RG 148

As Cha Seohu moved toward Ryu Seonghyeon and Song Ji-un, just then, One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting coughed up blood and fell to her knees.

A thick, golden rope extended from Ryu Seonghyeon’s hand, tightly wrapping around the unconscious monster.

Looking down at her with an unreadable expression, Cha Seohu moved his hand. He carefully lifted the demon’s chin and examined her forehead.

‘So I wasn’t mistaken.’

The first time he had encountered the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting, he had caught a glimpse of a green light through the swirling blizzard. That light turned out to be a gemstone, about the size of a fingernail, embedded in the demon’s forehead. The diamond-shaped gem, embedded above the brow like an ornament, emitted a foreign energy.

“Was the gemstone always embedded in her forehead?”

Song Ji-un shook his head, flustered. “No. This is… the first time I’ve seen it too.”

“And you don’t know when it appeared either?”

“No.” Biting his lip, he hesitated before continuing, “…Ever since Teacher changed, I’ve rarely been able to meet her properly over the past five years. Even then, I would only catch a glimpse of the ends of her hair from afar or barely sense her presence.”

Song Ji-un referred to the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting as his teacher. At that moment, it became a little clearer what kind of relationship existed between them.

“I think she was deliberately avoiding me. So I never knew she had something like this embedded in her body.” He sighed and added as if making an excuse, “Honestly, before sensing the energy, I thought it was just a regular accessory. She’s always liked that kind of thing…”

“Hmm…”

She liked accessories.

Well, the stronger the monster, the more intellect and individuality they had, and their personalities and tastes varied widely. There were monsters who liked showing off, and others who preferred hiding. Some collected books; others collected accessories.

In any case, the important thing right now was not the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting’s taste in accessories. After a brief moment of thought, Cha Seohu spoke. “I’ve seen this energy before.”

At Gwanghwamun, where the sky had turned red and a massive dragon had emerged, and the ground was in chaos with demons. Amid that scene, he and Eun Woojeong had found a single flower.

“I think this gemstone is the cause of the demon’s mental disruption.”

Ironically, the cause of the rupture had been just one flower. And coincidentally, that flower had green petals.

Running through a few guesses in his head, Cha Seohu turned to Song Ji-un. “We need to move somewhere else. But returning to the base would be dangerous. If the demon wakes up and runs wild again, it’ll be a problem.”

Understanding what Cha Seohu meant, Song Ji-un lifted the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting into his arms and replied, “There’s a small cave nearby. Let’s head there.”

***

After climbing a bit higher from the mountainside where the battle had taken place, just as Song Ji-un had said, they found the entrance to a cave. Despite being called small, the interior was surprisingly spacious and decorated with dazzling ice. As Song Ji-un laid the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting on the ground, he explained, “This is where Teacher would come to refresh her mood from time to time. There are several caves like this scattered across the mountain. She must have been moving between them during the five years we didn’t meet.”

‘Since One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting was a high-ranking demon, she didn’t need to eat or sleep. Living in a bare cave wouldn’t have been a problem.’

Cha Seohu bent down and once again closely examined the gemstone in her forehead. The ominous energy continued to ripple from it.

“I’ll try using Divine Power skill first.”

In a way, the gemstone and the energy inside it were no different from foreign contaminants in a body; maybe purification could work. A pure white light rose from Cha Seohu’s hand as he reached toward her forehead.

The moment the divine power touched the gemstone, a crackling sound erupted, followed by sparks of electricity. Cha Seohu realized the energy hidden within the gemstone had detected the divine power and was resisting.

‘But this feeling…’

Frowning slightly, Cha Seohu pushed out more energy.

Crackle!

Still, nothing changed. No matter how much holy power he poured out, it was the same.

“Ugh…”

Instead, the energy contained in the gemstone began to push back against the divine power even more strongly. Cha Seohu continued to expend his strength, refusing to lose the struggle.

“Hunter Cha Seohu.”

Seeing his complexion turn pale and cold sweat break out on his forehead, Ryu Seonghyeon and Song Ji-un also realized that something was wrong.

Just as Ryu Seonghyeon reached out his hand to stop Cha Seohu—

“Stop it, Brother,” a heavy voice echoed through the cave. Cha Sahyeon stood shrouded in the darkness, looking down at Cha Seohu. His snow-white face contrasted sharply with his jet-black hair. Exuding a similar aura to Cha Seohu, he spoke with clear displeasure. “Using divine power in this state is pointless. The energy won’t even reach.”

At his words, which pinpointed the exact issue, Cha Seohu halted his skill.

“You have to find and deal with the source of the energy first. Only then will your skill have any effect.”

There was no point in asking why he hadn’t explained sooner. Cha Sahyeon didn’t care whether the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting went berserk or not. He had only intervened because he hated seeing Cha Seohu wasting his strength.

“Then the source…?”

“It depends on the case.” He turned his gaze toward the outside of the cave. “The source isn’t far. If you want to find and deal with it, I’ll guide you.”

“Then I—”

“No.” As Song Ji-un, who was familiar with the mountain’s terrain, tried to step forward, Cha Seohu grabbed his arm and shook his head. “I’ll go. You two stay here and wait.”

Ryu Seonghyeon looked like he wanted to follow, but Cha Seohu deliberately ignored it and stood up.

It would be too dangerous to leave only Song Ji-un behind with the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting—if she woke up and rampaged again, it would be a problem. Besides…

‘This was Cha Sahyeon’s offer.’

An offer: if you want to help this demon, follow me. Cha Seohu couldn’t refuse. Maybe it was for the better. Cha Seohu had plenty of questions he wanted to ask him anyway.

Glancing anxiously at Cha Sahyeon, Ryu Seonghyeon asked in a worried tone, “…Will you be okay?” It was no wonder he didn’t understand the situation. The sudden appearance of Cha Sahyeon was bewildering. Especially because he had already met the ‘younger brother of Cha Seohu’ several times before—making the presence of Cha Sahyeon even more confusing.

“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll be back quickly.”

Aware of his concerns, Cha Seohu deliberately smiled brightly and spoke lightly. Since he had to go anyway, he wanted to at least ease the worries of those who would be left behind in the cave.

Leaving Ryu Seonghyeon, Song Ji-un, and One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting behind, Cha Seohu and Cha Sahyeon exited the cave. Cha Sahyeon followed behind Cha Seohu, who walked ahead, stepping through the thick layers of snow.

“Brother.”

Just as Cha Seohu had expected, once they had moved a certain distance from the cave, Cha Sahyeon immediately called out to him.

“Why are you staying here? To help that thing?”

“…”

“Why? Why are you trying to help it?”

Cha Seohu silently kept his eyes fixed ahead as he walked. The sharp wind whistled as it cut between the two of them.

Lips pressed tightly together, Cha Sahyeon shouted again, “Are you really not going to look at me?” His words burst out, thick with sorrow. Only then did Cha Seohu, who had come to a sudden stop, turn his head to look at him.

“And if I don’t want to?”

“What?”

“If I don’t want to see you, what are you going to do?”

The answer must have been a real shock because Cha Sahyeon froze in place, eyes wide open. Seeing that, Cha Seohu let out a hollow laugh.

The reason he was wary and afraid of Cha Sahyeon wasn’t just because of his appearance. Cha Sahyeon had truly changed. No one knew that better than him—Cha Sahyeon was no longer the boy who used to stay by his side.

The skill he wielded with astonishing proficiency, his sharp combat instincts. The unfamiliar items he somehow acquired that could mask energy signatures. How he easily grasped the solution to the problem involving the One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting.

And most decisively—

User Information: Sahyeon (Antagonist)

Age: 22

Primary Skill: Living Shadow (Class L)

Title: The Master of Shadows

Attack Power: Class L

Attack Speed: Class L

Movement Speed: Class L

Agility: Class L

Special Note▼

ㄴ Seed of Calamity (62% Progress) (60% Sync Complete)

The part labeled “Sync” in the status window bothered him. What exactly did that synchronization mean, rising alongside the progress of the seed?

‘If… if what I’m thinking is right…’

After a moment’s hesitation, Cha Seohu finally opened his mouth. “Who are you?” Cha Sahyeon quietly closed his eyes, then reopened them. Beneath his long lashes, his cold green eyes gleamed darkly. “You’re not… the kid I used to know.”

“…”

“You are…”

His breath caught. Even though he was prepared for it, it squeezed his heart painfully. Clenching his fists tightly, he forced out the next words.

“Are you the ‘Great Calamity’?”