Chapter 29

Chapter 29

It was a mystery why the guy was still alive. I had definitely used Full Recovery, and after that, I had destroyed his heart one more time.

Could Full Recovery be used twice? But the Full Recovery I'd acquired had only been good for one use.

"How did you come back to life?"

"I don't know the details myself."

Full Recovery was a single-use gift. Once used, it disappeared.

"When your hand pierced my heart and I was dying, a change occurred in the Full Recovery that was dissipating inside me. The gift's disappearance halted and it underwent reconstruction, then it was restored. And then it activated again and vanished. That's all I know."

"......"

I took a moment to sort out my thoughts.

Until now, I'd assumed Blood Devour stole gifts. And stealing here meant the target's death.

But listening to Berserker, I began to think that might not be the case. What if Blood Devour wasn't robbery but copying? What if, during the process of reading information to copy, the target's gift still existed?

In Berserker's case, since it was a single-use gift, I couldn't properly read it as it was dissipating, so it seemed I'd forced a restoration in order to copy it.

Was that why the headache had been worse? I'd thought I was going crazy, but it turned out I was just sane—and that made it hurt more.

Everyone I'd used it on before had died, but Berserker had survived because of Full Recovery.

So that was it. I understood everything now. What leech-like vitality.

Still, one question about Blood Devour had been cleared up. This time, I'd send him off without pain.

"Then let's die again."

"Wait, I want to live."

"Did your personality change? You're not the type to beg for your life."

"Having died twice, my thinking has changed. Death itself doesn't scare me, but I remembered things I want to do. More than anything."

Berserker looked at me.

"Witnessing your strength showed me a path. I want to polish my skills once more."

If I let him live, that is.

"Polish them in the afterlife."

"...What would it take for you to spare me?"

"Let me think. I have no reason to let you live."

"I'll cooperate fully with whatever you do from now on."

"You'll quit being a villain?"

Berserker shook his head.

"Even if I repented and went back, the world wouldn't accept me. This world has hung all sorts of restrictions on Awakened so they can be controlled and the public can feel safe. Within that framework, I'm a misfit. There's nothing I can do. You're stronger and smarter than me, so your position is better, but it'll be similar for you. I can understand you."

"......"

Honestly, that struck a chord.

And that made me think something else.

Maybe it's not the world that's strange? Maybe I'm the normal one, and the world is strange, and that's why I'm not understood.

In that respect, Berserker and I saw things from a similar vantage point. But should I keep that lunatic alive just to have one secret friend?

"Talking on the phone was fun too. Actually, it was my first time using a smartphone. If you spare me, I'll be your hands and feet on the outside. I want to live."

The guy who'd gone down on his knees even bowed his head to the floor.

Seeing that, I was reminded of myself when I was Blood Lord.

Back then, I had desperately prayed for just one chance to come my way.

If someone had helped me from the sidelines back then, what would have become of me?

...Probably wouldn't have changed much.

Anyway, seeing the guy's will to live, I decided to give him a chance.

I'd already gained Full Recovery, and he was offering to be my hands and feet—if he didn't listen and ran wild, I could just kill him then.

"From now on, only hunt villains."

"You're sparing me?"

"Yeah. And if you know anything about the League, tell me more."

"I know it as an organization where strong villains gather."

I waited for him to continue, but Berserker instead looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"That's it."

"...That's all?"

"Is there more?"

I'm the lunatic for asking a lunatic.

"Fine. And don't go off on your own trying to join the League."

"Seeing you, my interest in the League has faded. Don't worry."

"Good. Then I'll give you your first mission. The League people who came to greet you—kill them all."

"Consider it done."

"Message me when it's finished."

I let Berserker go.

* * *

By the time I returned to Seoul and reported back to the National Guard Bureau, I got a message from Berserker.

Berserker—Annihilated the League's remaining forces. I can send you their heads if you need them.

Me—Just send photos.

Berserker—Understood.

Berserker—[photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached]

This lunatic had photographed every single scene and sent them all. For a moment I'd thought this guy might be normal—no, he was just a lunatic.

I went inside, greeted Jung Dahyun and the others first, then knocked on the Director's office door.

Jung Juho, who'd been working, looked at me with a face full of anticipation.

"Berserker?"

"I didn't kill him."

"...He's a Level 8 transcendent, so it wouldn't have been easy. I'm glad you made it back safely. But it's not that you couldn't kill him—you didn't?"

"Berserker expressed willingness to cooperate and asked me to spare him."

"Berserker? That lunatic asked you to spare him?"

"Yes. But can we put Berserker to use?"

Jung Juho's head nodded at triple speed.

"Are you seriously asking me that right now? Of course we can! Of course!"

"But he's a villain, so..."

"No! Berserker's mind comes and goes, but his standards for who he goes after were solid. The Hunters he killed were all people with dirty records anyway. If we can deploy a Level 8 transcendent, that much isn't a problem. If anyone has complaints, they can take it up with Berserker."

That's a bit different from the Berserker assessment I first heard.

"And we just don't disclose it externally. I have that much discretionary authority. Don't tell me Berserker wants to quit being a villain, come back to the city, and live as a normal person?"

"No, that's not it."

"Then it's fine. We'll use him as a special agent like Blink."

"I couldn't kill Berserker, but I do have a small achievement instead."

I showed Jung Juho the photos of Berserker devastating the League forces that had landed in Korea.

"...Hey, he won't listen to me, will he?"

"Do you want to meet him?"

"No, I don't think he'll listen to me. He gives off a strangely similar vibe to you."

"......"

"Don't take it personally that he's crazier than you. Haha!"

I don't know why Berserker keeps being the comparison standard.

But does that mean I'm crazy too?

* * *

Before the Level 8 measurement, I took leave and headed to my parents' house in Cheongju with Yunhee, who had been discharged in good health. She'd apparently gotten healthier from devouring hospital food, because she nitpicked everything from the side.

"The car is so trashy. Can't you change it?"

"I don't have money. If you don't like it, buy one yourself."

"I don't even have a license. What car?"

"I was asking you to buy me one to drive."

"......"

Having successfully shut Yunhee up, I focused on driving. She pouted and made her displeasure obvious, but she'd cheer up quickly once she ate Mom's cooking.

When we arrived at the family home in Cheongju, Yunhee burst out the door and charged at our parents standing in front of the house.

"Mom! Dad!"

"Yunhee! Have you been well?"

"Glad to see you're doing well."

"Yeah, yeah, I've been well."

Not telling them about the hospitalization was the right call. If I had, I'd have gotten an earful about this and that. She's got a clever head on her.

"Junho, you came too? Thanks for driving."

"You worked hard."

"Yes."

After greeting our parents, we headed into the house. Seeing the repellent devices hung around the orchard, they seemed to still be working. No telling when they'd lose effect, so I should catch another wild boar before going back up.

The time with the whole family together was enjoyable. My parents were genuinely happy that I'd become a public service Hunter and that Yunhee had joined the Shinseong Guild.

Yunhee took the opportunity to suggest our parents move up to Seoul, but she was refused.

"We can still work, and we're young enough to live off our children's success. Once you two are fully settled, we'll think about it."

"It won't take long."

"Then bring home a decent man and get married or something!"

"I'm too busy trying to establish myself in the guild. And with Choi Junho glaring daggers, you think it'd be easy to meet men?"

"What are you to your brother? And why would Junho—Junho, are you seriously interfering with Yunhee meeting men?"

"I've never interfered."

"You call that not interfering?"

Yunhee looked dumbfounded. I was the one who felt frustrated.

I hadn't done anything. I'd just thought that if someone wanted to date Yunhee, this level of scrutiny might be appropriate.

"Ask my brother instead of me! He might be meeting a woman soon, you know?"

At Yunhee's words, my parents let out a chuckle. It was a scoff.

"Junho? With a woman?"

"Yunhee, even so, dragging a perfectly fine woman into a pitiful situation..."

"I'm telling you it's not like that! The women connected to my brother are all amazing!"

Yunhee tried hard to redirect the arrows at me.

Then the conversation shifted to our life in Seoul. Yunhee explained her adjustment to the Shinseong Guild and eagerly described meeting Lee Sehee and me, but our parents didn't believe a word. They even advised her to watch less drama. That girl really does need to cut back on dramas.

Eventually giving up on convincing them, Yunhee explained the perks the Shinseong Guild provided, and our parents showed great interest. Things like access to Shinsung Hospital were exactly the kind of thing their generation cared about most.

"Is Junho adjusting well?"

"Yes. People around me help a lot, so I've settled in without much difficulty."

"Oh, and my brother's senior partner is Jung Dahyun, a genius Awakened who's famous..."

She keeps trying to force connections. Meeting someone of the opposite sex is best when it's natural—this girl is manufacturing it.

"......"

I quietly watched the scene. Bickering with my sister and getting nagged by my parents—but I didn't dislike it. This was the time I'd tried to protect. My goal going forward was to keep protecting this time.

To do that, I'd need to climb higher and seize more rights.

"Oh, and I'm thinking of taking the Level 8 measurement in a week."

"What......?"

"The Level 8 measurement. Did I not mention it?"

"......"

"Why are you telling us this now?!"

Had I not told Yunhee either?

A moment later, shock erupted from my parents as well.

* * *

The government was thrown into an uproar by the appearance of Choi Junho, who had emerged like a comet. And with good reason—a Level 8 measurement candidate had appeared from a completely unexpected quarter.

A Level 8 can never emerge from below the surface. Talents called geniuses since childhood are gathered, put through systematic education and steadily accumulated experience, producing countless candidates—and among them, one rises to Level 8.

But Choi Junho's existence was an anomaly that had suddenly shot up from the ground one day.

He hadn't stood out in childhood, and he'd only been a public service Hunter for six months. Rumors said the Blue House was especially shocked by the fact that he was Grade 9.

The emergence of a Level 8 was, from the government's standpoint, both a savior and a cause for concern. There had been insufficient verification of Choi Junho. His achievements over six months were impressive, but his disposition was exceedingly dangerous.

A secretary dispatched from the Awakened Security Office, which oversaw all Awakened, latched onto this point and wouldn't let go.

A Blue House secretary was a Grade 1 official.

Though it was a higher rank than his own, Jung Juho's attitude toward the secretary was stiff.

"So you're saying this is my fault?"

"That's not it—I'm wondering why you didn't share the information."

"How was I supposed to know the guy was Level 8 material? He joined as a rookie, I thought his skills must be impressive and I nurtured him—that's all."

"Still, you should have shared with the higher-ups..."

"And if I had shared, they'd have said 'oh yes' and believed it? That a twenty-five-year-old is Level 8?"

"At least we wouldn't have been treated like clueless idiots."

In the end, it was a matter of face. Jung Juho let out a hollow laugh.

"So what does the top floor say?"

"To secure him by any means necessary."

"And how, exactly?"

"He's a public service Hunter, so surely he has ambition for public office. We dig into that angle and..."

"I don't think you're speaking sincerely."

The secretary nodded.

"First, we'll confirm whether he really is Level 8, then prepare a concrete negotiation proposal. The Director is personally preparing it. Separately from that, it's hard to believe someone in their twenties is Level 8. It's true for us, and for the world that has to accept it."

"He'll be Level 8."

And at a fully matured level, at that. But I didn't say that much.

The rigid government organization types only come to their senses after they've tasted it for themselves.

At least the Director of the Awakened Security Office who'd come this time was a capable operator, but one person can't change a bureaucratic organization alone.

Once it was revealed that Choi Junho was Level 8, a hefty premium would be attached. To secure him, they'd have to pay that price in full. The Director of the Awakened Security Office would have his work cut out for him.

Still, since we're on the same side, I offered a word of advice.

"You should read Choi Junho's report and formulate a plan."

"I've read it."

The secretary, having said that, asked carefully.

"But was that report real?"

"The wording has been considerably softened."

"...I can see hard times ahead."

"You'd all better brace yourselves. That's the only way you'll be able to secure him."

"I'll report upward. The Director will handle the negotiations personally, so there's nothing I can confirm on that front. Fortunately, the Director is a capable operator, so nothing to worry about should happen."

"I wish you luck."

In the end, the secretary returned with only a few pieces of information about Choi Junho and no real gains. Jung Juho had reconfirmed only the government's somewhat complacent attitude, but he figured things would improve once the Director of the Awakened Security Office stepped in.

Thinking that one of the highest-ranking Awakened in South Korea would speak directly with Choi Junho brought a smile to his face.

"He's going to have a rough time."

Honestly, he was curious what reaction people would have when the guy's madness turned toward the government.

Because Choi Junho would be no-brakes with them too.

It was revenge for the hair he'd lost thanks to that guy.

"I can't be the only one to taste Choi Junho. Let's all taste him together."

This flavor was too special to keep to himself.