I tossed Baek Tae-beom onto his bed and let out a sigh. He was still babbling nonsense, grumbling sleepily. From experience, the status abnormality would last at least half a day, so I decided to shower without asking for permission.
After washing up, I changed into Baek Tae-beom’s clothes, which I was now quite used to. When I stepped out, he was lying precariously on the edge of the bed, as if he might fall off at any moment. His disheveled white hair swayed gently, and his exposed forehead was smooth and clean. I tapped lightly on it with my fingertips, prompting a dramatic whimper.
“Hyung… my head’s pounding.”
“Yeah, I bet it is. Lie down properly.”
I bent over his head and pulled his arm. The muscles beneath his clothes were clearly defined under my grip. Baek Tae-beom opened his eyes halfway, gazing up at me like he was tipsy. His Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.
“Why do you help me, Hyung?”
To stop the end of the world. But I couldn’t say that outright.
“Like I said earlier—”
“Not like that.”
Baek Tae-beom grabbed my forearm. That same powerful grip I’d felt in the taxi.
[Your contractor is feeling anxious.]
“No one’s ever helped me like this before.”
Something caught in my throat. Breathing suddenly became difficult. Baek Tae-beom’s voice trembled, and the shadow beneath his eyes looked awkward. His face, looking up at me, felt unfamiliar.
In that moment, something felt off.
A strange dissonance—like discovering your toys had been moving on their own while you were asleep. The eerie feeling that, when your eyes are closed, your furniture is alive, dolls are dancing, and they’re all whispering stories about you. That uneasy realization that the printed words on a page have taken on life and are now breathing.
Baek Tae-beom had his eyes wide open, breathing, talking to me—about the story I’d altered.
No… can I even say I altered it?
Can this even still be called a story?
Baek Tae-beom’s golden eyes were beautiful.
“Hyung, you always have that look like you’re about to disappear somewhere alone. Like…”
His hand slowly slipped down.
“Like I mean nothing.”
[Constellation, ‘One Who Knows of Destruction,’ is synchronizing with the Holy Vessel.]
I looked down at his fluttering eyelids, pulled the blanket over him, and let out another sigh. What a cute way to throw a tantrum before sleeping. If he wants attention, he should just ask for it. Every time he ends up in one of these status conditions, he gets unusually honest. Why is that?
By the time Baek Tae-beom woke up, it would be evening. I headed to the kitchen to cook. He’d overexerted himself, so I figured something light would be best—so I made a simple porridge. After nagging him enough, the fridge was finally stocked, and that gave me a strange sense of pride. Wanting him to recover his strength, I hummed while dumping sugar into the porridge.
That’s when my phone buzzed.
“Hm?”
[☆Lee Myung-won☆: Ga-hyeon-ssi]
[☆Lee Myung-won☆: Are you busy?]
It was rare for him to message me directly. I replied, thinking how unusual that was.
[Me: Not really?]
[Me: What’s up?]
[☆Lee Myung-won☆: There’s suspicious movement in a dungeon.]
[☆Lee Myung-won☆: We’ve been ordered from above to gather as many Awakened as possible.]
[☆Lee Myung-won☆: Can you come with Baek Tae-beom-ssi?]
Suspicious movement, huh. I glanced at the room where Baek Tae-beom was sleeping and replied.
[Me: I don’t think Tae-beom can make it.]
[Me: I’ll go alone.]
[Me: Send me the location.]
He probably wouldn’t wake up until evening anyway, so it should be fine to leave him alone. Thinking that, I threw on an outer layer.
***
The place I arrived at was near a subway station entrance. Usually packed with people, the area was now nearly deserted—seemingly under control. Danger zone signs had been set up, and people in suits or clean, professional outfits were gathered around.
Among them, Lee Myung-won spotted me and walked over.
“Choi Ga-hyeon-ssi, this way.”
“There’s a lot of people.”
“We called in as many reinforcements as we could.”
With that, Lee Myung-won led me into the group. Some of them looked strong, while others seemed weaker than Baek Tae-beom. I could feel the difference instinctively.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Yo.]
[CH. Private/One Who Knows of Destruction: What now?]
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: That one.]
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Be careful.]
That one?
In that instant, a shadow swept over me.
I had to crane my neck nearly twice as much as usual to look up at the man. Jet-black hair braided long, pitch-dark eyes, bloodless lips, and bold, defined features. What caught my eye next was his prominent Adam’s apple and his solid, powerful build.
He was even taller than Baek Tae-beom—easily over two meters. With pallid eyes, he looked down at me in complete stillness. When our gazes met, the corners of his eyes twitched ever so slightly.
He looked just like a grim reaper.
At least, until I realized who he was.
No way… Oh Kwon-hyuk?
I stared up at him in disbelief. What was someone like him doing here—a man destined to establish Goblin, the second-ranked guild, just behind Hansung?
But even more shocking were the two men who followed behind him.
Their faces twisted in surprise when they saw me.
“Th-That bastard…!”
It was Yoo Jin-woo and Kim Yong-tae—the ones who had tried to stab Baek Tae-beom and me in the back.
What the hell are they doing here?
Yoo Jin-woo acknowledged me with a loud voice, prompting Lee Myung-won to ask with a puzzled tone.
“You know each other?”
“…I do, but I wouldn’t say we’re on good terms.”
But they weren’t the problem right now.
The real problem stood right in front of me.
‘Info.’
[Displaying target’s information.]
[Oh Kwon-hyuk Who Devoured the Darkness]
[Title: One Who Devoured the Darkness]
[Status: Cannot be determined.]
[Contracted Constellation: One Who Guides the Dead]
[Coins in Possession: Cannot be determined.]
[Skills: [Touch of Death], [Wings of Truth], [Scales] … [Discernment]]
[Awakened individual contracted with a high-tier Constellation. Extreme caution advised.]
And in the very next moment, a massive hand reached for me.
I had blinked for just a second, and suddenly, his hand was wrapped tightly around my collar. Before I could resist, I was lifted off the ground. I gasped, choking from the pressure around my throat, and kicked Oh Kwon-hyuk’s body with my legs—but he didn’t budge.
“What the hell—what are you—kuh…!”
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Lee Myung-won shouted in shock, but the grip on my collar didn’t loosen. Oh Kwon-hyuk held me up and locked eyes with me. His jet-black eyes were disturbingly void of any emotion. Just as it felt like my heart was about to drop—
[The language of the Otherworld clouds your vision.]
[The scales that judge you have been nullified.]
[Constellation, ‘One Who Knows of Destruction,’ is synchronizing with the Holy Vessel.]
Thud—the moment his grip released, I dropped straight to the ground. I gasped for breath, clawing at my aching throat. This bastard. I knew it.
A deep hum throbbed through my skull, radiating sharp pain.
“I told you not to use that skill on just anyone.”
When I came to, Lee Myung-won was helping me up and shouting at Oh Kwon-hyuk.
“……”
“Say something. You nearly killed someone just now. I don’t care who you are—there’s a limit to how much anyone can tolerate.”
“……”
But when I looked up at Oh Kwon-hyuk’s face, I noticed—he looked flustered. Barely, but it was there. His lips were ever so slightly pulled down.
‘Oh Kwon-hyuk…’
The future leader of the Goblin Guild—he’d always been described as silent, with a monstrous physique like a massive beast. Now I understood why. His towering figure and presence were like a dark goblin straight out of a movie. And his cold, hard face was downright menacing.
It was only now that I realized what he had done to me.
Oh Kwon-hyuk had used the [Scales] skill on me—a subjective ability that weighed a person’s soul to determine whether they were beneficial or harmful to him.
Judging by his reaction, the skill must’ve failed—likely because I was a Holy Vessel of a Constellation.
When he reached for me again, Lee Myung-won smacked his hand away with a sharp glare.
“Don’t touch him. Are you all right, Choi Ga-hyeon-ssi?”
“Ah… I’m fine.”
“Haven’t I told you before? This is when you should say you’re not fine.”
I gave him an awkward smile. Honestly, both Lee Myung-won’s and Oh Kwon-hyuk’s Constellations were the kind of entities I didn’t want to antagonize.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: See? Didn’t I tell you to be careful? How are you this reckless every damn time? How would you even survive in this cruel world without me?]
Whether human or Constellation, he really thought he was my nanny. He clearly didn’t realize he was acting like one.
I brushed off Lee Myung-won’s supporting hand and turned my glare toward Kim Yong-tae and Yoo Jin-woo, who were practically hiding behind Oh Kwon-hyuk.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: And who the hell are those guys?]
[CH. Private/One Who Knows of Destruction: Useless bastards, that’s what.]
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: So what now? It’s not like you’ve got a boyfriend to go with you. You still going in?]
[CH. Private/One Who Knows of Destruction: How many times do I have to say—he’s not my boyfriend.]
[CH. Private/One Who Knows of Destruction: Of course I’m going in. What else am I supposed to do? This is a chance to make some serious money.]
There was still time before the First Monster Calamity, so even though this dungeon felt suspicious, I wasn’t too hesitant to enter.
