Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Chapter 166 – Reorganization (3)

“Ah!”

Hearing Kim Myunghwan let out a painful groan, Yang Hayoung replied in a flat, indifferent tone.

“Clench your teeth and bear it. The sanctuary is just ahead.”

“…Alright. Urgh!”

She wasn’t lying; their destination appeared to be rapidly approaching.

Directly beneath the massive form of the Kellican, the safe territory of Shin-Dolim was already coming into view.

‘Traveling by air truly is incredibly fast.’

A trek that would have normally consumed a solid two hours of walking had been cut down to mere moments, taking barely a fraction of the time.

Yet, the flight was far from a pleasant ride.

Swoosh!

With every powerful gust generated by the Kellican’s wings, the beast’s body jolted, sending sharp, agonizing stings through the torn flesh of his wounded arm.

Staring down at his shoulder, where the blood still flowed freely, he couldn’t help but replay the recent terror in his mind.

‘That was a close call.’

A monstrous creature that remained entirely unfazed, no matter how many rounds he discharged from his firearm.

Had that encounter dragged on even a moment longer, he would have lost far more than just a single limb.

‘We all would have been slaughtered.’

To any ordinary hunting squad, an entity completely impervious to gunfire was nothing short of a walking nightmare.

Kim Myunghwan shifted his gaze upward to Yang Hayoung’s completely blank expression, his mind racing.

‘She obliterated that beast in the blink of an eye.’

The memory of the devastating spears raining down right before him was still burned vividly into his mind.

‘Is this the sheer scale of power possessed by a retainer?’

The difference between them was astronomical.

It had nothing to do with whether a person was an Awakened or not.

Even with the unique traits he possessed—abilities he assumed placed him leagues above someone like Kim Hyena—the disparity was like comparing earth to heaven.

Even if he somehow managed to obtain some rare, specialized power in the future, could he ever hope to match the strength of the woman standing before him?

‘Looking at it realistically…’

To become a truly exceptional Awakened, rather than just a common one.

The statistical likelihood of that happening was practically nonexistent.

‘The peak is just too distant.’

Did someone like her naturally possess such genius to become a retainer, or did the position of retainer itself bestow such overwhelming might?

He had no way of knowing.

Up until now, he had simply taken his older sister Kim Gayoung’s status as a retainer for granted.

Since his sister, who had grown up alongside him, had managed to achieve that status, he assumed he would naturally be able to follow in her footsteps.

Clinging to that desperate hope, he still kept the very bow he used to hunt basic goblins during his rookie days in his inventory like a lucky charm. It was a personal gift from his sister.

He had constantly fantasized that, by some miracle, he might awaken a power akin to hers.

But reality had yielded absolutely nothing.

‘Dammit…’

Why had the heavens not chosen him?

It felt incredibly bitter and profoundly unfair.

In his state of frustration, the thoughts slipped past his lips.

Kim Myunghwan directed his voice toward Yang Hayoung.

“What does it take to reach your level?”

Perhaps the shock of losing his arm had made him weak, prompting him to ask such a foolish question.

“Must be nice. Born with that kind of cheat-like power from the start…”

Maybe this pathetic display was his true nature.

An ordinary, petty human filled with jealousy and resentment, envying the fortune of those blessed with greatness.

Yet, his envy toward her remained undeniable.

She possessed the kind of power reserved only for the main character of a story.

Without a single trace of emotion on her face, Yang Hayoung finally spoke.

“Do you still have living parents?”

“…?”

Kim Myunghwan blinked in confusion.

He never anticipated that she would counter his query with such an intensely personal and sudden question.

Though the inquiry made him feel highly uncomfortable, he acknowledged that he had brought this on himself and answered honestly.

“…My father has passed, but my mother is still with us.”

“I see.”

Yang Hayoung added in a chillingly casual tone.

“I ended the lives of both of mine.”

“…”

She went on.

“With these very hands.”

The horrifying revelation hung in the air.

“It was an accident, of sorts.”

Her voice remained entirely flat and undisturbed as she recounted the tale.

“A vile monster shattered the window and invaded our home, and that was the exact moment my abilities manifested.”

Her expression did not flicker in the slightest.

“But back then, my power was far too volatile and immense for me to guide. It went completely out of control.”

Her delivery was perfectly level, devoid of any rising emotion.

“I managed to destroy the beast, but not before my mother, who was desperately shielding me in her arms, perished.”

She continued.

“My father, who had stood in the monster’s path to buy us time, died as well.”

Her hollow, emotionless eyes turned to look directly at Kim Myunghwan.

“I actually envy you. You seem to desire my strength, but if it were possible, I would gladly trade this power for your life.”

“…”

Kim Myunghwan found himself utterly speechless.

“I respect you, though. Not many people are willing to put their lives on the line to shield their teammates.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

A moment later, they crossed over the defensive perimeter guarding the sanctuary, and the throbbing agony in his right shoulder began to dull significantly.

Yang Hayoung descended in front of a medical facility, gently carrying Kim Myunghwan inside.

In her spare hand, she gripped his severed right arm.

“Critical casualty.”

With his entire arm ripped from his torso, Kim Myunghwan was immediately prioritized and rushed onto a clinical table.

Staring down at him in silence, Yang Hayoung offered a final thought before departing.

“If I had been aware of my capabilities sooner, if I had spent time mastering them, perhaps my parents would still be alive today. But when the beast struck, I chose to cower in their embrace instead. It simply felt safer.”

For the briefest instant, a flicker of profound sorrow crossed her otherwise stoic face.

“Everyone has their own bounds. Just give everything you have with what you’ve been dealt. That way, you won’t be left with lingering regrets.”

Before Kim Myunghwan could utter a word of response, Yang Hayoung turned and walked out of the treatment room.

Suppressing his deep remorse, he could only stare at the empty doorway she left behind.

‘…I really should have offered an apology.’

This was the person who had just rescued him and his entire squad from certain death.

Regardless of how shaken he had been by his injury, it was incredibly ungrateful to speak to his savior in such a manner.

To think he had carelessly poked at her deepest trauma…

“Sigh…”

Nothing seemed to be going his way.

Just then, a practitioner clad in pristine white robes approached his bedside, inspected the horrific wound, and hovered his hand over the injury.

And then…

Hummmm—

A bright healing light surged forth, beginning the process of restoring his severed limb.

Fractured bones snapped back into alignment, fresh muscle fibers rapidly knit themselves together, and the shredded flesh reconstructed itself at an unbelievable pace.

Incredibly, the near-fatal wound of having an arm entirely torn away was fully repaired in a matter of minutes.

“Please take it easy for the next twenty-four hours. You might experience some minor stiffness initially, but it will fade once you start moving around normally.”

“…Thank you so much.”

He offered a polite, gentle smile in return.

“It is our privilege to aid those who are chosen. We are all united under the grace of our Savior, Kim Jae-hyun—”

Before the practitioner could delve deeper into his preaching, a nurse urgently called out from across the room.

“Priest Yoon Seong-min! We have another critical patient!”

Priest Yoon Seong-min immediately halted his speech and rushed off to attend to the new arrival.

Kim Myunghwan knew exactly who these individuals were.

‘The Citizens’ Salvation Church…’

It was a rising religious sect established by those who held the “citizenship” passes distributed by Kim Jae-hyun.

In the beginning, the general public had avoided them.

Even though everyone recognized the absolute authority of Kim Jae-hyun, modern citizens still viewed such sudden religious movements with intense skepticism.

Lately, however, the church’s reach had been growing exponentially.

‘They’ve produced five high-tier recovery users within that group alone.’

Whispers had already been circulating that Kim Jae-hyun possessed the ability to trigger Awakenings in others.

Given that context, the emergence of multiple elite healers from this single cult—capable of completely regenerating lost limbs in mere minutes—was nothing short of miraculous.

‘There’s no way this is happening unless Kim Jae-hyun is actively backing them behind the scenes.’

The distinction between this group and typical, deceptive cults was night and day.

The deity the Citizens’ Salvation Church worshipped, Kim Jae-hyun, was a tangible entity of absolute, undeniable power.

He possessed the divine grace to grant Awakening abilities to his followers.

He could manifest sustenance and vital equipment from nothing.

Most importantly, he maintained the absolute safe zones that kept the monstrous hordes at bay.

These undeniable truths provided the Citizens’ Salvation Church with immense credibility.

On top of that, they didn’t extort monetary offerings from their followers, nor did they force people to spend all day reciting prayers in a temple.

Their sole requirement was simple: believe in “Kim Jae-hyun.”

That was the core tenet of their message.

And the deeper one’s devotion to Kim Jae-hyun grew…

‘The more powerful you would become.’

This had already become a widely accepted truth among active hunters.

Countless individuals had personally witnessed their physical parameters surge in direct proportion to their devotion to Kim Jae-hyun.

‘…Perhaps I should start attending their gatherings?’

Kim Myunghwan believed his own devotion to Kim Jae-hyun was second to none.

After all, he had been part of Kim Jae-hyun’s faction from the very start, with Kim Gayoung and Ha Dong-geon being practically family.

‘Acquiring healing magic would significantly bolster my squad’s survival rate.’

And yet…

‘Even if I obtained recovery magic, would that actually allow me to strike down a beast like the one today?’

No.

It would only serve to drag out an inevitable, painful death.

‘…What if I chose to transition into a marksman instead?’

He couldn’t be certain.

Even if his firearms received a massive power boost, could they actually pierce the hide of a monster that felt like solid steel?

‘Even so…’

The parting advice Yang Hayoung had given him echoed in his mind.

[Just give everything you have with what you’ve been dealt. That way, you won’t be left with lingering regrets.]

Indeed.

He had to keep fighting tooth and nail to grow stronger, even if it was only by a fraction.

“Excuse me, Nurse.”

“Yes?”

“Am I cleared to depart? I have an active quest assigned by Kim Jae-hyun.”

“A quest?”

Fortunately, the nurse was well-acquainted with the term.

She had heard Priest Yoon Seong-min mention his own divine quests on numerous occasions during his rounds in the ward.

She was fully aware that these quests were handed down directly by Kim Jae-hyun.

After a brief assessment of Kim Myunghwan’s vital signs, the nurse gave a small nod.

“You are fully recovered. You may leave.”

“I appreciate it.”

Stepping out into the open air, Kim Myunghwan fell into a steady jog.

His destination was Yeouido, the site of Nandaemun, which served as the dimensional gateway linking them to Jeonpo Station in Busan.

Since it lay directly between the safe territories of Sindorim and Seoul Station—separated by a mere 500 meters—he didn’t have to worry about hostile encounters.

‘I’ve arrived.’

As he scanned the area, the plaza was far more congested than usual.

It seemed the space was packed with other survivors who had been granted similar tasks.

Hummmm—

Passing through Nandaemun and stepping into Jeonpo Station…

“All those on the Warrior quest path, assemble over here!”

“Marksman quest participants, gather in this section!”

Kim Myunghwan steered himself toward the designated area for the marksmen.

‘There are so many of us.’

He estimated at least a hundred individuals in his section alone.

When factoring in the warriors, the total number of participants easily reached several hundred.

Because he had been the sole member of his immediate squad to receive this system prompt, he had secretly felt quite special.

But standing amidst this massive crowd, he realized he was merely one drop in a massive ocean.

“Do we have any marksmen currently lacking a weapon?”

Kim Myunghwan raised his hand without a word.

“My rifle was destroyed in my last engagement.”

“What model were you operating?”

“A K-2.”

“We have a replacement ready for you here.”

Just then, a man with a highly recognizable face addressed the coordinator in charge.

“Excuse me. Where should those who aren’t classified as Warriors or Archers report?”

Kim Myunghwan recognized him instantly.

‘Park Seong-jun.’

He was a highly renowned name within the hunter community.

An individual who had unlocked a specialized ability related to archery.

“You’ll want to head over to that sector.”

Following the coordinator’s gesture, he spotted a compact gathering of about ten to twelve individuals off to the side.

‘So there are advanced paths outside of the standard Warrior and Archer routes.’

Those individuals had been granted highly specialized class quests, far different from his own.

To receive such unique tasks, they undoubtedly possessed extraordinary innate potential, much like Park Seong-jun.

Indeed, almost every face in that select group was highly recognizable.

They were all elite combatants, whispered to be among the strongest active hunters in the region.

People who had unlocked their potential early, much like Kim Hyena, were gathered together.

‘…I can’t help but envy them.’

Unlike him, they seemed to radiate a brilliant aura of success.

Would they eventually become like the Gashin, ascending to the point of sprouting wings?

Right at that moment.

A small child gently tugged on Kim Myunghwan’s sleeve, looking up with wide eyes.

“Are you all real Hunters?”

The term ‘Hunter’—referring to those who earned their living by clearing monsters—had rapidly integrated into the daily vocabulary of the survivors.

“Do-young! Ah, I am so sorry. My boy is just incredibly curious…”

Seeing so many armed adults gathered in one place had clearly sparked the young boy’s imagination.

“It’s perfectly fine,” Kim Myunghwan replied softly.

The young boy then cheered enthusiastically.

“I’m going to do it too! I’m going to become a great Hunter just like you! A hero who defeats the monsters! I want to be just like you! I’m so jealous!”

Hearing the child utter the words ‘I’m so jealous’ felt like a physical blow to Kim Myunghwan’s mind, shattering his self-pity.

He froze in place.

The boy’s mother quickly knelt down, pulling her child back apologetically.

“I apologize, I’m so sorry. Do-young! Stop bothering the busy people! We need to go right now.”

As he was dragged away by his mother, the young boy waved one last time.

“Fight hard, Mister!”

As the small commotion subsided, the surrounding hunters chuckled softly.

“Haha.”

“That kid has some real spirit.”

“He’ll probably make a fine hunter himself one day.”

Blending back into the crowd, Kim Myunghwan let out a self-deprecating laugh as a sudden realization washed over him.

‘To someone out there, I am also an object of envy.’

A source of admiration and a goal to strive for.

Just as there were legendary figures walking far ahead of him, there were undoubtedly countless ordinary people standing behind him, wishing they could be in his shoes.

They would look at him with deep envy once he successfully completed his transition to the Archer class.

‘That’s right.’

His journey was far from over.

‘I just need to keep taking one step at a time.’

He was merely walking his own path.

‘If I keep moving forward without stopping…’

One day, without a doubt.

He would finally stand upon that high Throne alongside them.