EFME 68

Title: They’re saying they’re gonna sue??

They’re suing the people who badmouthed I-21.

Does that even make sense? We badmouthed I-21, not Lim Sunyul?

Comments

I-21 = Lim Sunyul, so what doesn’t make sense?

—Oh, good. Tell them to sue the hell out of everyone while they’re at it.

—This is surprising… I’m a bit disappointed that the first thing he does after coming back is sue people.

└ Why are you disappointed? Scared? ‘Cause you badmouthed I-21??

└ Go eat some justice.

—There must be a ton of people here feeling guilty lolllllll You guys really went hard on Sunyul.

└ fr lololololololol if they just picked out the worst ones, a third of the users here would disappear.

—Let’s go clean up Hunternet.

_____________

Title: Deleting your posts is pathetic.

It’s already too late.

Comments

—It’s f*cking hilarious watching them scramble to delete their posts lolololol

—I’m still so upset. When I think about what Sunyul went through, nothing can make me feel better.

└ Me too ㅠㅠ If he hadn’t gotten his memories back, people would still be hating on Sunyul.

└ I’ve truly lost faith in humanity.

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Title: You all ignored me when I said we shouldn’t criticize him for ridiculous reasons, whether he was Sunyul or not.

Even when he was I-21, he was a being who could think and feel.

You all ignored me when I told you not to criticize someone like that, and now you’re all singing

“God Sunyul, God Sunyul” and getting high on nationalism. You should all reflect on yourselves, really.

Comments

—I bet some of the people praising him now are the same ones who criticized Sunyul before, but you barely see any apology posts lolllllll f*ck.

└ That’s just how Hunternet is. If there’s something to hate on, they all swarm in to attack, and if opinions get reversed, they just go to the other side and attack them instead lolol

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Title: I’m really banging my head on the floor.

I posted a few times saying we should isolate Sunyul because he’s dangerous, and I truly regret it.

I’m not saying this because of the lawsuit. I think I deserve to be sued.
It’s just that I thought I was right back then, but now I see that I spoke so carelessly without knowing anything.

I read the posts uploaded here, and they were all right. Even at the time when I thought he was just an item, Sunyul was no different from a human being.

Comments

—Well, at least you get it now… haah……. But at least you apologized.

—You probably won’t get sued. There are so many people who were way worse.
└ Some of the things people said were unspeakable, sigh.

_____________

Title: Why is everyone so serious?

He was already successful, and now he’s even become an EX-rank, right?? He came back alive and well, so what’s the problem?

Comments

—I bet my life this fcker would’ve offed himself halfway through if he went through the same thing as Sunyul.

└ My vote too.

└ 333

└ No fcking doubt.

—Does becoming an EX-rank suddenly make the world a magical, sunshine-y, shalalala, beautiful place?? Why are you speaking so carelessly like it’s no big deal when you haven’t experienced it yourself?

└ No, the more I think about it, the more pissed I get. Alive and well? “Well”? How can he be “well” with all the scars and memories he has? Do you really want to die?

—Fcking bastard, give me your address lol. Let’s stick a knife in your belly and feed you some poison too. Let’s experiment and see if you’re left with no trauma after that. Go.

└ I’m an alchemist, I’ll provide the poison.

└ I’m a healer, I’ll heal you so you don’t die. Let’s stab him about a hundred times while healing.

└ Will stabbing be enough? Let’s flay him. Go go.

└ Any swordsmen here?

└ Swordsman, raising my hand.

—This guy lives in XX-dong.

└ ??

└ I looked it up since we need to go over and perform the experiment above.

└ What the fck, that’s a crime, you know.

└ Yup, now you can feel a bit of what Sunyul felt when a crime was committed against him lolol

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Title: I cried so much my throat is sore.

I don’t even know what Lim Sunyul went through during the 5 years he was gone.

It would be slightly better if he had just been erased for a moment and then reappeared, but even then, 5 years of his life are gone, which is sad.

And everyone treated him like a monster without knowing anything, he was stabbed with a knife, poisoned, and even kidnapped.

What does it matter now if they call him human and a hero?

It’s sad that because of his future glory, it seems like no one is acknowledging his past scars.

The pain left by those scars was a real thing that happened.

Comments

—Your feelings = My feelings.

—Is it something to cry over?

└ If your empathy is dead, just go on your way. Stop picking fights on a perfectly fine post.

_____________

Sunyul entered the break room in the guild master’s office with a much lighter heart, thanks to Muyoung. His belongings were laid out just as they had been before.

Sunyul first gathered the things he needed. While doing so, he examined the half-knitted scarf.

It was already the end of January. While it was the coldest time of the year, there weren’t many days left that were cold enough to warrant a scarf.

Sunyul estimated the length of the scarf. After checking, he decided that this length was decent enough to wear.

‘I should finish it. Finish it.’

After packing the rest of his things, Sunyul sat down and picked up his smartphone.

It had taken so long. Sunyul put on a video and focused on finishing the scarf. When he held up the completed scarf, it looked plausible enough that even Jaehoon wouldn’t be able to laugh at it.

Sunyul folded the scarf neatly to one side. Now that he was done packing, he was about to play Malong Farm on his phone when someone knocked on the break room door.

The person who opened the door and peeked his head in was Dakyung.

He was the only person, aside from Muyoung, who had treated Sunyul consistently. At the appearance of someone he could feel at ease with, Sunyul’s expression relaxed considerably.

Dakyung’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Sunyul. He was actually a little nervous. But having heard Muyoung’s advice to treat Sunyul as he always had, he didn’t want to make Sunyul feel down with an overly heavy atmosphere.

“Hyung, can I come in?”

“Yeah. Come on in.”

“Hehe.”

In Dakyung’s hands as he entered smiling were a drink carrier and a cake box. As he placed them on the table in the middle of the break room, Dakyung’s actions were full of confidence.

“I bought the stuff you like, hyung!”

“I do?”

“Yep! Midnight Ade and strawberry shortcake!”

“…Midnight Ade?”

Sunyul tilted his head at the strange name. Dakyung nodded.

“Seems like it’s this café’s signature drink? Try it, hyung. They said to stir it before drinking.”

The ade was a rather pretty color. But when he mixed it as Dakyung advised, it turned into a peculiar hue. With a slightly dubious feeling, Sunyul took a sip. Contrary to his inner thought that it wouldn’t be to his taste, it was a perfect fit.

“It’s good, right?”

“…Yeah, it’s delicious.”

Sunyul jotted down the name of the café where the drink was from.

The strawberry cake Dakyung had brought was also really delicious. The sponge was soft and the cream melted in his mouth. The strawberries mixed in created a superb flavor in his mouth.

As he was eating with relish, Dakyung, who had been watching him with sparkling eyes, asked.

“Hyung, do you really not remember anything?”

“…Sorry. I don’t remember.”

Dakyung let his eyebrows droop apologetically.

“What’s there to be sorry about? I’m the one who should be sorry for not remembering.”

Dakyung said, looking a little down. Sunyul quickly waved his hands.

“No, Dakyung, you were always nice to me. There was no one else like that… except for the Guild Master.”

“Heehee. That’s true.”

Dakyung puffed up with pride as if he had done something amazing. Is this something to be proud of? Sunyul wondered… but in any case, he was grateful that Dakyung had been good to him, so he praised him sincerely.

“About your memory, hyung, I’m not trying to pressure you or anything… I just figured you’d have forgotten about agreeing to fight me, too. I’m just disappointed about that.”

Surprised by Dakyung’s words, Sunyul’s eyes went wide.

“Why would we fight?”

“Sparring, sparring.”

“…We do that kind of thing?”

“You didn’t do it often… That’s why we made a separate promise.”

Dakyung pouted his lips.

Sunyul silently thought over his list of skills. Most of them were support-type skills that strengthened other people’s skills or increased their power.

In addition to that, two defense-type skills and two attack-type skills. One skill that could be used in all directions.

Sunyul thought it was a mixed bag, but in reality, his skill distribution was quite well-balanced.

“I don’t have many attack skills, though?”

At Sunyul’s words, Dakyung went “Tsk” and gave him a warning.

“You’re not supposed to carelessly talk about your traits or skills.”

“…But people kind of know, don’t they? If you’re S-rank, you’re famous.”

Since their fights are broadcast so often, people generally know what kind of skills they have.

“Still. With this kind of thing, you’re supposed to just bluff first.”

Dakyung said seriously, then frowned.

“Doesn’t the Guild Master teach you this stuff?”

“Where would he find the time to teach me things like this?”

“He should have taught you the urgent stuff first!”

Seeing Dakyung’s strong insistence, Sunyul found himself making excuses for Muyoung.

“No, he was busy with other things. Besides, this doesn’t seem that urgent… And it’s not like I know nothing at all. I remembered some things.”

“What did you remember?”

“…If you ask me so suddenly, I don’t know what to say.”

“Then, a question. Um, um… what’s the first thing you should check when identifying a person of interest?”

“Hunter name?”

“Oh, and the reason?”

“Because it’s unique. A criminal’s hunter name would be registered on Hunternet.”

“Correct.”

After that, Dakyung continued with a variety of questions. Each time Sunyul answered a question, Dakyung clapped. Being praised repeatedly for such trivial things felt a bit embarrassing.

Sometimes there were things he didn’t know. Whenever that happened, Dakyung would explain them in detail.

Dakyung was secretly enjoying this Q&A with Sunyul. It used to be Sunyul who would teach Dakyung various things, but now their roles were reversed. He found that fun and rewarding.

Of course, it was also a little sad.

Dakyung believed that Sunyul would regain his memories soon. Even if he didn’t, it didn’t matter because Sunyul was a good enough hyung as he was.

After getting worked up for a while, both the drinks and the cake were all gone. Dakyung, who was shaking out the last drops from his empty cup, suddenly shot up from his seat.

“Hyung, let’s go to the café.”

“The café?”

“Yep. It doesn’t matter anymore, right?”

At Dakyung, who was smiling more brightly than ever, Sunyul gave an awkward smile.

“I’m a little uncomfortable.”

“Why? Is someone bothering you, hyung?”

“No, that’s not it….”

The way people’s attitudes had changed overnight felt awkward and burdensome. Still, since they were looking at him in a positive light now, it was better than before….

‘Am I just being spoiled?’

But he was scared.

Even if someone suddenly told him, “You are the Ability User Lim Sunyul,” it didn’t feel real, and since it had changed overnight, it felt like it could just as easily be reversed again.

It felt like flying in a hot air balloon. If a small needle were to prick it, he would just fall. The place he would fall to felt like a cliff with nothing below, and it was terrifying.

Sunyul hadn’t fully settled into this reality. He was merely teetering on his tiptoes.

Dakyung didn’t understand Sunyul’s discomfort. Still, he knew that he might feel uncomfortable. It was thanks to what Muyoung had told him before he came in here.

“People won’t just start talking to you recklessly. The Guild Master put out a notice.”

“…A notice?”

“Yep. That people shouldn’t make a big fuss even if they see you, hyung.”

“Ah. I see….”

Muyoung’s consideration was always appreciated. Even if others might see it as making a fuss.

Sunyul gave a small nod to Muyoung as he left the guild master’s office and headed to the café downstairs.

Although Muyoung had told everyone in advance not to make a fuss, he couldn’t completely eliminate the furtive glances.

Everyone glanced over at Sunyul, the way people pretend not to look at a dog on a walk. Then they would look at him with teary eyes, or with a pleased smile on their lips. Very occasionally, someone would look flustered and bow their head deeply.

Sunyul felt awkward under the gazes full of goodwill. He quickly ordered a drink and found a corner seat. But he could still feel the stares. Sunyul whispered to Dakyung.

“I think I need to go back up.”

“It is a bit overwhelming.”

As they were murmuring about finishing their drinks and going back up, someone from afar walked straight toward them. It was a familiar face.

“Sunyul.”

“Yes? Ah, no, yeah?”

Seeing Bada’s face crumple the moment he used formal language, Sunyul quickly corrected himself.

“Can you spare a moment?”

“Huh? Why?”

“There’s something I want to say.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Not here….”

“Should I leave?”

Sunyul urgently sent Dakyung a look that said ‘no’. But as if he didn’t receive the signal, Dakyung nodded at Bada.

“Got it. Hope you have a good talk.”

“….”

Dakyung got up from his seat without any fuss. Sunyul watched Dakyung leave with a “see you later,” feeling resentful, before finally following Bada.

The current Bada was somehow a bit burdensome. Before, he was a little scary, but not burdensome.

Heading to his office, Bada placed a teacup with a tea bag in it before Sunyul. It was a tea similar to barley tea, and to his surprise, it was perfectly to his taste.

“I’m sorry. For avoiding your gaze that day.”

“…That day?”

“That… the day the rumors spread.”

“Ah….”

On the day the malicious speculations about Sunyul had spread, Bada had frowned and looked away as soon as he saw Sunyul.

“It’s okay. You said it wasn’t because you found me repulsive.”

“That’s right. You might not believe me but… back then, it was because I was conscious of you.”

“Conscious of me?”

“…I wanted to date you.”

“….”

Surprised, Sunyul’s mouth fell open. Not knowing what to say, Sunyul’s face, utterly flustered, turned bright red. He had never imagined Bada would be thinking something like that.

“I guess I’m always drawn to you. Though you’re not.”

“…Me?”

“You’ve always liked Kwon Muyoung.”

A sense of resignation was laced in Bada’s voice. When Sunyul had liked the old Kwon Muyoung, Bada felt he still had a chance. Muyoung had rejected Sunyul, and Sunyul, despite liking him, had been half giving up.

But the current Kwon Muyoung… was someone worth liking. He was the person who fought for Sunyul when the entire world turned its back on him.

Sunyul was extremely flustered. As he stood there, unable to say yes or no, not knowing what to do, Bada approached him.