The information obtained from related parties was as follows:

The place to resume previous research and experiments is not above ground but underground. It was built under a currently non-operational defense equipment factory. Personnel are still insufficient, so it's not fully operational, but some parts have started.

'This is the perfect opportunity.'

When research and experiment facilities start operating in earnest, security becomes much tighter. If it were the original Hyeon Sujin, such security wouldn't matter how many layers there were. Whatever blocks the front has always been something to just break through like before.

But now the situation is different. Her body is not normal. Even A-rank ability users might be difficult, let alone S-rank. Four or five might be manageable somehow, but more than that wouldn't be easy.

That's why now is even more perfect. If not now, there's none. Destroy all facilities and find the remaining related parties for revenge. After that, spread this terrible and disgusting truth to everyone!

Starting by ambushing the association branch was what she had in mind. It's just a branch. It's not a place with many people. Yet the reason for targeting the branch is for diverting attention.

This way, most people will think it's terrorist activity by villains. Terrorist attacks on ability user associations are one of the occasionally occurring incidents. That way, she can turn attention here and engage in revenge relatively comfortably.

Ssssh—

Passing through the city center, she moves quickly to the outskirts of the region. During that time, Changwon seemed to have completely fallen for it being villain terrorism. Police and fire personnel, as well as ability users, all head to where the branch was located.

Turning her head to look at that scene, Hyeon Sujin turned her head away. It seemed to have gone according to plan, but there was an uncomfortable part.

'Maybe like I did, that man also noticed.'

She unavoidably exposed her magic power when launching the attack. Not everyone in the world can read that magic power in detail. Especially the magic power of opponents never encountered before.

The problem is that one of the people in the branch has excellent talent in that magic power. And the point that he had already clashed with her several times.

'Baek Seojin.'

Why does he keep meeting and interfering everywhere she goes? At this point, she wonders if someone planted a location tracker on her.

Hyeon Sujin bit her lips and increased her speed even more.

Other A-ranks could still be handled without difficulty. But if it's Baek Seojin, the story is different.

She already knows from clashing with him how high his level is. Baek Seojin alone could block her current self and easily endure. If S-ranks rush in during that time, she would be finished.

'...No. That can't be. Absolutely, absolutely can't be. Now? When I've barely started?'

If she must die, she'll gladly die. She'll die laughing very refreshingly. But that's after this insane revenge play ends. Until then, she'll go crazy and rampage.

'This place.'

Arriving at a place with almost no human presence, Hyeon Sujin surveyed the surroundings. A closed defense equipment factory, only an eerie atmosphere surrounds it. Looking only up to here, everyone would think 'It's an abandoned factory' and turn away.

But not to Hyeon Sujin, who had skills as real as her betrayal.

'...Hidden very deep indeed. To this extent, even most A-ranks wouldn't know.'

Hyeon Sujin sneered once as if amazed and closed both eyes. Soon her body changed into a hazy shadow and disappeared into the abandoned factory interior.

Drip, drip—

Is it because she used her ability in an unhealthy state? Red blood drops were dotted where the shadow passed.

And not far from where Hyeon Sujin left.

"..."

One figure watched that silently and began to follow.

---

The deeper she went inside, the more nausea rose in Hyeon Sujin. She saw everything. What kind of tragedy would unfold when this place operates.

That empty space there will be filled with children who have no parents, just created. And beyond that, all kinds of experiments abandoned by ethics will be carried out.

No matter how much they scream in pain, no matter how much they beg to live, they won't listen. Since they're 'created' children, not born ones, no one will sympathize. They'll clearly be used and used again until they all meet tragic ends.

Even if heaven's luck touches them and they survive, most fates are the same.

"Cough, cough!"

Even now when she closes her eyes, that scene comes vividly to mind. Him who shone so brightly, who was so beautiful, dying in a corpse-like state.

Someone who had such a warm heart despite enduring such terrible experiments. He wasn't someone who should have perished like that. He was a man close to a true hero. She had sometimes thought she wished her fate and his had been switched.

'Such things will never happen again. Darling. Those bastards who hurt you. Those things that made you suffer. I'll erase them all so they never appear in this world again.'

Hyeon Sujin spreads both arms to her sides. Then shadows rise hazily from her fingertips.

Shaaa—

Like black fog, or like pitch-black smoke. They began spreading to various parts of the facility without anyone knowing. Containing eerily sharp magic power within.

"...Cough, cough!"

With rough coughing, dark red blood flows from between her clenched lips. Previous fight with the Elder, battle with Irina, and combat with Baek Seojin. In that state, using magic power to her utmost was a natural result.

"If you push yourself one more time, you might really die then."

Those words come to mind again. Death, an ending everyone instinctively avoids. Hyeon Sujin is human too. How could she not have regrets about life? Very briefly, attachment to her own life tried to hold her back.

But she had something more important than her own life. For that, she even denied and dirtied her own past.

She can't back down now. No, there's nowhere to back down to anyway. So no regrets. Nothing to hesitate about. Just doing what must be done...

"You might really die doing that."

A male voice penetrates Hyeon Sujin's ears. Greatly startled, she quickly turned around, and one figure gradually revealed itself.

A man wearing clothes torn and messy everywhere. With dust and blood clinging to his face like he escaped an explosion scene.

"I said that time was the first and last sympathy."

"...Baek Seojin."

Hyeon Sujin slowly bit her lips.

*

Irritation surges up. No, should I call it anger? The emotion I felt the moment I saw the Elder in front of me was that. It wasn't fear or tension like before.

As soon as I felt Hyeon Sujin's presence, I immediately embraced the team members. Kang Hana and Yoo Dasom aside, even embracing Lee Hyunwoo was a bit uncomfortable. But the situation was so urgent there was no choice.

Immediately after, with tremendous noise, a huge vibration pounded my entire body. Debris falling as the building collapsed scratched various parts of my body. It stings, so it seems I got hit properly. Damn annoying.

"Ice Wall!"

In the midst of it, Kang Hana's excellent judgment shone again. She succeeded in casting magic in that hectic moment.

Debris pouring from above couldn't penetrate the ice wall and bounced off. Yoo Dasom crouched as much as possible to avoid interference and assessed the situation. But Lee Hyunwoo... what did he say again? That he'd cut debris with his sword?

"Stay still, junior! I can't concentrate!"

The only thought during this was: what happened to Suhyeon? These three were somehow protected and protected together. But only Suhyeon was alone, so even if something happened, there was no way to know.

Finally when the noise and vibration subsided, I stood up with the three. Fortunately, no one on this side seemed hurt. The problem was the whereabouts of others who were in the branch.

"Examiner!"

Coming outside the debris, the first thing I encountered was none other than Suhyeon. She had one man and woman in each hand - they were branch personnel.

"Suhyeon! Are you hurt anywhere?! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What about you, Examiner? Are you okay?"

Only after everyone realized there were no serious injuries could we feel relieved. Meanwhile, Kang Hana and Yoo Dasom tried to rescue people by digging through debris.

Not long after, police and fire personnel along with ability users flocked in. Everyone asking if it was villain terrorism shows this kind of thing happened several times.

Maybe that woman also aimed for this and ended it at this level. Using villain terrorism as a smokescreen to concentrate attention here. Then quickly entering her target location to take what she wants and escape.

'Not on my watch.'

I clearly said that time. That sympathy was the first and last. Just as you do, I also intend to do something called revenge, so be careful from now on.

I said that, but this woman stubbornly came back without giving up. Meanwhile, this time she almost put my team members in danger too.

It's over. Now there's no reason to have any sympathy.

What I had was slight sympathy for someone who lost a loved one. Compassion for someone hit by the same miserable fate as this body's original owner.

That's all. Nothing more. No reason for more.

And now, Hyeon Sujin touched my precious things. They're all people I absolutely need. I can't lose them.

...No, that's not it. Now it's not just that reason. They're my acquaintances. People who struggled, laughed and chatted with me. I can't lose them. I'll protect them and live together. I'll fight together for a better future in this changed world.

"Suhyeon. Come here for a moment."

The opponent is an Elder. She may be weakened by injury, but still an Elder.

Kang Hana, Yoo Dasom, Lee Hyunwoo, and even Suhyeon. They'll all become the best in the near future, but not yet. So going alone is right. I must finish this alone.

"People will come soon. Then tell them about the current incident - not terrorism but that an Elder came. Hyeon Sujin, that woman did it."

"Won't you tell them yourself, Examiner?"

"I have to go find that woman. And now I have to make her stop."

At my words, Suhyeon naturally insisted on going together. I worked up quite a sweat stopping such Suhyeon, but eventually made her understand.

...A strange request attached was slightly concerning. What was it? She asked me to make time for her later? Not bringing team members like last time, but absolutely just the two of us.

I left that place alone like that and chased after Hyeon Sujin. The traces led past the city center to a place with sparse, no, absolutely no human presence. If I had been a little later, even those traces would have been completely erased and I couldn't have found her.

'Is it inside here?'

I don't have an ability to change into shadows like Hyeon Sujin. Fortunately, there was a very slight gap in the underground facility's perimeter. How much time passed? I spotted Hyeon Sujin doing something up ahead. From scattering magic power, it seems she intends to blow this place up entirely. Her physical condition isn't normal, so she must be struggling terribly, yet she's doing this.

"You might really die doing that."

This isn't worry. This statement is a warning to myself not to go soft. Since the opponent has already prepared for everything, don't get clouded about taking something away.

"I said that time was the first and last sympathy."

And what I'll be taking away will be the opponent's life.