This is insane...
Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun didn’t know there was any connection between me and Cover.
Since I operated in secret, having it revealed that Cover was linked to me would do nothing but complicate things. I didn’t want them to know if I could help it.
I knew something was off the moment that bastard started making weird assumptions.
I forced a smile while averting my gaze from Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun, who were staring at me like they were trying to burn holes through my face.
"I’m not sure what you’re talking about."
"Hmm, not sure?"
"I’m not close to her, and I have no idea where she is."
That was the best answer I could give right now.
Even though Eun Woojeong had just confidently spewed nonsense, which caused both Kwon and Ryu to look at me strangely, it wasn’t a situation I could clear up right away.
Eun Woojeong looked at me for a beat, then opened his mouth with a disappointed tone.
"You’re really shameless, Guildmaster Won."
"......"
"I know how much Cover cares about you. Why else would I come all the way out here if I weren’t sure?"
"I told you already—I don’t know."
"Oh? Could it be..."
Ignoring my rebuttal entirely, Eun Woojeong suddenly stepped closer. The abrupt decrease in distance made me instinctively step back.
"Are you thinking you’re safe right now? If things get more dangerous for you, Guildmaster Won... she won’t be able to help showing up, right?"
A chill rolled off of Eun Woojeong.
The moment I realized it was killing intent, the energy around both Kwon Taehyuk—who was gripping my wrist protectively—and Cha Sahyeon in my arms began to ripple.
This lunatic...!
He’s unleashing killing intent right now? I swallowed a curse and quickly pressed Sahyeon’s head down just as she started to turn.
"Urgh...!"
Shhk! A pale silver chain grazed my cheek. A sickening rip followed right behind it.
SKREEEE!
A vampire bat that had snuck down behind me crashed to the ground, impaled on the chain.
"Just kidding," Eun Woojeong said softly, chuckling as he looked up.
The killing intent had stirred the bat swarm again, and they began attacking once more. As he casually whipped his chains to slay the descending bats, he added with a relaxed voice:
"If Guildmaster Won really doesn’t know, I guess I’ll just have to wait here until she shows up."
As Eun Woojeong lazily waved his hand, the number of chains around him increased rapidly. He casually dealt with each bat that flew toward me, the weakest in the group, and then addressed Kwon Taehyuk.
"The police and military are gathered at the front gate of the Royal Palace. Doesn’t look like the guild reinforcements have arrived yet. If you plan to escape, I suggest you head there now."
"Let’s go, Hunter Cha Seohu."
Kwon Taehyuk, scowling at Eun Woojeong with clear displeasure, yanked my wrist and pulled me away.
We left the chaos behind and ran again. The vampire bats descended wildly as we crossed Bridge of Eternal Relief, but with Eun Woojeong’s chains, Kwon Taehyuk’s blades, and Ryu Sunghyun’s light, they were all neutralized.
Crossing the unexpectedly vast inner grounds of the Royal Palace, we finally reached the front gate, where, just as Eun Woojeong had said, police, soldiers, and hunters were gathering.
"Ye—Yesung Guildmaster?"
"There are more casualties!"
"Are you okay?!"
Several hunters ran up to us as we emerged from the palace gate. Kwon Taehyuk exchanged a few quick words with the officers and finally let go of my wrist.
"We don’t know what else might come out of the rift. Don’t stay here—move immediately."
"Hold on."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a phone, stopping Kwon and Ryu as they turned to head back inside.
"I should return this to you."
"Ah."
Kwon Taehyuk blinked, then extended his hand. As he reached for the phone, I grabbed his hand.
Surprised by the sudden contact, his eyes widened—but then his shoulders twitched as the buff took effect.
《Skill: Bond of the Guardian (S-rank) activated!》
《Primary skill damage increased. (Target: Kwon Taehyuk) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
《Base speed increased. (Target: Kwon Taehyuk) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
《Stability effect applied. (Target: Kwon Taehyuk) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
He hadn’t expected a buff at a time like this. His eyes reddened slightly in embarrassment.
"You’re about to go through hell, so of course you should take the buff."
"Ah... r-right. Thank you..."
"Deputy Guildmaster of Circle—want one too?"
I turned quickly to Ryu Sunghyun, ignoring Kwon’s awkward thanks. Truthfully, I’d wanted to offer it earlier.
Ryu, who’d been quietly watching us, blinked with the same stunned expression as Kwon. What the hell was with these guys? Why did they always look surprised when I said anything?
He hesitated, glancing between me and Kwon before scratching his head with a sheepish smile.
"If... if it’s okay with you, Hunter Cha Seohu..."
"Of course it is."
Delighted that Ryu wasn’t turning it down for once, I grabbed his hand.
《Skill: Bond of the Guardian (S-rank) activated!》
《Primary skill damage increased. (Target: Ryu Sunghyun) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
《Base speed increased. (Target: Ryu Sunghyun) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
《Stability effect applied. (Target: Ryu Sunghyun) (Duration: 4 minutes 59 seconds)》
Still, the duration’s the worst part...
The system didn’t show detailed stats, but it was an S-rank buff, so the effects themselves were solid. The only issue was how short it lasted.
Buffs generally applied two things at once: positive effects and a replenishment of depleted energy. Of those, the duration was what really bothered me.
Five minutes. That was it. And with how unstable the rift was, they were likely going to be fighting for a while.
Just touching hands isn’t enough.
If I increased the area of physical contact, the duration would extend—but obviously, this wasn’t the time for that. And they didn’t seem like the types who’d agree to it ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) anyway.
Still, maybe things weren’t so hopeless. Ryu Sunghyun, who used to get visibly uncomfortable around me, didn’t reject the buff this time. We were a long way from how things used to be before regression, but at least we were moving forward.
"Then we’ll go. Get somewhere safe."
"Don’t linger nearby, Hunter Cha Seohu—get as far away as you can."
Leaving me with those final warnings, the two turned and reentered the palace. The reinforcement hunters followed close behind.
Cha Sahyeon and I were guided by a healer unit hunter to a military truck. Once I was seated on the cargo bench, I finally felt like I could breathe.
I looked down to check on Sahyeon, who had stayed quietly tucked in my arms the whole time.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Mmhmm."
She answered in an unusually cute tone, peeking out from under the coat I’d draped over her face. I didn’t know why, but she seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
"You did great. Let’s go home now."
I patted her back and turned my gaze out of the truck.
The rift above the black sky was still open.
The entrance remained dark red, and the sheer size of it was unnerving. This wasn’t the kind of rift that would just spit out a bunch of vampire bats and be done with it...
Where the hell is Kwak Seunggyu?
Just as the thought crossed my mind and I opened the system window—
Ding!
《Warning! You are moving too far from Kwak Seunggyu!》
[Main Quest: Capture the research lab member hiding somewhere in the venue]
You must apprehend Kwak Seunggyu and uncover the secrets of the lab.
Kwak Seunggyu – Current Location: Beside Hall of Pure Governance
Caution! If distance exceeds the limit, the quest will automatically fail.
He was still inside the front gate of the Royal Palace.
Why?
With Kwon and Ryu taking in reinforcements, I thought for sure he’d have run by now. Especially with Eun Woojeong still inside...
GIIIIIIING!
"Kh...!"
The piercing screech shattered my thoughts.
A sharp stab like needles inside my ears made me wince—and then, everyone else in the cargo hold started screaming. The sound signaled the start of a new wave.
"W-What the hell is that?"
A hunter across from me stammered as we looked up toward the rift.
A thick, writhing shadow was spilling from the rift’s entrance—like a swarm of insects pushing through a narrow hole, another wave of monsters was pouring out.
These weren’t flyers like the bats, but they didn’t take any damage even when falling from high altitudes. They hit the ground, bounced up, and charged in every direction at terrifying speed.
A few landed just outside the palace gates. Growling and baring their teeth, several monsters started chasing after the military truck we were in.
"F-Floor it! Go!"
One of the hunters shouted toward the driver, panicked by the monsters’ power and speed.
CRASH!
Something slammed into the truck, and it violently tilted to one side. People in the cargo hold screamed and tumbled together.
"Aagh!"
"N-No—!"
BANG! THUD!
A deafening roar rattled my head.
I reflexively curled my body around Cha Sahyeon, holding her tight—and with no time to do anything else, my vision went completely black.
[Main Quest: Capture the research lab member hiding somewhere in the venue (Time Remaining: 7 hours 48 minutes)]

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