The Mist Vol 3 Chapter 63

Vol 3 Chapter 63

Living alone and then meeting a few friends... That...

That...

That...!

"Mu-heon!"

Kapros snapped back to reality.

He saw his reflection in the Master Instructor's eyes, full of surprise and concern. The face of a man, pale and expressionless, sweating cold. The dark, hollow eyes felt like those of a dead person.

Those eyes were clearly wounded and afraid. They were the very eyes he had been trying to avoid for three years, even avoiding looking in the mirror properly. It sent chills down his spine to see that same look still there after a year had passed.

Had there... never been any change in him from the beginning?

"Mu-heon, I'm sorry. I'm old and spoke nonsense out of needless worry. So..."

Although his head was throbbing, Kapros managed to shake his head. At the same time, he averted his gaze from the Master Instructor's mirror-like eyes, fleeing from the sight of the still foolish guy.

"No. It seems your words are right, after all."

The cynicism that had disappeared as if it were a lie was creeping back.

"It seems I was mistaken... As you said, I couldn't properly get over even that one thing."

"Mu-heon!"

"I'll go home... cool my head and think about it."

The one strand of reason left in him was aware that his mind was overheating, but he had no idea what to do or how to do it. Staggering to his feet, supporting himself with his left foot, he picked up the wooden sword he had placed beside him.

At least this, he didn't want to leave behind.

***

GM Nam Mugeon was concentrating on his work, alternately looking at the user lists he had arbitrarily spread out in the air and his desk.

"Heaven Voyeur, Yeon-yeon-so... Melamine Guild... Hmm. And next is... Mage, Kapros... Ah. HR-02 user group."

"Have you finished the task I assigned?"

"Waaah!"

As Nam Mugeon screamed in surprise at the sudden appearance of a person's upper body through the hologram of the user list, the handsome brow of the man who appeared furrowed comically.

"I prefer to hear screams only in bed."

"Please stop making such vulgar remarks! Why are you interrupting like this, Branch Manager?"

The Branch Manager, Yoon Seok-ho, gave a brilliant smile at Nam Mugeon, who was shouting while clutching his startled, heaving chest. He looked satisfied with his prank.

"Ah... We used to be seniors and juniors, isn't it too cold of you?"

"What do you mean seniors and juniors from clueless middle school days! I didn't even know you then, Branch Manager!"

"That's not true. Connections are precious things. Isn't it thanks to knowing me that you're now in such an important position? Be grateful."

What important position! Barely suppressing the urge to retort, Nam Mugeon let out a long sigh. Looking at the pretty couple ring on his left ring finger, his mind calmed down somewhat.

"I suppose you've finished the task you asked me to report on last time?"

"Ah, that. I've been busy catching the tails of some rats. It's fine now. I'm thinking about maybe launching a counter-operation... What do you think?"

"..."

Looking at Yoon Seok-ho, who was making terrifying statements related to business in a tone not 1% different from his usual joking manner, Nam Mugeon thought that this was definitely not a person to make an enemy of.

Looking at his superior, who appeared to be a thoughtless intellectual playboy on the surface, Nam Mugeon changed the subject as naturally as possible.

"Ah, if you mean the task you assigned earlier, it was nothing special, so I just finished it. Wasn't it just to organize which characters the subjects of the ReL project are currently playing as in THE MIST?"

"Ah, right. That. Yes. Can I see the list now? Pull it up."

"Yes, yes."

With a seemingly resigned response, Nam Mugeon adjusted the hologram, and only the list he had just completed was extracted and arranged largely in the air.

"Oh. There are photos too?"

"It would be difficult to tell who's who with just names."

As Nam Mugeon replied as if it were nothing to Yoon Seok-ho's seemingly surprised remark, Yoon Seok-ho nodded.

"That's the first step to being a capable employee. Congratulations."

"..."

As Nam Mugeon once again looked at his couple ring and swallowed his silence, Yoon Seok-ho's eyes, which had been only joking until now, quickly scanned the photos and list. The playful air that had been there just moments ago had disappeared without a trace, replaced by eyes filled only with a cold light.

Number. [ Name(Age) Gender / Information / In-game NAME / JOB(Additional description) ]

L-1 [ Noh Won-hyung(38) M. / Full body muscle abnormality / Wonhyung's Hammer / Blacksmith(Manufacturing skill top-tier level 1) ]

L-2 [ Sun Ye-ju(20) F. / Visual impairment / White Crown / Monster Hunter(Dagger skill high-tier level 3)]

...

L-8 [ Lee Sun-bin(16) M. / Heart abnormality / Honryu / Speed-type Fighter(Fighting skill high-tier level 3) ]

L-9 [ Lim Jung-yeon(27) F. / Vocal cord abnormality / Yeon-yeon-so / Hidden job Heaven Voyeur(Singing skill top-tier level 1) ]

L-10[ Kang Mu-heon(22) M. / Right leg abnormality / Kapros / Mage(First 6th circle, HZ quest skill holder)]

"Well organized."

"But why is this list suddenly needed? Wasn't the project just about observing the results?"

After Yoon Seok-ho lightly praised him after reading it all, Nam Mugeon frowned and asked, seemingly displeased. Yoon Seok-ho's face briefly showed a questioning look before quickly displaying a relaxed smile.

"Ah... That's to see the intermediate process. Well, it's as I expected."

"What's as you expected?"

"Didn't you notice while organizing? You just need to look at the common point among these ten people."

At these words, both casual and puzzling, Nam Mugeon turned his gaze to look at the list.

"What? But their activity areas and jobs are all different... ...Ah! Could it be?"

As Nam Mugeon looked skeptically and then suddenly turned back in surprise, Yoon Seok-ho nodded and then pointed to one spot as he spoke.

"That's right, their skills. They're all incredible, aren't they?"