Chapter 141 : Sura Guild (2)
Sura Guild (2)
Ah-rin was flustered by the sudden appearance of Jin Rain.
She knew all too well just how monstrous he was, especially since he had been in charge of her security.
The 'Blood Pill Destroyer'.
His ability to disrupt the flow of bloodlines was a nightmare for awakeners.
Once that flow was disrupted, they would never be able to use magic power again.
Thanks to this useful ability, Jin Rain was known as a menacing figure among the Sura guild executives.
"You seem to have changed a lot since I saw you last, Sura."
"···."
"Your complexion seems much brighter than when you were with the guild. As if you've found a signpost after wandering aimlessly."
Jin Rain said this as he approached, one step at a time.
Ah-rin, well aware of his infamy, could feel it.
When he was by her side, he was reassuring, but facing him as an enemy now, he was terrifying.
"Why have you suddenly come to see me? Haven't we gone our separate ways?"
Ah-rin swallowed as she asked.
Knowing exactly who she was facing, she had to suppress her fear.
If she loosened her mind even a bit, her body would tremble as if in an earthquake.
"Separate ways? Do you really think so?"
Jin Rain slowly drew closer and stood beside Ah-rin.
He was close enough to take her life at any moment, but instead, he calmly sat down by the river.
"You are still the one chosen as Sura. I wouldn't call that a complete separation."
"···."
Jin Rain sat by the water, holding a hamburger and a cola.
Using the scenic waterfall as an appetizer, he took bites one after the other.
"Have you not had dinner yet?"
"I'm fine. I'll take care of myself."
"Still, judging from your face, your stomach must be plenty full. That's quite different from how things were when you were in the guild."
"···."
Jin Rain had always watched Ah-rin up close.
When she was first chosen as Sura, Ah-rin could barely eat a proper meal.
It was understandable, of course.
No one could stomach a meal given by the guild that had killed her family.
She only managed to eat properly after adapting a bit to that life.
Even then, there was never any vitality in her face.
"Seems like you're pretty happy with your current life. I bet the other executives would be quite shocked to see the present Sura."
"So, why did you come here?"
"Well? Maybe I was just curious to see how you've been living?"
"···."
"Haha, I'm joking."
Jin Rain finished his burger in an instant and took a sip of cola. Then he got to the point.
"It's not too late, even now. Come back with us."
Jin Rain gave Ah-rin a sharp look. The moment their eyes met, Ah-rin could tell.
It was not advice he was giving, but a warning.
"Why should I go back?"
"Why else? If you keep holding out like this, Sura, it will only bring suffering to you... and everyone around you."
"Are you threatening me right now?"
Ah-rin shot him a sharp look too, and a grin flitted across Jin Rain's lips.
"Heh, yes. This is a threat. And you already know what our goal is."
It was, none other than, to drive Ah-rin—the Sura—to despair.
If they managed to do that, they could replace the position of Sura with someone else.
The Sura guild would stop at nothing to achieve that.
"You know as well as I do that we spare no means for our goals."
"So what is it you really want to say?"
Jin Rain shrugged in response to Ah-rin's contempt-filled glare.
"Because of you, people around you will suffer. Are you really okay with that?"
"···."
Ah-rin couldn't answer.
It was an irrefutable fact.
The Sura guild's manipulation had once utterly destroyed Seongjin's family.
Why had Seongjin's family become targets in the first place, simply for Sura's despair?
The cause was none other than Kang Ah-rin herself.
"You once told me at the airport, Sura."
—That you had a friend you most wanted to meet.
It was then that Jin Rain realized: In Korea, Sura had a cherished friend.
Since she had no family left, friends were the only thing left to target.
"You probably didn't know back then that the Sura title could be transferred."
"···."
"Thanks for your innocence back then. That's probably why you told me so confidently who your friend was. For that, I'm quite grateful in my own way."
In truth, everything happening now was because of Kang Ah-rin herself.
From beginning to end, the reason these people moved was all because of her.
"So I'm giving you one last chance. Come back now."
—Otherwise, innocent people will lose their lives because of you, Sura.
At these final words, Ah-rin fell silent for a moment. She seemed deep in thought, so Jin Rain waited a while.
"But tell me something."
At last, after the wait, Ah-rin broke the silence.
"How did you end up with the Sura guild?"
"Why are you asking that out of the blue?"
"I'm just curious. After all, you've stayed by my side this whole time."
Among all the Sura guild members, Jin Rain was the one who had been by her side the longest.
Even if she found him unpleasant, she couldn't just brush aside the bond they had formed.
That's why she was curious. Why would a man like Jin Rain work for the Sura guild?
"Everything is for the Guildmaster."
"The Guildmaster?"
"Jay Hoon, the Guildmaster, not only saved me but accepted and acknowledged everything about me. He's my benefactor."
She had no idea what kind of past he had. But just hearing that was enough to know what his reason was.
"For the cause that The One accomplished, the Sura guild's goal, I'll do anything. Even if I have to sacrifice my family or friends!"
After mentioning the guildmaster, a twisted passion shone in Jin Rain's eyes. Seeing that, Sang-ah gave a bitter smile.
"I understand. Hahaha... Now I get it."
"Maybe you finally understand how I feel?"
"Of course."
Ah-rin spoke as she extended her hand to Jin Rain. It was clearly a gesture for a handshake, and Jin Rain was moved.
"I had a similar experience once myself."
"You did, huh."
Jin Rain stood up and happily took her hand.
And then, he could see it—the camaraderie shining in Sura... Kang Ah-rin's eyes.
"I have someone I can rely on, too. So I can understand how you feel."
"Ahh... I'm so glad you did!"
Sura understood his feelings. He had seen the Sura until now, but this had never happened before.
This was the first time they truly understood each other.
"You're not crazy. It's just that..."
"···."
"You're simply a puke-worthy bastard!"
"What...?"
Swish--!
A swung blade sliced the air, drawing a chilling arc.
Instinctively sensing danger, Jin Rain leapt back.
In the next moment, he realized he'd made the right move.
Blood was oozing from the hand he'd just been shaking.
If he hadn't pulled away, his arm would've been cut.
"What the...!"
Overcome by emotion, Jin Rain was stunned by Ah-rin's sudden action.
But he had no time to be surprised. Ah-rin didn't miss the opening and immediately took her stance.
〈Yokai Blade, Second Form – Echo〉
She spun her sword in a circle.
As she brought the blade down at the full moon-shaped arc, a massive slash shot forward.
The force was so great it could swallow a tall building, and Jin Rain was flustered.
Boom--!
An enormous shock sent several trees crashing down.
The impact was incomparable even to when she had slashed the waterfall and river before.
And yet, Jin Rain was completely unharmed. He had raised both arms, holding his preferred tonfa weapon.
"What are you doing!"
Jin Rain rebuked her, having blocked the slash with his tonfa. His face was full of betrayal.
As if she'd expected that reaction, Ah-rin didn't panic; instead, she gave a wry smile.
"You'd do anything for your benefactor? Fine, let's say I get that."
That part, at least, Ah-rin could sympathize with. After all, she was doing the same thing right now.
"But let me ask you one more thing."
"What is it...?"
"The fact that my grandparents died... and the abduction of the other girls for experiments like mine... Was all of that justified for the sake of your benefactor?"
Having gone through those horrific experiences, Ah-rin could never understand Jin Rain.
There was nothing wrong with repaying a favor, but the way he did it was sickening.
But Jin Rain never doubted himself and shouted,
"It was all for the Guildmaster! So the people sacrificed will understand!"
"Understand? Hahaha..."
That was so absurd, Ah-rin couldn't help but laugh.
Then she released a tremendous killing aura with her magic power.
"I'm one of those victims, and I can't understand at all."
"Ugh...! Why can't you appreciate the Guildmaster's great plan!"
"You have no right to talk after killing other people's families."
With her deep fury, nine tails appeared behind Ah-rin.
It was her true form, the symbol of Sura.
Jin Rain was both awe-struck and panicked by this.
As a Sura guild executive, she was once a glorious asset, but now she was nothing but a headache.
"You're okay with sacrificing others as payment for a favor, huh? That's what you mean?"
"It's not just me; most of the executives think the same way. And for a great cause, being a sacrifice is an honor, isn't it?"
"An honor? Hahaha! Well said."
"···?"
"As I said, I have a benefactor too. Like you... I'd do anything for that person. So..."
Ah-rin gave a feral grin and continued.
"Then I guess it's fine if I offer up anyone as a sacrifice for my benefactor, right? For example..."
—Like whatever guild made my grandparents die.
The instant he heard that, a chill ran down Jin Rain's spine.
He knew exactly which guild she meant without her having to say it.
"Are you insane? How dare you threaten the Sura guild!"
"And you're sane, are you?"
"···."
He couldn't argue.
He wanted to say something, but no words came.
Realizing his logic had boomeranged on him, Jin Rain felt anger rise.
Currently, Ah-rin couldn't beat him, since he was an S-rank hunter.
But Jin Rain couldn't harm Ah-rin either.
Since she was the current Sura, attacking her would cause big problems.
Top executives were bound by restrictions not to harm Sura.
If they broke that restriction, the tattoos on their bodies would inflict excruciating pain.
"Damn it."
"And you're not seriously going to blame all the collateral damage on me just to make me despair, are you?"
"···."
It was the same with making a mess of Seongjin's house.
Ah-rin had felt guilty and cried at the playground. But now...
"That would make things convenient, wouldn't it? If you play on my guilt, I'll fall into despair more easily. But not anymore."
Cry and you only despair further.
Falling into despair now would only hand them what they wanted.
She realized this after hearing what Seongjin had said.
"It's not my fault anymore. It's your atrocities from here on out!"
Ah-rin's mere existence didn't cause disaster.
The disasters came solely from the Sura guild's will.
From now on, only they are responsible for what happens.
"Still, thanks for revealing your true intentions."
When she first met Jin Rain, he already reeked of corruption.
Even as bonds formed, the stench only grew stronger. She now understood why after this conversation.
"Now I can finally let go of any lingering feelings for you."
At Ah-rin's sharp declaration, Jin Rain bit his lips.
"I see. Then from now on... we will no longer call you 'Sura'."
"···."
"I hope you don't regret what comes next. Kang Ah-rin."
The moment he finished speaking, Jin Rain vanished without a trace.
Ah-rin already knew what the coming "next time" was, so she couldn't help but laugh.
Then, grasping the pendant around her neck, she murmured,
"You'd better not regret it either."
****
Ah-rin handed the pendant from her neck to Seongjin.
And from inside the pendant, the conversation between Ah-rin and Jin Rain played.
After hearing everything, Seongjin spoke to Ah-rin.
"Good job."
"Really?"
"I'd been curious about this hunter Jin Rain, but now there's no need to worry."
The information he was curious about wasn't Jin Rain's abilities or personal information.
It was his beliefs. Through that recording, Seongjin was satisfied.
"I was wondering what kind of person your bodyguard was..."
"···."
"I'm relieved he's a lost cause."
With that, Seongjin dialed someone on his phone.
When the call connected, a man's voice could be heard on the phone.
"Hey, long time no see."
-......
"What? Upset I didn't visit during summer break? You must be nuts."
-......
"Whatever. Just do exactly as I say from now on."
Did he have other subordinates? Ah-rin had no idea who Seongjin was calling.
Only Seongjin knew that the person on the other end was one of Korea's four major guild masters.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Hwasan Guild Master?
【「(°ヘ°)?】