Chapter 149:

We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024! Also please check out our new Hunter series!

“Embarrassing?”

“Yes. At that moment, I was separated from Si-eun and so disoriented that I unknowingly had those thoughts… But as my head cooled down and my heart calmed, I truly felt embarrassed. What was I thinking about someone who had just barely crossed their twenties?”

Lee Yunjae held Seora’s hand. Her hand was as calloused as hers, developed through years of exercise striving for her dream of being a national representative in taekwondo. Yunjae’s gaze became misty.

“Hunters operate regardless of age. However, I don’t believe it’s right for young people to carry the burden of everyone’s lives, even though they’re Hunters. Yet, driven by our desire to live, we burdened them with a hefty load. So, I’m sorry and ashamed, but I’m also grateful.” Gently holding Seora’s hand, Yunjae bowed her head. “So, Yun Seora, if danger approaches, don’t endure it recklessly. The same goes for Kang Sejun. Both of you are still very young, and I hope you choose to dream of the future rather than bear the heavy burden of safeguarding the world. I wonder if I have the right to say this, considering I was saved and felt embarrassed, but nonetheless, this is my sincere sentiment.”

Seora and Kang Sejun looked at each other, unable to hide their confusion.

Yun Seora was now twenty-three, and Kang Sejun was twenty-five. Both were still very young, and although their ages were not much, they had not heard such words as Hunters. Kang Sejun, who had become strong only when he was twenty-eight, seemed to be the most shaken.

His first regression happened when he was twenty-eight. If he had lived an ordinary life without becoming an Awakened, he would have graduated from college and just started working. At such a young age, he faced death, and only then did he regress with a resolution to bring hope to the world next time.

And then he died again. He regressed again, died again, regressed again, died again, and regressed until his sixth life. He didn’t live for over a hundred years like Seong Jarim, but he also grew older.

So Lee Yunjae’s words struck a chord. After living for who knows how many years, now, in his sixth life, he heard words encouraging him to live according to his age. The heaviness in his chest was as palpable as when he heard Seora’s words urging him not to regress.

“Don’t worry. I’m really good at that sort of thing.” Seora warmly smiled, tightly holding Lee Yunjae’s hand in place of the speechless Kang Sejun. “I’ll make sure we don’t do anything reckless. As you said, we’re too young to leave the world early.”

Lee Yunjae might not have known how weighty these words were.

Kang Sejun started his first regression at the age of twenty-eight.

Yun Seora died five times by the age of twenty-two.

They shouldn’t die again at such a young age.

“In that case, I’m relieved.”

Lee Yunjae, who had ignited a fire in their hearts without knowing anything, smiled back at them. Seora had thought she appeared indifferent, but the smile made her seem even warmer and more affectionate than Joo Eun.

“Lee Yunjae-ssi, your smile looks really nice.”

“Right? I love it too.” Joo Eun, who had been listening to their conversation with a pleased expression, interjected cheerfully. His face was brighter than usual, filled with affection for his wife.

“Mom! Dad! When are you coming?”

Suddenly, Joo Si-eun, who was far away, waved her hand as she sat on Lee Rohan’s shoulders.

The four of them started walking again. Joo Eun and his wife, heading towards their daughter, walked quickly, while Yun Seora and Kang Sejun, following behind, walked slower.

Seora lightly nudged Kang Sejun’s arm.

“We heard some good things today, didn’t we?”

“… Yeah.”

“We should tell Seong Jarim when we get back.”

Now twenty-seven in Korean age. Looking closely, she too had faced trials at a very young age.

“I wonder if Seong Jarim will be as entranced as you are now.”

As Seora chuckled, Kang Sejun finally wiped his face with his hand. Even with his rough palm, he could sense his stiff expression. Somehow, feeling embarrassed, his cheeks turned slightly red.

“Let’s live long. Since none of us have lived until old age, let’s live through this. All of us, together, without anyone left behind.”

Together, all of us.

These words were the most precious for Kang Sejun, who had been repeating regressions alone. He wanted to carry those words with him, just as Seora had said, until he grew old and passed away.

‘No wonder I got caught in greed in the Labyrinth.’

His sixth life was adorned with desires.

He wanted to live, to live with those he couldn’t protect, to grow old together. These desires painted a new life that had never existed before.

“Wow, it’s wonderful.”

At Seora’s exclamation, Kang Sejun turned his head. The red sunset arrived in the midwinter sky. The red color that covered the sky and spread to the sea painted the footsteps of the ones walking together.

It was beautiful.

***

Having been generously treated to dinner by the Joo couple, it was now Kang Sejun’s turn to give away accommodation. And he was a person who kept promises very well.

“This is perfect…”

A beautiful suite with a view of the sea! It was a perfect treat that suited the festive holiday.

“I’m so happy…”

Seora, lying on the soft bed, happily wiggled her toes. This was better than she had expected. Maybe in the future, if Kang Sejun mentioned a dungeon, she would be paid in a suite. Kang Sejun had plenty of money, so he had nothing to worry about, right?

“It seems like you’re having bad thoughts.”

It’s as if you can sense my thoughts like a ghost. Seora glanced at Kang Sejun, who leaned against the door. Since his room was next door, it had to be now if there was anything to ask.

“I’d like a leisurely breakfast, so shall we order room service instead of going to the lounge?”

“Sure.”

“Could you place the order for me?”

“Of course.”

After Seora checked what she wanted to eat on the paper, Kang Sejun obediently placed the order over the phone. He seemed pretty accustomed to this kind of lifestyle. Seora decided she should do this more often in the future.

“Oh, it’s Seong Jarim.”

While Kang Sejun was placing the order, Seora’s phone rang. Since she had sent several photos of king crab and the hotel to Seong Jarim, she probably replied in tears. As expected, boasting made Seora the happiest.

However, as Seora happily smiled and checked the message, her face froze.

“Yun Seora? What’s wrong?”

“… What is this?”

Seora quickly turned her phone and stared at Kang Sejun bewilderedly. Kang Sejun also looked at the screen and soon froze.

「Breaking News! Yun Seora and Kang Sejun’s Beach Date Captured! The Birth of the Century’s Couple Gains International Attention!」

Seong Jarim had sent an unusual internet article, starting from the title. On the main page of a famous site, there was a photo of Seora and Kang Sejun walking side by side on the beach with the sunset in the background. They looked genuinely happy in the perfectly atmospheric photo, as if from a magazine shoot.

As if I care that the photo turned out well like a magazine shoot!

“And they conveniently cut out the Joo couple right next to us!”

The intention behind cropping only them was glaringly obvious. Seong Jarim, who sent the article, chuckled despite knowing everything.

“International attention? Why don’t they confirm the truth before just focusing on whatever they want!?”

Feeling a throbbing pain in her head, Seora pressed her forehead firmly. She had mentally prepared for an article to come out, but she never expected a blatantly innocent picture to be included.

Even she, as an innocent party, was momentarily taken aback. What about others?

“I can’t even explain like, ‘Oh, we’re not dating like celebrities.’ Ugh… But what are you doing now?”

Seora looked at Kang Sejun, who had pulled out his phone. He was downloading the photo from the article. Their eyes met; startled, he pretended to look away, but she had already seen it.

“You-! Are you seriously downloading that!?”

In the end, she stood and smacked the back of his head. Still, he stubbornly didn’t delete the photo. Seora pounded her chest.

“Ugh, really… Huh?”

At that moment, an emoticon from the administrator settled on the phone Seora was holding.

【Administrator: ꒪⌓꒪】

She had expected him to be upset and jealous, but this was an unexpected emoticon. Wondering what it meant, a message she hadn’t seen in a while came to mind.

【The system administrator regrets not visiting Maldives together after seeing such an amazing photo.】

“…”

It was an emoticon of regret…

Seeing the administrator’s emoticon, unable to escape from the picture in the article, Seora sighed and tsked.

Well, he did say we should have gone to the Maldives together, but it’s too late for regrets now. Seora sighed again, looking at the really unnecessary, perfect picture of her with Kang Sejun.

… Still, it came out nicely, so let’s save it for now.

***

The 2-night, 3-day trip in Busan was genuinely delightful. The accommodation was perfect, and nothing was lacking with the Joo couple there, who took care of everything during the trip.

Although there were moments of awkwardness watching Lee Rohan flutter around Joo Si-eun like a lady’s maid, overall, it was a satisfying trip.

If it weren’t for those damn dating rumors, it would have been truly perfect…

“These reporters. Despite knowing others were present, they just had to take pictures of just us two.”

Inside the train on the way back, after the happy trip had come to an end, Seora tsked at the dating article that was once again decorating the main page of the internet.

‘I wish I could call Brother and ask him to do something about this.’

The Athena mercenary who had manipulated the Korean media during her time in the Labyrinth. With his help, she could easily squash this sort of rumor in no time, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible right now because Jaeheon had contacted her before the start of the holiday season, stating that he was going on an extended mission.

— I’m going to India. It seems a unique dungeon has been discovered there.

“Is it a serious matter?”

— I’ll have to see to know. We were supposed to celebrate you winning first place, but the timing is just off. I’ll contact you as soon as I return. Take care.

Leaving on a mission, yet worrying about someone else.

“…”

While grumbling, Seora absentmindedly fiddled with the cool wristwatch. She had experienced this several times already since he joined Athena, but she never got used to it. She just hoped he would return safely.

“Hey, Mr. Kang over there. Stop saving the article photos.”

Kang Sejun, quietly clicking through the articles and downloading well-taken pictures, looked at Seora in puzzlement.

At first, he was surprised, like a thief caught in the act, but now he was shamelessly bold. They were indeed well-taken, but why on earth was he downloading them?

“When does the 9th floor of the Labyrinth open?” Seora asked in a shallow voice, almost inaudible to others. Kang Sejun answered as he pocketed his phone.

“Probably in late spring.”

“Seems faster than expected?”

In the 12 years since the upheaval, the Labyrinth had opened up to the 8th floor. It was said that a new floor might open every year or so.

But this time, it was opening in almost half a year. It was the first time the Labyrinth was opening so quickly within such a short time.

“That’s why it was perilous in the past. People would think, ‘Oh, it won’t open for a while,’ and then get taken by surprise.”

“That’s a big problem.”

“It is. The 9th floor’s difficulty is incomparable to the 8th floor.”

Seora’s face contorted.