Chapter 91

Chapter 91

I arrived at Incheon International Airport to greet old man Franz.

Since monsters had overrun the world, it had lost much of its former role, but it was still South Korea’s largest airport and the hub for international routes.

Franz and his party, coming from Germany, would arrive after several layovers.

Seeing as he’d taken such a long route, the old man’s stamina clearly wasn’t a concern. Back when I was Blood Lord, I remembered him coming after me and running out of energy, needing several days of rest.

I’d originally intended to come alone, but Cheon Myeongguk had objected strenuously and attached someone to me.

“Did the Director order you to watch me?”

“Th-that’s not it.”

“It’s fine. You worrying about me is nothing new.”

Our Director Cheon really does look out for me.

I told the Awakened Security Office staff who’d followed me to relax, then quietly waited for Franz.

No matter how ruthlessly I might deal with people, I had no intention of lifting a hand at a meeting with someone from my past.

Of course, the old man had never met me.

He was someone who’d left a deep impression on me, so I was curious to see how he’d be before his skills fully declined. When I was Blood Lord, he’d been the strongest opponent I’d faced in relative terms.

Even though Franz had been declining back then, he’d still made me feel like I was staring death in the face.

He wielded Arc Mine so exquisitely that it suited his title of Grand Master, and he put me in danger time after time.

Once Arc Mine dug in, it tenaciously churned up everything inside, and the old man’s martial arts were so sublime it drove me half-mad.

The insight I’d gained from that duel was just as significant.

For me, who’d gone mad from taking in every gift I could get my hands on, it taught me that having many gifts wasn’t a good thing.

“When you think about it, the old man deserves a bit of credit.”

The thing that gave me the chance to cut down on gifts had come right after our duel, since I’d gone insane from exceeding my gift allowance.

Anyway, I wondered what state he’d be in.

He’d been incredibly rigid even back then—now that he still had his energy, he’d probably be far worse.

“They’ve arrived.”

At the staff member’s words, I snapped out of my thoughts.

Thump, thump.

Strangely, my heart was pounding hard.

In my last life, this man had shouted at me the moment he saw me when I was insane. I was curious how he’d react seeing me in my right mind.

A moment later, Franz—who still looked like he was in his early fifties—and Laura Anne, whom I’d seen before, appeared.

My eyes met Franz’s. I could feel his power. Quite strong. If in my last life he’d felt like a final flame burning out, now his core was solid.

He must be quite the stickler.

Franz looked at me, exchanged a few words with Laura, then brushed off her attempts to stop him and strode toward me. He spoke in stiff but fluent Korean.

“Are you Choi Junho?”

“Pleased to meet you, Grand Master Franz Günther.”

“So you at least know your manners. You’re different from the rumors I heard.”

“Since it’s our first meeting, I thought I’d be polite.”

“Does that mean you won’t be polite from now on?”

“I’ll decide after I see.”

“A junior ought to show respect for his seniors, and yet…”

Franz furrowed his brow as he looked at me.

I met his gaze without much thought.

Sure enough—now that he was in his right mind, the old-man energy was no joke.

“They call you Head Breaker, do they? Just how many heads have you smashed to earn that?”

“Only the ones that needed smashing. Is that a problem?”

“No, well done. Men who need to die go around doing things worth dying for. Wiping them all out quickly is better for the world.”

“That’s unexpected. Everyone else criticizes me for it.”

“They criticize you because of the blood on your hands. You’re still young—just how many have you killed for the smell of murder to seep out of you so naturally?”

What a ghost of an old man.

“I don’t hesitate when it’s time to act.”

“So you’d smash my head too?”

In my last life I would have, but now I had no particular reason to.

I answered with a shrug.

Franz didn’t press further.

“I hear you have the same gift as me.”

“Would you like to confirm it?”

“Of course I would. Use it.”

“Then I won’t decline.”

I immediately extended my hand toward Franz. Behind him, Laura let out a startled sound, but the man himself stayed still.

The Arc Mine coating my hand climbed up Franz’s shoulder and burrowed into his body.

With a crackle of sparks, an enormous amount of Arc Mine was sucked inside.

For an ordinary person, the force would have shattered every bone into dust, but Franz weathered it without changing expression.

Nor had I poured it out with the intent to kill him. He wasn’t the kind of man to die from this much, anyway. And if he had this gift, he’d surely have resistance to it too.

As proof, the Arc Mine vanished without a trace before long.

“Just like its owner—vicious.”

Franz, who’d had his eyes closed, clicked his tongue.

“There’s nothing in it but the will to kill your opponent. How can such madness and murderous intent coexist? It’s a wonder you haven’t gone insane. No—are you already insane?”

“Who’s insane, exactly?”

“You, you. Word is spreading all over Europe that a mad dog is running wild in Korea.”

“Who’s saying that?”

This old man, he’s crossing the line.

That said, I needed to ask who’d made the mad dog comment.

Just then, I saw Laura flinch as our eyes met.

I had a reasonable suspicion, but Franz was speaking, so I couldn’t press her.

“Back in my day, we had dreams and hope. A noble ideal—to wipe out monsters with our own hands and bring peace to the world. For that, we broke bones, and our muscles twisted. Some had their Force backflow. They couldn’t handle it and died, of course. In our time, we had the courage to face monsters bare-handed to unlock our gifts, but these kids these days, tsk tsk!”

Franz clicked his tongue at me.

“The moment they don’t like something, they think about killing. Do you have any idea how long it takes to raise a single Awakened? If someone’s got a bit of talent, they either holler about money right away or run off and become a villain. I don’t know what this world is coming to.”

“I’m a government-affiliated transcendent who catches villains.”

“The problem is that killing intent doesn’t only go toward villains. Why did you crush my disciple’s wrist?”

“When you come at someone, you should be prepared for the consequences.”

“That’s true enough. Anyone watching would think she’d done something worth dying for.”

Franz clicked his tongue. Laura nodded vigorously.

When her eyes met mine, she turned her head away again.

Caught. She definitely seems to understand Korean—I’ll have to ask her for that mad dog list.

“So, is that all?”

“As if that’s all. Your gift is soaked too thickly with the smell of murder. Before you hear my advice, feel my gift first. You call it Arc Mine, right? I call this Blitz.”

With that, Franz extended his hand. When I instinctively grabbed it, his eyebrow twitched.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“It was a reflex.”

“Hmph, these kids these days have no trust.”

The Arc Mine coating Franz’s hand burrowed into me. Mm, this sensation after so long. A tingle, and at the same time a spreading numbness.

I furrowed my brow at the pain creeping outward. It scattered inside me without being able to deliver any further shock. I couldn’t tell what was supposed to be different.

I sensed mischief from Franz as he looked at me.

“What’s different about it?”

“It’s the same gift, so of course it’s the same—how could it be different? I’ve had a taste, so it’s only natural you should taste it too.”

…This old fossil.

Should I kill him?

My patience runs out faster than I thought.

“How you develop it differs from person to person. You developed yours to kill people efficiently, while mine went a different way.”

Franz extended his hand, and the Arc Mine, which should have dissipated, kept its form and reached all the way in front of me.

“How about it? I could teach you.”

His expression was like someone dangling a bone in front of a dog.

I extended my hand too.

“I can do that much myself.”

“Huh?”

Franz’s face went blank. His expression said, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.”

What’s so hard about projecting it at range? It’s just that the power isn’t efficient.

Was this all he’d meant to show off? Apparently dissatisfied with my reaction, Franz’s face crumpled.

“Boring brat. Did you really have to win? Fine, you’re so great, you’re the big shot.”

Where does he even learn to talk like that?

James Reed and old man Franz both—an investigation is urgently needed.

“So, are you going to keep standing here?”

“We should go. I have quite a lot to do. You lead the way.”

“Sure.”

We got in a car and headed to the Blue House.

On the way, I asked Laura about the mad dog list, and she only spoke German as if she couldn’t understand. She could pretend not to speak it, but she seemed able to understand it just fine.

Talking with Franz brought back the feeling of returning to the past.

It was the period when I, as Blood Lord, had completely crossed the line.

Perhaps what I felt with Jung Dahyun was similar.

Even though his old age was guaranteed and he was respected as an elder, he’d come all the way to a foreign country to kill me, a villain. I would never dismiss the conviction of a man who burned his own body for justice.

“Oh! This car’s quite nice too. But German cars are the best, of course. Got any German beer?”

…Though he did seem to be quite the German-pride nut.

People are the same wherever you go.

* * *

When we arrived at the Blue House, the banquet that followed had a warm atmosphere.

The President and Franz discussed a wide range of topics, from the international situation to diplomatic strategy and guild management. The two lavished praise on each other’s insight, over and over.

The President praised Germany for standing tall as Europe’s leader, and Franz praised South Korea’s latent strength.

Just listening to the conversation would produce enough nationalist clickbait thumbnails to flood the internet.

“It’s certainly a unique setup.”

“It’s meant to prevent guilds from dominating the world.”

Germany’s guilds were unusual in that the government and citizens together held a 51 percent stake, a means of restraining the growth of guild power.

Because of that, countless talents had flowed overseas, but many Awakened who’d suffered the ills of countries where the government or guilds held too much sway ended up returning.

The world is at war with monsters. On top of that, the existence of villains—fellow humans—is rising to the fore.

This isn’t a world where money alone lets you do whatever you want, so other factors like the territory you grew up in, a sense of stability, and the state’s ability to control things are being weighed as important considerations.

“Money isn’t everything. Protecting the territory you live in is what matters.”

“That’s an impressive thing to say.”

During the conversation between Franz and the President, there were notably many remarks starting with “back in my day” or “these kids these days.”

And yet, why did they keep glancing at me?

Surely they didn’t mean for me to be listening. When you think about it, I’m on the side that clicks my tongue at these kids these days too.

“We’ll make sure you’re comfortable during your stay in Korea. Is there anything you need?”

“Then may I ask Choi Junho to be my guide?”

That’s when I saw it.

The President’s and Cheon Myeongguk’s expressions rapidly darkening.

Surely they don’t distrust me.

“President.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Do you not trust me, by any chance?”

The President, meeting my eyes, flinched, cleared his throat, and asked.

“Of course not. Transcendent Choi Junho, would you be willing to take it on?”

They say they trust me, so why are their eyes desperately hoping I’ll refuse?

Anyone would think accidents happen when people go around with me.

I’ll show them that’s not the case.

“I’ll take responsibility and show you around Seoul.”

“I’ll leave it to you. Mm, mhm!”

A groan slipped from the President’s mouth.

* * *

Franz and I moved as a pair. At some point, Laura had quietly disappeared—she apparently preferred moving alone to being together.

She never did tell me who’d said the mad dog remark.

Anyone watching would think she was being petty about it. I’d only asked out of curiosity.

Anyway, Franz and I set off on a tour of Seoul.

His stay in Korea was only three days.

During that time, we toured various palaces in Seoul and ate all kinds of food. He ate jokbal and declared it a new kind of Schweinshaxe, eating an enormous amount. Why was he looking for German beer at a jokbal restaurant? The owner who actually procured it was impressive too.

On the next day’s schedule, we stopped by the Academy and exchanged greetings with Go Myeonghak. Having been active around the same time, they seemed to know each other well.

When the topic of Red Snake Kim Younghwan came up, Franz clicked his tongue.

“A man like that deserves to die.”

Somehow, Franz was the one sympathizing most with someone I’d killed after returning to the past.

Since we were at the Academy, Franz also gave a special lecture for the students who represented South Korea’s future.

Though he’d supposedly retired, the students’ eyes lit up at the appearance of a mighty transcendent belonging to the Ten Great Transcendents.

The ones who turned pale at the sight of me were clearly playing favorites.

So the brand name really does matter.

On the last day of touring Seoul, Franz and I ate a full-course Korean meal at an upscale restaurant, then went outside for a walk.

“It’s good. Preserving the city’s form means the nation’s pride is intact. Even in my day, we kept scenery like this.”

Franz, born in a small village in Hamburg, Germany, had lost his family and neighbors to a monster attack, he said.

He’d felt helpless, unable to do anything in the face of the monster attack, and that became his motivation to grow stronger.

He’d apparently gained Arc Mine after being struck by lightning and adapting to it, and locally people sometimes called him Zeus.

What a poorly suited epithet. To be called Zeus when, as far as I knew, he’d never once dated a woman.

“I know about Korea too. A strong nation that joined the ranks of developed countries through the power of its talent. Now that the appearance of monsters has lowered the importance of vast territory and abundant resources, it’s no wonder Korea, rich in talent, is making its presence felt. What do you think?”

“I don’t have any particular thoughts.”

“Kids these days can’t think deeply.”

I answered because he asked, and he’s still this cranky. Franz turned his head again and spoke.

“It’s the world I’ve protected, but these days I find myself thinking a lot. Desire keeps growing stronger, and the cause of safeguarding the world is withering. Everyone’s too busy running the numbers in their heads. Politicians and businessmen, all of them, doing nothing but scheming about how to use the mighty power of transcendents like me. This isn’t what I spent my life protecting the world for.”

“Do you regret it?”

“I do regret it. I thought the world would change as much as I sacrificed. But I underestimated human desire. As much as I gave, they devoured it and demanded even more sacrifice.”

“……”

This feels pretty different from the conversation I had with the President.

Was this really how Franz had always thought?

“In the end, the only ones who understand our hardships are fellow Awakened. People who don’t get it call us dangerous, try to tie us down with laws, point their fingers at us. Even when we risk our lives hunting, they say we earn too much and take it away in taxes. All we got back for our sacrifices was harsh treatment.”

“……”

“Don’t you think it’s unfair? Don’t you think this world is rotten to the core? With your power, you could overturn this entire country.”

“Overturn it and then what? It’d just be a hassle.”

Franz’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

Seems he’s got quite a bit of stress built up.

Then again, wasn’t the whole reason he came to Korea to see me after I broke his disciple’s wrist?

Yet he hadn’t made any real move on me even by the last day. That meant this wasn’t his goal. Which meant it had to be connected to why he’d been watching me for all three days.

Putting it together with what he’d just said, was it this?

“So you’re saying you agree with the League’s ideology, old man?”

“And if I do?”

“You’ve gone senile early.”

Machines start working again if you smack them a few times when they won’t run.

I wonder if a few smacks to the head would knock the senility out of him too.