The Mist Vol 4 Chapter 8

Vol 4 Chapter 8

The dream that made him regret as if he were dying, the dream that sometimes showed happy content only to make him regret more, had now changed into a dream of a crazed monster. He wished he could erase the moment he heard that he was alive, if possible.

The sensation of emotions that had been coiled up inside him for over a decade suddenly coming back to life. The feeling of unbearable trembling ecstasy, choking, new anger, and gloomy hatred all bursting out at once was too much to bear with a sane mind.

There was a time when some had taught him that this was love, but could anyone still say this was because of love, looking at the man now? The man chuckled and looked into the distance.

'Have you... changed?'

While he had changed this much. How had he been living? Feeling as if a bestial sound would escape if he opened his mouth, the man pressed his cracked lips tightly together and endured. Unable to breathe properly, he continued to glare at the door that showed no signs of opening for hours.

Suddenly, the door opened with a clang. The man, startled without realizing it, hid his body deeply and heard children's voices.

"Master Instructor. Are you really taking us home today?"

"It's okay if you just go with In-woo!"

"With child crimes being so serious these days, we have no choice."

A thrilling voice that could be heard clearly even mixed with the chattering voices of the little ones. Although it was now completely an adult male voice with no trace of boyishness left, having gone through puberty, the man recognized it instantly as if struck by lightning.

'...It's you.'

But unlike the boyish and gentle tone in his memory, that voice was somehow indifferent and cold. A quiet but hidden sharpness. Realizing this change, the man carefully raised his eyes, and saw three people. Having stepped back for a moment, they must have turned a corner, as only their side profiles, close to their backs, were visible.

Nevertheless, the most noticeable was, of course, the figure of the tall man standing on the far right, holding a child's hand. A man in a navy uniform with an outer garment, holding a black cane in his right hand, with noticeable neatly cut black hair. The man, who had been staring wide-eyed at that back view as if his breath would stop, soon noticed something strange about that figure.

"Oh, Master Instructor. The ground is sunken there."

"You're going to fall again, Master Instructor."

"I won't fall."

The man was limping. That's why he was using a cane.

'Huff, huff, huff...'

The moment he realized this, the breath of the man hiding in the alley became rough. His hand gripping the wall trembled as if struck by lightning. His clenched teeth felt like they would shatter. His breath was becoming rapid as if he would die, but the man didn't notice.

"It would be nice if Master Instructor showed us how to use a sword too... right?"

"You mutt! You lose even against me! Master Instructor is a genius, so he doesn't show just anyone!"

"Damn! When did I ever lose! You're such a jerk!"

Smack!

"What did I say about swearing?"

"..."

After giving each of the squabbling children a light tap on the head to stop them, the three walked away, more or less in good spirits. Only after they had turned the corner and were completely out of sight, not even a hair visible, could the man finally calm his labored breathing. Sweat trickled down his chin.

"Haa... ha... haa... ha!"

Finally, as if all strength had left him, he collapsed to the ground, unable to even control his legs that had slid down ungracefully. The man found himself laughing without realizing it.

"Ha... hahaha... hahaha... haha!"

He couldn't believe it!

He had changed too.

He had changed, but it might have been better if he had just died. What he had just seen with his eyes was a change that would have been worse than death if it really was 'him'!

'Is that you?'

Is it really you?

Was that cripple leaning on a cane, unable to use a sword, really you? Is that you?

The maniacal laughter that erupted endlessly from the dark alley finally turned into a groan-like sound, and then again into what sounded like sobbing laughter. The deserted alley was filled only with a desolate cold wind.

***

Beep beep beep beep! Beep beep beep beep!

Yoon Seok-ho, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed for a moment, opened them suddenly as if he had never closed them at the sound of the computer beeping with flashing red lights, and pressed a button.

"Yes. This is Yoon Seok-ho."

[ Hello, Branch Manager. This is GM Orin! ]

A hologram popped up, showing a woman in administrator clothes with a perplexed expression. Yoon Seok-ho frowned in confusion and asked.

"Yes. What's the matter?"

The status of employees in the management department who serve as GMs is not very high. Nevertheless, the fact that she had made a direct video call to the branch manager meant that everyone had judged the situation to be that serious. Thinking this, Yoon Seok-ho asked, and GM Orin nodded.

[ It's about the HZ quest. When I reported to the higher-ups, they said it would be better for me to report directly to you since the contracts for HZ quest users are under your direct jurisdiction. ]

"What on earth is the problem?"

Yoon Seok-ho frowned at the ominous words.

[ HM-08 user has forcibly triggered a hidden event, 'Instigation'! ]

"What?"

For a moment, Yoon Seok-ho's eyes widened in bewilderment.

***

Kapros sat in his chair, turned on the computer, and was browsing through the now-familiar MIST Bay World Community via the hologram screen.

'Map page, city information page, item information page...'

When he absentmindedly clicked on the free board, a single word caught his attention, preventing him from clicking on anything else.

[ (Not photoshopped) Surprise appearance of Caesar, Guild Master of Pale Knights! ] [638]

...What?

[ The protagonist of the second video in Episode 3 is definitely Caesar. ] [422]

[ What the hell is this nonsense about an army of darkness? Please explain ] [753]