A Rift suddenly appeared? And it opened the moment it formed?
My heart pounded hard at the sight before ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) me.
For a Rift emitting such powerful energy, it had to be high-grade—no question. But even the highest-grade Rifts had never manifested like this. Not once. Not this instantly. Not this violently.
Frozen by the incomprehensible situation, I could only stare as monsters began to crawl out of the gaping mouth of the Rift.
Kiaaaaaaak! Kyaaaak!
A monstrous bird, shaped like a crow but massive, let out a piercing shriek.
The sharp sound stabbed through the ears of those who had only just looked up, and panic exploded.
“Monsters! Monsters!!”
“I-Is that a Rift?! Why is there a Rift here—?!”
“Run! Run now!!”
Glasses and drinks were thrown aside as the crowd erupted in chaos. I snapped back to awareness and frantically scanned the area.
He’s gone!
Kwak Seunggyu, who had just been standing across from me, had disappeared. I should’ve kept my focus. How the hell was I going to find him again in this sea of people?
Cursing my own incompetence, I moved toward where he’d last stood—only for a familiar sound to chime in my ears.
Ding!
A status window blinked into existence in front of me.
《Main Quest Received!》
Main Quest: Capture the Research Lab Affiliate Hidden in the Event Venue (Time Remaining: 9 hours 59 minutes)
You must capture research lab affiliate Kwak Seunggyu and uncover the secrets of the lab.
Current Location of Kwak Seunggyu: Near Main throne hall
Warning! If the distance between you and Kwak Seunggyu exceeds a certain range, the quest will automatically fail.
“What the...?”
Surprisingly, this quest was actually helpful.
Capturing Kwak Seunggyu had been my objective from the start. Turning it into a quest just meant extra rewards on top. A win-win.
Up to now, the quests that came in at critical moments had never been this straightforward. But this one? It even pinpointed his location. It was almost hard to believe how convenient it was.
My head began to clear. Right. Now wasn’t the time to sit here blaming myself. If I wanted to catch Kwak Seunggyu in the middle of this mess, I had to move fast.
“A monster’s coming down!!”
Crack!
Monsters began forcing their massive forms through the widening gap in the Rift. One by one, they spilled out.
Leading the way was a massive flock of crow-like beasts.
KAAAK!
With rows of sharp teeth lining their beaks and three blood-red eyes gleaming, these flesh-eating crows were among the more frequently seen monsters in Rifts. They flew in swarms and could swoop down to snatch and devour humans in an instant—making them a nightmare to handle.
“Holy shit! Help us!”
“Get inside! Take shelter in the buildings!”
People who had no idea what they were doing and those with actual combat knowledge collided in a panicked stampede. Crowds surged toward Bridge of Eternal Relief like a tidal wave.
To get back to Main throne hall where Kwak Seunggyu was, I’d have to re-enter through Gate of Diligent Governance—but there was no way I could cut through that crowd.
What do I do?
The faces rushing past me were pale with terror, overtaken by raw fear.
If I forced my way in, there’d be casualties. Was there another route? But every gate would be like this...
Should I just shift into my S-rank form in a less crowded area?
I’d already planned on acting as my cover persona today, and with things this chaotic, now might be the best time.
The only issue was... disappearing like that could raise suspicion with Kwon Taehyuk or Ryu Sunghyun.
“......”
After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to use my Hidden Skill.
I had no choice. If I hesitated again and lost Kwak Seunggyu, it’d cost me.
I turned away from the main gate, looking for somewhere I could hide—and that’s when it happened.
KUUU-RUMBLE!
A deafening roar echoed as waves of heat struck my skin.
Startled, I looked up.
A massive fireball was plummeting from the sky, heading right toward me. Flaming and roaring—it was so close I could feel the heat on my face.
“...What the fuck—”
If I just stood there in shock, I was going to die.
I tried to throw myself out of the way, but someone else reached me first—grabbing me around the waist.
“Ugh...!”
A powerful grip yanked me back. My vision flipped upside down, flames roared past—and then:
BOOOOM!!
An earth-shaking blast, followed by scalding heat.
But the person who had grabbed me shielded me from the blast with their own body.
“Hunter Cha Seohu, get a hold of yourself.”
A familiar voice.
I blinked and pushed away the large hand covering my face—and looked up.
It was Kwon Taehyuk, staring down at me through the rising sparks and smoke.
Thank God.
Panting, I finally opened my mouth. “Thanks for saving me, but—huff—my back hurts like hell.”
“Ah... I apologize.”
“No, it’s fine.”
As he moved to let go of my waist in embarrassment, I grabbed his hand and placed it back.
“Don’t let go. Just loosen the grip. I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”
Following my lead, Kwon Taehyuk kept his arm around my waist and waited for me to explain.
The status window still showed Kwak Seunggyu’s location near Main throne hall, so I nodded and said:
“I saw Kwak Seunggyu just before the Rift opened. He should still be near Main throne hall.”
“If he’s near Main throne hall...”
Kwon Taehyuk narrowed his eyes and turned toward it, thinking.
I urged him on. “I know things are chaotic, but we have to at least check. Just take me there—I’ll handle the rest.”
“You’ll handle it? What does that mean?”
“You’re the Guildmaster—you need to stop the Rift and protect the civilians. I’ll take care of Kwak Seunggyu.”
“......”
Kwon Taehyuk’s expression only grew more complicated. Seriously, now wasn’t the time for this. I needed his help—since transforming into my S-rank form in front of him was no longer an option.
Suppressing my frustration, I added, “Guildmaster, we’re running out of time—”
“...Fine.”
With a sigh, Kwon Taehyuk leapt into the air, still holding me, and cleared the high wall in one bound. He didn’t even bother with the crowded gates—he went straight for Main throne hall.
What awaited us on the other side was chaos.
The elegant event venue was now a warzone. Tables of food and champagne lay in ruins. The traditional decorations that had once looked beautiful were now engulfed in flames.
People were fleeing in all directions. Fireballs kept raining from the sky. Monsters continued to pour out of the Rift.
There weren’t many monsters out yet, so injuries were scarce, but the situation was far from safe. This was exactly when someone like Kwon Taehyuk was needed.
I’d get him back into action as soon as we arrived.
“Hunter Cha Seohu!”
As we landed in front of Main throne hall, Ryu Sunghyun rushed over. He’d been helping evacuate people.
“Thank goodness you’re safe.”
He exhaled in relief at the sight of me in Kwon Taehyuk’s arms, then immediately reported,
“I couldn’t locate Actor Eun Woojeong. He must’ve been swept away by the crowd.”
Eun Woojeong’s gone? I frowned.
Could he have spotted Kwak Seunggyu too and gone after him separately?
This chaos made it impossible to move around as an actor, anyway. Still, he’s S-rank. He’ll be fine.
“And the one you’re close with—he disappeared the moment the Rift opened.”
“Kwon Seoyul isn’t someone you need to worry about.”
Either he was looking for me and we got separated, or he vanished because of some new order. Either way, he could handle himself. He was S-rank too.
But I didn’t have time to be standing around.
I gently pushed Kwon Taehyuk off me and said, “I’ll search for Kwak Seunggyu. You two should focus on helping the others.”
The status window told me he was near Main throne hall, but not exactly where. The area was too large for me to find him immediately, and he wouldn’t stay in one place for long.
If it really gets impossible, I’ll slip away, transform with my Hidden Skill, and—
But before I could even take a step, someone grabbed my arm.
I turned to see Kwon Taehyuk with a grim expression.
“Guildmaster?”
“...Wait. Just a moment.”
“Huh?”
Kwon Taehyuk hesitated, lips parting and closing several times—then finally made up his mind and turned to Ryu Sunghyun.
“Hunter Ryu Sunghyun, can I trust you to manage things here? Reinforcements from the government and the guilds should arrive soon.”
That surprised not only Ryu Sunghyun—but me too.
What the hell is this guy saying?
Even as I blinked in confusion, Kwon Taehyuk continued, calmly but firmly:
“I’ll go with Hunter Cha Seohu to find Kwak Seunggyu.”
“...What?”
Come again?
With who?
[Main Quest: Capture the Research Lab Affiliate Hidden in the Event Venue (Time Remaining: 9 hours 43 minutes)]

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