Chapter 14

"Hey? Is it that thing down there?"

Kangsan abruptly interjected, pretending to know.

"What thing?"

"Did you forget after you mentioned it?"

"Then what is it?"

In response to Seo-un's pressing question, Kangsan nodded towards the direction.

"It's near the T Express, a place like a haunted house. I went there with my girlfriend two years ago. You form teams of four, I think, and try to escape from the mansion. Even though we had a free pass, they said we had to pay extra, so I caused a bit of a scene. Thinking about it now, it makes me angry. Brother, shouldn't the word 'free' be removed? But it was really well made, and I ended up screaming more than my girlfriend. As soon as we went in, a strange clown came out to scare us, and I couldn't help but kick out."

"Kangsan."

"Yes, brother!"

"Let's start with some deep breathing."

"......Okay."

After calming Kangsan's excitement, Seo-un wrote 'Horror Mansion' on the board.

"First, the mushrooms that will become mutants exist here."

Seo-un tapped the spot with the tip of the chalk, and a white piece fell to the rough ground. After a moment of silence, Seo-un looked up.

Everyone except Chahaya had doubtful expressions.

"What? You didn't know where they came from just a moment ago."

"Well... I just had a hunch."

"Cha Seo-un, are you hiding something?"

Han Don-hee asked, looking at Chahaya instead of Seo-un. Chahaya put his phone back in his pocket, as if he was done with his business.

"Is Han Don-hee already hallucinating? I'm not Cha Seo-un, you know."

"You look like a Cha Haya who has fallen into the depths of depravity. But didn't Cha Seo-un almost fly out of the car window on the way here?"

"How much do you hate being with me that Cha Seo-un tried to escape? That's why I came to pick you up."

Suddenly, his chest felt like it was throbbing. Han Don-hee not only spun the car around on the spot but also made a wrong turn, then abruptly stopped the car, which was speeding at 200 km/h.

If Han Don-hee hadn't stopped him, Seo-un would have smashed through the windshield with his forehead. He had forgotten that his body was now ordinary and hadn't buckled his seatbelt out of habit.

"Shut up. Cha Seo-un was trembling in fear and buckled his seatbelt."

He hadn't trembled, but he had been startled. More importantly, he couldn't understand why he was telling Chahaya all this.

"Please, guys... Why is the atmosphere like this again?"

"Those two are making me feel like shit. I thought things had changed, but they're still the same. Didn't I often feel this dirty feeling when we were in school?"

"Han Don-hee, it's not like that."

"Then get out."

Before Seo-un could finish, Chahaya replied.

"Chahaya, stop it."

Kangsan tried to change the subject by asking where the bathroom was.

Thinking about it, he felt there was no reason he couldn't tell them that his ability had changed to a Seeker. Since Seekers are rare, he could even be treated as a valuable asset.

However, he still wanted to keep it from his father. Although he didn't think Han Don-hee or Kangsan would tell his father, if his father asked, the straightforward Kangsan might not be able to keep it a secret.

But hadn't he decided to live without worrying about his father's opinion? Seo-un, who had been squatting, suddenly stood up. A tingling sensation ran down his calf, causing him to groan for a moment.

"See, actually, I—"

<No development, no development. Do you want to end up like the Little Mermaid?>

"......"

<One person knowing about 'Cha Seo-un, the Elephant Shrew' is enough.>

It sounded like he was saying he would only acknowledge Chahaya.

"What are you saying? Finish your sentence."

Han Don-hee expressed his frustration.

He had already set the stage, but the messenger's response made his mind freeze. He considered changing the topic, but Han Don-hee wasn't that easy to fool.

"I understand why you went into hiding because of the guild members. But why didn't you bring Matahari? Not only that, if I hadn't stopped you in the car, you would have been smashed on the road. Everything is different now, how can I understand this?"

As Han Don-hee pressed him point by point, Seo-un felt he had no idea what to say.

"You don't know about the elephant shrew?"

<... Messenger, about to become a bubble.>

Shut up.

"What?"

Han Don-hee scowled, a silent threat that he wouldn't let Seo-un change the subject.

"That guy is an escape artist... and his senses are really good."

"Cha Seo-un, what the hell are you saying—"

"Listen without getting angry. I reawakened from a 'Knight' to an 'Elephant Shrew'."

"......"

"......"

<Hehehe, look at the trick.>

Han Don-hee and Kangsan gaped in disbelief.

"Are you kidding me? You reawakened to an animal ability, not a combat or mental one?"

After a moment, the gaping mouths burst into incredulous anger.

"Speak sensibly. What kind of shrew? Can you transform into a squeaky mouse?"

"No transformation, so drop the prejudice. With Seekers appearing, what's so strange about awakening with an animal ability? Han Don-hee, don't you know everything about the Multispecies abilities? Seeker is a new job, right? So, I could be the first to have a Multispecies ability that transfers to an animal, right?"

Chahaya chuckled from behind his mask. Although he was expressing it to belittle the guy, it sounded like a pleasant, whistling laugh.

"Chahaya, don't split up? Do you find that kid's words amusing?"

"Instead of making a fuss, just draw your sword."

Seo-un stood between the bickering pair.

"Enough, Don-hee, just believe me. If I'm in danger, the elephant shrew's senses will kick in. Kangsan, did you understand?"

Kangsan, who had been gaping, tilted his head.

"Then wouldn't it be faster for you to handle this mutant? You said your senses are sharp."

"Kangsan, do the people who reawakened from mental abilities to Seekers still have their original abilities?"

"No... they only have Seeker abilities."

Generally, those who had multiple abilities didn't retain them. If a healer reawakened as a Seeker, their healing ability would disappear. Kangsan finally realized the gravity of the situation and his expression hardened.

"Then, from now on, are you just an ordinary person without your senses?"

"Are you going to openly look down on me now?"

"Why do you speak in a way that makes me feel bad, Brother Seo-un!"

He stomped his large feet on the ground, expressing his frustration. His demeanor was so intense that it made Seo-un's cheeks tingle. Even his actions felt threatening, making Seo-un realize how vulnerable he had become.

"Let's say I believe you. So, you know all this because your animal-like senses kicked in?"

Seo-un pointed to the writing on the board, still looking dissatisfied.

"More or less."

"Then aren't you practically a Seeker?"

"My senses only kick in when I'm in danger, which is different from a regular Seeker. That's why I followed you here."

"The变异所 (Mutation Bureau) only announced that the mutant appeared in Choein District."

The Tachun Guild, which didn't have a good relationship with the 'Mutation Disaster Control Center,' often referred to it derogatorily as the 'Mutation Bureau.'

"What about it?"

"But you told me to go to the theme park. Is there a mutant here that poses a threat to you in Seoul?"

His words were cut off by a sharp question. He was about to hint that this mutant was particularly dangerous.

"Park Eun-ji told me."

Seo-un, who was trying to hide his surprise, was replaced by Chahaya.

"Park Eun-ji? Who's that?"

"A DK Seeker."

Chahaya's attitude, as if scolding him for not knowing, made Han Don-hee click his tongue.

"Kid, she's Kim Eun-ji."

It turned out that the DK Seeker who could detect four mutants a day was Kim Eun-ji.

"Is the recruitment of Kim Eun-ji finalized? I heard the conditions were strict."

"Why would I recruit her?"

"Weren't you trying to make contact?"

"Exactly? The Seeker I was desperately looking for is now here, so why not just be happy about it?"

"Seo-un's senses only kick in when he's in danger."

Chahaya's eyes said, "So what?"

"Since we're not investigating a trap with the mutant, why keep using Cha Seo-un as bait?"

"Isn't that what you secretly want?"

Chahaya mocked, telling him not to pretend to care.

"Shut up. Seo-un is practically an ordinary person now. What if he gets into danger?"

"If I can't protect Cha Seo-un, we'll all die anyway."