If he hadn't joined Perfect and received a ticket, he would have been anxiously watching the news by now….
No, that's not right. He wouldn't have been anxiously waiting. He would have sneaked into the exhibition hall to check whether the spirit was real or not. However, thanks to Seokyoung, he had secured a ticket, so he could take his time this evening and confirm whether it was genuine or not.
'Is it a replica? Or the real thing?'
If it was fake, he would be disappointed, but if it was real, his heart would ache and feel heavy. After waiting alone for so long, had that thing come to hate him?
Yoon Seo's mind was a mess, and he had no appetite, so he finished breakfast with just two bowls.
***
Many people in the world were divided over the pros and cons of the Gaia System. There were those who vehemently opposed it, blaming it for bringing humanity to the brink of destruction, and those who supported it, believing that human civilization had advanced significantly because of it. Yoon Seo remained neutral, but at times, he found himself leaning toward the pro-Gaia side. Like today, when he had to drive a long distance after a restless night.
"Master, wake up. We've arrived at the destination."
Yoon Seo, who had been lost in thought with his car seat fully reclined, opened his eyes at Sticky Rice's words. These days, drowsy driving accidents were almost nonexistent. AI handled the driving instead. At times like this, he couldn't help but appreciate the Gaia System.
When he checked the time, he realized he had arrived two hours earlier than scheduled. Expecting traffic, he had left early, but it seemed he had overestimated.
"I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"I'll lower the lighting. Sweet dreams."
Sticky Rice adjusted the car's interior to create an optimal sleeping environment for Yoon Seo. However, despite the thoughtful gesture, he couldn't fall asleep. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and let his mind wander before speaking to Sticky Rice.
"Sticky Rice, I might bring home a new family member today."
"Are you scrapping me?"
"…What?"
Yoon Seo was caught off guard by the sorrowful tone.
"If you get a new car, the old one has nowhere to go but the scrapyard. Master doesn't have the financial means to maintain two AI cars…."
It was an AI that truly acted like a person.
"No, that's not it. I meant something like a pet."
"Oh, that's a relief. A cat? A dog? A bird? What kind?"
"It could be anything. I'm sure you'll like it too."
"I'll look forward to it. I'm really happy that my lonely master is getting a new family."
Yoon Seo's eyebrow twitched.
"I'm not lonely."
"Master is lonely. I know."
"How would you know?"
"Master is lonely and solitary. I know everything."
"I'm asking how you know that."
"This is incomprehensible information."
"You only pretend not to understand when it suits you."
"This is incomprehensible information."
Leaving the sly AI alone, Yoon Seo took out his knitting project from a knit bag on the passenger seat. The knit piece for Goh Heewon was already in its final stages and had been left at home. This one was the 99th piece. He hadn't decided who to give it to yet, but for now, he was knitting it roughly in an adult male size. Including this, if he completed just two more, this will would be fulfilled.
That would leave 17 wills remaining.
He was diligently running toward death.
***
Ten minutes before the appointed time, Yoon Seo left the parking lot and headed to the meeting place.
As the world's first item market, the Yangpyeong Item Market was massive and always bustling with visitors, but today, it was even more crowded than usual. There were many people wearing clothes with famous guild emblems, ones even Yoon Seo recognized, like Rainbow, Mir, and Gaon. Several hunters who frequently appeared on TV were also present. It even felt like there were more foreigners than Koreans. Cameras were set up all over the place, so Yoon Seo pulled his cap down lower. Since Seo Chaeyoon's weapon was being exhibited, he had expected the crowd and had come prepared with a hat and mask.
'It's been a while since I've been somewhere this packed.'
During his middle and high school days, he was rarely home, always out with friends on weekdays and weekends. But lately, perhaps as a reaction to running all over Korea fulfilling those damned wills, he just wanted to stay home whenever he had the chance to rest. A cozy home, a plush sofa, hugging a cushion while watching dramas, that was his idea of a retreat.
As he approached the plaza clock tower, the meeting spot, Yoon Seo suddenly came to a halt.
Standing next to Soo Jaehee, who was wearing thick-rimmed glasses, was a tall man in a cap with broad shoulders.
"Oh, hyung!"
Soo Jaehee waved enthusiastically and ran toward him.
"Hyung, it's me! Me!"
"Hunter Soo Jaehee. Why is Kwon Jihan here?"
"Oh…."
Soo Jaehee widened his eyes, then grinned.
"We used an S-rank perception interference item, but you saw right through it."
"..."
Yoon Seo regretted speaking so quickly. He should have thought before blurting it out. With so many cameras and people around, it was natural for two well-known figures to come in disguise. But he was running on no sleep, and his brain wasn't functioning properly.
"I didn't see through it. Your face looks different, but you're the only one who would call my name and run up to me here. And that guy's physique practically screams Kwon Jihan, so I just put two and two together."
"Hyung, you're still pretending about your rank?"
"It's not pretending. It's the truth."
"Please, just drop it already. If you were the main character in a novel, the readers would be cursing you out for being frustrating."
Yoon Seo frowned.
He kept his eyes on Kwon Jihan, who stood under the clock tower with his arms crossed, watching them. His sharp gaze gave him a slightly fierce look, but with his good-looking features, solid build, and upright posture, he could pass for a model.
When their eyes met, Kwon Jihan smirked lazily and started walking toward them.
"So, why is that guy here?"
"I invited him. When I said I was coming with you, Jihan hyung wanted to come too. You two have… a special relationship."
Soo Jaehee's voice trailed off suggestively, and his cheeks flushed slightly.
Why was he acting all shy while describing them like rivals destined for a deathmatch?
Yoon Seo seriously considered challenging Soo Jaehee to a duel right after he was done dealing with Kwon Jihan.
By then, Kwon Jihan had reached them and spoke directly to Yoon Seo.
"What's wrong, Yoon Seo? Aren't you happy to see me?"
Beneath the brim of his cap, his gray eyes curved into a grin.
Yoon Seo openly displayed an expression that screamed, 'What kind of nonsense is this? I'd be happier to see a boss monster from an S-rank Red Dungeon.'
Kwon Jihan let out a short chuckle and said,
"Don't look at me like that. The guild master sent me to appraise Seo Chaeyoon's weapon. The guild that acquired it is a C-rank guild in Europe. It's strange that a small guild, which only ever explored herb dungeons, managed to obtain Seo Chaeyoon's weapon. I'm here to assess it."
"From Europe…?"
"Yeah. Suspicious, right?"
[The
[The opponent has refused judgment.]
Out of habit, Yoon Seo used his skill, but as expected, it didn't work on Kwon Jihan.
Whether his words were true or not, if it was indeed the case, it was strange that a distant European guild had managed to acquire the spirit.
Yoon Seo fell into deep thought.
The last memory of the spirit was from when they had defeated the thirteenth boss monster in the Great Dungeon. Yoon Seo had driven the dagger deep into the back of the boss monster's neck and then sliced downward in one clean motion. After that….
'Is it really dead?'
'It's definitely dead. Chaeyoon cut its body into twelve pieces.'
'Then why—why isn't the exit portal appearing?'
'Don't tell me this isn't the final boss….'
'The portal, why isn't the portal appearing? Damn it!'
'Shit! I knew it. It's over. We're never getting out of here. We're stuck here forever….'
The situation after killing the thirteenth boss was urgent and chaotic. At the time, Yoon Seo had already developed resistance to healing, was severely injured, and his consciousness was flickering. He could barely breathe, gasping heavily while being held in Lee Kangjin's arms. When he heard that the exit portal hadn't appeared, he was consumed by overwhelming fear.
It was only a few minutes after they had defeated the boss that a portal finally formed before their eyes. At first, they were relieved, thinking they had finally found the exit, but the moment they saw the portal's color, their faces turned pale. Because the portal was a pitch-black void.
"Yoon Seo hyung?"
Soo Jaehee suddenly leaned in, peering at him. Yoon Seo instinctively took a step back.
"What is it?"
"You looked like you were thinking about something really serious. Are you worried that Seo Chaeyoon's weapon might be a fake?"
"Yes. There have been a few fakes before."
"But it's rare for one to be exhibited like this, right? I'm really looking forward to it. And who knows? Maybe Seo Chaeyoon himself will show up after hearing that his weapon has appeared. Wouldn't it be amazing if we ran into him by chance?"
Speaking dreamily, Soo Jaehee had no idea he was looking at Seo Chaeyoon himself.
Seeing the large guy still clinging to his childlike fantasies, Yoon Seo smirked and slid his hands into his pockets.
"Ah, hyung. You're taking your meds again?"
Soo Jaehee's voice was laced with concern as he watched Yoon Seo pull out a pill bottle. Yoon Seo downed two pills, then securely closed the cap before slipping it back into his pocket.
"You said those were tranquilizers. Do you have something like panic disorder?"
"Something similar."
"What?! Then being in a crowded place like this must be really dangerous for you!"
"I go into dungeons. This much is fine. Let's go."
Yoon Seo spoke nonchalantly, but Soo Jaehee kept asking if he was really okay.
Whenever memories of the past resurfaced, Yoon Seo would sometimes struggle to breathe and lose his composure, so he took his medication the moment he sensed any warning signs. Ever since the Great Cataclysm, PTSD had become so common that many people in The Guild of Leaves were on medication. At first, those around him would be shocked and worried, but eventually, they would get used to it. Soo Jaehee would probably get used to it soon, too.
Meanwhile, the ever-righteous Kwon Jihan simply stood a step away, silently observing Yoon Seo's expression. Oddly enough, Yoon Seo found that more comfortable.