Chapter 128 : Chapter 128
Chapter 128: The President (2)
The top floor of the Hunter Association Hospital.
The bodyguards and the secretary stood not in front of the room holding the Ignis and Blue Dragon Guild Masters, but in front of a vacant hospital room.
The secretary checked the time, looking anxious.
The previous schedule had ended sooner than expected, so there was still plenty of time, yet the anxiety could not be hidden.
That was because it was the first time seeing the President like this.
The President had never changed a schedule until now.
Even if a little time remained, he never squeezed in other appointments.
It was a first.
Even if the opponent was that incredible Returnee.
It was because the secretary had never heard the President speak in such a way before.
"It is fine. He is someone who has more time on his hands than anyone else."
The eyes of the secretary, whose expression was sunken, turned toward the door.
***
The vacant hospital room.
"Wow, my tax money is leaking out here too."
In the empty room, a special air purifier and humidifier made of mana stones were running.
Yoo jin, sitting on the edge of an empty bed, grumbled.
"No one is even here, why turn all of these on? Seriously."
Yoo jin shook his head and shifted his gaze.
Toward the President, who was still standing even after entering the room.
"Isn't it uncomfortable? Why don't you sit?"
"I am comfortable like this."
"Don't go saying strange things later. Like how some school teacher didn't treat the President with respect, sat by himself, and rudely made the President stand... and besides, I'm not the type to give others special treatment anyway."
"It is truly fine."
"Is that so?"
There was still no rise or fall in his expression, but his gaze and voice were calm.
A relaxed attitude that was naturally revealed.
The feeling was different from the Wily Raccoon he met before.
With the Wily Raccoon, he got a general vibe as soon as he saw him.
But with this man, he couldn't tell anything even while being together.
A dictator.
The only one who can manipulate the Wily Raccoon.
South Korea's Rank 1 S-Rank.
The iron-blooded politician.
And the enemy of the Ignis Guild....
Yoo jin's eyes hardened into a straight line.
To be honest, he had never cared.
Not even once.
Whether the man practiced dictatorship or not.
Whether he did things worthy of criticism or not.
As long as the children.
As long as his world wasn't touched, Yoo jin didn't care at all.
That was why he hadn't bothered to meet or pay attention to him.
"...."
"...."
Silence visited the hospital room.
The President in his view merely maintained a calm expression, keeping eye contact.
Smack.
The mouth of the Returnee facing the President hardened.
It couldn't be helped.
Yoo Jin was the one most flustered by this situation.
'What is with this guy... from what I've heard....'
He's way too different?
***
What should I ask first?
Since he is a Returnee, should I ask about his life in the other world before he came back?
Or since he is a teacher, would it be better to ask about the children?
The President.
The highest authority of a nation.
However, that is meaningless in this spot.
It would be correct to say it is unnecessary.
Because the person in front of me.
Is not an existence that can be made to submit.
Neither by such authority.
Nor by strength.
In the first place, the word "submission" does not suit him.
Even if I utilize everything under the name of the President.
I cannot defeat this person.
"Is the vacation worth spending? It is one of the few legal holidays for a teacher."
The Returnee, who initially wore a flustered expression, soon relaxed his face and continued the answer.
In that way, we exchanged a few more trivial words.
It wasn't a waste of time.
A time to break the atmosphere.
And a time for human to human, who had never even met, to lower their defensive walls a bit.
There was not a single piece of helpful information.
It didn't feel like a battle of wits to gain even one benefit from a certain European country.
It didn't feel like visiting a market on purpose for public sentiment.
Yes, it was a time that was not helpful at all.
A time that did not fit my personality.
A time lacking in performance and gain.
However.
Perhaps.
No matter how much I change my personality.
Change my choices.
And change even my human relationships.
This might be the time I absolutely need....
Something I haven't had in my past three lives.
***
"Have I seen you somewhere? You look somewhat familiar."
"What do you mean by saying the President's face looks familiar?"
"Right. Ah, but it's not that kind of feeling. How should I put it... atmosphere? Vibe? What is it, why is it so familiar?"
"...."
Yoo Jin tried to think of the answer continuously, but since the answer didn't come to mind, no matter how much he rolled his brain, a forgotten answer wasn't going to surface.
"I have nothing I can help you with regarding that part."
"It's fine, just a bit... if I try a bit more, I might remember...."
To say it once more, there was no way he would remember.
The President, looking at the struggling Yoo Jin, asked a question to change the subject.
"Do you truly intend not to sign a contract with any nation or organization, Returnee?"
The furrow in Yoo jin's brow, which had been painfully rolling his brain, smoothed out.
"I do. Why, are you going to push a contract at me too?"
"No. I am not the type to insist on working with someone who says they dislike it."
"Oh, cool."
"Because even if I don't do it, the people below me do it all for me."
Yoo jin let out a hollow laugh.
"You've received the official documents sent from the Association and the front gate, right?"
"I don't know. I tear them up as soon as they come."
"Heh... I see. Even if I don't move, things proceed according to my will. That is the position of President."
"Must be convenient."
"Well, it would be a lie to say it's not convenient. However... there are more parts that are not. Though others wouldn't understand."
"I suppose. That's how it is. The seat of a king."
"...."
The President's expression sank.
"A king... so this was the seat of a king."
"Isn't it? You're called a President, but you're a king."
"That is true."
The focus was disappearing from the President's eyes fixed in the air.
No one would know.
Since for humans, the first life is the last life.
Three lives.
No, this fourth life.
The time a Regressor lives through.
Because no one can understand it.
"I should get going now."
"Already? I don't think we even talked properly."
"This is enough. I just wanted to exchange these few words with the Returnee."
"How dull. Since you asked for time, I thought you were going to tell me a massive national secret, or say the world is ending and ask for help."
Following Yoo Jin's playfully uttered voice.
A silence followed.
"...."
Yoo Jin, noticing the change in the President, blinked his eyes and soon asked.
"What, is there something like that? Is our country going to be ruined?"
The President, staring blankly at Yoo jin, shook his head in his usual manner.
"No."
"Is that so? Then that's a relief. If a real disaster happens, it'll interfere with the kids' classes."
"You really are this kind of person...."
On broadcasts.
On Nutube.
His face and voice plastered every time there was a big incident.
What never changed was always.
After causing an incredible incident that no one else could do, at the very end, he says everything else is unnecessary and he just needs to be a teacher.
That kind of....
A fascinating person who only leaves behind words that no one can understand.
"Then, that means there's nothing to talk about, right? I'm leaving."
Yoo jin stood up from the bed.
Thud.
Thud.
Light footsteps filled the hospital room.
And when his hand touched the door of the hospital room.
A final voice rang out.
"Can I ask you just one thing?"
"What is it?"
Yoo jin only poked his head back at the door.
Toward him.
"When you liberated Yeoncheon. Those giants you met at the end... how were they? And how was Rossi whom you faced this time? Did you feel they were strong?"
A serious voice.
He didn't know why he was asking such a question.
Nor why he was wearing that kind of expression.
However.
"I don't know?"
"...."
"They were all one hit anyway. To me, they were all the same... weak."
The President's eyes trembled.
***
Slide.
After Yoo Jin left the room first.
A small smile was spread across the mouth of the President who was left alone.
A laugh that burst out.
How many years has it been.
No.
Which life has it been.
To laugh this comfortably.
In the hell of living every day carrying the nightmares of the future.
Even when he wanted to spend a normal day.
The President, who couldn't spend today properly because of the anxiety of knowing the future that would come anyway, smiled after a long time.
He hadn't told him anything.
The fact that he is a Regressor.
The fact that the giants he met in Yeoncheon were weak specimens.
The fact that Rossi actually possessed power rivaling a god.
The fact that not the nation, but the world would be destroyed.
And
That the medium that would bring about that destruction....
Was his own son.
And your student.
He said nothing.
Because he couldn't trust that Returnee yet.
And because it must not be revealed yet that he is a Regressor.
"Perhaps...."
But.
Even if he hadn't told him anything.
The President etched one thing clearly today.
"That person... is the only variable."
The future he knows.
The destruction that wouldn't change even if he tried to change it three times.
He thought that Returnee was the only thing that could change that hell.
The secretary entered the hospital room where he remained alone.
The secretary lowered his head, unable to manage his expression.
Because he didn't know what kind of face to make.
Because he saw the President wearing such a... smiling expression for the first time.
"I will guide you to the room where the Ignis and Blue Dragon Guild Masters are...."
"Right. Let's go. And cancel all the schedules after this."
"Ye... Yes!"
***
The next morning.
"Yaaaawn...."
Since it was vacation, there was no need to wake up early, but strangely, his eyes opened.
Yoo jin's gaze, while stretching, turned to one place.
On the TV that had been left on, the hospital scene from yesterday was being replayed.
[This is breaking news. Scenes of the President visiting the Ignis Guild Master and the Blue Dragon Guild Master yesterday have been released.]
The President was visible on the screen.
Behind him, for a very brief moment, a familiar back view passed by.
[In particular, several speculations are emerging as circumstances of a private meeting with the Returnee were captured. Some are suggesting that the President may have tried to recruit the Returnee-—]
"Recruit my foot... when have I ever gone under anyone...."
Yoo Jin grumbled while casually pouring hot water into a cup ramen.
Ding—
At that moment, the phone rang.
[Room of Gods]
An invitation link that came once again.
"I said I'm not going in."
Yoo Jin furrowed his brow.
He had now come to know that this message wasn't just simple spam.
Because the Supreme King told him.
The Room of Gods.
He found out it was a gathering of Returnees, but that was why Yoo Jin didn't enter even more.
'It's a pain.'
Yoo jin casually deleted the message with one hand.
Right at that moment.
Ding-dong—
The bell rang.
"What is it? A delivery?"
Yoo jin, who walked to the entrance thudding, opened the door.
"It's a document from overseas. Please sign it once."
A delivery man in a black uniform held out a thick envelope.
On the corner of the envelope, a strange pattern and a slight vibration of familiar demonic energy brushed past.
"Rome...?"
The name of the city written next to the sender entered Yoo jin's eyes.
Even at a glance, it wasn't a normal piece of mail.
Before even tearing it open, the general picture was already drawn.
Since he treated them like spam mail.
It seemed they had sent something like this.
Riiiiip—
Behind the tearing sound.
"Greetings, Returnee of Korea. We invite you to the Rome Academy...."
The Returnee of Rome.
The letter of the Holy King was visible.