Chapter 282
Chapter 282
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: Let's Remake the Guild
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Hyo-min and Ye-ryeong cried their hearts out.
Thanks to them, Si-woo's and Soo-hyuk's tears dried up in an instant. Since someone else was crying on their behalf, the two of them just ended up with runny noses as they exchanged pointless chatter.
"They're crying even harder than when we reunited."
"What, feeling jealous?"
"A little?"
"You think you're the only one? You might not have noticed since you didn't recognize me, but I didn't even glance your way."
"True enough."
In times like this, it was actually better that their faces had changed. Soo-hyuk chuckled to himself at the thought.
Unhyang, who had anticipated this situation, had stepped back a few paces. She knew she didn't belong in this moment.
"They must have been very close friends."
Jeun-hak, who had treated Hyo-min, looked pleased.
Only then did Soo-hyuk belatedly offer his thanks.
"Thank you. We owe you."
"What did I even do? I merely mitigated the side effects a bit. You all are the ones who obtained the antidote."
"That's more than enough."
It was just as Soo-hyuk was thanking Jeun-hak.
"That guy in the back... Si-woo, right?"
Hyo-min, who had been sobbing in Ye-ryeong's arms for a while, looked at Si-woo and asked.
Si-woo smirked, arms crossed as if sulking.
"You spotted me quick."
"You guys... you're really alive."
"Not just us."
Si-woo nodded toward Soo-hyuk. Naturally, Hyo-min's gaze followed.
Who's this guy? her expression seemed to ask.
"This is Soo-hyuk."
"Soo-hyuk?"
"It's a long story..."
As if urging him to explain, Si-woo trailed off and glanced at Soo-hyuk.
"Well, yeah. No wonder you can't recognize me looking like this."
Tzztztz-
Instead of a detailed explanation, Soo-hyuk summoned lightning in his hand.
Hyo-min's eyes widened in shock. She stared at the crackling lightning in his palm with disbelief.
Soo-hyuk shrugged.
"Yeah, that's how it happened."
"H-how...?"
"Died and came back. In more ways than one."
A lot of details were skipped, but it didn't matter. The fact that he was Lee Soo-hyuk was undeniable.
Hyo-min, who had just woken up, had no idea about the streamer Lee Soo-hyuk. All she saw was another Lee Soo-hyuk who wielded lightning.
His appearance had changed, but she didn't doubt it was him.
His speech, his vibe, the lightning—above all, Si-woo and Ye-ryeong being there sealed it.
In fact, it was easier for her to recognize Soo-hyuk than for the viewers Si-woo and Ye-ryeong had been.
"Even Soo-hyuk..."
Hyo-min's eyes welled up again.
"I thought... you died because of us..."
It hit him late, but Hyo-min had always been the emotional, teary type.
Soo-hyuk scratched his nose awkwardly as she shed tears once more.
"Well, I did die—"
Thwack-
As he tried to explain again, a dull impact hit his side.
He looked and saw Ye-ryeong had snuck up and jabbed him with her fist.
"Wanna ruin the mood?"
"She's misunderstanding."
"Then are you alive right now, or dead?"
"I did die, though."
"Are you seriously this dense?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ugh, seriously. This is what a streamer looks like."
Ye-ryeong thumped her chest in frustration before bursting into a smirk. Hyo-min was still crying in front, but the atmosphere was brighter than ever.
'Couldn't have imagined this not long ago.'
The 20 years of losing her friends and living cut off from the world had been dark and dreary every single day.
She had thought it was a past she could never return to. She and Si-woo had endured using "us" just for the two of them.
But now, two more had joined that "us."
Not everyone from back then was there, but still.
This sense of solidity... it had been so long.
Jeun-hak slipped outside for a moment.
The house was still lively inside. The chatter reached even here, so they must be truly happy.
A smile crept onto his face. It had been ages since he'd felt someone's youth so tangibly.
As Jeun-hak stood outside, Soo-hyuk followed him out.
"Isn't the wind chilly?"
Perhaps due to Si-woo's influence, the air outside was quite cold. Soo-hyuk used the weather as an excuse to urge Jeun-hak back inside.
"I figured you all would want some time alone."
"Looks like we've been neglecting you, sir."
"Nonsense. Just having me here is more than enough."
Jeun-hak stood with hands behind his back, facing the cold breeze, his expression showing not a hint of resentment.
If anything, he looked content.
"I'm just jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Because of those friends of yours? The reason you've been hiding like you were dead all this time."
He hadn't heard the full story, but Jeun-hak seemed to know it all.
And he was right, so Soo-hyuk nodded. If it had been him, with Si-woo and Ye-ryeong in that situation, he would've done the same.
"I've lived this long without ever having a true friend. I thought the only ones worth sacrificing for were family."
Jeun-hak's gaze turned toward the house, from which boisterous voices leaked.
"Making even one friend like that in a lifetime means a successful life. In that sense, yours are better than mine."
"Why compare like that?"
"Just a figure of speech."
Jeun-hak chuckled as if joking around. It was the brightest expression Soo-hyuk had seen since meeting him in the murim world.
"So, no more reason to hide now?"
"A bit late for that. We've caused too much trouble already."
"I see. Fair enough."
From the Blue House to the Sacheon Tang Clan, they had already stirred up plenty.
They had already rocked the Tower. Hiding no longer suited them.
"That said, we won't rush. Our enemies are too big, and we want certainty."
"Certainty..."
Jeun-hak sensed the conviction in Soo-hyuk's words.
"You have a plan."
And sure enough.
"Not that concrete yet."
A single image lingered in Soo-hyuk's mind.
It was still blurry for now.
If there was a long road ahead, this was merely the first step in choosing a direction.
But the first step was as crucial as the distance traveled. A wrong one could lead entirely astray.
Yet Soo-hyuk was certain of this first step.
He continued.
"From now on..."
Fortunately, Hyo-min's condition wasn't bad.
After so long, she complained of hunger. Having slept for ages, it was natural.
Meal prep was quick. Simple porridge, but even that tasted great to her.
"This is weird."
Hyo-min tilted her head as she shoveled it down.
"Tastes off, right?"
Si-woo shot Ye-ryeong a look as if to say see? Ye-ryeong had rolled up her sleeves insisting she'd handle the meal for Hyo-min, but her cooking skills were as lacking as ever.
"That's part of it, but..."
"Then what?"
"My condition feels strangely good."
Still tilting her head, Hyo-min checked her body.
She had woken several times before, but never felt this good. Always half-drained, heavy, listless—but now, far better.
"Kim Il-su woke me up a few times. But it wasn't like this then..."
"Kim Il-su woke you?"
"Yeah. Like he was checking if I was alive. But back then, I felt completely drained."
Hyo-min still looked puzzled.
"Maybe just my imagination?"
Could meeting old comrades again be lifting her spirits?
But the difference was too stark to dismiss as mood.
"It's thanks to Master Jeun-hak."
"Master Jeun-hak?"
"The one who helped wake you. Be sure to thank him later."
"I will."
Seeing Hyo-min's reaction, Ye-ryeong thanked Jeun-hak once more.
Even with just the antidote, they might have woken her, but not in this bright state.
"What about Soo-hyuk?"
She must have found his sudden face change odd.
"Why'd your face turn all babyish? Plastic surgery? Well, this looks better anyway."
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong exchanged glances. How to explain was one issue; how she'd take it was another.
'She'll believe it. But...'
Right now, she believed Soo-hyuk hadn't died right there.
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong remembered hearing of his death. Learning he died for them, the grief they'd felt...
How to even say it? Or should they tell the truth?
As the two hesitated, unsure how to broach it.
"What're you all talking about?"
Soo-hyuk returned from outside, having met Jeun-hak.
"Eating porridge, huh. Ye-ryeong's cooking? Must taste like crap."
"Why the sudden beef?"
She sounded curt, but Ye-ryeong was glad inside. It deflected the awkward question smoothly.
Sensing the mood, Soo-hyuk checked Hyo-min over.
"How's it feel? Waking up after so long."
"Surprisingly refreshed. Back's a bit stiff, though."
"Adapting to the world will take time. Things changed a lot while you slept."
It was concern for her, but Si-woo and Ye-ryeong knew it came from experience.
Soo-hyuk, who died once saving them, had crossed 20 years to return. They couldn't imagine that gap for him.
Hyo-min's case was much milder than his.
Unlike Soo-hyuk, who lost everything and started over, she'd just been paused for a long time.
"It'll probably be... tough for a while."
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong's hearts ached.
Soo-hyuk's casual tone felt lonely. They suddenly thought of how he must have felt returning across 20 years.
He probably understood Hyo-min's feelings best here. Or maybe she could understand him.
"I'm ready for it."
Fortunately, Hyo-min was tough. Soo-hyuk grinned, relieved.
Maybe because she'd slept so long? She felt more like her old self than even Si-woo or Ye-ryeong.
Yeah. She'd overcome it. That's the Hyo-min he knew.
And thanks to that.
"Everyone, I have something to say."
Now he could say this so easily in front of them all.
"What is it?"
"Getting all serious suddenly."
All eyes turned to Soo-hyuk.
And then.
"Us..."
With Hyo-min awake, Soo-hyuk finally voiced what he'd been holding back.
"Let's remake the guild."