Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Even the Pitch-Black Night Freezes White: White Night
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12
National Treasure Seol Su-ah was smiling as usual. But her eyes were icy cold, and the chairman's office was filled with frost.
"V-Vice... Your Excellency, please calm down. The Minister's breathing..."
The First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs pleaded, trembling.
But Seol Su-ah's gaze did not change. As if the death of some lowly creature mattered not at all.
It was the moment when the Vice Minister, fearing he would soon share the fate of frozen tuna, tried to help the Minister to his feet.
"Seol Su-ah, Your Excellency."
A middle-aged man, his eyebrows crusted with white frost yet still holding a piercing gaze, forced his mouth open.
"I am well aware that Your Excellency harbors hatred toward the Foreign Ministry. But those were the deeds of our predecessors. Those who committed the sins have already taken responsibility for the incident and stepped down eight years ago, vanishing immediately after."
"So you bear no responsibility?"
"No. The Foreign Ministry will forever be branded for failing to protect a National Treasure and Duke. However, we are ignorant. I, and those seated beside me, were mere aides to the Vice Minister at the time. Eight years ago, on that day—what exactly happened to leave Yaksha in such dire straits? Until the truth is revealed, we cannot even shoulder the blame as we wish."
The Minister barely bowed forward, his body stiffening with cold.
"Please, Your Excellency, assist us in uncovering the truth. Even now, public opinion swells, fueled by biased information, condemning Duke Kang Dae-guk. They speak of stripping his title. Should we not correct this and deliver the true history to the people?"
"..."
As Seol Su-ah withdrew the chill, the documents before her quickly grew damp.
[East Asia Gate Exchange Conference]
The 'diplomacy' that National Treasure-level Players must bear.
Held every two years on average, Korea had boycotted for six consecutive years.
"The reason we propose Your Excellency's attendance over other National Treasures is our belief that only you can question them about the past."
The Foreign Minister spoke firmly.
His gaze upon the National Treasure was resolute. As if facing her held no falsehood or shame.
Seol Su-ah smiled faintly.
"Minister, mind your words. You mean you wouldn't dare propose this to the other National Treasures."
The East Asian nations had harmed Yaksha at the conference eight years ago.
Without even uncovering what happened, they ask her to attend?
If this were proposed to another National Treasure, it wouldn't be strange if they held a blade to the Minister's throat, demanding a second Yaksha.
It was only because Seol Su-ah was a prominent pro-Yaksha figure that they even broached the subject.
"No."
The Minister's gaze remained steadfast.
"If Your Excellency refuses, we plan to approach the other National Treasures. Even if it earns their wrath and future repercussions, it is the best I can do."
Cheon Gwi-pil.
Since taking office as Minister, he had persistently sent official letters demanding the truth from East Asian nations. Dozens upon dozens.
Ignored every time, no longer even newsworthy, pressured from above to stop damaging national dignity—he had always done his utmost.
Seol Su-ah was well aware of the Minister's temperament.
And now she confirmed it with her own eyes.
Withdrawing her smile, she slowly spoke.
"The time has not yet come, so I reject your proposal. But I advise you to abandon seeking out the other National Treasures."
A clear show of goodwill.
Meaning: preserve yourself, for I may have need of you.
"Your Excellency... I have a mission..."
"A mission? Consider preserving your position until your term ends as your mission. If you act rashly and lose it to some ruthless upstart, it will trouble me."
"Your Excellency misunderstands. I seek to right history because it is the duty of a public servant. If you intend to... no, to pull the Foreign Ministry into your faction, please abandon the thought. My respect for Your Excellency is purely personal. The Foreign Ministry is an organization under the government. We must devote ourselves solely to the nation and its people, not serve any individual."
"You state the obvious. But since many fail to do even that, hold onto your position without letting it be taken."
Seol Su-ah chuckled softly and waved her hand, issuing the order to leave.
"Let us meet again in three years."
She added those meaningful words.
The Minister and his entourage exchanged glances, bowed deeply, and withdrew.
***
"Why is she suddenly acting like this?"
Wary of eavesdroppers, the Vice Minister glanced around before whispering to the Minister.
The Minister did not speak until they reached the end of the corridor.
"It seems Her Excellency was testing me."
And he had passed. Probably.
But three years from now? What did it mean?
Pondering Seol Su-ah's parting words, Minister Cheon Gwi-pil suddenly recalled a certain person.
'Kang Jae-hyeok.'
The boy who had entered Lion's Castle a few days ago and become the talk of the town.
Yaksha's son.
'No way...'
Did the three years she mentioned refer to Kang Jae-hyeok's graduation?
'No... that's an absurd overinterpretation.'
Yaksha's son or not, he was just a 16-year-old boy.
Impossible for him to wield influence in politics right after graduation.
Minister Cheon Gwi-pil's reason warned him not to fixate on Kang Jae-hyeok.
But despite reason's efforts, his heart began to pound.
'Yet if... a tiger sires a tiger...?'
His thoughts reached that point as he boarded the elevator.
"Since we've come this far, let's take a look around the campus."
"Yes."
The Vice Minister nodded without suspicion.
Lion's Castle.
One of the few prides Korea could boast to the world.
The Minister's suggestion to tour while here seemed natural; he suspected no hidden motive.
'The freshman Awakener classes are this way...'
Recalling the site map he'd seen entering the main building, the Minister quickened his pace.
Guessing Kang Jae-hyeok's class was B-Class.
As Yaksha's son, he must have Awakened, but with his retainers lost, he lacked the setup to challenge Gates.
"Hmm..."
He arrived at the B-Class classroom, but it was empty.
Out for training?
Checking the time, Minister Cheon Gwi-pil moved on.
And the moment he reached the training field.
"Ah..."
He let out an exclamation.
Strikingly dark hair, black eyes gleaming like lacquer.
Graceful gestures from long limbs.
A handsome face where sharp eyes were no flaw.
The boy, evoking Yaksha in his youth from every angle, approached with a group of students.
Naturally at the lead.
As if walking the path to the summit.
"Ahh..."
Witnessing a fragment of the pinnacle, Cheon Gwi-pil recalled old memories.
He could almost feel the warm touch on his head—Yaksha's hand, praising the young him for his rescue efforts.
But... why was it...
'So fast...?'
The students following Jae-hyeok moved at an alarming speed.
Looking closely, they thrashed their limbs desperately, sprinting at full tilt.
"P-Protect the Minister!"
The moment the Vice Minister urgently ordered the escorts.
"Kang Jae-hyeeeeeok!!"
"Stop right there, you damn bastard!!"
The students' shouts grew clear as they drew near.
Mostly curses and maledictions, all aimed at Kang Jae-hyeok.
Tormented viciously because of House Kang's blood?
Minister Cheon Gwi-pil frowned at his deduction—then stopped.
Had they fallen into a cesspit or something?
The students chasing Jae-hyeok were covered head to toe in filth. Three even had black eyes or large lumps on their heads.
Meanwhile, the pursued Kang Jae-hyeok was spotless, not a drop of sweat on him.
"What's so bad about getting a little dirty beforehand? We're heading to training right after lunch anyway?"
"We can't enter the cafeteria like this!"
"Who told you to fall into the swamp?"
"You pushed us in! Argh! That bastard, I really wanna beat the crap out of him!"
"Anyone who falls while running is at fault. Worse than a roly-poly toy. Tsk tsk."
"Kraaa! Kill him! Kill that bastard!!"
"Heh..."
It seems I misinterpreted Her Excellency's intent.
Minister Cheon Gwi-pil smiled faintly and urged his escorts.
"Let's head back."
He intended to wait three years, regardless.
Boycotting the Gate exchange conference—a six-year streak already—for a few more wouldn't be an issue. Many internally would welcome it.
The government and association wished to bury the past.
No grounds to call them cowards.
Eight years ago, Korea had formally protested the participating nations and paid dearly for it. The sorrow of a Player-weak nation.
'Anyone will do, please...'
Break this history of humiliation.
Restore Yaksha and House Kang's honor.
Praying as he surveyed Lion's Castle's full vista, Minister Cheon Gwi-pil boarded the car.