CHAPTER 231: GUIDE-HUNTER

[YOU know who I am, Chu Wonhee.]

Wonhee had a gut feeling, and her gut feeling was often correct.

[You must be the older me. But how did you take control of my Status Window?]

She didn’t talk out loud because she didn’t want Tannie or the others to know that she was communicating with her older self.

Plus, her older siblings were obviously keeping an eye on her.

[It was the System who ’downloaded’ my memories into your Status Window. I can take over your Status Window the same way I take over your consciousness.]

That was true, however...

[This is the first time we’re talking like this.]

[The System is trying to stop me from taking over your consciousness because the System doesn’t want me to risk your life for Hwang Yejun. That’s why I have no choice but to talk to you using your Status Window. The System is currently busy helping your Administrator fix Hwang Yejun’s Status Window. So, we need to finish this conversation before the System notices that I’m talking to you. Tell me what you want to do, Chu Wonhee.]

[I want to help Yejun.]

[How do you plan to do that? The System and your Administrator are already fixing Hwang Yejun’s Status Window.]

[Perhaps Yejun needs my Guiding?]

[I see. But haven’t you already figured out how to use some of your abilities to attack the enemies?]

Oh, right.

Wonhee figured out how to use the Sleeping Salon in particular as an attack.

However, she was yet to test it out.

[I don’t remember much from the Second Apocalypse because all the data related to the enemies were erased from the System. However, I do remember the skills that I used at the time as a Guide-Hunter.]

A Guide-Hunter.

Just like Bitna?

[The Guides evolved during the Second Apocalypse and developed skills that transformed them into Hunters. You’re not at that level yet. But I can help you upgrade one of your current skills to L-Grade. Which one do you want to use to save Hwang Yejun?]

Which one?

Of course, it had to be...

[The Sleeping Salon!]

[As expected, we’re the same person through and through.]

Wonhee could almost hear the smile in her older version’s message.

[I will level up your Sleeping Salon Skill temporarily, but be prepared for the recoil from using power that you can’t handle at your current level yet. Are you sure you still wish to proceed?]

[Yes, please.]

"Guide Chu Wonhee, don’t do it!"

Oops.

Tannie caught her.

Wonhee panicked for a moment, but only for a moment.

Huh?

A strong gust of wind literally pushed Wonhee away from Tannie and the others...

... and then towards the Iron Maiden.

Of course, her older siblings and friends panicked.

"Hee-ya!"

"Wony-ah!"

"Noona!"

Wonhee felt sorry for her family and friends, but Yejun was her priority.

[Chu Wonhee, put your hands on the Iron Maiden. Your body is now covered by the Mana that comes from the Sleeping Salon, so you’ll be fine. This time, only your consciousness will enter the illusionary world where Belle Blanche trapped Hwang Yejun. But don’t worry. The System will keep your physical body safe.]

She didn’t hesitate.

Wonhee placed her hands on the Iron Maiden.

To be honest, she didn’t feel anything. And it was probably because of the thin layer of barrier protecting her body.

[Now upgrading the Sleeping Salon from S-Grade to L-Grade...]

***

IT WAS a gruesome death.

The older Chu Wonhee’s body was mutilated and fed to dungeon monsters.

Yejun clutched his head and shut his eyes tight, trying to erase the horrific images of Chu Wonhee’s death from his mind.

However, the images remained clear in his head.

[This is driving me crazy...!]

Worse, the Static was also ringing in his head.

He could feel it in his bones— he was about to snap.

[No!]

"Don’t fight it, Hwang Frost."

Argh.

Even the annoying voice of the crazy World Ranker was making him go insane.

"Be a dear and let me turn you into a doll," Bride said cheerfully. "You’ll be a perfect addition to my collection~"

A doll?

Oh.

Yejun vaguely remembered the creepy dolls in that room.

There were monster dolls and chibi dolls there.

So...

[One of her abilities is to turn monsters and humans into dolls?]

Yejun didn’t know because most World Rankers kept some of their skills a secret.

Unfortunately, his ability to read other people’s status level stopped working when his Status Window was corrupted by a virus.

Dammit.

[This crazy woman is really OP.]

"Now, let’s play," Bride said, placing her filthy hands on Yejun’s chest. "Ah, you have a great body, Hwang Frost."

Argh.

Yejun felt goosebumps all over his body because the woman’s touch felt unpleasant.

And yet, he couldn’t move an inch.

"Please keep your hands off Yejun."

Huh?

Yejun, despite his heavy eyelids, forced himself to open his eyes.

And there he saw Wonhee— standing right across from him.

[Am I hallucinating?]

"What are you doing here?" Bride asked in disbelief. "How did you get in here in the first place?!"

Oh.

The fact that the World Ranker was in shock made it clear that Yejun wasn’t hallucinating.

Then...

"Wonhee-ya?" Yejun asked weakly. "Is that really you?"

"Yejun-ah, why do you look so pale?" Wonhee asked while walking towards him in a hurry. "You must be in pain..."

"No, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said while shaking his head firmly. Hallucination or not, he didn’t want Wonhee to get hurt from saving him. "Don’t come here!"

His warning came a little too late as Wonhee closed the gap between them quickly.

Of course, the World Ranker didn’t just stand there.

"Get out of here," Bride said, raising her arm at Wonhee. "You nasty bitch."

Yejun forced his heavy body to move to protect Wonhee from the crazy World Ranker.

However...

"Argh!"

Bride was sent flying after trying to slap Wonhee as if an invisible force had pushed her away from the S-Class Guide.

Only then did Yejun notice that the entire place had changed.

He was no longer inside a dark room.

It was still a room, but everything was white from the walls to the furniture.

[This place is...]

"No one can hurt me here," Wonhee said in a calm yet stern voice, her pretty brown eyes turned glowing amber. "You’re in my territory, Miss Blanche."

Yejun let out a gasp.

[Wonhee’s eyes changed colors...]

Only Hunters could do that, though?

***

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