IRTPTA 38🌸

Episode 38

“……”

They say when you’re too shocked, you can’t speak.

That was exactly how Saebyeok felt right now.

“No, wait. This isn’t that shocking.”

Shaking her head quickly, she snapped back to her senses.

“If armor can be used, then why not something else too?”

She rationalized it logically.

Indeed, many items with passive effects could be used even by non-Awakened.
Things like skill enhancement were useless, but detoxification effects were widely used.

That’s why potions could be consumed by the non-Awakened as well.

<Atlas’s Safehouse>, if you thought about it, was basically like a passive effect. Strictly speaking, the key itself didn’t have a skill.

“Would you like to try opening it?”

The key turned smoothly.

The golden door shifted into a shimmering blue.

It opened.

“C-can you actually step inside?”

And then he stepped right through.

“Wha—ahhh! What the hell, noona, what did you do?!”

Han Sejin shouted.

He’d been feeding snacks to Shihu while watching the news, but had also been sneaking glances at Saebyeok and Suho.

Then suddenly, Suho had vanished as if he’d evaporated.

“You don’t see this?”

“What the—what is it?! Some kind of invisibility item?”

“This blue door right here.”

“What door?”

From Sejin’s reaction, Saebyeok realized—if you weren’t holding the key, the door was invisible.

‘So maybe you have to be registered as a manager to see it?’

She stepped through the doorway.

The moment she did, Suho grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him.

“……?”

Before she could ask why, she realized—he was shielding her, tense and on guard.

“I asked you—what are you?”

“That’s what I want to ask.”

Just moments ago, Suho had been overly courteous toward her.
Now, his voice was sharp, brimming with hostility.

For a fleeting second, it reminded her of the past.

That low, ominous tone, edged as if it could strike at any moment.

But this wasn’t the time to get lost in memories.

“Mr. Kang, it’s fine. He’s someone I know. You don’t need to be on guard.”

Saebyeok gently pried his hand off her wrist.

“He’s Hunter Hwang Taesan of the Black Dragon Guild. You’ve seen his face before, right?”

As one of the leaders of Korea’s four major guilds, and with such a memorable face, she asked.

Suho gave a small nod.

“See that ring? He’s one of the people I gave a key to.”

“…I see.”

But his subdued reply somehow sounded… deflated.

“I didn’t expect Hunter Hwang to be here. What brings you?”

Peeking out from behind Suho, Saebyeok asked.

“I came to drop this off.”

Hwang Taesan glanced Suho up and down before tapping a wooden table.

It was a fine table, carved from solid wood, with the Black Dragon emblem engraved on the corner.

“If this place is to serve as an inventory, countless items will come and go. Searching for request-related materials every time would be tedious. I thought I’d use this instead.”

“Great idea.”

Now, there was a dedicated communication hub for him here.

“That the man you mentioned—your Vice Guildmaster?”

“Yes. This is Kang Suho. Mr. Kang, this is Hunter Hwang Taesan.”

She introduced the two of them.

But the atmosphere didn’t feel friendly.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yes.”

No handshake.

Hwang disliked handshakes to begin with, but it was still odd Suho hadn’t extended his hand either.

‘Well… he was never the warm type.’

She had only broken through his guarded nature by saving him twice.
At heart, he was still like a wary stray cat—hissing at anyone he met.

And given how awkward this first meeting had turned out, the tension made sense.

‘Still, why does Hwang hate handshakes so much?’

Rumors said it had something to do with his dragons…

Unable to hold back her curiosity, she peeked at his title.

<Title: Dragon Warrior (S)>

When the dragons vanished from the world, many Dragon Knights changed class to Berserkers.
You are one who discovered an ancient dragon, becoming both the next generation’s Dragon Knight and Berserker. Wield the destructive power of a Berserker with the majesty of a Dragon Knight.

Unique Active Skills:

• Dragon Speech (S)

• Strike of the Dragon Soul (A)

• Prophecy of Reversal (A)

• Berserk Mode (B)

• Catching Black Clouds (B)

• Dragon’s Breath (B)

Unique Passive Skills:

• Dragon Pearl (S)

• Ancient Contract (A)

• Vessel of the Dragon (B)

Most of these she already knew—he always used them in combat.

The only unfamiliar one was <Prophecy of Reversal (A)>.

<Skill: Prophecy of Reversal (A)>
Dragons see things humans cannot.
Was what you just saw an illusion from your imagination?
An unstoppable future?
Or a lingering fragment of a lost past?

‘So this is it…?’

The description was vague, offering no clear explanation.

Still, Saebyeok guessed this “seeing the future” ability might trigger through physical contact.

‘Plenty of legends say dragons can glimpse the future.’

It could be an overwhelming power for a human to bear.
Especially if you couldn’t tell whether what you saw was illusion or future—
or worse, if you knew it was the future but couldn’t stop it…

‘That’s the kind of skill that could drive you insane.’

Suddenly, those old stories about Hwang recoiling from fans, or dropping a child he’d caught, all made sense.

“Hunter Hwang.”

Closing the title window, Saebyeok spoke up.

“About what we discussed earlier in my master’s office…”

Hwang glanced at Suho, as if to ask whether it was okay to speak in front of him.

So she said—

“Ah, don’t worry about Mr. Kang. He already knows everything.”

“…Does he now.”

That was a lie. He didn’t.
But she planned to tell him anyway, so she continued without hesitation.

Luckily, Suho wisely kept silent and didn’t press.

“The truth is—half of what we said in there was false.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s true a gate will open in the sea off Busan. But not on Children’s Day.”

“Then…?”

“Something else will happen around Children’s Day. And because of that, the gate will open.”

“You don’t know what exactly?”

“It’s… hard to explain.”

She couldn’t mention the <Scenarios> or the monsters yet.
The news would cover the Pacific monsters soon enough. No need to rush.

“Anyway, my point is—please don’t stop your investigation.”

“I had no intention of stopping.”

“If necessary, you can even cross into China.”

“You’re saying this ‘other event’ doesn’t require me present?”

“The incident on Children’s Day can be resolved even without you, Hunter Hwang.”

“…Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

She was 200% certain.

Because she had Ipado.

When it came to sea monsters, battles had to be fought on the water.
And Ipado treated the ocean like his personal playground, wielding the waves like toys.

If not for him, perhaps they would’ve needed dragon-backed Hwang Taesan.
But now, they didn’t.

‘Ah… I feel so proud.’

Once again, saving Lee Cheonghae had been the best decision.

“…I see. As it happens, all clues are pointing me to Guangzhou. I planned to confirm it myself.”

“Travel safely.”

“Mm.”

“And bring back a souvenir. For the record—I prefer food over trinkets.”

“…Fine.”

He looked momentarily startled, hesitating. But then answered warmly.

Of course, that warmth instantly froze when Suho pulled Saebyeok closer to his side, holding her wrist protectively.

Time flowed on like water, but people still obsessed over the newly emerged S-rank.

China and Japan protested, refusing to recognize it.
America and Europe, meanwhile, showed interest.

The Secretary-General of the World Hunter Union even suggested re-testing with the device at their headquarters, drawing global attention.

But the Korean Hunter Association was too busy to arrange it.

The Association President shuttled back and forth to Busan, looking grimmer each day.

Staff kept deploying to the deep sea with Donghae Guild members and returning.

Kim I-han exploited the curiosity, teasing that he knew the truth. He spun stories about Saebyeok’s battle with the President, steadily boosting his HunterTube subscriber count.

As for Hwang Taesan, he only sent occasional updates from Guangzhou.

Meanwhile, Saebyeok successfully completed her move.

The Hunter District was just 15 minutes’ walk from the Association—
south of Changdeokgung, in Ikseon-dong and neighboring Jongno-dong, once known for their hanok streets.

Not all Hunters were required to live there.

At first, it was just that the Association’s office had been near Jongno Fire Station, so many Hunters settled nearby.

Over time, gyms, massage parlors, and dueling arenas for Awakeneds popped up, attracting more Hunters.

Eventually, the area transformed into today’s “Hunter District.”

Now, prices had skyrocketed so high that only Hunters could afford to buy.

The house Saebyeok purchased had three rooms, costing over 10 billion won.

She had poured all her dungeon earnings into it and even taken a Hunter’s loan.

But she had no regrets.

There was no safer place for Sejin and Shihu.
And more importantly…

“Let’s send them here. This is the closest from our house.”

She pointed on the map to the nearest elementary school, speaking to Suho.