, thinking maybe he’d gone there to clear his head like last time, but no one there had seen him. I tried contacting him, just in case, but got no response. Even the other guild members just said he’d, ‘stepped away to sort out some personal matters.’

If he was avoiding me, I could understand. However, an ominous feeling kept tickling at me. And then, a week later, I overheard staff talking while walking through the halls of the Ark.

“The Guild Leader is still at The Association, right?”

It was something I couldn’t ignore.

“What do you mean?”

When I stepped out from around the corner and asked, the staff jumped like they’d seen a ghost.

“Ah… you overheard us…?”

They exchanged awkward glances, and it was obvious they were uncomfortable. Had someone told them not to tell me about Simeon’s whereabouts? I didn’t want to corner them, but the fact that The Hunter’s Association was involved made it hard to ignore.

“Did someone tell you not to say anything to me?”

“Uh… that’s…”

Just as the awkward silence dragged on…

“What’s going on here?”

A lazy voice called out from the other hallway.

“You know you shouldn’t talk about fun things without me, don’t you?”

“Enoch!”

The staff visibly relaxed, like they’d seen a savior, and quickly ran to Enoch. 

Now I looked like I’d been the one harassing them. I let out a faint sigh, and Enoch stared at me with bright eyes, as if urging me to say something interesting.

“Is it true that Simeon is at The Hunter’s Association?”

I asked.

“Ah.”

Apparently, it wasn’t the topic Enoch had hoped for, as his smirk faded slightly.

He subtly glanced toward the staff who avoided his gaze, and then with a meaningful smile, he waved his hand lightly.

“Go ahead and get back to work. I’ll explain.”

The staff bowed as if they’d been waiting for permission and left. As soon as we were alone, I got straight to the point.

“Please tell me.”

“Alright. But didn’t we agree to drop the honorifics? Why are you being so formal again?”

“…That’s not the issue right now.”

I frowned, and Enoch tapped my shoulder, telling me to calm down.

“You know Oni’s been buying up spirit items lately, right?”

“Yes.”

“The Association found that suspicious and called him in.”

“What’s suspicious about that?”

“A while back, there was a guild that secretly gathered spirit items and used them to break into The Association. They took one of the executives hostage, it was a total mess. That guild’s leader was an idiot, so it ended just as a minor incident, but…”

Simeon was different. Also, The Apostles never got along with The Association to begin with.

Buying spirit items in bulk was bound to raise suspicion, even though the reasoning made sense, I still felt uneasy.

“Does that kind of investigation usually take this long?”

“Usually it’s done in a day or two… but yeah, it’s been over a week with no contact.”

So it wasn’t just me he was ignoring.

“Did you try contacting The Association?”

“Yeah. We got no response.”

Enoch stroked his chin and let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m starting to get worried. What if something happened? If they’re potentially detaining Oni, then…”

He trailed off and glanced at me, as if expecting a certain answer.

“Then we need to get him out.”

“Exactly.”

Enoch nodded, like he’d been waiting for me to say that.

“But it’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

“Since the terrorist incident, The Association’s headquarters blocks awakeners’ abilities. They’re able to do it through the chairman’s powers, and unless you’re authorized, you can’t bring spirit items to the upper floors.”

So they’ve prepared their defenses. Not that it mattered to me, my ability wasn’t suited for combat, and the only spirit item I had was embedded in my body anyway. If Simeon really was being held there, then I’d…

“Enoch. If you hear from him today, let me know.”

“I will.”

But a full day passed with no word. So the next morning, I went to The Hunter’s Association alone. It would’ve been easier to come with a formally registered guild member, but I didn’t want to get anyone else in trouble.

“I didn’t think I’d come back here…”

Standing before me was a towering, high-end building reaching into the sky. It’s said that The Association bought up all the land in the area, Seoul’s land prices be damned. Nervously, I took a deep breath and joined the crowd heading inside.

The lobby looked like any regular office, but armed guards were stationed everywhere. Near the elevators, a security checkpoint was set up where each visitor’s identity was verified.

I had no choice but to turn and head to the information desk.

“Hello. Is it possible to get a tour of the building?”

Surprisingly, the staff welcomed me readily. And like any other company, I just had to write down the reason for my visit and some basic info. I wrote a mix of truth and lies and submitted the form. They handed me back a square badge with The Association’s logo.

“Just show this at the security gate. You’re free to access up to the fifth floor.”

“What about the higher floors?”

“Unfortunately, access beyond that is restricted to authorized personnel only.”

I knew the Association’s top floor was the 40th, and no doubt Simeon would be far above the fifth. Even so, I decided to go up and see.

They guided me to a separate elevator for visitors, which only had buttons up to the fifth floor. When I stepped out on the fifth floor, I spotted another security checkpoint in the distance.

It seems I’d have to get past there to get to the upper floors. As I approached, a man in a suit stood up with a polite smile.

“May I see your Hunter’s license or employee ID?”

I had neither.

He glanced at my chest as I stood there, finally noticing the visitor badge hanging from my neck.

His smile stiffened.

“I’m sorry, but visitors are only allowed to tour up to the fifth floor.”

“I know, but I need to see someone urgently.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No. I’m not here to see an Association member.”

“Excuse me, then who…?”

“Simeon from The Apostles. I heard he’s here.”

Just mentioning The Apostles made the employee visibly scowl. His eyes quickly filled with suspicion and contempt, and he started scanning me as if he’d seen too many people like me before.

“I don’t know if he’s here, but you can’t access this area without authorization.”

At least he still spoke politely. I guess that was something.

“Could you at least pass along a message? Tell him someone urgently needs to see him.”

He sighed and nodded.

“Your name?”

“…Johan.”

He murmured something into the desk phone and then hung up.

“I’ve passed along the message, but I don’t know when he’ll respond.”

“I’ll wait until he does.”

“…Sorry?”

The employee looked bewildered. But what else could I do? With no fame or influence, all I can do is wait. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall near the checkpoint, ignoring the wary stares from the guards.

Two hours passed. And while plenty of people walked by, Simeon never appeared.

“Still no word from him?”

“No.”

“You did pass on the message, right?”

“I did.”

“When do you think he’ll be notified?”

“…That’s hard to say.”

I did hear the phone ring earlier, so the message likely reached the higher-ups. However, whether it got to Simeon… honestly, I doubted it. A stranger rocking up asking to see him? It certainly was suspicious.

As expected, no contact came, even by nightfall. Maybe because I’d stood unmoving for hours, the employee finally came to speak to me.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“Waiting here isn’t going to help.”

At least he was being honest; he didn’t seem like a bad guy.

“I know.”

“Then why…”

“Well, if I force my way through security, you’d all be in trouble.”

I glanced at the armed guards. The moment our eyes met, their hands twitched toward their holstered guns, but I didn’t even flinch. Perhaps realizing something was off, the employee quickly picked up the phone.

“Let me try calling again.”

But when he rang this time, a furious voice leaked through the receiver.

[Hey, I told you to stop calling!]

“Yes, I apologize.”

Even though the voice on the other end was cutting in and out, I could roughly understand what was being said. They were no doubt telling him to send me away. When the call ended, the employee gave me an awkward smile and nodded slightly.

“That’s what they said.”

What should I do?

Taking down two guards would be nothing, but if I did that, I’d drag all of The Apostles into trouble. Thanks to their deal with Simeon right now, The Association was turning a blind eye to the fact that I was operating like a Hunter even though I wasn’t officially registered. So if I went and attacked their guards and stormed into the building… that would be handing The Association the perfect excuse to crack down on both Simeon and The Apostles.

Maybe I should just ask Enoch to come with me tomorrow.

“…He’ll be fine, right?”

Surely, The Association wouldn’t do something reckless to Simeon…

It was right then that I sensed a presence at the end of the hallway. I could see a middle-aged man in a long coat walking this way. Maybe he was some executive? I gave him a quick glance and pulled out my phone again to try contacting Simeon. However, a disaster alert popped up on the screen at that moment.

[A-Class Doppel sighted near Jonggak Station. Nearby residents, please evacuate.]

Jonggak? That was nearby. 

Oddly enough, there was even a special note attached below.

[Possesses the ability to change its appearance. Exercise extreme caution. Distinguishing feature: no shadow.]

It sounded pretty dangerous, but this was The Association’s turf. There were plenty of Hunters nearby so, surely they’d take care of it.

“Sir, you aren’t authorized to access this area!”

I looked up at the shout, cutting off my reading of the message.

The middle-aged man I just saw was trying to walk through the security checkpoint without showing any ID. 

The two guards immediately stepped in front of him, but when he didn’t back down, the employee rushed out from the front desk.

“Excuse me!”

And that’s when I saw it.

“You aren’t permitted to enter, sir.”

There was no shadow beneath the man’s feet.

“No way…”

There was no time to stop it. Just as the guard pulled out his gun, suddenly both of their bodies lifted into the air. They clawed at their necks, gasping and writhing in pain, as though they were being choked by an invisible force. Looking closer, I could see there was a shimmering current of air between the man and the guards.

As expected, this wasn’t human.

“Get back!”

I shouted quickly, but the staff member was already paralyzed in fear. The guards were barely able to resist the attack before they collapsed, unconscious, and their limp bodies were tossed aside like garbage.

“W-What is this…”

The staffer, snapping out of his daze too late, pulled out a taser, but it was useless. Worse, it only provoked it. The Doppel’s pitch-black, emotionless eyes turned toward the staff member.

A shiver ran down my spine at the sudden chill. That unmistakable killing intent that I’d felt many times, standing off against monsters. I grabbed the staffer by the shoulder and yanked him behind me.

Thankfully, I raised my arm just in time.

“Ugh!”

If I hadn’t, my face would’ve been shredded. It was just wind, but it felt like I’d been hit with a whip. My arm stung, and sure enough, the sleeve was torn, my skin deeply cut and bleeding.

“You… okay?”

It wasn’t really a situation where he should be asking me that. The staffer, pale as a sheet and on the verge of passing out, grabbed my collar. However, I hid my arm behind my back like it was nothing, and he gulped hard.

“I’ll call for backup right away.”

“Wait—”

I quickly grabbed his collar and pulled him down.

Whoosh—! 

Bang—!

A powerful gust tore off the ends of his hair as a blast smashed into the wall above. The guard slumped to the floor in shock, and a chunk of concrete was gouged from the wall where his head had been.

Only now did he seem to realize what it meant to be facing an A-class monster. He was completely out of it.

“H-how…”

Even Association staff can be terrified of monsters, it seems. With his face drained of color, he wasn’t going anywhere. Telling him to run would be pointless, so I shoved him under the table like a sack.

“Wait here.”

“…Huh?”

Leaving the half-conscious staffer behind, I focused entirely on the enemy. If I wanted to defeat it, I first had to understand what kind of power it was using. I carefully picked up a plastic bottle from the table and threw it toward the Doppel.

As expected, the bottle split in two before even touching him.

Earlier, and just now as well… Not only could the Doppel change its appearance at will, it seemed like it could control the wind. Or more precisely, it wielded something invisible to the human eye.

Gripping the slowly hardening sword in my fingers, I muttered.

“Jeong-ah. Can you cut air, too?”

“If it is your will, Master, even the sun must fall before my blade.”

“…You really love talking big.”

With a short breath, I leapt up onto the table and quickly launched a surprise attack at the Doppel, who had just passed the security gate. Unlike normal monsters, the blade met no resistance.

But sure enough, its arm cleanly flew off.

Thud—!

Though it looked like a human arm in midair, what hit the floor was black, sticky fluid that writhed on the ground like a severed tentacle. The same dark substance was on my blade, so I flicked it off with a swing and watched as it splattered against the wall with a wet slap.

“So?”

I turned to the side and saw Mujeong was watching me expectantly with a grin on his face.

That look could only mean one thing.

“A true masterpiece of a sword.”

“I am honored, Master.”

Now that I knew <Bloodletting Sword> worked, it was just a matter of time. As I repositioned the sword, a sudden gust blew out the hallway lights overhead, sending sparks flying as the bulbs exploded like fireworks. Even the CCTV in the corner shattered, scattering glass everywhere.

“At last, it appears to be acknowledging your strength, Master.”

“Would’ve been fine without the show, really…”

It was hiding in the shadows. Would it target me, or the staff member under the table? Bracing for an ambush, I scanned the area when I heard a crunch, followed by the sound of glass breaking.

I slashed my sword in the direction of the sound, and a lump of black fluid splattered across the floor.

“Impressive.”

“I’m not finished yet.”

Just how big was this thing? I couldn’t keep hacking away piece by piece, what if it went for the staffer in that time?

Good thing it stepped on glass just now… Hang on.

If the shards broke… then the Doppel’s real body had to have mass and volume, even if it was invisible.

“Then, maybe…”

“Have you thought of a plan, Master?”

“I’m not sure whether it’s a good or a bad one, but let’s find out.”

I jumped on the table and slashed at the ceiling sprinkler.

Crash—!

Water burst out, drenching the area. Most of the water fell straight to the floor, but in one spot… right beside a potted plant, the water splashed off something in midair.

“…Got you.”

I leapt forward and drove my sword directly into that spot. Black goo exploded across the marble floor, as though I were popping a water balloon.

I kept my guard up. What if it tried to reform? But no, hit cleanly, it twitched a few times and then fell still.

The sprinklers stopped soon after, and only the sound of falling water remained.

Drip, drip… 

“That was… easier than I thought.”

“Are you disappointed, Master?”

I shut my mouth. He was exactly right. Maybe it was all that time in hell and purgatory, but even A-class monsters didn’t feel that threatening to me anymore. To be fair, fighting it indoors might’ve helped.

I brushed back my wet hair and turned around. A head popped out from under the table.

Terrified a moment ago—but still wanted to watch the fight?

Our eyes met, and the table rattled.

“You okay?”

He didn’t respond. As I stepped toward him, he quickly looked away. Where was that confidence from earlier? Feeling like there’d been a misunderstanding, I spoke gently.

“Don’t worry. The Doppel is dead.”

“Y-yes. I saw…”

Then why was he looking at me like that?

I touched the tip of the blade to the floor and knelt in front of him. Resting my chin on the hilt, our eyes met.

If I played this right, something told me I might get something useful out of him.

“What’s your name?”

“H-Hyunwoo Kim.”

“Alright, Mr. Hyunwoo.”

Hearing his name, he gulped. He looked so tense that I purposefully smiled.

“You owe me one.”

I whispered softly with a playful smile, and his eyes widened.

I expected him to say, “I’ll repay you” or “What do you want?” But instead, he just stared at me, dumbfounded.

What’s with him? He wasn’t unconscious, and his complexion was even returning.

“Mr. Hyunwoo?”

I called again, and he swallowed hard. Then he fumbled in his pocket and handed me a neatly folded handkerchief.

I wondered why, but then I realized what a mess I must have looked. My white shirt, once clean and crisp to visit The Association, was now soaked and clinging to me. The cut on my right arm was also still bleeding, feeding the sword.

So that’s why he was so spooked.

“Thanks.”

I took the handkerchief, and he nodded so fast his bangs, chopped short by the Doppel, bounced. It looked so silly that I chuckled, and then, for some reason, he chuckled too.

As I wiped my face, I heard a faint grinding sound.

I glanced over and saw that Mujeong was glaring at the staffer with a twisted expression.

His crimson eyes, once full of loyalty, now brimmed with murderous intent.

“This ungrateful— How dare you.”

“What?”

Just as I was about to ask what was wrong, I heard groaning from behind me. The two guards who’d passed out were regaining consciousness. Never mind getting inside, saving them was the priority.

“Here.”

I returned the handkerchief and spoke gently. Hyunwoo nodded quickly, eyes shining.

“Can you go get help for these guys?”

Before I even finished, he shot to his feet and ran past the checkpoint. With no one around, I finally felt at ease. Sitting down at the table, I glared at the still-pooling black goo.

“I never thought things would turn out this way… but it might work out in my favor.”

“Do you plan to use that man?”

“If possible.”

He owed me, after all. Maybe he’d help me meet Simeon.

Just as I was checking on the guards, I heard footsteps. Had he brought help? 

But when I raised my head, there wasn’t a single medic in sight, just a squad of heavily armed guards. And the moment they saw me…

“Drop your weapon and surrender!”

Dumbfounded, I stood frozen as they surrounded me in formation.

“Wait. The Doppel’s already–”

Before I could even finish speaking, they all raised their guns at me. A chilling thought then crossed my mind… they think I’m the Doppel. At that moment, one of the guards at the back spoke into his radio.

“Target located. Two casualties. Doppel is still active.”

Were they serious? Did I not look like the one who defeated the Doppel?

“Hey, I’m not the one who killed them!”

I didn’t even kill anyone. I was just checking on the guards who were attacked by the Doppel, but it just so happened that they arrived right then. Of course. But they wouldn’t believe a word I said.

And the one person who could speak up for me was already gone. Worse still, the Doppel was already dead, its body gone without a trace.

“I repeat, two casualties. Doppel is still active. Requesting immediate backup.”

“Hah…”

Things just took an interesting turn.

Damn.

More than ten gun barrels were aimed at me without the slightest movement. I’ve been stabbed with blades and rolled through fire before, but for some reason, I really didn’t want to get shot. Just when I was considering using my phone light to show them my shadow or something—

“Don’t move!”

“…Uh? I wasn’t moving, though.”

I barely had time to protest before I realized their eyes were fixed behind me. I glanced down slightly to see thick, black, sticky liquid was undulating over the marble floor. What the…? I thought it was dead earlier. I guess not.

I raised a hand toward them before they could open fire.

“Don’t provoke it.”

“You…”

“You still don’t get it? I’m not the Doppel, that is!”

Finally, it seemed to click for them, and a murmur spread through the group. Meanwhile, the black liquid pooling across the floor began to gather at one place. If it disappeared again, we’d be screwed. Sprinkling water to find its core wouldn’t work a second time.

What now? Even slicing it with <Bloodletting Sword> hadn’t killed it. If it had a core, like a heart, that would’ve been ideal. But the way it slithered together was more like a jellyfish. So maybe the best approach is to slice it so finely that it couldn’t re-form?

“Jeong-ah. Think you can handle it?”

“Surely you do not underestimate me, Master. Simply say the word.”

I wasn’t sure if I could move my blade that fast, but I had to try. I slowly backed toward the wall, waiting for the Doppel to fully reconstitute. 

But right then…

Bang—!

A deafening gunshot passed right in front of my face.

“What the…?!”

Someone had fired without permission. What if the Doppel went berserk now?

But more hopeless than that, the bullet hadn’t even scratched it. I’d expected as much, but seeing it confirmed made me freeze. Instead of giving up, all of them started firing into the black mass.

Bang, bang, bang—!

The air exploded with gunfire, but the Doppel stayed perfectly still. Worse, the more damage it sustained, the bigger it grew, until finally, like an inflating balloon, it swelled until a long tentacle suddenly shot out.

It wasn’t hard to guess where that disgusting tentacle was headed.

“Aagh!”

Three people were flung into the wall in an instant. I slashed at the tentacle as it darted toward me. 

Splurt—! 

Black goo splattered in front of me, and some guards dropped to the floor in panic. At this point, they were more of a burden than a help.

I grabbed the collar of the only guard who still had some fight in his eyes.

“Can you seal this hallway?”

“What?”

“Use a fire shutter or something!”

While they panicked and stumbled around—

Whizz—!

A golden rod flew in from somewhere and stabbed into the ground right in front of the Doppel. Then dozens more followed, surrounding it in a ring. The moment its tentacle touched one of the rods…

Crack—!

A massive spark erupted.

Anyone who could trap a Doppel like that in one go wasn’t just anyone…

“Who…?”

I turned around. A woman stood silently at the end of the corridor, wearing a tailored suit and a coat draped over her shoulders. Her sharply cut bob, black shirt—everything was dark except her vividly red lips. But what stood out most was her hand: a number of glowing golden rods floated gently above her palm.

“I was wondering what all the fuss was about. Good thing I came, what a rare find.”

Her gaze toward the Doppel was not ordinary. You can’t use powers inside The Association building unless you’re bonded with a spirit… so if she’s using one, she must be a high-ranking official. Her face looked oddly familiar. Where had I seen her?

“What are you all standing around for?”

“Huh?”

“Call the analysis team. The rest of you, move the injured.”

At her words, the guards, who’d been frozen in shock, suddenly began to move like clockwork. Soon, it was just the two of us left, and she spoke first.

“And you are…?”

“Not the Doppel.”

“I know.”

“That’s a relief. Those guys were pretty sure I was.”

“Please. I’ve been in this business long enough to tell with one look.”

She clenched her hand, and the golden rods instantly turned into a bracelet that wrapped around her wrist. I let out a quiet “Oh,” and she chuckled, folding her arms.

“I’m Taeyoung Min, Guild Leader of Sehwa.”

That’s why she looked familiar. I’d seen her photo back when I was researching The Apostles. The old Guild Master had retired, and I’d heard his young niece had taken over. 

Wait a sec… If it’s Sehwa, then…

“Then, Yuran Choi…?”

Her sharp eyes softened at once.

“What? You know Yuran-unnie?”

Right then, noise echoed from the end of the corridor. If any more Association people showed up, things would get awkward. As I silently watched the hallway, Taeyoung spoke again.

“Shall we go somewhere quiet?”

I had no reason to refuse, so I followed her into the elevator and we rode to another floor. Unlike the chaotic lobby, this place was eerily quiet. I couldn’t tell what kind of area it was, but I followed her into an unmarked room.

“No one comes here, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The inside was completely unexpected; it looked like a hotel room. I hadn’t imagined such a place existed inside The Association building. It was probably meant for guild masters or high-profile guests.

As soon as I sat down, Taeyoung placed a small vial on the table.

“Drink this.”

It was clearly a high-grade elixir made by an Awakened. And she was offering it to a stranger like me? Naturally, I was suspicious.

“I’m okay.”

“It’s not just kindness, it’s a trade. So don’t feel burdened.”

Isn’t that usually the other way around? I frowned a little without meaning to.

“What kind of trade?”

“I feel like knowing you might come in handy someday.”

“I’m not really someone worth that kind of investment.”

“What are you talking about? You subdued an A-rank Doppel on your own.”

She hadn’t seen me fight, so she must’ve inferred it from the sword I was holding. I didn’t respond, unsure how to explain, but that only seemed to pique her interest. She sat down closer.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. What guild are you with?”

“…..”

“If you don’t want to answer, I’ll change the question.”

Taeyoung touched her slender jaw and smiled.

“How do you know Yuran-unnie?”

“She helped me… A long time ago.”

It wasn’t a lie, and it was personal, so I thought she’d drop it. But her catlike eyes suddenly narrowed.

“That’s strange.”

“…What is?”

“Yuran-unnie isn’t the type to help people easily. Unless it was Yuyeon-sunbae.”

Wait… she knew my mom too? The tension in the room seemed to ease a bit.

“Anyway, what brings you to The Association? Hunters don’t usually have business on the fifth floor.”

Sharp. And fast. She’d even noticed I was avoiding The Association’s personnel and suggested moving elsewhere. A lie would only arouse suspicion. Maybe I should test her a little, see what kind of person she is.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“You realize this isn’t a police station, right?”

“I heard he was here… Simeon of the Apostles.”

Her expression instantly turned cold.

“Why are you looking for him?”

She gently touched her metallic bracelet and murmured.

“Answer carefully. You only get one chance.”

Her smile was soft, but her eyes were razor-sharp. There was no point in bluffing. Even if she was with The Association, it didn’t matter. A fight between spirits? I wouldn’t lose.

“I heard he’s been detained and is under investigation here.”

“Detained…?”

She tilted her head, puzzled.

“I don’t know where you heard such weird rumors, but that’s not true.”

“What do you mean? He’s not here?”

“Oh, he is. He was investigated, but the charges were dropped ages ago.”

…What?

“Then why is he still here?”

“Monsters. A rift opened nearby, and five Doppels escaped. They slipped into the city, so The Association called in major guilds for help.”

What the hell? Then what was that story about him being captured? Enoch had told me he couldn’t reach him and was worried. Sure, he looked a little suspicious at the time, but… did he just want me to charge in here? That dopamine-junkie bastard.

“He usually ignores The Association’s calls, but this time, he offered to help. I guess he has his reasons.”

I clenched my fists, already suspecting what that reason might be.

“Thanks for telling me.”

“By the way, are you with The Apostles?”

“…What?”

“Are you the infamous Thirteenth Apostle? The one Simeon is backing?”

She must’ve taken my silence as confirmation. Her red lips curved into an alluring smile.

“I thought so. That sword you had earlier, it looked like a spirit item. Don’t tell me… was that the <Bloodletting Sword>?”

“…Well…”

“It’s made from blood, right? Can you show it to me again?”

They call people like her “question mark killers,” don’t they? I took a step back from her steadily advancing curiosity and spoke firmly.

“I’ll tell you… if you let me meet Simeon.”

She didn’t seem to expect me to offer a trade, and her eyes widened slightly.

“Not bad.”

“Then…?”

“Sure. Sounds fun.”

With a satisfied smile, Taeyoung leaned back against the sofa.

“I’ll give you exactly 20 minutes. Clean yourself up.”

“All of a sudden?”

“You don’t want to give those old tigers something to nitpick from the start, do you?”

Old tigers? She said she’d let me meet Simeon, so what was she talking about? I didn’t really get it, but I decided to just follow her lead. I showered in the attached bathroom, changed into a fresh shirt, and drank the healing tonic.

As soon as we arrived at our next destination, I understood why she’d told me to make myself presentable.

“They’re all waiting for you.”

“Thanks.”

I never imagined she’d bring me to a meeting only for guild masters.

Suppressing my nerves, I stepped inside to find five people seated around a round table. As expected of top-tier guild leaders, I’d seen all of them at least once on the news. I couldn’t help but wonder—should I really be here? But then, I saw him.

Sitting by the window like a shadow, with a presence that couldn’t be ignored, my gaze was drawn to him involuntarily. 

The head of the Apostles, Sang Heo.

He rested his chin on one hand and stared out the window, as if unaware I’d even entered the room.

“Has everyone eaten?”

Taeyoung’s warm greeting melted the frosty atmosphere in the room. Everyone responded casually, except for Sang, who remained completely detached, as though he were in a different world altogether. It reminded me of when I first met him at the orphanage. I thought he’d changed since then… but maybe not, at least not around others.

Just then, an older man with graying hair motioned toward me with his chin.

“And who’s that?”

“Oh, a new attendant I picked up. He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

“You shouldn’t pick attendants based on looks.”

Taeyoung winked at me, and I quickly bowed my head.

“Hello.”

Most of them glanced at me with indifference. One or two gave me the kind of look you’d give an ant on the ground. 

But one of them jolted like they’d heard a ghost speak. The dazed eyes that had been staring out the window suddenly sparked to life.

“It’s an honor to meet such renowned hunters.”

What could Sang be thinking right now? I had no idea.

He’s going to burn a hole through my face at this rate.

“Can I keep him by my side for this meeting? Give him some experience? I’ll make sure he keeps his mouth shut.”

“As if you’d listen even if I said no, Guildmaster Min.”

“Oh, come on, sir. When have I ever done that?”

Seriously, he’s going to drill a hole in my head.

No matter what they talked about, Sang kept staring only at me. His lips twitched repeatedly, like he was struggling not to say something. As if physically holding back his words. I was scared of the consequences, but I had to pretend not to notice.

Doing my best to ignore his relentless gaze, I stood stiffly behind Taeyoung like a cardboard cutout. Of all the available seats, she had to choose the one directly opposite Sang, like she wanted to put me on display.

“As you may have heard from the earlier message…”

Thanks to that cursed seat choice, I was under his scorching gaze every second the meeting went on. It felt like every movement I made was under scrutiny. I could hardly breathe. Taeyoung, on the other hand, was as composed as ever.

“We found a Doppel on the fifth floor earlier.”

The guildmasters’ expressions all darkened at once. Yes, that’s the part where you’re supposed to be shocked. Sang-ah, are you listening? A high-grade monster like a Doppel infiltrating the fifth floor of The Association building is kind of a big deal. But you… you’ve got your eyes on me and no one else.

“Luckily, we managed to hold it with <Astrapē>, but The Association really needs to get its act together. If you’re going to block our abilities inside the building, at least reinforce security properly. You know?”

“I’m sorry. We’ll take your comments into account.”

The Association official bowed his head, apparently already aware of the incident. They started briefing on what to do with the Doppel when Taeyoung flicked her finger at me. I leaned in, and she whispered theatrically into my ear:

“Did you kill his parents or skip out on a loan or something?”

“…What?”

“Just asking, since he’s staring at you like that.”

She chuckled mischievously and shot a glance at Sang. She was probably just teasing but, judging by the way Sang’s eyes turned icy and sharp, the joke had lit a fuse in his mind. I could practically feel the murderous intent emanating from him.

Eventually, the meeting ended. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what they talked about, Sang’s eyes had me so shaken. I stood frozen in place until most of the guildmasters had left. Then Taeyoung nudged my shoulder.

“What are you doing? If you’re my attendant, you’re supposed to follow me.”

“Ah, right.”

I quietly followed her out into the hallway. But then, we heard footsteps behind us. I glanced at the glass wall. No way, Sang was openly following us.

I instinctively inched closer to Taeyoung and whispered:

“He’s following us.”

“So he is.”

She was unnervingly calm. No, not calm. She was enjoying this.

“Wow. This is entertaining.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Haven’t had this kind of thrill since I got trapped in an A-rank rift.”

What the hell is she talking about? I feel like I’m running barefoot across broken glass, and she’s smiling. She twitched the corners of her lips like she was amused. Was this what Enoch would’ve been like if he were a woman?

“Look at those eyes. He’s not going to kill me, right?”

“…Surely not. We’re in The Association building. Powers don’t work in here.”

“Haha, then I guess I’ll have to hide in here forever.”

…That’s not a joke you make while laughing.

Eventually, we made it back to the room where we first spoke. I was worried Sang might follow us inside, but thankfully, the hallway remained quiet.

As I stood there wondering what to do next, Taeyoung spoke.

“Well, I’m off.”

“Already?”

“There’s another hallway exit over there. Gotta escape before I bump into him again.”

She grinned playfully.

“Tell him I meant well, okay? I don’t want to start a feud with The Apostles over this.”

“Of course. Thank you. I’ll come thank you in person later, Guild Master.”

“Haha, ‘Guild Master’? You’re not really my attendant, you know. Just call me Taeyoung.”

Seeing her warm laugh, it made sense how she was close with someone like Yuran Choi.

“What’s your name?”

“…Yohan.”

“Got it. Yohan, if you ever get tired of The Apostles, come to Sehwa. I’ll take good care of you.”

Leaving that unexpected scout offer, she slipped out the back door. Which meant… now it was my turn to explain myself.

I sighed deeply and opened the door.

Right outside stood a wall of black.

Oh no. It was Sang, standing still like a statue. The moment our eyes met, I forgot everything I was going to say and offered a weak smile.

“Heey.”

His temple twitched.

“…Hey?”

One brow slowly arched, as if to say, ‘that’s what you’re going with’?

And then, like a bulldozer, he shoved his way into the room. I had no choice but to back up into the room with him. The door slammed shut, and he immediately spoke, as if he’d been waiting.

“What on Earth are you doing?”

“That’s… a long story.”

“What’s your relationship with that woman? How do you know her?”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me you joined Sehwa Guild behind my back?”

“Hold on, calm down—”

“What do they have that I don’t? What did she offer you? What did she promise?!”

He didn’t even let me breathe. My head spun and I stammered like an idiot. Then Sang grabbed my shoulders to keep me from escaping and muttered in a low voice.

“I have no problem burying someone.”

Wait. His eyes were really not right.

I quickly cupped his face in my hands and spoke.

“It’s not like that! I came here for you.”

Even before I finished, Sang scoffed and furrowed his brow.

“Thanks for the lip service.”

“I’m serious.”

He clearly didn’t believe me.

Eventually, he gripped my wrist tightly, as if making sure I couldn’t run.

“We’re going to the Ark.”

“What about your meeting?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“What about the Doppel?”

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at me.

“…Is that what you’re worried about right now?”

“Okay, okay, let’s go.”

I didn’t dare bring up work again. One more push and he might explode.

“Wait, there aren’t any keyholes on these doors.”

We needed one to use Noah’s Key, right? But Sang ignored me and walked into the bathroom. He closed the door, and on the inside handle, there was a keyhole.

“What? How’d you know that was there?”

“I’ve been here often.”

“…Inside the Sehwa Guild Leader’s room?”

Click—!

The doorknob turned, and for a moment, silence fell. Something about the air changed. I might have just asked something I shouldn’t have. I glanced at him nervously, but Sang just laughed, hand on the knob.

“What if I said I had visited her room often? Would you be jealous?”

“Come on. I have some self-respect. This isn’t a situation that calls for jealousy.”

“Why are we talking about conscience now?”

“I mean, objectively, she a better match than me.”

Another pause. Then, Sang flung the door open with a deep sigh.

“Are you intentionally trying to make me hate you?”

“Just being realistic.”

“Well, sorry, but I don’t get hurt by anything you say anymore.”

Should I be relieved by that? The bitterness in my chest only deepened. Instead of heading back, Sang led me toward a cliff, as if he wanted a quiet walk under the night sky.

I stared at the back of his head. He looked mad.

“Nothing’s going on between me and that woman.”

“What?”

“All the guest rooms in The Association look the same. That’s how I knew.”

“Ah… I see.”

I hadn’t even suspected him, but the fact that he went out of his way to clarify showed how thoughtful he was. So unlike me.

“What about you? Don’t you have anything to say?”

He stood at the cliff, overlooking the night sea, his expression serious.

“I told you. I came to find you.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“It’s true. I heard you were imprisoned by The Association.”

“…What?”

Sure, what I said might’ve sounded ridiculous, but did he have to freeze up like he just saw a donkey walking on its front legs? I explained everything from the moment I arrived at The Association to getting help from Taeyoung. After hearing me out, Sang furrowed his brows and tilted his head.

“Who told you that?”

“Enoch.”

Sang squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his face.

“You do know that guy’s always been a prankster, right?”

“I know. But when you kept ignoring my calls, I seriously thought something happened to you.”

“Still, who comes to The Association alone without even a license?”

“How could I just sit still when I was worried about you?”

Sang silently listened, then let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.

“Hyung. You know what’s really funny?”

“…What?”

“You told me not to worry if you live or die, to just act normal.”

“……”

“When I do something, it’s meddling. But when you do it, it’s ‘concern’?”

His words hit me like a brick to the head. As always, he wasn’t wrong.

“Yeah. That’s… pretty hypocritical.”

I swallowed a bitter smile and looked out over the black sea.

“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

There were less than 40 days left now, and everything just felt so hopeless. I’d ended up hurting Sang again, even though that was never my intention. All I ever wanted was not to be a burden to him.

“I kept telling myself it would be okay, even if the plan failed—as long as I could save you. Even if I had to destroy <Contradiction>, or do something unthinkable. I thought I’d be fine with anything. But… now that it’s real, I’m not.”

I’d worked so hard, run so far. But just before reaching my goal, it felt like the ground collapsed beneath me, and now I was buried alive. No matter how hard I struggled, all that filled my mouth and nose was dirt. Is it really okay to brush this overwhelming, hellish feeling aside with just the word despair?

“I don’t know anymore. My mind’s gone completely blank. You’re not even sleeping, doing everything you can for me… but I… can’t do anything for you. I’m just weighing you down, and that… makes me so damn pitiful.”

“Hyung.”

“You told me not to say sorry, right? But I don’t know what else to say except ‘I’m sorry.’”

I couldn’t even support him. Worse, I told him to give up. That makes me a trash person, doesn’t it? The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I felt with myself. I couldn’t even laugh. If he hated me now, I wouldn’t blame him. But, instead….

“If you don’t know what to do, I’ll tell you.”

“…What?”

Sang was always like this, completely unwavering.

“Trust me. And think.”

He gently cupped my cheek, lifting my head. His eyes, impossibly kind, looked straight through my pain. His calm voice reached me in the deepest depths of my self-loathing and pulled me back out.

“Picture us. Next spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom, together.”

He told me to only think about the good things. To look forward to happiness. He would handle the suffering and the pain. …Isn’t that ridiculous? Where there’s light, there has to be shadow. But he told me never to step into the dark. He wanted me to live only under the warmth of the sun.

Why?

“Why are you doing all this? For me?”

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but emotion surged up anyway, twisting my face. Sang gave me a small, bittersweet smile.

“Because I like you, hyung.”

I wish it had just been a dream. So I could dismiss it as a nightmare and move on.

“…What did you just say…?”

But the warmth on my cheek kept insisting that this was reality.

“I like you.”

My heart sank like a stone, crashing hard against the floor.

I thought I’d never hear those words as long as I was alive. Believed I shouldn’t. So whenever the atmosphere between us as kids started to get weird, I’d change the subject or make an excuse to leave. That was the best rejection I could manage.

But in the end, it still happened.

“I’ve liked you ever since the first time we met.”

His casual tone, as if he were just saying hello, and his calm voice shattered the wall I’d so painstakingly built. I stared at him in a daze, like I was dreaming, as his gaze deepened. There was no way I could ever return that tenderness…

Snapping out of it, I quickly stepped back from him like I’d been burned.

“…Sorry.”

“For what?”

“I… No. I’ve never… felt that way about you.”

Why was my voice trembling now, of all times? I clenched my fists and looked away. He could probably tell I was lying, but as long as the curse still lingered, I had no choice but to reject him. It was the last bit of decency I had left—my final line of defense.

“I’m sorry.”

Did he find it ridiculous? Or maybe he was hurt? As I carefully tried to read his expression, he softly spoke.

“It’s okay.”

“…What?”

“I figured you’d reject me.”

He looked so composed that it made all my nerves feel silly. He even seemed relieved.

“I just wanted to say it. That you’re my everything.”

Was this really the same person who once pressed me harshly for lying in Monet’s Garden? No, maybe that was better. Back then, I didn’t realize how terrifying kindness with no expectations could be. I couldn’t even guess how deep his feelings ran.

As I stared at him, dazed, he leaned in slightly and smiled with his eyes.

“You’ll at least let me have a one-sided love, right?”

“Sang-ah, I…”

“Please let me.”

A cliff where the waves crashed violently below. He gently embraced me on that perilous edge, where one step could send me falling. I suddenly remembered the day the sunset was beautiful, the day we first felt each other’s heartbeat.

“This reminds me of the past.”

“Hm?”

“You were so small back then.”

When we first met, he was so little I could wrap him up in my arms. I wanted to protect him. Then, in just a year, he shot up, and when we hugged, our chests touched. I thought he’d grown a lot then, but now… he’d grown even more. When I hold him now, my face naturally rests on his shoulder.

“How’d you get so big?”

I wanted to protect him.

“I prayed every night that I’d grow taller than you.”

But now, I’m the one being protected.

I closed my eyes and let myself rest against him, feeling his steady heartbeat. 

Thump, thump—.

The heavy rhythm seemed to reassure me. That everything would be okay. That this winter wouldn’t be our last. That maybe, despite knowing I might be betrayed, I could believe in him one more time.

“Did you… start helping The Association because of me?”

His arms around my back twitched slightly.

“Well, The Association might know things I don’t.”

I knew it. He was quietly fighting a hopeless battle with no guarantees, trying to find a single path to victory among thousands of defeats. No matter what I said or did, he wouldn’t give up. So what else could I do?

“I’ll help look, too. For a way we can live together.”

His eyes widened in surprise.

“Really…?”

“You’re trying so hard. I can’t just turn the other cheek.”

I still don’t believe fate can be changed. But I believe in him. He always found the answer, and he never lied. Maybe that’s why he looked so touched, like he’d just received a gift.

“Then promise me something.”

“Okay.”

“…You should hear the promise before agreeing.”

He really does act like a kid sometimes. I chuckled softly and brushed away the shadow under his eyes.

“At least get six hours of sleep every night.”

He closed his eyes slowly, thinking, then opened them again.

“Will you sleep next to me?”

“…Why? Are you still having nightmares? Are you seeing things?”

“No.”

He rested his cheek on my shoulder, looking up at me from the side.

“But when you’re not there, I get anxious and can’t sleep.”

“O-oh, is that so?”

We were so close, our lips could touch with just a slight movement. I stared at his face and gulped unconsciously. Man, younger guys who use their vulnerability as a weapon are scary. I had to ground myself again so I didn’t turn into some reckless idiot.

“Yeah. I’ll stay by your side.”

I awkwardly patted his head and smiled.

“And make sure you eat properly.”

“You’ll eat with me, right?”

“Sure. Breakfast might be hard, though.”

Finally, he smiled contentedly and looked up.

“Then you promise too.”

“What?”

“Don’t lie to me. And don’t say you’re giving up.”

His calm black eyes pierced through me. Even if I did lie, he’d see through it instantly. He didn’t want to hear anything but the truth from me. I was about to promise, but stopped—what if even that turned out to be a lie? I chose my words carefully.

“I’ll try.”

A pretty weak answer. But for some reason, he liked it. He hugged me tight.

“So… nothing happened with that person, right?”

“That person?”

“Guild Leader Sehwa.”

“Oh, Ms Taeyoung?”

“Ms…. Taeyoung?”

The soft, warm atmosphere vanished in an instant. He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away, his brow furrowing in irritation. So this time, I leaned in and rested against him.

“She didn’t say much. But she found out about <Bloodletting Sword>, and I think she suspects I’m an Apostle.”

“…Don’t worry. She’s not the type to gossip.”

“That’s good.”

I breathed in deeply, and the crisp scent of winter and dry leaves filled my lungs. He hugged me like nothing had happened. A cool breeze, a perfect temperature… it felt like I could fall asleep just like that.

“She didn’t say anything else?”

“Not really. Why?”

“She’s trying to grow her guild, I think. She’s been inviting a lot of people to join Sehwa…”

Ah. I should’ve said no right away then.

“…Did she ask you too?”

His voice dropped low. Realizing I’d messed up, I took a step back.

“She did, but I think it was just in passing.”

“That woman is weird, but she doesn’t joke around.”

“‘That woman’? She’s a guild leader too, you know.”

I tried to change the subject, but his stiff expression didn’t budge.

“So what’d you say to her?”

“She left right after saying it. I didn’t have a chance to reply.”

The more honest I was, the heavier the silence became.

“Sang-ah?”

When I called his name, he lowered his head and buried his face in my shoulder. He used to do this whenever something upset him, and even now, though his body had grown, his habits hadn’t changed. I quietly stroked the back of his head as he mumbled into my shirt.

“You’re not going, right?”

“Why would I go there?”

“…Even if you tried, I wouldn’t let you.”

Even with me right here, he was still anxious. Given everything I’d done so far… I didn’t blame him.

“You’re right here. So, I’m not going anywhere.”

“…Okay.”

He whispered, hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe. But I let him cling, since I was the one who’d made him feel this insecure.

“I’ll go talk to Guild Leader Sehwa soon and give her a proper rejection.”

As soon as I said that, he raised his head sharply.

“You’re going to Sehwa?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Why do you have to meet her?”

“I promised. There’s something I need to ask her.”

I said I’d tell her about <Bloodletting Sword> if she brought me to see Sang. I could ignore it, but if I didn’t meet her again, I’d regret it. She might be the only one who can tell me about Yuran and my mom.

“If you’re that nervous, want to come with me?”

“No. That’s not it…”

After thinking for a while, he said,

“As long as you get to talk to her, that’s all that matters, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay.”

His answer was strange. And then two days later, in broad daylight, Sang-ah suddenly took me to the sea. I thought something had happened until I saw a familiar figure at the edge of a cliff. A sleek black dress that hugged her figure, short bobbed hair, and a thick fur coat draped over her shoulders.

“Guild Leader Taeyoung…?”

No way, I thought. And then she turned around.

“Yohan!”

She smiled brightly and waved when she saw me. Then, when her eyes fell on Sang-ah beside me, her expression went ice cold.

“…And Guild Leader Simeon.”

I never imagined Sang-ah would actually bring Taeyoung to the Ark. Sure, it was convenient for me, but wasn’t the Ark a fortress that had only ever admitted Apostles since its founding? Feeling uneasy for some reason, I glanced at Sang-ah, but his gaze, filled with unreadable wariness, was fixed solely on Taeyoung.

“I was surprised to suddenly get a call from an Apostle.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve gone to the Sehwa Guild instead…”

“Oh, it’s better this way for me. I’ve always wanted to visit the Ark at least once.”

Her eyes, sharp like a cat’s, flicked over to Simeon with a sideways glare.

“Thanks to Guild Leader Simeon, too, for inviting me so graciously.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I just figured it was better for you to come here than for him to go crawling into your den.”

Her den? That was blatantly hostile. I nudged Sang-ah’s arm with my elbow, but it was no use. To make matters worse, Taeyoung seemed to be enjoying the tension, her bright red lips curling into a long, amused smile. Since neither side was willing to back down, I had to step in unless I wanted to be the tomato squashed between two slices of bread.

“Guild Leader, have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

Maybe I looked too desperate trying to keep things light, because thankfully, Taeyoung backed off a step.

“I’d love to. After all, I brought a secret as payment for being invited here.”

“A secret…?”

Taeyoung pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from inside her jacket. The texture and wear suggested it had aged over time. In one corner, a name had been scrawled in messy handwriting… ‘Yuran Choi‘. The moment I saw it, I realized what she was holding wasn’t just some old piece of paper.

“Well? Does it pique your interest?”

There was no doubt about it… It was Yuran Choi’s will.