Chapter 50: The Unveiling of Connections

Just as it had been with Han Yuseong, a creeping suspicion and distrust regarding the skill itself began to surface within Dokyeom. It felt as though it only activated when it perfectly suited its own whims.

At that moment, when he thought he might truly be losing his mind, Dokyeom found himself facing Ju Uiryeong’s unusually grim expression. It was the face of someone on the verge of an outburst, their breathing harsh and ragged. Just as that heavy breathing was about to coalesce into words:

[The demon ‘Vine’ of ‘Lemegeton’ reveals its True Name to the target.]

Another ‘demon’s’ pronouncement echoed from an unknown source.

Dokyeom, Ju Uiryeong, and the other people present stiffened, startled. There was another demon nearby. While everyone else vigilantly scanned their surroundings, Dokyeom merely let out a hollow laugh. It hadn’t even been a minute since he’d muttered about going crazy, and now he was confronted with this ‘connection’.

Indeed, this was the first time since arriving here that he had witnessed a perfect ‘connection’. It was a connection specifically for ‘Han Dokyeom’, and it was the process that made this entire situation perfectly comprehensible.

Dokyeom’s gaze drifted to the man who was looking up at the sky with an expressionless face. He was a C-rank hunter with golden eyes, a dark fish that had just entered Dokyeom’s fishing pond.

The demon that had just appeared was, in fact, that man’s Guardian Spirit.

It was ‘Vine’, the 45th-ranked demon of ‘Lemegeton’, possessing the power to construct impregnable fortresses.

The one who reacted to that pronouncement was none other than ‘Orias’, who had been hidden behind Dokyeom, grumbling and licking its front paws.

[The demon ‘Orias’ of ‘Lemegeton’ perks up its ears.]

[The demon ‘Vine’ of ‘Lemegeton’ calmly surveys its surroundings.]

[The demon ‘Orias’ of ‘Lemegeton’ reveals its True Name to the target.]

[The demon ‘Vine’ of ‘Lemegeton’ chuckles heartily, confirming it was indeed them.]

[The demon ‘Orias’ of ‘Lemegeton’ blinks, asking if it’s truly the old geezer they know.]

The process by which this unknown hunter had become applicable to Dokyeom’s skill was thus: ‘Vine’, the Guardian Spirit of C-rank hunter Beom Yeonhu, and ‘Orias’ were old ‘friends’.

This was Beom Yeonhu’s ‘connection’ that applied to Dokyeom’s skill. It seemed the skill activated whenever a person was linked to ‘Han Dokyeom’ in some way.

‘Orias’ and ‘Vine’.

These two Guardian Spirits were demons long rumored to share a deep friendship. The reason was simple: they were both felines.

Of course, there were many other lion-shaped demons in ‘Lemegeton’ besides them. While not all of them maintained amicable relations, perhaps due to the concept of kinship, they were generally less inclined to ostracize each other than other demons.

Among them, ‘Orias’ and ‘Vine’ were particularly well-matched in temperament and character, becoming inseparable companions. Their bond was so strong, not even a needle could pass between them.

Vine’s appearance upon seeing Orias’s pronouncement was practically a foregone conclusion. Dokyeom had, after all, originally set it up that way in the novel.

Even so, a hint of regret lingered. He couldn’t help but wish it had been ‘Kang Taesan’ instead.

Dokyeom sighed, quickly shaking off the familiar sense of disappointment. The impromptu gathering of Guardian Spirits had already elicited hollow, exasperated laughs from the people around them. Some even let out sighs of futility.

Ju Uiryeong was no different. As the atmosphere shifted, the tension that had threatened to erupt dissipated. Dokyeom turned away from the gleefully chattering Guardian Spirits and faced Ju Uiryeong.

Then, he abruptly spoke to Ju Uiryeong, who was frowning with distaste.

“I followed you, Mr. Ju Uiryeong? Ha… why are you accusing me of being some depraved person with nothing better to do? Instead of thinking such things, why don’t you go manage your own dog, huh? Why does it rub against people’s knees like some pervert? Is it not a dog, but a pervert? Go put a muzzle on that perverted creature, and I’ll be leaving now, as I need to clear the gate you own. Oh, and Mr. Ju Uiryeong.”

Dokyeom clicked his tongue, turned to leave, then gasped as if remembering something. He pointed to the table laden with bread and said,

“Next time, prepare something like sandwiches. What’s with red bean buns, red bean buns? The Hwawha Guild boasts so much capital… Ah, the Sahyeon Guild actually has more capital. Anyway, sandwiches next time, okay? And juice, not milk.”

“What, what—!”

Speechless, Ju Uiryeong merely blinked, pointing an exasperated finger at Dokyeom’s retreating back. Yet, he ultimately failed to halt those excessively neat, flawless steps that so fiercely turned away from him.

The only people offering comfort to the furious Ju Uiryeong were the awkwardly smiling Association staff, who offered their greetings.

****

Dokyeom gazed at the white text floating in the air with lukewarm eyes.

[Failed to cast the skill as the target has no possibility of becoming a ‘Bound Fate Bearer’. Cooldown: 1 day.]

This was the result of using , a sub-skill of . The target was Ju Uiryeong, and as expected, the skill failed.

was a skill that, for ‘targets’ with the possibility of becoming a ‘Bound Fate Bearer’, probabilistically allowed the user to understand the target’s abilities and acquire their experiences.

The reason for the failure was clear. Ju Uiryeong was not a character from Dokyeom’s novel. Therefore, he couldn’t see or predict Ju Uiryeong’s future. Additionally, his abysmal understanding of Ju Uiryeong as a person, or perhaps his complete lack of affection for him, might also be contributing factors.

Regardless, it was now certain that Geon Ita and Ju Uiryeong were working together.

Squawk— Squawk!

“Beom Yeonhu, what the hell, you bastard! I told you to fall back! Is this guy really trying to get himself killed?!”

Someone spat out curses, spittle flying. At the front, a man was single-handedly blocking a rhino-sized monster. A hunter, unable to watch any longer, dashed forward and decapitated the beast, bringing the situation under control.

Dokyeom watched the scene unfold from a distance.

Two hours had passed since entering the gate.

From then until now, Dokyeom had stayed back with Agon, observing the strategy of the hunters moving at the vanguard.

There was no need for Dokyeom to step forward, as the majority of the hunters were of a high enough rank. There were four B-ranks, one C-rank, and even an A-rank hunter—a rarity in C-rank gates.

That A-rank was none other than ‘Kang Taesan’.

The team for the raid consisted of eight people, including Dokyeom and Agon. Though they only learned this after introductions and entering the gate, the six hunters besides Dokyeom were quite familiar with each other. Having spent much time together even before awakening, they casually exchanged insults.

“Hey, let’s take a break. We should take our time and make it look good, it’s no fun if we finish too fast.”

“Yeonhu, that guy already looks tired, huh? Ugh, that C-rank bastard.”

After about two hours of travel, it was indeed time for a break. At the suggestion to rest, everyone promptly slumped onto the cold stone floor. Their current location was a rocky mountain overlooking a misty valley. A faint lodge stood atop the rocky peak, and Dokyeom vaguely recalled hearing before entering that the boss they needed to clear was inside.

“You should sit and rest too. E-ranks aren’t much different from ordinary people, so you must be tired after walking this far. Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way, it’s just that we were all athletes before we awakened, so our stamina is a bit different. I’m just saying this so you don’t misunderstand. You might not perceive our consideration as consideration.”

One B-rank hunter, who had been the first to plop down, tilted his head and spoke to Dokyeom.

“Yes, thank you.”

Dokyeom replied curtly and sat down on the stone floor like the others. He retrieved water from his inventory and tapped the spot next to him, prompting Agon to slowly lower himself and sit. Agon’s gaze, however, remained fixed on the men in front, as if on guard.

*Swish—*

Agon subtly wrinkled his nose, looking somewhere. At his expression, as if he’d smelled something foul, Dokyeom looked at the men huddled together. The C-rank hunter who had blocked the monster with his bare body had a bloodied arm.

His name was Beom Yeonhu, he recalled.

The name was definitely not in his memory. He had the weakest presence, yet the more Dokyeom looked, the more he stood out. Almost as much as ‘Kang Taesan’, who exuded the strongest aura among the group.

It had been that feeling all along. Even during their initial introductions, despite the grumbling about him being only a C-rank, he had surprisingly made a profound impression on Dokyeom. It was his sleek, jet-black hair like a Doberman, his bright golden eyes, and a certain unrefined, rugged quality about him. He even gave the impression of a well-groomed fighting dog.

‘Beom Yeonhu’ was a character who had merely passed by in the novel, an extra whose tragic end consisted of barely a single line. His name wasn’t even mentioned. He had only been fleetingly mentioned in the in-story news.

[The death of a hunter whose power became their poison.]

This was the passage that described Beom Yeonhu. He was one of the many hunters who met a tragic end, often featured on the 9 o’clock news, introduced only as ‘Mr. A’. That was the extent of his character. That’s why Dokyeom hadn’t known.

He only realized Beom Yeonhu’s Guardian Spirit was ‘Vine’ after hearing it now.