Chapter 43 - Shifting Tides
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the wide glass windows of Choi Jong-In's penthouse, casting golden streaks across the polished wooden floor. The city below was just beginning to stir, unaware that forces far beyond their comprehension were already in motion.
Seated at the dining table with a porcelain cup of black coffee in hand, Choi stared blankly at the skyline.
Jeju Island.
Even now, days after the raid, the memories lingered vividly. The ants. The overwhelming mana. The appearance of powers that should not have surfaced. The story he once knew — the story he had read before reincarnating into this world — had already begun to unravel.
He let out a slow sigh.
Things were supposed to change… but not this much.
He had interfered, yes. He expected ripples. But what he was witnessing now felt more like a tidal wave. The Monarchs were stirring earlier. The fragments were revealing themselves too soon. The balance was shifting.
"…Well," he muttered under his breath, taking another sip of coffee, "it's not like it'll pose a much greater danger…"
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
"…Right?"
From across the living room came the loud, unrestrained laughter of Ignel.
The young dragon, currently in his human form, was sprawled on the couch holding a game controller, eyes glued to the television screen.
"HA! I crushed you again! Too slow!" Ignel shouted triumphantly at whatever unfortunate online opponent he was destroying.
Choi glanced at him with faint amusement.
Ignel looked almost identical to a younger version of himself — red hair, sharp eyes, tall frame. If they walked outside together, anyone would assume they were father and son.
Technically…
He is my son.
Not by blood.
But by mana.
A dragon born from his power, nurtured through his flame, bound by contract and trust. If that wasn't parenthood in some twisted magical sense, he didn't know what was.
A soft "meow" interrupted his thoughts.
King — the Cat Monarch — rubbed against his leg. Choi absentmindedly bent down to pet him.
"You're the only sane one in this house," Choi murmured.
King purred in agreement.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Without turning his head, Choi spoke casually.
"Come in, Hunter Cha."
The door opened slowly.
Ignel paused his game and perked up instantly.
"Cha! You're here! Let's play—"
Cha Hae-In smiled gently. "Maybe next time, Nel."
She looked slightly nervous today.
Choi noticed it immediately.
Her posture was straighter than usual. Her hands clasped together. Her gaze firm, but hesitant.
She walked forward.
"Guild Master… I apologize for coming this early."
Choi waved it off. "You wouldn't come without reason. What is it?"
She inhaled slowly.
"I… would like to leave the guild."
The room fell silent.
Ignel blinked.
King stopped purring.
Choi's hand froze mid-pet.
"…I see."
His voice wasn't angry. Nor surprised.
Just curious.
"For what reason?"
Truthfully — he had forgotten this part of the original timeline.
Cha hesitated, then spoke honestly.
"When I'm around Hunter Sung… he smells different."
Ignel tilted his head. "Smells?"
Cha flushed slightly but continued.
"Other hunters smell… unpleasant to me. Like blood and metal and decay. But he doesn't. I feel… comfortable around him. Calm. Safe."
Choi stared at her blankly for two seconds.
Then, without thinking—
"Are you in love with Hunter Sung?"
Silence.
Cha's face exploded into crimson.
"G-Guild Master—!"
Ignel gasped dramatically. "CHA IS IN LOVE?!"
He jumped off the couch and began circling her, grinning mischievously.
"Cha is in looove~!"
"Nel!" she cried, covering her face.
And then—
Choi burst out laughing.
Not a polite chuckle.
A full-blown, stomach-clutching, table-smacking laugh.
"HAHAHAHA— I'm sorry— excuse me—" he wheezed, trying to control himself.
Cha looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
"Please stop laughing…"
After several long seconds, Choi finally regained composure. He wiped a tear from his eye and leaned back.
"Don't worry, Hunter Cha. Your contract was nearing its end anyway. You're young. You should find a place that suits you best."
She blinked.
"You… aren't angry?"
"Why would I be?" He smiled faintly. "The guild isn't a prison."
Relief washed over her face.
"I'll return the equipment I've been using."
"No need. Consider it a parting gift — from me and from the guild."
Ignel's teasing expression softened slightly.
"…You're really leaving?"
Cha nodded gently.
"I hope we can still meet sometimes."
Ignel crossed his arms dramatically. "You better come visit."
She laughed softly.
After bowing respectfully, she left.
The door closed.
Choi stood by the window, hands in his pockets.
"Good luck, Hunter Cha."
Love.
He chuckled to himself.
"Love really is the enemy~"
---
Meanwhile…
Inside a modest office building elsewhere in Seoul, chaos of a different kind was unfolding.
Yoo Jinho sat hunched over a keyboard, eyes blazing with righteous fury.
"These damn trolls!"
His fingers flew across the keyboard at lightning speed.
"I won't let anyone slander Hyung-nim!"
Click. Click. Click. Click.
He cracked his knuckles triumphantly.
"Hah! Another one defeated!"
At that moment—
"Seems like you're working hard."
Jinho nearly leapt out of his chair.
"H-Hyung-nim?!"
Standing behind him silently was Sung Jinwoo.
"How do you keep appearing like that?!" Jinho clutched his chest.
Jinwoo tilted his head. "Did something happen?"
"N-Nothing! Just online trash talking! I handled it!"
Jinwoo's expression softened slightly.
"You didn't have to."
"I absolutely did!"
Jinho then noticed something.
"Hyung-nim… you look exhausted."
"I just cleared a gate."
He placed a heavy bag on the desk.
Clink.
Jinho opened it—
His eyes widened.
"G-Greater magic cores?! Did you clear a high-rank gate?!"
Jinwoo nodded casually.
Jinho nearly cried.
"With this, we won't have trouble paying salaries!"
"Salaries?"
"Of course! We need staff! And don't forget—we need three founding members."
"Right. Guild Master, Vice Guild Master… and one more."
Jinho leaned forward dramatically.
"Have you decided on the guild name?"
Jinwoo shrugged. "Is that important?"
"VERY important, Hyung-nim!"
Jinho began muttering.
"Sung-Yoo Guild? No… Yoo-Sung Guild? But I can't put my name first…"
Jinwoo interrupted calmly.
"How about Solo Play Guild?"
Silence.
Jinho blinked.
"…Huh?"
Before he could respond—
Knock knock.
Both turned toward the door.
---
Back at DK Guild Headquarters…
Choi Jong-In sat in his office reviewing reports.
Gate activity fluctuations.
Mana density increasing.
Unusual spatial distortions.
His brows furrowed.
It's accelerating.
Without Cha, his guild's upper combat power had dropped significantly. If gates continued evolving like this, sending lower ranks inside would be suicide.
He leaned back in his chair.
"If this keeps up… I'll have to personally oversee most high-rank raids."
That would expose him more.
Which meant—
More attention.
More eyes.
More enemies.
He closed the file and sighed.
"Love really is troublesome."
King jumped onto his desk.
Ignel peeked inside the office.
"Are you worried?"
Choi smiled faintly.
"No. Just thinking."
Outside, the sky remained clear.
But far beyond human perception—
Shadows deepened.
Light fractured.
And the pieces of a war long foretold began slowly, inevitably, to align.
----
Chapter End