I recalled the conversation I had in the dream with Chronos.
Setting aside that strange space and the unpleasant truths, the conclusion was simple: at the latest, we had to return to Seoul within two days.
I could more or less guess how noisy and chaotic things were below the mountain right now, and I had already heard from Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun, so I was prepared.
'But now that there are only two days left, it feels regretful.'
It wasn’t like I came here for that purpose, but looking back now, these past two weeks were basically a vacation.
Having returned from purifying the area of the strongest cold with Song Jiwoon, I stretched out lazily on the bed in the second-floor room, using tiredness as my excuse.
I could faintly hear people talking downstairs.
At breakfast this morning, I had already told everyone that we would be heading back to Seoul in two days.
Eun Woojeong, who had been helping me train every night, left the mountain without hesitation as soon as he heard that explanation. Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun simply nodded silently.
As for Cha Sahyeon, since he always moves with me anyway, there was no reason for him to react, and Song Jiwoon accepted it calmly too, as he often came to visit King Seohwa regardless.
'Will I ever have time to rest like this again?'
Leaving aside the chaos caused by my skills shaking up the entire nation, if we end up clashing with those cult bastards, there’s no telling what could happen. This might very well be the last time we all get to rest intact.
'...This is getting kind of depressing.'
Shoving away those pointless thoughts, I checked my items before returning to Seoul.
During the last rift incident, I even used the flying item, and now there were only a handful of usable items left.
A potion that lets me play dead. A charm that boosts charisma.
'Where the hell am I supposed to use this charm? Was buying it pointless?'
Since I couldn’t refund it, I had to use it somewhere to get any value. Clicking my tongue, I put it back neatly into my inventory.
And then, there was this one.
[Trial Tower Admission Ticket]
An admission ticket to the Trial Tower.
Enter the Trial Tower to train your skills and combat techniques, and challenge your limits.
The ticket can only be used once.
In truth, I had been planning to use this ticket here.
But those three S-ranks came to the mountain earlier than I expected, and later Eun Woojeong joined in too, so the timing became awkward.
Besides, the nightly training sessions turned out to be surprisingly helpful, and I didn’t want to give them up.
'Since it’s a one-time item, the shop won’t sell more. I have to use it wisely.'
More than anything, that word “tower” bothered me. It gave me the feeling that once I went in, I might not come out for several days.
After some thought, I placed the admission ticket back into my inventory.
Not now. There’ll be a better chance later.
I carefully sorted the rest of the items back into my inventory as well.
Two days later, I put on the clothes I had worn when I first arrived at the mountain. Over the freshly washed outfit, I draped on a robe.
Not by using Cha Sahyeon’s skill—we had decided to head down to the foot of the mountain and take a car back. Since we still had to cross snow-covered sections chilled by lingering cold, the robe was essential.
“Take care on your way back.”
King Seohwa, who had contributed the most to this vacation, stood with arms folded, seeing us off.
“Next time we meet, it may be in the human world.”
“You’ll come down?”
I asked in surprise, and King Seohwa gave a calm nod.
“From the look of things, it seems you’ve made enemies with troublesome sorts. I also worry about my disciple, so I’ll make time to visit.”
“Oh...”
King Seohwa... in Seoul?
I couldn’t quite picture it. Her noble appearance, her way of speaking, her clothing—they didn’t fit the modern world at all.
'Like some non-human from a fantasy crossing dimensions into a modern setting... well, that’s not wrong, is it?'
After all, King Seohwa’s homeland was said to be beyond the rifts.
“Understood. Please contact me when you come to Seoul.”
She would surely visit the Circle Guild to see Song Jiwoon, so if she needed me, she’d get in touch.
Leaving King Seohwa behind, we descended the mountain.
While riding in Kwon Taehyuk’s car toward Seoul, I turned on the phone I had kept off the whole time I was in the mountains. There hadn’t been any signal anyway, and it saved battery.
Bzzzzzt, bzzzzzt, bzzzzzt, bzzzzzt, bzzzzzt!
The moment it powered on, a flood of notifications crashed in like waves. Even though I usually turned most alarms off out of annoyance, it was still this noisy?
Kwon Taehyuk, who was driving, and Cha Sahyeon in the passenger seat both turned to look at me.
“Hm.”
I had expected this, but not to this extent.
Among the notifications were familiar names. Park Minhyuk from the Association, Hyun Dowoon. Occasionally, even Kwon Seoyul’s name popped up. The rest were strangers. My info must have leaked.
“Guess I’ll have to change my number.”
“I’ll arrange it today.”
At my small sigh, Kwon Taehyuk replied calmly, as though he’d already anticipated this.
'More importantly, seeing how the district guys kept contacting me until recently, it looks like they still haven’t figured out where I’ve been staying.'
The corners of my lips curled.
'That’s good.'
In every sense, the snowbound mountain was the perfect refuge. Satisfied, I turned the phone back off—it was just too noisy.
The car sped forward, entering Gangnam. And right after we got into Gangnam, while stuck in the inevitable traffic, I was casually staring out the window when it happened.
“...What the hell?”
Seeing something I hadn’t even imagined, I shot upright with a shout.
Right after, Cha Sahyeon, looking out the opposite side window, spoke in a very displeased tone.
“...Hyung, there’s something weird hanging there.”
Yeah, I was seeing that weird thing too.
Thinking it was a hallucination, I rubbed my eyes and looked again. But it was still there.
A banner fluttering in the wind, strung across the road. Plastered on it, in giant print... my face. Fuck.
So this is what happens when something is so absurd it leaves you dumbfounded—you go completely blank. First time I learned that.
“Guildmaster, what the hell is this...?”
I turned forward, intending to ask Kwon Taehyuk what the hell was going on—when it hit.
― The Hunter world’s paradigm is changing! The world’s first SS-rank Supporter, awakened as a combat-type S-rank Dealer!
A booming voice thundered as a massive LED billboard across the street lit up with a video of... me.
“......”
“......”
“......”
A heavy silence fell inside the car.
Mouth hanging open, I stared blankly at the billboard showing my moving image.
'That’s me, right? It’s me. Crazy, when did they film this?'
Can they just... record people like that and use it for outdoor ads? Do I not have image rights or what?
Seeing me dumbstruck, Kwon Taehyuk spoke urgently.
“I’ll have my secretary check the situation immediately. If possible, I’ll see to having the ads removed.”
Apparently he’d only just realized, like me, what [N O V E L I G H T] a state Seoul had become while we’d been holed up in the mountains.
And meanwhile, the traffic jam wasn’t budging. Gangnam really was incredible.
Just as Kwon Taehyuk reached for his phone to contact his secretary, another call came in first. The caller ID read: Park Minhyuk.
He glanced at me briefly, then pressed connect. Soon Park Minhyuk’s voice filled the car.
— Guildmaster Kwon. Hunter Cha Seohu, has he entered Seoul?
Even his voice was urgent, skipping straight to the point.
Kwon Taehyuk narrowed his eyes slightly.
“How did you know?”
— ...The Association is tracking Hunter Cha Seohu’s GPS in real time. Is he with you right now?
Kwon Taehyuk glanced back at me. Reluctantly, I opened my mouth.
“Long time no see, Team Leader. Seems Seoul’s gotten busy while I was away on a little trip.”
— Haa...
Hearing my voice, Park Minhyuk let out a deep sigh. Even without being face-to-face, I could feel his accumulated fatigue.
— Do you have any idea how many times we tried to contact you? Where have you been all this time?
“I was lying low for a bit. Thought it was for the best. Anyway, that’s my business, no need for details.”
From the words alone, it sounded like he’d been worried about me, but really, it just meant the Association had been running around trying to pin me down. I cut off the needless nagging and asked:
“I just saw some bizarre things on the streets of Gangnam. Banners, outdoor ads—what is all this? Can I sue them?”
— You can’t... It won’t work. The state authorized them.
Park Minhyuk let out another deep sigh, almost pleading.
— Please. Come to the Association. To have those ads taken down, you need to come here.
“Not sure. Doesn’t sound very trustworthy.”
— We won’t force you. If you want, we’ll even draft a written pledge. You can come with Guildmaster Kwon if you like. Since the ads are state-sanctioned, the only way to remove them is through the Association.
Instead of answering right away, I looked at Kwon Taehyuk. He gave me a small, confirming nod.
If those ads were truly posted by the government, then what Park Minhyuk said was true.
'I had planned to return to Yesung Guild first, take a moment to regroup, then move. But...'
This meant asking Cha Sahyeon about the cult leader would also have to be postponed.
No helping it. I couldn’t just let those ridiculous ads be.
“We’ll head there now.”
— Understood. I’ll be waiting.
With Park Minhyuk’s calm but relieved voice as the last words, the call ended.
Just then, the traffic jam cleared. Turning the wheel, Kwon Taehyuk said:
“To the Association. I’ll accompany you.”

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