Chapter 36
"My uncle said he'd give Dohyun's uncle money. Right? Uncle, how much did you say you'd give?"
Instead of answering, I stroked Baek Hamin's hair. Bad... habits have set in. Growing up under a guardian like Baek Eunseong, he's already become tainted by the worldly matters at such a young age.
While I was looking at Baek Hamin with a troubled heart, Jeon Jiyoon, seemingly misinterpreting my expression, opened his mouth with a somewhat urgent look.
"How much do you want..."
"That's enough."
No, should I get a job as a kindergarten teacher when I return to the original world? Why is everyone so anxious to leave kids with me?
I waved my hand at Jeon Jiyoon, who was opening his mouth to speak, and said.
"Putting money aside, I won't be of any help to Do Yudam at all."
It wasn't a lie because I didn't want to take care of him; it was true. No, I'm a ranged dealer and Do Yudam is a melee tank, so how could I teach him any... thing?
"Uncle?"
"Hold on."
After covering Baek Hamin's mouth, I carefully mulled over the original work. Definitely...
"Do Yudam. Give me your hand for a moment."
"Yes!"
I stopped Baek Hamin, who was trying to swat away Do Yudam's outstretched hand, and grabbed Do Yudam's hand.
[Viewing Right Used]
[Awakener: Do Yudam
Age: 9 years old
Skill: Strength(P)]
After checking the skill section, I quietly laughed. There was something I could teach Do Yudam. And an incredibly important skill at that. If I make him owe me a debt with this, I'll be able to use Do Yudam a bit... however I want later.
"Alright, Hunter Jeon Jiyoon. How much can you give?"
"...Pardon? Ah, if you have an amount in mind, I can coordinate as much as possible..."
"Ask the Association President about my hourly wage."
I grabbed Jeon Jiyoon's hand as he immediately tried to call the Association President right after I finished speaking. Why would you talk about money where kids can hear? Waving my hand to indicate I'd do it later, I peeled off Baek Hamin who was clinging to my pants, and then held out my pinky to Do Yudam.
"I can't come often, but I'll teach you sometimes."
"Is that really okay?"
Do Yudam glanced at Jeon Jiyoon, and when Jeon Jiyoon nodded, he smiled brightly and hooked his pinky with mine.
"But let's make one promise with me."
* * *
"Hamin said you were distracted."
"Where's that dog barking."
"If you don't like the conditions, tell me. Don't go lurking around places like the Center."
At Baek Eunseong's words, I frowned.
'Places like the Center'? The place that handles the disasters your nephew will wreak in the future IS the Center. And I can't just spoil Baek Hamin's entire life trajectory either.
I looked at Baek Eunseong with dissatisfied eyes, then unwrapped the bundle made by Asil. As figures draped in the white cloaks of the Baekwoo Guild tumbled out, Baek Eunseong slowly blinked.
"Did you call them?"
"That couldn't be."
I had been focusing on his flow, and I swept up the hair poking into my eyes. It's not like I was lying...
That would mean Baek Jiseong still hasn't come to his senses and is still having people follow me. I looked at the Baekwoo Guild members, tightly bound and sleeping soundly by Asil, then shook my bracelet.
[Heavenly Command]
"Gasp!"
The Baekwoo Guild member who opened his eyes at the loud bell sound looked around with a bewildered face, then instantly put on a resolute expression when he met my eyes.
Good grief. Acting resolute as if he were a hero protecting the world, when he's just a stalker chasing after someone's tail.
Clicking my tongue, I crouched in front of the guild member and put force into my voice.
[Come out.]
Another Baekwoo Guild member hiding in the alley stumbled out. Perhaps flustered by his uncontrollable body, the guild member walking like a zombie with his mouth wide open was desperately signaling toward Baek Eunseong with his eyes.
[Now, nod if it's right. Shake your head if it's wrong. If you understand, nod.]
Nod nod.
After confirming that all of them were obediently moving their heads, I asked one thing.
[Baek Jiseong sent you, right?]
I smiled with satisfaction as I looked at the guild members continuously nodding their heads.
This was all thanks to Baek Jiseong. Because that bastard sent guild members to watch me every single day without fail, I had partners to practice my skills on, and my abilities were improving by leaps and bounds day by day.
Perhaps because my proficiency in handling 'Heavenly Command' had increased, I could now use the skill not only for simple movement commands but also for simple interrogations.
What should I try today. Yesterday I ordered them to run wild wielding a knife, but seeing as it had no effect, it seems I need stronger intimidation... While I was pondering this, Baek Eunseong approached.
"May I handle this?"
"You?"
I looked him up and down with suspicious eyes, then shook my head.
"I don't want to."
He had said we were family, so he'd obviously let them go without proper measures. Then Baek Jiseong would see me as an easy target and keep messing with me.
"Can't you trust me just this once and leave it to me?"
I looked at Baek Eunseong smiling softly, then stood up with a sigh.
"Haa... Do it well?"
"Yes."
Right, striking softly once might be more effective than pounding hard a hundred times. Though I don't know what Baek Eunseong will do.
I watched Baek Eunseong's secretary gathering the guild members, then asked irritably.
"So, until when are you planning to follow me around?"
Honestly, the guild members weren't really the problem. Baek Eunseong was the problem. He had followed me all the way to work today, so I ended up leaving work with this guy.
"Hmm. I'm not sure myself... Until Hunter Seong Dohyun grants my request? Or for as long as Hunter Seong Dohyun followed me around?"
Crazy. If it's as much as 'Seong Dohyun' followed Baek Eunseong, he's saying he'll follow me for 15 years?
I momentarily looked at Baek Eunseong with a horrified expression and bit my tongue hard. If I said it wasn't me but 'Seong Dohyun' who followed you, I'd be treated like a crazy person.
"Is no one else following us now?"
After spreading Asil wide to check the surroundings and nodding, Baek Eunseong guided me to one corner.
I wondered why we were coming here, but the dungeon we were going to today wasn't through a gate sealed by the Baekwoo Guild, but through a gate that was on the verge of a dungeon break. How did he get this kind of information when his position within the Baekwoo Guild was narrow?
"It's here."
Hmm. He definitely used his looks to seduce some guild member to find out. It was obvious without even looking.
Baek Eunseong said he would go in first, but I waved my hands and answered that I would go first this time. I might have another out-of-body experience this time too, so it was better for me to go first and brace myself mentally.
"Are you going in like that?"
I looked at him with raised eyes in puzzlement, then went oops, and took out a cloak from the bundle. It was Baek Eunseong's cloak that I had kept from last time. When I wrapped it around my shoulders, Baek Eunseong, who had been closing his eyes tightly and sighing heavily, handed me a small bag.
"It seemed like you didn't bring potions either."
I'm sorry, but I did bring them. However, I quickly took the bag pretending I hadn't, then stepped into the gate. And as expected, right as my vision flipped, 'Seong Dohyun' came into view.
'Dad!'
...He's young.
The young Seong Dohyun, who looked a bit older than Do Yudam, ran toward me then shattered into the air and scattered. Perhaps because it was an old memory, the form wasn't as clear as last time but flickered hazily.
'Son, are you sure you don't want to stop at the rest area?'
I floated next to Seong Dohyun as he traveled in the car, and confirmed his youthful face. The young Seong Dohyun's eyes were the same black as mine used to be. Seong Dohyun's family's as well.
Knowing the end of this family, I didn't think I could bear to watch the scene unfold before my eyes any longer. The moment I squeezed my eyes shut, blaring warning sounds pierced into my ears.
—Alert! Alert! Dungeon Break has occurred!
—Attention! Please exit the vehicle immediately and follow the hunter's instructions to evacuate.
—Repeating. Dungeon Break has occurred. Please follow the hunter's instructions to evacuate.
As my vision was cut off, 'Seong Dohyun's' residual thoughts flowed into my mind.
'It's noisy.'
'It hurts.'
'Mom!'
'Dad!'
Seong Dohyun was suffering from the continuous ringing in his ears. And the countless thoughts wandering in his mind all gathered together and became one.
'Where is my family?'
Only that thought filled Seong Dohyun's mind. He forcibly moved his unmoving body, and desperately called out for his family with a voice that wouldn't come out.
And that was when.
Seong Dohyun was clutching his stomach, suffering from a burning sensation inside, when he saw letters floating in the air.
[Awakening Conditions Met!]
Seong Dohyun fell face down from the pain and cried bitterly. Then, seeing the fluttering golden threads, he jumped up and started running.
A moment later, I opened my eyes... and silently looked up at the empty air.
A different scenery from before spread out before my eyes. A clear sky and humid air, and...
"...Is no one here?"
I slowly raised my body and looked around. A desert without a single trace of people stretched out endlessly. An unknown anxiety began to eat away at my entire body.
I am not 'Seong Dohyun'. So even though I knew I should separate 'Seong Dohyun's' emotions from my own, it wasn't controlled well as I thought.
"Is no one here?!"
As I was frantically digging through the desert like a crazy person, I felt someone's hand grab me firmly. I clung to them desperately without even checking who it was.
"Hunter Seong Dohyun?"
And that hand hesitated a moment, then embraced me. Stability gradually returned with the somewhat cool body temperature and heavy weight. A firm yet warm embrace. A scent different from that of a child.
'Baek Eunseong...'
The moment I recognized that someone else was by my side, a new anxiety simultaneously began to seep in.
What if I'm left alone in this world again...