Chapter 12
The flames, a brilliant mix of crimson and gold, were still vivid in his eyes.
It was the first time. A hunter had not demanded anything in return.
He had always thought that awakened ones were humans obsessed with the privilege of believing that civilians survived only thanks to the sacrifice and generosity of hunters.
If not that, then they were greedy people who used this as a way to gather money and power for themselves.
Even now, look at them. Ordinary people—children, no less—being captured and subjected to horrific acts.
All hunters were the same.
Disgusting, repulsive, despicable beasts.
So why…
“Catch it, kid!”
Why had that woman saved him and his younger sibling without expecting anything in return?
Why, exactly?
There must have been some benefit, right? Maybe a bonus from the association…
No, she wasn’t part of the association.
Nor did she seem to belong to the Black Dragon Guild. All the members of that raid team had the same tattoos on their arms.
Her arms were clean, without a single mark.
Then…
It all came full circle.
She had done something for no personal gain. A hunter had done it for civilians.
“No way.”
Kang Suho desperately denied it. He had to.
Otherwise, the foundation he had built all this time might collapse.
The truth of the world that had made his life like this was that hunters were selfish and disgusting. If that premise collapsed, what would become of his life?
If it was proven that not all hunters were corrupt…
Then why had he had to live such a miserable life?
His resentment toward the world swelled again, making him almost gag.
Yet still…
“…I want… to live.”
He shamelessly longed for life.
Pathetically.
He wished he had never known.
A small piece of kindness given to a person battered by loneliness and floundering in solitude was more desperate than a rope descending from the heavens and sweeter than the water of an oasis found in a desert.
“Save me.”
That thin wish crawled out from the tightly blocked nerves.
Even though nothing had been entrusted to him, he yearned for help.
At that moment, when he gritted his teeth…
Bang!
The stone ceiling outside the iron bars suddenly collapsed. A totem landed with it.
Crash!
Made of jewels and stone, it shattered into pieces on the cold floor.
“Ah! There are people below!”
And then… that voice.
“Ah, whatever! Kid, just catch it first!”
The clear, youthful voice, which until a moment ago had seemed like a mere hallucination, pierced through the commotion and into his ears.
A few hours earlier
A black shadow slipped past behind a scavenger guild member on an external patrol.
“Hm?”
Just as he turned his head at the sound of leaves crunching, something long jabbed his waist…
Zzt!
“Ugh…!”
Before he could react, a sharp electric current knocked him unconscious.
Saebyeok collected the fallen guild member’s weapons and accessories into her inventory. Then, she tightly bound his limbs with cords.
“I don’t know whether I should be afraid or impressed.”
Kim Ihan, who had been hiding in the shadows under her instructions, stepped forward and spoke.
“If you’re going to be afraid, you might want to wipe that smile off your face first.”
He grinned slyly at her words.
“I put the ‘insurance’ as you said.”
[Jin Seongcheol: You’re right. Showing black.]
[Jin Seongcheol: Secured. Cleared a 10 km radius.]
[Jin Seongcheol: Confirmed no one else is trying to enter.]
[Jin Seongcheol: Should I really contact the association too?]
He showed her the chat with Bugilma.
Saebyeok gave a brief nod and lowered herself into the bushes, moving silently.
Kim Ihan closely followed her as she approached the building from behind, his eyes sparkling, seemingly enjoying the dangerous situation.
“The only things I’ve seen so far are making a shining ball, distracting enemies using wind, and knocking someone out with an electric shock in one hit…”
He whispered, testing her reaction.
“Judging by this, she seems like a rogue or assassin type, so why buy a spear?”
He seemed to be enjoying deducing things on his own rather than expecting an answer.
“Really S-rank? All the skills shown so far are too trivial.”
It was as if he were asking if she was deliberately holding back or teasing her to show something more impressive.
“How long have you been awakened? Our S-ranks can’t ask anyone else, so you must have analyzed everything on your own.”
His keen observation revealed it wasn’t a skill developed overnight.
“But if she hasn’t registered yet, is it really because of today’s incident? Some personal revenge… perhaps?”
“Shh.”
Ignoring his words, Saebyeok focused on the building. As someone began to appear at the window, Kim Ihan covered his mouth.
She quietly observed the faces reflected in the window and clicked her tongue.
“I wasn’t mistaken earlier.”
“What?”
“The second-floor window.”
“The women who were captured earlier, and that loud scavenger guy.”
“Look at the woman’s face. Doesn’t it look familiar?”
“Hmm, maybe a celebrity?”
Saebyeok shook her head.
“Maybe you should stop loving only yourself and check the news about others too?”
“…?”
“It’s Lee Cheonghae. The daughter of Ipado from Donghae, Lee Cheonghae.”
“Oh.”
Only then did Kim Ihan realize and looked back at the window.
“And the man next to her is a wanted villain, Jo Cheolsu. C-rank hunter, combat type, one of the scavenger’s executives.”
“You know a lot. Truly a personal revenge…”
“Wait here.”
Saebyeok ignored his words and emerged from the bushes, quickly pressing herself against the building wall. The guards had already been taken care of, so nothing blocked her.
She jumped up, and a small breeze from the branches wrapped around her ankle, slowly lifting her upwards.
From behind came Kim Ihan’s sigh of awe, but Saebyeok ignored it and pressed close to the window.
Inside, with the lights on, she could observe without being seen.
Up close, it was certain: it was indeed Lee Cheonghae and Jo Cheolsu.
‘The first news in my previous life came on April Fool’s Day, so I naturally assumed the kidnapping had happened the day before, but that wasn’t it.’
Because something so big happened to someone so important, the association had controlled the media for days.
At that time, Saebyeok wasn’t yet affiliated with the association and didn’t know this behind-the-scenes.
So when the news eventually went public, Lee Cheonghae wasn’t returned because she was already in an irrecoverable state.
‘Good thing I came today.’
If she had been later, it would have been disastrous.
She overheard their conversation:
“The kid?”
“I-I immediately took her to the prayer room… we’ll ‘bless’ her and move her to the sacrificial chamber soon…”
Saebyeok frowned as she eavesdropped.
“This time, that old man should be pleased.”
“Oh, it’s a rare child, so the king should like it too…”
“By the way, she’s pretty…”
Saebyeok saw Jo Cheolsu licking Lee Cheonghae’s chin with a face full of desire, just as she raised a finger slightly.
Lee Cheonghae spat on his face.
“Don’t touch me, stinky bastard.”
Saebyeok paused at her fiery reaction.
True to Ipado’s daughter, she didn’t hide her temper.
“Damn it…! You still haven’t woken up, huh!”
Slap!
An angry Jo Cheolsu struck Lee Cheonghae’s cheek with the back of his hand.
Yet she didn’t collapse. She pressed her bound arms to the ground and glared at him with unwavering eyes.
“You better be prepared. If my father knows, it won’t end with just tearing off your limbs.”
“Ha! All the women brought here say the same thing. But what can I do? I’m still fine.”
Though her condition was terrible, her eyes still burned with disdain.
Annoyed, Jo Cheolsu reached for her.
“Crazy bitch, still staring at me? I’ll make sure you learn your place!”
“No! The king wants a ‘clean’ sacrifice… ugh!”
“Shut up. That old man wouldn’t even notice if we cleaned her before taking her!”
The magician trying to stop him was knocked out with one punch.
At that moment, as his brutal hand reached for Lee Cheonghae’s hair…
Click.
Suddenly, the window latch released.
Creak.
The rusted hinge slowly opened, and everyone paused temporarily.
“What?”
Jo Cheolsu turned his head.
Hot-headed as he was, he didn’t notice the plant stem sliding up the wooden frame to lift the lock.
“Damn, this building’s all rotten.”
Frowning, he strode toward the window.
As he reached to close it…
“Ugh!”
A thick plant vine wrapped around his wrist and pulled him instantly outside.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
The monstrous root bound his body tightly before he could react.
The magician turned pale seeing Jo Cheolsu dangling silently outside.
“Wha… monster… intruder…!”
He couldn’t even think to flee, trembling violently before collapsing backward, frothing at the mouth.
Zzt!
A small bolt of lightning struck him as he fell, knocking him unconscious.
“What the….”
Lee Cheonghae glanced between Jo Cheolsu and the fallen magician in confusion, when a dark silhouette slipped through the window.
“Eep…!”
“Shh!”
Instinctive scream stopped by a soft hand.
The hood that had concealed the intruder’s face slid away, revealing long hair and striking features.
Too beautiful for a secret intruder, Lee Cheonghae found herself momentarily stunned.
“You must be Lee Cheonghae?”
She nodded in a daze.
A gentle smile curved the woman’s lips.
“I came to rescue you, Princess of Donghae.”
