Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Hero (3)
The hour-long press conference was over.
We returned immediately using teleportation from a place without people.
After the press conference ended, there were three topics that became the talk of the town.
The Heavenly Demon Cult.
Hanjeong Group.
The Korean government's refusal to cooperate.
The name of the Heavenly Demon Cult spread throughout the world immediately. It was because of the last words So Iryeon said.
-We are waiting for reincarnated Heavenly Demon Cult members to join us.
We don't know how many Heavenly Demon Cult members there might be. But those words had to be said.
Hanjeong Group became a topic of discussion because we said they had helped us with our activities all along.
-Despite being pressured by Hunter Hall, Hanjeong Group helped us. Although there was a crisis where the company could collapse due to Hunter Hall, they did not give up.
The name of Hanjeong Group spread throughout the world immediately.
Lastly, regarding cooperation with the government, So Iryeon firmly refused.
These words caused tremendous controversy within Korea.
-Our Heavenly Demon Cult deliberated for a long time. However, cooperating with the Korean government does not align with our will. It is because there are too many within the Korean government that we do not wish to work with.
When reporters asked for the reason, So Iryeon added an explanation.
-Within the Korean government, there are many politicians and civil servants who joined hands with Hunter Hall and pursued only their own interests. We have no intention of working together with such a group.
-Furthermore, we have been conducting investigations into the Korean government for a long time. Especially as a result of investigating politicians, we judged that they are not worth working with. We will now distribute materials regarding this.
The content that Jimun Seo-saeng had put great effort into for a long time was distributed to the reporters.
It was corruption by Korean politicians and the evidence thereof.
In this evidence, the names of 40% of National Assembly members and 50% of party-affiliated members were mentioned.
-As you can see, this is Korea's reality. As for how much there would be if we include what we couldn't find, I'll leave that to your imagination.
She waited until the reporters' murmuring subsided before leaving one final remark.
-The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult is Korean. He said this: I will not give up on Korea.
The press conference ended like that.
Foreign media showed the greatest interest in the Heavenly Demon Cult, while Korea intensively covered the corruption content.
I just leisurely watched the situation unfold.
I was still treating my internal injuries and enjoying my leisure time when a visitor came.
It was Kim Mu-jin.
"Aren't you busy?"
"I am busy."
"Then why did you come?"
"I came because there's something I want to confirm."
The guy's expression was serious.
'Is it because of the Heavenly Demon Cult's name?'
He too is from the Shaolin Temple. Related people must have definitely died by our hands.
He began to speak seriously.
"Are you completely giving up on all plans to have fun?"
"Huh?"
It was completely different from what I expected.
"I was planning an amazing party for you, hyung, but suddenly there are many people watching."
"Amazing party?"
"A hot party at an indoor pool. A party with smooth alcohol and song and dance. Of course, only the two of us would be the men."
"Damn it!"
My voice rose without me realizing it. I quickly calmed down and lowered my voice.
"Can't we do it secretly?"
"Well, we can't possibly shut everyone's mouths. That's the kind of society we live in. I even arranged for active models."
The last words had the power to pierce my heart.
"Should we just close our eyes tight and proceed?"
"I'm fine with it. But would you be okay?"
Jimun Seo-saeng's face came to mind.
When my expression darkened, Kim Mu-jin asked with a disappointed expression.
"I guess it won't work after all, right?"
I nodded weakly.
"Should we proceed modestly then?"
"Modestly?"
"There's a place where pretty women gather. A place you can go if you have money."
"Are they certain about confidentiality there?"
This time Kim Mu-jin sighed.
"My secret would be guaranteed, but these days you're receiving too much attention, hyung, so problems might arise."
My energy drained again.
"Forget it. I guess it's not meant for me."
When I sighed, Kim Mu-jin gave a greeting and turned around.
"I'll go see Jimun hyung before I leave."
His form of address was consistent.
I asked his retreating back.
"Are you okay?"
"About what?"
"The Heavenly Demon Cult."
Unlike usual, Kim Mujin didn't answer immediately. Then he turned around and said,
"It's just a past life. I am not Shaolin Temple now. And this current life is more precious than anything."
"I hope that feeling doesn't change."
"It won't change. As long as you don't create unwanted grudges."
Words that contained both conviction and warning. As a man, I acknowledge that much spirit.
"You better not betray me."
"That won't happen."
This was enough.
Kim Mu-jin went to meet Jimun Seo-saeng.
The visitor didn't end with just Kim Mu-jin alone.
Breaking through the packed press corps, a car arrived. The Fairy members got out from inside.
So Iryeon had given me advance notice that they were coming.
The Fairy members came in with calm expressions and had a long conversation with So Iryeon.
Fortunately, the conversation went well, as the expressions of the girls coming out were bright.
"Cult Leader, the members say they're going to stay overnight today."
"Don't they have a schedule?"
"They canceled everything for now. They say they're going to rest for about two weeks."
It seemed they thought it was better not to move around right now.
Late at night.
I decided to sleep at home instead of the lodging. I vacated the lodging for the Fairy members.
But a message arrived on my phone.
-I want to meet for a bit.
It was Jang So-yeon.
I made an appointment and went to the lodging.
I met Jang So-yeon inside the lodging, but there was no space to talk quietly. It was because reporters' eyes were still everywhere.
"Hold on tight."
I opened the door and embraced her.
"Huh?"
Before her words ended, I deployed lightness skill and crossed over two mountains.
"Haah."
The startled girl gasped for breath as soon as she got down on the ground.
"You could have told me in advance."
"I wanted to get here quickly."
"Tsk."
Fortunately, Jang So-yeon seemed to like the location.
It was just a forest, but a place without any trace of people.
"You're sixteen years old, right? You said you weren't."
"I'm not."
"When you reincarnate, age gets reset."
"Well, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say."
Jang So-yeon, having grown accustomed to the darkness, looked directly into my eyes.
"A reincarnator. At first, I thought I was dreaming."
It seemed she had more to say, so I waited quietly.
"I like you. I'm going to like you courageously like you said. But I won't confess."
"That's a good decision."
"Iryeon told me about you."
Jang So-yeon turned her gaze to the sky and said,
"She said you're a playboy?"
The back of my neck felt stiff.
"So Iryeon said that?"
My words became faster with feelings of injustice.
Jang So-yeon said the rest regardless of my reaction.
"I like you. But I hate playboys. So I'm going to like you only until this feeling disappears."
Jang So-yeon came right up in front of me. Then suddenly kissed me.
Naturally, I could have avoided it, but I didn't.
Jang So-yeon kissed for a long while before pulling away, then hugged me tightly again.
"You said you hate playboys?"
"This is because I like you. I'm expressing it because I like you. If I hold back even this, it would be frustrating. I'm not interested in being a tragic heroine or anything like that."
I slightly grabbed Jang So-yeon's waist. It was instinct.
Then Jang So-yeon separated her body and pushed my hand away.
"That's as far as it goes. No more than this."
"So Iryeon, I'm just going to..."
I let out my inner thoughts without realizing it.
"What, do you feel wronged?"
"I've never dated in this current life. Being called a playboy is unfair."
"You're going to do it a lot from now on anyway."
"That's true."
Jang So-yeon sighed and stepped back.
"I like that you're honest. But I still like you for now. I'm just going to do what I want. This is my courage."
"This is the first time for this kind of courage, but I'll accept it."
In one way, it's a comfortable relationship, and looking at it the other way, it's an ambiguous relationship.
"To maintain this relationship, we have to give up one thing."
"I know."
Fortunately, she knew as well.
'A relationship that crumbles if you become greedy toward the other person.'
It could crumble in a good way, or it could crumble in a bad way.
'This is good. It's not possible right now anyway.'
Since the Heavenly Demon Cult has just been revealed, who knows what might happen.
If rumors spread that Jang So-yeon, who has absolutely no combat ability, is my lover, dangerous situations will definitely arise.
Even if she had confessed, I would have answered to wait.
'Did she think that far ahead?'
I erased the thought that came to mind.
'For now, this is enough.'
Still, there was something left to do.
I quickly approached first and kissed Jang So-yeon. And I pulled her waist to embrace her.
When the long kiss ended, Jang So-yeon's face was flushed.
"I felt like I should show my courage too."
It was the day I had my first kiss in this current life.
Late at night.
I was performing energy circulation exercises and had fallen asleep when I was awakened by a sudden commotion.
It was the third day since the press conference.
Korea was still in an uproar because of the corruption list we had disclosed.
"I have come to see the Cult Leader!"
The house rang loudly.
His voice was so loud that even the reporters who had fallen asleep exhausted all woke up.
The man who arrived by breaking through the barricade knelt on the lawn. His appearance was so dignified that he didn't feel servile.
'Why is it so noisy?'
I approached him for now.
The Witch was watching me from in front of the research lab, and my family members did not come out from inside the house.
I stood in front of him.
"I pay my respects to the Cult Leader!"
It was the language of my past life. There was no doubt he was a reincarnator.
"Speak a bit more softly."
"I apologize!"
"Stand up. There are many watching eyes."
Only then did the man stand up. Behind him, flashes kept going off continuously.
'Who is this?'
I couldn't tell just from his appearance.
He was about 165 cm tall, which was short for a man. His face was round and he wore horn-rimmed glasses, appearing to be in his early thirties.
He had a short neck and broad shoulders, and was wearing a suit larger than his body. Moreover, a large bag was hanging as if dangling from his back.
'A company employee who gets nagged every day.'
That was my first impression when I saw him.
Passing the house toward the lodging, I asked him.
"Name."
"It's Hundred Tiger Ghost!"
At those words, I stopped walking.
Blood Wolf.
This is what he was called.
It was because he always tore opponents apart like a wolf while covered in blood.
The leader of the Hundred White Blood Corps where 100 elites gathered.
Hundred Tiger Ghost, to whom I had personally given his name, had now become a shorty who seemed about to pour out sweat from tension.
In his past life, he was a man with a face full of sword scars, copper-colored skin, and a square jaw. I gave him the name Hundred Tiger Ghost because he looked like a ghost when he charged while gritting his teeth.
The person who was the strongest after the Protectors in the Heavenly Demon Cult was precisely Hundred Tiger Ghost.
"That guy is Hundred Tiger Ghost?"
Just then, So Iryeon was waiting in front of the lodging.
Hundred Tiger Ghost didn't greet So Iryeon even after seeing her. At this, So Iryeon frowned.
"Don't you know who I am?"
"I apologize! I don't know!"
So Iryeon looked at me.
I understood her intention. It was something that had to be done anyway.
"Check him out."
So Iryeon approached. Then the shorty asked me.
"Cult Leader, may I ask who that person is?"
I answered his question calmly.
"The person who played with you the most."
The shorty's pupils widened.
"Could it be, the Protector, Mountain Gorge King..."
Before those words could finish, So Iryeon approached and asked.
"You seem like you're regretting it?"
"No!"
"Then shall we go to a quiet place?"
The shorty flinched greatly.
'He did that in his past life too.'
If I didn't fight for them, it was always Hundred Tiger Ghost and Thousand Tiger Ghost who were sought after.
"What are you doing? Come on."
So Iryeon spoke enticingly.
At this, the shorty took off his horn-rimmed glasses and put them in his suit's inner pocket. Then sharp eyes were revealed.
At least his eyes were definitely those of Hundred.
"I will not show you."
The shorty said while gritting his teeth.
At this, So Iryeon erased her expression and answered.
"If it's a half-hearted provocation, I'll kill you."
They did not avoid each other's gaze.