Superior core, failure.
Among the words instantly converted in my mind, there’s a phrase that particularly sticks. Perhaps a superior core refers to someone like me or Russ, who has more than three cores, and the failure means it was a failure because it wasn't Haewoon.
I knew the Irregulars were targeting me and Russ, but I hadn’t realized that the kids I usually hang around with would carry my scent.
This means I’ll have to think twice about going out alone.
Just by being associated with me, they could be attacked like Haewoon.
Kang Sihyun's expression darkened. If it really came to danger, he had to consider the option of going into dungeons alone to improve his skills. It was a possibility he couldn't completely rule out, so he nervously bit his nails. He already felt guilty for Haewoon's injuries, thinking it was his fault, but hearing the full story only confirmed that it was indeed his fault. He felt sorry for him, having nearly lost his life.
“Because of me…”
“That’s why you must stick with people when you enter the next dungeon!”
Haewoon cut him off before he could apologize for being the cause of the injury, earnestly advising him while placing a hand on his hip. Kang Sihyun opened his mouth a beat later.
“...What?”
“You get attacked because you’re alone. Next time in the dungeon, make sure to cling onto someone and stick with people. Remember, we survive by sticking together and die by scattering.”
Haewoon raised his eyebrows, giving force to his eyes and firmly setting up his index finger as he advised. He didn't look the slightest bit resentful or perplexed. Knowing what a core is, he must understand the meaning of a superior core. It was impossible that he hadn't deduced he was attacked because of me. Yet, his expression, so devoid of any disturbance, rendered Kang Sihyun speechless.
“Aren’t you resentful?”
“About what? I chose to go with you. It's all part of life to bear such things.”
“......”
“Even if it could have killed me, I said it myself. And it's not like I went without knowing that. If anyone's to blame, it should be me… Huh? ...Are you crying?”
The boy was startled, interrupting his bold speech upon seeing Kang Sihyun's grimaced face and hurriedly cupping his cheek, warm to the touch. Kang Sihyun, whose eyes had only slightly watered, felt embarrassed and pulled away from Haewoon’s palm, taking a deep breath.
“...But it's still because of me that you got hurt.”
“If I hadn't gone in, I wouldn’t have been attacked. If I had been strong enough to stop that attack, it wouldn’t have happened. Now that I think about it, I regret not using the flight buff to escape instead of just taking the hit. So frustrating!”
As the boy glanced at Kang Sihyun, he raised his voice slightly. Knowing he was exaggerating, Kang Sihyun let out a chuckle. It was absurd to be worried about him when he was the one lying in a hospital bed.
“So don’t think weird things. Sometimes you blame yourself too much. If only you were as lenient with yourself as you are with us.”
“I don’t think that’s particularly true.”
“Then my judgment of people must be wrong?”
Haewoon retorted as if he couldn't believe it, causing Kang Sihyun to step back under his intense gaze. Haewoon, who had become more audacious in pressing forward after waking up from death, seemed to have grown bolder and more adept at banter.
Reluctantly agreeing to concede that Haewoon was right, the boy laughed as if he knew it all along. His laughter, perhaps due to his appearance, seemed genuinely innocent.
“Anyway, hold hands in the dungeon. Who are you going with next time?”
“Ah… right.”
Reminded by Haewoon’s question, Kang Sihyun realized he had forgotten something. Last night, Hahyuk said he would send the list of Awakened going to Russia, but he forgot to check his phone. As he pulled out his phone, a recent message was displayed on the screen.
[You asked for the list but didn’t check.]
It was unmistakably a message from Hahyuk.
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong?”
“...I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“Hahyuk said he’d send the list of guild members going to Russia.”
“List? What list?”
Haewoon’s voice held a hint of curiosity before he let out a small gasp. His gaze followed Kang Sihyun to the phone and then returned to his blue eyes.
“So you’re not going with us this time?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“That’s good.”
“What?”
The response was unexpected. Kang Sihyun
thought Haewoon would throw a tantrum, asking why he wasn't going together, but his rational reaction was surprising. He wasn’t shocked or upset by the answer. When Kang Sihyun looked at him questioningly, Haewoon gestured towards his hospital gown.
“I told you earlier. If I had been strong enough to block that guy’s attack, I wouldn’t have been injured this much. With my skills, it's right not to go.”
“...That’s surprising.”
“What, Kang Sihyun! Did you think I’d just throw a tantrum?”
Truly shocking….
His expression of genuine surprise was comically endearing. Covering his mouth with his hand, he looked as if he couldn’t believe how Kang Sihyun could see him in such a way. Kang Sihyun shrugged and opened the list of names Hahyuk sent.
“You might sympathize with wanting to go together, but the truth is, your skills aren’t there yet. That’s why we decided to send you guys to the large-scale Gate in Russia.”
“To improve our skills?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s better.”
“What is?”
“It's better to think it's our fault for lacking skills than to blame you. Since that's the truth.”
“It's not about blaming you…”
“Hey, the file opened!”
The conversation jumped topics wildly. Haewoon, who switched topics as if using teleportation, made Kang Sihyun sigh, shake his head, and then focus on the opened file.
<Russian Dungeon Support Korean Awakeners List.>
-Dungeon: Kang Sihyun (near S), Kang Euiheon (near S), Woo Changsik (near S~S)
-Large-scale rift: Ban Haru (A+, leader) Lee Hamin (A+), Yoo Seowoo (A), Jeong Daun (A), Lee Jihye (A), Baek Geonu (A), numerous Muam guild members.
-PS: The ranks are adjusted higher than those registered by the association based on the guild leader’s analysis of recent performances. Russian Awakeners will be confirmed upon arrival at the dungeon area, and it has been decided to deploy three S-grade Awakeners for this dungeon.
Opening the file, Kang Sihyun couldn’t help but sigh, seeing Euiheon’s name before his own.
“Kang Euiheon is going again.”
“Right? After all, the association doesn’t have anyone else to use for high-difficulty areas besides Euiheon hyung.”
“Hyung? Did you guys become brothers?”
“No? I just call him hyung on my own?”
Kang Sihyun, having grown somewhat accustomed to Haewoon during their acquaintance, no longer panicked at every nonsensical comment. It seemed natural, so he turned his attention back to the list. The near S rank next to his name felt somewhat unfamiliar.
“Kang Sihyun, your rank went up?”
“I was the one who defeated Dekumainus in Egypt. So I guess that’s why.”
“You defeated it?”
“Yeah. Ah, I should tell the kids to come back.”
Avoiding the question of how he defeated it made for a smooth transition. A considerable amount of time had already passed. He had told them to wait outside for just 15 minutes, but it had been over 20, so he quickly sent a text, and the kids returned in less than 5 minutes. They had apparently waited downstairs, not going to a cafe as instructed.
“Are you done talking?”
“Yeah.”
“What were you talking about?”
“Just, I heard what happened to Kang Haewoon. It wasn’t anything serious.”
Talking about superior cores or his scent wouldn't be necessary until the kids grew stronger and could join dungeons with them. The A-grade kids, sensing Kang Sihyun’s evasion, seemed skeptical, but without further ado, they seemed to play along this time and turned their attention to Haewoon.
Unexpectedly, Haewoon didn’t spill the beans about their conversation, even under the barrage of questions from the kids. He simply laughed off their continuous inquiries and then provocatively asked, “Aren’t you guys going to a large rift? What will you do without me?” The provoked kids quickly retorted that they could manage just fine without him, oblivious to having fallen for Haewoon's trick.
Haewoon effortlessly changed the topic and even the atmosphere, then winked at Kang Sihyun.
After sharing such a peaceful conversation, soon it was time to depart for Russia. Although they were headed to the same destination, the A-grade kids had to leave later with the Muam guild, so they couldn't share the same flight.
Since their departure times were slightly different, they couldn’t even share a ride. Expressing regret at having to go first, Kang Sihyun showed his sympathy. Just before leaving, he wrapped Haewoon in a protective armor shield, advising
him.
“Don’t cause any trouble and stay safe. I’ll be back soon.”
“Do I look like a kid to you, Kang Sihyun? I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“...Really, don’t cause any trouble.”
Leaving Haewoon alone felt concerning. Lowering his voice to warn him about the potential disaster of leaving an awake Haewoon alone, Haewoon reassured him and waved his hand. Kang Sihyun sent one last worried look before standing up.
“I’ll be back.”
“Take care.”
“Yeah.”
He deliberately avoided saying anything that might sound like a flag, such as promising to return alive. After bidding farewell to the kids with a glance, Kang Sihyun checked his phone on the way to Incheon Airport, taking another look at the names in the list. Euiheon’s name was familiar, but there was one that felt somewhat unfamiliar yet not entirely new, stirring a contradictory feeling.
Woo Changsik.
It was unfamiliar, yet not entirely like seeing it for the first time. It was a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar feeling that lingered until he arrived at the airport and got out of the car. At the entrance, Euiheon welcomed Kang Sihyun.
“Kang Sihyun.”
Greeting Euiheon, whom he hadn’t seen since the Egypt dungeon, Kang Sihyun bowed slightly. Beside Euiheon stood a stranger, a man he hadn't seen before.
With broad shoulders and tall stature, the man’s long hair, which reached beyond his shoulder line, was tied back, a rare sight these days. His build was robust. If not for his delinquent-like appearance, he would have seemed quite reliable. Then, suddenly, a memory flashed through Kang Sihyun’s mind.
-Going there and then suddenly, what about Redem, huh?
└Literally living up to his nickname
└LMAO
└So funny lol, what makes Kang Sihyun think he’s going to Redem? Does he think Redem is the only guild in Korea?
└Good luck, Changsik... Don't become too disgusting
└The guy from Free Guild, Changsik, got caught for DUI and hit-and-run, right?
└Still thinking Free is one of the top three guilds, huh?
└Where did Changsik go? Did he chicken out?
└Seems like his running away is as notable as his hit-and-run ㅠ
└Take down the student post~
He remembered a comment section like that.
“Ah.”
It clicked.
Woo Changsik from the Free Guild.
That was the name he, or rather, had seen in the comments of a post related to the controversy over the top zero rank a while back.
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