Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84: Ignis Guild Field Trip (1)
Early morning before the sun had even risen.
Lee Si-wang and Cho Sang-geun, who had been discharged from the hospital, visited the charnel house with heavy steps.
Inside a square compartment, two photos.
Two women inside them were looking at them with faint smiles.
They were Cho Sang-geun’s fiancée and his biological younger sister.
The two looked at the photos for a long time without a word.
“Sorry for coming too late. Only now…… it’s all over.”
Cho Sang-geun opened his mouth quietly.
“Revenge is finished too. Although we couldn't do it with our own hands…… still, now Yeoncheon, and the citizens are safe. So… you can rest in peace now.”
Cho Sang-geun, overwhelmed with emotions, bowed his head.
Lee Si-wang, who was watching from the side, was about to say something but soon sealed his lips.
Lee Si-wang’s eyes were fixed on one photo.
Toward Cho Sang-geun’s younger sister, whom he loved, but to whom he had never properly said 'I love you'.
Lee Si-wang, who captured the urn and the woman’s photo in his trembling eyes, followed Cho Sang-geun and bowed his head.
Dark silence, contrasting with the sunlight coming through the window, continued.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind along with footsteps.
“Is today some special day? There are many guests.”
It was Kim Gyu-il, the Team Leader of the Gate Management Center under the Association.
At his appearance, the two turned their bodies.
“My word, men line up for my sister even after she died.”
Kim Gyu-il threw words like a joke.
As if to loosen the heavy atmosphere.
Kim Gyu-il, who arrived next to Cho Sang-geun, took a bottle out of the bag he brought and quietly poured liquor.
“Really, being old-fashioned is still the same. I told you my sister hates bitter things.”
Next to the refined rice wine Cho Sang-geun had poured beforehand, a champagne glass that didn't match this place was placed.
Kim Gyu-il, who was still lowering his posture and looking only at the photo, added words.
“To be exact, she hated being found out as a country bumpkin, so she deliberately liked only sophisticated and pretentious things.”
Although they weren't making eye contact with each other, the same scene was rising in their minds.
Cho Sang-geun, with a softly settled expression, nodded his head.
Like that, for a moment, they recalled the woman they could now only meet in memories.
Kim Gyu-il, who was lost in thought for a moment, regained his focus.
Another glass seen next to his sister’s glass.
“I've never seen Ye-jin drink when she was alive, but still, since this is the most expensive champagne, it will be tastier than the liquor poured beforehand.”
A close older brother’s sister, and his own friend.
On top of that.
“The Vice Guild Master is doing well. So you do well there too.”
Consoling the young fates that couldn't be realized in the end, he filled the glass.
On Kim Gyu-il’s face, which usually seemed clumsy and full of playfulness, not even a small smile could be seen right now.
Kim Gyu-il, who filled all the glasses, stood up from his seat and slowly closed his eyes.
“Don't be sick there. Both of you.”
Silence filled the charnel house behind Kim Gyu-il’s sunken voice.
Like that, time passed for a while.
Kim Gyu-il, who flashed his eyes open, turned his body.
“But what are you going to do now?”
“About what.”
“I heard you gave up on the Returnee.”
“Yeah.”
Cho Sang-geun didn't ask words of refutation, or from whom he heard it.
He just cast his gaze out the window.
“Aren't you answering too easily? It was a matter we risked our lives on?”
“I think you risked your loan, not your life?”
“That’s that. To me, a house loan is the same as my life. Sigh, only I feel frustrated every day.”
At Kim Gyu-il’s exaggerated voice, Cho Sang-geun lifted the corners of his mouth.
The heavy atmosphere gradually loosened.
“Although we survived in Yeoncheon because of the Returnee, the Wily Raccoon won't stay still as is. Because the fact that we hid the Returnee doesn't change.”
“Probably.”
“He will pressure the Ignis Guild several times with the excuse that we hid the Returnee.”
“I know, that much. But there is nothing we can do right now. So we have to think about that when the time comes.”
At Cho Sang-geun’s appearance of giving a detached voice to the point of seeming carefree beyond calm, Kim Gyu-il’s eyebrows twisted.
“What? Were you originally this kind of person? You, who are you. You aren't Sang-geun's older brother, right?”
Even at the provocation that wasn't really a provocation, Cho Sang-geun showed an even lighter laugh.
“No, our sword has disappeared, so how can you make such an expression? Or did you give up or something?”
“Give up, what do you mean. The desire to live is bigger than any other time.”
“But you say words like that?”
“Because worrying won't make anything better. That’s why. And…….”
Cho Sang-geun, who was placing his gaze out the window, looked at Kim Gyu-il.
“Through this incident, I became certain that the Returnee will absolutely not go to the Association or the President.”
That wasn't an opinion, but a conviction.
Which felt like truth rather than sincerity even to the third party, Kim Gyu-il.
Although he hadn't had a proper conversation with that Returnee called Teacher, these words must be the truth.
Since the fact that these two who went to Yeoncheon came back alive would be the proof.
“Well, just gaining the certainty that he won't go over to that side is a big gain, but that doesn't mean the leash on older brother and my necks is unfastened. Our leashes are still in the Wily Raccoon’s hands.”
“That is a problem we have to solve. And have we ever been without a leash, no. Is there even a person without a leash in our country?”
Although he spoke lightly, Cho Sang-geun’s expression had become heavy.
[New Hunter Bill Takes Effect on First Day of Term]
[‘Hunter Surveillance Act’ Passes National Assembly… President: “All Awakened are subjects of observation without exception”]
[「Hunter Special Act」 Goes into Effect… President: “If necessary, civilians can also be forcibly conscripted”]
[Hunter Mortality Rate Increases by 62% Before and After Term… President: “Even dying can be a national interest”]
Dictatorship.
Ordinary people might not know, but Hunters knew.
That the President was cunningly putting leashes on the necks of Awakened.
The Association.
The Association President Wily Raccoon, who has now become the complete number one, was the same.
“It’s bitter. The party who put on the leashes is worshipped as a hero of the world, eating up the positions of President and Association President.”
“Because the hero part is true. Just…… only the many people who died hidden in the shadow of the hero are pitiable.”
Not only the Yeoncheon incident 5 years ago, but the Dungeon Breaks that increased suddenly starting from 10 years ago.
The President and the Wily Raccoon who solved the Dungeon Breaks and saved people became heroes in an instant and came to hold the real power of the country, but.
No one remembered the names of those who were used by them, acted as bullet shields at the very front, and died.
Except for their families.
So, except for people like Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang standing here right now.
And Kim Gyu-il…….
“Ay, I feel bad after talking about those guys.”
“I think you brought it up first?”
“…….”
Kim Gyu-il, who had kept his mouth shut tight and furrowed his brow, sighed long and shook his head.
“Ah, I don't know. Anyway, I feel nauseous just hearing those bastards' names. And let’s not talk about those bastards in front of sister and Ye-jin. They might die again from anger even in heaven.”
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
Cho Sang-geun and Kim Gyu-il’s gazes headed toward the photos in front of the urns again.
It seemed the conversation was wrapping up like that.
“But why did the President stay still?”
Lee Si-wang, who had only been listening quietly for a long time, broke the silence.
“…….”
“…….”
Cho Sang-geun and Kim Gyu-il couldn't open their lips and just captured Lee Si-wang in their eyes.
It was inevitable.
Although they hadn't thought about it, it was the best opportunity to clear away the thorns in their eyes, which were themselves.
“It was like that during Yeoncheon too. Actually, when the Association President pushed unreasonably, the President had a chance…… but he stayed still. He must have received a report…….”
Cho Sang-geun, who was listening, opened his mouth.
“Wouldn't staying still mean he was thinking the same thing? Since he didn't know a Returnee would appear, he must have thought we would all die in Yeoncheon.”
“…….”
At Lee Si-wang stroking his chin, Kim Gyu-il crossed his arms and fell into thought.
“Come to think of it, why is my neck still attached? I thought I would be fired together while sending Ignis to Yeoncheon? Other employees seem not to know either…….”
“That’s right. And consequentially, the one who sent them to Yeoncheon was the Wily Raccoon. Not the President.”
“True. If I were the President, seeing the failure in Yeoncheon, I would have fired me right away or sent me on a transfer. To a place where I could be easily killed….”
As their gazes headed to one place, Cho Sang-geun furrowed his brow.
“That is you guys thinking too deeply. The reason he didn't fire you is probably to keep you close to monitor you. And regarding the Yeoncheon matter, it’s probably because the Wily Raccoon reported it late after causing all the trouble, so the President had no chance to intervene.”
“Well, that is true but…… surely there must have been an opportunity even after Yeoncheon ended…….”
It wasn't easy to understand, but Lee Si-wang’s gut feeling was speaking.
That something was strange.
However.
“Tsk. Thinking about it again, it was unnecessary meddling. Since the President and the Wily Raccoon are the same bastards….”
Ultimately, looking at their past tracks.
Because the fact that both guys were bastards remained unchanged.
Lee Si-wang thought his gut feeling was wrong.
“There was an opportunity, but it might be that he couldn't move, not that he didn't. Because of the Returnee.”
Lee Si-wang and Kim Gyu-il’s gazes gathered at Cho Sang-geun’s voice.
“Teacher Yoo jin said that in Yeoncheon. To the camera. Don't bully weak kids and come to him instead.”
Kim Gyu-il and Lee Si-wang’s eyes opened wide.
Because the scene from that time came to mind.
Because of that, they had no choice but to nod.
“That could….”
“Be it.”
As of now, that seemed to be the biggest reason the President wasn't moving.
No, they wanted to believe so.
The President.
He certainly.
Continuously…….
Had to be an enemy.
The expressions of the three settled down.
Conversation didn't continue for a long time after that.
Like that, the time at the charnel house was wrapping up.
At that moment.
Beep beep―
Sounds rang simultaneously from Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang’s pockets.
Expressions changing in an instant.
Whether they recalled something they had forgotten, Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang prepared to leave the place quickly.
“Please clear our glasses for us too.”
“Then we will see you next time.”
At the appearance of Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang stomping their feet like students late for an exam, Kim Gyu-il’s eyes hardened into a straight line.
“No, why are you suddenly in such a hurry? Is there some urgent matter?”
“We have to go to the guild.”
“Why are you in such a hurry just to go to the guild? It’s still way too early.”
“Important guests are supposed to come.”
“Important… guests you say?”
S-Rank number 2 and A-Rank number 1.
Enough for the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master of one of South Korea’s 3 Great Guilds to stomp their feet and run?
“Just who is it?”
Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang, who turned around quickly without even looking at Kim Gyu-il, headed for the door.
Leaving only one word that couldn't be understood.
“Students.”
Kim Gyu-il’s head tilted to one side.
“……Eh?”