No Rainbows(2)
Kim Jeong-uk, a former specialist with the 707th Special Mission Group and current head of the Seoul branch of the Jepheral Academy, felt as if his temples were about to burst. He had a splitting headache.
Most likely, the episode of Labyrinth Exploration NaN airing today would feature content related to the Jepheral Academy.
No, it was a certainty.
He had received confirmation from the PDs on that side.
That was why the back of his neck felt so hot. Because...
"My daughter and grandchildren like it so much, you see."
A dignified voice. It was English, not Korean.
Kim Jeong-uk looked at the head of the academy, Jepheral.
"I happened to watch it by chance, and before I knew it, I was hooked."
"Ah... is that so? Haha. It’s certainly worth watching."
"I’m looking forward to it. How you, and how we, will be portrayed."
Currently, a TV was on in Kim Jeong-uk’s office. It was the live broadcast of Labyrinth Exploration NaN. Real-time English subtitles were scrolling across the screen.
Damn it, who the hell made those subtitles?
"Hahaha... I don't think you need to worry... about that. Hahahaha."
If he had known it would come to this, he would have pestered them until he got an advance copy of the broadcast.
"What is your schedule for today?"
"Hmm. I’m thinking of meeting some of Korea's spellcasters."
"You mean Mr. Tae?"
"Yes. Could you arrange a reservation at a restaurant?"
"Of course. I’ll contact that 3-star place you visited last time..."
[Stage 1 Golem]
Just in time, the monster hunting began.
The opponent was a Stage 1 Golem. Although Seol Ha-woon faced a rather difficult monster for a spellcaster, he destroyed its core with a single aimed shot. Kim Jeong-uk glanced at the real-time chat on his smartphone, which was propped up on a stand.
Seo Ji-woo appeared right after, and she was quite excellent as well. The talent for 'lines' truly had high potential.
The spellcaster Kim Se-jin had said that Seol Ha-woon’s ceiling was infinite, but in Kim Jeong-uk’s view, there was actually no difference in the potential ceiling between Seo Ji-woo and Seol Ha-woon.
Yet, the reason Seol Ha-woon’s growth potential seemed higher was that the dimension of his mindset was different.
Jepheral, too, had no interest in Seo Ji-woo. Because the tangible 'lines' and the intangible 'wind' were opposites.
[Stage 2: Gargoyle]
Seol Ha-woon’s barrage of bullets downed the gargoyle. Jepheral nodded in satisfaction.
"He is worthy of being a candidate."
"Yes. His nickname these days is 'Ceiling Seol Ha-woon'."
"I’ve heard. They call him AR, I believe."
AR. It was an abbreviation for 'Always Right'. He had heard it was getting quite a reaction in English-speaking regions, but it must be true if even this elderly gentleman knew it.
"However, he is using Sequence."
The mage’s gaze changed. Kim Jeong-uk gave a bitter smile.
"...Yes. I see you noticed that as well."
Sequence was a saw blade that surpassed a mere knife. Any spellcaster who reached a certain level knew that fact.
Most were intoxicated by the absurd output and challenged it, only to retreat in the face of pain that felt like their brains were exploding.
"He won't live long."
"That is why it is even more surprising. So far, he doesn't seem to have any problems. He seems to be using it quite appropriately..."
Afterward, Kim Jeong-uk and Jepheral focused on the broadcast.
Stage 2, 3, 4, and 5. The technique of cross-editing the explorers was so brilliant that they watched in silence.
Among them, Seol Ha-woon was particularly overwhelming. Leaning on his cane, he didn't move a single step, fully showcasing the aspect of a pure spellcaster dealing with monsters.
Kim Jeong-uk tried to suppress his twitching lips.
Yes, young people. Is the casting really that great?
The full-scale In-Camera Scouting began.
Kim Jeong-uk appeared on the full screen.
"...Oh."
The image captured on camera had quite a presence. The entrance scene itself was satisfactory.
Kim Jeong-uk straightened his back, and Jepheral also corrected his posture.
The broadcast showed the interview room where Kim Jeong-uk and Seol Ha-woon sat facing each other. Both were serious.
It would be edited appropriately here.
They would cut out all the talk about full-scale scouting and frame it with a stance of 'I am watching you'.
"The point is, the Jepheral Academy intends to scout you."
"......"
I’m going to kill those PDs. Just you wait. Keep your necks clean and wait. You were the ones who broke the promise first.
"I'll be honest. I saw a glimpse of a mage in you."
It would be better to stop now. If you go one step further here...
"Of course, you might think it's difficult at your age in your mid-to-late twenties. But what if you grow in the Jepheral Academy's workshop, receiving support from Jepheral at the university? It’s not impossible."
If you go two steps further...
"Opportunities like this are rare. We don't usually take in new recruits these days, but it’s only possible because the daughter of the Jepheral mage is a fan of the show."
If you go three steps further...
"If it’s true that you are a 7-month-old spellcaster, that is. So, tell me, that’s not a lie, is it?"
Please, stop.
"Yes. It is the truth."
"Really? What did you do before that?"
"I was in rehabilitation."
"What kind of rehabilitation?"
"I was paralyzed."
Kim Jeong-uk’s face turned red.
The Kim Jeong-uk on the broadcast, and the Kim Jeong-uk in reality.
The content they had promised to edit out kept playing.
"So, what is your answer?"
"I am sorry."
Even the scene where Seol Ha-woon refused was all there.
Jepheral’s dignity had been damaged.
"......"
"......"
Both were silent.
The silence was chilling.
Kim Jeong-uk calculated the prison sentence he would receive if he beat the PD to a pulp, but he might be killed by Jepheral before that.
Just then, the interview appeared.
Seol Ha-woon sat alone in a dark room. He answered as if he were sighing.
"Yes."
Jepheral’s eyes narrowed. He glared at Kim Jeong-uk with the whites of his eyes, but Kim Jeong-uk desperately ignored him. He buried his face in the TV.
"May I ask why?"
"Haha. That friend. Haha."
He smiled leisurely on purpose. He picked up his teacup as if to say not to worry.
"The Jepheral Academy is..."
His fingers trembled, so he brought his mouth to the cup.
"I think it is a great academy."
A great academy.
Kim Jeong-uk swallowed his saliva.
Depending on what Seol Ha-woon said now, Jepheral’s mood would change. Perhaps even Kim Jeong-uk’s lifespan.
"As a spellcaster, I know."
Everyone in the academy knew. That Jepheral loved attention and praise.
That was the reason he had built the academy headquarters in the massive city of New York, spending hundreds of billions.
"Because I am a spellcaster, I know even better."
He lacks weight, unlike a mage? No. Rather, a mage like Jepheral is easier to deal with and more human. It’s exhausting to share even a few words with snake-like mages who hide their true selves, like Tae-woo or Tae-yul.
"Mage Jepheral is the owner of an academy that will remain in the era, writing history himself."
Something tingled beneath Kim Jeong-uk’s chest.
This friend, he knows how to butter people up very well!
"I also know the life he has walked, his trajectory. As a spellcaster, I received great inspiration."
More, more, more. It’s still not enough.
"I have also read the spellbook 'Dynamics of Wind and Magic' written by Mage Jepheral himself. I obtained it with great difficulty."
It was the story of the original text book that Jepheral loved most.
"Ahem."
The reaction was immediate.
"It contains so much. The spell sequences were so clean and clear. I could feel the thoughtful heart of Mage Jepheral, who considers the young spellcasters who will read this book. I was moved while reading it."
It was a social skill not typical of a soldier.
In fact, it was the social skill of a 'star' soldier, the kind who could earn a rank.
They said he wasn't this kind of person originally.
"I held respect for the level of knowledge, and I thought the organized spell sequences were marvelous."
Kim Jeong-uk, of course, knew.
It was all nonsense and fake.
"I wondered for a moment if I could follow his path..."
However, the broadcast was real.
This broadcast, transmitted to the whole world, was real.
"I thought that I was not yet qualified."
Seol Ha-woon knew exactly how to make allies.
The Jepheral Academy, the organization, didn't matter. He had to praise the human named Jepheral.
"The Jepheral Academy... I didn't want to use my fame to obtain entry to a place where other spellcasters couldn't get an opportunity even after a lifetime of effort."
Jepheral was now resting his chin on his hand. He crossed his legs comfortably.
"I thought I was still too weak to support the weight of Jepheral with just one leg."
One leg. He even added self-deprecation as he continued.
"Of course, I might regret it someday. No, I definitely will. But."
Kim Jeong-uk secretly clenched his fist. He suppressed the laughter that was about to come out.
"I want to overcome myself first."
He glanced at Jepheral. His face had become very benevolent.
In Kim Jeong-uk’s opinion, it was one of the top 3 most pleasant faces he had seen in the last 10 years.
"...Haha. That friend, really."
Only then did Kim Jeong-uk understand. So that’s why you aired the broadcast like that.
Magic should be left to the mages, and broadcasting to the broadcasters. I was too hasty.
"Jepheral is too much for me. Perhaps, Branch Manager Kim Jeong-uk knew that fact as well."
Seol Ha-woon placed something on the table. It was Kim Jeong-uk’s business card.
"That is why you gave me this business card, right?"
Then he smiled. His face was so pretty. If it were possible, he would just want to put his hands on both cheeks and rub them like a steamed bun.
The very next scene, this time it was Kim Jeong-uk’s interview.
"Yes. Spellcaster Seol Ha-woon’s current skill is still lacking compared to Jepheral. But as expected, he is different from other spellcasters."
The Kim Jeong-uk on the screen smiled broadly. It was a smile he had forced out because he was pissed off after being rejected at the time, but the editing was very natural.
"There are many spellcasters who would turn a blind eye to everything and light up if it were a Jepheral proposal. I would have been disappointed if Spellcaster Seol Ha-woon had come out with the same attitude as them."
Then the PD asked why he gave Seol Ha-woon the business card.
Kim Jeong-uk answered leisurely.
"It meant for him to strive forward. It was encouragement meaning that Jepheral was watching. Jepheral isn't a place you can enter so easily, you know?"
Hahahaha. Kim Jeong-uk burst into a hearty laugh.
Even to Kim Jeong-uk himself, he looked very bold and cool.
"Ahem~"
Kim Jeong-uk praised Seol Ha-woon, Seol Ha-woon praised Jepheral, and in the end, Kim Jeong-uk and Seol Ha-woon respected each other, leading to a development where everyone benefited.
These broadcast station guys, the editing is truly brilliant, isn't it?
Just in time, it switched to a mid-show commercial.
"...My goodness. Making an old man feel this embarrassed. My daughter and grandchildren are watching, so it’s so embarrassing. How am I supposed to look them in the face?"
Jepheral cleared his throat.
Contrary to his words, his cheeks were flushed as if he had already fallen for Seol Ha-woon.
Kim Jeong-uk delivered the final blow.
"#1 on Netflix. The viewership rating in Korea alone is over 30%, and it is said that at least 300 million people worldwide are following the live broadcast. Perhaps starting today, there might be quite a few articles about how Seol Ha-woon was a fan of Jepheral..."
Today, I might receive a bonus.
* * *
"Jepheral is still too much for me..."
While Seol Ha-woon’s interview about Jepheral was airing, Kate read the materials delivered by her butler, Maeve.
She tried to maintain her composure as much as possible, but her hands kept trembling. It was a psychological agitation she hadn't felt in a long time.
"...Is it true?"
Seol Ha-woon, a former UDT Black operative.
The file containing records related to him.
"Yes."
Kate let out a deep breath. A word Seol Ha-woon had said once whispered in her ear.
'I was with Colonel Percival.'
She gripped the document in her hand. Crackle. Sparks bloomed from the crumpled corner.
'The Colonel often talked about his niece. It must have been you, Kate.'
Seol Ha-woon. He participated in Percival’s final operation. He had been together in that labyrinth where Percival was killed, the one where only one out of 103 unit members survived.
"I see."
Watching the slowly burning scraps of paper, Kate thought.
Why, and how, did Seol Ha-woon survive alone?
"Also... as a result of examining the bodies of the unit members recovered from the labyrinth."
Kate’s eyes tilted like half-moons.
"Evidence of homicide was found in all of them."
The corners of her mouth trembled.
She tried hard to suppress herself. Thoroughly hiding the rising emotions, she pushed the ashes into the trash can.
"Thank you for your hard work, Maeve."