YUNO and his team arrived at the infected public high school in Incheon via a helicopter that landed on the school rooftop.

By team, he meant Jericho and 17.

Yes, they could have used teleportation to get there.

But they needed to give the reporters a good show.

Yes, they informed the media about that operation.

Hence, the school was now surrounded by reporters from different broadcasting stations— both local and international.

It was Yuno who asked President Kwak Hakjae to make a big deal out of it.

Hence, he wasn’t surprised that several drones were flying over their heads.

The reporters weren’t around inside the campus premises, after all.

Nam Sori and her fellow Rogue members were all over the school to make sure that no Civilians would get inside.

Since he wanted to show his viewers a good show, he decided to perform the ’operation’ on the rooftop. In that way, the news stations would have an easier access to his ’performance’ since they could fly their drones above.

"Okay, let’s begin now," Yuno said, pressing the Bluetooth earpiece attached to his right ear. "Sori-ya, bring them here."

A few moments later, the door to the rooftop burst open.

Nam Sori and a few rebels came in while pushing several operating tables.

Each table had a ’patient’ on it.

"Okay, let’s begin our preparation, too," Yuno said, and then he began pulling out his items from his Inventory. The first thing he pulled out was a phone with a high-quality camera and a tripod. "Now my career as an influencer begins."

***

THEY had just entered a dungeon that looked like a tropical island.

However, Kwon Hojun knew that they couldn’t let their guard down yet.

Hence, he didn’t want to be a burden to his companions, but he wasn’t able to hide the pain when his chest suddenly tightened painfully.

It hurts...

"Hojun-ah, what’s wrong?" Kim Jaeha asked worriedly when the Guide saw Kwon Hojun clutch his chest. "Are you in pain?"

"What’s happening, kids?"

"Kwon Hojun, tell us where it hurts."

And now the adults were also fussing over him.

But Kwon Hojun got distracted when he saw it— the apparition of the original owner of the Core implanted in his heart.

Esper Matthew...?

"Matthew Oppa is here?"

Kwon Hojun only realized that he called the Esper’s name out loud when Lee Sarang asked that question.

"Yes, he’s here, Noona."

Kwon Hojun then pointed behind Lee Sarang.

Lee Sarang immediately turned around.

Their other companions also did the same thing.

To be honest, he wasn’t worried that he might get labelled as someone who had lost his mind.

After all, it wouldn’t be the first time the ghost of Esper Matthew had shown up.

However...

"I can’t see Matthew Oppa," Lee Sarang said. "Can anyone else see him?"

Their companions shook their heads, and then everyone looked at Kwon Hojun questioningly.

He felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"I-I’m not lying..."

"Hojun-ah, we’re not saying that you lied," Lee Sarang said gently. "I’m sorry if we made you feel that way."

"N-No, it’s okay, Noona," Kwon Hojun said, looking past Lee Sarang’s shoulder. "Esper Matthew-ssi, why..."

"Kid, I’ll leave everything to you now."

"Leave everything to me?" Kwon Hojun asked, confused. "What do you mean by that, sir?"

"You can’t get the full ownership of my Core unless I’m completely gone. I’ve lingered long enough. Once I leave, you’ll absorb the memories of all the techniques I created. You’re free to improve or alter them to your liking. Kwon Hojun, you’re the new master of that Core now. Congratulations on being an S-Class Esper."

"Uhm, thank you," Kwon Hojun said awkwardly. "I’ll work hard as the new owner of your Core, sir."

"There’s one technique that I wasn’t able to master because I wasn’t as talented as I thought I was. I hope that you develop the skill to literally take the breath of your opponents stronger than you. It’s a skill that I could only use on weak Espers, low-level monsters, and Civilians. So, I hope you work hard enough until you manage to make it work on stronger Espers and monsters."

"I’ll do my best not to disappoint you, sir."

Esper Matthew fell silent.

Kwon Hojun thought their conversation was over.

But...

"Kwon Hojun, please take care of Kim Jaeha."

Oh.

Kwon Hojun unconsciously turned to Kim Jaeha, who was obviously listening to him talk.

"W-Why are you looking at me like that?" Kim Jaeha asked worriedly. "D-Did Matthew Hyung say something about me?"

"Please tell him that I’m grateful to him, and that he’s the most special person in my life."

"He said he’s grateful to you, and that you’re the most special person in his life."

"That’s why I hate myself for failing to protect him."

"And that he hates himself for failing to protect you, Jaeha."

Kim Jaeha didn’t say anything, only biting his lower lip as if holding back himself from crying.

"And tell him I’m going to go now and get our revenge against Charles Kang."

Kwon Hojun immediately turned to Esper Matthew. "How would you do that, sir?"

***

EWW.

That was Ki Gayoon’s first thought after seeing Charles Kang— possessing Matthew’s body— get reduced into minced meat.

The bastard was unrecognizable now after being hit by meteors.

Although Charles Kang used a huge amount of Mana to protect his body, it still wasn’t enough for him to survive the meteor shower in one piece.

As a result, the bastard got shredded.

Unlike Charles Kang, the barrier that Ki Gayoon used to protect himself was sturdy enough to protect him.

Plus, he made it so that the meteors wouldn’t hit him in the first place.

But, despite being safe, he couldn’t celebrate.

Of course, Ki Gayoon still felt a pang in his heart seeing the disgusting pieces of meat scattered around.

After all, it was still Matthew’s body.

"You’re truly heartless, Ki Gayoon."

Tsk.

Charles Kang’s severed head could still talk and sprout bullshit.

Yeah, the bastard was still alive.

Ki Gayoon could see faint lights covering the severed limbs and minced ’meat’ as if Charles Kang was trying to regenerate.

"I’m using Matthew’s body, and you still attacked me in the most gruesome way possible."

Ki Gayoon just raised his hand, ready to call another meteor shower.

He wouldn’t just wait there and let Charles Kang finish his regeneration.

However...

COUGH.

Ki Gayoon coughed up a huge chunk of black blood.

Wait, what?

Black blood?

When was I poisoned...?

Charles Kang, upon seeing the shocked look on Ki Gayoon’s face, laughed. "Have you forgotten the element that Matthew manipulates?"

The hell?

Ki Gayoon looked around.

Of course, there was still thick smoke and dust because of the craters caused by the meteor shower earlier.

However, upon looking closely, he finally noticed the miasma in the air.

Poisonous miasma, to be precise.

Ki Gayoon could only curse under his breath.

Fucking hell.

"That miasma can slip through barriers," Charles Kang said, laughing softly. "I got you there, huh?"

Ki Gayoon didn’t want to admit this.

But after being made aware that he was poisoned, he started to feel the stupid effects.

He could feel his insides burning.

This is why I hate Matthew’s abilities...

Aside from the fact that he felt like his organs were being boiled in hot water, he was also starting to feel numb.

Ah, the poison was slowly paralyzing him.

Tsk!

I’ve been careless.

Ki Gayoon was about to check his Inventory for a special-grade antidote that was supposed to work on any type of poison.

However, he stopped when he felt the sudden change in the air.

"What’s wrong, Ki Gayoon?" Charles Kang asked mockingly, and the severed limbs around him started gathering around him. "Can’t move an inch now—"

"Shut up, you filthy monster."

That wasn’t Ki Gayoon.

An Esper, who wasn’t supposed to be there, now stood in front of him protectively.

"Matthew?" Charles Kang asked in disbelief. But that disbelief only lasted for a second. After that, the bastard laughed mockingly. "What could a mere ghost like you do?"

Yeah, it was Matthew.

But the stupid Charles Kang got one thing wrong.

"You’ve probably gone senile due to your old age," Ki Gayoon said, scoffing. Yes, he could barely move his mouth now. But if there was one thing that he learned from Noh Yuno, then it was to run your mouth and provoke your enemies in the most annoying way possible if you couldn’t fight physically. "What part of the Matthew standing in front of us looks like fucking a ghost to you, huh?"

Charles Kang’s arrogant smile finally vanished, and then his face turned cold. "How did you get a physical body, Matthew?"

Matthew gave Charles Kang the middle finger. "Why would I tell a monster like you?"

***

"WHAT’S UP, everyone? It’s your boy, Noh Yuno," Yuno said in a dry voice in front of the camera. His voice was void of emotion, and he probably looked dead to the viewers. Even so, he still recited the famous lines that most influencers often use. "For today’s video, I’ll show you how to treat infected individuals in a very easy way. No, this is not clickbait. Did you forget that I’m a rare E-Class Guide?"

He heard Jericho and 17, standing on either of his sides, chuckle.

Of course, he ignored the two and continued with his spiel.

He could see the number of viewers and reactions increasing fast, so he didn’t want to miss the momentum.

Seize the moment while the entire world is paying attention to me.

But first...

Yuno gave the viewers a double thumbs-up. "Before we start, don’t forget to like and subscribe, everyone."

***

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