Part 1 Chapter 3 (10)

April 12, 2020, 5 AM, Presidential Office, Government Complex.

Screeeech.

The door to the office, which should have been empty, opened. Normally, if the office door opened at this hour, an alarm should have sounded, but it didn’t. The person inside had already begun their work.

“You’ve arrived.”

The man inside the office, Seonui Cheol, offered the other man a seat. The middle-aged man in a suit hesitated before slumping into the chair. A strong smell of alcohol wafted from the man’s body.

“What’s the meaning of calling me here at this hour?”

The man’s tone was utterly blunt. It was hard to believe this was how one would address a nation’s president, yet the man made no attempt to hide his animosity towards Seonui Cheol.

Seonui Cheol silently accepted the animosity and offered the man a cup of tea.

“Drink this. It’s mana herbal tea made by Yuseong. They say it’s perfect for fatigue recovery.”

“I’m not tired, so just get to the point.”

“You’re an S-class ability user, so you might be full of energy, but for an ordinary person like me, who only sleeps two hours a day to work, this is essential. I even quit coffee after I started drinking this.”

“So, get to the point.”

A golden light flickered in the man’s eyes. Seonui Cheol calmly set down the tea, unfazed by the man’s openly irritated demeanor, which even involved raising his mana.

“Don’t go to Seoul.”

“I refuse.”

Twitch. Seonui Cheol’s eyebrows furrowed. The Mad Dog, restrained by a leash and unable to leave the yard, lunged at its owner as if to snap its own neck.

“Do you know what you’re saying? That you’re refusing my order?”

“I know. But I must go nonetheless.”

“…Alright. There must be a reason for you to act like this.”

Seonui Cheol took a sip of the tea. The refined mana within the herbal tea revitalized his body.

“Go on, explain. The reason you must go to Seoul, even if it endangers the safety of New Seoul’s five million residents.”

“New Seoul won’t be endangered just by my absence, will it?”

“Do you know how many citizens of the Republic of Korea depend on you, just one person?”

The man gritted his teeth.

“I’m just a half-crippled Hero who was injured on the Pyongyang front and can no longer exert full power. So why are you so desperate to tie me down?”

“Nevertheless, you are this nation’s greatest Hero. As the kids these days say, ‘Form is temporary, but class is permanent,’ isn’t that right? And furthermore…”

Seonui Cheol smiled as if he was about to devour something. His sharp impression, reminiscent of a snake, had been with him since his days as a hidden dragon in Yeouido.

“Besides, your form hasn’t declined; you’re just hiding it. The mana and power that would be more than enough to join the Round Table.”

“……I recall we made a deal to keep that a secret.”

Gwanggeom’s mana settled coldly. The blade-like mana, ready to pierce at any moment, made Seonui Cheol’s hand tremble for an instant.

“It’s no use killing me. That secret you hold. If I die, it will spread across the world. Do you think you’ll be the only one to suffer? That Gwanggeom, in reality, in Pyongyang… Hehe.”

“Surely you haven’t told anyone, have you?”

“Of course not. It’s just that if I die, that information will spread throughout the Black Market. Would I ever break the promise I made with you? I put a leash on you, even giving up the title of a nation possessing a Round Table Hero.”

“…Now that Lee Seung-hyung is here, just leave me be. Can’t you just make Lee Seung-hyung a hero, just like you’ve done so far?”

At Gwanggeom’s words, Seonui Cheol shook his head.

“Lee Seung-hyung isn’t ready yet. He doesn’t have as much experience as you, nor as many achievements. Do you think a being like Lee Seung-hyung can replace the name Gwanggeom, Heo Yun-hwan?”

“So you’re bringing up the Seoul reclamation operation for that achievement? Is the feat of killing the Fire Dragon not enough?”

“Listen, Yun-hwan.”

Seonui Cheol took off his glasses. The knife scar below his left eye twitched.

“No matter how many demon-type creatures or whatever you catch, it won’t resonate with the public. They won’t understand the fear unless they experience it directly. But Seoul is different. The sorrow and anger of having our nation stolen are already etched into our people’s genes. This time, it just happens to be the capital.”

“If that’s the goal, then sending only Lee Seung-hyung should suffice. Why did you specifically call Seolhwa Princess to Seoul as well?”

“Khahahahaha!”

Seonui Cheol laughed loudly, uncharacteristically. The maniacal laughter, accompanied by him slapping his knee, echoed throughout the entire office.

“Even the great Gwanggeom is human after all! Yes, that’s what’s bothering you, isn’t it? You’re too worried about sending Seolhwa Princess to Seoul!”

“……I won’t deny it. You know how a father with a daughter feels, don’t you?”

“Seolhwa Princess isn’t your daughter. I even secretly looked into a DNA test because I was suspicious of your extreme devotion. You cherish your disciple as if she were your own daughter. Whoever her real parents are, I envy them, Seolhwa Princess-nim.”

“…….”

Gwanggeom, as if parched, gulped down the tea. Just as Seonui Cheol said, the mana-infused herbs extracted from the Core boosted his body’s vitality.

Seonui Cheol also took a sip to wet his throat.

“Lest you misunderstand, let me be clear. It wasn’t the government that called Seolhwa Princess.”

“……What?”

Gwanggeom’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“What do you mean? If the government didn’t call her, why would that child come all the way here from Busan?”

“Just as I thought. You spoke directly with Seolhwa Princess, didn’t you? So, her will was strong enough to lie even to her master. Hehe.”

As Gwanggeom’s aura grew fierce, Seonui Cheol quickly continued.

“Even before officially announcing the Seoul reclamation operation, I spread rumors through various channels. Frankly, Seolhwa Princess wasn’t part of my plan. This Seoul reclamation operation is entirely a stage for Lee Seung-hyung to be the protagonist. But…”

Seonui Cheol licked his lips with his tongue. It was exactly like a snake eyeing its prey.

“She herself requested it first. To be allowed to participate in this Seoul reclamation operation. So much so that she asked me to keep it a secret from you.”

“Seok Harang, that…!”

Gwanggeom was indignant that Seok Harang had deceived her master, but at the same time, she was surprised that her disciple had reached a level similar to her own.

Seok Harang had already reached an incredible level, capable of hiding even the exposure of her emotions from her master.

“I don’t know if she’s had a sudden growth spurt recently, or if she’s gained enlightenment and reached a higher level. But how could I stop her when she’s actively stepping forward to clear away her past traumas? I merely, as a citizen, gave her as much support as possible. If all goes well, we might even get rid of that cunning snake in the city hall.”

“……Understood. Then let’s do this.”

Gwanggeom gulped down all the tea and set the cup down with a thud.

“Remove Seolhwa Princess. I will go instead.”

“No. Absolutely not. Didn’t you hear me? This operation is for Lee Seung-hyung-“

“If that’s not possible, then I’ll go too. All three S-class.”

At his almost aggressive words, Seonui Cheol’s hand, which had been reaching for his cup, froze. He was puzzled to sense an emotion like anxiety from Gwanggeom.

“What are you so afraid of? Are you saying the monster in the city hall has become S-class or higher? That SS-class monster we’ve only heard rumors about?”

“That guy is nothing. Fire Fist and Seolhwa Princess, just the two of them, should be able to defeat that monster. But…”

Gwanggeom swallowed his words. It seemed he had something he wanted to explain but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Seeing Gwanggeom’s uneasy expression for the first time in his life, Seonui Cheol let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha. Gwanggeom is just worried about sending his kids out into the world. It would have been a disaster if you’d gotten married and had children. Hehe.”

“…….”

Seonui Cheol drank every last drop of the herbal tea.

“Don’t worry. It’s not just because Lee Seung-hyung is my nephew; he’s truly a guy with strong will and ability. As for Seolhwa Princess, you’ve known her longer, so there’s no need to say more. Those two must now become the twin engines leading the new generation.”

The generational shift among Heroes is faster than one might think. While it’s true that few people awaken as Heroes, it’s mostly because they get injured in battles with monsters and retire before reaching a high level.

“How long can we entrust national affairs to you, Pungbaek, Wusa, and Unsa? China has already begun a generational shift centered around Unjang. We must move in step with them. ‘New generation.’ What a wonderful phrase, isn’t it?”

“…Understood. So please send me.”

“……Since when did Gwanggeom cling to his master and bare his fangs like this?”

The corner of Seonui Cheol’s eye twitched slightly.

“Are you saying there’s a monster that you and two other S-class Heroes can barely defeat? Has a monster from Pyongyang come all the way down to Seoul without my knowledge? I don’t understand. Why are you being so stubborn? Give me a reason to send you to Seoul, even if it means breaking my own plan. A reason that all five million residents of New Seoul, besides myself, can accept.”

“…I cannot say.”

Seonui Cheol waved his hand, issuing an order for him to leave.

“Then that is absolutely impossible. You must remain in New Seoul. What on earth frightens you so much?”

Gwanggeom closed his eyes. The faint aura he continuously felt from Seoul. It was the familiar presence of death.

Should he reveal everything? But Gwanggeom couldn’t trust Seonui Cheol before him. It was a secret he hadn’t even told Yoo Young-ho yet. Gwanggeom quietly exited the door, then spoke to Seonui Cheol from the doorway.

“Understood. But please promise me one thing.”

“What now?”

“Should anything happen to Lee Seung-hyung and Seok Harang, that you will immediately send me to Seoul.”

Seonui Cheol picked up his cup, intending to throw it, but barely managed to set it down. Taking a breath and calming himself, Seonui Cheol swallowed his anger and spat out his words.

“No.”

* * *

April 12, 2020, 5 AM, Guro Azure Syndicate Hideout.

“Seonui Cheol can absolutely not send Gwanggeom to Seoul. Not only for New Seoul’s safety, but the moment Gwanggeom learns the origin of this Cube, he’ll immediately rush to New Seoul and chop off Seonui Cheol’s head.”

I pointed at the Cube on the table. The Cube was sealed like a capsule by my mana, making it impossible for anyone to touch.

“Gwanggeom and Seonui Cheol each hold a weakness of the other, but for now, Seonui Cheol holds the stronger leash. So, you can consider the S-class Heroes coming to Seoul this time to be Fire Fist and Seolhwa Princess, just the two of them.”

“I understand the Cube is dangerous, but why would Gwanggeom try to kill Seonui Cheol? If this is so important that New Seoul would be endangered, I’d send all three S-class Heroes.”

Deokbae asked, holding the capsule. Only Deokbae and I were in the room.

“Remember Tentacle Toad? That congressman who stabbed Seonui Cheol in the face, stole the Cube, and ran away.”

“Yeah.”

“He’s Gwanggeom’s best friend. Almost like a sworn brother.”

“…Gwanggeom and that Tentacle Toad are sworn brothers?”

I chuckled and affirmed.

“Even if they grew up in the same place, their environments and the people they meet are different once they enter society. You know, don’t you? How much a person can change depending on their environment. Just like Cheon Gaeul isn’t Masquerade.”

Guro, which should have become a living hell, became a sanctuary where Cheon Gaeul could temporarily hold her breath and rest. Deokbae set down the capsule.

“So, what happened with the bet in the end? Cheon Gaeul just went straight into her room as soon as she arrived.”

“I let her do as she wished. It was admirable that she went into a den of criminals despite being so scared, and that she conveyed my intentions perfectly even while putting on that terrible act. More than anything… I was grateful because it reminded me of the old days.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s just one of those things.”

Just as their mana levels were identical, Cheon Gaeul was Cheon Gaeul.

“Even if Cheon Gaeul-ssi had failed, I didn’t really intend to collect any bet. After all, I’d just take her to New Seoul in three days and it would be over.”

“…If you take her to New Seoul, will the danger disappear?”

I pointed at my veil and smiled.

“I’m going to give her this as a farewell gift. It can perfectly defend against all attacks below S-class, you see?”

“Why don’t you just stick by Cheon Gaeul’s side and live with her?”

“I will, eventually?”

“……?”

Deokbae’s puzzled expression was always amusing. I excitedly talked about what would happen after the events in Seoul were over, until Cheon Gaeul woke up from her sleep.

* * *

“Huh? Dad. Yeah. I’m sorry for only contacting you now.”

“It’s almost dawn, are you okay? Does Mom not have to go to work? What? …Don’t do that. I can go back soon now. Once I’m back, I’ll start filming right away.”

“Yeah. The person who saved me here says I should be able to get out of Seoul in three days. Apparently, a monster is blocking the way due to a dimensional gate, so we have to take a detour. Just bear with it for three more days.”

“So just wait a little longer. Don’t bother trying to find me; just make some doenjang stew when I get back. It’s been so long since I’ve had Mom’s doenjang stew that I can’t even eat rice anymore.”

“Funeral? Insurance? …My death has already been registered? Why is Lee Seung-hyung-ssi the chief mourner?”

“What? Really? Wow, I didn’t see her as that kind of person, but she’s a total sly fox. When was she calling me ‘unnie, unnie’ and saying she liked me, and now that an audition came up, she immediately submitted her profile? That’s incredible, seriously.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll be careful. Huh? No, it’s a woman. The person who saved me. She’s an ability user… strong… cool… though her personality is a bit strange.”

“…Mom, your daughter isn’t ‘that way,’ okay? What? What kind of thing is that in this day and age? Dad says either way is fine? Is that something you say to your only daughter? …Ugh, never mind.”

“Okay. I don’t think I can call anymore. I barely managed to get this one…. Yeah. Let’s definitely see each other alive.”

“I’m sorry. I really have to hang up now. Yeah. I’ll take care of myself.”

“I love you.”

Beep, beep, beep.

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