So, we called Kang Sihyun. We also called others who had experienced Titan before.
I wanted to call other Class A members as well, but they were on support duty and couldn't be reached.
A voice added regretfully, faintly heard. Sihyun clenched his hands that were neatly placed on his lap.
Titan.
How could I and the children forget that name?
A mere hand had toyed with hundreds.
The memory of deciding to proceed with the third Awakening Mark out of exhaustion from dealing with trauma is still vivid.
The memory of fainting at the sight of the night sea, of struggling for breath underwater, is also clear. Those memories, even after half a year, become more vivid the more I think about them.
Fortunately, thanks to the training I did with Yoo Seowoo during the summer vacation, and the effort I've put in from then until now, I've almost completely overcome the trauma.
I no longer feel anything when looking at the sea, and I can freely use the ability from my third Awakening Mark.
However, I haven't entered the sea since that day.
The difference between soaking in a deep bath and fighting in the sea where my feet don't touch the ground is vast.
No one could assure me that I would be fine fighting in the sea.
As I fell into thought, my expression darkening, Ban Haru, looking at me with worried eyes, took over for Iha Hyuk who couldn't speak right away.
"If it's a prophecy, ...does it not specify an exact date?"
"It's rare for it to specify a date. But what's certain is that the future seen by the prophet happens within a near timeframe."
"How near...?"
"Based on the historical accuracy of prophecies, the fastest was three days, and the longest took three months."
"Three days, three months..."
As Ban Haru conversed, Kang Sihyun, who had regained his composure, muttered those time frames. The fatigue from battling Karis had not yet dissipated. Although my mana had recovered, it was difficult to engage in as effective combat as before.
In this regard, having at least three days was fortunate, but considering that the opponent was catastrophe-class, even three days were insufficient. More than anything, Titan was not any less formidable than Karis.
That was the creature Ruth had missed twice.
It's an understatement to say that Titan's majesty overwhelmed and trampled Karis, regardless of my being weaker then than I am now.
Responding as I did in the battle with Karis would be difficult.
Ruth's support couldn't be expected either.
Kang Sihyun came to a clean conclusion, thinking of someone likely running their legs off in America by now.
"We can't do it alone."
"That's right."
"Will we collaborate with other guilds?"
"You catch on fast."
This was a matter too significant for Redem to handle alone. As I concluded and asked, Iha Hyuk's lips slowly curved up.
"This time, we'll collaborate with the Mirgun Guild."
"Mirgun?"
"Ah, the one the second-years went to last year?"
As the second-ranked guild in the country was mentioned, Lee Hamin immediately showed interest. Being the future guild master of Redem, he seemed to care implicitly. Kang Sihyun nodded, affirming the boy's words.
The remaining S-class individual in Korea, excluding Iha Hyuk.
Kwon Taeju, the Awakener with shadow attribute.
His guild, closely following Redem. Recently, with the addition of two near S-class Awakeners, it had become difficult to determine whether Redem or Mirgun had the upper hand.
As Kang Sihyun mulled over what the media had been buzzing about, he sighed in relief.
Collaborating with a proven guild would lessen the burden of facing a catastrophe-class opponent and increase our chances of survival.
"It's settled then. It's better for two to go and minimize damage rather than sending one carelessly and losing them."
This was even better news. The fact that an S-class was coming for support visibly brightened my mood, prompting Iha Hyuk to smile more broadly.
"It makes me uncomfortable to see you so relieved."
"Ah..."
"Did I not worry you enough?"
"It's not that, but it does increase our security."
Responding honestly rather than with flattery, Iha Hyuk's eyes narrowed slightly more delicately. He didn't seem to take it badly, seeing his deepened smile.
"If Kang Sihyun says so, then it must be. Now, we need to form a team to respond to Titan..."
The speaker straightened up. Kang Sihyun had been certain of this from the first mention of Titan.
This team to respond to Titan would include me, Ban Haru, and Lee Hamin. Proving my prediction correct, Iha Hyuk immediately spoke up.
"We've decided to draft five Awakeners from each guild
, including the guild master, to form a 10-person team. It has to include five members, including a Healer and a Tanker."
"And they have to be Awakeners with Dual or higher class abilities."
Why bother saying it, it was just a signal to follow quietly since Lee Hamin and I were included in the team allocation. As expected, three were confirmed. Iha Hyuk turned to Ban Haru with a pleasant smile.
"A thread follows the needle, doesn't it? If Ban Haru joins, that makes four of us. Now we just need to bring one more person."
The one who had arbitrarily decided this pondered over who the remaining person should be. Kang Sihyun looked at Ban Haru. I was fine with fighting a catastrophe-class opponent anytime, but I doubted the other kids felt the same. I was worried they might be forced to go against their will.
"Are you okay with this?"
"With what?"
"Being mobilized for this task."
It's more dangerous than our encounter with Karis. I wondered if joining a disaster-class extermination team right after defeating Karis the day before would be exhausting, so I asked. Ban Haru, facing Kang Sihyun with a calm expression, slowly raised his hand.
I felt a weight above my head. He tapped his own head a few times as if patting it, then smiled faintly as he lowered his hand. I was puzzled by his sudden action, and then Ban Haru slowly answered, "If possible..."
"…?"
"If possible, I wanted to meet it again."
"Titan?"
"Yes. Because I couldn't do anything back then."
The one who reacted with a twitch at the unusually low tone of voice was Lee Hamin.
"Right, there is a debt to be settled."
The person with widened eyes growled like a dog about to pounce. Kang Sihyun looked back and forth between the two boys.
I could read the emotions rising on their faces.
Only then did Kang Sihyun recall one fact he had overlooked.
That day, the feeling of helplessness wasn't experienced by him alone. Perhaps these kids felt even more towards Titan than I did.
Because they couldn't do anything when they were dragged along.
Now, I too understood how great the sense of loss was when one nearly loses someone dear in such a helpless manner.
'Lee Hamin!'
Suddenly, my shout echoed in my ears. Because it was a name I had screamed in a dark world once before, Kang Sihyun looked at Lee Hamin with subdued eyes and chuckled low. It was more of a laugh of futility than joy.
I asked a pointless question.
After spending a year with Class A kids, I realized they were tremendous fighters. They couldn't live with losing, and they didn't avoid confrontations that came their way. They were kids who would start trouble even if it didn't find them first.
Would such people really be scared of Titan and avoid it?
No. They were probably sharpening their teeth, waiting for a day like today.
From a time long before I had even thought about it.
The expressions that Lee Hamin and Ban Haru were making proved that fact. Realizing it wasn't just me, Iha Hyuk, with a loosely lifted smile, hummed a short note and stood up.
"It's decided then."
"Huh?"
"Let's fill the remaining spot with someone from Class A. Either Kang Haewoon, Baek Geonu, or Yoo Seowoo. I'll call them separately and let you know the result."
"You're going to take all the remaining members as temporary guild members?"
"Temporary but with good performance, right? What's important in combat is spirit. Facing Titan, it's better to take someone willing to fight with even a feather duster than a guild member who'll freeze in fear."
So, he's saying we're like feather dusters?
Narrowing my eyes at the continued analogy, Iha Hyuk shrugged slyly. He was quick to speak up, just like Lee Hamin would be at times like this.
"We plan to depart for the Mirgun Guild tomorrow morning if the team is assembled before midnight today. After discussing with Mirgun, we'll sail along the domestic coast until we find Titan, so let me know if anyone gets seasick."
"If we're seasick, do we not go?"
"No, we'll just have to encourage you to endure it."
"…"
I was momentarily lost for words, my mouth agape in disbelief. The person who had received incredulous looks got Kang Sihyun and the kids up with a suggestion that they should enjoy the rest of their vacation.
The remaining vacation.
At that moment, Kang Sihyun realized one day of their granted vacation would be spent on this.
We had postponed going out to enjoy our two days of vacation to tomorrow, but now it seemed we had squandered it.
I should have gone today.
My eyes turned awkwardly and apologetically. At the end of my gaze lay a boy with an innocent face. Kang Sihyun swallowed his bitterness.
We had promised to go see the sea half a year ago.
The open winter sea.
But I never imagined we would go see that sea in this way.
A trip to fight a catastrophe-class opponent.
Our first trip with friends turned out to be quite grand.
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