LTTH C32

Chapter 32

“J-just a moment. Here is the list…”

One official’s eyes widened as he hurriedly brought forth a tablet, fingertips beginning to scroll. Likely searching for the boy’s identity, but James was swifter.

“Child, come here.”

The small shadow hesitated long before tentatively emerging. Not only his face, but the boy’s entire body was marked with mottled, dark blemishes. Clad in sparse garments and tangled hair, he appeared as though raised in a world centuries past—disheveled and wretched.

‘Support is clearly scarce.’

No matter how funds poured in, to save every soul in this vast Dark Zone was impossible. Surely, essentials were not delivered freely. This undeniable truth steeled Hansol’s resolve. There was no time for rest; survival here was a daily struggle.

‘The damned catastrophe.’

How many lives, how many resources must be seized to sate such ruin?

Just then, while cursing the cruel cataclysm and gates, the boy carefully approached, halting at the boundary where dark and earth met. He knew well what fate awaited should he cross.

Born and raised within the Dark Zone, this child’s entire world was bound within.

“I will heal you. Come here.”

A sudden wellspring of confidence surged within Hansol—perhaps pity too. Ignoring the hopeful gazes around him, he used the Purification skill. Wishing the boy’s future to be not entirely dark, a small hope entwined within.

“Purification.”

The white light spread from his outstretched hand to rest upon the boy poised at the edge—then faded away. No change appeared. Yet Hansol would not concede. Not stubbornness, but trust in his skill to purify the Dark Zone. It followed that those poisoned by its toxins might be healed.

At least, according to what he knew of the system. Twice, thrice, four times, five times—how many times did he repeat it? As the expressions of those gathered grew pitiful, the system finally responded. The dark spots on the boy’s skin began to fade.

As expected.

“Even the infected…!”

“Oh, Messiah…”

“O Lord…”

‘So one attempt is not enough?’

Repeatedly, endlessly—Hansol had long been accustomed to such ritual since awakening as a hunter.

Again, he purified the boy. Around the tenth time, the dark spots had nearly vanished from sight. Still unsure if they were truly gone, Hansol invoked Purification once more.

At once, a system message appeared before his eyes, as if awaited:

■■■’s vessel has been purified.

“……!”

‘…What?’

The sudden, unforeseen system window did not surprise him—exceptional achievements and rare rewards had often been his companions.

Yet this time, the crimson-tinted system window trembled uneasily, as if laden with ill omen. From color to form, all was disturbing. Hansol swallowed dryly, pondering deeply.

‘Is this boy the vessel…?’

No more than ten years old, the boy’s tangled hair and clear skin shone unmistakably. His eyes bore the pristine clarity of childhood. Perhaps owing to countless purifications, his appearance now radiated a purity unknown until then.

“Darling, could it be?”

“A crimson system window… Could you truly have seen such a thing until now?”

“……!”

It could not be. Gazes once tenderly fixed upon the boy now flickered uncertainly among the two men.

“Can you see it?”

“Yes, though I cannot say why.”

“Show me.”

Impossible. The system window was meant solely for the individual’s eyes. Though the term ‘individualizes’ seemed laughable, nonetheless, no other hunters should see such a display. Had it been public, transparency would reign within the association and among hunters worldwide.

This was not the global announcement of Berthel’s second laboratory being cleared. This was Hansol’s own system window. Sorting out whose it belonged to was absurd, yet this window was intended for his eyes alone.

“Have you truly seen such a crimson system window all this time?”

“Oh, no.”

Answering reflexively, the serious expressions remained unchanged. Their gaze fixed clearly upon the crimson system window before Hansol. They genuinely could see it.

‘This is… a warning.’

A blunt message, sent explicitly to Hansol and these two present.

Flickering ominously, the system window lingered, as if making one last desperate attempt.

A coward’s thought arose.

Perhaps he ought not have purified the Dark Zone. Or at least, he should have left the infected untouched.

‘Damn it.’

Futile thoughts. Even if a penalty came from purifying the Dark Zone or one such infected boy, Hansol would not hesitate. This was unchangeable human nature.

Suddenly, the crimson system window sparked and vanished.

“It is gone.”

“Darling, are you well?”

The vanished window heightened the two men’s vigilance instead. The Tower Lord’s gaze sharpened as he scanned the surroundings; James exhaled in relief. Hansol, taking them in, felt his mind race.

‘They said the vessel…’

A someone’s vessel, or a sacrifice perhaps. Might this vast Dark Zone be not a capricious calamity, but someone’s domain? And for twenty-five years?

A foul feeling settled. Though the land was not his to claim, nor even Korean, Hansol’s face darkened. The owner of the Dark Zone might see this as theft—a swindling of land carefully held these many years.

No—let us speak plainly. This land belonged here originally. Hansol’s expression hardened as he gazed upon the endless Dark Zone.

“Brother… am I a good example?”

“Hm?”

The small boy fidgeted, tugging at his garment. Though his feet remained at the edge of the Dark Zone, his trembling fingers clutched the cloth as if guilty of some great misdeed.

Fear. A familiar feeling. Hansol’s gaze filled with pity turned toward the boy.

The system had deemed the boy healed. Unless one were a hunter, the change would be undetectable. Hansol replied not with words, but by extending his hand toward the Dark Zone beneath the boy’s feet.

Showing through action rather than speech—a rare strength in Hansol.

“Purification.”

The white radiance streamed forth, quietly entering the Dark Zone beneath the boy. The small light expanded steadily, enlarging its domain. When the boy’s feet were thoroughly bathed in earthen hues, he startled and swiftly turned toward the darkness. Yet Hansol’s hand was faster.

“It’s alright.”

“Ah…”

“From today on, all will be well.”

Gently pulling the boy close, the light body melted into his warm embrace.

“…Then… can you heal others too?”

The boy, eyes clear within his arms, glanced back quietly, as if awaited this moment. Slowly, others marked with spots began emerging behind him.

They had clearly hidden until now. For them, the sudden disappearance of the Dark Zone, replaced by hunters and ordinary folk confidently advancing, must have been disorienting—was this truly reality or mere illusion?

“If I serve as a good example, then all can receive healing.”

“A good… example?”