The Death Walker's Seal

Chapter 8

Baekho burst through the hospital doors thirty minutes later. He was out of breath and sweating. The receptionist barely looked up.

"Room 304," she said automatically.

He took the stairs instead of the elevator. It was faster. Third floor. Room 304. He pushed the door open.

His sister lay in the hospital bed, pale and thin. Machines beeped around her. An IV drip fed medicine into her arm. She looked like a ghost.

A doctor stood next to the bed, writing on a clipboard. His name tag said Dr. Cho Kyul.

"You are finally here," Dr. Cho said. "We called you five times."

"What happened? Is she okay?"

"Her condition worsened this morning. We had to give her emergency treatment. The disease is progressing faster than expected."

Baekho felt his chest tighten. "How much faster?"

"At this rate, she has maybe two months left. Three if she is lucky."

"What about the surgery? You said if we had money for the surgery, she could be cured."

Dr. Cho looked uncomfortable. "The surgery costs 200 million won. Do you have that kind of money?"

Baekho was silent. He had earned 50 million won from last night's Gate. But 200 million? That would take months. Maybe years.

And his sister did not have months.

"I will get the money," he said.

"Where? How?"

"That is my problem."

Dr. Cho sighed. "I admire your determination, but be realistic. 200 million won is a fortune. Unless you are a high rank Hunter, you cannot earn that much in two months."

"I will find a way."

"Listen to me," Dr. Cho grabbed Baekho's shoulder. "Your sister is dying. I know you want to save her. But sometimes we have to accept that we cannot save everyone."

Baekho's eyes turned cold. "Take your hand off me."

Something in his voice made Dr. Cho step back immediately.

"Just think about it," the doctor said quietly. "That is all I ask."

He left the room.

Baekho sat in the chair next to his sister's bed. He held her hand. It was cold and weak.

"I am sorry," he whispered. "I am sorry I am not stronger. I am sorry I cannot save you."

Her eyes opened slightly. She looked at him with hazy vision.

"Oppa," she said weakly. "You came."

"Of course I came. I always come."

"I had a bad dream. I dreamed that you were in danger. That you were using that power again."

Baekho said nothing.

"You promised me," Ha Chaewon continued. "You promised you would not use it anymore. Not after what happened two years ago."

"I know."

"But you are using it again, aren't you? I can tell. I can always tell. You look more tired. More empty. Like something is eating you from inside."

"I do not have a choice. I need money for your surgery."

"I do not want you to use that power for me! I do not want you to become a monster just to keep me alive!"

"You are more important than anything else."

"No!" Ha Chaewon tried to sit up but was too weak. "Listen to me! If I die, I die. But you have to live. You have to live like a normal person. You have to be happy."

"I cannot be happy without you."

Tears ran down Ha Chaewon's face. "You idiot. You stupid, stupid idiot."

Baekho squeezed her hand gently. "Rest. Do not waste your energy."

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me that if I die, you will not take revenge. You will not hurt people. You will not use that power to destroy everything."

Baekho was quiet for a long time. "I cannot promise that."

"Please. Promise me."

He looked at her pale face. At her weak body. At the machines keeping her alive.

"I promise," he lied.

Ha Chaewon smiled. "Thank you."

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Baekho sat there for an hour, just watching her breathe. Then he stood up and left the room.

In the hallway, he pulled out his phone and called a number. A rough voice answered.

"What do you want?"

"I need a job," Baekho said. "A big one."

"How big?"

"Big enough to pay 200 million won."

The voice laughed. "That is not a job. That is suicide. Do you know what kind of Gates pay that much?"

"I do not care. Find me one."

"Are you serious? Even Grade A Hunters avoid those kinds of Gates."

"Find. Me. One."

The voice was silent for a moment. "There might be something. An illegal Gate that opened yesterday. Grade B, maybe Grade A. No one wants to touch it. Too dangerous."

"Where?"

"The old port district. Warehouse 17. But listen to me carefully. The people who run that Gate are not normal criminals. They are connected to powerful people. Very powerful. If you go there, you might not come back."

"I will take that chance."

"Your funeral. The job is tomorrow night. Midnight. Come alone."

The call ended.

Baekho put his phone away and walked down the hospital stairs. As he reached the ground floor, he saw someone waiting for him.

Choi Iseul.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I followed you," she said simply. "I wanted to know where you went in such a hurry."

"That is called stalking."

"I prefer to call it investigating." She looked toward the stairs. "Someone you care about is in this hospital."

"None of your business."

"You know, for someone who wants to be forgotten, you are really bad at hiding your weak points."

Baekho walked past her toward the exit.

"I can help you," Choi Iseul said.

He stopped.

"Whatever problem you have, I can help. My family has money. Connections. Resources."

"I do not need your help."

"Everyone needs help sometimes."

Baekho turned around and looked at her. "Why? Why do you want to help me?"

Choi Iseul thought about her answer. "Because in that Gate today, you saved my life. You did not have to. You could have run away and saved yourself. But you stayed and fought. That means something."

"I only did it because I had no choice."

"I do not believe that." She walked closer to him. "I think you are a good person who pretends to be bad. I think you have a tragic backstory that made you this way. I think deep down, you want to be saved just as much as you want to save others."

Baekho almost laughed. "You have been watching too many dramas."

"Maybe. But I am still right."

They stared at each other for a long moment.

"I have to go," Baekho finally said.

"Wait. At least tell me your phone number. In case I need to contact you."

"Why would you need to contact me?"

"We are on the same team, remember? For the academy test. We still have to complete the evaluation process."

That was true. The test was interrupted because of the corrupted core incident. They would have to do it again.

Baekho gave her his number reluctantly.

Choi Iseul smiled. "Thank you. I will call you when the new test date is announced."

"Whatever."

He left the hospital.

Behind him, Choi Iseul watched him go with thoughtful eyes. Then she made a phone call.