Chapter 225
Chapter 226: The Old Man Who Watches the Sea
The old man always gazes at the sea. There was a time when he sailed across its waves, filled with a heart as fiery as the sun, maybe even hotter.
He dedicated his youth to the ocean, pouring out his passion upon its surface. He worked tirelessly for those who couldn’t live without the sea. The operation was a success, and countless people expressed their gratitude, continuing their lives.
However, many comrades were buried beneath the waves. The old man was no exception. He buried the memories of his fallen comrades deep within his heart.
“Are you doing well over there?”
Today, just like any other day, he asks the sea. Burdened by the weight resting on his heart, he drifts through life like a lost soul.
*
– “You need a ship and crew, huh? Yes, yes.”
Through the phone, Mr. Kim’s thick voice resonated. Despite an underlying sense of unease in his dazed and hoarse tone, I suspected there must be some reason behind it, as it came from Jung Yu-jin.
– “Is there a captain available?”
“No, there isn’t.”
– “I guess we need to find a captain before we search for crew members since the crew won’t step up if they distrust the captain.”
“Oh really.”
No matter how seasoned a hunter Yeon-woo might be, his realm was the land, not the sea. He could only be clueless about such matters.
Understanding the psychology of seamen wasn’t something Yeon-woo could grasp.
– “Hmm, but aside from the Coast Guard, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who can sail a ship in this situation…”
“Isn’t there someone?”
That can’t be! The necromancer wreaking havoc in the East Sea is most likely hiding aboard a pirate ship, and without a vessel, how are we supposed to confront them?
Sure, it’s possible they’re hiding somewhere along the coast, but we can look for them after dispatching the pirate ship.
– “There is one person, but I’m not sure if he’ll step forward. He’s quite stubborn, so you’ll need to converse with him directly…. He should be at the harbor south of the beach, as he always gazes at the sea from the pier.”
“I see. I’ll have a chat with him. By any chance, does he have a ship…?”
– “He does have a ship. You can use it. His name is Kim Hang-po. Honestly, unless you can persuade him, there’s no other way….”
“Thanks! If I have more questions, I’ll call back.”
– “No worries. Sir Grimnir told me to help as much as I can.”
With those words, Mr. Kim’s chuckle echoed through the line before it ended. I ended up acquiring priceless information.
It meant that if I could convince the old man named Kim Hang-po, everything would fall into place. Clearly, it’s a far better situation than trying to build something from scratch.
“Besides, we have Shar, who holds the absolute advantage over the elderly.”
“I have no choice. I’ll have to step up.”
Will everything really go smoothly? With Baek In-hwa’s worried expression, we headed confidently towards the harbor, thinking victory was well within reach. Until that moment.
*
“Nothing going on, youngsters.”
“Please, don’t be like that….”
“Seriously, old man…?”
“What kind of mind would bring a child to a place like this? If you wanted to discuss resolve, it would have been better to come alone. This old man is tired of fighting. Please, let me live my remaining days in peace.”
With a kind expression, the old man turned down their proposal, making Yeon-woo wipe his face in frustration.
“…I’ll come back, sir.”
“Very well.”
In response, Yeon-woo had no choice but to retreat with Shar. The old man had a bushy beard and deep wrinkles on his face. The regret etched in his expression conveyed an aura that suggested saying more would be inappropriate.
“…Are we in big trouble?”
“No, not really.”
Although I hadn’t known solely by name, seeing his face solidified my conviction. There was a hint of difference from what I remembered, but there was no mistaking who he was; I had seen him on the news prior to my regression.
“Wasn’t he called the Dragon King?”
Though he had no actual connection to dragons, the mere existence of him in Korea made him akin to the guardian of the East Sea, earning him that nickname.
He claimed to be exhausted from fighting and wished to live peacefully, but that old man would one day return to the battlefield. Though I didn’t recall it happening this early.
“By the way, did you see the look in the old man’s eyes?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I did. They were the eyes of a hunter searching for something.”
“Right. Despite his words, he was still searching for a dragon with his eyes, every day from dawn until dusk.”
“…I can’t understand. Why would he refuse our offer while doing such things…?”
“Well, humans are inherently hard to understand.”
I once saw a comic where telepaths, even while piloting robots and battling, struggled to understand each other. Maybe that’s just part of being human.
“In any case, all we need to do is let him know we’re not truly against him. Let’s find a way to persuade the old man. He seems somewhat famous, so asking around might help.”
“Dad, how much time do we have?”
“Hm? This time we planned for two weeks, so we have a bit of a cushion. Although, considering the situation, it might feel too short.”
“Then, can I try persuading the old man? I’m curious about what he’s thinking.”
“Hmm….”
Yeon-woo pondered at Shar’s request. It meant she wanted him to trust her to persuade Captain Kim Hang-po. While she might be able to succeed, how long would it take?
‘Assuming the necromancer is no pushover, it might be more than just a simple pirate ship they’re dealing with.’
Still, even with those considerations, bringing in the Dragon King would overwhelmingly tip the scales in our favor. After all, he was a superlative bastion comparable to the Oceanic Academy.
But Yeon-woo didn’t want to rob her of the experience of approaching someone herself.
Gaining interest in others is incredibly important. It’s through this process that one becomes socialized.
Well, I believe Shar would definitely do well even without that process, but that’s something one can only understand through experience.
“Sure, do whatever you want. Just let me know if it doesn’t work out.”
“R-really? It’s not an emergency, right? Is it really okay?”
“Of course. Shar can do anything she wants. I’ll take responsibility.”
With Yeon-woo’s emphatic assurance, Shar grinned and pulled him into a hug. At his request to bow his head, Yeon-woo complied.
“What’s going on?”
“I love you, Dad!”
With a peck, that pillowy feeling touched Yeon-woo’s cheek. The ultimate display of Shar’s cuteness, a forbidden weapon that could potentially destroy worlds: the cheek peck.
“Hehe.”
As Shar shyly backed away, covering her face with her straw hat, Yeon-woo felt his smile skyrocketing. Oh my.
“You adorable little thing!!”
Unexpectedly, Yeon-woo unleashed an indiscriminate barrage of kisses upon Shar’s rosy cheeks. Baek In-hwa looked on with envy.
“I want a kiss from Shar too.”
“Nope~.”
Shar’s adorable pecks are not so easily granted~.
*
“I can’t stand this any longer, you fools! Can’t you manage such a simple task?”
Edward seethed with fury while observing the report on his desk. A mere fifteen-year-old brat. He’d only asked them to threaten the child into submission, yet even that they failed to accomplish.
“B-but Guild Master! That child is the only dragon contractor in this world. If we push him any further, it’ll damage our guild’s reputation.”
“Why should I care about that?! You expect me to tolerate a pest buzzing in front of my face!? Clearly, they must all die before they realize what’s at stake!”
BAM!! With a punch, cracks spiderwebbed across the desk. The fact that it didn’t break seemed to mock Edward’s vanity in some twisted way.
“I’ll handle this myself.”
“G-Guild Master!!”
“Shut up, you incompetent fool. Am I going to kill a kid or something? Just show him a bit of bitterness, and he’ll be begging for mercy before long. Clueless child.”
The guild master’s secretary realized that no further argument would hold any weight.
The old man’s eyes brimmed with madness. He was not in a state to listen to reason. After all, hadn’t he always despised anyone who defied him?
“Where is that brat Cha Yeon-woo?”
“…I believe he’s at the academy, but I will check again, just to be sure, Guild Master.”
With that, the secretary bowed before stepping out of the guild master’s office. He had managed to buy himself a little more time. Unsure of what to do, he decided to seek advice from the former secretary, who had been the most trusted.
No matter how he thought about it, he did not trust that the piercing gaze would allow for mercy.
*
“So, you’re Double D?”
“Ah, you’ve come… huh?”
Startled by the tap on his shoulder, Bald turned to face the newcomer. He’d heard that the boss sent someone, but didn’t know who it could be, only that it was someone ‘worth knowing.’
As he pondered what that could mean, Double D suddenly understood.
“…Kim Hyun-soo, the hunter?”
“Yes, that’s right. I came at Yeon-woo’s request. What’s the situation?”
“…Oh, w-wait! Really, Kim Hyun-soo!?”
“…Hmm, shall we leisurely talk over a meal?”
With Bald’s exaggerated reaction making him chuckle, Kim Hyun-soo took a seat across the table. He raised a hand to call a waiter, and the moment the waiter rushed over, they found themselves entranced by Kim Hyun-soo’s face.
“Um, can you get all this from here to there? Everything?”
“Y-yes! Right away!”
As the waiter dashed off, Kim Hyun-soo couldn’t help but feel a bit astounded. The world grew silent in an instant. His smooth mana flow left Bald, and even Red, who had just returned from the restroom, speechless.
“Ah, apologies. I’m somewhat inefficient with my body. Let’s all eat together?”
With a gentle smile, Kim Hyun-soo’s eyes were relaxed, but his heart wasn’t in the least bit amused when considering what was to come.
(To be continued in the next chapter)
