Part 1, Chapter 5 (18)

Greetings, I am Prime Minister Baek Se-jun.

President Seonui Cheol is currently bedridden due to severe shock and is unable to move freely. Please understand that I will be presiding over the state funeral.

On May 9, 2020, at 7:13 AM, we received the tragic news of Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan’s death.

…(Omitted)…

…Therefore, to honor the deceased’s will, the government promises to do its utmost to protect the safety of all citizens.

May the deceased rest in peace.

* * *

May 14, 10 PM. Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan’s grave.

The rain steadily fell. It poured down like a torrential downpour, threatening to flood the entire world.

The streets were filled with sorrow. Everyone mourned the deceased in their own way, and countless people visited his wake to express their condolences.

Immediately after Gwanggeom’s death was confirmed, the government swiftly pushed for his state funeral.

Before rumors could spread about how Gwanggeom died or who killed him, Seonui Cheol quickly pushed through Gwanggeom’s state funeral, and it began at lightning speed on May 10, the very next day.

May 14. It was the last day of the five-day state funeral. Gwanggeom was laid to rest in a wooden coffin with a peaceful expression, the Iron Sword still embedded in his chest.

Since the deceased had not left any specific last wishes or instructions regarding his death, Gwanggeom’s body was buried in a park near New Seoul, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Yoo Young-ho and Seok Harang.

The government announced that once the wave of mourning subsided, the park would be converted into a memorial park.

Countless mourners continued to visit his tombstone without end.

Everyone waited for hours to lay a single chrysanthemum at Gwanggeom’s grave, and the tomb was encircled by a large ring of chrysanthemums.

“…There are still so many people.”

“That’s because everyone here must have received Gwanggeom-nim’s help at least once.”

Eun Yuha opened her umbrella and held it over Seok Harang’s head. Even though she could freeze the rainwater or create an ice umbrella over her head, Seok Harang was simply letting the rain fall on her.

The rain soaked her white hair, and her black mourning clothes clung tightly to her body.

“Look.”

Where Eun Yuha pointed with her eyes, a large screen was hung. On the colossal screen, visible even from afar, a memorial video showcasing Gwanggeom’s achievements played, accompanied by Lee Seung-hyung’s narration.

– The deceased participated in countless monster subjugation operations over the past 20 years, apprehending and rehabilitating hundreds of Villains. He…

“Unnie. Isn’t Teacher truly amazing?”

“Indeed.”

In the video, a young Gwanggeom wielded golden twin swords, subjugating monsters. The recapture of Jeonju, the攻略 of Jeju Island, the 4th Seoul Defense Operation. In all those battlefields, Gwanggeom killed monsters and saved people.

“Everyone in New Seoul owes Gwanggeom-nim their life, at least once.”

“Right?”

The boy who lost his arm after being bitten by a monster had grown into a young man, placing a chrysanthemum with his Mechanical arm.

The middle-aged woman who suffered from PTSD after being taken hostage by a Villain wept and bowed at Gwanggeom’s wake, her mind clear, remembering how he had saved her.

Even Professor Do, who had endlessly criticized Gwanggeom for staying holed up in New Seoul, bowed before his portrait, honoring his spirit.

On the third day of the state funeral, President Seonui Cheol, who had collapsed and then risen from his sickbed, was said to have lost consciousness again after wailing as if he had lost a family member. As this news spread, New Seoul sank deeper into sorrow.

Of course, there were also those who, relatively speaking, did not empathize with the grief and viewed the situation objectively.

A man in a jumper next to a filming trailer asked the reporter beside him.

“…Hey, what’s going to happen to this country now? Shouldn’t we quickly tell the head office and get out of here?”

“Surely they won’t actually start a war. What era do we live in?”

Those wearing broadcast company logos on their jumpers whispered amongst themselves. The reporters from the broadcasting station, who were capturing Gwanggeom’s funeral scene on camera and transmitting it worldwide, quietly conversed so as not to be heard.

“Who killed Gwanggeom? Has the result not come out yet?”

“They say the world was cut off for 7 hours in the first place. The global Hero community is in an uproar right now. Scholars are probably struggling just to research Gwanggeom’s Ultimate Skill, you know?”

Reporters from domestic broadcasting stations here and there silently reported from the scene with bloodshot eyes, but reporters from foreign broadcasting stations questioned their viewers with exaggerated expressions and voices.

“Is there still hope left for this country, now that an S-class Hero like Gwanggeom has disappeared?”

“Humanity has experienced a disaster with the first appearance of a Fire Dragon, and now their strongest Hero has been murdered by a Villain. How long can Korea endure while refusing international support from the Association?”

“Gwanggeom’s personal assets are said to amount to hundreds of billions of won. However, it has been revealed that he has no surviving family and did not designate an heir. The government insists that it should go to Gwanggeom’s disciple, Seolhwa Princess, but the Association argues it should be returned to the international community…”

Kkaddeuk.

Seok Harang gritted her teeth. Eun Yuha carefully took Seok Harang’s hand. Seok Harang’s body was cold, as if touching something frozen.

“Harang-ah. Calm down.”

“I’m fine right now.”

Seok Harang said calmly, her face expressionless, neither crying nor smiling. But she didn’t let go of Eun Yuha’s hand.

“Didn’t Teacher say he went with a smile? Then it wouldn’t be a Villain. Maybe he fought against some old rival and lost and died, you know? Like in those movies, where guys fight each other and one loses and dies.”

Seok Harang’s hand squeezed Eun Yuha’s hand tightly. Eun Yuha turned her body towards Seok Harang and hugged her.

“It’s okay to cry. No one’s watching here right now.”

Eun Yuha slightly lowered the umbrella, covering Seok Harang’s face. Eun Yuha’s Machine Dolls nearby engaged in conversation with those around them, diverting attention.

“Unnie. I really feel like a heartless bitch.”

Seok Harang said in a dry voice.

“My only teacher passed away, the benefactor who pulled me out of that mire went to heaven, and yet…”

Seok Harang raised her head and met Eun Yuha’s eyes.

Seok Harang’s eyes were sunken like the deep sea, without a single speck of light.

“Not a single tear comes out. My insides are boiling with pain, and I’m so resentful I want to freeze and kill all those bastards who are talking about Teacher, but how can a person not shed a single tear?”

“…Everyone expresses grief differently.”

Seok Harang rested her head on Eun Yuha’s shoulder. Her exposed collarbone felt chilling, like an ice pack. Eun Yuha calmed her trembling hands and stroked Seok Harang’s back.

Seok Harang hugged Eun Yuha tightly.

“I even bought a gift for Teacher… I felt bad for telling him not to drink so much, so I bought an expensive bottle of alcohol at an auction from abroad… Now I can’t even give it to him.”

“…You’ll have a chance to give it to him someday.”

“Where? At his grave?”

At Seok Harang’s cold voice, Eun Yuha flinched and stopped her hand. Soon, Seok Harang pulled away from Eun Yuha and lowered her head.

“…Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Seok Harang hugged Eun Yuha again. Seok Harang’s body trembled as if she was about to cry, but no tears flowed.

To the point where it seemed her tear ducts had frozen.

“Thank you so much for being by my side, Unnie.”

“Yes, yes.”

Eun Yuha endured the cold, which felt like frostbite, and patted Seok Harang.

“Let’s go to your room, Unnie, and sleep. The living must live.”

Still, the rain continued to steadily soak the earth without any sign of stopping.

* * *

The funeral was over.

Gwanggeom rested eternally in his grave, and Seok Harang lay blankly on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

“…….”

She didn’t even have the energy to speak. As his only disciple, reporters relentlessly hounded Seok Harang.

Although they didn’t ask directly, the media and people on the network tried to dig up any information they could from Seok Harang about Gwanggeom.

Was Gwanggeom a Power Hider?

Did you know Gwanggeom was hiding his power?

Do you know who Gwanggeom fought?

Do you intend to seek revenge on the one who murdered Gwanggeom?

Do you think it’s natural for you to inherit Gwanggeom’s legacy?

Now that Gwanggeom is dead, who do you think is the strongest Hero in Korea, Fire Fist or Seolhwa Princess?

“I should just smash their heads in.”

Such violent words, surprising even herself, burst out, but Seok Harang was that mentally cornered.

It was Gwanggeom who found and rescued Harang, who had been neglected to the point of child abuse in an orphanage in Busan.

Thanks to his discovery, she was able to awaken as an S-class Ice Art User, and thanks to his sponsorship, she was able to rise to the position of Korea’s top Hero.

Seok Harang’s life blossomed after meeting Gwanggeom.

But that Gwanggeom had disappeared. Although she didn’t show it, Seok Harang’s heart was colder and more frozen than a land swept by bitter winds and heavy snow.

Beep. Beep.

An alarm rang on her smartwatch. Seok Harang turned her head and checked the anniversary she had set.

[May 15, Teacher’s Day. Give Teacher a gift!★]

“Ha ha, ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. The expensive, top-grade wine, bought by spending every penny she had. Seok Harang, who didn’t even drink alcohol, had deliberately studied wine to bring this bottle into Korea, but it now sat neglected, gathering dust.

She had constantly told Gwanggeom not to drink so much. If she had known this would happen, she would have bought it for him herself and told him to drink as much as he wanted.

“……What’s the use of that now?”

Seok Harang covered her face with both hands. Her hands were cold like a corpse, to the point where she felt as if she herself had died.

“Ha, my ability has risen again, hasn’t it?”

She raised her index finger and created an ice bird. After weeks of intense training to confront that unknown Changyeom, Seok Harang had knocked on the door to the next realm.

But the only person she wanted to boast to was dead.

“God-nim. Are you watching from up there?”

Seok Harang glared at the ceiling through her fingers.

“You can take this power I awakened, no, all my power, if you want…”

The light in her eyes, visible through her fingers, began to fade.

“Can’t you just give us our Teacher back…?”

There was no answer. No one responded to Harang’s silent scream.

Seok Harang lost consciousness.