*Bang! Crack! Gwooooh...*  
The sound of something massive and solid breaking, and the golem’s wail echoed throughout the dungeon, mixing into an ear-splitting cacophony. The force of the sound alone seemed to shake the very ground. Accompanying the noise was a dazzling light, followed by a storm of white ash and dust swirling through the air.

Most Hunters fight monsters using every ability they have. Not only their weapons but also skills and attributes that, like special effects in movies or dramas, are flashy and captivating. In the era of stable and powerful Hunters, their attack methods were brilliant and overwhelming. But...

The one facing the golem now was a bit different.

*Boom!*

A flash of blue light pierced through the storm. Through the rough wind, shattered fragments of the enormous golem rained down like meteors.

"Ah!"  

Hong Yeseong screamed, hastily adjusting the shield he had lowered a little earlier. The fallen piece was the golem’s other hand.

The one fighting the massive golem with nothing but a spear and his body didn’t fight in a flashy manner. Instead, it was more like a quiet, steady force—unyielding and resolute, so much so that no one could take their eyes off it.

Sayoung stood unwavering, watching the storm unfold.

How much time had passed?

*Gwooooh...*  

The golem’s wail gradually faded, and everything fell silent. In the moment of stillness, the dust began to clear, revealing what lay beyond.

“...Wow.”

Gaeul, who had been watching in a daze, couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration. In the clearing, only the golem remained, clutching its broken hand near its heart.

The golem lay bent backward, leaning at an angle, and next to its shattered wrist, a massive spear was embedded more than halfway through. A perfect penetration.

And standing atop the golem was Cha Uijae.

*Thud...*  

The heartbeat of the golem, which had reverberated beneath his feet, suddenly stopped. Confirming that there were no longer any signs of life, Uijae pulled the giant spear from the golem without hesitation. As the spear was removed, the area around its heart crumbled, leaving a massive hole.

He slung the spear over his shoulder and lightly jumped down from the golem. With a dull thud, the golem collapsed entirely, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

No one dared to speak as Uijae slowly approached them, dragging his worn-out sneakers across the ground. Even though the battle had ended, his hands were still trembling. The anxious emotions of survivor’s guilt and regret for not even bringing back a part of the body of the deceased had long since become a part of him, entwined with Cha Uijae’s existence. Those feelings would likely stay with him for a long time, dragging him down and breaking his spirit.

Uijae had been sinking like this ever since he was thrown out of the West Sea Fracture. He had tried to close his eyes and shut his ears, submerged in still waters, because here, in a world without J, the peace that everyone had longed for had finally arrived. He couldn’t disturb that peace.

But now...

Uijae looked around at the faces that seemed devoid of spirit, then cautiously spoke.

“…Are you guys okay? Any injuries?”

“No, that’s what we should be asking you! Don’t steal my line!”  

"Huh?"

Hong Yeseong spat blood before striding toward him. Kokko followed closely behind, walking in quick little steps. Yeseong pressed his fist against his chin, examining Uijae from head to toe with his golden eyes gleaming.

“You don’t seem to have any injuries, no broken bones, no scratches or cuts either. Wow, you’re surprisingly tough. Any internal injuries? Secretary, are you really okay?”

“Um, yes. I’m fine.”

Uijae nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. Yeseong clicked his tongue, then suddenly leaned in close, his face shining brightly. Instinctively, Uijae leaned back, and Yeseong whispered in a heated tone.

“…So, how was the spear?”

“Spear?” Uijae unconsciously raised the spear in his hand. Yeseong eagerly nodded.

“Yes, that. How was it to use?”

“Hmm… it was good.”  

Uijae answered honestly, nodding. From the moment he grabbed the spear, it had felt perfect in his hand, as if it were made just for him. Yeseong listened closely, then broke into a wide grin.

“Right? I told you, it’s one of my masterpieces. Honestly, I was a bit worried when I heard Lee Sayoung won the bid for it...”

Yeseong puffed out his chest like a rooster showing off, launching into self-praise. Gaeul, meanwhile, absentmindedly ran her fingers through her messy hair, giving half-hearted responses as she listened. 

Is it really okay to relax like this in a dungeon? Uijae thought absentmindedly as he looked at the now-lively Yeseong and Gaeul. It was as if their voices were beginning to echo, muffled, as if submerged underwater. His senses felt distant.

No, I need to focus. Uijae deliberately shifted his gaze to regain his composure. His eyes landed on Lee Sayoung. They made eye contact.

“...”

“...”

Uijae expected Sayoung to immediately confront him, but surprisingly, Sayoung remained quiet. As Uijae waited for him to speak, he also silently stared back. The voices of Hong Yeseong and Yun Gaeul, who were still chattering, grew distant.

It was as if they were both trapped in the gap of another world, caught in a moment where time had stopped. Uijae’s senses slowly centered on Sayoung. His mouth felt dry, and he gripped the spear tightly, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.

He didn’t regret killing the golem. It was something he had to do. If he hadn’t acted, they all might have died.

‘But… what should I say to Sayoung?’

His fingers, hidden behind his back, curled slightly.

Sayoung knew that Uijae had been hiding his strength. However, it wasn’t common for an average Hunter to take down an S+ grade monster so easily and without a scratch. Jung Bin, who was weak against monsters, was one thing, but even someone like Sayoung, a former top-ranked Hunter, had struggled due to the type disadvantage.

Should I lie again? What’s going through his head right now? A storm of thoughts swirled in Uijae’s mind. He glanced at Sayoung’s violet eyes, which had met his many times before. Yet even as he looked into Sayoung’s eyes, they didn’t reveal any answers.

Sayoung didn’t seem surprised, nor did he look like he wanted to confront Uijae. His expression was calm, as if he were observing something inevitable.

‘Why?’

...Could it be?

Uijae stared blankly at Sayoung. As if answering Uijae’s confusion, Sayoung, who had been gazing at Uijae’s disheveled hair, finally spoke with a calm expression.

“It’s okay.”

“What?”

“I said, it’s okay.”

Was he referring to the question Uijae had asked earlier about their well-being? Uijae felt the need to say something to Sayoung, so he did.

“I used it well.”

“How was it?”

“It was well-made.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Uijae responded, gripping the spear as if to hand it over. However, Sayoung merely stared at him, then instead of taking the spear, he grasped Uijae’s hand and gently pushed it back. Uijae’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture. Sayoung then answered the unspoken question in Uijae’s eyes.

“It’s yours.”

“What…?”

“It was yours from the start.”

At the Artisan Exhibition, Sayoung had been half-dead, tied up by Jung Bin’s chains, yet he still caused trouble and ultimately won the bid for the spear before collapsing.

If it wasn’t just to obtain an S+ grade weapon...

A flood of words rose to Uijae’s mind before sinking again. He brushed the words off his tongue against his teeth.

‘Who the hell are you?’

Sayoung’s violet eyes remained fixed on Uijae, bright and clear. It was as if he didn’t care about anyone else in the world. Uijae’s lips felt dry again, and before he knew it, he licked them.

“Ugh... did you really kill it? I feel like I’m dying.”

Hong Yeseong collapsed onto the floor with a groan. He looked like a college student who had been out drinking all night and was now dragging himself to a morning lecture. His hair was flecked with white ash and dust, and he rolled around the floor like a zombie.

Uijae checked on Yeseong and Yun Gaeul again. Yeseong’s jacket was stained with blood, but since he kept complaining, he seemed fine enough. At least he still had the energy to groan.

Yun Gaeul, aside from her messy hair, also looked unscathed. Uijae let out a small sigh of relief. Behind them lay Jung Bin, still unconscious. Hesitating for a moment, Uijae asked Gaeul.

“How’s Jung Bin…?”

“Oh, Mr. Jung Bin? It was pretty dangerous earlier, but...”

Gaeul shifted her gaze nervously, looking at Jung Bin once,

 then over at Sayoung, who was standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent. She continued.

“The Guild Master of Wave helped with emergency treatment, so he’s doing better now. He still hasn’t regained consciousness, though.”

Naturally, Uijae’s gaze followed hers, glancing between Jung Bin and Sayoung. Catching Uijae’s look, Sayoung spoke casually.

“Isn’t that why you threw me over there?”