Chapter 19 : Goodbye !  (1)

Today is the day Hunter Hanseong returns home.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Crack!

Crack!

Creak, creak.

The loud noise woke me up.

Still in my pajamas, I lazily wrapped my blanket around myself, scratched my messy hair, wiped the sleep from my eyes, and stepped out into the hallway.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

“Hey, you bony bastard! Move it properly!”

“Shut up!”

“…Ugh, so noisy…”

As I walked onto the wooden floor, my eyes took in the empty space before me.

Not long ago, a small incident occurred where half my house was reduced to dust thanks to Hunter Hanseong and Sword Ghost’s sparring.

So, I had ordered repairs.

And yet, both generals had conveniently sent only their subordinates while they themselves were nowhere to be seen.

“…Tsk, if they had at least come to oversee things, I might’ve praised them.”

The lower-ranked skeletons and Hwarang warriors were struggling to reinforce my palace.

Since they served different generals, they kept bickering with each other.

It was amusing to watch.

“They get along so well.”

“Ah…! Master!!”

Wearing a bright yellow safety helmet, Sword Ghost had been directing the workers in place of the two absent generals.

As soon as he saw me, he ran over.

In the process, the blueprint in his hands went fluttering away.

“Ah!”

Startled, he quickly leaped up and caught it before handing it off to a nearby Hwarang warrior.

“You take care of this.”

“Yes, sir!”

Watching the Hwarang warrior scurry over to the skeletons, blueprint in hand, made me chuckle.

“Master! You should wash up!”

“…Ah, right.”

“Wait here!”

Sword Ghost dashed off to the kitchen.

Seeing smoke rise from the chimney, I figured she was heating up water.

With the sound of construction clanking around me, I enjoyed my morning.

“…Not bad.”

It would’ve been even better with some tea.

For some reason, ever since I became a gumiho, I’d been craving tea more.

In my past life, I never had time for proper sleep—constantly climbing the Tower and fighting rankers—so I practically lived on coffee.

“…I really want coffee.”

I’d have to ask the next Merchant if they had any.

It was one of those mornings where the scent of coffee felt oddly nostalgic.

***

“Phew~”

“Feeling refreshed?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Sword Ghost grinned after scrubbing me down as if I were a piece of laundry.

I thanked him and asked for breakfast.

She nodded eagerly and sprinted back to the kitchen.

Watching him, I smiled before drying my still-damp hair and ears.

“…Ugh, I hate when water gets in my ears.”

I had disliked it even in my past life, but after becoming a gumiho, it had become even worse.

“Maybe it’s the fur, but it just won’t dry…”

Whether it was because of the fur or the structure, the water always got trapped inside.

If I didn’t dry it thoroughly, the dampness lingered and felt awful.

With no other choice, I carefully dried the fur on my ears with a towel.

“…A cotton swab would be nice.”

Lack of modern conveniences was a real pain.

If I couldn’t leave, I should at least make my life more comfortable.

The monsters under me would probably appreciate better technology too.

“That would be nice.”

“Master!! I brought your food!”

“Ah, thanks.”

Today was a special day, so I needed to eat quickly.

Because.

[The Boss Room Break is about to begin!!!]

[00:00:03]

[00:00:02]

[00:00:01]

[Break has begun!]

[The boss’s restrictions have been lifted!!]

[You are now free to move between the inside and outside of the Tower.]

I needed to see Hunter Hanseong off.

“Congratulations!”

“Thanks.”

Sword Ghost congratulated me as I smiled mid-bite.

Now I could explore the Tower freely.

“Time to go redecorate the Tower!”

“I don’t know what that means, but let’s do it!”

Seeing him celebrate like it was her own achievement made me chuckle.

The skeletons and Hwarang warriors also cheered for me, and I waved awkwardly.

“…I do want to breathe in the outside air, but I bet it won’t be as nice as here.”

“Of course not!”

“Hm? Have you ever been outside, Sword Ghost?”

“Nope!”

She grinned innocently.

I guess she just genuinely liked the Tower.

Well, for monsters, the Tower was like home.

And now that I was a monster too, maybe it was time I started appreciating it more.

This was my second chance at life.

This time, I wouldn’t waste it in endless conflict like my past life.

“Even if I have to endure some pain, it’ll be okay.”

Someday, people would accept me for who I truly was.

Just like how I had overcome my own struggles during the darkest times of my past.

As I was lost in thought.

BANG!!

“FINALLY, I’M GOING HOME!!”

“YAHOO!!!”

My first friend in this life burst through the door of the guest room.

I had just decided to love the Tower as a monster.

Meanwhile, my human friend clearly couldn’t wait to escape.

Well, that was understandable.

Hunter Hanseong was human, and I was a monster—our perspectives were bound to be different.

I found that difference amusing.

But Sword Ghost, on the other hand, was not amused.

“…If you hate the Tower that much, then let me help you leave.”

“G-G-Ghost?! W-Wait!!”

Sword Ghost’s face turned cold as she unsheathed the sword I had gifted him.

Even though her own sword was right there, she deliberately chose the one I had given him.

That would’ve been touching—if I had the time to appreciate it.

“How dare you insult the sacred Tower of our Gumiho-nim? You, a mere human?”

“I tolerated you because Master considered you a toy—but this is too far.”

“I’ll cut you into 13 pieces and throw you outside.”

If I didn’t stop him immediately, my friend was about to be diced into 13 pieces and discarded.

That was bad.

Not just because it would be sad—but because our dungeon’s reputation would be ruined.

“The deranged dungeon that chopped up the Rank 1 S-Class Hunter into 13 pieces and spat him out.”

Yeah.

That would be the end of us.

Even worse, the Tower had undergone a Break.

Hunters from all over the world might come to exterminate me.

That was something I had to avoid.

It wouldn’t just be the Korean hunters—the entire world would turn its eyes on me.

The strongest hunters across the globe would rush to Korea, determined to “save humanity from destruction.”

Among them was even a hero I had desperately wanted to meet in my past life.

But in this life, I had to avoid them at all costs.

“I never want to meet them—even if I die…!”

“Sword Ghost, STOP!!!!”

Nearly screaming in desperation, I grabbed onto both of Sword Ghost’s arms.

***

Outside the Gumiho Tower.

A massive crowd had gathered.

The Break in the Tower’s Boss Room had drawn attention, and the Hunter Hanseong Rescue Operation was about to begin.

“Hey, are we really sure this is safe?”

“…We just have to trust and see.”

“Are they seriously provoking the Boss by launching a rescue mission right now?! Have they lost their minds?!”

“…Oh, Lord, please, please, please let that Gumiho be our brother…”

Among the crowd, many were murmuring anxiously, clinging to faith in Yoo Bin.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

“KILL THE GUMIHO!!!!”

“SLAY THE GUMIHO!!!”

“SAVE HUNTER HANSEONG!!!”

“UWAAAAH!!!”

“Coexisting with that Gumiho monster?! ABSURD!!!”

A raging mob, seemingly possessed, screamed in fury, openly hostile toward Yoo Bin.

Observing them closely from a distance was Chairman Sung Myungho.

“…Get in there. Take a closer look.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Following his orders, one of his subordinates infiltrated the rioting crowd to investigate.

“Something is off… Why are they so frenzied?”

Of course, Sung Myungho understood why people were panicking.

Many had lost family members during the Hwarang Tower Break.

It was only natural for them to feel anger when looking at a new Tower—especially an SSS-Class Tower that had suddenly appeared, trapping Korea’s No.1 Hunter inside.

But ordinary citizens should have responded with fear or helplessness, not uncontrolled rage.

Yet, these people were violently furious.

They weren’t just shouting in frustration—they were screaming like madmen, cursing loudly as if they wanted the Tower to hear them.

“Even if they were going to curse it… wouldn’t it be normal to do it from a safe distance, so the Tower wouldn’t notice?”

“…Why?”

To Sung Myungho’s eyes, they looked like insects infected by a parasite—like prey eagerly throwing itself into the mouth of a predator.

“…This is definitely some kind of hypnosis skill. But its range and duration are unbelievable.”

“It’s almost as if… it wasn’t cast by a human.”

His thoughts trailed off, and he shook his head.

“…No. That can’t be.”

He muttered to himself that he was probably just exhausted.

Then, he closed his eyes tightly for a moment before looking ahead.

There, standing firmly in front of the Tower, were the four hunters who had previously entered.

Their expressions were filled with determination, as if they carried an immense weight on their shoulders.

Stepping forward to speak, Chanseok approached the microphone.

His usual playful demeanor was gone.

The serious expression he wore—one that resembled Hanseong’s—tugged at the hearts of those watching.

“…I’m Yang Chanseok.”

“Ma… No, I mean—Hanseong hyung…”

“We will rescue him.”

“…Thank you.”

After briefly delivering his message, Chanseok bowed his head.

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

And then.

Creeeeeeak!

The massive gates of the Tower swung open.

A familiar voice rang out.

“…Hello, everyone. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Hunter Choi Hanseong has now returned.”

Dressed immaculately, Choi Hanseong stepped out, looking as calm and composed as ever.

As if nothing had happened at all.

The world was thrown into absolute shock.