One Who Will Burn the World.
A giant named Surtr—he had waited for Ragnarok even before the birth of the first giant, Ymir. His sole purpose: to engulf the entire world in flames.
A god who exists only to bring about destruction.
And now, someone we never even glimpsed in The Apocalypse Chronicles of Another World has possessed a human vessel.
Just how far ahead did Angrboda plan for this? It feels like we’re struggling on a perfectly constructed puzzle board, frantically trying to stay afloat.
The person who guided us to the parlor gave a polite nod and then quietly left the room. I dropped onto the sofa with a thud. My head was already starting to pound.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Far more Constellations are involved in this game of make-believe than I’d imagined.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Only Apollo would dare call Destruction a game of make-believe.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: And what else would you call this?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Throwing a tantrum to get what you want, demanding what pleases you—isn’t that exactly like playing house?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: My head hurts, so can you all be quiet?]
Once the footsteps outside disappeared, Lee Ji-hye spoke up cautiously.
“We should stay put and let Lee Myung-won and Baek Tae-beom investigate together. Someone has to remain here, right? That way, at the very least, we can say they went to the bathroom together or something.”
Lee Myung-won rubbed his chin thoughtfully at her suggestion, then turned toward me.
“Choi Ga-hyeon.”
“Yes?”
“You pulled off that infiltration successfully last time, didn’t you?”
“Would you really call that successful? I was completely exposed and ended up being chased in the end.”
I narrowed my eyes. I had been no better than a rabbit fleeing from a predator—in this case, that Hunter known as Red Apple. If Baek Tae-beom hadn’t been there, I might’ve ended up with a broken limb, or worse, dragged off somewhere.
But despite my protest, Lee Myung-won shook his head.
“I think it’s better if I stay here. It would look strange if the Association Vice President went missing. Which means you and Baek Tae-beom should go together.”
“Wouldn’t it look just as odd if Tae-beom’s not here?”
“True, but if I said we were sending you alone, Baek Tae-beom wouldn’t just sit still, would he?”
Baek Tae-beom nodded beside me as if it were only natural. Lee Myung-won continued.
“Besides, with your Constellation—‘Magician Who Seeks Knowledge’—on your side, we might be able to pinpoint any suspicious locations.”
So it’s come to this. Looks like I’m going to have to lean on the Constellations for help.
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Hey, everyone.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I need your help.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Aaah?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: What’s with that punk-ass attitude?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: You’re all “shut up” one second, and now you want to be useful?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: FYI, I never told you to shut up, okay?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You said to shut up and stay quiet.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I said I had a headache and needed quiet!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Same thing, isn’t it?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Are you seriously being childish right now?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: If you want my help, then say: ‘Oh Great One, I am but a newly born Constellation. May I dare ask you a question?’]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Ah.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: You still remember that, dlrotoRLdi (keyboard smash)]
My face flushed red with shame.
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Both of you, knock it off!]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Leave it to you two to start bickering like children again. Apollo, why are you always so petty?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Petty? Me?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I don’t recall ever being that way.]
[CH. Private / One Who Weaves Euphoria: So this is how you’ve been treating Ga-hyeon all this time…]
[CH. Private / One Who Weaves Euphoria: Honestly, it’s kind of exciting…
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Can someone please block this pervert from chatting?]
[CH. Private / Horseback Herald: I am speechless.]
[CH. Private / Horseback Herald: Are we to believe this is a conversation between dignified Constellations?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Once you get used to it. It’s fine. They’re all. Just idiots.]
That hit way too close to home.
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: So are you helping or not?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Help with what, exactly?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Try… sensing something suspicious.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Like a drug-sniffing dog or something.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: That comparison is outrageously offensive!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Haa…]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Looks like the great Apollo will have to handle this himself.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Brother, you’re especially insufferable today.]
“Got it.”
I nodded at Lee Myung-won’s words and stood up. Watching Baek Tae-beom rise after me, I slowly made my way toward the door. I carefully opened it, checking to ensure no one was outside before stepping out.
“Should I go ahead?”
“That’s probably best.”
As an S-Rank Hunter, Baek Tae-beom could easily pick up on any nearby presence. We just needed to decide on a direction to search.
If there really was a hidden research lab beneath Gongmyeong and it was connected to the guild, there would definitely be guards posted near the entrance. Even if it had been prepared in secret, they would’ve chosen a low-profile location in case of unexpected circumstances.
So where could there be an entrance hidden in plain sight, yet still out of view from prying eyes?
“This way, hyung.”
Baek Tae-beom gently placed his hand on my shoulder as he guided us forward. Just as we rounded the corner, two Hunters—likely security—passed by. Fortunately, they didn’t seem strong enough to have noticed our presence.
“There are too many rooms here, hyung. Do you really think we can find it?”
“Hold on.”
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: You don’t sense anything?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Hard to say…]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: …Underground?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Wow, what an incredibly helpful hint.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: It’s just… it’s not clearly marked, like something’s blocking it.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Apollo’s right, Ga-hyeon.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: There’s something there, but we can’t pinpoint the entrance.]
So it’s not something obvious like a stairway?
“We should try another corrid—”
“Shh.”
“Hey! Who’s there?!”
Damn it.
We must’ve stayed still too long. They’d noticed us. Baek Tae-beom grabbed my hand and immediately took off running. I barely managed to keep up, glancing back—one of Gongmyeong’s guild members was chasing us with terrifying speed.
‘He’s fast as hell…!’
My breath was catching in my throat. The guy behind us wasn’t an easy opponent. Did he have a speed-enhancing skill?
Baek Tae-beom wouldn’t tire, of course, but I was another story. Even with the blessings from the Constellations, I wouldn’t last in a long chase. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like they’d gotten a clear look at our faces.
Then, just as we rounded another corner, the <Constellation Communication Net> pinged in unison.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: It’s around here!]
[CH. Private / Horseback Herald: Isn’t it this spot?]
Here?
This was just a corridor lined with ordinary supply storage rooms. There wasn’t a single guard in sight—could there really be an entrance here?
I didn’t have the luxury to question it. I yanked Baek Tae-beom’s hand, and though I clearly wasn’t stronger than him, he followed my lead without resistance.
We ducked into the nearest supply closet and I took a deep breath.
‘Now what?’
There was no entrance visible. But the Constellations insisted it was here. And the pursuer was almost upon us. I could hear footsteps growing louder by the second.
‘Wait…’
They hadn’t seen our faces. And this floor was accessible to outsiders as well, not just guild members. Maybe we could play it off, say we got lost or took a wrong turn.
But if they recognized either me or Baek Tae-beom, it could spark a guild-to-guild conflict.
What if we just… threw them off?
Baek Tae-beom was already staring at the door, fists clenched, ready to pummel whoever walked in. But we couldn’t risk a violent confrontation, especially not here. If it came out that we assaulted someone from another guild, it would escalate fast.
Was there a way to make them just walk away?
What if we made it look like we were… doing something else?
‘Wait a sec.’
I suddenly yanked on Baek Tae-beom’s sleeve. He looked down at me, clearly startled.
“Hyung?”
“Lower your head.”
“What?”
“Turn your back to the door and lower your head.”
Baek Tae-beom awkwardly did as I said. I placed his hand on my waist, then pulled his neck toward me with my arm. He let out a flustered cry.
“Hyung? Hyung?!”
“Pretend you’re kissing me.”
“WHAT?!”
“If you hate it, just get your face close. That’s enough.”
I looked up at Baek Tae-beom, clearly visible even in the dark.
“They didn’t see our faces anyway. As long as we’re doing something, it might—mmph!”
A tongue slid between my lips.
A soft, warm pressure brushed against my lower lip, then glided and rubbed against it.
Fingers grazed along my ear as a hand cupped the side of my head.
Heat surged with every single point of contact.
Before I could even register what was happening, my eyes flew wide open.
I had no choice but to accept Baek Tae-beom’s kiss.
His teeth briefly tapped against mine, followed by the wet stroke of a tongue gliding along the roof of my mouth, making me flinch.
The storage room door began to open—but whoever it was froze at the wet, sticky sounds echoing through the air near my ear, then quietly shut the door again.
Even then, I couldn’t push Baek Tae-beom away.
His hand ran down my waist, his breath hot against my ear, getting heavier.
The heat around us spiked.
Within the spiraling, feverish sensation, the only thing I could clearly feel was his tongue swirling inside my mouth.
Ah.
The erratic pounding in my chest grew faster.
