I Awakened as a Dark History - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38
I could have genuinely wept. This was the respectable job I’d earned after four years of university, job-hunting, and preparation.
I never thought I’d lose it forever over a moment of—or to be honest about it, several moments of—carelessness.
‘So this is what they mean when they say greed ruins a person. The old sayings never lie.’
I gazed up at the blue sky and swallowed the hollow feeling in my chest. What was a mere item and Magic Stone anyway?
“Though to be fair, the amount was pretty substantial.”
Even if I went back, I didn’t think I’d be able to resist the temptation.
Just the Sword Dropped by Knight, which was B-rank, had fetched a fortune.
‘And then there was the Basilisk Poison and the Basilisk Magic Stone I sold—my bank account absolutely bloomed.’
In the end, I surrendered to my own greed.
“Healer?”
A voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts—the tank’s voice.
I collected myself and turned toward him.
“Oh, yes.”
“Are you alright?”
The tank studied my expression with obvious concern.
I waved my hand dismissively, brushing away his worry.
“I’m sorry. I lost focus for a moment. What were you saying?”
“I just wanted to thank you for accepting this request on the guild’s behalf. You trusted me enough to take the job, and I realized I never properly introduced myself.”
Looking slightly embarrassed, the tank fished a business card from his pocket.
“I’m Seo Jo-yang, a B-rank Hunter with the Haje Guild.”
I accepted the card with both hands and examined it.
The card bore the official seal of the Haje Guild, his name, phone number, and even an email address.
I tilted it to catch the light and let out a small exclamation.
“Really… the Haje Guild. I was already shocked when I got the contract through chat.”
Last week, I’d officially accepted the Dungeon Clear request.
The tank had sent me the contract immediately through the app.
And the guild name written on that contract was indeed the Haje Guild.
How stunned I’d been to see that name.
My heart was still racing.
“Ha. Sorry to surprise you.”
I shook my head to indicate it was fine.
Since Seo Jo-yang’s comment had been spoken in jest, there was no need to answer seriously.
Instead, I laughed and turned his joke back on him with a question.
“But why would a member of the Haje Guild be doing Dungeon Clears on the app?”
“Most guilds recommend lower-tier Dungeon Clears as basic warmups and training exercises.”
I nodded slowly. Sensing my unfamiliarity with the practice, Seo Jo-yang laughed lightly.
“Of course, only as long as it doesn’t interfere with the official guild schedule. Come this way. I’ll introduce you to the team and our guild master.”
As I followed Seo Jo-yang into the crowd of hunters, I felt their eyes turning toward me.
I pulled the hood of my hoodie up to hide my hair.
The weather was too warm for this hoodie now, but my hair was more embarrassing.
[Current Synchronization Rate]
15%
The Synchronization Rate displayed at the edge of my vision surprised me slightly.
Seo Jo-yang paid no attention to the onlookers and called his guild master.
“Guild Master, the Healer has arrived.”
I removed my hood again out of courtesy.
The moment Baek Mun-il saw my face, he closed the distance between us in a single stride.
I bowed first to greet him.
“Hello, Guild Master.”
“Good to see you again, Healer.”
Baek Mun-il’s face broke into a warm, delighted smile.
He was dressed differently than he had been at the Auction House.
His neat business attire left plenty of room for movement, making him look like an ordinary office worker.
But the deep indigo robe draped over his shoulders revealed his true nature.
It was likely an item.
Baek Mun-il naturally extended his hand to me.
When I took it and we shook hands, Baek Mun-il spoke casually.
“One of my guild members mentioned knowing a healer, so I asked them to make a request. I never imagined we’d meet again like this. It’s good to see you.”
Having a face I’d only ever seen on television greet me so warmly felt surreal.
Just then, Baek Mun-il spotted the business card in my hand.
“It seems Seo the Hunter gave me a card.”
“Oh, yes. That’s right.”
“I’m curious what happened to mine.”
Though Baek Mun-il asked it lightly, a pang of guilt shot through me.
I’d shoved both his and Seo Il-hak’s cards into a corner like barley sacks and forgotten them.
“Ahahahaha.”
I dodged with an awkward laugh.
But Baek Mun-il didn’t let my evasion slide.
“The truth is, I’ve been waiting quite a while for you to reach out. I never imagined you’d go silent this long.”
His genuine disappointment finally pried my mouth open.
“Ah, well. Fortunately, I haven’t had any pressing matters come up, so there was no reason to contact you.”
“You could have reached out even without pressing matters. But I’m glad nothing’s gone wrong—that’s always good.”
Baek Mun-il chuckled softly and didn’t press the issue further.
Instead, he smoothly changed the subject.
“The guild side has arranged to provide items needed for the dungeon strategy. Do you happen to have a Subspace item you prefer to use?”
I shook my head quickly.
Baek Mun-il smiled as if he’d expected that, and held out a bracelet to me.
“Use this one, then.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I took the bracelet immediately and fastened it around my left wrist.
The loose-fitting bracelet shrunk perfectly to my wrist with a flash of light.
“Wow.”
At my amazement, my Synchronization Rate flickered at the edge of my vision.
[Current Synchronization Rate]
20%
‘What did I even do.’
I suppressed my sense of injustice and looked at Baek Mun-il.
“How do I use this thing?”
“Simply think of opening a Subspace in empty air while you move your hand.”
Baek Mun-il seemed to enjoy the process of explaining step by step.
He smiled and demonstrated.
His hand disappeared into the air, then reappeared holding water.
“I’ve put in water, energy bars, a sleeping bag, and some simple snacks like chocolate, so feel free to take whatever you need.”
I extended my hand forward exactly as he had done and imagined it intensely in my mind.
‘Open the Subspace. Open the Subspace.’
A dark opening appeared in the air.
When I reached into it, I felt various objects inside.
I pulled out a plastic bottle and confirmed the water.
“Oh!”
What had seemed merely interesting to observe was far more fascinating to use firsthand.
Baek Mun-il gave me a thumbs-up from beside me.
“Well done. Just do the same when putting things back. Now, shall we put the water away? I’m about to introduce you to the other clearers.”
“Ah, yes.”
I awkwardly opened the Subspace one more time and put the water back.
I heard Baek Mun-il’s laughter from beside me and felt a bit embarrassed.
Once I closed the Subspace again, Baek Mun-il clapped to draw the attention of the nearby hunters.
“Everyone, attention.”
The hunters, who had been checking their gear in small clusters, immediately turned their focus to Baek Mun-il.
“This is the healer who will be joining us for today’s dungeon strategy. Since the contract is being handled anonymously, we won’t be able to confirm their real name—we’ll simply call them ‘Healer’ throughout the clear.”
“Yes!”
Baek Mun-il gestured lightly, inviting me to introduce myself.
Feeling like a new employee, I bowed respectfully toward the assembled group.
“Hello, everyone. I’ll be serving as the healer for today’s dungeon strategy. I know I may have my shortcomings, but I’ll do my best to support you all.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“We’re counting on you!”
The Haje Guild’s S-rank Dungeon Clear team was large.
With as many as twenty members each offering a greeting, my head was spinning.
From among them, Baek Mun-il gave my shoulder a light tap.
Still dazed from the introductions, I turned to look at him.
“Healer, would it be all right if we speak casually while we’re inside?”
“Of course. Feel free to do the same once we’re out as well.”
Tch, the Synchronization Rate went up again.
I grumbled quietly to myself while watching Baek Mun-il.
His expression was so bright that it was hard to complain for long.
“Thanks. I mean, thank you.”
The moment Baek Mun-il heard my reply, he gestured to the guild members.
The heavily-armored tankers took position at the very front with their shields, while lightly-armored close-range dealers with weapons stood directly behind them.
Behind them came the mages and bare-knuckle hunters carrying staves.
At the rear, in the furthest position, stood myself and the other supporters.
I took my place somewhat awkwardly, observing the formation.
As I watched them organize their equipment one last time, I only gripped the Necklace tightly.
“Oh, and as I mentioned beforehand, someone from the Anconu Research Foundation will be joining us to assist with this dungeon clear. They’ll be positioned with the supporters, so everyone stay alert for safety.”
“Yes!”
Before Baek Mun-il even finished speaking, a figure came sprinting toward us from a distance.
The face in the white coat wasn’t unfamiliar.
“My apologies, Guild Master Baek. I was delayed organizing equipment. I’m Ahn Je-hwan, team leader of the Anconu Research Foundation’s first team.”
“Huh!”
I finally realized why the face had seemed familiar and caught my breath.
Despite how soft the sound was, the hunters didn’t miss it and turned to look at me.
I quickly ducked behind the person next to me.
But Ahn Je-hwan had already spotted me.
His gaze fixed on me for a moment. I rubbed my face—the same face as the dark elf’s.
‘Did he recognize me?’
Fortunately, Baek Mun-il quickly redirected his attention.
“It’s good to meet you, Team Leader Ahn Je-hwan. I’m counting on you for this dungeon clear.”
Ahn Je-hwan grasped the hand Baek Mun-il offered and shook it lightly as he replied.
“Let’s drop the formality. We won’t have time for honorifics during the dungeon strategy anyway.”
“I appreciate that.”
Baek Mun-il spoke more casually and gestured toward our group.
“Just position yourself with the supporters. Once we breach the dungeon, we’ll rely on you in the Poison Swamp.”
“Understood.”
Ahn Je-hwan strode over to our side and deliberately positioned himself next to me.
Baek Mun-il watched this unfold carefully before taking the foremost position.
“Enter!”
Following Baek Mun-il’s command, the entire party advanced into the dungeon entrance.
Faced with the suddenly elevated dungeon rank, I swallowed dryly.
‘All right, let’s do this.’
I clenched both fists and followed them inside.
* * *
Crunch—crunch—
Brilliant sunlight flooded my eyes.
The first sound to reach my ears was fine sand crunching beneath our feet.
I opened my eyes properly and surveyed the surroundings.
“Wow, it’s a desert.”
I hadn’t expected to see such an expansive desert, as if I’d traveled abroad.
I gazed out across the endless dunes, unable to contain my amazement.
But the reactions around me were quite different from my own admiration.
“Ugh, let’s hurry up. Come on.”
“Can’t they assign this desert dungeon somewhere else?”
“It’s already hot……”
Some quickly donned hats while others created shadows with their weapons—the reactions were wonderfully varied.
I awkwardly tried to act indifferent.
It was embarrassing to look so excited when I was alone in that.
‘I should have brought sunscreen.’
Fortunately, the others were too busy moving forward to notice my reaction.
I stayed close to the rear of the strategy team as we moved.
And then Ahn Je-hwan drew near to my side.
When I glanced sideways at him, Ahn Je-hwan spoke to me naturally.
“We didn’t get to say goodbye properly when we parted last time. It looks like you’ve dyed your hair since we last met.”
You recognize me, don’t you!?
I couldn’t even manage my expression.
My shock was so apparent that Ahn Je-hwan’s face went blank with confusion.
“Is something wrong……?”
“Oh, ah, um, no. Ahem!”
I cleared my throat and dredged up the cover story I’d buried.
“Actually, she’s my twin sister. I’m the older twin. Our abilities are different too. I’m a healer, and she specializes in Debuffs.”
Now it was Ahn Je-hwan’s turn to be startled.
I felt as though we were trading blows back and forth.
The catch was that if I let an opening slip, it would be Ahn Je-hwan’s turn to strike.
“I see. That’s unfortunate. There was something I wanted to ask you about.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Ahn Je-hwan’s cheeks flushed a deep red for some reason.
“Whether you’ve seen the person who saved us.”
It was a direct hit—exactly the question I’d hoped to avoid.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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