Chapter 303: Chapter 301

Rumble—

Somewhere in outer space, far away from Earth, In the middle of the battlefield where the war against the Outer Gods was raging, A man in jet-black armor, commanding the armies, suddenly muttered while staring into the distance,

"...I wonder if the chief is alright."

As the war against the Itarim continued, those he left behind on Earth occasionally came to mind. And among them, the one he was most concerned about was 'Chief Woo Jinchul.'

[Who are you worried about?]

One of the Rulers, commanding the angels beside him, asked.

[Family? Or a friend?]

"A comrade. The only colleague who shares the old memories with me."

[A human with memories of the previous era... If that's the case, he must be playing a big role in this chaotic time, so why are you so worried?]

"...Because he might overwork himself."

[Hmm?]

Sung Jinwoo couldn't help but smile bitterly at the Ruler's question.

"He's that kind of person."

How could he not be worried? As a comrade in the past, and a colleague in this world, Having spent so much time together, Sung Jinwoo, who knew Woo Jinchul's personality well, couldn't help but worry about him.

Woo Jinchul.

He was the human who knew the most about the truth of this world. It had already been decades since he regained his memories of the past. Moreover, even while working as a police officer with him, he knew that Sung Jinwoo was fighting off invaders from other dimensions whenever he was away. So he always approved his leave or half-day off with appropriate excuses. Woo Jinchul was a reliable boss as a workplace superior and a colleague whose friendship deepened even more as they spent two lives together.

But... sometimes, knowing too much was also a poison. Woo Jinchul knew from a long time ago that Sung Jinwoo was still fighting off extraterrestrial invaders in this world as well. No, he knew that extraterrestrial invaders were still targeting Earth in this world as well. Even though a global Cataclysm didn't happen like in the past thanks to Sung Jinwoo, He knew all too well that this peace could shatter at any moment and return to how it was back then. That fact caused great anxiety in Woo Jinchul's heart. It was literally PTSD. He was a veteran who vividly remembered the near end of the world, which was much worse and more terrible than any human war. But fortunately, Sung Jinwoo was always by Woo Jinchul's side. Because of that, whenever Woo Jinchul had small talks with him, he would jokingly say what he would do 'if such a world came again.'

– Hunter Sung. If such a world comes again... I'll do this. No, maybe it would be better to do this. Since Chairman Go Gunhee has already passed away, to take his place...

Of course, it was really a joke back then. Everyone had those kinds of 'what if' imaginations when chatting. But Sung Jinwoo already knew... Whenever he made those jokes and imaginations, Woo Jinchul's eyes were more serious than ever. And as proof of that, he had decided to stay a bachelor for the rest of his life. It wasn't that he declared celibate or anything. But no matter how old he got, he didn't seem to have any thoughts about marriage or children. When he asked him about it one day, Woo Jinchul's answer was this:

– Hunter Sung. Do you know? I'm actually an orphan. I don't know who my parents were. I don't have any children either. But living like this... it's been good in many ways. Do you know why?

– Well. Why?

– No weaknesses.

– ...

– No family to become hostages. That's how I was able to become the section chief of the Surveillance Department in the previous era. I wasn't afraid of any repercussions, no matter how much resentment I incurred from villains. – Woo Jinchul brought up old memories with an expression as if he had swallowed bitter medicine.

– ...It happened often. The families of colleagues or subordinates being targeted by villains in retaliation.

The Surveillance Department of the Hunter Association. As he said, the Hunters of the Surveillance Department, who managed bad Hunters, were always exposed to danger.

– What can we do even if we're Awakened? What can we do even if we're A-rank? If they secretly attack our homes and retaliate against our helpless families, that's it.

Woo Jinchul clearly remembered the eyes of the villains caught and arrested by the Surveillance Department Hunters. Those venomous eyes weren't just a simple warning to watch out at night.

Villains.

They were criminals, but before that, they were superhumans with tremendous power. Even ordinary criminals committing retaliatory crimes were terrifying, but if villains with superhuman powers took revenge... It was a true tragedy. Killing an entire family? The villains' revenge didn't stop there. There were cases of Association Hunters who suffered terrible retaliation beyond imagination. If the Association was underestimated by the villains, truly terrible things would happen.

– So we couldn't help but hesitate even if the villains just threatened us with words. Especially those with wives and children. But those threats didn't work on me. Because I didn't have a family to become a weakness.

– ...Is that why you're not starting a family this time as well? Because you're a police officer?

– Haha, I guess so. Somehow, I've become a Violent Crimes detective again. Although the degree might be different, it's still a job where repercussions are scary.

– Don't do that, Chief. This time, date and get married. If you have a family, Chief, I'll protect them without sparing any means, even if I have to use all my soldiers.

– Haha, those words alone are very reassuring. If the Shadow Army personally protects them, I really wouldn't have to worry about any repercussions. But... Do you know? – Woo Jinchul subtly looked around and whispered a hidden truth only Sung Jinwoo could hear,

– Actually, I'm just unpopular. Whenever I go on blind dates, they all say my eyes are too scary, chug their coffee, and quickly pack their things.

– ...Chief, when's your birthday? I'll buy you some luxury sunglasses.

– Haha. Thank you.

Countless small talks that started seriously but ended with a rather bitter conclusion. Looking back, Sung Jinwoo and Woo Jinchul's relationship was always like that. Colleagues who happily beat up criminals together and returned to the police station to share instant coffee. Sharing trivial daily lives. Looking back, all those insignificant moments were memories. Especially when fighting non-stop in the vast outer space like this, those memories occasionally cleared his stuffy head.

– Anyway, Chief, I'm serious. If you have a family, I'll definitely protect them, even if I have to use all my troops... So please try to start a family this time. – Woo Jinchul couldn't help but ponder for a long time at Sung Jinwoo's sincere words.

– Alright. But, since I'm receiving so much... Hmm. What can I do for you? – He couldn't help it. There was nothing he, a mere human, could do for Sung Jinwoo, who already had it all.

– Ah! Then how about this? It shouldn't happen, but... just in case, if you happen to be away for a long time, Hunter Sung, I'll protect your family.

– Huh? Are you sure? It's grounds for disciplinary action for a police chief to use his subordinates for such personal purposes.

– Are you really worried about disciplinary action? If such a day comes, the world would already be on the verge of destruction. – Woo Jinchul truly shuddered at those words, having already experienced the world on the verge of destruction once. But as time passed... Now that the world they jokingly talked about had become reality, Sung Jinwoo realized Woo Jinchul's sincerity once again.

"...He seems to be overdoing it."

Sung Jinwoo, who briefly peeked at the situation on Earth through illusion magic, learned about Woo Jinchul's actions over the past two years. And surprisingly, he was actually... keeping all the promises he made. Creating the Association, becoming the Association President, And even creating an Association with far greater power than the one established by Chairman Go Gunhee, succeeding in stabilizing the chaos in South Korea at a rapid pace. But Sung Jinwoo couldn't help but smile bitterly as he imagined how much hardship he must have gone through in the process.

Chairman Go Gunhee was the head of a large corporation, an S-rank Hunter, and even a vessel of a Ruler, possessing tremendous power. On the other hand, Sung Jinwoo could imagine what kind of path Woo Jinchul, who was just a police chief, had walked to fill that role, no, to do even better than that. He had already heard it countless times.

– Just in case... If I become the Association President... If that day comes... No, it shouldn't come, but...

His numerous plans muttered like a lament towards him whenever the Violent Crimes Unit had a dinner party... Of course, every time, Sung Jinwoo knew it wouldn't happen, but he always answered his drunken ramblings seriously.

– It won't work. If you have too many skills, your vessel won't be able to handle it and will break. It's a bit different, but I've seen my father die that way once.

– I know. Even Chairman Go Gunhee was chosen as a Ruler's vessel, but his body was too old to handle that power. Even so... If such a day really comes, I'll... I will do my best. Because I don't want to experience that despair again.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

– ... – Sung Jinwoo couldn't say anything as he listened to Woo Jinchul's repeated drunken ramblings.

And he realized once again. Sometimes, knowledge was poison. Forgetting was a blessing given to humans, And remembering the experience of absolute despair and the end of the world... Meant dragging out the terrible trauma that had been deeply buried.

– ...You'll forget if you just sleep well. Take him home.

– [Yes, Master.]

– Hunter Sung...! Don't erase my memories again like last time! It's an order as your superior...!

– ...

Yes. Actually, Sung Jinwoo tried to erase Woo Jinchul's memories several times for his sake. But it was no use. Having already formed a deep connection with Sung Jinwoo, The flashbacks of the previous era were no longer mere fragments of memories. Because the events involving the king who ruled death, the great Shadow Monarch Sung Jinwoo, were engraved deep within his soul, beyond his human body... Sung Jinwoo, feeling concerned as he thought of Woo Jinchul, turned his gaze back to the fierce battlefield and muttered,

"Well, he'll be fine for now. I took some measures just in case."

* * *

Flash—!

[Item: 'Javier's Soulstone' is activated.]

"Huh?"

At that moment, Suho's inventory, who was before Woo Jinchul, opened on its own, and one of the items Sung Jinwoo prepared popped out. And it seeped into Woo Jinchul's body, which had cracks forming from the excessive skills acquired.