# Chapter 128
The Final Battle
‘7:30 PM. I will meet you at the agreed location, confirm, and deliver the item. Since we won’t be able to communicate, if there are any variables, please leave a note at the additionally designated location.’
—Understood. See you tomorrow.
The contact time was set for when it would be appropriately dark but the streets would be most crowded. Entering a street lined with restaurants and bars while wearing a hat would make it take some time to both find and catch him.
During that time, Taesung planned to reveal himself in a neighborhood where many ships were docked. When attention was drawn there, Lee Hwan would quickly deliver the item to Praxis, and Taesung would escape over the mountain as previously arranged, meeting him at a midpoint.
‘I can hardly breathe.’
While waiting for the sun to set, neither Lee Hwan nor Taesung spoke. Especially Lee Hwan, who despite trying to appear composed, couldn’t even swallow water due to the tension.
Afraid of having stray thoughts if left alone, he couldn’t even go into his room. As he sat heavily on the living room floor with his arms on the tea table, Taesung’s gaze held a hint of disapproval.
Did he think Lee Hwan was too tense? But for Lee Hwan, this meeting with Praxis wasn’t just that—it might be the final stage of all the hardships he had endured since his regression.
So Lee Hwan sprawled there like a troubled person, weighed down by unexpected worries.
For some reason, Taesung didn’t go into his room and stayed by Lee Hwan’s side. After seeming to come and go for a while, he packed a small bag with some medicines, treatments, and dried food that were designed for Hunters.
Receiving it made Lee Hwan’s heart tingle. It felt like a wild animal picked up from the street had finally opened its heart after much struggle.
“Rather than forcing yourself to eat and getting sick, which would ruin the mission, it’s better to eat later.”
Even that stiff comment somehow felt warm, making Lee Hwan’s eyebrows droop. Despite knowing it was all for the success of the plan.
After spending time restlessly like that, as the sun that had been high in the sky gradually tilted and began to cast a red glow, Lee Hwan finally put a few pieces of chocolate in his mouth, chewing them while mentally going through the plan once more.
“I’m counting on you.”
“I’m counting on you too.”
A slightly larger and warmer hand grasped his outstretched one and shook it once briefly. Though Taesung didn’t show it, his gaze assessing Lee Hwan’s condition felt quite pleasant.
Looking back, though he had nothing but memories of being hit, Lee Hwan thought that he might sometimes miss this stubborn and grumpy young Taesung later on. He smiled faintly at the ridiculous thought.
“Haah…”
The increasingly cold air filled his lungs. Lee Hwan avoided the CCTVs installed at intervals as he turned through alleys and exited onto a small road.
Since he needed a different appearance from when he had been escaping, he had no choice but to wear Taesung’s clothes again. Though he himself wasn’t short or slight, whenever he wore Taesung’s clothes, they became baggy, somewhat hurting his pride.
Lee Hwan walked naturally, took a bus, and blended in among people. The electronic clock attached to the front of the bus indicated 20 minutes before the appointed time.
Lee Hwan slowly closed his eyes and repeatedly simulated what would happen next in his mind.
He would confirm the pattern on the clothes from a distance and approach casually to verify each other. In an alley with three exits, he would deliver the item, and they would disperse in their separate ways.
Of the three paths, the one Lee Hwan would take was straight ahead toward a neighborhood hill resembling a mountain. From there, he would climb the mountain and move to the meeting place arranged with Taesung.
He had to thoroughly check his surroundings without making it obvious to others. According to Taesung, he would stand out quite a bit even with a hat or with his face covered. Though he didn’t know why, if Taesung had repeatedly mentioned it, it must be true.
All he could do was carefully scan his surroundings. If he spotted a suspicious person during this, he would run as hard as he could in the opposite direction from the meeting place.
‘It’s a burner phone without a SIM card.’
‘What is this… website? HappyPetPaw?’
‘I’ve randomly selected an anonymous community that doesn’t require registration and has active post registrations. If something happens, leave a post there with specific words.’
‘So we communicate by searching for it. Using Wi-Fi from anywhere.’
Just the day before, Taesung, who had been holding the laptop, had briefly left the house despite objections and returned with an old model phone. Though it was fortunate he had made the transaction near the house, it was anxiety-inducing to see someone of his size going out frequently.
Thanks to that, however, they could partially escape the analog lifestyle that had felt primitive. Though he hadn’t thought he used his phone that much, through this fugitive life, Lee Hwan realized how dependent he had been on mobile devices.
‘Let’s use “table” and “drink” as the two words to include in the post.’
They chose the words to include in the post by selecting random objects in front of them. Common words were good for writing inconspicuous posts.
Of course, if nothing unexpected happened, he would likely just post a notification that he had completed the mission safely before entering the mountains.
‘5 minutes left.’
He had already reached the destination area. Thanks to the cool weather perfect for outings, even though summer had passed, the streets overlooking the sea were teeming with tourists.
Every table at the outdoor terraces was full, making the roadside busy and chaotic. For the first time in his life, Lee Hwan was welcoming crowded streets.
‘From that building… turn left into the alley and it’s right at the meeting place.’
His mouth was dry, his throat feeling like it was burning up. Lee Hwan quickly checked himself as he unconsciously started to look around, then tightened his grip on the bag in his hand and walked out nonchalantly.
In the distance, a man wearing a loose black tee stood in front of a streetlight. The light brown printing embedded on the back was undoubtedly the image of a bird with its wings half-spread.
‘A kingfisher and a fish.’
Checking the time on his phone, it was 7:30 PM, exactly the appointed time without a single minute’s deviation. Lee Hwan quickly surveyed the surroundings, rolling only his eyes under his hat.
There was a takeout food place nearby, with five or six people standing in line waiting for food. None of them were directing their attention this way or showing suspicious movements.
Lee Hwan slowly approached the man, carrying the sports bag he had brought from the safe house.
“Nice weather, isn’t it?”
The left index finger sparkled and shone in the streetlight. The top of his head, which turned quickly, appeared to be a few centimeters shorter than Lee Hwan’s.
“Indeed. The moon is clearly visible today.”
The man smiled brightly as he responded. He showed no signs of confusion despite the sudden conversation. As if meeting someone he knew, as if familiar.
“Nice clothes. What kind of bird is that?”
“A kingfisher. With its narrow and long beak, it’s a born hunter.”
“I prefer small and agile birds like that over large birds of prey like eagles.”
Black hair, black eyes, the height as previously notified, and clothes with kingfisher and fish patterns.
Lee Hwan smiled lightly as he handed over the bag. Inside was a styrofoam box filled with ice and the drug.
“Ugh.”
The man staggered momentarily, perhaps because the weight was heavier than expected. It seemed like a slight crack appeared in his smile.
“Sorry. I forgot the standards are different.”
“It’s manageable. Take care going back.”
“You too. Send my regards.”
After brief greetings, the man turned first. Lee Hwan watched his retreating figure for a few seconds, then walked along the alley in the same direction he had entered.
‘Whew… whew…’
Though he pretended to be calm with his hands in his pockets, his fingertips inside his pants were trembling finely. Sweat that wouldn’t normally appear without excessive exertion dampened his forehead.
‘Did it go well? Did it work?’
Lee Hwan licked his lips, feeling slightly dizzy from extreme tension.
In fact, he had worried that as soon as he handed over the bag, a message would appear saying he had found a fragment of causality, making him lose consciousness. If he collapsed there, whether it was about escape or anything else, when he woke up, he would be in a situation worse than death.
However, he had not yet fulfilled some condition, as no system message appeared before his eyes. Lee Hwan felt relief but also disappointment and anxiety.
He had thought that simply handing over the item might not be the end. The events derived from this might mark the true ending.
Still, disappointment was disappointment.
Then when and where would he find the next fragment of causality? Perhaps it would return only after Naru collapsed due to Praxis’s expose?
Only after the bustling road was somewhat distant did his choked breath ease. Though he had clearly delivered the package, his shoulders still felt heavy.
Lee Hwan took out his phone from his back pocket and caught the faint Wi-Fi signal from a franchise restaurant that had appeared.
‘The password is… none.’
As soon as the internet connection was successfully completed, he immediately went to the page he had discussed with Taesung and pressed the write button.
These days Mongmongi’s stubbornness has grown so much, I’m worried
Author: Mongmongi’s Brother
Originally he was a very kind and gentle child, but since March?? He’s become completely self-willed
Thinking this can’t continue, I tried scolding him but he doesn’t even care lol. He got angry and chewed up all the table legs
This morning, he even spilled and broke my drink bottle when he insisted on going out, not even for a walk…
I had an appointment for a transaction so I left him somewhere and am now on my way to pick him up… but suddenly I’m getting anxious
I wonder if that guy is staying well without causing chaos
I have such big concerns these days…
Immediately afterward, when he searched with the keywords, except for the post he had just written, nothing came up after the last record from two months ago.
‘Is he still looking for a safe location?’
Lee Hwan bit his lips, hoping that Taesung, despite his height and proportions, had somehow avoided being spotted by Naru’s chase team, or if caught, had successfully escaped before they could chase him.
Then he walked toward the mountain as previously planned. After passing a small apartment complex, he climbed over a wall that had been set up and headed up haphazardly.
The mountainside, where not even a path existed, was so desolate it was hard to believe the brilliantly illuminated city was right in front. In the darkness where he wouldn’t have been able to see an inch ahead if he wasn’t an Awakened person, Lee Hwan diligently pushed through trees and bushes toward the promised midpoint.
‘No Wi-Fi here… of course.’
Only after crossing the mountain and entering a residential neighborhood could he search for the post again. That place wouldn’t be as noisy as the seaside, so he would know immediately if someone approached. Then his pounding heart would also find peace more easily.
‘I hope he’s safe. Nothing should have happened. He must be safe…’
Thoughts of Taesung rose and fell chaotically. His face kept coming to mind. Not just the warm one from before the regression, but also the current one with whom he had been distant until leaving the house.
The feeling of missing and worrying about him had subtly increased. Lee Hwan suddenly felt a slight pain in his chest.
