Chapter 65: To Suwon (2)

A somber atmosphere filled the room.

High-level Hunters, including vigilante group leader Lee Seok-hwan, occupied the space. Han-seong moved the Phantom to sit in an empty spot at the center.

The seating arrangement resembled a hearing, but the reality was quite the opposite. Everyone present was carefully watching the Phantom’s reactions.

“Brother.”

After a heavy silence, Seok-hwan spoke first. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked with a serious expression:

“Can you tell us what happened on the highway towards Nonsan yesterday?”

“Don’t you already have an idea?”

“Still, until we hear it for certain…”

“I eliminated a threat.”

Han-seong answered dryly.

At those words, people’s shoulders flinched. Seok-hwan asked in a trembling voice:

“So, does that mean… the militia was completely wiped out by that explosion yesterday?”

“Yes.”

Another silence fell.

However, they didn’t seem particularly surprised. It was as if everyone gathered here had somewhat expected Han-seong’s answer.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

A day had already passed since dealing with the militia.

Plenty of time to go to the scene and examine the battle traces. Meanwhile, upon hearing that the militia had been annihilated, Seok-hwan closed his eyes tightly.

“…Lord.”

Seok-hwan quietly began to pray.

But that was all. He didn’t criticize or scold Han-seong for committing mass slaughter.

‘That’s a bit unexpected.’

Seok-hwan is a religious person.

After the Upheaval, his job was even Archpriest.

So Han-seong thought he would say murder is a sin in any situation, but he had no particular comment.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

“But isn’t this going too far?!”

A Hunter stood up abruptly.

A man in his early 50s with an honest-looking face.

Han-seong remembered encountering him in the corridor before. He was Mr. Jang who used to run the rice cake shop, wasn’t he?

He looked back and forth between the Phantom and Seok-hwan, then spoke out in a strong tone:

“No matter if they were criminals, we can’t deny that murder was committed! How could you do such a thing to over a thousand people…!”

Yes, he expected at least one reaction like this. He had already thought about how to respond too. Just as Han-seong was about to open his mouth,

A familiar face beat him to it.

“Sigh, Mr. Jang. Read the room.”

“What? Am I saying something wrong…”

“Yes, you are wrong.”

Butcher Jung Ye-eun.

She sighed and firmly denied Mr. Jang’s words. When Mr. Jang was taken aback, Ye-eun glared at him and said:

“Fine, let’s say we captured them all alive. Then where would we keep them?”

“Well, that…”

“We don’t have facilities to hold that many people, nor the manpower to watch them. Plus, it’s unclear how long we’d have to keep them locked up.”

Her words were logical.

Moreover, since it almost exactly matched the answer Han-seong was about to give, he quietly closed his mouth.

Meanwhile, as his opinion was rejected, Mr. Jang looked to Sang-min as if seeking help. However, the response he got was cold.

“I agree with Ye-eun.”

“Mr. Yoon! Why…”

“It may sound cruel, but those guys are better off gone. They’re not worth keeping alive while sharing our food rations.”

Food. That one word completely changed the atmosphere in the room. Soon after, others also supported Ye-eun and Sang-min’s opinions.

“Come to think of it, Mr. Yoon is right.”

“Yeah. A thousand people would consume a lot of food every day.”

“It’s a waste to give it to those bastards.”

“Exactly. Maybe if it was just one or two people.”

Well, that’s a natural reaction.

If this was the world before the Upheaval, it might be different. But in the current situation where food and supplies are limited, keeping a group alive that not only doesn’t help survival but actually hinders it?

Unless your head is full of flowers, it’s an unthinkable idea. As everyone’s opinions converged, Mr. Jang closed his mouth tightly.

As the atmosphere calmed,

“What do you plan to do from now on?”

Suddenly Seok-hwan addressed him.

With that, everyone in the room turned their gaze to the Phantom. After watching him for a moment, Seok-hwan cautiously broached the subject:

“If you don’t have a particular place to go, how about staying here for a while to observe the situation…”

“That’s not possible.”

“…Pardon?”

“I have things I need to do.”

Finding his sister Yuna.

And eliminating all the threatening monsters in this land so his family can live safely. He thought this was what he needed to do.

“Therefore, I’d like to form a cooperative relationship with the vigilante group, rather than joining it.”

“Cooperation… you say?”

“Yes. Just as we’ve been doing so far.”

He didn’t want any relationship beyond that.

Han-seong stated firmly. At this, Seok-hwan and the other Hunters couldn’t hide their disappointment.

To them, Han-seong was essentially a tactical weapon that could respond to powerful threats.

That’s when Sang-min spoke up.

“What are the conditions for this cooperative relationship?”

Good, he catches on quickly.

Han-seong turned to Sang-min and said:

“As you saw earlier, my parents wish to remain here. They said they want to look after the children who have lost their parents.”

“Ah, we’re very grateful for that too. There aren’t many people who can afford to care for children in this situation.”

Seok-hwan smiled kindly.

At that sight, Han-seong paused briefly before continuing, looking around at everyone:

“My conditions are simple. Ensure my parents’ safety and livelihood. This includes the children they’re caring for.”

“And in return, you’ll lend us your strength?”

“Yes, but I won’t help with just anything. I’ll only assist with matters I judge to be reasonable and within my capabilities.”

“Hmm, even that much is…”

Sufficiently beneficial for the vigilante group.

After all, most situations where they’d need to request Han-seong’s help would likely involve facing powerful enemies like elite monsters or champion monsters.

Seok-hwan seemed to think the same.

“We have no reason to refuse this proposal. Personally, I’d like to maintain a good relationship with you, brother.”

“In that case…”

“I’m in favor. May I ask what the others think?”

Seok-hwan looked around the room. As if they had been waiting for those words, answers came from all directions.

“I agree.”

“Me too!”

“We should definitely accept this.”

Sang-min, Ye-eun, and Yoon-ho.

Starting with those who had subjugated the Wolf King together, other Hunters also agreed to the proposal. Even Mr. Jang, who had criticized his actions earlier, was the same.

Unanimous agreement without a single dissenting opinion.

Seok-hwan extended his hand with a smiling face.

“I look forward to working with you, brother.”

“Likewise.”

Han-seong grasped Seok-hwan’s hand with the Phantom.

This moment marked the continuation of the cooperative relationship with the vigilante group that had joined forces to find his parents.

After finishing the conversation with the leadership,

Han-seong immediately headed to where his parents were. Soon after, what he witnessed was the sight of his parents embracing the children.

‘It looks natural.’

His parents caring for the children looked not like volunteers at an orphanage, but as if they were truly the children’s own parents.

Surely the result of building a relationship over a long time.

It would only be a disturbance to intrude in this situation. Han-seong turned the Phantom’s body. Just as he was about to leave where his parents were,

“W-wait a moment!”

Someone called out to the Phantom from behind.

Footsteps approaching.

When he turned around, he saw a familiar-looking girl who seemed to be about middle school age.

The girl, catching her breath, looked at the Phantom with an inexplicably earnest expression.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“You’re…”

“Ah! I’m Jung Ye-jin. Thank you so much for saving us yesterday.”

I know. The admirable child who tried to protect her mother from violence in the abandoned building.

And also a Mage like himself. Han-seong looked at Ye-jin and asked:

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“Ah, yes! I heard from my sister that your job is Mage. Is, is that true?”

“That’s right.”

Ye-jin’s face lit up.

“Then, could you perhaps teach me how to learn skills? I’m embarrassed to say, but I still don’t really understand anything…”

He had a feeling it might be something like this from the moment she mentioned the Mage job. However, to be frank, Han-seong had no reason to grant her request.

Although he owed Ye-jin a debt, he thought he had already repaid it by saving her.

Still, it felt a bit harsh to flatly refuse, so he decided to ask her reason first.

“Why do you want to learn skills?”

Wanting to learn skills means wanting to gain the power to fight monsters. However, from Han-seong’s perspective, Ye-jin had no particular need to fight monsters.

After all, she’s the sister of Ye-eun, a core member of the vigilante group leadership. Even if she continued to stay in a safe place, no one would criticize her.

That’s when Ye-jin’s answer came:

“I want to be helpful. And also…”

“And?”

“…I want to protect the mister and ma’am who helped me. To make sure something like that never happens again.”

Ye-jin clenched her fist tightly.

At this, Han-seong used his Magic Eye and saw a blue light emanating from her.

Meaning it wasn’t a lie, but the truth.

He asked back in a slightly surprised voice:

“You want to protect our parents?”

“Yes! Of course I’m not as strong as oppa, but I still want to help. The mister and ma’am are my benefactors after all…!”

This too was the truth.

What should I do? After pondering for a moment, Han-seong nodded the Phantom’s head readily.

“Alright. I’ll teach you.”

“Really? Thank you. Thank you so much!”

Leaving Ye-jin bowing her head repeatedly behind,

Han-seong accessed the shop and purchased five 1st Tier skillbooks. Three attack skills, one support skill, and one auxiliary skill.

He put these in his inventory, then released them in front of Ye-jin. Surprised by the skillbooks suddenly falling from thin air, Ye-jin’s eyes widened.

“These are skillbooks. Open them and place your hand on them, they should be automatically acquired. Try it.”

Following Han-seong’s instructions, Ye-jin soon had a surprised expression. Afterwards, he gave her a few more pieces of information.

Be careful of mana depletion penalties.

And initially, focus on gaining rank experience through meditation, and so on. All necessary information and knowledge as a Mage.

“Then to raise my level…”

“You have to defeat monsters.”

Han-seong said as if it were obvious.

For a moment, a fearful expression crossed Ye-jin’s face, but it quickly disappeared. As if she had steeled her resolve.

“That’s all I can tell you for now. Let me know when you promote to 2nd Tier later. I’ll prepare skillbooks for you then.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you so much, teacher!”

“…Teacher?”

“Oh, I wasn’t sure what to call you… Should I just call you oppa?”

Ye-jin asked back with a flustered expression.

Since it didn’t really matter what she called him, Han-seong waved the Phantom’s hand dismissively.

“Call me whatever you like. Whatever’s comfortable.”

“Okay, teacher!”

Ye-jin smiled brightly.

He silently looked at Ye-jin. The reason for Han-seong’s change of mind was simple.

‘If I train her well, she might be useful as a guard.’

For now, the Replica is acting as a guard, but it can’t stay that way forever. If a powerful enemy appears, it would need to be deployed as a combat force.

It’s not a bad idea to think of it as raising a guard for his parents in preparation for that time. From what he had observed so far, she seemed to be particularly fond of his mother too.

“Well then, see you later.”

“Yes, see you next time! Teacher.”

After saying goodbye to Ye-jin,

Han-seong moved the Phantom to a nearby room and switched it to standby mode. Afterwards, he stretched in his wheelchair and spread his palm wide.

“Now then…”

It’s time to contact Ji-hye.

It’s been almost a week since they parted.

It’s about time she needs blood, and he also needs to ask if his sister Yuna is staying at the Suwon Provisional Government.

‘Come to think of it, she said she’d contact me occasionally, but she never did even once.’

Of course, even if she had contacted him, Han-seong had been so focused on finding his parents that he probably wouldn’t have been able to give a proper reply.

Well, it probably means she’s been spending happy times with her parents after reuniting after so long. Thinking this, Han-seong brought his lips to the Blood Imprint.

“Ji-hye.”

But there was no answer.

What’s going on? He called her name several more times, but there was still no response.

“Are you sleeping…?”

The current time was 6 PM.

A bit early to be asleep. After trying to reach out a few more times with no response from Ji-hye,

Han-seong finally opened the map to find Ji-hye’s location. She was near Seryu Station at Suwon Airfield. Where the provisional government was located.

‘It doesn’t seem like she’s in combat or anything.’

A square blue dot.

Only Ji-hye and the Vampire Tree are marked like that on the map. Moreover, Ji-hye’s surroundings were currently filled with nothing but blue dots.

‘What’s going on?’

Feeling puzzled, Han-seong was about to use Precise Observation to pinpoint her coordinates. But then,

Ji-hye’s voice sounded in his mind.

-I’m sorry, Mage.

It seems she had been listening to Han-seong’s calls.

Hearing her voice after so long, Han-seong was about to greet her happily. But Ji-hye’s words came a bit faster.

-I’m not in a situation where I can talk right now. I’ll contact you again a little later.

A stiff, tense tone.

Receiving such an uncharacteristic response, Han-seong felt bewildered and a strange sense of unease.

‘…Could something have happened?’

Along with this sudden speculation,

He stared at Suwon Airfield marked on the map. After pondering for a while, Han-seong soon made up his mind.

[Activating Precise Observation.]

[Vision is shared.]

To observe those coordinates and see what kind of situation Ji-hye was currently in.