Chapter 209
Chapter 209: Secret
Through his investigation, Lee Wan discovered Yoo Ji-han’s past.
[I’m not trying to blackmail you. If you don’t want it, I won’t make this public.]
Lee Wan made it clear in the following messages that he wasn’t trying to threaten Yoo Ji-han. He also said that if Yoo Ji-han wanted to keep his past hidden, he would respect that.
However, if Yoo Ji-han was willing to reveal his past, he would act as the speaker to spread the news widely.
‘Indeed, there’s no such thing as an eternal secret.’
Yoo Ji-han read the message in silence.
Aside from the members of Kim Hyun-tae’s Party, some former employees of Keroes were aware of Yoo Ji-han’s secret activities.
No matter how strict the confidentiality agreements or stern warnings were, if even one of those involved changed their mind, the information could easily leak.
‘Perhaps now is a good time after all.’
After a while of silence, Yoo Ji-han manipulated his mobile phone to access the internet.
While searching for his name and browsing newly surfaced news, he began to feel somewhat certain and replied to Lee Wan.
*
Kim Si-hu grabbed his mobile phone and wallet and stepped outside.
He was going to buy special oil for his precious wooden staff.
‘The Youth Hero Academy is about to open again.’
It was conveyed to Kim Si-hu, the Guild Master, that the Youth Hero Academy, which had been halted due to the IUPC and the people from another world, would soon resume.
Having left the office at the academy headquarters empty for a while, he thought he should visit again.
“Hello!”
“Welcome!”
As Kim Si-hu entered the shop that sold hero-related items, the staff greeted him.
In the corner where special oil was displayed, various oils for magical staffs were on display.
There were so many options that it was overwhelming, but he didn’t ponder long because he always had items he used for the staff.
“Should I buy a snack for Chilla?”
Chilla, who had begun to speak, would often show amusing reactions when trying new foods he hadn’t encountered before.
With that in mind, Kim Si-hu briefly stopped by a convenience store to buy the newly released snacks.
But then…
‘What is it?’
Someone’s voice reached Kim Si-hu’s ears, hidden under his hat.
As he walked toward the alley where the sound came from, he saw a group of students wearing dark blue uniforms gathered.
[Silence]
Kim Si-hu used magic to silence himself and hide his presence.
He peeked out curiously at the students.
“Enough already…!”
“I haven’t hit you enough yet.”
“Are you not going to stop? Do you want more beatings?”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
One male student swung his open palm downwards.
With each hit, the sound of flesh colliding echoed loudly.
It was a scene of students beating up one of their own.
“Ptooey!”
A male student spat on the student being hit and said, “You guys ruined Korea!”
“Do you know how many people have died? How are you going to take responsibility?”
“……!”
Seeing the face of the beaten student, Kim Si-hu’s expression hardened.
It was because the student, wearing the same uniform, had cat ears.
“It wasn’t me!”
“Nonsense!”
“Didn’t you see the announcement from the Hero Department?”
“You’re done for today.”
Just as the students were about to attempt another round of violence, Kim Si-hu revealed himself.
“……?”
“Who is this?”
Kim Si-hu walked forward and forcibly helped the student in the corner stand up.
The other students glared at him, a stranger, with anger.
“Hey!”
“Who do you think you are interfering?”
“What did he do wrong?”
“Can’t you see? He’s a different race!”
“Just looking at him makes me sick!”
“…….”
Kim Si-hu, who had been silent, removed his mask and sunglasses.
At that moment, the students around him all widened their eyes in shock.
“Uh…”
“Are you… Kim Si-hu?”
“The mage from Yoo Ji-han’s Party?!”
Among the students gathered in the alley, there was not a single person who didn’t recognize Kim Si-hu’s face.
Yoo Ji-han’s Party had recently been mentioned a lot among younger students.
“Don’t you feel nauseous?”
“Huh?”
The male student who claimed to feel sick seeing different races showed no reaction while looking at Kim Si-hu.
To that, Kim Si-hu said coldly, “Get lost.”
“Gulp!”
“Ugh!”
Swish!
A chill of magic radiated from Kim Si-hu’s feet.
Unable to withstand the pressure of his aura, the students’ faces slowly turned pale and they turned to flee.
‘They said racial discrimination has intensified, but is it really true?’
Following the announcement from the Hero Department that the IUPC incident was caused by the people from another world, rumors spread that hate crimes targeting different races had surged among ordinary citizens.
In a way, they vented their frustrations on the innocent rather than the people from another world, who were difficult to identify and encounter.
“Are you okay?”
“Th-thank you.”
“Why aren’t you resisting?”
The cat-eared male student possessed magic power within him.
If he wanted, he could easily send his peers flying.
But he showed no resistance at all.
“We shouldn’t escalate to a big fight.”
“……”
“If things go wrong, I might lose my place in the school…”
The male student, whose voice gradually grew quieter, bowed his head to Kim Si-hu in thanks.
Seeing the ears on top of his head, Kim Si-hu subconsciously grasped his own hat.
‘Is it time for this?’
As a half-elf and a hero, the moment he couldn’t avoid was approaching.
*
—Are you really sure about this?
“He gave his permission. Just leave it all to me.”
—Got it. I’ll prepare to put it on the main board.
Vroom!
Lee Wan drove to the meeting place he had arranged with Yoo Ji-han.
After finishing his call with his boss, his fingers were fidgeting nervously.
He was that excited.
‘Finally!’
The moment Yoo Ji-han allowed their meeting via text without confirming or denying anything, Lee Wan became convinced that the figure hidden in Kim Hyun-tae’s Party was indeed him.
The moment when an enormous question is resolved after extensive investigation is always a delightful one.
Last night, he was so filled with anticipation that he couldn’t sleep well and stayed awake until dawn.
“One hero who has become the icon of expeditions. And Keroes, who sent him off…”
Without a doubt, the most renowned hero in the expedition had been Yoo Ji-han.
Numerous competitive parties had jumped into expeditions, but none had attracted as much reaction as he did.
However, if the guild he was a part of didn’t treat such a hero properly, what kind of reactions could emerge?
‘That’s it.’
In front of the studio where the shoot was scheduled, a large vehicle was parked.
Yoo Ji-han’s Party was in that vehicle driven by Min Yu-ri.
“Looks like everyone is here!”
“Shall we go inside and talk?”
Yoo Ji-han was not alone but with his party members.
Lee Wan entered the studio, finished some simple preparations, and began the interview with them.
“Yoo Ji-han’s Party! Thank you for your hard work on this expedition. As a fellow citizen, I deeply appreciate it. Is this your first interview after the expedition?”
“Yes.”
This was the first media interview conducted by Yoo Ji-han’s Party right after the expedition.
Considering the attention they drew, article views were practically guaranteed.
“I can hardly believe that your recognition has skyrocketed to that of a Rank 3 Party. Are you feeling it?”
“Definitely.”
“People gathering wherever we go does get tiring.”
As Lee Wan exchanged light greetings and small talk, he looked at his notes.
It was now time to ask the important questions.
“Now that you’re here, let me get straight to the point. You must know about Kim Hyun-tae’s Party from Keroes, right?”
“Yes.”
“It has been reported that Kim Hyun-tae’s Party, said to have participated in the expedition alongside Yoo Ji-han’s Party, has a member whose existence has yet to be revealed. There have also been accounts from heroes who witnessed someone wearing a mask or disguise on the same site.”
“……”
“Despite several inquiries directed at Keroes, we regrettably received no official response. However, recent in-depth reporting from the Hero Daily uncovered a shocking piece of information. That mysterious hero is none other than Yoo Ji-han!”
“That’s me.”
“……!!”
The highlight of the day.
When Yoo Ji-han confirmed his past.
Upon hearing the response he had been looking for, Lee Wan slapped his knee in joy.
It felt like a long-bottled-up frustration was finally released.
‘He seems more composed than I expected, huh?’
Revealing the past he had hidden at Keroes’s request was undoubtedly a tough decision, yet Yoo Ji-han maintained a calm demeanor.
He must have steeled his resolve.
“Take a look at this.”
“……?”
Swish!
Yoo Ji-han handed over the contract he had made with Keroes in the past.
A slightly surprised Lee Wan carefully examined the clauses of the contract with his fingers.
And then…
“Y-you accepted this?!”
Starting with the horrifying profit distribution that favored the guild far more than the hero, followed by various restrictions defined as being an unofficial party member.
‘This is the worst.’
It didn’t take long for Lee Wan to realize that most of the contract terms benefited the guild.
At first glance, it seemed like an illegal contract, but it was definitely not illegal.
It was merely cleverly written, sticking within the boundaries of the law.
“I was young back then.”
“If the contents of this contract become known, there will be an uproar.”
The guild may have the character of a private entity, but it is officially managed by the Hero Department, which is a national institution.
The existence of heroes also affects the nation’s standing.
However, the contents of this contract could potentially become a matter of mention in the Hero Department in the future.
“I never would have thought Keroes would engage in such shady dealings.”
“I won’t second-guess anything now. Signing the contract was my responsibility as well.”
“But will you make this public?”
“What do you think, reporter? Is it better to make it public?”
“To ensure that a similar contract doesn’t arise again, it would be better to make it public.”
“Then let’s do that.”
“But….”
Lee Wan hesitated a little.
If the contents of the contract were revealed, Yoo Ji-han could also suffer damage.
“I’ll bear all the risks.”
With Yoo Ji-han’s declaration of assuming the risks, Lee Wan finally took a copy of the contract.
He planned to return to the company immediately after and prepare to make the information public after an internal review.
“I have a few more things I’d like to discuss.”
“What are they?”
Yoo Ji-han turned to look at Kim Si-hu sitting next to him.
“……”
Looking down at the ground, Kim Si-hu appeared to have made up his mind.
He used his right hand to pull down his beanie over his head.
Slither—
The hat, which always seemed like it would stick to his head seamlessly, was easily removed, revealing his ash-gray hair and pointy ear.
“Half-Elf?!”
“Yes.”
“……So the rumors were true.”
Lee Wan, who was staring at Kim Si-hu, had his mouth hang open.
There had been whispers online about him being of a different race, but to realize it was true rather than a baseless rumor.
‘A guild established by a different race…!’
Lee Wan’s pen moved rapidly across the notepad.
Just like when he previously conducted the interview with Yoo Ji-han’s Party.
He had no doubt this article would be a scoop.
But just then.
“There’s still one step left.”
“Huh?”
“Chilla! Is it my turn now?”
To the unfamiliar voice he had never heard before, Lee Wan looked around in confusion.
“……Who just said that?”
“It’s me! Chilla!”
“Gasp.”
Chilla was waving his hands toward Lee Wan.
Startled, Lee Wan slipped from his chair.
“H-hahaha….”
It seemed that the term ‘scoop’ alone would be insufficient to wrap up this interview.
