CHAPTER 280: BITTER TRUTH

"ARE YOU not going to leave yet?"

Bitna smiled at Park Il-sung.

Hwang Yejun had left in a hurry, but she didn’t wonder why.

Obviously, it had something to do with Chu Wonhee.

And the System confirmed it to Bitna.

[Guide Chu Wonhee has retrieved most of her memories— from both timelines.

She used her "key" to Hunter Hwang Yejun’s Inventory to escape from Hunter Lee Seodam.]

Oh, yeah?

Chu Wonhee from the previous world was an experienced Awakened Person, so she knew how to be cunning when needed.

It seemed like Chu Wonhee’s old personality mixed with the present one.

[Guide-Hunter Bitna, we have a problem.]

Hmm?

[Hunter Lee Seodam revealed to Guide Chu Wonhee that her parents— both the bioligical and adoptive ones— died for her.]

Bitna clenched her hands tightly. "Fucking bastard."

Park Il-sung flinched. "Are you cursing out this old man?"

"Don’t worry, Ahjussi. I don’t curse out enemies— I go straight for the kill."

"Am I an enemy to you, young lady?"

"That’s up to you, Ahjussi," Bitna said, shrugging. "If you have memories of the previous world, then you should know who I am. I was released late in the previous world, but if you were still alive during the second apocalypse, then you probably saw me at least once."

"That, I did," Park Il-sung said in a serious tone while nodding. "You were savage then, Miss Seon Chowon."

"Don’t call me by my dead name— I’m called Bitna now, Ahjussi."

"I understand, Bitna-ssi."

"I’m not proud of this, but I was raised by the System as its ’Executioner,’" Bitna said solemnly. "I will not interrogate you— that’s not my job. You can keep your mouth shut all you want. But if you share your knowledge from the previous world to harm this world, then the System might send me after your head."

Park Il-sung flinched, obviously threatened by Bitna’s warning.

"Now that I’ve said my piece, I’m leaving," Bitna said, standing up. "I’m not coming back, Ahjussi. If I do, it’s probably to cut your head off. So, you better start praying to your god that we don’t see each other again."

She was really about to leave when the old man finally spoke.

Actually, "pleaded" would be more appropriate to say.

"Please help me, Bitna-ssi."

"How can I help you?"

"My nephew," Park Il-sung said, bowing his head. "Please save Park Ruda from the Virus’ influence."

Bitna sat down again. "Give me a good reason to save Park Ruda, Ahjussi."

***

"I’M REALLY SORRY."

Semi let out a sigh while pressing her temples.

Lee Seojin— Lee Seodam’s younger brother— was kneeling in front of her with his head down while apologizing to her again and again. After the young man woke up, he hadn’t stopped apologizing for what his older brother did.

"I told you to stop apologizing, Lee Seojin," Semi said patiently. "It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know that your brother would be controlled by the Virus."

To be honest, Lee Seodam wasn’t controlled by the Virus— the bastard was the enemy himself.

However, she wasn’t that heartless to tell the truth to the kid who already felt guilty.

"I’m really sorry, ma’am," Lee Seojin apologized again even though Semi told him to stop doing that. "If only I was powerful enough to stop my hyung from taking Wonhee Noona away."

Ah, so the kid was also feeling guilty about that.

That made Semi feel bitter about herself.

"Lee Seojin, if you feel guilty for failing to stop Lee Seodam from kidnapping our Hee-ya, how do you think we feel?" Semi said, smiling bitterly while shaking her head. "Soobin and I are S-Class Hunters, but we weren’t able to do anything at that moment."

"I will do my best to help you find Wonhee Noona," Lee Seojin pleaded. "I know it’s hard to trust me after what my hyung did, but please give me a chance to prove myself. Wonhee Noona is like a family to me. I’ll save Noona even if it means going against my own brother."

And this was why Semi couldn’t hate Lee Seojin.

Our Hee-ya often said in the past that Lee Seojin has been her ally since day one.

It seemed like it was true.

"We will find our Hee-ya," Semi said firmly. "Lee Seojin, do you think you can use your Blood Manipulation Technique to locate your brother?"

Lee Seojin’s face suddenly turned determined. "I will do my best to use my ability to its maximum potential, ma’am."

Semi was just about to thank Lee Seojin when...

"Chu Wonhee is with Hwang Yejun now."

It was Bitna— appearing out of nowhere— who brought the good news.

"Really?" Semi asked, half-relieved and half-curious. "But how did Hwang Yejun rescue our Hee-ya?"

"Chu Wonhee saved herself, Auntie," Bitna said, and then she turned to Lee Seojin. "Kid, get up and leave the room. I need to talk to Aunt Semi in private."

Lee Seojin stood up, bowed to them politely, and then left the room quietly.

"What is it?" Semi asked nervously. "Was our Hee-ya hurt?"

"Physically, no. But I think Chu Wonhee suffered mentally and emotionally," Bitna said bluntly. "Aunt Semi, according to the System, Lee Seodam revealed Chu Wonhee’s ’Lucky Star’ origin to her— so Chu Wonhee already knows that her parents died for her."

Semi covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped, and then the realization hit her.

[Bitna is already aware of that story?]

***

YEJUN held Wonhee in his arms until she finally stopped crying.

But he knew that she hadn’t calmed down yet, so he remained silent while gently rubbing her arm.

[If only I know the right things to say at the moment.]

But Yejun wasn’t good with words, so he just kept his mouth shut.

"Yejun-ah."

"Yes?"

"Let me tell you the story you missed while you were stuck in ice back in the previous world."

Oh.

[Wonhee’s memories are back.]

Yejun nodded gently. "I’m listening, Wonhee-ya."

"The ’Second Apocalypse,’" Wonhee said in a solemn tone. "Lee Seodam started it."

That fake carnivore did?

***

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