LTTH C78

Chapter 78

“Hansol, absolutely not—you can’t go outside!”

Kassie shouted sharply, blocking Hansol, who looked as if he might step past the barrier at any moment.

“…I know.”

You have gained a small amount of experience.

The constant notifications—experience acquired—meant that Sehyeon was still alive. Hansol clung to that small reassurance and stepped back.

“Hansol-nim!”

“Darling!”

Even so, he could not stamp out the lingering temptation, and his gaze drifted endlessly toward the outside.

“Why did you even come all the way here?”

“Seriously. I told you to stay quietly in the back.”

The Tower Master and James, who had been maintaining some distance, hurried over and began scolding him in turn. Before Hansol could say anything, Kassie answered in his stead.

“Hansol said he has someone he’s responsible for. That’s why we came forward.”

“Responsible…?”

Kassie’s tone was practically tattling. Hansol closed his half-open mouth—since it wasn’t wrong.

“Hansol-nim?”

“That holy knight—remember him? From that new gate…”

“Oh, that man?”

At least the Tower Master recognized him, allowing Hansol to evade giving the embarrassing title of “holy knight” himself. The meaning had landed well enough.

“Is that man nearby?”

“I don’t know. But I am certain he’s hunting monsters.”

Hansol’s unusually firm answer made the Tower Master tilt his head. His expression was full of questions, but Hansol had nothing he could explain—about how he had been appointed a Holy Knight, or how he received a portion of the knight’s experience points. If the Tower Master learned the truth, his reaction would be far from mild. All Hansol could do was obscure as much as possible.

“He can’t be far. I feel like he’s close.”

“…So there’s a connection between you two that I’m unaware of.”

The Tower Master muttered, half-grudging. Hansol quickly nodded. Yes—there was a connection he couldn’t reveal.

“But right now, there are too many people we need to protect. If Hansol-nim leaves, there’ll be no one left to guard those behind us. James and I, and even that mage, would all follow after you.”

“….”

The Tower Master’s blunt words struck hard. Monsters still surged toward them. Hunters and civilians fled into the barrier. If Hansol went to find Sehyeon, he would have to abandon them all. Sacrificing many for one. Could that ever be right? Hansol bit down on his lip.

“…Purification.”

Hansol cast a Purification Zone just outside the barrier’s edge—now overloaded with people—and opened his eyes again. If Sehyeon saw this light and came toward it, how good that would be. It was a selfish wish, but he hoped for it nonetheless.

“You made the right choice. Staying here is best for you and for us. And this is a good chance to test how Purification affects monsters.”

The Tower Master spoke as though praising him. Hansol looked at the faintly glowing Purification Zone. Would it do anything beyond cleansing corrupted land?

“What—what? They’re not coming this way!”

“Are… are we safe? Really?”

The monsters… are avoiding it?

The Purification Zone wasn’t large, but it held room for several dozen people. Yet the monsters skirted around it—not fleeing, but as if that patch of ground did not exist at all. They bypassed it entirely, heading toward the Tower where people were gathered.

“As expected of Hansol-nim.”

The Tower Master nodded proudly, almost as if he had anticipated this. Hansol briefly wondered if he had tampered with the Purification Zone somehow—though it was good that more people could be saved.

“Do you think we can attack from there? What do you think, mage?”

“Hmm… I’ll have to check.”

Unlike Hansol, who saw it merely as a new refuge, the Tower Master and James exchanged looks and eyed the Purification Zone. And soon enough—they stepped past the barrier.

Hansol could not allow that.

“Wait! It’s dangerous!”

“Hansol, it’s fine. Don’t worry.”

Hansol nearly dashed after them, but Kassie blocked him.

Do they think they have multiple lives or something?!

Silent screams clawed at Hansol’s throat. Rankers or not, and mages or not, they were being reckless. Yet the two acted as if they were on a pleasant stroll, clearing monsters with ease as they approached the Purification Zone. It wasn’t far from the barrier, but far enough to make Hansol age years in seconds.

Once he saw their feet successfully cross into the Purification Zone, Hansol finally let out a breath.

“See? What did I say? They won’t die from something like that.”

“…Kassie, I feel like you trust them more than me.”

“No way. I just know how strong they are—mage instincts, you know?”

Kassie spoke playfully, with not a hint of worry. Hansol felt his strength drain. Perhaps he really was overreacting. With both of them still calm, he was the odd one out.

You have gained a small amount of experience.

The monsters continued pouring in. The Tower Master and James slaughtered them from within the Purification Zone. Sehyeon was still alive. Hansol prayed he would remain so until they could meet again, and focused on his duties.

From Blessings to Sacred Light, Hansol’s radiance spread rapidly, enveloping every hunter. Strengthened by his divine buffs, hunters carved bright arcs through the monsters, leaving white trails in the air. If they could wipe out enough, Hansol would surely find Sehyeon.

Just when hope began to settle, Hansol’s eyes caught sight of monsters different from any he had seen so far.

“What’s that?”

“They look… different.”

Until now, monsters at least had arms and legs, vaguely human shapes. But these—

Hansol froze.

A gaping maw on a plantlike body, grotesque tendrils stretching outward—monsters identical to the ones from the day of the Cataclysm. The ones that ravaged everyone else while leaving him untouched. They had returned.

A scene ripped straight from his nightmares. Hansol’s entire body locked, unable to move.

“Hansol!”

“…Ah.”

If Kassie hadn’t shaken him, he would have stood frozen until the monsters reached him. Kassie’s touch snapped his vision back into clarity. His mind was still fogged, but improving.

“Ugh! What the hell—they’re way too strong!”

Through Hansol’s still-wavering gaze, James’s golden shield was being pushed back. Even so, James held firm. The monsters ignored him and rushed toward Hansol instead.

Different from that day. No longer avoiding him.

Just like Berthel—

They were targeting Hansol.

“Hansol! You need to retreat to the Tower entrance!”

“W-wait.”

Before Hansol could orient himself, Kassie seized his arm. His expression left no room for refusal. Blue light wrapped around them both.

But the result was not what Kassie intended.

“…?”

The scenery remained unchanged. Nothing had shifted. The blue mana simply washed over them and faded. Kassie grimaced and cast another spell, inscribing a complex magic circle beneath their feet.

“Hansol, let’s go to England.”

“What? No—wait—”

Kassie didn’t give him time to protest. Blue light surged again, swirling around them as the teleportation circle flared.

But once again—

Nothing changed.

They had not moved an inch.