Chapter 12

<Bam! Summon the messenger of 'Elephant Shrew Cha Seo-un'!>

Since it was my voice, it was practically a one-man show.

<Variant 232 is a mad mushroom. It's the one you ate and danced and sang for an hour.>

When I first left the guild in the Narakga, I often got sick from eating mushrooms. Now I can understand what the messenger means, but back then, the newly appeared messenger was unfamiliar.

'If you're feeling down, it's perfect to eat now.'

Following those words, I picked and ate the mad mushroom, and wandered around the mountain, dancing like a madman.

"How are you going to find the mushroom in such a large theme park?"

<...>

Of course, I didn't ask, thinking there would be an answer. Still, it was helpful that it gave me the variant type.

'On April 20th, in Cheoin District, Yongin City, a Level 3 variant monster (232) is expected to appear.'

The disaster text message seemed detailed at first glance, but it was quite general. I don't know who the Searcher is, but they don't seem to be very capable.

Seo-un, who hadn't taken a bath for a long time, soaked her body in the bathtub, only taking her hand out to hold her phone. She searched the internet to catch up on the backlog of information since she was isolated in Narakga.

[Shock! All Manseongjong missing from the start of the new year. Who will handle the variants now?]

[Approximately 10,000 people went missing on January 1st. It is estimated that there are about 5,000 unregistered Manseongjong.]

[One week since the variants disappeared, is it possible to return to a normal life?]

[Is the peace without variants achieved by the sacrifice of the Manseongjong?]

The speculative articles that poured in gradually decreased after a month, and it seemed that the conclusion was that all variants had been eliminated by the sacrifice of the Manseongjong.

Since all the information was inaccurate, Seo-un searched for 'Narakga' instead of Manseongjong or variants.

[Search results: about 2,533,000 (0.53 seconds)]

[Advertisement - Narakga Review Office 'Ohseong' Guild Founder 3-person dedicated goods released]

[https://www.godsangjong……> Manseongjong Board > Where are you, you damn Manseongjong? I know...]

Seo-un touched the popular post that appeared under the goods advertisement that she wondered who would buy.

[Title: Where are you, you damn Manseongjong? I know.]

Date: 20xx, 01.03, 22:51:02

It was a post written on the third day after the Manseongjong and variants were isolated.

But why did 'Narakga' come up in the search?

Not knowing what clues might be there, she quickly read through the post.

F**k, the arrogant tax bugs, the Manseongjong kids, went to Narakga with the variants lol lol lol lol lol. Choke, now that the tax bugs are gone, it feels so good. Even if the variants come back, I'll just awaken and it'll be fine lol.

n: a -> am / Narakga -> went to Narakga / I'll just awaken and it'll be fine -> you'll never awaken lol [20xx, 01.03]

n: Grammar troll, go away. [20xx, 01.03]

n: The variants came back, what is the writer doing, not awakening? [20xx, 03.15]

n: I came on a pilgrimage. The Manseongjong are really in Narakga. [20xx, 03.23]

n: F**k lol, a broken clock is right twice a day, the grammar troll hit the mark with Narakga lol lol lol. Pilgrimage [20xx, 03.23]

n: I came on a pilgrimage. Please awaken me to the top Manseongjong. [20xx, 03.23]

n: Cha-cha, go on a honeymoon to Narakga? lol [20xx, 03.23]

n: sjsl [20xx, 03.23]

n: The comment above is a retard? If you came on a pilgrimage, show some sincerity. [20xx, 03.23]

Seo-un let out a sigh of disbelief at the endless scroll of pilgrimage comments. She had seen something useless because of the insane grammar troll.

The gate would likely have reactivated around March 23rd, but from the comments and articles, it seemed that variants had already appeared before that. Fortunately, it seemed that the Manseongjong who had crossed over from Narakga had dealt with the variants.

Seo-un found a news video that caught her eye. The man in the thumbnail, with his face covered by a mask, was looking at something other than the camera.

This guy is still handsome even when covered.

She grumbled inwardly, but deep down, she was smiling.

[Amazing! Today, March 21st at 6 PM, Cha Haya from Tacheon Guild has returned! Cha Haya dealt with the Level 3 variant 228 'White Horse' that had turned the Cheonggye Mountain area into a wasteland for four days, but he has refused all interviews. Cha Haya is the first Manseongjong to appear after the large-scale Manseongjong disappearance. What happened to the Manseongjong? Is Cha Haya the only one who survived? Ultimately, all questions remain unanswered.]

The first Manseongjong to cross over from Narakga was surprisingly Cha Haya.

Upon closer thought, it wasn't really surprising. Cha Haya would have attempted to enter as soon as he discovered the gate, and with his ease in hunting variants, he must have had a Wu Guang stone.

Deciding to ask him about it later, Seo-un searched for 'Elephant Shrew,' a name so unfamiliar that she wondered if it was a real animal.

"Really exists."

Thinking the name 'elephant' meant a large body, the actual photo showed a small creature like a squirrel. The name seemed to come from its long nose, but surprisingly, it was written that it was genetically related to elephants.

Watching a video of it running away madly at the mere shadow of a predator, it was truly a master of escape.

And it was more pitiful than cute.

Feeling that her skin would wrinkle if she stayed any longer, she got up. Seo-un dried her dripping body and put on a robe without wiping it.

She plugged her phone back into the charger and took a hoodie and jeans from the closet. The housekeeper had kept the closet well-organized, so there was no musty smell.

By the time she was ready to leave, about 40 minutes had passed since she ended her call with Cha Haya.

Seo-un, while grabbing her car keys, fell into thought again. With her physical abilities returning to normal, she would only be a burden in variant hunting.

She hadn't told Cha Haya about this worry, but she had given him as much information as possible and advised him to leave the theme park before the variant appeared. She also added that he could get more useful information by being in the area where the variant would be generated.

According to the messenger, the variant would be generated at 3 PM tomorrow.

Thanks to the messenger, she had saved her life several times, but it was still difficult to trust it completely. Seo-un planned to leave the theme park around midnight, as Cha Haya suggested.

Arriving at the parking lot, Seo-un got into her car and then realized something. After three months, the battery couldn't possibly be working. She naturally started to look for vehicle AS but closed the screen.

Although she was currently in Seoul, she had to return to Narakga. As the deputy guild leader of Tacheon Guild, many people would recognize her, and with no mental peace, any attention from others would be burdensome.

Moreover, with the Wu Guang stone she had, she could only stay for three days. Every second was precious. She didn't want to waste time and emotions on strangers.

In that case...

"Cha Haya, do you have a car?"

Seo-un blurted out her request as soon as she called.

[Yes.]

"My car is dead. Can you come pick me up?"

[I'm already on the highway.]

If I had known, I would have asked for a pickup from the beginning, but the regret was brief. Another idea came to mind.

"Then I'll call Don-hee or Kang-san."

[Kang-san is with me.]

Seo-un hesitated to hang up.

"Wow, are you two going alone? That's a huge betrayal."

[We agreed to meet at the destination.]

"Did I suggest that? You did, right?"

[Wait, I'll come pick you up.]

"I'll just take Don-hee's car."

Seo-un clicked her tongue. The feeling of being left out by Kang-san's favoritism bubbled up unconsciously. Without abilities, the sense of isolation and the resulting bad temper were inevitable.

"Really, you don't have to come. See you later."

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she deliberately used a friendly tone.

[We decided that our guild would handle this, so take your time. You can even stop by a three-Michelin-star restaurant on the way.]

"You always have to add that one line. See you later."

She ended the call more brightly than usual, reflecting on her petty behavior earlier.

Usually, when hunting variants, the Variant Disaster Control Center assigned guilds to prevent conflicts among Manseongjong trying to hunt the same variant. Seoul was assigned to certain guilds, Gyeonggi to others, and so on.

Originally, Tacheon was responsible for the Gangnam area, but with the world changing so much, it seemed that the regions no longer mattered.

Seo-un checked the car door, which had a dead battery, and called Don-hee.

[Our mermaid, why?]

"What do you mean, this kid?"

[You're really good at diving, so you're a mermaid.]

"Hey, the mermaid hasn't walked on land for a long time, can you come pick me up?"

[Where?]

"My place."

[I'm leaving now. I'll call you when I arrive. Put on a hat and wait in the apartment lobby.]

"How long will it take?"

[Prince's appearance in 15 minutes, 14 minutes 59 seconds, 58 seconds, 57 seconds, busy, need to pick up the mermaid before she turns into foam, 50 seconds,]

"F**k, hang up."

Seo-un hung up. The darkened screen reflected a face that was grinning.

***

"Bro, is this the highway?"

Kang-san, who was driving, asked curiously. They were about 3 km from the theme park. There was only one car on the road because vehicle traffic was prohibited.

"We just passed through the tollgate."

Cha Haya, sitting in the passenger seat, was looking down at his phone.

"Man, I almost did a U-turn, thinking we were going to pick up Seo-un."

"He's coming in Don-hee's car."

Cha Haya swiped his almost matte phone screen.

"But why did Seo-un really go into hiding?"

"You guys were acting like jerks, he said."

Cha Haya said with a smile, but Kang-san, still feeling guilty, opened the window halfway, saying it was hot.