Chapter 768: A Favor, Not a Proposal.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 768: A Favor, Not a Proposal.
“Star King!”
“Star King!! Please, just one look over here!!”
“Aah! He really looked! His eyes are so intense!”
“...”
The piercing screams and the cacophony of voices merged into a single, throbbing headache.
“Star King!!”
“Star King—!! Please, just let me shake your hand once!”
People swarmed me from all sides. Radiating an intense fervor, they crowded around, cheering without end. The level of their adulation was on another level entirely.
“Star King—!!”
“No, no, I need to get through. Could you please move…”
“Our hero!”
“For fuck’s sake.”
No one was touching me directly, but the sheer volume of people made it impossible to move forward. At this rate, there was no telling how long it would take to reach the Alliance.
Should I just force my way through or fly away? The thought crossed my mind for a second, but then…
“Star King…!! Thank you so much for what you did back then!”
“Thanks to you, I was able to save my mother…! Thank you… truly, thank you so much…”
“...”
Seeing them approach me with such genuine gratitude, I found I couldn’t bring myself to push them away.
Tsk.
What should I do? Just as I was sinking into thought…
“Oppa Star King!”
Oppa…?
The unexpected title made me shift my gaze. I saw a young girl waving at me from nearby, perched on the shoulders of a man who appeared to be her father.
“Hi, Oppa!”
“You little rascal…! How can you speak so rudely to the Star King…!”
The girl’s casual tone horrified her father, who tried to hush her, but the child just beamed with the pure brightness of her age.
Who was she?
Ah, I remembered. They were the father and daughter I had saved while passing through. The memory remained vivid. Recalling the scene, I let out a small smile.
“Hey, are you listening to your dad?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Keep listening to him from now on.”
Though I was terrible at listening to mine.
They weren't too far away, so I reached out and placed my hand on her small head, patting it a few times. It was strange.
I can’t believe there’s a kid who doesn’t cry at the sight of me.
Usually, young children burst into tears the moment we made eye contact. This one was different. The way she sat there quietly under my touch strongly reminded me of someone. It was like looking at a young Wi Seol-Ah.
Though this child is even younger than she was back then…
As I continued to pat her head, her father spoke up.
“Back then… thank you so much, Master Star King.”
“Uhm… yes…”
I gave an awkward laugh. I still couldn’t get used to that damn title. I predicted I probably never would. It had been the same with ‘True Dragon’ and ‘Lesser King of Hell.’
“…Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Master… my daughter and I would have…”
“It’s fine. I was just passing by, that’s all.”
I had to spread my senses to look after the countless people I found. As I’d said back then, it wasn't about saving them. It was about cleaning up a mess I had made.
“No, sir. Not only did you save us, but you even remember us.”
The man’s words elicited a dry laugh from me.
“What’s so hard about remembering?”
As I spoke, I pointed into the crowd. I singled out an old man, his face etched with deep wrinkles.
“That man over there is the elder from the pharmacy, right?”
“Huh…? Ah, yes… th-that’s right.”
The old man pointed at himself, answering with a startled expression. I moved my finger to another person.
“That one over there… is the lady who was trapped under the Sangjeon Merchant Association building. And next to her is the man I saw at the Pungwon Blacksmith Shop… and…”
One by one, I pointed them out as I remembered them.
“That elder is…”
I stopped mid-sentence and lowered my hand. The more I did it, the more I felt a strange atmosphere settling over the crowd.
“…What is it? What’s with the looks?”
Why were they all making those faces?
“…You… you remember all of us.”
They all looked deeply moved. Seeing that, I started to break out in a cold sweat. What the hell was wrong with them?
I remember them because I saw them.
It wasn't like I had a perfect memory of every detail; I just pointed out the faces that had stuck with me. Was that really enough to warrant such a reaction?
“…As expected… of the Great Hero.”
Seeing their emotional expressions as they prepared to say more, I immediately waved my hand.
“Ah, that’s enough…! It seems you’re all doing well. Now, please move aside. I have to go…”
“Great Hero, you are our hope…!”
“Star King…!!”
“This is really getting out of hand.”
It didn’t seem like this was going to end anytime soon. In the end, I had to use a bit of my internal energy to escape.
And I’m not even in top condition.
Tsk! I clicked my tongue and was about to leap away when a loud voice suddenly boomed from behind.
“Make way—!”
All eyes turned toward the source.
“Everyone, make way!”
“Ugh!”
The crowd began to part as if pushed by an invisible force. Through the forcibly created gap, a group of people appeared. They wore sky-blue uniforms embroidered with white thread—the attire of the Murim Alliance.
Normally, people would have willingly made way or been happy just to see them. But now…
“…It’s the Alliance, isn’t it?”
“They’re from the Murim Alliance.”
The expressions of those making way for the martial artists were anything but pleasant. Some looked resentful, others contemptuous. While a few still held favorable views, the majority did not.
Seeing this, I tilted my head.
Looks like the situation is worse than I thought.
I had expected a certain level of distrust, but the reality was far more severe. The members of the Alliance must have sensed the atmosphere as well, for one of them scowled and shouted at the crowd.
“This area is currently designated for restoration! Civilians were told to stay out. Why are you all gathered here?!”
I looked around. The man was right; the place was a complete mess. I had left in a hurry, but I was standing in a location filled with collapsed buildings and debris. For such a large crowd to have gathered around me in a disaster zone was certainly strange.
Why were there so many people?
Just as I was wondering, someone shouted back as if in answer to the martial artist.
“Does all of Henan belong to the Alliance?!”
“…What did you say?”
The martial artist’s face crumpled. His expression clearly said, How dare you raise your voice at me?
But regardless of his glare, others began to speak up.
“What have you done to earn the right to forbid us from coming and going?”
“That’s right! If it’s going to be rebuilt, we’ll do it ourselves. It’s not like you’ll help properly anyway. We’re saying we’ll handle it on our own!”
Hearing their words, I finally understood. I had been wondering what they were gathered here to do.
Are they trying to rebuild the city with their own hands?
What did they think they could accomplish in this disastrous situation? I didn't quite understand, but one thing was certain.
Trust in the Alliance has plummeted.
Perhaps due to the aftermath of the incident, public perception of the Alliance in Henan had soured considerably.
“You…!”
The martial artist was about to lose his temper, but I spoke up before he could.
“What is your business?”
“And who the hell are you—!”
The man immediately started to raise his voice at me, but his mouth snapped shut the moment our eyes met. He clearly knew who I was. Which meant…
“It seems you have business with me. Am I right?”
As I spoke with a tilt of my head, the man cautiously approached through the path the people had cleared. Even as he drew near, the crowd’s gazes remained fierce. Finally, the man stood before me, bowed his head slightly, and spoke.
“…Gi Munseok, Vice-Captain of the Blue Dragon Army, greets the Star King, one of the Seven Seats.”
He bowed low. Though I could feel his dissatisfaction even as he bowed, his etiquette was flawless. Looking down at the top of Gi Munseok’s head, I replied.
“Alright.”
“…!”
Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, because Gi Munseok’s head shot up. His eyes were filled with disbelief. Seeing this, I gave him a wide grin.
“A joke. It was a joke. You looked so tense, I thought I’d lighten the mood. My apologies if I offended you.”
“…N-No, sir…”
It was obvious he was deeply offended, but Gi Munseok could only lower his head again, unable to voice his frustration. Looking at him, a thought came to mind.
Gi Munseok.
Who was that? The name sounded familiar. I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind immediately. Anyway.
“What business do you have with me?” I asked.
Only then did he raise his head. “I have come to escort you.”
“Me?”
“Yes… We mentioned it in the letter we sent. Did you perhaps not receive it?”
“Hmm?”
Hearing that, I pulled the letter from my robes and unfolded it to check.
“Ah, you’re right.”
It was written there, clear as day. A notice that they would come to escort me in person around this time today. I hadn’t seen that part.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have rushed out.
The situation had been so urgent that I had just left, but it turned out I didn’t need to. Then again, it was strange. It was true that a letter had come from the Alliance summoning me, but the idea of them just telling me to walk there on my own had felt off.
Seeing how they gave me a title but treated me like crap, I thought they were just trying to screw me over.
Surprisingly, it seemed they intended to provide the proper courtesies. Which made it all the more disappointing.
That’s one less excuse to raise hell.
I had been thinking of using this to cause a scene, but unfortunately, while the Alliance was incompetent, they weren’t completely reckless.
“…In any case, we will escort you, Star King, on your journey to the Alliance.”
“Hmm.”
I thought for a moment, then nodded. In truth, there was nothing to think about. I had to go anyway, and it was more convenient since they had come to pick me up. It was actually for the better; I had been wondering how to get away from the crowd.
“Yes. Let’s go, then.”
When I announced my departure, I could feel a sense of disappointment from the surrounding people. I really had no idea why they were so invested, but… it couldn’t be helped.
The reason I was going to the Alliance was simple: The Alliance had sent an official request for an investigation regarding the recent attack.
Guided by the Blue Dragon Army, I arrived at the Alliance.
The interior wasn’t much different from the last time, but the atmosphere felt quite changed. It was unavoidable. There had been an attack, they had failed to respond properly, and now public opinion was at an all-time low. While direct property damage might have been minimal, the one who had suffered the most fundamental damage was undoubtedly the Murim Alliance.
Screech.
A chair was pushed back slightly.
“Please, have a seat.”
At the man’s words, I nonchalantly sat down. I was inside the Alliance headquarters—specifically, in the same interrogation room I had been in before.
What was different from last time was the significant change in treatment. It was definitely an interrogation room, but on the table were a teacup and what looked like expensive snacks. They had even lit the lamps, so it was an interrogation room in name only. You could just as well call it a guest reception room.
“…If you wait a moment, the Captain will be here.”
Hearing Gi Munseok’s words, I picked up one of the yakgwa in front of me and popped it into my mouth.
“It wasn’t enough to make me come here first thing in the morning, now you’re making me wait, too. How amusing.”
“...”
“I hate pointless pissing contests… This is a bit childish. Ah, that was also a joke.”
It was a statement that was clearly not a joke. I could see Gi Munseok swallow dryly. Watching him, I considered prodding him a little more, but then…
Creak—!
The door opened and someone entered. It was the man I had seen before.
One Azure Sword.
The man who had been Jang Seongyeon’s right hand in my past life. Jang Seongmyeong, Captain of the Blue Dragon Army, the One Azure Sword. It was him.
“A pleasure to see you.”
The One Azure Sword appeared without any other greeting and sat down. I rested my chin on my hand and looked at him.
“You’re late.”
“Yes, I had a prior engagement.”
Without meeting my eyes, the One Azure Sword simply organized the papers piled in front of him. I watched him silently for a moment before speaking.
“Then you should start with an apology.”
“...”
Thud.
The One Azure Sword’s hands stopped.
“Isn’t it a bit much to be late and not even apologize?”
As I continued with a smile, the One Azure Sword’s eyes narrowed instantly. What would he say? I watched with interest, but…
“I apologize for making you wait.”
“...”
The One Azure Sword didn’t fall for the provocation. That part was quite disappointing.
Should I try something else? The thought was tempting. But…
“So, why did you call me here?”
For now, I decided to get straight to the point. There was nothing to be gained by wasting more time.
“Did you read the part that explained the reason?”
“I read it. You told me to come for questioning, didn’t you?”
“…Rather than questioning… it’s to confirm the details of the incident more clearly…”
“That’s what questioning is. To check whether or not I was involved in the incident. Isn’t that right?”
No matter how you sugarcoated it, that was the bottom line. A few days after the attack, the first thing the Murim Alliance did was summon and question those who had fought the assailants and the demons without being affiliated with the Alliance at the time.
The official reason was to confirm the details of the situation, but anyone could see it was an interrogation based on suspicion.
“I worked my ass off to save people, and now I’m being suspected and interrogated. I feel just fantastic.”
“…As I said, this is less of an interrogation and more of a…”
“Enough. Let’s just get on with it. I want to finish this quickly and go get something to eat.”
Squeeze.
The One Azure Sword’s hands tightened as he listened. It felt like he was suppressing his anger. However, once again, no fists came flying.
“…Yes, as you wish, Star King. We will get straight to the point.”
I wondered how many times he had sighed inwardly. Just as that thought crossed my mind…
“There is something I would like to ask you, Star King.”
“Yes.”
“The Alliance is planning to establish a new unit.”
“Huh?”
My brows furrowed the moment I heard him. It was a completely unexpected topic.
“So suddenly?”
“Before we begin the investigation, I thought it would be best to mention this first.”
“…A unit.”
“Yes. Therefore, before we establish this new unit, I would like to make a proposal to you, Star King.”
As I stroked my lips in thought, the One Azure Sword continued.
“We would like you to take the position of Captain for the unit that will be established…”
“Not doing it.”
“Pardon?”
I answered before he could even finish his sentence.
“I said I’m not doing it.”
It was an instant reply.