Chapter 571: The Conspiracy Begins (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 571: The Conspiracy Begins (4)
The rise of the new star, Kim Do-jin, and the return of Son Si-woo, who had resumed his activities after a long sabbatical.
On top of that, there was the emergence of Son Seo-yeon, a prospective S-rank Hunter who had applied for her promotion exam at the young age of twenty-four.
Though the comparisons between the first two had caused quite a stir, Korea was undeniably in a festive mood.
And for good reason.
The number of S-rank Hunters had increased significantly in a short period.
It started with Han Ju-hee, who became a patriot upon returning from the US and declaring she would be active in Korea. Then Kim Do-jin became the world’s youngest S-rank Hunter, and now, Son Seo-yeon was next in line.
That was a total of three new S-ranks.
Of course, one of the existing S-rank Hunters, Kim Tae-yang, had committed an absurd crime, been stripped of all his rights, and thrown in prison, but that now seemed like a minor issue.
If Son Seo-yeon successfully promoted to S-rank, the number of S-rank Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea would be a staggering seven.
What’s more, one of them was in their 30s, and two others were in their 20s.
This meant their potential for future growth was wide open, their futures limitless.
Thanks to this, Korea’s standing among Asian nations, including China and Japan, was said to be skyrocketing.
They were even making diplomatic concessions that would have been impossible in the past, without even being asked.
As if that wasn't enough to make a Korean’s pride soar past the sky and into the cosmos, a statement from Kim Do-jin, who had readily agreed to an interview about Son Seo-yeon’s promotion exam, added even more fuel to the fire.
The following is the full transcript of that interview.
【Q: If Hunter Son Seo-yeon succeeds in her promotion, your party will become a guild and a party with a whopping three S-rank Hunters. How do you think such an unbelievable lineup was possible?]
[A: It’s not that unbelievable of a combination. There are quite a few parties overseas with two or three S-ranks, aren’t there? However, I think we’ll be able to show you a truly unbelievable combination soon enough.]
[Q: What is this unbelievable combination that you so confidently boast about?]
[A: Wouldn’t you have to call it unbelievable only when every member of the party is S-rank? (laughs)]
[Q: Is that really possible? Are you perhaps thinking of recruiting from outside?]
[A: No, that’s not it. All of our party members are overflowing with talent, so I believe they’ll each reach S-rank soon. It won’t be long.]
He answered the reporter’s questions in a tone filled with conviction.
That all his party members were talented enough to become S-rank Hunters.
That he would soon present a party composed entirely of S-rank Hunters.
It was a claim that was hard to believe.
But it wasn’t entirely unbelievable, either.
Though overshadowed by the names Kim Do-jin and Son Seo-yeon, the other party members—Elena, Shin Yu-jeong, and Im Na-eun—were all prodigies who had promoted to A-rank in their early twenties.
Besides, dreams are all the more thrilling the bigger they are.
Just think about it.
The chances were slim, but what if, as he said, all the remaining party members became S-rank?
It wouldn’t be just a dream for Korea to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States as a global power.
After all, even in the US, which had the most S-rank Hunters, there wasn’t a single party composed entirely of S-ranks.
Perhaps, when it came to dungeon conquering, they might even surpass the US to become the best in the world.
That was why public interest in Son Seo-yeon’s promotion exam was hotter than ever.
Depending on her performance, this swelling dream could either deflate or inflate even further.
“Are you nervous?”
Amidst all that pressure, Son Seo-yeon nodded at Kim Do-jin’s question, her expression dark.
“Yeah… A little. No… actually, a lot.”
A member of Kim Do-jin’s party.
The daughter of Son Si-woo and Han Ju-hee.
These were the titles that inevitably followed whenever her name was searched, and they hung heavily on her shoulders.
Thanks to them, the pressure she felt had become immeasurably heavy, and the anxious thoughts born from it swam relentlessly, tormenting her mind.
What if I can’t live up to people’s expectations?
A flood of criticism would surely follow.
But that was fine.
What if Do-jin… Mom, and Dad are disappointed…
That was a little scary.
The criticism of a few people she loved was far more terrifying than that of the anonymous masses.
What if they were disappointed? What if they were harmed because of her?
She was afraid that the trust and faith she had barely managed to earn would be shattered.
Kim Do-jin read her inner thoughts perfectly.
She’s been like that since she was a kid.
Was she eight years old?
He remembered a time she came home sobbing after getting a 20 on a dictation test in elementary school.
When he asked if she was that upset about the low score, she said no.
When he asked again what was making her so sad, she answered.
-“Because, because of me… hic, people are going to say Mom and Dad are bad at raising their kids, sob…!”
That was all it was.
Not because she was being teased, but because her parents were being teased because of her.
It was the fate and the shackle she was born with, being the child of the famous couple, Han Ju-hee and Son Si-woo.
Whenever their daughter failed, the names of her parents were always brought up.
She came to pathologically hate and fear causing harm to others because of herself.
Just like right now.
What should I do?
As she sat in the waiting room, waiting for the time to come, her hands and feet were trembling slightly.
If she started the promotion exam in this state, she wouldn’t stand a chance, defeated before she could even show her skills.
If that happened, it would be the end.
Son Seo-yeon would probably waste a long time trying to regain her confidence.
I can’t let that happen.
Now that he had decided to live as Kim Do-jin, Son Seo-yeon was not his daughter.
But just because his body had changed and his blood was different, he couldn’t easily sever the affection he’d built over the years.
While it might be impossible to care for her as a father anymore, it was possible to help her as a colleague.
So he had to do it.
To help her become a little stronger.
So that she could stand firmly on her own, even when she eventually learned the truth.
“Seo-yeon Sunbae.”
“Huh…?”
“Do you know what the most foolish thing in the world is?”
“Uh… I don’t know. There are too many to…”
“It’s worrying and fretting over things that haven’t even happened yet.”
Worry and anxiety.
As long as one was born human, it was impossible to live without these two things.
He himself anticipated, worried about, and prepared for future events, didn't he?
It was a source of great stress, but also a source of strength.
“Thanks to that anxiety, you’ve worked incredibly hard. Right?”
“Yeah… I really worked myself to death.”
After deciding to take the promotion exam, she had poured everything into her efforts.
So much so that even Kim Do-jin, a former training maniac, was left shaking his head in awe.
“You worked that hard, but let’s say the result isn’t good. It’s not going to happen, but let’s just say that, like you fear, I and your parents are disappointed.”
“……”
Her shoulders flinched at the mere hypothetical.
Kim Do-jin pressed her harder.
“Are you going to cower like that? Are you going to say you’re sorry?”
“Shouldn’t I…?”
“No.”
She had worked herself to death.
But the result wasn’t good.
A true process, but a failed outcome.
How should Son Seo-yeon respond to those who were disappointed?
It could be summed up in just five words.
“So what? What about it?”
“……?”
Son Seo-yeon tilted her head in confusion.
Kim Do-jin elaborated for her.
“You did your best. Right?”
“Yeah…”
“If you could go back in time in a time machine, could you work any harder than you did?”
Son Seo-yeon shook her head firmly at the follow-up question.
“No… I don’t think I could.”
“Exactly.”
“Huh…?”
“Even if you went back to the past knowing the outcome, you worked so hard that nothing more could be changed. So there’s no reason to be sorry just because the result didn’t follow.”
“Ah……”
“In fact, it’s a good opportunity.”
Son Seo-yeon tilted her head again, waiting for him to explain how that could possibly be a good opportunity.
He had been like that once, too.
Back when public interest was at its peak, and he was desperately trying to live up to their expectations.
He used to think he had to bow his head in response to the criticism and blame that followed every poor result, but after some time passed, he began to wonder.
Why do I have to bow my head?
He had done his best.
Just as she had said, he was confident he couldn’t have done better even if he went back in time.
If he still couldn’t get the result he wanted, that was something he should feel sorry to himself about, not to others, right?
Once his thoughts reached that point, he became able to classify people into two groups.
“People I should keep by my side, and people I shouldn’t.”
Kim Do-jin boldly erased those who criticized him from his heart.
Why bother keeping people who couldn’t even grasp the depth of his efforts?
After doing so, not only did his heart feel much lighter, but his life itself became easier.
“If anyone criticizes you over this result, cut them out without hesitation. Whether it’s me, or your parents.”
If he were to summarize his long-winded speech into one sentence, it would be this.
“Be more brazen, Sunbae.”
The moment your shoulders slump, your momentum is lost.
Anxious thoughts and worries take over, putting the brakes on the body that follows.
That can’t happen.
If it does, you can’t become anything.
Your own potential will narrow until it eventually closes off completely.
A person who can fly will have to be satisfied with walking, and a person who can walk will be satisfied with being crippled.
Then you’ll have regrets.
Ah, I was someone who could fly.
I was someone who could walk.
And then you start to resent.
But who?
The people who carelessly threw criticism and disappointment at you?
Or yourself, for overreacting to their every word and cowering on your own?
“You only live once, right?”
In his time as Son Si-woo, he couldn’t do that.
He had lived his life crushed by the gazes of others, suppressing what he wanted to do.
Maybe that was why.
Why he was now living a second life so defiantly.
But this was a miracle among miracles, one that would never happen again.
There was no guarantee that something like this would happen to his daughter.
“Do everything you can. Eat everything you want to eat, and don’t hesitate to take on challenges.”
So that right before you die, you can close your eyes, refreshed, without a single shred of regret.
The words he poured out so passionately, each and every one, pierced deep into her heart.
He’s right. What he’s saying is right.
She had lived her life far too suppressed.
Han Ju-hee and Son Si-woo.
Under the massive shadow they cast everywhere in Korea, she had never seen the light.
And now, she finally saw it.
My light.
My sun.
The words he spoke pierced her heart, making a feverish passion bloom within.
The things I want to do…
There were.
There were many.
Among them, what did she want to do the most?
Just as her thoughts reached that point.
A voice from outside roused her from her reverie.
“Time’s up! Hunter Son Seo-yeon, are you ready?”
“Ah… yes…!”
Unfortunately, her time was up.
She had no choice but to postpone it for a little while.
“Hey, Do-jin.”
“Yes, Sunbae.”
“I’ll be back.”
Her voice was powerful, different from before.
A smile naturally formed on his face as he saw that she had finally shaken off her nervousness.
“Do well. No, just do as much as you can and come back down. That’s enough.”
“Okay.”
She nodded with a bright smile and continued.
“Just wait a little. I’ll finish this up quick and be back.”
She turned her back.
And focused on the task before her.
Promotion.
Today, in this place, she would rise to S-rank.
To a height where, though she was still far from his level, she could at least see his back without losing sight of him.
And then, she would pour it all out.
This overwhelming heart.
She walked out of the waiting room with powerful strides.