episode_0061

“… Don’t make me laugh.”

With all his efforts, achievements, and status gone, there was no need to wear the mask any longer. The lynx finally took off its human skin and revealed its true colors.

Maeng Gi-hwan’s body trembled.

He was shaking in a horrible state due to the saliva that had spurted out from his tongue and the sweat that had dripped down to the point where his shirt was soaked.

I tried to hold on by forcibly stretching and extending my patience, which was smaller than a rat’s tail, but now it has run out.

He yelled at the office to leave.

“Don’t make me laugh, you motherfuckers! How did I get here? Who the hell is this?! [Union] and all this crap, this is clearly interference in state affairs! Do you think other countries will just sit back and do nothing after something like this happens?! This is the terrorist acts of the Awakened!”

“And what you’re doing now is incitement and a coup d’état!! I have the right to declare martial law, a lockdown, and order public opinion and arrests right now!!”

[That’s an interesting statement.]

To Maeng Gi-hwan, whose eyes were rolled back, Hong Yoon-ha’s urging sounded like nothing more than sarcasm. In reality, it was just a sneer.

◦ Do you think it’s fun to do it?

Even now, time was passing by moment by moment.

The golden time has already passed, and this commotion can no longer be hushed up.

Now that there was no way to continue the trick, and things had gotten this wrong, he had nowhere to retreat. There was no need to endure it.

Do you think I’ll be finished just because of this?! No! Even if I’m finished, I’ll take you guys with me as my companions!

[Ahahaha.]

She smiled as if she found it rather amusing, watching the bloodshot eyes of the bumbling little girl.

Are you laughing? You, a girl who was raised in a lowly shaman’s house without parents or a family tree, dare to laugh at the threats of me, Maeng Gi-hwan?

While he was frowning, two white fingers rose above the screen. Hong Yoon-ha opened her mouth, waving her hands in a V-shape.

[You made me laugh, so in return I’ll give you two funny questions.]

One straight finger was gently folded.

Her lips were smiling brightly, but her eyes were cold-hearted.

[One. Why do you think I continued this pointless argument when I was on the hotline at home?]

“You were planning to pick on me, you possessed bitch-!! Somehow provoke my anger-”

for a moment,

for a moment.

In that moment, a sense of ominousness passed through Maeng Gi-hwan’s mind and he became paralyzed. Realizing that something was wrong, his spine tingled and a cold sweat broke out.

[2. While I was on the phone like this, what was I doing with my cell phone that wasn’t confiscated?]

Hong Yoon-ha turned the camera lens pointed at her, letting out a poisonous laugh.

What was reflected in the turned lens was the cell phone she was covering with her body, specially made for military use. It was a birthday present that Song Chan-seop had bought her. It was lighting up the screen.

What the glowing screen is showing is the call connection screen.

no way.

Maeng Gi-hwan’s face turned pale.

[I think you figured out the answer by looking at your expression. Shall I give you a bonus question? Why haven’t I been interviewed until now, even though I’ve been in combat?]

“That, that. Obviously, I controlled it.”

[Of course, that should be done to a certain extent. [Balor], who was leaving the country, was spewing such harsh words, so wouldn’t there have been any broadcasting stations that tried to contact me?]

“–Turn on the TV quickly-!! Right now!!”

One of the secretaries, whose face turned pale at his shouts as he abruptly ended the call, reset the screen.

And what was displayed on the screen was news from a public broadcasting station.

On the left side of the split screen, there were the faces of seriously frozen announcers and commentators for in-depth analysis. On the right side, there was only an image indicating that a phone call was connected.

And beyond that screen, the eerie woman’s voice that had been heard until just now.

[Oh, it’s disconnected. Then, KKS broadcasting station, shall we end the interview here?]

… … .

… Beep.

Maeng Ki-hwan, who had lost the ability to give orders and had turned off the screen by pressing the remote control himself, ended up collapsing to the floor in exhaustion.

He looked haggard and drained, as if all the fluid in his body had drained away.

“Why, why? There must have been people outside, why. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Of all the people in the Blue House, how come no one knew?

Why didn’t anyone stop him?

Knock knock. It was not the secretaries next to him that answered his empty question, but a knock coming from the tightly shut office door.

And the rude intruder burst through the door and came in, even though there was no answer from inside.

It was a face that Maeng Gi-hwan was familiar with. A man with gray hair and an eye patch over one eye.

Britain’s strongest Awakener. One-eyed demon. [Balor].

Liam Craven.

“Hey, we’re not even meeting for the first time, so please forgive me for being so rude. We met once at Buckingham Palace, right? I still remember that stupid face of yours.”

“… … .”

“Ah, can’t you hear what I’m saying? What’s wrong with you? You’re the only one talking so much. Are the secretaries there incapable of speaking English? Oh, really. By the way, I’m late in greeting you. Nice to meet you, you piece of trash.”

[Balor] waved his palm and greeted those gathered in the office warmly. However, no one could respond to his friendly gesture.

Because anyone could see that bright appearance was just a disguise.

The only remaining eye of the demon was slightly dilated as if it was very excited, and the purple mana that was slowly lingering in the air from its broad back was enough to freeze them solid.

Regardless, Liam began to walk around his office, one by one pulling back the blackout curtains that had been blocking out the room.

The orchid pot that had been broken earlier made an unpleasant sound as it was stepped on by his shoe.

“Hey, let’s live brightly. You’re not even bat babies, why? Were you masturbating with the lights off?”

“… definitely.”

“Huh?”

“Why? I clearly said I was leaving the country. Outside, there were security personnel. There were also Awakened people, guards, why?”

“Oh my god.”

Liam snorted as he watched Maeng Ki-hwan mutter and stammer like a broken doll, completely out of his mind.

“Even if you trick her a little, she’ll know to sway, so make sure she can’t run away or do anything. Seriously, that girl [Heenari] is really smart.”

Liam continued, his hand resting on his chin, his balding head, and he tapped his shiny crown mischievously.

“Even if the situation is really bad, would you just fly away and cut off the treaty with your country? And three days after the situation ended, would the best troops of [Union] still be there and suck their thumbs?”

Including him, 350 people, including at least Class A and Class S, and up to the first generation, were deployed to subdue the Blue House.

“If only half of the people dispatched here were there, we could enter the White House without bloodshed. Let alone a place like this, even if we had 300 people flying and crawling, we could subdue them without a fuss.”

[Heenari]’s role in the rear during battle is support and operations chief of staff.

As is typical of those who use magic or sorcery, she is thoroughly prepared, and her great wisdom is capable of deceiving not only monsters but also people.

Couldn’t she have anticipated this situation?

“If you can, try a lockdown or martial law. I’ll probably get screwed before then.”

If Hong Yoon-ha makes up her mind and starts a trick, the only person who won’t fall for it is the stone-like man in the hospital room who is driven by a strong sense of duty.

Maeng Ki-hwan couldn’t understand what Liam was talking about as he playfully laughed and patted his cheek.

But I knew I was making fun of myself.

With his eyes filled with hatred, he muttered in a low, sticky voice.

“You guys, you’ll regret it…!”

“Oh?”

Liam’s impression of him was peaceful. He’s still going strong, that’s all.

I wanted to spit on that carefree face, but all the powerless lynx could do was bark.

“No matter how much [Union] is a world organization, this kind of behavior is too much! Where did the honor and glory you guys used to brag about?! You guys are no different from [Villains]! How will other countries view this terrorist act? Huh?!”

“Hey, that’s Cheongsanyusugun.”

“If you step down now and swear not to interfere in internal affairs any longer, I will turn a blind eye to you! Get out of here, [Balor]!”

“I guess you don’t understand the situation you’re in, so I’ll show you the reality as my last mercy.”

Liam strode towards Maeng Ki-hwan and grabbed him by the back of the neck. Then he began to drag him along while humming a tune.

The collar of his shirt was choking him, and he struggled with all his might, but even with the brute strength of a middle-aged man who didn’t even exercise, he couldn’t escape the power of the world’s most powerful Awakened One.

“Ouch, kekeke! Let go of me!”

“The fact that we can now come forward like this is because it is an exceptional case among exceptions.”

Liam, who had ‘politely’ guided him to the window, lifted the back of his neck that was being held in his hand. Then, the curtains were completely drawn back, and he conveyed to Maeng Gi-hwan the scenery outside that was clearly visible through the large window.

There were people, people.

People, people, people. People everywhere. People filling up the walls on both sides, beyond the main gate of the Blue House.

There was an overwhelming crowd of people, reminiscent of a superhero fair. And it was growing bigger and bigger!

“Why do you think those people are gathered here?”

[Admiral Yi Sun-sin] is loved by many all over the world. What’s more, the place where he was most active was Korea, no matter what anyone says. Of course, wouldn’t the old man have been loved in his home country?

“Are you overestimating yourselves or underestimating your inspiration?”

Even though I am retired,

Even if it doesn’t even have a name,

Even though 20 years have passed and people’s memories of his face and even his voice have faded.

People are the ones who cannot even forget that white goodwill.

A woman is holding her son in her arms and shedding tears. The girl who was saved by [Admiral Yi Sun-sin] when she was young is now a mother of a child.

An old man with one leg raised his voice while leaning on a cane. He was not an Awakened person during the Great Rift Incident, but he was a veteran who was on the front lines with [Admiral Yi Sun-sin] as a soldier.

A boy was waving a hastily made picket sign. The young friend, who was very interested in modern history, was particularly impressed by the anecdote about [Admiral Yi Sun-sin].

And, besides, and besides that.

“Of the countless countries, how many can claim that they are rioters?”

Of course, can you cover the sky with the palm of your hand?

Not just the Blue House. In front of the National Assembly, in front of the government building, anywhere.

Countless people, regardless of age or gender, rose up all over the country after learning the truth that those in power had been hiding.

“[Union] values people above all else. We always move for the sake of people.”

“But, can we call external intervention supported by an unspecified majority of the people, excluding a select few who are well-off, terrorism? Can we call the cries of the absolute majority of the people, excluding a very small number of politicians, a coup d’état?”

Moreover, in this current situation, even the term civil war cannot be accepted.

Liam glared at Maeng Ki-hwan, who was lowering his head, either because he was choked or because he was speechless at the sight of the crowd, and in a foreign language that he couldn’t understand, he sentenced him to death for his political career.

“Good. You will be recorded as a dirty dictator who turned his back on a hero. You will be remembered as a symbol of the people’s hammer to those who try to play with the ranks of the corrupted gates, besides you. ”

Liam released his hold on Meng Ki-hwan.

The president, who had broken down and looked as if he had aged by decades even though he had escaped his grasp. No, Liam, who had been laughing at the former president, hit his forehead.

“Oh, shit. Look at my mind. I almost forgot.”

And without hesitation, he kicked him with his foot. In an instant, his shin was crushed and twisted in an anti-joint.

The one-eyed demon smiled cruelly at Maeng Gi-hwan, who was groaning without even being able to groan due to the pain that was pouring in.

“You have to get revenge properly. Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I won’t take your life. Well, you’ll just live as a half-cripple from now on.”

The purple energy in [Balor]’s eyes shimmered.

“I will do that.”

-.-.-

Four days after the end of the Jeju Island incident.

“[Heenarieeet]!!!!!”

A thunderous roar erupted in the small, quiet shrine.

Boom! The front door was kicked and flew off, and a crumpled iron gate was stuck in a corner of the yard.

Hong Yun-ha, who had been praying while facing the candlelight in her seat amidst the commotion, had to sigh and go out into the yard.

“I want to pay my respects quietly, but there are many people who are disturbing my prayers. Yesterday, it was the National Assembly, the President, and today, it is you? [Fighting Father].”

“[Heenari], you viper-like bitch!”

The person who interrupted her prayer outside the front door was none other than Han Byeong-pil.

In the midst of the chaos that was turning the country upside down due to the great success of Hong Yun-ha’s plan, he hid like a loach and was glaring at him with bloodshot eyes, holding his favorite curved sword in one hand.

Even though her gaze was so captivating that it could send shivers down her spine, Hong Yoon-ha looked relaxed and peaceful, like a wild flower facing the spring breeze.

“Among them all, you are the most rude. You come to the time of mourning and yell, you dirty the place where the funeral is being held with your feet, and you threaten others with a knife.”

Then she picked at him and laughed. Han Byeong-pil, who had been distorted like a demon, added a blood vessel between his eyebrows to the laugh.

“Is this the place you fled to, saying you won’t run away from your sins? Well, it would be easier than turning over your palm, even though it’s the boastful words of a rat that avoids fighting out of fear.”

“Shut up!”

The cold venomous tongue stabbed him like a sharp knife. The sword energy on the sword passed by Hong Yoon-ha’s ear and split the eaves of the old tile-roofed house. A few strands of hair flew around, but she laughed at Han Byeong-pil without even blinking.

“A rat that licked the honeydew of power is still a rat. Didn’t you know in your dreams that you would end up ruining both of them after protecting them?”

“Kill me, you motherfucker!”

Kwajik. Hong Yoon-ha used her defensive barrier [skill] to block the attack aimed at her head, but the barrier was too weak and was half-split, with a sharp curved blade piercing through it.

Even though it was a distance where I could just stick my tongue out and touch her, she remained upright.

“I never liked you and [Nulhaerang]…!”

“Is that so?”

[Fighting Father] gathered strength in his stomach, trying his best to break the barrier somehow. In comparison, Hong Yoon-ha looked somewhat indifferent.

“You brag about how much skill you have, but you look down on me and ignore me!”

“I don’t remember that. Rather, you tried to force us and shake us in your grasp.”

“It’s the same now! Yeah, those eyes! It always pisses me off when those younger juniors act so arrogantly!”

Hong Yoon-ha let out a sigh.

“Then what should I do? How can I respect you, who is full of honor and a sense of public opinion, but avoids dangerous battles and is not a role model as a senior?”

“Be quiet!”

Kagak, perhaps because her anger was gaining momentum, her defenses were weakened a bit more, and the blade she thrust in almost reached the tip of her nose. Despite this, Hong Yun-ha continued speaking.

“If you had moved with a sense of mission that was even half as much as the greed you had, Nana Aunty would have acknowledged you. But look at your current state. You ran away from danger until the very end, and you became a dirty sight until the very end.”

“Shut up!!”

Han Byeong-pil used all his strength to draw a horizontal line across the cumbersome barrier.

The already tattered protective barrier shattered and disappeared with that blow, and a small gash appeared across her porcelain cheek.

Even though it was a life-or-death crisis, Hong Yun-ha was not afraid at all.

“First of all, you. I’m going to tear you to pieces and kill you for ruining my life. After I cut you up into pieces, I’m going to go straight to the hospital and finish off [Neulhaerang], who’s already halfway through.”

“Let’s make sure that you two walk hand in hand on your way to the afterlife!”

Hong Yoon-ha pressed her forehead, feeling slightly tired. Even a shaman digs her own grave before she kills someone.

He continued to blame others rather than reflect on himself until the end.

This pathetic and narrow-minded man, caught in a web of illusions and caught in his own trap, remained absurd until the very end.

Now, facing the villain who was now pitiful, she gathered up what little old affection she had and tried to dissuade him.

“I won’t say anything bad. Please step down now.”

“Nonsense! Are you afraid of death now? The report that you used [Consecration] was true. You are weak now! Why? You always held your head up high and acted proud, but now you want to beg for your life? But it’s too late! ”

“I warned you.”

“Don’t make me laugh-”

The sound of something ripping and tearing cut through his words, slicing his right arm in two along with the knife that Han Byeong-pil was about to bring down.

Hong Yoon-ha looked down at Han Byeong-pil, who was crouching, holding his severed arm and screaming like a little girl.

After that, I opened the door and bowed my head as I saw the one-armed inspector walking out.

“I’m sorry, Hayato-dono. I was not able to properly congratulate you, so I interrupted your bowing.”

“Don’t worry, little priestess. Such infidelity appears regardless of the sun and the shadow, and regardless of the time and place. I couldn’t stand it, so I made you bleed in front of the spirit of my friend, so I can’t show my face.”

The old prosecutor put the drawn sword back and expressed his humility at her apology. Beyond that, those who had been paying their respects to [Admiral Yi Sun-sin] in the shrine rushed out.

“What is this?”

“Can I send that piece of trash to Shiva right now?”

He Bailong, Vikram, Viktor Mashkov, Ryan Bigman, etc., they were all awakened people who had secured a place in their own country.

Even though they are both S-class, there is a difference in level.

There was no way that [Saul-Abi], who was inferior to [Neul-Hae-Rang], could beat those with the same or even higher skills.

Han Byeong-pil, whose face turned pale, either because he had lost a lot of blood or because he was simply fed up with this absurd situation, eventually rolled his eyes and fainted.

There has never been a more unsightly sight than this. Phew, Hong Yoon-ha sighed and bowed her head to everyone.

“Han Byeong-pil was already branded as a [villain] last night. I will roughly stop the bleeding and then arrest him and take him to [Union] to be formally punished. I do not want to defile the place where the spirit of the elders is honored with the neck of a dirty person.”

“Then let’s do that.”

Vikram stepped forward. The Indian flame picked up one of Han Byeong-pil’s legs and dragged him out the front gate.

Hayato opened his mouth to Hong Yoon-ha, who was watching the miserable exit of the wicked villain from afar.

“I’m going to go now.”

“Are you leaving already?”

Was it because he was happy with the regret she showed? The sharp-faced old prosecutor smiled faintly in response.

“I would like to stay a little longer, but I have to pester the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… Don’t worry. Even if Mengwu goes on a long journey, I will make sure that support to Korea is not cut off.”

“Thank you for your words alone.”

She willingly bowed her head to the warrior who had been with [Admiral Yi Sun-sin] from an early age.

In response, Hayato stared at Hong Yun-ha.

“So, little priestess, please put down your burden. If you are a close friend who knows the little priestess, you will understand how she feels.”

Hong Yoon-ha’s shoulders shook for a moment as she lowered her head. The old prosecutor noticed her agitation, but pretended not to notice and went on his way out of consideration for her.

She bit her lip hard as she bent a little deeper toward her old friend who was increasingly distant.

It’s revealed.

It was for the elders and for their families. I swear on my life that I had no other intentions.

However, if you ask whether he used that death, the answer becomes vague. That was the kind of scheme it was.

It was a pain in my heart the whole time, as if I was insulting the always noble elder with my own hands.

Perhaps, if she had known the old man, she would have tolerated even this. She would not have been pleased with this kind of revenge.

But how can I endure it?

Song Chan-seop, who was so emaciated that his spine was visible, the old man who left without even a handful of ashes to burn, and his mother who cried out loud at the sight of her, who was now unable to move on her own…

Hong Yun-ha tightly clenched the hand holding the hem of her skirt.

I’m sorry, sir.

But Gannan, this Gannan, could not forgive those who had sent the old man away like that.

I will kneel down there and beg someday, but for now, please allow me to cry for you.

Her tears fell from the tips of her feet as she bowed her head, and turned into rain, wetting the yard.

Five days after the end of the Jeju Island incident.

It rained.

[Moirai] and [Pinocchio] arrived in Korea in the early morning drizzle. There was no one to stop them.

Rather, with the enthusiastic support of the people, [Union] joined forces with the prosecution and police to launch an investigation.

Thanks to the surprisingly quick investigation and cooperation of the investigative authorities, even those who were preparing to flee were able to be caught in one fell swoop.

In addition to Maeng Ki-hwan, 66 additional high-ranking officials from the National Assembly, the Korean Awakening Association, and several departments were arrested.

The highest ranking person among those remaining assumed the temporary presidency.

Since the political world was cut off from head to toe, relatively righteous people could take over.

Each department and association also did their best to ensure that there were no shortcomings in carrying out public duties, such as finding full-time employees to fill the positions.

Six days after the end of the Jeju Island incident.

Perhaps due to the influence of [Admiral Yi Sun-shin], reflecting the boiling public sentiment, the impeachment of the president and the dismissal of those involved proceeded at a surprisingly fast pace.

Public officials, and now criminals, have been met with much criticism and condemnation, regardless of race or nationality.

Many countries expressed deep regret and condolences over the death of [Admiral Yi Sun-shin].

Among them, there were countries that cut off support, saying they were disappointed with Korea’s response. However, there were quite a few countries that maintained their promise of support.

This is a task now entrusted to the heroes of the present and the future.

The country was in turmoil both internally and externally.

The provisional government set a deadline of one month, within which it would complete the investigation and punishment of those involved in this incident.

After the punishment was decided, it was decided to properly conduct a comprehensive investigation into the Jeju Island incident.

This was because not only had the criminals not been properly investigated, but the damage to Jeju Island had not even been properly investigated.

We asked for the understanding of the victims’ families and decided to hold a joint funeral with [Admiral Yi Sun-shin] after the situation was somewhat resolved.

As soon as all these procedures were completed, early elections were scheduled.

It was an event that came like a bolt from the blue in the midst of chaos,

Accurate and rapid progress was more urgent than anything else so that the people could recover from the grief of loss as quickly as possible.

And, it’s been two days since the Jeju Island incident ended.

The blacksmith on the slope of Mt. Surak opened his eyes, but everything was already over.

He was too late this time too.