Chapter 10: The One Who Sent Away

The harsh sunlight pours through the open window frame, no glass to filter it, smacking my face.

My eyes! My eyes!

“Ughhh…”

Blinding.

I roll to the side, dodging the glare. The rough concrete floor grazes my skin.

This is some abandoned building in the city. Last night, I wandered around and found a place with no people. Surprisingly, there were plenty of homeless folks out at night, and even more crumbling, deserted buildings.

Is this whole area a graveyard?

I flail my arms and legs on the floor, stretching for a few minutes, finally waking up.

“…Morning means sushi.”

Sushi supremacy.

I wiggle my fingers up and down. After about five tries, a translucent window appears. I click on my target: salmon sushi. Pop! A sushi platter lands on my stomach.

Oof. You little—!?

“Nom.”

But it’s delicious, so I’ll forgive it.

I ditch the hoodie and slip back into the blood-soaked hospital-like gown I wore before. It’s a mess, but since I’m rolling around on the floor anyway, it’s my makeshift pajamas.

I’ll change again before heading out.

After eating, I rummage and put on the hoodie, shorts, and some shoes.

Time to hit the library again. The Earth’s round, so just keep walking forward~

“…Hmm.”

I step out of the building.

Yesterday’s reading didn’t yield much.

—I found no connections.

A game set in a medieval world, this world, and the peaceful era I once lived in.

No overlap whatsoever.

I tried to see if the monsters looked similar, but the creatures here don’t use weapons. Their appearances are so far from fantasy trolls, goblins, or dragons that I wondered if they even count as living things. In the end, all I learned is that I know nothing.

Professors always say to ask questions when you don’t know something.

But when you know nothing, how do you even know what to ask?

That’s me right now.

“Hoo…”

7 a.m. I’m dressed and ready.

The sound of my shoes dragging on the ground is nice.

What to investigate today?

“…Hunters? Yeah, that’s good.”

I’m done with the monsters.

Erosion Entities, they’re called.

Monsters pouring out indiscriminately across the world.

As the name suggests, their mere presence forms an Erosion Zone or Area, warping the laws of the surrounding region and neutralizing conventional firearms. The only solutions are overwhelming energy attacks or sending in mana-wielding Hunters.

Thankfully, destroying the core—the nest—makes the zone vanish instantly.

But if the core isn’t destroyed and grows, it becomes a sturdier, larger “Gate.”

Endless waves of Erosion Entities pour out, sometimes even producing higher-tier “Gatekeepers.” A literal embodiment of death. That’s the Gate I smashed the other day.

If it ended there, fine. But the Entities that escape the zone can form new nests and Gates elsewhere.

A chain of misfortune.

Even if you destroy a nest or Gate, the area turns into a barren, black wasteland where life can’t survive. It takes decades of care for plants to grow again.

The hearts of Erosion Entities, used as energy sources, might be condensed from that devastation, some theorize.

The worst-case scenario? If a Gate isn’t stopped and grows—

“Oh, I’m here.”

The library already.

Today’s books: Hunters and factions. These things are better researched online, though.

Oh, let’s finish that thought from earlier.

If a Gate grows further, it becomes a Flower. Yup, done.

In those cases, there can be over ten Gatekeepers, and the Erosion Zone can stretch dozens of kilometers. The name “Flower” comes from how it scatters seeds like pollen.

If those seeds spread, they form new Gates. How terrifying is that?

Shiver.

Thankfully, those seeded Gates don’t grow into Flowers. What a harsh world. Parents stopping their kids’ growth? So cruel. No blood, no tears? Oh, no tears, my bad. Guess it happens.

“This one… and this one…”

Tap, tap.

Books on the rise of Hunters, factions, educational institutions, and their public perception. A broad overview.

I grab the ones with relevant titles. Hmm, kinda heavy.

“Hm…”

I sit on the same soft, relatively clean sofa as yesterday. It’s a two-seater, perfect for stacking books beside me.

I place about seven books I plan to read. Hmm, I need a drink or snack.

But I’m broke. Whine.

I set a book on my lap and open the first page. The cool, smooth feel of flipping paper.

Olympic study method, start! The goal is participation!

Professor, if I show up every day, you’ll give me at least a C, right?

Oh… interesting.

100 Hunters Who Lit Up South Korea was fun to read. Practically a biography collection.

The Hunter Association consists of three combat-focused branches, one for barrier specialists used in various roles, and one for researchers or those avoiding combat.

The combat branches are Hyun Association, Ta Association, and Kwan Association. They oversee many agencies dispatched for regional defense.

With the country in chaos, sending them out like that makes sense.

Some associations are elite, some require interviews, and others take anyone.

People say Hyun has some crazies, Kwan has lots of crazies, and Ta is only crazies.

“…”

—Creak, jingle.

Oh? Each association has distinct uniforms. Guess the ones I saw were from Hyun Association. Lucky me. They’re elite, well-regarded, and do the most rescue work.

Good thing it wasn’t Ta. They’ve got weird rumors, like human experiments.

“…!?”
“…”

I read that Hyun wears uniforms, Kwan uses earrings or badges as symbols, and Ta just does whatever, like rule-breaking delinquents.

Finished the book. Clouds must’ve rolled in; the book’s shadowed, and my eyes are strained. Need glasses next time.

Huh? Why’s the book I put beside me gone—

What?

I look at the seat next to me. The books I stacked are gone. Instead, someone’s sitting there.

Right next to me.

“Eek!”
“Ah…”

I flinch in surprise. Our eyes meet. A woman with long, brown hair and amber eyes, somehow familiar.

Who are you!?

The words don’t leave my mouth. Naturally, no response.

For a while, we just stare at each other, frozen.

I messed up.

Like I was possessed, I put her books on my lap and sat in her spot.

She’s so focused on her book she didn’t notice me sit down.

The book she’s reading—

‘Is that book that good?’
‘—Yeah!’

My head throbs. It hurts.

‘Me too.’
‘When I grow up.’
‘Saving people.’

Ah.

I came home last night like a corpse and fell asleep. When I woke, it was morning.

No plans, just an urge to go to the library and meet her.

Before I knew it, I was opening the library door.

She notices me, startled, her eyes wide.

Our eyes meet.

Unlike yesterday’s side view, I see her delicate, childlike features clearly. She’ll definitely be called a beauty when she grows up.

But the bandages peeking through the gaps in her loose clothes kill any other thoughts. As expected, they’re blood-stained.

The bloodstains have spread even more than yesterday.

She hasn’t changed the bandages or gotten proper treatment.

“…”
“…”

Close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

The girl and I sit, staring, frozen.