Chapter 48: The Bat (1)

Was it like this in the novel too?

Ion didn’t know Wendy had a family or worked at a pharmaceutical company. Those details weren’t in the novel.

Wendy Lowell’s arc in the novel was:

1. She awakens within a month or two of Park Yujik’s death, gaining the Sanctuary skill.
2. Udinbara quickly notices and approaches her.
3. On Udinbara’s orders, she joins Horizon. It’s revealed then that Sanctuary was redistributed after Park Yujik’s death.
4. For four years, she forms a romantic connection with Jin Seongha while acting as Udinbara’s mole, only to betray him at a critical moment.

Has Udinbara already found her?

That was Ion’s first thought, but he dismissed it.

Four days ago… it could be Dam Il-on. She might’ve come for Wendy while handling the Daisytown briefing.

Ion’s investigation revealed the presumed Wendy was researching awakening methods.

Sa-on had previously contacted Hwang Yul during a Hunter Agency monster escape incident. In the novel’s latter half, Hwang Yul discovers the awakening mechanism, but now he’s just a child Sa-on saved, establishing herself as his benefactor.

It clicked for Ion.

They’re trying to figure out awakening.

Were they planning to uncover it earlier than in the novel and start a business?

Or awaken everyone, wrecking the novel’s plot?

Either way, it likely wouldn’t hinder Jin Seongha’s mission to kill the Demon King. Even if the entire planet awakened, as long as Jin Seongha could slay the Demon King, it was fine.

If Wendy Lowell vanished forever, never meeting Jin Seongha, that would be a problem…

Her note said to wait a few months. I’ll wait.

Ion had too much to do to chase Sa-on and Il-on now.

What was Hwang Yul’s awakening method?

He hadn’t cared before, deeming it unimportant, but seeing the orphans’ pursuit piqued his curiosity.

Why didn’t the novel’s author reveal the awakening method?

Teacher had said:

“Maybe the author knew readers would transmigrate into the novel. So they hid the awakening method… Just my guess.”

Teacher wasn’t certain, and Ion disagreed.

“No way. The author’s not a god…”

Ion shook off the notion.

Still, there was clearly a specific awakening method.

Because…

Teacher knew it.

“You kids have high potential to awaken as Hunters during the dungeon break in 15 years.”

Teacher had been certain, despite the orphans not being named in the novel. She predicted their awakening right after the Cataclysm.

And indeed, five of them awakened.

Only Ion failed.

“Hunter, we’ll land soon. Please fasten your seatbelt,” a crew member said.

“Okay.”

Three hours had passed since leaving the U.S. Ion buckled up.

Dungeon byproduct-powered jets reduced carbon emissions drastically while outpacing supersonic planes.

Twenty years ago, sub-six-hour flights from Korea to the U.S. became common, fueling the climate crisis. Young Ion, hearing news from Teacher, had asked:

“If the climate crisis is pushing humanity toward extinction, why don’t people give up travel?”

“Some do, child. They forgo delicious meat, convenient goods, new experiences.”

“But the crisis keeps accelerating.”

“Because more people refuse to give up anything. Don’t worry. The Cataclysm will resolve the climate crisis. You’ve nothing to fear.”

Ion wasn’t afraid of extinction. He pitied the few who restrained their desires, unaware the Cataclysm would fix it.

The orphans were among them, eating minimal meat and seafood, planting trees yearly, and avoiding disposables.

Once, Dam Il-on asked:

“Teacher, if it’ll be resolved, can’t we use disposables?”

“No.”

“Why? If it’s—”

“No. Ask again, and no dinner for a week. Start training.”

Recalling this, Ion had a realization.

Are Il-on and Sa-on living lavishly now as a reaction to Teacher’s strictness?

If so, he couldn’t fully blame them.

Lost in thought, Ion returned to his hotel near the airport.

After greeting Kwan-eum, Are, Sis, Seos, and Ivy, he unzipped his backpack to free Sansevieria.

“Sanse, you must’ve been cramped. Say hi to your friends…”

“…”

“…”

Ion blinked at the baby bat hanging upside down between Sansevieria’s leaves.

Kyuu…

Tap.

Kyuu.

Tap-tap.

Kyuu…? …Kyuu!

Waking, the bat flapped in panic, darting to a corner.

“…”

Ion was as stunned as the bat.

How was it here?

A live bat in his backpack, unnoticed while chasing Wendy Lowell, on the plane, at the airport, and until now?

He hadn’t been on high alert outside dungeons, but missing a creature on his back was absurd.

He’d handled Sansevieria multiple times while searching for Wendy—talking to it, smelling it, watering it, tidying its soil.

The bat wasn’t there then, yet it hung on the leaves like it had been for ages, sleeping.

Is it a dungeon monster, not an Earth bat?

Ion summoned vines to pull the bat from the corner.

Kyuu-kyuu…

It couldn’t resist, weaker than days ago, unsurprising without food.

Ion studied the trembling bat.

It didn’t resemble any bat-like monster he knew, but the novel’s vague descriptions left room for such a creature.

If it’s a monster, a system window would appear.

Certain skill holders could read monster profiles.

Choi Jungo came to mind, Korea’s top monster tamer with the Monster Diagnosis skill.

Ion decided to ask him.

Through Dam Daon.

About to grab his phone, Ion paused.

Tomorrow was Spec-1’s A-rank dungeon raid.

Jin Seongha, close to Choi Jungo, was on the team.

Jin Seongha loved animals.

This monster wasn’t frenzied—just a cute, chirping creature like Pippi.

“Right, I’ll give it to Jin Seongha!”

Kyuu…!

The bat trembled at Ion’s loud voice.

It hid its presence completely and came from a dungeon with a bizarre nine-year overflow ETA. Jin Seongha would be intrigued.

“Sanse is heavy, so don’t hang upside down. Sit on the leaves, like this.”

Kyuu.

Ion placed the bat on a leaf. It plopped down limply.

“Don’t eat Pippi tomorrow. It’s way more precious than you.”

Kyuu.

Resolved, Ion stood with a relieved expression.

As he entered the bathroom, the bat peeked up.

Its glossy black eyes, tinged red, sparkled with curiosity.

Spec-1 wasn’t built for longevity. Formed for the Naju dungeon bid, it centered on Jin Seongha, with professions chosen for synergy. The Association knew this.

Disbanding right after the S+-rank dungeon would be too blatant, so they’d raid A-rank dungeons for about six months before naturally dissolving.

They couldn’t be assigned B-rank or lower, so Spec-1 kept tackling A-rank dungeons.

Some members got combat-boosting items from Level 4 rewards, making battles smoother, like last time.

But no one called A-rank monsters “trash mobs” anymore.

While the collection team worked, Spec-1 members sprawled under a canopy, groaning.

“Ugh, A-rank raids with just a week’s break are brutal,” one said.

“We’re used to it, but it’s tough for you guys. We’ll report it to the higher-ups,” a guild member replied.

“Crazy. This schedule’s normal for you? Guild hyungs and noonas, isn’t this overwork, even for A-rank? We’ll report it too!”

Won Yeoncheol and Hong Insu bantered warmly.

“Easy, kid. If a mercenary reports, you might get cut. We’re permanent, so it’s harder to fire us,” another guild member said.

“I’ve got plenty of gigs, I’m fine! Gotta speak up for change,” Hong Insu retorted.

“The kid’s right. Didn’t expect Jipyeongseop to be such a s*ave driver,” someone added.

Other guild members and mercenaries chimed in.

“Don’t blame the guildmaster. We don’t mind. There are tons of dungeons, not enough Hunters. No choice.”

“Sense of duty as Hunters?”

“Sorta. Look at our team leader. Volunteers during breaks.”

“Volunteers?”

“Clears dungeons in countries short on awakened, unpaid, even covering fuel costs.”

“Wow… Team leader’s cool. I just crash during breaks.”

Once at odds, guild members and mercenaries were now chummy.

“Hey, Ion, where you going? Rest!” someone called.

“Showing Sanse the sights,” Ion replied.

“Kid, it’s all monster corpses. Think Sansevieria wants that view?”

“Exactly. Ask the plant’s opinion…”

“I know Sanse’s heart best. Keep chatting and resting, guys.”

Before, Ion would’ve smiled harmlessly, but now he spoke curtly and left.

Holding Sansevieria, he headed to Team Leader Lee Jina’s tent. He’d seen Jin Seongha enter after the battle.

Ion waited politely outside. The black plastic bag on Sansevieria’s soil wriggled—the bat, inside with air holes poked.

Oh, Jin Seongha might get mad for monster abuse.

Realizing this, Ion quickly untied the bag. Just then, Jin Seongha emerged.

Pippi, atop his head, trembled at Ion but didn’t flee.

“Corps Leader Ion,” Jin Seongha said.

“Jin Seongha, Hunter.”

“If you need Team Leader Lee Jina, come back later. She’s tending to the injured.”

“Actually, I have a favor to ask you.”

“A favor? What?”

“Let’s move somewhere else. Follow me.”