Chapter 1040

I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that request.


This time, her assignment was the cleanup of an A Rank dungeon. Why was she, a high-ranking officer, doing it herself? Because the guild that cleared the A Rank dungeon was one of the largest. They were too much for a regular association staff to handle.

“You don’t really need to be here in person, do you?”

Just before arriving at the location, Baek Ji-eun finished dressing and applying makeup, then got out of the car with a cynical smile.

“I may be an officer of the Association, but I’m still at the bottom. Lacking power and connections. Moving around now will help build networks for later. You should come along too.”

And so we moved together.

In front of where the dungeon gate had once stood, a group of armed individuals gathered. The large guild had sent fewer members than usual; most had already returned.

“I kept you waiting. My apologies. I am Baek Ji-eun, assigned to this task.”

“We haven’t been waiting long. I am Kim Won-boo, director of the Eight-Star Guild. It’s an honor to meet you. And isn’t that the renowned Sung Yoojin standing beside you?”

“That’s correct. Due to a personnel gap, Ms. Sung has kindly agreed to assist me temporarily.”

“I see…”

Kim Won-boo’s eyes gleamed. I could already sense another strange rumor about to spread.

“Sung Yoojin.”

After exchanging greetings with him, she quietly closed her mouth and stood still. Baek Ji-eun and Kim Won-boo chatted for about 30 minutes before parting ways.

It was quite a novel scene for me. Usually, after a dungeon run, I’d just file a rough report with the association and head home to rest.

“Are you always this thorough?”

“It’s an A Rank dungeon and a major guild. This is actually quite simplified. If we strictly followed the manual, it would take over an hour.”

“Wouldn’t cutting corners cause problems?”

“The dungeon clearing succeeded, right? If it had failed, that might be different. Since it succeeded, there won’t be any big issues. You’re young, so you probably don’t understand yet… work needs some flexibility.”

Despite appearing like a workaholic, she didn’t seem to be overly meticulous about following procedures.

She tapped my shoulder, and I playfully patted her butt. Her eyes narrowed slyly as she whispered,

“Just wait a bit. We’ll stop by Gangdong first. Afterward… somewhere quiet, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After finishing the job, we spent the night together at Baek Ji-eun’s place until sunrise.

•••

I woke up around noon. The sound of running water came from the shower. Baek Ji-eun, who had been lying with her head on my arm, had gotten up earlier to clean herself.

Instinctively, I checked my smartphone. A message from Park Su-ho awaited.

Park Su-ho: Brother, I figured out what the dream meant.


Park Su-ho: That woman said the world is in danger. We must stop them.


Park Su-ho: Honestly, I still don’t fully understand… but I saw Busan in the dream.


Park Su-ho: So I plan to investigate in Busan.

“Busan?”

Was there anything dangerous happening in Busan? Nothing came to mind.

Anyway, this was Park Su-ho’s problem.

Me: Got it. I’ll check Busan too.

It was an empty reply. I had no intention of investigating Busan. It sounded troublesome. He’d figure it out himself eventually.

I got out of bed and entered the bathroom where Baek Ji-eun was. Soon, excited female screams echoed from the shower.

•••

June 15, Tuesday.

I double-checked the date on my smartphone. Still no contact from Han Harin, who went to Japan. She wasn’t answering calls or reading messages. Looks like the dungeon raid that was supposed to end in two days is taking longer than expected.

Buzzzz.

A new message arrived. Hoping it was from Han Harin, I found it was from Baek Ji-eun instead.

Baek Ji-eun: Schedule change. Come immediately. We’re heading to Gangwon-do.


Me: Got it.

Lately, I’ve been assisting Baek Ji-eun. Through this, I learned more about the Association’s operations. Normally, they manage dungeons and handle post-clearance duties. They also track awakened criminals.

‘The schedule change means an awakened crime must have occurred.’

Awakened Criminals – exactly as the name suggests, these are people who use their awakened abilities for criminal activities. Killing them on the spot counts as self-defense, with no legal repercussions. Though, capturing them alive is usually preferred.

Awakened crimes vary widely, from theft to murder. Since regular police struggle against awakened individuals, most cases are handled by the Association.

“…”

Baek Ji-eun’s expression was unusually serious. Sensing the mood, I refrained from making jokes and stayed silent. Something big must have happened.

While driving, I casually asked,

“What’s going on this time?”

“…An entire village was wiped out, except for one survivor.”

“Dungeon Break?”


“No. It’s caused by a person.”

We arrived at the remote mountain village.

The police and association officers were controlling the situation. It seemed easier to manage in this secluded village. However, everyone present wore tense expressions, and the atmosphere was far from pleasant.

“Has the Director of Management arrived?”

The association staff bowed their heads to Baek Ji-eun. This was a scene they had grown accustomed to after working alongside her for so long.

Baek Ji-eun’s precise title within the association was the Third Director of Management. Her primary responsibilities included dungeon management and overseeing crimes involving awakened individuals.

“You are?”

“I’m Cho Jin-seong, part of the Special Investigations Department. I’m a B Rank Hunter.”

“Have you discovered anything?”

“Yes. Everyone shows signs of being pierced by thorns and tortured. It’s the work of Thorn Mask.”

Thorn Mask.

Roughly three months ago, this awakened criminal began appearing on the news. The Association rated them as A Rank—meaning their power is comparable to an A Rank Hunter. Later, when I searched online, I found out this was a mass murderer who indiscriminately tortured and killed victims in dark alleys, claiming one life per month. But this time, they committed a massacre.

“Are there any survivors?”

“There’s a ten-year-old girl… but she seems to suffer severe psychological shock. She has violent seizures whenever someone approaches her. We’ve assigned a healing awakener to her before sending her to a psychiatric hospital.”

“Is it certain there’s no physical trauma?”

“Yes, it’s certain.”

“…Take care of her for now. Though I apologize to her, we need to extract as many clues as possible.”

Baek Ji-eun walked through the village with me.

It was bathed in blood.

People were busy gathering dismembered bodies. Baek Ji-eun’s aura was incredibly cold, even radiating Killing Intent. On most corpses, wounds from thorny whips were evident. Thorn Mask, an A Rank awakened criminal, possessed the ability to manipulate thorn vines.

‘…This will be all over tonight’s news.’

Reporters would swarm, and people would criticize the association for failing to capture Thorn Mask earlier.

This incident might shake Baek Ji-eun’s standing too, especially since rumors suggested Thorn Mask was one of the awakened criminals she had been pursuing.

After surveying the village, Baek Ji-eun clenched her teeth.

“Ji-eun, calm down. You’re going to break your teeth.”

“Three months! For three months, I’ve been tracking that bastard without finding a single clue. Even specialized tracking Hunters couldn’t catch him… He slipped through our nets like he was mocking us. For all we know, Thorn Mask might have help from inside the association.”

Baek Ji-eun stomped the ground fiercely. The earth trembled slightly, and her footprints remained clearly imprinted.

Later, we met the surviving girl.

The girl sat trembling on a chair. Baek Ji-eun approached her gently.

“Hi, Chae-a. I’m from the association…”

“AAAAAAHHHHHHH! AAAAHHHHH! UUUUUGH!”

The girl had a seizure and vomited on the floor. Baek Ji-eun looked utterly baffled.

I shook my head. Despite her potential to grow into a beautiful woman, the girl appeared mentally broken.

“Chae-a! Chae-a! Calm down! That monster isn’t here! You’re safe!”

A kind-looking healer woke her, embracing the girl, who gradually calmed down.

“…I acted too rashly. I’ll visit again later.”

Together with Baek Ji-eun, we left the house.

Baek Ji-eun sighed deeply.

“…Meeting victims never gets easier, no matter how many times I do it. …Thorn Mask. That lunatic is going to have his limbs torn off by me.”

•••

June 18th, Friday.

Han Harin still hadn’t contacted anyone.

Woo-wuuuung.

A message came from Park Su-ho.

Park Su-ho: Bro, there’s a strange religion in Busan. It’s called the Light Origin Church. Have you heard of it?

Park Su-ho: It’s really weird. I’ll investigate it.

Me: You’re going to investigate it yourself?

Park Su-ho: Yeah. It’s just attending church services, not dangerous or anything.

June 19th, Saturday.

Park Su-ho: Looks like a normal religion, but something feels off.

Park Su-ho: They believe in the God of Light.

Park Su-ho: Something about salvation at the end of the world or whatever.

Me: Sounds like a cult.

June 20th, Sunday.

Park Su-ho: Bro, I decided to attend their retreat for a week starting tomorrow.

Park Su-ho: No need to surrender my phone, so I’ll just go.

Me: Cults are dangerous.

Park Su-ho: I’m not joining; I’m investigating. Won’t see Ga-in for a week… please take care of her for me.

June 21st, Monday

Park Su-ho: Bro, I got a girlfriend.

Park Su-ho: (Picture)

Park Su-ho: Isn’t she cute?

“What is this Moai statue look-alike woman?”