Chapter 187
Chapter 187: Meeting (3)
Kim Hyun-tae, who had been silently glaring at Yoo Ji-han, glanced at the camera of Yoo Ji-han’s Party.
“Turn off the camera.”
“Why?”
“Filming is prohibited during internal meetings.”
At Kim Hyun-tae’s insistence, Yoo Ji-han eventually shut off the body cam.
He also instructed the other party members handling the cameras to pause filming for a moment.
‘I wasn’t expecting a touching reunion.’
To meet after such a long time and have the conversation flow like this was disheartening.
Yoo Ji-han thought to himself that he and Kim Hyun-tae probably weren’t on good terms.
Well, how could one maintain a good relationship with someone who constantly throws complaints your way?
“Alright, I’m not here to fight with you guys.”
Sharing information with the Haenam Expeditionary Force was for the benefit of everyone in Korea.
Ignoring Kim Hyun-tae’s visibly unhappy demeanor, Yoo Ji-han took the initiative to start talking.
He explained what had happened in Yeosu and why he ended up in Haenam via Goheung.
Of course, he detailed the background of the People from Another World invading Earth, as well as their purposes and methods.
Yoo Ji-han unfolded the concise process that led him to the Haenam County Office while observing the reactions of Kim Hyun-tae’s Party.
“I knew the People from Another World were behind this, but…”
“IUPC wasn’t the cause?”
“Exactly, they were one of the contributors. However, I believe the People from Another World hold a larger share of the blame for this situation.”
Hwang Joon-ho and Lee Mi-a nodded along, grasping the overall flow of events happening in Korea.
“How can I trust that what you’re saying is true?”
“It’s hard to believe, right…?”
On the contrary, Kim Hyun-tae and Kim Kang-woo didn’t believe Yoo Ji-han’s words and remained skeptical.
In response, Yoo Ji-han narrowed his eyes and said,
“Are you saying I’m lying to you?”
“There’s a possibility of that.”
“On what grounds?”
“What’s your basis for claiming that your story is true?”
Such a reaction when sharing crucial information was frustrating.
Even Kim Si-hu and Min Yu-ri frowned at Kim Hyun-tae’s attitude.
Then, Yoo Ji-han asked with an incredulous expression,
“I have no reason to lie to you right now. What could I possibly gain from lying?”
“You might have joined forces with the People from Another World.”
“What?”
Yoo Ji-han frowned.
He never expected to be accused of aligning himself with the enemy out of the blue.
“What’s the basis for that claim?”
“Yoo Ji-han, you need to give me proof that you’re not in cahoots with them! Otherwise, there’s no way you could acquire such detailed information.”
The Haenam Expeditionary Force had encountered the People from Another World on their way to Haenam and had fought several battles against them.
However, they hadn’t extracted any meaningful information from those encounters.
Yet here came Yoo Ji-han’s Party, who had somehow learned of the enemy’s objectives and even the background of how they entered Korea.
It was too detailed a report for them to easily trust.
“So, you’re saying you can’t believe me because I managed to do what you couldn’t?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. It’s just that you’ve become a suspect of betrayal.”
Yoo Ji-han let out a short sigh.
Judging by that attitude, exchanging information with the Haenam Expeditionary Force didn’t seem like a feasible task.
Given the atmosphere, they didn’t seem to have encountered any elites coming from Goheung either.
“I discovered the information thanks to the ability of the spirit I contracted.”
“I’ve never heard of a spirit having such abilities.”
“Of course, you haven’t. This is an ability that has appeared for the first time in the world.”
“…….”
“Even researchers who handle spirits say they gain new knowledge every time they study them, so what do you know to be so certain?”
Kim Hyun-tae fell silent.
It was somewhat unreasonable for him to judge the abilities of a spirit when he wasn’t even a Spirit Master.
“Hyun-tae, this is advice I’ve always wanted to give you… Please don’t judge others based on your narrow perspective. Even if you evaluate them internally, don’t let it out loud.”
“You should also refrain from speaking carelessly about trivial matters, Yoo Ji-han.”
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Hyun-tae glared at each other.
A standoff between old comrades who had been together for seven years.
As their intense gazes crossed each other, it felt as if sparks were flying.
During their time in the same party, whenever conflicts arose, it was always Yoo Ji-han, the party member, who bowed his head first.
But now he showed no signs of backing down.
“Chirp…!”
Even the companions drawn into the atmosphere of the party leaders watched the opposing members with unkind eyes.
*
“Enough, then.”
Judging that the conversation wasn’t going well, Yoo Ji-han took his party members and left first.
On the other hand, the remaining members of Kim Hyun-tae’s Party discussed amongst themselves.
Their main topic revolved around Yoo Ji-han.
“Yoo Ji-han has changed ever since he joined another guild.”
“No! He was like this from the start. Shooting movies, contracting spirits… It’s like he’s lost his mind ever since everything became his world.”
Yoo Ji-han had changed since leaving Kim Hyun-tae’s Party, and his old comrades felt his transformation keenly.
Especially, Kim Hyun-tae found Yoo Ji-han’s defiance towards him extremely displeasing.
‘How dare you…’
He had always thought of that guy as someone beneath him.
Even while belonging to the same party, he had always been a supporter, making their gap even more apparent.
Though he would sometimes rebel, for the most part, he passively accepted any criticism directed at him.
Only now, having parted ways with the party, and after a bit of time had passed before reuniting, did he realize how much had changed since their time as part of the same organization.
“Where did Lee Mi-a go?”
“I think she followed Yoo Ji-han.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? Maybe she has something to say to him.”
“Tsk, if that guy is so great, she should just follow him entirely…”
At the same moment.
Lee Mi-a, who had followed Yoo Ji-han, approached where his party was.
“What do you want?”
Min Yu-ri raised her guard against the approaching Lee Mi-a.
She couldn’t treat one of their party members kindly after just having been glaring at Kim Hyun-tae’s party.
“This person is okay.”
But Yoo Ji-han restrained Min Yu-ri.
He then looked at the expressionless Lee Mi-a and asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“……Just.”
“Hmm?”
Lee Mi-a silently gazed at Yoo Ji-han.
She merely wanted to have a conversation with him.
However, the atmosphere created by Kim Hyun-tae made her stay quiet.
“Oh, this is my old comrade Lee Mi-a.”
“I know.”
“Blood Phantom…”
“Blood, Phantom?”
At Kim Si-hu’s remark, Lee Mi-a tilted her head.
“It’s a nickname people use for Lee Mi-a on the internet.”
“I had no idea about that. I don’t go online much…”
Finally comprehending, Min Yu-ri nodded her head.
Seeing her blank expression, Kim Si-hu lowered his guard around her.
She didn’t seem like someone particularly dangerous.
Upon reflection, during the conversation, she hadn’t been the type to pick fights like others.
“Chirp.”
“…….”
Chilla cautiously approached Lee Mi-a.
It sniffed her hair momentarily, showing a hint of wariness.
“Handshake.”
“Chirp?”
Then, as Lee Mi-a extended her hand, Chilla held her hand in return.
Lee Mi-a’s eyes, quietly observing Chilla, were filled with curiosity towards this new creature.
At that moment, Chilla and Min Yu-ri also eased their guards slightly.
“Yoo Ji-han, was the story you told earlier true?”
“It’s all true.”
“Kim Hyun-tae is refusing to believe you.”
“That’s to be expected.”
“I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”
“Thank you.”
Yoo Ji-han felt relieved.
At least with Lee Mi-a stepping forward from Kim Hyun-tae’s Party like this.
He had faith that she would be there when needed.
‘What I saw in the illusion… I should pretend I don’t know about that.’
What Yoo Ji-han saw in the illusion was based on a memory constructed image.
It had nothing to do with the real Lee Mi-a.
Thus, he decided to ignore the fake Lee Mi-a’s request for a playful slap.
“You look way more relaxed than when you were in Keroes.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Currently, Yoo Ji-han lived a life where he received treatment completely different from when he was just a supporter.
The differences from the past were, of course, natural.
“Don’t you have any thoughts?”
“About what?”
“Leaving the party.”
“……I don’t know.”
“Think about it. It’s really not a big deal once you try it out.”
Since he no longer had any regrets about Keroes,
Yoo Ji-han urged for Lee Mi-a to leave the party.
He felt that in a tightly wound party like Kim Hyun-tae’s, it would be unnecessary for her to remain.
“Do you think you’ll take me with you if I leave?”
“Me? You?”
“…….”
“It seems I won’t be able to meet your conditions.”
As a Rank 2 Hero, Lee Mi-a’s salary was likely more than the combined total of what Kim Si-hu, Yoo Ji-han, and Min Yu-ri earned altogether.
It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by mere goodwill.
“No matter which guild you join, they’ll welcome you, and you could even create your own.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
While chatting with Yoo Ji-han, Lee Mi-a eventually turned back toward the location of her party.
Though she seemed slightly disappointed, she couldn’t afford to stay away for too long.
As she walked away, Min Yu-ri spoke to Yoo Ji-han.
“You seem to get along well with her.”
“We’ve helped each other a lot.”
Yoo Ji-han had always taken care of Lee Mi-a in the party.
And she, too, had been the only one to look after him as a comrade in Kim Hyun-tae’s Party.
The suggestion for her to leave the party was made out of genuine concern for her well-being.
“More importantly, what now, brother?”
“We should follow them ourselves.”
Most of the information they possessed had already been shared.
However, it seemed difficult to seek the Haenam Expeditionary Force’s help in chasing the elites.
Yet they couldn’t simply leave the People from Another World alone.
Fortunately, the locations where they expected those guys to be were narrowed down to less than ten places.
Yoo Ji-han began to brainstorm how to move as efficiently as possible between the scattered locations.
‘Maybe a couple of days of hardship will suffice.’
From the hideouts near the Haenam County Office to those existing in the very edge of Haenam,
If they minimized rest and continued their march.
He thought it might be feasible to visit all the hideouts within roughly two days.
Although the schedule wasn’t all that ample, he had faith that the party members would follow along.
“Can you keep up?”
“Of course.”
Healer Lee Dong-gil showed his confidence in being able to keep pace with that schedule.
Once his thoughts were settled, Yoo Ji-han nodded.
Having finalized their plans, there was no longer a need to delay.
“Let’s prepare.”
Yoo Ji-han’s Party began to make ready to leave the Haenam County Office.
They concluded that staying any longer would serve no purpose.
However, just as he was double-checking his equipment for the last time,
Lee Mi-a suddenly returned to him once more.
“What’s the matter now?”
“Kim Hyun-tae said they’d cooperate with you.”
“……Suddenly?”
After being that suspicious, he couldn’t believe a change of heart had occurred.
Kim Hyun-tae expressed his willingness to offer help.
“However, the condition is that Yoo Ji-han’s Party continues to accompany Kim Hyun-tae’s Party until you leave Haenam.”
“That’s not a problem.”
Yoo Ji-han accepted their condition.
Though he didn’t know their intentions, it was a condition that wouldn’t harm him.
‘How long has it been since…’
After a long time, he found himself walking alongside old comrades.
However, Yoo Ji-han felt an odd sense of wonder at how drastically different his circumstances were from the past.
