Chapter 367: Choice at the Crossroads.
Chapter 367: Choice at the Crossroads.
It’s uncomfortable.
That’s the thought that keeps circling my mind as I drift through the air.
I didn't end up like this because I wanted to; I was pushed into this state by the opinions of others. My dissatisfaction continues to mount, but I don't let it show. I quietly endure my anger.
As I bear with it and look down, I see the rest of the group traveling much more comfortably than I am.
My disciple, the White Pig, the Tentacle, and Meteor are all perched on the backs of the deer.
How did I end up in this state?
I know exactly why.
Retribution. My own faults have come back to haunt me.
In fact, when I weigh it on the conscientious and balanced scales of my heart, I find myself thinking that the punishment might even be too light compared to the sins I’ve committed.
To summarize: it goes like this.
The deer, harboring resentment toward me for the endless slaughter I inflicted upon them, attacked me. Yet, despite their rage, the Tree-Horned Deer are unusually good-natured for monsters, so they caused almost no harm to the humans.
It seems their murderous intent was reserved solely for me because I had crossed the line—and then some.
But even that murderous intent seems to have been settled with this level of punishment, thanks to my companions' intervention and my apology delivered through the Tentacle.
The punishment: being kept floating in the air while we move.
It’s likely a unique disciplinary method used by their group.
I say I’m floating, but it doesn't feel like weightlessness or levitation. It feels like I’m constantly trying to fall to the ground, only for a brief burst of force to strike me every few seconds, forcibly pinning me back in place.
If I were a ball, it would be like someone constantly tapping me upward at short intervals to keep me in the air.
Of course, they aren't hitting me directly; it’s a manifestation of physical force through Reality Manipulation, so there’s no actual pain.
I didn't think much of it when it first started, but being left like this for a long time makes me feel nauseous and sick to my stomach. It is definitely a punishment.
No matter how you sugarcoat it, the sensation of my body constantly dropping and then being jerked back into place feels disgusting.
Still, I endure it.
This is undoubtedly my sin.
If anything, the deer is being magnanimous for ending it with just this much, considering I’m the being who slaughtered and ate countless numbers of its kind.
It possesses a broad, ocean-like tolerance, unlike that petty Meteor, who threw a fit just because he got hit by a car once.
Of course, it’s certain the deer would have tried to kill me if not for the conversation with the Tentacle. But seeing how it understood my situation once we managed to communicate and settled for this punishment, the deer is definitely the bigger person here.
According to the Tentacle, they seem to view even their own deaths as a part of nature.
It’s a bit ridiculous to hear a creature that isn't natural at all talk about nature, but whatever.
With the transportation issue resolved, I had nothing to do but sink into my thoughts as we headed toward the Yellow King’s residence.
Even if I wanted to talk, the distance between me and the rest of the group was significant enough that I’d have to shout, and the sound of the deer’s galloping hooves made it hard to find a gap for conversation anyway.
What should I do next?
First, things with the Magic Society and the Martial Alliance have somehow worked out.
Now, if I can just manage the meeting and conversation with the Yellow King, the goals of this trip will be mostly achieved.
Whether the conversation with the Yellow King will go well is a major concern, but I also need to think about what comes after.
I could return to Seoul and bury myself in daily life, or I could storm into the Management Bureau and ask if they have any work for me.
However, neither option really appeals to me.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been living such a high-density life lately.
The idea of returning to a normal, uneventful life suddenly feels uninviting.
With that thought, I stared blankly down at the ground.
Meteor.
One of my old friends.
Come to think of it, I’ve been meeting a lot of people from my past lately.
Thunder God, the Lord of Infinite Castles, Heavenly Sword, Macbeth, the Librarian, the Yellow King, Meteor, Oxymoron.
And I caught a brief glimpse of Prohibition…
Hmm.
Among the ones I was reasonably close with, the only ones I haven't seen are Calavera and Misha.
Since it’s come to this, it feels a bit mean to leave only Calavera out. Maybe I should go see him.
As for Misha… I don't want to go back to the Soviet Union, and even if I did, I have no desire to scour the Siberian plains looking for him…
I’ll see him eventually when the time is right.
So, how should I create a reason to go meet Calavera?
As I wriggled my body in midair, pondering the question, a good idea struck me.
The clue came from the bullets I discussed with A-bin not long ago.
Hero lineages are generally divided into three categories.
The Martial Artist branch, the Magic branch.
And finally, the Technology Branch.
I’ve visited the headquarters of both the Martial Artist and Magic branches during this trip, so I can just say I’m going to see the Technology Branch next.
The base for the tech-Type S is the United States.
And Calavera’s main area of activity is North America.
Under the pretext of showing my disciples the Technology Branch, I can meet Calavera as well.
Yes, that’ll work.
Calavera and the Technology Branch Field Trip.
If I toss a proposal like that to the higher-ups, they’ll probably let me keep my Official Duty Permit.
It’s a private use of public office that’s basically a vacation, but what can they do?
If I insist that I’m going to look at the Technology Branch to help spread Otherworldly Technology to the civilian sector, who’s going to stop me?
Hahaha.
Having planned my next journey and running out of things to think about, I drifted aimlessly through the air, occupied by useless thoughts.
‘That deer meat was delicious.’
‘Was it because they were wild and active, or was that specific deer special?’
*
A little over a day after we began traveling with the deer, the end of our journey appeared in the distance.
A ruin surrounded by barbed wire, a place I had once entered in a hurry.
Meteor had joined our journey specifically to guide us here.
According to Meteor himself, the Yellow King—who is usually a mere observer—had told him to grab the reins and guide Lee Ha-ram here if it looked like he was going to stray onto the wrong path.
Regardless of the fact that the Yellow King seemed desperate to see me, once we reached our destination, I was finally released from the torture of floating in the air.
However, the release was far from gentle.
Just as I thought the deer would lower me down since it was the one who had lifted me up, the damn creatures simply erased their Reality Manipulation, letting me plummet to the ground.
Completely caught off guard, I slammed into the dirt, getting covered in dust.
“…Fuck.”
Between the long hours of torture and the humiliation of rolling on the ground, I couldn't help but let out a string of curses.
The deer glanced at me collectively as if mocking me, then turned around and departed.
“Bye-bye!”
“Thanks for all the hard work because of our Senior!”
“I’m sorry our Lee Ha-ram is so violent!”
“Goodbye!”
My companions, who had enjoyed a comfortable journey, began to bid peaceful farewells to the receding deer.
Meanwhile, I was still rolling in the dirt.
The dust and pebbles kicked up by the departing deer flew toward me, a final, flamboyant parting gift from those spiteful creatures.
“Need a hand up?”
“…Forget it.”
It only made me sadder that Meteor was the one showing me concern.
I swatted away Meteor’s extended hand and stood up, dusting myself off.
“So, Senior. Where are we?”
My disciple finally deigned to show me some attention.
“A Grade 5 Classified Area. If you tell anyone you were here, the Management Bureau will make you disappear before you can blink.”
I spat out the words with a hint of malice.
It would be nice if this scared them a little.
“…Grade 5?”
Did my words hit the mark?
There was a slight tremor in Han A-bin’s voice.
“Yeah. Grade 5.”
I gave her a twisted smile, enjoying her reaction.
While your master was suffering, you lot were sleeping soundly on the backs of deer. You can endure this much distress.
“…Why did we come to a Grade 5 area? Is there a reason?”
Is there something wrong with what they did?
Thinking that, Han A-bin’s eyes darted around as she began to scour her memory for any mistakes.
But you don't need to worry, A-bin.
“No, it’s just that you guys…”
Just as I was about to reveal the truth—that they didn't actually need to be here and I just didn't want to travel separately—a voice rang out.
A voice that should absolutely not have been heard.
The voice of a certain energetic idiot.
“Oh, I know! This is the residence of the specially designated Hero, the Yellow King!”
“…Who is the Yellow King?”
“A-bin. You didn't hear that. There’s no Hero called the Blue King. Got it?”
“Blue King? Didn't she say Yel—”
“Red King, whatever, just not Yellow. That word doesn't exist. Got it?”
Read the room, A-bin. Unlike the Grade 5 joke earlier, this is actually important.
As I desperately threw those words out, Han A-bin seemed to understand my intent and slowly nodded.
Once I confirmed that, I turned to my other disciple.
“…Si. Hyun. Aaaaah?”
With a stiff smile plastered on my face, I approached her.
“Yes! Baek Si-hyun here!”
She looked bright and energetic, seemingly unaware of her blunder.
“Where on earth did you hear that name?”
“From the Management Bureau’s database!”
Fuck! That goddamn Bureau security team!
Just how much did they let her hack?
Do they even deserve their salaries?
I am definitely telling Hyun-seok about this.
‘Your security team got rolled by a kid! Do something about it!’
Wait, isn't the Yellow King usually only mentioned in analog media, except for the occasional unavoidable digital reference?
Which idiot put that into the records?
Ha. Right. Whoo.
“Si-hyun. Didn't I tell you not to do that?”
“Yes! So I haven't done it since then! This is something I got before that!”
Fuck.
Just how much did this Wild Boar of a girl plunder?
I let out a heavy sigh, patted Baek Si-hyun on the shoulder, and then walked over to Meteor.
“…Find out exactly how much information Si-hyun has uncovered.”
“…Understood.”
Even Meteor seemed flustered, unable to hide the tremor in his voice.
What a mess.
“…Uh, Si-hyun. While I’m gone for a bit, go talk to Uncle Meteor. A-bin, you cover your ears and go play with Un-ho or the Tentacle.”
“Understood!”
“…I’ll pretend I didn't hear anything.”
Once again, my two disciples showed completely opposite reactions.
Hahaha. Why is Si-hyun so confident after causing such a massive disaster?
I’m going crazy, seriously.
Anyway, I dumped everything on Meteor and immediately entered the Yellow King’s residence to escape the situation.
The entry procedure was completed in an instant, as if the Yellow King had already known I was coming.
Before long, I arrived at the very center of the residence.
Inside the Yellow King’s house, I found him sitting on a sofa, watching the news.
“…I’ve been waiting.”
He looked like a man. He wore the face of a retired Hero who had passed away in an accident, someone who could no longer be seen.
“…Did you fuse?”
“No. He left before there was any chance to fuse. This is a phantom I created.”
…So, you know everything.
You’re being quite malicious, Mr. Yellow King.
With that thought, I sat down beside him.
The interior was the Yellow King, but the exterior was the man who had once been the Red of the Sentai Squad.
On the news, there was a breaking report about the unusual behavior of the deer.
The television showed a low-resolution photo of a blue dot-like object floating in the air near a herd of deer.
…Is that me?
It was too blurry to be sure, but it was probably me.
What a strange way to end up on the news.
We watched the news together in silence.
After about a minute, the short segment on the deer ended, and just as the announcer was about to move on to a new topic, the Yellow King spoke.
“Did you find the answer to my question?”
And I answered him.
“I am me, Yellow King. Not Lee Ha-ram, not Crimson★Hammer, not Black Marauder. I am me. No one else.”
The answer I had been contemplating all this time.