The children had been placed in a care facility operated by Hansung. I let out a sigh of relief, worried they might end up in harm’s way. Still, not all the problems had been resolved.
At the Hansung Guild, I came face to face with Park Gil-seon, who had returned to Korea. She still exuded the kind of presence and demeanor that was hard to believe belonged to someone her age. Yet one thing had changed—one of her arms was missing.
“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Because in The Apocalypse Chronicles of Another World, you never lost an arm. It’s strange. It’s unsettling that someone like you would willingly sacrifice an arm just to save a single child. It was as if Park Gil-seon was reminding me again—people’s actions aren’t set in stone like characters in a novel.
But even I couldn’t say for certain that I would make a different choice than she did, if I found myself in the same situation.
If someone’s life could be saved by giving up an arm… I might’ve done the same.
As I kept quiet, Baek Tae-beom grumbled irritably and said to Park Gil-seon,
“It’s only surprising because the old hag’s still alive and kicking.”
“Oh dear, what’s got my little rascal so riled up again? Want this granny to give you a pat on the head?”
“Quit bugging my hyung.”
“You keep calling him hyung, huh? Looks like you’ve really taken a liking to him.”
Baek Tae-beom’s face twisted in irritation, but he didn’t deny it. Park Gil-seon looked between me and Baek Tae-beom with a knowing look, as if to say, Well, would you look at that. Standing next to her, Lee Ji-hye sighed as if she’d seen this play out before.
“You two…”
“Don’t say anything weird.”
“I didn’t even say anything yet.”
“But you were going to.”
“Aren’t you acting suspicious?”
“When have I ever acted suspicious?”
Park Gil-seon narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“Sounds like someone’s feeling guilty.”
“I said stop bugging my hyung.”
“You two…”
“Park Gil-seon!”
Baek Tae-beom stood up and glared at Park Gil-seon. But even faced with his glare, she just laughed it off, completely unfazed.
“You should call me Guildmaster.”
“Do I look like I’m in the mood?”
“I haven’t said a word, so why are you all flustered? Can’t I take an interest in what you young folks are up to?”
Park Gil-seon spoke with that usual sly tone of hers. Just as Baek Tae-beom looked like he might draw a weapon, the door opened, and Lee Myung-won entered with other Hansung Guild members.
They were familiar faces.
Lee Myung-won spoke in exasperation.
“What are you doing now? I told you to stay still, and you couldn’t even manage that before starting another fight?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Let me guess, the Guildmaster started teasing Baek Tae-beom again. Figures.”
“Hm? Myung-won. You too? Are you turning your back on me now? I even changed your diapers when—”
“Guildmaster!”
Park Gil-seon burst into hearty laughter. Lee Myung-won let out a sigh.
“At your age, I guess you need little joys like this to keep going.”
“Fine, fine. Just stay still for once, please.”
Lee Myung-won spoke like someone whose lifespan had just been shortened by a decade as he sat down.
“Here are the compiled reports. Take a look.”
I took the documents handed to me by Lee Myung-won. Baek Tae-beom leaned back smugly in his chair as he read through the papers, then leaned toward me and whispered.
“Looks like your hunch was right.”
The documents contained details about Gongmyeong’s current movements and other related information.
It stated that Gongmyeong had been founded immediately after the First Monster Calamity, and unlike most small- and mid-sized guilds, it had maintained itself with formidable power and considerable capital. The identity of the guildmaster and any personal details remained undisclosed. The guild’s first move after establishment was dungeon conquest, followed by aggressive involvement in social welfare programs, especially child welfare.
They had also been receiving government research funding under the pretense of developing a new drug.
There were far more research centers and partner welfare facilities associated with Gongmyeong than I had anticipated. Park Gil-seon raised an eyebrow as she looked through the documents.
“Since when has Gongmyeong been developing a new drug?”
“As you’ll see, they’ve shown no results since launching the project, yet they continue to receive research funding. On top of that, they’re expanding their research facilities.”
“And you’re saying this shady project is tied to the mana stones Choi Ga-hyeon mentioned?”
“Even if they’re processing mana stones using children… what are they planning to use them for?”
As Lee Ji-hye and Park Gil-seon spoke in grim tones, a message appeared in the chat window, as if in response.
[CH.Private/One Who Guides the Dead: To become like a god. To possess. Power.]
[CH.Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: He’s right. They really are obsessed with becoming a ‘true’ god.]
[CH.Private/One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: A real god?]
[CH.Private/One Who Weaves Euphoria: Angrboda… it’s been a long time since she dragged not just me, but countless Constellations into this mess…]
[CH.Private/One Who Weaves Euphoria: So we’ll need to repay them… Give them what they desire…]
[CH.Private/Horseback Herald: That’s the power of myth. Just like how my brother Baldr created that absurd trap.]
[CH.Private/One Who Weaves Euphoria: Pure power… creates more than you could ever imagine.]
[CH.Private/One Who Weaves Euphoria: Just like the festival held in my name.]
[CH.Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: That wasn’t a festival. That was madness, plain and simple.]
[CH.Private/One Who Weaves Euphoria: Hmph… Apollo doesn’t understand a thing.]
“Finding out their intentions is important, but stopping the experiments using children comes first. If we don’t act, more children will be sacrificed. We have to save them.”
“Wouldn’t it be faster to get the Association’s cooperation?”
At Song Min-ji’s suggestion, Lee Myung-won paused and looked at me. I shook my head.
“That won’t be possible.”
I didn’t know how to bring Lim Chang-joo back to our side. As things stood, the Hunter Association was in complete opposition to us—because Kang Si-hoo had taken control of it.
More than anything, even after Baek Tae-beom had been cleared and released, the media still flooded with false reports. As if he really were the culprit who somehow got away. He claimed it didn’t bother him, but there’s no way it didn’t weigh on him.
Park Gil-seon leaned back in her seat, folding one arm across her chest. She had the same arrogant posture as Baek Tae-beom. The resemblance between the two was uncanny.
Even if he pretended otherwise, Baek Tae-beom had probably been most influenced by Park Gil-seon while I was away.
“What about Wanderers and Goblin? What did they say?”
“We received word that they plan to visit soon.”
“Still dragging their feet like lazy worms.”
“It seems they ran into trouble while mining mana stones in one of their guild-owned dungeons. They’re apparently handling that now.”
“That Kang Si-hoo guy, huh? He must be worn out from all the dirty work he’s juggling.”
Though Park Gil-seon said it with a smile, her eyes were cold and sharp.
“I hate bastards who plot things from the shadows the most.”
“Guildmaster?”
“We’re raiding them.”
“Excuse me?”
Lee Myung-won looked flustered, but Park Gil-seon was already on her feet.
“We’re attacking tomorrow. Set it up.”
“W-Wait a moment!”
I just stared blankly up at her, having only thought we’d do another infiltration like with Red Apple. But the old woman looked down at Lee Myung-won and laughed, amused.
“Are you going to leave them a chance to run? You men are useless when that’s all you can think of.”
“But they’ll definitely refuse—!”
“So what?”
Park Gil-seon lifted her chin and grinned.
“I’m Park Gil-seon, Guildmaster of Hansung. Who would dare stand in my way?”
[CH.Private/Free Wind: Can I just say one thing?]
[CH.Private/One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: You can say two.]
[CH.Private/Free Wind: Thanks.]
[CH.Private/Free Wind: That was badass.]
[CH.Private/Free Wind: I’m jealous of Sekhmet… My Contractor’s passed out right now after an all-nighter gaming….]
[CH.Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Ga-hyeon. You’re a Constellation—how come you’ve never done anything cool?]
Yeah, I’m wondering that too.
After the conversation, we truly did decide to raid Gongmyeong the very next day. It seemed reckless, but in a way, it was the most logical choice. Trying to approach it from another angle could end in disaster.
Lying on my bed, lost in thought, I eventually drifted off to sleep.
And then—
The world was ablaze.
Thick smoke stabbed at my nose. I stood atop crumbled steel beams, wearing oversized shoes. No matter where I looked, red flames raged all around me. There wasn’t a single scream left to be heard.
In that desolate hellscape, Baek Tae-beom grabbed me by the collar.
His face filled my entire vision. Eyes wild with exhilaration, he shouted at me.
— I finally figured out who you are!
Madness. His eyes were drenched in a kind of madness I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. I tried to pry his hand away in a panic, but he wouldn’t budge.
What is this? A dream?
Ash fell like snowflakes. A strange sense of déjà vu hit me. Off to the side, an umbrella lay abandoned.
…An umbrella?
— I finally know who you are, now!
— Wait, Tae-beom… Let go…!
— Don’t call me that!
Baek Tae-beom flung me away like I was nothing. My body slammed into the ground. There was no pain—at least not at first—but terror surged through me like a tidal wave. Baek Tae-beom let out a wild, gleeful laugh, completely exhilarated.
—I know who you are now. Choi Ga-hyeon. You came here to kill me. That’s why you’re here—to kill me, right?!
Screaming like a madman, Baek Tae-beom grabbed me again and yanked me to my feet. It all felt like a dream—but everything, except for the lack of pain, was disturbingly vivid.
—What are you doing? Are you insane?!
—You were the key all along.
He took my hand and pressed it against his neck.
—Where the hell did you go, leaving me behind?
—What are you talking about? I don’t understa—
—Please.
He pleaded with me, voice raw and trembling—like someone begging a lover not to walk away.
A lover?
No… it was more than that. Something deeper. He clung to me like he was trying to grasp something he couldn’t hold, something that kept slipping through his fingers no matter how tightly he held on.
—Please end everything. That’s why you exist. You’re the… you’re the one…!
I could only stare at him, stunned and speechless. My vision began to blur. Baek Tae-beom clutched me with sudden panic.
—No—wait, wait… Not again…! You said you’d stay longer this time. You promised me, Choi Ga-hyeon!
Choi Ga-hyeon! That cry echoed inside my skull, over and over, unrelenting.
