episode_0137

Dreams are sparkles.

One night’s grand dream.

Or a simple dream that envisions oneself in the future.

What the two have in common is that they are a condensed representation of human wishes and imagination.

It is no different from an extract that has pressed down one person’s heart.

“and…”

A sparkle appears in Eunha’s eyes as she looks up at the [Crack Field].

Like the Milky Way embroidered in the night sky.

A beautiful sparkle appears in her eyes.

Eyes that are round and raised, forgetting to blink.

If you follow her gaze and look up, a huge concrete wall blocks most of your view.

It is a barrier that blocks monsters from escaping from the [Crack Field].

“Checkpoints have been set up on the north, south, east and west sides of the wall, from which you can enter [the rift].”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I thought it was because you looked curious.”

And what you see above the barrier is a hemispherical ‘curtain’ whose height cannot be measured.

What is commonly called a [crack field].

A light gray veil of thick fog creates horizontal stripes like Jupiter.

The more Eunha looked up at the ‘curtain’, the more she felt like she was getting smaller.

[Crack field] surrounding the crack.

A concrete wall surrounding the [crack field].

Eunha quietly looked up at the concrete barrier.

A sword that cuts the clouds in half… The guild mark of [Changcheon Swordsman] is engraved in the center of the wall.

“……That concrete wall was made by humans, right?”

“That’s right. This is to prevent the escape of monsters, and there are quite a few areas around the world that have been left without walls and have become the home of monsters.”

Ban Harin came to the side and brushed the dust off Eunha’s shoulder.

A dry hand rubs my shoulder and comes down to massage my soft forearm.

Eunha’s eyes were still looking at the [Crack Field].

“It’s probably my first time looking up from this close.”

“Please enjoy the sights to your heart’s content. Isn’t that why we left early in the morning?”

Of course, compared to the ‘bell tower’ shown by the wise old man in [Euncheon Park], its size and majesty were insignificant… but it was different.

D-class hunter Eunha tightly grasped the handle of the carrier and let out a cold breath.

… … .

“C-class hunter Ban Harin and D-class hunter Eunha. Two people’s entry has been confirmed.”

8 am.

Cheorwon crack field.

Eunha, who received her D-class hunter certificate back from the checkpoint staff, lowered her head with her usual smiling face.

At the checkpoint, the female employee who was managing entry and exit to the [Crack Ground] blushes at Eunha’s smile.

The uniform, which has a design similar to that of a military uniform, has the guild mark of the [Changcheon Swordsmen] engraved on it.

“This is the end of the information on the internal activity precautions and the distribution rate of the collected magic stones… Exploration with D-class companions is recommended only within a 3km radius near the entrance, and after the pre-reported return time, it will be automatically… ”

Eunha can’t hide her laughter at the thought that she’s about to enter the [crack field].

The checkpoint employee, who had been looking at her appearance as if fascinated, quietly stepped back and swallowed his regret at the cold gaze of Ban Harin, who was guarding Eunha’s side.

“…Let’s go, Eunha. You left all your electronic devices at the checkpoint, correct?”

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Ban Harin, wiping his face with one hand out of habit, took Eunha with him and left the checkpoint.

The two women, dressed in stylish black suits, monopolized all the attention of those around them, whether they liked it or not.

Ban Harin, moving without making a sound, changes position as if protecting Eunha from others’ gaze.

Grumbling…

The sound of carrier wheels.

Galaxy passed through a tunnel-like passage through a thick concrete barrier.

“There are barricades erected… they are all facing inward.”

“It is used to block monsters coming out from inside. There are even traces of blood on some of the barricades.”

Exciting, Exciting,

A heartbeat mixed with tension and anticipation.

Bruises. Bruises.

The sound of Eunha and Ban Harin’s footsteps.

Click…

The sound of blades hitting each time you walk.

… … Sagagakㅡ.

The sound of insect footsteps scratching the eardrum.

The sounds are mixed.

It’s like watching a small concert, and an unknown sorrow grips Eunha’s heart.

“…huh?”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I heard a bug.”

“There are a lot of bugs because there are mountains right next to it. Be careful not to get bitten.”

Was it the sound of an ordinary flying insect?

I don’t know.

One thing I know is,

Even though it was mid-July, I wasn’t bitten by a single mosquito.

After arriving at [Cheorwon Cracking Site], which has a mountain nearby… not a single small insect was visible.

Eunha moved forward, feeling a strange sense of discomfort.

“You just have to cross this veil. When you cross the fog made of ‘mana’, you have to hold each other’s hands.”

A curtain of light gray fog is drawn by the wind, forming horizontal stripes.

Ban Harin stops in front of [Crack Field] and extends his hand to Eunha.

An expressionless face that shows no emotions…

As Eunha smiled and joined hands, Ban Harin naturally moved his fingers and clasped his hands.

Eunha, who had been slapped, raised the corners of her mouth as if there was nothing she could do.

I don’t hate it as much as I thought…

“Good. My heart is pounding.”

“It’s the opposite.”

Eunha joined hands with Ban Harin and entered the [Crack Field].

… … .

… … .

Grumbling…

I walked in the fog.

The fog of [Crack Field] made of ‘mana’.

In a place where she can’t even see an inch in front of her, Eunha focuses her attention on her right hand, which is held by Ban Harin.

The warmth felt from the clasped hands illuminates like a lighthouse on a dark night.

ㅡ Please don’t let go of your hand. “If you move without thinking in the fog, it’s easy to get lost.”

My ears are ringing.

Ban Harin’s voice sticks to my eardrums.

Banharin in one hand, carrier in the other.

Pull the carrier with all your might as it shakes due to the uneven floor.

“It’s definitely different from when I read it. I can’t see anything… I feel dizzy for some reason.”

“There are markings on the floor like braille blocks, so step on them and exit the fog in a straight line.”

Is it because of the fog? I feel dizzy.

Eunha focused on Ban Harin’s voice.

“…Can’t we just set up a long stick beyond the fog and grab it?”

-It looks like the monsters are also grabbing it and escaping from the [Crack Field]. Signs should be concise and trivial.

The fog is so thick I can’t see anything.

I just move along the uneven steps that my feet step on.

Is the voice I hear now Ban Harin’s or someone else’s?

The clasped hands… are they really Ban Harin’s hands?

I don’t know.

ㅡThere is no need to be nervous. If you’re scared, can you at least sing a song?

“I’ll decline. My head is pounding.”

I blinked my bleary eyes.

As I respond to Ban Harin’s words, I am conscious of my clasped hands.

The fog was so thick that I couldn’t even see the hand that Ban Harin was holding.

– It will arrive soon. Just follow me.

“yes.”

Grumbling…

Eunha walked while listening to the sound of the carrier’s wheels.

The fog is thick.

-It’s not that way. It’s on the left.

Ban Harin’s voice comes from the left.

It seems that the fog made of ‘mana’ is distracting the five senses.

Eunha ignored him and walked.

… … .

… … .

Did I feel like I walked 50m?

Eunha succeeded in passing through the [Crack Field] following the guidance of Ban Harin, who was ahead of her.

If it weren’t for the rough markings on the floor, I would have been lost and wandering aimlessly in the thick fog.

Huh!

The fog clears, and a warm wind blows and caresses my cheek.

Eunha, who had escaped from the [Crack Field], blinked her bleary eyes… and soon, her lips pursed at the sight before her eyes.

dark.

This is the first thought that comes to Eunha’s mind.

8 am.

Even though there were dark clouds in the sky, unlike the outside, which was bright thanks to the occasional sunlight coming in, the inside of the [Crack Field] was so dark that it felt cold.

It was quiet, without the sight of other hunters or the presence of monsters.

Is the eerie silence because there are no monsters around, or is it because they are waiting with bated breath for their prey to approach?

I thought about that as I looked down at the footprints of countless hunters engraved on the dirt floor.

“…….”

Eunha brushed her skinny arms and slowly raised her head.

[Crack field] In the middle,

A huge ‘crack’ can be seen floating hundreds of meters in the air.

Ugh……

A ‘crack in space’ so large that even the galaxy that has just entered the [crack field] can be seen.

The space itself is distorted into a spiderweb shape, as if there is a crack in the surface of the mirror.

​

Even though the surroundings were dark, the ‘crack’ was clearly visible, because the blue haze constantly leaking from the crack shimmered like an aurora and illuminated the surroundings.

Perhaps those blue particles are ‘mana’.

The sight of blue mana particles orbiting around the ‘crack’ and forming a huge halo could easily be called a beautiful work of art.

​

“…………….”

​

Eunha looked at such a beautiful scenery insensibly.

Then he quickly turned his head and took in the scenery inside the [Crack Field].

In the past, a crack occurred over Cheorwon.

It turned a city into ruins overnight.

The scene unfolds before your eyes, a city engulfed in ‘mana pollution’.

A crumbling, mossy building. Shattered windows.

The apartment windows are twisted into hexagons like a honeycomb, and red liquid flows out of a large crack across the exterior wall of the building.

What you can see behind the apartment is a large mountain. However, the trees on the mountain were also polluted by ‘mana’ and lost their original appearance.

There are black, hairy fruits hanging from the trees, which resemble the back of a person’s head.

Even though I was far away, it felt like a disgusting, rotten me was stinging my nose.

‘… … Still, there are no fruits with hair loss.’

I turn my gaze away from the furry tree fruit and return to the city center.

The road is damaged here and there as if a bomb had exploded, and the bones of unidentified animals are scattered here and there.

The traffic lights that didn’t work and the cars that were carelessly abandoned fell into an indefinite sleep, recalling the splendor of the past.

A gloomy and strange space that could easily be called an outside world of magic.

A space contaminated with the mana of ‘cracks’.

It was like seeing a world after the extinction of humans.

Passuke…

​

An unknown flower sprouting from a broken down car spreads its transparent petals and spits out green pollen.

Bang!

Immediately after, Ban Harin picked up a rock that was rolling on the floor and bounced it as if it were flying a bat.

The stone, which flew like a bullet, hit the transparent flower bud and blew away the green pollen with a cool sound like a balloon bursting.

Ban Harin moves in front of Eunha and coughs with an exaggerated gesture while fanning his hand.

“The pollen is poisonous, so please be careful. Cough. Cough.”

“The gurgling sound is very clear.”

“Please refrain from doing so. By the way, those transparent petals are used as decorations like silk beetle wings, but we did not prepare against poison today, so let’s try later.”

The goal today is to explore the [Rift Field] without overdoing it.

It seems that it is a hunter’s skill to take the necessary equipment according to the purpose and not be greedy.

“If I become C-rank, can I shoot with rocks?”

“……Isn’t it different for each person?”

Click…

Ban Harin put the bag on one shoulder on the floor.

The sound of blades clashing is heard from a clunky bag resembling a golf bag.

Soon after, she takes out a sharp sashimi knife from her bag and looks back at Eunha with an indifferent expression.

The long sashimi knife reflects the blue light of the ‘crack’ and shines coolly.

“Then we will begin exploring [the Rift] from now on. From this moment on, you must not let go of your weapon until you return here.”

“Do not worry.”

Buung–.

Eunha lightly swung the titanium bat tied to the side of the carrier and cleaned up the carrier.

The only thing in my suitcase right now is [The Black Book]. The rest were left at the checkpoint due to the risk of being contaminated by the mana of the ‘crack’.

‘[The Black Book] is still fine… What on earth is it made of?’

Eunha attached the included strap to a lighter-than-usual carrier and carried it on her back like a backpack.

She raised her head to avoid seeing Banharin’s sharp sashimi knife.

A pretty ‘crescent moon’ appears in the dark sky.

I definitely came in at 8 in the morning, but it’s night inside [the crack room].

The ‘crack’ floating neatly in the center only brightens the surroundings.

“Mr. Banharin. The moon has risen.”

“It appears to be a phenomenon similar to a mirage… the light refracted by the ‘mana fog’ is visible to our eyes.”

“Then which moon is that?”

“I know. Maybe it’s the night sky of another world. Wouldn’t it be romantic?”

Ignoring Ban Harin’s subtle flirtation, I smile lazily.

… … If you think about it,

When was the last time you looked up at the moon?

“Seu…”

I look up at the night sky.

Take a deep breath and hold the air of the [Crack Field] in your lungs.

Maybe it’s because the concentration of ‘mana’ is thicker than outside, but my breathing becomes disturbed, like someone suffering from altitude sickness.

… … but,

Why?

be used to.

‘Have I…ever been to a place like this?’

This is the first time I came to [Crack Field].

A familiar feeling.

Sagagakㅡ.

I thought as I listened to the sound of bugs scratching my eardrums.

“Okay, let’s go quickly. Today’s quota is 5 magic stones. I will fight alone until a suitable monster appears, so Eunha, please focus on hunting and searching.”

“Good. I heard that some of the [Gyeoljang] herbs used in herbal medicine grow here.”

So, Eunha and Ban Harin,

Two women wearing black suits carried their luggage on their backs and headed toward the ruined city.

Click…

Banharin’s bag.

The sound of countless blades clashing together.

Sagagakㅡ.

galactic Carrier,

The sound of a small insect crawling inside the [Black Book].

“Do you remember the characteristics of [Cheorwon Rift Field]?”

“In the mountains, there are earthworm-shaped monsters, and in the city, there are ‘wasp’-shaped monsters… As long as you watch out for them, even a D-class hunter can operate safely.”

“That’s right. After all, if you learn one thing, you only know one thing, Eunha.”

“It’s a compliment, right?”

Ugh…

A huge ‘crack’ that scatters a blue halo in the air.

Using that as a light source, the galaxy began exploring the dark streets.

… … .

… … .

“……Lastly, B-class hunter Subong-gil. A total of 8 people have been confirmed to have entered.”

“Goes.”

After a while, [Cheorwon Gyeokjang] southern checkpoint.

Those who completed identity verification entered the [Crack Field] in an orderly manner.

The employee, who was taken aback by their brutal atmosphere, shakes his shoulders and shakes off the negativity.

“Wow, why are the faces of the Hunter Association people so grim? Who is going to pick them up?”

It won’t be a big deal.

Still, they are Hunter Association people, so what are they going to do?

When I checked my identity, it showed that I belonged to the ‘Potion Dispensing Room’, so I think they probably came to get potion ingredients.

“Are the employees running on their own? It’s really difficult for the association too.”

ㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡ♪ ㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♪

The sound of insects in the summer grass.

The sound of thirst.

ㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡ♪ ㅡㅡㅡ♪

The staff filled out the entry log while listening to the soothing music.

nothing happened,

It’s an ordinary morning.