Chapter 144
Part 15. Protagonist
"The Seocheon Flower Garden has been destroyed," ca the cold voice from Seomun Yongneo's lips.
Her one statent caused an eerie silence to descend upon the eting room. The team leaders who were seated montarily wore stunned expressions before belatedly grasping the situation.
"Th-the Seocheon Flower Garden, you say? Considering its defense system, it shouldn't be easily destroyed...!"
A team leader stuttered, asking with confusion. Others seed equally shocked by the news of the destruction of the Seocheon Flower Garden.
It was understandable since that place was a sacred ground. A place managed by gods was destroyed, an unthinkable event.
Seomun Yongneo, with a stern expression, provided an answer.
"The Clown Troupe manipulated the demons to apply continuous pressure."
Upon ntioning the Clown Troupe, people seed even more puzzled. They were still reeling from the clown's intrusion into the Zodiac Race not long ago.
"How did the Clown Troupe access the sacred ground? It's a place inaccessible by ordinary ans...!"
"I don't know. The attackers who targeted Seocheon Flower Garden weren’t captured alive."
The news of the Clown Troupe's invasion further sank the atmosphere. Seomun Yongneo continued without a hint of anger.
"The Seed Bank is destroyed, and the Gwangcheon Pond has dried up. Rebuilding in a short period of ti is impossible."
Although Seomun Yongneo spoke calmly without visible anger, her eyes hinted at a storm brewing within. Understandably, the interruption in item supply was a significant blow even to the Destiny Protection Bureau.
Another team leader, after glancing around, cautiously asked, "So, what about recovery items from now on...?"
"We can't continue the offensive. The recovery items currently secured by the Destiny Protection Bureau are all we have."
In response to this statent, so team leaders sighed quietly. When they joined the Destiny Protection Bureau, one of the most significant welfare benefits was the ability to use items from the Seocheon Flower Garden.
Seomun Yongneo continued calmly, "The Director takes this situation seriously. The Destiny Protection Bureau plans to focus on tracking down the Clown Troupe for the ti being."
"…"
"We're planning to create a special team. If you have any thoughts, apply for it. Let's end the eting here for today."
As the eting concluded, the team leaders began to rise, leaving the conference room one by one. Their expressions were far from pleasant.
While Kang Dohyeon was also leaving with the others, Seomun Yongneo's voice reached him.
"Team Leader Kang Dohyeon, stay for a mont."
Upon hearing this, Kang Dohyeon ca to a sudden halt. Everyone else exited the conference room, leaving only Seomun Yongneo and Kang Dohyeon.
In the silence that followed, an unusual tension hung in the air.
"Do you have sothing to say?"
"Team Leader Kang Dohyeon, have you heard from Seo Gangrim?"
In response to Seomun Yongneo's question, Kang Dohyeon remained silent for a mont, then answered as if he didn't know what she ant.
"What do you an?"
"Did Seo Gangrim visit the Seocheon Flower Garden?"
"I've heard stories that he went to the sacred grounds, but…"
His face revealed an uncertainty about whether it was the truth or a lie.
Seomun Yongneo, sitting in an elegant office chair, stared at Kang Dohyeon. After a mont of silence, she spoke.
"Really? Let enlighten you, then. Seo Gangrim visited the Seocheon Flower Garden and defeated the Clown Troupe. Not all of them, but so."
"…"
"Interesting things happen wherever Seo Gangrim goes."
Kang Dohyeon seed slightly surprised.
Seomun Yongneo observed the surprised Kang Dohyeon silently. Her gaze was as sharp as a needle.
"I plan to send an official letter to Seo Gangrim soon. We might need to listen to his circumstances. We should hear the details."
"…"
"Well, then, you may leave."
Kang Dohyeon nodded once and promptly exited the conference room. Seomun Yongneo's eyes, now left alone in the room, glowed ominously.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated.
'Ugh, what is it? So annoying.'
She picked up her phone irritably and checked the contents, and her eyes widened in surprise. The expression that had been tense just monts ago lted away like snow in spring. Seomun Yongneo smiled slyly.
'Dokgo Jun. Doing sothing interesting, aren't you?'
***
Seo Gangrim sat on a sofa in the common area, quietly staring at his phone. It had been a few weeks since his visit to the Seocheon Flower Garden. His days had been spent processing the wealth of information obtained from there.
[You're investigating the Clown Troupe you encountered at Seocheon Flower Garden, but there doesn't seem to be much progress. I'll look into it a bit more and let you know.]
Kang Dohyeon was examining information about the Clown Troupe. While he investigated, Seo Gangrim was separately tracking the Clown Troupe and accumulating achievents by clearing various special demon realms.
"Last ti, defeating the Demon Fiends was a significant achievent."
After conquering the second Grand Demon realm and defeating the high-grade Demon Fiends, he had built up considerable achievents.
He checked his own stats.
[Strength] Level 62
[Stamina] Level 55
[Agility] Level 57
[Sense] Level 58
[Magic Power] Level 59
Among the hunters, his stats were close to the top tier. However, he couldn't be satisfied.
Even if he gathered all the clues, he still didn't have the power to kill Baek Young...
"Seo Gangrim, what are you up to?"
At that mont, Yu Harang's voice ca from behind him. Yu Harang looked at Seo Gangrim's face and tilted her head with a smile.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind. Is it because of the First Master?"
"That's part of it."
"I apologize for not properly identifying the identity of that god."
Yu Harang's ability, [Insight], allowed her to grasp the true nature of others.
With her ability, Yu Harang could grasp the true identity of gods. In his past life, Seo Gangrim could learn about many gods' true nas through Yu Harang. Believing that this ability would be effective this ti as well, Seo Gangrim had asked Yu Harang to use her [Insight] to perceive the identity of the First Master.
Yu Harang seed a bit gloomy.
"I've been using Insight continuously since then... but it still cos out as anonymous."
When Yu Harang activated [Insight] on 'First Owner,' the result was Naless (無名). Yu Harang felt quite apologetic, wondering if it was due to the low grade of her Insight. She promised to raise the grade and compare the information she knew.
"Thanks, Yu Harang. Don't push yourself too hard."
"It's not pushing myself too hard. It's nothing compared to when I was at the cult."
Having studied various religions at the cult, Yu Harang possessed a wealth of knowledge. She was continuously examining information to see if there were any records of the god called Naless. Seo Gangrim felt sorry for Yu Harang, watching the young woman's diligent efforts.
"If I had the ti, I'd like to explore around with you, Yu Harang, but it's not the right ti for that."
As Seo Gangrim observed Yu Harang, an alert popped up in front of him.
[Hunter 'Seo Gangrim's na is spreading widely! Humans are beginning to pay attention to you.]
It was a sowhat unexpected ssage at this ti. Usually, such ssages appeared after Seo Gangrim conquered a major demon realm or achieved a significant accomplishnt.
'These kinds of ssages have been appearing more frequently these days.'
It was only natural that people showed interest in him due to his conquest of major dungeons. However, even though he was relatively quiet these days, such ssages continued to appear.
As Seo Gangrim was staring at the ssage window, Yoon Geoul entered, letting out a long yawn.
"Ahem, hello."
Dark circles under his eyes indicated that he had stayed up, perhaps even throughout the night. Looking around, he asked, "Where is everyone?"
"They've all gone to receive their rewards."
Other mbers had left to handle their respective tasks.
Yu Harang looked at Yoon Geoul and said, "Geoul, didn't you say you were going to receive your reward too? I thought you left because I didn't see you."
"Oh, I was planning to go yesterday, but I didn't realize ti passing while reading a novel..."
Even amid his explanation, Yoon Geoul was looking at his phone. Seo Gangrim appeared sowhat puzzled at the ntion of a novel.
'Does Yoon Geoul usually read novels?'
It's a bit unexpected; he usually preferred gas, and the idea of him staying up late reading a novel was quite surprising.
Hearing that, Yu Harang gave Yoon Geoul a playful scolding.
Seo Gangrim asked, wondering if she was reading so weird novel.
"What kind of novel is it?"
"Huh? Ah... Well, just a fantasy novel."
Seeing Yoon Geoul flustered like that made Seo Gangrim even more curious.
It seed to embarrass Yoon Geoul even more, making Seo Gangrim more curious about the peculiar novel. Yu Harang seed to share similar thoughts, her eyes sparkling like a mischievous child.
"Show ."
"No, it's not that interesting."
"You're lying. Telling lies in front of my Insight... And besides, you."
Yu Harang's gaze beca sharp.
"You're hiding sothing from Seo Gangrim."
Feeling cornered, Yoon Geoul hesitated to say more. Observing his reaction, Yu Harang activated her ability.
[Ability 'Divine Puppeteer' is activated!]
As the command was given, sothing started to materialize in the air. Small puppet figurines poured out, each having a cubic and angular body.
"Ot, ottt?"
The figurines stood in formation as if demanding an order. Although they appeared cute at first glance, each one possessed considerable attack power.
Observing the puppet figurines, Yu Harang spoke.
"Children."
"Ot?"
"Go and snatch the phone."
"Ottt!"
As the command was given, the puppets rushed toward Yoon Geoul relentlessly. Yoon Geoul tried to escape, but there were too many of them. Suddenly, one puppet, holding a smartphone confidently, let out a triumphant roar.
"Ottttt!"
Then, it quickly ran towards Yu Harang and handed over the smartphone as if presenting a valuable item.
"You, what on earth are you hiding from Seo Gangrim? I'll check it for you."
"No!"
After giving Yoon Geoul a nacing look, Yu Harang shifted her gaze to the smartphone screen. She began reading the text one character at a ti.
『...Shin Sooah pushed Seo Gangrim forcefully through the gap. He resisted. "Shin Sooah-ssi, please stop." Shin Sooah said. I don't want to. I will never let you go."』
"...."
"...."
Yu Harang, who was reading the novel, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Then, she looked at Yoon Geoul with a bewildered expression.
"What is this?"
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