Chapter 46: The Weight of Time and the Hunt for a Hunter

#46

“Taeseongyeon, Taeseongyeon…”

Dokyeom savored Taeseongyeon’s name on his tongue, turning it over and over. He couldn’t understand why the weighty aura Taeseongyeon exuded, as if it were a cloak, felt fabricated in his memory.

Even sifting through his muddled recollections, he could only recall that Taeseongyeon was certainly not a person who radiated such a heavy presence.

His death, the ‘incident,’ occurred early in the novel, at a time when an unbearable disaster struck Korea. It was also when the ‘second’ Authority manifested in Korea.

The narrative supporting his character had been so thin that Dokyeom hadn’t given it much thought. But now, his perspective was shifting.

‘A tragic hunter who blindly overtrusted his own abilities.’

That was the epithet that had always clung to Taeseongyeon. Yet, observing him now, Dokyeom sensed an unfamiliar aura, one that didn’t align with that descriptor.

Unlike the boisterous and spirited person depicted, the Taeseongyeon here was quiet, mature, and exuded an inscrutable depth.

Why? What had changed?

It was as if he had transformed overnight from a hot-blooded youth into someone who had grasped the truths of the world. He seemed like a completely different person.

An air of seasoned wisdom also played a part. It wasn’t ‘decrepitude,’ but rather ‘experience’ that Taeseongyeon now radiated.

That made him even more essential.

With his previous overconfidence and arrogance diminished, the current Taeseongyeon was a man whose coolness surpassed his youthful fervor. If Dokyeom had to choose a partner, he was even better than the protagonist, Geon Ita.

Moreover, he was one of only three S-rank hunters currently in Korea.

The conclusion, regardless of anything else, was that Taeseongyeon had to be saved.

After Taeseongyeon’s death, Korea was plunged into a somber period, shrouded in an atmosphere of mourning. The gloom was particularly heavy because, at the same time, neighboring Japan was frantically broadcasting news celebrating the birth of their seventh S-rank hunter.

Of course, later, when two S-rank hunters emerged simultaneously in Korea, the infuriated public, provoked by Japan’s taunts, retaliated by displaying banners that read, ‘You’ve never produced two at once, have you?’

But that was an event far in the future.

“It’s complicated… Can’t I just live without a brain?”

“What’s the problem now that you’re saying such extreme things?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Dokyeom’s gaze snapped backward. He saw Han Yuseong, holding a white bag, striding towards him from the entrance with his long legs.

Han Yuseong had mentioned entering a Gate for training today, and it seemed he had come straight from there, his cheeks and body covered in dirt. His stab-proof vest, scorched as if by fire, was crinkled on one side.

“Mr. Han Yuseong, if you’re coming, please wash up first. You’re tracking dirt all over the floor. Or at least shake off your shoes, right? I’m the one who cleans here!”

“Why didn’t you answer your phone again? Do you know how many times I called?”

“It’s not a waterproof phone, so I left it in the locker.”

Han Yuseong’s brow furrowed noticeably. His expression clearly conveyed, ‘What era are we in that you still don’t have a waterproof phone?’

‘Ah, yes. My signing bonus hasn’t come through yet.’ Dokyeom mumbled, too bothered to give a proper reply.

“Take it. I thought of it on my way to the guild and bought it for you.”

Something was abruptly thrust before him. A quick glance revealed the white bag Han Yuseong had been carrying.

The logo of a new burger joint, located in front of the guild building, was printed on the plastic bag. The line there was famously long; picturing Han Yuseong navigating through that snake-like queue to buy it, Dokyeom couldn’t refuse.

Dokyeom immediately pulled out the burger, tore open the wrapper, and took a big bite.

Both Han Yuseong and Agon’s faces simultaneously contorted.

“Hunter Han Dokyeom, why are you eating that here instead of in the lounge? It’s not good to eat by the water, please get up.”

*Squeak- Squawk-*

Agon, too, quickly emerged from the water, making a metallic sound as they pointed outside. Dokyeom swallowed the mouthful he had, then was pulled to his feet by hands gripping both his arms, reluctantly shuffling towards the lounge attached to the swimming pool.

He was practically carried there.

“Mr. Han Yuseong, what menu item is this? No, how long did you wait to buy this? Why is it so delicious? When I tried, I waited for an hour and the line didn’t move an inch, so I gave up. Ah, seriously. Did everyone cut in front? They’re all living like there’s no tomorrow, aren’t they?”

“If you make a reservation… Hah, never mind. Let’s just walk properly on our own two feet, Hunter Han Dokyeom.”

Only after escorting Dokyeom to the lounge did Han Yuseong finally sit down nearby, looking exhausted, and rub his temples. His gaze remained fixed on Dokyeom.

The moment their eyes met, Han Yuseong’s brow subtly furrowed as if displeased, his expression akin to watching a child by the water’s edge. Yes, a look of disapproval, yet overflowing with concern.

Dokyeom continued to devour his burger, all the while observing Han Yuseong’s actions.

Han Yuseong and Yisaein.

Both were registered under , and their commonality was the peculiar interest they showed in Dokyeom after their registration. Especially Yisaein.

It had never been mentioned in the novel that Yisaein would go out of her way to look after someone. While Han Yuseong’s true identity remained shrouded in mystery, leaving Dokyeom unable to discern his personality or behavior, considering his initial demeanor, it seemed unlikely he would be the type to actively care for someone, just like Yisaein.

Yet, why did both of them specifically look after Dokyeom?

Dokyeom speculated that it might be an effect of being registered with the skill. He had stepped into their destinies, and it had created a ripple effect in some way.

Would Geon Ita be the same? Then, there was a high probability that Geon Ita, who was registered first, would also be affected.

They hadn’t really met yet, so Dokyeom couldn’t confirm it, but Geon Ita was someone he would constantly encounter in the future. There was no need to seek him out deliberately.

His encounters with Geon Ita would begin on ‘that day’—the day Taeseongyeon died.

‘The problem is how to save Taeseongyeon.’

As Dokyeom estimated the timeline, he suddenly realized Taeseongyeon didn’t have much time left. Taeseongyeon was fated to die during the upcoming ‘Red Gate’ incident, which was less than a month away, even with a generous estimate.

Dokyeom pondered deeply.

For now, he needed to find another solution rather than relying on skills. A method that could save Taeseongyeon without causing harm to his own country.

What could it be? What…

Something like a means or a way to protect him while suppressing the situation.

As he was deep in thought, something suddenly clicked into place. Dokyeom’s eyes snapped open wide.

Han Yuseong, who had been watching him, propped his chin in his hand and let out a hollow laugh.

“How delicious must it be to make your eyes pop open like that?”

“Wow, haven’t you tried it? It’s genuinely delicious.”

Dokyeom licked the sauce from his fingers and crumpled the burger wrapper in his hand. A meaningful smile played on his lips.

Both Han Yuseong and Agon silently watched his every move with persistent gazes.

‘I need to find ‘him.’ Kang Taesan, an A-rank hunter whose patron demon is ‘Lerajie,’ the 14th ranked demon of ‘The Lesser Key of Solomon.’

A man with the ability to slow down the actions of a targeted individual, making them move slower than the natural flow of time. It seemed only his ability could save Taeseongyeon.

Dokyeom promptly rose to his feet with renewed vigor.

****

It was all well and good to boldly decide to find Kang Taesan, but despite his spirited resolve, things weren’t progressing smoothly.

The first reason was that he didn’t know Kang Taesan’s residence, and the second was that Kang Taesan’s ‘appearance’ in the timeline was still far off.

Kang Taesan was a new A-rank hunter who appeared like a comet around the middle of the novel. Thanks to his unique ability, he quickly cemented himself in the public’s memory.

Prominent mega-guilds vied to recruit him, eagerly presenting lucrative contracts. A hunter with influence comparable to an S-rank—that was Kang Taesan.

Of course, this was only after his emergence; when he first awakened as a hunter, he hadn’t displayed such significant impact. An A-rank hunter with an ambiguous position.

That was the description that followed Kang Taesan until he awakened ‘a certain skill.’ That was the problem: the timing of his appearance with that ability.

“Right… does a year from now even make sense?”

Dokyeom slumped under the shaded convenience store parasol, letting out a hollow laugh. He casually leaned back, resting his arms on the armrests, and looked up at the sky.

It was perfectly clear and deep blue, ideal weather for an outing. On such a beautiful day, Dokyeom found himself aimlessly outside with Agon, gazing at the park.

Lately, not only was he jobless, but being cooped up in the swimming pool all day had left his face pale. Passersby would often jump in fright, as if seeing a ghost, whenever they saw Dokyeom.

Han Yuseong had ultimately taken drastic measures and completely locked the pool, which was why Dokyeom was now on this unplanned outing.

“Agon, let’s drink some water. You couldn’t go to the pool today, so you need to hydrate. Don’t look at me, I got kicked out too.”

Seeing Agon shy away from the water bottle, Dokyeom mumbled in a listless voice. Ah, he was busy enough trying to find Kang Taesan.

As he watched the leaves sway gently, the image of that Kang Taesan flickered before his eyes.

“Was Kang Taesan… a year older than Han Dokyeom? Then he’d be an older brother.”

[‘Orias,’ the demon of ‘The Lesser Key of Solomon,’ looks at you pitifully, asking if you’ve already suffered from heatstroke.]

“Ah, whether I’ve suffered heatstroke or not, what’s it to you…”

Just then, someone called out to Dokyeom from behind, acknowledging his presence.