Episode 62
Chapter 15 To the New World (1)
Returning to the lab after completing the outpatient visit, Jong-hun slumps down in his seat with a loud sound.
It has already been five days since Hyeonu went in to do what was called a mission.
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Jonghun hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully for a single day.
Even on days when I was not on duty, I stayed at the hospital and wandered around the lab.
Because of that, I couldn’t leave my seat even though my skin was crumbly and the area under my eyes was dry.
Because Hyeonu, who had disappeared under the white halo of light, hadn’t returned yet.
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Jonghoon sighed and pulled out his phone from his pocket.
And I found a strange word in the outgoing log.
“player”
It was the number Hyeonu had unilaterally contacted on the day he started a new mission.
-The person who entered the game is safe. I want you to tell me.
The phone call ended after a few short words, and the caller ID did not appear.
However, when I checked with the telecommunications company, it was easy to find out the number.
From then on, there were more cases where Jonghoon contacted the other person first.
It was the same today.
Unable to overcome his nervousness, Jong-hun called.
After a couple of beeps, the other party picked up the phone.
“Why again?”
“Any other news?”
『You’ll know right away if you die on a mission, right? You said you would contact me right away if there was a change.”
“… … Sorry to bother you.”
『Tsk.』
As if annoying or annoyed, he responded with a nervous response and even blatantly kicked his tongue.
However, if you call first, they always answer.
There is no such thing as hanging up the phone or raising one’s voice.
I used to get a strange impression from him, but I didn’t have the spirit to think deeply.
It was because every time I confirmed Hyeonu’s life or death through the mouth of another person, I was buried in one thought.
‘Let’s dry it.’
If you come back this time, let’s stop it no matter what.
I can’t let Hyeonu continue doing this nonsense.
What if I really die in that place called the mission?
What if the day comes when you have to tell the twins who are patiently waiting for Hyunwoo’s death even with a face full of questions?
‘It has to be dried.’
He is the child of a friend who changed his life when he was almost thrown into the gutter with his father’s violence.
I couldn’t stand by and stand by in a potentially dangerous situation.
Furthermore, what about the twins if Hyeonu goes wrong? Children who have lost their parents cannot afford to lose their siblings as well.
Let’s convince them to turn away from that strange game.
While I was making my decision over and over again, a rather familiar voice came from the other side of the phone.
『You don’t seem to know anything, but the person who entered the game is doing well on this side of the floor, right? It’s to the point where everyone went crazy trying to connect.”
Every time I contact you, I wonder why I notice while being bothered.
‘It’s because of Hyeonu.’
In the meantime, I’m doing well.
‘I’ve always been the type to see the end if I start once.’
I never thought I would stand out in such a dangerous job.
Should I be proud of it, or should I be angry and tell me not to work hard at risky work?
He couldn’t figure out how to treat Hyeonu.
Everything was a mess.
“… … Is that so?”
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Jonghoon let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, sweeping his crumbly face.
“Yes, absolutely. I’m still alive and well, but what? Don’t be nervous like a dog that wants to go, just wait… … .』
That time when I was listening to the voice over the phone.
A bright light penetrated between the closed eyelids.
Suddenly, the moment Jong-hoon opened his eyes, kicked off his seat and stood up.
thud-!
and a heavy echo filled the laboratory.
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Jonghun froze as he stood up.
A limp body in stiff brown fur.
A completely disjointed, drooping jaw split in two.
Where the eyes should be and three daggers stuck in the forehead.
A black liquid oozing out from where fingernails and toenails should be.
That gigantic thing that could easily exceed 2 meters.
‘monster… … .’
There were no words other than that.
Hyeonu’s face flickered as he explained the monster he had seen in the game with a calm expression.
How the hell did you see something like that, how could you be so calm?
A small muttering sounded in Jonghun’s ears, who had hardened from shock.
“I hoped it wasn’t… … .”
I can really come over, I think.
Hyeonu, who spilled incomprehensible words, pressed his eyes tightly and straightened his body.
“The mission just ended. I’m sure. I guess I’ll be in touch soon… … What is that, if you just say that the monster has been in constant contact with you and that you have paid a lot of attention to it… … .』
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Jonghun was so engrossed that he couldn’t even hear the voice coming from the other side of his phone.
I wished I could stand firm with my gaze taken away by the monster.
Surprised by the rustling sound, Jonghun trembled in shock.
Hyeonu, who had been gripping the monster’s neck, was standing right in front of him.
He took out the phone that Jonghun was holding to his ear.
Before Hyeonu checked his phone, their eyes met in the air for a moment.
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Jonghoon held his breath without realizing it.
The color of the eyes of the son he had seen for over 20 years had changed.
When I met the golden eyes with a strange weight, it felt as if something intangible had penetrated my body.
At that moment, Jonghoon was really unable to do anything.
“hello?”
Hyeonu, who answered the phone on behalf of him, exchanged a few words with the other party.
“I heard that the code name is Youkai, is that correct?”
“Yes, I owe you. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”
“Hunting? There’s nothing wrong with that. All you have to do is set a date.”
“Oh, wait a minute. People I don’t know keep sending me applications so I blocked them. I will send you an additional friend from my side.”
“Yes, of course. Please contact me when it is convenient for you.”
“thanked.”
Hyeonu, who was having a conversation that wasn’t very long, was unfamiliar.
Hyeonu hung up the phone before long as he was engrossed in seeing the sight in his eyes.
“I’m home. Sorry for taking so long.”
I couldn’t respond to the greeting that was handed over with a grin.
He was going to punish Hyeonu right away if he returned.
I have to convince him to stop doing this dangerous thing right now.
I was so speechless that even the slightest sound came out.
Until he met Hyeonu, he thought he had been waiting for a very long time.
My stomach was burning because there was no news about Ahrena.
However, his thoughts changed when he had the returned Hyeonu in front of him.
‘It’s only been nine days.’
What the hell happened in that short amount of time?
It was definitely Hyeonu he knew, but he was unfamiliar like someone he didn’t know.
“And I will block this number. I’ll do my best to keep you from getting around you, so there won’t be anything more involved. It would be better if you change your number.”
Hyeonu returned the phone after blocking the number he had been calling.
After that, he pointed to the monster he had left behind and said.
“I’m sorry for asking again as soon as I arrived, but I’ll put them in… … Why the body bag? Can I get some of that?”
those? Looking closely, there was another smaller monster less than half the size next to the large one.
A monster lying passed out in a hospital lab.
It was so unrealistic that I thought I was dreaming.
“mister?”
“… … Sleep, just wait.”
That day, Jong-hun left the lab without saying a word he wanted to say.
* * *
While I was in Bihar, I heard from Yul Kim that a player called Yokai seemed to have noticed it to some extent.
He said that the contact he was making was related to Kei.
‘It’s natural since I’ve been on the same mission all along.’
At the time I heard that, I left it as it was because the monster had to continue to deliver news to Jong-hun anyway.
“Whoa.”
Even so, when I heard the word Yokai over my phone, I didn’t feel good.
It bothered me that Jonghun was exposed to players because of me.
But at the time, it was for the best.
‘It’s okay, I have enough time to deal with it.’
I had no intention of exposing Jong-hun to the player and staying still.
‘I memorized the number, so I just need to find it.’
In this day and age, it’s easy to secure your identity with just one cell phone number.
The other side knows that too.
If that person has Jong-hun’s information in their hands, then I can also hold their information.
I didn’t worry too much about this problem because there were many ways to use my hands.
However, as soon as I memorized the number stored as a player, my mind was agitated because of the call list I looked at.
‘There were more outgoing records than incoming ones.’
What would he have asked if he contacted a stranger who did not even know Jong-hoon?
The answer to that question was so obvious that my heart was heavy.
Adding to that was Jong-hoon’s back as he was leaving the lab, it got complicated.
From the stiff expression to the pale complexion, it seemed that he was shocked in many ways.
It was only natural that the color of her eyes suddenly changed, and she came with a monster that looked menacing at first sight.
‘I came because the timer was running out.’
My heart is heavy, wondering if I am putting too much pressure on Jong-hoon because there is no other way.
But I would make the same choice even if I went back a few months.
At the time of level 2, there were so many injuries that it was difficult to completely heal with potions.
It wasn’t serious, but he lived with his injuries.
If it wasn’t for Jonghun’s help at that time, it would have been difficult in many ways.
And he needed his help in the future.
‘Once the server is connected, long-term stays will become commonplace.’
At the end of the conversation, the system said that if you connect the server, there will be a gate that you can officially come and go.
‘Then the mission method will inevitably change.’
Previously, you had to go straight to the mission site through the hall.
The place could not be identified, and it had fallen in the middle of a polluted area infested with monsters.
However, in the future, it will be possible to enter Bihar through a gate fixed in a specific place.
A safe zone like Harbonseong would be a representative example.
Once I had a safe place to stay in Bihar, I planned to adjust my schedule to my growth.
As long as you have already made a decision, you must remove all obstacles and run with your goal in mind.
There won’t be many days to return to Earth.
While I was away, there was no one other than Jonghun to look after my younger siblings.
‘Well, right now I have to wait until the server is connected.’
However, I can’t play until then.
I was thinking of finishing what I could do on Earth while the servers were connecting.
That’s why I brought that monster.
“Kreuk… … .”
The one who had fainted and drooped, moaned loudly, loudly, as if in pain.
‘That’s enough visual.’
When the same object was caught, the amount of magical power absorbed was a whopping 92.
‘It’s not an evolutionary species because there were no mediators around.’
It just means that the pure magical power that monster species are born with is in their 90s.
‘The little guy was around 50.’
I borrowed Greg’s hand a little to catch those two.
– Can I catch some monsters nearby?
– I thought having living evidence would help me calculate additional troops.
I know a little about Bihar, but Greg knows nothing about Earth.
So Greg drove the story in a way he couldn’t refuse.
Thanks to you, things went smoothly.
Greg called a wizard with spatial magic that was one level higher than Ahel’s, and he took Greg out to the monster-infested backcountry.
From there, it took about 30 minutes to find and capture a monster that met the conditions I was thinking of.
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Just in case, I pulled out all my toenails, broke my jaw joint, and stabbed all of my eyes to steal my sight.
They cut the tendons in their limbs and even stunned them in case they crossed over to Earth.
After that, after attaching the monster to my body, I destroyed the medium.
As a result, the monster came over to Earth with me.
I thought that being alive would be more useful than being dead in many ways, so I dared to do troublesome things and put a lifeline on it.
‘At this level, there’s no one who’s talking nonsense about manipulation.’
I checked the message window while organizing the things I could get through those monsters.