Chapter 315: The World They Live In (1)
It wasn’t about fabricating stories. That’s why he could speak with such heartfelt sincerity in this moment.
“Shin Kang-hoo.”
“I want to challenge more things with you, and I want to know who you really are. I think we’re friends with a lot left to discover.”
“That sounds like something out of a novel—a line a character would say to their friend.”
“Because it’s genuine.”
“Thanks. Whether it’s sincere or sugar-coated, I felt your heart in those words.”
Takashi’s eyes sparkled.
Not quite to the point of tears, but perhaps something had stirred within him.
Takashi was a lonely character, too.
From Kang-hoo’s perspective, Takashi felt like another version of himself.Their personalities might appear different, but the loneliness they carried inside felt strikingly similar—perhaps even identical.
Takashi added quietly, “I want to believe everything you said, but I hope you understand that part of me still needs to be cautious.”
“Of course. You can’t force emotions. They’re something you build on your own.”
“…That’s a powerful way to put it.”
Takashi nodded repeatedly, seemingly moved by Kang-hoo’s response.
Kang-hoo hadn’t said it with much calculation, but it clearly resonated with Takashi.
“Takashi, shall we get ready now?”
Kang-hoo patted Takashi on the back and stood up.
“Yeah. Emilia and Yu Cheonghwa will be here soon. They’ve been waiting to meet you. This is why it’s exhausting being good-looking.”
Takashi chuckled and tugged on Kang-hoo’s cheek.
It was his own shy way of expressing envy at Kang-hoo’s handsome face.
Meanwhile—
“Damn it. He’s gone?”
Yuji, who had been trying to track Kang-hoo’s whereabouts, erupted in anger when he realized Kang-hoo wasn’t in Korea.
After gathering intel, he discovered a record of Kang-hoo departing from Incheon Airport just a few hours ago.
To come all the way to Korea to catch Kang-hoo, only for the target to vanish—of course he was furious.
But on second thought, it might have worked out better. If Kang-hoo returned to Korea, he’d have to come through the airport again.
With the location now narrowed down, it was actually more convenient to wait. No need to wander around anymore.
Just then—
Brrr brrr brrr.
Yuji’s phone rang.
The caller was Hosaka Kenji.
A former ‘comrade’ he had parted ways with after a falling out, ever since being humiliated by Kang-hoo.
Calling them comrades was generous—they were just lunatics who banded together for the thrill of murder.
“Psycho bastard.”
Yuji immediately blocked Kenji’s number. He had no intention of ever seeing that scumbag again.
“Shin Kang-hoo. The day you return to Korea will be your funeral.”
Yuji smirked coldly as he vanished into the shadows.
He had placed someone at Incheon Airport with Kang Dong-hyun’s help. As soon as Kang-hoo entered the country, he would be alerted.
All that remained was to wait for the prey to walk into his trap. It was only a matter of time.
After meeting Yu Cheonghwa at the airport, Emilia got into the secure limousine Takashi had arranged.
They weren’t headed to the apartment where Kang-hoo and Takashi had talked earlier, but instead to the dungeon that was the purpose of today’s gathering.
Yu Cheonghwa, who had arrived earlier and was already waiting, let out a small laugh as Emilia stepped into the limousine with a knight opening the door for her.
“Emilia. Do you really need a knight to open the door and sweep the ground even in times like this?”
Emilia shot her a sharp look, her trademark haughty expression in full force.
Visibly, Emilia looked so young that you might mistake her for Yu Cheonghwa’s much younger sister.
But in truth, they were the same age.
However, due to a kind of curse she’d received while honing her powers as a Hunter, Emilia had come to look that way.
Yu Cheonghwa never mentioned how young she looked, or compared her to a child.
She was well aware that, contrary to what others might assume, Emilia saw that as a deeply rooted complex.
“It’s not for appearances. I’m evaluating the intentions of the one who brought me here.”
“You mean seeing how well Takashi treats you?”
“Exactly. If he thought I was just a trivial companion, he wouldn’t bother with such formalities.”
Meanwhile—
“Young Miss, here it is.”
The chauffeur neatly returned the parasol Emilia had handed over earlier.
From the parasol’s fabric to Emilia’s hair and hand accessories, it was a display overflowing with red roses.
Yu Cheonghwa nodded to herself, realizing anew that Emilia’s last name was ‘Rose.’
Whether that identity was shaped by her name or not, Emilia always put her whole heart into roses.
Even the hem of her gothic black dress was entirely embroidered with rose patterns.
Once both passengers were fully settled, the driver carefully started the car.
“Please don’t go over 70 kilometers per hour. And be extra cautious over speed bumps.”
“Understood, Young Miss. Please don’t worry about my driving.”
“I’m not worried about you. I’m concerned about our comfort—mine and Cheonghwa’s. Enough chatter. Just drive.”
“A-ah, yes ma’am.”
Flustered, the driver clamped his mouth shut and pressed the accelerator. The partition screen rose, and silence fell.
“Emilia. Isn’t this a bit over-the-top even for you? We’re just going to a dungeon, after all.”
Yu Cheonghwa pouted as she looked at herself in comfortable clothes, starkly contrasting Emilia’s dressy attire.
She hadn’t meant to compete through fashion, but now she wondered if she’d come too casually dressed.
Emilia, on the other hand, frowned as if Cheonghwa’s outfit was the real problem.
“It’s the first time in a while we’re meeting an ‘outsider,’ right? You should put in some effort. It’s a form of respect, isn’t it?”
“Well… I just figured one flower is enough. Don’t you think you’ve got a bit too many floral decorations?”
“Is that ‘one flower’ supposed to be me?”
“Wow, look at you catching on.”
“Oh my… thank you. But flowers wilt, don’t they? Are you trying to hint that I’ll shrivel up and die someday?”
“How did you even arrive at that interpretation?”
Yu Cheonghwa let out a dry laugh.
It happened a lot during conversations with Emilia.
Everything somehow ended with death. It was odd how her conclusions always spiraled into mortality.
That’s why people who met her for the first time often got flustered by how she twisted jokes or compliments.
It had been a while since they saw each other in person rather than over video calls.
So Emilia and Yu Cheonghwa filled the ride to meet Kang-hoo and Takashi with blooming conversation.
The topic? Jang Si-hwan.
Recently, the tone of the “Justice” faction had begun shifting in concerning ways.
“Honestly, I have no idea what he’s trying to do. I’m not even interested in casual social bonding and stuff.”
Yu Cheonghwa was the first to voice her frustration—something only possible with someone like Emilia, who she trusted.
And Emilia wasn’t about to disagree. She nodded.
“A so-called elite circle that thinks it’s doing great? Fine. But lately, we’ve seen the real dirty face of the Jeonghwa Guild. I don’t want us to get lumped in and treated like garbage later on.”
Emilia had been keeping an eye on the rumors surrounding the Jeonghwa Guild—rumors circulating heavily on Huntergram.
But calling them ‘rumors’ was being generous. Several undeniable pieces of evidence had surfaced—actual misdeeds.
The guild’s skill in PR had covered some up or watered them down, but Emilia’s own intel network had already confirmed the truth.
From human trafficking to clandestine relations with the internationally criminal Kashimar Guild, it was all public knowledge behind closed doors.
“I don’t need to play hero, but I’m not about to align myself with trash. That’s my personal take.”
“Same here.”
Both women were aware:
What Jang Si-hwan, Chae Gwanhyeong, and the Jeonghwa Guild were building… felt off.
It wasn’t driven by a grand cause—it was the pursuit of private desires, thinly veiled.
Especially Emilia—she couldn’t forget the unstable self she’d seen when she once probed into Jang Si-hwan’s psyche.
Jang Si-hwan wasn’t a unified being. There was another fractured persona clashing within him.
“For now, I don’t plan on attending any official Justice meetings. I want some distance.”
Yu Cheonghwa said it plainly.
Though the Chinese Shinto Guild she belonged to still maintained a strong alliance with the Jeonghwa Guild,
That didn’t mean she had to blindly follow the guild’s direction.
She had the autonomy to act independently—granted to her by the Shinto Guild Master, Go Cheon-yeong.
“Me too.”
Emilia idly fiddled with the ring on her index finger and agreed.
She hated the idea of being used and discarded like a chess piece. Her worth wasn’t so disposable.
Even without Jang Si-hwan knowing, the seeds of dissent were already being sown.
And those seeds… had already grown quite a bit.
Some time later—
Finally.
At the dungeon entrance, Kang-hoo, waiting alongside Takashi, spotted the arriving limousine.
He had met Yu Cheonghwa and Emilia individually before, but this was their first time dungeon raiding together.
The nature of the encounter was entirely different.
Their past meetings had been just to get a feel for their personalities, looks, tone, or mannerisms.
Now, he was about to witness their capabilities—their unrivaled strength.
Yu Cheonghwa and Emilia exited the car and waved at Takashi and Kang-hoo, alternating their glances.
As always, it was hard to believe they were both twenty-seven.
To be specific, Cheonghwa looked her age—but Emilia appeared half that, a result of her cursed appearance.
This meeting might become a major turning point.
Kang-hoo swallowed hard, involuntarily. Even though he tried not to be tense, his body stiffened.
After all, three key members of The Thirteen Stars were here.
If even just these individuals became his allies—or simply distanced themselves from Jang Si-hwan—it would trigger major change.
They’re not trying to provoke me.
Kang-hoo smiled.
Unlike before, they didn’t try quietly scanning his mind. He had expected it.
But this time, they showed restraint—perhaps a lesson learned from their prior failed attempts.
As I thought… Infinite.
[∞]
Meanwhile, Emilia once again assessed Kang-hoo’s potential through the constellation Eye of the Heart.
Just like before, her impression of Kang-hoo’s potential remained unchanged.
His future was immeasurable—even constellations couldn’t gauge it.
That meant he had countless abilities and possibly multiple constellation ties.
Why… why did Eye of the Heart, which has clearly pointed out the limits of even me, declare Kang-hoo to be immeasurable?
It gnawed at Emilia.
That was the real reason she had accepted Takashi’s offer to join this dungeon raid.
She wanted to see firsthand the skills of Kang-hoo—whom Eye of the Heart valued even more than its own contractor.
Yes. To be blunt, her motives were laced with a sharp edge of jealousy, a craving to confirm his strength.