Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 120
#120. If Only I Had Been Born 30 Years Earlier
2022.11.28.
It had already been an hour and a half since the simple send-off ceremony began.
The delicious buffet food was replenished as soon as it was emptied, and the fragrant alcohol and drinks never seemed to run dry.
"I see. The scar is still..."
Roje trailed off, gazing at Minju's neck, specifically the scar clearly remaining in that area.
Minju, lightly scratching his neck, replied in a nonchalant tone.
"Well, it's fine."
In the first place, it wasn't a very noticeable size, and it didn't hurt even when he scratched it like this.
To Minju right now, the tank model QKZ-786 that Roje had gifted him was more important than some measly scar.
And it was the renewed version!
Click, clack...
Minju, nimbly assembling the tank.
Junhwan, who had been staring blankly at him from the side, cautiously parted his lips.
"Do you still not remember anything about what happened inside the Unknown Gate that day?"
"Hmm... Not really."
Minju, pausing his hands that were fiddling with the tank, gazed into the air as if trying to recall the memory of that time.
Then, as if something had come to mind, he said, "Ah," and slightly opened his mouth.
"Come to think of it, I think I talked to someone there."
...Talked?
At Minju's words, not only Junhwan but also Suhyeon, who had been munching on cookies beside him, glanced back.
"Talked? Master, you haven't said a single word about that until now."
"It just came to mind. It's not certain, just that it feels like it might have happened."
Saying so, Minju, with a face as if it were no big deal, began to fiddle with the tank model again.
Junhwan, stroking his chin as if in deep thought, spoke.
"...Was there a talking monster there?"
"A talking monster?"
Suhyeon, reacting to that, blinked.
Junhwan stopped stroking his chin and looked at her with serious eyes.
"It's an Unknown Gate, isn't it? Nothing would be strange if it happened."
Talking monsters.
To hunters, they were beings no different from UFOs.
Though there were those who gave detailed eyewitness accounts and those who researched them deeply, nothing had been clearly revealed yet.
The 'Princess of Dark Flare', famous among hunters, was also one of the ghost stories about talking monsters.
"If that's the case, shouldn't we inform the Association first?"
"Master, do you remember what the conversation was about? The opponent's appearance or characteristics?"
Suhyeon and Junhwan surrounded Minju with serious expressions.
Minju furrowed his brow tightly, as if trying to squeeze out a memory.
"I think it was an insect... A bug? Hmm, or maybe not... Was it just a person? Ugh, I don't know."
But eventually, he gave up and shook his head.
While Junhwan and Suhyeon stared at him with disappointed faces,
"Though less severe than enchantment or hallucination, some curses occasionally show symptoms of mental confusion even after being dispelled."
Roje, who had remained silent until now, subtly spoke.
"We also need to consider the possibility that it's not a clear memory. For now, we'll have to wait and see until his memory fully returns."
"But what if, you know? What if Master's memory becomes a big hint for this South Coast Gate operation?"
Junhwan lowered his voice.
"Doctor Plant, aren't you predicting this South Coast Gate to be an Unknown Gate?"
GIA had told the Korean Hunter Association that 'a massive gate will appear somewhere on the South Coast'.
And Roje, who had researched Unknown Gates for a long time, conjectured that it would be an Unknown Gate.
That was why Rose had made preparations, such as recruiting a support unit separately from the Association.
"That's right."
Roje, nodding, calmly added.
"But there's no guarantee that all Unknown Gates will be the same. Whether Trickster's memory will be helpful or not is something we'll only know when the time comes. Besides, forcing him to recall memories might lead to unexplainable side effects."
Roje glanced towards Minju, who was playing with the tank model.
'Side effects...'
Following that, Junhwan's and Suhyeon's gazes were also drawn to Minju.
His profile, humming a tune and engrossed in the tank model, looked peaceful and utterly innocent.
So much so that it was hard to believe he had been hovering on the brink of death until recently.
Hideous spots covering his entire face, his body like a mummy, as if all moisture had been drained... my Master.
A horrifying sight I never wanted to see again.
"Rather than forcing him to recall memories, absolute rest for now. You know what I mean, right?"
At Roje's words, Junhwan and Suhyeon closed their mouths.
"Aunt Roje, you're making such a fuss. I'm really fine—"
Minju, who had deliberately spoken in a bright tone due to the serious atmosphere, suddenly stopped talking.
'Huh, that hyung...'
Minju's acorn-like eyes became fixed on something as if nailed.
At the end of his gaze, in a corner of the banquet hall, was a man leaning against the wall, more than half of his face covered by a hood and mask.
"What's wrong? Master."
"That person over there. I think I've seen him somewhere before."
As Minju pointed his finger in Siwoo's direction, Junhwan nodded, "Ah."
Since Minju had barged in around the time the meeting was ending, it was understandable that he wouldn't know.
"He's someone the Vice-Guild Master of Wolf brought."
"Wolf?"
...Aha, now I remember.
'Confident against Corps, are you? Hyung, are you perhaps from Wolf?'
'Well. Do I have to answer that?'
No doubt.
Because he was standing in a corner without saying a word, he hadn't noticed until now, but it was definitely the person he had met when he visited the gukbap restaurant with Noona before.
Though he had roughly guessed from his characteristic confident and relaxed attitude, it seemed he was indeed from Wolf.
'However.'
A light of question flickered in Minju's eyes as he stared blankly at Siwoo.
Back then, he definitely had the impression of someone quick-witted and sharp-sensed...
Despite him staring so intently like this, for some reason, he didn't seem to notice his gaze.
Perhaps he was pretending not to notice, or perhaps his attention was entirely focused on something more important.
Minju guessed it was probably the latter.
Just as Minju was staring intently at Siwoo, Siwoo too was gazing intently somewhere.
'Where on earth is he so engrossed?'
Minju, with eyes full of curiosity, followed Siwoo's gaze.
And there—.
"It's truly the first time I've met someone who can keep up with my pace so well."
"Well. It seems you're the one keeping up with my pace, not me."
He discovered Eunha and Yoo Hwan, happily engaged in a drinking session.
"What? Uwahaha!"
This one, she's more amusing than she looks!
Yoo Hwan, throwing his head back and laughing heartily, thumped!
He lightly tapped Eunha's shoulder.
Of course, it was only light by his standards; considering his massive, beast-like build, it must have been a considerable blow.
Nevertheless, Eunha didn't even bat an eye and calmly sipped her drink.
'Hmm.'
Minju's eyes narrowed.
His lips began to twitch uncontrollably, as if he had discovered a very interesting toy.
Minju had seen it.
The very moment Yoo Hwan's hand touched Eunha's shoulder, the masked hyung's eyes literally flashed blue.
"Master? Where are you going?"
Minju, having discovered a new toy, tossed aside the tank model he had been diligently fiddling with and shot up.
And.
"Noona!"
Dadadadat!
He quickly ran and plunged into Eunha's embrace.
As expected, he felt a tingling gaze on the back of his head, but Minju, unfazed by it, smiled brightly and lifted his head.
"Noona, play with me too."
"Ahem, kids shouldn't interfere in adults' drinking sessions."
"Huh, what's the big deal. I'm not going to drink anyway. Noona, it's okay, right?"
Minju looked at Eunha with sparkling eyes.
"This is why kids are."
Yoo Hwan furrowed his brow as if annoyed.
It was just 30 minutes ago that he had Jaemin forcibly remove Phantom Thief, who was disturbing the sacred drinking session.
This time, it was Trickster.
Where did he ditch the tank toy he was playing with so well and suddenly barge in to cause this ruckus?
Sighing deeply, Yoo Hwan spoke to Minju, who was clinging to Eunha like a limpet.
"A kid who hasn't even shed his baby fat. If you want to sit and play with Noona, come back in at least 5 years."
"Ahjussi, don't you know younger guys are the trend these days?"
Huh? Look at this one?
Yoo Hwan raised an eyebrow.
Smirking at this mischievous kid before him, he then turned his head towards Eunha.
"You should ask her yourself. Younger brother, is a younger type your preference?"
Eunha, who was bringing her glass to her lips, froze.
Her pitch-black eyes seemed to be asking, 'Me?'
Hmm.
As Yoo Hwan nodded, Eunha, after thinking for a moment, finally replied quietly, as if muttering.
"...Not particularly."
Slurp.
The sound of lightly sipping alcohol followed.
"You heard that, kid? I won't say it twice, so go back to your Happy Meal now."
Yoo Hwan gestured towards Junhwan and Suhyeon in the distance.
Eventually, Minju pouted and turned his back as if he had no choice.
Though he looked dejected on the outside,
"...Pfft."
Minju was barely suppressing a burst of laughter.
The drinking session, with the obstacle removed.
"Now, shall we start again?"
Pour, pour.
Before the empty glass could be refilled, an unfamiliar shadow once again fell over them.
"...May I have a drink too?"
"Hmm?"
Yoo Hwan, who was tilting the liquor bottle, suddenly lifted his head.
And.
"What."
The moment he spotted the owner of the voice, his eyes turned cold.
There, an unidentified man with his face tightly covered was looking this way with blue eyes.
No, not unidentified.
That person was someone brought by Wolf's Vice-Guild Master, Lee Hagyun.
"Do you even know who I am, speaking to me like that?"
"Of course, you must be Immortal's Monkey King."
"You know well."
Clang!
The liquor bottle Yoo Hwan was holding shattered into pieces.
He, unfazed by the glass embedded in his hand, glared sharply up at Siwoo with eyes as red as blood.
"Then, you must also know that I hate Wolf more than anything in this world."
About 15 minutes later.
"..."
Eunha, with a slightly dazed face, looked back and forth between her sides.
"Do you know what their biggest delusion is? The delusion that without Wolf, the Korean hunter world will collapse. Don't you think that's absurd?"
Yoo Hwan, who had been glaring at Siwoo as if he would tear him apart just moments ago, was now laughing merrily.
"Besides, guilds that risk their lives for such useless things as Wolf are rare."
"I agree. Wolf believes without a doubt that everything they do will become the foundation of the Korean hunter world."
Unaware that they themselves are the main culprits rotting the Korean hunter world.
Siwoo, putting down his glass, twisted his lips faintly.
His pupils, holding a blue glint, floated silently above the glass.
Siwoo, gazing at it, soon parted his lips coldly.
"...If it's a dog, it should just guard the house like a dog."
At that moment,
[The 12th Divine Beast, 'Dog Guarding the Deep Night', droops its tail powerlessly at your cruel remark.]
"..."
Siwoo, who was reaching for a bottle to refill his empty glass, suddenly stopped moving.
It wasn't that he was bothered by the divine beast's reaction, but rather...
'Can a divine beast even get hurt?'
—It was because of such a question.
Most 'contractors' would be like that, but Siwoo didn't think of divine beasts as anything special.
Even if he was a 'Vassal', different from ordinary contractors.
Whether it was due to a dog's characteristic loyalty, or because Siwoo was a Vassal, the divine beast 'Dog Guarding the Deep Night' seemed to have followed Siwoo well from before.
However, that didn't make their relationship closer.
Siwoo had never once seen the true form of 'Dog Guarding the Deep Night'.
No, in the first place, it was even questionable if it had a true form.
They only communicated through such message windows.
A being that always stayed by his side and lent him its power.
That was all.
Meanwhile, Yoo Hwan, who had been silently gazing at him, curled his lips into a grin.
"Here, take it."
And he readily refilled Siwoo's empty glass.
"It's strange how well we get along."
What dwelled in his red eyes was, to anyone's eyes, goodwill.
The hostility he had initially shown Siwoo was now nowhere to be found, even if one searched for it.
"To think there was someone like this in Wolf, besides younger brother, is truly surprising."
With a satisfied smile, Yoo Hwan cast his gaze towards Eunha.
Isn't that right, younger brother.
His deeply curved eyes seemed to be asking that.
"But... why are you affiliated with Wolf?"
Yoo Hwan, who had been tilting his glass for a while, asked Siwoo.
Siwoo, with a nonchalant face, merely said this.
"It wasn't my will."
Oh dear.
Yoo Hwan clicked his tongue, tsk.
Though this young man before him was a face he had never seen before while active as a hunter, he was someone brought personally by Wolf's Vice-Guild Master, Lee Hagyun, to a secret special meeting at the Association.
Presumably, he was either an executive of the Wolf Guild, or at least a top-ranking hunter in the country.
Wolf would surely have used despicable and ruthless methods to secure such useful talent.
They were bastards capable of doing even worse.
Yoo Hwan, who seemed to be thinking about something, suddenly shot up from his seat.
"Alright. I'll specially introduce you to my right-hand man, Heo Jaemin. I'm sure you'll get along well with him too."
"There's no need for that."
"No. I'm just going to take a piss while I'm at it. I drank so much, my bladder feels like it's going to burst."
Yoo Hwan, rising from his seat, glanced at Siwoo and asked.
"Coming with?"
"..."
Siwoo's face hardened so much it was noticeable even above his mask.
As if quite pleased with that reaction, Yoo Hwan laughed heartily and then spun around.
"I'll be right back."
And so, after Yoo Hwan left.
"..."
"..."
Only Eunha and Siwoo remained there.
The two didn't exchange any particular conversation.
They just silently refilled each other's glasses whenever they were empty.
One glass.
Two glasses.
Three glasses.
...
The more glasses they emptied, the more it felt as if time were flowing slowly.
Eunha glanced up and observed Siwoo sitting beside her.
Though he didn't look drunk at all on the outside, seeing Siwoo's eyes more relaxed than usual, it seemed he was somewhat intoxicated.
'It's understandable.'
Eunha thought, looking at the empty liquor bottles lined up under the table.
Though it hadn't even been 30 minutes since their drinking session with Yoo Hwan began, they had already emptied over 10 bottles.
And it wasn't just any alcohol, but strong liquor specially prepared by the Association.
If they hadn't been Awakened, whose detoxification abilities surpassed ordinary people's, they would have been rushed to the emergency room by now, and it wouldn't have been strange at all.
"...Ah."
Siwoo, reaching for the glass before him with a liquor bottle, suddenly spilled it.
Drip, drip...
The alcohol, overflowing from the glass, dripped thickly under the table.
Eunha grabbed a nearby napkin.
The moment she reached out to wipe the spilled alcohol.
Pause—
Their fingertips faintly touched.
Siwoo too had been trying to wipe the table with a napkin.
Unlike Siwoo, who had frozen like stone, Eunha, with her usual nonchalant face, parted her lips.
"It's fine. I'll wipe it."
"..."
Siwoo said nothing.
He merely, slowly, very slowly, withdrew his hand.
Because she was engrossed in wiping the table, Eunha didn't notice what kind of expression Siwoo made at that moment.
Eunha, after roughly tidying the table, pushed the wet napkins to one side and then turned her head again.
"You don't seem to hold your liquor well."
"..."
Siwoo, his blue gaze fixed on the now clean table, closed his mouth.
What was he thinking?
It was impossible to read anything from his stone-like profile.
So she asked.
"What are you thinking?"
At Eunha's question, he looked this way for a moment.
But it was truly just a fleeting moment.
Siwoo, quickly averting his gaze again, finally, after a long silence, managed to speak.
"Just useless thoughts."
Siwoo slowly raised his hand and covered his forehead and eyes.
And then, a slow, long sigh followed.
Ruffling his dark blue bangs haphazardly, he slowly lowered his hand again.
His piercingly clear blue eyes were unusually clouded today.
Siwoo slowly parted his lips, his voice slightly choked.
"...The thought that I should have been born 30 years earlier."
What?
Eunha blinked.
It was to grasp the meaning of those words just now.
