Good and Evil (3)
“Everyone out, get out!”
Did she think her identity was already exposed? Out of nowhere, El started chasing all the challengers inside the exchange out.
“Hey, it’s my turn now……”
“Whatever, we’re closed for the day, so get out!”
“Closed? Since when? If there’s a closing time, you should’ve announced it in advance……”
The challengers behind Yun-seok grumbled in dissatisfaction, but El ignored them like a tyrant.
“Uh, do I have to go out too? Ah, no…… I’ll head out.”
Pahur, who had come with him, muttered blankly before quickly reading the mood and leaving on his own.
Click.
El chased out all the challengers and locked the door. Now, only Yun-seok and El remained inside.
El stood face-to-face with Yun-seok. Then, she recited lines like some final boss from a game.
“Hehe! I’ve been waiting for you!”
“You’ve been waiting……?”
“Yes. I knew you’d come to the 7th Floor Plaza.”
Waiting for him? The sudden serious atmosphere was one thing, but he had no idea why, so he tensed up considerably. Meanwhile, doubts kept rising in his mind. If she’d really been waiting, why had she seemed flustered when they met? And why had she denied being El when he asked what she was doing here?
He’d soon get the answer.
“S-So, don’t get the wrong idea? If it weren’t you, Yun-seok, I never would’ve volunteered for this pathetic job?”
‘…She was embarrassed, that’s why.’
All his questions cleared up, but out of consideration for El, Yun-seok pretended not to notice.
Still, he was a bit curious how she’d navigate future difficulties.
“I see. Mind telling me why you were waiting here for me? Volunteering for a job like this suggests it’s no small matter……”
“……”
Did she act first and think later? Contrary to expectations, El clammed up like a mute who’d eaten honey.
In the end, unable to stand it, Yun-seok created an escape route for her himself.
“You’re here because of the Blood Demon Divine Art, right?”
“…Yes, you’ve already experienced it, so you know the side effects?”
El was more brazen than expected. Completely unaware Yun-seok had figured her out, she smoothly continued.
Good thing he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, he couldn’t have hidden his amused expression.
With things turning out like this, Yun-seok decided to ask El the questions he’d been wanting about the Blood Demon Divine Art.
“Did you know about the side effects in advance?”
“…No, I didn’t know either.”
“Then that means my future self found a solution. So, to ask: can the ‘Heart of Freedom’ authority resolve the side effects?”
“I don’t know. But I think it can.”
“I see. It was a nagging worry, but coming here and learning this…… Thanks, now I can relax.”
“…It’s only natural. You’re my one and only contractor, Yun-seok.”
Yun-seok imagined El’s face flushing hot under her hood. No, he hoped so. If she could lie without changing expression, he might not be able to trust her anymore.
“Can you buy authorities here too?”
“No, WP can only be used in the manager’s domain.”
Domain probably meant that hut from before. In other words, he had to reach the 10th floor to buy the ‘Heart of Freedom’ and resolve the side effects.
The conversation lulled into brief silence.
Yun-seok hesitated, then broached the difficult topic.
“Do you know what happened at the 6th Floor Plaza?”
“Yes, I’m always watching you. I’m sorry. I could’ve said something sooner, but I didn’t know it had changed like that.”
El apologized for not warning him about the 6th Floor Plaza beforehand. But Yun-seok didn’t think she had anything to apologize for. Even if she’d told him, he might’ve gone anyway.
But the real point of his question was this.
“Was what I did right?”
Of course, the alliance members at the 6th Floor Plaza deserved death. But arriving at the 7th Floor Plaza made him realize the Judgment Mark wasn’t absolute. Maybe the Blood Demon Qi’s side effects had narrowed his vision without him knowing.
That’s why he wanted El’s opinion.
El held her words for a long time before calmly speaking.
“At least to me… yes, Yun-seok, you weren’t wrong.”
She didn’t rattle off excuses like good and evil being subjective or that killing hundreds of villains saved dozens. She just said it plainly.
And somehow, that comforted him greatly.
“As I said before, I want you to live enjoying rights without any obligations. So……”
El continued firmly.
“Go the path you choose. No matter where it leads. My only wish is that you’re bound by nothing. If needed, I’ll bear all the remnants of your footsteps myself.”
The clumsy El from moments ago was gone. Just like their first meeting, when she’d declared no one could harm Yun-seok here, only a reliable woman remained.
But Yun-seok decided not to lean on her.
“No need for that.”
It was just a bit of confusion. He’d never planned to run from the start.
“If I ever have to take responsibility, I won’t push it onto anyone else.”
Even at Yun-seok’s resolute tone, El wasn’t offended. Instead, she smiled faintly, as if she’d expected it.
“If that’s what you want, fine. Do it your way.”
With that, the topic wrapped up neatly. Belatedly, he wondered if those were pretty corny lines. An awkward silence settled between them.
Soon, Yun-seok bowed to El.
“Thank you.”
He meant it. Saving him from the Heavenly Martial Artist before, silently supporting him through these trivial tasks now. Even beyond that, her authorities were a huge help. Without them, he might not have had the power to act against the 6th floor’s evil.
“I really think contracting with you was a blessing.”
No flowery words. Someone more eloquent might’ve expressed his sincerity more smoothly. But El was more satisfied than anything.
It was crude and awkward, and that made it hit harder.
“I really think contracting with you was a blessing too. Truly.”
One hid behind a mask, the other under a deep hood, both smiling slyly where the other couldn’t see.
* * *
Afterward, Yun-seok chatted a bit more with El before parting. Stepping out of the exchange, Pahur was waiting.
“What was that about? You know the staff?”
“Know her? She’s my contracted manager.”
“Hah! So the rumors were true!”
The managers he’d seen at the Wish Auction seemed absolute beings. So perhaps that’s why Pahur looked incredulous that they’d do such work for challengers’ convenience.
“By the way, they said the exchange will stay closed?”
“It’ll open again soon.”
“Guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer then.”
“No, just go. She gave me plenty of AP to skip using places like this.”
“Man, that’s like pocket money from a wife…… No, I’m jealous! If it’s not too much trouble, could you buy me an ice cream?”
“……”
Yun-seok headed to the ice cream stand with Pahur. The staff was a mild-looking man zealously hawking to challengers.
‘He’s probably a manager like El.’
Thinking the guy who seemed born for business had once reached the final floor as a challenger gave a strange feeling.
Yun-seok and Pahur each got an ice cream and sat at the plaza fountain.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like more details on what happened on Earth.”
“Of course! Gotta earn that ice cream money, right?”
Perhaps sweetened by the treat, Pahur recounted his experiences in more detail and kindness, chronologically.
“The first dimension you arrive at is random. For me, it was a mountain near Seoul. Ah, Seoul’s a city in a country called Korea.”
“…I know where Seoul is.”
He’d suspected from the latte drip, but it really was connected to Korea. Now he could gather info on Korea naturally without revealing he was Korean.
Afterward, Yun-seok subtly probed for Korean details without tipping his hand. And the more he learned of Korea’s situation, the more a bitter smile tugged at his lips.
When he asked about Korea’s challenger group, Pahur was blunt.
“They’re insane.”
“Insane? Could you elaborate?”
“Unlike other countries that treat challengers with utmost care, they see them only as useful tools.”
Their behavior was outrageous. An unregistered challenger appears in Korea? The group tracks them down and forcibly enlists them in the military. Kidnapping was routine, holding families hostage nothing to them. Under the guise of public authority, they ignored law and morals.
And what they gathered them for…… wasn’t combat skills against trials or invaders, but forcing them to learn Earth-useful abilities.
“They wanted mostly healing-related skills. Targeting rich folks with incurable diseases by modern medicine.”
Pahur continued with a disgusted face.
“Good thing they can’t bring items back, or they’d have held knives to families’ throats to buy healing potions.”
Korea exploited challengers for astronomical profits, but gave them scraps in return.
“That’s why I immigrated to America.”
As he adapted to Earth society, Pahur got scouted by an American group, heard the terms, and bolted there. He lived satisfyingly until AP ran out and trials resumed.
“I was anxious after three straight losses, but the mask lets me relax for a while.”
He’d invested a tenth of his reward AP into a ticket to return to Earth and planned to stay. He shared more Earth trivia after.
Lots were casual chit-chat, but Yun-seok listened intently to every bit.
Then, at one point.
“Speaking of Korea, this just came to mind. Recently, traces of an unregistered challenger were found there. Happens all the time, but this one’s linked to a chaebol heir? Pretty unusual.”
Chaebol heir? Yun-seok felt inexplicable unease at the sudden term.
“Could you tell me more?”
“Even if you say that, it’s just hearsay, so I don’t know details. Plus, my ticket expired right then, so no clue what happened after.”
“Any info’s fine, even if wrong. Just what you remember.”
As if it was a passing mention, Pahur pondered before speaking.
“Hmm…… They were tracking traces of one unregistered at an abandoned factory site, but realized it was two. The other’s trail led to bad blood with a Korean chaebol.”
Why did ominous hunches always hit the mark? Yun-seok couldn’t deny it anymore.
‘They found out about me while chasing Lee Chang-hoon? How?’
He couldn’t guess their tracking method. Only one thing mattered.
“Anyway, getting caught by the Korean government? That challenger’s screwed……”
“…Screwed? What do you mean?”
“I told you earlier. They’re ruthless maniacs who stop at nothing. By now, they’ve probably kidnapped the challenger or are holding their family waiting for Earth return.”
Trash everywhere, here or there.
“I see.”
Yun-seok smiled chillingly cold. Now he had reason to return ASAP.