Chapter 225 - Fading

It was impressive.

Whether due to his piercing gaze or Sung Hyunjae detecting me, or perhaps both, I could barely perceive his approaching movements. However, surely he didn't expect me to retaliate.

Activating the defensive shield on my pendant was almost instinctual. While I couldn't consciously predict it, my body seemed to sense it. With statistics that had risen to grade C over the five years of accumulated experience, I barely managed to activate the shield before receiving a blow. But...

A solid, piercing kick effortlessly pierced through the shield. Then, combat boots struck my abdomen. With a stifled groan, I rolled on the ground. The attack must have left a dark bruise, but it wasn't unbearable. If I hadn't used the shield, I might have been knocked unconscious at least.

Still, he didn't seem to intend to kill me.

"Damn it, what the hell...!"

I managed to compose myself, but questions still lingered in my mind. Wait, isn't he Sung Hyunjae? Or isn't he? Even if my vision was blurry, I couldn't have mistaken that face.

Why?

"Ugh!"

When I tried to get up, my hair was violently grabbed before I could lift my body. My head tilted as he pulled me, and my gaze met the ground. Then, a low voice reached my ears.

"No mana signature, no protection signature."

Certainly a familiar voice, but at the same time, it felt unfamiliar. While I knew about mana signatures, what was a protection signature? I shook off the hand grabbing my hair, and he simply let go. Standing up unsteadily, I faced the figure that was probably Sung Hyunjae.

"...What the hell are you doing?"

I took a step back. Quickly scanning the surroundings, my gaze returned to the man in front of me. Though his appearance was familiar, the atmosphere was different.

How should I address him?

He seemed gaunt, lifeless, expressionless. More so than when I felt the repetitive sense of returning to the same place. His expression seemed indifferent, as if there was nothing interesting in the world, not even a hint of vitality.

...I've sung the song 'I'm bored, I'm bored' before, but I've never seen someone so colorless.

"Stealth and shield, more or less grade S and grade B, apparently. Stats look around grade C, which is peculiar."

He evaluated me. There was some interest, but only a faint curiosity could be felt. Something still felt off. He didn't seem like the person I knew.

I took another step back.

"Could it be that your name is Sung Hyunjae?"

"Don't you know me?"

"I've seen your face many times, but your name doesn't ring a bell."

My voice trembled a bit at the end. That meant his name wasn't Sung Hyunjae. Was it really a different person, or was I hit on the back of the head by mistake when I entered here?

However, his attitude wasn't that of someone who had lost their memory. His actions to confirm something about me belonged to someone familiar with this place, someone familiar with this world.

"...I was just passing through, but can I keep going like this? I might be a little annoyed by the unexpected blow, but should the lower grade crawl on its own? What do you think?”

"As a mere grade C, you should crawl on your own. You're not even worth the bother of a grade SS."

Once I stepped back, he approached. A slow pressure enveloped me. My fear resistance was grade S, while his grade was SS. Although my actual fear resistance was somewhat higher due to the increase in basic and mental stats, it didn't seem to match the grade SS.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I swallowed dry saliva. Even if the fear resistance was grade S, this guy's grade was SS. It felt less effective than when dealing with an unknown sense of repetition. Despite that, he didn't come any closer... Given that, he seemed quite different even if he's the same guy.

"Do you also have fear resistance?"

"Well, it's just a common grade C. Let's not waste any more time."

I almost liked how things were going well for a moment, but damn it. It was a trap. He mentioned someone sending a message, but the guy in front of me seemed to have no clue. He didn't even recognize me.

Maybe it's a different person. If so, I need to get out of here. But how?

‘I don't want to lose my life over this.’

Blaming myself, I stepped back and pulled out my weapon. He narrowed his eyes at the gun pointing at him.

"That's not a good choice. It's useless and foolish."

"Even for a simple grade C, I have my pride. If the grade SS is going to hit me, at least be generous. After all, with my skills, it won't even tickle you."

The white gun began to rapidly absorb my mana. Sung Hyunjae's double slightly tilted his head. If he's like my companion and has a similar personality, he might be observing my sudden actions as a grade C.

"A generous blow, and the price?"

"Well, what if I voluntarily follow you? As long as my body remains intact, of course."

"I won't slit your throat, but I'll make sure your throat remains intact."

If I continued attacking the guy who kicked me, I would end up hurting myself first. It wasn't funny, but he was different. Although he wasn't someone I could let my guard down against.

"Thank you for your patience, kind sir."

I squeezed the trigger, simultaneously absorbing the recoil and leaping off the ground.

A gun. As small as its size, its usual power was generally weak. However, what burst from the gun could be described as nothing short of a magical power storm.

Even calling it a bullet would be an understatement—a massive wave of energy surged, propelling my body like an arrow.

Boom-!

The swirling white light and the rough dance of crumbling debris represented a chaotic spectacle that quickly disappeared from my sight. As I turned in the air to change direction, I saw a five-story building that had been very far away rapidly approaching. The place I had explored beforehand.

I drew my dagger and threw it towards the building. With a dull thud, the dagger embedded itself in the outer wall. Almost immediately after, stepping on the exposed handle, I jumped upwards. A sharp sound as the dagger unsuccessfully scratched the outer wall before falling to the ground.

My ascending hand barely reached the rooftop railing. I pulled myself up, crossed the railing, and landed on the rooftop.

'...Ha.'

Due to the sudden movement, my abdomen hurt. As I observed the place where I supposed the Sung Hyunjae impostor was, I bit my lip.

Although the surroundings were a mess, as if a giant beast had clawed at it, yet this Sung Hyunjae turned out unscathed. No, a part of the sleeve of his arm was torn. It wasn't clear whether he had suffered injuries as well, hidden beneath the tattered fabric.

However, he was casually smiling. Even from a distance, if my heart decided, he would quickly catch up.

So I needed to run, but...

"This bastard."

Feeling unfair and angry, I raised my middle finger. Here, the intent may be different, but still. And then, I immediately turned my body. I crossed the rooftop to the opposite railing, tied a cable to the railing, and jumped outside.

Thud, dull noise-

Holding the cable, I descended by sliding down the building. When I pulled the taut cable forcefully, it broke some parts of the railing, allowing me to land smoothly. After quickly retrieving the cable and storing it in my inventory, I drank a mana potion and activated the stealth skill.

My motorcycle was parked on the completely opposite side, damn it.

'This Sung Hyunjae bastard!'

If it was a coincidence that there were three people who looked the same or just resembled each other, who knows?

...Damn it, their behavioral patterns are similar. Even their skills.

Or was this guy struck by lightning out of nowhere? Anyway, even if it's another guy, it's Sung Hyunjae's fault.

Stealth skills were useless against an SS-level guy, so I forced my tired body to run. My stomach still hurt, and my head felt dizzy. Even if you consume a mana potion, the aftermath of rapid mana consumption doesn't disappear immediately.

'How long have you been saying you'll protect me without even hurting a single hair? Now you even kicked me!'

Although I declined the offer, I couldn't help but feel indignant. Damn you. If it's someone like me, no matter what excuse he gives, really... Damn it, I'm even more annoyed because I can't do anything on my own!

Occasionally, low-level monsters caught my attention, but they couldn't find me. After running along the road for a while, I entered a narrow alley between buildings. I sat with my back against the wall in a curved corner of the interior that couldn't be seen from the outside.

When I took out the potion and lifted my shirt, I saw the bruise as expected. I sprayed vitality potion on the bruise and drank some to prepare for any internal injuries.

"...It tastes horrible."

Unlike mana potions, which are drunk, vitality potions are usually applied directly to injuries, so there are no additives. There are some made for drinking or eating, but I don't have them now.

I rinsed my sore mouth with water and held some dried fruits. As soon as I tasted the sweetness, I felt a little better.

"As expected, Yoohyun should have looked for him first."

I missed my brother, I missed Yerim, Peace, Noah-ssi, and hyuna-ssi. It hasn't even been a day since we parted, but I already felt lonely.

I hope they're all okay. Is this Sung Hyunjae guy here?

'...But, there's no way the others act like this guy, right?'

Hey, newbie, did you handle things correctly? Did you send a message? I have no way to contact you. Please create a customer service. I think there's a mistake, and I need to report it.

As I sat reclined, drowsiness began to creep in. I still felt dizzy, and I wanted to lie down with my eyes closed. The floor was cold, but it was an A-level dungeon full of grade S people, so I didn't bring a tent or anything because I wanted to leave in a day.

Although lower-level monsters appeared intermittently, they didn't notice me. I ran along the road for a while, then entered a narrow alley between buildings. Although the landscape was somewhat similar to modern times, I felt a little sad when I became a homeless person in this situation. Before the regression, I at least had a small house.

Even money doesn't exist. The mission reward for finding someone here is only 1,000L. They're not thousand won, are they? Even if it's ten thousand won, it's not enough for accommodation.

'...Isn't there a service for new users? A completely lousy game.'

Usually, you get some initial funds. Sure, there are more side missions now, but I don't have the energy to investigate them. I closed my eyes. Let's take a short nap and then figure out how to find others.

...Sung Hyunjae, you damn guy.

***

Indra Scans

***

He gazed steadily at the empty rooftop where the unknown Class C had vanished. Class C individuals were common. However, it was rare for a Class C person to wander alone like that. Usually, Class C individuals served as guards' assistants or fuel.

But the Class C from earlier was peculiar.

Higher stats than mine and undoubtedly high-level skills and weapons. And...

"That wasn't a rookie's response."

Advanced stealth skills are useful. That's why I planned to capture him immediately. The attack was strong enough to knock him out, and I assumed he wouldn't be able to counterattack, evade, or defend properly.

However, the Class C deployed his defense shield in time. Even if I was careless with the battle precognition skill deactivated, I only failed to stun a Class C opponent. SS Class guard.

Then, without hesitation, he aimed the gun and used the recoil of the weapon to run away.

For a Class C to show that level of action, he must have been among the guards for at least two or three years. There's no way he hadn't become strong that fast, but he was definitely a face, a skill, and a weapon I had never seen before.

They were all unique, but there was one thing that was especially strange.

'He was disappointed in me... Were you?'

It was a natural reaction to feel ashamed and surprised. Feeling unfair and resentful are natural emotions. But what is disappointment? What the hell were you expecting? Class C to Class SS.

"Master! Residential Zone 5-B has been organized. It is also said that 3-A was completed some time ago."

A group of people appeared. The man and woman at the front of the group approached him. Both were SS Class guards.

"What happened?"

"I found something unusual."

The woman widened her eyes and nudged the man next to her with her elbow. It was an expression and an attitude that seemed to ask if it was surprising.

I can't believe a person who easily learned everything and got bored saw something unusual. Even on rare occasions, I felt a bit of joy.

A man who lost interest in most things around him except for the mandatory monster hunting and faded day by day.

"Good for you. Where's that unusual thing?"

"It got away."

"Did you catch it?"

There was no response. Instead, this time, among the men and women, the man spoke up.

"It's said that the Alpha of Acates City went mad a few days ago. They said the entire Commercial Zone No. 2 was set on fire. It seems to be real now, but the city defense office has asked us to wait for a suppression request."

"I refuse to be dominated. If it's death, I'll accept it."

"It's actually a refusal. I'll tell you that."

There's no defense agency that wants to get rid of precious SS Class guards just because they caused damage to the city. Unless they go completely insane and don't differ from an SS Class monster.

"There are no further advanced monster alerts, so let's withdraw."

"Can't you really go catch it? I don't know what it is."

Instead of answering, he looked towards the rooftop once more and then turned away.