Chapter 243: The Eye of the Apocalypse

The speeding Damas suddenly slowed to a crawl. Right in front of a tall skyscraper, Mackerel parked the car tight against the curb, whistling as he stared up at the building.

"Ah~ truth is, this is my first time visiting too."

Mackerel rubbed his palms together, smacking his lips.

"Since we're here, I'd like to look around a bit. The longer you can stay, the better, you know?"

I thought he'd just come along to settle a debt, but apparently, he had some other ulterior motives. Cha Eui-jae shot him a sidelong glance. 2

"So you came here just to indulge yourself."

"Aww, if I go in with you, it'll be like a free pass, right? After all, you're J-nim."

Not quite. Stubborn as a mule, and if he sets his mind to it, he can disappear like a ninja without leaving a trace. Cha Eui-jae folded his arms, leaning his head against the glass window.

"I'm not on good terms with him right now."

"Then make up. Isn't that why you're here?" 4

That annoyingly bright smile was getting on his nerves. Without responding, Cha Eui-jae carefully got out of the car. Cramped from being squished inside, his whole body felt stiff. Stretching his arms, he gave a long yawn. Mackerel slammed the Damas door shut and looked up at the towering building. 1

"So, here's the thing… doesn't seem like they'll just open the doors nicely for us, right?"

"Not a chance."

"And I don't suppose he'd show me his face, either."

"Would he?"

"Usually, you'd need an employee or visitor pass just to get through the lobby. Plus, with the kind of research they're doing here, security must be pretty tight."

Cha Eui-jae glanced at Mackerel, silently asking if he had any tricks up his sleeve. Mackerel shot finger guns into the air with a cheerful grin.

"Well then, shall we go in anyway?"

***

'Ah, I really don't want to work.'

Ice clinked in his coffee as the youngest member of the Pado Guild's lab trudged along, balancing a carrier full of coffee with a face as fierce as a mountain bandit in a white lab coat. Staring at numbers on a monitor all day felt like a new kind of torture, not to mention running errands for his seniors.

'Sure, it's a stable job, but…'

Lately, even that didn't seem like a guarantee. The youngest sighed heavily.

The people gathered in this lab had come together with a mission; to open the West Sea rift and rescue the people trapped inside. Outwardly, it was labeled "rift research," but they all worked hard for the mission. Just as their research was about to shine, the rankings updated and suddenly… J appeared.

People were shocked, and the lab was in an uproar. J, the most famous hunter who had entered the West Sea rift and practically a national hero, had returned on his own, apparently escaping the rift by himself.

Sure, it was good that he was back, but then what was the point of our mission? Was our lab done for? Just as anxiety over job security gripped them, someone appeared with their paychecks in hand; Hunter Lee Sa-young.

One day, he'd appeared out of nowhere and said,

"Keep doing what you were doing."

"Yes? Yes…"

"But you'll need to add something else to your work."

"Something else?"

"Start researching the eroded dungeons too. And this, and that."

The black-clad man, who loomed like the Grim Reaper, flicked through a thick stack of files. A senior who glanced at the files stood with his mouth agape. The youngest quickly checked the contents. Every known eroded dungeon's location, characteristics, and various other data were packed inside. Smiling, their gas-mask-wearing boss said,

"The data might not be accurate, so… you'll need to go on-site to confirm it, right?"

Boss… They swallowed their unspoken words.

Anyway, since that day, the lab staff had been traveling for dungeon fieldwork. They were still working, but morale was at an all-time low. The most affected was the passionate head of the lab, Professor Jang. It was like he'd burned out; he either sat lethargically or slept curled up in a corner. The oldest lab researcher had to shake him awake.

'Does this place even have a future?'

After the bizarre day when monsters rained from the sky, they were once again assigned to dungeon fieldwork. The one who received the most assignments? The youngest. He sniffled and wiped his nose, feeling his desire to quit grow stronger.

Then he heard a scuffle in the lobby. Perfect timing. Might as well watch some workplace drama. He'd been so jealous reading posts on Blind Posts about the brawls between J and the boss. The youngest followed the sounds of footsteps, shuffling along. And then— 3

"Do you know who this person is?"

"Hey, keep it down…"

"This man here cut off the head of a grade 3 monster with a single oak leaf at age five and wiped out eight grade 1 monsters with a single pine cone at age eight!" 1

"Shut it! Apologies."

Silvery hair swayed as a young man with dark blue hair covered his companion's mouth and turned his head. The first thing the youngest noticed was his tall, lean physique, followed by a black mask that covered his entire face. His gaze briefly landed on the youngest, then shifted away. A distorted voice met his ears.

"I'm here to see Guild Leader Lee Sa-young. Is he in?"

"Oh, the Guild Leader isn't here at the moment…"

"Pfft, let's not lie here, okay? I already know."

"I-I, s-s-s-sorry."

The youngest's grip weakened, and the coffees fell to the floor, spilling everywhere. The thought of getting scolded by his seniors had long faded. A cold breeze crept toward his slippered feet, and the smell of coffee filled the air, but none of that mattered.

"J!!"

The youngest took a step forward, then—

Slip—

The world tilted.

Everything moved in slow motion. The dark blue-haired young man's incredulous expression, the shocked faces of the staff, even J. The ceiling came into view. He thought of his parents, who'd attended every graduation from kindergarten to college, and of his dog Poppy, waiting for him at home. Was this what they meant by "your life flashing before your eyes"? Mom, your youngest is going down. He closed his eyes. 4

And then.

"…Hey, you okay?"

Could a distorted voice sound soothing? The youngest could confidently say yes. The world shook roughly, and he opened his eyes to find a black mask inches from his face.

"You okay?"

"Uh—ack!"

The youngest flailed, trying to get up, but it was no use. A firm hand gripped his shoulder and waist, steadying him. Somehow, J had rushed over to catch him. The youngest slapped his cheeks with both hands and screamed. 6

"Aaah! I'm so sorry! Thank you, J, J!"

"Yeah, that's me… you sure you're alright? You nearly hit your head."

"Maybe his head was always a little… off?"

"I'm, I'm, I'm a fan. A fan, and… our team are fans, and, Professor's a fan too…" 1

"Professor?"

The dark blue-haired youth's eyes glinted with interest. He whispered something mischievously in J's ear. J's head turned toward the youngest, who was clasping his hands shyly like a teenager. J took a breath and leaned closer. 3

"So, you work here?"

"Uh, yeah, yes! I do!"

"Oh… I see. You work in the lab, huh?"

"How… how'd you know? Are you psychic?"

"Just a hunch, you've got that brainy look."

"Really?"

Since puberty, all he'd ever been called was a "bandit." Now, his rugged face turned red. He heard a faint chuckle, and then J asked softly.

"I came here to see Guild Leader Lee Sa-young."

"Yes, yes!"

"Think he might be here?"

"Haven't heard anything… but I could check!"

"How so? I'm curious."

"Well, I could ask the seniors… or there's a training facility in the basement! We could check the access logs! Even the Guild Leader would leave a record!"

"Ah… could you help with that? I really need to see him today."

"B-but…"

Should he? His last bit of common sense whispered a warning. But then—

"Please, I'm counting on you. Okay?" 10

That soft, distorted voice blew away his last shred of reason. The youngest nodded frantically.

"O-of course! For J, anything!" 2

The youngest sprang to his feet and hurriedly took out his phone. Somewhere nearby, he thought he heard a sigh.

***

The bandit-like researcher managed to confirm that Lee Sa-young, Bae Won-woo, and a mysterious individual were indeed recorded in the access logs. He even guided them to the elevator to the basement and lent them his own access card. Clinging to the end, he held onto J's pant leg persistently. 2

"Please visit our lab sometime! There are many people who want to meet you, J!"

It took a lot to shake him off— his grip was as clingy as a Kraken's suction cups. Mackerel, who'd been blubbering this whole time, wiped away his tears.

"Ah… That was too funny. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be so good at the honey trap game! That was so natural it surprised even me." 2

Gritting his teeth, Cha eui-jae replied,

"Shut up."

"Well, it worked, didn't it? Make enough noise, and someone will come to check. Among them, there might be some devoted fans of yours."

The giddy Mackerel kept babbling. Cha Eui-jae sighed, leaning against the cramped elevator corner as it continued descending. The complex noises gradually faded. Instead,

Creeeeak…

An ominous sound filled the silence. Thump, thump— a faint vibration was felt. The smile faded from Mackerel's face. Just as he was about to say something, Cha Eui-jae clamped his hand over his mouth, focusing on the sound.

Thud, thud, thud…

The sound of something piercing flesh and bone. And mixed in between— 2

A faint groan.

The veins in Cha Eui-jae's hand stood out.

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Chapter 244: The Eye of the Apocalypse

"Why are you doing this?"

Even with his mouth covered, Mackerel managed to mumble. Cha Eui-jae placed his finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet. As they neared their destination underground, the sounds grew louder. Can't he hear it? Cha Eui-jae asked quietly.

"Can't you hear it?"

"…Huh?"

"Listen closely. You really don't hear it?"

Mackerel lowered his eyes and seemed to listen, his face quickly stiffening. He looked at Cha Eui-jae with a troubled expression.

"This…"

"…"

Ding— the elevator stopped, and the doors opened slowly. The first thing they saw was Bae Won-woo, standing with a hardened face and holding a shield. He must've heard the elevator. The fact that he was here, fully armed, meant…

'Lee Sa-young must be here too.'

Mackerel waved his hand in greeting. The hardened expression on Bae Won-woo's face shifted to surprise and then shock. Trembling, he pointed at Cha Eui-jae. 2

"…J?"

"…Hello."

"No, how did you… No, wait. You didn't break your way in, right?"

"Aww, what do you take us for! We got in here peacefully— saved a life, even."

"Mackerel, what are you even doing here? Don't you have things to do?"

"I go wherever my guest wants to go~ Hey!"

While Mackerel quickly moved to distract Bae Won-woo, Cha Eui-jae slipped past him. Turning a corner, he found himself in a space with tall white walls. He approached a firmly closed wall— or rather, a door. The ominous sound was coming from behind it.

Thud, thud, thud…

Is there a specific way to open it? Or should he just break it down? Just as he placed a hand on the cold door, Bae Won-woo, with Mackerel clinging to his waist, shouted.

"No, no, don't open that! It's a big problem if you do!"

Cha Eui-jae looked at Mackerel with cold eyes. Mackerel was sprawled on the floor, clutching Bae Won-woo like a tin can, his eyes rolling.

"Sorry, this was the best I could do."

Not that I expected more. Cha Eui-jae knocked on the door with his knuckles.

"What's in there?"

"…At any rate, I can't tell you, even if you're J…"

"Which do you think is faster? Explaining, or me breaking down the door?" 16

"Just tell him."

A calm voice interrupted. Only then did Cha Eui-jae notice his presence. Hong Ye-seong was there, seemingly without any presence at all— or rather, it wasn't an ordinary presence. It was an almost ethereal aura, barely of this world. There was a faint whirring sound, like something spinning rapidly. Though his eyes were covered by a cloth, his Eyes of Appraisal was likely spinning.

"Hearing it would make sense…or maybe it wouldn't?"

"This isn't something you should be vague about…"

"Lee Sa-young is in there, right?"

"…"

Bae Won-woo looked away slowly, his silence serving as an answer. Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth. The horrid sounds of flesh being pierced continued to resonate. Bam! He struck the door, denting it slightly. It seemed to be quite a sturdy door.

"What the hell is he doing in there?"

"What can we do if there's no way? Please, calm down…"

"Why wouldn't there be a way?!"

His shout was followed by a light reply.

"There really isn't."

"…"

"No matter how skilled you are, even you can't handle this. Only Lee Sa-young can."

"What is it? Stop being so vague and tell me clearly."

"The one who was once the warden of a ruined world, Lee Sa-young, is fusing his soul without much resistance. This means he inherits the authority and role of a warden to that extent." 3

A strong smell of blood hung around Hong Ye-seong, who was slouched on a chair. His green training suit was soaked in dark red around his collar and chest, with bloody towels piled up around the chair. Yet his voice was unwavering.

"I just used that a bit. Think of it as locking the door in case a killer with a knife comes charging in."

"Do you even hear yourself? Stop this right now."

The corners of Hong Ye-seong's mouth curled up smoothly.

"If I stop this, the end will come without any preparation. Is that alright with you?"

"…"

"Look, it's only been a week or so, and I've already bought us some time. But we haven't even managed to hold proper talks with those strange people." 1

No wonder it had been so quiet. Despite the gag order, in a world rife with doomsday theories, it was hard not to think of the apocalypse. Since that day, Cha Eui-jae had been plagued by the fear that the world might end in just a minute. Knowing that the more he thought about the end, the faster it approached, yet unable to stop himself from thinking. Probably, everyone felt the same way.

And the reason it hadn't happened yet—

"…"

—was because someone was holding on.

Hong Ye-seong pressed a towel over his eyes and muttered.

"If you understand, leave this to me and go deal with something else. Maybe take down Prometheus… Actually, that would be ideal. I think eradicating those bastards would be best. To think they're crazy enough to summon the apocalypse— they deserve to die. The fewer variables, the better…" 3

His tone felt strangely intelligent. It was that other voice. Cha Eui-jae strode over and stood right in front of him. 'Hong Ye-seong' sighed deeply, showing the crown of his brown hair instead of his face.

"I knew it. Hey, friend…"

"…"

"I told you, this is your last chance."

"…"

"You think this is easy for me? Intervening like this means I have to carry that much burden. And now, thanks to some weirdos, we've suddenly entered the onset of the apocalypse. If you come now, we'll all die without achieving anything. Are you just going to throw away your last chance?"

"So, you're planning to sacrifice Lee Sa-young to buy us time until we find a solution?"

"Why not? You did the same thing."

"…"

"What makes it okay for you and not for Lee Sa-young?"

"It's just that…"

For some reason, he couldn't get the words out. His throat felt blocked.

There were over ten reasons why Lee Sa-young shouldn't have to go through this. The problem was, they were all personal. Because Lee Sa-young had already been through enough, because he shouldn't have to go through this, because he was too young for it, because Cha Eui-jae didn't want him to suffer, because it was enough if only he, Cha Eui-jae, had to endure this. Reasons too trivial to be considered in the face of the world's fate. 5

It was time to weigh the world against Lee Sa-young.

'Hong Ye-seong' shook his head.

"My goodness… No matter how many worlds you go through, you never change that self-sacrificial attitude of yours. You failed twice trying to handle it alone, and now you're going to try again?" 1

"…"

Cha Eui-jae didn't answer. Instead, he struck the door again. The spot he had already dented was now even deeper. 'Hong Ye-seong' dropped his bloodstained towel. The spinning Eyes of Appraisal stared at Cha Eui-jae, and a trickle of blood ran down his cheek, leaving a red streak.

"Friend. You haven't convinced me of anything. Are you really planning to force your way in?"

"…"

Lee Sa-young, who had remained alone in a ruined world. Lee Sa-young, confined in a narrow cell by himself. In truth, the time Cha Eui-jae had occupied in Lee Sa-young's life was likely very small. Yet he had pursued only Cha Eui-jae. So, what could Cha Eui-jae give him in return? To drive out the apocalypse and gift him a peaceful world? No.

What he truly wanted was…

"Did Lee Sa-young choose this himself?"

"He did. He volunteered."

"…I just."

"…"

"I just want to…"

Thud. His fist, now weaker, knocked against the door. Cha Eui-jae rested his forehead on it and closed his eyes.

"…stay by his side." 22

"…"

"That should be fine, shouldn't it?" 5

At that moment, the heavy door began to move. Slowly, it opened, as if granting him access.

"…"

Inside was utter darkness. Thud, thud— the sound of something striking the ground echoed. Without hesitation, Cha Eui-jae stepped into the darkness. Something damp soaked the soles of his shoes. The sweet scent of blood masked the air. 1

Thud… The door closed behind him, enveloping him in total darkness. Cha Eui-jae took slow steps forward. Thud, the ground vibrated beneath him. Thud, thud, scrape… the sound of something being dragged. Eventually, Cha Eui-jae stopped. Something in the darkness stirred. At the same time, he heard the clinking of heavy iron pillars rubbing against each other. Chains rattled. In the darkness, violet eyes glowed faintly.

"…You're here?"

A hoarse voice muttered. Cha Eui-jae sat down beside the stirring figure. His sleeve on the side he touched began to grow wet. The figure murmured.

"…I look terrible."

"It's fine. I can't see."

"…Why did you come?"

Cha Eui-jae fumbled along the damp floor, finding something like a hand and holding it tightly. The hand flinched as if recoiling, but Cha Eui-jae held it even tighter.

"Nothing much."

"…"

"It just felt like… I've never been there for you…" 2

"…"

"When you were going through your worst."

It seemed like he heard a faint, low laugh. A metallic scraping sound echoed as chains dragged across the floor. Whatever it was inched closer. And then— thud —the wet, matted head leaned against his shoulder. Without hesitation, Cha Eui-jae wrapped his arms around that tangled hair, holding the tortured, trembling body close, absorbing all of its pain