Since that day, Yiseon has not left the house. Until now, he indeed has always gotten that cold feeling in Hyeon's eyes, but behind his polite and gentle tone, it was the first time he got goosebumps from his threatening words. It was so cold that it could freeze his breath.

Yiseon sensed an instinctive rejection each time he met that man. Rather than being scared, it was a strange feeling as if he was facing a predator from a completely different species, mixed with discomfort and displeasure. The longer Yiseon talked with Hyeon, the more entrapped and tormented he became.

Are all hunters like him?

Yiseon is an Awakener who worked outside the dungeon only, so he rarely met Hunters. He met them only for restoring Magic Stones they got from the dungeon. Well, sometimes some Hunters would greet Yiseon who's famous for his S-class ability, but not some meaningful conversations. So, now he is somewhat judging if all big Hunters act the way Hyeon Sa did.

A hunter who approached him while acting all friendly, but didn't care at all about what Yiseon wanted or said. Someone who didn't give a fu*k if he offended the other person or not.

But it doesn't seem fair to think that way. Hyeon Sa is indeed an overly strange hunter. That's how Yiseon's thoughts changed after searching about that person on the internet. He realizes that his thoughts are not much different from those of the general public. The netizens and even fellow hunters think the same.

Three days have passed since Yiseon decided not to leave the house for a week. Someone, God knows who, suddenly calls him.

"How have you been, Yiseon-ah?"

"Who...is this?"

"It's me Yeongjoon's uncle. It's been almost two years since the last time I saw you. I didn't even see you at the funeral... Yiseon-ah, you've changed your number since the Second Great Dungeon. But I'm seriously worried because I suddenly got a call from an unfamiliar number. It was someone unexpected who almost made me drop my phone.

Kang Yeongjoon. That is the name of one of Yiseon's friends who had a birthday six days ago.

The man across the phone says something, but it doesn't quite catch Yiseon's ear. The moment that person said the word funeral, his ears suddenly feels as if they are buzzing.

Fearing that they would be taken to the association and subjected to experiments, Yiseon could not reveal that his friends had actually turned into abnormal in the Second Great Dungeon. He could not do that. He was too scared. He lied to the public that all his friends were killed by the monsters in the dungeon. An extremely disgusting lie.

The seven friends, including Yiseon, who used to live under the same roof for seven years were kids who lost their parents in the 1st Great Dungeon. They had a few remaining relatives but the only person who, at least occasionally contacted them and asked how they were doing was Yeongjoon Kang's uncle.

Yiseon did not say anything. He didn't know what to say to someone who had lost his nephew.

"Do you have some time to spare, Yiseon-ah?"


*   *   *


Yiseon and Yeongjoon's uncle meet at a nearby cafe. It has been a long time since Yiseon visits this kind of place. When he goes inside, he glances around nervously at the interior of the cafe. The cafe at 5 p.m. is somewhat quiet due to the absence of customers who came after lunch, but even such a peaceful scenery is unfamiliar to Yiseon.

Taking a moment to look at the interior of the cafe, Yiseon quickly lowers his hat. People can't even see his face properly from the side since he also put his hood on.

"It's been a long time, Yiseon-ah."

"...Hello."

It's been about 1 year and 6 months. Yiseon bows his head to greet Yeongjoon's uncle. He keeps lowering his face even after that. Only after three times the man tells him that he wants to see his face after a long time does Yiseon finally raise his head.

Yeongjoon's uncle, carefully looking at Yiseon's dark face under the hat, smiles.

"You've gotten paler. Are you eating properly, Yiseon-ah?"

"...Ah, yes..."

"Are you sure? You've lost weight. And I heard you're not working as a Restorer anymore, what have you been up to?"

Yeongjoon's uncle has a rough personality, but Yiseon is used to his tone of speaking. He is like that because he used to have to watch over his nephew and friends since they graduated from high school. Although his financial support wasn't much, it was a blessing for Yiseon and his friends to have an adult to depend on despite they called him only twice a year since they were already 20 years old at that time. However, since the 2nd Great Dungeon, Yiseon had not contacted uncle Yeongjoon even once.

"How...how did you get my number? How did you know I'm still in Yongin...?"

"Eh, uh... I got it from Mr. Won. I couldn't reach you so I asked him for your number. How did you even stay in touch with Mr. Won but not tell me your number?"

Yiseon is taken aback. Yeongjoon's uncle does indeed know Mr. Won, but the two are not close. He lives far away from Yongin, he is sure they only know each other's names. But then again, since they lost contact, Yiseon thinks it is normal.

Yeongjoon's uncle continues to talk for more than an hour, apparently because he has a lot of things he wants to say. At first, he asks about how Yiseon is doing, then the story continues about his daughter going to university soon. Yiseon is silent most of the time. The man, fortunately, says nothing implicitly about Yeongjoon a year ago.

After more than two hours, the man glances at the text message on his phone. He stands up and says he needs to leave.

"Seems like I've taken too much time. I really want to have dinner with you, Yiseon-ah. But I'm sorry, I have a night shift today..."

"Oh, that's okay."

Yiseon, who had just said okay repeatedly, bows his head. The man looks at Yiseon with a troubled face for a moment, then pats his shoulder a few times.

"I'm sorry. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to contact you even though you're still a child."

"No...I'm not..."

His daughter will soon be twenty years old, while Yiseon is 24. In uncle Yeongjoon's eyes, Yiseon is still a kid.

Then the man excuses himself to go to the bathroom for a moment. Taking the opportunity, Yiseon leaves the cafe thinking that the long conversation is more than enough. Because since earlier, Yiseon noticed how Yeongjoon's uncle looked hesitant to end the conversation despite he has a night shift today. So Yiseon needs to leave first.

"Yiseon-ah!"

Just a few steps out of the cafe, someone calls out to him.

The cautious voice sounds familiar. When he turns around, Yiseon is surprised to find that Yeongjoon's aunt is also there.

As far as Yiseon knows, this woman never really like her husband supporting Yeongjoon and his six friends. She was dissatisfied with her not-so-rich husband who cared about his nephew and friends, despite he has his own daughter. She never showed it openly, as her demeanor is quite calm.

But that doesn't make Yiseon dislike her. It is understandable.

"It's been a long time, ma'am."

Yiseon bows his head in greeting. For some reason, Yeongjoon's aunt returns his greeting with a troubled face. Her expression is the same as the one her husband had shown a moment ago.

"I wasn't going to tell you...but it's been weighing on my mind. Uh, did my husband say anything weird to you?"

"...What do you mean? Oh, yes...I heard Yeseul is going to university soon. Congratulations."

"Ah, that..."

Aunt Yeongjoon's face remains nervous. She fixes her gaze on Yiseon several times until she finally lets out a heavy sigh.

"Someone called us several hours ago. They wanted us to call you."

"...Yes?"

"They told us to get you outside and ask about how are you doing... We thought they were your friend or something... And then...then they sent us a huge amount of money."

The old woman murmurs. She looks embarrassed and guilty, is pale and her mouth keeps pouring out words making excuses.

"We're sorry, Yiseon-ah... They deposited the money in under two hours. We thought hard about it... We were having trouble paying our daughter's college tuition and the loan we borrowed before. We couldn't say no..."

The buzz comes back to Yiseon's ears. He turns his body around and runs at that very moment.


* * *


Yiseon is panting out and runs with all his might. His throat is burning like it's being ripped apart.

The old woman's words echo in his ears. Yiseon has no grudge against the two people for keeping him up outside for two hours. He is mad, he is furious. But to the person who caused this situation. He wants to smash that person's head off.

Yiseon breathlessly runs down the darkened street. There's only one person who wants Yiseon out of the house...and only one person who has access to that much money.

"...No one left to live with you. Did you hide something in that house of yours?"

Yiseon is starting to lose strength. His legs almost limping to the ground, but he keeps running like crazy.

Overcome with panic, he climbs the stairs and finally grabs the door handle. His violently shaking hands lost control to pull the handle. It keeps slipping out, but then, the door opens on its own. Yiseon stares blankly inside.

Everything in front of him then happens in a weird slow motion.

The hallway of his house is dark without a shred of moonlight. The sound of a broken bulb is flickering in the sunken hallway. Its light is as faint as the breathing of the creatures in the house.

Under the light of the constantly flickering lamp, Yiseon pulls Hyeon by the collar.

"Why the fu*k are you here?"

Yiseon's voice trembles in anger. Hyeon smiles. The light from the bulb reflects on his face for a moment, then disappears again with a flicker.

"I'm here just wanted to say hello to your friends."

The night is back.

"But they don't seem to like talking."

And this darkness is trying to talk to Yiseon again.


DROPPED




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