Chapter 133:

We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024!

Drip, drip. The sound of water droplets collecting and falling to the floor echoed. Both individuals’ gaze turned to the soaked shirt clinging tightly to the man’s chest, revealing his body shape distinctly.

The man peeled off the shirt from his chest, and Seora, finally regaining her senses, averted her eyes.

“Who turned a perfectly fine gun into a water gun in the face of an enemy? And why a water gun, of all things? Was it intentional? Are you trying to act all charming?”

Seora, who had been peeking at the man through her fingers, swiftly turned her head. Why did the image of the Dragon of Revelation shouting about the sins of lust suddenly come to mind?

“Go change your clothes and come back! Otherwise, I’m going to stare.”

If you’re fine with it, I won’t insist. But it’s frustrating to keep getting pushed away when I’m trying to talk things out.

Seora removed her hand from her face and looked at the man again. Perhaps because she had mentally prepared herself, her heart didn’t race as intensely as when she first saw the dripping wet beauty. Instead, something else caught her attention.

His face was exquisitely handsome, and the shirt he was wearing, always so loose and flowing, led her to believe he would be slender like a model. However, the man turned out to have surprisingly firm muscles.

‘Wounds…’

Yet, even more noticeable were the small scars she had seen once before. Ancient-looking scars covered not only his chest but also his entire upper body. It clearly revealed that his life had been far from smooth.

Almost like Seong Jarim. No, in a way, he seemed even more so than her.

“Who are you exactly? You can’t be a nameless dream dweller; you’re too vivid for that. Who are you that even my mom knows you?”

In truth, Seora had done some research on her own. A glamorous beauty like him would surely have stood out, whether he had been active as a Hunter or not. However, she couldn’t find any information about him in any of her sources. She even asked Song Hanna if she knew any Westerners who were acquainted with her mom, but she had no knowledge of such a person either.

So, who was this man exactly?

“Were you enemies?”

Decent people.

The man described it that way, but Seora, who was Hyeon Jaehui’s daughter, understood. Her mom considered the man to be a very good person. If she had even the slightest negative feelings about him, she wouldn’t have allowed him to be around.

“You won’t reveal your identity, will you?”

The man smiled. He said the words “I am nobody” so nonchalantly, as if it wasn’t odd at all for a living person to claim such a thing.

It wasn’t a casual display of composure; rather, it gave off a dryness unique to someone who had experienced long-term despair and eventually let go of everything, like Seong Jarim.

And that’s what sent shivers down her spine.

“Nobody? Whether the world ends or not, it doesn’t matter to you because you’re nobody?” The question that bothered her the most poured out like a gushing tap. “Because this world has nothing to do with you?”

Instead of answering, the man chuckled. His vague laughter contained no emotions, but it made Seora unconsciously take a step back. For the first time, the man felt intimidating despite not doing anything.

“What does the world mean to you, then?”

“Does giving up hope equate to wishing for the world’s destruction? How can you see them as the same? I don’t want to die. I’ve survived through so much! Now you think I’d just let it all end? I’ll never allow that for myself.”

Seora’s sharp words widened the man’s eyes. His eyelashes trembled slightly as if in response to hearing something surprising.

“Why are you so shocked?”

“Of course. After all I’ve been through, why would I want to die?”

After regressing six times, Kang Sejun finally found a life where no one dies. Seong Jarim, the returnee, was able to come back to Earth for the first time. And Seora herself had only just escaped from the Werewolf’s Dungeon.

Could such a miracle happen again? What if it doesn’t next time? This might be their last chance. Hence, they must survive no matter what.

“So, you’re going to destroy the world?” Seora gripped her gun again, as if ready to switch it to lethal mode and kill him instantly if he agreed.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The man, who had concealed his surprise, shook his head.

“Really? You didn’t aid the Dragon of Revelation on the 8th floor of the Labyrinth to bring about destruction, or steal the Key to unlock the Cheorwon Dungeon?”

Seora moved closer and placed her hand on the man’s chest. His heartbeat was calm. Of course, she didn’t take this as evidence of his innocence. But without any clear evidence, she decided to stop probing. “I hope you’re not an enemy. I don’t want to be in a splatter movie, even in my dreams.”

The man shrugged at her words that indicated she wouldn’t leave him be if he turned out to be an enemy.

As the man pondered for a moment, he mumbled, “Well, that’s fine, I suppose.”

Seora looked around in a daze at the man’s calm words. All the hundreds of gems on the floor? The entire mansion included?

Oh my. With just this, she could have several penthouses… No, if she had a mansion, she wouldn’t need to live in a penthouse…

Greed ignited in her mind, swirling fiercely. As Seora was mentally calculating, she suddenly realized the smiling face of the man before her and was startled back to her senses.

“How can you take something from a dream into reality? Don’t trick me!”

“…” Well, she couldn’t argue with that. Seora alternated her gaze between the transformed water gun and the man, wondering if this could really be possible.

He grasped Seora’s hand that was resting on his chest. Startled, she tried to pull her hand back, but he held onto it firmly.

A bet. A bet between Hyeon Jaehui and the man.

As the forgotten memory resurfaced, Seora threw Hit the water gun away and grabbed the man by the collar. “You made a bet with my mom. You said you lost. So, where is your heart leaning toward?”

Toward the world’s destruction.

Or not?

What did the man choose?

The man, who had grabbed Seora’s waist as she held him by the collar, swiftly pulled her toward him, causing him to fall backward.

This was already the fourth time, and now Seora knew better. Determined not to let go this time, Seora put more strength into the hands that were gripping the man’s collar. However, when her body hit the water, the man had already disappeared like a bubble. Seora clenched her fists in frustration at losing the man so helplessly. Damn it!

Gulp, gulp.

Air bubbles escaped from her mouth and floated up to the surface of the water. She tightly shut her eyes, still unable to comprehend the sudden disappearance of the man.

Whether she should trust him or not, she still couldn’t figure it out. The uncertainty lingered.

***

“Ugh!”

Seora opened her eyes wide and sat up. Looking at the clock, it was already 10 AM. The morning of the first day of the new year had arrived.

“Wow, the worst New Year’s morning since 12 years ago.”

If only it were January 2nd, she might have felt a bit better. But of course, it had to be January 1st, making it even more unpleasant.

“Damn guy. What did he say? He has no name? Nothing at all?”

If that’s the case, I’ll give you a name myself. Something like Vermin Kim. Thinking of the most dreadful name she could come up with, Seora swiftly threw off the blanket. She couldn’t stay angry like this. She needed to loosen up and shake off the frustration.

As she scratched her head, preparing to get up, she suddenly noticed Hit, which she had placed in her embrace before sleeping, now lying on the bed. A strange sensation rushed over her.

“…What?”

She had clearly converted Hit into a Colt. However, now it felt incredibly light. The shape was the same, but why all of a sudden…

“No way.”

Frantically, Seora pulled the trigger of the gun she held. Although there was no cube or silencer attached, there was no hesitation.

Squirt, squirt. As expected, water came out of the barrel instead of bullets.

A water gun. It was exactly the same as the man had whimsically transformed it in the dream.

“…This is insane. What’s going on?”

“How can you take something from a dream into reality? Don’t trick me!”

“Didn’t you bring a gun from reality? Why do you think the opposite wouldn’t be possible?

“Did he mean this…?”

What had happened in the dream was now happening in reality. It was undeniably absurd, yet the lightweight water gun made it clear that it was real.

Seora remained motionless for a while, unable to process what was happening.