Chapter 30: The Aftermath and an Unexpected Visitor

Gasps rippled through the air from all directions. Han Yuseong finally turned, his gaze sweeping over the people illuminated by flashlights. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be hunters hastily dispatched due to a Gate Break alarm.

Amidst the bewildered faces, someone stepped forward, running a hand over their own features. It was clearly the most field-experienced hunter among them, bearing a grizzled, world-weary look.

“…That’s what we’d like to ask. Who exactly are you people? Who gave you permission to swim in the restricted night sea at this hour? Do you have any idea how startled we were?!

“Ah, us?”

Han Dokyeom barely managed to reply, his eyes merely flicking upwards. The moment he registered the hunters’ presence, his ears suddenly perked up, and the entire tense situation came into sharp focus.

He could hear the distant sound of an emergency siren from a boat cutting through the night sea, and the splashing of spray on the water’s surface, all startlingly clear.

After all, the sirens were only blaring for the carcasses of the fish species Agon had killed. These were merely the phenomena occurring as those bodies swelled and burst.

Dokyeom swept his dripping hair back. His eyes, bloodshot with fatigue, lifted to meet the man’s gaze as he spoke.

“We’re survivors.”

Survivors. At that word, the hunter’s brows furrowed sharply. He rolled his eyes, scanning Dokyeom from head to toe as if he were deranged, wondering what nonsense this was.

Eventually, a disbelieving scoff escaped his lips. Witnessing this, Han Yuseong rose to his feet, reaching inside his anti-stab vest.

From within Han Yuseong’s thoroughly soaked vest, he produced his Hunter ID. He handed it to the man, speaking in a measured, utterly businesslike tone.

“I am Han Yuseong, an A-class instructor hunter from Sahyeon Guild, who was swept into the Red Gate. I request that the search and rescue official and the designated guild representative be called immediately.”

“Han Yuseong, I’m hungry.”

“Furthermore, if there are any remaining emergency rations and blankets, please prioritize us.”

The hunters’ eyes, fixed on Han Yuseong’s ID, widened to the size of hen’s eggs. Stunned, they alternated glances between the ID and Han Yuseong.

As soon as they recognized him, they clapped hands over their mouths.

****

The situation unfolded with arrow-like speed. One of the hunters, having seen Han Yuseong’s ID, hurriedly left the spot, and meetings with the Association official, guild representative, and search coordinator were arranged and concluded with lightning efficiency.

In the interim, Han Dokyeom sat on the beach, covered by the blanket Han Yuseong had given him, munching on bread. He watched the sunrise with Agon.

The sunrise etched itself into Agon’s eyes, who gazed at the horizon like a child seeing the world for the first time. This morning was more vivid and picturesque than any he had ever witnessed.

So much so that Agon’s refined profile seemed almost swallowed by the light.

****

‘They certainly got their money’s worth out of that single piece of bread, working him tirelessly through the night.’

As soon as the requested officials were called, the desolate beach, previously cordoned off by warning tape, was instantly saturated with a swarm of people.

Ambulances and Association vehicles roared in with the angry screech of tires, leading the procession. Designated representatives from various guilds, along with reporters who had caught wind of the story, followed, quickly making Han Yuseong the center of attention.

This was the ripple effect of the word ‘survivor.’

Amidst the throng, Han Dokyeom, wrapped in a blanket, his face etched with fatigue, kept nodding off. Yet, he still had to recount the entire ordeal to the Association officials.

Perhaps it was after he’d spun about three novel-length accounts of Han Yuseong’s heroics, or when his voice was nearly hoarse, that someone, perhaps taking pity on him, guided Dokyeom into a van with an open back door.

From then on, Dokyeom huddled inside the van with Agon, finally catching up on several days of missed sleep.

Han Yuseong, however, remained caught up in interviews and briefings, held captive by various individuals.

“Mr. Han Yuseong! Was that Gate definitely a Red Gate?! Considering the previous Red Gate incident at Busan Station, which required three S-class hunters, it’s deemed difficult to defeat the boss alone! Are you claiming you defeated that Red Gate’s boss by yourself?!

“Hunter Han Yuseong! Please tell us why you remained inside the Gate, even though Hunter Ju Uiryeong, who possesses teleportation abilities, attempted a rescue! There were no witnesses who saw Hunter Han Yuseong at the time; should we assume you were using a skill to conceal yourself?!

“Hunter Han Yuseong! Please say a word about the E-class hunter who was with you! Did they perhaps cause any inconvenience?! How much of a nuisance were they?! And were your injuries sustained while protecting the E-class hunter?!”

‘That damn trash reporter!’

At the booming voice of the reporter echoing from afar, Dokyeom’s eyes snapped open, all thoughts of sleep forgotten. It was clear they were fishing for a sensational, clickbait article, but they had severely misjudged their target.

Before leaving the Gate, Dokyeom had already coordinated with Han Yuseong in anticipation of such a situation.

Dokyeom’s existence was to be kept hidden as much as possible.

Agon’s rank would be publicly reported as C-class, like a typical Dagon.

And the boss would be briefed as having been defeated solely by Han Yuseong.

These were the three points.

Dokyeom simply needed to exaggerate Han Yuseong’s exploits to any officials who approached him.

‘Should I just shout that I was perfectly hidden from that nuisance-obsessed trash reporter?’ But what’s the point? They wouldn’t believe me anyway. Dokyeom curled back up in the corner of the van.

The commotion continued for a long while. Capping off the uproar were the S-class guild leaders of the three major guilds, who arrived in black sedans.

With their flashy entrance, the S-class guild leaders quickly captured everyone’s attention, drawing gazes that had been fixed on Han Yuseong. Dokyeom watched the reporters rush to one side, and then, through a gap in the crowd, he spotted familiar faces.

It was Taeseongyeon and Geon Ita. Their presence, in stark contrast to the surrounding chaos, remained composed and substantial, even from a distance.

‘Should I just go home?’

‘At this point, it seems I could slip away without trouble. Why am I shivering here so miserably?’ He sighed, and then suddenly realized the cool temperature of an arm wrapping around his waist.

Agon was there. He leaned his head near Dokyeom’s ear, sniffing like an animal. Inside the Gate, he was always fed at this time, so for him, it must have been mealtime.

“No. I’ll give it to you when we get home, so just bear with it. Uh-uh, I said no.”

As Dokyeom pushed away Agon’s furrowed mouth, a strand of pale hair caught on his fingertips. The sea-scented, deep blue strands, tangled like a skein of yarn and hanging limply, suddenly struck him as pitiful.

They were that long. Dokyeom stroked Agon’s waist-length hair a few times, then remembered the leftover white cloth in his inventory and hastily pulled it out to braid and tie it.

Agon, displeased, rumbled a low growl like a beast.

“Stop dawdling so much. And I clearly told you not to growl at people, you brat. What, are you going to bite me now?”

It was then that a shadow fell over the wide-open van. Dokyeom swiftly looked up at the dark silhouette looming over him. A massive figure, gripping the car’s roof, leaned into the van, watching them.

His face, silhouetted against the light, was dark, but not unrecognizable.

It was Taeseongyeon.

Behind Taeseongyeon’s shoulder, the ant-like throng of people still had their backs turned. Just as Dokyeom wondered if Taeseongyeon had simply ditched a secretary to get out, Taeseongyeon, tilting his head, narrowed his eyes and asked,

“Hmm, a lover?”

‘What nonsense was that?’ Following Taeseongyeon’s gaze, Dokyeom’s eyes fell upon Agon’s finely sculpted face. ‘A lover, my foot.’

“Mr. Taeseongyeon, I’m so tired I could die. Unless you’re going to get me a hotel, please just leave.”

Han Dokyeom yawned widely, answering with slurred words. He was bothered, cold, exhausted, and utterly lacking in motivation. He felt like finding a quiet park bench, spreading out some newspaper, and sprawling out to sleep.

“I’ve been so worried about Mr. Han Dokyeom that I haven’t slept a wink. To hear you say that makes me quite upset.”

“Oh, I’m about to cry. So, about that hotel?”

Han Dokyeom cut off the trivial chatter and held out his hand to Taeseongyeon. It was a gesture to tell him to back off, but Taeseongyeon responded by rummaging through his coat.

Taeseongyeon, having searched the inside of his coat, pulled something out and placed it in Dokyeom’s hand. It was a sleek black card with an English logo: a hotel key card.

‘Is this for real?’

Han Dokyeom squinted his eyes, flipping the card to confirm. Only after seeing the hotel name and room number clearly written did he look back at Taeseongyeon.

“You’re not going to tell me to pay for it, are you…?”

“I don’t have the means to make Mr. Han Dokyeom, who works for a daily wage, pay for it. But if you insist on paying, I won’t stop you.”

“Then how about my annual salary from now on? Something like ten billion won.”

His languid eyes subtly creased, and Taeseongyeon let out a low laugh. Immediately after, the car tilted with a screech. An immense force emanated from the car door Taeseongyeon held down. His body, silhouetted, leaned further into the car.

A faint musk scent mingled with the smell of the sea.

“Let’s put an end to this squabble. Go and collect yourself. You look pathetic.”

His low voice slowly filled the car. His leaning body had now moved above Dokyeom’s head. Taeseongyeon bit off his glove, then reached out a hand towards Dokyeom, who looked like a drenched rat.