Even though he is currently on leave, Lee Ra-beom-do Su-ho was an art student.
The times I spent in front of the canvas, holding a brush and pencil, and thinking.
Moments of mixing paints to create colors, making pottery, and contemplating the meaning of the work.
All that time sometimes gave me a special perspective on who I am now.
And now, at this moment.
Suho suddenly remembered the Japanese ceramic repair technique he had presented in front of class.
'Kintsugi'
Everything can't be perfect.
Broken, shattered, cracked.
That's life, that's art, that's living.
-… … Kintsugi means "connecting gold with gold," and is a Japanese craft technique that involves repairi
ng broken pieces of ceramic by reattaching them with lacquer and then applying gold powder along the brok
en lines.
-What are the philosophical implications of that technique?
The professor's voice echoed vividly throughout the auditorium.
Suho turned the prepared PPT over to the next page.
-The Kintsugi technique goes beyond the concept of simply repairing objects, and contains the meaning
of 'not hiding wounds but revealing them, and accepting even those wounds as part of beauty.' This is a les
son that we can embrace the wounds and flaws we experience in human life, and move forward through th
em...
-That's correct. You prepared your presentation well.
The professor nodded with a faint smile.
-The art of filling in the broken places with gold instead of making them completely new, making them ev
en more beautiful. It's just like our lives.
And then he explained.
- A bowl is bound to break someday. We too, in the storms of time, sometimes get hurt, crack, break, an
d collapse. But is there anything perfect in the world?
And now, at this moment.
It was natural for Suho to recall the memories of that day.
-… … to finally love even that imperfection. To accept the wounds piled up in our souls as their own beau
ty. The accumulated scars of life are also the history of the true struggles we have created ourselves… … .
'Connecting gold with gold.'
It was not a simple repair, but a sublimation through the wound… … .
Flash!
As the saying goes, Woo Jin-cheol's entire body was surrounded by a golden barrier in front of Su-ho.
[This is such a high level of sorcery… …!]
The one who was most shocked by this was Harmakan, the Shadow Demon.
Xavier's soul stone.
The magical power of Sung Jin-woo contained within it, its mysterious golden light, was running wildly al
ong the cracks that were splitting apart all over Woo Jin-cheol's body.
Shwaaaaak-!
Its appearance is like the roots of a tree with forked roots.
Like a spider web that is elaborately and meticulously designed.
Like the hands of a craftsman repairing broken pottery.
Sung Jin-woo's barrier began to delicately sew together Woo Jin-cheol's cracked vessel and the history o
f his struggles with golden thread.
[Xavier's soulstone begins 'Skill Reconstruction'.]
[Skills are reorganized into a new system.]
Like porcelain being reborn through the hands of a craftsman, Woo Jin-cheol's vessels were slowly chang
ing.
The change was truly amazing.
During that time, numerous skills that had been excessively injected into Woo Jin-cheol to the point of b
eing on the verge of exploding began to melt one by one and fuse into a new form.
In this way, 'crisis detection' and 'toxicity tolerance' met inside Woo Jin-cheol and were reborn as a deep
er insight called 'survival instinct.'
'Strengthening physical strength' and 'concentrating magical power' have been sublimated into the essen
tial power called 'strong body.'
… … The skills that had been scattered into dozens of fragments began to slowly come together as if piec
es of a puzzle were fitting together.
In a very natural way, as if it was meant to be that way from the beginning.
[Skill reconfiguration complete.]
[A new skill system has been established.]
[A vessel damaged by skill overload is repaired.]
"… … I guess this was Father's will."
In the silence where time seemed to have stopped, Suho's voice rang out quietly.
Just how far ahead did my father see that day?
A clone that is not even the main body.
Even if it's just a small fragment.
Seong Su-ho's father, Seong Jin-woo, left behind so many arrangements for those left behind on Earth.
Without even using a single ounce of magic power.
Using only one soul of a demon tribe as material.
Swish!
Finally, the golden barrier was removed, and Woo Jin-cheol's figure was revealed.
"Are you okay?"
Suho asked.
"… … ."
Woo Jin-cheol slowly raised his two hands and looked at them.
A pure white palm with no more cracks.
Instead, deep within the skin, there was a golden pattern that seemed to glow faintly, like blood vessels.
It was as beautiful as a golden thread on porcelain that had endured the test of time.
"… … My body feels light."
Woo Jin-cheol muttered.
The nagging pain that had been following me since I acquired a certain level of skill completely disappeare
d.
"… … It's like I got a new bowl."
Woo Jin-cheol's words were full of deep emotion.
During that time, numerous skills clashed with each other, and the chaotic flow that tried to tear apart his
body naturally continued as one flow.
It was as if instruments that had been playing discord for a long time had come together in harmony to cr
eate a beautiful melody.
And I could tell without anyone having to tell me.
That this golden barrier was a consideration left by Sung Jin-woo for himself.
Seong Jin-woo may seem like a bit of an indifferent person on the outside, but having been with him for
a long time, I knew the kindness contained within him.
So, I dare to make a guess.
Maybe… Sung Jin-woo might already know, even in that distant outer space.
-If by any chance, His Majesty the Hunter happens to be away from his post for a long time… … .
That he was doing his best to keep the promise he had made to him all along.
-I will also protect Mr. Sung Hunter's family.
Create an association, become its president… … .
The fundamental motivation behind the path you have walked over the past few years.
-Huh? Is that okay? If a police chief uses his subordinates for personal reasons like that, isn't that discipli
nary action?
Sigh.
Woo Jin-cheol smiled as he recalled the conversation that day.
… … Looking back, that was it.
The reason why he had solidified his power as the president of the association in the first place.
The reason why I desperately ran through my second life, doing my best.
At the root of it all was a very personal purpose.
Protecting Sung Jin-woo's family just like that promise.
In order to keep the promise he made while drunk, he joined hands with CEO Yoo Jin-ho among the man
y conglomerates.
It was for this reason that the most reliable association hunter, Kim Cheol, was sent to Yangpyeong as th
e branch manager.
[Don't let your guard down. This is only a temporary measure.]
At that moment, breaking his thoughts, Ber's voice pierced Woo Jin-cheol's ears.
Ber, who had been by Seong Jin-woo's side the whole time, knew the true nature of this spell.
[This barrier is a magic circle that the King studied with many demons long ago. Its purpose was to forcibl
y hold on to a vessel that was on the verge of breaking. Originally, it was a study that began in order to neve
r again feel the helplessness of having to simply watch Seong Il-hwan die.]
But the research that started that way was used in a completely different situation.
That's right, Cha Hae-in.
[Then, when Ms. Cha Hae-in became pregnant with the little prince, as the little prince's presence inside
her womb grew bigger and bigger, Ms. Cha Hae-in's labor pains also became more severe. Eventually, she
was on the verge of breaking the vessel.]
"… … What? Me?"
Suho's eyes widened at those words.
It was under unexpected circumstances that I learned the secret of my birth.
[Yes. Just by the fact that an ordinary human was holding the Little Lord, Cha Hae-in's vessel was alread
y exceeding its limit day by day. That was when this magic circle was first used.]
The purpose of the barrier is to restore a vessel that has reached its limit.
[The result was a great success.]
It was a blessing.
The moment the witch doctor surrounded Cha Hae-in, the pain disappeared as if it were a lie, and Cha Ha
e-in's vessel was also safely restored.
That's how Seongsuho was born.
But things were different then and now.
[At that time, the King was right next to Cha Hae-in and continuously injected magical power into the barr
ier. But now it is different. Without that much help, the barrier itself is ultimately just a temporary measure.
The crisis has been overcome for now, but if we overdo it here, the vessel will start to crack again.]
A stopgap measure.
Although his tone was cold, Ber was ultimately worried about Woo Jin-cheol.
[Don't increase your skills any more from now on. Then you might really die.]
"Thank you for the advice, Ber."
[… … This is not advice, but a warning.]
"Thank you for the warning."
[… … .]
Woo Jin-cheol just smiled because he knew what Ber was thinking.
And then he opened his mouth, looking around at Suho and everyone around him.
Sung Jin-woo lifted up the black sunglasses he had bought her as a birthday present.
"Now that you're feeling healthy, shall we talk about work?"
* * *
So, Suho sat across from Woo Jincheol for a long time and shared the information they knew.
And I handed over all the supplies I brought from Korea.
Woo Jin-cheol and his group, who had already run out of supplies and were gathering supplies on their o
wn nearby, couldn't help but be astonished when a huge amount of supplies suddenly appeared before their
eyes.
Even Woo Jin-cheol, who is usually not surprised by anything, was honestly taken aback this time.
This is because, in addition to the supplies sent by the Korean government and association, they also incl
uded military supplies that CEO Yoo Jin-ho had raided and taken from the warehouses of large guilds.
Of course, the most useful of those weapons were already in the hands of the Shadow Soldiers of Suho,
but even the equipment of inferior quality was precious to Woo Jin-cheol and his group.
Hunters' weapons are ultimately consumables.
No matter how strong the sword and shield were, if they were used to cut and break the tough hide and h
ard bones of the demon beast countless times, their teeth would eventually become damaged and worn do
wn.
It's not like there were any blacksmiths or forges that could be used in an apocalypse like North Korea.
In the end, everyone had no choice but to fight viciously with the demons with their feet and fists.
"Thank you very much. Please tell CEO Yoo Jin-ho that I will repay you in a big way later."
"Conveying it. Why don't you just say it directly?"
"...yes?"
Phew!
Woo Jin-cheol couldn't help but be surprised once again.
Looking at the gate created above the shadow of the guardian.
And looking beyond that, I see Korea.
"Everyone, take a short break and come back."
"… … ?!"
Suho sent the surprised Woo Jincheol and his group to Yangpyeong Hospital for treatment.
If anyone in Korea had seen that, there would have been a huge uproar, but fortunately everyone returned
to North Korea early the next day, so it passed without a fuss.
And in that one night.
Suho had already cut down all the nearby Elvenwoods and sent them to the Sea of the Afterlife.
Woo Jin-cheol nodded after seeing that and decided on the next schedule.
"Now that you've had a good rest, we'll take care of the remaining Elvenwoods in North Korea. Hunter Se
ongsuho, you should go straight to Russia. There are a lot more trees there anyway… … ."
And he handed Hasul over to Suho and said.
"Take Hasul with you. She will definitely be of help. In particular, this sickle made from a foreign stone…
… It's an item given to you by a doctor who came over from Russia. If you meet him, he will be of help."
"Doctor? Scientist?"
Suho tilted his head at the strange words.
But Woo Jin-cheol didn't know the details of his identity.
"We don't know exactly who he is. He introduced himself, but we weren't in a position to know if it was t
rue or not. At the time, we didn't even know much about foreign religions. However, if Hunter Seongsuho
met him, wouldn't he be able to find out his identity somehow?"
"Okay, I guess I'll go first."
And that moment came sooner than expected.
The moment Suho crosses the Russian border.
Sararak… … .
Suddenly, snow began to fall heavily from the sky.
But it wasn't snow.
It was a kind of… … cell.
[Your Majesty, be on guard!]
With Ber's warning, small cells gathered one by one and formed the shape of a woman in front of Suho a
nd Hasul.
Pure white skin.
Pink hair.
The beauty was so perfect that it was almost bizarre.
The woman glanced at the sickle that Hasul was holding, then greeted Suho in a cold but polite tone.
"This is the 47th doll from the doctor. It is an honor to meet you, Seongsuho."
The look on his face was as if he had been waiting for this meeting for a long time.