Episode 120. If you want to live, you have to work. (2)
“Oh, you’re here, hunter Jeong Si-woo.”
“Yes, where is he?”
As soon as I arrived, an Association staff mber bowed and greeted . I nodded and asked him to show the way. There was no ti to lose.
“This way. Follow .”
“Yes, okay.”
Whew. I couldn’t help but sigh. This was why -The Fourth Disaster- was more exhausting than others. There was no ti to rest and no way to solve it quickly.
The Returnees stopped pouring in exactly when the Great Overlord appeared. It ant that this routine would be repeated until the Fifth Disaster began.
‘…Well, that doesn’t an I want the Great Overlord to appear soon.’
If he appeared now, the world would end. It was better to have the Returnees tire out.
“Si-woo!”
“Ajusshi!”
I followed the Association staff and turned around the alley corner. I could see a crowd of hunters. Among them were Yoo Ji-yeon and Sung Hyun-woo. The two gladly waved as soon as they saw .
“Don’t bother greeting . How’s the situation going?”
“I’ll tell you.”
Zhang Wei walked out from between the two.
“A Returnee appeared close to here. It’s been about 30–40 minutes since he appeared. According to the field Analysts, his ability seems to be specialized in defense.”
“Specialized in defense?”
“Yes, as I said on the phone, two 1st class hunters and the Association team, along with Yoo Ji-yeon and Hyun-woo here, attacked him, but it was no use. He’s estimated to have the strongest defense ability of all the Returnees that appeared so far. His ability is perhaps even the most advanced in comparison to all living Awakeners.”
“Hm… I think I’ll have to see for myself.”
I could roughly guess who it was, but… If I knew who he was without even seeing his face, I would seem suspicious. I walked towards the scene, acting like I had no clue as well as I could.
But then, the Association staff said sothing out of the blue.
“Excuse , hunter Jeong Si-woo, what about your specially manufactured suit?”
“Specially manufactured suit?”
“The Analysts say there could be harmful substances such as radiation because Returnees have co from a different world…… They said that you could have health problems if you don’t wear a special suit.”
“Huh, that’s an interesting theory.”
Walking toward the scene, I glanced at the Analysts.
“The specially manufactured suit was probably made by the guild those Analysts are in. And it’s damn expensive, uncomfortable to wear, and only lasts for less than a month, right?”
“…….”
“Don’t be a fool. The Association isn’t the kind of organization to be manipulated, is it? This wouldn’t have happened if President Kim Min-jae were here… What a sha.”
The Association staff’s face turned red as I spoke sarcastically. The word Kim Min-jae was their weakness. He probably felt like he had disgraced the great organization called the Association.
“…Excuse , Analysts. Can I have a word?”
Most mbers of the Association were fanatic followers of Kim Min-jae.
I walked ahead, looking at the stricken faces of the Analysts. I had the Interim President of the Association in the palm of my hand, and I wasn’t about to watch the Association be humiliated when I owned it.
* * *
“Hm, looks like a lot happened here.”
The scene was a total ss. The ground was sunken as if a bomb had dropped, and the sides of the tall buildings were completely demolished. It looked like a war broke out here.
Sung Hyun-woo and Yoo Ji-yeon scratched their heads awkwardly. Yeah, with two Awakeners possessing enormous firepower, it would be strange if this didn’t happen.
“Don’t worry about it. You guys didn’t an any harm.”
I smiled and comforted them, and then I walked toward the center of the scene. Among the ruins stood a man.
“Mr. Jeong Si-woo, it could be dangerous to approach him.”
“Didn’t he stay still even after all the attacks?”
“But he might suddenly act strangely……!”
“If he might, since I’m the strongest one here, I should take responsibility and step forward. Or should I get an Association staff mber or a civilian filming over there to approach him? I get paid to take responsibility for things like this.”
It wasn’t dangerous at all. Before I ca back in ti, he didn’t budge even though we took turns attacking him for three days. Sothing other than attacking him was going to make him move. I could vaguely see the man in the cloud of dust as I got closer and closer.
“Don’t co near; I’ll approach him by myself.”
He was a good-looking man with chiseled features. He looked Western, not Asian. Like the main character of a novel, he was broad and tall, made up of only good traits.
Well, it was inevitable if you thought of the world he was taken to.
“Hm, hm. Hello there… Ugh, I can’t do this.”
I tapped him on the face. It was hard as tal and didn’t feel like skin. His body wasn’t conditioned from training. It was a defensive asure built by various ‘factors’ hovering around him.
“So, I have to deal with this crazy guy again.”
I was about to say sothing, but I couldn’t help but sigh. There was no way I could forget this guy from my past life. Like his nickna, the Strongest Returnee, he was unbelievably powerful.
But his mind was disproportionately young. After all, he was a punk who never had a hard ti, unlike the other Returnees.
Power earned without effort.
Power earned without the determination to be responsible.
When everyone feared him, calling him ‘The Strongest Returnee’, this is how I evaluated him.
“Open your eyes, you brat.”
An immature kid holding a nuclear missile launch button.
“…Or do I need to call you ‘S2 zizon swordman S2’?”
“Argh!”
At my words, the man standing still as a statue opened his mouth and yelled. His eyes shook with confusion and embarrassnt. The look on his face was asking how I knew that na.
“Just co along nicely before I call your real na, okay? You don’t rember , but this Hyeong knows you very well. Quit being a pretentious jerk and let’s go, okay?”
“What… what? Hyeong? What are you talking about…?”
He stamred. But I had no intention of explaining further right here.
“Mr. Jeong Si-woo! Mr. Jeong Si-woo, get away from him!”
People behind were in a panic since the Returnee started moving.
“Si-woo… Si-woo!”
“How did you know, and what do you an you’re my Hyeong?”
“Ah, this is exhausting.”
My head hurt already. As the situation turned chaotic, I caressed the back of my neck and pulled the Returnee by his hand. This wasn’t the right place. We needed to talk comfortably over a nice warm cup of coffee.
“That’s enough. I’ll take care of him, so please step back. I’ll take full responsibility!”
* * *
“Si-woo, are you sure this is okay?”
“Mr. Jeong Si-woo, really……! No, I won’t ask you anymore. I’m tired of this, too.”
I could hear Yoo Ji-yeon worrying and Zhang Wei sounding like he gave up. It looked like Sung Hyun-woo read my mory a bit because he laughed once and asked nothing. He probably found it ridiculous, seeing for himself.
Well, I felt the sa when I first found out about this guy.
“Both of you, go out. Having outsiders will just agitate him more.”
“But….”
“Do as I say. You, too, Mr. Zhang Wei. Go take a break.”
At my firm voice, Yoo Ji-yeon, Zhang Wei, and Sung Hyun-woo left.
“So, now they’re all gone.”
And there was only and him left in the Returnee Response Room.
“Shall we start talking again?”
“…Okey-dokey.”
He spoke in a flippant voice that didn’t complint his looks. No matter how often I hear it, I can’t get used to it.
“What did you an you’re my Hyeong? And how did you know my nickna? I thought no one would know.”
“You told everything before.”
“Before? What are you talking about? I don’t rember.”
I tapped the table, looking at the flustered Returnee.
“You don’t rember, but I do. You definitely told .”
“What……”.”
“Just accept it. That way, you’ll understand what I’m about to say.”
He frowned. He looked very dissatisfied.
“Looks like you don’t believe , so I’ll explain in more detail. Your real na is Kim Cheol-soo. While playing an online ga, you got caught up in The Great Disappearance and were sucked into a world identical to the ga. You turned into your ga character, and after enjoying a playing ti of exactly 51 years, 10 months, 27 days, 11 hours, 15 minutes, and 14 seconds, you cleared the final scenario and returned here as the reward.”
“…….”
“Thanks to your character’s maximum level specs, it wasn’t difficult to clear the scenario. Simply put, you went on vacation for 51 years before you ca back here.”
“That’s not true. I struggled a lot for over 50 years.”
“You said it yourself. That you just enjoyed your vacation.”
“…Well, let’s say that’s true.”
Of course, it is. You said so a long ti ago. I heard you once had fun with more than 20 won at a ti, you punk.
“The reason you ca back is because of your brother, who’s having a hard ti. To help your younger brother, who’s struggling with your family’s difficult financial situation, and your mother, who is ill.”
“… That’s right.”
“But too much ti passed while you were clearing the scenario, and you couldn’t bring back all the treasures you earned. Knowing that you couldn’t bring back the ‘Elixir’ to treat your mother, you ‘paused’ your body and were thinking of a way to bring back your treasures. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“And as soon as I called your nickna, you were so surprised that you ca to your senses.”
“I want to deny it, but… you’re right about everything.”
His face softened a bit. He was a little surprised, but it looked like he was now more desperate than surprised upon hearing his situation from . Because he barely returned but had nothing left.
‘In the past, he went ballistic here.’
After getting attacked for three whole days, he discovered that his mother and younger brother had died. And in his lonely and desperate state, he was discriminated against for being a Returnee. He was told he had to be killed as soon as possible.
Those negative emotions drove him mad, and he was captured by The Five Heroes after brutally killing countless people. After he ca to his senses, he blad himself for his wrongdoing, answered all the questions I asked, and killed himself.
A child wielding great power. A tough-looking fellow with a tender heart. That was what I thought of him.
“I’ll help you.”
“…What?”
“I’ll help you look for your brother and mother. Or a child or grandson your brother might have had. I’ll help you find your blood relatives, no matter what.”
“…….”
“And if that doesn’t work… I’ll be your friend. I’m probably the only one who understands your situation.”
His eyes shook at my words. Before I ca back in ti, he had told .
That in the other world, there were only NPCs that repeated the sa thing over and over again. That no matter how beautiful and wonderful they were on the outside, on the inside, they were rely creatures created by the system. That every day was hell, and he hated the life that repeated itself.
So, this was what this guy, who struggled to co back, needed to hear the most.
“What do you think? And I’d like you to help in exchange.”
“Help you?”
“Yes. Why don’t you use your power to help people who are in situations like yours? Those who barely ca back but couldn’t find their families, and those who sadly lost their families and loved ones in the Disasters. To help those people, I want you to help . Then, I’ll help you, too. I’ll use all my connections and power to do what you ask.”
I wasn’t the one who ca up with this offer. As he lay dying, he desperately asked to say those words to himself if I sohow went back in ti. It was his dying wish.
“…….”
His future self, who experienced tragedy, was talking to his just-returned self.
Through .
“Well, okay.”
“…….”
“Where would I use this power in this modern society, anyway? And you’re going to help find my brother and mother, or my family. So, I’m especially helping you. Okay? Especially…….”
He spoke unabashedly, but tears fell from his eyes.
His voice started to quiver.
And soon, his crying beca louder.
At that mont, I could tell that he wasn’t going to be a big threat this ti.
“Dude, stop crying.”
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