episode_0097

[ Bleep ───── ]

A sharp noise that pierces my ears.

“… … .”

I furrowed my brows and pulled down my headphones, holding my breath as I stared at the gruesome scene on the monitor.

Pterodon has clearly been subdued.

It wasn’t clear yet because all the dust had not cleared, but I was certain that the giant pterosaur monster had stopped breathing.

Jin Seo-won’s first and final blow was so powerful that it was almost S-rank.

‘… What did I see… ?’

Even though I watched the entire situation clearly from the command center, I couldn’t help but believe my eyes.

It was okay until Bang Han-na, with Kim Na-rae’s help, caught the Pterodon.

The operation was carried out much more smoothly and skillfully than I had practiced, so much so that I felt like praising it.

the problem is… .

It was Jinseowon’s attack that followed.

Even at a glance, her attack had tremendous magical energy.

Even when I look at it through the monitor, its ominousness is eerie, so what more can I say?

‘Is it a heavenly horse?’

The first thing that came to mind was my suspicion that Jin Seo-won had awakened into the Heavenly Demon in the original work.

It’s strange that she, who seemed fine until a moment ago, suddenly awakened into a Heavenly Demon, but in fact, her existence itself is puzzling, so it doesn’t necessarily make sense.

however.

[ Seowon! ]

I quickly gave up the speculation that she might have awakened into the Heavenly Demon.

[ … huh ]

[ Seo, Seowon! How on earth did you do this!? ]

[ … I don’t know ]

Because I could clearly hear the voices of Jin Seo-won, including the members, through the headphones I had taken off.

It was a fairly normal reaction for being awakened as a Heavenly Demon.

‘Is this temporary?’

One simple guess is that she may have been able to properly handle the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, even if only for a short period of time.

In the first place, the Heavenly Demon Divine Power itself was a power that chose evil for stronger power, so she may have grown internally without knowing it and was able to handle it properly.

‘… Ability is proportional to emotions… .’

Let’s take a moment to think about Jinseowon.

[Pterodon subjugation complete! I’ll be back right away! ]

A return signal came back from the members inside the gate.

One way or another, the final subjugation was also successful.

“… Good job. Everyone check the status… . Come back safely.”

[ All right! ]

After putting aside my worries about Jinseowon, I began to confirm and prepare for their return.

*

Team Seoul City Hall’s final gate raid of the season ended very successfully.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

“… Thank you for your hard work.”

The members, who must have been quite tired from the different environment from other gates, quickly recovered and participated in the after-party as if they had never been so.

“Thank you all for your hard work! Let’s have fun and drink comfortably for today!”

Do Ji-hyuk, who had been handling work with his team members until the deadline, put off work for Tomorrow’s Do Ji-hyuk and jumped into an after-party dinner.

“Gyuri unnie. Get a drink!”

“Ah, thank you. It’s me.”

“Hey, Jin Seowon. You drank too much… !”

“… Isn’t it?”

“You had a hard time.”

“You did a good job too.”

Team Seoul City Hall’s after-party was held at the rooftop bar of a luxury hotel in Seoul.

I was having a very comfortable time thanks to Lee Hye-ri, who couldn’t attend the guild’s after-party, and rented out the entire place.

“Hey. Jihyuk. Our team’s record is better than expected?”

“Is that a good level?”

“No. It’s a completely crazy record.”

Kim Jun-hyung and Do Ji-hyuk put their heads together and looked over the records achieved this season.

A total of 12 gate defeats.

Average gate level B rank.

The points earned were around 130,000.

If you just look at the records, it’s not that great of a result, but considering the fact that it was a new team made up of two D-level players and one F-level member and the short period of activity, it was a very impressive result.

At my current pace, I would probably have eaten at least 3 parts if I had played a full season.

‘We must take good care of our children.’

Do Ji-hyuk smiled happily at the very good record.

When the date changes at midnight today to August 1st, this season will officially end.

Then, there is a three-week break period for gate maintenance… .

Usually, the so-called ‘transfer market’ opens during this period.

A fierce battle begins in earnest between those trying to prevent power leakage and those trying to mine better power.

“There have been no separate offers from us yet, right?”

“Not yet.”

In fact, the transfer market starts to become more active towards the end of the season.

Since each person’s individual skills have already been proven throughout the season, everyone must have calculated who has the resources the guild needs.

Usually, they contact recruits faster than other teams and try to work behind the scenes, or they try to trick the team by making sweet offers… .

In fact, it can be seen that Lee Hye-ri contacted Do Ji-hyuk in advance in that sense.

“Producer! Mr. Junhyung! Let’s play a game of darts!”

At that time, Gyu-ri Han appears holding a glass of alcohol and suddenly asks for a dart.

“Suddenly?”

“Come on… ! The kids are waiting… ! Come on, Junhyung, let’s go too!”

Do Ji-hyuk, who was having a leisurely time, made eye contact with Kim Jun-hyung and slowly stood up.

“Is there a bet?”

“Of course it is! The losing team gets to drink vodka shots!”

“Good. I’ll be there soon, so go and tell them everyone died today.”

“Ahh… ! all right! Then come right away!”

With a lighter expression than ever, he picked up the cocktail glass he was drinking and headed towards the members with Kim Jun-hyung.

*

That night.

Do Ji-hyuk and the team at Seoul City Hall were enjoying an after-party.

Seol Joo-hee’s house.

“Oh, sorry… . Am I a little late?”

Hong Yu-ra and Seol Joo-hee were quietly glaring at Lim A-rin, who was sitting across from them with the most natural look on their faces.

“… … .”

Seol Joo-hee found Lim A-rin’s behavior, which arrived well past the scheduled time, very annoying.

I was supposed to see it at 10 o’clock, but the fact that I came after 11 o’clock meant that there was going to be an open fight.

If it were normal, I would have done it without knowing anything, but… .

Now that I fully knew her true nature, I felt even more disgusted because I could see her intentions.

“But, for some reason… ?”

Lim A-rin looked at the two people in turn with a very worried expression.

“With such a serious expression… .“

That moment.

“Arin Lim.”

Hong Yu-ra, who was glaring at her with cold eyes, readily opened her mouth.

“Stop acting now.”

“… Yes… ? Acting… . What is that… .”

Lim A-rin reacts in a confused manner and says she cannot understand.

In the end, Seol Joo-hee, who couldn’t see her like that, slammed the sofa and poured out an abusive language.

“You fucking bitch. Still don’t understand the situation?”

“… … .”

Lim A-rin made a stern expression as if she was offended by the sudden verbal abuse.

Hong Yu-ra, who realized that even that was just an act, quelled her boiling anger, placed the envelope of documents she had prepared in advance on the table, and gently pushed it toward Im A-rin.

“Look.”

“… what’s this… ?”

She carefully picked up the document envelope, looking at her as if she had no idea what was going on.

Hong Yu-ra quietly watched her heinous behavior and indifferently said one word.

“The things you have done so far.”

OK.

flinch─

Lim A-rin, who had never been agitated until now, began to flinch and appear slightly agitated.

“… … .”

Seol Joo-hee, who inadvertently raised the corner of her mouth at Lim A-rin’s quietly rolling eyes, growled lowly, confident of victory, as if she had caught a criminal red-handed.

“Now you can see what the situation is, right?”

“… Well, I don’t really know what you’re talking about… . What I did… ?”

Im A-rin then pretended like nothing had happened, but with strangely trembling hands, she took out the documents from the envelope.

And then… .

“!”

When he found the document placed at the very top, he again seemed surprised.

[Virtual media creation using illusion magic]

It was material about the ‘video’ that sent Do Ji-hyuk into the abyss.

“What is this…? .”

“Arin Lim.”

Hong Yu-ra, who was watching the scene, said coldly, thinking that they had shown their cards to some extent.

“It’s all over now. Everything you have done so far has been revealed, and all the clear evidence is in my hands. So give up now.”

“zu, evidence… ! Yura, I wonder what this means… !”

“Abominable year. Act really well. Before I tear that annoying face off.”

“Sol Joo-hee! What are you saying… ! I have nothing… !”

Lim A-rin desperately tried to protest and express her unfairness, but to the two people who already knew the truth, it only seemed like a trivial struggle.

“Speak to Do Ji-hyuk with your own mouth.”

“Ji, Jihyuk… ? What should I tell Jihyuk? .”

“You killed Director Park Jeong-seok.”

“!”

Hong Yu-ra listed the things Lim A-rin had done so far one by one.

“You created a rift with the Chunhwa Group and slandered Do Ji-hyuk.”

What evil deeds have you committed?

“They made that damn video and forced Do Ji-hyuk out.”

And what a cruel thing he committed.

“He tried to keep it to himself. Reveal it directly with your own mouth.”

He recited it clearly and with cold anger.

“… W-what can I say… .”

Of course, Lim A-rin denied it as if she did not understand anything.

However, she could not hide the slight trembling of her body.

Seol Joo-hee, who was enraged to see her turning away even after all of her crimes were revealed, gritted her teeth and warned her.

“If you don’t do it, we will. If you don’t want to be the same again, do it in moderation and get out.”

The two wanted Lim Ah-rin to back down gracefully.

Part of me wanted to tear her into pieces and feed her to the monsters, but I couldn’t bring myself to do something like that.

but… .

“… Me, I don’t know… ! What on earth is this? !”

Lim A-rin denied her actions until the end.

“You… .”

“This fucking bitch is really… !”

In the end, Seol Joo-hee, unable to control her anger, stood up and gave a warning with a cold, murderous attitude.

“Arin Lim. I know you broke Do Ji-hyuk’s leg on purpose.”

“… Well, well… ?”

“… What?”

Im A-rin is embarrassed and Hong Yu-ra is slightly surprised to hear the story for the first time.

Seol Joo-hee said, recalling the image she once saw of Im Ah-rin deliberately casting a powerful spell while looking precisely at Do Ji-hyuk’s leg.

“Disgusting bitch. How can you do something like that and shamelessly show your face? Aren’t you sorry for ruining other people’s lives?”

“… Oh no! It was an accident… !”

“Was it good to go that far and get a taste of Do Ji-hyuk? huh? Was it good? Did you like it, you fucking bitch!!!!”

“Sol Joo-hee! Calm down!”

“Let go! Rip that fucking bitch’s mouth open… !”

“Sol Joo-hee!”

After barely catching Seol Joo-hee, who was running wild, Hong Yu-ra looked down at Lim A-rin, who was shaking in contemplation, and warned her.

“Arin Lim. Again, end your relationship by tomorrow. And disappear before our eyes. Otherwise, everything you did will be exposed to the world.”

Seol Ju-hee and Hong Yu-ra were confident that their plan had worked.

The proof was the sight of Lim A-rin sitting quietly without saying anything.

“… I thought of you as a real friend until now. So, I’m giving you one last chance to disappear gracefully. … Please don’t disappoint me any further. Choose well.”

Hong Yu-ra, who valued loyalty, gave her one last chance, considering the time she had spent with her.

however.

“… … .”

Lim A-rin lowered her head as if unable to recover from the shock.

Hong Yu-ra thought she had gotten the best revenge and tried to get Im A-rin out of the house.

“… now stop… .”

But then.

Sigh─

Im A-rin suddenly raises one wrist and quietly looks down.

“… … ?”

On her wrist was a thin watch gifted by Do Ji-hyuk.

“… … .”

Im A-rin, who had been looking at the clock for a moment, suddenly stood up, looked straight at the two people, and said.

“Are you done now?”

Her face with a lovely smile as if it had been like that for some time.

“!”

For a moment, Hong Yu-ra and Seol Ju-hee felt a goosebumps as if they had seen a ghost.

“Today was fun.”

Lim A-rin casually packed her bag and said, looking at her watch again.

“I broke Jihyuk’s leg on purpose and pulled a mean trick… . It was a method I never even thought of… !”

“… Arin Lim. you… .”

Hong Yu-ra and Seol Ju-hee, who sensed something was wrong with Im Ah-rin’s strange reaction, tried to catch her.

That moment.

Beep Bibi Big─ Beep Bibi Big─

A dry mechanical sound echoes throughout the house.

“Oh my, it’s 12 o’clock.”

Im A-rin, still with a lovely expression on her face, turned off the notifications and glanced at Hong Yu-ra and Seol Joo-hee.

“Then I’ll just leave. then… . Take care of yourself?”

The two people stood there in silence and let her go.

no… .

I had no choice but to watch her go.

“… Uh, uh… .”

“… Ugh… !”

Seol Joo-hee covers her head as if she’s suddenly having a seizure, and Hong Yu-ra grabs her hair.

The two people collapsed in the living room, sweating and shaking together as if they were in fear, and then began to let out shrill screams.

“… Ji, Jihyuk… !!!!”

“… Oh, no… . no… .”

August 1st, midnight sharp.

The allusion between Seol Joo-hee and Hong Yu-ra has been dispelled.