Chapter 65

Chapter 65

The meeting ended, and Choi Junho and Jung Juho left.

Cheon Myeongguk watched the President, who had sunk deep into thought, and spoke carefully.

“Mr. President.”

“I know. I know what’s on your mind.”

Even though the President said that, Cheon Myeongguk couldn’t hide the worry welling up inside him.

“Choi Junho the transcendent’s blade won’t distinguish between friend and foe.”

There is no such thing as a flawless politician.

The higher one climbs, the more true that becomes. Reaching the summit without getting any filth on you is something that only happens in fantasies. The current President, too, had been smeared with all kinds of filth before being elected.

This time, that blade would point at Yoo Seongsu—but there was no guarantee the next target wouldn’t be the President.

“The old me wouldn’t have been able to say this. But what I said today, I meant.”

What the President had said to Choi Junho.

If you commit a crime, you must pay the price.

It was a rule that had long gone unenforced in South Korea. They called it a state of emergency, got swept up in the maelstrom of political strife and compromised at a reasonable line, found there were grounds for leniency when looked at another way—and with every excuse imaginable, handed out pardons.

As a result, South Korea had been torn to pieces.

Yoo Seongsu was a prime example. He reigned over Busan like a king, sticking his hands into every vested interest to grow his power so he could become President.

There was even a joke going around that local decentralization was at its finest in South Korean history.

“I can’t stab our own side first with that blade. If I did, no one would tolerate it. First we stab the enemy, and once they realize that blade can pierce us too, that’s enough. Because by then, the forces that would oppose it together will be gone.”

“The idea that Choi Junho the transcendent can be controlled is a delusion.”

“That’s why we need to pick the right people. For now, it’s possible because you and I are here. The next President will do well too, won’t they? And your successor will do fine as well.”

“……”

Both the President and Cheon Myeongguk knew that was impossible.

They were merely rationalizing.

“He’s someone I couldn’t suppress even if I tried, anyway. The more you push him down, the more he’ll burst out—so it’s better to go along with him. Try thinking of yourself as a member of the League. Don’t you think you’d want Choi Junho?”

“…I’d want him.”

“Blackhound probably showed up for that purpose too. The worst villain, one of the so-called Three Evils, came in person as an envoy. It must have been to talk with Choi Junho rather than for the value of Big Bang. And the fact that he went back means they didn’t cross the line we were worried about.”

“I’ll do my utmost to keep him in check.”

“Because you’re here, I can trust you and push this forward. For now, focus on reinforcing the case against Yoo Seongsu.”

“Yes. I’ll inform the Prosecutor General.”

Coming out after finishing his conversation with the President, Cheon Myeongguk let out a heavy sigh.

The President had originally possessed a fiery temperament, but he was a man who controlled it well. Yet once the sharp blade called Choi Junho was placed in his hand, his thinking began to change.

No matter how sharp a blade is, once you give it an order, it thinks for itself. And by instinct, it mixes its own calculations into its master’s intent.

But Choi Junho simply cut down anything he saw as evil, exactly as it appeared. He produced results precisely as calculated.

The renowned sword capable of realizing the justice one had only imagined—that was Choi Junho.

Who wouldn’t covet it, if they held noble intentions?

The only problem was having to worry that mishandling it could send the blade flying at your own neck.

“A sword that could be a holy blade or a demon blade—so not using it would be even stranger.”

Thinking about how this situation would unfold made his head spin.

One thing was certain.

South Korea would be thrown into upheaval. The aftershocks would spread to Japan as well.

It was just that the one left to clean up would be him.

For now, all he could do was his best. If there was anything fortunate, it was that he wasn’t alone—Jung Juho was in this with him.

“Hm?”

Arriving at the Awakened Security Office, Cheon Myeongguk noticed the atmosphere was strange, and when he turned his head toward where everyone’s gazes were fixed, he froze.

Jung Juho was sitting in his seat in an utterly arrogant posture.

His eyes were brimming with killing intent as he looked this way.

“Director Cheon Myeongguk.”

“What?”

“I’m about to become vice-ministerial rank, so can’t you speak to me a little more casually?”

For reference, the Director of the Awakened Security Office was at ministerial rank. Meaning that even if Jung Juho became Administrator, they were equals.

But the mood wasn’t one where that would fly. Jung Juho had ultimately accepted the Administrator position because of his scheming, after all.

It was just that Jung Juho’s grudge ran longer than he’d expected.

“I’ve got a lot to say to you. Do you have some time?”

“I—I suppose I do.”

Overwhelmed by Jung Juho’s presence, Cheon Myeongguk nodded.

“Good. Now we’re finally communicating.”

Jung Juho, who had smiled brightly, rose from his seat and stood beside Cheon Myeongguk. Then, smiling with a face full of killing intent, he said,

“Follow me to the rooftop.”

*

Before heading home, I stopped by the Shinseong Guild and met Lee Sehee.

Seeing her dressed as brilliantly as ever put me at ease. Sure enough, Lee Sehee had to be flashy to be Lee Sehee.

“…So Kim Jonghyeon’s absence won’t be a problem at all. With his skill, he could have spotted a few improvements quickly, but the master craftsmen at the research institute can do that too.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. I didn’t expect the collapse to come this fast, but we’ve accumulated know-how in risk management. You have to be at least this good to be called the best in the country.”

Seeing her handle everything so smoothly put my mind at ease.

So this was the power of a major corporation.

I learned that worrying about problems arising from the Heartworker’s disappearance had been unnecessary.

“But are you really okay with the tax issue?”

“Why?”

“When you actually see the taxes going out, it’s surprisingly deflating. I was worried.”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

To my eyes, it only ever felt like one number being subtracted from another.

Lee Sehee shook her head in admiration.

“I’ve never seen anyone so detached from money. You’re really something.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Me? You’ve got the wrong idea. If anything, I’m obsessed with money.”

“You don’t seem like it.”

“Obsessed, yes—but not consumed by it. Even right now, I’m racking my brain over how to make more money.”

“Impressive.”

The mindset of a conglomerate family really was different from ordinary people.

But I didn’t view that fixation on money negatively. That obsession seemed to be the driving force that had lifted her to where she was now.

Anyway—obsessed but not consumed. That was a phrase that struck a chord with me. Having once been consumed by the monster called Blood Lord, it was worth taking note of.

“Setting that aside, are you okay?”

“If it’s about the Heartworker, I’m fine.”

Lee Sehee shook her head.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then?”

“You look like you have something else on your mind.”

“……”

She’s a ghost.

Actually, ever since meeting Argos earlier, something had been bothering me.

At first I wondered if it was some kind of mental gift, but it wasn’t.

His words had prodded at an anxiety I’d been holding in my chest, and I couldn’t easily shake it off.

Lee Sehee had picked up on that worry.

“If you’re okay with it, would you tell me about it? I’m a good listener.”

“It’s nothing much.”

“It’s fine, really. Come on, tell me.”

Seeing her thump her chest with her fist made me chuckle. It was a cute gesture uncharacteristic of Lee Sehee.

“Do you think I would have become a villain if I hadn’t become a public service Hunter?”

“A villain?”

“There are some who say I’ll become a villain someday.”

What would Lee Sehee think? After mulling it over, would she say no? It was an obvious answer, but maybe that wouldn’t be so bad either.

Maybe I just wanted to hear a predetermined answer.

And the answer I’d expected came out.

“Not at all!”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Truly. I don’t know who said that, but they spouted complete nonsense.”

Her phrasing was pretty rough. She seemed more worked up about it than I was.

“I’m not just saying this to comfort you. They probably just looked at your outward appearance. But your essence itself is different.”

“My essence, even?”

“Yes. The biggest difference between you and a villain is that you worry about it. Villains leave everything to their desires. If they want something, they take it and kill for it. Unlike them, you have clear standards. The very fact that you’re wary of the possibility of becoming a villain is the strongest reason you can’t become one.”

It was a comforting word with real weight behind it, not empty consolation.

I could take it to mean: because I was a villain, I can avoid becoming one.

It was an insight and a piece of advice only Lee Sehee could offer.

She doesn’t have some gift that lets her see past lives, does she?

“More than anything, the fact that you worry about this means there’s room for improvement.”

“That sounds like you’re saying I need improvement.”

“That depends on your choice, doesn’t it?”

“So if I want to improve right now, it’s possible?”

“Yes, plenty.”

How could she say that with such certainty? And what exactly was I supposed to improve?

She cleared up that question right away.

“You just need to hire a professional.”

“A professional, out of nowhere?”

“Yes, a professional to manage your image. A lot of Hunters actually hire professionals for their image management. You know there are Hunters who enjoy popularity on par with celebrities, right?”

“I know.”

The prime examples were Lee Sehee and Jung Dahyun, though those two were special cases—but there were Hunters who appeared on TV programs as much as celebrities did.

They took on the role of explaining the hunting process to the public, raising awareness of the hardships Hunters faced and the dangers of monsters, while also conveying the benefits of becoming a Hunter.

“They make money through good image-making. Honestly, they probably earn more from TV appearances and commercial shoots than from actual hunting.”

“That’s surprising.”

“From the government’s perspective, they need to instill admiration for the Awakened.”

That was the government’s irony.

While striving to control the Awakened, on the other hand, they spared no support or benefits to increase the number of Awakened.

So rather than discouraging the image of Awakened enjoying wealth and fame, they actually encouraged it. The more applicants there were, the wider the pool, and the more talent would grow to protect South Korea.

Should I just go on broadcasts often too? Something like, “If you have power, you can kill villains.” Though broadcasting isn’t really my thing.

Encouraging villain hunting—I should bring that up with Cheon Myeongguk.

“What you need is that professional. Someone who can make people see you as a righteous Hunter, someone who can make the number of people who understand and support you grow.”

“That’s something I never even considered.”

I’d thought I just needed to become a public service Hunter and catch villains and monsters.

It felt like a world I didn’t know was opening up.

“Can’t the Shinseong Guild stick someone on it for me?”

Lee Sehee shook her head.

“Those people belong to the Shinseong Guild in the end. You need someone who’ll analyze things thinking only of your image. In other words, you need to form a Choi Junho Team.”

A Choi Junho Team. If I used my epithet, would that be a Head Breaker Team? That doesn’t sound great, so I’d rather go with Choi Junho Team.

“If you’re okay with it, shall I look into some people for you?”

“Would you?”

“Of course. This is for you, after all. I’ll find the best.”

Lee Sehee gave a confident smile.

I feel like I can trust her.

*

The one investigating Mayor of Busan Yoo Seongsu was the recently revived Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

Honestly, I hadn’t cared who conducted the investigation.

I figured as long as the research was done properly, that was enough.

But then Lee Jonggyeong, the Head of the Central Investigation Department, contacted me. He said he had something to tell me about the investigation results.

Was there any reason he had to tell me specifically?

Feeling puzzled, I headed to where the Central Investigation Department was located.

I met Lee Jonggyeong in his office.

“Thank you for coming. Honestly, I was worried you might not show up.”

“What’s the reason you called me?”

“I thought it would be best to show the investigation results to Choi Junho the transcendent first, so I called you in.”

“……”

Lee Jonggyeong’s first impression reminded me of Wang Juyeol. A plump build, a face that reeked of greed. His narrow eyes gleamed slyly.

I stared at Lee Jonggyeong for a moment, then took the documents and began examining their contents.

The moment I read the first page, my Intuition blared loudly. Compared to what the President had handed me, the charges had been reduced and the names of associated people were missing.

These documents—someone doctored them.

“The contents of these documents seem to be lacking.”

“Haha, not lacking—I simply excluded all the ambiguous parts.”

“I take it your business here is related to this.”

“The existence of a transcendent is truly remarkable. No—is it something only possible for Choi Junho the transcendent?”

Lee Jonggyeong wet his lips with his tongue, his eyes glinting.

“The Blue House’s position is hardline, but at this rate, the country could split in two.”

“……”

“Why not settle things amicably, cut it at a reasonable line, and move on? This is for your sake too, Choi Junho the transcendent. There’s nothing to gain from needlessly making enemies.”

So this was why he’d called me.

He wanted to draw up his own hit list from where he stood.

Since I wasn’t saying anything, the man kept running his mouth.

“It’s not good to oppose each other more than necessary. Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free. The Busan side is also preparing sufficient compensation.”

“What compensation?”

“Various things.”

Just looking at him, it clearly wasn’t legal.

Meanwhile, Lee Jonggyeong’s nonsense continued.

“The regime might be extended, but if a major incident breaks out, it could change. Shouldn’t you hedge your bets on both sides, thinking of that time?”

“……”

“Haha, I’m saying this for your sake, Choi Junho the transcendent. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Why would I take it the wrong way from a dead man?”

“What?”

Crash!

My kick shattered the wooden table between us. The moment that Force-loaded kick slammed into Lee Jonggyeong’s shin, it snapped like a dry cornstalk.

“Gwaaak!”

“Shut up.”

I grabbed the scruff of the collapsing man’s head and seized his left shoulder. As the Arc Mine burrowed in, with a crunch! his shoulder caved inward.

“Guh—heuk!”

Still gripping the man’s head, I stepped out of his office. Perhaps having heard the scream, personnel working in the Central Investigation Department began appearing one by one in the hallway.

They looked at Lee Jonggyeong—both legs broken, one shoulder completely crushed, being dragged out by the head—and their faces filled with shock.

“Everyone, take out your smartphones and put them on the floor. Anyone who isn’t coming out, come out now. If you’re not out within ten seconds, I’ll smash your heads in first.”