Urban Vagabond: Reload

For a moment, an awkward silence settled between the two of them.

He’s asking...... if we’ve met before?

If it had been anyone else, Kim Muhyuk would have answered immediately without even thinking about it.

But Dr. Man was the person who had sent him back into the past, and he was also one of only five Grand Spellcasters in Korea.

Don’t tell me he remembers me. There’s no way.......

If Dr. Man learned that the successful case of the artificial lower abdomen he had studied his whole life before giving up was standing right in front of him, what kind of expression would he make?

He could not stay silent forever, so Kim Muhyuk slowly shook his head and asked in return.

“I believe this is the first time I’ve met you today. Have you perhaps seen me before?”

Dr. Man thought it over carefully, then soon smiled gently and said, “It seems I must have been mistaken. Perhaps you simply feel familiar because I’ve heard so much about you from Bokja.......”

“What? What did I even say about him, and how much?”

Kim Bokja looked flustered, and Dr. Man gave her a mischievous grin as he teased her.

“You talked so much trash about him that I assumed this crew leader of yours must be some rotten bastard. Saying he spoke casually to an older sister eight whole months his senior.......”

“Wow, Teacher. You’re just going to spill all our private secrets like that?”

Kim Bokja trembled in betrayal, and perhaps he found the sight cute, because Dr. Man burst into hearty laughter.

Kim Muhyuk slipped into the joke too.

“Should I start calling you older sister now? Or esteemed older sister?”

“No thanks. That’s so creepy I could die.”

As if she had goosebumps, Kim Bokja rubbed her arms furiously.

With that light joke, the awkward mood eased naturally.

Thank goodness.

Kim Muhyuk gave a small nod as he watched Dr. Man laughing and chatting with his disciple.

After all, Dr. Man was another person whose life had changed completely from the one in the previous timeline because of him.

Fortunately, Dr. Man seemed satisfied with the changed shape of his life.

Then Dr. Man asked Kim Muhyuk another question.

“I heard about it from the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader. Your sense for anomalies and your resistance are extraordinary?”

“I’m just a little more sensitive than most people.”

At Kim Muhyuk’s modest answer, Dr. Man shook his head.

“The Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader is not someone who praises people easily. There is quite a bit I’m curious about regarding you.......”

Dr. Man’s eyes sparkled with a scholar’s curiosity.

Kim Muhyuk also happened to have several things he wanted to ask him, so he cautiously made the first suggestion.

“Dr. Man. In that case, could you spare me a little time?”

“I think about ten minutes should be fine. Then Bokja can also.......”

Kim Bokja glanced at Kim Muhyuk once, then tactfully stepped away.

“I’ll go talk with the crew members. We need to check the equipment one last time too.”

“Hmm. Very well.”

“Please handle it for me.”

After entrusting command of Blue Wolves to Kim Bokja, Kim Muhyuk walked for a short while with Dr. Man along a path with few people nearby.

The surroundings were thick with fog, making it difficult to see even a few yards ahead. Stray even a little and it would be easy to lose the path, but the two of them walked on without paying it much mind.

Dr. Man looked at Kim Muhyuk with a strange gaze, then spoke first.

“Do you perhaps have any shamans or spellcasters in your family?”

“I asked my parents recently, and they said there were none on either side.”

“So it isn’t inherited, but something you were born with. Rare, but such cases do exist. Since when were you able to see and touch anomalies?”

“When I became clearly aware of it...... I believe it was from last summer. I became able to touch the ghosts Bokja commands.”

“What? A case where an ability manifested that late is, to my knowledge.......”

Like the outstanding spellcaster and scholar he was, Dr. Man was erudite and interested in many different fields. He enjoyed the conversation with Kim Muhyuk, who possessed such an unusual constitution.

“Oh dear. I’ve been asking too many questions on my own. If you have anything you’re curious about, ask.”

Once the other man’s curiosity had been somewhat satisfied, Kim Muhyuk asked,

“I heard that you also participated in subjugating the Giant Tree Ghost ten years ago. May I ask about what happened that day?”

“Mm.......”

Dr. Man considered with a stiff expression, then nodded.

“Since you’re participating in this operation, you have the right to know. I’ll answer what I can.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Muhyuk asked what course the battle against the Giant Tree Ghost had taken ten years ago, and Dr. Man answered within the limits of what he could explain.

It isn’t very different from what I expected. It lines up with what I heard from the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader too.......

He had confirmed everything he wanted to know, but Kim Muhyuk’s expression only darkened a little further.

Seeing that, Dr. Man misunderstood and reassured him.

“Don’t worry too much. The preparations themselves are different from ten years ago. This Giant Tree Ghost hunt will end without major damage.”

The Strongest in Korea, one of the Grand Spellcasters, and many of the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s elite martial artists were participating.

It was different from ten years ago, when they had rushed over after hearing that a Great Anomaly had appeared, without properly equipping themselves or mustering their forces.

“No matter how much of a Great Anomaly it may be, we have enough power to bring it down. If that were not the case to begin with, I would not have brought my disciple.”

At Dr. Man’s confident assurance, Kim Muhyuk forced a smile and nodded.

At that moment, Kim Muhyuk flinched and stopped in place.

Dr. Man stopped at the same time, surprise rising in his eyes.

“You. Did you perhaps feel something just now?”

Kim Muhyuk nodded with a stiff expression.

It was because of the ominous energy he could feel from beyond a single step ahead.

“From this point on, the natural qi is twisted. There’s something filthy about it.......”

Dr. Man’s eyes widened. He murmured, “As expected,” then nodded as if impressed.

“Your senses truly are far sharper than most spellcasters. That’s right. Just ahead is where the spell barrier sealing the Giant Tree Ghost has been deployed. It is also the place we will be entering shortly.”

When Dr. Man waved his hand, the fog withdrew in every direction, revealing an iron stake driven into the ground.

“......It looks similar to the one I saw in the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s forbidden ground.”

“They are most likely a pair. Once that seal is opened and we enter, we will be inside the spell barrier where the Giant Tree Ghost is trapped.”

The two of them stared at the iron stake for a moment, then naturally stepped back and returned to the camp.

“Bokja worries about you quite a bit. Don’t push yourself too hard in this fight.”

“......I’ll try.”

After parting from Dr. Man midway, Kim Muhyuk returned to where the crew members were gathered.

[Heh heh heh. You’re here?]

A faint glow flowed from Shin Kangheon’s eyes beneath his newly upgraded Blue Wolf mask.

Kim Bokja, Hwang Suksu, and Han Jaechun were all wearing masks as well.

Each of them was also wearing a black glove he had not seen before, apparently new equipment.

Pyaak!

Apricot, perched on Shin Kangheon’s shoulder, proudly thrust out the red jewel necklace hanging around its neck.

Kim Bokja gave Kim Muhyuk a brief briefing.

[Gas masks now have flame-retardant functionality. Fireproof glove performance confirmed. And the weapons for the wandering duo have been checked too.]

Hwang Suksu and Han Jaechun each had two tanks on their backs that looked like oxygen cylinders. They were the secret weapons prepared so the two of them could play an active role in this hunt.

[These are seriously awesome.]

[They’re lighter than I thought, and breathing is easy too!]

Kim Muhyuk looked around at the satisfied crew members and asked,

“Everyone mentally ready?”

At that moment, all of them nodded with serious expressions.

[Shin Kangheon the Firewolf! Ready to deploy!]

[Just let anyone show off and get hurt. I’ll kill you, seriously.]

[D-Do I have time to go to the bathroom? I suddenly need to pee.......]

[Brother. Just piss in your clothes and dry it.]

Pyaak!

They had checked the operation over and over dozens of times. Everyone could draw their movement lines with their eyes closed.

Kim Muhyuk put on his Blue Wolf mask last and said,

[Blue Wolves. Operation commences.]

Just then, a thunderous shout rang out from where the Transcendent Extremity Gate martial artists had gathered. It was the voice of Moon Seokju, the vice sect leader.

“We enter in ten minutes—!”

After telling the crew members to proceed according to the operation plan, Kim Muhyuk walked alone toward the Transcendent Extremity Gate formation.

“Until we enter the spell barrier, inspect every piece of your equipment thoroughly! Team leaders, check your team members’ conditions and report.......”

Moon Seokju, the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s vice sect leader, was commanding the Transcendent Extremity Gate martial artists with a tense expression.

They really did prepare well.

Kim Muhyuk felt it once again as he watched them.

The Transcendent Extremity Gate had researched and prepared for the Giant Tree Ghost hunt thoroughly. Confidence could be felt in the martial artists’ movements, and morale was high.

In Kim Muhyuk’s judgment, even if Blue Wolves had not joined them, they possessed enough force to successfully hunt the Giant Tree Ghost.

Then why?

That was why there was something he had to confirm all the more before entering the spell barrier.

Why did the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader lose one arm in this hunt, then go into seclusion for a long time?

Kim Muhyuk was the only one who knew the future that was about to happen.

The Transcendent Extremity Gate would succeed in hunting the Giant Tree Ghost, but Sunwoo Jeha would lose one arm and enter seclusion.

There is some important variable.

Kim Muhyuk thought finding that variable was the most important thing in this hunt.

That was why he intended to keep watching Sunwoo Jeha.

“.......”

Sunwoo Jeha was glaring with calm eyes at the spell barrier being gradually dismantled by the spellcasters.

Kim Muhyuk approached her side and asked,

[Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader. If it isn’t rude, may I ask one thing?]

She glanced once at Kim Muhyuk in his Blue Wolf mask, then looked back at the spell barrier and spoke coldly.

“It already is rude. Don’t.”

Her voice was far sharper than usual.

Now that her master’s revenge stood before her, she was in an extremely emotional state. A cutting, blade-like energy flowed from her entire body.

[Well, then.......]

But Kim Muhyuk did not obediently withdraw.

Instead, he took one more step closer and stood beside Sunwoo Jeha.

[Since I’ve already been rude, I’ll just ask anyway.]

Sunwoo Jeha frowned and snapped her gaze toward Kim Muhyuk.

Hearing that, the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s vice sect leader and elite martial artists looked at the two of them in shock and anxiety.

Fortunately, instead of swinging her sword, Sunwoo Jeha merely clicked her tongue softly.

“Tsk. You. Your madness has already progressed further, hasn’t it?”

[About this Giant Tree Ghost hunt. If.......]

Kim Muhyuk scratched at his mask for a moment and hesitated, then decided to ask honestly.

[If it fails, what do you think the reason would be?]

“Gasp......!”

“That lunatic.......”

“Is he out of his mind?”

The people who heard the question imagined Kim Muhyuk being sliced into dozens of pieces a moment later, but fortunately Sunwoo Jeha answered without any particular agitation.

“If the Giant Tree Ghost is more than twice as strong as the main sect’s analysis, or if it has laid even a child and there are several of them, or if another Great Anomaly we failed to observe occurs and cooperates with it.......”

At that moment, Dr. Man shouted from the Mystic Hall side, which was dismantling the spell barrier.

“Preparations are all complete. Bring the key!”

Sunwoo Jeha walked toward the iron stake revealed as the fog scattered.

Following her, the Transcendent Extremity Gate martial artists moved as well. Four of them carried a large iron chest and followed the sect leader.

Kim Muhyuk stuck to Sunwoo Jeha’s side. She glanced at him and said,

“We prepared for every one of those cases. No matter what variable occurs.”

Sunwoo Jeha opened the iron chest herself.

Inside was the heart fragment brought from the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s forbidden ground.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump!

Sunwoo Jeha pulled out the stake driven into the wildly pulsing heart fragment in one motion.

Then she seized the rampaging heart fragment with both hands and tore it apart from side to side.

SHRAAAK!

“The Giant Tree Ghost dies today.”

When she let the viscous liquid flowing from the heart fragment pour onto the iron stake driven into the ground, the seal on the spell barrier confining the Giant Tree Ghost opened.

FWOOOOSH!

The Great Anomaly’s energy erupted in every direction like an explosion.