๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ
“Did you enjoy the story?”
Ryu Ji-hwan’s aide, Yeo Jin-sik, approached and offered him a cigarette.
“Jin-sik.”
“Yes.”
“[๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐] Gather all the C-ranks and D-ranks and form a team. Letโs find someone.”
“Who are you referring to?”
Ryu Ji-hwan took a deep drag of his cigarette.
The nicotine coursing through his lungs seemed to soothe his mind and blood vessels.
Whewโ
‘๐’๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐ช๐ข๐ค๐ง๐จ, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฉ.’
The wisps of cigarette smoke dissipated into the corner of the building.
He recalled the conversation he had overheard.
The words that had casually brushed past him now fit together.
Ryu Ji-hwan chuckled.
He couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of making that punk regret his actions.
“Min Si-joon’s family.”
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
“It’s still the same.”
Siwoo stood before the half-collapsed ruin.
Cobwebs hung from every corner, and graffiti and broken bottles littered the ground.
Trash and cigarette butts were strewn across the yard.
It seemed like the neighborhood kids had played here and left it in disarray.
Siwoo opened the door and stepped inside.
The pungent smell of dust and mold filled the air.
He winced slightly and slowly looked around the living room and kitchen.
It felt like his mother would call out to him at any moment, stirring a delicious pot of soybean paste stew. She would tell him to come in and eat, to play and relax. His parents, smiling at him, and his younger brother, still a child.
But their faces were blurry.
He missed them so much it was maddening, and he would trade his life for just one chance to touch and hold them again.
They were such kind people.
Their faces were faint.
They said forgetting was a gift from God.
To him, it was a curse.
The thread of 100 years seemed to wrap tightly around his body, preventing him from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching anything.
In a place soaked in memories, Siwoo walked out with the faces he could not recall still clutched tightly in his hand.
He headed towards the vacant lot.
This was where he and his brother, Si-joon, used to play.
Sometimes, when the ball went over to the scary old man’s house next door, they would refuse to retrieve it and would play rock-paper-scissors instead.
He smiled faintly at the memory.
100 years. The endless battles that took place within that time.
The moment he felt his human senses dulling, his existence being worn down by time.
Ironically, it was also memory, that single tool, that had awakened him.
The memory of his brother.
The memory of his disciples.
For him, memories did not become recollections but rather a painful longing.
But that was fine.
Because of them, he had been able to endure 100 years.
ใ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐ช. ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ, ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐.ใ
Thanks to this guy too.
Siwoo had come here to let go of his longing for the time that had passed.
What’s done is done.
“It’s time to move on. Looking back is only necessary once.”
ใ๐ ๐๐ ๐’๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐.ใ
“I know, Freeloader.”
He chuckled.
How much that innocent and carefree voice had driven him.
Time to look for the kids.
I wonder if they’ve been well for the past 10 years.
Si-joon must be doing well too.
As he thought about this and was about to take a step,
Hostile magic energy surged towards him from ahead.
ใ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐’๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฅ’๐ค ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ค.ใ
Siwoo drew out a small amount of magic energy and slowly manipulated it.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a fight between Hunters is a fight of magic energy.
Therefore, mana must always be kept ready as magic energy.
“I found you!!”
“This punk is so hard to find. Hey! Tell them all to gather here!”
Several people rushed over, following someone’s shout.
Siwoo waited patiently for them to gather with a bored expression.
“Are you the punk who was causing trouble at the tutorial exit today?”
The apparent leader asked, stepping forward.
“Do you know how much we ran around looking for you? Why were you acting up and causing trouble there, you crazy punk? Were you going to take off flying because you awakened? Is this your world?”
Despite the man’s sarcasm and insults, Siwoo’s expression remained indifferent.
He had already seen the opponent’s skill and ability.
If he were a real Hunter.
If he were a true fighter.
He wouldn’t be yapping like that.
“Did you lose your marbles? Do you know who I am? I’m [๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐] C-rank Hunter Byun Hak-moon! Gold River!! Gold River!!”
He shouted as if to intimidate Siwoo.
Siwoo sighed.
“I don’t care if you’re Gold River or Gold River Mountain. What do you want?”