I didn't go home.
After witnessing Taejin's Final Echo, my legs carried me to the rooftop of an old apartment complex. The wind was sharp, the city below glowing in its artificial peace. But my thoughts were far from calm.
First the betrayal in the dungeon.Now, a murder—carried out by someone from the Hunter Association.
They're silencing people.
But why?What secrets were so dangerous that they'd kill to keep them hidden?
The system window hovered silently beside me, waiting.
[NEW ECHO ABSORBED: Taejin – C-Rank Scout][UNLOCKED ABILITY: Sensor Pulse (Lv. 1)]
Emits a wave of invisible energy that detects lifeforms within a 15-meter radius. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
A useful skill. Practical. But it wasn't just about the powers anymore.
Each death I witnessed… I felt a part of them. Their fear. Their confusion. Their final thoughts. And now their burdens sat on my shoulders.
"Just a gatekeeper, huh?" I muttered bitterly. "Guess not anymore."
Suddenly, the System responded.
[Correction: You are no longer 'just' anything.][Title Unlocked: Deathwatch Initiate]
"...You talk now?"
[System response protocols evolving based on user resonance.]
That wasn't creepy at all.
I leaned back against a rusted water tank and stared up at the stars. I used to wonder what it'd feel like to be chosen. To wake up and see the glowing blue of a System window that belonged to me. Not just Hunter IDs I scanned or permissions I processed, but mine.
Back then, I thought the Systems were divine.
But now…
Now, I was starting to see just how man-made they were.And how easily twisted.
My wrist buzzed. A private message.
Unknown Sender: "Stop digging, Yun Haseo. You're not one of us."
My blood turned to ice.How did they get my number?No profile picture. No trace. The message deleted itself after five seconds.
I stood up immediately.
Whoever "they" were… they were watching.
I activated Sensor Pulse. A faint ripple of energy pulsed out from me like a heartbeat.
...Two lifeforms. Nearby. On the next rooftop over.
I didn't hesitate.
Shadow Blink.
The world jerked as I teleported across the gap between rooftops, landing in a crouch. A sharp breeze hit my face—then silence.
Empty.
But I could feel it. The scent of gun oil. The faint pressure of eyes.
"Don't bother hiding," I said into the dark. "I saw the ring."
For a moment, nothing. Then—
A whisper from the shadows.
"You were never supposed to awaken the Watcher."
And with that, a figure vanished—using a teleport far smoother than mine.
No name. No face. Just a warning.
I let out a shaky breath.This was bigger than any dungeon. Bigger than the death of one raid party.
They knew I had the Watcher.And they feared it.
Good.
Because I was done pretending to be invisible.I was done watching from the gate while others shaped the world.
If they wanted to bury the truth——then I'll be the one to drag it into the light.