The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C109

After arriving at the approximate location, Seo-heon told the teleporter he would act alone from here. When he said he didn’t need a return teleport, the teleporter seemed to find it strange but didn’t inquire further.

As he explored the mountain paths, Seo-heon wondered why Woo-hyun had chosen this place. There were many hard-to-find locations. There was no reason to choose a snowy mountain with monsters.

‘Will I have a chance to ask?’

Even with his dizzying head, Seo-heon’s search never ceased. Night fell but he didn’t sleep, instead moving even more busily. He couldn’t even dream of sleep, as closing his eyes brought visions of Woo-hyun dying.

‘If Woo-hyun is resting at night, he’s likely to be at a base camp.’

Narrowing down the target like this and moving while checking the watch’s position intermittently, the size of the circle indicating Woo-hyun’s location was gradually shrinking, albeit subtly. It meant the margin of error was decreasing as he got closer to Woo-hyun. Strangely, Seo-heon felt more urgent as he got closer to Woo-hyun.

Dawn broke faintly. Seo-heon, who had planned to catch up while Woo-hyun wasn’t moving, decided to take a somewhat risky action. He spread magic on the ground and used it like a search skill. Scattering his already nearly depleted magic in all directions increased his tracking speed, but his body collapsed faster.

“Woo-hyun.”

Though the pain was dull, he could still sense his body’s abnormalities. When he had to forcibly straighten his swaying body, Seo-heon called Woo-hyun’s name. Miraculously, this improved his state from one where he could have collapsed at any moment.

Gwaweok!

Monsters that sensed Seo-heon’s violent magic fled in panic. Following their escape route, a familiar warmth suddenly wafted up. It was undoubtedly Woo-hyun.

Seo-heon used the A-rank skill, Ice Wind. The skill rushed towards its target at a speed difficult to follow with the naked eye. Without losing direction, straight to Woo-hyun.

“Looks like he’s not alone.”

As he got closer to Woo-hyun, other presences also drew nearer. One human besides Woo-hyun, and several monsters. They had encountered Woo-hyun and Kay while fleeing in fear of Seo-heon’s magic.

“They’re fighting.”

Judging by the monsters’ aura, they weren’t beings that could threaten Woo-hyun. However, like Seo-heon, Woo-hyun’s body wasn’t normal either. He suppressed his agitated heart, fearing something might happen.

‘Quickly, faster…’

Woo-hyun, finally in Seo-heon’s sight, was kneeling with blood flowing from his mouth. In an instant, Seo-heon’s vision turned white.

“Why so suddenly? Are you hurt somewhere?”

Seeing an unfamiliar man approach Woo-hyun, Seo-heon ran like mad even as his vision wavered. His eyes rolled back in fear that the other might harm Woo-hyun.

“Get away.”

A chilling voice crawled along the ground.

Seo-heon felt the man who wouldn’t leave Woo-hyun’s side somehow resembled himself. In reality, Kay had no resemblance to Seo-heon whatsoever. Seo-heon simply thought he had broken Woo-hyun and projected himself onto someone he thought might harm Woo-hyun.

This was a truth Seo-heon, unskilled in understanding his own emotions, would never grasp in his lifetime.

“Who is this person?”

Seo-heon threw Kay away without waiting for an answer.

‘I shouldn’t push too hard.’

Even as his reason wavered, Seo-heon moderated his strength in case Kay might be close to Woo-hyun. Then, without checking his opponent, he embraced Woo-hyun’s back.

“Huh, Kang… Seo-heon.”

Ignoring his achingly constricted heart at the call filled with aversion, Seo-heon forced a smile. Up close, he saw Woo-hyun’s face had changed.

“Yes. I said we shouldn’t meet again, but I’m sorry for finding you so quickly.”

Noticing Woo-hyun had used an appearance-changing item, Seo-heon gently touched his face.

‘Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you with this?’

Just as Seo-heon was about to check Woo-hyun’s condition and give him life force, Woo-hyun’s sword was pointed precariously close to Seo-heon’s chin. Having somewhat expected this reaction, Seo-heon wasn’t surprised.

“What did you do to Lee-han?”

Having found the person he was looking for nearby, Seo-heon’s stomach, which had somewhat settled, twisted madly again. Every time his loved one uttered Lee-han’s name, a chilling fear choked Seo-heon’s throat.

It wasn’t simple jealousy. Lee-han’s very existence had become a symbol that Woo-hyun might leave him. Every time he heard Lee-han’s name, Seo-heon felt immediately abandoned.

“Is that what you’re most curious about when seeing me?”

“Yes.”

Woo-hyun bit his lip. It was one of his habits when lying. Seo-heon deliberately didn’t point out this action.

“It hurts to hear you say that, Woo-hyun.”

Even as he moved his mouth, Seo-heon wasn’t aware of what he was saying. He just let the words flow. His consciousness was as precarious as a thread about to snap.

“I have no intention of going back to you. I don’t want to receive your life force or try to make things work with you, so go back. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to fight you.”

“You’re saying you’ll fight me?”

It was a situation where he should have been surprised or saddened. However, Seo-heon just hated seeing Woo-hyun’s pained face. Woo-hyun was someone who disliked combat against people more than anyone. Especially if the opponent was a close friend and someone he cared for.

‘I’m making you do what you hate most.’

His standard was solely Woo-hyun.

Meanwhile, Woo-hyun threateningly swung his sword imbued with the Song of Flames skill. His hand trembled as if he wanted to attack but couldn’t overcome his aversion. Seo-heon drew his own sword to prevent Woo-hyun from hesitating. Of course, he had no intention of fighting Woo-hyun.

“Don’t think I’ll go easy on you.”

At the same time, Seo-heon had no intention of going easy on Woo-hyun. A defeated person had no right to do so in the first place.

“I’ve never been anything but sincere with you.”

The red sword weakly sliced through the air. Even that lost strength as it neared Seo-heon.

“Woo-hyun, you should be sincere too.”

Seo-heon deliberately pushed Woo-hyun’s back. He thought perhaps dying by Woo-hyun’s hand would free him from this pain and bring judgment. He had no regrets since he would die without Woo-hyun anyway.

Woo-hyun gritted his teeth. Wanting to push Seo-heon away definitively, he used excessive force. Staring at the red sword, Seo-heon gradually relaxed his grip. Seeing Woo-hyun’s face full of shock, he briefly hesitated, thinking he should avoid a fatal wound. He belatedly thought Woo-hyun might feel guilty over something unnecessary.

But his once-collapsed body didn’t stop. His body fell towards the sword as if waiting for death. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the snowy mountain.

The sword that pierced Seo-heon trembled. Woo-hyun’s pain was vividly transmitted.

‘I didn’t want to hurt you more.’

He just wanted to talk more, to let him do as he wished.

‘To end up like this again.’

Yet not wanting to lose Woo-hyun, Seo-heon thought himself beyond salvation. Even as death knocked, he was desperate to keep Woo-hyun in his sight.

‘Is it possible to give up Woo-hyun while I’m alive?’

Though he had decided to entrust everything to Woo-hyun, Seo-heon lost confidence in controlling his own desires. He barely held onto his fading consciousness.

“Woo-hyun.”

A terribly affectionate voice flowed from his mouth.

“This is your last chance to run away from me.”

Seo-heon was certain he would hover around Woo-hyun as long as Woo-hyun lived. To not do so, he would have to die.

“If you truly want to leave me, leave now. If you don’t have the resolve to kill me, stay by my side.”

Due to the pain from the wound Woo-hyun inflicted, Seo-heon couldn’t fully convey his thoughts. He didn’t realize it would sound like a threat to Woo-hyun. Of course, it was also words stemming from his unconscious desire to hold onto Woo-hyun.

Seo-heon’s body fell to the ground.

A helicopter arrived, and Seo-heon’s body was moved. Unable to open his eyes despite the commotion, he forcibly opened them upon feeling a certain gaze. His eyes were filled with Woo-hyun.

Unable to distinguish if it was an illusion born of desire or really Woo-hyun, Seo-heon smiled happily.

“Let’s go together, Woo-hyun. Please.”

It was Seo-heon’s purest sincerity conveyed to Woo-hyun. He was desperate to wipe Woo-hyun’s tear-stained face but couldn’t due to his heavy body. It was natural, as keeping his eyes open now was itself a miracle. Seo-heon could do nothing but wait for the judge’s answer.

“Okay.”

A heavy answer fell. Seo-heon mulled over that answer again and again as he yielded to the force of sleep pulling him in.