Chapter 30
“I’ve come to arrest the monster that’s bewitching innocent citizens.”
‘Monster?’
At the ice-cold voice, Eunseong raised his head to look straight ahead. Beep- beep- The sound of Curry crying above his head sounded exactly like a warning alarm.
The area around the fountain in front of the main gate was strangely hazy. The glass goddess statue was distorted by the thick haze rising up, casting an eerie light.
Eunseong realized it was due to the heat that Baek Sangyeon was radiating. Despite being nearly sixty, he wore strength like armor all over his body. Behind the man whose eyes glowed yellow, over ten hunters dressed in identical combat uniforms stood firm like a personal guard.
“……He seems incredibly angry.”
Eunseong whispered, grabbing Mujin’s sleeve. Without showing any sign of surprise or cowering at Baek Sangyeon’s intimidating presence, Mujin simply stared down at Eunseong’s hand that held onto him.
Baek Sangyeon swung his right hand as if striking down from above.
Crack! A flame whip extended from Baek Sangyeon’s hand, striking the ground with a harsh noise, and the Huiseon Guild members drew their weapons in unison as if on cue.
Eunseong, who had been holding Mujin’s sleeve, was now gripping his forearm.
“An unidentified monster from a rift is threatening citizen safety! In accordance with our duty as hunters, we order immediate capture!”
“Hunter Baek Mujin, follow orders immediately and hand over the capture target to the guild!”
Though hunter society operated on the logic of power, because guild leader Baek Sangyeon was Baek Mujin’s father, the hunters boldly raised their voices and intimidated the two. They felt their position was above Baek Mujin’s as long as Baek Sangyeon backed them.
Moreover, there was a monster right in front of them pretending to be someone dead. Which side was right was obvious even with one eye closed. In their eyes, Eunseong was nothing more than a beautiful monster that bewitched people. Baek Sangyeon was a pitiful father facing the crisis of losing his son.
Those who exchanged glances widened their formation and surrounded the building entrance. Lee Haesu had already fled inside the building. Eunseong briefly glanced toward the interior, then turned his head back to Baek Sangyeon.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding, I’m-“
Eunseong, who was trying to give an innocent explanation, couldn’t even finish his words. Bang! He hiccupped in surprise as the glass goddess statue shattered and melted with the sound. Mujin’s eyes flashed as he hurled down a fireball first, as if no answer was needed.
The elegant glass goddess statue and the fountain made of golden mosaic tiles were destroyed. The fireball moved like a living creature, devouring and melting even the fragments scattered by the explosion.
The center of the Huiseon Guild building’s rotary was gouged out, creating a red magma pit like a volcano. Several people burned by flames from an ability user beyond mythical grade screamed in agony and collapsed, disrupting their formation.
Eunseong glanced again toward Lee Haesu who had fled, but he showed not the slightest intention of running out to heal them in this chaos.
“Are you attacking family members who tried to protect the monster?”
“Hunter Baek Mujin has abandoned a hunter’s basic duty!”
As if the chattering noise was annoying, Mujin tilted his head and pinched his earlobe. Without taking his eyes off Baek Sangyeon standing tall, he slowly stepped forward.
“Why? Did you think I wouldn’t be able to respond here? A house I’ve destroyed once, would twice be difficult? It’s not even my home anymore……”
Anger dripped from Mujin’s voice. He moved his hand to grasp Eunseong’s hand that was clutching his forearm, and ignited flames in his other hand.
“What do I care, father.”
Eunseong was more shocked than Baek Sangyeon, who faced Mujin without any change in expression.
No, he’s going to use his power like this here? With so many people around?
Even though the Huiseon Guild building was large and had a closed structure, beyond the boundary was a busy downtown area where many people lived. The noise of passing people and dense traffic reached Eunseong’s ears clearly.
“Hunter Baek Mujin…… Mujin……”
When Eunseong pulled on the hand he was holding to stop Mujin, Mujin’s gaze briefly returned to Eunseong. Taking advantage of that gap, Baek Sangyeon opened his mouth.
“Though you’re my child, seeing you bewitched makes me too ashamed to lift my head. Now then, why don’t you tell me. Prove it. Prove that you’re really Yoo Eunseong.”
“……”
“How convenient to say you have no memory. If you’re really a changgui, it would be perfect for hiding your identity, and if you’re really Yoo Eunseong, it would be easy to escape from all your responsibilities and past mistakes.”
“All his responsibilities, mistakes? What wrongs and responsibilities could Eunseong possibly have? Say something that makes sense!”
Mujin shouted with an agitated expression.
The heat rising from his body made Eunseong’s silver hair flutter. In the fierce hot wind, Eunseong had no choice but to cover his face and step back. The updraft Mujin created formed a small typhoon.
“Mujin, my son accomplished everything without you! Why appear now to disturb things again!”
Eunseong trembled at the hatred directed at him. Whether from the heat filling all directions, his head sizzled and unknown scenes flashed before his eyes.
“Of course, that only applies if you’re real.”
It was when Baek Sangyeon’s voice became eerily low. Engine sounds echoed from the sky above. A white helicopter was passing at low altitude below the gray clouds.
When Eunseong looked at it, a sinister smile crossed Baek Sangyeon’s lips.
An ominous premonition.
Before Eunseong could even react, a fireball shot out from Baek Sangyeon. The fireball that grazed the ground and soared up instantly cut through the sky and struck the spinning propeller.
Boom-!
An explosion erupted from one side of the helicopter. Flames burst forth, the aircraft swayed greatly and tilted to the side. Soon after, trailing black smoke, it spun round and round as it crashed.
Eunseong couldn’t even scream. Frozen in place, he stared with wide eyes at the empty sky where the helicopter had disappeared.
Baek Sangyeon leisurely extended his hand.
“Now, it’s time to reveal your true form.”
“Father!”
Mujin’s cracked voice reached his ears, but Eunseong’s consciousness was growing distant.
His ears became muffled.
Eunseong furrowed his brow. It felt like sinking into deep water.
From some point, all sounds in the world stopped, and only Curry’s crying echoed in his ears like tinnitus. His vision turned pitch black.
Crack- The air around Eunseong distorted as if tearing, and the concrete floor split outward with him at the center. Light spread like a net over his skin, and Eunseong’s hair shimmered and swayed in the heat.
“Eunseong, no-! If you use your power!”
Mujin reached out, but it was already too late. Only one thing remained in Eunseong’s mind now.
Crack! With an earth-shaking rupture sound, Eunseong moved. He kicked off the ground and charged toward Baek Sangyeon. With clenched fists, he threw his body forward without skill.
“……!”
The punch thrown with a soundless roar flew right up to Baek Sangyeon’s chin. But he was a seasoned hunter hardened by battle. Without blinking an eye, he swung his hand to counter.
Red flames stretched from his fingertips like a whip. The flame whip blazing with intense heat swept forward and wrapped around Eunseong’s forearm. The first strike was nullified by Seorin. Baek Sangyeon twisted his lips viciously and pressed forward as if to kill Eunseong.
Crack! Skin split and blood splattered. The whip that coiled around his arm like a living snake and burrowed in burned his flesh black.
However, Eunseong neither screamed nor retreated. Ignoring the pain, he didn’t break his charging momentum. He rammed his head into Baek Sangyeon’s chest and bared his teeth to bite. Whoosh! Angry flames erupted from Eunseong’s entire body.
“Ha, this…… crazy monster!”
Baek Sangyeon pushed Eunseong away and exploded with his own power. The bright red flame whip lashed out once more. This time it slashed across Eunseong’s side like a blade. Blood splattered and clothes tore.
“Stop it!”
Mujin shouted and simultaneously leaped between Eunseong and Baek Sangyeon. He caught the incoming flame whip with his bare hands as if snatching it and wrapped it around his own wrist. Without blinking once in the scorching heat, he spoke as if spitting out the words.
“Even though you’re my father……”
Mujin pulled the struggling Eunseong into his arms with one arm. On the blackened floor burned by fire, he quietly continued.
“I’ve been hesitating uncharacteristically all this time.”
A blade-like gaze pierced through Baek Sangyeon.
“Now I understand. That you’re truly someone who must be ended.”
Heat leaked through Mujin’s gritted teeth. Refined anger began to swell his energy as he commanded it.
“If you wish to continue, I too will respond as my father taught me.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
