Vol 4 Chapter 8
The dream that made him regret as if he were dying, the dream that sometimes showed happy content only to make him regret more, had now changed into a dream of a crazed monster. He wished he could erase the moment he heard that he was alive, if possible.
The sensation of emotions that had been coiled up inside him for over a decade suddenly coming back to life. The feeling of unbearable trembling ecstasy, choking, new anger, and gloomy hatred all bursting out at once was too much to bear with a sane mind.
There was a time when some had taught him that this was love, but could anyone still say this was because of love, looking at the man now? The man chuckled and looked into the distance.
'Have you... changed?'
While he had changed this much. How had he been living? Feeling as if a bestial sound would escape if he opened his mouth, the man pressed his cracked lips tightly together and endured. Unable to breathe properly, he continued to glare at the door that showed no signs of opening for hours.
Suddenly, the door opened with a clang. The man, startled without realizing it, hid his body deeply and heard children's voices.
"Master Instructor. Are you really taking us home today?"
"It's okay if you just go with In-woo!"
"With child crimes being so serious these days, we have no choice."
A thrilling voice that could be heard clearly even mixed with the chattering voices of the little ones. Although it was now completely an adult male voice with no trace of boyishness left, having gone through puberty, the man recognized it instantly as if struck by lightning.
'...It's you.'
But unlike the boyish and gentle tone in his memory, that voice was somehow indifferent and cold. A quiet but hidden sharpness. Realizing this change, the man carefully raised his eyes, and saw three people. Having stepped back for a moment, they must have turned a corner, as only their side profiles, close to their backs, were visible.
Nevertheless, the most noticeable was, of course, the figure of the tall man standing on the far right, holding a child's hand. A man in a navy uniform with an outer garment, holding a black cane in his right hand, with noticeable neatly cut black hair. The man, who had been staring wide-eyed at that back view as if his breath would stop, soon noticed something strange about that figure.
"Oh, Master Instructor. The ground is sunken there."
"You're going to fall again, Master Instructor."
"I won't fall."
The man was limping. That's why he was using a cane.
'Huff, huff, huff...'
The moment he realized this, the breath of the man hiding in the alley became rough. His hand gripping the wall trembled as if struck by lightning. His clenched teeth felt like they would shatter. His breath was becoming rapid as if he would die, but the man didn't notice.
"It would be nice if Master Instructor showed us how to use a sword too... right?"
"You mutt! You lose even against me! Master Instructor is a genius, so he doesn't show just anyone!"
"Damn! When did I ever lose! You're such a jerk!"
Smack!
"What did I say about swearing?"
"..."
After giving each of the squabbling children a light tap on the head to stop them, the three walked away, more or less in good spirits. Only after they had turned the corner and were completely out of sight, not even a hair visible, could the man finally calm his labored breathing. Sweat trickled down his chin.
"Haa... ha... haa... ha!"
Finally, as if all strength had left him, he collapsed to the ground, unable to even control his legs that had slid down ungracefully. The man found himself laughing without realizing it.
"Ha... hahaha... hahaha... haha!"
He couldn't believe it!
He had changed too.
He had changed, but it might have been better if he had just died. What he had just seen with his eyes was a change that would have been worse than death if it really was 'him'!
'Is that you?'
Is it really you?
Was that cripple leaning on a cane, unable to use a sword, really you? Is that you?
The maniacal laughter that erupted endlessly from the dark alley finally turned into a groan-like sound, and then again into what sounded like sobbing laughter. The deserted alley was filled only with a desolate cold wind.
***
Beep beep beep beep! Beep beep beep beep!
Yoon Seok-ho, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed for a moment, opened them suddenly as if he had never closed them at the sound of the computer beeping with flashing red lights, and pressed a button.
"Yes. This is Yoon Seok-ho."
[ Hello, Branch Manager. This is GM Orin! ]
A hologram popped up, showing a woman in administrator clothes with a perplexed expression. Yoon Seok-ho frowned in confusion and asked.
"Yes. What's the matter?"
The status of employees in the management department who serve as GMs is not very high. Nevertheless, the fact that she had made a direct video call to the branch manager meant that everyone had judged the situation to be that serious. Thinking this, Yoon Seok-ho asked, and GM Orin nodded.
[ It's about the HZ quest. When I reported to the higher-ups, they said it would be better for me to report directly to you since the contracts for HZ quest users are under your direct jurisdiction. ]
"What on earth is the problem?"
Yoon Seok-ho frowned at the ominous words.
[ HM-08 user has forcibly triggered a hidden event, 'Instigation'! ]
"What?"
For a moment, Yoon Seok-ho's eyes widened in bewilderment.
***
Kapros sat in his chair, turned on the computer, and was browsing through the now-familiar MIST Bay World Community via the hologram screen.
'Map page, city information page, item information page...'
When he absentmindedly clicked on the free board, a single word caught his attention, preventing him from clicking on anything else.
[ (Not photoshopped) Surprise appearance of Caesar, Guild Master of Pale Knights! ] [638]
...What?
[ The protagonist of the second video in Episode 3 is definitely Caesar. ] [422]
[ What the hell is this nonsense about an army of darkness? Please explain ] [753]
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Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.
– I’m never attending school, ever again!
‘What do you wish to achieve in life?’
‘I wish to play around and live comforta-‘
‘You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!’
‘Patriarch!’
My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!
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