Chapter 172

3. Cloudy Sky

The largest conference room of the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters in Seoul was opened. Given the nature of the matter, the Reconnaissance Bureau Director, Field Operations Bureau Director, and team leaders under them were all summoned.

At the long table where about twenty people sat, two seats were empty. One was the long-vacant deputy chief position of Field Operations Bureau Team 7, and the other was the chief position right next to it. Even without a nameplate, everyone knew about the absence of Chief Jin Soram, the person involved in the incident.

As a heavy silence hung in the air, the conference room door opened.

Deputy Director Kwon Jung-oh, who had attended an urgent external meeting on behalf of Park Jae-seon, strode in. Judging by his angry gait, it didn't seem like a clear conclusion had been reached.

There were signs that the kidnappers had received sponsorship from abroad, and the group included military personnel. As it involved illegal possession of firearms and attempted murder, high-ranking officials were summoned en masse to the emergency meeting. Deputy Director Kwon Jung-oh, seasoned in politics, was suitable for dealing with them. However, his substitution wasn't solely due to his political experience.

"Still rotten bastards."

He summarized the meeting results as he plopped down in his seat. The country suspected of providing funds was denying involvement, half of the perpetrators had died caught up in the ability Soram had unleashed, and the remaining half were not in good shape, so obtaining information was slow.

And.

"They decided to cover up the incident without making it public."

"What did you say?"

"How can they cover up an attempt to sell a person!"

"Calm down and listen to the rest."

Deputy Director Kwon Jung-oh calmed the agitated hunters. He understood their anger over what had happened to their colleague, and he found the attempt to gloss over the incident by those wearing hats in the name of state affairs despicable. But ultimately, they had no choice but to agree.

"It wouldn't be good for you either if information spread that a 1st-grade hunter could be taken down by non-awakened civilians. Think about it. Would there really be no one who would think to take advantage of that after hearing it?"

"But still..."

"Even if the team leaders here might not be in danger if they're careful, how would newly awakened kids handle non-awakened people who approach with hidden malice?"

Though there were complaints, it was difficult to refute. Especially since it would be fatal news for Tae-un and Soram, who had actually been taken down by civilians like that.

"Keep the details hidden from other hunters too, just warn them to be careful of groups approaching hunters with magic stones."

"...I understand what you're saying. But the investigation and punishment of the perpetrators and their backers will be carried out thoroughly, right?"

"They're investigating like crazy, trying to avoid responsibility while watching us. If we keep pressing, they'll probably hand them over."

"..."

While everyone else looked unsatisfied with the news the deputy director had brought, the director, who had been sitting coldly all along, opened his mouth.

"That's good. Rather."

All eyes focused on those words. He continued in a subdued voice.

"I never intended to hand these damn bastards over to the judicial authorities in the first place. Even throwing them all into a dungeon wouldn't be enough."

This was precisely why the director couldn't participate in the meeting directly. This time, even he couldn't control his anger. If he had been listening to the nonsense of people shifting blame to each other in the emergency meeting room, probably one of the main government buildings would have disappeared today.

Those who had known Park Jae-seon for a long time looked at him with the impression that what was bound to explode had finally exploded, but the eyes of those who only remembered the image of the gentle hunter leader lost their bearings. A deputy chief who felt like he had seen a mutant mimicking the director whispered to the chief next to him.

"He was originally unstoppable once he got worked up. He's been working hard to kill his temper as he got older and became team leader and director."

"No, uh, really...?"

"The biggest brake was Soram, whom he had practically raised, but now that he's suffered something like this..."

The director, after taking a deep breath, put something down on the desk with a thud. It was a black, heavily scratched mobile phone.

"The kids say they'll rest for ten days and then come back. I received the call this morning."

The injuries of Soram and Tae-un, rescued from the warehouse, weren't that severe from the time they were found. Tae-un had been shot, but fortunately, it wasn't life-threatening and the wound was healing.

But the mental shock wasn't the same. The two refused face-to-face meetings and requested leave by phone, then didn't come out of the dormitory. They couldn't even force themselves to see their faces and check if they were okay.

"If we don't catch those involved within five days, I'll overturn that damn pseudo-religion, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, everything in the remaining five days, and then resign from the director position. Damn it, even if I opened a shaved ice shop, I'd make the kids under me suffer less than now!"

Park Jae-seon turned over the mobile phone on the desk to show the screen. A call was connected to a number labeled 'Prime Minister's Office'. Without waiting for an answer, he ended the call.

"Director."

Someone followed Director Park Jae-seon as he was leaving. It was Ga-eul, who had been stiff throughout the meeting.

"Does Ga-eul want to be a part-timer at the shaved ice shop too?"

Ga-eul answered with a faint sigh, "Please take me with you."

"...Did those two say they're okay?"

"Well. Their voices sounded normal on the phone, but who knows. They're both the type to hide when they're hurting."

"Is it okay for them to rest for just ten days? No, I don't mean it's short, but they were shot and must have mental shock too..."

"I advised them to rest as long as they wanted, but they insisted ten days was enough."

"..."

Ga-eul rubbed her darkly sunken face with both hands. Park Jae-seon patted her shoulder.

"Let's wait for them to rest and come back for now. Don't worry too much, they're not weak kids."

"Yes. ...I'll keep Ayoung in our team."

"Okay. I'm counting on you."

Ga-eul bowed her head, hiding another sigh that was about to come out. It was somewhat relieving that the director had heard their voices directly, but there was still no reply in the group chat with Seo Min-ki and Jin Soram, nor in personal messages.

The training observation where the two had the accident was originally assigned to Team 1. The fact that this happened in an incident he went to instead of Ga-eul weighed down on her with guilt. Also, thinking that she was originally the target made something heavier than anger well up inside her.

"What's the use of fighting to the bone to save them."

Today especially, the black suit she wore and the ability given to her as a 1st-grade hunter felt only irritating.

***

Of the two, Tae-un had suffered the greater injury. He had been bruised and even shot while in a non-awakened state due to the magic stone.

But if asked which one was more okay, it was rather Tae-un. He returned to the dormitory with his hat and hood pulled down low.

A bag containing two packaged meals was placed on the table. Only the sound of unpacking the contents rustled in the quiet dormitory. He transferred the stew to an earthenware pot, added a little more water, and simmered it with light seasoning. He moved porridge into two rice bowls and took out pickled side dishes from the refrigerator.

After examining the set table once, Tae-un tilted the lids on the rice bowls and earthenware pot. Judging by the sounds from the room, it didn't seem like he could bring him out soon.

"Soram-ah."

He had been asleep until Tae-un left, but now he was curled up in one corner of the bed.

"What are you doing there?"

Though it was obvious what he was doing, Tae-un deliberately asked. Letting thoughts just swirl inside like that would only make things fester.

"I ruined everything."

Tae-un sat down in front of him. The difference in their back widths was more pronounced due to Soram's posture.

"What did you ruin?"

"This round, the chance you created was ruined because of me."

Jin Soram, who had always been bold to the point of shamelessness, buried his head even further. In the process of accepting the painful truth, he directed all the blades towards himself.

"How is that because of you?"

"If the Great Rift that matched the 4th round had broken out, we could have stopped it, but I..."

The dungeon that had been matched to Soram who had regressed 4 times would now be matched to him who had regressed 20 times.

Among the battles they had fought so far in this life, some were resolved relatively easily, and some were desperate fights risking their lives. But all of them were overcome with much better outcomes than in previous lives. With the fewest sacrifices, and in a form where the elements Soram had prepared in advance fit perfectly.

It wasn't just luck. It was thanks to the memories remaining in Soram's subconscious, and his inevitably stronger skills than in the original 4th round. Now, even the period he thought was far after the 3rd Great Rift might have shortened by an unknown amount. Even if he wanted to run away from the reality he had caused, guilt wouldn't allow him even to hide in sleep.

"Don't cry."

Soram couldn't even make crying sounds, only his deeply hunched shoulders trembled.

"...When you warned about the magic stone, I should have stopped, I'm sorry..."

If he hadn't abused it before the kidnapping incident, Tae-un's ability might not have been released by that event. There was a reason Tae-un had felt an unconscious uneasiness about using the magic stone.

"I told you it's not your fault. My ability was incomplete anyway. It just happened a little earlier than it would have eventually. ...Lift your head a bit."

The expression he barely lifted was unrecognizable as Jin Soram. The eyes that had always searched keenly for the next move even when plunged into despair had completely lost their light. Terrible regret dripped down.

"I know you'll be really annoyed, but I, I can't think that way..."

"..."

"Just leave me alone. You must be sick of seeing me too. After you gave me a chance by sacrificing your life..."

"Jin Soram."

Tae-un grabbed Soram's chin. The inside of his palm became wet with gathered tears. Soram lifted his head as he was told, but still kept his eyes lowered.

"Do you know what I thought when the memories of the previous round returned?"

When Soram didn't answer, Tae-un also stopped speaking. Finally curious about what he was trying to say, Soram hesitantly looked at him, and their eyes met.

"I thought I had to let you go forever, but I came back to your side again."

It was a piercing gaze as if it would penetrate the eyes looking back. He couldn't escape as if bound. Tae-un spoke to Soram deliberately, as if engraving it into him.

"Even though we don't know when the 4th Great Rift will break out right away, and you're dying from guilt, in the end, I only think about how I met you again."