Strictly speaking, it hadn’t been that long since we last met, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been ages since then. It was probably because I spent a lot of time in Rohen. Unlike the Blue Guild members, whose faces I could still see from time to time, people like Oscar, Father Basel, Miss Kim Mi-Young, Hye-Jin, and the tea party members were people I was happy to see the moment I saw them.
Rafael was no different.
‘I kinda thought he’d be different...’
There was no connection between us. Even worse, Rafael was the kind of guy who just wasn’t fun to be around. Kim Hyung-Sung wasn’t any better, but Rafael really took the cake. Whenever we met, there wouldn't be much for us to say or do.
Still, perhaps out of some leftover sentiment, I decided to greet him.
He had to have been having a rough time, as he came over in a rush as if he couldn’t wait any longer. He looked really serious at first, but when he saw me, his expression eased up a bit. However, he tensed up when he saw how much younger I looked.
“H-Hyung, you look...”
‘I have to explain it again.’
“It’s a bit of a long story. Everything will go back to normal in a year, so there’s no need to worry too much, Mr. Rafael,” I explained immediately. My explanation came to me naturally, as I had done this multiple times before.
“H-Hyung...” Rafael mumbled.
I had no idea why, but I felt like this guy was about to go in for a hug, so I instinctively kept my distance. No matter what, I refused to be treated like a kid by this punk just because I looked like one.
He rushed toward me and flinched at the distance I made between us.
“Please have a seat,” I said.
With that, he sat down. Aris sat across from him, and I sat down immediately afterward.
I was unsure of what to say, so silence descended.
Eventually, Rafael spoke up, saying, “Hyung, have you... been doing well? You weren’t replying to me at all, so I really thought that something happened.”
“Aside from getting caught in a minor incident that resulted in me getting younger, everything is fine,” I reassured him.
“That's not a minor incident. I’m sure you were working hard behind the scenes for the sake... of the continent. Are you really okay, aside from that?” Rafael asked.
‘Yeah, I did work pretty hard. He really knows how to move people.’
“Anyway, I’m really happy to see you. I really didn’t want to meet you under these circumstances... I wanted to catch up somewhere quiet because it’s been so long since we’ve really talked, and it’s been a while since we spent time together, too. But right now, I’m a little...”
Rafael quietly glanced over at Oscar and then went straight to the point.
“Miss Oscar, the truth is... I put together a rescue team on my own. I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think I can rely on the Democratic Country’s Dungeon Disaster Department right now... So I’ve reached out to the Friendship Guild for support...” Rafael revealed.
“...”
“So... I think I’ll be heading out now. I appreciate your concern and all the support you’ve given me... but I just can’t wait any longer...” Rafael added.
Oscar looked kind of surprised.
‘He’s really impatient. Why do you think I’m here, and why do you think Oscar called you here?’
Aris immediately asked, “Can’t you wait a little longer?”
“We’re out of time. It’s already been three days! My party members—”
“Mr. Lee Ki-Young agreed to help,” Aris interrupted him.
Rafael finally realized why I was here. “Ah!”
“...”
“...”
‘Why would I even be here, damn it...’
“H-Hyung...” Rafael said, but for some reason, it made me feel a little uncomfortable. I didn't know why, but it felt like he was about to rely on me, so I instinctively leaned back a bit.
“A-Are you really here to help?” Rafael asked.
“Yes, if it’s something I can help with...” I answered.
‘Don’t feel too touched. It’s burdensome.’
“Of course, I’m happy to receive your help... but I’m worried that it’ll make you uncomfortable... Are you really feeling better now?” Rafael asked.
‘Ah, I’m fine... and there’s no one else here who will help you.’
“Of course. And... considering the nature of this matter, this is pretty serious. Are you familiar with the current state of affairs on the continent, Mr. Rafael?” I asked.
“I’m aware. It’s all over, so it’s hard to miss. Commander Jin Cheong’s son dying a hero’s death... the sudden rise of heretic purges in the Republic, and the incident that happened right inside the Blue Guild’s territory.
"Of course, I just returned, so I heard the news a bit later than most... but I know what’s happening on the continent right now. And...” Rafael trailed off.
“Yes. I’m sure you’re already aware, but the incident you were involved in is also connected to this incident. Actually, we were already on the Six Stars’ trail, so this was something we needed to do anyway. Please don’t feel you’re being burdensome,” I told him.
“I see. Then Miss Oscar...”
“That’s right, Mr. Rafael. I’m ashamed to say this, but I asked him for his help. This probably isn’t something you’d call okay by normal standards,” Oscar said.
“It was certainly unusual. That day was somewhat unlike any other,” he said.
He looked much more relaxed than before; he was probably relieved upon hearing that I was going to become directly involved. He started speaking again, but there was a lot of unnecessary chatter at first.
He said it didn’t look like an ordinary dungeon at first, and in fact, he wasn’t even sure if it was a dungeon at all. Although strange phenomena often occurred in this world, what he went through was one of the most bizarre incidents to ever happen on this continent.
‘If he felt that way... I’m sure it’s true, but...’
Since Rafael wasn’t affiliated with any guild and operated in a party, he probably had just as much dungeon experience as I. Unlike the Blue Guild that juggled various tasks, those guys were like a mercenary party, roaming the entire continent as their job.
“We started by searching the area thoroughly. We were hoping to find traces of the missing people, but we found nothing. Thankfully, we did uncover some evidence tied to the Six Stars,” Rafael informed me.
“Did you find out anything?” I asked.
“No. We tried to subdue them as quickly as possible, but all thirty or so people at the scene took their own lives. After that, we engaged in combat with unidentified monsters. It might be easier if you watch the footage,” he answered.
It looked like the first enemy they had encountered in that area. It wasn't that previous footage.
‘It’s true... I’ve never seen anything shaped like that before.’
To put it bluntly, it would sound a little silly to say this, but... the monster's appearance was noticeably different from the monsters that commonly appeared across the continent.
There was something off about it, and it didn’t just fit this world. If I had to describe it, it looked almost "alien."
Its face looked like a mix between an octopus and an elephant. Its nose and mouth area were entirely made up of tentacles. Even its arms and legs had strange, sporadically placed tentacles. Overall, it looked gross.
I had encountered all kinds of tentacled monsters before, but this one was unmistakably different. Obviously...
‘We didn’t create that one.’
Creating or importing a new species required an immense amount of holy power. With Commander Jin’s business in ruins, we simply didn’t have the resources for that kind of investment, and there was no way Benigoa would approve something that ugly.
‘She��s oddly sensitive when it comes to design.’
She would tear up the proposal on the spot and call the design ugly. She could approve of some half-angel hybrid with wings on one side, but there was no way she would approve something that grotesque.
“Back then, I thought it was a demon, but...” Rafael paused.
“Do you have a sample?” I asked.
“Yes, but I don’t know how helpful it’ll be. The battle was so intense... that it was hard to secure a complete sample. Those things had some strange abilities. Their physical capabilities were high... and it felt like we were facing an entirely new species.
"I can’t say for sure, but I think the Six Stars are worshipping them,” Rafael explained.
‘Well, that’s pretty obvious...’
“There were three or four similar battles after that. It was tough, but I didn’t think it was serious enough to call off the expedition,” Rafael added.
“Regarding the Rift...”
“Ah! You’re asking about that in the Rift Museum,” Rafael said.
“Yes.”
‘When it comes to something alien, there’s really only one thing I can think of.’
All kinds of things came out of the rift. Objects from other dimensions, species from other worlds, so it wouldn’t be strange to assume they came from the rift, too.
“I didn’t really sense anything similar. Maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention... but thinking about it now... they might actually be beings from the rift. Still, I think the chances are pretty low,” Rafael said.
‘I’m sure that's the case. If those things came out of a rift, Rafael would have noticed it.’
Still, it was worth checking.
“Can I get the sample now?” I asked.
“Yes, of course,” he answered.
“For now, I think it’s best if we leave it to the manager of the Rift Museum...” I suggested.
“Ah! That should resolve the issue right away,” Rafael said.
Before setting out on an expedition, it would be wise to see Max once. I also believed that the chances were low, but it was best to have an expert take a look. Who knows? Perhaps a rift had opened, and the beings from the rift invaded the minds of the humans here.
As I tapped my thigh with my finger, Rafael added, “Actually, the real problem came after that.”
“I see,” I said.
“The last battle where my party members disappeared,” Rafael said.
“How many enemies were there?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” he answered.
“What kind of abilities did they use...” I asked.
“I’m not sure about that either,” Rafael replied.
“Were they the same guys?” I asked.
Rafael shook his head.
“No. They were humans,” Rafael answered.
“...”
“They were humans wearing masks,” Rafael added.
“...”
“...”
“They were wearing strange masks,” Rafael emphasized.
‘Stop talking about the masks.’
“I recall an individual with one leg missing. They looked a bit young, and there were also two others who sounded similar in voice...” Rafael described them.
‘It’s not the twins, right?’
“There was also a tall, skinny person,” Rafael said.
‘Shit, I have a trauma about masks. I think it’s the brigade members, but I’m sure Ji-Hye noona didn’t dispatch them...’
“The one I fought among them was really strong. I thought I hadn’t been neglecting my training... but it’s been a long time since I encountered someone that strong aside from Kim Hyun-Sung—I mean, aside from the Blue Guild Master,” Rafael added.
“...”
“That person used both a sword and magic at the same time... Their murderous aura was so intense that it was downright unsettling,” Rafael said.
Upon hearing that, I instantly had an idea as to who they were. Ji-Hye noona hadn't dispatched those people. Of course, I knew it was ridiculous. Even as I considered it, it sounded like an utterly ridiculous delusion to me.
‘Damn it...’
Rafael was clearly describing the psychopathic killer Jung Jin-Ho and the Murder Brigade.
‘Why are those bastards making an appearance?’
“...”
“...”
Rafael’s party had encountered people from the first life. That was my conclusion.