CHAPTER 34: THE HEALER’S CONTRACT

After securing an ally who was more than beneficial to me, So-ah and I finally headed back home.

In the future, I would have to stop the villain who was destined to kill Park Hyun-Woo. That future couldn’t be allowed to happen.

Since Park Hyun-Woo was a Hero, living together with us was impossible.

Heroes were always watched, always monitored, and always tangled in regulations that prevented them from staying with ordinary citizens—or at least, people who pretended to be ordinary. Because of that, I had installed several surveillance cameras around his house. Every angle, every blind spot, every entry point—I covered all of them. If the assassin targeting him made even the slightest movement, I’d see it first.

Before heading home, I had asked Park Hyun-Woo to heal my injuries completely.

And he did.

The sensation of my muscles realigning, my bones strengthening, and every lingering pain evaporating... it was refreshing.

I stretched my body, hearing each bone pop into place.

"Ahh... it feels good to be normal again,"

I muttered as I stretched both arms over my head.

"Oppa... remember, from now on you can’t overwork yourself like before. Bring us with you if you need help,"

So-ah nagged, her arms crossed and her cheeks puffed in annoyance.

I sighed quietly as she continued scolding me.

"Yes yes, I won’t be reckless again~,"

I replied jokingly, waving my hand lazily.

But deep down, I had zero intention of taking them along.

My missions were too dangerous.

Too unpredictable.

Too lethal.

If they ever followed me, I wouldn’t be able to focus. I’d hesitate—and hesitation was the quickest path to death.

The only time I ever brought them with me was when I committed crimes in the city, and even then, I made sure the risk was low enough that they wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.

After entering the living room, I dropped onto my favorite sofa.

"Ah... finally..."

I exhaled, sinking into the cushions.

From the hallway, Lee Donghyun approached me with a folder in hand.

"Hyung, I gathered the information about the villain you asked for."

"Hm? Oh... thanks,"

I said as I took the file from him.

Inside was a detailed report on a villain named Hollow.

Hollow—male, 19 years old.

Power type: assassin.

Future threat level: catastrophic.

He was the one who would kill Park Hyun-Woo in the future.

Right now, he was only ranked A, which meant I could eliminate him easily—overwhelmingly, if needed.

His speed was impressive, well above the average assassin.

But compared to Lightnova’s speed?

He was still nothing.

That made him an easy target... for now.

I closed the file.

I had no choice.

For the sake of the future, I would kill him.

*Nighttime — Inside a Dark Office Building*

The office was pitch black except for the pale moonlight entering through the tall windows.

A figure dressed in all black, wearing a mask, moved silently behind a row of cubicles.

Without hesitation, he stabbed an office worker from behind.

The man collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

"Hah... with this, my job is done,"

the masked figure muttered.

Under the gentle glow of moonlight, countless office workers lay dead on the floor, their bodies twisted and soaked in blood.

This was Hollow, the assassin who, in the future, would become one of the deadliest threats Korea had ever faced.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he wiped it with the back of his gloved hand.

"I didn’t expect to deal with this many pathetic office workers... What a waste of my time."

He pulled a crumpled paper from his jacket pocket—his kill list.

Most of the names were already crossed out.

"Good... almost done. Now the last one is..."

His finger pointed to the final target.

"Hm... Fredlin."

Fredlin—a government official from America who came to Korea for an inspection.

In reality, he was corrupt to the core. He wasn’t here for work—he was here to enjoy a luxurious vacation with his family at Korea’s expense.

"A corrupt official, huh? Fine. I’ll kill him next."

*Haeundae Beach, Busan*

Haeundae was famous for its dazzling ocean view, luxury hotels, and wealthy tourists who came for relaxation and indulgence.

"Hey! You! Hurry up and bring my luggage!"

A fat, wealthy man shouted, pointing at a young hotel porter with messy black hair.

Beside him were his wife and their 14-year-old son.

The young porter sprinted over.

"Y-yes, sir and ma’am! My apologies! I’ll carry your luggage right away!"

’So these are the people I need to kill...’

The porter’s eyes remained calm, emotionless.

Because the porter...

was Hollow in disguise.

He lifted their luggage and began walking, but suddenly his foot slipped—

Thud!

He and the luggage crashed to the ground.

Hollow blinked in confusion.

He hadn’t slipped due to clumsiness.

Someone had tripped him.

He looked up.

It was Fredlin’s son, poorly suppressing his laughter as he covered his mouth.

Fredlin’s wife, Emma, exploded in rage.

"Hey! Can’t you do your job properly!? Those bags are expensive! The things inside cost more than your life!"

Hollow slowly got up, adjusting his posture.

He bowed politely.

"I’m sorry, ma’am... I’m a new staff member."

"Hah! I knew it! Why is a useless trainee assisting us!? Where’s the manager!?" she screamed, loud enough to draw attention.

A man in a suit—clearly the hotel manager—hurried over, sweating nervously.

"M-my deepest apologies, sir and ma’am! He’s just a new intern. I’ll personally carry your luggage!"

"Hmph. That’s what you should’ve done from the start,"

she said with a snarl.

Later That Night.

Fredlin’s son lay on his hotel bed, playing on his phone.

Fredlin and his wife were getting ready to head out.

"Sweetie, do you want to come with us? We’re going for a short walk,"

his mother asked kindly.

"No, I’ll stay here. It’s boring outside," he replied without looking up.

"Alright. Don’t go out, okay?"

"Yes, mom."

They left the room.

Minutes passed.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Ugh! I lost! Damn it!!"

He yelled at his game.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The knocking grew louder, more impatient.

"Ugh! Who the hell is that!? Must be that stupid porter."

He stomped toward the door and pulled it open.

"What do you wan—"

His voice died.

A tall man stood before him.

A man wearing a suit, a long coat, a hat, and a black mask.

Indigo.

The boy’s eyes widened in terror.

His mouth quivered, but no sound came out.

Indigo stepped inside calmly and shut the door.

*Meanwhile — Fredlin and His Wife*

’I don’t know why... but something feels off...’ Fredlin thought as sweat rolled down his neck.

"Dear? What’s wrong?" his wife asked, concerned.

"Ah... nothing. Let’s go back. It’s getting late."

"Right, our son is probably waiting for us."

They took the elevator up and walked to their room.

Fredlin used the keycard—

Beep.

The door unlocked.

The room was dark.

Only moonlight seeped through the curtains.

Fredlin frowned.

It should’ve been bright—after all, their son had been inside.

They stepped in.

And froze.

On the bed...

lay the body of their son.

Headless.

Covered in blood.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!"

His wife screamed, dropping to her knees.

Fredlin’s heart felt like it had turned to stone.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t think.

His mind shattered.

"Ah... so you’ve returned?"

A chilling, deep voice echoed behind them.

They slowly turned.

A man stood in front of the mirror.

Suit.

Long coat.

Hat.

Black mask.

Indigo.

"I’ve been waiting for both of you,"

he said calmly, his tone cold enough to freeze their blood.

His wife screamed again, but no one would hear.

The room was soundproof—

perfect for murder.

*Meanwhile — Hollow*

Hollow zipped up his jacket and put on his mask, fully prepared to assassinate Fredlin and his family.

"Alright... everything is set. Time to kill them."

He stepped out of the employee area.

The corridor was empty.

"Quiet... good."

He headed to Fredlin’s room.

Once he reached it, he swiped his admin card—

Beep.

The door unlocked.

The room was pitch black.

"What...? Why is it so quiet?"

He scanned the floor.

Blood.

A lot of it.

"Blood? What happened here...?"

He entered the room slowly.

His breath hitched.

In the center of the room...

sat a man dressed in a suit, coat, hat, and black mask.

He was perched casually atop two corpses.

Fredlin and his wife.

Their chests were torn open, blood soaking the bed and the carpet.

"Hm? Oh! You’re here! I’ve been waiting for you... Assassin—Hollow~"

The man’s voice was low, deep, and absolutely terrifying.

Hollow’s body froze.

He had never experienced fear before—

but now, his legs trembled.

"W-who... are you...?"

The air around the man felt heavy, suffocating, murderous.

Hollow could barely breathe.

"Me?"

The man tilted his head.

"Just call me Indigo."

’Indigo...? Isn’t that... the S-rank villain Korea has been desperately hunting?

Why... why is he here...?

And why... why am I shaking...?

Am I... afraid...?’

Indigo’s presence was overwhelming—

a monster in human form.

For the first time in his life,

Hollow felt true fear dripping down his spine.