Chapter 135: Hongik
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135: Hongik
By the time I parted with Shin Minha and left the gate, the sun had set and night had fallen.
I headed down to the street, planning to just grab a taxi, but the gate was near a deserted forest, so I couldn't see any people, let alone a cab.
The neighborhood itself felt like a ghost town where few people lived.
It wasn't particularly strange. Even in Gyeonggi Province, which bordered Seoul, quite a few neighborhoods had been damaged by gate breaks.
Flicker, flicker. A streetlight blinked rapidly.
“Looks like they don't even maintain the streetlights here.”
Then again, if it weren't for the gate, hardly anyone would come and go, so there would be no one to file a complaint.
I walked down a street that, despite being a residential area, had not a single house with its lights on.
I couldn't sense a single person anywhere.
Flick. The streetlight went out completely.
And when it turned back on…
Someone was standing there.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
The Hahoe mask he wore gave off a strange aura. I was sure I’d seen it before during a high school class.
‘...Ah, I remember. Was it called a Seonbi mask?’
As the memory surfaced, a news article I had seen several times came to mind.
It was an article denouncing a certain organization.
The name of the group in that article was definitely...
“...Hongik.”
“To think you would know of us... ahem, this is quite an honor.”
Hongik (紅翼). It was an organization that no Korean could fail to know.
For the record, this wasn't the "Hongik" from Hongik Ingan, the national motto meaning "to broadly benefit humanity.”
This was literally "Red Wing." It was a South Korean criminal organization with the insane ideology of dyeing the world in blood with their red wings, not making the world a better place for all.
Of course, since their criminal activities were exclusively targeted at Japan, the only countries in the world that paid any significant attention to Hongik were the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Other nations couldn't take the lead in condemning them, because if they did, it would be a headache if Hongik decided to carry out terrorist acts in their country.
But South Korea was different.
No matter how much South Korea condemned Hongik, the group never committed a single act of terror against their home country.
Because of this, Japan had consistently raised suspicions that Hongik was an organization created by the South Korean government.
Japan's reaction wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
South Korea had always condemned Hongik through the media, but they never showed any signs of trying to subjugate them directly.
“...Of course I know you. You're the criminal organization that attempted to bomb tens of thousands of Japanese people three years ago.”
Three years ago, a terror attack they orchestrated in Japan killed thousands, left tens of thousands with minor injuries, and hundreds with serious ones.
Fortunately, the efforts of Japan's S-rank hunters prevented even greater damage, but the incident left anti-Korean sentiment running high in Japan even to this day.
“Terrorism... what an unpleasant thing to say. That was righteous vengeance.”
“So you're not just a villain, you're a fucking lunatic.”
“Call us patriots, if you would. We do these things simply because we love this country so dearly.”
Through the eyeholes of the Hahoe mask, I could see the madness in his eyes.
On August 29, 1910, South Korea's first S-rank gate opened.
With the nation's fate hanging in the balance, South Korea barely managed to survive thanks to the sacrifice of two S-rank hunters and the Lord of a Magic Tower.
However, despite their sacrifice, the number of casualties was immense. The country's infrastructure collapsed to the point where the government could no longer function properly, and people died in droves.
Seizing that opportunity, Japan invaded Korea.
In just three months, the entire Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces fell, and South Korea once again stood at a crossroads.
Surrender or fight on.
Fortunately, with aid from the United States, they were able to fend off the Japanese invasion. But that war became the catalyst for the creation of the villain organization that called themselves Hongik.
“So, what's a great patriot like you doing in front of me? Want me to report you to the Association?”
“I'm afraid we still have too many missions left to accomplish. Once everything is finished, we are prepared to disband Hongik and face the judgment of the law, so please do not worry.”
“Missions?”
Flick. On the street where the lights had gone out completely, the man's madness-tainted eyes gleamed.
“The fall of Japan! We will kill every last Japanese person and resolve the deep-seated resentment of Korea!”
“So you're not just lunatics, you're a bunch of psychopaths.”
I drew both my magic and internal energy, pulling the Mad Demon Sword from my waist.
“That Seonbi mask... it must mean you're an executive in Hongik, right?”
Most villains had a bounty on their heads. An executive from an organization like Hongik would surely have an enormous one.
Depending on the negotiations, I might even be able to get my hands on an artifact the Association had in storage.
“Hmm... this is troublesome. I didn't come here with the intention of fighting you, Mr. Kang Hyun-woo.”
“...How do you know my name?”
“How could I not know of another genius born on this great Korean peninsula?”
“What...?”
“I may not look it, but I quite enjoy the news. I'm a devoted reader of a paper called the Baeksaek Ilbo, in particular.”
“Fuck.”
I'd wondered who the hell was reading that nationalistic rag, and now the culprit himself had appeared right before my eyes.
“Personally, I believe the Baeksaek Ilbo needs to grow larger. Yes, it is an undeniable fact that the Korean people possess the most superior bloodline in the world, yet the ignorant fools at other media outlets, aside from Baeksaek Ilbo, are unaware of this. It is truly a deplorable state of affairs.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“There is no need to try and understand. Every Korean carries the spirit of this great nation in their heart.”
My head was starting to spin.
Now I understood why people said Hongik was a villain group you couldn't reason with.
They were extreme Korean supremacists. Like people brainwashed by a cult, they were trapped in the past, hating Japan and believing that South Korea and the Korean people were the greatest nation and race in the world.
“The reason I came to see you today, Mr. Hyun-woo, is to recruit you.”
“...Recruit me?”
“In Western terms, it would be headhunting, or scouting.”
The man in the Seonbi mask extended a hand toward me.
It was a pristine, white hand, yet it felt as if dark red blood was dripping from his fingertips.
“Join us. We will provide you with anything you desire. If you wish for a brilliant master, we will make it so. All you need to do is lend a hand in the downfall of Japan. Isn't it a glorious occasion?”
I didn't answer. I didn't feel it was worth a response.
My mana circle pulsed, and internal energy coursed through my meridians.
Extreme Speed.
Formless Vajra Art, Formless Electric Body.
A flash of light flared. In the darkness, a bolt of golden lightning shot forward in a straight line and cut down the enemy.
A fierce wind whipped up in its wake, but what I had actually cut was empty air.
“My... are you truly a 2nd Circle mage? Not even a B-rank assassin could move at that speed.”
“Tch.”
The man stood a short distance away, completely unfazed.
I hadn't expected him to be able to react to that attack.
“Am I to take it that your answer to my recruitment offer is no?”
“Why the hell would I be crazy enough to join a criminal organization?”
I didn't take out Gilenium. It would do me no good to reveal that I had the ability to pull objects out of thin air.
Because of that, I couldn't use my Sword Qi.
The power and casting speed of my magic were also weaker and slower than usual.
It was inconvenient in many ways at times like this. It would be better if I could just merge Gilenium and the Mad Demon Sword into one.
“There's no need to be so tense. I have not the slightest intention of nipping a genius bud who will spread the glory of our nation.”
The man raised both his arms as if to show he had no intention of fighting, making a jest of the situation.
“It is a shame in many ways, but our meeting today was rather sudden, so I can fully understand your attitude, Mr. Hyun-woo.”
The man pointed to the sky. It was a pitch-black night sky, without a single star in sight.
“On our next occasion, I will return with a proposal that is sure to pique your interest.”
I responded by raising my middle finger.
“Nation Above All, Unification of Great Korea. I shall eagerly await the day we meet again, Mage Kang Hyun-woo.”
With those final words, the man vanished without a trace.
Even though I was watching him with my own eyes, I lost him. No, it was as if he had never been there in the first place.
Neither my senses nor my magic detection could find him.
But paradoxically, thanks to that, I had a faint idea of what his ability was.
As I mulled over which artifact to squeeze out of the Association, I found myself already looking forward to our next meeting.
*
Knock, knock.
“My lady... I've brought your meal.”
The voice from beyond the door briefly drew Choi Hyena's attention.
But that was all. As always, she ignored it and continued her magic research.
“...The head of the family is very worried. I'll leave it in front of the door, so you must eat, okay?”
Hearing something being placed in front of the door, followed by the fading presence of footsteps, Choi Hyena set down the flask she was holding.
Her reflection, with hollow eyes, stared back at her from the surface of the rippling liquid.
Three days had already passed since Kang Hyun-woo had told her they needed some time apart.
In that time, she hadn't slept a wink or rested for a moment, immersing herself in magic research.
Her body had long been screaming its limits, but she couldn't bring herself to rest easy.
Whenever she closed her eyes, the memory of that day would play out like a short video.
—Let's take some time apart for a while.
His eyes, grown cold, moved further and further away from her.
She should have apologized more earnestly, but she couldn't.
—I'll call you later.
Even when she reached out her hand, all she saw was his retreating back.
Kang Hyun-woo was an oddball and a womanizer, but he had never been that way after they started their relationship.
On the contrary, he always treated her kindly with a smile on his face. He would always take her hand first whenever they met, and he even showed a hint of jealousy when they ran into a troublesome acquaintance at the department store.
She found that side of him a little cute.
Is this what they call being blinded by love?
But when she had to stand there blankly and watch that person drift away from her, the fact that all of this had happened because of her mistake was agonizingly bitter.
Only then did she realize how large the void he left behind was. She missed every moment. His laugh, his touch, even the way his eyes looked at her. Her heart ached so much that she couldn't get through a single day without thinking of him for even a moment.
“I miss you...”
A tear fell onto the table.
“Then go see him.”
Wendigo, who had been lying on the sofa, spoke as if tossing the words out casually.
“...”
“Haaah...”
Seeing Choi Hyena hesitate without a word, Wendigo sighed, clutching her throbbing head.
For four days now, she had been bursting into tears, saying she missed him as if having a seizure.
Even a cliché-ridden melodrama gets old at this point.
“It's not too late. If you want to protect your place by Hyun-woo's side, isn't it right to convey your true feelings before he leaves?”
“But...”
Wendigo sat up straight and continued in a serious tone, quite different from her usual self.
“Rather than hesitating and living with regret, only to resent the lost time later, stand before him now, summon your courage, admit your mistake, and tell him how you truly feel. Resolve to take responsibility for your past mistakes, and even if he doesn't forgive you, approach him hoping your sincerity will reach him. If you don't do at least that, you will live with this regret for the rest of your life.”
Hearing those words, Choi Hyena wore a dazed expression, as if she'd been struck in the head with a hammer.
Only then did Wendigo let out a sigh of relief and open the book she had been reading.
‘When April Comes, I’ll Be With You’—it was a romance novel currently enjoying explosive popularity as a bestseller.
Ever since making a contract with Choi Hyena, Wendigo had become completely engrossed in dramas and romance novels. So, despite being a spirit who should have known nothing about human romantic emotions, she was able to give plausible advice.
Choi Hyena stood up and threw open the workshop door.
‘...How foolish.’
Waiting around for a hundred days and nights doing magic research wouldn't solve anything.
She had been called a genius and reached the 3rd Circle, but she had never gained anything by just sitting still.
She had achieved it by running around, working day and night.
‘Take some time? Call you later?’
The fog in her mind seemed to lift.
She had already decided not to run away anymore.
That was why she had confessed her lies to him truthfully.
She had made a mistake, and she had learned how to love him enough to admit it.
If she had only now realized how precious he was, she also had to know how to be brave to keep from losing that precious thing.
She knew an apology wouldn't be enough, but standing before him confidently and conveying her true feelings was her first step.
She would not hide her faults or try to deceive him; she would approach him with nothing but sincerity.
Choi Hyena booked an appointment at her usual salon and left the mansion with quick steps.
*
“Hooo...”
Standing in front of Kang Hyun-woo's house, Choi Hyena broke out in a cold sweat, her breathing ragged.
She hadn't even met him yet. She was just standing in front of his door, but her heart was pounding as if it would burst at any moment.
Her fingertips, trying to press the doorbell, trembled like a patient with hand tremors.
She knew the passcode, but she couldn't muster the courage to use it.
After nearly thirty minutes of indecision, Choi Hyena finally decided to be brave.
Ding-dong. With the familiar chime, she sensed movement from inside.
‘F-First, I'll just say I'm sorry...’
She steeled herself, organizing her thoughts.
She took a sip of water and cleared her throat, trying not to stutter by mistake.
“Just a moment~”
But the voice that came from beyond the door made Choi Hyena freeze.
It was a bright, high-pitched tone—unmistakably a woman's voice.
Clunk. The front door opened.
“Oh? Who is it?”
The moment her eyes met the blue ones staring back at her, Choi Hyena froze solid.