Ch.105Chapter 4. Digging is a Hero’s Basics (3)

Baek Seol-hee’s voice didn’t sound like someone who was angry at all.

As if she was someone who had realized her mistake and called me, she was clearly watching my reaction.

So I had a hunch.

This situation was advantageous for me.

‘This is a bit awkward.’

Though it’s hard for me to adjust to the setting that the Chairman is a married man, in this situation, it works extremely favorably for me.

Perhaps the Chairman foresaw all this and told me to reveal that I was married back on Ulleungdo?

The Chairman truly is amazing.

“I’m sorry. I should have at least texted you.”

[W-where are you right now?]

“In Seoul. At home.”

[Ah….]

A sigh that seemed to say she was screwed.

[I-I’ll hang up!]

“It’s okay. My wife just went to take a shower… so I can talk for a bit. That’s why I answered the phone.”

I am a villain.

Time to be shameless.

“These calls and texts, did you think I was still on Sejong Island?”

[…….]

“I’m sorry. I should have contacted you before leaving. Next time, I’ll let you know first. When I briefly stop by my Seoul home. Hmm… weekend marriage? No, more like we see each other once a month.”

[Even though you’re… married?]

“My wife is a very busy person.”

That’s not a lie.

She’s busy conquering the world, and right now she must be preoccupied negotiating shares with October Travel.

[…Somehow, you seem quite different from ordinary people, Ji-hwan.]

“That’s right. Both me and my wife. Maybe it’s because the world has become like this. Haha.”

[Is your wife… an ability user?]

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that.”

Trying to gather personal information is a no-go.

“Seol-hee. I’m sorry. When my vacation ends and I return to Sejong Island, I’ll book that pension in Ulleungdo again. You can come if you want.”

[……You don’t need to apologize. I’m the bad woman here.]

“No. It’s my fault for not being there when you needed me.”

I apologize even though I did nothing wrong.

It’s certainly something that would hurt one’s pride, but by putting myself down, Baek Seol-hee will feel an even greater sense of debt.

“Next time, I’ll be by your side. Soon… ugh.”

[W-what’s wrong?]

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I subtly pretend to be in pain, laying groundwork.

“Just, she asked who was calling and I tried to hide it… haha.”

[……Does she know?]

“Of course she does.”

Sometimes I get confused too.

But from now on, I need to hypnotize myself clearly and make things clear to Baek Seol-hee.

“Um, I’ll contact you again later. See you next time, Seol-hee.”

[…Yes. I-I’m really sorry.]

“Don’t be. Still, thank you. For answering the call. I thought you were angry.”

[I’d be an idiot to get angry. I’ll do better next time. Ah, then…!]

Baek Seol-hee quickly hung up.

After confirming the call had definitely ended, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What does she mean by ‘do better’?”

“What was that? Was she angry? Did she get upset because you didn’t answer her calls?”

Qiongqi, who had just washed her hair, wrapped it in a towel, and I naturally took her towel as she sat in front of the vanity and grabbed the hair dryer.

“She realized she’s in the position of the other woman and approached me with a submissive attitude.”

“…Manager Do, are you having fun playing with Baek Seol-hee?”

“Though I used the expression ‘playing with’ myself, I’m not acting like some thug.”

“What about cheating when you have a wife?”

“Since I got my wife’s permission, it’s fine anyway. I only apologized for not answering the phone.”

“Hmm….”

Warm air seeps through Qiongqi’s wet hair.

She could dry her hair instantly using magic, but Qiongqi preferred me drying it for her directly.

“Use one hand. Don’t move your injured hand unnecessarily.”

“It doesn’t hurt when I move it with magic.”

“You need to heal quickly.”

“Actually, it’s better if it doesn’t heal quickly. I’m using the excuse that I broke my left hand because my wife caught me on the phone.”

“…Pfft.”

Qiongqi let out a small laugh.

“A Goblin making such excuses for his injuries?”

“Isn’t it better to say I got hit by my wife for getting caught cheating than to reveal my identity as a Goblin?”

“But you said it was legal cheating.”

“Hmm…. Then let’s say she got angry like, ‘I told you not to talk to other women when you’re with me!'”

Since Baek Seol-hee already thinks I’m having an affair with my wife, it’s not lacking in plausibility.

“Talking to one woman and immediately drying another woman’s hair. Manager Do, if you ever get stabbed in the stomach, consider it karma.”

“I’m already mentally prepared.”

“Oh my. Is Baek Seol-hee so important that you’re prepared for that?”

“She’s S-class.”

And a heroine too.

“Well, fine. Thanks to Baek Seol-hee, I got to merge with Manager Do after a long time. …Though it feels a bit wrong to call it a replacement.”

Qiongqi glared at me through the mirror as she continued.

“You need to be nice to the other executives too. I don’t like being ganged up on 3-to-1.”

“I’ll do my best, just as I did for you, Director.”

“Yeah, yeah. I really don’t like being harassed by them. Last time when you fought with Dojirider with my appearance overlaid, if the Chairman hadn’t been there, they would have immediately confronted me saying, ‘Why is the Goblin using your techniques?'”

“Ha, haha….”

I get chills down my spine just imagining it.

“Still, thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to handle this job very easily. If this matter is resolved well, the Chairman will look favorably on me, and then I….”

Qiongqi stroked her face with a serious expression.

“Hey, Manager Do.”

“Yes, Director.”

“In the Dangun myth, they say a bear can become human if it eats only garlic and mugwort for twenty-one days, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…Could it be true?”

“Director.”

I put down the hair dryer.

“Nothing is impossible. After the Great Cataclysm, there’s no longer anything ‘logically impossible’ in this world.”

Her hair was completely dry and fluffy, and I infused magic into my right hand to make it like a comb, smoothing and arranging her hair.

“In a world where humans become demons and superpowers become reality, believe in possibilities. Belief is power.”

“That sounds very cult-like.”

“If it works in reality, then it’s not a cult but a religion.”

Nothing is impossible in this world.

Even a reader from the real world can be kidnapped into this world, so what could possibly be impossible?

“Believe in the Chairman. Believe in me. And… believe in yourself, Director. If it’s impossible, I’ll find a way to make it possible.”

“How?”

“With a Goblin’s magic mallet, just like that.”

“…Pfft!”

Perhaps because I was speaking seriously and suddenly brought up the Goblin’s magic mallet, Qiongqi covered her mouth and trembled softly.

“What? How can you say such things?”

“Do you think I’m joking?”

I whispered softly into her ear.

And immediately, Qiongqi’s expression hardened, and her lips began to tremble.

“W-what is that…!”

“It’s one of the ‘final plans’ the Chairman mentioned.”

“D-do the others know?”

“No. I’m telling only you, Director, specially.”

“U-ugh….”

Qiongqi blushed in confusion, then rested her chin on one hand and turned her head.

“I’ll pretend I don’t know later, so don’t tell the others you told me first.”

“Of course.”

Seoul.

The sun is gradually moving toward its zenith.

* * *

At that same time.

In a remote location in Gangwon Province, a group of masked individuals gathered in one place.

“…….”

The masked individuals couldn’t say a word.

Most of the members who had departed from Samcheok hadn’t returned.

“What about the people who confronted them in Samcheok?”

“All were arrested by Armored Taejo.”

“Then they….”

“I don’t know where they’ll be sent, but they’ll likely be sent to that island.”

“…Tsk.”

A man in scholar’s attire wearing a ‘Hahoetal’ mask, clearly different from the others, openly clicked his tongue.

“It’s over. This mission is a failure. Everyone withdraw.”

“W-wait! ‘Scholar’ sir! This isn’t right!”

Malttugi, who had been standing behind everyone, stepped forward and shouted.

“Our comrades died! Senior Yeongno too! With so many dead and captured, how can you just say we should withdraw?!”

“We couldn’t steal the genes, but we succeeded in making Armored Taejo destroy them himself. Preventing the overseas export of S-class genes. We’ve succeeded in our mission.”

“I said our comrades died!!”

“It was a mission where death was expected, and because they were prepared to die, we succeeded. Others might think we failed, but not at all. We’ve succeeded brilliantly.”

The Scholar held up a black 007 briefcase.

“Because in here is a ‘weapon’ that will pierce the enemy’s heart.”

“That’s…!”

“Malttugi. Do you know why the country has completely erased all traces of Hwalbindang now? Do you know why they’re covering up our highway journey as just escorts for Juliana?”

“……Because we stole that, right?”

“Yes.”

The Scholar opened the 007 briefcase.

Inside, on a red cushion, were several miniature-like models.

“The nearby military base will be in chaos. We’ll be tracked. We need to lay low for a while. Since we’ve obtained this.”

“But…!”

“I know you followed Yeongno well. But don’t forget he died for the mission. Our enemy is… this rotten country. The ones who sold Gangwon Province to foreigners.”

“…….”

Malttugi could only clench his fists and tremble.

“Or become strong enough to take revenge. The one who killed Yeongno… was most likely the Goblin.”

“…….”

“Don’t become a demon blinded by vengeance.”

“……Yes.”

Malttugi just quietly stared coldly at the objects in the briefcase.

Inside the 007 briefcase.

There were “tanks” smaller than a fist.