Free Web NovelThe place they had followed that voice to, as if enchanted, had turned out to be the celebration ceremony for the Abyss returnees. The other assailants gave testimonies almost identical to the woman’s.
“They thought being contaminated was Awakening.”
“In a way, it is true they got stronger.”
Lee Hyunmook agreed calmly. Contamination twisted and warped both body and mind. It was a process similar to mutations caused by radiation or chemicals. But unlike ordinary mutation, it was endlessly unnatural, condemning living creatures to infinite suffering—and driving them further and further away from humanity.
In the end, even after Yohan’s purification, Hyunmook and the others, and countless creatures of the Abyss, could never return completely to what they once were.
‘More than anything, it’s probably because they just used their powers nonstop to survive.’
Anyone who had used their abilities relentlessly for such long years would naturally surpass their limits—low-tier climbing to mid-tier, mid-tier climbing to high-tier. After fighting among monsters for centuries, it was only natural they had grown stronger.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
“Hm? Me?”
Hyunmook, lost in some deep thought, blinked in surprise at Yohan’s concern.
“People are recklessly trying things because of all that talk about ‘re-Awakening’.... It must be bothering you.”
Yohan trailed off as he looked at Hyunmook’s hair, now turned white. A man as good as his lover surely felt guilty, knowing his words had driven others to harm themselves.
“Ah...”
Hyunmook let out a small sound, as if realizing what Yohan meant. Then he tilted his eyes into a long smile.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Yohan.”
You really do see me as a person, came the words, soft as a passing breeze. Yohan, who caught them, lifted his head and met Hyunmook’s black eyes.
“Of course. Because you are a person, aren’t you?”
“...Yeah.”
Hyunmook nodded readily, agreeing with Yohan. A light glimmered in eyes that had been dark and clouded just moments ago.
“If one’s human, then of course things like this should weigh on them.”
Relieved by his answer, Yohan walked in small quick steps. That was when Yoon Seungryong suddenly came running over, reeking deliciously of food after cooking for the crowd. He looked like an excited Labrador Retriever.
“Let’s have a barbecue party! The old man caught a Kraken!”
“...What? He caught what?”
“Kraken?” Yohan, who was about to agree that a barbecue sounded nice, froze stiff. Right then, a massive tentacle surged up from the roof of the detention building—only to flop limply back down. Yohan doubted his own eyes.
Of course, rifts didn’t only open on land. Rarely, they opened in fish farms or out in the sea, which was far worse. Not even Awakeners could freely hunt the countless monsters that roamed the vast ocean.
When Yohan rushed over, he saw an endlessly long, silvery snake, coiling and writhing. It was so long that its shape resembled a cephalopod, which explained why Seungryong had called it a Kraken. Seo Yakrin, wiping sweat from his forehead, smiled lightly as if he had merely brushed it aside with telekinesis.
“Snagged this thing while it was attacking a fish farm nearby. Looks tasty, right?”
“Uh...”
“Oh, this? King crabs! They were crawling all over the bottom, so since I was splitting the sea open anyway, I grabbed a bunch! I’ll boil them up nice for our Yohan!”
Beside her, Seungryong drooled and muttered that he was the one who’d be boiling them anyway while she took all the credit. Yohan didn’t argue and simply purified the haul. They had caught so much that it filled an entire fishing boat.
The long, silver creature—probably some mutated cutlassfish—they decided to cook quietly among themselves. Even purified, it didn’t seem right to feed civilians with weak immunity. The mountain of king crabs, however, was enough for everyone in the facility to enjoy. Since they were already having a barbecue, they decided to share the feast with everyone on the island.
Fresh meat was quickly delivered from the mainland. They boiled the crabs, made stew, grilled and steamed the meat. A mouthwatering aroma spread. People who had hesitantly come out from isolation slowly began to smile. Their contamination wasn’t fully gone yet, but now it was mild—soon they would be fully cured.
Joo Hoyoung turned on music through the supply ship’s speakers. Joyful songs filled the air. Some laughed and ate, some danced endlessly in delight, some cried—but only tears of relief. Everyone ate and drank until they were full, happiness lighting their faces. Delicious food soothed people’s hearts. That was the truth Yohan had felt most keenly in the Abyss.
After eating perfectly grilled salted cutlassfish and king crab, Yohan climbed °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° onto the treatment center rooftop. He watched the sunset, coral-red and beautiful. Before long, Hyunmook was quietly beside him. Yohan leaned against his lover’s shoulder and hummed softly.
One day a star fell down,
Through endless nights with no light,
Alone I stood in the silent wilderness,
Waiting for a promise long made...
One day beyond a field of wildflowers,
You, my beloved, appeared,
Someday the sun will rise here,
I’ll wait for that promise long made...
Around the elated Yohan, faint shimmering light scattered, following his mood. Unlike the Abyss where time never changed, the sun was setting and pastel evening colors poured down. The bonfires lit for the barbecue flickered. The moon and stars shone in a sky unpolluted. Hyunmook, unable to hold back his affection for his savior, kissed him reverently.
Thus passed the first night since the rifts opened where everyone was free of worry, happy and content, a night of peace and warmth.
The next day, Yohan confirmed that the people’s contamination had nearly been purified. It was thanks to mixing his power into drinks and water for them. But there were still difficulties in sending them off the island right away, so they decided the group would remain a while longer.
Not everyone was thrilled about the delay, but since the promise came from Hyunmook, all accepted it willingly. Besides, the incurable contamination was gone—everyone was cooperative. With satisfaction, they prepared to leave the island.
“Excuse me, wait...!”
One woman, covered in scratch marks, ran up. Yohan assumed she had business with Hyunmook, but she came straight to him, grabbing his hand tightly and pouring out thanks.
“Thank you. Thank you so much for letting me see my mother again...”
Embarrassed and shy, Yohan’s face flushed red. He moved his lips silently before finally smiling awkwardly and answering quickly. freewēbnoveℓ.com
“We’ll do our best so you can reunite with your family as soon as possible.”
“Yes! I can wait as long as it takes!”
With the people’s warm farewells, Yohan boarded the ship. When he opened his palm, he found a small lamb doll resting there. The patients had probably crafted it from scraps of cloth, inspired by the sheep emblem on the Taeyang uniforms. Hyunmook, gazing at it with him, smiled broadly.
“Yangyang is really cute.”
He must have meant he was really cute, right? Yohan now accepted such things proudly and naturally, without question.
“But come to think of it, I never said I was a purifier. How did they all know?”
“They must have felt it desperately while contaminated. Just as we felt it from you.”
Yohan nodded, then, with Seo Yakrin’s skilled help, attached the doll to his bag. Now two sheep keychains dangled—the one from Hyunmook in the Abyss, and this new one. Together they made the real “Yangyang.” Stroking the soft, fluffy doll, Yohan thought to himself:
‘...It’s about time to begin, isn’t it.’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
They left the island and returned to the Taeyang Guild—only to be greeted by startling news. As soon as they landed and got internet reception, the guild members’ phones lit up with alerts. Yohan read the news in shock.
“Park Seungmin has been kidnapped?”
“Kidnapped? Good riddance.”
Seo Yakrin’s reply was indifferent. Just as Yohan bore hatred for Go Jaewon, they all naturally held hatred for Yohan’s betrayer. Frowning, Yohan read further into the article.
“Apparently some foreign tycoon did it.... But he was rescued just a few days later.”
Yohan tilted his head, not out of concern or pity, but sheer curiosity. The timing was strangely perfect.
While the Taeyang team had been stuck on a remote island without signal, tending heavily contaminated patients, this had happened. And conveniently, the guild wasn’t blamed for not assisting in the rescue—public opinion was spared.
Then, as Yohan lifted his head by chance, he saw it: Lee Chanha was smiling faintly with a meaningful look. ...No way? Chanha-hyung?
