Chapter 69: Eyewitness Account (1)

Immediately after activating Detection,

The information of enemies hiding on the map unfolded before Han-seong’s eyes. Soon after, as he confirmed the contents, his pupils were tinged with bewilderment.

[Name]: Soul Eater (Ether Plunderer)

[Owned Skills]: Territory Construction (Dream World Construction), Sleep Fog (Dream Fog), Restraint (Binding), Teleportation (Spatial Movement), Mental Split (Mental Contamination), Concealment (Stealth), Control (Summon), Magic Damage Absorption (Physical Damage Absorption)

[Weakness]: Simultaneous defeat within 60 seconds

[Weak Spot]: Eater’s Heart (Plunderer’s Brain)

‘What is this…?’

Two names and different levels.

It was information in a somewhat unusual format that he hadn’t seen before. Moreover, even the possessed skills were separately distinguished in parentheses.

Han-seong narrowed his eyes.

‘Does it mean there are two entities in one body? Or are they twin-like beings?’

At present, he couldn’t say for certain, but personally, the latter seemed more plausible.

The content listed under weakness was evidence.

‘…Simultaneous defeat within 60 seconds.’

It meant having to defeat both the Soul Eater and Ether Plunderer at the same time. If so, it suggested that the two monsters were separate entities.

With names, levels, and skills distinguished inside and outside parentheses, it was an even more reasonable guess.

A type of monster he had never seen before.

As Han-seong’s expression subtly distorted, Ji-hye, who had been watching him from the side, spoke up.

“What’s wrong? What did you see…”

A face mixed with worry and curiosity.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Han-seong told her the monster’s information in as much detail as possible.

Some time later.

“Ch-Champion monster?!”

Ji-hye, having heard the whole story, made a startled expression. With her eyes wide open, she mulled over the question Han-seong had just uttered.

“And an enemy with names and levels displayed separately… What on earth could it be?”

At present, its identity couldn’t be determined.

The only thing he could guess was the reason why the creature didn’t appear on the map. Probably due to the effect of the Concealment or Stealth skill.

And one more thing.

He could also somewhat guess the state of the people collapsed on the streets.

“This is just my speculation, but I think all the people in Hwaseong City are in a sleeping state.”

“Sleeping, you say?”

“Yes. I confirmed that it has a skill called Sleep Fog among its possessed skills.”

A body about the size of a 5-story building.

It emits a fog-like smoke from holes all over its body. And among the skills it possesses, there’s one called ‘Sleep Fog’.

Adding to this the fact that people who have collapsed without consciousness are marked on the map, it quickly leads to the speculation that they’ve fallen asleep.

“Could it be that even the search party’s communication was cut off because…”

“There’s a high chance they fell asleep too.”

Han-seong added.

At his analysis, Ji-hye closed her mouth tightly and fell into thought. After maintaining a serious expression for a while, she looked at Han-seong with a determined face.

“…Mage. Can I perhaps relay what you just told me to my uncle?”

“Sure. But don’t move rashly.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ji-hye nodded.

Han-seong wrote down the information about the Soul Eater and Ether Plunderer in a notebook, then handed it to her. Receiving this, Ji-hye immediately stood up.

“Then I’ll be heading back for today.”

The current time was 11:30 PM.

The Air Base implements a curfew from midnight until 6 AM the next morning, she said. Han-seong nodded in understanding and saw her off.

Just then.

“Ah, right. Wait a moment.”

“I have something to give you.”

One of the spoils from the Wolf King.

It’s a skillbook that can make Healing Potions.

Since it has effects like healing wounds, if she can produce them, it should be quite helpful in the future.

Ji-hye, receiving the skillbook from Han-seong, hugged it to her chest and smiled awkwardly.

“I always seem to be on the receiving end from you, Mage. I’d like to give you something in return too, but…”

“Then find some clues about my sister.”

Anything, even if it’s trivial.

At Han-seong’s request, Ji-hye nodded with a face full of strong determination.

“Of course. I’ll do my best with that, regardless of this. Just trust me!”

With those reassuring words as the finale.

Ji-hye left the base.

After confirming through the map’s scenery that she had safely returned to the Air Base, Han-seong shifted the map’s center back to Hwaseong.

That thing from earlier kept bothering him.

‘…What exactly is it doing?’

If there was one fortunate point, it was that when using Detection, the creature’s location would briefly appear on the map.

However, only one was shown on the map. He couldn’t confirm where the other one was.

‘Perhaps in a dream or something?’

The entity with its name written in parentheses.

Among the Ether Plunderer’s skills, the word dream is mentioned twice. Add to that the fog that puts people to sleep, and it added to his suspicions.

However, if that was really the case, it was also a problem. How could he defeat an enemy that exists in dreams?

‘It’s too risky to go directly into the fog to check.’

The thought of firing a few Magic Spears crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

The creature was in the middle of downtown, and carelessly firing Magic Spears at such a being could potentially involve civilians.

In the end, there was nothing he could do in the current situation.

Han-seong, who had been pondering, shook off his idle thoughts.

“Let’s find Yuna first.”

Between the unidentified monster and his younger sister Yuna.

If he had to prioritize between the two, Yuna would undoubtedly come first. Let’s confirm Yuna’s safety first, then focus on subjugating that creature.

Han-seong tapped the Phantom’s body.

[Replica: Living Armor-Phantom]

[Switching to Manual Mode]

Some time later, the Phantom left the base.

To directly search places where Yuna might be, just like when he looked for his parents in Daejeon.

The next morning.

About seven hours after starting the search, the dawn breaking could be seen in the distance.

Han-seong, who had been remotely controlling the Phantom, furrowed his brow as he looked at the brightening sky.

“…Time sure flies.”

To think it’s already daybreak. He thought only about two hours had passed subjectively. That’s understandable, as Han-seong’s current condition was quite alert.

Probably thanks to absorbing the Wolf King’s sixth heart. He had said that absorbing the heart greatly increases stamina.

On the other hand, his complexion wasn’t so bright.

‘I can’t believe I couldn’t find anything.’

From midnight until dawn broke.

Han-seong had thoroughly searched Seryu University where Yuna was attending and the surrounding area.

While doing so, he also used Detection and Precise Observation on the few blue dots on the map, specifying them one by one. But the result was a bust.

This led him to think:

‘Could she have moved to another region?’

That’s plausible, given that there weren’t many blue dots in Suwon City. Almost all survivors were gathered at the Air Base to begin with.

In this case, Ji-hye is the only one to rely on.

The group that presumably came to the Air Base with Yuna in the past. For now, waiting for Ji-hye to find them seems to be the best option.

‘If we can’t get information even then…’

We’ll have to expand the search to other regions.

Han-seong let out a sigh. Leaning back in his wheelchair, he organized his thoughts while changing the map’s center to Hwaseong.

In fact, he hadn’t focused solely on searching for Yuna. Hwaseong kept bothering him, so he observed that area periodically as well.

And as a result, he had found something out.

‘The fog is moving.’

At quite a fast speed at that.

Based on what he had learned last night, it was confirmed to be moving at a rate of 100 meters per hour. Currently, it had narrowed the distance to about 9km from Han-seong’s base.

Considering that entering the fog puts one to sleep, it’s quite a threatening phenomenon. And if it eventually reaches Suwon Air Base…

‘The situation would become serious.’

In the worst case, an unprecedented event where nearly 10,000 people fall asleep might occur.

So before that happens, they need to find a way to stop the fog’s advance. Or devise a method to eliminate the Soul Eater and Ether Plunderer.

As he was watching Hwaseong like that,

-Mage, are you perhaps awake?

Suddenly, Ji-hye’s voice was heard.

A cautious tone. Han-seong replied through the Blood Imprint that he was. Then Ji-hye continued with a much brighter voice.

-That’s great. It’s not for anything else, but about your sister’s companions I mentioned yesterday.

“Hm? Already?”

-Yes, as soon as I secured the list, I looked into it right away. So I’m with them now, if you have anything you’d like to ask. I can ask on your behalf.

It’s good that she acts quickly.

At those words, Han-seong was about to ask the questions he had thought of in advance. But then his mind changed.

“Is it possible for me to ask them directly?”

Rather than asking through Ji-hye, it seemed like meeting them in person and revealing that he was Yuna’s brother would yield more proper answers.

Ji-hye asked back as if surprised.

-Huh? I don’t mind, but… Didn’t you dislike meeting other people, Mage?

“Yes. That’s why I’m planning to send the Phantom.”

-Ah, so that’s what you meant. Alright. Then shall we meet near the main gate of the Air Base?

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

-Okay! I’ll see you in a bit then.

With those energetic words as the finale.

The conversation with Ji-hye ended. Han-seong moved the Phantom’s body, which had been searching near Suwon Station, towards Suwon Air Base.

Arriving at the main gate, the promised meeting place, he saw a crowd of about a hundred people waiting.

Probably survivors who had flocked from various regions after seeing the post on the Information Strategy Board.

“Everyone! Please line up properly!”

“You can all enter today, so there’s no need to cut in line!”

Soldiers who had come out were controlling the survivors trying to enter the Air Base. One of them seemed to notice the Phantom and immediately approached.

“Mister, please go to the back of the line too.”

“No, I’m…”

“We’ll check faces at the front anyway, so please take off your helmet in advance. And… What?”

Suddenly the soldier frowned.

Because someone had tapped his shoulder.

Thinking a colleague was playing a prank, he turned around with a disgruntled expression. But his eyes immediately widened.

“At-attention!”

The soldier saluted with a stiff face.

He couldn’t help it. The one who had tapped the soldier’s shoulder was a woman wearing a captain’s insignia.

Han-seong’s eyes widened as well.

Because the captain was none other than Ji-hye.

“Captain Lee, what brings you here?”

“I came to escort a guest.”

“Pardon? A guest?”

“That person wearing the helmet over there.”

“…Ah!”

He seemed to finally realize why the Phantom had come to the front gate without lining up. The soldier hurriedly bowed his head towards the Phantom and Ji-hye.

“I-I apologize!”

Han-seong shook the Phantom’s head.

He was just doing his duty as a soldier. There was no particular reason to receive an apology.

Leaving the small commotion behind, Han-seong moved the Phantom to walk with Ji-hye. While doing so, he quietly whispered as if asking:

“By the way, what’s with that outfit?”

“Oh, it’s the uniform of the Special Task Force.”

“Special Task Force?”

“It’s short for Special Mission Battalion, simply put, it’s a group that fights monsters. An organization specially created on my uncle’s orders.”

The qualification to join is level 20 or higher.

And only for those who have experience fighting monsters other than zombies, she said.

“That’s right. Seo Ha-eun, who came to Suwon with me, also joined the Special Task Force. Of course, she’s a minor, but now’s not the time to be picky about such things.”

Seo Ha-eun and Yoo Min-cheol.

Those two are also part of the Special Task Force like Ji-hye, she said. Because being active in the Special Task Force comes with advantageous benefits when receiving rations of food and other supplies.

Moreover, since they can gain experience points and coins by defeating zombies and monsters, for those accustomed to hunting, there was no reason to refuse.

As she continued her explanation like that,

“We’re almost there. It’s over there.”

They had finally arrived at their destination.

An outpost on the outskirts with barricades installed all over. Next to it, a single parasol could be seen set up.

One small table and five chairs.

Three of them were already occupied. A young man with a youthful face and two women, all with expressions clearly showing tension.

“Sorry. Did you wait long?”

“Ah, no! It’s fine!”

“We’re fine too.”

The three men and women answered briskly.

Ji-hye smiled gently, then sat down. Likewise, the Phantom also sat in one of the remaining chairs, and soon Ji-hye’s introduction followed.

“This person here is the brother of Kang Yuna that I mentioned earlier.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Han-seong.”

Han-seong bowed the Phantom’s head slightly. Then the three men and women also revealed their names in turn.

“Ah, hello. I’m Chae Min-a.”

“I’m Jeong Han-sol, Yuna’s classmate.”

“I’m Lee Mi-yeong.”

All three were Yuna’s classmates from the same department.

However, a hint of wariness could be seen in their eyes. Probably because the Phantom’s attire looked quite suspicious.

Han-seong took out a family photo taken 10 years ago from his pocket to ease their wariness. Soon after, upon confirming the photo, the group’s eyes widened.

“Oh? Is this Yuna…?”

“It does look a bit similar to how she is now.”

“Yeah. The eyes are exactly the same.”

Perhaps thanks to showing the family photo?

The three’s wariness eased somewhat. Then they muttered as if realizing a new fact.

“So Yuna had an older brother.”

“We thought she was an only child since she never talked about her family at all…”

At those words, Han-seong smiled bitterly.

He could roughly guess why Yuna hadn’t talked about her family.

She probably didn’t want to reveal the existence of a brother who did nothing but stay cooped up in his room. She must have felt embarrassed.

‘But that’s that, and this is this.’

Regardless of how Yuna thought of him, the fact that she was his only sister remained unchanged. Han-seong bowed his head towards Yuna’s classmates.

“If there’s any place you think Yuna might have gone, please tell me. I beg you.”

“Ah, yes. A place Yuna might have gone…”

The classmates began to ponder.

Then someone spoke up.

“Oh, come to think of it, didn’t she say last time that she was going to look for her family?”

“That’s right! I’m sure that’s what she said.”

“Yeah, I heard that too.”

She went to look for her family?

I hope we didn’t pass each other on the way?

Han-seong asked back with a voice tinged with concern.

“Did she perhaps go to Daejeon?”

“No, to Seoul.”

“…Seoul?”

Huh? Why suddenly Seoul?

Yuna should know that her parents are in Daejeon, right? As various questions arose, the young man named Han-sol muttered:

“But there is something worrying…”

“What is it?”

“As you probably know too, brother, it’s that Yuna has trouble finding her way around.”

“Ah, right. That problem existed too.”

Mi-jeong nodded in agreement.

At their words, Han-seong also recalled a forgotten memory. As they said, Yuna from 10 years ago also often got lost.

So he remembered coming to pick her up at her school when classes ended and going home together. As he was smiling slightly at the nostalgic memory,

Ji-hye asked curiously.

“How bad is she at finding her way?”

“It’s really severe. She’s a complete directional idiot.”

“Before the Upheaval, she was late several times because she couldn’t find the lecture hall.”

“…Wow, that is serious.”

Ji-hye laughed awkwardly.

Han-sol nodded and said.

“Yes, so even if she said she went to Seoul, I’m not sure if she actually arrived properly…”

I understand what he’s trying to say.

We know where Yuna went, but there’s no guarantee she arrived there. Faced with this unexpected variable, Han-seong swallowed a groan.

‘Then how should I search for her?’

Should I search all the routes from Suwon to Seoul? Or should I look even more broadly since there’s a possibility she took the wrong path from the start?

The thought alone was overwhelming.

Han-seong let out a deep sigh. Just then, Ji-hye spoke as if remembering something she had forgotten.

“Come to think of it, why was only Yuna denied entry when you all came to the Air Base together? The list didn’t include the reason…”

“Ah, that?”

“When we had a chance to check the entry list before entering the quarantine zone, I know she didn’t come in because her family wasn’t there.”

So that was the reason.

Indeed, even he would have left if there wasn’t a single family member inside the Air Base. As he was silently nodding in understanding of the situation,

Suddenly, an unexpected story was heard.

“Of course, even excluding that, Yuna’s entry to the quarantine zone was restricted because of her job.”

Her entry was restricted because of her job?

What’s this about now?

Han-seong and Ji-hye asked back in surprised voices, as if on cue.

“She couldn’t enter because of her job?”

“What on earth was her job…”

“A job called Beast Summoner.”

“It’s a job that summons and fights alongside various animals, but since they can be summoned anytime, anywhere, entry was restricted.”

Hearing the explanation, it made sense.

Of course, Yuna would never do such a thing, but if by any chance she had ill intentions and released beasts in the shelter, considerable damage could occur.

“If it had been ordinary animals, it might have been somewhat okay, but unfortunately they were strangely shaped creatures…”

“How did they look?”

“Umm, it’s a bit hard to explain in words.”

“They had an appearance that was half animal, half monster.”

“But if I had to express it…”

The three trailed off as if struggling to find an answer.

Then Han-sol suddenly pointed behind the Phantom as if he had discovered something and shouted.

“That’s right! They looked exactly like tha- Huh?”

Han-sol’s eyes suddenly widened.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Mi-jeong and Min-a, who had been looking towards the main gate, also made surprised expressions. What on earth did they see? Just as he was about to turn around to see where the three were looking,

“What’s going on? Why is everyone out here?”

A cheerful voice from behind.

A somewhat unfamiliar yet strangely familiar and nostalgic voice. The more he pondered it, the wider Han-seong’s eyes grew.

“K-Kang Yuna?!”

“Why are you here…”

The three men and women shouted with astonished faces.

Han-seong unknowingly clenched his fist tightly. Along with it, he felt sweat forming on his palm and his heart beating fiercely.

It was due to the tension rising at the thought of seeing his sister after 10 years. A moment later, having made up his mind, Han-seong turned the Phantom’s body around.