"…No."
"If you ever feel like passing out, just let me know. I'll help you do it painlessly."
"If you really want to help me, can't you just get out of here?"
"No can do. Hyung, you have a space movement skill, don't you? I have to keep an eye on you."
Yoon Seo grimaced.
"How do you even know about that?"
"A lot of the higher-ups in our guild used to be your comrades. Tae Jaesik, for one."
"…That damn loud-mouthed bastard."
"Yeah, he really does talk way too much."
"And what are you going to do by watching me? You think you can stop me?"
"Yup. I can block skill activation, so don't even think about doing anything stupid."
A skill that prevents skill activation?
Yoon Seo narrowed his eyes, studying Kwon Jihan's expression. He was wearing a lazy smile, looking completely at ease.
Whether or not Kwon Jihan actually had such a skill didn't matter, Yoon Seo's
Yoon Seo snapped back to reality.
He had never said he was coming back, yet the world had already decided that Seo Chaeyoon's return was a fact. He had only been unconscious for a single day.
'Should I just consider this a relief?'
He had woken up an hour ago, and Kwon Jihan had been by his side. The moment Yoon Seo opened his eyes, Kwon Jihan immediately told him today's date and time, then called for a doctor and a healer. The medical staff entered the hospital room looking intensely nervous. As they examined him, they kept slipping up, calling him "Seo Chae… Yoon Seo." A nurse, while setting up an IV drip, hesitantly asked, "Seo Chae… Yoon Seo-nim, could I get an autograph—" before being stopped by the doctor. The doctor, moments later, blurted out, "Seo Chae… Yoon Seo-nim, perhaps a photo—" before being dragged away by the nurse.
After they left, Yoon Seo lay there with an utterly defeated look, IV in his arm, as Kwon Jihan spoke.
'Don't look so miserable. The fact that you're Seo Chaeyoon is still a secret. Only Perfect and the guild executives know.'
'Then why were the doctor and nurse acting like that?'
'What do you mean? They just think your name is Seo Chaeyoon Seo. Last name Seo, first name Chaeyoon Seo.'
'Don't mess with me.'
'Of course, we told the medical staff the truth. They need to know your exact condition, including healing resistance, to treat you properly. Don't worry, they're all under a skill-enforced gag order, so they can't leak anything outside.'
'If that's the case, then that's a relief.'
'Yup. The only thing the public knows so far is that Seo Chaeyoon has returned to Seokyoung Guild. That's it.'
'…What?'
Kwon Jihan grinned, pulled out a U-Pad, and showed Yoon Seo the news.
Every single headline was about Seo Chaeyoon.
'Ha. Maybe I really should just run away. My mana's almost recovered. If I use
He didn't seriously intend to flee, but just entertaining the thought made him feel a little lighter.
Meanwhile, the news kept updating in real-time.
'Seo Chaeyoon Is Just a Normal Person' Hong Euiyoon Flaunts Friendship with Seo Chaeyoon on SNS…
What the hell is this now?
Yoon Seo read an article for the first time, unable to ignore the eye-catching headline.
[HELLHONNG]
The Seo Chaeyoon I know-
Finds attention burdensome,
Enjoys dramas like everyone else,
An ordinary,
Such a person…
(Photo)
The photo was a selfie. The red-haired man's gaze, looking out the window, was filled with melancholy.
What the hell is this bastard doing?
Can we hear Seo Chaeyoon's voice…? Citizens' anticipation rises.
Seokyoung, known for its close relationship with the public, will Seo Chaeyoon make an appearance?
Seo Chaeyoon's press conference in the works? Foreign fan clubs flock to Korea.
There were many news reports speculating that Seo Chaeyoon would make a public appearance. Yoon Seo firmly told Kwon Jihan,
"I will never step in front of the public. Even with a signal jammer, even with a mask, even just my voice. I will never, ever, ever show myself outside."
Kwon Jihan chuckled softly.
"Don't worry, hyung. Things will go the way you want. The media and the public are just going crazy. They think saying it will make it happen."
"I can't trust anything you say anymore."
"Why? Have I ever lied to you?"
"...."
Come to think of it, he hadn't.
With nothing left to say, Yoon Seo turned off his U-Pad and switched on the TV instead. An excited voice filled the room.
"Seokyoung has officially announced the return of survivor and Revenger Hunter Seo Chaeyoon. Having not appeared in public for ten years, Seo Chaeyoon was even rumored to be dead. His return is now making waves across the world. Currently, the South Korean government, the Hunter Association, and senior officials from Seokyoung, including Guild master Yoo Juncheol, are holding a meeting at the government building. Once this meeting concludes, follow-up announcements are expected. This is reporter Lee Jaemin."
"...."
Yoon Seo turned off the TV.
When he checked his phone, he saw the group chat was in chaos.
[Park Youngbum] This is crazy. What the hell is going on? Yoon Seo, have you ever seen Seo Chaeyoon?
[Goh Heewon] Ah, I'm so jealousㅠ I should've been picked up by Seokyoung too ㅜㅜㅜㅜ
[Goh Heewon] We're both in Seokyoung, so why am I not stationed at the headquartersㅠㅠㅠㅠ
[Management Team Choi Woori] Yoon Seo, have you seen Seo Chaeyoon? I'm seriously curious.
[Management Team Assistant Manager Kim] They say Seo Chaeyoon is really shy, is that true?
[Old Gi] I heard Seo Chaeyoon looks really young. Is that for real?
[Goh Heewon] They say Seo Chaeyoon is super nice. Is that true?
[Park Youngbum] I heard Seo Chaeyoon is more easygoing than expected. Is that right?
[Strategy Team Suyu] I heard Seo Chaeyoon is insanely handsome. Is that true?
[Goh Heewon] But seriously, Yoon Seo oppa, why haven't you replied all day? You're driving us crazy.
[Park Youngbum] He's totally flexing on us. Damn it, don't give him the satisfaction.
There were over 300 unread messages, too many to go through.
[Me] Yes. He's handsome.
Yoon Seo only responded to what he wanted and checked another message.
[Soo Jaehee] Hyung… If you're awake, can I come visit you?
[Spy] Yoon Seo, Jaehee and I were thinking of stopping by to see you. Let us know when you have time.
They had all messaged yesterday.
'It's not even something serious enough for a hospital visit. It wasn't even worth being admitted for….'
Yoon Seo first changed Park Soobin's saved name from 'Spy' back to 'Park Soobin.' He remembered everything that happened when he was in a state of mana exhaustion. Park Soobin had been worried about him until the very end, and that was something to be grateful for. He figured he should at least return his full name out of conscience.
He slowly looked around the hospital room. A wall-mounted TV bigger than the one at home, a powerful air conditioner, leather sofas, and a plush armchair. Over there, even a kitchen setup. A few framed masterpieces hung on the white walls. It was definitely a VIP suite. A sudden thought struck him, and Yoon Seo widened his eyes as he asked,
"This hospital bill is obviously covered by Seokyoung, right?"
"Since it's a work-related injury, Seokyoung will cover all treatment costs until you're fully recovered."
Yoon Seo relaxed his eyes. Of course, Seokyoung didn't become the world's top guild for nothing.
"Then, by full recovery… what's the criteria for that?"
"Until all of hyung's mana is fully restored."
Yoon Seo's mind started racing.
It had been 30 hours since he collapsed from mana exhaustion, and his mana had recovered to 76%. At this rate, in another full day, he'd be at 100%. That meant he'd be discharged.
He did want to return to the comfort of his home, but thinking about the headaches that awaited him once he resumed work made him want to delay his discharge as much as possible.
'Since my mana recovery speed is three times faster than the average Awakened, if I factor that into the calculation…'
Yoon Seo's eyes darted around.
"Aah, I still feel dizzy since my mana hasn't recovered yet."
He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead and lay down.
My mana is at 32% right now.
32%.
He was brainwashing himself internally.
Beside him, Kwon Jihan chuckled lowly, watching his antics.
"Hyung, you still have fifteen days of vacation left, so don't worry about returning yet."
"Fifteen days?"
"After clearing an S-rank dungeon, you get leave equal to the duration of the raid. Plus, we gave you extra time to recover."
That's not just generous, that's excessive.
Yoon Seo kept a straight face, but internally, he was amazed at Seokyoung's top-tier benefits.
His conscience pricked at him a little.
To be honest, he felt a slight… sense of guilt. What if he hadn't gone to the S-rank Yellow Dungeon? If he had found some way to drop out of Perfect?
Perfect wouldn't have all survived.
S-rank dungeons had appeared and disappeared countless times. And not all of them had been cleared without casualties. One day, you'd eat and chat with your comrades, and the next, you could lose them in an instant. That was the reality of dungeons.
Yoon Seo knew that. And yet, he had turned a blind eye to it.
"You know what? Last year, when they tried to clear an S-rank Red Dungeon, dozens of people died. Earlier this year, three more died in an S-rank Yellow Dungeon, and they couldn't even recover the bodies."
Who died this time?
Maybe he wouldn't have had the chance to change Park Soobin's saved name from 'Spy' to 'Park Soobin.' Maybe Hong Euiyoon wouldn't have been able to boast about his connection with Seo Chaeyoon on social media.
Experiencing an S-rank dungeon firsthand made him realize.
How many people wouldn't have died if I had stepped in…?
'And yet, even with me there, people still got hurt.'
Yoon Seo bit the soft flesh inside his mouth. Then, he asked.
"What happened to Hunter Hwashim?"
"Hwashim? He's fine."
"He's not Seo Chaeyoon, nor did he hide his strength, so they must've kicked him out of the team, right?"
"They haven't gone through the formal process yet. He entered another dungeon this morning."
"What?"
Yoon Seo sat up in shock.
"Why didn't Hunter Hwashim get leave?"
"It's not just Hwashim. A time-limited Overflo Type A-rank Green Dungeon appeared, and on top of that, a dungeon outbreak occurred near the West Sea, so Perfect was deployed in full force. Jaehee and the couple are handling the outbreak, while Alec and Team 2 are tackling the A-rank Green Dungeon."
"That's insane… This is no time to be sitting here!"