Chapter 43: News
Inside the numerous press corps.
A man wearing dark sunglasses despite it being late at night was speaking.
“It wasn't an operation, we coincidentally obtained information that a student was being held at a place called Heavenly Mandate Holy Order and infiltrated.”
The man who organized the place, which was chaotic until just a moment ago, in an instant.
It was Ignis Guild's Vice Guild Master, Lee Si-wang.
“We will proceed with the investigation into the illegal facility in the basement of the Heavenly Mandate Holy Order immediately, and regarding the results of that, it seems appropriate for the investigation team to announce it later, not me.”
From the Ignis Guild's suppression team preparing for the investigation, and responding to the press corps that gathered suddenly due to the building's collapse, to conducting basic interviews and organizing the incident.
Although there was the intention to prevent strange rumors and false articles from spreading, the reason he went this far was also to prevent this incident from being buried by someone's power.
“First, the investigation team will arrive shortly, so our suppression team will control entry into the building.”
As soon as his words finished, the suppression team lined up in a straight line in front of the collapsed Heavenly Mandate Holy Order building.
“I think you probably have many questions, but since the investigation team will come shortly to investigate and report the situation of the basement in real-time, please wait just a little.”
From neat situation organization to follow-up measures.
It was conduct befitting the 1st ranked Hunter in South Korea.
Just.
Except for…… one thing.
Lee Si-wang turned only his head slightly with a face that had turned white.
Then, the interview of the man standing right next to him proceeded.
Almost recklessly.
“I told you. I just came to find my disciple, me.”
Dark brown eyes with sharp eyebrows glared at the press corps.
No matter how much Lee Si-wang organized the situation, he couldn't stop some zealous reporters.
Amidst the continuing barrage of questions, Yoo jin, who was next to Lee Si-wang, could not avoid friction with the reporters.
“Is it true that the illegal facility in the basement was something like biological experiments?”
“How many times are you asking the same thing.”
Despite Yoo jin's rejection, the reporters' questions continued endlessly.
“If there was an illegal facility, the security must have been strict; was there a martial conflict?”
“Did you really infiltrate to save one student?”
“A fight to the extent that this large building collapsed occurred; are there no injuries?”
“Although Hunter Lee Si-wang was there, judging by Hunter Lee Si-wang's words, most of the battle was…….”
“Is it true that you are a teacher at Taewoon High?”
“Student! Did students enter together too!”
“Then does that mean Heavenly Mandate Holy Order was a criminal group that was only a cult on the outside?”
Endless questions.
No matter how much Lee Si-wang organized the situation, it was not easily wrapped up.
The children were frozen, and Yoo jin was on the verge of exploding at any moment.
At that time.
“No, who goes this far for a disciple?”
A voice heard from the center of the numerous press corps, location unknown.
At that voice, the atmosphere became silent in an instant.
More precisely, not because of the owner of that voice, but because of the man's face filling the screen.
“Doesn't everyone do about this much originally? If you're a teacher.”
Silence flowed.
That voice was being broadcast nationwide in real-time.
Clap clap clap!
“Wow! He’s really a crazy guy, a crazy guy! Hahahaha!”
The top floor of the Ignis Guild.
Kim Gyu-il was laughing loud enough for the Guild Master's office to ring.
“I wondered why he went to school! Hahaha! It’s like a manhwa! A manhwa! To think there is still a person who says such things! Hahahaha!”
“…….”
“…….”
Stare.
A stinging gaze felt along with a chill.
Kim Gyu-il turned his head.
Secretary Kim and the Ignis Guild Master were there glaring at him.
“Ha, ha…… Mm…….”
Kim Gyu-il shut his mouth tight.
Ignis Guild Master Cho Sang-geun let out a deep sigh.
“I thought he wouldn't be able to hide his identity and live quietly, but to this extent…….”
“Yes. I didn't know he couldn't hide it to this extent.”
Secretary Kim replaced the latter words.
Their gazes headed towards the screen on one side of the Guild Master's office all at once.
Top headlines.
― Shocking truth of the Cult Order.
Biological experiment site discovered in the basement.
― Connection to missing persons over the past 2 years also?
― The one who punished the criminal group is a prestigious school teacher?
― Yoo jin, who on earth is he?
Breaking news filling the screen.
And at the center of those special reports enough to shake the country.
Was Yoo jin's face.
“Si-wang…….”
At the Guild Master's sigh.
Kim Gyu-il, who only now recalled Yoo jin's identity, wrapped his hands around his neck.
‘Returnee.’
“Ah…… my loan…….”
With the arrival of the investigation team, Yoo jin and the party could escape from the press corps.
An empty lot a little away from the Heavenly Mandate Holy Order.
Yoo jin, who confirmed there were no people passing by, took out the gourd from his pocket.
Whish.
Along with the sound of wind, the Cult Leader was sucked out from the gourd.
Shiver shiver.
Pupils without focus.
Trembling body.
Even at a glance, he was not in his right mind.
And next to him.
Thud!
Lee Si-wang put down Teacher Lee whom he was carrying on his shoulder.
Cult Leader Kim Seong-hak and Teacher Lee.
Now, the lackeys of the Class A Monster Terror Incident were all gathered in one place.
Yoo jin, who was looking down at them, lowered his posture to match their eye level.
“I have no time because I have to go get treated to an expensive late-night snack? So, let’s end this quickly?”
In Yoo jin's field of view, unfocused eyes and terrified eyes entered.
There was only one thing he was curious about from the Cult Leader and Teacher Lee.
“Who ordered it?”
The figure who planted Teacher Lee in the school to summon an S-Rank monster in Class A's class and cast a barrier.
In addition to that, the hidden power who carried out human experiments stealing Awakened Ones' abilities while wearing the mask of a cult religion.
Trembling eyes as if terrified and eyes with lost focus turned to Yoo jin.
“T, that is…….”
“…….”
He thought the answer wouldn't come out at once.
But that didn't mean Yoo jin was a human with excellent patience.
“There is no next time. You better think well. And I hope you don't even think about lying in the first place. I don't know about other guys, but you can't deceive me.”
Yoo jin's dark brown eyes changed to gold.
Killing intent radiated from the golden eyes.
Teacher Lee, who looked like he would wet his pants right now, trembled and opened his mouth.
“I, I got it. I, I will speak, so just my life…….”
At Teacher Lee's voice, the Cult Leader's head, which was out of it, turned towards Teacher Lee.
He still looked like he wasn't in his right mind, but at the appearance of Teacher Lee who seemed like he would spill about the higher-ups at any moment, it seemed he slightly regained his senses.
“Yeah, let’s go easy. If you say it at once, I won't kill you.”
Yoo jin, who was making eye contact, raised his body.
Whether he realized that was the signal, Teacher Lee slowly opened his mouth with a terrified expression.
“That Person who guided us is…….”
At Teacher Lee's voice, not only Yoo jin but also the nerves of Lee Si-wang and the children at the back were concentrated.
It could only be so.
Because it was quite a long time.
Lee Si-wang tailed for a month without even getting off work.
Seong-hyeon became a loner for a year.
And Jin-ho and Ye-na went through something that would cause trauma.
And lastly.
Yoo jin.
Endured the anger that seemed like it would explode for a month.
His class students all almost died.
Probably, if he hadn't been there, they would have died.
Now he gets to know the guy hiding behind.
If only Teacher Lee's lips opened…….
“You guys too……. Ugh!!”
Teacher Lee, who was spitting out his voice, clutched his chest.
Voice, no, to be exact, it seemed he couldn't breathe.
“What! Why are you like that!”
“Ugh!! Ugh!!”
A situation that happened suddenly.
Teacher Lee, who couldn't breathe well, collapsed to the floor with his eyes rolled back.
His glasses rolled on the floor.
The Cult Leader who was right next to him trembled.
“The Messiah's punishment…….”
Yoo jin quickly ran to Teacher Lee.
He placed his hand on the chest.
“He didn't die.”
“How on earth did this happen?”
Lee Si-wang's voice flowed from the back.
“I…… I don't know either.”
The Cult Leader said with a terrified voice.
Yoo jin, who confirmed that Teacher Lee didn't die, swept his chin and moved his gaze to the Cult Leader.
“Hey. You say it. Who is the guy behind you guys. That guy called Messiah.”
“I absolutely cannot s…….”
“Do you want to go in one more time?”
Yoo jin lifted the gourd and brought it in front of the Cult Leader's eyes.
The Cult Leader trembling his body.
That was not emotion but fear imprinted on the body.
Yoo jin carefully containing the Cult Leader in his eyes.
“Last time. Who is it, that guy.”
The Cult Leader, who was showing anxious trembling eyes, soon opened his mouth.
“That Person is……. Keuk!! Ke…… Ugh…….”
The same reaction as Teacher Lee.
The Cult Leader who was trying to speak collapsed as is.
Burying his face in the floor.
At the thing that happened in an instant, Lee Si-wang's mouth did not close.
The children at the back made even more surprised expressions.
Because it was such a situation.
However, just one person.
“Mm……. I thought he wouldn't be just any guy, but he's impressive. To think he thought of the cleanup too.”
Yoo jin, who was containing the collapsed Cult Leader and Teacher Lee in his eyes, was making a calm expression.
“What does that mean?”
“What do you mean what. It’s as you see. That guy called That Person or whatever placed a curse.”
“A curse?”
“Well, it’s not certain whether it’s a curse or magic, but. Roughly that kind of category.”
Lee Si-wang, who heard Yoo jin's words, contained the fainted Teacher Lee and Cult Leader in his eyes.
“My goodness, to think he would place a curse that makes them faint if they try to leak his name. It’s formidable.”
A bitter smile was built on Yoo jin's lips.
“What do we do now?”
“What do you mean what do we do. First, we have to put them in a cell.”
Yoo jin, who let out a deep sigh, scratched the back of his head.
“Haa……. I should have learned some magic from that guy. Or something similar to dispelling curses. She would be able to make them confess everything.”
“Who is that guy?”
It was Lee Si-wang whose voice flowed out before his thoughts.
It could only be so.
He had never heard of nor seen an Awakened One who could place this level of magic and curse.
Although there are many Awakened Ones who handle magic specialized in combat and force breaking through limits well.
Because this kind of magic had differences in detail and characteristics.
“There is one. An Archmage friend I made in the other world.”
Behind Yoo jin's low-echoing voice, silence flowed for a moment.
“The returnee-sir has a friend?”
“Wanna get hit?”
Unlike the situation that had become complicated, a small smile spread on their faces.
“Ha……. But it has really become complicated.”
“Tell me about it. First, contact the guild or investigation team to take these things so they can't run away. And tell them to watch them well just in case.”
“That means. The guy behind them might come to save these guys…….”
“He won't come. There is no way a guy who strikes first like this in advance would come to find them.”
“That is true.”
“Anyway, just in case, ask the guild side to find out if there is an Awakened One who can dispel curses.”
“Yes. But if it’s in this condition…….”
“I know. They probably can't dispel it. Still, just mention it first.”
“Yes.”
Yoo jin turned his body and stretched. Clicking his tongue with annoyance.
“Ugh……. Catching that guy will have to be…… postponed a little.”
Yoo jin's forehead looking up at the moon was crumpled.
One hour later.
“Excuse me…….”
A shadow was cast on Lee Si-wang's face.
“Weren't you clearly extremely serious earlier? You were all down and stuff.”
Although it was clearly words delivered to the opponent, Lee Si-wang's voice was not conveyed to that target.
Even though he was right in front.
Chomp chomp.
Chomp chomp.
Chopsticks falling towards the target with movement faster than an eagle.
Yoo jin was snatching the prey on the grill.
Two Plus!
Number Nine!
Top-grade Hanwoo beef was disappearing into Yoo jin's mouth in an instant.
“Wow! It’s really delicious! It can't even be compared to Drake meat!”
“…….”
Lee Si-wang shook his head.
Even so.
“Hey hey! Eat quickly. Originally you eat it rare!”
“Yes!”
Did they say children are mirrors of adults.
Jin-ho and Ye-na moved the meat on the grill to their mouths quickly like Yoo jin, following him like small sparrows…… not to the extent of an eagle.
“How many servings is it already……. How on earth did you know a 24-hour Hanwoo restaurant…….”
In Lee Si-wang's gaze touching his throbbing head.
A student sitting blankly was seen.
Jo Seong-hyeon.
The child rescued from the basement of the Heavenly Mandate Holy Order a little while ago.
Although there were wounds, it wasn't to the extent of going to the hospital immediately so they came here together.
Because he heard he couldn't eat anything for 3 days.
However.
Lee Si-wang also knew.
That this child was not in the mood to eat something right now.
A completely contrasting appearance.
One side chomp chomp as if starved for a month.
The person who actually starved for 3 days was not touching the chopsticks even once.
Lee Si-wang, who was thinking something with his eyes hardened in a straight line, lifted a piece of meat with tongs and put it down on Seong-hyeon's front plate.
Naturally moving gaze.
Seong-hyeon's eyes headed towards Lee Si-wang.
“Eat first. Eat and think tomorrow.”
He knows that whatever words he says won't reach.
But even so, he has to do it.
From what he has watched so far.
Although he is still scary.
Although he is a person who only does nonsensical actions.
Even so, because he learned from that person who only moves forward.
“…….”
And a smile hung on Yoo jin's lips who was watching that appearance.
A smile that was not built even when eating high-grade Hanwoo costing over 100,000 won per serving that melts in the mouth.
When Yoo jin, who hid his smile, was trying to move his chopsticks again.
“…….”
Yoo jin's eyebrows, looking at the window of the meat restaurant made of floor-to-ceiling glass, became diagonal.
A familiar face walking on the night street wearing plain clothes.
The appearance of Yoo jin's class student entered his eyes.