Episode 26. Research Already Over?!

In the room of Tae Yijun, the youngest and the only honor student among the Tae siblings, the quiet scratching of a mechanical pencil was the only sound breaking the silence.

Tae Yijun sat at his desk, earphones in, fully immersed in his studies.

Who knows how much time had passed.

“Ughhh…”

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a zombie-like figure stumbled into the room.

With dark circles hanging low under his eyes, the figure groaned and collapsed onto the bed.

Sensing the presence, Tae Yijun removed his earphones and turned around.

“What is it this time, Mr. Wannabe?”

“I’m a writer, I told you. I signed a contract.”

“You haven’t even debuted yet. I’ll call you ‘writer’ when you actually debut.”

“Whatever. That’s not the point right now.”

Tae Ihyun buried his head back into the pillow and kicked his feet in frustration.

But Tae Yijun, used to such antics, merely sighed briefly.

Whether it was his sister or brother, they always seemed to come to his room when they couldn’t find a solution to their problems.

Did they think of him as the youngest, or did they see his room as some kind of counseling center?

“So, what’s the issue?”

“Well, you see…”

Tae Ihyun sat cross-legged and began to share his concerns.

“It feels like there’s nothing left to observe.”

“Hmm? Are you talking about the guild you’re in? That Harmony… Harmony Guild, right? Anyway, that guild?”

“Yeah.”

Even before, he thought the guild’s name was quite unique.

A guild named Harmony Guild, and the guild leader’s name is Man Saseong. What a world.

At this point, it felt like they were inviting people to tease them.

Meanwhile, Tae Ihyun continued with a troubled expression.

“After running a few Gates with them, I can tell with my eyes closed how they start fights, how they attack and defend, how they retreat when tired, and how they handle crises.”

Tae Yijun nodded.

In truth, how varied could the battles of hunters in a C-rank guild be?

Even hunters of higher ranks had their own patterns and habits.

Moreover, fighting monsters with different methods and patterns without a specific reason was inherently inefficient.

So Tae Ihyun quickly memorized all the patterns and methods.

Eventually, there was nothing left to observe.

This realization left Tae Ihyun bewildered.

He had confidently told the association president that he would be there for a while…

Of course, Tae Ihyun didn’t mind spending time with the Harmony Guild.

He had grown a bit attached, perhaps.

But,

“The reason I’m there is for research. If I can’t do that anymore, then there’s no reason to…”

“Stay there?”

“…Exactly.”

“So?”

“I’m seriously considering moving to a B-rank or even an A-rank guild. There should be more to observe there.”

Despite saying this, Tae Ihyun’s mind changed over a hundred times throughout the day.

He hated wasting energy on such dilemmas.

But it was a problem he couldn’t avoid, a real headache.

So he sought out… not a counseling center, but his younger brother’s room.

Hoping for a clear perspective from a third party.

But Tae Ihyun already felt he knew what his brother would say.

‘He’ll definitely tell me to move.’

His younger brother, Tae Yijun, was someone who could assess situations more coldly than anyone else.

He’d probably say something like:

‘Remember why you started this in the first place. What’s the point of staying where there’s nothing left to research or observe? Contact the association president and ask them to find the next guild for you.’

Tae Ihyun felt like he’d already heard the answer.

‘Yeah, right. So why did I even come here?’

He considered himself not particularly sentimental, but his brother seemed even less so.

‘Heartless kid, how can someone be so cold?!’

Here was a brother who had imagined all sorts of scenarios and was blaming his brother for being cold-hearted even before hearing an answer.

Then,

“I’m against it. Moving, I mean.”

Tae Ihyun was caught off guard by the unexpected response.

“What? What did you say?”

“I said I’m against moving to another place.”

The unexpected answer tilted Tae Ihyun’s head to the side.

“Why?”

“Isn’t this the answer you wanted to hear?”

“…”

Seeing Tae Ihyun’s almost tearful expression, Tae Yijun chuckled and continued.

“Just kidding. If you move now, you’ll just end up doing research and observations elsewhere, and then move again and again, right? With your combat sense, you don’t need to see more than once or twice to get the gist, do you? And now that you know how C-rank and B-rank Awakened fight, do you really need to know more?”

“So you’re saying…”

“That kind of observation or research isn’t necessary anymore. And now it’s time to…”

Tae Ihyun was now fully focused on his brother’s words.

Seeing his brother’s attentive gaze, Tae Yijun grinned.

“It’s time to start a new kind of observation.”

“A new kind of observation?”

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“That Harmony… Harmony Guild.”

Couldn’t they change the name?

Tae Yijun could never get used to pronouncing the guild’s name.

Anyway,

“Why not try nurturing them properly?”

“Huh? Nurture them?”

“Yeah. Instead of watching fights, observe how lower-ranked Awakened gradually grow stronger. In other words, observe their growth.”

“Growth?”

Seeing Tae Ihyun’s confusion, Tae Yijun elaborated.

“Why do you only write about overpowered characters?”

“Because it’s fun, refreshing, and I like it?”

“That might be part of it, but I think it’s because you’re overpowered yourself. You don’t really know about growth, do you?”

“What do you mean I don’t know about growth?”

“From the moment you Awakened, you were the youngest Legendary Rank.”

Tae Yijun’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve never had to worry about others, just taking down beasts and villains as you saw fit, and eventually becoming the hero who defeated the Calamity Beast. How would you know about growth? Are you kidding me?”

“…Well, I mean, I do.”

“Do you?”

“…Maybe a little.”

“Really?”

“…No, I’m sorry.”

Tae Ihyun finally confessed the truth.

“So take this opportunity to learn and observe. You said they’re good people, right? The guild members.”

“Yeah, they are.”

Some were unnecessarily tsundere, others overly kind, and some were just overly enthusiastic, but they were good people.

“I think this observation will greatly benefit your writing.”

And also benefit you personally.

He had to save the world and eventually did so before he could even learn about social skills.

Tae Yijun believed this experience would surely help his brother.

“Hmm, alright. I’ll do that.”

Tae Ihyun now fully agreed with Tae Yijun’s suggestion.

But growth, huh.

“So, what should I do now?”

“That’s something you’ll have to figure out step by step. But first, everyone should be able to focus on their Hunter work without worries, right?”

“Focus on their Hunter work without worries…”

Suddenly, a face came to mind.

A smile spread across Tae Ihyun’s face.

He was starting to get an idea of how to begin.

But then,

Vrooooom.

“…!”

Startled, Tae Ihyun quickly turned his head toward the window.

“What’s wrong?”

Tae Yijun asked, puzzled by Tae Ihyun’s sudden reaction.

“Nothing. Anyway, thanks for the advice today! It was really helpful. Send me a message with what you want to buy or eat later. I’ll get it for you.”

“Okay, but what’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

By then, Tae Ihyun had already flung the window wide open.

“I have to go somewhere for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

“Hey! Use the door, not the window!”

Whoosh.

“Ugh, that guy.”

Tae Ihyun had already vanished.

But what on earth was going on?

* * *

A while later.

At the foot of a mountain on the outskirts of Seoul.

Whoosh.

Tae Ihyun had just arrived there.

‘Was I lured here?’

The immense energy he had felt near his home had vanished before anyone else could notice.

It was as if it had been directed solely at Tae Ihyun.

And as soon as he stepped outside, the energy continued to flow.

Following that energy led Tae Ihyun to this place.

Hmm.

Tae Ihyun slowly turned his head, surveying the surroundings.

Who could it be?

Just then,

Boom.

An overwhelming energy dominated the space.

“Ugh.”

A strong gust of wind followed, blinding Tae Ihyun as someone charged at him with incredible speed.

And they threw a punch at a speed that was nearly invisible.

Whoosh!

Flash!

Tae Ihyun blocked the punch.

Immediately, a massive shockwave erupted behind him.

Whoosh.

Tae Ihyun’s figure vanished.

And then he reappeared behind the attacker, flipping in the air and raising his leg high.

Crackle!

His foot, wrapped in lightning, came crashing down on the opponent’s head.

An attack that seemed impossible to block.

But,

Boom!

Even that attack was blocked by the opponent.

As Tae Ihyun confirmed the opponent’s face, his eyes widened.

“What?”

Whoosh.

The two of them retreated significantly.

Though the exchange was brief, the surroundings were swept away by the shockwave.

“You’re still the same. I thought you’d be rusty.”

“What the hell are you doing, Kazuya?”

“Hahaha! Sorry, sorry.”

The opponent laughed heartily, finding Tae Ihyun’s annoyed tone amusing.

A handsome man with strikingly dyed blond hair.

“How have you been, little brother?”

He was none other than Sato Kazuya, a fellow Legendary Rank and one of the 12 Apostles who saved the world.