Chapter 17

"Chase said we need to deal with the 170th variant of the White Tiger in the toilet. It's a Level 5 risk, so you and I are definitely included."

Cha Seo-un's guild uniform reminded one of high school uniforms. The uniform, with a white line running along the edge of the navy jacket, had a goat with large horns on its chest. The goat, with its pupils slit sideways, looked bizarre, symbolizing a demon.

Apart from the guild emblem, Seo-un didn't seem much different from when he was in high school.

"Cha Seo-un, just you and me?"

Cha Haya looked at Seo-un carefully, but Seo-un only looked down at Matahari.

"No, I'll take Yuchan too. Yuchan and I will distract the White Tiger, so you can finish it off."

As if the story had already been conveyed, Yuchan entered the guild office. Seo-un, who had never looked at Haya, stood up with a smile as soon as Yuchan arrived.

What is it...

Why has Cha Seo-un changed so much?

Cha Haya couldn't understand. Even though they used to stick together every day until the end of their second year of high school, Seo-un started to keep his distance, saying he was preparing for the college entrance exam. After the exam, they lost contact completely, and Seo-un even changed his phone number without telling Haya.

When they met again in the guild after a long time, Haya was just glad to see him, but now she couldn't smile.

"Since when did Tacheon become a kindergarten? If it's Level 5, there's no way you can take care of Kim Yuchan?"

"Yuchan needs to gain experience, right? I'm not asking you to be the teacher. I'll take care of Yuchan."

"Oh, the vice-guild leader is so cool."

Yuchan, following Seo-un like a puppy, smiled like a dog.

What would Seo-un do if I didn't go?

If they waited for Han Don-hee, who was out of town, there would be more casualties. Cha Haya didn't care about the casualties. She would rather not go than take the annoying Kim Yuchan.

"Instead of taking Kim Yuchan, Cha Seo-un, you and I will have dinner."

Cha Haya set a condition, wanting to understand why Seo-un was keeping his distance. Seo-un's eyes widened, then he looked at Yuchan.

"What should I do? I already planned to eat with Yuchan today."

A hint of confusion crossed Yuchan's face, but he soon smiled as if nothing was wrong.

"Brother Cha Haya, I'm sorry. I have some issues to consult with the vice-guild leader, so what should I do?"

"Cha Seo-un, is it so hard to have dinner with me?"

Seo-un's obvious lie didn't escape Haya's notice. If he was going to avoid her outright, why did he join the guild where she was? She couldn't understand.

"Since I'm the vice-guild leader, I'm really busy. We'll leave first."

Seo-un put his hand on Yuchan's shoulder and left the office.

Was the reason Seo-un and I drifted apart really because of the college entrance exam preparation?

Cha Haya didn't want to interfere with Seo-un's studies. She thought they could go to the beach or something after the exam, but that was all.

Cha Haya recalled the last time she saw Seo-un before her awakening as a Manseongjong.

It was March when she was twenty.

Cherry blossoms, fallen by the rain that started in the afternoon, floated in dirty puddles. After graduation, she started two part-time jobs, and that was the extent of her cherry blossom viewing. The continuous part-time work exhausted even the energetic Cha Haya. In the early morning, as she walked home on the wet road, she stopped at a certain spot.

The wall on the hill, built to prevent falls, was a place where she and Seo-un often talked. He jumped over the wall, which came up to his waist, and looked down to see the apartment where Seo-un lived.

'Kid, don't hate me if I make you feel uncomfortable. It's because you didn't receive proper family education. How else would they name a child Seo-un?'

A chuckle escaped her. She had jumped into a busy life because her uncle's health deteriorated, but she thought of Seo-un.

Is college life so enjoyable that you don't even contact me?

Cha Haya's decision to find Seo-un at his university was somewhat impulsive. She waited for him, staying awake all night, and headed to his university. She waited for Seo-un, who might come out at any time. After about three hours, she saw Seo-un, who stood out among the freshmen coming out in groups.

Seo-un, drawn by her gaze, noticed her.

Surprise and joy were evident on Seo-un's face, but he soon turned away and continued talking to the people beside him. Cha Haya didn't stop Seo-un as he passed by.

At that moment, she realized something was wrong.

Seo-un's phone number had changed over two months ago, but she thought he would contact her eventually. She tried to understand and be considerate of Seo-un's situation, as she did when he was preparing for the college entrance exam. But all she got in return was a distant feeling.

"Damn, this feels so bad."

A voice without inflection escaped Cha Haya's lips.

She wanted to find a clear reason why their relationship had become like this.

Should I have stopped Seo-un that day when he was ignoring me? Or should I have let go, like people naturally drift apart over time?

Lost in thought, she suddenly found a giant variant in front of her.

The variant, resembling the White Tiger of the Four Symbols, was surrounded by a blue aura. When it opened its mouth, its sharp teeth were pitch black.

Cha Haya felt strange about the situation but didn't delve into her doubts, as if she were in a dream.

Hey! You crazy bastards! Snap out of it! The theme park is disappearing! Our guild can't afford to pay for this!

Grrr, the blue aura of the White Tiger, dripping saliva, was fierce. The length of its body, about 10 meters, was massive, and despite its heavy build, it moved agilely.

Cha Haya!

As Cha Haya blocked the sharp teeth with her sword, she tilted her head in confusion. Looking back, she saw Seo-un shouting outside the White Tiger's cage.

Why is Cha Seo-un just watching from there?

Cha Haya!

But the worried voice calling her was pleasant to hear. Dealing with the White Tiger wasn't difficult, but she didn't want to end the fight quickly. She deliberately prolonged the fight, using Seo-un's worry as nourishment. If he was going to act like this, why did he keep his distance from me all this time? The thirst she had built up for Seo-un was somewhat quenched.

The White Tiger, now a bloody mess, gasped for breath, its last breath dependent on Cha Haya's sword. Suddenly, she looked back, but Seo-un was already gone.

"Ah..."

Cha Haya finally smiled.

Kim Yuchan, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen. This meant that the past she remembered was different.

On the day they dealt with the White Tiger at the amusement park, Seo-un didn't show any concern for her. He only held the injured Yuchan, who had attacked the White Tiger recklessly. At that time, Seo-un blamed her for not dealing with the White Tiger immediately.

Cha Haya's sword pointed at the ground. She took a deep breath inside her mask. The hallucination spores that entered with her breath were foreign substances that shouldn't exist in her universe. She expelled the hallucination spores as if emitting cosmos.

A vivid scene unfolded in her now clear vision. The bloodied White Tiger, gasping for breath, was Han Don-hee, and Kang San was rampaging, having lost his mind. Kang San's screams were mixed with extreme fear.

The intense fear of "kill or be killed" was evident in the eyes of the fallen Han Don-hee. Cha Haya took the sword from Han Don-hee, who was ready to fight to the death, and carried her away in the opposite direction of where she had thrown the sword.

The point where the hallucination began was right at that gate.

"Ugh! Cough!"

As soon as they left the gate, Han Don-hee started to vomit. She spat out not only blood but also clumps of flesh. With multiple sword wounds, her life was in danger if they delayed any longer. Cha Haya ran back into the amusement park to find Kang San.

While running, she searched for Seo-un but couldn't even see a piece of his clothing. Although it was too early to be relieved, there was no blood or flesh that could be identified as Seo-un's. It was fortunate if he had hidden somewhere to avoid getting involved.

Kang San's pants were wet with fear. His wild sword swings revealed many openings. In his state of mind, he couldn't even perform at half his usual level. Cha Haya, who had almost killed Han Don-hee, couldn't look down on him.

Cha Haya thrust the sword handle into Kang San's empty side. Gack! She grabbed Kang San, who screamed as his ribs shattered, like a beast. She overpowered the struggling Kang San with brute force, but Kang San, a Level 5 upper-class variant, was no ordinary opponent. Still, he was just a Level 5 upper-class variant.

Cha Haya dispersed Kang San's cosmos to prevent it from concentrating. The red aura, acting like gravity on Kang San, flattened and chased him.

Cha Haya threw Kang San next to Han Don-hee. Her breath was heavy from carrying the two heavy bodies and running.

"Choke, cough, ugh!"

Kang San, unable to stand, vomited. It seemed he had eaten a lot, as the contents of his stomach kept flowing out.

"Kang San."

Cha Haya lifted Kang San's body and hit his back hard. Chunks of unchewed chicken breast came out.

"Choke, gasp! Ugh! Bro! My insides are coming out! Damn, my side... What the hell..."

"Take Han Don-hee to the Comprehensive Guild Hospital immediately."

Kang San, who wiped his face with his T-shirt, vomited again when he saw Han Don-hee. Han Don-hee's cosmos, operating unconsciously, wrapped around her torn abdomen. Blood continued to flow, and it only prevented her intestines from spilling out.

"Are the Comprehensive kids in Seoul now?!"

Kang San shouted belatedly after loading Han Don-hee into the car.

"Go! Jo Gyeong-min is there!"

Kang San, clutching his side, opened the driver's seat door. He suddenly looked up at the amusement park.

"Bro! What about Seo-un Bro?!"

"I'll find him."

Cha Haya sheathed her sword and ran into the amusement park in one breath.