Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: This Will Work
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From the start, the relationship between Wang-sik and Han Young-im hadn't been one of equals.
Wang-sik, having saved her daughter, always held the upper hand, and their use of the exchange tilted the scales even further in his favor.
He had grown accustomed to it and had taken things too lightly.
“I was being short-sighted. I apologize.”
As Wang-sik bowed his head, Han Young-im's expression softened slightly, and she soon revealed her own apologetic feelings.
“I also failed to control my emotions. I know I'm not in a position to act that way.”
“It’s because you were being sincere.”
“That’s right. I already thought of us as a team. Even though that's not the case yet. I apologize as well.”
The two of them acknowledged their respective faults.
Wang-sik had used her too selfishly, and Han Young-im had concluded they were a team without asking for his opinion.
“Truthfully, I've built up enough trust in you based on everything you've done so far. I just hesitated because the secret we hold is too great.”
As Wang-sik said this, he looked at Min Ha-na. Min Ha-na nodded in agreement.
“Your opinion is important too. You're a team member.”
“I know. For now, whatever your opinion on this matter is, I agree. I think that's the right thing to do.”
Wang-sik accepted Min Ha-na's opinion and spoke to Han Young-im.
He thought it over one more time before speaking, but his conclusion remained the same.
‘I absolutely need Chairwoman Han Young-im.’
If she turned her back on him, creating another option would be far from easy. It might even lead to more secrets being revealed.
‘The time has come to make a decision.’
Having made his decision, Wang-sik spoke.
“I should say this first. Once you know our secret and become part of the team, the path ahead will not be an easy one.”
“When I became the chairwoman, the Guseong Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. But I pulled through. That process was by no means easy.”
“What if it's worse than that?”
Han Young-im saw that the look in Wang-sik's eyes was more serious than ever before.
“It seems you're going to tell me more than I anticipated.”
“Yes. If we become a team, there will be no secrets. And what you learn will be so significant that little else will matter.”
“What in the world are you involved in, Mr. Wang-sik?”
Wang-sik looked Han Young-im in the eye and said,
“I am fighting to protect humanity.”
It sounded like a truly childish joke.
That's how it should have been taken.
But she couldn't.
“Are you saying your 'Earth Defense Force' isn't just a hobby?”
“The situation is more intense and difficult than any video you've ever seen, Chairwoman.”
Han Young-im briefly averted her gaze.
It was to look at Min Ha-na.
In business, there are times when you can discern the truth from the behavior of those around you.
But Min Ha-na was listening with a serious expression, without the slightest tremor.
‘Is he being serious?’
She had expected a big secret, but she hadn't imagined the conversation would become this serious.
“Honestly, I'm scared.”
“That means you have good instincts.”
Wang-sik drank his tea, giving Han Young-im time to think.
During that time, Han Young-im had many thoughts, but her conclusion didn't change.
“I'll listen. I should listen not as a businesswoman, but as your friend, Wang-sik.”
“Understood.”
From then on, Wang-sik began his long story.
He started with the story of his abduction and return, continued with details about the Azelan Continent, and even revealed that he and Min Ha-na had hunted together in the Decartes Mountains.
Throughout the story, Han Young-im listened without any change in expression. But that didn't mean she wasn't surprised.
On the contrary, she was so shocked that she could only listen in a daze.
“So, we're in a situation where we need to build a temporary base. We have to create a secret gate that connects to the Azelan Continent.”
“Whew.”
When the long story ended, Han Young-im sighed and drank her tea. She couldn't help the slight tremor in the hand holding the cup.
“I've just heard an incredible story. I knew you were special, Mr. Wang-sik, but I never imagined it was to this extent.”
“You can refuse.”
“Do I have that choice?”
“Given the trust you've shown me, I believe you'll keep the secret. It's a story everyone will learn someday, so you just need to bear it until then.”
Hearing those words, Han Young-im's trembling stopped.
Wang-sik's faith in her helped her regain her composure, and countless thoughts raced through her mind.
“You don't have to give me an answer right away.”
“Yes. Please give me some time. It won't take long.”
To avoid pressuring her, Wang-sik stood up from his seat first.
Han Young-im maintained her courtesy and bowed until the end, but once they left, she sat back down. And for a long while, she couldn't bring herself to leave that spot.
For three days, Han Young-im didn't go to work.
She had officially taken a vacation to give herself time, and during that period, she did a lot of thinking.
There were many reasons to refuse.
“But there are too many reasons to accept, too.”
This was the source of her dilemma.
“Mom!”
As she was deep in thought in her study, she heard Yura's voice.
Han Young-im paused her thoughts and left the study to find Yura standing there, wearing a pretty dress, unlike her usual attire.
“Mom! You promised to take me to the amusement park!”
“Ah!”
“Did you forget?”
“I'm sorry. I'll get ready right away.”
She had made the promise, wanting to create memories with her daughter for at least one day during her vacation, but she had completely forgotten.
Han Young-im hurried to get ready and went to the amusement park with Yura.
Despite it being a weekday afternoon, quite a few people were at the park.
“Wow!”
The great thing about amusement parks is that everyone's faces are bright.
Han Yura, just like any other child, was brimming with excitement and pulled her mother by the hand.
‘Right. For now, I'll forget about it.’
Han Young-im decided to focus on her daughter.
They started by eating ice cream together, and she even rode an amusement park ride for the first time in her life.
In the haunted house, she had to become a mighty warrior, not to quell her own fear, but to soothe her daughter's terror.
They played until they were exhausted, and as evening fell, they found a table at a restaurant inside the park.
As the brilliant lights began to turn on, the amusement park transformed into a fairy-tale scene.
“Mom, thank you.”
“Thank you too, honey. Thanks to you, Mommy had a lot of fun.”
“Mom. Let's come again next year.”
“Next year is a long way off, isn't it?”
“You're very busy, Mom. I know that much. Once a year is enough.”
Yura didn't whine like she usually did. It was probably because she'd had so much fun at the park.
“Oh? There's a parade!”
Yura watched the procession pass beyond the glass wall and smiled brightly.
The image of her daughter that entered her eyes was more beautiful than any photograph in the world.
But looking at that happy face, Wang-sik's words came to mind.
—I am fighting to protect humanity.
It's for everyone.
And that 'everyone' included the Han Yura whom Han Young-im loved so dearly.
What would happen if, as Wang-sik said, Earth fell to the Azelan Continent?
A fairy-tale world like this would probably never be seen again.
‘It's not just about saving lives.’
Happiness and laughter.
That was the meaning of stopping an invasion.
“Hmph.”
Yura, who was watching the parade, made a disappointed sound.
“What's wrong?”
“Mr. Wang-sik isn't there.”
The parade included cosplayers of famous Awakeners. Most of them were Awakeners popular with children, and a Min Ha-na cosplayer could be seen.
“Oh? It's Miss Ha-na.”
Currently, the most popular Awakener in Korea was, by far, Min Ha-na.
Her nickname, the Flame Queen, had spread not just in Korea but across the world, and her actions lived up to the title.
Her every move was newsworthy, and at one point, a massive recruitment war had broken out over her.
“When I become an Awakener, I'm going to save people like Mr. Wang-sik. Hmph, I want to awaken too.”
Yura was genuinely disappointed, but from Han Young-im's perspective, she couldn't help but nag.
“Yura, wouldn't that be too dangerous?”
“Mom, what would have happened to me if everyone decided not to do it because it was dangerous?”
Han Young-im couldn't answer that question.
“Mr. Wang-sik saved me. That's why he's so cool. I'm going to like him every single day. Hehe.”
Han Young-im let out a hollow laugh.
“My Yura is smarter than her mom.”
“Huh? That's not true. You're the smartest person in the world, Mom.”
Yura said without a moment's hesitation.
“You think Mommy's smart?”
“Yeah! The smartest in the whole world!”
Han Young-im lovingly took in her daughter's charming display.
‘I have to protect this. Let's not pass the responsibility to someone else.’
Her dilemma was over.
Han Young-im went to Incheon herself and took a seat in the same old, rundown restaurant.
Facing Wang-sik and Min Ha-na, she spoke in her characteristically calm and confident voice.
“Leave everything that happens on Earth entirely to me. I will support you without fail.”
This was the moment Han Young-im took on the role of their supporter. And her plan was far more concrete and systematic than Wang-sik had imagined.
“A team will be formed. I will manage every aspect of your lives, excluding a minimum of personal privacy. Furthermore, the Guseong Group will also pursue business interests by leveraging your activities. Of course, these profits will be reinvested back into your operations.”
Her words were bold and unhesitating.
“To achieve this, you will need to officially sign an exclusive contract with the Guseong Group. Do you agree?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“I'm fine with that too.”
Having decided to become a team, they chose to trust each other without reservation.
“I will support you to the best of my ability, but I will not forgo the interests of the Guseong Group.”
Han Young-im clearly stated the goals she had set.
“I have two goals. The first is to help you achieve your objective. The second is that when this is all over, the Guseong Group will be the top corporation in the world.”
Her candid declaration actually inspired trust.
“Then let's save the world together.”
Han Young-im extended her hand, and Wang-sik and Min Ha-na took it in turn.
The meeting with Han Young-im didn't end at the restaurant.
It was Wang-sik who suggested they head to Seoul in the car Min Ha-na was driving.
“There's a friend you need to meet. He's our third combat member.”
Min Ha-na, already knowing the story, drove in silence, while Han Young-im listened with a surprised expression.
It was such a tragic story that Han Young-im's expression was grim throughout. Even Min Ha-na, who already knew it, felt her eyes sting.
“He can't join the team right now. We decided to wait until his sister's treatment is finished.”
“Of course. I hope the treatment goes well.”
“And there's one more person. I'd love to bring her in as the fourth member, but she's still too young, so I'm thinking about it.”
They arrived at Hanmin University Hospital, where Sa Seon-yeong was being treated.
Soft music was playing in the hospital room.
It was a song of wordless humming, one that calmed the heart just by listening.
“This song is nice, isn't it?”
“Is this a Seo I-ryeon song too? It's really good.”
The two girls, who were the same age, were talking with a smartphone between them.
“Seon-gi! How's this song?”
Sa Seon-gi nodded without a word.
“Agh! I told you to answer with words. We agreed to practice social skills, right? When you answer, look at the person's face! A slight smile! Is that a smile? Are you filming a horror movie?”
Gong Yeong-ji nagged at Sa Seon-gi. Seeing this, Sa Seon-yeong laughed brightly, and because he liked seeing that, Sa Seon-gi complied with all of Gong Yeong-ji's demands.
Of course, though he tried his best to follow her instructions, he had never once received praise from Gong Yeong-ji.
Just then, the hospital room door opened, and Wang-sik walked in.
“Everyone doing well?”
Everyone showed a pleased expression at Wang-sik's visit. But when she saw the person following him, Gong Yeong-ji screamed.
“Ah! It's Min Ha-na!”
Gong Yeong-ji suddenly ran up and stood before Min Ha-na.
“What? You like Min Ha-na more than your savior?”
“This is what popularity looks like. Stay out of it.”
Wang-sik grumbled and approached Sa Seon-yeong.
“Your expression has brightened up a lot.”
“Yeah. I'm not in pain, and I feel good.”
Before they knew it, Sa Seon-gi had come up beside them.
Among the group chatting so freely, one person simply watched.
It was Han Young-im, standing at the entrance to the room.
She silently took in everyone in the room.
The world's greatest tanker.
The flame mage who officially became the 7th S-rank.
The Azelan Continent's greatest assassin.
The A-rank healer with the rarest class.
Han Young-im was certain.
‘This will work.’