Ch.8Downtown Is Dangerous (1)

After the dungeon incident, I found myself with one fundamental question.

‘……’

It was simple.

Is my power truly gone completely?

‘It’s strange.’

I didn’t think deeply about it at the time.

I thought I was able to temporarily summon the Halloween Knight in the dungeon, and defeat the Devourer, Revenant, and Skeleton Archers instantly with just that one unit because I was just that good.

That wasn’t particularly strange thinking. My skills as a necromancer were genuinely impressive.

However, thinking about it now, there are still suspicious elements.

‘No matter how talented I am, could a mere novice necromancer accomplish all that with just a handful of mana someone else gathered?’

It wasn’t a matter of skill but resources.

Thinking rationally, it made more sense that some other factor was at play.

Based on this, I formed a hypothesis.

“What if my power isn’t actually gone?”

What if it’s just in a state where I can’t perceive or use it?

‘……’

For example, let’s say there’s a canvas completely covered in white paint, and that represents my power.

Then it gets painted over with black paint, making it impossible to see or recognize what’s underneath.

I think something similar happened to me.

Of course, this might just be speculation. But I didn’t think it was completely impossible.

‘It’s actually stranger that such immense power would vanish without a trace.’

That’s what I couldn’t accept from the beginning.

For whatever reason, would it really be simple to completely erase such powerful abilities in an instant?

Absolutely not.

If that’s the case, it’s entirely possible some kind of trick or deception was involved.

Once I developed my thoughts that far, reaching a conclusion was simple.

‘…That makes sense.’

I nodded while wrapped up in my blanket.

Though I’d thought of this while experiencing a mental breakdown after failing my class advancement, it was a perfectly reasonable hypothesis.

Having realized this, what I needed to do was simple.

Roll.

“So what? Nothing changes anyway.”

Even if that were true, it would be meaningless unless I found a way to remove that painted-over layer.

I turned my computer back on with a gloomy face.

Click.

Whirrrr.

‘However…’

There was one thing I became certain of.

‘If I were to awaken.’

Perceiving the original form beneath that painted-over layer would definitely be possible.

#

“Good work today!”

“You’re really amazing. This is the first time I’ve seen such a smooth clear.”

“Hehe. It’s nothing.”

Baek Seoha’s online disciple Song Hayeon had been gaining quite a reputation lately.

Murmur murmur.

“That’s her.”

“Wow, another clear in just four hours?”

“At this rate, she’ll be entering B-rank dungeons soon…”

Just three months after being labeled a trainee, she was already C-rank. There were even persistent rumors that the Association had provisionally assessed her as B-rank, just lacking the achievements.

Moreover, since awakened necromancers were rare in Korea, interest in her was even greater.

[C-rank Hunter Song Hayeon! Surpasses 50 dungeon clears!]

[Terrifying growth rate, something extraordinary.]

[Comparing with current S-rank hunters during their lower ranks?]

Some impatient experts were already declaring that she would eventually reach S-rank beyond A-rank.

‘Even so, I think that’s an overestimation…’

Honestly, Song Hayeon found all this attention bewildering.

It was hard for her to believe she truly possessed the genius or talent everyone talked about.

‘It’s all thanks to that person.’

The teachings of HellLord12 were truly amazing.

Now that some time had passed since she asked to learn from him, she could vaguely understand what level he existed at.

‘He must have unbelievable skills.’

The more she learned about necromancy, the more certain she became that he was a being beyond imagination.

To be honest, Song Hayeon was now convinced of HellLord12’s identity.

“S-rank Hunter. Helena.”

The person also called Hel (after the Norse goddess of the underworld) was probably HellLord12.

‘There’s no other necromancer with this level of skill.’

That’s why Song Hayeon couldn’t help but be genuinely shocked.

Bam ba ba bam!

[Helena donated 80,000,000 won!]

“Wow! Thank you… huh?”

When someone who appeared to be her suddenly showed up during a stream she was doing for relaxation the next day.

“Wh-what? That’s so much… wait, are you really who I think you are?”

Honestly, it was hard to believe at first, but while she was struggling to process it, viewers confirmed that it was indeed Helena herself.

And Helena said to the bewildered Song Hayeon:

– I’m interested in you.

“Pardon?”

– I’m planning to visit Korea next week. Would you be able to meet with me?

Literally, a bomb was about to go off spectacularly.

#

“…A party?”

“Yeah, it’s a bit different, but that’s not wrong.”

Apparently, there was an event being held in Korea where influential figures from various countries would gather.

“Are you going too?”

“I didn’t want to leave home at a time like this, but they specifically asked me to come…”

“……”

It seemed another trial was coming my way.

It was summer, so garbage needed to be taken out frequently, and I was already dreading what lay ahead.

Sensing my darkening expression, Seoha hurriedly considered something before speaking.

“Oh, how about you come along too?”

“…Me?”

That was absolutely impossible.

If I went to such a crowded place, I’d surely break down from the pressure.

“You could just rest at the hotel, that would be fine, right?”

“Hotel…”

Thinking about it that way, it didn’t sound bad. A leisurely life in a luxury hotel, enjoying the air conditioning.

With a computer and smartphone, it could be incredibly comfortable.

“…Should I go?”

“Yes! I’ll take care of everything, let’s go together.”

Seoha responded with an excited expression, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree.

And so, I headed outside my home for the first time in quite a while.

Dragged along by Seoha’s hand.

Murmur.

Murmur.

“Why are we suddenly coming to a place like this…”

“Even if you’re not participating in the event, you can’t go dressed like a jobless person as usual.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t a department store. I had sensed what was happening and refused with my whole body.

But even a clothing store in a busy district naturally had many people. I had no choice but to bury my face in Seoha’s shoulder as we walked.

Somehow she seemed extremely happy—must be my imagination?

“We won’t stay long, just buy what we need and go. That’s okay, right?”

“…I won’t wear anything too flashy.”

So without even raising my face, I selected clothes, half-listening to the clerk’s explanations while mindlessly trying on whatever Seoha handed me.

The shopping ended in less than 40 minutes.

I looked at Seoha, feeling sorry for not being more responsive, but she seemed perfectly satisfied with this much.

“Ah, I see the car over there.”

After sending Seoha off to handle some business, I decided to rest in the car.

Despite everything, she’s still overprotective.

I felt a bit of dissatisfaction as I turned on my smartphone.

Ding.

[JP: Look at this. Doesn’t it look delicious?]

Just then, a notification rang from my messenger.

Actually, the only contacts I had were Seoha and hospital staff, but I did have internet friends.

Clicking on the message, I saw an extremely fancy parfait.

It was the typical food bragging that friends do.

Tap. Tap tap.

While typing a half-hearted reply, I vaguely noticed an ice cream shop in my field of vision.

‘……’

I was craving something sweet.

After a moment’s hesitation, I opened the car door and headed toward the ice cream shop, pressing my hat down firmly.

I planned to buy one for myself and one for Seoha who had worked hard.

‘That much should be manageable.’

Though I brought it on myself, my little sister worried too much.

I walked confidently and completed my order cleanly.

“Pi-pistachio and, um, strawberry please…”

“Oh, yes! Order received.”

The clerk who took my order seemed to smile slightly, but that was surely just my imagination.

As I walked back to the car, exhausted, my view obscured by my hat, I lightly bumped into a passerby.

“Ugh.”

It wasn’t a big impact, but while trying to regain my balance, I dropped the ice cream in my right hand.

My pistachio!

At that very moment, a pale, delicate hand shot out, catching the ice cream while steadying me.

“Are you alright?”

When I remained silent at the sudden foreign language, the woman switched languages and spoke again.

“I thought you might not be Korean because of your unusual appearance, but are you?”

“…Yes.”

Looking into the eyes of a woman with blue-green hair and similar colored eyes, with a youthful yet sophisticated pale complexion, I instinctively felt it.

This woman was dangerous.

‘She’s different.’

As I’ve mentioned before, the current me can’t sense death energy or anything like that.

But regardless, there are things you can tell at a glance just by looking.

Like right now.

From the woman before me, I could sense the lingering presence of lost souls.

And very strongly at that.