I almost grabbed the guard's collar momentarily. Clenching my fist tightly, I calmed my emotions. I had only guessed based on skill characteristics; there's a possibility that Alpha might not be my brother. Even if Yoohyun confirms it, it might not be a big deal. Suddenly finding oneself in an unfamiliar place could lead to accidents due to confusion.
They said Alpha was successfully subdued and well-managed... darn it. Anyway, it means he's safe. Yoohyun wouldn't mess things up here in the first place. It's okay.
...Even as I reassured myself, my mind was recalling the items I had, remaining points, and the list of items in the point store. No, I shouldn't act hastily. First, I need to confirm if Alpha is really Yoohyun. Let's stay calm.
"Thank you for the ride. If you don't mind, could you help me with one more thing? I'd like to sell an A-grade item, but since it's my first time in Akates, I'm worried about being scammed. I'll compensate you for your trouble, so would you mind selling it for me?"
Since he was a guard, he should be familiar with this, and offering a 5% commission made the B-grade guard hesitate. When I handed over the A-grade dagger I had kept, he made a quick call and swiftly processed the transaction. Even when I mentioned not having a card, he arranged for a new cash card. Minus the commission, I received 3 million L. The currency remains the same. The B-grade guard, who earned about 1.5 million won in labor fees, happily provided me with information on decent hotels, restaurants, and more.
"Oh, by the way, I have a special support skill. Can I work at the Defense Bureau?"
"If you're a support guard from Medsang Center, you're welcome anywhere. If you apply for a transfer to the Defense Bureau, they'll schedule the date for changing your imprint."
He left me his contact information, mentioning that if I needed to sell more items or required other assistance, I could contact him anytime. With that, the B-grade guard left.
Despite being not far from the city center, Akates gave off a simpler vibe compared to Sollemnis. Still, the buildings were tall, and there were many people in the lively streets. I rode the scooter along the road towards the Defense Bureau, even though I was tired, sleepy, and hungry. I recharged the scooter's fuel on the way.
Arriving at the Defense Bureau's complaint office, I took a waiting ticket. Shortly after, it was my turn.
"Hello, I'm a special support guard from Medsang Center."
I handed over my ID along with a brief introduction, and the employee showed a slightly surprised expression.
"I'm considering transferring to the Defense Bureau in Akates."
"Oh, yes. I'll connect you right away. Please wait a moment."
Things seemed to be going smoothly for now. Before long, a man dressed in a suit appeared. He was a D-grade awakened with an average mana amount. Perhaps his support skills were excellent, or maybe he failed in imprinting.
"Hello, Yoojin Han. I'm Dasple, in charge of support guards at the Akates Defense Bureau."
"Hello."
"Come inside."
Dasple, in charge of support guards, led me inside the complaint office. When we sat on the sofa, tea was served. Dasple, sitting across from me, showed a friendly smile.
"Are you aware of the rumors about guards being treated poorly in Akates City."
...What did he say? I felt a sudden pain in my stomach. If they were willing to voluntarily pay taxes, how bad must the rumors be? Suppressing my expression to maintain a friendly demeanor, my lips trembled slightly.
"Rumors are always exaggerated."
"You're right. Moreover, support guards are no different from combat guards. Honestly, combat guards deal with numerous potential threats. Just recently, Alpha went on a rampage and burned down an entire commercial area."
"The damage must have been significant. I heard about it vaguely."
"Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the property damage was immense. As a result, the time Alpha will be restrained has been extended."
Restrained, huh. This time, a natural smile appeared on my face. Even with just a brief conversation, I could roughly guess how they put a leash on combat guards.
'Transferring all the damage during combat to guards.'
It seemed common, even during ordinary monster encounters. They would accumulate debt and feed on guards, consuming them. Whether it's the cost of renting equipment, repair fees, potion costs, or dungeon usage fees, debts could easily accumulate.
They might do something similar here. Perhaps even more types of leashes exist, like family or imprints.
"Since support guards won't experience such situations, it's a relief."
I smiled widely, and Dasple followed suit.
"Of course. The constraints are much lighter. Combat guards, even if their hands and feet are tied, are still unpredictable. They're individuals who can cause accidents anytime. With great power comes great responsibility. That's the human way."
He's blabbering about being protected by that power.
It's understandable to fear high-rank awakened beings. In fact, it's typical. Even a physically fit ordinary person with an imposing presence could make others uneasy. So, it's natural for someone who can demolish buildings barehanded to be frightening. That's why in our neighborhood, we made efforts to improve the hunter image from the beginning.
But regardless of that, if you want protection and to be safeguarded by awakened beings, you should treat them accordingly. That's the true human way. To be born stronger than others and then be expected to serve and take responsibility for it-it's insane.
"In Akates City, the safety of citizens is our top priority. In a world like today's, safety is undoubtedly the most crucial thing. Due to that, we have slightly more restrictions compared to other cities. But honestly, freedom is a luxury that can be enjoyed only when you're alive."
It seems like he thinks I already know everything about the situation.
"We prioritize the safety of citizens. However, the satisfaction of support and healing guards is not inferior to any other city. Han Yoojin-ssi probably heard about it and decided to visit the Defense Bureau as soon as she arrived in the city."
"I've heard the rumors. That's why I didn't just pass by the Defense Bureau as soon as I arrived in the city."
"Haha, true. Besides, Han Yoojin-ssi is from Medsang Center, right? It's widely known that the guards are treated well, thanks to Miss Mew. So, we can't treat you too casually."
As I listened more, I became curious about Medsang Center. It seems like they have a good treatment for support and healing guards. ...Did they mistakenly put all the newcomers into Medsang Center? I hope Yerim, Noah, and Peace didn't end up in a bad place. I couldn't fathom how Peace was doing. Adults, like Sung Hyunjae and Moon Hyuna shouldn't be much of a concern.
Especially Sung Hyunjae-he's someone who eats well and lives well anywhere.
Despite my complex feelings, the atmosphere was warm. We briefly discussed the terms of the contract.
"I'll inform you of my decision about my skill after confirming it thoroughly. I'll tell you this much-it's a skill that brought me from Medsang Center to Akates City with C-grade stats, which should be sufficient."
"I'm looking forward to it. Even if it's not SS-grade, you must have encountered S-grade monsters a few times, right?"
"Many times."
Dasple expressed a genuinely surprised expression. Being from Medsanhñg Center seemed to impress him.
"I'll prepare the imprint change procedure as quickly as possible."
"Oh, before that."
I swallowed my dry saliva. Trying to suppress my emotions and speak calmly, I continued.
"Could I confirm Alpha's condition? Honestly, I felt uneasy hearing about his rampage. I even considered changing direction to another city. Although I heard that he's well-managed, I still want to see and confirm it with my own eyes."
"I completely understand that sentiment. I occasionally feel uneasy too, you know."
That guy nodded significantly.
"But first, I need to seek permission from above. However, if we know the grade of Han Yoojin-ssi's skill, getting approval will be easier."
"When can we confirm that?"
"Since Han Yoojin-ssi is still an outsider, access to the main building will only be possible after sunset."
Hearing that I should visit later in the evening, I left the reception room. My stomach felt a bit uneasy. Even with the thought that it might not be my brother, there was a gnawing unease.
The sun still had a long way to go before setting. Trying to soothe my mind, I decided to learn more about Alpha. Unlike Sigma, there was quite a bit of information available here.
'26 years old, awakened four years ago. Family, except for one father, deceased.'
The fact that the father was alive felt a bit strange. There was also a photo included in the data. His black hair resembled Yoo Hyun's, but both of his eyes were red. It seemed like it wasn't influenced by Irin but naturally red.
'Come to think of it, what happened to Irin?'
Is there also a spirit in this world? I'm not sure if it came with me.
Alpha, too, was a well-groomed handsome young man, but he looked quite different from Yoohyun. It was a bit reassuring to see that he was undoubtedly a different person. Considering that Sigma stands out as an unusual case of looking the same in different worlds.
"That Sigma wasn't Sung Hyunjae. Right, it might not be Yoo Hyun after all."
Leaving the Defense Bureau, I headed to a nearby hotel. I entered the hotel restaurant, ordered food, but had no appetite. Although hungry, I wasn't in the mood to eat. I absentmindedly toyed with the salad with a fork when suddenly, a sub-quest notification popped up.
[Eat Well for Good Health
Don't starve, enjoy your meal to stay healthy! Try to eat more than half of the prepared food.
Reward: Two high-quality chocolate-flavored mana potions]
What is this quest? I couldn't help but chuckle. The reward seemed overly generous compared to the quest. Well, I have no choice but to eat.
'But why the chocolate flavor?'
It reminded me of that person. It was delicious, I have to admit. Once the food entered my mouth, I quickly finished it. Thanks to that, I received the potions. Feeling full, sleepy, and with no other tasks until dawn, I went to the hotel room, took a shower, and lay down. Soon, sleep overcame me.
"Guest, wake up! Please wake up!"
I woke up to the hotel staff shaking and calling me by the bed. Could they just barge in without permission?
"The sun is about to set. Please move to the hotel shelter."
Hotel shelter? Does the hotel have a designated shelter? Well, if it's a hotel that can't be used at night, it might not do well. Probably, the hotel shelter is more spacious and well-equipped than a public shelter. The room rate might be high, but it could be shelter fees.
After saying that I needed to visit the Defense Bureau, I left the hotel. The darkening streets were quiet. There were hardly any people around, and the bus had a sign flashing that it was the last run.
Riding the scooter, I headed to the Defense Bureau. The complaint office had already closed its doors. The guard's guide appeared along with another awakened being I didn't recognize.
"Welcome, Han Yoojin-ssi This is Mindiba, the Alpha management officer."
Dasple introduced the man standing next to him. Like Sollemnis, the people in this area seemed to have names with three basic letters, excluding a surname. Mindiba greeted me and led the way.
"As of now, the most significant issue is that Alpha is showing symptoms of mental confusion. There were no siblings among Alpha's family."
"...Siblings?"
"Yes. Of course, we can't be sure that it's a biological brother, but among the relationships that could be urgently searched, there is no one referred to as a brother. It could be a person cleverly hidden to avoid being a weakness, but considering the sudden rampage, we suspect a mental issue."
...The word 'brother' triggered emotions that were hard to suppress. If it were Yoohyun, rescuing him would not be enough to resolve the situation. Even dealing with monsters could become dangerous. Especially with the weakened effect of the protection imprint, facing a monster with mana absorption skills would pose a high risk.
The elevator stopped, and the door opened. The inspection, similar to Sollemnis,, was repeated a few times.
"At present, the biggest problem is Alpha showing symptoms of mental confusion. Even if Alpha is an SS-grade awakened being, losing mana could cause a loss of consciousness. Currently, Alpha is in the mana absorption chamber connected to the mana hole. Unless we turn off the absorption chamber, it's impossible for Alpha to wake up."
...Very safe indeed. With that, even a breath bomb from a dragon would be useless. The isolation room had a double structure. I had to open the door again after entering.
"...As a countermeasure, we performed the mana imprint modification procedure. It connects the imprints of a few specific people, allowing them to forcibly extract mana from Alpha. If Alpha goes berserk again, we can suppress him at any time. However, in that case, the protective imprint's effectiveness significantly decreases, making it risky when facing monsters with mana absorption skills. Still, it was inevitable."
Alpha could be easily suppressed in the current state. If Alpha were Yoohyun, just rescuing him wouldn't solve the situation. It indicated that even facing monsters could become risky. And there was a high possibility of it becoming dangerous even when dealing with monsters.
The elevator opened, and I followed Mindiba into a secure room. The walls were filled with intricate magic circles. It seemed impossible to break them, even for an SS-grade awakened being. The closer to the mana hole, the stronger the intensity, making it impossible for Alpha to escape from this isolation room.
"...But it can't stay like this forever. Although Alpha is extremely secure right now, we can't keep him asleep indefinitely. So, we performed the high-level mana absorption modification procedure."
"...Modification?"
"Yes. It's a procedure that connects the imprints of certain individuals, allowing them to forcibly extract mana from each other. It was performed so that specific individuals could forcibly extract mana from Alpha, ensuring the ability to suppress him if he goes berserk again. However, in that case, the effectiveness of the protective imprint decreases significantly. So, we will perform the procedure again once high-grade mana absorption items are sufficiently prepared. You can't let your guard down."
"Here it is. After the imprint procedure, a more robust isolation room and a more powerful mana absorption chamber have been arranged. The walls here receive the grace of the mana hole, and even an SS-grade awakened being would find it difficult to break through. The closer to the mana pool, the higher the intensity, so even now, it's impossible for Alpha to escape."
...Incredibly thorough. That means even the breath of a dragon would be useless. The isolation room had a double structure, and entering required opening the door again.
Restless, I carefully examined the collapsed Alpha. Even though his eyes were covered, I could still...
'...Yoo Hyun.'
The Alpha in person looked different from the photos. Not exactly the same as my brother, but closer. Alpha resembled Yoohyun more than ever. I had been watching my brother since he was born. There was never any room for confusion.
"...Alpha's appearance seems a bit different from the photos."
"Really? It might feel that way in photos. To me, they look identical."
Identical? Where do you see that? Their physique is different. It seems like people here see Yoohyun... as the original Alpha. It looked like that to me. I took a deep breath; my throat felt scorched. I wanted to run there right away.
Why the hell treat him like a kid? How did I raise him, even if it's not his original body? Like that.
"...It was mentioned that Alpha shows signs of mental confusion?"
"Yes. So, we're currently combining medication with treatment. We're also trying to find guards with high-level mental skills in other cities through inquiries."
"One of my skills is related to the mental aspect."
"Really?"
"It's just to calm the opponent, but it works up to SS-grade. That's why I could easily avoid monsters on the way here."
I turned to Mindiba. I wanted to punch his surprised face. It was easy to put a knife to his throat right now; it was hard to endure.
"I might be able to help. If it's okay, could I test it against Alpha?"
"Uh, right now?"
"Yes. If I prove its effectiveness, the terms of the contract could change significantly."
He looked like he was smiling. The bastard smiled too.
"It may not be able to move much due to the medication, but it could become dangerous."
"If he could move like that, I wouldn't have been able to come here alone."
Sure enough, he said he would prepare right away. Not long after, more people came in. There were two S-rank guards among them.
"I'll turn off the mana absorption chamber. Please wait."
After a complicated operation, the light disappeared from the floor's circle. Simultaneously, the limp body that was trying to approach Alpha twisted violently. It seemed like the entire body was writhing intensely.
"Is it okay!"
I shouted quickly. At the same time, the movements of Alpha, or rather, Yoo Hyun, stopped. There were admiring sounds, saying that it really had an effect. I quickly approached Yoohyun, knelt down, and bowed my body to the ground, holding my brother in my arms.
"...Are you okay."
A weak trembling body, rough breathing as if excited. I carefully removed the blindfold to avoid surprising him. His eyes opened. Red pupils faced me. Blurred eyes due to the medication quickly moistened.
I reached out. I embraced my brother.
---