"And if I had to guess, the reason you wish for the end of the world is because you either lost your family in a human-made disaster, lost someone you loved, or went through some unfair and unjust situation. Anyway, it seems like that's the reason…"
"Do you not consider the possibility that the new Revengers are the families of the deceased?"
Yoon Seo let out a dry laugh.
If he hadn't known about Kim Seohae's family, he might have considered that assumption, but not now.
"Their target for revenge is not humans, but monsters."
"Not everyone is like that."
"Not everyone is, but the families of the Revengers are. The disease called 'righteousness' runs in their bloodline."
"..."
"It's a disease you don't have."
"…Shut up!"
The pale person next to the leader shouted.
"Do you think we were like this from the start? We once pursued justice too! I can proudly say we were more virtuous and selfless than anyone else!"
"I know. That's why you awakened."
Beep.
Riceball, sensing the tense atmosphere among the humans, darted around Yoon Seo, its eyes sparkling. Kwon Jihan gently caught Riceball and held it close.
Kwon Jihan quietly listened, observing Yoon Seo's gaze, breath, and voice.
"Then, tell me. What injustice did you experience that turned you into doomsday cultists wishing for the world's destruction?"
A cold silence settled before the leader finally spoke.
"I lost my wife and daughter."
His voice was grim.
"When I came out of the dungeon, I found them both stabbed to death at home. It was midsummer, and their bodies had been decomposing for a long time. The culprit was a non-awakened burglar. He had stolen cash and cards to live in luxury. He went to prison and received a 10-year sentence. In five years, he'll be out. My wife and daughter won't return in five years, but that trash will walk free from prison."
The person next to the leader lifted his head.
"I was in debt, so after awakening as a C-rank, I risked my life entering A-rank or higher dungeons. My younger siblings were non-awakened, but they worked two part-time jobs while holding full-time jobs. Everyone worked hard to gather money. We finally paid off all the debt, and as we were going out to celebrate with a meal, a collision occurred. When I woke up, everyone but me was dead. The culprit was a drunk driver, and he'll be out in three years."
"My fiancée was a non-awakened. She was so kind and pure, to the point that you'd wonder why she hadn't awakened. Every time I went into a dungeon, she would see me off, crying. One day, I came out of a dungeon in a coma. I spent months in the hospital, during which fraudsters approached her. They claimed they had a skill to awaken someone from a coma. My fiancée spent all her money on them. But after taking the money, the fraudsters disappeared, and my fiancée hanged herself out of regret for her mistake. I woke up two days after she died. The fraudsters were never caught. They're probably living in luxury somewhere with the money they scammed."
Each of the eight people shared their stories of how they became doomsday cultists, then looked at Seo Chaeyoon.
What do you think? Do you still believe there's a reason this world shouldn't be destroyed?
Is there any reason this disgusting world should continue?
That was the look on their faces.
Outside, the sounds of monsters shrieking and battle clashed, but inside the tent, it was silent.
Yoon Seo recalled the moments when he felt disillusioned with the idea of justice.
The guardian gods were quiet, perhaps curious about Yoon Seo's response… and Kwon Jihan remained silent as well. Yoon Seo finally spoke.
"By your standards, the world should indeed be destroyed. It's a horrifying, disgusting, and vile place."
"Yes, you finally understand."
"But the world has always been that way. Even when you were living happily with your wife and daughter, even when you were peacefully living with your siblings, even when you were sharing love with your fiancée… Somewhere, there were people losing their wives and daughters to robbers, people losing their families to car accidents, people unfairly losing their loved ones. And…"
Feeling Kwon Jihan's gaze, Yoon Seo continued.
"…When you were enjoying a meal with your loved ones, patting your full belly and returning home, somewhere, there was probably a poor child being beaten by thugs, limping their way back home. That child likely wished for the end of the world as desperately as you do now. The difference is that the child didn't have the power to destroy the world. But now, you do."
"..."
"You lived happily without even realizing those unjust deaths, and now that you've awakened and gained power, you want to take away others' happiness just because you feel wronged. If, at the time you were living happily with your loved ones, that poor child had gained power and, claiming they had every reason to wish for the world's destruction, wiped out the earth—how would you have felt? Would you have thought, 'Yes, this disgusting world deserves to perish,' just like you're thinking now?"
"…So, are you just going to spout the typical nonsense about not seeking revenge?"
"Revenge is fine. I came here for revenge too. But I don't understand why innocent people have to be included in that revenge. If the world ends, it's not just criminals who die. Innocent families who just paid off their debts and were planning a fresh start will die too. What you're trying to do is nothing more than redirecting your unresolved anger and hatred toward weaker people, simply because they are easier targets."
"..."
"Like you, I've lost my family, my friends, and 1,201 comrades. Do you think I never wanted to destroy this revolting, disgusting world? Do you think I've never imagined that it would only take a few days with my skills to wipe it out? You may be asking me now to join you in destroying the world because all your happiness has ended, but I could have been the one to end your happiness long ago. However, I didn't, and that's why I'm standing in front of you today."
[Kwon Jihan/Hyung, sit down]
Yoon Seo barely suppressed his feelings.
"You, too, must have initially sought goodness when you awakened. That's why the betrayal hurts so much, why you're so bitter. I understand. But wanting to take away others' happiness just because you're sad—that's a petty mindset. If everyone had thought like you, the world would have already ended. But it hasn't, and outside, even now, many people are fighting for their lives. Think carefully while listening to this. Is the destruction of the world truly the right thing?"
"..."
The cultists were silent. All had their heads hung low, staring at their own chests, so their expressions were unreadable. Even if Yoon Seo asked if there were any hidden cultists, they wouldn't answer. And since he wasn't in a good mood, Yoon Seo stood up.
'I have no right to say these things.'
He felt deeply ashamed after giving a sermon-like speech when he had no qualifications to do so. Yoon Seo looked at those with their heads bowed.
There would be no more conversations with them.
Whenever he saw their faces, he would be reminded of the unjust deaths of good people.
And Yoon Seo already knew too many of those deaths.
As he left the tent, Kwon Jihan followed.
Neither of them spoke until they arrived at the camper.
***
After Seo Chaeyoon left, silence filled the tent.
"Treador…"
Someone finally called out to the leader after a long pause. Seven pairs of eyes turned to him, but the leader remained silent with his eyes closed.
'If everyone were like you, the world would have perished already. But it hasn't, and out there, many are still fighting for their lives.'
The words of the hero from the past weighed heavily on their shoulders.
***
Back in the camper, Yoon Seo was the first to finish washing up.
"Hyung, you can watch me shower if you want."
"Stop saying nonsense."
[The God of Death wishes to observe.]
Ignoring the guardian god's desire, Yoon Seo sat at the table and opened a coloring book. He was almost done with it; just ten more pages, and he could finish this final will.
Beep.
Riceball followed the tip of his colored pencil, interfering with his coloring. After all the battles, Riceball's feathers were now glossy and shiny—no longer just a cute companion, but a dazzling one.
Even without Riceball's distractions, Yoon Seo wasn't in the right state of mind for coloring. He was mentally exhausted, having overused
Yoon Seo didn't care whether the weak lived happy lives or not. He simply believed that the good people must be happy. Even if someone was born with wealth and power, if they were kind, they deserved happiness.
He couldn't stand seeing good people die unjustly. It disgusted him.
How could he release this anger?
Yoon Seo took a deep breath and thought about the upcoming battle.
There was about an hour left on
While mentally simulating the upcoming boss fight, Kwon Jihan came out after his shower, once again with his chest exposed as if he didn't know how to wear a robe properly, and sat in front of Yoon Seo.
"I don't like people who treat their lives lightly."
"Why are you saying that all of a sudden?"
"I was thinking about it while showering—those cultists were so annoying. As soon as they were caught, they tried to kill themselves. Why do they throw their lives away so easily?"
"Hunter Kwon Jihan."
Yoon Seo put down his colored pencil.