Chapter 267 – Organizing One’s Heart

Min Do-jun had made a promise to God.

That he would commit suicide after finishing his revenge.

‘Why did I do that?’

Even he thought it was an absurd promise.

[Come on, you need to commit suicide quickly, right? You promised, didn’t you?]

“…Must I really do that?”

[Are you planning to change your words now?]

“I’m asking because I’m curious about the reason.”

[Didn’t I tell you before the regression? The moment you kill Adam and finish your revenge, you would have become a monster.]

It was true.

Min Do-jun, who had killed numerous hunters and devoured their traits, was no different from a monster from the enemy’s perspective.

[Looking at the damage that shadow hunter took in the final test, it was no joke. Your combat power exceeds 50 million now, right?]

“That’s correct.”

[Do you know what the combat power of the current world ranking 2nd place is?]

‘If it’s Shin Kyung-min’s combat power…’

[It’s not even 5 million. Anyone can see it’s an absurd difference. Moreover, your growth isn’t even finished. If you absorb traits, you can become infinitely stronger.]

“I won’t kill people anymore.”

[How can I believe your words? If your partner is in danger right now, won’t you kill again in the name of revenge?]

“…”

It was an undeniable fact.

[Min Do-jun, you’re too dangerous just by existing. You’re the main culprit of balance destruction.]

“So that’s why you made such a promise in advance…”

[I’m grateful that you saved humanity, but a promise is a promise, isn’t it? You’ve finished your revenge as you wanted, so now come up to the underworld.]

“…”

[I won’t bother explaining what happens if you break the promise.]

The way he threatened with a heavy voice was like a boss scolding an employee.

‘If you get on the boss’s bad side, company life becomes difficult.’

Moreover, the god before his eyes was beyond a boss – he was the president.

Min Do-jun had no choice.

“…”

But taking one’s own life wasn’t an easy thing to do.

Especially in a state like now where he had regained peace and was spending happy times.

‘I achieved my purpose of saving Ye-rin, so I should be able to commit suicide without regrets…’

But when he thought about having to end it without even properly enjoying happiness, he felt regretful.

‘Will Ye-rin really live happily without me?’

Could she meet another man who wasn’t him and continue her happiness?

[Hurry up and commit suicide.]

“God…”

[What is it?]

“Please give me some time to think.”

[Right. Since it’s the peace you found with difficulty, it won’t be easy to let go of your attachments.]

God spoke as if he understood, then said in a magnanimous voice.

[Fine. I’ll give you time to organize your heart. But you must decide quickly.]

* * *

“Hello, this is reporter Kim Ik-hyun at the scene. In front of me right now is a purple portal.”

The camera briefly showed the portal before returning.

“Purple, as you viewers know, means someone has entered. That means the hero who saved the nation, Hunter Min Do-jun, has entered the EX-rank dungeon. To save the people from threats once again!”

“Min Do-jun! Min Do-jun!”

This time the angle showed the area around the dungeon.

Numerous fans who came to cheer for Min Do-jun were caught on camera.

“Yes, this many people are waiting for Hunter Min Do-jun to come out. As someone who’s also cheering, I hope he comes out safely… Huh?”

The reporter looked somewhere with wide eyes.

The people who were waiting were the same.

“The, the portal…”

“The portal is disappearing!”

When the portal disappears while there’s still time limit remaining, it means one thing.

“He cleared the dungeon!”

Normal dungeons don’t have their portals disappear even after being conquered.

They just return to their original blue color and accept the next challengers.

However, in the case of one-time dungeons, the portal disappears immediately upon clearing.

What if it’s not cleared?

The portal would turn red and a dungeon break would proceed, but fortunately no such sight was visible.

The portal itself had disappeared.

“The EX-rank dungeon was a one-time dungeon! It seems Hunter Min Do-jun has conquered it! But…”

No matter how much they looked around, Min Do-jun’s figure wasn’t visible.

“Wh-what’s going on? Hunter Min Do-jun, who should have come out long ago, hasn’t been seen for 20 minutes now.”

“What? He didn’t come out?”

“That can’t be right?”

Fans murmured and waited, but in the end they couldn’t see Min Do-jun’s figure.

* * *

Late at night.

Cha Ye-rin, who had been sitting alone in the quiet living room, looked at the wall clock.

“Oppa is late…”

She had already heard through TV that the dungeon had disappeared.

Also the story that Min Do-jun, who should have come out after finishing the conquest, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where are you, oppa? I have something to tell you…”

Cha Ye-rin rubbed her belly.

“I’m pregnant.”

She had planned to tell him when Min Do-jun returned safely, but for some reason he hadn’t come home for 6 hours even after the dungeon disappeared.

It wasn’t that the conquest had failed or that he had died.

Guardian Guild had contacted her saying not to worry since his name was still in the rankings.

“If you finished the conquest, why aren’t you coming home quickly? Making people anxious…”

He wasn’t even answering his phone, so she was worried something had happened.

Just as she was endlessly waiting for Min Do-jun like that.

Ding dong-

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

“Who is it? At this hour?”

She didn’t think it was Min Do-jun.

Logically, there was no reason for him to ring the doorbell when entering his own house.

“Huh? It’s Kyung-min.”

Cha Ye-rin tilted her head while looking at the intercom.

“But what brings him here at this hour?”

To visit the house near midnight.

And alone at that.

For now, Cha Ye-rin pressed the intercom and spoke in a welcoming voice.

“Hello, Kyung-min.”

-Ah, Ye-rin, you’re there.

“Please come inside for now.”

Cha Ye-rin pressed the door open button without hesitation.

Having a conversation through the intercom wasn’t proper etiquette.

She wasn’t close with Shin Kyung-min, but he wasn’t a stranger either.

‘He’s world ranking 2nd and also oppa’s guild member.’

She didn’t think anything would happen at all.

When she opened the front door, she could see Shin Kyung-min walking across the yard.

“Hello, Ye-rin. Sorry for visiting so late at night.”

“Oh, not at all.”

“Can we talk inside for now?”

“Yes, please come in.”

Shin Kyung-min, who entered the house, looked around and sat on the sofa.

“Should I get you something to drink?”

“No. By the way, where’s the guild master?”

“He hasn’t come yet.”

“Still?”

Toward the surprised Shin Kyung-min, Cha Ye-rin said.

“Did you come because of oppa?”

“Yes. Other guild members will be coming soon too.”

As he predicted, the doorbell rang not long after.

The guild members had come.

“Excuse us.”

When she opened the door, Jeong Hye-won, Hyun Su-ah, Hwang Da-yeon, etc… female members came in one after another, greeting her.

Cha Ye-rin was just bewildered by this situation.

“What brings you all to our house?”

“Huh? Didn’t you hear from the guild master?”

“The guild master said to gather at the house because he had something to say…”

“My oppa did?”

For Cha Ye-rin, who hadn’t been able to make a single call all day, this was news to her.

“I haven’t received any contact… He doesn’t even answer when I call…”

“About 30 minutes ago? He told Kyung-min to assemble everyone and hung up.”

“But he still hasn’t come…”

“We must have come too early.”

Cha Ye-rin rolled her eyes.

To call guild members to the house but not say anything to her.

“Are you sure he really called?”

Just as she asked with a suspicious voice.

Click-

The front door opened and Min Do-jun entered.

“You’re here.”

“Guild master!”

Everyone looked at him with delight, but the first person to run to Min Do-jun was Cha Ye-rin.

“Oppa! What happened? You didn’t answer calls all day! I was worried!”

“Sorry. I had something to think about alone.”

“Did oppa call the guild members to the house?”

Min Do-jun nodded.

“Yeah. Sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. I wasn’t in the right state of mind.”

“What did you call them for?”

“I wanted to make an important announcement.”

“An announcement?”

Min Do-jun, who had gathered everyone’s attention, spoke in a serious tone.

“Starting today, I’ve decided to quit being a hunter and retire.”

“Retire?”

The guild members were surprised by the sudden announcement.

Cha Ye-rin was equally surprised.

“Th-then what about the guild…”

“The guild runs well without me, doesn’t it?”

“Then… you’re completely withdrawing from monster hunting?”

When Min Do-jun nodded, Cha Ye-rin’s face brightened.

No matter how much he was world ranking 1st and at the highest level, hunter work couldn’t be considered safe.

Cha Ye-rin had been quite worried about Min Do-jun going out to hunt monsters when he had already earned enough money to last several lifetimes.

“Oppa, is that really true? You won’t hunt monsters anymore?”

“Yeah. Unless it’s an unavoidable situation, I want to focus on daily life as much as possible. You didn’t like it either, Ye-rin.”

“You really thought well, oppa!”

The prospect of having more time together was the best news possible for Cha Ye-rin.

The guild members also respected Min Do-jun’s opinion.

“We’ll respect whatever decision the guild master makes.”

“You’ve been active for 10 years and even reached max level, so no one can say anything if you retire.”

“Moreover, you’ve not only saved the country but even cleared an EX-rank dungeon…”

“But on one hand, thinking that we won’t be able to party with the guild master anymore feels somewhat regretful.”

“You’ve worked hard for us all this time, so let’s let you rest now.”

Though it was a sudden decision, the guild members nodded in understanding.

“Then can I become world ranking 1st now?”

“That seems impossible for life as long as the guild master is alive.”

“Ah…”

When Shin Kyung-min showed a dejected expression, Min Do-jun smiled and patted his shoulder.

“When I retire, Shin Kyung-min will practically be ranking 1st. People will all acknowledge and accept it.”

“Hehe, right?”

Shin Kyung-min regained his spirits, but actually everyone knew he wasn’t obsessed with rankings.

After first conveying the retirement news like that, Min Do-jun chatted and laughed with the guild members before sending them home before midnight.

Cha Ye-rin and Min Do-jun were left alone.

Cha Ye-rin asked with a serious face.

“Oppa. But why did you come home so late?”

“I told you. I had something to think about.”

“What kind of thinking?”

“…”

Was it just her imagination that worry was visible on Min Do-jun’s face?

“There’s something like that. Anyway, tell me.”

“What?”

“You said you had something to tell me when I returned safely.”

“Ah, that?”

Whether her mood had improved, Cha Ye-rin smiled broadly.

“What is it? Is it good news?”

“Yeah. Oppa, you’re going to be a dad now.”

“What?”

“I’m having a baby.”

At those words, Min Do-jun was surprised then smiled broadly.

“Haha, really? I’m really going to become a dad?”

He had thought he would hear the news someday, but he didn’t know it would be today.

Seeing Min Do-jun rejoicing as expected, Cha Ye-rin also smiled along.

“Ye-rin.”

“Yeah?”

“I also have something to tell you.”

“What?”

“Something I should have said long ago…”

Min Do-jun, who had been hesitating, spoke courageously.

“Let’s get married.”

This time Cha Ye-rin was surprised.

She wondered if he was saying this because she was pregnant, but that wasn’t it.

Min Do-jun, who suddenly knelt on one knee, took something out of his inventory as if he had prepared it.

“Th-this is…”

It was a diamond ring that was also used as a wedding gift.

“It’s an item I’ve been keeping for 10 years to give to you. Take it.”

“Oppa…”

10 years ago they didn’t even know each other.

Naturally, Cha Ye-rin took it as a joke, but Min Do-jun’s words were true.

“Will you marry me?”

At Min Do-jun’s formal proposal, tears fell from Cha Ye-rin’s eyes.

“Yeah… I’d like that.”

They were tears of joy.