"So, what now?"
The atmosphere was dead serious.
Lee Gun was glaring at his opponent with a rarely seen vicious expression.
And his face looked like he was staring at the enemy who had killed his parents.
Lee Gun frowned.
"Say it again. What did you say?"
Then the opponent spoke with great composure.
[Your level is too low to use this vending machine.]
[Please try again next time. We greatly appreciate it.]
Lee Gun finally exploded.
"Hey! Do you want to die?! You just ate my money! Aren't you going to spit out what I picked?"
"H-Hyung! Calm down!"
"Yeah! No property damage!"
That was right.
What stood before Lee Gun was a vending machine.
He was currently arguing over a drink.
So around 15 minutes earlier. Right after the street urination incident, perhaps.
"Yeah? The nearest Sages are Incheon, China, and Japan?"
"Yes, that's right."
The boy who had given the information, fanning himself with his hand and panting, was the start of it all.
"What, are you hot?"
"Pardon? Oh, no, it's just..."
"Well, it is getting to be T-shirt weather soon."
"......?!"
The boy and Hwang were now utterly dumbfounded.
Had that man forgotten it was the height of summer, nearing 40 degrees Celsius?
Of course, it wasn't incomprehensible.
They said high-level Awakened were less susceptible to the heat.
And that was because of resistance to heat and fire—their fire immunity stat.
But was there really a guy among the world's top-tier Sages, who were fawned over and pampered, who didn't shed a single drop of sweat?
"Just what the hell is he?"
"Just how high is his fire immunity?"
But being treated like a monster lasted only a moment.
"Alright. I'll treat you to drinks."
For some reason, Lee Gun headed coolly toward the vending machine.
When they saw him put his own money in, the two couldn't help but be horrified.
"Hey, hey. Why is he doing that?! He's not planning to poison our drinks, is he?"
"Y-Yeah, and maybe even take our wallets?"
Recalling what had happened to the man and woman who'd fainted earlier, he was more than capable of such a thing.
But whether they thought so or not, the moment Lee Gun inserted a 10,000-won bill and pressed the button—
—User's level is too low.
—Please raise your social contribution score and try again.
The vending machine spouted nonsense. And it even ate the money.
There was no way he wouldn't be pissed.
And so, the present.
"Hey. Are you gonna spit my money out or not?"
—That is an old bill that cannot be used. Please use another currency.
"Give it back and then talk."
—Do not strike. You should not commit evil deeds.
"Shut up, the money you ate!"
—Come back after you've raised your level.
As Lee Gun strode closer to the vending machine, Hwang was appalled.
"Hey hey! Don't break that! We'll buy you something, we'll buy it!"
"First, let me contact the local Sacred Seat about the swallowed money!"
Lee Gun glared at the vending machine, visibly enraged.
Contribution score.
So a lot had changed in the 20 years he'd been gone, it seemed.
'You either pay more, or do activities for the Holy God, I guess.'
In any case, the 12 Heroes who saved the world started various money-making ventures under the banner of the Holy Gods.
And this vending machine was one of those products.
It looked special, but apparently, things like this were ordinary vending machines these days.
That wasn't all.
National defense, agricultural facilities, public transportation, convenience facilities, educational facilities, resource facilities, etc. Most modern infrastructure was said to be under the management of the 12 Zodiac Palaces.
'Those bastards, I'll...'
And these guys had set themselves above governments and gotten huge during his absence.
Indeed, the explanatory material the boy showed on his phone made it seem even more detestable.
It was a long text, but to summarize:
[Divine Seat (神座): A kind of worldwide giant sect, twelve exist including Aries and Leo. A military force composed of
[Holy God (聖神): The entity that gives power and magical power to humans. A god. Guarding the human domain.]
[Saint (聖人): The direct contractor of the god, an apostle and pope who connects the Holy God and the Holy Path. Considered as one with the god.]
[Holy Path: Awakened who awakened through the Saint. Belong to the Divine Seat and must maintain public order and carry out activities for the Holy God.]
'Hmm, so basically, they made huge guilds all over the world.'
God-following mega-corporation type guilds, that is. Their influence spanning national and humanity-wide scales, of course.
They had built a massive power base by contracting gods and humans. The Awakened used the power of the gods through the Saints.
'Anyway, it was said the common folks pay for the activities of these Divine Seats, wasn't it?'
That was
Just as a church runs on offerings, or defense funds are maintained with money, they were covering their costs.
Naturally, it was the work of thugs.
Though they might have pretended to be saints and virtuous men, most of it was probably used for private gain.
'Well, if it's just at the level of a vending machine, it's still cute...'
Lee Gun shot the vending machine a look that could shatter it as it spouted nonsense.
He was glaring out of disgust at what they'd done, but whatever they took that as—
The boy, watching Lee Gun's mood, busily turned the return lever.
And Hwang, who had been calling somewhere after seeing the number on the vending machine, spoke.
"Ah, of all times, the Sacred Seat in charge isn't answering. Can't help it; I filed a complaint, so let's slowly wait and..."
Wait, my ass.
CRASH!
At the satisfying boom, the two men screamed.
The sound of property damage ringing out despite their efforts to stop it.
Beep, be-beep-
Clunk, cre-eak-
Clatter, clatter!
The boy and Hwang went pale.
What poured out of the vending machine were drink cans.
"Oh. Thirteen drinks."
As expected, the direct way to deal with any machine is to hit it.
Lee Gun grinned.
But the remaining two didn't.
"Hey! What's the big idea, suddenly kicking it?!"
"Yeah, we'll get arrested for this! The police station is right nearby!"
However, Lee Gun, who had been checking the drinks, glared back at the vending machine.
"This bastard didn't spit out the Coke."
As Lee Gun loosened up his body, Hwang screamed.
"I said, just one time!"
Hwang urgently surveyed the surroundings.
"Hey, do you even know? This is a directly managed vending machine of the 12 Divine Seats! It won't just end with getting arrested!"
At that, Lee Gun, who had been drinking from a can, tilted his head as if asking what the problem was.
"But you said this is Sagittarius's."
"What?"
"Then isn't it fine?"
"Huh?"
Huh??
Why is it fine?
They looked at Lee Gun in utter bewilderment.
No, it was bewildering from the start that a Divine Seat's vending machine was so easily busted.
'Maybe mass-produced goods are surprisingly shoddily made?'
But regardless, Lee Gun took something from the smashed remains of his friend's vending machine.
It was none other than the gemstone of the god protecting the vending machine!
Lee Gun grinned as he pulled out the red stone.
Whenever his magical power ran low, he'd smash his friend's things and secretly steal these god's gemstones bit by bit. He would extract and use the magic power.
And now, too, just as he was covertly pocketing it—
"Oh, over there!"
The boy, looking troubled, suddenly grabbed Lee Gun.
The reason was simple.
"Um, calls have kept coming to this number since a while ago."
The boy showed him the phone screen.
The caller was the person Lee Gun had called earlier from the snack shop.
"Isn't it Oh Taek-su, someone you know?"
The owner of the vending machine that had just been vandalized.
"You said not to answer, so I've been ignoring it, but..."
"Yeah. You're doing well. Keep not answering."
The boy rolled his eyes.
"But it's already the twentieth call... The owner is begging for a reply, saying they'll contact you if it's the owner, messages are coming, they're reaching out like crazy."
"Ignore it. Ignore it. You can just say the caller is dead and curse them out before hanging up."
"Huh?"
The boy wondered if that was really okay, but Lee Gun just snorted.
He'd thought of old times and tried to buy them some drinks, but a lowlife Sagittarius did nothing but piss him off.
Still, the desperate calls were a bit unexpected.
The guy was a friend, but since 20 years had passed, he'd thought he'd completely forgotten about him.
Maybe it wasn't a vain friendship after all.
Well, given all the time that had passed, there could be another motive too.
Thinking that, Lee Gun tossed all thirteen empty cans into the trash.
"Anyway, ignore that call."
"Yes. Underst... Huh? But what about our drinks? You said you'd buy us some..."
"Alright, let's go."
"?!"
Lee Gun chuckled and started walking. The boy was startled.
"Huh? Hyung! Where are you going?"
Where else.
Lee Gun's eyes curved mischievously as he scanned the bus route chart.
That useless vending machine owner.
Let him stew in his own frustration for a bit.
* * *
—The call cannot be answered now. After the tone, you will be connected to voicemail.
A voice so indifferent it was almost heartless.
The vending machine owner in question clutched his forehead. At the sound of his distress, the person on the line clicked their tongue.
—Still can't get through?
At his subordinate's words, the blond man, the Saint of Sagittarius, let out a light sigh.
About 11 hours until he reached Korea.
Hugo Otters, who had entrusted some investigation to a subordinate, was waiting anxiously for his flight affiliation.
Since he was sneaking out of England as secretly as possible, he couldn't use the plane provided by the British government.
Thanks to that, his eye-catching expensive Brioni suit was crumpled up inside his briefcase.
'Damn. It's been years since I had a free first-class seat.'
Just wait until he arrived in Korea.
"So the phone's owner is a middle schooler?"
—Yes. A low-grade Awakened from a small Sacred Seat. We haven't located him yet, but if you wish, Overseer, we can immediately file a lawsuit and request an official Interpol investigation from the Sacred Seat level...
Hugo's eyes snapped wide open.
"No, it's not something to blow up that big!"
His voice was a bit loud. The other party seemed taken aback.
—Ah...! True, we needn't involve the police for a mere prank call. My apologies.
Hugo rubbed his forehead.
'No, not the police. The police...'
No matter the country, the police were places where the 12 could extend their reach.
If this was connected to Lee Gun, there was no need to move under their watchful eyes.
No, more than that, who the hell was on the other end of that call to dare sue.
'If I screw up, my neck flies off.'
Hugo shuddered involuntarily.
The voice left on the voice message was still vivid.
So intense that it gave him goosebumps, making it hard to even listen again.
'Damn. There's only one person in the world who'd leave a message like that.'
Lee Gun.
Twenty years later, his friend's temper seemed unchanged.
'Now that I think about it, I'd forgotten.'
The guy was a weirdo who'd delivered a wrestling dropkick to the US president on live TV.
Hugo buried his face as if about to cry.
And amidst all this, the Korean government had apparently ignored a call that might have been from Lee Gun, thinking it a prank, and chaos ensued.
Of course, they said it was a mistake by a high-ranking official in charge, but the mishandling of the line was a fact.
'There's no way that guy would let that slide.'
But accepting his silence in her own way, the subordinate continued.
—Understood. Then, we'll handle that wicked culprit within our own means...
Hugo cut in immediately.
"No. It's a busy time; there's no need for that."
—But for something so trivial to bother you, Overseer...
"No. For trivial matters especially, you have to step in yourself and wreck their life. That way, they learn to fear the world."
The subordinate's jaw dropped.
—Um, the other party is a middle schooler... No, never mind.
The subordinate coughed, clearing her throat.
'True, the minor protection laws have been causing issues for the Sacred Seats too.'
Of course, Hugo, who had bluffed to prevent his subordinates from getting involved unnecessarily, glanced at the lounge TV.
His gaze at the TV screen wasn't good.
The reason was simple.
[Long time no see. But could you pick up the phone?]
There it was.
What was making Hugo uneasy were these bastards sending such messages.
'The 12 Saints.'
Once his comrades, and likely the ones who had imprisoned Lee Gun in the tower.
And these shameless pricks contacting him after 10 years could only be for one reason.
'Lee Gun.'
Of course, they probably never even dreamed Lee Gun was alive. In fact, even Hugo himself was only half-convinced.
But if that really was Lee Gun.
If he really hadn't died and had been alive for 20 years...
'Gun is in danger.'
Hugo swallowed dryly.
It was true that Lee Geon had been the most outstanding and strongest among the 13. But in the latter half, due to his own physical condition, he had worked as their weapon maintenance technician.
That much, his face and body—everything had aged and broken down. And in that state, he endured for another 20 years?
Hugo's eyes squeezed shut.
Even the visual alone was terrifying to imagine.
'If it were his prime, that might be a different story...!'
Perhaps even now, some old man might barely manage to rattle a spoon and hold it.
Moreover, unless he had gone mad, there was no way he could have killed all the monsters in that tower and walked out. He could very well be in a situation where he was being chased by monsters.
But.
'Strangely enough, the Holy God's Clairvoyance or tracking-type skills aren't working either.'
Unable to grasp Lee Geon's situation at all, Hugo was restless and anxious.
'Anyway, I have to find him before the others do and protect him.'
But why won't he answer the phone? Why?
You mannerless bastard.
Hugo just anxiously stamped his feet.
* * *
And the mannerless bastard in question was simply sucking on a Melona bar.
"A fine entertainment it was."
8 PM.
Whether someone else was stamping their feet or not, Lee Geon, having thoroughly enjoyed his games, looked happy.
The things he had to do were set, but for now, he needed to rest for recovery.
'And my mana hasn't fully refilled yet, so it's still dangerous.'
Since it was dangerous, it was best to fully replenish his mana before meeting those bastards.
And above all else, hadn't the boy who was with him said this?
'My roommate is a high-ranking Saint, very close to being a Holy One.'
It was just simple bragging about a friend, but Lee Geon smiled as if he had caught something. In the current situation, that was a far more appetizing story than the boy's friend.
'In the first place, meeting that guy right now would be too obvious.'
And more than anything, that was not what was important to him at the moment.
The place they arrived at was in front of a newly built five-story villa.
"Thank you for walking me all the way home today. That dark first floor over there is my place."
When the boy bowed his head in front of his villa, Mr. Hwang gestured with his hand.
"Yeah. Go on in. These days, calamities occur even in the middle of Seoul. I don't know why this happens even with the divine seats' protection these days, tsk."
The boy said he understood and quickly bowed his head towards Lee Geon.
"Hyung! You saved my life today, and you even walked me all the way home. Thank you so much. This area was dangerous as it was... I don't know where your house is, but please be careful going back, and I will definitely repay this favor someday... huh, huh?"
The boy, raising his head, was flustered.
"Huh? Where did he disappear to?"
Lee Geon was gone.
But that was only for a moment.
"!"
Seeing something somewhere, the boy was horrified.
That was only natural. Lee Geon was cleaning his ear right in front of his house.
"Aren't you going in? I'm really sleepy."
"What?"
He even smiled a bit shamelessly.
"Well, I'm in a position to be indebted to you, but I am your life's savior. So I'll make do with your bed for the time being."
"...What?"
"Ah, but still, I'd prefer it if the pillow was memory foam."
...What?!!
(To be continued in the next episode)