Chapter 6

Dr. Jin's location is in Gyeonggi Province... on the mid-slope of Cheonggye Mountain. According to the device's information, Dr. Jin was there. It's about 20 kilometers away from here. He lives in a place where more people come and go than I thought. Or, is it even possible to live there in the first place? I opened the map app to check the route to that location. It seemed I should first use public transportation to get close, then follow the GPS to move from there. "......" I stared at the money in my hand, then stuffed it into my pocket. It was the money Kirill gave me. She said it was something voluntarily given by the people who saved my life. But thinking of her mischievous smile, I couldn't believe it. Could she have taken it from the wallets of dead people? That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly erased it from my head. Even if it were true, there would be no way to return it to the deceased. After a brief moment, I moved towards the subway after finishing the Black Ether test. After about 10 minutes of walking, I witnessed an unexpected scene. "What are you doing?" "Hey! You can't pass without a transit permit!" I saw a man and a woman arguing in front of me. 'What's going on?' Judging from the walkie-talkie on his waist and his attire, the man seemed to be a security guard from a private security company. Behind him, a long red line stretched out, and when a young woman in a two-piece outfit tried to cross it, he immediately blocked her way. "I'm late! I'm busy, okay?" "Oh, no can do. Miss, do you want to be arrested for obstructing a public official?" "You're not even a public official, so what do you mean by 'public duty'? You're the one who should be reported to the police!" "We're just doing our job as requested by the Glory Guild. If you have a problem, take it up with them." Glory Guild. The moment I heard those words, my eyes widened. Indeed, the man's uniform had a patch symbolizing the Glory Guild. I approached the woman and asked the man, "Is transit restricted?" The security guard turned his head towards me with an annoyed expression and then flinched in surprise. It was a familiar reaction. The expression people make when they see me up close. It was because of the large birthmark covering half of my face. "Hmm. Yes. No one can enter or leave the Open District until the health inspections of the residents are completed." The security guard puffed up, speaking with a condescending tone. His large nose pointed towards the sky, making him look quite ridiculous. He wasn't a member of the Glory Guild or a Hunter, yet he seemed quite satisfied with controlling people. The type who gets arrogant with a badge on his arm. "When will the health inspections be completed?" "Well, it will take about two weeks." The woman beside him narrowed her eyes. "Two weeks? You mean I can't leave this neighborhood for two weeks?" "Damn. I told you already. Go to a health center or hospital and get a certificate saying you're fine. If you keep being a nuisance, I won't let you off!" The security guard's tone became harsh, as if his patience had run out. The woman took a step back, intimidated, and I asked again, "Why wasn't this announced in advance? There were no news reports last night or this morning." "You brat... How would I know? We just follow orders from above." He wasn't hiding it; he was trying to avoid it. It would be troublesome if it became known that they were now controlling a neighborhood they had ignored while protecting the wealthy areas. It was a story the Glory Guild, which values 'honor,' had to keep hidden. "Come on! Don't waste my time. I don't want to talk to dangerous people who haven't been inspected." It was clear that further conversation with this guy was pointless. Managing an entire neighborhood like the Open District, though small, was not an easy task. Apart from the security guard in front of me, I didn't see anyone else. They must have divided the area into sections and assigned personnel. In short, passing this one man meant there would be no other obstacles. "You said it's a company associated with the Glory Guild?" "Yes. What's the problem with that?" A bit of provocation was needed. I decided to let out my thoughts without filtering. "There's a problem... It's really disgusting." "What?" The man's eyes widened. He probably didn't expect to hear such words from a kid who looked at least ten years younger. "Isn't it? When people were dying on the streets, you didn't show up. Now, sealing off the area is just pathetic." "You little... Do you want to die?" The security guard glared and approached me. He was a head taller and looked to weigh over 100 kilograms. In the past, I would have been terrified. Honestly, I was a bit scared now too, as I hadn't fully realized how much stronger I had become. Thud. The security guard grabbed my collar. Due to my thin build, my body was pulled forward helplessly. "Say that again. What did you say?" I thought I would suffocate, but it was just a bit uncomfortable, not painful. Even without the Black Ether, it felt like a child's play compared to the fever I used to get. There was no need to say anything nice now that he had grabbed my collar. "Let go." I grabbed the arm holding my collar and applied pressure. Squeak. "Ugh...!?" Was it the unexpected grip strength? The security guard's face contorted terribly. It must have been a ridiculous situation for him. A skinny guy, who looked at least 50 kilograms lighter, overpowering him. If it weren't for the curious look in the woman's eyes, he would have let go of my collar long ago. But the strength in his hand had already faded. I pushed his arm back. The man stumbled a few steps. "You...!!" When faced with an unbelievable situation, people usually react in one of two ways: accepting reality or denying it. The man seemed to have chosen the latter. "They say beggars in the Open District are easy to deal with...!!" The security guard pulled out a baton from his waist. The woman beside me frowned before I did. "Are you going to use a weapon on this student? Are you crazy?" "Shut up and get lost. You don't want to end up like him." The man's threatening tone made the woman's face pale. It was outrageous. Even if the world revolved around Hunters, to think of beating up a civilian with a weapon so openly. His casual actions suggested he had some backing. I asked the security guard casually, "Is it legal for a security guard to assault a civilian?" He seemed to think I was scared. The man grinned, showing his teeth. "Ha! You must have been relying on the police. Learn this time. Glory is above the law." Indeed, that was the case. If the Glory Guild wasn't above the law, how could a mere security guard assault a civilian? I focused the Black Ether in my body and watched the man. The man's eyes darted around as he raised one arm. Despite the significant size difference, he swung the baton with all his might. Whoosh. But the baton didn't even touch me. It didn't even graze me. "......??" In the end, the tension made the distance between us more than five meters. I had intended to step back to avoid it. It was a bit ridiculous. Still, it was my first real combat. I guess this level of reaction could be considered normal. "This brat...!!" There were two achievements. One was that I could see the man's movements in great detail. Yesterday, I had made the core of a large toad into Black Ether and spread it all over my body. My senses, including vision, must have been enhanced. I felt confident that I could see and avoid most attacks unless I was facing a Hunter. Conversely, if I put in my full effort? Thud! I dodged the man's enraged attack again and slapped his thigh with the edge of my hand. I chose his fleshy thigh to avoid the risk of permanently injuring him. "Aaaahhhhhh!!!" The man screamed and fell to the ground. I had inadvertently conducted a biological experiment. Kirill might be a bragger, but at least the core of the large toad was top-notch. Just by creating and absorbing the Black Ether once, I could handle a much larger opponent as if he were a child. "I'll kill you...!!" Shock, anger, pain. And immense embarrassment. The man, overwhelmed by all these emotions, pulled out something else from his waist. Seeing the object, I couldn't help but sigh. "Are you going to use a taser on a minor?" "F*ck you!!" The man, limping, lunged at me, and I easily kicked his other thigh. Thud!! "Aaaahhhhhh!!" This time, he rolled on the ground. While the man foamed at the mouth, I checked the buildings beyond the red line. There were few CCTV cameras installed in this area, including the surroundings. It was too soon after the gate opened for repairs to be made. The woman, who had been arguing with the man, had disappeared, probably fed up. After a rough estimate, I walked towards the man. "B*stard!!" The man, crouching in fear, tried to back away but still spoke defiantly. "They say beggars in the Open District are easy to deal with?" "......!!" "I'll let you off this time, but be careful next time. People with nothing to lose don't know the meaning of 'moderation.'" The man's face turned red with embarrassment. It must have been shameful to be beaten by a much younger and thinner guy, even with a taser. That meant it was a story he wouldn't want to tell anyone. It was too embarrassing. If I crossed the red line, the man would have to report it, but if I disappeared, there would be no way to expose me. I walked in front of the man and clenched my fist. The man, looking indignant, shouted, "You said you'd let me off!!" "Bite your tongue." As I tensed my shoulders, the man covered his face with both arms. Right. Now. I focused all my strength in my legs and performed the 'Single Step.' Whoosh! My target was the rooftop of the nearest building beyond the red line. Thanks to the Black Ether spread throughout my body, maintaining balance was much easier now. I wouldn't clumsily land anymore. "??????" The man, expecting a punch, slowly lowered his arms. He looked around in disbelief. It was understandable, given that the man in front of him had vanished without a trace. He didn't even try to get up, frantically checking behind him. There was no way he could see me. It was impossible to assume I had leaped to the rooftop in an instant. "Let's see..." I could see busy vehicles and people moving beyond the buildings. The scene was drastically different from the ruined Open District. I wanted to keep jumping between rooftops, but it would be troublesome if I caught people's attention. I went down the stairs and boarded the subway heading to Cheonggye Mountain. * * * "Is this really the right place?" Yes, it is.> The direction indicated by the GPS was definitely this way. But I had to ask the device again. A facility that used to be so common it was underfoot but is now hard to find. A public phone booth was right in front of me. "What's going on? Is it a bug?" The device's logical structure does not allow for bugs.> Hmm. I need to be careful with my words. In front of the blue-painted square booth, I couldn't help but hesitate. "This... is 'home'?" I managed to find this place. It was a secluded spot far from the hiking trails. People I met by chance tried to dissuade me from going that way. But to find that the 'house' I arrived at was a phone booth. "Well, I might as well go in and see." I entered the phone booth and examined the machine. I had seen it in pictures a few times as a child, but this was my first time seeing one in person. The red button was for emergency calls, and the black button... Hmm? I hadn't heard of a black button. Drawn by some impulse, I pressed the black button. Clunk. "Ahh!!!" I couldn't help but scream. As soon as I pressed the button, the floor of the booth opened. My body was instantly sucked into a dark tunnel.