Episode 14
["He'd actually taken charge of an orphanage, of all things. If he keeps avoiding us like that, we'll raid this orphanage next week."]
Jonghyeon looked on with trembling eyes.
Today was Sunday.
The last day of the week.
"Why is it such a big deal?"
At the Director's question, Jonghyeon snapped to his senses.
"Director. That request I made previously to prepare for a monster raid. Is it completed?"
Jonghyeon had also considered the possibility of a dungeon appearing at the orphanage.
There were many Hunters in the world.
That meant just as many dungeons appeared, and it would be a problem if a dungeon happened to appear at the orphanage.
Of course, with Jonghyeon there, most ordinary dungeons were of no concern.
But if a dungeon appeared while he was away somewhere, or at a time when it was difficult to visit the orphanage, it would be a disaster.
In reality, there had been such casualties at many places, including schools and government offices.
And even now, when there were plenty of Hunters, such things still happened.
So Jonghyeon had once requested the Director to build a shelter beneath the orphanage where people could eat and sleep.
"Yes. Construction finished last year. Since you paid for all the costs yourself, there weren't any particular problems."
The Director wore a bewildered expression. But Jonghyeon hadn't the confidence to make her understand.
"Take the children and evacuate there immediately."
"Understood."
She could have asked.
Asked why.
But thinking there must be a reason for Jonghyeon's urgency, the Director began running to the broadcast room without delay.
'Damn it.'
It was fine that he had avoided taking their calls or meeting them directly.
But if harm came to the orphanage, it was a different story.
Honk, honk—
A car horn sounded from outside, as if announcing its arrival.
When Jonghyeon looked, four people got out of the car.
'Even if I die, the orphanage must not be harmed.'
Jonghyeon rushed straight outside to confront them.
"What brings you to look for me so desperately?"
Mixed within Jonghyeon's slightly annoyed question were the words, 'You bastards, dragging an orphanage into this.'
There were four people who got out of the car.
One woman and three men; three were similar in height, but one was large-framed while two had average builds.
One of them, a man wearing sunglasses, answered Jonghyeon's question.
"Well, well, at least you didn't come too late? If you had avoided us this time too, I was really thinking of blowing this place sky-high."
The man in sunglasses spoke leisurely with a slimy smile.
Jonghyeon had even gauged his chances of fighting them, but this was in front of the orphanage.
It seemed better to buy time.
Not only could he not win if he fought immediately, but the people at the orphanage still needed more time to evacuate.
"Who's avoiding whom? You didn't even bother to call or send a text."
"You didn't seriously not know we were trying to contact you, did you?"
There was no way he didn't know.
"I'll ask again. What business do you have?"
"It's simple. You die, or you cough up money."
As expected.
Among those unofficial jobs commissioned by the state—the place that had first sent D-ranks and then sent Jonghyeon. That was definitely it.
As Jonghyeon stood frozen, Sunglasses snickered and continued.
"I suppose you don't know whose dungeon you touched?"
Of course he didn't know, nor did he want to know.
But Jonghyeon had no choice but to ask.
"Whose is it?"
At this somewhat foolish question, Sunglasses continued with a scrunched expression.
"Red Rose Guild."
The meaning contained in those words was something even Jonghyeon, who had no interest in guilds, could understand.
Red Rose Guild.
This guild that started in Europe was ranked 6th in the world guild rankings.
Its personnel numbered around a hundred, and every one of them was a capable individual.
The state also outsourced many jobs to this guild, and the conclusion was that Jonghyeon had plundered a dungeon belonging to the guild that received those jobs.
"We haven't been watching you just once or twice. We know you've snatched quite a few dungeons besides this one."
"How much will it take?"
If it was money, it was rather convenient.
Because there was room for negotiation.
"Two hundred million. We get two hundred million for clearing that one dungeon. So pay back that exact amount and stop your activities on top of that. Or if you really must, get permission beforehand on whether it's ours or not."
"Two hundred million? The money I received for clearing that dungeon was a mere thirty million."
Jonghyeon spoke as if he were aggrieved.
Of course, the actual amount he had received was a meaningless number.
Aside from trying to lower the amount, it was merely putting on a pitiful act.
Frustratingly, it was the biggest action Jonghyeon could take right now.
"We don't care. Either pay up two hundred million, or die. Choose one."
"Give me your account number."
Jonghyeon chose to negotiate.
If he fought now, he would be the one to die.
Even if he took down these four?
He didn't know what kind of retaliation would come.
"We don't do account numbers. Prepare it in cash by tomorrow. We'll come find you at your house. Good, at least you understand what you're told. From now on, don't touch anything C-rank or above if you know what's good for you."
With those words, the four got into the car.
Jonghyeon felt relief that it was ending like this, and began thinking about how his information had leaked.
He had thought it would end here.
If it was a problem solvable with money, he just had to be more careful from now on.
Vroom—
Kwakwagwang!
One of them opened a rear window and fired something.
It was magic.
Jonghyeon was not the target.
The target was the orphanage right behind Jonghyeon.
He didn't know what magic it was, but one-third of the orphanage vanished without a trace, and the adjacent struck area began to burn.
"This is a warning not to let this happen again! Well then!"
The car shot forward like an arrow.
Jonghyeon, without even thinking to chase the car, turned his body toward the orphanage and ran.
When he saw the Director who had come out, startled by the loud noise, Jonghyeon asked, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. What on earth is going on?"
The Director asked, as if unable to comprehend how one-third of the orphanage had vanished, let alone the current situation.
But Jonghyeon couldn't say anything, anything at all.
"I'm... sorry."
The Director comforted Jonghyeon with an expression that said she didn't understand at all.
"It's alright. I know you've been going through a lot. Though no comfort I give will likely help, we can just rebuild the orphanage. Was the matter resolved?"
At the Director's warm words, he felt as though tears would flow.
Jonghyeon could no longer stand there.
Jonghyeon spoke, unable to face the Director.
"I will make sure they never come again. And instead of me supporting you, I will find a better sponsor. Thank you for everything until now."
With those final words, Jonghyeon ran to his car, and the Director couldn't bring herself to follow.
Was it because she saw the tears seeming to stream from Jonghyeon's eyes?
The Director watched the disappearing car with a heart earnestly praying that Jonghyeon wouldn't go astray again.
Right now, he couldn't think of revenge or anything else.
Only the scene of the orphanage being struck.
That scene replayed in his head repeatedly.
He had to take care of the orphanage's safety first. Revenge could come after.
"It's because of me. Because of me, all of this is because of me..."
Jonghyeon kept muttering to himself even as he drove.
Everything was because of him.
Thinking so, Jonghyeon resolved to completely cut ties with the orphanage.
Instead, he would find a more suitable sponsor.
* * *
Chairman Lee was quite surprised to see Jonghyeon, who had come late at night.
Because Jonghyeon had never once visited at such a late hour before.
"What is it, my boy?"
Chairman Lee sat in the reception room from before, wearing pajamas and a robe.
"I have business with you."
"Well, well. I can't imagine what business you would have at this hour?"
Chairman Lee had been bantering, but upon seeing Jonghyeon's expression, he quickly hid his smile.
'That's an expression of one harboring deadly resolve.'
It was the expression Chairman Lee had seen in the mirror every morning when he was determined to save his company.
"Speak."
Jonghyeon hesitated.
It was something contrary to his beliefs, and he wondered if he should show this side to Chairman Lee.
But other than the Director, Chairman Lee was the only person he could trust.
"Do you remember the offer you made before?"
Previously, Chairman Lee had once told Jonghyeon to come completely under him.
But Jonghyeon, who hadn't wanted to be tied down anywhere, had refused outright, and Chairman Lee had understood, as if he had expected as much.
"Are you saying you'll come under me?"
"Yes, that's right."
Jonghyeon spoke with trembling lips.
"Are you serious, my boy? What happened?"
The Chairman, unable to understand this reaction, asked.
Jonghyeon told him what had happened.
"Oh my. I had heard there were a few guilds doing terrible things to fixers, but to think it was the Red Rose Guild."
The Chairman seemed to be thinking deeply.
"What are your conditions?"
"An appropriate annual salary. And protection and support for the orphanage."
That's right.
In the end, an orphanage was too much for an individual named Jonghyeon to protect.
It would have been easy to avoid danger if he were alone, but with his ankle caught.
Then it was better to cut off that ankle.
Though Jonghyeon's heart ached.
"I understand your heart. You must have come here prepared to throw everything away."
Chairman Lee kept thinking.
Of course, Jonghyeon coming under him was always welcome.
At first he had considered nurturing Jonghyeon seeing only his abilities, but the boy had stubbornly refused.
He had seemed arrogant at first.
But Jonghyeon hadn't exactly refused Chairman Lee's requests, and watching him for a long time, the Chairman couldn't help but grow fond of him.
That's why he had left him to roam outside until now.
"I don't know how I may appear to you. But I believe you know my personality as well."
Jonghyeon's firm will was visible even without words.
But Chairman Lee was an unmitigated businessman.
Nothing was as foolish in a deal as giving an immediate answer.
"I shall think over your proposal. It is difficult to decide right away."
At Chairman Lee's words, Jonghyeon bowed and returned home.
Watching that retreating figure, Chairman Lee quietly gestured.
"Jinseong."
The man who had somehow come to stand behind Chairman Lee answered.
"Yes, Chairman."
"What do you think?"
Yu Jinseong.
He was Chairman Lee's secretary and bodyguard.
Counted among the top ten in Korea, he had chosen Chairman Lee instead of joining a guild.
Of course, he knew about Jonghyeon to some extent.
"I wonder if it is appropriate for my personal opinion to enter into this."
"Speak for now."
"He is quite strong. I don't know why such talent is left alone in Korea, but if he learns sufficiently, I believe you can expect him to reach my level or beyond within ten years."
Yu Jinseong's assessment judged Jonghyeon even more highly than Chairman Lee had thought.
"That much? That boy. He may look prickly, but he has many soft spots as well. Sometimes I find him quite pitiful."
"Still, the extraordinary aura emanating from his body and the fact that he has built himself up to that level alone means he is undoubtedly a genius, in my opinion."
Chairman Lee seemed to fall into thought.
"Is that so..."
* * *
Having arrived home, Jonghyeon spaced out for a moment.
Though there had been no casualties at the orphanage, the scene of the building being struck.
That scene tormented Jonghyeon greatly.
At the same time, an enormous thirst for revenge boiled up.
'Red Rose Guild. Someday I'll smash you to pieces.'
But as he was now, he was weak.
The opponent was ranked 6th in the guild rankings.
With over a hundred members, there was no telling how many high-rankers they had.
'The four who came just now were at least C-rank.'
And the one who seemed to be the leader gave off an atmosphere almost identical to Black Dave.
That meant he could be B-rank.
If the strike team was at that level, the guild's overall level had to be estimated much higher.
'First, I'll train.'
He could withdraw the money from the bank tomorrow anyway.
With his enemies confirmed, and confirmed that they weren't planning to attack immediately, Jonghyeon began training his internal energy again.
Now, money or whatever, he didn't care what happened.
He had time, and he had a way to improve his abilities.
'From now on, my sole goal is the Red Rose Guild.'
---------= Author's Afterword ---------=
As I have mentioned repeatedly, the scale of Chairman Lee's forces, as well as his detailed background, will be introduced gradually.
Since I more or less set the scale of the work roughly and wrote as I went, things won't be explained immediately but rather at the necessary points in time...
I ask for your understanding.