Chapter 311
This kid really... Uijae struggled to remove Lee Sa-young’s hand from his neck, but strangely, he couldn’t muster any strength.
Lee Sa-young scrutinized Uijae’s face for a while, then extended his other hand. The large hand clicked, removing the mask.
Thud... The mask, barely repaired, fell lifelessly to the ground. Uijae glared at Lee Sa-young with wide eyes. Well, now that he had seen his face, he’d probably stop this rude behavior, right?
‘You’re dead.’
Forget comforting him; I’ll start over with the education.
However.
Even after seeing Uijae’s face, Lee Sa-young’s expression and demeanor didn’t change. Instead, the hand gripping his neck tightened. It was to the point that it became unbearable. If he were a normal person, his neck would have already snapped. Uijae coughed and clenched his teeth.
‘This bastard...!’
He barely opened his eyes and saw the man in front of him. Despite choking him mercilessly, Lee Sa-young examined Uijae’s face with his ominous violet eyes. After a moment, he lowered his gaze and let out a small sigh.
“What did you expect...?”
His voice was laced with loneliness and self-mockery. Uijae stopped struggling. Anxiety crept up his neck. The way Lee Sa-young was acting... it was as if...
‘He doesn’t recognize me...’
This was an unexpected turn of events. Could it be that the portal led to a different world? Even though he wanted to say something, all that came out was a choking sound as his neck was being squeezed. His breath became shallow.
A languid voice echoed.
“You’re annoying... It’s not an illusion, but the fact that you’re still alive, even more so.”
“Cough, ugh…”
“You can’t... wear this mask, someone like you.”
Squeak. The hand around his neck tightened further. The violet eyes glowed menacingly.
“You want to kill me...”
‘Are you seriously going to choke me to death?!’
How hard did I fight to get back here? I can’t die in his hands like this. Uijae gathered strength to pry the hand away, bracing his legs to push against the air. It was then.
“Lee Sa-young! What the hell are you doing?!”
A sharp voice came flying through. The pressure on his neck loosened slightly. Uijae seized the opportunity, striking Lee Sa-young’s wrist. Without time to even roll, he collapsed to the floor with his feet and knees hitting the ground.
Uijae coughed, his upper body bent forward. He gasped for air, feeling nauseous. He scraped the floor, gasping. Tears welled up in his eyes. Coughing violently, a sharp voice spat again.
“You... You were just trying to strangle someone to death? Are you insane?”
“...”
“You’re out of your mind again. Can’t you open your eyes properly? Hey!”
“...Get lost.”
“Really! Hey, don’t go alone! Wait there!”
The black coat flared as it receded. The sweet smell also faded. Uijae wheezed, trying to catch his breath. Someone approached in the space Lee Sa-young had vacated. A gentle, firm hand rested on his shoulder.
“Hey, are you okay?”
It was a familiar voice. Uijae struggled to lift his head. Honeybee was gazing at him with a worried look. Uijae stared at her blankly and then nodded.
“...Yeah, I’m fine... Cough, cough.”
But before he could finish the sentence, another cough burst out. Honeybee patted his back and clicked her tongue.
“I’m sorry, he’s been... well, out of his mind lately. Let me take a look at your neck. Lift your head for me... Oh my! You’re going to have a pretty bad bruise.”
“...”
“I want to treat you, but I don’t have any extra potions... Maybe the doctor will help? He’s been busy lately though.”
Uijae rubbed his sore neck. A thought crossed his mind. Honeybee might not know Uijae’s face behind the mask, but she definitely knows the face of the hangover soup shop waitress. He rubbed his face. It was his bare face.
‘Why isn’t she acting like she knows me?’
“Gaeul! Come here for a second!”
“Yes? Yes!”
Uijae looked up. Gaeul, wearing glasses and with her hair let down, was running toward him. She looked like an adult now, so she had properly come. Gaeul had a small bag strapped to her waist. Honeybee pointed at Uijae.
“This person, Lee Sa-young tried to strangle him. Do you have any leftover potions?”
“Eh? Oh, wait a second...”
Gaeul hurriedly searched through her bag. Soon, she pulled out a bandage, looking upset.
“I’m sorry, I used up all the potions earlier... I only have bandages.”
“Well, just wrap the bandages around. It’s obvious to anyone that he was choked.”
“Yes... Just a moment!”
Gaeul came over with the bandage. Uijae blankly watched her. Gaeul knew Cha Uijae’s face. She knew he was J. Yet, she was treating him like a complete stranger.
‘What’s going on?’
The careful hands touched Uijae’s neck. The irritating bandage wrapped around his neck. Uijae grabbed the hand that was securing the bandage.
“Um, Gaeul?”
“…Yes? Well, I’m not a student, though…”
Gaeul rolled her eyes and asked, looking a little awkward.
“Why? Are you in pain…?”
“It’s not pain… Do you not recognize me?”
“…Huh? I’m not sure.”
Gaeul answered with a puzzled look. It didn’t seem like she was lying. Gaeul didn’t recognize me? Uijae opened his mouth to speak but was unable to say anything. Honeybee shoved her hand in front of Uijae’s face, her expression full of disapproval.
“Hey, don’t try to flirt with the kid.”
“No, I’m not flirting…!”
Uijae wanted to scream in frustration, but as he fumbled with his arms and hands, Gaeul awkwardly laughed.
“You must be a Hunter. We probably met at Seowon Guild, right? Sorry, I must’ve forgotten.”
“Well, I’m a Hunter, I guess. If I didn’t die when Lee Sa-young strangled me, that’s saying something. What are you doing here? This area is a controlled zone, a wasteland with Whiteout progress.”
“......”
A sense of déjà vu struck Uijae. What was happening? Uijae stared into space and called upon the system.
In that moment, a blindingly white window appeared.
[Entity ‘Cha Uijae’ has cleared this dungeon.]
[Additionally, as this entity has died in the dungeon, a recognition distortion effect has been applied to prevent confusion.]
Who decided that?
[The entity has agreed.]
Ah. Uijae rolled his eyes. Could it be that the system window that had appeared just before he entered was this? He had lazily waved it away out of irritation. Uijae glared at the system window.
Shouldn’t they have asked me at least twice?
[As a dungeon clearing benefit, the equipment and inventory at the time of entering the dungeon have been preserved.]
‘I don’t need it!’
Uijae looked around, spotting a small puddle of water. He quickly crawled over on all fours and glanced at his reflection in the water. His face was the same. Uijae turned his head from side to side, thinking. The system mentioned recognition distortion. Did this mean that to others, he would appear with a completely different face?
‘If even Lee Sa-young doesn’t recognize me…’
The distortion must be massive. Uijae rubbed his face, letting out a long sigh. He heard whispering voices from behind.
“Is the shock that big... Did he snap? Gaeul, be careful.”
“Yes, unnie.”
It was all audible.
Uijae slowly stood up. Even if his face was distorted, he could just tell them who he was, right? If he showed proof, they would believe him. Since his face was distorted, there was no risk of Honeybee recognizing him. Uijae, after confirming Lee Sa-young, who was standing with his arms crossed at a distance, spoke in a serious tone.
“I’m J.”
“......”
“......”
“......”
An unbearable silence fell. The two didn’t seem shocked, nor did they mock him; they just stared blankly at him. Lee Sa-young didn’t even look at him. What’s going on? Uijae repeated himself.
“I said I’m J. I came in again from outside.”
Honeybee frowned and tilted her head, confused.
“…Hmm, what language is that? Russian? Something like Stuttgart… Pishonbison... Wasn’t it?”
“I’m not sure... I’ve never heard of it.”
“I really don’t understand a word. You’re acting suspicious, and that’s actually suspicious, you know?”
“Right... Could it be a clue for clearing the dungeon?”
“Excuse me, you were speaking Korean just fine earlier. Speak in Korean.”
Uijae suddenly realized. Could it be that the recognition distortion wasn’t just affecting his face...?
“Lee Sa-young! Did you understand me?”
“…I don’t care.”
It was distorting his speech too!
He couldn’t believe this reality and tried to communicate multiple times. But every time he spoke about anything related to the dungeon, his words were oddly conveyed in a distorted language. “I’m J, I came to get you, let’s go together, let’s escape, the system messed me up like this,” and so on. No matter how hard he tried to communicate his true feelings, they only looked at him with pity. Honeybee whispered to Gaeul again.
“Maybe his brain got messed up, and now his language is mixed up.”
No!
Nothing was easy. What should he do now? Uijae slumped his shoulders and picked up the mask that had fallen on the ground. Honeybee’s face stiffened as she looked at the smooth black mask, which resembled a glossy Go stone. She quickly walked over to Uijae. After glancing at Lee Sa-young, she lowered her voice and asked.
“That mask... is it yours?”
“Yes.”
“Ah... No wonder your eyes seem off now.”
Honeybee grumbled as she ruffled her hair. She placed her arm around Uijae’s shoulder and pulled him toward her, lowering her voice even further.
“Don’t wear this mask in front of him. I don’t know if you’re a fan of J or a follower, but got it? Judging by your clothes, you should... tsk, you need to change your outfit too.”
“But…”
“Just do as I say. Unless you want to be choked again.”
“......”
Uijae continued to rub his sore neck. Lee Sa-young had almost choked him to death earlier... Honeybee muttered.
“Every time he sees something related to J...”
At that moment, a cold presence approached. A strong arm wrapped around Uijae’s neck and pulled him closer.
“Bored, huh... Telling all sorts of things to a stranger.”
“Wait, why are you taking me again?”
“Isn’t it suspicious? Lying in the wasteland, with no mutation, no wounds…”
The firm arm tightened around his neck again. Damn it. He was seriously about to choke him to death. Uijae looked up with a scowl. Their eyes met. The violet eyes were as sharp and cold as a veil. Gone was the tenderness and warmth that used to be directed toward him.
The thick lips parted.
“Let’s kill you, right here.”