CHAPTER 221: TIMING

"HOW DO we match the timing, Bitna-ya?" Wonhee asked in a serious tone. "Does the time in the dungeon you’re in flows the same as how the time in this world flows?"

["Yes— I’ve just arrived at the dungeon where time works the same as yours. But this dungeon will collapse in twelve hours, so I need to get out of here by then."]

That was some terrible news.

[We only have twelve hours to prepare...]

"I’m ready to go anytime," Yool said, looking at his watch. "It’s already twelve noon. Then I’ll go to Namsan Tower before midnight."

"We will go to Naman Tower," Graham said firmly. "Bitna-ssi, this is Graham of the Summer Guild. Would it be possible to go with Yool to Namsan Tower?"

["Are you saying you want to go with Gong Yool to his original world, Graham-ssi?"]

"Yes, I wanna go with him. Is it possible? Please say it is."

["If you want to die, then go ahead and come with Gong Yool."]

The playful smile on Graham’s face disappeared.

"Bitna-ya, is it that dangerous for anyone other than Yool to enter the dungeon?" Wonhee asked carefully, tearing her gaze off of Graham who suddenly looked annoyed. "Can you explain why? I was actually planning to ask the System if it could send at least one person with Yool."

["Wonhee-ya, don’t be naïve. The only reason Gong Yool is allowed to cross to the other world is because he has a physical body waiting for him there. If Graham-ssi tries to go to the other side, then his physical body would disintegrate before he could even see the door."]

Oh, that sounded gruesome.

"Graham-ssi, I’m sorry but we won’t let you risk your life for this," Wonhee said sternly. "You’re a part of the Big 4. Our country will suffer a great loss if something bad happens to you after we already lost Song Moonho-ssi."

"Wony-ah, don’t go killing off Ahjussi— he just went to the enemy’s side and not to the Afterlife," Yool said, suspiciously defensive of Song Moonho. But before Wonhee could tease him, he already had his attention focused on Graham. "You heard Bitna-ssi’s explanation, Graham-ssi. You can’t come with me."

Graham frowned, obviously sulking.

[Did he really want to go with Yool that bad?]

"Then can you at least assure us that Yool will return to this world safely?" Graham asked. "If you can’t send someone with him, the least you could do is assure us that you’re going to return him to us in one piece."

["..."]

To be honest, Wonhee already expected that silence from Bitna.

[Not even the System could assure me that Yool wouldreturn.]

Hence, Bitna suddenly went silent.

And that was exactly the reason why Wonhee didn’t want to let go of her best friend initially: Yool’s safe return wasn’t guaranteed.

"The hell? You can’t even guarantee Yool’s safe return?" Graham asked, obviously annoyed. And then he turned to Wonhee with clear resentment in his eyes. "Chu Wonhee, you’re letting your best friend leave despite the high risk?"

"Don’t speak to Wony like that," Yool scolded Graham. "I barely managed to convince her to let me do this. Plus, Wony and Ahyeonnie are the most reluctant people in this world to let me go, so don’t you dare talk to any of my best friends that way ever again."

Aww.

Wonhee was touched by what Yool said, and so was Ahyeon.

"Hyung..."

Graham didn’t say anything, but he looked a bit remorseful.

[I get it, though— Graham-ssi must be frustrated that he can’t do anything for Yool.]

"Graham-ssi, this isn’t easy for us. But Yool convinced me that everything will be alright," Wonhee said in a calm yet firm voice. "Don’t trust the System, but trust my luck— I have tremendous luck after saving the world once."

***

"SIR, did you see my Status Window?"

"Yep," Yejun said, leaning against the chair with his arms crossed over his arms. "So, what’s the problem? Minho Hyung sent me an emergency message saying you looked like you were about to faint after checking your Status Window."

Lee Seojin knitted his eyebrows. "Can’t you see the problem, sir? I don’t like that skill. Why do I need a skill that can manipulate my family members? It even works on Civilians!"

Ah, rookies and their naïvety.

[Just like I was before.]

"There was a time that I was as naïve as you, kid. You can even call me an idealist back then," Yejun said, letting out a hollow laugh. "But you know what it got me?"

Lee Seojin gulped, and then he shook his head.

"Scars and lessons learned the hard way," Yejun said, shocking Lee Seojin. He just shrugged at the kid’s reaction. "Anyway, why are you afraid of that skill? You’re not the type of person who will hurt his family just for the heck of it, are you?"

"Even so, it’s still a dirty skill. Only villains have skills that could manipulate other people," Seojin complained, sulking. "No wonder this skill formerly belonged to Song Sunho. It suited a bad person like him."

"Kid, there’s no dirty or evil skills in the world— only good or bad people. It depends on you whether to use your power for the greater good or to fuck things up."

"Oh."

"Moreover, you might need that skill to stop your hyung later."

"Seodam Hyung? But why would I use this skill on my brother?"

"I’ll tell you something that’s supposed to be confidential, so promise me you’ll keep it a secret," Yejun said in a serious tone. "And if you tell a single soul, I’ll kill you. Just so you know, I have ways to find out whether you break your promise or not."

It was a bluff.

He had no skills like that.

[I could ask the kid to make a contract, but that’s not my style. Threats work the best for someone like me.]

Fortunately, it looked like it worked because Lee Seojin looked scared.

"D-Does the secret have something to do with my hyung?"

"Obviously."

"Is it a secret that Wonhee Noona knows?"

"Yep."

"Will it harm Noona if the secret gets leaked out?"

"Wonhee will die if that happens."

It was an exaggeration.

But, again, it worked because the kid looked shocked and afraid.

Heh.

"T-Then I swear on my life that I’ll take the secret to my grave," Seojin said, gulping hard— the fear on his face replaced by determination now. "Please tell me what’s going on with my hyung, sir."

"The fake carni— I mean, Lee Seodam is the Virus’ host," Yejun said bluntly. "And the Virus is the villain that wants the System gone."

***

"N-NOONA, do you think Yool Hyung and Graham-ssi will be alright?"

"They’ll be fine," Wonhee assured Ahyeon while patting his back. "They’re just gonna talk."

[I think.]

Graham was still very sulky earlier, so Yool dragged the S-Class Hunter to the other room to have a talk. So, now, only Wonhee and Ahyeon were in the coffee shop to enjoy their second cup of coffee. This time, they ordered a whole cheesecake.

[Because Ahyeonnie likes desserts.]

Wonhee was enjoying her forkful of cake when her Status Window suddenly popped up.

[Cabbage Kid: Wonhee-ya.]

"Yes, Bitna-ya?"

Ahyeon glanced at Wonhee, but he immediately avoided her gaze and focused on his cake to somehow give her some privacy.

[Cabbage Kid: Can you ask that insufferable jerk to come and get me later?]

"Hamin-ssi?"

[Cabbage Kid: Yes, that insufferable jerk. Unfortunately, I need him to be there in order to get out of the dungeon safely.]

"Alright. I’ll call Hamin-ssi. Anything else?"

[Cabbage Kid: Knock me out as soon as I get out.]

"Why?"

[Cabbage Kid: Because I might end up killing my family.]

Oh, no.

[Bitna-ya really hates her family.]

"Murder is bad, Bitna-ya. Not even I could protect you if you kill Civilians out of nowhere," Wonhee said nervously. "I’ll ask Yejun or Hamin-ssi to knock you out as soon as you get out."

***

SONG MOONHO clenched his hands while reading the message that he received from his Status Window.

It was from the Commander.

[Blood Test Result: Positive

Diagnosis: Hunter Song Moonho was under Hunter Song Sunho’s Blood Ties Skill for five years. Now that Hunter Song Sunho is gone, the effect of the Blood Ties Skill will eventually wear off.]

Moonho was under his younger brother’s control for five years?

That was around the time Song Sunho started to fuck around because it was also the time the Big 4 had complete control over Korea. And yet, he could only lock up his younger brother to the guild’s basement every time he committed a crime.

[No wonder I failed to abandon him even when he became a liability to me and my guild.]

Haaah.

Moonho felt so stupid.

Even so, he had to admit he felt a little bit sad.

[So, Sunho only saw me as a shield and not as an older brother.]

"Don’t be upset yet, Moonho-ssi," the Commander said. "We have to get ready."

"Get ready for what?"

"My liege just sent me a message— the Namsan Tower will open up midnight."

"Already?" Moonho asked in disbelief. "Chu Wonhee decided to send Gong Yool to the other world?"

He couldn’t believe it.

[I thought Chu Wonhee would never let Yool go.]

"My liege says so, hence, we must prepare," the Commander said sternly. "We must kill Gong Yool in order to destroy the dungeon that leads to the other world."

***

NOTE: Hi! I posted three extra stories with chibi fanarts on my k/o-fi page (ko-fi. com/sola_cola). It’s my birth month (no one asked, but my birthday is on May 23rd, lol), so I prepared these extra stories for you. :

First story: ’Ahjuicy’ (featuring Yool and Song Moonho).

Second story: Ideal Type (featuring the golden trio: Wonhee, Yool, and Ahyeon).

Third story: First Love (featuring Yejun and Wonhee).

You may donate ’coffee’ if you can. I set up a goal on my kofi page for my birthday. Hehe. You may check it out on my page. If the link doesn’t work, you can just search for/g00gle ’kofi sola_cola. See you there. 3

***

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