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Chapter 192

From then on, the journey unfolded without Noel’s tears. It was a harrowing adventure that made one understand why the hero was called fate.

Like a bug that clings even when you try to peel it off, the destiny of being a hero adhered to her, as if written in scarlet letters.

Suddenly, I turned around to see Yuri, who seemed to have heard the story, wearing a troubled expression unbefitting her usually fiery nature. It was understandable given the grim content.

Hearing the very depressing tales made me uneasy, especially with Yeon-woo, who had become the successor hero. Thankfully, Noel’s hopeful pledge brought it to an end.

“I’ll give it a shot, though. I won’t just pass this off to Yeon-woo. I want to save the world I live in. I want to. Can Yeon-woo help me a little…?”

Yeon-woo seemed to resonate with Noel’s sentiment. Though their directions differed somewhat, Yeon-woo had once felt that same loneliness.

Having no one to confide in about why they were struggling was truly painful.

Since nobody had ventured into hunting with a body unsuitable for mana, Yeon-woo understood well what it felt like to share emotions with others.

“Hey, what do you mean by ‘a little’? Call me if it gets tough!”

“…Just hearing those words means a lot.”

Noel smiled bashfully at Yeon-woo’s loyal and hearty reply. Having heard enough, Yeon-woo decided it was time to leave but mentioned that Noel wouldn’t be leaving as a hero just yet.

It seemed Noel would be training under Yuri for rehabilitation while also honing her skills since she had already come.

With that in mind regarding Noel’s future, Yeon-woo left the Department Head’s Office alongside Dawn, leaving behind the distraught Lunaria.

Dawn mentioned they were heading out to play with Tae-oh and Shar. Since the kids were going out to enjoy themselves, Yeon-woo waved them off quickly.

Humming a cheerful tune, Dawn dashed off, having recently taken on the traits of Tae-oh and Shar. It could be said she had become more childlike.

Though Tae-oh, Shar, and Dawn each showed mature sides when viewed individually, they seemed just like ordinary kids when playing together, bringing a smile to my face.

‘The plan of fusing with an alien god is progressing steadily… But that’s beside the point.’

What was truly important was not the obvious fact that Dawn was making friends with the kids. It was necessary to verify any uncertain possibilities.

Yeon-woo focused his thoughts on Relin’s Warehouse, reaching out mentally.

“Riley, can you hear me?”

[Yes, loud and clear. What’s the matter?]

“It’s a bit urgent. Could you invite Sebek’s priest here?”

[…The priest of Sebek? That’s rather sudden. I’ll check, but I can’t guarantee anything.]

“That’ll suffice. Just find out if it’s possible.”

[Understood. Do you have any other instructions?]

“…Um, how’s Nea doing?”

[I was wondering why you weren’t asking.]

Riley chuckled lightly. Feeling as if she had read my mind, Yeon-woo awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck in the empty hallway.

Today was Nea’s first day at work.

It felt a bit like putting a parachute into a small business, but Nea was more than just a parachute; she was like a special forces member. He believed she would lead the research excellently.

Yet, it was true that he was worried since it was her first day. As he anxiously awaited Riley’s response, her voice soon came through.

[Everything is going smoothly. She has outstanding comprehension skills. Should we truly call her a dragon?]

“Really? That’s a relief. Make sure there’s no discrimination between her and other researchers.”

[Understood. I’ll contact you as soon as I hear back about the priest of Sebek. And….]

“Huh? Is there something else?”

At Yeon-woo’s question, Riley hesitated for a moment. Soon, he realized something was sent over to Relin’s Warehouse and fished out an object from the ring. It was a bundle of documents.

“…What the heck is this?”

It was a proposal sent from the ‘Noblesse’ guild. Decorated with various pretentious phrases, the content could be simply summarized as follows:

It felt inappropriate to contract with a dragon. Shall I arrange a new contract for you?

“What are these people talking about?”

There was no margin for reconsideration. Flames sprang from his fingertips, completely incinerating the bundle of documents, and the remaining ashes were frozen with elemental mana and tossed into the trash.

*

Guild Name: Noblesse.

Members: Approximately one hundred.

Guild Master: Edward Patterson. An elderly man rightfully deemed a hero, renowned for rescuing countless people during the simultaneous gate outbreaks in ancient Europe.

However, the nickname of ‘hero’ didn’t imply he lacked flaws as a human.

In fact, it was quite common for those with high social standing to become rigid in their thinking.

‘But still, it’s terrifying to be worshipped like that.’

Yeon-woo thought, casting a self-reflective glance at his Korean trait of aversion to ‘anicating.’

He had mastered the art of evaluating himself objectively. Modest, yet adept at assessing himself purely. One could even call it the humility of an outcast.

However, watching the media rave about him, “WA! Yeon-woo! The future of South Korea’s Hunter world!” made him involuntarily puff his shoulders with pride.

If even the symbol of humility such as himself felt this way, what about others? Especially someone hailed as one of the heroes who saved Europe would surely receive even more praise.

After finishing his conversation with Riley, Yeon-woo headed to a café to meet with a hunter sent by Noblesse.

Honestly, he didn’t have much to discuss, but upon seeing the face of the visitor, his mind shifted.

Could it be someone who accomplished something amazing before the regression? That was what he might’ve expected, but it was just a man who looked utterly exhausted.

To put it simply, he looked like a company employee completely drained from work.

Introducing himself, the man was Aaron Chester, Edward’s secretary. Despite the prideful declaration of being a B-rank hunter, he sighed deeply, as if his tension melted away with a warm cup of coffee.

A sound came from Aaron’s stomach, which had been scribbling something on the back of a receipt like an insurance salesman. He casually laughed it off.

“Ah, sorry. I skipped lunch. If it’s not too much trouble, could we chat while I eat?”

“Go ahead.”

After thanking him, Aaron went to the counter to buy a sandwich. It looked quite appetizing. After devouring a piece of the sandwich in just three bites, Aaron opened his mouth first.

“Actually, I didn’t expect you to show up, Yeon-woo. Unless you didn’t read the document bundle we sent?”

“I did read it. I wasn’t planning to come out, but considering your sincerity, I decided to.”

“Wow, I’m glad I made the trip with a face like this. Thank you. As a salaryman, if I leave without trying, I’ll get roasted.”

“Does that mean it would have been easier if I hadn’t come?”

“Haha, not at all.”

Somehow, it felt like that was the case. After taking another sip of coffee, Yeon-woo spoke casually.

“Work is tough, huh?”

“Haha, thank you for your concern. It’s challenging, but it’s rewarding work, so I can’t complain.”

“Sending documents to a student who’s doing well?”

At Yeon-woo’s pointed comment, Aaron’s laughter faltered. It wasn’t difficult to notice. The handwriting on the document bundle and the scribbled words on the back of the receipt matched.

“…Geez, you’re sharp. To be honest, yes. It’s not easy. As you said, I don’t know who would want to send such a proposal.”

“Are you allowed to speak that honestly?”

“I’m considered a trusted secretary, so no one can hear me.”

Just as he said, some mana surrounded them to drown out sound. Yeon-woo stayed silent, wanting to see his skills. The natural flow of mana proved that he was indeed capable.

‘He’s certainly got the potential of a B-rank hunter.’

It’s silly to evaluate a man who’s stronger than you, but honestly, he wasn’t impressive enough to catch his eye. Just didn’t rise through the ranks comfortably.

Hunters within the guild often held higher ranks despite lacking real combat experience.

“How about doing something for me, Hunter Aaron?”

“…Yes?”

Aaron shuddered as he hesitantly replied to the sixteen-year-old with a chilly gaze.

*

There are many things in the world that cannot be explained by logic. Magic, miracles, heroes.

And even the outdated thinking and betrayal of an esteemed old hero.

Noblesse was quite a decent guild. Its guild master, Edward, was a hero from ancient Europe, and numerous capable hunters flocked to him due to his name.

It was a safe haven capable of nurturing promising talents until they blossom.

At the same time, Noblesse had an aristocratic atmosphere, whether for better or worse. They considered saving people as their duty while also deeming the rewards they received as perfectly natural.

Well, that part was generally fine. Asking for compensation for your work wasn’t a crime. After all, they weren’t stingy when it came to saving lives.

That was until it began veering off into a strange direction.

At some point, the elderly man became enamored with outdated studies. Like beasts, he argued that if humans could be genetically modified, even stronger beings would emerge in the future. Yes, it was eugenics.

The problem was that there was no hierarchy in mana. Any kind of mana could be valuable if awakened. Thus, the old man didn’t classify awakeners as ‘lives not worth living.’

But such beliefs, conversely, suggested that those without mana appeared worthless.

It was a shocking piece of news when it was reported that some high-ranking officials from Noblesse had kidnapped and killed outcasts a few years into the future.

At that time, Yeon-woo could only scoff in disbelief. Could even heroes lose their mind?

Of course, he didn’t intend to pin the sins of the future on the present. That was impossible. Doing so would mean he was the one that would suffer.

‘However, isn’t it reasonable to prepare for the future?’

He didn’t plan on forcibly taking the guild from them or anything. What authority did he have to do such a thing?

Riley might handle it well without any issues, but she was already busy with her research.

He only needed to slightly weaken the old man’s influence within the guild. A guild where the leader is excessively deified isn’t a good structure to uphold, is it?

In that sense, Aaron was a safe choice. Because all of the high-ranking officials in Noblesse were geezers.

Moreover, there was no way an Aaron in his mid-twenties could become a high-ranking official in the future. It was a guild that greatly valued seniority.

“You could make Noblesse a better guild. I can help with that.”

Like a villain in a movie, Yeon-woo whispered, propping his chin.

(To be continued)

 

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