White Tiger Guild – Two Days After the Dungeon Break
Jinhwan Ra was pacing like a caged animal.
"TWO DAYS. TWO. DAYS. HE GLOWS LIKE A GODDAMN LIGHTHOUSE AND WE CAN'T FIND HIM?!"
He slammed his fist into the side of a mana terminal. It fizzled.
Tara didn't look up.
Arin sipped her sixth mana shot in silence.
"We've swept the 8th Ward with drones, scouts, and bribed mana hawkers."
"Offered 2 million won on the hunter forums for any clue."
"I've reviewed the footage 71 times," Arin muttered. "He's not even real. He's a mirage with abs."
Jinhwan howled.
"I'm gonna LOSE to the Lotus Guild AGAIN, aren't I?!"
Then—
The Murim Master walked in calmly.
"We're visiting my disciples today."
Jinhwan blinked. "Your what?"
"The Blade Sisters. They're home. In the 8th Ward."
Everyone froze.
Tara dropped her tablet.
Arin's coffee cup shattered mid-air.
Jinhwan leaned forward slowly.
"8th… Ward?"
Murim Master nodded.
"We'll leave in 10."
Scene – The Bar, Neo-Seoul 8th Ward
Ding-ding!
The door opened.
The White Tiger entourage walked in like they were about to start an anime arc:
Two SSS-Rankers, one officer, a hunter, and two future legends.
Brehn emerged from the kitchen, eyes lighting up.
"Girls! You made it!"
The Blade Sisters sprinted over, hugging their dad.
"We missed you, old man."
"Where's Mira and Nico?"
"Out running errands," Brehn said. "You'll see them soon. Oh, and Alaric's just—"
Enter: Alaric.
White hair, silver tattoos, rolled-up sleeves.
He blinked at the strangers in his bar.
They blinked back.
Arin:
"…Is that who I think it is?"
Tara:
"Oh no."
Jinhwan's pupils dilated.
"MY LUCK HAS RETURNED."
Murim Master:
"It's him."
Blade Sisters:
"That's the guy who nuked the ogres?!"
Alaric slowly turned—
And Booked it…
Tara:
"GET HIM!!!"
The doors BURST open as Alaric vaulted out, towel still in hand.
Jinhwan:
"WAIT COME BACK MY LUCKY CHARM—!"
Murim Master:
"ACCEPT MY FIST AND PALM TEACHINGS—!"
Tara:
"2 MILLION WON! 3 MILLION! I'LL DO YOUR TAXES!"
Alaric:
"NOT TODAY, GOVERNMENT DOGS!"
He dove over a food stall, flipped a neon sign, and vanished into the crowd like a white-haired phantom.
Back at the Bar – 20 Minutes Later
The door creaks open.
Brehn walks in with Mira and Nico. They stop.
The entire bar looks like it was hit by a dragon's sneeze.
Tables overturned. Glass shattered. A mana keg is still dripping.
In the center of it all?
Arin.
Face down on the ground. Hair destroyed. Legs spread out like roadkill. Sobbing dramatically.
"I'm too weak… I couldn't even run… I'm worthless… I belong in F-rank…"
Brehn:
"…MY BAR."
He drops to his knees, clutching his head.
Mira and Nico just pat his shoulder.
Nico:
"Dad… the sisters were never here, were they?"
Mira:
"This was a delusion brought on by hope."
Brehn:
"I hate all of you."
Meanwhile – Rooftop Overlooking the Scene
Alaric reclines, sipping a melon soda he definitely didn't pay for.
"They're fast, I'll give them that."
He stretches, grinning.
"But they've got no chill."
He closes his eyes as the sun sets, the towel still draped over his shoulder like a cape.
"I'm gonna need a better hiding spot."