Chapter 31 – After the Rain Clears

When Se-min opened his eyes, he was lying in a hospital room.

“I didn’t die.”

He retraced his memories.

He had slain one Kesia, but had lacked the strength to fight further against the remaining one. He had been counterattacked just before killing the bastard, and had collapsed due to a lack of strength to resist. Feeling Kesia’s presence at his back, he had realized it was a true crisis.

However, the sound of a helicopter had been heard from somewhere, and someone had jumped down. They fought the battle in Se-min’s stead, and killed Kesia not long after.

And he had helped Se-min up.

“Ah, damn it.”

He remembered.

His mood soured.

That face belonged to the bastard who was vivid in his memories.

It was Ahn Seong-jun.

Perhaps he also remembered Se-min, as his eyebrow twitched once. Then, he looked around. After scanning the two completely destroyed Kesias in the ruins and Se-min’s messy state in turn, he let out a bitter smile.

He said.

“You could have died.”

Se-min did not even have the strength to speak, so he only pulled up the corners of his mouth. In his heart, he wanted to sarcastically ask if he was dissatisfied that he did not die.

Ahn Seong-jun supported him.

“You haven’t changed a bit.”

It was a gentle voice. While Se-min was pondering its meaning, his tension dissolved and he blacked out.

When he regained consciousness, he was here, in a hospital room. A white ceiling filled his vision overhead. He slowly raised his body. The IV drips attached to his body got in the way.

It was a private room.

An orchid flowerpot was placed by the window of the hospital room, and Ahn Seong-jun’s name was written on it along with a ribbon wishing for a speedy recovery.

“This bastard.”

As if it wasn’t enough that the unsightly guy had saved him, he had even gifted him a flowerpot.

“Does he mean I should root myself in the hospital forever?”

He leaned his back, pouring out curses.

He saw things like gift boxes. They seemed to have been sent from all over while he was unconscious. Some came from the district office, city hall, and places Se-min did not know at all. Phrases like ‘hero’ were written on them.

If he were a real hero, shouldn’t there be a beautiful woman who nursed him all night and looked forward to his waking up, rather than such things?

The door of the hospital room opened.

It was a nurse. She discovered Se-min and widened her eyes.

“Have you regained consciousness?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness. You don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere, do you?”

Making a fuss, she announced Se-min’s recovery through the intercom. Soon, a doctor entered and examined him. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with Se-min, he offered a handshake.

“Mr. Lee Se-min, let’s shake hands once.”

“Pardon?”

Because of his shining gaze, Se-min hesitantly reached out his hand. He clasped it with both hands.

“I pray you recover quickly. If you have any discomfort, please call through the intercom at any time.”

“Yes.”

“Please rest comfortably. You did a wonderful thing.”

The nurse behind the doctor also beamed and greeted him. It was a treatment he was receiving for the first time in his life.

After they withdrew, Se-min scratched the back of his head, dumbfounded.

When the two Kesias appeared, the bastards who called themselves Raiders of the Limitless Association turned tail. He fought to the end.

That was all.

He did not know if it was something to be praised like this.

“I should make a real autograph now.”

Out of habit, he had gone around offering his autograph. Of course, no one accepted it. Although he had said it as a joke, it seemed that the time had truly come when it was needed. Actually, he had not even created his own autograph yet.

Se-min was in the middle of designing an autograph, waving his hand in the air.

The door of the hospital room opened.

It was Yoo Sang-heun and his company colleagues. Yoo Sang-heun attempted to hug Se-min. Se-min tried to refuse, but he could not push him away with his aching body.

“Ah, it hurts!”

“Is that so? My bad.”

Yoo Sang-heun patted his shoulder.

“You worked hard. Thanks to you, people lived.”

His company colleagues whom he had not seen in a while, Jang Hyeon-hwa and Park Jeong-won, were also carrying a bundle. Their eyes were practically filled with respect.

“I didn’t know you were such a great Raider, Hyung-nim.”

“Were you hiding your skills from us?”

Se-min said, lying down.

“What do you mean hide? You guys just didn’t recognize it.”

He simply carried out his assigned duties diligently. In the first place, if he were an ordinary Raider, he wouldn’t have been able to carry out multiple raids a day, would he?

“By the way, Oppa, were you really high school classmates with Ahn Seong-jun?”

“What?”

“Ahn Seong-jun did an interview after Oppa lost consciousness, and he said you two were classmates. He praised Oppa a lot.”

“That bastard did?”

Jang Hyeon-hwa handed him a mobile phone. It was an internet article screen. When the reporter praised Ahn Seong-jun’s rapid deployment, he credited Se-min.

The story was that they were high school classmates, that Ahn Seong-jun himself was a delinquent student at the time, and that Se-min had even stood in his way when he fell into bad ways.

Ahn Seong-jun said he deeply regretted his actions back then, and that he knew Se-min would become a wonderful Raider from that time on.

“So he used me as article fodder.”

As Se-min’s expression turned sour, Jang Hyeon-hwa quickly retrieved the phone.

“Well, that’s how it is.”

Yoo Sang-heun refreshed the atmosphere.

“Anyway, since you caught Kesia, it’s a promotion to Platinum, Se-min. Going straight from Blue-mark to Platinum must be a first. You’re an amazing guy.”

“Oppa’s fan cafe has already been created. When you get discharged, reporters will probably camp out at the hospital entrance and wait for you, you know?”

This was a hospital specializing in Raider medical care in cooperation with the Raider Bureau, and the entry of outsiders was strictly controlled from the entrance. Therefore, a spectacular scene unfolded whenever a famous Raider was discharged.

“We’ll come back. Jae-yeong said he’d come by later too.”

“Yes. Everyone, take care.”

After having a pleasant chat, Yoo Sang-heun’s group left the hospital room.

Left alone, Se-min turned on the television installed in the hospital room.

His combat scenes filmed by CCTV and drones were being broadcasted. Feeling embarrassed by the panelists’ continuous praise, Se-min changed the channel.

Ahn Seong-jun’s video came on. He jumped from the helicopter and saved Se-min, who was in crisis.

He fought a one-sided battle against the injured Kesia. Kesia was eliminated in an instant, and Ahn Seong-jun helped the fallen Se-min stand and supported him.

His voice came to mind.

‘You haven’t changed a bit.’

Se-min turned off the television.

He had also heard enough to be sick of Ahn Seong-jun’s performance. People praised him as a Raider who was excellent not only in skill but also in character.

“I don’t know.”

Time dilutes old feelings.

People change. As everyone did, perhaps even Ahn Seong-jun had changed.

Se-min closed his eyes.

His body ached. He had exerted power beyond his limits while facing two Kesias simultaneously. Every time he raised his aura, his dantian throbbed. The Tai Chi Wisdom gently circulated through his body as if telling him not to overdo it.

The door of the hospital room opened again.

The one who appeared this time was an unexpected person.

“Why are you here?”

It was Kim Ye-na.

“Why? Am I not allowed to come?”

Putting down a box of drinks, she pouted her lips.

Se-min became wary.

“You didn’t poison it, did you?”

“I did. Don’t drink it if you’re scared.”

She scanned Se-min’s body. Seeing his body plastered with bandages and IV lines, she raised her eyebrows.

“I watched the broadcast.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Oppa, you were cool.”

“I was always like that.”

“I’m glad you seem fine.”

The conversation died. The two of them were not that close. It was a relationship awkwardly connected with Hyeon Jae-yeong as the medium.

Standing by the window and looking outside, Kim Ye-na suddenly spoke.

“Watching Oppa fight dangerously made me think of this.”

Kim Ye-na’s voice was serious.

“The thought that I wish Jae-yeong Oppa would quit being a Raider.”

“Why?”

“I’m worried that Jae-yeong Oppa might also get caught up in such a dangerous accident someday. I’m worried. It’s not like he’s strong like Se-min Oppa.”

Se-min chuckled. Kim Ye-na laughed along.

“You’ve changed.”

“To some extent, it’s thanks to Oppa. That’s why I came to visit you out of gratitude. Se-min Oppa, stop hating me too and help me out a bit in the future. I’m planning to really do well now.”

“You just need to say what you said to me to Jae-yeong as well.”

“I can’t do that.”

“What?”

“I said I’d do well, I didn’t say I’d become a caught fish.”

“Good grief.”

“I’ll do well. In my own way.”

Kim Ye-na raised her index finger and shook it.

“Take care of yourself. Mr. Lee Se-min, the Platinum-mark Raider.”

“Yeah. Go quickly.”

“Bye. Don’t tell Jae-yeong Oppa that I came.”

Kim Ye-na waved her hand and left the room.

Se-min ended up laughing as he looked at the closed door. Since Jae-yeong had clung on so persistently, it seemed he had finally won Ye-na’s heart completely.

“She’s a fox, a fox.”

As Se-min lay down, a message sent by Hyeon Jae-yeong popped up on his mobile phone. It said he would arrive soon.

About an hour later, Hyeon Jae-yeong visited. He looked as if he had just finished a raid. Se-min grinned and waved his hand.

“Hey, you’re here.”

“Hyung, I’m glad you’re safe. Are you okay? Everything’s fine now, right?”

“I am Lee Se-min.”

Hyeon Jae-yeong made a fuss. He was a good guy. Hyeon Jae-yeong asked here and there if there was anything he needed.

“There’s nothing like that.”

“Right. I should have bought something.”

“Everyone has already bought more than enough.”

Se-min casually asked Hyeon Jae-yeong.

“Aren’t you going to see Ye-na today? You guys have been on good terms lately, haven’t you?”

“Yeah…”

However, his expression was dark.

Se-min held back his laughter and said to him.

“What’s wrong, punk? What’s the matter? Should this Hyung give you relationship counseling?”

“Well.”

Hyeon Jae-yeong paced around, then spoke to Se-min as if he had made up his mind.

It was an unexpected statement.

“I’m going to end things with Ye-na.”

Se-min widened his eyes.

“What?”

“I’ve thought about it a lot lately, and I can’t picture a happy future with Ye-na. I think this is right.”

“You liked her so much that you couldn’t live without her.”

“It’s… complicated. My feelings.”

Sitting on a chair and picking his words for a while, Hyeon Jae-yeong continued.

“Maybe I’m just a bad guy. Since I climbed to Green-mark, the people I meet have changed, and my horizon has broadened. I can see myself better too. It’s thanks to Hyung. Perhaps I wasn’t longing for Ye-na, but for the upper marks that I couldn’t reach. Since I couldn’t reach them, maybe I was getting vicarious satisfaction by keeping Ye-na, who always chased after upper-mark Raiders, by my side.”

Se-min was lost for words.

“Hyung. I’m a bad guy, right?”

“Jae-yeong.”

Se-min did not know much about the human heart. If there was anything he was better at than Hyeon Jae-yeong, it was only aura and martial arts. Therefore, no words of advice came to mind.

The face of Kim Ye-na, who was smiling at him just an hour ago, flickered in his mind.

Se-min barely opened his mouth to convey a time-worn saying.

“The choice is yours. Make a choice you won’t regret.”

“Yeah.”

Hyeon Jae-yeong changed the subject again, sharing how cool Se-min’s performance was and how much the reputation of the Limitless Association, which turned tail, had worsened.

Se-min roughly scribbled his name on a blank sheet of paper and handed it over, calling it an autograph.

“What is this? Why does the autograph change every time you do it?”

“That’s why it’s valuable. They’re all limited editions.”

After sharing such stories, Hyeon Jae-yeong soon left the hospital room.

Left alone in the hospital room, Se-min slumped and stared at the white ceiling.

The second hand of the clock hanging on the wall flowed soundlessly.

***

Facing two Kesias alone, completely destroyed one. Half destroyed one.

Min Ji-hyun mulled over the results.

Two Kesias appeared, and Lee Se-min stopped them alone.

Se-min’s records lay on her desk. They were his report card from his academy days, his Raider qualification exam results, and the records of the raids he had conducted so far.

He originally had a peculiar constitution where his aura did not increase, but at some point, he overcame it. And he achieved excellent results in the Raider qualification exam. However, he received the lowest score on the final essay.

Such a thing was rare. There was something called a base score. He had the highest scores in other subjects, and therefore was scheduled to pass in that round and become a Raider.

However, her superior failed him directly.

Her superior felt curiosity toward the person named Lee Se-min. Thus, he planned to push him into the Aura Aptitude Unit and scout him directly depending on the results.

However, he died during his military service.

She thought the existence of Lee Se-min had ended like that.

However, he reappeared after several years had passed. He testified to the hard-to-believe content that he had fallen beyond the Gate during an operation and returned.

What would be the probability of an Aura Aptitude recruit who had just taken the Raider qualification exam surviving beyond the Gate, and the probability of them crossing back over the Gate from there along with a magic beast?

According to intelligence, even the northern gate had collapsed.

Her superior doubted everything.

That was why they used Einkel to draw him in.

“Everything went out of expectations.”

The number of cases was two.

Either he died.

Or he showed black aura.

He was neither.

He had dealt with two Kesias using his own power.

If so, did he really survive beyond the Gate for three years and become a Platinum-mark Raider?

“No way.”

A case they really had not postulated came to mind.

Just then, the phone rang.

She bit her lip and stared at the mobile phone screen, then let out a sigh and took the call.

It was a thick voice.

“[No need to report. Since I watched it too.]”

“Yes.”

“[Your thoughts?]”

“My thoughts are…”

Hesitating, she continued.

“If it’s neither, there is a possibility that he met an otherworlder.”

“[Do you really think so?]”

“It is difficult to explain otherwise.”

“[Interesting.]”

Min Ji-hyun asked.

“What should we do?”

“[Keep monitoring him. Keep him within your radius.]”

She shut her mouth. Laughter was laced in the voice over the phone.

“[Do you dislike it?]”

“No. I will do it.”

“[You should.]”

He laughed out loud. Min Ji-hyun looked down slightly and waited for his laughter to end.

The man kept laughing and said.

“[He is an interesting fellow.]”

***

Se-min’s body recovered quickly. The Tai Chi Wisdom silently mended his meridians. The energy of all creation filled his dry and cracked dantian once again.

He soon became able to move around on his own.

Rather, he was more energetic than before.

Se-min picked up the claymore. The piece of iron that had become a part of him grafted onto his palm like an extension of his body. Wrapping his fingers one by one, Se-min appreciated his lengthened limbs. The sword was even sharper.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he thought. Meanwhile, various events had surrounded him. Se-min disliked complicated things, but precisely because of that, there was a need to sort them out.

First, he went back to the Kesia Raid. The Raider Bureau had assigned him the Einkel Raid. However, what the Gate spat out was two Kesias. Did Joo Won-ho lie?

The errand center.

Se-min pressed the call button. The other party did not answer. Se-min smirked. Was it information leaked on purpose? If so, they had also been bought off by someone.

Moving on to the next. He had met Ahn Seong-jun. That bastard had saved him. It made his teeth grind, but it was the truth, and he had even confessed his past mistakes in an interview, saying he repented for his actions. If so, had he really reformed and become a new person? It was unknown. However, he placed that possibility in a corner of his chest.

He decided not to think further about this topic. He would meet Ahn Seong-jun soon anyway.

Next, he thought of the people around him.

They were Hyeon Jae-yeong and Kim Ye-na. Se-min had no talent in handling human hearts. He simply wanted to help Hyeon Jae-yeong. Therefore, he had hoped the two of them would go well, but they had changed their minds for their own reasons.

That day, what Hyeon Jae-yeong had confessed at the playground where the streetlight’s glow fell was his true heart.

And the reason for the breakup he confessed to Se-min must also be his true feelings.

Nothing was unchanging.

“No need to think about it in a difficult way.”

He had lived fighting magic beasts beyond the Gate. He had forgotten complex things and absorbed himself in survival. Then he returned to Earth. When he did, confusing things surrounded him.

Slaying magic beasts, practicing martial arts, and thereby becoming a Raider who could save people was all he wanted.

However, people appeared by his side, languages lay scattered, and relationships became tangled.

There was a need to return to the past.

He was still weak.

That was why he was in this hospital room right now.

First is getting stronger, the rest is merely secondary.

He turned on the Transcendent Network.

The martial arts he was learning through the Transcendent Network were as follows.

Tai Chi Wisdom

Form-Intention Fist

Three Talents Swordplay

Cloud-Ascending Steps

Promoting to Platinum-mark in one breath, he had also completed the existing quest. Due to the overachievement, he acquired a much larger amount of points than he was originally scheduled to receive.

Raider Lee Se-min’s Points: 1200P

He became able to read as many as twelve more posts.

Se-min scanned the list of tip posts. There were many things he wanted to see. However, he had not even completed the Three Talents Swordplay yet. Embodying Heaven, Earth, and Man within three movements was a vast task.

He went to the general bulletin board and wrote a post.

Title: Three Talents Swordplay is so hard TT__TT

Author: Raider Lee Se-min

He adopted a lively style of writing to induce the participation of many transcendents.

Hello TT__TT It’s Se-min who hasn’t been here in a while! >< Se-min is working hard practicing martial arts today too TT__TT But! A problem has arisen! The Three Talents Swordplay is so hard that proceeding to the next is absolutely impossible-impossible! What do you transcendent hyungs and nunas think?? TT__TT Still, should I go for wall-facing meditation until I master the Three Talents Swordplay!? Or is it better to learn a new martial art while sorting things out??? Hehe Se-min will hold his breath until a reply is posted >.< “Fufu, at this rate, it’s impossible for comments not to be posted.” Se-min grinned, waiting for comments. However, none were posted. New posts were updated and comments were added to them, but only Se-min’s was being ignored as if by consensus. “W-What’s going on?” Had an error occurred on the bulletin board? Suddenly, a comment was posted on his thread. Se-min clicked it quickly. It was a short reply. Night Emperor Alaste: BS “This bastard?” Night Emperor Alaste, he was a new person who joined the Transcendent Network while Se-min was rolling beyond the Gate. It was said that in his own dimension, he was a knight who boasted the martial prowess of a one-man army, and his lance charging was terrifying enough to pierce a tunnel through a mountain range. It was hard to believe, but since he had certified the hole he pierced in the mountain with a photo, Se-min had no choice but to believe it. Yes, he was definitely stronger than Se-min. However, seniority existed in the world. Raider Lee Se-min: Alaste-nim? What do you mean by BS? Night Emperor Alaste: Shudder shudder shudder, it means Best Star lol. No misunderstandings please shudder shudder shudder Raider Lee Se-min: Really? Night Emperor Alaste: FR lol, no doubts Raider Lee Se-min: K It was definitely not. Se-min added one more item to the to-do list for when he collected points in the future. Directly expressing gratitude to Dokgo Cheonma Hyung. Dating Iana Nuna. NEW: Beating up Alaste. The reasons for getting stronger increased. In any case, Se-min figured out the reason for his defeat and wrote another post in a normal tone. Then, the transcendents soon replied. All-Knowing Beggar Kim Bong-hak: All paths lead to the same source. You seem to have a narrow horizon like a ruffian, but enhancing your understanding of martial arts by experiencing various arts is also the martial path! Tsk tsk. Did you think a third-rate martial artist like a ruffian could complete the Three Talents Swordplay right away! Ridiculous. Hmph! “Kim Bong-hak Hyung…” Although Kim Bong-hak Hyung was still sulking, he did point him in the right direction. Dragon Lord Imuncazer: Kiddo… resembling this hyung-nim… you have grit…~~~!! Still… there are times when you have to take a detour…~!! Kid… go watch this hyung’s Breath lecture…~! No matter what, he probably couldn’t spit Breath. He waited for Dokgo Cheonma Hyung’s comment, but she did not appear, perhaps because she had business. Gathering the opinions of other transcendents, Se-min decided to experience various martial arts for the time being. Se-min accessed the tip board and purchased the following items. Grand Purity Sword Method Explanations of Fists and Kicks Tai Chi Diagram Explanation Rather than specific martial arts, the Explanations of Fists and Kicks and the Tai Chi Diagram Explanation were closer to manuals for martial arts itself. He purchased Explanations of Fists and Kicks for his combat techniques, and the Tai Chi Diagram Explanation to enhance his understanding of Tai Chi Wisdom and aura. Tai Chi Wisdom, Form-Intention Fist, Three Talents Swordplay. All of these were pointing to the same thing. However, Se-min still could not understand what it was. The Tai Chi Diagram Explanation would be of help. Thinking about it, it was a bizarre thing. Dokgo Cheonma held the title of the Greatest Demon of All Time. He had thought that the martial arts of such a martial world figure would naturally be riddled with terrifying words like blood, demon, hell, or Asura. However, the things Dokgo Cheonma conveyed were all about Tai Chi, harmony, and the principles encompassing the world. Even putting the Three Talents Swordplay aside, he had expected the subsequent martial arts name to be something like the Asura Heaven-Rending Blood Demon Swordplay, but it was the Grand Purity Sword Method. He became even more curious about Dokgo Cheonma’s identity. “I will find out once I master the final martial art.” Dokgo Cheonma had passed down a list of martial arts to serve as a guide for Se-min, telling him to tread through them in order and complete the final one. Dokgo Cheonma’s final ultimate technique. Cosmic Flow Dokgo Cheonma had warned him never to view it until the time came, and told him that he would know when that time was on his own in the future. On the day he reached that martial art, Se-min would possess enough power to be called ‘Master Lee’ rather than just a mediocre Raider. *** “Then, let’s leave soon.” He opened the closet. There were clothes he had asked Hyeon Jae-yeong to bring. It was the souvenir jacket that had now become his symbol. The embroidered dragon’s eyes stared intently at Se-min. “It’s been a while.” Se-min changed his clothes and put on the souvenir jacket. Se-min looked out the window. Spring had approached rapidly. The cherry blossom trees were starting to bloom. The reporters camped out at the entrance were enjoying a brief moment of leisure, photographing the garden trees in full bloom inside the hospital. Se-min left a note on the bed. Thank you. I’m discharging myself. I’ve left my autograph below, so please share it among the hospital family. —Star Lee Se-min He raised his aura. Having passed the crisis, his body became tougher. The Tai Chi Wisdom extended to every corner of his body, transmitting internal energy. Soon, his body grew faint. It was the Shadow-Dwelling Walk he had obtained from Noh Hak-jae. He did not want to receive a baptism of camera shutters from the reporters at the hospital entrance. He was Lee Se-min, who did whatever he wanted at any time. Right now, he just wanted to swing his sword in a place where no one was around. Se-min opened the window. The outside air was nice. He kicked off the air just like that and soared. *** It was an era where everything was shared in an instant. Se-min’s story was already spread across the nation. An unscheduled magic beast had appeared, and the giant corporation, the Limitless Association, had abandoned its mission and fled. Only he remained alone to face Kesia. The Limitless Association’s reputation fell to the ground, and Se-min’s name adorned the newspapers. Wetube channels were organized solely with the CCTV footage recording his combat scenes. The most popular scene was the moment he conversed with the two high school students. Although he was already in a mess after rolling on the asphalt and crashing into a building, Se-min ran toward Kesia again to save them. He said something to the hesitating boys and kicked their buttocks. In that video, he was grinning. According to the testimony of the high school students, Se-min had said this. ‘I’ll block them until you run away, so don’t worry.’ They did not believe those words. ‘Hey, this big brother doesn’t lie, so go quickly.’ That conversation raised a sensation, connecting with the final appearance of Se-min, who collapsed while dealing with the other one after completely destroying one Kesia at the end of a bloody battle. Se-min eventually kept his word. It was a sensational appearance. The facts that he was a star formerly known for K-food mukbang and that he had appeared as one of the fellow Raiders in a variety show filming celebrity families were also revealed, leading to a re-evaluation of the broadcast episodes. Yeo Su-han, who was a participant at the time, left a post on social media praising Se-min regarding the events of that time. It was that he did not show off his skills and took care to make him, the main participant, stand out. His fan site’s main screen was a drawing of the two Kesias and Se-min’s back facing them. It was a tracing of his appearance caught on CCTV, where only the dragon embroidery on his souvenir jacket, which became his symbol, shone vividly in gold amidst the black and white that was only shadows. Everyone awaited the discharge of the new star, Platinum-mark Raider Lee Se-min. However, news of his discharge was not delivered. Rumors that he had died and rumors that he had lost his aura began to spread. *** Se-min was at the Raider Bureau. It was to hold them responsible for the Einkel Raid. When he appeared, the Raider Bureau guided him as if they had been waiting. It was the usual interview room. Someone would record their conversation beyond that opaque glass wall. Se-min sat back in his chair and glared beyond it. Soon, the door opened, and the other party appeared. Min Ji-hyun. Se-min raised his eyebrows. “It’s been a while.” Without even looking at Se-min, she sat down and opened her documents. Se-min stuffed his hands into his souvenir jacket and stared at Min Ji-hyun. “I watched your performance well. Congratulations on your promotion to Platinum-mark.” “Why did Kesia appear?” Even at Se-min’s informal speech, she did not react. “As you know, gate forecasting technology is not perfect.” “But two Kesias appeared?” “The gate reaction was definitely closest to Einkel. It was the best forecast we could do. We are also bewildered. Such phenomena have been frequent recently, so it’s an emergency.” Se-min looked at her crookedly. Min Ji-hyun also raised her eyes and met Se-min’s gaze. “Is that all?” “We apologize, but isn’t this also something a Raider has to bear?” All Raider activities presumed consent to risk. Even if an unexpected magic beast came out of the Gate and people died, there was no part for which the Raider Bureau took responsibility. At her confident attitude, Se-min pulled up the corners of his mouth. “By any chance.” Se-min placed his hands on the table. “If you deceived me on purpose, you will regret it.” “Would we have any reason to do that?” It was an ordinary attitude. At that moment, Se-min had an intuition. Her excessively calm face instead made him suspicious. The fact that the errand agency had easily obtained the Einkel Raid information in the first place was strange, and now communication was cut off as well. The fact that the Raider Bureau had immediately assigned him the raid was also incomprehensible. But for what reason did they do it? It was only an uncertain suspicion. “People died.” Min Ji-hyun did not answer and turned the document page. Se-min glanced sideways, but because the print was small, he could not see it properly. Before he could focus his visual power, she turned the page. “I’m glad you came. We also have something we are curious about regarding Se-min-ssi.” “Something you’re curious about?” “Please watch that video.” She pointed at the wall. A beam projector descended from the ceiling and began to display a video on the wall. A black screen showing nothing appeared. It soon became a desolate landscape. It was a wasteland. The field of vision shook all over, and the rough breathing of the filmer was heard. The language being heard was a foreign one. Was he fleeing? Soon, the filmer muttered something. It was a mournful lament whose meaning could be inferred even without knowing the language. The screen turned. There it was in front of him. Se-min’s pupils dilated minutely. However, he did not display any further agitation. Min Ji-hyun’s gaze was directed toward him, not the screen. A figure that seemed to be made of black aura stood in front of the screen. In the bastard’s grip was a sword in a form that seemed to extend from its body. It walked in long strides toward the filmer. Its steps and speed did not match. With every step it took, it would slide forward by several meters or stand still. It was a bizarre movement that disrupted the sense of space. Se-min strove not to blink his eyes. Because if he closed his eyes, the appearance of Noh Hak-jae, whose chest had been pierced by that devil that day, would come to mind. “Have you seen that before?” Se-min shook his head. His eyes kept staring at the screen. Perhaps because the camera was attached to the filmer’s body, his limbs were visible from outside the field of vision. His skin was black. He also held a weapon and raised aura. However, he could not withstand the black devil. Following the filmer’s movements, the screen moved rapidly. Se-min raised his visual power and chased it. Amidst the dizziness, he could tell that the filmer was being continuously attacked by the devil. Soon, the filmer slumped down. The devil drew closer. The filmer muttered something. It also seemed like a prayer. Soon, the black devil’s blade plummeted toward him. The camera fell off and spun around. Heaven and earth inverted. After bouncing on the floor a few times, the screen soon stabilized. The appearance of the dead man sprawled on the ground was shown. He was a black man, and he was wearing a military uniform. His body was brutally split open, revealing his entrails. He failed to close his eyes and stopped, blankly staring at the air. And beyond him. In the place where he had run and fled endlessly, the corpses of numerous soldiers wearing the same attire lay scattered. All of them held cold weapons and were horribly severed. The devil walked out again. It checked the man’s corpse and glanced at the camera. That figure facing the front. Although the darkness consumed even the shadows, making it impossible to check its movements, he could feel that it was staring at the lens. The bastard definitely knew what kind of tool this was. The bastard’s black air current wavered once. And it walked out beyond the screen. “Is it really your first time seeing it?” In a brief moment, numerous thoughts crossed Se-min’s head. Did they know about Noh Hak-jae, and what did they know about that devil’s identity? Se-min looked at Min Ji-hyun and deliberately shrugged his shoulders. “What is that? A new magic beast?” Min Ji-hyun shook her head. “I cannot tell you.” “Has that magic beast been caught?” “If you have no experience encountering it, I cannot tell you.” Se-min did not buy it. Of course he was curious about its identity. However, as scary as that devil was, he could not trust these people either. They were the ones who might have sent Kesia out to test him. People had died. Se-min’s conclusion was that at the very least, these people sitting at the upper echelon of the Raider Bureau were watching him, and for now, he could not know their hidden agenda. “That’s a pity. Since it’s a guy I’m seeing for the first time.” Se-min grinned. Min Ji-hyun also smiled. The gazes of the two crossed. Perhaps they had also noticed. They deceived each other, and they also knew that they were deceiving each other. They would even know the fact that they knew. “Einkel.” Se-min spoke suddenly. “I’ll do the raid. Give it to me.” Min Ji-hyun looked down and fingered the documents. Se-min continued. “Instead of the Einkel originally assigned, Kesia came out. I blocked it. So it’s sufficient, right?” “It is sufficient.” Min Ji-hyun pushed the documents to Se-min. It was the raid overview sheet. “To say it again, the Kesia Raid was an accident, and we apologize. The Raider Bureau wants to maintain a good relationship with Se-min-ssi. We will give you a solo Einkel Raid.” In the case of Einkel Raids, a large number of people are mobilized compared to the difficulty. It was to spin the roulette. However, a solo raid was given to him. Einkel’s corpse was now Se-min’s. “Good.” Se-min rose from his seat, holding the raid overview sheet. This was also why he had visited the Raider Bureau. He wanted this. The raid location was Iksan, Jeonbuk. “It’s quite far.” “Since magic beasts do not care about locations. And, to regenerate your arm using Einkel’s corpse, a hospital equipped with the technology is needed. We will connect you.” She also knew the reason why Se-min wanted Einkel’s corpse.