Chapter 147
Chapter 147: How To Win Fight Without Fighting (3)
Park Je-hwang was dumbfounded.
"You guys…… Do you actually believe I'm Ghost?"
Pyeon Geom-sa took a step closer.
"The situation adds up. You went into the tower, it became the Golden Tower, and you came out. The only two people who entered the tower at that time were you and the Security Chief."
"Geom-sa!"
"Of course, I don't believe it either. When the French Golden Tower appeared, we all saw you rolling around in the hospital."
"Then what are you even saying right now! I'm not Ghost!"
Park Je-hwang shouted.
Pyeon Geom-sa calmly asked back.
"Does that matter?"
"……What?"
"What matters is that every person in the world believes you are Ghost."
"……!"
The words of Pyeon Geom-sa, who held the highest credibility among Park Je-hwang's friends.
When he spoke with earnest eyes, Park Je-hwang forgot what to say as well.
"My father told me. A trial isn't about finding the truth—it's about who can construct the more convincing version of events."
"Haa."
"Whether you're actually Ghost doesn't matter."
Tak.
Pyeon Geom-sa gripped his shoulder.
"You're already Ghost."
* * *
After all his friends had gone home.
Park Je-hwang sat blankly in the living room.
His heart was in turmoil and felt hollow, so he had the TV on even though he wouldn't really watch it.
Just like his own tangled state of mind.
A morning drama with an even more chaotic storyline was playing.
"Phew."
:You're already Ghost.’
Pyeon Geom-sa's words kept swirling around in his mind.
‘I…… am Ghost?’
His grandfather's words came back to him too.
‘Ghost says he'll make you the first conqueror and the Golden Tower climber.’
Just what.
……What does Ghost want from me?
‘Why does that nameless guy keep using me……!’
At that moment, Park Je-hwang snapped his head up.
‘His identity!’
He was, along with the Nameless Hero, one of the most famous people in the world.
Yet no one knew his true identity.
But attempts to uncover his identity had continued relentlessly, and—
‘Is that why he tried to turn me into Ghost?’
Planning to put me out front while he climbs the tower without anyone knowing who he is?
It was a plausible enough theory.
‘Ghost actually even saved me in person.’
Was it real?
Was he really intending to turn him into Ghost?
The thought took root that it might genuinely be true.
He had already been in hiding for five days now.
If they were going to make another move, Ghost or the Nameless Hero should have already issued a denial by now.
But there had been no word from either of them.
Park Je-hwang's head grew complicated.
‘Honestly, the part of me that feels relieved is bigger.’
The friends who had fawned over him when he was on top.
What had kept him chained to that hospital bed during his stay wasn't the wound he'd received from the Nameless Hero.
It was the betrayal he felt toward his friends.
And the way he had shrunk smaller and smaller with every passing day.
Even Kim Do-han, who had treated him like an errand boy, had looked down on him.
And yet.
‘Husband!?’
‘C-Can't we climb together next time?’
The pitiful faces of those who had come crawling back to him.
The elation and thrill he had almost forgotten.
‘All because I'm supposedly Ghost…… no, because I'm the Golden Tower achiever.’
It felt like a trap laid by Ghost, but—
Half of him wanted to enter Floor 38.
The other half wanted to run.
‘I don't know. I really don't.’
He needed someone who could give him an answer.
The first person who came to mind was the Security Chief.
But he shook his head almost immediately.
‘That guy is just enjoying the media attention right now. He's not the answer.’
Next, his grandfather.
The answer was too predictable.
‘Grandfather would just tell me to go into the tower.’
And lastly.
‘Hwangbo Geom…….’
Thud—
Just the sound of that name made him flinch.
Park Je-hwang's heart began to pound violently.
‘Hwangbo Geom says he's going to start climbing again.’
‘What…… Does that have to do with me?’
‘It has everything to do with you! The floor Hwangbo Geom plans to climb this time is 37th floor!’
That was what his grandfather had said.
The Hwangbo Geom he knew.
That infuriating, deranged old man—whatever had gotten into him—
The one who had had his plans for Floor 37 completely ruined by none other than himself.
He quickly picked up his phone and searched for articles.
‘……Nothing.’
There was still no news of Hwangbo Geom having climbed.
‘He must be fuming. Damn it.’
Should he go right now and confess, ‘I am not Ghost?’.
But to do that—
Hwangbo Geom!
The humiliation he had suffered at that man's hands was too great.
—You fool! I can't find even a speck of talent in you!
—How dare you go around calling yourself my disciple with that rotten spirit of yours! You're even worse than that dimwit Kim Do-han!
—I've wasted my time on you! Hmph! If not for that person's words!
—I've had enough. I'll find someone else at Myeongmun High School.
Hwangbo Geom, who had ground down his self-worth every single day.
But Park Je-hwang had never been able to fight back.
Because Hwangbo Geom was a wall he could not overcome.
Park Je-hwang had believed Hwangbo Geom tormented him out of jealousy over his talent.
That belief was what had made him storm out of Hwangbo Geom's training hall.
And to pay him back, he had entered Super Tower Climber K.
Right then, a breaking news alert flashed across the TV he had left on.
[(Breaking News) Japan's 'Musashi Brothers' Successfully Conquer 39th floor of the Murim Tower at Red Rank!]
"……Japan conquered 39th floor?!"
The screen cut immediately to a newscaster delivering the report in an urgent voice.
[Breaking news. The Japanese Prime Minister has announced that Japan will return Mongyudowondo by An Gyeon, which was looted during the Imjin War, to Korea!
The Prime Minister specifically emphasized that this successful conquest of Floor 39 was made possible thanks to 'the antidote gifted to Japan by Korea's Ghost and Nameless Hero'. In addition, the Prime Minister—.]
"Ghost!"
Park Je-hwang shot to his feet.
This news breaking at this particular moment.
It was as good as a message directed straight at him.
‘All this glory.’
He would let him have it.
"Yeah!"
He walked over, step by step, and—
Whoosh—
He pulled back the curtains in the living room.
Sunlight poured in and swept away every shadow in the house.
Bathed in the light.
The golden armor sitting in his room—dented as it was—gleamed brilliantly.
"I'll do things your way."
Ghost!
You think you can push me around, but you've made a miscalculation!
Just you wait.
‘I won't go down without a fight.’
But Park Je-hwang did not know.
Behind the golden armor shimmering in the flooding sunlight.
A far darker and longer—
Shadow was falling over it.
* * *
[A Few Days Earlier]
[Blue House—State Guest House]
The Japanese Prime Minister wanted to grab his head and collapse onto the floor.
The situation back home was a complete mess.
The Murim Tower in Japan had three months left.
They had already relocated people far from the area surrounding the tower, and after news broke that the blast radius of the African tower's collapse was fifteen kilometers, they had moved residents even further away—but now that the collapse was right on the horizon, he couldn't think straight.
And on top of that.
The young leader of the opposition party.
That guy appearing on TV with his handsome face, spouting nonsense.
Reporters had asked the young politician:
[What do you believe is the cause of this Japanese Murim Tower crisis?]
[Let me be very clear—the cause of the crisis is the Murim Tower.]
He added with a confident smile:
[Because it is the Murim Tower crisis.]
It made no sense whatsoever, yet the young politician's approval ratings had skyrocketed.
The word ‘divine punishment!’ was spreading, and all the blame was being heaped entirely onto him.
A handsome, full-haired young politician.
vs.
A balding, aging tanuki widely regarded as past his prime.
Side-by-side photos of the two were circulating online, images crafted to humiliate him.
"Haah, if only I had hair. I wouldn't be such a laughingstock."
He exhaled heavily again and again.
‘It'll quiet down. For now, let's solve this crisis first.’
Even if they used the antidote to conquer 39th floor, it would only buy them a single month—but he had no mental breathing room left.
His one remaining hope had been Ghost's Golden Tower, but—
"To think Park Je-hwang, the president's grandson, is Ghost."
Whether it was true or not—
That fact alone was the equivalent of a death sentence for his country's tower.
After hovering around the Blue House for days, he had finally managed to meet with Park Jae-yeol.
Park Jae-yeol's posture, dripping with arrogance.
There was nothing he could do but flatter and grovel.
[Please give us the antidote.]
[Ha ha. Prime Minister. We are not in a position to spare any ourselves.]
[Your Excellency. Your grandson is Ghost—what could possibly be the problem? I would rather……]
[Rather what?]
[Instead of the antidote, I would appreciate it if you could lend us your grandson for a time.]
[Puha-ha-ha-ha!]
The groveling expression on his own face at that moment.
The boundlessly arrogant laugh of Park Jae-yeol by contrast.
He felt certain he would never forget either for the rest of his life.
After bowing and scraping like that, all he had managed to secure was ten bottles of antidote.
In return, what he had handed over was conquest intelligence covering up to Floor 46—intelligence purchased from the United States at an enormous price.
‘Can ten bottles really pacify public opinion back home?’
Heat surged up through his skull.
The Prime Minister pressed an ice pack against his bald head.
No matter how hard he tried to calm himself, his body burned as though his nerves refused to settle.
"I'd better take a cold shower."
That was when it happened.
"Please do not be alarmed, Prime Minister."
From a corner of the room, someone slowly materialized.
"Aaack—!"
He was so startled that the Prime Minister let out a scream, but the figure moved like lightning, covering the Prime Minister's mouth.
"Mmmph!"
The figure held a note in front of the Prime Minister's eyes.
「I am the Nameless Hero.」
In an instant.
A bright light flashed across the Prime Minister's eyes.
* * *
I gently released the now-calmed Prime Minister's hand.
"Are you alright now?"
"You speak Japanese well."
"A little. If you speak slowly and use simple words, I can understand most of it."
Back when I had gone to Japan to take the Iron Instrument God's Sword from Jang Ae-guk.
I had been surprised to discover I knew a bit of Japanese.
[Kim Tae-yang is proud, saying, ‘I've watched Evangelion thirty times, for your information’. +1 Happiness]
Thirty times?
Is he out of his mind?
‘But then why is your English so terrible?’
[Kim Tae-yang says, ‘That's the fault of the public education system’ +1 Happiness]
Very funny.
[Soar, boy, and become a legend! +1 Happiness]
It's a bit lacking, but with a phone translator, conversation shouldn't be a problem.
"What brings you to me so suddenly?"
"Japan's situation looked dire, so I came to offer some help."
The Prime Minister's eyes lit up.
He must have been in a state of suspecting—though not with certainty—that the reason Japan's tower had lost a year was because of Ghost.
I smiled and shook my head.
"I know what you're thinking, but that's not it."
"I apologize."
I asked him directly.
"You met with President Park Jae-yeol recently, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you must have also received the twenty bottles of antidote I gave him."
"Pardon?"
The Prime Minister's expression was one of complete bewilderment.
He then produced a box bearing the engraved symbol ‘=’.
"What I received was ten."
"And the other box?"
"What?"
I pointed to the equals sign and asked.
"There's a 'Two' marking here. Where is the box marked 'One'?"
"'Two'? No! I was clearly told this was a numerical equals sign—and something about an equivalent price being owed—"
"What are you talking about? There was one more box marked 'One'"
"There, there was no such thing!"
"Hmm……"
I narrowed my eyes and studied the Prime Minister.
"I, I truly don't know! We received nothing more than this single box!"
"Which means……"
"Park Jae-yeol! Of course—Park Jae-yeol diverted the other box for himself!"
The Prime Minister shot to his feet, furious.
Realizing he had been deceived, his blood pressure seemed to spike—his face flushed red again.
"Please calm yourself."
"Haah……. How can a head of state behave like—!"
"Good grief."
"I'll raise this as an issue immediately!"
"That can wait—for now, please don't make the situation any worse."
"Ha ha……. This is beyond belief. To think there's someone worse than Micky Drumpet!"
"I'm embarrassed on his behalf."
The Prime Minister let out a long sigh, then grabbed my hand.
"In any case, Hero—thank you so very much for the antidote!"
I shook my head and reassured him.
"Ten bottles may not be enough. There's nothing to be done about it, I suppose."
I slipped the bag off my shoulder and handed it to him.
The Prime Minister opened it on the spot and his eyes went wide.
"There were twenty more bottles?!"
"I brought them intending to sell them to you, just in case."
"H-How much are you asking? I'll pay you whatever you want!"
I waved him off.
"That's alright. The fault was mine for trusting the president. Honestly."
Antidote of enormous value, and I was willingly handing it over—
The Prime Minister's face filled with genuine emotion.
"I don't know how to repay this kindness……"
"If you truly mean that…… Then please return that."
"What are you referring to?"
"The Mongyudowondo by An Gyeon."
A treasure of Joseon looted by Japan during the Imjin War.
Currently a designated National Treasure of Japan.
Naturally, something Japan would find nearly impossible to return—
"I'll send it the moment I arrive home."
……So it works.
Ah, I should've asked for the Seven-Branched Sword too.
Either way, I was looking forward to the wave of Happiness Points that would be pouring in.
"With thirty bottles total, 39th floor should be no problem."
"Thank you. Hero!"
The Prime Minister's face brightened considerably.
"I'll help with conquering 40th floor and beyond as much as I'm able."
"I-Is that truly so?!"
"Of course. In that case, the Seven-Branched Sword—"
"Say the word!"
……That works too.
"Then the comfort women issue……"
"I'll issue a formal prime ministerial apology!"
"And regarding Dokdo……"
"Dokdo is Korean territory!"
Hmm.
All sorted.
The Prime Minister kept dabbing at the beads of sweat forming on his bare forehead, agreeing to every single thing I said without hesitation.
Then I should give him a little reward.
Swish.
"What is this?"
"You'll have a full head of hair."
I pressed the hair growth elixir into his hand and rose to my feet.
"W-Will we meet again?"
"Of course."
The Prime Minister broke into a wide smile and handed me a name card with his direct contact information.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"W-Wait……!"
The Prime Minister called out as I headed for the door.
"Is Park Je-hwang…… Really Ghost?"
I smiled lightly and pointed toward the window.
Far in the distance.
The Golden Tower was gleaming.
"……The boy is in the process of becoming a legend, Prime Minister."
And a legend, after all—
[Kim Tae-yang shouts, ‘Is completed through death!’ +10,000 Happiness]