The all-knowing Player

Raid after raid (1)

If Jin-Woo will be able to hide his double awakening thanks to Song Chi-Yul, I won't. Seon-Ji is a C-rank hunter like him, but she didn't have a weapon and Yool is only D-rank. He can't provide enough support like Ju-Hee can. The only way to explain Shin Chun-Hee's death is to admit that I have undergone a second awakening. If I do, my deal with Jin-Ho will be canceled.

It's for the best. As long as Jin-Woo still raids, everything will be fine. Still, I can't help but to be disappointed. I wanted to raid with the two of them.

"What should we do now?" Seon-Ji asks.

"We have to report the incident to the association." I answer.

"But then we'd have to explain. You're not at fault but..." Yool hesitates. "You wanted to hide your double awakening for a bit longer, didn't you?"

"By the way, why didn't you tell us? When did that happen?" Seon-Ji adds.

"I... Well-"

How should I answer that question? I can't tell them about the system nor about the memories of my past life. But they deserve an explanation. I know that they will keep my secret.

"It's alright, you don't have to answer right away." Yool pats my shoulder. "Just don't try to hide anything anymore, okay? You don't have to tell us everything, but at least don't lie."

I nod. "Thank you for trusting me."

"Oh, it's not about trusting you. It's just really easy to tell when you're lying."

I frown. "Then... Does it mean that-"

"I knew something was up. I just couldn't tell what it was."

"You did?" Seon-Ji is the most surprised of the two of us.

"It wasn't really hard to tell. She grew taller and more assured and she disappeared from time to time and came back tired. She even came back with new clothes once. Not to mention that she gained money without having found a new job that she didn't even tell us about."

Oh, right. I gave them the money that I earned after the C-rank dungeon without having found a plausible excuse. Of course he found it suspicious.

"I didn't notice, but now that you mention it, there was that guy who ran with her around the hospital. Don't tell me... he's your boyfriend now?"

Is she talking about Jin-Woo? Also, how did she know that I ran everyday at the hospital? Did the nurses tell her?

"No, not at all!" I protest vehemently, almost sure that my face has turned red. "He helped me a lot and we did raid together, but we're just friends, I promise!"

After all, he belongs with Hae-In. It would have been wrong of me to want anything more than a friendship from him. Especially since I am friends with the both of them.

"I want to meet him." Yool announces.

"Why?"

"Isn't it normal? You made a new friend with whom you share secrets that we don't even know of. We need to at least make sure that you're safe with him!" The answer seemed to be obvious to Seon-Ji.

"Okay." I agree, realizing that there was no way out. "I'll text him when we get out of the dungeon."

"Which leads us back to the same question. Hee-Jin, do you want to hide your rank for a bit longer?" Yool asks.

"I would, but it isn't possible now, right?" I sigh.

"Well... there is a solution." he grins. "Listen closely."

[*]

We run through the dungeon tunnels, screaming for help. A loud rumbling follows us, echoing against the walls. We reach the main tunnel, where the five other hunters are already waiting for us.