Chapter 81

At my urging, the driver hit the gas right away. After we’d put a decent distance between us, I looked back and saw the cult creep still standing in the same spot, staring this way.

“What a crazy bastard to get snagged by.”

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, clicked his tongue, and muttered a curse.

“Tell me about it.”

“Kid, be careful. Though... judging by your build, you look like you can handle yourself.”

I nodded and settled back into the seat. That didn’t mean my head was quiet.

“What the hell is that guy’s deal?”

A C-rank hunter, not using a single skill, clinging and asking if I was a heretic—definitely not normal behavior. Then again, a C-rank showing up to a cult service in broad daylight in the first place meant he was a nutcase.

And what he’d said really stuck with me.

“A heretic?”

Cheonmyeonggyo zealots are aggressive about recruiting—no way they’d shun a new believer just because he didn’t know their prayer, right?

He was clearly unhinged, so I didn’t bother, but if what he said reflected Cheonmyeonggyo’s general stance, then that needed checking.

By what method, though?

In the original, three S-ranks marched side by side into the personal temple where Cheonmyeonggyo’s leader, Jin Haedo, was. If I tried that now, I’d die on the spot.

And I didn’t even have a bead on Jin Haedo’s exact location at this point.

By the time I’d finished turning that over for the best approach, the dinner time Hwayoung had set was right on top of us.

Then the driver casually tossed me a question.

“Kid. You know that guy from earlier?”

“No. First time I saw him today.”

The eyes I met in the mirror narrowed. With a sigh, the driver offered a warning.

“Don’t go near that place if you can help it! That’s where those Cheonmyeong-whatever cult freaks have their chapel.”

“Hm. I literally just came back from their chapel.”

I simply nodded and said, “Yes,” like I agreed.

Anyway, I hadn’t seen Jin Haedo at the chapel today, either.

I’d gone hoping to catch a lead, but if I came up empty like this, there was no reason to keep visiting the chapel.

“Then I just wait until Joo Seowon digs up the location?”

I didn’t know the exact address, but I had a rough hint. Jin Haedo mainly used Cheonmyeonggyo’s temples as his base.

I also knew there was one in Busan and one in Incheon, even if I didn’t have precise addresses.

I shelved the decision and was debating whether to ping Seowon when my phone buzzed.

Did you arrive in Busan okay?

It was Do Yehyun.

Yeah, why?

Was it something urgent? I texted back, and his reply came immediately.

Just checking in

What the... We’d literally seen {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} each other this morning.

I was debating how to respond to the pointless message when another one came in from him.

Tomorrow morning I’m going into a Gate with other SH hunters

“Hm... Yeah, it’s about time Yehyun started running Gates on his own.”

What rank is the Gate?

C-rank I’ll only be supporting so I’ll be fine

He preempted me with an explanation, in case I worried. I smirked and replied.

Go and come back safe. Watch yourself.

Yes

I stared at Yehyun’s reply and hesitated a moment.

“Should I ask if he knows anything more about Cheonmyeonggyo?”

Even after I learned Cheonmyeonggyo was connected to the Infinite Guild, I hadn’t pressed Yehyun for details. I didn’t want to give him any more ties to the Infinite Guild.

Besides, I was confident Seowon would find the location fast.

“Still, this much isn’t something I can’t ask Yehyun, right?”

Since I’d come down to Busan where one of Cheonmyeonggyo’s temples was, I wanted to find out everything I could.

“He’s already running dungeons—he’s not going to collapse from nerves over a question like this.”

I didn’t deliberate for long.

Any noticeable traits you saw from Cheonmyeonggyo believers back when the Infinite Guild thing happened?

Traits? Like what...?

Just anything obvious to the eye

I wanted to know whether the creep I saw today was uniquely weird or standard for the cult. Yehyun texted back quickly.

Nothing obvious to the eye. They just looked normal

Are they hostile to people who aren’t Cheonmyeonggyo?

No... I think it was actually the opposite

So that guy was the weird one. His eyes did look like they were busted.

With a flat mood, I typed a reply.

Then do you know any other Cheonmyeonggyo traits?

I’m not sure They go pray at least once a week... They memorize all the prayers, that kind of thing?

But to the eye they seemed like very kind people

Ordinary, then. I was tapping out a perfunctory response to the not-very-useful info when another message arrived.

Ah but I think the Cheonmyeonggyo leader says he can see the future

But hyung you also have a foresight skill so...

What kind of bullshit was that?

The Cheonmyeonggyo leader—Jin Haedo—has a skill to see the future?

“No way.”

Jin Haedo’s skill is Marionette, controlling others. As far as I knew, he didn’t have anything like foresight.

“Then is that just propaganda?”

Cults claiming their leader sees the future is common. Ever since Gates opened, everyone’s obsessed with skills, but even without skills, scamming people was always everywhere.

Claiming to know the future definitely looks like some kind of “revelation.”

Thinking that, I suddenly recalled the very first line I’d seen on the status window here.

Prepare for the coming apocalypse!

“Then is that also a kind of revelation?”

Now that it had been close to three months since I dropped into this world, here’s how the changes stacked up.

The biggest was going from unawakened up two ranks to F—no, to E. I’d also used some original-plot info to get tangled up with certain people. Not a change, but worth noting: we were getting closer and closer to the point where Kwon Taehan regresses.

“Status window.”

For the first time in a while, I pulled up the initial popup.

Welcome, Seo Jehyun, the One Who ■■ the ■■!

Right now is the ‘grace period’ before the da■■th life of the cur■■ right■■■ begins.

Progress toward apoc■■■... 11%

The same jumble of words as the first time I saw it.

“No—something changed.”

The plausibility, which had been a measly 7 percent, had crept up to 11 percent. A small figure, but a visible change.

“Why did plausibility go up? Changes in relationships? My stats? The passage of time?”

Could be all of the above.

I ran a quick check over my recent steps and sent a short reply.

Okay thanks Be careful tomorrow

Hyung you be careful too

Will do

A few minutes after the read receipt vanished, preview banners popped up.

talk_icon I’ll message you after I get back

talk_icon Don’t get hurt

He’s the one entering a dungeon, and he’s telling me not to get hurt? Then again, to a top-tier healer, my body probably looks like trash.

I snorted and swiped the previews away to clear the notifications.

A moment later, the driver spoke.

“Kid. We’re here.”

“Ah, yes. The fare should be pre-paid.”

With that, I said my thanks and got out of the taxi.

The place I arrived at was the restaurant Song Hwayoung had booked for dinner.

“Nice.”

As soon as I stepped inside, an impression came naturally.

A seafood specialty joint with classic interior touches; maybe because it was for a business dinner, every table was in a private room.

I followed the staff to the room reserved under Song Hwayoung’s name.

There, I saw Hwayoung already seated, having arrived before the appointed time.

“Oh, Hunter Seo. You’re here?”

“Yeah. You’re early.”

Hwayoung flashed a grin and gestured for me to sit.

“Have a seat first.”

She wore a friendly smile, but I knew.

“We’re going to talk about Im Haekyung.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly, sensing it on instinct. Still, I obediently pulled out the chair opposite her and sat.

“Aren’t the others coming?”

“They’ll be here soon. I came early because there’s something I want to talk about with you.”

When I nodded, Hwayoung stared at me for a moment, then took a sip of the tea in front of her and opened.

“I genuinely rate your abilities highly, Hunter Seo.”

“Thank you.”

“No, my evaluation isn’t what matters. An appraiser with an A-rank skill is impressive to begin with.”

Am I supposed to agree? “Yes. I also think I’m pretty impressive,” like that?

But it didn’t sound like she wanted an answer; she continued right away.

“But, Hunter Seo.”

“Yes?”

“Honestly, it’s just that the times are turbulent, but I still think of working for a guild as a kind of employment. As in the ‘previous’ meaning of employment.”

Previous meaning? She meant before hunters and Gates appeared?

In that case, that sense of “employment” hit closer for me. A few months ago, I’d been in an English study group trying to raise my TOEIC score.

“So what I’m saying is... even if you mixed in a little lie to get into SH, I can understand.”

“...”

So that’s where this was going.

Watching my reaction, Hwayoung gave me a steady look, then let out a small laugh and raised both hands.

“I’m no good at beating around the bush. What I mean is...”

“...”

“Why did you join SH?”

With that, she raised one corner of her mouth in an easy smile and added a follow-up.

“Did you join SH because it has something to do with the Haeseong Guild Master?”