Seung's heart skipped a beat.
'Oh God, he's seen my clone!' Seung's thoughts spiraled, his gaze locking onto Mr. Song. His mouth hung open, caught between panic and disbelief.
The old man, however, seemed unfazed. His eyes darted between Seung and the apartment, as if trying to piece together a puzzle that had suddenly come to life.
Mr. Song's furrowed brows and narrowed eyes betrayed his confusion. Was he comparing Seung to someone else he thought he saw inside?
The tension thickened as Seung, Mr. Song, and the masked clone walked into the apartment. Once inside, Seung seated himself on the floor, flanked by his two clones. Mr. Song sat across from them on the white sofa, his body rigid with unease.
"Second, take off your mask," Seung ordered the newest clone, his voice steady but his mind racing. As the mask came off, revealing an identical copy of Seung, Mr. Song's eyes widened. The old man's face paled, his jaw dropping as he gaped at the three Seungs before him.
"Wha-what in the world is this, Seung? Wh...where did these people come from?" Mr. Song's voice trembled, each word drenched in disbelief.
Seung inhaled deeply, steeling himself. He knew he had to come clean, but the words felt heavy on his tongue.
"They're my clones," he confessed, his tone frank but softening to ease the shock. "I went to the awakening company and activated a cloning ability. It's not illegal, you know that. I use my ability safely… in the bodyguarding field."
"Oh," Mr. Song exhaled a shaky breath, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Your secret to getting this apartment… it's through that job?"
"Yes," Seung nodded. "I've already secured it."
Seung then turned to his first clone, the one with a slight tilt to his head that always made him stand out. "First, take Second to the gym. I'll call you later on the phone I got you."
"Yes, sir," the clone replied, his tone as respectful as ever. The two of them left the apartment, their synchronized steps echoing through the stairs. Mr. Song watched them go, still awestruck by how human they seemed.
When they were alone, Seung faced Mr. Song again, this time with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," he said, his voice gentle. "Even if the bodyguarding job gets dangerous, my clones will be there to protect me. That's why they exist."
A moment of silence passed before Mr. Song's expression softened into a smile. Relief washed over his face like a tide finally pulling back. "I'd like to accompany you to your new apartment. You must be moving tomorrow."
"Yes," Seung confirmed.
"No qualms," Mr. Song said, nodding. "Christmas is next week, and my granddaughter's coming home. Can you join us?"
Seung's heart tightened at the mention of Christmas. He forced a smile, though it barely reached his eyes. "Yes, of course. Christmas is… great, after all."
But his eyes betrayed him, turning a shade of red that didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Song.
---
Elsewhere, at Dongwon Guild, the imposing structure loomed over the city. Mr. Choi's car slid into the parking lot, the engine's hum the only sound as he exited and walked briskly inside. The building's cold, sterile interior contrasted sharply with the tension simmering in his chest.
He pushed open the door to the evaluation department, greeted by a flurry of half-hearted salutations.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Minho," a young woman with spectacles muttered, her eyes glued to her laptop screen.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Choi," echoed the chorus of others, their voices blending into the background noise.
"Afternoon, everyone. Keep up the good work," Mr. Choi replied, his tone curt as he made his way to the front of a particular desk.
Seated there was a man with curly brown hair and piercing crimson eyes. His nameplate read 'Department Head - Kang Wonsik', and his muscular frame filled the chair that had become his throne for the past five years.
"Oh, look who finally decided to show up," Kang Wonsik sneered, his lips curling into a smirk. "It took you long enough to remember you had no choice but to heed my summon."
Mr. Choi's jaw tightened. He wasn't in the mood for Wonsik's antics. "See who hasn't been promoted, stuck in the same chair for five years," he shot back, his voice cold. "Now, why did you call me?"
Kang Wonsik's smirk didn't falter. He reached into a drawer, pulling out a document and tossing it across the desk. "Read it."
Mr. Choi's hands trembled as he unfolded the paper. His eyes scanned the text, and a wave of anger surged through him. 'Rejoin the guild or… repay the loan in a week?' The absurdity of it all made his blood boil.
Wonsik's voice dripped with mockery. "The Guild has left you no choice. You can't possibly repay the loan in a week, especially when your own guild isn't even earning a penny."
A bitter laugh escaped Wonsik's lips, each sound a dagger in Mr. Choi's pride.
'Never.' Mr. Choi's thoughts seethed with defiance. 'I swore five years ago never to return here, and I'm not breaking that promise now.' With a burst of fury, he crumpled the document and tossed it aside.
"What?! How dare you..." Kang Wonsik shot up from his chair, but Mr. Choi's glare froze him in place.
"Listen, Kang Wonsik," Mr. Choi hissed, his voice low but lethal. "I know the Guild is on the brink of collapse because of the hunter shortage. And yes, I'm damn good at persuading novices to join. But I'll never help this place. Not after what Dongwon Guild did to me."
With that, Mr. Choi turned on his heel and stormed out, leaving a room full of stunned onlookers in his wake.
"What got him so angry?"
"I've never seen him like that before," murmured a few staff members.
"Shut up, you idiots!" Wonsik bellowed, slamming his fist on the desk. Silence fell, but the tension in the air was palpable. "Aish, that good-for-nothing bastard," he spat under his breath.
---
Mr. Choi practically flew into his car, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His teeth ground together as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His phone buzzed, the sound cutting through the haze of anger clouding his mind.
Ding… ding… ding…
He glanced at the screen. Mister Lee.
'Why is he calling me now?' Mr. Choi wondered, his curiosity piqued as he answered. "I'm surprised to see your call, Mr. Lee."
Seung's voice came through, light but with an undercurrent of urgency. "Haha, I know, it's unexpected. I wanted to ask if you're free right now. I need to inquire about a treasure found in monsters."
Mr. Choi's brow furrowed, curiosity replacing some of his earlier anger. "What treasure are you talking about?"
"The Jar of Life," Seung replied, his tone dead serious.
Mr. Choi's breath hitched. The significance of that treasure wasn't lost on him. "Okay, I'll come pick you up at your apartment."
"Thanks. I'll be waiting," Seung said before the call ended.
As Mr. Choi drove towards Seung's place, his mind raced with thoughts of the Jar of Life. But as he neared the Central Train Station, something caught his eye that made his blood run cold.
A massive portal had torn open near the station, and from it emerged a towering monster, its grotesque form crashing through the glass structure with a sickening crunch.
Crash!
Screams erupted as people fled in terror, the chaos intensifying with every second. Security guards scrambled to form a line ten meters away, their guns trained on the beast.
"Everyone, run! Get into the train and lock the doors!" one of the guards shouted, his voice barely audible over the panic.
Mr. Choi slammed on the brakes, his car screeching to a halt five meters from the station. He fumbled for his phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed Seung's number.
"Wh..." Seung's voice started on the other end.
"Get to Central Train Station right now, Mr. Lee!" Mr. Choi's voice was frantic, his eyes locked on the monster tearing through the station. "A monster has escaped from a portal!"
On the other end, Seung's heart pounded as he sprang off the sofa, shouting, "Leave the food, guys! Let's go!"
His clones were already on their feet, racing after him as they bolted down the stairs. Seung's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as he barked orders. "Mr. Choi, check if there's a screen on the monster. We need to know what we're dealing with."
Mr. Choi didn't hesitate. He sprinted towards the station, even as the monster raised its claws high in the air, poised to strike. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn't slow down. He had to get closer, had to see what they were up against.
"I'll take a screenshot and send it to you," he panted, snapping a photo with his phone and sending it to Seung.
Ding!
The image appeared on Seung's phone just as he burst out of the apartment building. He skidded to a stop, his clones flanking him as they studied the picture.
It was a massive beast, easily towering over the tallest buildings in the area. Its skin was a sickly green, covered in scales that glinted menacingly under the harsh lights. Its eyes were pits of darkness, staring out with a hunger that sent chills down Seung's spine.
But it was the usual red screen over its head that made Seung's blood freeze in his veins.
E-Rank Monster: Collosal Mirefiend
At the moment the monster was about to deliver a blow to the security guards, Mr. Choi shouted, diverting its attention to him. "Hey, silly monster! Come face me!" His voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.
Lee Seung's heart raced as those words echoed in his ears. Mr. Choi had just called for death. Panic surged through him, and he shouted, "No… no, Mr. Choi! What did you do?!" The desperation in his voice was unmistakable.
Before ending the call, Mr. Choi's voice softened, carrying a weight of finality. "I called for death. That means you must come quickly to save me and the people. You're a Hunter, Mr. Lee."