In the hologram, Lee Hayul was desperate.

Whatever was so urgent, he clung to the alpha entity’s steps throughout the entire battle, buying time.

Finally, the scene shifted to a corridor, continuing a fierce battle that naturally evoked a sense of desperation.

“…So? What’s the point of showing me this?”

It was a hard scene for Atra to watch.

After shaking off some of her troubled thoughts, she turned her head.

“While it’s true I’m his guardian, you don’t usually go through the trouble of showing observation records.”

“Haha, it’s intimidating when Atra visits our office.”

In other words, if they proceed carelessly and she shows up, it would be troublesome.

“That’s not it. Why did you call me to view this? Is there really a need for my presence?”

Atra was, more or less, Lee Hayul’s guardian.

It’s natural to observe the scene of the dungeon rampage using a magical device imbued with the authority of the Tower of Observation.

It’s also natural to collect records of Lee Hayul, who drastically reduced the damage in this rampage incident.

In the process, it’s common sense to seek Lee Hayul’s understanding.

Since he was unconscious, it made sense to seek permission from Atra, his guardian.

However, it was odd for them to request Atra’s presence specifically, given how the association usually handled things.

Usually, they would either seek permission for viewing the observation records or inform her after the observation.

Atra nodded slightly, signaling him to get to the point quickly if he had something to say.

Her personality remained unchanged. Maxwell smiled wryly, fiddling with his tie, then operated the magical device.

The time in the footage sped up.

After a period of desperate struggle, the footage resumed at a certain point.

– Whoosh!

Seeing the flames filling the footage, Atra clicked her tongue.

The sense of danger that could be felt even through the screen. Flames that assured certain doom if touched.

Gop-hwa.

‘Of course, he used it.’

It was a life-threatening situation. It was right to use all available means to survive, regardless of the aftermath.

But that didn’t make the aftermath any easier.

Lee Hayul using Gop-hwa. Even the first-year professors who witnessed it at the time kept their mouths shut.

It was difficult to handle.

He used Gop-hwa. So what should we do? Should we question if he’s an illegitimate child of the Gop-hwa family? Investigate if he’s a collateral relative…

Neither was their business.

Seeing Hong Yeon-hwa, the successor of the Gop-hwa family, personally defending him, it seemed things wouldn’t take a bad turn.

However, it wasn’t something to broadcast to other organizations or the public.

Maxwell, confirming Atra’s wrinkled expression, shook his head.

“This isn’t the only matter.”

“What?”

Maxwell operated the magical device again. The paused footage resumed. Atra watched the footage with a puzzled mind.

How long had she been staring at the screen with a mix of complex and bitter emotions?

– Crackle!

When the freezing began from Lee Hayul’s left arm, covering the monster’s face, Atra’s expression froze.

“…What is that?”

She had met many members of the Three Great Families while active on the labyrinth frontlines.

Given that it was the most dangerous threat zone in the world, they were all strong individuals who had manifested and honed their unique abilities. Hence, Atra had experienced Gop-hwa, Changhae, and Taesan.

The chill that could be felt through the screen…

‘Changhae?’

Her thoughts stopped. Her mind couldn’t keep up with the information in the footage. It was as if her brain refused to accept it.

Lee Hayul manifested Gop-hwa. She already knew. She had seen it used in the tower, thinking he might be related to the Gop-hwa family.

Lee Hayul manifested Changhae…

Why, damn it.

Seeing Atra’s expression, Maxwell nodded in understanding.

“This is not all.”

“…What else is there?”

Maxwell pointed silently at the footage.

What else could there be?

Atra, trying to gather her scattered thoughts, turned her trembling eyes to the footage.

And then.

– Boom!

With a tremendous noise, the corridor shook. The golden brilliance filling the footage left Atra’s mouth agape.

A familiar feeling…

‘No.’

It wasn’t just familiar. It was more than that.

Close? No, not even that.

It was… it was the aura Atra herself always carried, even at this moment.

The unique ability that was the culmination of her light-attribute magic and skills.

“Midday Sun…”

“Gop-hwa, Changhae, and Clyde’s Midday Sun… All used by one person… Haha, it’s a statement that would be treated as madness.”

Maxwell nodded in affirmation at Atra’s mumbling.

“We needed records for the aftermath, so we had already viewed the observation records. Ah, please don’t misunderstand. It wasn’t Lee Hayul’s observation records but the rampage scene’s records that we reviewed.”

Maxwell hastily added, worried that he might be grabbed by the collar. He didn’t want to lose his expensive tie…

“We thought it necessary for Clyde to know about this, so we requested your presence.”

Maxwell’s explanation reached her ears. But it didn’t fully register. Atra’s mind had long since stopped.

The mental exhaustion from Lee Hayul’s entanglement in the rampage, combined with this… unbelievable scene sticking in her mind, left her unable to think clearly.

‘……’

How should she interpret this?

More importantly, could she handle this situation?

The association had already discovered this scene through observation.

Multiple unique ability manifesters. Rare, but not non-existent. Atra herself possessed two unique abilities.

But someone like Lee Hayul… possessing both Gop-hwa and Changhae simultaneously had no precedent. And with Atra’s Midday Sun on top of that… How did he even use it?

The thought of the storm that would hit the moment this information leaked made her head feel like it was shattering.

“There’s no need to worry.”

“What do you mean, there’s no need to worry?”

“I’m not speaking in riddles. There’s no hidden meaning. It’s exactly as it sounds. The matter you’re worried about won’t happen. The main point starts now.”

Maxwell, as if knowing her thoughts, suddenly began to speak.

“The record of this scene was classified as top secret by the upper echelons before the Disaster Management Department even reviewed it. I was the only one to review it, and I only hold temporary authority to show it to the guardian.”

The upper echelons.

Atra’s expression changed at those words.

“By upper echelons, you mean the main committee members?”

“No. Higher than that.”

Higher than the primary committee members, who held the decision-making power of the association. There were only two positions above them.

The association heads.

The masters of the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmony, who established and managed the World Superhuman Association and are now in seclusion.

Atra’s expression crumpled.

The meaning of those words was simple.

For reasons unknown, the two association heads… the masters of the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmony were protecting Lee Hayul.

‘……’

The master of the Tower of Growth, who personally brought Lee Hayul from the orphanage. His unusual special admission status.

The master of the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmony personally classified the related information as top secret when Lee Hayul got involved in an incident.

Three out of the five tower masters were protecting Lee Hayul? Why?

“That’s all I had to convey.”

The hologram in the center of the room dimmed. Maxwell, retrieving the hologram device, shook his head with a weary look.

“If it’s not an inconvenience, may I take my leave? I have a backlog of work, and if I don’t start now, I won’t be able to leave for a while…”

Seeing Maxwell, who was equally weary, Atra nodded with a complicated expression.

…

…

A few days later.

Atra’s complexion was even worse than before.

Lee Hayul regained consciousness a day ago. His body was in the survival zone.

The severed… torn-off arm was retrieved but had long since become a piece of meat that couldn’t be reattached.

There were many other injuries.

Every bone in his body was shattered, circuits were damaged… Muscles were torn, and internal organs were completely crushed.

Despite injuries that could kill him a hundred times over, his body was recovering by some miracle, and Lee Hayul regained consciousness.

And immediately had a seizure.

After a while of gasping in pain, he lost consciousness again.

Atra’s mental state deteriorated even further…

Lee Hayul was now in intensive care for stabilization, with even visits restricted.

Aside from Atra, who was constantly waiting outside the treatment room, the only person who had seen him was Liana.

– Rustle

“……!”

A sound came from inside the healing room.

Atra jumped up and pressed the call button nearby. The healer would be here soon.

There was no reason to wait. She carefully opened the door to the healing room.

His eyes were still closed. But seeing his body twitch, it seemed he had regained consciousness.

– Gulp

Atra, with a visibly tense expression, observed Lee Hayul.

Lee Hayul had already had one seizure.

If he had another… Atra’s heart might be shattered again.

Lee Hayul’s arm moved as if trying to lift his upper body.

It didn’t go as he wished. The arm wrapped in a thick cast didn’t move as he wanted.

Atra, making her presence known, cautiously approached.

“…Can you hear me?”

She whispered softly, just in case. Lee Hayul’s head turned.

They stared at each other in silence. Atra’s heart raced. If only he would say something… damn.

A foolish thought. Atra was berating herself internally.

Tears trickled down from the corners of Lee Hayul’s eyes.

Thud! A boulder seemed to drop into Atra’s heart. Her vision blurred. She opened her mouth urgently, then lowered her voice, afraid of startling him.

“Why, why! Why are you crying…?”

Even as Atra waved her hands frantically, tears streamed down from Lee Hayul’s eyes as if his tear ducts were malfunctioning.

– Huuu…

There were even faint murmurs that couldn’t be formed into words. The pain and sorrow in those sounds turned Atra’s insides pitch black.

Lee Hayul struggled to lift his upper body.

Though his movements were difficult, his body was at least recovering.

He obviously needed to stay hospitalized, but he wasn’t at the point where he would crumble at a touch.

Atra hurriedly supported Lee Hayul. If he fell now, it wouldn’t be a joking matter.

At that moment.

Lee Hayul suddenly hugged Atra.

Tightly… The sensation felt in her embrace made Atra’s body freeze. She lowered her eyes, feeling something at her waist.

Missing an arm. The arm wrapped in a cast, moving awkwardly as if trying to hug her, but it didn’t move as desired.

It didn’t go as he wished. The arm wrapped in a cast was uncomfortable to move.

Lee Hayul’s murmurs were heard again. Filled with sorrow, Atra hurriedly hugged Lee Hayul.

‘…What is this.’

Even in her confusion, Atra awkwardly patted Lee Hayul’s back as he burrowed into her embrace.

* * *

[Player Adjustment System: Measurement]

…

▶Mental State

[Ruined]: Exhausted and weakened

[Pain]: Physical or mental suffering

[Sense of Loss]: The feeling or emotional state after losing something

[The Curse of the Beautiful and Doomed] is activated.

Drained vitality restores the body.

[The Curse of the Beautiful and Doomed] drains vitality.

[The Curse of the Beautiful and Doomed]: Death is merely a release.

End of Chapter