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Chapter 143

“Technically, this gift is more for the Dang family than for you.”

“What could it be that you’re so serious about?”

Did they have a strange idea in their heads? Suddenly, Dang Sa-ryeon’s face turned slightly red, and he started to grumble. Yeon-woo wasn’t in the mood to waste time on such things.

“I have Samiryun-ju’s contact info. We should speak directly, but if we’re lucky, the Dang family could benefit from this.”

“Wh-what….”

Dang Sa-ryeon stumbled over his words. What? Is he not happy about it?

Honestly, Yeon-woo thought that maybe Samiryun-ju wasn’t that impressive, but Dang Sa-ryeon’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts. It seemed Dang Sa-ryeon was genuinely shocked as he jumped up and yelled.

“Are you stupid!? Who would sell Samiryun-ju’s contact info just to take a look at the Black Mirror!?”

“Whoa!”

Both kids flinched and covered their ears at the loud voice. When things quieted down, the jja-jang-myeon he had been chewing on went down with a loud gulp.

Realizing what a scene he had caused, Dang Sa-ryeon’s face turned as red as a tomato as he slowly sat back down. After explaining to the incoming staff that nothing had happened, the situation was eventually smoothed over.

“I’m sorry. But I hope you understand. Even though we aren’t from the same faction, I respect Samiryun-ju as a martial artist.”

“Uh, it’s okay. It could happen.”

“I’m sorry, Shar-sojeo, Tae-oh-sohyup. Can you forgive me?”

“I was a bit surprised, but yes, it’s fine!”

“Tae-oh too! It’s all good…!!”

Feeling the weight of Dang Sa-ryeon’s sincere apology, the two kids waved their hands and accepted his remorse.

Regardless of the heaviness of the apology, it showed that Dang Sa-ryeon was a decent person who could genuinely apologize to a child.

‘The Dang family isn’t really that bad, except for their traditional mindset…’

That darn old-fashioned family code had led to the radical factions falling into chaos.

“If you admire someone, it only makes sense to accept their gifts. Isn’t it funny to turn down an offer when the recipient is at such an advantage?”

“But….”

“But what? This is all I can give you. Take it or leave it!”

Yeon-woo decided to be assertive. After all, the desperate one was them. Frankly, whether they took this contact or not was uncertain, and even more uncertain was whether it would lead to any negotiations beyond that.

“The last time I checked, no one gave you my contact info,” Dooko-hyun’s voice echoed in his mind, making it clear that if it came down to it, it would all depend on the Dang family’s skill.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t be weird to barge into the Dang family’s place and cause a scene.”

Namgung Seong chimed in beside him, and Yeon-woo nodded in agreement. All the while, Dang Sa-ryeon was still hesitating. But soon, he lifted his head.

“Alright… I will accept.”

“You understand, whatever happens, don’t hold me responsible for it?”

“I’ve heard you’re a free spirit, but would you really go that far…?”

That was a statement made out of ignorance. He’s not a bad person, but completely unpredictable.

Dang Sa-ryeon’s respect for him felt as fragile as glass when confronted face to face.

“Then shall we discuss the remaining details? How shall we meet?”

“What do you think, Shar?”

“Um….”

While chewing on the chili shrimp, Shar mumbled in thought. Caught between the depths of contemplation, how long would it take for him to gather his thoughts?

Finally, Shar extricated his idea from the depths of his mind.

“Since Sa-ryeon unnie needs time to prepare, how about around lunchtime tomorrow?”

“Prepare…? Ah, yes, since we’re at it, would you like to see the room too?”

“Extra news: Dang Sa-ryeon invites a married man to her room….”

“Say one more word, and I’ll really kill you.”

Dang Sa-ryon shot him a deadly glare, and Namgung Seong immediately shut his mouth with a snap. The tension in the room was palpable.

In the midst of that, he carefully avoided directing any wrath toward Shar and Tae-oh, which was rather impressive.

“Alright. Then I’ll contact you tomorrow before we leave for lunch.”

Saying this, Yeon-woo pulled out his smartphone. As Dang Sa-ryon watched him for a moment, she tilted her head in confusion.

“?”

“?”

As the two exchanged confused looks, Namgung Seong burst out laughing.

“Puhahaha, it’s true, this one’s a tech dummy who only knows how to send texts and make calls.”

“Oh, really? Then let me borrow yours.”

“Sure.”

Without a hint of shame about her tech ineptitude, Dang Sa-ryon handed over her smartphone.

Clutching the strangely old model, which somehow felt relatable, he entered his number with dexterity.

“There. Is this good enough for a message?”

“I got it. I’m not that hopeless.”

“Every time I see it, it’s weird. The Dang family’s history of creating advanced devices and yet here’s a tech illiterate.”

“Right?”

“…Not that it’s a boast, but I do write letters to communicate with my father. Honestly, it’s a bit of a hassle.”

That remark led to an enjoyable conversation flowing between them.

While they were at it, Yeon-woo glanced at the smartphone screen, where an article about a monster invading Harmony City was showing. Fortunately, it had been quickly subdued with no casualties reported, but it left him feeling something was off.

In any case, the evening’s dinner concluded in a cheerful atmosphere.

*

“What kind of kid….”

In a now-empty back alley, a group of patrol officers gathered. The crime scene cordoned off by police tape displayed an overwhelming amount of blood scattered everywhere.

The situation was quite clear. A hole in the city wall and blood.

Using some method unbeknownst to him, someone had broken into the city wall, and the patrol officer who discovered it must have acted to stop the intruder, resulting in this.

And the outcome was grim. The officer was dead. Initially, it seemed the culprit was trying to hide the corpse, moving it, but for some reason, they abruptly stuffed the dismembered body into a nearby trash can before fleeing.

“…What in the world happened, hyung?”

The dead man wasn’t the best person, but he wasn’t bad enough to deserve death.

He consoled his ex-girlfriend with drinks after fights, and he brought her refreshments when she was exhausted. Just how much had he celebrated her wedding?

It was infuriating enough that he could hardly shed a tear. Their promise to drink after this night had suddenly been shattered.

It was the moment he desperately wanted to release the raging emotions boiling within.

“…I see.”

Turning around, he saw Kim Hyun-soo, the professor from the Academy responsible for overseeing security during this tournament, walking towards him with a serious expression.

“…Professor Kim Hyun-soo.”

Seeing his face, the patrol officer managed to suppress his emotions. There was no need to show an ugly side. It was fine to drown himself in a bottle of alcohol tonight. It would be easier for everything to go smoothly with this man’s cooperation.

Just as he thought this, the officer’s knees buckled. Kim Hyun-soo’s face turned to one of shock.

He noticed the officer had shrunk down, looking up at him through a blurry field of vision filled with tears.

“Please, please catch the culprit…!! If you don’t, hyung’s resentment…!!”

He clung onto Kim Hyun-soo’s pant leg, desperate. Sometimes, a choice about how to behave holds no meaning whatsoever.

Though he thought he should act rationally, the man’s emotions couldn’t let him pass it by.

Looking down at the officer who was trying to get up but won’t budge, Kim Hyun-soo slowly knelt down. Their eyes met.

He faced the man pouring thick tears, inching closer.

“I will definitely. I will surely do so.”

…As Yeon-woo reviewed the shadows of memories handed down from Tae-oh, a quiet sigh escaped him.

He understood… something was definitely going on in Harmony City. He didn’t think such things had happened before the regression, but now there was no way to verify it.

That Kim Hyun-soo was involved in this case was indeed fortunate. He was famous as a Hunter who had solved various incidents, not to mention his exceptional skills. It was certain he would unravel this matter neatly.

‘But….’

The mysterious traces of destruction engraved in that city wall or the colossal scar on the corpse that defied explanation.

It was as if one had pulled out a single block from a Jenga tower, leaving everything else standing while just that part was removed.

‘Those… are familiar signs.’

He wasn’t sure precisely how it was done. Still, he had seen it before. In battle with the Demon King Cult, specifically against the Gloomy Monday faction, he had witnessed countless corpses exhibited in such a manner.

If that seemingly displaced part of a body were to be found through investigation, it would be reasonable to conclude that much.

‘Gloomy Monster.’

Yeon-woo knew that within the ranks of the seven Demon Kings, there was a peculiar rule.

Only one person per generation can use descriptors tied to the names of Demon Kings such as ‘Gloomy Monday’ or ‘Violent Tuesday.’

The rule necessitates that the predecessor must die for the title to be inherited.

Before the regression, this figure was the embodiment of gloom. A Great Warrior who stood toe-to-toe with the High Priest. The future monster, referred to as the commander of their order, was now in this city.

As Yeon-woo sat deep in thought, wearing a serious face after recalling the memory, Tae-oh tilted his head, tugging at Yeon-woo’s sleeve.

“Is it possible to check what memory it is?”

“…Sorry, I can’t show this.”

Yeon-woo thought he had made the right choice in shielding what he could from Tae-oh.

It was a scene he never wanted to show to a child. The blood-soaked alleyway, the remains dragged along the ground, and the corpses stuffed into garbage bins.

Although someday, it would inevitably become a sight the children had to face, that time was not now. They could postpone it a bit longer.

Even if he were a Dragon or a Spirit, he was still just a child under ten.

“…Is something wrong? You look pretty down… Did Tae-oh do something wrong… I promise I’ll do better next time, so please forgive me….”

“Sorry for making you worry. It’s my fault. Tae-oh did well. Really. It’s just… I had things I didn’t want to show you as a father. Okay?”

Yeon-woo softly patted Tae-oh’s head, who clung to his leg with a worried face.

‘I don’t want to make my children wear such expressions.’

His kids were far too perceptive. It was certainly because of their connection with Yeon-woo, but even more so due to the backgrounds they couldn’t overlook.

Trying to maintain his paternal desires without burdening the kids was quite a challenge.

(To be continued in the next part)

 

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