◈ Episode 230. The Maw of Ruin (2)
It was strange.
“……
What is this?”
It was the work account he had used during his days at Cosmo.
Even Bak Minjae had completely forgotten about it until the notification popped up. Now that Cosmo had been reorganized into the AAU, not even the usual spam mail ever arrived there.
“A reply? From who?”
But the moment he checked the sender.
“!”
Bak Minjae remembered.
A memory from the past.
It had been this account.
It was through this very account that he had sent Raymond Sean, the CEO, an email packed with criticisms regarding the operational structure of Arcana and Cosmo. This was a reply to that email.
His teeth ground together on their own.
“You insane bastard.”
He was not pleased in the slightest.
Raymond Sean.
After he went missing, the Cataclysm had begun.
Whenever Bak Minjae thought of the people who had died after being swept up in the Cataclysm and the Rifts, rage still surged within him.
That included personal feelings as well.
“Do you have any idea how much we suffered?”
Even if it was all in the past now.
In the early days of the Cataclysm.
Cosmo’s employees had been treated as Raymond Sean’s accomplices and subjected to all manner of investigations.
Even if it had been a misunderstanding, the feeling from back then—the guilt of being unable to help in any way—still had not left him.
So Bak Minjae clenched his teeth.
“You made a mistake.”
At present, Raymond Sean was the worst war criminal in human history, wanted by every nation in the world.
Considering the superhuman abilities of players, Raymond Sean himself was unlikely to be an ordinary person.
But do not disregard science.
If they traced back the signal from which the reply had been sent, identifying the sender’s location would not be difficult. It was the first opportunity since the Cataclysm to track Raymond Sean’s movements.
However.
“……!”
After checking the contents of the email, Bak Minjae had no choice but to freeze.
Because Raymond Sean’s purpose was not him.
Bak Minjae muttered.
“You’re as damn slippery as ever.”
Summarized in a single line, its contents were simple.──────I wish to meet Player Lee Hoyeol.──────He really was like a sly old snake.
“Damn it.”
Bak Minjae agonized.
What if he refused to be led around by Raymond Sean and immediately reported this to the AAU? The entire world would instantly attempt to track Raymond Sean’s location.‘……
Would Raymond just sit back and watch that happen?’Even now, attempts to pursue Raymond Sean’s movements were continuing. They simply had not produced results.
For such a Raymond, hiding himself again might be as easy as eating cold porridge.
“Ha ha. You goddamn bastard.”
Bak Minjae let out a laugh.
So you didn’t send the message to me for no reason, huh?
This bastard.
“He’s prodding my contrarian streak.”
Even if the other party was his boss.
Even if it was the AAU’s regulations.
His temperament drove him to charge toward whatever he believed was right.
Bak Minjae immediately took out his smartphone.
“Fine. I’ll charge in again this time.”
He was about to call at once……
“Still, a sudden phone call would be against etiquette, wouldn’t it?”
After muttering that, he hurriedly composed a text message.
Naturally.
The recipient was not the AAU, but Hoyeol.
“Phew—”
Sent.
The moment Bak Minjae, his tension easing, let out a sigh.
Ding!
A reply arrived from Hoyeol at once.
“A-Already?”
Bak Minjae had a rough idea of Hoyeol’s daily schedule.
With just a slight exaggeration, he should barely have enough time to catch his breath……
Wasn’t this practically an instant reply?
Startled, Bak Minjae checked the response.
“……
Huh?”
Soon, question marks appeared across his face.
He could not help it.
The reply that had arrived was only four characters long.
—I expected it.
“Y-You expected it? How?”
Because it was utterly shocking.*Indeed, once I had prepared myself mentally, the shock was lessened.
Thanks to the fact that I had run my mouth in advance.
Even with truly shocking news, my head kept turning sharply.
“Raymond Sean.”
Most likely, the root cause of the Cataclysm.
There probably was no one on Earth who would welcome Raymond Sean.
But I hated Raymond Sean personally!
Why, you ask? If it had not been for you, I…….‘Wouldn’t have had to worry about a cringe-worthy past or dying of shame!’Of course, it would be the same for Grandfell.
“As I said.”
After all, after the duel with the Sword Saint Shegwin had ended.
The moment my Colosseum duel with Shegwin was preserved as a video on Arcana’s official website. From the very moment a duel entangled with circumstances too complicated to explain in words was turned into mere spectacle.
“I see no pride in your conduct.”
He had been firmly marked as someone Grandfell disliked.
And thinking that way.
The words I had once uttered came back to me.
—“I shall look forward to the day we meet.”
I had definitely said that.‘In any case, I’m looking forward to this meeting in many ways.’If it was Grandfell, who always made good on the words he had spoken, then not only might he make the meeting happen.
He might even find a way to return to the Arcana Continent.
“Do not disappoint me.”
After murmuring coldly for a moment.
I manifested a portal.
The coordinates were the AAU’s Korea Branch.
The person who had delivered the news of Raymond Sean was the Korea Branch Director, Bak Minjae.
I needed to have a concrete conversation with him first.
Ooooo—Within the receding cluster of portal light.
I saw Bak Minjae’s back.
He seemed to be in the middle of talking to someone.
One word from their conversation lodged particularly clearly in my ear.
“……
So is he an ‘old fogey,’ or isn’t he?”
Wait, an old fogey……?
Were they perhaps talking about me?
Was this a thief feeling his own feet go numb, or something like that?
However, rather than a thief.
Grandfell was closer to a tiger that appeared when spoken of.
I took a step toward Bak Minjae.
Click—“Uh, uhhhhhh?!”
The man talking with Bak Minjae only blinked.
“……
Why are you suddenly like thaaaaaack?!”
Bak Minjae, who belatedly turned around, grimaced.
That expression truly made it seem as though he had seen a tiger.
It seemed they really had been talking behind my back.
But I understand.‘An old fogey. To be honest, it wouldn’t be strange if I looked that way.’Just think of my record so far.
—“I can find no etiquette here.”
—“Therefore.”
—“I will take no questions.”
In the past, not only with reporters.
—“Your order is wrong.”
I had been the one to instill etiquette even in Arcana’s rankers. Well, that said, Grandfell was not so petty a person that he would interrogate someone for talking behind his back.……
The problem was merely that he possessed a personality beyond imagination in many senses. Yes. Once again, I had ended up running my mouth of ruin.
Which meant I spoke coldly without preamble.
“I would like all documents to be drafted according to the five Ws and one H.”
“……
Y-Yes? What documents?”
“……
Branch Director Bak is submitting documents to the Chief Director?”
Bak Minjae asked back, and the man rolled his eyes.
His expression suggested he was misunderstanding, as if I, the Chief Director of Yusra, were some unofficial power behind the scenes of the AAU Korea Branch. But the “documents” were merely Grandfell’s refined way of referring to the text messages we had just exchanged.‘Now he’s gone and done it.’You’re even demanding etiquette in text messages now, Grandfell.
However, given the circumstances.
It was necessary to show some flexibility.
“However, as this was an unforeseen situation, I shall take it into consideration.”
Bak Minjae answered with a deep bow.
“Thank you! I will correct it from next time!”
There is no need to correct it. It is just Grandfell’s stubbornness, Branch Director Bak.
More importantly, “from next time”?
Shouldn’t you be hoping there is no next time?
“Then I will explain the circumstances according to the five Ws and one H.”
The branch director’s office.
There, I listened attentively to Bak Minjae’s story.
As I listened, a thought occurred to me.
Why was it that everyone around me…….‘Seems to be nothing but extraordinary people?’He had taken on the CEO headfirst?
How bold did one have to be!
Back when I had been a working adult, that was something Lee Hoyeol could never have imagined.‘No, I did imagine it, didn’t I?’Right after I awakened as a player.
I had imagined that if I went to work as I was, I might pour coffee on my department head’s face, and so I had hurriedly submitted my resignation in advance. Perhaps because there was that point of sympathy.
“I understand your pride.”
The two of them were getting along well, excluding only me, the ordinary small citizen.
“Thank you!”
They said the enemy of one’s enemy was an ally.
Grandfell found Raymond Sean displeasing.
And Bak Minjae had charged into such a Raymond Sean even before he had revealed his true colors.
It was understandable that a generous remark came out.‘At any rate.’As the Chief Director of the Yusra Branch and a member of the AAU.
Once I shouldered something, even if I was going to sink, I never carried it halfheartedly.
Thanks to that, I had memorized every single AAU regulation without omission.‘He informed me first, even while breaking the regulations.’Bak Minjae did not forget to explain that part as well.
“I believed there had to be a reason why Raymond wanted to meet Chief Director Lee Hoyeol. After receiving your text that you had expected it, I was relieved that I had not made a mistake.”……
Actually, that “expectation” was not this “expectation.”
But in any case, I would find out even if I had to clash with him.
There was no need to correct it.
“Lastly, Raymond added that he wished to make an appointment in advance.”
He wanted to set an appointment and meet.
Raymond, it looks like you’ve heard the rumors about me.
Well, if you hadn’t, you’d be a spy.
Especially when Baek Yiseol.
No, when I made the succubus come calling over and over with utmost sincerity.
All kinds of articles had truly poured out without end.‘It was so bad even my eldest sister called me.’In that sense, you did make an effort to observe some etiquette, Raymond Sean.
Had I not currently submitted a leave of absence to both the Magic Tower and the Kingdom of Yusra?
I had plenty of time to make an appointment.‘Under normal circumstances, I would have just made one.’Time was not an issue, and neither was location.
To me, who could manifest a portal, distance was no problem.
But the problem was that the person I was making an appointment with was Raymond Sean.
I opened my mouth.
“I understand your consideration.”
“Consideration? Not at all.”
“However, from this point forward, I would like you to abide by the regulations.”
“……
Yes, by regulations, you mean?”
Raymond Sean, it seems you are deeply mistaken.
Do you think I will obediently move according to your request?
I have said this countless times.
Grandfell and I do not give up on anything.
For an appointment with you.
A person in whom no pride can be found.
There is no way I would compromise the established regulations.
I continued.
“As of this moment, in accordance with AAU regulations.”
“……
I’m listening.”
“Identify Raymond Sean’s location.”
“!”
Bak Minjae’s eyes widened.
“I considered that as well, but…… I judged there was a risk that Raymond Sean might flee. Even if we identified his location, it would only be a matter of time before Raymond realized he was being traced back as well……. Realistically, capturing Raymond would be difficult…….”
“Do you truly think so?”
“……!”
Bak Minjae’s eyes widened even further.
His expression looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
After a moment, Bak Minjae barely let out a hollow laugh.
“I was being foolish. What was I even agonizing over……!”
Yes, it seemed the thought had finally reached him.
Click—My footsteps had more presence than any sound.
And the reason he had heard those footsteps not from afar.
But directly behind his back.
What else could it be?
An unrealistic appearance.
Portal manifestation.『Magic』That was the reason.
Bow—Suddenly, Bak Minjae lowered his head to me.
“Thank you for enlightening me.”
I had already been showing off plenty in my head.
Receiving such gratitude openly was extremely embarrassing.
Yet shamelessly, I did not let it show.
“As you said, I will act according to the regulations.”
More importantly, why did he look so visibly excited?
Was it because his worries had been resolved?
As a branch director, he must have agonized in many ways over breaking the regulations.‘As expected, quitting my job was the right choice.’The burden of a working adult was heavy.
While I was feeling pity.
I heard a tiny mutter to himself.
“I can finally land a proper blow on him.”……
No, he was simply excited about paying Raymond Sean back.
Once again, I have to say it: perhaps birds of a feather flock together.
I truly do not know how only such people gather around me.
However, there is one thing I know for certain.‘Raymond Sean, you picked the wrong fight.’Humanity, the Arcana Continent, my past.
The price for touching them would be incomparably heavy.
It seemed you contacted us because you were confident you could hide somehow.
“Sender’s location identified!”
But it would be troublesome if you looked down on me.
The [science] that traced the sender’s location from the message.
And the 『magic, portal』 that manifested with that sender’s location as its coordinates.
Ooooo—Give up on any thought of escaping from [『the Extraordinary』].
A scattering cluster of light.
Within my brightening field of vision, I opened my mouth.
“I shall refuse any form of hospitality.”
Even if he were to serve me green tea from tea bags worth 300 won apiece.
With an air as though I would firmly refuse it.
I advanced beyond the portal.
Ah, so it was “there.”