It's a clear day.

Yiseon just woke up past noon. He used to not be like this, he had trouble sleeping quite often. But since that day, he gets sleepy easily and sleeps a lot. He becomes like this for the sake of escapism, running away from reality. But although he had slept for 12 hours, Yiseon's face looks weary.

As usual, he leaves his room to check the curtain on the veranda. This curtain is thick and dark, tightly covering the windows so that outsiders are unable to peek inside. But the creatures that roam the house sometimes bump into the windows, so Yiseon has to constantly check. Just in case a part of the curtain is pulled or damaged. 

Yiseon walks into the kitchen.

"Did everyone sleep well?"

He asks a question no one answers back. Then, his steps stopped. The cake is on the floor. Maybe one of them accidentally bumped into the table and dropped it.

A cake that no one has yet to eat. Yiseon hasn't eaten it either, but there is no remorse in his eyes as he stares at the cake crumbling on the floor. Only deep mixed emotions. With a short sigh, he bends down and starts cleaning up the mess. The floor is slippery with cream.

"Hey, you guys ain't kids anymore. Why drop it?"

No one answers the teasing. But well, Yiseon is used to talking to himself.

After cleaning the kitchen floor, Yiseon re-microwaves last night's leftovers. The reheated instant food tastes bland, but Yiseon still eats it anyway. Albeit after only a few bites, he throws the rest into the trash can.

Yiseon turns around with a blank face. A face where all emotions merged and no longer can be distinguished.

"Gather around everyone. I bought another potion yesterday, but I think this one only has little effect."

Yiseon sits on the sofa in the living room. The creatures that had been roaming around his house only respond with growls and gather near him. Yiseon grabs the arm of the closest one and seats him next to him. This creature is cold and hard like an old tree.

These six people do have a human appearance, but they are so foreign that it is not fit to call them 'human'. A hazy gaze, a bloodless pale body. Still, they are Yiseon's friends, wandering all around this place, and occasionally making grotesque, hollow sounds. The ones who lived with Yiseon until a year ago.

They were dead, but Yiseon revived them.

Everything happened during the Second Great Dungeon. It wasn't actually an S-class dungeon, but people still called that because of its powerful impact. It was the first linked dungeon that took place in Korea. A B-class dungeon suddenly opened right after the C-class dungeon was cleared.

Yiseon and his friends were sucked into the dungeon along with everyone else. They all died, but Yiseon―the only survivor in the Second Great Dungeon. However, Yiseon who could not accept the reality, went crazy and tried his restoration ability on living beings for the first time.

His friends who were lying on the dungeon floor, revived, but no longer as humans. They could no longer use their brains to think. Their bodies were as pale as the dead. They were like zombies.

Yiseon made countless attempts to return them to their human state. Over and over again never succeed. Until finally, he came to the point where he no longer wished for it. Now, he just wants his friends to close their eyes in peace. But why is it so hard for Yiseon to do that? Isn't all he needed to do is kill?

Yiseon, an S-class Restorer, has one taboo. He will not be able to cause harm to living beings of the same species. Seeing his current friends' state who looks more like zombies than humans, Yiseon once wondered if he could hurt them. Sadly, no. He couldn't even kill them with a knife. It's tragic.

So the only thing Yiseon can do is get potions. Until now, he had tried almost each abnormal status recovery potion available on the market, but none of them ever worked. Whereas Yiseon knew all along, potions were usually used to cure abnormal status on Hunters who had been attacked or cursed by monsters in the dungeon.

"I got this abnormal recovery potion from the Paradise Guild. You have no idea how expensive it is."

Paradise Guild is the 3rd largest guild in Korea. Large guilds like them operate like any other company. They employ many Healers to concoct potions and sell them. Potion mixes usually consist of advanced magic crystals harvested from high-class dungeons.

These potions are very expensive. Yiseon needs to earn little by little for the money. Had he still worked as a normal Restorer, it would be easy money. But Yiseon cannot show his face to the public. Because they'll find out his hidden undead friends.

Yiseon grabs his friend's arm and gives him an injection.

"How does it feel?"

"...Uh... urgh..."

"You said uh-huh, but why won't it work?"

Asks Yiseon tiredly. He throws the potion onto the sofa. It's useless. Yiseon knows that. All the potions sold in the market would not be effective to kill his friends. Did he take the wrong path? Maybe. But Yiseon can't give up out of one shallow belief.

"...HN Guild is famous for their potions too..." Yiseon mutters, presses his forehead hard, and leans back on the sofa.

Indeed, all major guilds are capable of concocting quality potions, but among them, potions made by the HN Guild under Vice President Yoonkang Sa, there is a very famous type. Unfortunately, those potions are not sold openly in the market. They are so rare that they only appear once or twice a month at an auction house.
 
On the internet, Yoonkang Sa's reputation is actually not that good. There are even rumors that this special rare potion he concocted is a strategy to boost his position in the public eye. To replace Hyeon Sa's fame. Since long ago, the two of them have been known to elbow each other over the position of president of the HN Guild. And people love the drama between those half-brothers so much.

"Maybe..."

Yiseon suddenly remembers Hyeon's business card he received last night. He frantically searches for it but can't find it. Well, it's just a rumor anyway. The potions may not be effective. It's better to continue working as a small-time Restorer than to join the HN Guild and get their yet-to-be-proven potions.

So, Yiseon takes out his phone and calls Mr. Won.

"Hello, Mr. Won? It's me... That city district office restoration you mentioned? I'll do it."




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