RG 101

The system tacking on that kind of effect because a sub quest was completed was annoyingly irritating, but from Cha Seohu’s standpoint, he had no choice but to accept it. In a situation where lives were on the line, it would’ve been stupid to reject a free effect just because it rubbed him the wrong way.

Sigh.

Letting out a heavy sigh from deep within, Cha Seohu clasped his hands together with an uneasy expression, as if in prayer.

Fwaaash!

Immediately, a brilliant white light flared up again, and this time, a far greater amount of radiance rapidly spread out all the way to Gwanghwamun. Even the speed at which the light spread was different from the first time.

‘This is absolutely ridiculous.’

Just from clasping his hands together, the skill effect changed this drastically? It was absurd. Still, thanks to the newly acquired effect, he didn’t have to bother moving around to heal the remaining injured. Since drones were everywhere, moving around might’ve risked parts of his body or face being exposed, so this was a relief.

After confirming that even the last remaining patient had been fully healed, Cha Seohu immediately deactivated his divine power skill.

As he ground his teeth and unclasped his hands, the blinding light and wings that had tormented him the most vanished as well.

[Skill: Divine Power (Class S)]

A special skill that allows the simultaneous use of the Power of Blessing and the Power of Purification.

• Power of Blessing heals wounds.
• Power of Purification damages monsters (limited to demonic types) and cleanses contaminated areas.

Class S Effects:

• Power of Blessing can be used on a wide area.
• Power of Purification can be used on a wide area.
• Additional stat boosts are granted.
• A strong divine effect manifests, inspiring awe in those nearby.
• Clasping both hands amplifies the skill effect, increasing its range.

Since he was deactivating the skill anyway, he decided to check the detailed description—and there it was, an effect that hadn’t been there last time. Just fantastic.

While glaring at the status window he didn’t like one bit, Ryu Seonghyeon’s voice came from beside him, “Cha, um…” Perhaps conscious of the drone cameras, he swallowed the name he had almost blurted out and continued speaking, “So your healing skill was real. And even blood purification…” He paused, brushing his lips, and then finally offered a careful apology, “…I’m sorry for not believing you.”

“It’s okay. I understand—it’s hard to believe.”

No one had ever been known to possess two separate skills. Sure, someone like Cha Seohu might exist somewhere else, but no such case had ever been made public. So it was completely natural for Ryu Seonghyeon not to believe it. Still, for him to apologize this sincerely—wasn’t he just too kind?

As Cha Seohu offered a faint smile, this time Eun Woojeong spoke up. “Hunter Cha Seohu, you sure have a lot of abilities. Suspiciously so.”

At first glance, it sounded like a compliment, but the added words and his stiff tone gave it a sarcastic edge. Maybe it was meant to be sarcastic.

“Just figuring that out now?” Though he replied indifferently, even Cha Seohu hadn’t expected Eun Woojeong to cooperate with him to the end.

Eun Woojeong was also in a position where he had to hide his identity. Of course, since he was wearing a mask and his appearance and awakening grade differed from those of actor Eun Woojeong, there was little risk of suspicion… but it was still clear that unnecessary exposure on camera would be bad.

Even so, the fact that he willingly stayed in position when asked to help cover Cha Seohu was unexpected from Cha Seohu’s perspective.

‘…Well, he knows what he’s doing.’

Cha Seohu promptly dismissed the worry that had unconsciously surfaced toward Eun Woojeong.

There was no way someone who couldn’t handle something like this would be the leader of Spider’s Web. He must’ve had his own plans—he wouldn’t have helped otherwise.

‘Who am I to be worrying about someone else? And the main character, no less.’

Letting out a short sigh, he turned his head without any lingering attachment.

That wrapped up the aftermath. The rift was closed, so no more monsters would appear, and all the dying Hunters had been saved. The remaining cleanup would be handled well under Kwon Taehyeok’s lead.

All Cha Seohu had to do now was return to Cha Sahyeon. Because it had taken longer than expected, he was starting to get concerned about Cha Sahyeon, whom he had left in Kwon Seoyul’s care.

Just as he was about to call out to Kwon Taehyeok, already thinking of getting back to his child as soon as possible—

Ding!

《Warning! You are getting farther away from Kwak Seunggyu!》

‘…What?’

Before Cha Seohu could even process the confusion, status windows began popping up nonstop.

《Warning! You are getting farther away from Kwak Seunggyu!》

《Warning! You are getting farther away from Kwak Seunggyu!》

《Caution! If you exceed a certain distance from Kwak Seunggyu, the quest will automatically fail.》

Getting farther from Kwak Seunggyu? That meant the Kwak Seunggyu who had been holed up inside the battlefield had finally begun to move.

‘Wait, then…’

A chilling shiver ran up his spine. Even as Cha Seohu froze in place, status messages continued to flood his vision.

《Warning! You are getting farther away from Kwak Seunggyu!》

《Warning! You are getting farther away from Kwak Seunggyu!》

《Kwak Seunggyu’s location cannot be determined.》

《Main Quest: Locate the lab associate hiding somewhere in the event hall—Failed!》

《You will now receive a quest failure penalty!》

“Huff…!”

As soon as the failure notice appeared, a searing pain flared through his chest. Then something burning surged violently from deep inside.

“Urk, cough!”

He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but it was no use. Blood poured out with a cough, bright red and spilling through his fingers.

Seeing Cha Seohu suddenly clutch his chest and vomit blood, Ryu Seonghyeon and Kwon Taehyeok turned pale.

“Wh-what the…?” Ryu Seonghyeon stammered, trying to ask what was going on, but before he could get the words out, Cha Seohu’s body collapsed forward.

Eun Woojeong, who was standing to Cha Seohu’s right, instinctively reached out as Cha Seohu’s body leaned toward him. But before he could catch him, another hand suddenly reached in from the side and caught Cha Seohu as he collapsed.

“Cha— Damn it, what’s going on all of a sudden?” Kwon Taehyeok, who had caught him, instinctively began to call his name, then stopped himself and asked for the reason instead—but Cha Seohu was in no condition to answer.

His vision blurred as a crushing headache pounded his skull like a blunt weapon. He forced his eyes open, trying to resist the weight pulling them closed, but he felt like he might lose consciousness at any moment.

If he passed out now, everything would fall apart.

Even through the splitting pain, Cha Seohu remembered Cha Sahyeon, whom he had entrusted to Kwon Seoyul, and with a trembling hand, he grabbed Kwon Taehyeok’s arm, the one supporting him. 

“Guild… Guildmaster.”

In this chaos, Kwon Taehyeok was the only one who could find Kwon Seoyul and Cha Sahyeon. With blood-streaked lips, Cha Seohu barely managed to continue.

“By Gwanghwamun… in the alley…”

“What?”

“Kwon Seoyul… is where Cha Sahyeon…” He was truly at his limit now. Forcing his heavy eyelids open, he pushed out the most important request. “Please… find my little brother…”

Before he could even finish the sentence, his head dropped. He had fainted completely.

Kwon Taehyeok scowled and wrapped Cha Seohu tightly in his coat. Then, without hesitation, he lifted him into his arms.

“Hunter Kwon Taehyeok, where are you going?”

“To the hospital.”

His firm answer left Ryu Seonghyeon with no choice but to follow behind.

Carrying Cha Seohu, Kwon Taehyeok bit his lip as he walked. He couldn’t afford to move too roughly without knowing Cha Seohu’s condition.

Cha Seohu had healed every injured person here, yet not a single person had thought to look after his own state. That fact gnawed at Kwon Taehyeok.

“Um… Guildmaster of Yesung.”

“That person you’re carrying… was he the Support?”

“If not his face, could you at least tell us his name…”

Just then, Hunters who had been hesitating nearby started to quietly approach, inching closer to Cha Seohu, who was wrapped in the coat, and reaching out their hands.

He was the Support who had healed severe injuries in an instant and even purified demon blood. Greed and desire were plain in the eyes of the Hunters now approaching Cha Seohu.

With a sharp glint in his narrowed eyes, Kwon Taehyeok snapped coldly, “Back off.” Dropping his usual decorum, he warned the Hunters in a low, dangerous voice and quickened his pace.

Left alone, Eun Woojeong, who had been watching the backs of Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon as they departed, slowly lowered his gaze to his hand. The hand he had instinctively reached out with, trying to catch the falling Cha Seohu.

“…Seriously, I don’t get it.”

Cha Seohu, who coughed up blood just to use a skill to heal others. Cover, who protected people. It was something he could never understand. Maybe that was why the two of them had grown so close—because they were the same kind of people.

With a bored expression, Eun Woojeong lowered his hand and turned away. He had spent too much time here. It was time to return to his own place.