CHAPTER 223: MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS (2)

ALL THE glass windows and the fragile things in the room shattered because of the strong quake.

And it seemed like the same thing happened to the entire building.

[I hope the Civilians were rescued...]

"Minsu Noona, bring Eomma with you and evacuate all the Civilians to the basement. Then call Abeoji and Minho Hyung— tell them to support Graham in protecting Gong Yool. Minki will stay with the fake carnivore," Yejun said in an urgent voice while talking to the watch that he brought near his lips. "I’ll deal with Song Moonho by myself."

Wonhee gulped while listening to Yejun give orders to his cousin-slash-subordinate.

[This is the first time I’ve seen Yejun this serious.]

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a buzz from the watch, then it was followed by Hwang Minsu’s voice.

"Copy, Guildmaster. I’ll direct everyone to their positions, so just focus on your fight with Song Moonho."

Yejun simply ended the call.

But Wonhee didn’t find it rude, and she was pretty sure Minsu wouldn’t either.

[We’re in an emergency situation, after all.]

Wonhee was shocked when the ground shook again.

But she got even more shocked when she saw a few wolves with red eyes running towards them.

Those were monsters— dead monsters.

Judging by Song Moonho’s red eyes, it was clear that he was controlling the monsters.

[The Necromancer is here...]

Wonhee’s thoughts were interrupted when the monster wolves suddenly hit an invisible barrier.

"Ah," Yejun said, grinning. "Our son is here, Wonhee-ya."

Wonhee saw Ahyeon standing in front of them, right in front of Yejun’s ice barrier.

[Ahyeonnie, be careful...]

It seemed like she had nothing to worry about, though.

Ahyeon clapped his hands.

After that, the monster wolves got compressed together as if they were getting pushed together by an invisible force.

"Watch our son, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said proudly. "That’s the technique I taught him."

"Are the monsters being pushed by Ahyeonnie’s barrier?"

Yejun nodded, and then he explained. "You can’t see it, but Ahyeonnie created a barrier shaped like a box. The walls of the barriers are pushing the monsters together and they won’t stop until the monsters are crushed..." He paused, and then he turned to her. "If it’s too gruesome for you, I’ll cover your eyes for you."

"I’ll just close my eyes," Wonhee said, closing her eyes. "Why would you teach Ahyeonnie a technique like that?"

"It’s a good thing that the baby herbivore is an expert when it comes to making sturdy barriers. Because of that, Do Ahyeon became known for his defense," Yejun said, his voice mixed with pride. "But just because he’s good at defense doesn’t mean he couldn’t use his skills to attack. I simply taught our son how to use his barriers to attack the enemies."

She frowned when she heard the loud noise of bones breaking.

It was followed by the whimpers of the monster wolves.

She knew that those wolves were man-eating monsters, but she still couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit bad for them.

It seemed like Ahyeon didn’t hesitate to kill the monsters, though.

[I guess he’s still a Hunter through and through.]

"Good job, baby herbivore," Yejun said, praising Ahyeon. "Let’s switch, so come here."

Switch?

"O-Okay, Hyung-nim!"

"Wonhee-ya, I’m gonna put you down."

"Oh, okay," Wonhee said, opening her eyes. "Moonho-ssi seems to be taking this fight lightly."

After all, Song Moonho didn’t attack them again.

"He’s probably here to talk," Yejun said. "So, I’m coming out there to talk to him before I kill him."

"Don’t kill him if you don’t have to," Wonhee said. "I don’t think Moonho-ssi has betrayed us yet."

Yejun just shrugged, and then he raised his clenched hand.

When Yejun opened his hand, a part of the barrier opened up like a door— allowing Ahyeon to enter.

[Yejun is really cool.]

"Baby herbivore, stay here and protect Wonhee with your barrier," Yejun said to Ahyeon. "Use all your energy on creating a strong barrier. Don’t use it to attack unless you absolutely have to. I’ll stop Song Moonho from attacking here."

Ahyeon nodded eagerly. "I understand, Hyung-nim."

"Good," Yejun said, and then he turned to Wonhee. "Wait for me here, Wonhee-ya. I’ll come back quickly."

"You better," Wonhee said worriedly. "Take care, Yejun-ah."

***

"CAN YOU breathe?"

Yool touched the oxygen mask that Hamin put on him. "Yes."

"Good," Hamin said while putting on his own oxygen mask. "Soobin Hyung created this mask for situations like this."

By "situations like this," the Guildmaster was talking about the fact that the two of them were trapped inside a man-made cave that Hamin created.

Just a few moments ago, they were attacked by square-headed villains.

Graham asked Hamin to protect Yool.

Hence, the Fall Guild’s Guildmaster created a cave in the middle of the room in order to protect them from outside attacks.

It was hard to breathe there.

Hence, the masks.

"Aside from Graham, Semi Noona and Soobin Hyung are here, so don’t worry too much," Hamin said while pulling out a Fire Stone the size of a baseball from his Inventory. It served as their light. "We just need to endure for a bit and wait. But even if the enemies get past them and manage to break my barrier, I’ll protect you."

"Thank you," Yool said awkwardly. "And I’m sorry you got involved in this."

"It’s not something you have to apologize for," Hamin said, looking at Yool with a blank look on his face. "I’m here because of Bitna and not because of you."

Ouch.

"I heard from Chu Wonhee earlier that you have to enter the dungeon in the Namsan Tower in order for Bitna to be freed," Hamin said, his face softening up a bit while talking about that ’Bitna’ girl. "That’s why I’ll make sure you’ll survive. I’ll push you into the dungeon myself if I have to."

Oh, wow.

[I heard from Wony that Hamin-ssi and this Bitna girl only met once, and yet they seem to be obsessed with each other.]

Haaah.

[The men in this world are so passionate about love.]

"I don’t mind if you do that, but we have to survive until midnight," Yool said, crossing his arms over his chest. "This won’t do. Wony and I have to be together."

"Chu Wonhee is with Hwang Yejun— she’s in the safest place in Korea."

"I know, and that’s why I need to be with her," Yool said bluntly. "I’m not saying that you’re not enough to protect me, Hamin-ssi. It’s just that I need Wony to increase our survival. You know the System protects her— mmf!"

Yool wasn’t able to finish what he was saying because Hamin suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.

"Shh," Hamin said sternly. "Don’t mention System or Chu Wonhee."

Oh.

Yool noticed that Hamin’s eyes were frantically looking around.

That only meant one thing.

[Someone is here— someone we can’t see.]

That actually gave Yool the goosebumps.

The area was sealed since they were inside a cave.

So, how would the enemy get inside— BOOM!

A loud and powerful explosion from right below their feet answered Yool’s question.

The enemies entered from below because the floor was the weakest part of the cave that Hamin created!

Yool thought he was a goner.

But only for a moment.

Hamin actually grabbed Yool before the explosion, and then the Guildmaster draped him over his shoulder as if he was just a sack of rice.

[I’m a human being, Hamin-ssi...]

***

"YOU’RE GONNA pay for the renovation of my building, you crazy bastard," Yejun said bitterly while glaring at Song Moonho. "Only half of my wealth and assets have been returned to me yet. How dare you cause this much damage to my property?"

"Just send the bill to me," Song Moonho said, shrugging. "I can even build a new building for you if you want to."

Haaah.

For someone who joined the enemy side, Song Moonho looked pretty relaxed while having a banter with him.

Well, to be honest, Yool couldn’t see the old man as an enemy completely.

[Just like what Wonhee said, Song Moonho hasn’t betrayed yet. If he disclosed any important information about Wonhee to the enemies, then the System would let us know that he broke the contract.]

"So, was switching sides worth it?" Yejun asked, raising an eyebrow. "Did you get any valuable piece of information from that stupid Anti-System Faction?"

"Oh, I did," Song Moonho said, smiling. "That’s why I’m here to prove myself to them. If I pass their test, then I get to meet the final boss."

"By sacrificing Gong Yool?"

"That’s just a small price to pay to satisfy my curiosity."

"Crazy bastard."

"Don’t you already know that?"

"I won’t let you lay a hand on Wonhee’s best friend," Yejun said, deciding that the conversation was now over. "Let’s get this done and over with."

"Ah, I have no business here now that I know Yool isn’t with Chu Wonhee," Song Moonho said, stepping backwards. "I brought the whole party here, so go and deal with them, maknae-ah."

Before Yejun could even complain, Song Moonho had vanished already.

And then square-headed villains suddenly appeared out of nowhere— surrounding Yejun.

***

THE SMELL of flesh burning filled the room.

Graham was glad that Yool wasn’t there to see him burning humans to ashes.

The Big 4 had the ’license’ to kill people without due process, especially if the said people were a huge threat to the country.

"You can really be ruthless sometimes, kid."

Graham looked up and glared at the person who suddenly materialized in thin air. "Song Moonho, you traitor."

"I have no business with you," Song Moonho said. "I’m here to pick up my baby."

***

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