Part 1 Chapter 3 (7)

9 PM, New Seoul Hero Association Headquarters.

“…….”

Seung-hyung collapsed onto the bed with his exhausted body as it was. The high-end mattress, located in his quarters at the headquarters, softly enveloped his body like a cradle.

“This is driving me crazy. Seriously.”

He didn’t know why the day was so long. And he didn’t know why there were so many people asking him if he was participating in the Seoul Reclamation Operation.

“Seonui Cheol….”

To him, Seonui Cheol was already just a stranger, albeit one with shared blood. But he tried to use the shackles of that blood relation to treat Seung-hyung like a puppet.

Beep. It’s 9 o’clock.

At the alarm from his smartwatch, Seung-hyung brought up the screen. In front of his eyes, a woman in a suit stood before a news desk.

– Good evening, this is JBS 9 O’Clock News.

Even amidst his busy schedule, watching the news was his small hobby. It was to know a little about how the world was turning.

“Ah. Damn it.”

The moment he saw the first headline appear as a subtitle, Seung-hyung’s face twisted sharply.

– President Seonui Cheol officially declared the reclamation of Seoul today through a press conference. Many Heroes, including Seolhwa Princess and Fire Fist, have announced their participation….

“So this is how they’re going to play it, huh?”

Seung-hyung sat up. His participation had already been made a fait accompli by the media.

– …Praetor Yoo Young-ho, who is heading to Busan today, left an SNS post saying, “A Hero’s participation is entirely up to the Hero’s own will.” Regarding this, we will speak with Hero expert Professor Do.

A professor with greasy glasses resting on his chin filled the screen.

– Nice to meet you, Professor Do. Do you think the Seoul Reclamation Operation is justified?

– Of course. What kind of place is Seoul? Until 8 years ago, it was the capital of our Republic of Korea. We have already had the painful experience of losing our capital many times throughout history, but we eventually reclaimed our capital and our nation. Now, the target is not another country, but simply a monster. I believe that reclaiming Seoul is the mission of us Heroes, and furthermore, of the Republic of Korea. We will also reclaim our status as a powerful Hero nation.

– Then, what do you think about the Praetor’s SNS post that is currently causing controversy?

– It can be interpreted in two ways. One is a comment encouraging Heroes to participate in the Seoul Reclamation Operation. The other is a sign of dissatisfaction with some hidden intention not well known to us. I believe it’s the latter.

– …By ‘the latter’, you mean?

– It means Hero Lee Seung-hyung is secretly reluctant to participate in the Seoul Reclamation Operation.

The comment section, displayed small at the bottom of the live video, was in an uproar. From insults about his opinion to insults about the professor’s appearance.

Seung-hyung turned off the comment section and focused on the professor’s voice.

– It’s only been a week since Fire Fist awakened. I believe he had quite affectionate feelings for the actress, the late Cheon Gaeul-yang. To the extent that he even took on the role of chief mourner. What Agent Lee Seung-hyung needs right now is not the will to participate in the Seoul Reclamation Operation, but time to console his grief over losing a loved one….

Knock knock knock.

“Yes!”

At the sound of knocking from beyond the door, Seung-hyung turned off the news and tidied his clothes. When he tapped his watch, the door slid into the wall and opened.

“Did I interrupt?”

“Ah, no, sunbaenim!”

Seung-hyung, seeing the middle-aged man standing in the doorway, quickly got up from the bed and straightened his posture. The middle-aged man in a suit was holding a plastic bag in his right hand.

“Let’s have a drink today.”

“Uh, sunbaenim. Drinking inside the headquarters is….”

To Seung-hyung, who was fidgeting while mentioning the rules, the man chuckled and raised his hand towards the CCTV camera in the corner of Seung-hyung’s ceiling.

Vwoom-

In front of the CCTV camera, a cloud of light, shimmering with white light, was created. At that phenomenon, which didn’t even emit mana, Seung-hyung was so impressed he clicked his tongue in admiration.

“As expected, your mana control, sunbaenim, is truly amazing. I can only now see it. The distant reach of that meticulous control. I truly respect you.”

“Guys like me, who lack mana, are the ones who care about efficiency. What good is efficiency when you’re overflowing with mana? I’m certain. Among the current S-ranks, you have the most mana.”

“Sunbaenim, that’s…”

Seung-hyung didn’t know what to do. The man entered Seung-hyung’s room as if it were his own home and sat down next to the table.

“Your quarters are really bleak. There’s not a single decoration. I recommend you save up money quickly and escape these quarters. This isn’t a place for people to live. It’s a detention center.”

The man, who took out snacks from the plastic bag, chewed on a squid leg. Seung-hyung knelt politely opposite the man.

“Sit comfortably. Why are you doing that?”

“How dare I, in front of a sunbaenim as great as the heavens….”

“If you don’t sit comfortably right now, I’ll recite exactly what you just said in front of Harang.”

Seung-hyung’s posture relaxed as fast as light. The man chuckled and handed him a can of beer.

“Drink up. You’ll need it.”

Seung-hyung took the can, which felt like it had just come out of the freezer, and lowered his head. In the coldness he felt in his hand, a very faint trace of mana remained.

“…I tried to hide it, but it seems everything was exposed.”

“Just as you sense us, we sense you. When you become an S-rank, this gets tiring. People should get to know each other through experience, but because we instinctively feel the nature of mana, we involuntarily read thoughts and emotions.”

Seung-hyung tried hard to gather his mana. Although it was already exposed as much as it could be, the traces of mana he emitted were already imbued with deep sorrow.

Clink.

The can was opened with a refreshing sound. The man smiled, pushing the can of beer he was holding towards Seung-hyung.

“To this poor young man who gained power and lost love.”

“…Isn’t that a bit much for you to say, sunbaenim?”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s a sorrow only those who’ve experienced it know. A time when you resent everything in the world, and if there’s a god, you want to grab them by the collar and shove them into the mud. When you hate yourself for gaining this power. Am I being meddlesome?”

“…No. You’re similar.”

Seung-hyung clinked his can of beer.

“When I awakened, someone appeared. They told me they’d give me power if I worked for world peace.”

“Whoever it was, they must be a truly upright person. But do you know something?”

The man pointed at Seung-hyung’s heart and smiled.

“Awakening, while experienced differently by each person, is fundamentally the same. It’s when your unconscious self appears in some form and becomes objectified. It’s like metacognition for superpowers. You don’t even realize it normally, but you finally become aware of it when it’s time to awaken.”

“How did you awaken, sunbaenim?”

At Seung-hyung’s question, the man frowned. Seung-hyung quickly lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. I misspoke….”

“Love.”

“Huh?”

The man’s face was tinged with bitterness and longing.

“I loved. A very short love that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

“…Was it your first love?”

The man nodded. To Seung-hyung, the man in front of him looked like a natural person who had escaped the secular world and achieved enlightenment.

“So, sunbaenim, for 20 years you’ve remained unmarried-“

“You’re speaking a bit carelessly. I was married to that woman. We loved each other so passionately for 10 months, enough to set the world on fire.”

“But I understand you didn’t register the marriage.”

“How could I register it when the district office was destroyed by a monster? Heh heh.”

The man bit down hard on the squid leg. The tough squid leg, imbued with mana, was cut in an instant.

“…It’s still in my heart, so how could I embrace someone else? That wouldn’t be polite to anyone. Not to me, nor to that person.”

At the man’s serious words, Seung-hyung took a breath. Although he wasn’t getting drunk from the mana’s influence, he felt as if he was getting intoxicated by the man’s poignant aura.

“How did you overcome it, sunbaenim?”

“…Overcome? There’s no such thing. You carry it like a burden for the rest of your life.”

The man said in a cold voice.

“You keep it in your heart for your entire life. So that when you die and meet them in the afterlife, you can meet them with dignity. Though I’m not sure if there is an afterlife.”

“…Is that how it is?”

To Seung-hyung, who was deep in thought, the man scratched his head and added.

“You’re still young, so you’ll be fine. Perhaps someone you love even more might appear, or you might find someone you can’t forget for the rest of your life, like me. You can filter it out as the meddling of a pathetic old man if you want.”

“…No. I will engrave it in my heart. However.”

Could someone who could give such passionate love truly appear again? Seung-hyung was inwardly certain it wouldn’t happen.

“Sunbaenim.”

“What.”

“I heard from Seolhwa Princess. That Seolhwa Princess, I, and you, sunbaenim, absolutely must go to Seoul, the three of us.”

Flitch. The man’s hand stopped.

“Why is that? It doesn’t seem like you just came to comfort me today.”

“…Are you already starting to sense mana? You’re fast. I don’t know why all those flame users are so overflowing with talent.”

The grumbling man met Seung-hyung’s eyes.

“Yes. I came to persuade you and also to go to Seoul myself. I already heard from that Young-ho guy. That you didn’t want to go to Seoul.”

“I didn’t hear about you from Young-ho hyungnim….”

“Of course. Because I didn’t tell him. This is the second time I’m telling you. If only I hadn’t met that Harang at the city hall. Tsk.”

The man clicked his tongue and grumbled about Seolhwa Princess’s actions. That the girl wasn’t modest, was too frivolous, had no sense of propriety.

Seung-hyung cut off the man’s mumbling and asked.

“Harang has the goal of finishing off the monster at the city hall. But for what reason are you, sunbaenim, trying to participate in the Seoul Reclamation?”

No matter how much Seonui Cheol wanted to, he wouldn’t let the man in front of him leave New Seoul. The man himself would know that well.

Nevertheless, the fact that he says he wants to go to Seoul means there’s some reason the man must go, even if it leaves New Seoul vulnerable.

“Are you curious?”

Flitch. A halo of light flowed in the man’s eyes. Flames also began to rise in Seung-hyung’s eyes.

Seung-hyung felt an immense aura from the man, who was much smaller than himself. Blades of light, as if they would pierce his neck at any moment, seemed to constrict Seung-hyung’s entire body.

Gogogogo-

The flames reflected in Seung-hyung’s eyes died down. In response, the man immediately released his aura.

“Haa, haa!”

“…As expected. I can’t tell you.”

The man clicked his tongue and stood up. Seung-hyung was flustered by the man’s suddenly cold attitude.

“Uh, sunbaenim?”

“It’s a truth that neither the President nor Harang knows yet. You are still too weak to handle this truth.”

“…I am not weak. Even if I am weak, I can be a strength. Even if the Fire Dragon reappears, I can win.”

Seung-hyung burned with fighting spirit. The man scoffed at his fighting spirit and opened the door.

The halo of light that had covered the CCTV disappeared at the man’s gesture. Before the door closed, the man disappeared, leaving Seung-hyung with just one word, expressionless.

“Do you truly think the real crisis of this world is something like dimensional gates or demon species?”

* * *

At the same time, Azure Syndicate Guro Hideout Rooftop.

“Mr. Jo Deokbae. Did I say something too shocking?”

“Of course. President Seonui Cheol was rumored to have a good character, unlike his appearance. You stirred up that illusion and exposed the reality.”

Phoenix sat on the rooftop bench and swung his legs back and forth.

“Physiognomy is truly scary. Even if they create an image through the media, their true nature is clearly visible by intuition.”

“Is that also that ‘future knowledge’ or whatever you told Cheon Gaeul about?”

Phoenix gave a shy smile and nodded.

“You could say that. Anyway, Seonui Cheol won’t be able to capture Yeouido even in five years. Instead, he’ll lose all of Seoul. So I took care of it in advance. Because it would be a waste to give it to that human.”

“That old man must have gotten pretty heated. But….”

Deokbae pointed at the cube Phoenix was fiddling with and asked.

“You said last time you could awaken even ability users with that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why can’t you just awaken Cheon Gaeul with that right away?”

Phoenix’s actions stopped.

“You said you could do almost anything. A guy who has the ability to revive even dead people as monstrous humans and is carrying a treasure like a magic lamp, does he really need to torment Cheon Gaeul by telling her to awaken herself?”

“Magic lamp, Mr. Jo Deokbae, your taste is quite old-fashioned. To get straight to the point, it is possible. But….”

Phoenix said in a firm voice.

“Cheon Gaeul must awaken herself. Ability awakening by the cube has too low a growth limit. Even ordinary people without talent can grow to C-rank, but paradoxically, even someone with A-rank talent will only awaken to C-rank.”

“Cheon Gaeul’s talent is a waste? Is that all?”

Deokbae snorted.

“What on earth do you want from Cheon Gaeul? Just enough to protect herself? Even if she’s just C-rank, the country will take care of her with an “oh my.” Does Cheon Gaeul really need to reach A-rank or higher?”

“Of course. If you think about what happens later to ability users who awaken with this….”

Phoenix swallowed his words. At the sight of him, who loved to talk, hesitating to explain, Deokbae even felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

“It’s just…. I’m uneasy about using this. I’m worried about what might happen if something goes wrong with Cheon Gaeul-ssi.”

“Alright. If you don’t want to talk, don’t. You’ll probably be excited to tell me later when the time comes.”

“…I won’t, though?”

“As if. Anyway….”

Deokbae turned his head and continued speaking.

“If you have any worries, tell me even a little. Don’t suffer alone and then cause a big accident you can’t handle. You know, two heads are better than one.”

“What about the saying, ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’?”

“You’re not the type to hand the steering wheel over to someone else, are you? Right?”

Phoenix’s eyes widened. Deokbae, seemingly embarrassed, kept looking at his watch before turning his back.

“Anyway! It’s about time. If you’ve rested enough, come down and plan the operation. Don’t think about going alone and causing a ruckus.”

“……Tsk.”

Phoenix snorted and turned his head. Deokbae clicked his tongue, thinking of the future where Phoenix would have undoubtedly rushed to S Hospital like a moth to a flame if he hadn’t pointed it out.

‘Will it be okay?’

The Azure Syndicate, like a car, only has an accelerator, no brake pedal or navigator. Cheon Gaeul is at least acting as a brake, but will it truly be okay after Cheon Gaeul is gone?

“It’s not my business.”

He had already died once. Since he was living a life where he couldn’t die even after being revived, Deokbae didn’t care much what happened to the world.