There were a few familiar faces in the crowd who knew Cheon Areum, but even with them, he had never been this blunt or this emotionless. Yoo Jihyeon was the first to form a line, but with a big gap between him and Cheon Areum. He kept his arms behind him, not being able to see eye to eye with Cheon Areum.

Quickly after that, the hunters stood in line. With the people from the Central Bureau still there with them to monitor the S+ Class gate and relay updates, they were certain Cheon Areum wasn’t going to do anything lawless.

As soon as they were all present in line, Cheon Areum lifted his hand, and a black trail of his energy started circling around the hunters. He used his abilities in front of everyone. The people from the Central Bureau silently observed the scene unfold before them, unable to interfere. Then suddenly, a black wave of energy enveloped the hunters in front of him. At that moment, Yoon Seoyul grabbed his hand that was raised in the air, making him think he was going to stop for a second—but Yoon Seoyul made no such move. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Cheon Areum retracted his gaze from Yoon Seoyul, focusing on examining the hunters. After confirming that none of them were under control and that they were all beings of their own, Cheon Areum stepped back, taking his energy with him as he moved a step to sit on top of the car parked close to the gate.

"If I see a single scratch on him when he returns, I’m going to give everyone a scratch exactly... twice the size of the one on Yoon Seoyul. If you don’t understand what I just said, then here is the simplified version: you all are just extras meant to protect the main character here."

With that, he sent Yoon Seoyul off into the S+ Class gate. Sitting on the smooth surface with his legs crossed and a fist under his chin, he stared at the place where the S+ Class gate had been a minute ago. For some reason, he was really anxious. Perhaps it was because this was the first time Yoon Seoyul had left him for a gate where he couldn’t be contacted ever since the encounter with Kihyun.

I should have asked him for more pheromones before he left...

He sniffed the sleeve of his oversized jacket. There was a faint scent of vanilla, but it didn’t help him settle down. He kept feeling like there was a premonition waiting to happen. Should he have gone with Yoon Seoyul after all?

If he was careful, it wasn’t that difficult to clear an S+ Class gate for him. Thinking back on the first S+ Class and the other one he had entered—if he hadn’t been there, would Yoon Seoyul and the others have cleared the dungeon without him?

Despite being weaker, Cheon Areum had underestimated himself too much. He was yet to be replaced by anyone inside the dungeons. But it was too late—Cheon Areum had chosen to stay out in the world. He had chosen to be able to reach Rian, but not Yoon Seoyul. If Lee Nari were still in the country, she could have replaced Yoon Seoyul for the gate, but she was already out and about, hiding somewhere far away from here.

"Ouch... ow..."

Cheon Areum, who had been moving his wings unknowingly, accidentally hit the girl from the Central Bureau who had gotten close to him while he was lost in his thoughts, his eyes fixed on a single point. She rubbed her shoulder that had been hit as Cheon Areum folded his wings on his back.

"What do you want?"

He muttered, seeing the sticky note and pen in her hand. The girl with a bob haircut instantly took the opportunity to present the pen and sticky note to him.

"Your autograph... please."

"..."

The girl boldly stared at him with burning determination as Cheon Areum silently gazed at her. After a while, he took the items from her hands and gave her the autograph she wanted. The girl carefully received it and immediately put it in the inside pocket of her suit.

"What else?"

"Nothing, sir."

The girl stayed rooted, almost touching the car Cheon Areum was atop. Seeing that she wasn’t going anywhere, Cheon Areum decided to distract his thoughts from spiraling any further.

"What’s your take on pregnant omegas?"

"I think they’re all wonderful."

The girl replied passionately.

"Wonderful...?"

"Yes, just like you! You’re doing amazing—you even cleared S+ Class gates. Amazing."

The girl gave him two thumbs up with a serious expression. Cheon Areum was about to speak when a tremor crossed his left wrist, and then the watch on it began to vibrate strongly—to the point it was impossible to ignore the signal. But Cheon Areum froze. The girl’s eyes and the watch on Cheon Areum’s wrist were at the same level as he was using his hand to support himself while leaning toward her.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved. Then the girl, having seen the alert, spoke out.

"Mr. Cheon, you don’t have to go. Stay here until you are needed."

The girl explained hurriedly, but he had to see first to know if he was needed or not. With palms sweating and his heart palpitations thudding against his chest, he finally turned his wrist and saw the location and the identity on the alert screen. It wasn’t Rian, but the location was the Aurora Guild, and the person whose watch was detecting constant energy was Han Kakta.

The Aurora Guild building wasn’t too far from where they were. Cheon Areum shifted, about to stand, when the girl beside him suddenly grabbed his hand, stopping him mid-motion. Her expression sharpened as she tilted her head slightly, listening intently to the voice coming through the earpiece in her ear. A brief pause followed before she reached up, pulled it out, and extended it toward him.

"It was confirmed, it’s Cho Kihyun’s energy."