CHAPTER 277: SIGNIFICANT OTHER

BITNA was too late when she arrived at Jang Semi’s house.

While she was on her way there, the System informed her of what happened while she was away.

Chu Wonhee was kidnapped by Lee Seodam.

[We were tricked.

Hunter Lee Seodam wasn’t an unfortunate victim of the Virus— he was the Virus all along. To be precise, the real culprit was the Lee Seodam of the previous world. Just like how we ’downloaded’ a piece of the older Guide Chu Wonhee into the present world, the Virus probably ’downloaded’ a piece of the older Hunter Lee Seodam.]

"Lee Seodam was listed as one of the heroes of the previous world," Bitna wondered out loud. "Did the Virus mess with the list, or was Lee Seodam a hero who fell from grace?"

However, she didn’t have the time to think deeply about that.

After all, when Bitna arrived at Jang Semi’s house, she discovered a new problem.

Lee Seojin seemed to be sick...

... hmm?

Bitna saw it.

There was a bluish thread tied around Lee Seojin’s pinky finger, and the other end of that thread was tied around Seon Eunseok’s pinky finger.

Uh-oh.

[Seon Eunseok and Lee Seojin join the minority.]

By ’minority,’ Bitna obviously meant the small number of a Hunter and Guide couple who was born with a Soulmate.

[Just like Chu Wonhee and Hwang Yejun.]

Bitna marched towards her nephew who was talking to Jang Semi. "Seon Eunseok."

Eunseok’s gaze went past his mother, and then he bowed to Bitna politely. "You’re here, Noona."

Jang Semi turned around and met Bitna’s gaze.

She could tell what her aunt-in-law was thinking.

[Semi Unnie already knows.]

Bitna avoided Jang Semi’s conflicted gaze, and focused on Seon Eunseok instead. "Kid, try Guiding Lee Seojin."

Everyone in the house turned to Bitna with curious eyes.

Most of the people there were high-class Guides, so they immediately understood why Bitna asked Seon Eunseok to guide Lee Seojin.

Of course, even the quick-witted Yeon Soobin understood it right away.

Hence, the APA Vice President turned to Jang Semi with a worried look on his face.

"M-Me? But I haven’t awakened yet," Seon Eunseok said nervously. "I don’t know what to do."

"It’s alright. I’ll guide you," Bitna said, and then she tried to wrap her arm around her cousin’s shoulders. But the boy was uselessly tall, so she just grabbed him by his hoodie. "Just trust me, kid."

"No, I don’t want to," Seon Eunseok said while shaking his head. "I only trust Aunt Wonhee. No offense."

"Offense taken," Bitna said while dragging the child with her. "Kid, life doesn’t always go the way you want it to. So, wear a helmet and toughen up."

"Why do I have to toughen up when I’m a chaebol born with everything? I don’t want to suffer just for some character development or something. I’m already happe the way I am," Seon Eunseok continued complaining, and then he turned to his mother. "Eomma, help me."

"I’m sorry, son. But your Bitna Noona is the best Guide in the world after your Aunt Hee-ya," Jang Semi said in a conflicted voice. "Let’s listen to your noona for now."

As expected, Jang Semi was wise.

[She’s not happy that her son awakened as a Soulmate of the Hunter related to Chu Wonhee’s kidnapper. But Jang Semi doesn’t let her personal feelings get the better of her. No wonder she’s the most rational member of the Big 4.]

"My mother betrayed me."

"Stop being dramatic, Seon Eunseok. Your mother just knows what’s best for you," Bitna said casually, and then she let go of her cousin’s arm. Then she pointed at the unconscious Lee Seojin lying down on the sofa. "Try holding Lee Seojin’s hand."

Seon Eunseok frowned, but he got down on one knee and held Lee Seojin’s hand.

And then it happened.

A blinding blue light spread in the room for a moment.

Bitna casually pulled out a pair of big and dark sunglasses from her Inventory and wore it. "There you go."

***

YEJUN already expected that Wonhee wouldn’t be there when he arrived at Jang Semi’s house.

However, he didn’t feel too bad when he got there.

After all, he saw the face that he needed to see.

In fact, it looked like the broccoli was waiting for him since she was the only person at the garden even though he could feel Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi’s presence inside.

[It’s as if Broccoli wants to talk to me first.]

"Broccoli, you’re here," Yejun said, and then he threw the still unconscious Park Ruda to the ground, and the bastard stopped rolling at Bitna’s feet. "Park Ruda’s older version has also been ’downloaded’ to this world just like the older Wonhee."

"I see," Bitna said, nodding. And then she crossed her arms over her chest while looking down at Park Ruda coldly. "I’m surprised you haven’t killed him yet."

"The older Park Ruda doesn’t seem to agree with the current Park Ruda’s goals."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The current Park Ruda wants to kill Chu Wonhee, but the older one wants to save her," Yejun explained. "Of course, I’m not saying I completely trust that bastard. But I also can’t deny that he tried to warn me about the danger around Chu Wonhee."

Bitna nodded as if she understood. "It will be difficult to make Park Ruda talk."

"I can make someone else talk on behalf of Park Ruda."

"Who?"

"His uncle," Yejun said while moving his shoulders. "Gong Yool told me that Park Ruda’s uncle, a member of the Systema Church, knew about the previous world."

To be precise, it was something that Gong Yool told Wonhee about.

Naturally, Wonhee shared it with Yejun.

"I didn’t move right away after hearing that because I was under the impression that Gong Yool and Song Moonho would take care of the Systema Church," Yejun said, letting out a sigh full of frustration. "But those two suddenly had to go to the other world. I should have done something about it immediately."

"Hey, blaming yourself won’t get us anywhere. Moreover, your main job is to protect Wonhee."

"And I failed to do that."

"Yeah, you failed," Bitna said bluntly instead of comforting him. "But that’s why I know you wouldn’t make the same mistake again."

Huh?

That was a refreshing reaction.

Honestly, Yejun was ready to be cursed because he wasn’t by Wonhee’s side when she got kidnapped.

But it didn’t happen.

"If you’re already feeling that way when Chu Wonhee was kidnapped when you weren’t there, imagine how everyone else felt when Chu Wonhee got kidnapped right in front of them," Bitna said. She may sound like she wasn’t affected, but the worry in her eyes said otherwise. "But it puts me at ease that everyone is eerily calm."

That, he understood.

When high-ranking Hunters were ’eerily calm,’ it only meant one thing.

[They’re out for blood.]

"Broccoli, I may look calm right now, but there’s actually a storm in my head."

"I know."

"Then can you help me?" Yejun asked. Lowering his pride for Wonhee’s sake wasn’t hard. He could throw away everything if it meant saving the love of his life. "Where should we start looking for Chu Wonhee?"

"You’re asking for the wrong question here, Hwang Yejun," Bitna said, smirking. "You should be asking what and who do we need to destroy to gather information."

***

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