Chapter 186
Chapter 186. Encounter (2)
Yoo Ji-han was guided by a sentry into the interior of the building.
Inside was more spacious than he had expected, where the party members were sitting on chairs in front of the café, waiting.
As soon as they spotted Yoo Ji-han, they jumped to their feet.
“You’re here!”
“We’ve been waiting!”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Not at all. I’m perfectly fine.”
Yoo Ji-han waved his arm to showcase the bracelet made for him by Nam Ho-yeol.
It was to let them know he had escaped safely.
“When did you arrive?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Confirming that his companions had arrived without any trouble, Yoo Ji-han let out a sigh of relief.
He was really glad there were no additional problems.
“Hyung Ji-han! Sorry, but can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Sure.”
Suddenly, Kim Si-hu requested a private conversation with Yoo Ji-han.
Responding to this, Yoo Ji-han took Kim Si-hu aside, putting a bit of distance from the other party members.
So their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
“Did you hear about that?”
“That would be… that Kim Hyun-tae’s party is here?”
“……!”
When Yoo Ji-han brought up Kim Hyun-tae’s party, Kim Si-hu looked a bit surprised.
“You’ve already heard.”
“A sentry outside told me.”
“……What are you going to do? They’re looking for your brother.”
“Have you met them?”
“No. I just informed the people I met here that I belong to a party and that my brother is the captain of the Yeosu Expeditionary Force.”
Kim Si-hu looked at Yoo Ji-han with worried eyes.
He was one of the few who knew the complicated relationship between Kim Hyun-tae’s party and Yoo Ji-han.
He was worried about how meeting his old comrades would weigh on Yoo Ji-han.
“Don’t worry.”
Yoo Ji-han responded calmly.
Since he was already standing out in the hero community like this, encountering Kim Hyun-tae’s party was bound to happen.
The meeting had simply been moved up because of this situation.
“Yoo Ji-han’s party?”
Just then, a woman approached Yoo Ji-han.
“Are you the leader of Yoo Ji-han’s party?”
“That’s correct.”
“And you said you’re also the leader of the Yeosu Expeditionary Force.”
“That’s right.”
“……”
The woman regarded Yoo Ji-han with a highly suspicious gaze.
Even though she must have confirmed in advance through the Hero Department Hotline at Haenam County Office, she found it hard to believe a party of just Rank 3 could claim to have a leader.
‘How rude.’
To look at someone like that right in front of them.
Just like the person in Goheung who had stirred trouble with Yoo Ji-han.
She was not someone he wanted to deal with for long.
“Please come with me for a moment.”
“Yes. I will move with my party members.”
“No. Just Yoo Ji-han needs to come.”
“……?”
Yoo Ji-han narrowed his eyes at the instruction to follow alone.
“Why?”
“That was the request of Kim Hyun-tae.”
A request from Kim Hyun-tae.
Whether it was a ‘request’ or a ‘demand,’ he could guess the atmosphere Kim Hyun-tae wanted to create during the conversation.
‘That won’t do.’
Going alone wouldn’t really cause any problems.
However, Yoo Ji-han didn’t want to comply with his wishes.
“In that case, I refuse the conversation.”
“……Huh?”
The woman was momentarily taken aback by Yoo Ji-han’s response.
Then she responded incredulously, “You refuse to talk?”
“Aren’t we both in need of information?”
“That’s right.”
Yoo Ji-han’s party had traversed from Yeosu, through Goheung, to Haenam, and the locals couldn’t know the reasons for their journey.
Conversely, Yoo Ji-han was also in need of information about Goheung due to the people from another world.
It was clear both parties were in a position to want information from each other.
“Instead of telling me what to do, if you need something, you should come to me first.”
“……”
An unspoken declaration not to be treated lightly.
After glaring at Yoo Ji-han for a moment, the woman swiftly turned and moved further into the building.
Kim Si-hu eyed her back and commented, “Aren’t you a bit too prickly?”
“I can’t just accommodate everything they want.”
This was a kind of information transaction.
One could easily tell who among Yoo Ji-han’s party and the Haenam Expeditionary Force held more valuable information without asking.
Probably knowing that Kim Hyun-tae was involved, Yoo Ji-han didn’t want to be the one to lose in this subtle power play.
“If you like, you’re welcome to come with your party members.”
About ten minutes later, the woman returned to Yoo Ji-han, speaking more politely than before.
Nodding affirmatively, Yoo Ji-han led his party members to follow her.
And the moment they entered what appeared to be an office…
Yoo Ji-han’s party faced Kim Hyun-tae’s party for the first time.
*
“…”
A handsome man silently glared at Yoo Ji-han with piercing eyes.
Leaning against the wall was a large sword, and he was Kim Hyun-tae, the leader of Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
Beside him stood tank Hwang Joon-ho and mage Lim Si-yeon.
‘Just as I thought.’
Their appearances were exactly as Yoo Ji-han had seen in his dream with the fakes.
The looks created by his unconscious were identical to reality.
Yoo Ji-han was once again impressed by his memory.
Meanwhile, Lee Mi-a stood next to Lim Si-yeon, quietly observing Yoo Ji-han’s face.
‘She seems really happy.’
Although she couldn’t show it outwardly.
Yoo Ji-han knew very well that Lee Mi-a was expressing her joy.
‘Is she the one who just joined?’
The last hero was Kim Kang-woo.
He was the one who had newly joined Kim Hyun-tae’s party after Yoo Ji-han left.
Though he had only heard his name a few times, it was the first time seeing his face.
“Pfft!”
But right from the start, he showed a displeasing smile toward Yoo Ji-han.
Feeling a sense of aversion before any conversation even began is not something that happens easily.
Kim Kang-woo seemed to possess all the conditions for that aversion.
‘The atmosphere isn’t great.’
They asked him to come, yet there was no conversation, just a cold atmosphere.
Aside from Lee Mi-a, there was no sense of delight in reuniting after a long time.
With a cameraman present alongside, it seemed they were also trying to film something…
In the midst of this, Yoo Ji-han pondered while looking at Kim Hyun-tae, who was silent.
‘How are you going to treat me?’
Yoo Ji-han’s past of being an unofficial party member in Kim Hyun-tae’s party loomed.
Would his old comrade Kim Hyun-tae act as if he did not know him?
Or would he at least pretend to know him a little?
“Yoo Ji-han. Long time no see.”
The latter was the conclusion.
He acted as though he was already familiar with Yoo Ji-han.
The healer Lee Dong-gil was surprised that the renowned Kim Hyun-tae and Yoo Ji-han had known each other.
Similarly, the unexpected revelation startled Yoo Ji-han as he faced Kim Hyun-tae and said, “Yeah. It’s been a while.”
“We haven’t spoken since you left the guild.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“It’s still unfortunate that you ‘voluntarily left’ Keroes around the same time I became a hero.”
‘Voluntarily left,’ huh…
Hearing Kim Hyun-tae’s words, Yoo Ji-han chuckled inwardly.
‘Is that your choice?’
He could guess vaguely what kind of picture he was painting regarding their relationship.
Though a bit shameless, this was something he could tolerate.
“I’m doing ‘much better’ now, so you don’t need to feel sorry for that.”
Since the important matter wasn’t about the past,
Yoo Ji-han lightly replied to Kim Hyun-tae.
—It’s because I’m here that you’re doing well!
The sylph floated down in front of Yoo Ji-han, inserting herself into the conversation.
Kim Hyun-tae seemed irritated by the presence of the sylph.
However, Yoo Ji-han deliberately patted the sylph’s head.
A spirit that couldn’t be possessed by just anyone emphasized his uniqueness in this place.
“These are my party members.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Si-hu.”
“I’m Min Yu-ri.”
Kim Si-hu and Min Yu-ri greeted Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
Even though it was their first meeting entirely,
Kim Si-hu, who was well aware of the circumstances, was filled with curiosity as he looked at them.
‘That’s the mage who spent seven years with my brother!’
In particular, he focused on mage Lim Si-yeon.
At one point, he had asked Yoo Ji-han to compare ability scores with her.
She was a mage who had caught his attention that much.
‘She looks less intimidating up close, huh?’
Kim Si-hu felt he had nothing to fear against Lim Si-yeon.
Normally, when meeting a remarkably skilled mage like Baek Kang-cheon, one would feel a little overwhelmed.
Yet he felt none of that from Lim Si-yeon.
The experiences he had gone through thus far increased his confidence even more.
‘What’s this? …They’ve got a pretty one over there.’
Feeling the stare from Kim Si-hu, Lim Si-yeon had a flustered look on her face.
She misinterpreted that he had an interest in her.
“Now that the introductions are over, shall we get to the main topic?”
“Wait! Before we do, there’s something I want to ask.”
“……?”
“Why did you become the leader of the Yeosu Expeditionary Force?”
“It was the request of Jung Gi-jun, the Vice Guild Master of Red Hole.”
“Why? Of all people, why you…?”
Kim Hyun-tae couldn’t shake the suspicious look from his eyes.
The feeling of dismissing Yoo Ji-han was definitely not an illusion.
‘Not again?’
‘Why does everyone here act this way?’
As Kim Si-hu and Min Yu-ri frowned, experiencing déjà vu, Yoo Ji-han opened his mouth.
“That’s not a question for you to ask, Hyun-tae.”
“……?!”
Kim Hyun-tae looked aghast at Yoo Ji-han’s reply.
This was the same Yoo Ji-han who had obediently followed every command in their party!
He had spoken to him as if a teacher was chastising a student.
“You may have separated from me now, but I’m still the captain of the Yeosu Expeditionary Force alongside Park Jae-kyung. I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from making doubtful comments in this setting.”
“You…!”
Having said what he needed, Yoo Ji-han observed Kim Hyun-tae’s party’s reactions.
Surprising them all was likely a first for him.
‘This is entertaining.’
Yoo Ji-han was enjoying their expressions so much he wished he could capture them in a photo.
“I’m here solely to share and exchange information. I hope you’ll treat me as an equal without disregarding me due to my rank.”
At Yoo Ji-han’s calm declaration, Kim Kang-woo exploded first.
“Hey, Yoo Ji-han! Isn’t your attitude way too arrogant in front of us?”
“Arrogant?”
“You represent the alliance of Red Hole and Dice as just a Rank 3, so it’s ridiculous I can’t inquire about it!”
“If you’re that displeased that I’m the captain, why don’t you take it up with Jung Gi-jun?”
“……!”
No matter how much Kim Hyun-tae’s party was, they couldn’t disregard someone as significant as the Vice Guild Master of Red Hole.
Tightening his lips, Kim Kang-woo glared at Yoo Ji-han with a disgruntled expression.
‘Is my position in the expedition that unimportant?’
The captain’s role wasn’t just a power play.
Yoo Ji-han found it questionable why it concerned those around him that much.
“Kim Hyun-tae. One thing I want to ask. Are you willing to exchange information?”
“I am.”
“Then why are we having this ridiculous conversation?”
“……Ridiculous?”
“What’s vital to the expedition right now isn’t rank, but information. Why waste time bickering with me when I brought important information? It’s ridiculous for you to act like amateurs.”
Kwaaaak!
Upon hearing the word “amateur,” Kim Hyun-tae clenched his fist.
Though he glared at Yoo Ji-han, filled with anger.
‘So what?’
Having left Kim Hyun-tae’s party long ago, Yoo Ji-han merely shrugged it off.
