Yoon Seo set down his teacup with a nonchalant expression.
"What's next?"
"Ah…."
Park Soobin, who had been thinking about something, mentioned the second name.
"Do you remember Hunter Artarita Susan? I heard she was B-rank. Her family is curious about her accomplishments."
"Hunter Artarita passed away early in the raid, so I never spoke with her directly, but those who knew her all spoke highly of her. Even as she fell into the lava, she threw her bag towards us. It was a bag full of groceries. It's impressive that she was thinking of others even in such a situation. I hope her family will be proud to hear this."
"...."
"And?"
"We also received an inquiry from the family of Hunter Hwang Hwaejeong. They want to know how he was doing, how he died, if he was of much help, and if he left any last words. He was an F-rank Hunter, so you might not remember him."
"He also passed away early in the raid, so I didn't receive any last words from him. It was interesting that he brought books instead of food. They were fairy tales he had written himself. It was quite surprising to think that a man with a long beard and gray hair had written such charming fairy tales. Please tell his family that the surviving members of the Revengers endured the harsh reality by reading those stories."
"...."
"...."
"Ah, Hunter Na Jaemin… he was also an F-rank Hunter."
"Hunter Na Jaemin was an E-rank Hunter. He died midway through the raid. Although his skills were not strong, his combat sense was exceptional, and he saved the lives of higher-ranked Hunters. Please tell his family that he was an invaluable member of the ReVengers. His last words were to draw more pictures… something like that."
"Pictures?"
"He loved painting. He wanted to draw landscapes, portraits, and still lifes… and his last words were to draw diligently."
Specifically:
Draw 120 landscape paintings, 30 portraits, and 30 still lifes.
"Do you remember Hunter Hyo Mi?"
"She was a pianist and a healer. Her lively personality always brought joy to those around her. Her last words were for his family to not neglect their piano practice."
"Piano," Kwon Jihan murmured softly. Yoon Seo continued.
"Preferably, the pieces to practice should be Chopin's Etude No. 10-5 'Black Key,' Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11, 3rd Movement 'Turkish March,' Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata,' Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Flight of the Bumblebee,' and Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 2, 4th Movement."
"...."
"Alright, next."
Yoon Seo became increasingly brazen.
"Do you remember Hunter Shinda Lilly?"
"She died in the latter part of the raid. She was fond of baking and always said she would make 100,000 cookies once she got out of the dungeon. It would be nice if her family could fulfill that wish. It must be exactly 100,000 cookies."
"100,000 cookies…."
"If possible, they should be chocolate crack cookies."
Park Soobin, who was taking notes on what Yoon Seo was saying, tilted his head.
"Isn't that your taste, Yoon Seo?"
"I guess I've been brainwashed by Hunter Lily talking so much about Choco Crack Cookies."
Yoon Seo felt a pang of guilt but answered nonchalantly.
"Do you remember Hunter Linda Daisy?"
"She was a skilled hunter. In the Great Dungeon, there were these long, thin leaves of grass that you might call weeds. She made knitting needles by carving branches and used the grass leaves to knit. She made a lot of knitwear, like scarves and hats. Hunter Daisy's last words were—"
"Were they to keep knitting diligently?"
Kwon Jihan interjected. Yoon Seo blinked and looked at him. Kwon Jihan wasn't smiling, but he wasn't scowling either. His expression was slightly indifferent and cynical, and Yoon Seo thought it seemed contrived, as if he were trying to make Yoon Seo let down his guard.
"Yes, something like that."
"Oh, so your knitting habits were influenced by her too?"
"Exactly."
Kwon Jihan's lips curled up slightly as he acknowledged the answer without trying to hide it.
"Alright, I got it. Continue with the story."
Kwon Jihan nodded toward Park Soobin. Yoon Seo, who would have thought of it as arrogant in the past, now found it rather impressive.
From there, Park Soobin would state a name, and Yoon Seo would immediately respond with details about that person—how they died, what abilities they had, and how much help they provided. The answers flowed effortlessly, without furrowing his brow or delving into deep thought.
"We've also received a call from the Lee Kangjin Foundation… They're writing a biography and want to know what kind of person he was, what he accomplished in the Great Dungeon, and if he had any final words."
"Hunter Lee Kangjin was more than just helpful, he was the leader of the Revengers."
"Even with five S-rank hunters?"
"Regardless of awakening rank, his leadership was exceptional, which naturally made him the leader. Just like how Team Leader Lee Inseon leads Perfect despite not being S-rank."
"I understand."
"I regret that I didn't witness his last moments, but I can confirm that clearing the Great Dungeon would have been impossible without him. Though I didn't hear any last words, he often mentioned that he would secure a comfortable haven once we left here."
"Yes, I'll convey that. Thank you, Yoon Seo."
Park Soobin's lips twitched. The Lee Kangjin Foundation would likely want more details than this. They would probably want to hear about all his actions over the 77 days. However, it seemed impossible to ask Yoon Seo for more detailed information.
Because he remembered so vividly.
How could he recall such a horrific death so precisely?
Even though it had been ten years, it felt like just yesterday.
At first, he thought it was natural to be asked about the history of the Revengers. Until now, details of the Great Dungeon and the feats of fallen heroes had been shrouded in shadow. He believed that the Revengers' achievements needed to be widely known.
However, Yoon Seo's extremely detailed recollection made the situation feel cruelly invasive.
'I was really relieved when my healing resistance first developed ten years ago. It felt like a gift.'
'I thought that now others would also be able to receive healing.'
'Though, in the end, everyone died.'
The expression he wore when he said those words came to mind again. A profound sense of emptiness without any remaining emotion…
Park Soobin didn't want to make him relive past traumas.
"Who's next?"
But that was just Park Soobin's thought, and Yoon Seo felt a bit relieved at the moment.
He hadn't expected to feel this way while talking about it.
The final moments of the 1,201 people he alone knew.
How heroic they were there… Of course, they are still celebrated as heroes, but it's fortunate to be able to let these people know that they will be celebrated as heroes for another 1,201 years.
The memories he had kept to himself seemed to have been an unspoken burden on his heart.
'I should have talked about it earlier. I should have shared it anonymously on the internet or something.'
Seeing Yoon Seo's bright brown eyes, which showed no sign of wanting to end this moment, Park Soobin let out a small sigh.
***
The conversation went on until dinner time. The meal was ordered for delivery, but there was so much food that it took five delivery people to bring it all. The nearby restaurants, knowing that this countryside house belonged to Hellfire Hong Euiyoon, had provided extraordinary service with a handwritten note saying, "Thank you, Hunter Hellfire, for always watching over us^^." The five of them ate their fill at the pork rib stew restaurant. The cost of the meal was ultimately covered by Soo Jaehee, who insisted on paying as a token of thanks for the cookies and knits received from Seo Chaeyoon, while Hong Euiyoon, who wanted to cover it as an apology to Seo Chaeyoon, ended up in a dispute, and Soo Jaehee paid.
"Hyungs, take care."
"Aren't you coming?"
"I'll go tomorrow. There's a training ground in the basement of Hong's house. I plan to spar a bit and then stay the night."
Soo Jaehee draped an arm over Hong Euiyoon's shoulder and smiled.
"Leave the front door open, and come in as you like."
Soo Jaehee and Hong Euiyoon finished their farewells and went back inside the house. Yoon Seo, Kwon Jihan, and Park Soobin headed towards the parking area. They all had their own cars. Since Park Soobin's home was in Gangnam, Yoon Seo's was in Yongsan, and Kwon Jihan's was in Hapjeong, they said their goodbyes before getting in their cars.
"Yoon Seo, you'll be coming to work on Monday, right?"
"No, I'll take two more days off and come on Wednesday."
"So, you'll be there for the briefing. See you that day then. Drive safely."
"You too, Soobin."
Park Soobin smiled and replied with a "Yes." He then greeted Kwon Jihan with the same friendly expression.
"How about Hunter Jihan?"
"I'll be there on Monday."
"Alright, rest well and see you on Monday."
Kwon Jihan merely nodded. Yoon Seo wanted to greet him kindly as well, but hesitated, fearing a curt nod in return. Then, surprised at his own hesitation, he gave a quick nod and hurried to his car.
Although he had been behaving more gently recently, Kwon Jihan was fundamentally a nuisance. Yet, why… did I hesitate over him being rude to me? He couldn't understand why he was concerned about it.
Park Soobin's car was the first to leave the gate, followed by Yoon Seo, with Kwon Jihan's car being the last.
Soon they reached a fork in the road, and Park Soobin's black sedan turned right.
As soon as he got in the car, Yoon Seo, who had taken out and was petting Riceball from his inventory, looked up at the phone vibrating.
Kwon Jihan
Upon seeing Kwon Jihan's name, Yoon Seo quickly answered the call.
"What is it?"
His tone was curt, despite picking up the call with lightning speed.
– Hyung, you didn't say goodbye earlier.
"What?"
– I forgot to say farewell, so I'm calling. Drive safely.
"…You too, Hunter Kwon Jihan."
Yoon Seo's mouth twitched as he hung up the phone.
Did he really want to say goodbye?
He covered his mouth with his hand, fearing he would start laughing out loud otherwise.
Just then, his phone vibrated again. It was Kwon Jihan once more. Suppressing his laughter, he tapped the screen to answer.
"What is it now?"
– What are you doing tomorrow?
"What?"
– I'm asking what you're doing on Sunday. Fishing? Hiking? Playing the piano?
"What does it matter to you?"
– I'm so bored with nothing to do, so let's do anything together. I don't care what it is.
"Why should I spend my precious Sunday and even more precious free time with you?"
– People usually try to promote and share their hobbies with others. From what I heard, even the Revenger guy was promoting it hard in his will, so why aren't you? It feels like you're drawing a line, and it makes me feel left out.
"If it feels like I'm drawing a line, you're not mistaken, so feel free to feel left out."
– So, what time and where should we meet tomorrow?
Is this guy even listening?
Yoon Seo turned his head towards the backseat window, but the direction must have changed since Kwon Jihan's car was no longer in sight.
– Hyung, hmm? When are we meeting?
Kwon Jihan dragged out the end of his sentence in a playful tone. Yoon Seo, finding it ridiculous, couldn't help but laugh, covering his mouth with his hand as he replied.
"6 a.m."
– Where?
"I'll send you the address in a message."
– Got it.
After hanging up, Yoon Seo sent Kwon Jihan the location of Garirang Mountain.
Even though the idea of meeting at the entrance of a rugged mountain at 6 a.m. seemed absurd, Kwon Jihan only responded with something like, "Okay, sleep well, see you tomorrow, hyung."
Yoon Seo hugged Riceball tightly.
After thinking about those who had died in the Great Dungeon, he should have felt like he wanted to die, or that he wished tomorrow would never come.
But today, after talking about the past, he actually felt lighter.
Meeting the kind Park Soobin, the playful Soo Jaehee, and the sassy Hong Euiyoon had been enjoyable.
And the thought of seeing Kwon Jihan made him wish tomorrow would come sooner.
Yoon Seo pressed his forehead against Riceball's warm surface and clenched his chest with his fist.
It was to pull out the guilt that was sleeping deep inside.
***