Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Jimun Seo-saeng (3)
It was a week later when I arrived in Korea.
As I got off at Incheon Airport, I felt a sense of stability for some reason. The tension eased at the fact that it was Korea.
'Have I adapted too?'
As I exited the airport, a van sent by So Iryeon's agency was waiting.
"I have to go to a schedule."
So Iryeon had to go to work as soon as she arrived at the airport.
"You can go alone, right?"
"I'm not a child."
"Do you have taxi fare?"
So Iryeon tried to get her wallet by telling her manager.
"It's fine. I have money too."
"Aw, I was going to give you some pocket money."
"What pocket money? All your money is my money anyway."
"Well, that's true."
So Iryeon didn't deny it. This time, she had put up all her assets in exchange for one martial arts match.
'Come to think of it, spending a Protector's money, now that I think about it, it's embarrassing.'
Meaningfully, the Protectors' assets are all mine. However, in my previous life, I never touched the Protectors' assets.
Not just the Protectors, but I never touched the assets of the Heavenly Demon Cult members either. I confiscated criminals' assets, but there was no reason to touch anything else.
'Because there was always plenty.'
They are people who risk their lives for me. My creed was that other aspects should be abundant.
"Then I'll go to work."
So Iryeon left.
As I remained alone at the airport, I felt the gazes around me.
Since I had talked with So Iryeon for a long time, they were naturally curious about who I was.
'Celebrities must have it rough, too.'
People's gazes always follow them. So Iryeon seemed used to it, but I found it uncomfortable.
'I wonder if Jimun Seo-saeng is doing well?'
Jimun Seo-saeng and Blue Shadow Assassin didn't come together. They would be flying over the Pacific Ocean by now.
Right after meeting Jimun Seo-saeng, we rescued the children and went to a safe zone.
There, Jimun Seo-saeng negotiated with the Nigerian government and secured the children's safety.
After everything was resolved, Jimun Seo-saeng went to the American embassy according to his nationality, and we agreed he would come to Korea after settling his affairs.
I was concerned about Baria's retaliation, so I had Blue Shadow Assassin accompany him.
'Well, with Blue Shadow Assassin there, there shouldn't be any problems.'
Trusting Blue Shadow Assassin, I left the airport.
In the taxi returning to Yangpyeong, I organized the situation so far.
'Why is there no contact from the remaining two Protectors?'
There has been no contact from Dang Man-cheon and Sword God until now.
'Did they not reincarnate?'
That possibility is low.
Then, they're either already dead or have unavoidable circumstances.
'The situation could get complicated.'
Eventually, I need to revive the Heavenly Demon Cult, even if it's with a small number. Only then can I protect the Heavenly Demon Cult members.
To do that, there are many things to resolve.
The Hunters are first, and second is the chaos when the reincarnators are revealed. If that happens, the armies of various nations might step in.
Even if I resolve that, the other reincarnators won't stay still.
There are still many mountains left until the revival of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
'Let's do it one at a time.'
First is the Hunters. The closest enemy targeting me.
'It's time for the hunter to change now.'
It's time to pay the price for thinking of me as prey. That price will never be small.
Yangpyeong's country house.
"Hm?"
It wasn't the scenery I always saw.
There was a building behind the country house that I hadn't seen before.
The building built halfway up the mountain was similar in size to the Witch's laboratory, and a path leading to the backyard of the country house had been made.
The rough-feeling log cabin, buried in the surrounding forest, had quite an elegant atmosphere.
I learned the purpose of this building during dinner with my family.
First, since I had traveled abroad, we had normal conversation, and when the meal was about to end, I casually asked.
"By the way, what's that building in the back?"
"Ah, that? It's lodging for you and your friends."
"What?"
"You said you'd have one more friend, right?"
I looked at the Witch.
The Witch drank water and spoke nonchalantly.
"It's cramped because of your friends."
I couldn't tell if it was consideration or if we were being kicked out.
Either way, it wasn't bad.
After the meal, I went to the newly built lodging.
The lodging was built luxuriously. The outside was a rough-shaped log cabin, but the interior was different.
The floor was marble, and a splendid chandelier was installed on the high ceiling.
The bathroom had a large bathtub and even a screen for watching TV, reminiscent of a luxury hotel.
'The Witch is really generous.'
While I was examining the interior, the Witch slipped in.
"There are three rooms. And since So Iryeon is a woman, I built her a separate building in the back."
The rooms had a structure without any inconvenience.
There was also a round table, like a conference room, in the center, and luxurious sofas were placed.
"This seems like you put too much effort into it."
"That's right."
"I've been curious for a while, why do you have so much money?"
Even if she received money when she was young, looking at the laboratory materials and spending, it should have run out years ago.
She doesn't appear on broadcasts much or go outside, and I've never seen her worry about money.
"Me? I have several patents, and I receive royalties. There are also foreign companies that want separate sponsorship contracts."
"So how much do you have?"
"About 60 billion?"
A terrifying number came out.
"Were you a chaebol?"
"Want some pocket money? Want big sister's love?"
"I refuse."
The Witch shrugged her shoulders and settled on the sofa. I naturally sat across from her.
"Now, what's the reason you suddenly prepared a house for us? It doesn't seem like you just did it."
"You owe me a debt."
It came. With Jimun Seo-saeng found, I couldn't say no.
Like a criminal receiving a sentence, I waited for the Witch's words.
But the Witch spoke like a loan shark rather than a judge.
"Think of this as interest."
Given the long preamble, she seemed about to ask for something significant.
"Alright, it's a promise. Say it."
The Witch looked at me for a moment, then briefly stated the conclusion first.
"I need bait."
"Bait?"
"To catch some Hunters."
"Were you targeting the Hunters too?"
The Witch frowned.
"Those bastards have attacked here six times. I absolutely won't forgive anyone who attacks me."
It's the Witch's trauma.
She was extremely sensitive about attacks.
Until now, everyone who attacked either died or became slaves under mental control.
When it came to attacks, there was no forgiveness whatsoever.
"I found out about a middle branch. I can guess where the upper branch is, but I'm not certain. So you attack the middle branch. Then I'll track the upper branch's movements and find it."
The Witch seemed to have been preparing for a long time. She moves in a different way from me.
"Alright, I accept."
If it's attacking the Hunters, there's no reason to refuse.
"Do I just attack the place you mentioned?"
"You need to keep two people alive. One is someone I've put under mental control, and the other is the branch head there. I'll watch for the right timing, so you don't need to worry too much."
"What level of damage do you want?"
The Witch smiled with a cruel feeling.
"Total annihilation."
It's the Witch's cold expression I haven't seen in a while.
"When should I go?"
"Three days later. The place is Japan."
"Overseas travel is nice. When I went, it was fresh."
It's better to repay debts quickly.
When I made the promise, the Witch left the lodging without lingering.
Three days later.
I arrived in Tokyo, Japan.
This time, I came without So Iryeon. She said she wanted to go along almost desperately, but I didn't allow it this time.
"Follow me."
The Witch spoke Japanese fluently.
"Did you study Japanese too?"
"It's magic. Want me to cast it on you?"
I almost said yes for a moment.
The Witch showed a victorious smile for a moment, but when I came to my senses, she made a disappointed expression.
"Think carefully. With this one magic, you don't need to study foreign languages."
Going abroad, this part was regrettable.
"Isn't it a shame?"
I unknowingly pondered for a moment.
"I refuse."
"Too late."
The Witch pointed to the ring I was wearing. The ring was glowing with a subtle blue light.
"It's a magic cast on the ring. I just unsealed it, so now you'll be able to hear foreign languages. People will understand what you say, too."
"But I said I refuse."
"Then you should have refused faster. You owe me another debt."
Well, if I get this ability for being bait once, it's not something I can't accept. I just smoothly let it pass while maintaining my pride.
The magic's ability was amazing.
I actually started understanding Japanese, and when I tried speaking as a test, the other person answered me.
Honestly, it was shocking.
It's possible because she's a Witch, but the power of magic could change life in an instant like this.
"Can I read letters too?"
"You can't read letters. It's just magic that interprets the will contained in words. So you won't be able to interpret what comes out in videos right away. Phone calls won't work either. Videos and phones will work after some time."
My muttering must have been too loud. I closed my mouth, feeling awkward for no reason.
The place we arrived at by taxi was a quiet road on the outskirts of Tokyo.
A road with no special structures around it stretched out, then a fire road leading to the mountains appeared.
The taxi ignored the fire road and passed by, then stopped by the roadside.
After sending the taxi away, the Witch and I returned toward the fire road. The surroundings were already approaching dusk.
There was a building halfway up the mountain where the fire road extended.
Cleverly hidden by trees and grass, it was in a position where it couldn't be discovered unless approached.
While keeping a sufficient distance and watching the building, the Witch went near a large tree.
The Witch looked around, then took out an ice pick and drew a magic circle on the ground below the tree.
"What are you doing?"
"So I can teleport next time."
"Do you mark everywhere you go?"
"Of course."
It means she can teleport anywhere she's been once.
After drawing all the magic circles, the Witch watched the building again.
"That's it."
"Feral Company?"
"It's a multinational company. It's known as a consulting company, but what they actually do is diverse. Just think of it as a company that commands Hunters."
"Do I just attack that?"
It was a five-story building. There were hardly any people coming and going.
No security guard was visible at the entrance, and no sound could be heard from outside.
"Are there only Hunters?"
"There are Hunters and people doing Hunter-related work. The employees doing general work are in central Tokyo."
"When do I do it?"
"Wait a moment."
The Witch made a phone call with someone on her smartphone.
"Execute."
Just one word. And she stood next to me again.
"It'll take about 15 minutes."
The Witch watched the building's entrance.
When 15 minutes passed, one black car came out. Seeing this, the Witch nodded.
"The branch head came out. Now you just go in and handle it."
"Are you deliberately keeping the branch head alive?"
"That way they'll contact headquarters."
All preparations were complete.
"Well, shall I become bait?"
"I'll cast magic so you won't be caught on camera. It's nothing weird, so don't be suspicious."
The Witch grabbed my ring. Then white light came from the ring and permeated all over my skin.
"Make it as noisy as possible."
The Witch left that remark and departed, taking out her smartphone.
'It's hunting time.'
A hunter can always become prey to a beast. That's what a hunter is.
If you try to kill, you must be prepared to die.
Now it's time to return it.