(SEM) Chapter 12

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I had no intention of sneaking away on my own.”

It was a spiteful idea from a C-class hunter. However, his remark was enough to incite people who were already in fear.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“So she does have an escape stone?”

“Are you really going to escape on your own?”

[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ says the atmosphere is odd.]

In times of crisis, the crime rate often rises sharply. When morals and rules blur as fear engulfs reason, and the instinct for survival becomes the first principle of action.

‘I want to live, I don’t want to die’ That natural and selfish desire that drives people crazy.

Ha-eun noticed the madness reflected in the people’s eyes.

The legitimacy of Ahn Jin-hwan’s words has become irrelevant. To them, Ha-eun is simply a person that carried an escape stone.

Ha-eun hesitated.

“Don’t come near me.”

“You have it, don’t you?”

“There is no such thing as an escape stone! Ah! Madam?”

Ha-eun was startled by the sudden grasp on her arm and looked down. The corners of the old woman’s lips sitting next to her, were raising oddly.

“Ha-eun, you should’ve told me that you had such a thing.”

The hand that held Ha-eun’s arm was shockingly tight, as if declaring that they would never let her go on her own. Blood couldn’t pass through her seized forearm, which had gone stark white. Ha-eun’s heart was pounding.

“Madam, I really don’t……”

“Are you lying, even to me? I’m disappointed, Ha-eun.”

She wanted to say no, but there was a lump in her throat. The current situation felt weirdly familiar to her. Ha-eun, who was biting her lips, stumbled. Ahn Jin-hwan had grabbed her other arm in an attempt to force the escape stone out.

He glared at Ha-eun with eyes full of hostility.

“Give it to me. If you don’t want to see blood.”

“Ha-eun, don’t you know how much this auntie loves you?”

“I never liked the way you looked at me as if my words were insignificant.”

[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ is angry that mere creatures threaten our Ha-eun and wants them to let her go immediately.]

Ha-eun’s eyes went hazy.

The grip on both her arms hurt. The tinnitus in her ear is ringing. She could hear a piercing siren and a scream.

Ha-eun picked up the smell of something burning.

“You! Why did you want to escape on your own? Why are you the only one who get’s out alive? Save my baby! Save my daughter!”

“Hey! What are you saying to her now…..!”

“I told you I don’t have one!”

The moment Ha-eun shouted that, the cave’s interior simultaneously fractured.

kuung.

The cave shook.

Everyone went silent in a flash. Even if she had said a single word, Ha-eun felt like she would be crushed by the pressure that squeezed her lungs. All the people in the cave stopped moving and looked only at Ha-eun.

Ha-eun sighed vigorously.

The cold, dry air of the dungeon filled her lungs then escaped. Ha-eun’s head, which had been spinning, seemed to have cooled down just then.

“Ah……”

[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ meticulously asks Ha-eun if she is okay.]

She bit her lower lip.

She wasn’t okay. It was Ha-eun herself who really lost her reason and acted out of it, among people who observed her every movement.

This is not the gym where the accident happened, nor is it the same situation as it was back then.  Ha-eun had to come to her senses.

“Excuse me……”

However, Ha-eun’s shout became a starting point for other people to lose their reason.

“As expected, it was right that you have it!”

“Give me the escape stone!”

“How dare you escape alone! Do you think you’re more worthy to live?”

People rushed madly towards her. Ha-eun was swept away by everyone, and got hit on the chin by someone’s elbow. The situation quickly became chaotic.

Ha-eun tried to calm herself down. However, the bad memory that came to her mind was strong, holding onto her ankle like an anchor.

In the midst of the reckless crowd, Ha-eun thought that she was being dragged into hell.

It was then.

Kwang-!!

A loud noise struck people’s ears. Those who were rushing Ha-eun stopped moving for a moment. The thumping, unstoppable footsteps were heard, gradually getting louder and louder.

People’s eyes left Ha-eun and headed to the end of the cave.

[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ shouts cheers at the amazing timing of the drama.]

“What are you doing to my sister?”

#2 in the Korean Hunter Ranking. The eldest son of the renowned S-class Jung family.  Hunter Jung Eun-woo was glaring at them with an angry appearance.

“Hunter Jung Eun-woo!”

“We’re going to live!” 

“Hunter! You’re here to save us!”

At the appearance of their savior, they forgot what they had been doing and cheered. Ha-eun’s arm was still being held by someone.

“Ha.”

Jung Eun-woo sighed loudly.

“I asked you. What are you doing to my sister?”

“S-Sister?”

“Aren’t you going to let go of her arm right now?”

The people were buzzing. What’s wrong with hunter Jung Eun-Woo? There are only non-awakening civilians here. They believed all of his family members were S-classes too.

However, Mrs. Dong and Ahn Jin-hwan, who were aware of the situation, quietly let go of Ha-eu. Only then did others belatedly grasp the situation and began to recede.

[T/N: Mrs. Dong is the older lady that’s been with Ha-eun in the dungeon]

Ha-eun, who was released from the hands of people, looked terrible. Her usually maintained hair was disheveled, and her clothes were stretched out. 

But the scariest thing was Ha-eun’s face.

Jung Eun-woo strode toward Hae-eun.

“You……”

Jung Eun-woo’s eyes grew bigger as he looked at Ha-eun. She was a mess, but she didn’t seem to be in much pain. At least on the surface.

It was Jung Eun-woo whose heart sank when he heard that Ha-eun was caught up in a dungeon.

In the past, during the gym gate incident, Jung Eun-woo was the person who was directly deployed into the dungeon to save the people and his younger sister.

There, he had rescued Ha-eun, the only remaining survivor.

His little sister who was sitting down, among the rushing monsters, lost in her own mind.

Ha-eun wasn’t the only one who had the memory resurface. Jung Eun-woo was also recalling the past due to today’s events.

“Haa.”

Jung Eun-woo sighed angrily. Then, he carefully arranged Ha-eun’s hair with his large and rough hands.

“…It’s alright.”

Ha-eun felt something rising in her mind. Even she didn’t know if it was anger or regret.

When Jung Eun-woo had finished tidying her hair, he pulled Ha-eun behind him. Ha-eun was completely covered by his tall height.

[T/N: That’s so sweet (T⌓T)]

[The constellation “Mutant of the Abyss” looks at Jung Eun-woo and evaluates his action as useful.]

[Waving his fist to scold the people who assaulted Ha-eun.]

Ha-eun realized that Jung Eun-woo was holding back his simmering anger to the fullest.

As she got closer, she could feel a tingling electric current wrapped around his body. In fact, if he let out all of his temper here, everyone would’ve already passed out.

Funnily, getting to see him angry calmed her heart.

Honestly, Ha-eun had also wanted to reprimand the people who rushed toward her for an escape stone she didn’t even have. However, it would then be a man-made disaster rather than a natural disaster.

As awakening people had special capabilities beyond the average human, there were also laws that stipulated what punishment would be given if they misused them.

In particular, since Jung Eun-woo is a public official, it was obvious that he would face more strict punishment compared to hunters belonging to other guilds.

Ha-eun sighed.

‘If Eun-woo gets in trouble, our mother will be sad.’

[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ says the house is quiet, so sometimes it’s okay.]

‘Se-hyun would definitely like it…… Ah, anyway.’

Ha-eun poked his arm. Jung Eun-woo, who was staring at the people, reflexively turned to her. The terrifying energy that had been radiating, slightly softened.

Ha-eun said as she gestured the other way.

“Let’s go home.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Hurry up. I’m tired.”

Jung Eun-woo frowned, then sighed in despair. He pressed on Ha-eun’s head with his big fingers.

Hae-eun nervously pushed his hand away.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

“Don’t even think about going out for real now.”

“What? Aren’t I a victim too?”

“You’ve been involved in two dungeons within a month, is that normal?”

…That’s definitely a high frequency.  Ha-eun, who had nothing to rebuke, bit the inside of her mouth. It wouldn’t be a big deal for Ha-eun, an EX-class, but if it had been an ordinary person, they would have cried out that they had been cursed by an evil spirit.

Jung Eun-woo faced his back to Ha-eun and bent his knee.

“Hey, get on my back.”

Ha-eun stepped back in a panic.

“Are you crazy? I’m not hurt.”

“I don’t care, get on.”

“Ah, why?”

“I’d rather carry you, than let you go around and get hurt again.”

Eun-woo added, glancing at the group of people.

“I think there’s other things way more dangerous than the dungeon.”

“What are you saying? Regardless, I don’t like this!”

“If you don’t want to be carried on my back, would you like me to carry you?”

“I’ll try to piggyback you faster than anyone else.”

Ha-eun clung on to Jung Eun-woo’s back. She’d rather bite her tongue and die than get carried.

Jung Eun-woo stood up and she was able to get a good view. Ha-eun looked at the people who were glancing at her in shock.

Those who were trembling may be afraid of the repercussions of assaulting #2’s younger sister. But Ha-eun felt no pity for them, and turned her head away.

Translator: Morgan

Editor: Cherise 

QC: Morgan

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