CHAPTER 234: PRICE TO PAY

YEJUN couldn’t do anything but watch Wonhee.

Like what the talking orange asked him to do, he brought Wonhee inside his Inventory.

And, as soon as they got there, he tucked her in the bed.

Now, Wonhee was on the bed— obviously having difficulties in breathing.

"Talking orange, it’s not normal to have that kind of fever," Yejun said nervously. "Should I make the room colder to lower her body temperature—"

"Hunter Hwang Yejun, you should give Guiding to Guide Chu Wonhee."

"Excuse me? I’m a Hunter—"

"Reverse Guiding," the talking orange said, cutting him off again. "Hunter Hwang Yejun, that’s the solution that the System has come up with— you must use your own Mana to help Guide Chu Wonhee’s energy flow freely."

"Elaborate."

"Guide Chu Wonhee is running a high fever because her body experienced a shock after absorbing Hunter Belle Blanche’s power."

"She absorbed that crazy woman’s power?"

"I’ll explain that part later," the talking orange said, waving his hand. "Anyway, as I was saying, Guide Chu Wonhee’s Mana Tank was suddenly filled with Mana that wasn’t hers. Hence, the Mana Tank closed its lid once the Tank was full in order to stop it from exploding. Unfortunately, the Mana that spilled from the Tank is now considered a foreign object in her body. Hence, Guide Chu Wonhee’s body is trying to reject it instead of absorbing it slowly."

"How will Reverse Guiding help in this case?"

"You will control the excess Mana and guide it back to Guide Chu Wonhee’s Mana Tank. Since you’re a veteran high-ranking Hunter, I’m sure you know how to move another person’s Mana."

"I can do that because it has the same principle as lending power to a fellow Hunter. But you just said Wonhee’s Mana Tank closed its lid because it will explode if it absorbs more Mana."

"That’s why you need to perform Reverse Guiding— you’ll help Chu Wonhee expand her Mana Tank by giving her a part of your Core."

The ’Core’ was the Mana Tank of Hunters.

[That’s where we store our Mana.]

"So, I’ll give a piece of my Core to Wonhee and put it in her Mana Tank to make it expand," Yejun said, trying to summarize what the talking orange was saying. "Then I’ll gather the excess Mana scattered in her body and guide them back to the bigger Mana Tank. Did I understand it correctly?"

"Yeah, you’re right. But..."

"But what?"

"Giving a piece of your Core to Guide Chu Wonhee will hurt a lot, Hunter Hwang Yejun," the talking orange warned him in a serious voice. "Moreover, Reverse Guiding might have some side effects on you and Guide Chu Wonhee."

"I don’t care if it will harm me as long as I get to save Wonhee," Yejun said firmly. "Tell the System to give all the side-effects of the Reverse Guiding on me and me alone."

***

WONHEE couldn’t breathe.

She felt like drowning.

Actually, she might be drowning for real.

After all, when she tried to open her eyes, she found herself sinking into what seemed to be a deep body of water.

She panicked, but only for a moment.

"Wonhee-ya!"

It was Hwang Yejun.

Ah.

[This must be a dream.]

After all, the Hwang Yejun swimming towards her was wearing a loose white button-down shirt and trousers.

[Yejun only wears black turtleneck shirts.]

"Chu Wonhee!"

[If the two of us were really drowning in reality, I wouldn’t hear his voice this clearly. Moreover, I can’t hold my breath for this long.]

Since this was only a dream...

Wonhee gathered her strength and swam upwards.

Yejun extended his hand to her, and so she grabbed it tightly.

"Wonhee-ya, listen to me carefully," Yejun said, cupping her face between his hands. "All of this is your Mana."

"What?" Wonhee asked, surprised. "This "water" is my Mana? And it’s inside my body?"

"Yes, and that’s also why you’re in pain."

Oh, right.

She remembered fainting because of the physical pain that hit her as soon as they got out of Belle Blanche’s illusionary world.

"Wonhee-ya, I’ll guide you."

"You’ll guide me?"

Yejun nodded, clasping their hands together. "I’ll help you expand your Mana Tank, then I will teach you how to gather your Mana and put them back in your Mana Tank. Do you trust me, Wonhee-ya?"

"If I don’t, then who else am I supposed to trust, silly?" Wonhee said teasingly, and then she closed her eyes because she had a feeling that it was what she was supposed to do. "Now, tell me how to expand my Mana Tank."

***

[HUNTER YEON Soobin, be prepared. Hunter Hwang Yejun and Guide Chu Wonhee must be protected at this critical time.]

To say that Soobin was nervous because of the System’s warning would be an understatement.

[What happened to Wonhee and Hwang Yejun?]

Right now, he was in a drawing room with Hwang Junsang and Hwang Yebin (Hwang Yejun’s parents).

Semi already left with Graham, Hamin, Gong Yool, and Do Ahyeon.

The Winter Guild sent Hwang Minho and Hwang Minsu as support.

[Sending Gong Yool to the dungeon before midnight is their top priority.]

Hence, Soobin was left in the Winter Guild HQ to take care of Wonhee and Hwang Yejun.

"Is it the System, Vice President?" Hwang Yebin asked worriedly. "Did it say something about the children?"

Soobin nodded politely. "The System said we should get ready because Hee-ya and Hwang Yejun are about to arrive..."

He trailed off when a literal portal appeared out of nowhere.

It was a blue hole that actually looked like a whirlpool.

They didn’t panic because a familiar "face" stepped out of the portal.

It was the Administrator and two little kids.

A boy and a girl that looked like they were around five or six years old....

... wait.

[Those children look familiar...]

"Eomma!" the little boy said while running towards the surprised Hwang Junsang and Hwang Yebin. "Appa!"

Huh?

"Oppa-ya!"

Soobin’s eyes widened in shock when he finally realized who the very adorable little girl running towards him was. "Hee-ya?"

Wonhee and Hwang Yejun turned into little kids!

***

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