Chapter 125: Defeat

“Those demon bastards were at war, yet they couldn’t even reduce the giant population? They’re as numerous as cockroaches.”

“They did reduce it—this is what’s left. At most a year from now, the giant territory will be done too.”

“In a year we’ll be fighting those rumored exhibitionists? Looking forward to it.”

“Can’t say. In the original future, demon territory infection by madness happened three years after the giants were fully consumed. Plus, we allied with the demons.”

The demons must know Earth and Idea had reached Level 4.

They’d desperately try to prevent the looming madness infection.

The only known way to block madness spread: the Giant Temple key.

In the novel, demons steal the key, accelerating spread to the giants.

Whether it only blocks Titan infection or the entire demon realm’s is unknown to Ion.

Ion pulled a small key from his compressed spatial pocket.

“What’s that?”

“The temple key.”

“Ah, the one Guild Master On-il entrusted to you.”

Why did On-il give him the key?

Why did the accompanying demons let a human take the means to block madness spread?

Simple answer.

They judged it safer in my hands than theirs.

Many reasons: at war with giants, so better in an allied world’s hands. Or internal demon divisions.

Now that giant territory was fully dungeon-izing, they’d come for it soon.

“Right. Ion. I have something to say!”

“What.”

“From now on on Earth, take me everywhere. No leaving me behind. That would be real betrayal.”

“You said it was brutal. You want to live your full life?”

“Just whining. Sidekicks to hero protagonists can’t dream of living full lives anyway.”

“You heard <Hunter and Hero>. I’m not a hero or protagonist. Not even a side character like you—just an extra not even named in the novel. The protagonist is Jin Seong-ha—go be his sidekick.”

“No no. In my opinion, you’re the real protagonist. Possession novels always make the reader the protagonist, not the original one. In your case you didn’t read the book yourself but heard it from Breeder, but hey, that’s just a variation of possession.”

“To Breeder who told us the book content—tens of thousands have been revealed… The world isn’t the possession webnovel you read—it’s reality. Jin Seong-ha is the real protagonist.”

Hong In-soo stared intently at Ion, who was frowning.

“Why are you looking like that.”

“Hehehe. Self-denial and low self-esteem—you really are protagonist material.”

“…”

“Why leave. Okay okay, I won’t say it. Sit, sit. I really have something important to say.”

To escape the nonsense, Ion tried to stand—but Hong In-soo grabbed his robe hem and wouldn’t let go.

Ion sat back down.

“Ion, that Bran guy from the other world. Is he confirmed as your second sidekick?”

“…”

What the hell is a second sidekick…

“Ah, no. You need sidekicks in Idea too, so seconds are fine. Totally get it. I’m not that uptight a sidekick. But… I’m your first on Earth, right?”

Ion sighed, gazing at the collapsed fortress.

“Yeah, you are.”

No soul in his expression or voice, but Hong In-soo’s face lit up with of course! joy.

“Come to my house soon. Mom got a cooking certification just to feed you. Little sis wants to see you too. Tuna hyungnim mentions you often.”

“Ade Tuna?”

“Yeah. We keep in touch a lot.”

The orphans, Butterfly Mask, U-nimbara.

Hong In-soo knew the three groups existed but not individual members.

Contact with Butterfly Mask was necessary.

“I need to meet Ade Tuna. With Jin Seong-ha too. Set it up after the dungeon.”

“Seong-ha hyung too? Yeah, sure. You can’t go somewhere without hyung anyway.”

“…”

“You’re wary of Bran but not Jin Seong-ha.”

“Of course. Seong-ha hyung is your partner. Partners and sidekicks are different. Sidekicks don’t covet the partner spot.”

By that logic, an unnamed extra like me shouldn’t covet the protagonist’s partner spot either.

Hong In-soo patted Ion’s shoulder.

“But sidekicks—seconds max. On Earth, only me. Got it?”

Ion sighed inwardly.

.

.

.

The Level-4 S-rank 17m dungeon took a full ten days.

Injuries but no deaths. Collected dungeon byproducts in excellent condition.

Successful raid—the mood was bright as Team 1 exited the gate.

But…

Guild Master Ji Pyeong-seop quietly called Jin Seong-ha and Ion after congratulations. His expression was grim.

“What happened?”

“Wendy Lowell… was kidnapped.”

Jin Seong-ha and Ion watched a video prepared by Ji Pyeong-seop in his office. Sa-on joined them.

“We were protecting her like our lives depended on it~ but she gets kidnapped right after sending to Horizon. Haha. We wasted our time.”

Sa-on’s sarcasm made Ji Pyeong-seop’s face flush—he couldn’t retort.

It was true…

The video started from the silver entity opening its eyes inside Do-jin.

The entity indifferently scanned Do-jin’s bound wrists and ankles, the red bruises.

Time passed; a Horizon guild member entered to feed Do-jin.

He nervously slid a sandwich plate through the slot.

Closed and locked it, paused briefly, then turned away.

Jin Seong-ha paused the video.

“This is…?”

“Yeah. The entity transferred bodies.”

Sa-on zoomed in on the guild member’s face. Magnified, silver glints were clear in the brown eyes.

After the entity left, Do-jin remained silently eyes-closed, motionless.

The entity in the guild member naturally passed security and left the prison. Greeted colleagues, chatted casually—no awkwardness.

The entity roamed Horizon headquarters freely, then paused before a restricted area.

Ion thought it might transfer again—but the guild member just turned away.

This time Ion paused and zoomed.

“It left.”

“Yeah, smart maknae.”

The guild member wore a why am I standing here? puzzled look and walked to the elevator, returning to his spot.

“What did you talk to this person about?”

“Keep watching.”

Next video.

Around the same time, Do-jin opened his eyes again. The entity transferred to the feeding guild member.

Then to a guild member who greeted in passing.

To one asking about lunch.

To ones gossiping about celebrities.

To one exclaiming “Jin Seong-ha is hot!”…

Finally to Wendy’s colleague—a man with a bushy beard.

“Charlie Wean.”

Charlie paused briefly, then finished brewing two black coffees and headed to the lab.

Wendy smiled and accepted the coffee, then froze. Silver waves rippled in her blue eyes. No need to zoom.

Soon Wendy Lowell left Horizon headquarters. Walked the employee-only park with her escorts… then the entity transferred to a guard. The A-rank hunter subdued the other guards and killed himself.

The entity moved to the panicking Wendy and leisurely left the park.

A black car picked up Wendy. The car’s trail ended when it entered a tunnel.

One day before the safehouse move.

After watching the whole thing once more, Ji Pyeong-seop turned off the video.

“The people it possessed recovered their memories sequentially starting the next day after Wendy Lowell left Horizon headquarters on her own.”

“They remember what happened during possession?”

“Yes. All their actions and conversations.”

Jin Seong-ha tapped the table.

“Starts with Do-jin, has a possession time window, needs to be within 3m to transfer, memories return four days after possession. Additionally, silver glint in irises during possession, brief body freeze at transfer. That’s it so far.”

“For now.”

“Skill that transfers bodies… scary. Renders heavy iron doors, countless security and surveillance useless. Leader, anything similar in <Hunter and Hero>?”

Ion thought briefly and answered,

“Closest would be <Telepathy>, but not exactly. <Telepathy> is more mental brainwashing than possession—victims can’t act naturally.”

“We should investigate the skill user. Name?”

“Luzantin Dio.”

“First time hearing it… Does Guild Master Ason know?”

“Only that he appears in the latter half of <Hunter and Hero>. I wasn’t as diligent a student as On-on. I’ll look into it.”

Sa-on operated his terminal and gave orders.

Ion contacted Ryu’s branch manager Sa Ji-woon.

She accepted without question. In exchange, more Idea information.

In the silence, Ion said calmly,

“It was planned from the start for Do-jin to get caught. A complete defeat.”

System Age had used Do-jin to lure Jin Seong-ha and Ion, letting them capture him.

To kidnap Wendy Lowell.

Age had known Ion knew Do-jin’s identity.

It made sense—they were all in cahoots: System Age, Butterfly Mask, U-nimbara.

They must have grasped <Hunter and Hero>’s content.

Even further ahead… the remake version with the orphans as characters.