The Price of Silence

"What do you want?"

"I'll pass. I'm never going back to that sweat-drenched hellhole."

Just then, I heard a commotion near Ahn Sang-ik. It was clear that his staff and other officials were protesting. The lack of secure communication was likely a factor they couldn't ignore.

"If this is a classified matter, you don't have to tell me. I have no intention of getting involved in anything major."

If something like that had happened, he should have come to me sooner. I couldn't understand why he was only bringing it up now. As the question clouded my mind, Ahn Sang-ik continued.

"...Which unit?"

It meant the information was relatively recent. A special task force from China wasn't something to be taken lightly.

"Do you know who they've made contact with?"

"Pi Jinhyuk..."

It was a high-risk contact. Like Ahn Sang-ik, Pi Jinhyuk was likely under heavy surveillance by the Heroes. It was natural for such a person to be watched, but I wondered why he was acting this way toward me.

"You seem to want me to take care of those bastards, but I've already left the battlefield. It's troublesome to keep ordering around a retired soldier."

I knew that the moment a war broke out, I'd be the first one called. But conversely, I also had the right to exercise a veto. I had built up enough merit and gained enough power to make that possible. Ahn Sang-ik knew this, so there had to be a reason for him to push this hard.

"Among the people whose movements were tracked... do I have a past connection with them?"

There was no answer for a moment. Then, a sigh came through the line.

Wang Shun was a 'General'-level figure who controlled one of the special forces units. The fact that such a man had crossed the border was absurd, but realizing he had contacted Pi Jinhyuk led me to a single conclusion.

'Did he have a reason to come down here immediately?'

Perhaps I had stumbled upon Pi Jinhyuk right while he was in contact with Wang Shun. That must have been why he reacted so quickly and handed over the medium of the oath so easily—to avoid creating a problem.

What if I went to the Tower right now? A man of his stature couldn't just move his residence at will. He might be hunkered down in the Tower, preparing for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his next move.

But I couldn't just raid the Tower, which was under government protection. And I couldn't just accuse them based on the fact that Wang Shun had infiltrated the country. Ultimately, a figure like Wang Shun was a source of trauma for our people. How many civilians had been sacrificed because of him and his Chinese lackeys?

'Not content with being a Doomsday cultist, now he's committing treason... Pi Jinhyuk, just how far do you intend to fall?'

"You're trying to dump your work on me quite irresponsibly for a Hero. I refuse. If it's necessary... I'll investigate it on my own."

He hung up quickly after that last remark. As I organized my complex thoughts, Ahn Somi, who had been listening to everything, asked.

"You're not actually planning to step in, are you?"

"I have no intention of fanning the flames, but as you heard, Pi Jinhyuk isn't the type to just sit still."

"What... could he be thinking?"

Go Yujin also wore a worried expression. The Tower was already a group difficult to handle, but if you added China's special forces and a monster like Wang Shun, they would become an unstoppable force of nature.

"Wang Shun might also be a Doomsday cultist. Since the group that had taken root in this country was cut in half in an instant, he might have brought his own people to expand his influence."

Wang Shun was a hero in China's eyes. In Korea, he was regarded as a homicidal maniac or a mass murderer. In a way, he was the polar opposite of me, yet unlike me, he was treated as a hero.

'Thinking about it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.'

To some high-ranking officials, I might be considered a hero too. But as long as the treatment of Dark Mages doesn't change, being a hero to them means nothing.

"Well, it doesn't seem like an immediate crisis, so shall we eat?"

Ahn Somi looked horrified at my sudden return to my cutlery, while Go Yujin just offered an awkward smile.

Contrary to my concerns, ordinary time flowed on. While some Awakened who had actively intervened in the recent Break were praised for saving many citizens, any news related to me was strictly controlled and absent from the media.

I was about to demand an explanation for this when I found myself face-to-face with a government official who had just arrived at the company.

"I apologize. If it became known that you had actively stepped in, it would have caused another social uproar, so it was a necessary measure."

"A social uproar? You've already painted Dark Mages as the axis of evil. Is it really such an uproar if such a person saves people?"

"I know you're displeased. But please consider the government's position. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The current administration is implementing a suppression policy against Awakened or specific groups that pursue powerful forces like Dark Mages. If it were known that you were flaunting such power, what do you think people would say?"

"So you're saying we should just follow your decisions to keep killing us for the government's sake?"

"I know you have no choice but to take it poorly. But I am asking for your understanding. If the government concludes that we must remain silent on this matter, we will provide sufficient compensation."

In the end, it meant "shut up and take the money."

"Mr. Kim Daesan, how long do you think we'll keep putting up with this?"

"...The number of Dark Mages in the country is just under 10,000. But what can you do with that number?"

It was a provocation. But it wasn't a number that could do much. The government army alone was over 200,000 strong, and 5,000 of them were special forces. Moreover, the majority of the Awakened in those special forces were 1st Generation. It meant they were an absurdly powerful military group.

Currently, there were fewer than 20 1st Generation Dark Mages. And with the 2nd Generation numbering fewer than 100, we would be overwhelmed if it came down to total force. It showed just how well the man in front of me understood both himself and us.

"Mr. Park Minsu, one day our relationship will be reversed."

"If an 8th Circle Dark Mage emerges, perhaps. Because they would be called a disaster. But even the three people called Dark Mage Heroes haven't crossed the wall of the 7th Circle Master. And they all say the same thing: as long as you're human, you can't cross that boundary."

They couldn't be right. In fact, they were the same old men who had said the 2nd Generation couldn't cross the 7th Circle wall. But I had crossed that boundary, and as a result, I was still pursuing growth and enlightenment through constant learning.

This wasn't a case unique to me.

"This is the expected compensation."

Park Minsu pulled out a document, and after reading it, I clicked my tongue.

"A mere 1 billion won as hush money? I've hunted thousands of hellhounds alone, you know?"

"We'll handle the rest separately and distribute it. Since the government is handling it, taxes will eat up a lot. And you know that for monsters mobilized during a Break, the byproducts are prioritized for regional recovery before the remaining amount is paid out."

I laughed because I found it amusing. It was a pleasure I hadn't felt in a long time. I hardened my expression and spoke.

"I think it's time I went to meet Mr. Kim Daesan in person. Pi Jinhyuk has been busy running around, so let's see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how the government responds, shall we?"

"...It would be better not to take actions you can't handle."

"That's not how you threaten someone."

I immediately pulled the Necronomicon from my subspace and slammed it onto the table. Park Minsu flinched in surprise.

"The moment I have nothing left to lose... do you think you can handle it?"

"...How did you get that?"

"I have no obligation to tell you. Answer me clearly. 500 billion won in compensation, cough up all the byproducts, and let's have a clean public announcement of support. I'm someone who wants to be a citizen of this country, too."

There was no immediate answer, but after a moment, thinking he was out of his depth, Park Minsu pulled out his phone. After a few rings, he spoke to someone, then handed the phone to me.

"He... says he will speak with you directly."

I took the receiver and greeted the voice on the other end with a hint of warmth.

"If you want to see my face even more gladly, push forward with what I've just proposed."

"How long are we expected to keep sacrificing ourselves?"

"It was to save the country. You know that."

The voice went silent for a moment. In the long silence that followed, Kim Daesan asked.

"Then it would be good to meet face-to-face and talk after all this time. For your information, I might not have any reason left. So if you have something to say, it's better to say it all now."

"It's a backlash against the oppression."

"It has always been the government that crossed the line. Isn't it the same this time?"

If the government were determined to suppress and cut us off, there would certainly be no future for us. But conversely, there is a clear reason why the country cannot easily get rid of us. They would lose their ability to respond to Dark Mages from other countries. War is always advantageous to the side with more cards, and Dark Mages are the strongest card. They have persecuted us, but they cannot discard us. Because war is not that far away.

"Then 1 trillion won seems appropriate."

I handed the phone back to Park Minsu, and after a few more calls, we adjusted the documents and began the procedures.