In the quiet stillness, a pale hand traced seductively down Kang Hyunsoo’s neck, sliding toward his chest.
The owner of the hand gently caressing his sleeping form was none other than Hayuri.
Her hair was tied in a neat bun adorned with a decorative pin, and she wore an elegant suit. A sly smile curved her lips as she looked down at him.
For the past week, Hayuri had instructed Do Minjung to build a rapport with Kang Hyunsoo and lure him to this grand estate. The plan had worked flawlessly.
Her A-rank skill, Sleep Mist, which plunged the target into a deep slumber, seemed to have done its job perfectly.
Now, all that was left was to implant the power of Greed into Kang Hyunsoo’s body, making him yearn for her.
“Kang Hyunsoo... as expected of the one who holds the power Ji Wonhoon sought. Such a beautiful figure.”
Placing her palm on Hyunsoo’s chest, Hayuri carefully began to release the power of Greed.
Ssshhhhh...
Black smoke seeped from her hand, curling around Hyunsoo’s body as it sought an entry point.
But just as the smoke was about to slip into his nostrils—
Shiiik! Thwap!
Hyunsoo abruptly sat up, grabbing Hayuri’s wrist in a firm grip.
“So, you’re Hayuri. As I thought, you’re connected to Ji Wonhoon.”
“......!!”
Hayuri gasped, completely unprepared for Hyunsoo’s sudden awakening. She quickly yanked her hand back, retreating a few steps.
“H-How did you wake up? And how do you know my name?”
“That’s all you have to say? A pretty small last statement for someone about to die.”
Without hesitation, Hyunsoo pulled twin swords from his inventory and slashed at her.
“W-Wait...!”
Hayuri cried out in panic, her voice laced with urgency.
But it was futile.
Swish! Swish! Shhhiiiing!
Hyunsoo’s blades sliced through the air, aiming directly for her neck.
As he pressed his attack, Hyunsoo considered his options.
‘Should I use Wild Slash? But Minjung might still be nearby.’
This entire confrontation was part of a plan to turn Hayuri’s trap against her.
When he had first heard Do Minjung mention Hayuri back at the Han River parking lot, Hyunsoo had proposed the idea of confronting her directly.
To execute the plan, Hyunsoo and Minjung pretended to develop mutual interest, exchanging awkward greetings and messages to appear as though they were growing closer.
Fortunately, the strategy worked.
By leaking information about his existence to Ahn Hyunjoo, Hyunsoo had created an opportunity to meet Hayuri.
He hadn’t expected her to approach so quickly—or to use a skill against him—but he had prepared for the possibility.
Moreover, his decision to cancel Swallow’s summon had also paid off, considering Ji Wonhoon’s history of pretending not to know about Swallow’s existence.
However, there were still issues to contend with.
First, Hayuri had initiated combat, forcing him to respond. Second, there was a high probability that Do Minjung was still nearby, and using powerful skills could put her in danger.
To avoid collateral damage, Hyunsoo decided to rely on his twin swords instead of devastating skills like Sky Splitter or Black Sun Explosion.
But just as he resolved to strike again—
“S-Stop! I wasn’t trying to fight you!”
Hayuri raised her hands, frantically gesturing for him to halt.
Hyunsoo paused, narrowing his eyes as he demanded, “What nonsense is this? After sneaking around, now you want to talk?”
“I admit I used Sleep Mist. But it wasn’t to harm you—I just wanted to gain the upper hand in negotiations.”
Indeed, despite the evident danger, Hayuri hadn’t drawn a weapon. There were no traps visible in the area either.
While he could have pressed the attack, Hyunsoo saw an opportunity to gather valuable information.
“Negotiations?”
“Yes. Fighting someone who holds a Fragment of the Seven Deadly Sins is pointless. Negotiating is far more productive.”
“......!”
The Seven Deadly Sins.
The term immediately caught Hyunsoo’s attention. He had seen it in Ji Wonhoon’s memories, spoken by shadowy figures whose true identities remained unknown.
This was the perfect chance to gather intel.
Truthfully, Hyunsoo had considered talking with Hayuri even before this encounter. While her connection to Ji Wonhoon made her suspicious, he had found no concrete evidence of her involvement in illegal activities.
Do Minjung’s testimony had been useful, but cross-checking the facts was necessary.
“Know this—if you try anything suspicious, I won’t hesitate to kill you,” Hyunsoo warned.
“Understood. Let’s sit and talk, then.”
Lowering his swords slightly, Hyunsoo agreed to her proposal.
Relieved, Hayuri let out a long sigh as she sank onto the sofa.
But her inner thoughts remained wary.
‘He’s incredible. His magic resistance is off the charts. How strong is he?’
Even with Sleep Mist lingering in the room, Hyunsoo had completely shrugged off its effects.
Such resistance required either a legendary-grade item or a level above 500—neither of which Hayuri had expected him to possess.
Without sufficient preparation, she couldn’t guarantee a victory in a direct confrontation.
This unease reflected in the tense atmosphere of the sitting room, as if they were walking on thin ice.
Hyunsoo broke the silence with a sharp glare and a pointed question.
“Let’s skip the pretense. Who are you, really?”
“My name is Hayuri. I’m the chairwoman of Arden Entertainment Group... and a Hunter with unique abilities.”
“Why did you use Do Minjung to lure me here?”
“Because I wanted to meet the one who took down Ji Wonhoon.”
In reality, it had been Hyunsoo who used Minjung to bait Hayuri, but he allowed the misdirection to stand to protect Minjung.
Fortunately, the tactic worked.
“Ji Wonhoon, huh... What exactly was your relationship with him?”
“Should I call him my ex-lover? Or perhaps a collaborator and rival? It’s hard to say—such a complicated relationship.”
Hayuri’s sly smile remained as she spoke, unaware that Kang Hyunsoo had intentionally stepped into her trap.
Hyunsoo continued the conversation naturally, keeping her talking.
“Ex-lover? So you’re the one who gave him that black power.”
“That’s right. He came to me after losing an arm. When a Hunter with talent contracts with me to use the power of Greed, they can transform it into something tangible, like a replacement limb. I helped him with that.”
“So, you helped him because he lost an arm. Then why did you contract with Do Minjung?”
“W-What? How did you...?”
“I sensed it. The same dark energy I felt from Ji Wonhoon is also in # Nоvеlight # Do Minjung. I wondered who could’ve implanted such power... and it’s you.”
Hyunsoo’s sharp probing pushed Hayuri into a corner, revealing her as the source of the mysterious energy. Still, he pressed further, aiming to ensure Do Minjung’s safety and extract even more information.
Caught off guard, Hayuri hesitated but couldn’t deny the accusation.
“...Yes. I infused her with the power of Greed. It’s not just her—most of the celebrities contracted with my group have it.”
“And why are you making such contracts?”
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“That’s...”
Hayuri faltered, her hesitation betraying the significance of the answer.
Revealing the true nature of Greed’s power meant exposing secrets she would rather keep.
When she showed signs of clamming up—
Clink.
Hyunsoo slightly raised one of his twin swords, issuing a wordless warning.
Hayuri let out a soft sigh, resigned, and continued.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. When someone contracts with me, their innate talent is enhanced. A good singer becomes a phenomenal one. A talented chef reaches unimaginable heights.”
“Even regular people?”
“Yes. For Hunters, their abilities more than double, and, like Ji Wonhoon, they can even manifest the power of Greed into tangible forms. However, doing so requires a deeper relationship with me and transferring a significant portion of my power to them.”
“So earlier, you were trying to implant that power into me?”
“You could say that. But a contract can’t happen without mutual consent. What I tried to do was make you fall for me, cloud your judgment, and steer the negotiation in my favor. Ah... this is embarrassing, spilling all my trade secrets like this....”
Hayuri turned her gaze aside, visibly frustrated.
Her reaction seemed genuine, not an act.
‘She’s quite the skilled talker,’ Hyunsoo thought, quietly impressed.
In his previous life, he wouldn’t have been able to coax this much information out of her.
Back then, the moment she had laid a hand on him, he would have drawn his sword and settled things by force.
This time, however, he used his newfound conversational skills, extracting valuable details bit by bit.
Now it was time to uncover the core truth.
“What’s in it for you? What do you gain from these contracts?”
“When someone contracted with me gains popularity, their success directly feeds my power. That’s the essence of Greed’s ability.”
“Greed...?”
“Yes. It’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins. A power that’s as much a curse as it is a blessing.”
The Seven Deadly Sins.
The term resurfaced again, tying into the words Hyunsoo had seen in Ji Wonhoon’s memories—spoken by those from the Frontier.
Now that he had a clearer picture of the connection, it was time to get to the heart of the matter.
Hyunsoo fixed his gaze on Hayuri and asked, “What exactly are the Seven Deadly Sins?”
“You’ve probably heard of them before: Lust, Greed, Pride, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath, Sloth. They’re the seven vices categorized by ancient sages as emotions or states to avoid in life. But after the Great Cataclysm, they became something else.”
“What changed?”
“They began manifesting as talents. Tangible powers. The power of Greed that I wield, and the power you possess....”
Hayuri paused, locking eyes with Hyunsoo.
“Lust. The power of Absolute Beauty.”
“......!!”
Hyunsoo tensed, unable to immediately refute her claim.
“How do you know that?”
His grip on his twin swords tightened.
“Because it’s the power Ji Wonhoon was searching for. It’s also the last of the powers to be discovered.”
“The last power?”
“This might take a while to explain. Is that okay?”
“I don’t mind. The night is just getting started.”
At Hyunsoo’s response, Hayuri glanced out the window, ensuring no one was watching or listening in.
Satisfied, she turned back to him and said, “Alright, I’ll tell you. Several years ago, during the fight against humanity’s extinction, the World Expedition reached the heart of the Great Cataclysm.”
And so, Hayuri began unraveling the truth about the Seven Deadly Sins.