Chapter 124
"Lee Tae-cheon is strong. Friend, why are you not strong?"
"Huh...."
What was this guy even picking a fight for now?
And with words that left me nothing to say back.
For some reason, it dragged me right back to my orphanage days.
Han Jae-im had once asked Tae-cheon something similar.
"Why do you even hang around with someone like Baek Do-woon?"
Back then, his question had been thick with malice toward me....
"...."
"...."
Duration: ongoing
Curiosity.
That was right. There was nothing but pure curiosity on Liu Yiho's face as he looked at me.
I couldn't find even a trace of hostility.
He really had just asked because he was curious.
What surprised me more was that he hadn't been trying to start a fight at all.
Liu Yiho walked on slowly as he went on speaking.
To match his pace, we naturally drifted a little away from Li Lianzhe and the minister.
"Lee Tae-cheon, Korea's best tank."
"Mm. That's true."
I couldn't deny that.
With Choi Hee-seok in the picture, there was room to argue over the word "best," but at least to me, Tae-cheon was the best.
Of course, that was my subjective opinion.
But the same was true for him.
"I wanted to test myself against him."
Liu Yiho thought so too.
He had his own subjective standards.
If the thought of testing himself against Tae-cheon hadn't crossed his mind, then he probably wouldn't have acknowledged Tae-cheon as Korea's best tank in the first place.
"So? Want me to introduce you?"
Liu Yiho shook his head.
Well, we'd be meeting naturally once we got to the banquet hall anyway.
We could build a connection there.
If the timing worked out, we might even just brush past each other in the airport building.
"Are you really his friend?"
"What?"
The young tree felt dislike from the human beside you.
Saessak sent me a message.
It was probably trying to tell me that Liu Yiho didn't mean me any harm.
Even if he wasn't hostile....
"No way. You're way too weak."
"Huh...."
Who would feel good hearing that?
Even if I personally admitted I still wasn't anywhere near Tae-cheon's level.
The young tree says the World Tree manager has become very strong.
Duration: ongoing
Saessak sent another message, as if it wanted to comfort me.
And that was true.
I'd grown absurdly stronger in less than a month.
The problem was that strength was always relative.
I wasn't strong enough to fight an S-class hunter or his prized disciple.
Nor was I at the level where I could stand shoulder to shoulder with a man called the best tank in the country.
If I judged my current strength objectively... I'd probably be around the level of an ordinary A-class hunter.
I was stronger than most A-class hunters thanks to the World Tree's mana and my related skills, but....
That was all.
I wasn't at the level of Tae-cheon, the so-called first-tier A-class hunters.
Still, calling me "way too weak" and flatly declaring "No way" was a little much, wasn't it?
Friendship wasn't decided by whether someone was strong or weak.
You became friends if you were the same age and got along.
Why was he obsessing over skill and strength like that?
"That—"
"...."
"Oh?"
I was about to object, but I couldn't.
Liu Yiho had already stopped looking at me.
His walking speed also picked up again.
He moved half a step ahead of me and Jo Joo-hyun, who was standing to my left.
It was as though his interest in me had completely vanished.
Wow. What a rude little bastard.
Was he really acting smug just because he was an S-class hunter's disciple?
"Um... are you all right?"
Jo Joo-hyun's voice came from my left.
He had witnessed the whole exchange and looked a little stuck, unsure whether he should be angry on my behalf or comfort me.
He didn't seem to know how to react.
I probably would have been the same.
What was there to say to someone who'd just been called weak by another man?
Asking if he was okay was probably the best anyone could do.
"Well...."
I let out a long breath and shrugged.
"I'm fine."
"Huh? You're fine?"
Jo Joo-hyun asked back, startled.
Why was he so surprised?
Anyone listening would think I'd said something insane.
"Yes."
"Really...?"
"....? Yes, but?"
Why did he keep asking?
There was nothing for me not to be fine about.
Sure, I had bristled for a moment when some guy I'd never seen before said that to my face, but that was it.
I could've let it go for the same reason.
It wasn't exactly a matter worth blowing up over just because some stranger said something stupid.
Declaring that guy wasn't my friend wouldn't change anything.
It wouldn't suddenly make Tae-cheon and me stop being friends.
"...I see. Understood."
The way Jo Joo-hyun said that, his gaze wasn't exactly kind.
Before, he'd been looking at me with concern. Now there was none of that left.
The young tree sensed dissatisfaction from the human beside you.
Instead, there was clear annoyance.
Why all of a sudden?
Jo Joo-hyun took his eyes off me and walked on, staring straight ahead.
His pace matched Liu Yiho's.
Huh. What was his problem now?
"...."
"...."
"...."
After that, none of the three of us said a word.
It was the opposite of the two men in front of us, whose conversation had never stopped until we reached the airport building.
The minister kept buttering Li Lianzhe up without a trace of exhaustion.
"Your Korean is excellent!" or,
"Master Li Lianzhe, you're my hero!"
No, maybe it wasn't fair to call it mere flattery.
The expression on the minister's face as he looked at Li Lianzhe was like that of a boy fan standing beside his idol.
Maybe because his feelings were so sincere and pure?
Li Lianzhe chuckled, answering, "I am at a loss for words with such praise."
The minister's sycophantic run finally ended when we entered the airport building.
He kept his dignity there, since his subordinates were waiting at the door.
Though maybe it was a little late for that.
His broad grin and chatty face had probably already been broadcast on television.
A man in a suit came forward.
"I'll guide you."
"Mm."
The minister nodded.
The man stood in front of the minister and Li Lianzhe and led the way immediately.
The minister and Li Lianzhe followed him.
At that moment, a message window appeared.
Direction: toward the manager
Duration: instant
Toward me?
After reading Saessak's message, I quickly scanned my surroundings.
I wanted to know who had sent even that tiny bit of mana my way.
Liu Yiho wasn't looking at me.
He seemed almost determined to remain completely indifferent.
In that state, there was no way he'd be sending mana toward me.
Jo Joo-hyun, unlike the one in front, met my eyes from time to time.
Each time, he gave me a disgruntled look.
Was he trying to needle me by sending mana my way...?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Saessak sent another message.
Duration: ongoing
Pure and complete mana....
Up until now, Saessak had used that expression for exactly one person.
Li Lianzhe.
That meant... Li Lianzhe had sent a tiny bit of mana at me?
No, why would he do that...?
Had I done something without even realizing it?
I frowned and looked at Li Lianzhe.
He was laughing and chatting with the minister, looking all genial and harmless.
While he was talking with that kindly expression, he'd been sending mana at me from behind—
"....!"
Li Lianzhe's eyes flicked toward me.
Our eyes met dead on.
"Ohh...."
A fascinated exclamation slipped from Li Lianzhe's mouth.
The atmosphere changed at once.
Liu Yiho jumped and looked at his master, while Jo Joo-hyun reached for his waist before realizing he had no weapon and panicked.
Saessak did the same.
Messages came flying at me in a hurry.
Warning! Warning!
The young tree warns the manager!
It strongly recommends leaving this place immediately!
It strongly recommends once again that you move far away from the human in front of you!
"Interesting."
The old man with a head and beard both white as snow spoke.
He had only said a few words, but I felt cold sweat break out down my back.
My body had sensed it instinctively.
Death was right in front of me.
Well, my body may have felt it, but my brain didn't.
So my brain kept babbling away inside my skull.
What the hell is this old bastard talking about?
＊＊＊
After changing into formal wear and leaving the airport, we got straight into the car.
The vehicle was a limousine the government had already arranged and left waiting for us.
As an ordinary citizen, this was my first time riding in a limousine, and I wanted nothing more than to go wild with delight.
I wanted to act like those little scenes from dramas and say, "Wow, this is amazing!"
Normally, I would have done exactly that.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
Only silence flowed through the limousine.
The six men, including the driver, never opened their mouths.
Now and then, I saw the driver glance at the back seat through the rearview mirror.
It must have seemed strange and curious that the passengers weren't saying a single word.
But being a professional, he didn't ask why. He just kept both hands on the wheel and did his job in silence.
To that driver, who was showing such professional discipline, I wanted to say, "This is all because of that old bastard Li Lianzhe!"
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
Maybe the others were thinking the same thing.
After Li Lianzhe muttered something to me at the airport, he kept watching me.
He kept doing it as we left the airport.
He kept doing it as we got into the limousine.
He kept observing every little thing I did even now, on the way to the 63 Building.
That observation, unbothered by anyone else's glances, continued even when the minister tried speaking to him.
"Mm."
"Is that so?"
"Haha, I see."
He only answered in short fragments.
Maybe that was why?
I felt like I was some animal in a zoo....
No.
More like a guinea pig in a laboratory.
That really didn't sit well with me, so I pulled out my smartphone to change my mood.
As soon as I took it out, everyone else's eyes shifted toward me.
Even Liu Yiho, who'd been determined to stay indifferent, looked my way.
Well, once his master, Li Lianzhe, started staring at me, Liu Yiho couldn't keep ignoring me either.
I didn't care either way.
I launched Growing the World Tree from the top of my phone screen.
Then the feelings in those eyes turned from curiosity into something else.
"....!"
Shock.
Jo Joo-hyun, Liu Yiho, and the minister all looked stunned.
They clearly hadn't expected me to start up a mobile game.
Only Li Lianzhe didn't seem surprised.
The old man grinned, looking entertained.
"...."
When the old man laughed,
Warning! Warning!
The young tree warns the manager!
It strongly recommends leaving this place immediately!
Saessak sent another warning.
What the hell is wrong with this old bastard from the start?
Buzz.
My smartphone vibrated.
[What exactly are you doing right now!!]
It was a text from the minister.
He was glaring over here with his eyes wide open.
What am I doing?
[Playing a game.]
[You think I asked because I didn't know?]
[Am I not allowed to?]
[How could you possibly be allowed to!!!!!!]
[Sulking]
[Don't send me emotional emojis!]
Tap, tap!
The sound of someone striking a screen harshly came from across from me.
It was the minister.
He wasn't holding out his smartphone openly.
He was tapping at it without looking, so Li Lianzhe wouldn't notice.
He seemed to be listening to the messages I'd sent through the earbud smartpod.
Good skills.
[Did you do something wrong?]
[No. I didn't.]
[Then why is he acting like that?]
[How would I know? We've been together the whole time. I didn't do anything.]
[....]
That was true.
I really had just been sitting there.
If anything had happened, it was on Li Lianzhe's side, not mine.
He'd sent a tiny bit of mana toward me.
And I had only noticed it thanks to Saessak....
Huh?
Could that be why he kept watching me?
[Minister.]
[What is it? Did you remember something wrong you did?]
[No, I keep telling you I didn't do anything wrong.]
[Hard to believe that from someone rudely keeping a smartphone game open. Why don't you shut that thing off already?]
[Sulking]
[I said don't do that.]
[What exactly did Li Lianzhe say at the airport?]
[What?]
[At the airport. He said something while looking at me, didn't he?]
[Ah. That.... It wasn't anything much.]
[I'm asking what he said.]
[He said, "Interesting. Very interesting."]
"...."
So....
Right now, Li Lianzhe was enjoying the fact that I'd noticed the mana he'd sent out?
Huh.
I looked at Li Lianzhe.
The old man was staring at the smartphone in my hand, as though he were curious what I was doing.
I flipped the screen over so he couldn't see it.
Then, naturally, his gaze lifted back to me.
"...."
"...."
When our eyes met, Li Lianzhe smiled faintly.
It was a friendly-looking smile, but....
Warning! Warning!
The young tree warns the manager!
It strongly recommends leaving this place immediately!
Saessak kept sending warnings.
Ugh, this is driving me insane.
That old bastard.