Chapter 22: Monster Raccoon
Cho Sang-geun was someone who dreamed of the Yeoncheon Incident every night, even now.
A nightmare.
Yes, although he was dreaming it as a nightmare now, the reality back then was also a nightmare.
The large-scale Yeoncheon Dungeon Break disaster.
He had to lose two women he loved more than anyone.
His fiancée whom he promised forever to, and his biological younger sister.
Over 5 years had passed, yet their screams still rang out in his dreams.
While someone struggled to climb out of hell suffering from nightmares.
Someone else.
Was revered as a hero and sat in the seat of the Hunter Association Vice President through super-speed promotion.
They say if you gain money and honor, the next thing is power.
Then and now.
It seems the fact that dirty guys succeed doesn't change.
Was it because of old memories?
Cho Sang-geun was glaring at Hunter Association Vice President Kang Yu without blinking, without even realizing it himself.
Until the secretary next to him nudged his side.
"Ahem."
Only then did Cho Sang-geun come to his senses and relax his expression.
"Congratulations on your promotion once again."
"As expected of Ignis Guild, the news is fast. Well, it turned out that way. By the way, why is such a busy person here?"
"Because an incident occurred in our jurisdiction."
"I see. Since it is Ilsan."
"Although the accident is unfortunate. It is a relief that your son was not hurt badly."
"......."
The tip of his eyebrow shook above his raised eye corner.
The Vice President, who had a crack in his expression, soon composed his expression and opened his mouth.
"Well, that is true. However, I did not come today because of my second son."
"I see."
Although Cho Sang-geun definitely checked the fleeting expression, he deliberately changed the topic pretending not to know.
"It is the first time an A-Rank monster, no, a monster that might be S-Rank, was summoned."
"Yes. That is why I came personally. Since it is a huge problem that a monster of this level came out outside when it isn't even a Dungeon Break."
"I know that even summoning-type Hunters cannot summon a monster this strong from a magic circle."
"Correct. Although he is a student, a single entity monster that A-Rank Awakeners and an A-Rank teacher were no match for, probably even an A-Rank, no, an S-Rank Summoner would not be able to summon a single entity with that kind of power."
"It will get busy."
"Indeed. Lately, the frequency of Dungeon Breaks is visibly increasing, and now even this exceptional incident. Hmm....... I am worried that something like Yeoncheon will repeat."
At the Vice President's voice, Cho Sang-geun's expression sank.
Kang Yu stared intently at Cho Sang-geun's face and opened his mouth again.
"Are you still keeping that matter in your heart?"
"No. Since it has already been quite a while. It is just that these situations are bothering me. Since the Yeoncheon matter must never be repeated again......."
Silence flowed for a moment.
"By the way, did you perhaps hear that?"
At the Vice President's voice breaking the silence, Cho Sang-geun opened his mouth.
"What are you speaking of?"
"I mean the solver of this incident."
Cho Sang-geun's eyes hardened into a straight line.
"They said he is a newly arrived teacher. I heard that teacher handled not only the barrier but also the monster. Furthermore, in one blow."
"......Is that so? Well, since Taewoon High is a prestigious school, the level of the teachers must be high too."
"I suppose so. But if he is an expert of this level, I should have heard his name while doing Hunter activities, but it was a name I heard for the first time."
"Well, everyone has their own reasons. It could be because his Hunter activity period was short. Or he could have had more passion for teaching than being a Hunter......."
"That could be possible. But it is truly a waste. Since he seems to have quite the skill."
"......."
"Well, like the Guild Master said, everyone has their own reasons."
"I suppose so."
"Then I will be going. Since I have remaining work to do."
At the Vice President's voice, Cho Sang-geun bowed his head slightly.
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work. I will see you next time."
"Then."
The Vice President, who bowed his head, turned his body and moved his steps toward the restricted area.
Around the time the Vice President's figure disappeared from view.
"Still the same, you sly raccoon."
Cho Sang-geun crumpled his brow.
"He already climbed up to Vice President. There is no super-speed promotion like that promotion."
Secretary Kim who was by his side approached.
"Because he is a monster wearing a human mask. Since he is good at coaxing people and has good ability."
"So that is why he is called the President's Connection No. 1."
"Birds of a feather flock together. Between things that aren't human."
"It feels like he is excessively perfect. Putting aside his Hunter ability, did you see earlier? There isn't a single speck of dust on his shoe soles either."
"There is a rumor that he wears new shoes every day after quitting field work."
"I don't know, the rumor might be real."
"That must be why he is here and not there, even though his own son is in the hospital."
"Then, that rumor must be true too. That he favors only the firstborn......."
"It isn't favoritism. To that sly raccoon, children are nothing more than mere tools."
"......."
Cho Sang-geun moved his steps and spoke to Secretary Kim.
"Return... no, where is Teacher Yoo jin right now?"
"They said he moved to the hospital where Student Kang Tae-wook and the twin students went, together with Vice Guild Master Lee Si-wang."
"Is that so......."
"Why do you ask?"
"Because the sly raccoon bothers me."
"The sly raccoon? Not Teacher Yoo jin?"
"It implies the same thing, right now. Since it seems that sly raccoon has become interested in Teacher Yoo jin. There is nothing bad about being careful in advance. Let's go to the hospital first."
"Yes."
Cho Sang-geun, who was moving his steps, captured the Annex where the accident happened in his eyes.
"The special lecture... should I have come?"
The children who had no injuries, at least, went to the infirmary located within Academy City, which was bigger than most university hospitals.
The twins and Kang Tae-wook, who battled the monster, moved to the hospital operated by the Association.
The hospital's top floor hallway.
Yoo jin and Lee Si-wang were there.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"To the other teachers. Naturally, they wouldn't know Return... no, that Teacher Yoo jin is strong, so from their position, they reacted thinking you wouldn't be able to lift the barrier."
"What are you trying to say?"
"How should I put it, I wondered if you spoke in too strong of a tone......."
Yoo jin's eyes and lips hardened into a straight line.
"......."
It was Lee Si-wang whose heart sank at Yoo jin's sunken expression.
Did I think too comfortably because we were together for a long time lately?
Gulp.
Who is Yoo jin?
He is none other than a Returnee.
Also a Returnee who was in the other world longer than any Returnees until now.
A Returnee who probably possesses power far stronger than them.
The Supreme King of China and the Heavenly King of America too.
They are tremendous psychos and slaughter machines.
'Did I cross the line?'
At that time when Lee Si-wang was anxious.
"Hey."
"Yes, yes??"
Yoo jin stared intently at Lee Si-wang's face.
"I said those sunglasses don't suit you."
"......."
Lee Si-wang, whose mouth corner trembled at the absurdity, cleared his throat for no reason, took off the sunglasses he was wearing, and put them in his inner pocket.
Yoo jin, who was leaning against the wall, pushed off his back and spoke.
"But don't you think it's strange?"
"What is?"
"The barrier."
"The barrier? Hmm....... It is indeed questionable who cast such a high-level barrier. At that level, it is used when casting a defensive shield to protect citizens' safety and stop monsters from going outside when a Dungeon Break occurs, and that is something barely created when a unit of high-rank barrier specialists chant simultaneously......."
Lee Si-wang, who was talking to himself without rest, widened his eyes roundly.
"It was so chaotic earlier, so it seems other teachers didn't notice either, but how does one lift such a high-level barrier in just 30 minutes when they aren't even the caster?"
"Now that I hear it....... However, since the level of Taewoon High's teachers is high, perhaps it might be possible."
"It could be possible. Since quite a few teachers tackled it. But the time of 30 minutes is too ambiguous."
"Yes?"
"If they could lift it, they would have done it faster. If they couldn't, they wouldn't have been able to do it at all."
"What does that......."
"The teacher in charge who tried to lift the barrier was B-Rank."
"......."
Lee Si-wang's eyes, having realized something, hardened into a straight line.
"I'm not looking down on him, but no matter how high his knowledge of barriers is, even if he borrowed the power of other teachers, the time of 30 minutes is too ambiguous."
"Then are you saying they did a simultaneous chant or something, Teacher Yoo jin?"
"It's not 100 percent, but that B-Rank teacher might have a share in it, or they might have set up some device so only that teacher could lift it. That could be why it took 30 minutes, or maybe someone ordered him to lift it after about 30 minutes."
It was a possibility, and although it was just Yoo jin's guess to the end.
It wasn't a completely absurd story.
However.
Just who?
"You said no one knows I am a Returnee, right?"
"Yes. Even if rumors circulated among the teachers that you entered the school through connections thanks to Ignis Guild's efforts, the fact that you are a Returnee, probably......."
"Hmm."
Yoo jin, who was stroking his chin.......
"First, put some surveillance on that person called Teacher Lee, the one who tried to lift the barrier."
"Yes? If you feel something is fishy, we can just catch him and ask......."
"Idiot, catching a measly B-Rank guy like that is useless. He is likely nothing but a pawn."
"......."
"He will probably feign ignorance and deny it even if he dies? It's obvious without looking. And if I interrogate that guy and he doesn't spill it to the end, I might get pissed off first and kill him."
Yoo jin's voice appeared as a picture inside Lee Si-wang's head.
Although it was imagination.
It was too.......
'Realistic.'
Lee Si-wang had already cleaned up after Yoo jin a few times.
Therefore, Teacher Lee or whatever getting his head exploded by Yoo jin's finger flick was drawn too vividly.
"Anyway, whether you do it or you order a subordinate, put some surveillance on him. Not long from now, he will definitely meet someone once. The guy with Teacher Lee at that time is probably the guy who cast the barrier."