Chapter 47: The Ones Who Returned, and the One Still Inside

The announcement echoed through the hall.

“Next, we will proceed with the press conference. Reporters, please move to the designated room.”

“……”

Goo Min-ah glared ahead with a sulky, murderous expression. Attendance for the return ceremony had technically been optional, so she could have escaped that—but the press conference was unavoidable. Park Su-jin fussed beside her, trying to calm her down.

“What can we do? They said there’s no way you can skip this part….”

Watching this entire process unfold, Sung Ji-woo’s cheeks twitched upward. He sat in the seats reserved for personnel. Soon, the press conference began in earnest, with countless questions and answers being exchanged. Among them, one particular question caught Ji-woo’s attention.

“What was the most difficult part during the X-Gate deployment?”

Even Lee Hye-rin—who had been answering smoothly until now—fell silent for a moment. Before she could speak, Min-ah grabbed the microphone.

“A teammate who ignored orders and did whatever they wanted.”

The entire room buzzed.

“When you say teammate….”

“Not these guys. Someone else. I won’t mention their real name.”

Right after, Shin Yoon-jae took the mic.

“It’s one thing to risk your own life, but when you endanger others, that needs strict consequences. I know it’s hard to intervene due to how X-Gates work, but at the very least, they should check whether a person is even qualified as a hunter before sending them in.”

“Are you requesting that from the Hunter Association?”

This time, Hye-rin answered.

“Yes. Unless they want the trainee hunters to die like flies, they should guarantee at least the minimum safety net.”

Hunters were national power. More precisely, the number of hunters was national power. That was why most ability-users could freely sign up for X-Gate service, and once they completed it, anyone could become a hunter.

Only a few countries—like Korea, China, and Thailand—used this service-based system. Most other nations used an internship-point method: accumulate enough points as an intern hunter, then get promoted to full hunter.

Many Koreans complained about this system, but with the low number of ability-users and the presence of the X-Gate itself, the government had no choice but to maintain it.

Thus, the debate over abolishing or reforming the service system had been a political hot potato for ten years. But it always ended as empty campaign talk—no real change ever happened.

I don’t expect much, but… it’d be nice if something improved.

Ji-woo agreed deeply with the three. Anyone unqualified should be cut out from the start. Even if ability-users were scarce, those kinds of people weren’t hunters—they were villains. Worse than Yoo Hee-ro, who once blew up the entire planet.

Speaking of which… I wonder how Hee-ro’s doing. The others came out first, so….

He had heard that Hee-ro had joined their team midway. But since the three returned earlier, Hee-ro had to remain inside and search for new party members.

Considering how shy the kid was, Ji-woo worried. His body must already be exhausted—if his mind became unstable too, nothing good would come of it.

He had thought he’d never see Hee-ro again after graduation. But life was unpredictable—somehow, another link between them had formed.

Still… he probably remembers the teammates he survived with more than the mentor who helped a bit when he was younger.

Maybe those three were even closer to Hee-ro than Ji-woo was now.

Wait—why am I feeling jealous?

Startled by his own shameless thoughts, Ji-woo scolded himself.

What do you expect? You’ve done enough. Hee-ro doesn’t need me anymore….

Hee-ro was already producing impressive results. In a few years, he’d surely become an outstanding hunter.

Then he’d live so busy and famous a life that he’d barely remember someone like Ji-woo. And honestly, anything less would be disappointing—Hee-ro was that gifted.

Ji-woo alone knew that Hee-ro had once been a villain who destroyed the world. Hee-ro himself likely didn’t remember.

In this life, Hee-ro would become a born hero. He would live up to his name, earn people’s admiration, and grow into a respectable hunter.

And I’ll hear news about him on TV someday….

Eventually, Hee-ro would conquer the X-Gate. That would be the perfect ending.

While Ji-woo was lost in thought, the reporters moved on.

“What are your plans moving forward?”

Min-ah answered immediately.

“I’ve already chosen the guild I want to join.”

“Our guild!” Park Su-jin yelled, shooting his hand into the air.

The huge man bounced excitedly, stealing all attention. Min-ah buried her face in her hands. To think her future guild master was that man. The shame was unbearable.

“That guild…?” Reporters eyed the mismatch between Min-ah’s serious image and the eccentric guild master.

“…Yes.”

“What about the others?”

Hye-rin answered,

“There’s a guild I’m considering. I’ll visit them after the press conference.”

“Same here,” Shin Yoon-jae added, acting nonchalant.

Ji-woo narrowed his eyes.

He says that, but he’s obviously going wherever Hye-rin goes….

Judging from their vibes, nothing had progressed between the two. Despite Min-ah’s begging that they not embarrass themselves with romantic drama, it couldn’t be helped.

Still, at least they knew how to separate personal feelings from work. If they’d acted up inside the Gate, Min-ah would’ve stormed out long ago.

Ji-woo thought Yoon-jae’s pure-hearted devotion was amazing.

What does it feel like… to like someone?

He had been too busy surviving to ever let anyone into his life. Even now, the thought made his skin crawl—but at least he could think about it.

Nothing grand. Just small questions—what does it mean to share time with someone? Though the answer usually felt bittersweet.

Still, compared to the past, exchanging greetings with people around him was already a huge improvement.

What’s so good about her anyway….

Ji-woo folded his arms and glanced at Yoon-jae, who was staring at Hye-rin’s profile. She was merely answering questions, unbothered by the deafening shutter clicks. She was about to return and immediately spark dating rumors.

It was almost impressive how oblivious Hye-rin was despite how obvious Yoon-jae was being.

As the final questions wrapped up, Ji-woo shook two chocolate bars he still hadn’t given them. Hye-rin and Yoon-jae spotted the signal.

Once the reporters cleared out, the room instantly fell quiet.

Min-ah slumped in a chair like her soul had been drained. Meanwhile, Hye-rin stretched like she still had energy to spare.

“…I expected a more dramatic reunion after two years.”

She grumbled, chewing the chocolate Ji-woo gave her. Thanks to the countless procedures, it took four hours before they could even greet properly.

“It really hit me—you guys became celebrities. Didn’t feel real when I saw it online.”

“I’m no celebrity,” Hye-rin scoffed.

But Ji-woo couldn’t stop picturing the future.

“We probably won’t be able to see each other often now.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m going to barge into your store all the time.”

“Right. We just met again—don’t be depressing,” Yoon-jae mumbled, looking hurt.

Ji-woo soothed them with a “yeah, yeah,” but his thoughts remained unchanged. This too would eventually fade.

A hunter’s life was harsh and competitive. Relax even a moment, and you were replaced. The higher you climbed, the fiercer it became.

Once a hunter became known to the public, they lived like celebrities—everything was judged. In Ji-woo’s memories, Hye-rin was one of the more famous hunters. She even enjoyed the spotlight.

“For now, let’s go eat! Ji-woo’s treating!”

“When did I say that!”

“Thanks, buddy.”

“Appreciate it.”

Whenever it came to this, the three somehow united completely. Ignoring Ji-woo, they walked out. Ji-woo sighed but followed.

Then Park Su-jin popped up.

“Huh? Ji-woo’s treating? I’m coming too!”

“Guild master, don’t you have shame? …Well, I’ll join too. Thanks for the meal, Ji-woo,” Gam Ju-an added, betraying him instantly.

Ji-woo waved them off, exhausted.

“Fine, fine. Empty the wallet of this poor small-business owner.”

From that chaotic reunion onward, Ji-woo’s expectations were completely destroyed.

For nearly a year, Hye-rin and Yoon-jae visited the shop constantly.

Min-ah was the only exception—she worked nearby anyway. And since the Knockers guild was practically next door, the frequency of visits was insane.

Ji-woo hadn’t expected Min-ah to drop by this often either. Honestly…

…these persistent little pests.

[<HOT Board> X-Gate Conquer — 60th Floor Cleared]

HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember that list of hunters who passed 40 floors?
One of the trainee hunters on that list just cleared the 60th floor!!!!!!!!

Government’s gonna announce it soon.

How many decades has it been since this happened?!?!?
This is the 3rd time ever!!

He’s the guy they sent drones to record after passing floor 40.
The rest of his team returned on schedule, but
THIS GUY STAYED IN THERE. His persistence is insane;;

Anyway, shouldn’t he be coming back soon????
His return ceremony’s gonna explode.
I’m attending no matter what.

PLEASE let him join our guildㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-? Is this a rumor? Why’s the world so quiet?
└It’s quiet because it’s dawn lol
└Shut up, for news this big there’d be emergency broadcasts
└There is an emergency broadcast, dumbass
-So he went into floor 60 at DAWN? Psycho
└You must be a civilian
└? How’d you know?
└X-Gate doesn’t have day or night LOL
└Fr, you just go whenever you feel ready
└But who the hell “feels ready” for floor 60????
-Yoo Hee-ro? That the kid who used to look for Sung Ji-woo
└Who’s Ji-woo
└Idk, some senior at his school? But Ji-woo never entered the X-Gate lol wtf
└Does he run a general store?
└Went and asked him—he said it’s not him
└And you BELIEVED him??
-Can’t believe I’m alive to hear this kind of news
└Are we finally becoming a safe country?? We’ve been a disaster zone for 70 years
-But his name is literally Hee-ro (Hiro) LOL isn’t that destiny
└Why
└Because it sounds like HERO
└Bro how’d you know? The news just announced his official hunter name: HERO. So badass
-They say when he replied to the Hunter Association, he also sent another letter to someone else
└Why?
└Probably safer to deliver it outside the Gate that way?
└Smart
└But the Association won’t give it to that person lol
└Huh? Why??
└Everything about him is now classified. Only the subject can access it, not receive it
└This country sucks
└So the government AND association read all your personal letters?? And it might get archived in a museum someday?? Mortifying
└They literally have kings’ personal letters in museums, so yeah LOL

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