….
Jin-Ho's drive back to the Yoo estate was peaceful unlike the ruckus he had with Jin-Woo.
The atmosphere was perfect for him to once again lose in thoughts to knowledge he possesses of this Hunter world.
The Cup of Reincarnation.
According to the his knowledge–
It is a divine artifact, used by The Rulers whenever they had lost the war against The Monarchs.
It has a unique ability to turn back time 10 years each time it is activated.
However, it does not have unlimited power. And as far as Jin-Ho could remember, it can only be used 100 times.
Also, it also does not affect the 'Monarchs' and the 'Rulers,' as they are able to retain their memories of the original timeline after the cup is used.
But, that wasn't what Jin-Ho is concerned with–
As per Novel, the main story happens on the 99th cycle.
So what could be the number of time reversal in this world and timeline he is currently in? Which cycle was it?
It can't be the 100th.
He reasoned, as Sung Jin-Woo simply killed all the 'Monarchs' himself without the Gates and Doungenes could even appear - completely resetting the world devoid of Hunters Society.
So whatever number of cycles it is, it is inevitable that the 'Rulers' are gonna lose again - and when that happens, they are bound to the Cup of Reincarnation.
And then the question that gnawed at him hardest: What about me?
He wasn't born here and woke up with his memories just a day ago. So, if the Cup was used again - would he go back to his world again?
Or return to this body again and again?
Agg, too many questions? Jin-Ho couldn't wrap his head around it.
Whatever…
All he could do is become strong.
So strong he won't be affected by the 'Cup of Reincarnation'.
If the protagonist, a mortal just like himself, Sung Jin-Woo, could be excluded in erasing his memories, he an even bigger anomaly will surely able to do right?
….
[Back at the Yoo Residence]
….
As he walked into the estate, the butler greeted him with a deep bow. "Welcome back, Youngest Master. The Chairman is waiting in the study."
Jin-Ho didn't hesitate.
He walked through the long corridors, up the curved staircase, and past the heavy double doors that led into his father's private study.
The walls were lined with shelves of leather-bound documents and handpicked art pieces, nothing showy, everything precise.
Inside, Yoo Myung-Han's eyes lifted, lingering on his son's haircut… the earring. His jaw twitched - irritation, quickly buried.
He wanted to scold him again, but that part was already the moment he returned back home after his hunter rank evaluation. No point reopening that argument.
"You are serious about this Hunter path, then?"
"Dead serious." Jin-Ho said firmly.
Yoo Myung-Han's gaze hardened. "And you know what that entails, yes? Once you step into another country, my name, my support, everything ends. You are on your own, you agreed to that."
The truth was, changing the orientation date and arranging his travel to Newark had been no small feat.
Clearly, Jin-Ho couldn't have managed it alone, but he had. Convincing the chairman to let him go required a careful thought out process.
It wasn't impossible, just delicate.
The key was understanding Yoo Myung-Han's mind: a man of business first, emotion second, who valued logic and results over sentiment.
Place the right argument on the table, show the correct stakes, and the outcome would follow.
That did the trick.
"I wouldn't mind that."
Another pause.
Then, finally, a slow nod. "Good. But don't get ahead of yourself. I can still cancel your ticket to Newark at any moment. Prove to me you can survive on your own - clear your first dungeon with satisfactory results, with the team I arrange."
Jin-Ho tilted his head, speaking casually as if offering a suggestion. "About the team… I want to reserve two spots."
"For whom exactly?" his father asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I made a few friends."
Jin-Ho's reply caught him off guard. But he let out a short, amused chuckle. "Friends, huh? Fine. Give the details to the person outside - he will handle the rest."
Jin-Ho nodded and moved toward the door, ready to leave.
"Wait." Yoo Myung-Han called after him. "Your mother will ask about your evaluation. Don't exaggerate."
"Got it." Jin-Ho exited.
Once the door clicked shut, Yoo Myung-Han muttered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Friends…. He is growing up. Already making connections. Looks like my plan for the guild might go smoother than I expected."
….
[Later that Night]
After meeting his mother, Jin-Ho headed straight to his room.
First thing on his agenda: call Jin-Woo.
Right, he had his number now, and he wasn't wasting time - this was about the dungeon run he had just set up for tomorrow.
He hit the call button and didn't even wait for a greeting.
"Hold on a sec, let me connect you to your crush."
["W-what? Wait—"]
Jin-Woo froze, not fully understanding what Jin-Ho meant, but the word 'crush' hit him like a warning bell, and it definitely wasn't good.
But it was too late.
["Jin-Woo, is that you? Your voice… sounds so flat."] Came Cha Hae-In's voice came first, calm, but with a hint of concern.
Jin-Ho couldn't resist teasing. "Maybe he is already missing you."
["...."] A brief pause, from both the sides.
"Anyway." Jin-Ho continued smoothly. "Like I informed you, I set up a dungeon run for tomorrow, with two spots opened, if you are interested you just need to show up, and—"
["I am in."] Jin-Woo cut him off, voice firm.
Jin-Ho smiled knowingly. Still he couldn't help but add a tease. "Woah, slow down, man. That's how people get scammed. Don't you want to know the details first? Rewards, splits, mechanics, traps…"
["I know enough."] Jin-Woo replied without hesitation.
It was true.
He had done his homework - researched how dungeon runs worked, what to expect, how teams usually split rewards.
Still, a quiet trust lingered in him.
Something about Jin-Ho made him feel he could rely on him, and with money so urgently needed, he didn't have much choice but to gain as much experience as he can.
Opportunities like this didn't come around for an E-rank newbie with zero connections.
Still, he made a silent promise: this favor would be repaid someday.
Jin-Ho smirked. "Alright, I see you are not completely clueless. But what about you, Miss Cha Hae-In? You in?"
["...."] There was silence on her end.
Jin-Ho knew why.
By now, Cha Hae-In had likely already joined a guild.
Unlike him and Jin-Woo, she had awakened ten days ago. That was enough time for multiple offers to come her way - and she had accepted one.
The Hunters Guild - one of the current top five guilds.
A guild where, in the years to come, she would rise to the position of vice guild master.
Cha Hae-In spoke. ["I am interested, but I need to go over a few things before I commit."]
Jin-Woo stayed silent, unsure what to say.
Jin-Ho waved off casually. "I understand. I will text you the place and time. So feel free to join us anytime."
["Thank you…"] She replied softly.
Jin-Ho confirmed it for one last time. "Perfect. Rest up, because tomorrow is going to be one hell of a ride."
With a final nod, he ended the call, leaving Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In with their thoughts - and the anticipation of what was coming next.
….
[Elsewhere in Seoul]
Sung Jin-Woo sat quietly by the window, the thin slip of paper pinched between his fingers, E-rank, the mark of weakness.
His phone buzzed, a single message from the newly added contact.
===
[Dungeon Raid Scheduled – Tomorrow, 9AM.]
[Location: Yeongdeungpo District Gate #13.]
===
He set his phone aside, the faint trace of a smile fading from his face as reality pressed in.
Across the room, his mother lay unmoving in her hospital bed, the IV dripping with steady indifference, each drop echoing the weight in his chest.
Jin-Woo's eyes lingered on the slip, sharp with frustration.
Then, without hesitation, he crushed it into his palm.
The night outside grew darker, shadows stretching long across the city.
Two paths had begun to diverge.
One, a figure destined to rise quietly from the depths of obscurity.
The other, a light determined to stand tall in plain sight.
They didn't know it yet.
But the moment would come when their worlds collided - inevitable, unstoppable.
….
.
[To be continued…]
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