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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 9
Presidential Safe House.
Cheong Siyeol, along with a few colleagues, met with the National Security Advisor, the Minister of Gate Management, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service.
After a long discussion that lasted over four hours, the Minister of Gate Management let out a long sigh.
"Then, the cause of Chairman Baekya's death will be kept strictly confidential unofficially, and officially, we will show no reaction."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The conclusions reached in this meeting were as follows:
1. The culprit who murdered Hong Baekya is unknown in number, name, age, and nationality.
2. Hong Baekya spent a month moving between various safe houses, trying to escape from the culprit and attempting a counterattack, but ultimately perished alongside some of them.
3. Domestic Rankers, sensing the situation, joined in but unfortunately missed the timing.
4. Considering the deceased's personality and position, it's assumed that the reason for his month-long solo engagement was to prevent domestic Rankers from getting involved.
5. The culprit is likely a high-ranking humanoid monster or a Ranker at the level of a squad leader from the international terrorist organization, the Black Star Cluster.
And so, the aftermath was settled.
The sunset could be seen outside the window.
The sun had set.
The Director of the National Intelligence Service and the National Security Advisor nodded their heads following the Minister of Gate Management.
"The government also understands the gravity of the situation. If there's an existence in this country capable of killing former Chairman Hong Baekya... we won't be able to control the public's anxiety."
"The deceased was more wary of the panic that would ensue due to such an existence, rather than a specific monster or a couple of high-ranking members of the Black Star Cluster. Leaving the identity of the assassin as an intangible fear could also be a strategy. Countless conspiracy theories will emerge."
One of the colleagues spoke.
"We'll leave it in your capable hands."
The Director of the National Intelligence Service gave a wry smile.
"Yes. We'll need to reactivate the NIS Psychological Manipulation Task Force. We'll post several plausible causes of death on various domestic community sites. We'll also instigate comment battles."
Another colleague spoke up.
It was the graceful colleague who exuded the fragrance of morning dew.
"We Rankers will share any information we gather while tracking down the culprit."
The Minister of Gate Management replied—
"We'll leave the pursuit of the culprit to you Rankers. Originally, the Awakened Support Agency should be taking the lead, but... I'm not sure what our people can do in this situation. If you need any assistance, whether it's budget or manpower, please contact us immediately."
Cheong Siyeol silently took a sip of tea, his mind racing with the implications of their discussion.
A blue halo, still visualizing countless swords, floated above his head, but his eyes were sunken and dark.
He was showing deep fatigue in the very position he had created, but no one dared to say anything to him.
His colleagues, the high-ranking officials, they all knew.
Hong Baekya was like an older brother to Cheong Siyeol.
It was impossible to tell him to separate personal feelings from work; the state of the recovered body was too gruesome.
Even if it were an unclaimed body, seeing such a sight would have caused anyone to lose sleep for days, let alone the body of a mentor who was like family.
They couldn't bear to inflict more pain on Cheong Siyeol, who was undoubtedly suffering more than anyone from the fact that he had let Baekya fight alone and die alone.
Of course, Cheong Siyeol wished they would torment him instead.
He genuinely wished they would publicize what happened that day, condemn him, and then execute him.
‘Hyung.'
He had protected Baekya's name but failed to protect his body.
But if Cheong Siyeol were asked to do it again, he would.
Even if he wanted to cut off the hand that wielded the sword, even if the air filling his lungs felt bitter, even if tears welled up at the mere mention of Hong Baekya's name, he would do it again.
He was Hong Baekya's most cherished disciple.
He knew better than anyone that Baekya would want that.
But he wanted to rest, just a little.
His sword was worn down to the point of breaking.
So, even when the colleague with the fragrance of morning dew disappeared somewhere after the meeting ended, he didn't bother to follow.
* * *
"Let's go buy some clothes."
"Clothes? We just bought some a few days ago. What are you buying more for?"
"Doesn't it feel good to wear new clothes? We've only ever worn drab and stiff work clothes. Come on, let's go!"
"Hyung, I know you're excited that we've paid off our debts, but we need to save money. We're not even working anymore. All we have is a little over 100 million won. That money might seem like a lot, but you know it'll disappear in a flash once we start spending it, right?"
"You're right. We can't just spend it. Let's wear nice clothes, see beautiful things, and work hard with the determination to live like this from now on."
"That's not what I meant..."
"You're healed, and my debts are paid. Now we need to think about what we want to live for and how we want to live. We can't be porters forever, right? So we can't just keep trembling in fear of money."
Hong Wolha wondered if his brother had always been this eloquent.
'He's become quite the sophist.'
His brother, who used to be less logical and uneducated than him, had become a smooth talker overnight.
But what was even more frustrating was...
"Okay, let's go."
...that his words made some sense.
Seeing good things, eating delicious food, and maintaining motivation to live and work in the future seemed quite important to him too.
Hong Wolha tied his long hair, which had grown naturally during his long hospital stay, and put on some casual but neat pants and a T-shirt.
"Are you ready?"
Hong Ilha was wearing the suit he had bought last time.
It was the ill-fated suit that had become strangely wrinkled in less than a week after the incident and still smelled burnt even after being washed three times.
But they say the most important thing about clothes is the hanger, and the suit looked good on his brother.
'When did he get so tall?'
Originally, the height difference between them wasn't that big, but now it was more than a handspan.
His skin had also become smooth, and his posture had straightened, making him seem like a completely different person.
"Let's go."
Hong Wolha quite liked the changed brother.
"Where are we going first?"
"The hair salon."
"To get a haircut?"
"You look good with it tied up, but let's just trim the ends a bit."
"And then?"
"We'll buy some clothes, and then maybe watch a movie?"
"A movie! They're re-releasing Baekya-related movies these days. Let's watch one of those. You used to like them, hyung."
"Watch a Baekya-related movie?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Hong Ilha gave an awkward smile.
"Well..."
Hong Wolha thought about his brother's feelings.
'It must be hard to even watch them.'
It made sense, actually.
Baekya.
No one truly believed that the Awakened, called the Sun of Humanity, would die.
He was the legendary Awakened who single-handedly cleared the Tower up to the 20th floor, conquered countless S-Rank Gates, and was the first in the world to open the 49th floor.
Even when countless first-generation Awakened and Rankers fell before the monsters that emerged from the Gates, he alone, like the rising sun, would fight and win again and again, day after day.
The entire nation was in turmoil at the news of Baekya's death.
[Why isn't there a state funeral?]
[Did the Rankers really have an internal conflict?]
[Then what was that footage of Cheong Siyeol in the lobby?]
[Why isn't anyone saying anything?]
It had already been over a week, and nothing had been revealed.
Only strange conspiracy theories circulated on community sites.
Citizens strongly criticized the government for not properly investigating the incident.
Many citizens voluntarily hung mourning flags or held memorial services.
The two brothers also sincerely admired Baekya.
'Go.'
It was Baekya who had stopped the horde of monsters that chased the refugees when their hometown was burned down during the Gate Break.
'I'd like to donate to the settlement complex.'
It was Baekya who had given them land and a house to live in.
Everything was thanks to Baekya.
It was only natural that his brother was deeply shocked by Baekya's death.
"Okay. Let's watch a different movie then. We've seen Baekya's movies many times, haven't we?"
"Okay. Thanks."
The fact that he said thanks meant his guess was right, even though his brother didn't show it openly.
'He's changed, but he's still my brother.'
Hong Wolha thought so and shrugged.
Going out with his brother was enjoyable but also full of surprises.
"Don't cut it too short! What kind of treatment do you use? What is that?"
At the hair salon they had made a reservation for, the director, who had apparently been in model shows, came out to attend to them.
"Hyung! Why are you trying to buy a 3 million won jacket?! Are you crazy?! You're buying it for me? Don't be ridiculous. Just give me the money. I'll buy a nice T-shirt for myself."
At the department store, they bought clothes at prices he couldn't even imagine.
"This palm-sized piece of meat costs 70,000 won? Hyung, let's go somewhere else. No, I'll buy a ton of meat and grill it at home for us. It'll be even more delicious."
At the restaurant, they ate food that was incredibly delicious but made him think, 'This money could buy a whole damn...'
How did his brother even know about these places?
Moreover, he had a look on his face as if he wasn't quite satisfied, as if it was all a bit lacking.
Just as he was about to give his brother a questioning look, his brother turned to him and said—
"Wolha."
"Yeah?"
"From now on, don't be surprised when you come to places like this."
His voice held a hint of embarrassment and sadness.
'When has he ever been to places like this?'
That thought crossed his mind briefly.
But he could understand what his brother was trying to say.
And that it was all for his sake.
"Okay."
"Alright."
"Thanks."
So, Hong Wolha held back the questions he had wanted to ask since morning.
The day after his brother went out in the evening, both the mining company they worked for and Million Loans, where his brother had borrowed money, went bankrupt.
Did he meet a Constellation?
Did he make a Black Hole contract?
Instead of asking, Hong Wolha followed his brother.
"Shall we take a walk by the river before dinner?"
"Let's do that."
Step.
The river flowed gently beside the path, and the reeds swayed.
In the distance, a subway train passed over the bridge, and the lights in Seoul's skyscrapers remained on as always.
The white tower, Aitel, piercing the sky, had become a part of everyday scenery.
His brother's broad back moved forward steadily in front of him.
It was a special kind of normalcy that he had never experienced before.
Hong Wolha had a thought he wouldn't normally have.
'Even if he's changed because of a Black Hole contract, wouldn't this kind of change be okay?'
* * *
I headed to Icheon's warehouse once again.
Of course, I knew that Hong Ilha's younger brother was becoming suspicious of me.
From my experience, people are recognized not when they do what they're good at, but when they do what others want them to do.
What would my brother want me to do?
That's why I took him out the other day.
We ate meat, bought clothes, watched a movie, took a walk by the Han River, and even had some chicken and beer right there.
In this day and age, who isn't struggling? But being a porter is a job that can't help but be tough.
They say a taste of the good life can be addictive. After a lifetime of hardship, just one day of fun had him looking at me with adoration.
When you're well-dressed, even just walking down the street feels good.
The glances from people passing by, thinking 'Not bad,' are incredibly thrilling.
Especially for someone who's lived a hard life.
Of course, appeasing him like this won't completely erase his suspicions.
But he'll want to believe it's not true.
And that's when it's over.
People see what they want to see.
Ah—
Damn it.
Thinking about appeasing him reminded me of that bastard Cheong Siyeol.
He was the same.
In the face of brutal training, crushing expectations, and the despair that the Aitel era brought, a day of simple pleasures and a touch of luxury were enough to restore his spirit.
That damn bastard.
I bought him so many artifacts.
No.
Let's not hold grudges.
It's all the fault of the one who cast the curse.
You should hate the one who swings the sword, not the sword itself, right?
Lost in such thoughts...
【"Are you okay with burning down the building?"】
My Constellation spoke up, perhaps trying to bring me back to reality.
What a thoughtful being.
'Yes. It seems the investigation has been buried somehow. With my death causing such an uproar, nothing's going to be done properly anyway.'
【"I don't know whether to be happy or sad that the country has come to a complete standstill because one of my contractors died."】
'New Rankers appear with every tutorial, but this is the first time the Sun has fallen, isn't it? It's natural for everyone to be shocked.'
【"As expected, you're the best. I did well to watch over you."】
'I hope I can use this opportunity to build up the strength to prepare for my second-in-command. That would be the best-case scenario.'
【"Then what's the worst-case scenario?"】
I thought for a moment and replied.
'In the worst-case scenario, infighting among Rankers and overseas deployments weaken our Hunter forces, leaving us vulnerable. A first-class Gate erupts, overwhelming the Gate Management Department's patriotic Hunters. Our defenses crumble, and the nation falls prey to power-hungry leaders, and the country gradually collapses.'
【"That's a terrible 'what if' story. But how can you talk about it so calmly?"】
'Because many countries have already perished that way. It's not something that won't happen just because I don't acknowledge it. The important thing is to prevent it from happening. That's my job.'
I paid the taxi fare and got out.
I walked across the fallow land towards the greenhouse where the warehouse was hidden.
The moment I opened the door...
Tap.
"Found you."
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
"I knew you were alive."
It was a familiar voice.
One of the disciples who killed me.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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