Chapter 65 …
“Ah! I found it! It’s the constellation my sister mentioned!”
“Wow, how does Asol know all this?”
After entering the dungeon <Labyrinth of the Minotaur>, the first emotion Kwon Seowoo felt when he spotted the constellation on the ceiling was astonishment.
“How did a kid like Asol live such a normal life until now? Honestly, if she hadn’t become a Hunter, it would’ve been a national loss.”
“Seriously… how did she make that kind of deduction from just that clue?”
After becoming an Awakened, Kwon Asol was thriving like a fish in water.
It was clearly amazing—and something to be happy about. But watching Kwon Asol grow at such a rapid pace, Seowoo felt a growing anxiety alongside his pride.
Noona is already this far ahead… What do I have to do to protect her?
It had already been two months since he resolved to become a strong Hunter for his sister.
But unlike his impatient heart, Kwon Seowoo’s training results were minimal. It was because of the nature of his nullification ability.
“Seowoo, your nullification can’t really be practiced alone. You’ll probably need someone to train you professionally. I can temporarily help you with skill usage, but what you really need right now is martial arts. Don’t you have someone around you can ask?”
“Martial arts?”
After entering the Baekyeom Training Center, that was the first thing Shin Yeomyeong pointed out while overseeing his training.
“I’ve raised my skill proficiency quite a bit though… Is that still not enough?”
“It matters, but what you’ll be fighting isn’t magical beasts—it’s people. And you don’t even have attack skills. You need someone who can teach you how to fight using your body.”
“Uh… could you keep helping me for now, noona? I can’t think of anyone else right away.”
“Really? Then I guess it can’t be helped. But you should definitely find someone before it’s too late!”
There was someone who came to mind—but Seowoo never went to Baekgyeon in the end. Instead, he tried to think positively and kept asking Shin Yeomyeong for help.
I’m doing this to protect noona anyway, so it’s better to find another way than go to hyung Baekgyeon, who dislikes her.
It doesn’t have to be Baekgyeon. There are plenty of strong Hunters in the world!
However, even after beginning harsh training at the Baekyeom Training Center, Seowoo’s stats did not change.
Meanwhile, his teammates showed visible growth, and watching Kwon Asol race ahead at a speed he couldn’t hope to catch, Seowoo’s anxiety deepened. It was the same when the first-clear party list appeared after the battle with the Sand Giant.
【The first clear of Dungeon <Labyrinth of the Minotaur> has been recorded!】
【Party Members: <Kwon Asol>, <Shin Yeomyeong>, <Piuri>, <Baekgyeon>, <Kwon Seowoo>】
Noona is first in contribution… and I’m dead last… Can I really be any help to her?
Seowoo had virtually no combat ability, and nullification was his only skill. There was almost nothing he could do against magical beasts.
On the way out of the dungeon, Seowoo thought gloomily.
Maybe… my help was never something noona needed in the first place.
At this rate, he felt like he would only become a burden. Kwon Asol already seemed perfectly capable on her own, and it felt like there was nothing he could do beside her.
But the moment they exited the dungeon and he saw the protesters waiting for them, Seowoo realized how foolish that thought was.
“Excuse me! Don’t—”
No matter how much he shouted in anger, the protesters didn’t pay him any attention. If anything, they only raised their voices louder.
In the end, Seowoo couldn’t do anything to protect his sister.
That fact alone was shocking—but what froze him even more was the sight of Kwon Asol’s back at that moment.
“Apply the Ability Regulation Act! Apply it!”
“…”
Surrounded by people pouring their anger onto her, his sister simply stood there, silently watching.
It was the first time he had ever seen her—who always looked strong and composed—appear so lonely and fragile.
No… it wasn’t the first time.
There had been one other time.
“…Hngh… Mom… what do I do now…”
It was the day of their mother’s funeral. After comforting him, she had hidden on the stairs and finally broken down crying.
Noona…
The moment he realized it, it felt like all the surrounding noise disappeared.
In the stillness where time seemed to stop, the only thing in his eyes was his sister’s back as she faced the protesters and bore all the criticism alone.
Noona… what are you enduring by yourself again this time?
In the end, the one who resolved the situation was Baekgyeon—the very person Seowoo had been avoiding.
Watching the protesters scatter in fear at just one word from Baekgyeon—when they hadn’t budged no matter how much Seowoo shouted—he once again felt how powerless he was.
“Weakness is like that. You can’t protect family or friends.”
“Kwon Seowoo can’t learn anything under Han Jehyeon.”
“If Han Jehyeon—who can’t even protect himself—falls into danger, who do you think will die? Han Jehyeon himself?”
Those words kept echoing in his head.
This was no time to leisurely pick and choose.
Even if it’s noona, there’s no way this situation is really okay.
The most terrifying part was that there was no guarantee something like this wouldn’t happen again.
Seowoo had to use any method to become stronger.
If so…
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“I told you not to roll your eyes before moving. Your whole path is obvious. That’s the fifth time.”
A chilling killing intent was followed by sharp pain in his back.
Baekgyeon—who had clearly been standing in front of him moments ago—was now pressing down on his back.
“Planning to fight like that in real combat? Want to die before you even meet Najin?”
“N-No…!”
“Then get up. It’s only been 30 minutes.”
Seowoo staggered to his feet. He looked like a wreck despite it having been only thirty minutes. Watching him wobble, Baekgyeon clicked his tongue.
“You’re seriously a mess. If you’re going to collapse this fast, just quit. What a waste of time—”
“No! I’m sorry. I’m focused now. I’ll keep going.”
Grinding his teeth, Seowoo slapped his own cheek hard and stood up.
“…I can still keep going.”
“Oh? That’s good. I didn’t think your determination to learn from me would be this strong.”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I like you.”
“Then what? To catch Najin and protect Kwon Asol?”
“Of course. Noona…”
Seowoo lowered his eyes, lips trembling.
“She always tries to show only that she’s okay… but she also has a habit of carrying everything alone. …I have to get stronger quickly and help her.”
He wanted to stand beside his sister. With that single goal, Seowoo got back up again and again.
“…Noona is a much better person than you think. She would never—no matter what happens, even if the sky split apart—do something like Najin.”
“Maybe. I only believe what I see.”
“That’s—!”
Seowoo started to protest emotionally but fell silent at the next words.
“At this rate, it looks like Kwon Asol will be protecting you instead. Try landing even one hit. At least touch me.”
Unlike Seowoo, who was already covered in injuries after just thirty minutes, Baekgyeon stood perfectly fine.
Seowoo wiped his torn lip roughly and said,
“…Then if I land even one hit on you, promise you won’t speak carelessly about my sister again.”
“I don’t listen to people weaker than me.”
“Argh, seriously!”
Falling for the provocation, Seowoo charged again.
Anyway, it seemed their training would continue for quite a while.
[Chat] Who the hell said Baekgyeon hates Kwon Asol?? I thought he wasn’t gonna do anything??
[Chat] LOL the protesters got completely wrecked, huh?? Not even close??
[Chat] I just logged in after touching grass and the forum exploded — this is a human rights violation
[Exposed] That poster is a repeat offender lol you can tell from the writing style (+ evidence)
[Chat] So Baekgyeon ended up taking Kwon Seowoo??
[Humor] Today’s protesters who went to the Mars dungeon and came back publicly humiliated on national TV.jpg
“Hic… guh… hng…”
Choi Hangeol clenched his fist as he read through the post titles filling an entire community page. After clicking one post, a sob finally escaped him.
[Chat] If Baekgyeon sided with Kwon Asol, it’s over
I was neutral until now, but after today’s news I’ve made up my mind.
Hunters were literally working and these idiots held some pathetic protest to interfere — they’re the crazy ones lol.
And if Baekgyeon sided with Kwon Asol, that’s game over. Do you think he’d take her side without reason????
He was betrayed by his close friend Najin before, so he must’ve been suuuper suspicious of Kwon Asol lol.
If he checked that thoroughly and still judged her safe, that says everything.
From now on, whenever you face a life decision, just choose the opposite side of whoever attended today’s protest and you’ll succeed.
Everyone disperse~~~~
[Comments]
—Today’s realization: whenever you’re unsure in life, just pick the opposite side of today’s protesters
—Did they seriously think that would work? This is peak terminally-online brain rot ffs… please go outside and meet people…
—Kwon Asol didn’t even do anything wrong. Are the ones protesting just because they’re salty even sane? I seriously never want to run into people like that IRL
“Waaaaaaah!!!”
“Hyung, aren’t you eating the chicken?”
“Ah, stop being loud and leave him alone. Let’s just eat ourselves.”
“Waaah, Kwon Asol!!”
After all the team members left the living room, Choi Hangeol stared at his tear-soaked phone screen.
“Next time… next time for sure…!”
Though he vowed through tears, it would take him a little longer to realize that he would never be able to beat Kwon Asol in his lifetime…
Choi Hangeol, you little…
“Asol, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re reading hate comments— …Ah, judging by your expression, guess not.”
“Yeah! For some reason I feel really refreshed and happy today. Whew, the world is such a beautiful place.”
I closed the screen with a gentle smile.
The moment I entered the community and saw the flood of post titles, I quickly understood what had happened.
I knew there had to be someone who started the agitation.
From the moment we first saw the protesters outside the dungeon, there had been someone suspicious. And after just checking the original post, I confirmed my guess was right.
That irritating tone. Stir up the atmosphere with a bait post, then disappear once things get big.
It was exactly the same method Choi Hangeol had used countless times to annoy Kwon Seowoo in the original novel Underworld.
Honestly, I was pretty pissed when I first saw it—but looking at how things turned out, I might actually have to thank Hangeol.
Thanks, Hangeol.
[Free] Protesters, please just delete your posts and deactivate your accounts, I’m begging
[Free] Ffs how far did that protest screenshot spread? My friend sent it and asked if I use communities like this
[Free] ##HunterNet Free Board does not discriminate against specific Hunters##
[Free] Reposting the updated notice in case anyone missed it (TL;DR: pull a stunt like that protest again and it’s a permanent ban)
Oh dear.
Looks like he’s been busy writing agitation posts, but since he’s been living so busily, he must’ve missed the most important lesson in community manipulation: fandom psychology.
If you poke the hornet’s nest wrong at a time like this and give the other side leverage, they only end up uniting more tightly.
And since they failed after pulling a big, attention-grabbing stunt like a protest, things should be peaceful for a while.
I smiled happily.
“Ah, it’ll finally quiet down.”
“Huh? What will?”
“Nothing. Something annoying just got resolved. Let’s get back to training!”
If you’d like, I can also provide a cleaned/light-novel style version or a name glossary.
