Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 163

Chapter 163

“.….”

“…I see.”

Jung Tae-il neither denied nor confirmed. However, that should be sufficient to be considered an answer.

If Seo Yeon-oh, who had experienced everything, the one who should answer even without him directly saying it, was there, there were no impure emotions mixed in Seo Yeon-oh’s gaze, even though it was a situation that was suspicious enough. It was unclear whether it was because there was a belief that there would be sufficient reason or because it had already been given up.

If it was the former, it would be a situation where greed arises for Jung Tae-il, but if it was the latter… he could only blame the constraints imposed on him in this situation.

So, this was nothing more than a shackle hanging over him.

The power Jung Tae-il possessed was originally an ability that should not manifest in humans. Humans were too weak to handle that power.

However, Jung Tae-il was born facing death. It was because he had dealt with the owner of the power from the start.

“The one who seeks to escape death. If you have the will to let this body reach you, I will give you my power.”

He introduced himself as a transcendent who had escaped destruction. He claimed that he could hide his body using abilities stolen from others, avoiding their gaze.

“If you want my ability, just fulfill one thing I desire. I desire the resurrection of my hometown where I can breathe comfortably.”

At that time, he continued with words that were difficult to understand properly. If the situation had been a bit more ordinary, Jung Tae-il might have listened attentively, but at that moment, he couldn’t.

Even at the moment when the transcendent appeared, Jung Tae-il’s breath was fading away.

So, this was a favorable condition for the transcendent.

Jung Tae-il had the will to awaken beings other than those of Earth to escape death. How could he refuse the extending hand?

Jung Tae-il could only grasp that hand. Excluding the option of taking it in the first place, the only other choice was death, so it was a natural choice for him.

With that choice, Jung Tae-il could become the strongest hunter.

However, the problems began after that.

Whenever his condition deteriorated even slightly, there was a presence invading his dreams. Whether it was a nightmare, a side effect of the ability, or fragments of memories from the transcendent flowing through the ability.

There were peaceful memories, but most of them were the worst.

Their ‘world’ suddenly appeared, not as gates but as dimensional doors and transcendent beings were born because of them.

Among the transcendent beings given abilities by the one who gave Jung Tae-il his ability, they were the most powerful. Even they believed that he was the most promising among the beings they had seen.

However, the situation gradually worsened.

No matter how much the transcendent poured their power, they couldn’t overcome the speed of approaching destruction.

The problem is that there are only transcendent beings with powerful abilities.

Others didn’t bother to step forward. They believed that the transcendent would solve everything if they stayed still. Because of their arrogance, he, who had been holding the frontline, eventually collapsed as well.

The sky turns to gold, the sudden surge of mana, and the land’s creatures dying off unable to adapt to the abrupt changes. From monsters pouring out of dimensional doors to bizarre anomalies, eventually, destruction approached without giving the transcendent a chance to intervene.

Sensing it was their last moment, the transcendent wanted to preserve their abilities even if it meant discarding their bodies. They had been imbued with the abilities of the “system” for a long time.

As a result, they could hand over everything to Jung Tae-il, who inherited their power, without any constraints on information.

However, the abilities of the system were what the transcendent had followed. Jung Tae-il couldn’t help but be constrained. The memories he saw might cause chaos in the world, so it might have been a natural choice as part of the system.

Thus, Jung Tae-il was subject to constraints he couldn’t disclose.

These constraints became even more potent with the contract with Arvani. Arvani, the son of the system administrator, had revealed everything to Jung Tae-il without hesitation because he believed Jung Tae-il would play a crucial role in the upcoming future.

When a black dragon appeared at Seo Yeon-oh’s house and disappeared with the Gold Ego Sword,

Arvani said something to him.

– Now the end of the world will begin. Since she has obtained all the keys. Well, my master’s power hasn’t fully blossomed yet… Jung Tae-il, you’ll have to roll a bit more. As if your power is such.

It was as if he was telling him to prepare for sacrifice if the end came.

Although it was a significant statement, he initially overlooked it. Arvani sometimes muttered incomprehensible words, after all.

However, after reading Seo Yeon-oh’s message, Jung Tae-il realized everything.

The fragments of memories from the transcendent he had seen so far, and even Arvani’s words.

He even realized what he had to do for this world.

He understood it all.

Even in the face of fate that came without a chance to refuse, Jung Tae-il remained calm.

His death was already predetermined. If he had lived through such a close encounter with death, he had no choice but to accept the damned fate.

Moreover, the fate that befell him was something he had already anticipated.

Whether it was to allow him to anticipate his fate and erase any negative impact in advance, he didn’t know.

For him, there was only one goal.

To protect Seo Yeon-oh.

It stemmed from his emotions, making his destiny even firmer.

Jung Tae-il looked at Seo Yeon-oh, who furrowed her brow slightly in deep thought, with a look of concern. Whenever she had something to ponder deeply, that was her habit of making such an expression.

He watched her for a moment, then closed his eyes slowly.

* * *

Kang Yoon-soo’s office was currently very quiet.

The fact that those present were not saying anything contributed to the silence, but my silence was the most significant.

Jung Tae-il’s response, neither positive nor negative, became an answer that could also be deduced by me.

‘So, this was what felt strange since the system rebooted.’

Jung Tae-il was unable to speak due to the constraints of the system, but I, on the other hand, was getting more information released. Like a dam bursting, everything that had been bottled up was now flowing out. Jung Tae-il, still subject to the constraints of the system, could only be frustrated.

‘…Previously, when the system was rebooted, all hunters experienced it together. But this time, there was no word about it.’

That meant.

‘Only changes occurred to me.’

It was thought to be so natural that everyone would have undergone a reboot. After all, there had been such precedents.

Moreover, being caught up in the whirlwind of events without time to confirm also played a part.

Haha, I wish I had checked sooner. Then I wouldn’t have had to be so wary of Allen. So, it meant even the system administrators couldn’t interfere with my system anymore.

To be precise, the system was its unique ability, and the administrators were just that, administrators. No matter how much they tried to manage the system, if the system itself moved, they couldn’t stop it.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Looks like it’s my fate to save the real world.

Probably Jung Tae-il’s fate too.

I looked at Jung Tae-il intently. He was in a state of closing his eyes tightly. He was such a rare expression that I couldn’t read what he was thinking.

It’s almost becoming entangled with fate now.

I was confused whether to express gratitude to the system for not burdening me with all this alone or to curse for dragging me into this mess… My mind was in turmoil.

Feeling sorry for Jung Tae-il, who had been swept up in my affairs so far, I also hoped he would stay with me until the end.

‘…Jung Tae-il will be angry if he hears this dilemma.’

Then he’ll probably help me until I die, even if it’s because of Arvani.

I scanned the people gathered in Kang Yoon-soo’s office with a nod. Their faces were filled with tension.

Looking at them, I slowly spoke up.

“From now on, we may not be able to handle everything that happens. Because the worst assumptions you have might become a reality.”

“…Ms. Yeon-oh, is that true?”

“Yes. The determination of the main culprit who caused this situation is strong. We’ve already passed the stage where we could stop it.”

Kang Yoon-soo sighed and covered his eyes with his hand. As if pressing down hard, he soon rubbed his neck and looked at me.

“We need an explanation about that, Ms. Yeon-oh. Most people here don’t know everything you’ve been through. What exactly happened inside that gate?”

Kang Yoon-soo’s question represented everyone.

Curiosity tinged with fear caught my attention.

“…What happened? It’s going to be quite a long story.”

Even though it was only a half-truth with many gaps, it would be enough to satisfy their curiosity.

I began to slowly explain everything that had happened until now to them.