Chapter 302

Although he was currently on a leave of absence, Suho was an art student. The times when he pondered in front of a canvas with brushes and pencils in hand. The moments when he mixed paints to create colors, sculpted pottery, and contemplated the meaning of his works. All those times occasionally gave him a unique perspective. And in this moment, Suho suddenly recalled the Japanese pottery repair technique he presented in class.

'Kintsugi'

Nothing could be perfect. Breaking, shattering, cracking. That was life, art, and human existence. 

– …Kintsugi means 'golden joinery,' a Japanese craft technique where shattered pottery pieces are joined with lacquer and then gold powder is applied along the cracks to repair them. 

– What philosophical meaning does that technique hold? – The professor's voice, echoing in the lecture hall, was vivid.

Suho moved on to the next slide of his presentation.

– The Kintsugi technique contains the meaning of 'embracing the scars and imperfections, not hiding them, and accepting even those as part of beauty,' beyond the simple concept of repairing an object. It gives the lesson that we can embrace the wounds and flaws we experience in life and move forward through them…

– That's correct. You've prepared well for your presentation. – The professor nodded with a faint smile.

– An art that doesn't restore something to its perfect, new state, but rather makes it more beautiful by filling the broken parts with gold. It's just like our lives. – And he continued his explanation.

– A vessel is bound to break someday. We too, in the storms of life, are sometimes hurt, cracked, broken, and even collapse. But is there anything perfect in the world?

And in this moment, It was only natural for Suho to recall that day's memory.

– …To finally love even that imperfection. To accept the scars accumulated in our souls as their own beauty. And those accumulated scars of life are the true history of our struggles…

'Golden joinery'

It wasn't just a simple repair, but a sublimation through scars…

Flash—!

Just as those words described, Woo Jinchul's entire body was enveloped in a golden barrier before Suho's eyes.

[Such high-level magic…!] The one most surprised by this was the shadow demonic spirit, Harmakan.

Javier's Soulstone. The magic circle of Sung Jinwoo contained within, that mystical golden light, was running through the cracks that were spreading throughout Woo Jinchul's body.

Whoosh—!

It was like the roots of a tree, spreading its branches, Like an intricately crafted spider web, Like the hands of a craftsman repairing a broken ceramic. Sung Jinwoo's barrier began to meticulously stitch together Woo Jinchul's cracked vessel, the history of his struggles, with golden thread.

[Javier's Soulstone begins 'Skill Reconstruction.']

[Skills are being reconstructed into a new system.]

Just like a ceramic being reborn by the hands of a craftsman, Woo Jinchul's vessel was slowly changing. Those alterations were truly amazing. The numerous skills that had been excessively injected into him, on the verge of exploding, began to melt and merge into a new form one by one.

'Danger Perception' and 'Poison Resistance' combined within Woo Jinchul and were reborn as, 'Survival Instinct,'

And 'Strength Enhancement' and 'Magic Power Focus' were sublimated into the essential power of 'Strength.'

…The skills that were scattered as dozens of fragments gradually became one, like puzzle pieces fitting together. In a natural form, as if it was meant to be.

[Skill Reconstruction complete.]

[A new skill system has been established.]

[The vessel damaged by skill overload is restored.]

"…It seems like this was Father's intention." Suho's voice quietly echoed in the silence that felt like time had stopped.

Just how far did his father see that day? Not even his main body, but a fragment.

Even with just that small fragment, Sung Suho's father, Sung Jinwoo, had made so many arrangements for those left behind on Earth. Without even using a single ounce of magic power, Using just the soul of a demonic spirit as material.

Whoosh—!

Finally, the golden barrier disappeared, and Woo Jinchul's figure was revealed.

"Are you alright?" Suho asked.

"…"

Woo Jinchul slowly raised his hands and looked at them. White palms without any cracks. Instead, faint golden patterns were engraved deep within his skin, like blood vessels. It was as beautiful as the golden seams of a ceramic that had endured a long time.

"…My body feels light." Woo Jinchul muttered.

The throbbing pain that had been following him since acquiring too many skills had disappeared.

"…It's like I have a new body." Woo Jinchul's words were filled with deep emotion.

The chaotic flow of numerous skills colliding and trying to tear him apart was now naturally connected as one. Like musical instruments that had been playing discordant notes for a long time finally harmonizing into a beautiful melody. And he could tell without anyone saying anything. That this golden barrier was Sung Jinwoo's consideration for him. He might seem indifferent on the outside, but he knew the kindness within him, having spent so long together. So he dared to guess. Perhaps… Sung Jinwoo already knew, even from that distant outer space.

– Just in case… if you happen to be away for a long time, Hunter Sung…

That he was doing his best to keep the promise they made.

– I'll protect your family, Hunter Sung.

Creating the Association, becoming the Association President… The fundamental motive behind the path he had walked for the past few years.

– Huh? Are you sure? It's grounds for disciplinary action for a police chief to use his subordinates for such personal purposes.

Chuckle. Woo Jinchul smiled as he recalled that day's conversation. …Looking back, that was it. The reason why he consolidated his power as the Association President in the first place. The reason why he desperately ran through his second life. At the root of it all was a very personal purpose. To protect Sung Jinwoo's family, as promised. To keep that drunken promise, he joined hands with CEO Yoo Jinho among the many others, And deliberately sent Kim Chul, the most trustworthy Hunter of the Association, to Yangpyeong as the branch manager.

[Don't let your guard down. It's just a temporary measure.] Beru's voice suddenly broke through his thoughts and reached Woo Jinchul's ears. He, who had always been by Sung Jinwoo's side, knew the identity of this magic.

[This barrier is a magic circle that the King researched with many demonic spirits a long time ago. It's a countermeasure to forcibly hold together a vessel that's on the verge of breaking. The research originally started because he didn't ever want to feel the helplessness of just watching Sung Il-hwan die again.]

But the research that started like that was used in a completely different situation. With Cha Hae-In.

[And when Lady Cha Hae-In was pregnant with the Young Master, as the presence grew stronger in her womb, Lady Cha Hae-In's labor pains also worsened. It even reached the point where her vessel was in danger of breaking.]

"…What? Me?" Suho's eyes widened at those words. He learned about his birth's secret in an unexpected situation.

[Yes. Just by carrying the Young Master, an ordinary human, Lady Cha Hae-In's vessel was already exceeding its limits day by day. That's when this magic circle was first used.] The purpose of the barrier was to restore a vessel that had reached its limit.

[The result was a great success.]

It was truly fortunate. The moment the magic circle enveloped Cha Hae-In, the labor pains disappeared, and her vessel was safely restored. That's how Sung Suho was barely born. But the situation was different from back then.

[Back then, the King was right beside her, continuously injecting magic power into that barrier. But now it's different. Without that support, that barrier itself is just a temporary measure. Although the crisis has been overcome for now, if you overdo it, the vessel will start to crack again.] A temporary measure. Although his tone was harsh, Beru was ultimately worried about Woo Jinchul.

[Don't increase your skills anymore. You could really die then.]

"Thank you for the advice, Beru."

[…It's not advice, it's a warning.]

"Thank you for the warning as well."

[…]

Woo Jinchul just smiled, understanding Beru's heart. And he looked at everyone around him, including Suho, and spoke, Pushing up the black sunglasses Sung Jinwoo gave him as a birthday present,

 "Now that I'm healthy, shall we talk about work?"

Just like that, Suho sat face to face with Woo Jinchul for a long time, sharing the information they knew. And he handed over all the supplies he brought from South Korea. Woo Jinchul and his party, who were procuring supplies locally because they were running low, couldn't help but be surprised when a tremendous amount of provisions suddenly appeared before their eyes. Even Woo Jinchul, who was rarely surprised, was honestly bewildered this time. 

This was because the supplies included not only those sent by the Korean government and the Association, but also the military supplies Yoo Jinho ripped out of the large guilds' warehouses. Of course, the most useful weapons were already in the hands of Suho's shadow soldiers, but even the lower quality equipment was precious to Woo Jinchul and his party. Hunters' weapons were ultimately consumables. No matter how strong the sword or shield, if they repeatedly cut and broke the tough hides and hard bones of magical beasts, they would eventually be damaged and worn out. And there were no decent blacksmiths or forges in the apocalyptic North Korea. In the end, they had no choice but to wrestle with the magical beasts with their fists and feet.

"Thank you very much. Please tell CEO Yoo Jinho that I'll repay him greatly later."

"Tell him yourself."

"…What?"

Flash—!

Woo Jinchul couldn't help but be surprised once again. Watching the Gate created above Suho's shadow, And seeing South Korea beyond it.

"Let's all take a break."

"…?!"

Just like that, Suho sent the surprised Woo Jinchul and his party to Yangpyeong Hospital for treatment. If someone in South Korea saw that, there would have been a huge commotion, but thankfully, they all returned to North Korea early the next day without any fuss.

And during that one night, Suho had already cut down all the nearby Elvenwoods and sent them to the Sea of The Afterlife. Woo Jinchul, seeing that, nodded and decided on their schedule,

"Now that we've rested well, we'll take care of the remaining Elvenwoods in North Korea. Hunter Sung Suho, you should head straight to Russia. There are many more trees there…" And he handed Hasul over to Suho and said,

"Take Hasul with you. She'll definitely be helpful. Especially that scythe made of a starpiece… A doctor from Russia gave it to her, and it will be helpful to meet him."

"Doctor? A scientist?" Suho tilted his head in confusion. But Woo Jinchul didn't know his identity in detail either.

"We don't know exactly who he is. He introduced himself, but we weren't in a situation to tell if he was telling the truth. It was before we even knew about the Cult of the Outer Gods."

"I understand. I'll have to go see him."

And that moment came sooner than expected…

* * *

The moment Suho crossed the Russian border,

Rustle…

Snow suddenly began to fall from the sky. But it wasn't snowing. It was a kind of… cell falling.

[My liege, be on guard!] With Beru's warning, those small cells gathered one by one and formed the shape of a woman before Suho and Hasul.

White skin. Pink hair. Her beauty was so faultless that it was almost eerie. The woman glanced at the scythe of harvest Hasul was holding and then greeted Suho in a cold but polite tone,

"I am the 47th doll of the Doctor. It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Sung Suho."

Her attitude was very polite, as if she had been waiting for this meeting for a long time.