Chapter 23

Right... I was wondering why you weren't coming.

<Sudden quest triggered! Visit Chahaya's house! Successfully completing the quest will increase Chahaya's affection!>

It was as if he had just come back from playing a dating simulation game, which was utterly ridiculous. Seo-un ignored the messenger's absurd voice, which he was already used to, and instead poured the alcohol into his glass and drank it in one go. Then, without hesitation, he stood up. He had been bothered by the blood on Chahaya's clothes anyway.

Chahaya was only following him with her eyes. Even just sitting there, she looked like a painting, and with her abilities, she was the envy of everyone. Seo-un hoped he wasn't one of those people.

"Hey, let's go. We might as well visit the house."

Since he had drunk faster than usual, Seo-un put more effort into keeping his balance. He needed to clean up the mess, but...

Chahaya gathered the remaining alcohol in the convenience store bag. Seo-un tried to help, but Chahaya turned his shoulder towards the entrance.

"Hey, I told you, handle it gently."

"You said it was an elephant."

Seo-un suddenly brought his palms together, as if holding a small animal.

"It's just a name; it's actually very small, about this big."

"Really, you re-awakened with that?"

Chahaya pointed at the invisible animal on his palm.

"Something like that."

He couldn't be honest because of the messenger's warning.

"Didn't you say it was better than a Searcher?"

"Yeah, with beast-like senses to find variants."

"Really?"

"Yeah, believe me."

"Fine, I'll believe you."

"Since the Deputy Guild Master is asking, you have to believe me."

Seo-un, I believe you— Chahaya drew out the words again.

Before going outside, Chahaya put on a mask. Seo-un looked around and found a staff cap that read "Tachun Pork House." He shook it out and put it on his head.

Since the elevator had stopped, they walked down the stairs. It was only the second floor, so they quickly made their way to the lobby. The cool night breeze seemed to fan the heat on his cheeks.

The street was bustling with drunk people, as it was just past 9 PM. Even with the mask, some people recognized Chahaya by her eyes. Their glances and whispers followed the two of them.

"Oh, right. The third movie came out, didn't it?"

While he was in Narakga, the sequel to the movie they watched in their third year of high school had been released.

"I already saw it."

"Chahaya, that's so unfair. Who did you watch it with?"

He leaned down and whispered near her ear.

"Alone."

This made her ear tingle.

"You watched it while crying alone."

Seo-un pushed Chahaya's face away and chuckled. Chahaya also had a contagious laugh.

"Why did you watch it alone?"

"Hey!"

A voice from behind made Seo-un turn around. Chahaya also stopped, causing the soju bottles in the plastic bag to rub against each other. Two women, who seemed to have had a bit to drink, nudged each other with their elbows, urging the other to speak first. When Chahaya tried to walk away, the woman with short hair stepped closer.

"Chahaya, right? Thank you always!"

The Immortal Species were well-known, especially for their variant extermination videos. Being at the top of the hierarchy, they naturally attracted a lot of attention, and with their good looks, they received celebrity-like attention, perhaps even more.

In particular, an Immortal Species with abilities, wealth, and good looks was always the center of attention wherever they went. The guild building had a restaurant area exclusively for them to protect their privacy.

Chahaya responded with a smile hidden behind her mask and tried to continue on her way, but the woman blocked her path. Seo-un scratched his eyebrow with his index finger. Seeing people more drunk than himself made his mind a bit clearer.

"Are you going out for a second round?"

"We're going home."

Seo-un answered for her, and the woman looked up at the face hidden by the cap, saying, "Oh?"

'Wow, Seo-un.'

She mouthed this to her friend behind her, who then stepped closer to Seo-un.

"Going home? I didn't hear about any variant today..."

"There was one."

Seo-un gave an ambiguous answer to her signal to drink together.

Even before the Immortal Species era, people often approached them. Seo-un would always look at Chahaya and ask, "What do you want to do?" and this time was no different.

'Want to have fun? Then let's have fun.'

Chahaya inwardly rolled her eyes at this familiar reaction.

What does he think I am?

Sometimes, Seo-un's actions made it seem like he thought she was obsessed with women.

"Maybe you don't remember, but when a variant appeared at our school, Tachun helped us. Thanks to that, my friend and I survived. I want to do something in return... What do you think?"

"Do you know how we ended up here?"

Chahaya looked at the woman, who should have been at chest height.

"Huh? Oh... Is it Wugwangseok? You need that..."

"Do you have it?"

"Um?"

Chahaya pulled down her mask with her index finger.

"Give it to me, and we'll have fun."

Seo-un almost didn't notice that she was indirectly refusing because of her smile. There's no way a regular person would have Wugwangseok. Before things got complicated, Seo-un apologized. The woman didn't seem to want to force them to stay, so she responded that there was no need to apologize. Seo-un thanked her for her support and moved on with Chahaya.

"I never supported you. What are you thankful for?"

"Just being polite."

They had come out onto the street without thinking, as they were used to living in Narakga, where only Immortal Species lived. It had only been a few months, but the way of life here had already become vague. Before, they often avoided public transportation because people would ask for photos.

"Do you think I would have fun with them?"

Seo-un couldn't answer Chahaya's unexpected question with a simple yes or no. As he tried to find the right words, his phone rang at the perfect time. Seo-un deliberately showed the screen to Chahaya.

"It's an unknown number."

"Don't answer it."

The call ended, and a message arrived.

[I hate you Tachun brats for this.]

Though the number wasn't saved, a familiar face came to mind.

[I'm Jo Kyung-min.]

Sure enough, it was the person he expected.

"Oh... This is bad."

"What is?"

Chahaya looked at the message Seo-un showed her.

"It's such a minor thing?"

"Am I you?"

[Sorry, the guild members were too hungry, so I fed them first. I'll contact you again since it's late today.]

Seo-un sent the message with proper etiquette.

[Deputy Guild Master, shouldn't you teach the guild members manners before feeding them?]

Chahaya saw the combative message.

"Che, punk," Chahaya mocked. Seo-un just thought, "He must be really angry," and put his phone in his back pocket.

"It's because of his inferiority complex."

Seo-un's hand, which was returning to his back pocket, slightly wavered.

"You can't mine Wugwangseok on your own. It's just a weak dog barking, so ignore it."

"Jo Kyung-min is still a gentleman."

"Should I just be a healer?"

"Can you do that? Besides, it doesn't really suit you."

"You suit it better."

"What? I don't even fit as a Searcher; I'm perfect as a Warrior. Oh, I had a name for my Cosmos, but I lost it. Give me back my ability."

Seo-un, slightly tipsy, pleaded to the air.

"What was it?"

"It's a secret."

Seo-un drew out the words just like Chahaya.

"Predictable."

"What's predictable?"

"I bet it's one of these: Violet, Purple, or Lavender. I'll bet 10 billion."

Chahaya said this without taking a breath.

"No way? Is your creativity dead?"

Seo-un's purple eyes flickered as he raised his voice in protest.

"Hey? Is there an earthquake?"

"Earthquake? Look at your feet."

"From Seo-un's pupils."

Chahaya chuckled, "I was right, wasn't I?"

<Ah, at that time, I didn't know. That our happy times would end here. If I had known...>

"..."

Seo-un barely managed to stop a curse from escaping his lips. The messenger's narration was leading the story in a terrifying direction, like a movie or novel that shows a good time and then hints at an impending tragedy.

Seo-un clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

Is it trying to tell me about a dark future?

Until now, the messenger had only given him information to survive, not enough to die. Some of it was almost prophetic, so he waited with high tension for the future the messenger would reveal.

<It was just a joke, but you took it so seriously. I'm sorry, so I'll give you a gift as an apology.>

It was a joke?

He could have grabbed the messenger's collar a hundred times if he could. Still, he owed his life to the messenger several times, so he could be lenient. Besides, the messenger couldn't be removed, regardless of his leniency.

<From now on, Seo-un's Cosmos. Name it! 'Violet Rain' and you can use it!>

"!"

Seo-un stopped abruptly.

"Why?"

Chahaya also reacted quickly.

"Chahaya, give me your sword, quickly."

Borrowing someone else's weapon was almost a taboo among Immortal Species. However, Chahaya didn't attach much meaning to her weapon. As expected, she handed over the scabbard without a word.

Today, in this place, he might be able to find the essence of the Immortal Species he felt on the day of his awakening. Seo-un's hand tightened with strength.

Seo-un gripped the hilt and drew the sword with a good momentum.

<'Cry from my sword, Violet Rain!'>

"..."

<The condition for use is to shout above 80 decibels.>

Seo-un sheathed the sword again.

"Rat, did you bless my sword?"

Chahaya laughed, seemingly finding it absurd, but she probably thought it was just Seo-un's joke.

"Actually, I compared it with Matahari."

He said he wouldn't use a name with Violet, but could he really shout it here? It seemed the messenger existed to make him suffer.

There's plenty of time. He could try it secretly with Matahari at home.

"Want to give me some time to clean up inside?"

Chahaya pointed to Seo-un's tall apartment building.

"Doesn't that habit come out when you have a girlfriend?"

"I've never been to a girlfriend's house."

Chahaya narrowed her eyes like a nebula.

"Stop lying."

"I really can't remember."

"What kind of brain circuit do you have?"

"Only keep what's necessary."

"Really? Is the memory of me annoying you necessary?"

"That's pretty intense."

Chahaya, smiling, pressed the elevator's up button.

Seo-un sometimes thought it was lucky he was a man. He could be friends with Chahaya because he wasn't a woman. If he were a woman, he might have asked Chahaya out, and he would have ended up like one of her ex-girlfriends, a forgotten past.

Seo-un saw Chahaya's reflection in the elevator door. Chahaya was also looking at him.

"Why did you keep your distance?"

He didn't expect such a direct question, so he couldn't avoid her gaze in time.