Chapter 80

Awakener Association, Jeju Island Branch.

Grade 2 agent Oh Jeong-hun said, looking at the monitor.

“Where’s Jung Hye-in? Did you get a signal?”

Kang Min-jeong, a Grade 4 agent next to him, shook her head.

“No. She’s not responding to my signals. You don’t think something happened, do you?”

“Well, this isn’t the first or second time. She’ll be back soon.”

Stretching, Oh Jeong-hun let out a deep sigh.

“Ugh. We’re finally leaving.”

“It was a hellish three months. Really, it was hellish.”

“Don’t you remember? You were so happy, saying you’d make Grade 3 if you just closed your eyes and endured three months here.”

“I want to kill my past self.”

Oh Jeong-hun, who had been smirking, suddenly looked at Kang Min-jeong.

“By the way, what are you writing so diligently?”

Kang Min-jeong, who had been scribbling something on a piece of paper, looked up.

“They give us a month-long vacation after we get back from Jeju Island. I’m planning to travel to Europe. Seonbae, I heard you’re leaving this time too.”

“Yeah. I’m just going to hole up at home. People, Monsters, Demons. I’m sick of it all.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door burst open.

A man with graying hair entered.

It was the Branch Director of the Jeju Island Branch, Grade 1 agent Jeong Gi-hwan.

“Traveling abroad is fine and all, but aren’t you guys getting a little too carried away? The handover isn’t even finished yet. Get your heads in the game.”

“Yes, yes. We’ll get them in the game. Right in the game!”

Oh Jeong-hun, who had snapped to attention and saluted, asked.

“Anyway, they left last night, so shouldn’t they be arriving soon?”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t even heard who’s coming.”

“Don’t even get me started. The lineup is pretty spectacular.”

Branch Director Jeong Gi-hwan slapped a paper with a list on the table.

Not just Oh Jeong-hun and Kang Min-jeong, but even those who had just been watching from the side swarmed over.

“So Seong Yo-han is coming as the Branch Director. Under him are Im Han-na, Hong Gyeong-pyo, Kim Yoo-seong… How many Squad Leader-level people is that already?”

“Is it okay for this many to come? What about the Mainland.”

“Well, Jung Hye-in is going back, and the Association President is staying there for the time being. And you all know the situation on Jeju Island isn’t good right now.”

Clicking his tongue as he scanned the list, Oh Jeong-hun suddenly tilted his head.

“…This Choi Gi-woong guy is coming here too.”

“Seonbae, you know Choi Gi-woong? Weren’t you the type to close your eyes and ears to news from the outside world?”

“Someone forcibly pried open my closed ears and shut eyes.”

Startled, Kang Min-jeong cleared her throat.

“Anyway, Branch Director. Why is this Choi Gi-woong person coming here? Don’t tell me he got on the Association President’s bad side?”

Jeong Gi-hwan snorted as if to say, ‘not a chance.’

“Bad side, my ass. I just got a call from him.”

“From who.”

“The Association President.”

Jeong Gi-hwan continued with a dubious look on his face.

“He asked me to take good care of Choi Gi-woong. Told me to handle the handover well.”

People’s eyes widened.

“A request? From the Association President?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was surprised too. The Association President isn’t the type to say things like that.”

Oh Jeong-hun spoke with a strange expression.

“Could they be dating…”

Smack!

Jeong Gi-hwan, who had smacked the back of Oh Jeong-hun’s head, licked his lips and muttered.

“I don’t know for sure, but it seems he’s a bigger topic of conversation outside than we thought. Choi Gi-woong.”

“The kids who came with him are in for a tough time. They’ll have to coddle him and make sure he doesn’t do any hard work.”

“Hey, there’s a thorn in your words.”

Oh Jeong-hun, rubbing the back of his head, answered without emotion.

“I heard he was causing a stir even before coming here. I don’t really like it when a former Association agent gets that much media attention.”

“Well, look at you. Are you jealous?”

“Jealous of what. If he likes the attention so much, he should have gone to a private company and filmed commercials. Why did he even join the Association?”

“Hey, you punk…”

“It’s the same this time. It’s obvious. Since Jeju Island is a hot topic these days, it’s the ‘I’ll go and check it out myself’ type of thing.”

Oh Jeong-hun pointed to a photo placed on one side.

It was a group photo taken three months ago when they first arrived on Jeju Island, with a promise that they would all survive.

He casually pointed to one of the smiling men in it.

“Some people risk their lives and die without anyone knowing, while someone else gets to have a nice life, come here for a little vacation, and then go back to the Mainland to be hailed as a hero.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Jump to conclusions? Don’t you remember two years ago when we requested support from headquarters because we had no people?”

“……”

“That Seong Yo-han came here telling the media he would save Jeju Island, but he didn’t do any work and just spent three months training before going back. The more I think about it, the more pissed I get.”

Clicking his tongue, Oh Jeong-hun stood up.

“Hey, you punk! Where are you going!”

“A distinguished guest is coming, shouldn’t I go escort them!”

Grabbing his coat, Oh Jeong-hun flung the door open and left.

Kang Min-jeong, who had been watching cautiously, followed him.

Jeong Gi-hwan shouted.

“Hey! You have to watch him carefully so he doesn’t cause any trouble!”

Kuuung-! Kung!

The ground is vibrating.

They are marching over the seething earth.

Countless, powerful Monsters.

It’s a dream.

Not a lucid dream from my past life. Just something akin to a nightmare.

It must be because the scene Azadun showed me was so intense.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had a dream like this.

Ever since that day, it has appeared from time to time, disturbing my mind before disappearing.

But today, it’s a little different from the usual nightmare.

Kuuung-! Kung!

The place they were pushing up from was a city.

A sign that read Seoul Station was shattered into pieces.

Kyaaaaaak!

Civilians screamed and fled.

“A Gate has burst! At least S-Rank or higher! Request backup! Hurry and run… What are you doing! Why are you just standing there!”

“Th-this isn’t a problem you can solve by running away…”

One of the agents stares ahead with a hollow face.

A familiar face. It was the Grade 5 agent who had smiled, thanking me for casting Buff Magic on him.

The next moment, a Xiphos shattered the agent’s head.

The scene changed.

The Ilseong headquarters building collapses. Executive Director Bae Hyeon-jo steps forward.

Hundreds of Monsters die at his hands. But behind them, thousands, tens of thousands of Monsters and Demons swarm him.

Like a man engulfed by a tidal wave, he was helplessly crushed to death.

This time, Yeo Ju-kyung stepped forward.

Perhaps an SS-Rank absolute being would be different.

But on the enemy’s side, there are seven more powerhouses on par with Yeo Ju-kyung.

Crack-

I saw a scene I never wanted to see.

Yeo Ju-kyung’s neck was twisted as she fought against seven unidentified Demons.

Naturally, my eyes met Yeo Ju-kyung’s.

I lifted my head.

Saint Ajadun was looking at me.

“Choose. What will you do?”

“What do you mean?”

Azadun doesn’t answer and just stares at me.

I think I know what he’s saying.

He’s asking why I don’t dream of Ian’s Dream.

Well, I’ve obtained the Northern Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship, I’ve gotten an Item, and I’ve even received a set of S-Rank Elixirs.

“I don’t know for sure, but I can become an S-Rank within a fortnight. I might even find a way to reach the realm above that. Without Ian’s help.”

At my excuse-like words, Azadun just smiled and watched me.

“Then at least teach me. Does Ian escape his terminal illness? Tell me the reason Ian died.”

No answer. The world is shaking.

Drrrrr-

Ah.

Right. This is a dream. Just a dream.

Yeo Ju-kyung’s death, the world’s destruction, it’s all just a dream.

Hwaak-!

I opened my eyes.

But the world was still shaking.

No way, I thought, as I shot up.

A bed, a refrigerator, a luxurious-looking table, a floor-to-ceiling window….

This was the first-class cabin on the passenger ship prepared for me.

Only then did the memories come flooding back.

They had told me to get some sleep since it would take over 10 hours to arrive.

And it was only because my senses were so developed that I felt a vibration that a Civilian wouldn’t even notice.

I threw the window wide open.

Beyond the full-length window, I could see the sea. Above it, sunlight was faintly beginning to shine.

And far in the distance, an island was visible.

The Demon Realm Forest, Hell Island, a living, breathing Gate, a place even called K-Demonscape overseas.

It was Jeju Island.

Pwoooooo-!

Just then, the ship’s horn sounded.

When I went out on deck, the fresh air pierced my lungs.

I felt the nightmare that had filled my head slowly disappearing.

“You look cheerful.”

Im Han-na, who had approached from the side, looked at the approaching Jeju Island with a rotten expression.

“Every time I come here, I feel like I’m suffocating.”

I guess I was mistaken to think the air was fresh.

Well, that makes sense, as the Demonic Energy is getting thicker.

That meant the concentration of Mana that Awakeners needed to use was gradually decreasing.

On the other hand, for me, who can actively handle Demonic Energy, there’s no difference between here and the outside.

“How many times have you been here?”

“Twice. This will be the third.”

“Thank you for coming with me.”

Both Hong Gyeong-pyo and Im Han-na.

They were people who didn’t originally need to come.

But as soon as they heard I was going, they had rushed to volunteer.

“Don’t mention it. If you’re going to make me stronger, I have to endure this much. And that guy, Hong Gyeong-pyo…”

Im Han-na looked at Hong Gyeong-pyo, who was staring at Jeju Island from one side of the deck.

“He was actually dying to come.”

“Is that so?”

“Head of department Kim absolutely wouldn’t allow it, so he barely managed to come on the pretext of being Choi Gi-woong’s executive assistant. He should be the one thanking you.”

No wonder Hong Gyeong-pyo’s expression was stiffer than usual; there must be a story behind it.

While we were talking about this and that, Jeju Port drew closer.

From a distance, it looked something like a city, but up close, it was definitely different.

The rubble of broken buildings, with vines tangled haphazardly over them.

The entire city looked like a ruin.

It’s definitely my first time on Jeju Island, but it feels familiar.

Maybe it’s because I wandered around the Demon Realm Forest so much in Ian’s body.

Just before getting off the ship, Im Han-na pointed at me.

“You lead the way.”

“Me?”

“Seong Yo-han arrives tomorrow, so until then, Choi Gi-woong, you’re our leader.”

To be a leader, my rank is lower than the Grade 1 Im Han-na, and I lack experience, don’t I?

“Hurry up. People are watching.”

When I looked around, the 35 agents, each with their own luggage, were staring intently at me.

With gazes mixed with expectation and support.

My neck feels stiff.

My only purpose in coming here was for Han Seung-hoon, but it feels like I have to take responsibility for these people’s lives.

The only people I can look after are the trio and a few others.

“I can’t do something like that…”

“Hurry.”

Unable to resist Im Han-na’s force, I was the first to disembark.

Like ducklings following their mother, people followed in a line…

Damn it. What am I thinking. Just think about Han Seung-hoon. Only Han Seung-hoon.

The two people who came to meet us were named Oh Jeong-hun and Kang Min-jeong.

Oh Jeong-hun acknowledged Im Han-na.

“Im Seonbae. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah. Good to see you. Congratulations on your escape.”

“I’ll be back in three months anyway.”

“You like it here?”

“Dealing with monsters suits me better than dealing with people.”

Oh Jeong-hun was about to continue speaking.

“Explain it to this person.”

“Who?”

“Who else. Choi Gi-woong. He’s our leader until tomorrow.”

Oh Jeong-hun looks at me with a surprised expression.

A pretty shocked face.

I asked at the right moment.

“Do you happen to know Head of department Han Seung-hoon?”

He looked like he was hearing the name for the first time.

“Who?”

“Head of department Han Seung-hoon. He was in Business Support Division 2.”

After thinking for a moment, Oh Jeong-hun tilted his head and said.

“Didn’t that person leave the Association?”

“Yes. I was just wondering if you knew him.”

“I don’t.”

As expected, he doesn’t know.

Anyway, this guy told me to come all the way to Jeju Island, so where the hell is he?

I’ve been trying to call him diligently since yesterday, but the signal won’t go through.

But the answer to that came from Kang Min-jeong, who had been furtively glancing at me for a while.

“The cell phones are dead here. A while ago, some Demons cut all the communication lines. The technicians say it’ll take at least a month to fix.”

“Is there no other way to communicate?”

“We’re managing with communication devices hastily made from Mana Stones. Even those get cut off often, though.”

That means I have to find Han Seung-hoon myself.

It’s frustrating.

Let’s not be impatient.

Whatever happens, it means I have to stay put here for three months.

I’ll meet him within that time.

“Then let’s depart…”

Oh Jeong-hun stopped mid-sentence, his head frozen.

He was holding an Item that looked like a cell phone.

So that’s the communication device made of Mana Stones that Kang Min-jeong mentioned.

Beep-beep- Beep-beep-

A signal urgently blared from the Item. Like Morse code.

Soon, Oh Jeong-hun’s face turned deathly pale.

“What’s wrong, Seonbae?”

“Jung Hye-in.”

“?”

“She sent a distress signal.”