The Omega Hunter (Solo Leveling)

chapter 32

Sung Jin-Woo drove to the Hunter Association building, the call he'd made to Woo Jin-Chul having clearly been enough to raise an alarm. As he pulled up, he wasn't surprised to see Jin-Chul, the Association President Goh Gun-Hee, and several employees waiting outside. But their faces were tense, almost fearful.

Jin-Chul rushed forward the moment Jin-Woo stepped out. "Are you alright, Jin-Woo?" he asked, worry lacing his voice.
Jin-Woo offered a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."

Jin-Chul sighed in visible relief but still looked troubled. Jin-Woo noticed the worried glances of everyone around. "Why does everyone look so tense? Did something happen?"

"You haven't seen the news yet?" Jin-Chul asked, pulling out his phone. He showed Jin-Woo a live-streamed video: eight massive Gates had appeared across the world, each more enormous than any before. Videos and images were flooding social media, showing widespread panic.
Jin-Woo finished watching and handed back the phone, his face set in determination. "Let's talk somewhere more private."

Jin-Chul quickly guided him to the Association President's office. Goh Gun-Hee motioned for them to sit, his gaze steady as he looked at Jin-Woo.

"You mentioned you had something important to tell us, Jin-Woo?" Goh Gun-Hee asked.Jin-Woo nodded, his expression serious. "President, Jin-Chul, do you trust me?"

Both men nodded without hesitation. "We do," they replied.

"In that case," Jin-Woo began, "I need you to believe everything I'm about to show you."Jin-Woo placed his index finger on Goh Gun-Hee's forehead. Instantly, darkness filled the older man's vision, and countless images flashed before him. Memories, battles, and horrors that Jin-Woo had witnessed and endured swept through his mind. He then did the same with Jin-Chul, touching their foreheads together.

When the vision ended, both men gasped, breathing heavily as they processed what they'd seen. Jin-Woo withdrew, watching them as they struggled to make sense of it.

"This...this is a war far beyond humanity's reach," Jin-Chul whispered, his hands trembling. "A war between Monarchs and Rulers... How can any of us stand against this?"

Jin-Woo held his gaze. "I plan to fight them. Alone if I have to."

Jin-Chul's eyes widened, and he shook his head, pain and frustration in his voice. "No...no, you shouldn't have to do this alone, Jin-Woo!"

Goh Gun-Hee, though visibly shaken, managed to speak with resolve. "Then tell us what we can do to help."

As much as Jin-Chul wanted to argue, he knew Jin-Woo had made his choice. The only thing he could do was support him in any way possible.

"I need you to gather the world's leaders in one place," Jin-Woo said quietly.

---
After their meeting, Jin-Woo and Jin-Chul stepped out of the President's office. As they walked toward the elevator, Jin-Chul suddenly pulled Jin-Woo into a tight embrace from behind.Surprised, Jin-Woo paused, allowing Jin-Chul to hold him. "Do you really have to do this?" Jin-Chul's voice was thick with emotion.

Jin-Woo sighed softly. "You know I'm the only one who can."

"This isn't fair," Jin-Chul murmured, his grip tightening. "Why should you have to carry this burden alone while all I can do is stand here and watch?"

"That's not true." Jin-Woo's tone was gentle. "You're helping me more than you know."

But Jin-Chul shook his head, his thoughts spiraling with frustration and guilt. "If I were stronger...if I could do more... you wouldn't have to face this alone—"

His words were abruptly silenced as Jin-Woo leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Jin-Chul froze, his mind blank, heart pounding wildly. When Jin-Woo pulled back, a slight blush dusted his cheeks. He chuckled softly at the dazed expression on Jin-Chul's face.

Realizing what had just happened, Jin-Chul's face flushed a deep red. Emboldened, he took a shaky breath. "Jin-Woo, I...I lov—"

But before he could finish, Jin-Woo silenced him again with another kiss. This one was brief but left them both breathless. Leaning his forehead against Jin-Chul's, Jin-Woo closed his eyes. "Not yet," he whispered. "Not until this is all over."

Jin-Chul nodded, tears gathering in his eyes as he hugged Jin-Woo tightly. "Then, until that day, please... stay safe."

---

Meanwhile, a man in tattered clothing wandered the city streets. Sung Il-Hwan moved unnoticed through the crowds, their attention entirely focused on the breaking news of the Gates. Though he appeared lost, he knew exactly where he was going. Eventually, he found himself outside an apartment door. He knocked but received no response.

As he raised his hand to knock again, the neighboring door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman carrying a laundry basket. She looked up and gasped in shock.

"Il-Hwan? Is it really you?"

Il-Hwan blinked, equally surprised. "Ha-Yoon?"

The woman motioned him inside, her face a mixture of shock and worry. "Come in, come in. You look terrible."

Inside her cozy living room, she offered him a cup of tea and settled down across from him. "Il-Hwan," she began gently, "where have you been all these years?"

"It's...complicated," he said, hesitating. He didn't want to involve her in his problems. Thankfully, she didn't press him for details.

After a pause, he finally asked, "Ha-Yoon, do you know where my family is?"

She sighed, sympathy softening her gaze. "They moved not too long ago."

"They... moved?" The words barely registered. "Why... why would they leave?"

looked at him knowingly. "Il-Hwan, they waited for you a long time. Your wife said she finally felt at peace enough to leave. She knew you were...gone."

He looked down, his heart clenching. His family had moved on, perhaps finally accepting his death. "So, they gave up on me after all this time," he murmured bitterly.

Ha-Yoon slapped the table, snapping him out of his despair. "Don't be an idiot! They waited for years, Il-Hwan. Don't give up now!"

Her words stung, and he realized she was right. How could he even think of giving up? "You're right... But I don't know where they are."

Ha-Yoon sighed, a small smile appearing on her face. "Then it's a good thing I do. I'll give you the address—but only after you clean up. You look like a ghost."

He chuckled weakly, nodding as he rose to follow her. "Thank you, Ha-Yoon. For everything."