I Have a Fiancee in a Parallel World

21 – I’m Going Out!!

Yoo Soyoung is standing in front of a wide bookshelf that takes up one entire wall in the back of the representative’s office.

Im Hanyoung walks towards the representative’s desk and puts his hand in one of the drawers.

Thunk

As Im Hanyoung exerted force, the drawer he touched broke into pieces.

Im Hanyoung rummages through the broken pieces, searching for something.

“So you all know. Were you even spying on my room? When did you start preparing?”

(Note: The translation may not capture the exact atmosphere and nuances of the original Korean text.)

After understanding the situation, Im Kang-chun, the betrayed and helpless leader, felt his strength drain from his entire body. He turned to Lee Ji-hyuk and asked, “In the end, it’s not ours, is it? We’re the ones who risked everything to fight against Egzel.”

“Let’s be clear. It’s not yours at all,” Im Kang-chun replied.

“We captured Egzel. It was us and Yoo Sung-hyun Hunter, the three A-rankers who barely managed to catch Egzel,” Lee Ji-hyuk argued.

“What about the guild members who held out until you arrived after discovering Hidden Gate? Weren’t you late reinforcements who dealt the final blow with skill attacks to the already surrounded Egzel?” Im Kang-chun countered, his voice emotional.

“If the guild members hadn’t endured with all their might until you arrived, you wouldn’t have been able to witness Egzel. Even now, six of them can’t get out of their hospital beds. Egzel’s heart belongs to all of us in the Ares Guild.”

Heaving a sigh, Im Kang-chun continued, “That’s the problem, Mr. President. Ares Guild has become too large. Why should we share our accomplishments with nearly a hundred members? Why should we support and nurture the weaklings and provide for them?”

“Are you saying that the guild hasn’t been of any help to you? Do you three A-rank hunters think you can handle everything Ares used to do?” Im Kang-chun challenged.

“Administrative tasks can be easily covered by Director Do Won-hyuk. Isn’t he well-connected in the Hunter Management Bureau? We don’t need the rest. As of today, the three A-rankers of ours are all leaving Ares Guild,” Lee Ji-hyuk concluded.

With Lee Ji-hyuk’s final words, Yu So-young placed the small cube she had found in the drawer into a small indentation in the center of a bookshelf.

As she did so, the bookshelf quickly separated into two, and irregular horizontal and vertical lines appeared on the wall behind it, all emanating from the spot where the cube was placed.

The heart of Egzel was gradually revealed, shining brightly with a brilliant blue light as if it were trying to fill the entire office of the president.

Unable to contain her excitement, Yu So-young reached out toward it.

That was when it happened.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and Yu So-young turned around in surprise.

“What’s with the blue heart? Step aside and let us watch,” a sword-wielding Ji-hoon said as he approached Yu So-young step by step.

***

A little earlier:

“Did you drink this too?”

“No…”

“But how did you know what kind of poison it is?”

“I’ve seen it before… Using magic… is an absolute no.”

So-jung spoke with great effort.

She was more concerned about Jihoon than her own injured body.

If Jihoon were to use his magic recklessly, he would quickly succumb to the poison. Just like her brother did.

***

Small guilds must be wary of Black Hunters who plunder magical stones and items.

Black Hunters, who find it burdensome to confront large guilds, often target small guilds.

The poison of Velcrian is used by the most ruthless among the Black Hunter groups.

Due to its deadly power and rarity, most people would never hear of such a poison in their lifetime.

But Sojeong had watched her brother, knowing the poison was spreading, raise his magic, fight with a single skill, and then draw his last breath to save himself.

***

“Among those carrying poison, there’s no one truly strong. I guarantee that.”

Jihoon’s matter-of-fact words brought back sad memories for Sojeong.

“Oh… no… Jihoon, please… don’t fight… don’t use magic… I beg you… sob.”

Sojeong, weak and struggling to speak, could only sob endlessly, tears streaming down her face.

She didn’t want to witness such a sight again, unfolding before her eyes.

In the face of the intensely sad memories and grim reality, Sojeong had no choice but to tightly shut her eyes.

Jihoon vaguely sensed that there was some backstory, his hand gently caressing Sojeong, who was crying.

“You just need to refrain from using magic, right? I have something I’m more accustomed to than magic.”

Jihoon showed a reassuring, faint smile to the tearful Sojeong.

“I’ll finish it quickly. And we’ll bring healers to treat the injuries. Endure a little, even if it hurts.”

The soft tone of Jihoon’s voice.

Sojeong nearly fell into sweet slumber, leaning on that voice.

Laying Sojeong down gently and standing up, Jihoon’s broad back became visible.

If only he hadn’t fought… if only he hadn’t died…

Sojeong prayed fervently, her gaze fixed on Jihoon’s back, so similar to her brother’s.

***

Jihoon raised his internal energy.

He did it without a trace of hesitation.

Internal energy and mana are forces of entirely different nature.

When using a minimal amount of mana for his skills, Jihun always had the sensation that he was borrowing power from some other entity, not truly his own.

But internal energy was different.

The internal energy that resided within his dantian was wholly his own. The internal energy he had cultivated and nurtured over time was now a part of his body, like calluses on his right hand gripping the sword.

With the internal energy focused on his legs, Jihun stepped into a battle stance in the blink of an eye.

“!!!”

Crash!

The large window at the back of Director Lee’s desk shattered, and Lim Hanyoung was sent flying out of the building.

Lim Hanyoung’s sword was now in Jihun’s hand.

Jihun grabbed his face with his left hand and threw it out the window, while his right hand drew a sword from Lim Hanyoung’s waist.

Turning back towards Yoo Soyoung, Jihun said, “Why’s your heart blue? Move aside and watch the show, auntie.”

“How… How is this possible?”

Yoo Soyoung couldn’t believe her own eyes.

It was her own eyes that had confirmed Jihun drinking Bellclion’s poison.

“Is it magic… No, it’s not.”

She couldn’t sense any magic from that guy.

He had just thrown Lim Hanyoung out the window without using any magic.

How could he, an A-rank hunter…

Jihun, hearing her question or exclamation, raised his right hand holding the sword without answering.

As Jihun swung his sword, a sharp blade of energy shot out in that direction. Yoo Soyoung quickly pulled up her magic power and cast a barrier.

Jihun’s energy blade struck Yoo Soyoung’s barrier, scattering in all directions, leaving sword-like marks on various spots in the office.

After a brief look around, Jihun realized, “Hmm… This won’t work.”

He knew that fighting in this small space wouldn’t be possible. In the blink of an eye, he charged towards Yoo Soyoung.

“Eek!”

Yoo Soyoung tried to dodge Jihun flying towards her, but she soon blamed herself in despair. What she thought was an attack on her was actually aimed at Egzelle’s heart.

“The more I see, the more intriguing it becomes…”

The pulsating, azure core of the Eigel seemed like a stone tossed around in Jihun’s grip.

“This lunatic! Hand it over right now!” Yoo Soyoung yelled.

“Let’s leave. It’s too cramped here,” Jihun demanded, with Soyoung having no intention to comply.

In her attempt to use the same precious thing as leverage against him, Sojeong lay there, catching Jihun’s gaze.

A momentary encounter between Jihun and Soyoung’s eyes briefly focused on Sojeong lying there.

Understanding her intent, Jihun reacted in an instant.

In that fleeting moment, Soyoung’s body moved first.

“I’m faster!”

Soyoung, slightly closer to Sojeong’s position, made a swift dash towards her.

“How do you use this?”

Thunk.

Soyoung froze in her tracks.

As Soyoung stopped abruptly, her posture comically fixed, only her neck slowly turned to meet the gaze of Chairman Lee Kangcheon.

Surely… Chairman, you won’t reveal it to someone who doesn’t even know who I am, won’t hand over the core of Eigel…

She gazed desperately at the Chairman.

The Chairman glanced between the two, then spoke as if resigned.

“Strike it with your fist to shatter the core of Eigel. Then inhale the escaping life force.”

“Chairman!”

Soyoung shouted with resentment at Lee Kangcheon, but he didn’t even bat an eye.

“Alright… um… let’s calm down for now… and leave… right? So, let’s… leave for now…”

At that moment, Im Hanyeong flew in through the shattered window behind the broken desk.

“What’s going on? How did you—”

“Shut up! Shut up and get out again!”

The one shouting was none other than Yoo Soyoung.

“What? No… why?”

“I said shut up! We’re leaving now. Understand? You’ll come out with us, right? You won’t break that, will you?”

Jihoon shrugged his shoulders.

Yusoyoung grabbed Im Hanyoung’s back and jumped out through the window he had entered.