Clack.
Closing the car door, Kwon Taehyuk lifted his gaze.
“...Are you certain Hunter Cha Seohu is here?”
A snow-covered mountain rose high before them.
They hadn’t even reached the entrance, yet the wind already cut sharp and cold.
At his reluctant question, Song Jiwoon, stepping out of the car behind him, nodded.
“If Hunter Cha Seohu didn’t go to the other districts, this is the only place left.”
Having visited once before, Ryu Sunghyun ignored the chill and began walking.
“There aren’t many places one can hide from the eyes of the state. Guildmaster Kwon confirmed the other districts. That leaves only here.”
Ryu hesitated briefly, then added in a reluctant tone.
“Unless Hunter Cha Seohu knows some other place we don’t.”
Given how much he kept hidden, the possibility was high, but certainty was impossible.
Understanding the implication, Kwon Taehyuk followed them into the mountain.
The mountain had long been closed off due to dangerously strong cold. Just a short way in, blizzards and knife-like winds whipped so fiercely that even S-ranks barely endured.
Among them, the one most accustomed to such cold was Song Jiwoon. He pressed on without hesitation, feet sinking into the piled snow.
“We’ll be there soon.”
About two hours later, leading them wordlessly, Song Jiwoon finally spoke.
As he said, the blizzard began to ease, the air gradually warming against their skin.
Soon, instead of frostbitten trees heavy with blossoms of ice, they found trees lush with green leaves. Dirt crunched beneath their boots. Birds sang overhead.
And then—
“Ugh!”
A scream rang out.
“Wait, wait! I surrender! Agh!”
“...!”
The cry for surrender, followed by another sharp scream. The voice was unmistakably familiar.
'Hunter Cha Seohu?'
Ryu Sunghyun and Song Jiwoon froze just as Kwon Taehyuk recognized the voice. Their faces turned grim.
Without hesitation, all three bolted toward the sound.
They shoved through branches and undergrowth, closing the distance in seconds. A blade was already clenched in Kwon Taehyuk’s hand.
Leaves brushed his cheek. His aura sharpened like a whetted edge.
Whatever appeared ahead—he was ready to cut it down to protect Cha Seohu.
Crash!
The last branch snapped aside, sunlight spilling through.
And there, sprawled on the dirt, was Cha Seohu.
“Ow, ow...” Rubbing the back of his head as if he had just hit it, Seohu looked up, eyes wide, at Kwon Taehyuk rushing in like a storm.
Kwon’s gaze swept over him sharply. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries.
The moment he confirmed Seohu was safe, Kwon’s eyes snapped to the front.
Above, standing on a thin plate of conjured ice—an arrogant figure with long white hair spilling to his waist, looking down on them.
'This aura... an S-rank monster...!'
The figure held a long ice-forged sword. Kwon Taehyuk’s energy surged.
Air grew taut, murderous intent thick.
“Wait!”
Song Jiwoon, alarmed, darted forward to block him. Ryu Sunghyun steadied Seohu from the ground, also stopping Kwon.
“Hold on. He’s not an enemy.”
“What?”
But this was the one who had attacked Seohu. How could he not be an enemy?
While Kwon frowned, King Seohwa descended with a languid air.
“You’re back, disciple.”
Disciple?
“Teacher, what is this...?”
Teacher?
“Don’t misunderstand. I was only asked to help with his training.”
Asked? Training?
Kwon’s frown deepened at the incomprehensible explanation. Then Seohu’s voice came.
“Well, I didn’t expect the timing to be like this either. I thought you’d come sooner or later, but I figured at least two more days.”
Awkwardly scratching his cheek, Seohu approached with a sheepish smile.
It was then that the three noticed the long sword in his hand—the same weapon Cover used.
The truth they had been too consumed to recall over the past week of cleaning up the Rift incident and searching for Seohu.
Cha Seohu and Cover were the same person.
An unnatural silence fell. Only King Seohwa spoke calmly.
“Training ends here. Let’s finish the rest inside.”
Six people gathered in the living room.
Cha Sahyeon clung to Seohu’s side, not missing a beat. Wearing a choker, returned to the form of a child, he scowled at the three men who had chased his brother here.
“I wasn’t hiding deliberately. You know cell phones don’t work here, and I didn’t exactly have time the past week.”
Seohu explained easily.
He told them he had explained the situation to King Seohwa and borrowed shelter here, and that he hadn’t contacted them because recovery had consumed all his focus. He apologized.
When he finished, he asked:
“How’s the damage in Gangnam?”
Nothing more.
Not about whether he really had a skill that let him transform into a Dealer. Not about the form they had seen before he vanished. Not about how he had disappeared so suddenly.
He asked only about the damage.
“...Haa.”
Kwon Taehyuk swallowed down a sigh that rose to his throat.
Looking sideways, he saw Ryu Sunghyun holding back countless questions of his own as he answered.
“It’s only been a week, so recovery is still ongoing, but the situation isn’t too bad. Casualties are few...”
He paused, then continued as calmly as he could.
“The demon-blood venom spilled on the ground was the greatest issue, but thanks to Hunter Cha Seohu purifying all of it, the reconstruction is proceeding smoothly.”
“Mm.”
Seohu crossed his arms, brows faintly furrowed.
'Good that it’s under control. But...'
The unease remained.
Especially regarding the “Cult Leader” Sahyeon had mentioned—too many unanswered questions.
Seohu glanced down at his brother, stuck to him in child form.
'I’ve been too focused on recovery this week to ask.'
But with these four here, it wasn’t the time to pry.
Much of his own situation had already been exposed. But about Sahyeon, the Seed of Catastrophe, or the cult—he wasn’t ready to speak.
The more they knew, the greater the danger.
Seohu still believed that.
Just as he had chosen a different path after regression, instead of joining Circle Guild with Ryu Sunghyun.
'Still, I can’t hide everything forever.'
Especially not from Kwon Taehyuk, Ryu Sunghyun, and Song Jiwoon, who had witnessed so much—this Rift, the Great Dungeon before it.
He would have to find a balance.
Lost in thought, he fell silent. The room followed suit.
King Seohwa clicked her tongue at how all the men’s eyes were fixed solely on Seohu—even her precious disciple’s. It was exasperating.
“...Hunter Cha Seohu.”
Unable to wait any longer, Kwon Taehyuk spoke.
“There’s much we need to discuss. But first—let’s return to Seoul. You should be examined properly by professionals, eat well, and rest in comfort. Your room is still waiting for you.”
“Ah.”
Seohu blinked, breaking from his thoughts to look at him.
“Mm... that might be difficult.”
Resting his chin in his hand, Seohu grinned.
“You heard earlier, didn’t you? I’ve been training.”
“Training... you say?”
“Yes. Thinking of what lies ahead, I need to be more used to combat. And with all the noise bound to be in the city below, I’d rather not show my face just yet.”
That was... reasonable.
Not only the Association, but the press and even foreign eyes were all fixed on the moment Cha Seohu resurfaced.
It had only been a week since the Rift.
Considering both his impact and his mental state, staying here to recover further seemed wiser.
“At least three or four more days. Of course, I’ve already gotten the host’s permission.”
Seohu spread his hands wide and gestured politely to King Seohwa.
Seeing the indifferent S-rank monster seated there made Kwon Taehyuk’s brow twitch. His instincts bristled.
Song Jiwoon asked, uneasy.
“What do you mean by training? You don’t mean... clashing swords with Master again?”
His eyes wavered.
“No, no. That earlier was just light exercise. My body’s not up for the real thing yet. The actual training will be later, after sundown.”
After sundown?
That odd limitation made the three men exchange glances. Just then, Seohu turned his eyes to Kwon Taehyuk.
“...Hunter Cha Seohu?”
His gaze lingered, unwavering, until the tips of Kwon’s ears flushed red.
“Guildmaster.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t mind, would you help me train?”
“...What?”
Caught off guard, Kwon Taehyuk stared as Seohu smiled deeply.
“You lost your number one ranking to me, didn’t you?”
“...!”
“I’ll give you a chance to take revenge.”

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