Ch.131Chapter 131 – Vampire (2)

    “Senior, look here, cheese~!”

    Yujin Lee excitedly thrust a camera forward. Jaehyuk Shin wore an annoyed expression but didn’t roughly push away Yujin as she pressed close to him. Click. Yujin uploaded the photo to her personal social media with a delighted smile.

    “Hmm~ It turned out well! With such nice scenery and a good-looking subject, every photo I take is a masterpiece. Hehe.”

    “Just how many pictures are you going to take… It’s exhausting.”

    Jaehyuk and Yujin were enjoying sightseeing around Paris. Originally, they had planned to visit the Louvre Museum first to check the Sage’s Prophecy, but they changed their schedule after Yujin convinced him they could examine the artifact without disturbance if they went after closing hours.

    So Jaehyuk was being led by Yujin from one tourist spot to another, killing time until the museum closed. While Jaehyuk wasn’t particularly excited about travel or sightseeing, Yujin was visibly thrilled about her first overseas trip.

    “Hehe, but it’s nice for taking photos with so few tourists around. Is it usually this empty? I thought Paris was supposed to be a popular tourist destination.”

    “Well… Now that you mention it, it is strange. Even America had more people than this. Is there some event happening today?”

    It was surprisingly deserted for a world-famous tourist destination. Wondering if they were missing something, Jaehyuk checked the internet. News feeds were updating in real-time.

    “Zeus is in Paris?”

    Apparently, Zeus was traveling around Paris taking photos with tourists. Authenticated shots were being uploaded every minute, each with different backgrounds. It seemed tourists were changing their original destinations to follow this famous superhuman.

    “He’s as popular as a celebrity. But is he really using his powers to fly around just to take pictures? He’s lost his mind too… Are all S-ranks like this?”

    Jaehyuk scrolled through Zeus’s photos with a disgusted expression. There were already dozens of pictures, and not a single one had the same background. He seemed like a ghost who had been denied photos in his previous life and was making up for it now.

    As Jaehyuk kept focusing on his phone screen, Yujin puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

    “Sen-ior~ I’m right beside you, and you’re looking at pictures of other women?”

    “No, not other women. It’s Zeus. One of only seven S-rank Hunters. Aren’t you curious why he’s in Paris?”

    Yujin narrowed her eyes and snorted.

    “Hmph, why should I care? Besides, I don’t like Hunters.”

    “Oh really? That’s surprising. Don’t most young people these days like Hunters? Joining fan clubs, collecting merchandise. They’re practically idols, just without the singing.”

    “…I’m not interested in that stuff. And what’s with ‘young people these days’? You’re talking like you’re ancient when we’re not that far apart in age.”

    ‘…Well, mentally I am pretty old.’

    Yujin and Jaehyuk continued walking through the city, chatting playfully. Armed soldiers were scattered among tourists and citizens everywhere. No one found this strange. It had become an everyday sight since the gates opened.

    ‘Since gates can open anywhere, anytime… And Paris, being directly connected to Eden, must feel even more anxious after what happened with the Empire.’

    Honestly, Jaehyuk wasn’t entirely comfortable walking around with Yujin. If something were to happen, he couldn’t guarantee the safety of Yujin, who was merely a low-level awakened.

    ‘Surely nothing will happen. We’re heading back tomorrow anyway.’

    Jaehyuk checked the time.

    “It’s almost closing time for the museum. Should we head there now?”

    “Wait, just one more place. We can’t miss the Eiffel Tower while we’re in Paris!”

    With Yujin’s strong insistence, Jaehyuk visited the final tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower.

    True to its reputation as Paris’s landmark, the Eiffel Tower stood tall amid the chaos. When Gustave Eiffel built the tower, citizens protested against erecting such a bizarre monstrosity in the heart of Paris, but now the unchanging iron tower gave citizens reassurance. The towering structure had become Paris’s final pride, announcing the city’s resilience through the ages.

    As befitting Paris’s most famous landmark, there were quite a few tourists here. Passing couples taking photos in the park below the tower, Jaehyuk followed Yujin’s lead to the base of the tower.

    “They say we can go all the way to the top floor by elevator!”

    The two went up to the observation deck. From there, the city spread out clearly below them. Families picnicking in the park, children playing ball, street vendors soliciting passersby.

    “Wow… it’s beautiful.”

    Yujin murmured in an impressed voice. It was a peaceful scene that seemed out of place in these turbulent times. But Jaehyuk knew this peace was temporary and unstable.

    Turning his gaze further, he saw evidence of this everywhere. Black gates barely visible between buildings. Holes that were dormant now but could transform into portals spewing demons at any moment.

    And among them, he could see a deep blue gate. The Eden Gate that had opened in Paris. Jaehyuk still didn’t understand. What was the System’s intention in connecting Eden and Earth? Why were the Sage and Satan allowing this phenomenon?

    ‘It’s like the two worlds are merging into one… Or rather, one being gradually devoured by the other.’

    The gates seemed to be integrating the worlds. As more holes connecting Hell and Earth, Earth and Eden appeared, would the distinctions between worlds eventually disappear?

    “Senior! Why are you spacing out over there? Come here!”

    “Ah, yes. I was just lost in thought.”

    Yujin’s call snapped Jaehyuk out of his contemplation. He stood beside Yujin as she guided him. Yujin stretched out her arm holding the camera to take a selfie. Perhaps because it was autumn, the sun was setting earlier than usual, painting the sky with a beautiful sunset as their backdrop.

    Other couples were also taking photos against the sunset backdrop or admiring the scenery. Jaehyuk found himself in a peculiar mood.

    ‘…Being like this, it really feels like we’re a couple.’

    It seemed Jaehyuk wasn’t the only one who felt this way. With a slightly reddened face, Yujin stared at Jaehyuk. Her lips trembled. Like someone who wanted to ask something but didn’t quite have the courage.

    “Senior…”

    ‘Is she going to confess after getting caught up in the mood…?’

    Jaehyuk was perplexed. He couldn’t accept her confession. It would be the same with any woman, not just Yujin. It wasn’t just because he still had feelings for Orthesia, his lover from his previous life. He couldn’t leave any lingering attachments. He couldn’t afford to be distracted before important moments. This wasn’t the time…

    As he was inwardly panicking about how to defuse the situation, Yujin’s trembling lips finally opened.

    “Senior, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

    Contrary to Jaehyuk’s expectation, the words from her lips weren’t a shy girl’s confession but a question. Jaehyuk was taken aback, either because his prediction was wrong or because her question was unexpected.

    “What are you talking about? Hiding something…?”

    “Don’t pretend you don’t know. Your unusually frequent business trips, major incidents happening at each destination, your traces constantly disappearing… And this morning too. An ordinary hacker wouldn’t be a key figure for French intelligence.”

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

    Yujin seemed to gain confidence from Jaehyuk’s flustered voice. A blue light swirled in her eyes. Jaehyuk inwardly clicked his tongue. It was Yujin’s awakened skill, the eye that discerns truth.

    “Senior… please be honest. The Incheon Disaster, the Pyongyang Gate, and the Empire Invasion incident. You were involved in all of them, weren’t you? You’re… that unidentified S-rank, aren’t you?”

    The eyes that penetrated truth demanded an answer. Looking at those eyes staring straight at him, Jaehyuk sighed. Lying was pointless before those eyes. He reluctantly answered.

    “…Yes. It’s as you guessed. Defeating Belial, killing Belphegor, stopping the Demon King’s army from invading the Empire—I did it all.”

    Yujin sharply inhaled at Jaehyuk’s admission. She seemed shocked now that her suspicion was confirmed as truth. Jaehyuk couldn’t understand. Why had she brought this up? Was she planning to blackmail him with this information?

    No, that wasn’t it. Yujin hesitantly opened her mouth.

    “Um… can’t you quit being a Hunter?”

    Jaehyuk’s mouth opened slightly. It was an unexpected response. Because the question was unexpected, he couldn’t readily think of an answer. As Jaehyuk remained silent, Yujin continued.

    “…You know I took a year off from school, right? Do you know why?”

    “…No.”

    “My parents passed away. They were kind to everyone and loved me more than anyone else. Both before and after the gates opened. I thought this happiness would continue unchanged forever… but the gates made it impossible for our family to remain the same.”

    Originally, Yujin’s family was a close-knit one. Though not extremely wealthy, they lived without want, and Yujin’s parents, who ran their own business, raised their only daughter with love.

    But family bonds couldn’t deflect the hand of misfortune.

    “If only they hadn’t started that Hunter business…”

    Gates opened. Monsters swarmed, and nearly five million people died nationwide. About ten percent of Korea’s population. Though President Park Ju-gwan quickly seized power and forcibly contained the chaos, the aftermath didn’t disappear. Amid the great inflation and economic collapse that followed day by day, countless businesses and shops closed. Yujin’s family couldn’t escape misfortune either.

    After her parents’ shop failed, they turned to Hunter work to make a living. Though they weren’t awakened, they could become Hunters. With nationwide manpower shortages, few awakened individuals, and even fewer willing to fight monsters, the military and associations had to rely on civilian mercenaries to stop the monsters.

    Of course, being non-awakened, they didn’t fight dangerous monsters. Their role was like other soldiers. While awakened individuals dealt with bosses, they provided cover fire with guns. Anyone with a gun could handle imps.

    For a while, the work was fine. But as the initial chaos settled and the Hunter industry developed, it became increasingly difficult to find decent jobs. The demand for non-awakened mercenaries decreased. The two, being merely non-awakened, had to take on more dangerous, better-paying jobs.

    Every day was like walking a tightrope. Whenever Yujin’s parents came home late, they had more minor injuries and complained of physical limitations. But they couldn’t stop working. Coping with the inflation from the national economic crisis was entirely up to individuals.

    Yujin’s parents fought bravely like Hunters for their child, for the person they needed to protect.

    And they met an end befitting Hunters.

    They said the entire party was wiped out. When Yujin last saw them, their bodies were so mangled by demons that identification was difficult. The memory remained a trauma for Yujin.

    “So I had to take a break from school for a while. Just hearing words like ‘Hunter’ or ‘monster’ kept bringing back images of them…”

    Her slightly bloodshot eyes welled up with tears. Her head drooped.

    Jaehyuk felt terrible. To think he hadn’t known about an acquaintance’s horrific tragedy for over a year. He had no idea how to comfort her. He just silently waited for her to continue.

    Yujin clutched Jaehyuk’s sleeve tightly with both hands and mumbled.

    “…Can’t you quit being a Hunter? There are plenty of people desperate to become S-rank, but I don’t want that for you. I know the weight of the position. With power comes responsibility. Being an S-rank Hunter means you’re the strongest Hunter in the world, but it also means you have to fight the strongest monsters in the world.”

    “Yes. It’s certainly dangerous work. But someone has to do it.”

    “That someone doesn’t have to be you. There are seven others besides you, so why deliberately put yourself in danger! Can’t you be satisfied with your current position, with this moment?”

    Her tear-filled eyes were pleading with Jaehyuk. Begging him to stop, not to put himself in danger. Jaehyuk subtly averted his gaze.

    “…I can’t do that.”

    “Why not? You make enough money from hacking requests.”

    “It’s not about money.”

    “Then why? Do you want to be famous like other Hunters? Do you want to be an idol that girls go crazy for? What glory are you chasing that makes an otaku shut-in like you voluntarily throw yourself into danger!”

    Yujin’s accusatory voice grew louder. Her fists pounded on Jaehyuk’s chest. Desperately, as if hoping her sincerity would reach his heart. But her fists, belonging to a mere E-rank, couldn’t even make Jaehyuk’s chest budge. Burying her face against his chest, Yujin pleaded in an almost begging voice.

    “Please… I don’t want to lose you too. Don’t leave me.”

    Despite Yujin’s plea, Jaehyuk couldn’t readily answer. Quit being a Hunter? Impossible. If he didn’t stop them, who would stop the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon King? Jaehyuk knew that the current boom in the Hunter industry and the seemingly safe management of gates were like a house built on sand. A sandcastle that would collapse when the Demon King’s storm came.

    His hesitant lips ultimately remained closed. Yujin realized that the answer she wanted would never come from Jaehyuk’s firmly shut mouth.

    “…So that’s your answer. I understand.”

    With a face ruined by a mix of disappointment, fear, and betrayal, Yujin turned away with her head down. She looked like an abandoned puppy on a rainy street. She left the observation deck alone. Jaehyuk sighed deeply, trying to manage his complex emotions.

    ‘I thought this was just an ordinary trip.’

    It seemed Yujin had proposed this trip specifically to tell him this. To get him to leave the Hunter industry…

    ‘…I should explain properly to Yujin. Why I can’t quit being a Hunter, and… who I was in my previous life.’

    She deserved to know that much of his secret so she could understand his choice.

    After some time had passed, enough for her to have composed herself, Jaehyuk followed her down to the ground. As the elevator doors opened, an acrid air rushed in.

    “What the hell, what’s with this smoke… no, fog?”

    The ground was filled with an unexpected fog, making it difficult to see even a step ahead.

    ‘…Fog? There wasn’t any before we went up to the observation deck.’

    Something out of place always evokes ominousness. Jaehyuk was suddenly gripped by a certain intuition. A very bad intuition.

    ‘This is strange. I can’t sense any life forms on the ground. Not a single one of all those tourists.’

    Jaehyuk hurriedly jumped out of the elevator and pushed through the fog.

    “Yujin! Yujin! Where are you-! Answer me!”

    Jaehyuk shouted Yujin’s name with all his might, as if his voice would give out. His ominous intuition was immediately confirmed. No answer came from beyond the thick fog. Only empty echoes returned.

    …Yujin had disappeared.


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