BCGWR Chapter 37 Part 1

Sweet Dream 8

The boss monster, who had appeared as a plump boy, fell backward behind a tree in fright. Unable to stand properly under the immense pressure, it eventually crawled to create distance and began to change its appearance. The transformed form was one Kim Hyun-ah knew well.

The boy, who had transformed into a slightly taller, emaciated figure than Ji Seok-min’s younger brother, Hee-min, was trembling, dressed in a Hankook University Hospital patient gown.

“…”

As Kim Hyun-ah reined in her Aura and gazed intently, Reminiscence, which had been coughing and gasping as if being strangled, now panted, “Haa… haah…” looking up with a desperate expression.

As the SS-rank Esper’s Aura evaporated, Reminiscence, having regained its senses, rolled its eyes, discreetly observing Kim Hyun-ah. Kim Hyun-ah stood without expression. Reminiscence, looking up at her impassive face, realized there was no killing intent and cautiously mimicked the person’s voice.

“Hyun-ah…?”

“…Yes. Hyun-seo. It’s been a while.”

As Kim Hyun-ah spoke the name, joy appeared on Reminiscence’s face, mistakenly believing she had been moved by it.

“Ah, Hyun-ah! You really scared me…! When did you get here?”

At that reaction, Kim Hyun-ah merely offered a bitter smile. It was absurd that Reminiscence immediately entered ‘role-playing’ mode as soon as she responded, but she took its arm, helped it stand, and replied casually.

“Just arrived.”

“What about the book you mentioned yesterday? Did you buy it?”

‘What book was it? It’s not like they only asked for one or two.’

Kim Hyun-ah pondered for a moment, then shrugged.

“Sorry. I forgot. What book was I supposed to get you?”

“…You were supposed to buy me the limited edition of ‘The Wizard of the Forest’!”

“Ah… right. I suppose I might have…”

As she answered casually, the delicate man’s eyes before her quickly became dejected. Kim Hyun-ah had no intention of playing along with a monster in human skin like Ji Seok-min did, so she let out a scoff and spoke.

“But Hyun-seo.”

“Hmm?”

Kim Hyun-ah gazed at the radiantly smiling face of her twin brother, Kim Hyun-seo, who looked at her as if asking what was wrong, and her lips parted for a moment.

Reminiscence was mimicking her blood relative with a pretense of ease, yet its hands trembled, perhaps due to the oppressive aura it had felt just moments ago. Its smiling lips also quivered slightly, but it bit them tightly as if to deny it, fidgeting with its sleeve.

It was truly a beautiful and handsome face. Slightly downturned eyes, a prominent nose, small lips—the opposite of Kim Hyun-ah’s. And even the injection marks covering the back of its hand from a long illness—everything was identical. That’s why Kim Hyun-ah was perplexed.

“Hyun-seo.”

“Huh? Why?”

“It’s very strange.”

“Hmm? What is?”

Reminiscence, having asked again, took a step back. Kim Hyun-ah drew a longsword from her Inventory, one she rarely used, and continued speaking.

“Right now, I’m thinking of my older brother.”

“…”

“Not you, Hyun-seo. I’m thinking of older brother Hyun-woo.”

“…”

“But why can’t you transform into older brother Hyun-woo’s appearance?”

“…What are you talking about, Hyun-ah…? I don’t understand what you mean…”

“Transform.”

“…”

“Transform into my older brother.”

“…Hyun…”

“Then I’ll spare you.”

“…!!”

Even Ji Seok-min, who had just composed himself from a short distance away, could see Reminiscence’s panic. Ji Seok-min, initially bewildered by Kim Hyun-ah’s demand, suddenly widened his eyes in surprise and stared at Reminiscence.

Reminiscence, its hands now weaponized and trembling violently, still maintained the appearance of Kim Hyun-seo, the second son of Peace Group, who had passed away at twenty from a chronic illness.

“Why can’t you transform?”

“…Ugh… Uhh… Hyun-ah…”

Before the imminent death, Reminiscence trembled with a physiological fear, pleading, ‘Please, don’t do this.’ It sobbed, asking ‘Hyun-ah, why are you doing this? I’m scared,’ yet still could not transform into the eldest son of Peace Group. Ji Seok-min, clearly understanding what Kim Hyun-ah had wanted to experiment with from the scene unfolding before him, covered his mouth and muttered.

“It’s impossible…”

Hearing Ji Seok-min’s involuntary gasp, Kim Hyun-ah swung her arm at a speed that would be invisible to ordinary people.

Slice-

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kim Hyun-ah instantly decapitated Reminiscence.

As the body, having lost control, collapsed and melted away, the cleanly severed head completely evaporated in mid-air as if oxidizing, before it could even touch the ground.

[Dungeon cleared. Time remaining until Dungeon Annihilation: 3 Days 23:59]

Kim Hyun-ah, checking the large pop-up that appeared in the center of the Dungeon immediately after the boss’s death, narrowed her eyes and gave a belated answer to Ji Seok-min’s gasp.

“Indeed. It really is impossible.”

Ji Seok-min dared not define what he had just witnessed. So, instead of hastily confirming anything, he spoke in a cautious voice.

“This… it seems we’ll need to experiment on Awakened individuals with S-rank mental-element resistance skills.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary. We should invite Espers who are skilled with undead or demonic entities.”

“The Awakened Association does have separate monster research departments for demonic and undead types. If the Peace Guild officially requests cooperation…”

“No. The Awakened Association’s information gathering is excellent, but we need something far more specialized.”

“You’re right. In that case, only one place comes to mind.”

At Ji Seok-min’s reply, Kim Hyun-ah gave a slight nod, mentioning the exact place he had in mind.

“We must contact the Vatican.”

“Sob… sniff…”

Han Ji-su still lay sprawled in the void of an unknown, pure white space, weakly sobbing.

Ever since his tears had burst forth, he had been sobbing continuously, completely exhausted and drained. Unable to take any action, he simply let the tears flow freely.

Though he no longer had the strength to cry loudly, tears continued to stream down his face. Just as he thought his tear ducts must surely be broken, another memory from long ago resurfaced.