As I walked straight down the hallway, the lobby buzzed with commotion. Despite the heavy security, a crowd had gathered off to one side. The first person to catch my eye—no surprise—was Baek Tae-beom. His head stuck out above the rest, ridiculously so. As I stared, another tall figure met my gaze.
It was Oh Kwon-hyuk, with his pitch-black hair tied in a single braid and that same indifferent look on his face. He wore a white coat draped over his shoulders and carried a large, mysterious box under one arm. Seeing him from the top of the stairs, I felt a heavy pressure just from his presence—it stirred the memory of being choked not even a few days ago.
What the hell’s going on down there for everyone to be crowding like that?
Even from up here, their voices carried clearly.
“…So I’m asking what’s inside that thing.”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Guess you want your mouth ripped open right here. You think I’d let anything dangerous get near my hyung?”
“I already said it’s not dangerous.”
“Why the hell would I believe anything you say, you piece of shit?”
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Guides the Dead’, draws a breath.]
I widened my eyes, shocked. I’d never heard Baek Tae-beom curse like that before—so openly, so harshly. The air around them was volatile, on the edge of exploding. One wrong word and fists could start flying.
“If you wanted forgiveness, you should’ve crawled here with your face in the dirt from the entrance. Guess that dog-brain of yours can’t even manage that. Do you even have a brain? Or did it all get smashed to pulp the last time you ran into that wall?”
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Guides the Dead’, gasps.]
“Baek Tae-beom,” I called his name quietly.
He didn’t even look at me. “Because of you, someone precious to me almost died. So how the hell do you stand there like nothing happened?”
“I’m sorry,” Oh Kwon-hyuk replied.
“I told you over and over—I don’t accept your sorry-ass apology. The one you need to apologize to isn’t me. It’s my hyung.”
Then Baek Tae-beom suddenly turned his head and looked straight at me on the stairs. His expression made it clear—he’d noticed me there all along. I froze, unsure of what to do, but then his features softened, and he gave me a gentle smile.
“Come here, hyung.”
[Your Contractor shows affection.]
A chill ran down my spine. That soft look overlapped with the brutal image of Baek Tae-beom beating people to a pulp in the livestream right after my resurrection. I forced myself to ignore the stares piercing into me and started down the stairs, step by reluctant step. It felt like I was making a grand entrance at some high-society ball.
Is this what Cinderella felt like?
No—that girl probably didn’t feel like she was about to die.
The closer I got to them, the heavier the atmosphere became. When I finally reached Baek Tae-beom’s side, Oh Kwon-hyuk looked at me with an unsteady gaze and slowly opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
Honestly, I didn’t know what to say.
I’d considered resenting him—but I couldn’t bring myself to feel that way. It had been my mistake to enter that dungeon without Baek Tae-beom. I’d known Oh Kwon-hyuk was dangerous, and I still stayed close to him.
Dying because of that didn’t even feel real. Maybe it was because I’d already been brought back to life. Or maybe because I was now one of those damn Constellations. Either way, I couldn’t muster even a shred of emotion toward the man standing in front of me. Regretful as it was, I felt nothing.
The only thing that truly weighed on me was this: the First Monster Calamity had been triggered earlier than expected, and the future I knew had already gone off-track. But even then… could I really blame Oh Kwon-hyuk for that?
Apparently, he held far deeper feelings for me than I ever realized. For someone so famously stoic and cold to look at me with eyes like that…
That’s why I half-joked, in a teasing voice,
“If you’re sorry, pay me back with your body.”
“I will.”
…What?
Oh Kwon-hyuk slowly dropped to his knees in front of me. A murmur rippled through the crowd gathered in the lobby. Beside me, Baek Tae-beom ground his teeth.
“What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull now…?”
“I’ve done you a great wrong. A sin that can never be washed away,” Oh Kwon-hyuk said, his tone slow and solemn.
“So I’ll take responsibility. For everything.”
“For what?”
“Your life.”
Sharp intakes of breath echoed from all around us. Baek Tae-beom, clearly at his limit, raised a fist—but someone barely managed to hold him back. Even as he struggled, his voice came out strained and furious.
“Why the hell would I entrust my life to you?!”
“Then who would you entrust it to?”
“What the hell are you scheming, trying to pull something on my hyung?!”
“Tae-beom, wait. Calm down. Be good, okay?”
“Hunter Baek Tae-beom has a tendency to act on emotion,” Oh Kwon-hyuk said coldly. “Entrusting your life to him would not be wise.”
“That’s right, Tae-beom,” I said, trying to hold the situation together. “Just hold back this one time, okay? Just this once. Let’s let this go.”
I placed a steadying hand on his arm and gave him a side glance before turning to Oh Kwon-hyuk.
“So what’s in the box?”
At that, Oh Kwon-hyuk let out a quiet “Ah,” and began to unfasten the box he’d set on the floor. Inside were items that looked ridiculously valuable, stacked neatly like some kind of absurd tribute. Was this really supposed to be an apology gift?
“I heard you’ve been classified as an immeasurable-grade Hunter,” he said.
“Ah…”
“It’s probably because you’re too weak to be measured properly.”
“…What?”
He stared at me with that usual blank, indifferent expression, like he hadn’t just insulted me to my face. In the chat window, Apollo was losing it, practically crying with laughter, while Anubis hurled curses at his own Contractor.
“So I brought items that might help you. I figured even someone weak and useless like you might be able to use these.”
“…Wow.”
“Hyung, just let it slide this once, okay? Just for a moment—ow, don’t pinch me… okay, good boy…”
I had to force myself to unclench my trembling fist. Next to me, Baek Tae-beom gently patted my shoulder and coaxed softly.
“He’s always been that kind of bas—no, that kind of guy. Hyung, I understand. You can’t talk sense into him…”
I knew it. He was always like this. He’d been that way in the novel, and our first meeting had been downright ominous—there was no way I didn’t know by now. But reading about it and experiencing it in real life were two entirely different beasts.
More than anger, what hit me first was sheer, overwhelming annoyance.
“Just get lost and crawl back to your guild.”
“……!”
Oh Kwon-hyuk’s mouth parted like I’d just said the one thing he absolutely couldn’t bear to hear. He looked genuinely hurt. The expression was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but snort.
“Why?” he asked.
“What do you mean, why?”
I’d already learned from experience—people like him were beyond reason. So instead of trying to argue, I went straight for the jugular. Brutal honesty. I kicked the box. The items tumbled out with a loud crash, scattering across the floor.
“Didn’t you say you’d make it up with your body?”
“……!”
“Then what the hell is this pathetic pile of junk supposed to be?”
“……!”
A ripple of gasps echoed through the lobby. It felt like I was the lead in some over-the-top soap opera. I kept my expression hard as stone and stared down at Oh Kwon-hyuk.
“Next time I need you, just come running and say ‘yes.’ Got it?”
With that, I grabbed Baek Tae-beom’s arm, turned on my heel, and started back up the stairs. My heart was pounding so loud it echoed in my ears. I almost looked back, just to see if the message had landed, but then Baek Tae-beom wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“Beom?” I called softly.
His face was twisted with emotion. He looked like he was fighting to hold his expression together in front of me—but losing.
“Are you really going to do it?” he asked.
“Hm?”
“Are you really going to call that bastard?”
Baek Tae-beom’s voice was low, nearly a whisper. He leaned in so close, his face almost brushed against mine. It felt like a wild animal sniffing at me, trying to decide what I was.
“Is that guy more useful to you than me?”
The question stunned me. I looked up at Baek Tae-beom, caught off guard, then slowly shook my head.
“Of course not.”
“Right?”
His golden eyes gleamed. That feral edge from earlier disappeared, replaced by a slow, creeping smile. His lips curled upward, and his molten gold eyes softened like melted honey. In that moment, it felt like nine massive fox tails were fanned out behind him.
“I’m more useful to you, right?”
[Your Contractor shows affection.]
It was obvious what he wanted. He wasn’t hiding it—he wore it openly, like someone trying desperately to fill a void they knew could never be filled. It was so painfully transparent it made my chest ache.
Adorable.
That was the only word for it. Baek Tae-beom, who didn’t bother hiding his vicious, savage side from me—who simply assumed I’d accept it all—was unbearably adorable.
I reached out and gently brushed his hair to the side. I could feel him go stiff under my touch.
“Yeah. I like you more than him. Satisfied?”
Baek Tae-beom’s ears flushed a deep, burning red, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hyung—no, I—I never said I liked you or anything.”
“Didn’t you just ask me?”
“No, seriously, I—Hyung, how could you say something like that…”
He stammered and fumbled over his words the whole way back, until we reached the dorm. Then, out of nowhere, he shoved me lightly toward the door.
“Just stay here and rest, okay? I’m going to go have a word with Lee Myung-won—this time for real…”
“Got it, got it.”
“And don’t come out no matter who calls you.”
“I heard you.”
With that, Baek Tae-beom bolted—like he was running away. I watched him go with a faint smile… and let it fade as I stepped inside the dorm and sank down onto the couch.
Without him there, the room felt oppressively empty. The cold air pricked at my nose with every breath. I pulled something from my inventory and drew my knees up to my chest.
In my hand was the <Magic Conch Shell>.
I can’t be fooled by how Baek Tae-beom’s acting right now. I can’t afford to be.
It felt like something—or someone—was constantly whispering in my ear. My instincts kept pulling me toward him, and that scared the hell out of me. Like my title, One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction, I wondered if I was just avoiding the truth.
But can it really be avoided?
With two other Constellations watching my every move, I brought the conch shell to my lips.
[Magic Conch Shell A
It whispers a single prophecy. (Usable once per year)]
“Oh great Magic Conch Shell…”
Maybe—just maybe—it was me who most desperately wanted to believe Baek Tae-beom wouldn’t destroy the world.
“Will the world end within the next three years?”
[The Constellation, ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’, swallows a breath.]
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Guides the Dead’, covers their eyes.]
After hearing the answer, I slowly slumped across the couch. The ticking second hand of the clock kept racing toward the end.
