— I am powerless: ??? You didn’t mean to go in the first place, did you?
— MM: unable to go to the dungeon because it’s raining today HAHAHAHA
— Lime Love Team: At this point, you’re not a professional Hunter, but a professional Hunchaner LOL
└ Double Bianco: I have fewer days of Hunchan access than you GG
— gotohell: but what’s the black thing in the picture, clean your windows
— OO: Heol, there’s something in the corner
└ Double Bianco: there’s nothing, what are you talking about fck don’t scare me
— Jeju Guild No. 1: Look at the disaster texts, everyone. We’re in trouble.
***
Jijon recited to himself somberly.
I can’t do this. I can’t do this anymore. I was also just an ordinary person who couldn’t do anything remarkable. I’ve been clinging to things that don’t suit me for too long.
That was the conclusion that Jijon made.
The scene of the incident where the Long-tailed Phoenix disappeared a few nights ago. Choi Cedric just let Jijon go. He must have thought that he wouldn’t be a threat.
“I don’t see you here today. Don’t touch the dirty work again and just live a normal life.”
Choi Cedric turned around after saying that … to be honest, it was cool.
He didn’t think he could be like that unless he was born again.
‘Let’s turn myself in.’
Even if he is lucky enough to be cleared of the attempted murder charge, Jijon had already been involved in the smuggling of the Neo-Crown Party. Punishment cannot be avoided. It would be difficult to prove the C&L Corporation as the master of the allegations.
‘That secretary…….’
He wouldn’t have left any evidence.
He felt relieved after he decided to turn himself in. Let’s live a normal life after being punished.
He’s ashamed to face his mother and younger sister, but … he’ll have to contact them.
It’s about 30 minutes before Rieul and Ash headed to the shopping mall.
At first, Jijon was walking the alley to get home and organize himself. Then, there was a quiet movement across the street. Someone’s footsteps are closely followed from behind.
“Are you Kim Jihoon?”
“…….”
A man standing in front took out his ID card from his pocket and showed it. The large mark of the Dungeon Management Office caught his eye.
“I’d like to hear from you for a moment, so let’s go to the main office together.”
A person standing behind his back gently placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Uh, what’s the matter?”
“I’m sure you know. You were at the Cheonggyecheon arson site, right? There is a witness who saw Kim Jihoon.”
“……!”
Jijon soon gave up resistance. He knew this moment would come anyway. It’s an arrest ending, isn’t it perfect for a piece of crap like him? Jijon raised his hands and nodded slightly, revealing that he had no intention of resisting.
After that, there was a stench coming from the wind from somewhere.
“Oh, hot!”
Suddenly, he felt hot inside his body and Jijon searched for his arms wildly. It was as if he was burning himself with hot iron.
The Hunters surrounding Jijon were panicked and when they tried to subdue him, a star-shaped ornament came out of his inner pocket.
‘What’s this? Did I buy something like this?’
The thought did not last long.
“Be careful!”
“Ugh, huaa! What is that?”
The sky turned black. A stinky wind engulfed his body.
Crak.
A huge amorphous mucus that appeared from the sky opened its mouth and swallowed Jijon. The mucus that had already swallowed several humans became a huge lump.
“Keurere….”
An ominous cry was heard.
With the agility unsuitable for a giant, the giant lump monster pushed the surrounding Hunters and ran away.
“It ran away!”
“Ask the main office for backup!”
“….a monster appeared! It’s currently being tracked. Please ask for support from each guild!”
***
“Aaargh! Run away!”
“Ugh, the emergency exit is already blocked! Go the other way!”
“I lowered the disaster prevention shutter and closed the barrier. Come inside!”
The shopping mall was chaotic due to the sudden appearance of a monster.
I don’t know if I can call that a monster.
The black and sticky lumps had no fixed form. It flows down, stands up on both feet again, and runs toward this side.
The monster control shutter was immediately lowered, and the Hunters in charge of safety management helped the shoppers evacuate, but the situation did not calm down.
The monster freely changed its shape and invaded inside. The Hunters attacked the monster, but it took no damage.
In addition to that, a huge hole appeared in the sky. Black lumps were constantly pouring out of the hole.
I was on the way to grab Ash’s hand and head to the evacuation area.
“………Ash! Be careful!”
The monster who ran through the barricade aimed at Ash. I reflexively pushed Ash’s back to avoid the attack, but it was pushed out of the disaster prevention shutter.
“………Uh!”
The space changes.
The black lumps liquefied and wrapped around it, and all its forms began to collapse. The pillars, railings, and floors melted down, losing color and becoming an opaque membrane.
Only darkness that can be seen in all directions. The exit is not visible.
A huge hole rattles overhead.
‘Ash, come here.’
‘…….’
I made eye contact with Ars and held my breath. Somewhere in the dark space, the sound of the monster’s footsteps thumped. If we made even a little noise, I thought the monster would tear us apart right away.
I clasped Ash’s hand tightly to hold back the tension. The tremor calmed down a little when I felt the warmth of his small, soft hand.
Strange. Why did this happen?
I don’t know all the future events that happened before the regression, but I clearly remember the big events.
Monsters have never appeared in Yongsan. Even if a rift broke out in the neighborhood right next to it, Yongsan was still intact. There was even a meme called ‘Yongsan Barrier’.
The reason why I chose Yongsan as the place to come to buy clothes for Ash was because I unconsciously thought Yongsan was safe.
How come something different from before the regression happened?
Is it because the future has changed?
Still, it’s weird. The sole variable that can change the future is me, who have the memory before the regression, but the changes I have made are only few.
Both the saving of James and the early rift in the Lee Chorok’s farmhouse had a clear cause. However, no matter how much I looked back on my actions, I didn’t do anything that would make a monster appear in Yongsan.
Is it like a butterfly effect?
Still, how can the monster that appeared in Yongsan has any connection with me, who run a cafe in front of the Dungeon Gate?
Tiling! My phone vibrated.
[Safety Guide Notice <Dungeon Management Office>
Around 17:00 today, an Otherworld Gate occurred over downtown Seoul and an unidentified monster appeared.
We are currently investigating the cause and responding to it. Please be careful.]
Even though it was a very weak vibration, the monster in this space noticed us. The black giant suddenly rose from the floor.
“Ash, get away!”
Even though I was closer, the monster’s fist aimed exactly at Ash. It was as if the monster was being attracted to Ash.
I realised it for sure. This monster is trying to kill Ash.
‘….The Floor is Shy!’
The monster who was hit by the skill lost its balance and rolled sideways.
“Run!”
Taking advantage of that opportunity, I got up and took Ash’s hand. I just ran blindly. As I crossed the ruined space in search of an exit, I was taken aback.
“……!”
Ah, there’s one more. The future I changed.
It was Ash who was lying in front of the store.
It’s a leap, I was leaping to the conclusion, but….
Before my regression, the store was an empty abandoned house. What if Ash died there the day before my regression, without any help?
What if, since Ash is alive unlike back then, this black monster appeared to kill the surviving Ash?
I looked at Ash quietly.
Even in this urgent situation, he has a cynical expression that seems to be indifferent to the situation, but his hand is holding mine tightly. The warmth, tension, and trembling are transmitted through the hand.
It’s enough to think about it later. At the moment, one way or other.…..
“That’s enough.”
Ash let go of my hand.
“Shh, Ash, you need to get out of here and go to the evacuation area barrier. You will be safe there.”
“I’m nothing more than an incomplete summoned body created with insufficient mana anyway.”
I had an ominous feeling. It’s not the usual setting story, I have a hunch that Ash would say something ridiculous.
“Ash … what are you talking about?”
“Since only this body will be dying, don’t be so surprised by the subject, Human.”
Before I knew it, the black giant followed us to a short distance. Instead of running away, Ash turned his back on the monster. I reached out, but I couldn’t reach him.
No, I have to save him.
“……!”
I used the item in my hand with the feeling of grasping at straws.
It was a crime prevention bell from Ki Yoohyun. In a moment’s time, my hand could barely grasp this item.
Click, the moment I pressed the button that didn’t make a sound.
A net of light descended.
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