Chapter 109

Chapter 109 Karma (4)

“What happened?”

The answer returned after a slight delay. Well, it wasn’t technically an answer.

—…I’ll come and explain in person.

When he said it wouldn’t take long, Yoon-seok agreed, and in fact, he arrived at the hotel less than 10 minutes later.

“It’s an honor to see you again, Mr. Challenger Choi Yoon-seok.”

In a tall and neat black suit, the white man, who seemed like a successful businessman, was called Liam Tenner, and if Ashton was like his personal secretary in charge of him in the Tower, he was the one in charge of him on Earth. It was his first return since the incident, so their relationship was only to the point where they’d exchanged introductions.

“Yes, but calling me Mr. Challenger…please speak casually. It’s uncomfortable.”

“…May I call you Choi Yoon-seok?”

“Yes, Ashton calls me that, too.”

“I see.”

Perhaps it was comforting to hear that Ashton also did so as he relaxed a little.

“Now, can I know what ‘that is you were talking about?”

When Yoon-seok brought up the main topic, the man’s face darkened. However, perhaps knowing this was unavoidable, he carefully summarized it in one sentence.

“Two hours ago, there was an assassination attempt against your family.”

An assassination attempt…which meant someone tried to kill his family. Yoon-seok lips formed a thin line at the unexpected news. Of course, Tenner couldn’t see such a change as he was using a mask. However, he was able to sense a change as the atmosphere turned sullen.

“Since you said attempt, it means they’d failed, right?”

Yoon-seok asked calmly. However, Tenner, who was watching him, stiffened. He heard that he adored his family very much. But what kind of reaction was this? Tenner gulped at the remarkably different response than what he had been expecting on the way here. He answered like a newly enlisted military recruit.

“Yes! Of course! One of our agents was injured, but they weren’t hurt at all. I didn’t even realize there was such an attempt until recently.”

After his quick explanation, he let out a sigh of relief. Ironically, it came out of Tenner’s mouth, not Yoon-seok’s. He thought it was a relief that this assassination attempt ended without anyone dying. He was in charge of Yoon-seok, but he could tell even if he didn’t read the countless reports about him.

For more,

“Just in case, I have put some basic clothes in the dressing room, but I guess you haven’t checked it out yet.”

Yoon-seok understood why people pursued fame or status. To be treated as someone important… had a magical nature that triggered human competitiveness.

Yoon-seok changed his clothes and put them into the subspace bag that proved useful in his last mission. When he was going to put the sword on his waist into the bag, Tenner, who didn’t know it was a subspace bag, advised him.

“If it’s inconvenient for you to leave your sword behind, you can just leave it as it is. The same goes for the mask.”

“What?”

“The world has changed a lot.”

At his words, Yoon-seok left the hotel with the sword at his waist. He was told that he could carry a sword, so he came out with it to stack up some experience on karma data, but he couldn’t help but wonder if this was okay. Originally, it would be unimaginable to walk around the city with a sword around one’s waist. He would get reported as a crazy man.

But there was no problem. The hotel staff and the people in the lobby looked at Yoon-seok, but that was all. Rather, their gazes were even friendly.

“Mister! Thank you!”

A little girl approached and bowed to Yoon-seok, then went back to her family. The girl’s parents stroked her head to say she had done a good job and bowed to Yoon-seok. Just like how American citizens treated soldiers, Yoon-seok realized.

“It changed a lot.…”

“Yes, it’s your first time since then, but there will be more surprising things.”

Tenner’s words were true. Many parts of downtown Seoul changed. He could see quite a few people walking around wearing weapons such as swords.

“They are patrols. As the number of invaders has increased, we are always on standby to prevent civilian damage.”

“Someone’s wearing a mask over there too?”

“Yes, there are a lot of challengers who don’t want to be identified.”

That wasn’t the only change. A collapsed building, a wall with huge claw marks, and concrete scorched and melted by fire. Obvious traces of battle could be seen from time to time, and the people walking around them didn’t even stop to look as if they’d already grown used to them. It was as if the whole world had changed in those few months.

‘Come to think of it. This is kind of funny.’

Yoon-seok was born in Seoul. He was born and raised here. But he was currently receiving a tour guide from a man who came across the sea to Korea. It was ironic, but he couldn’t deny how many chaotic situations would ensue if Tenner weren’t with him.

“Our store doesn’t accept money from heroes.”

After that, Yoon-seok stopped by a restaurant.

“Challengers are the root of all evil! If they disappear, the invaders will disappear!”

He even visited the protest site in front of the district office.

“As the Savior bled and polished our way….”

After catching a glimpse of the worship event of the ‘Guwon-gyo,’ the day gradually grew dark. Tenner, who accompanied Yoon-seok all day, answered the phone and hurriedly delivered the news to Yoon-seok.

“The challenger who went to the square was informed. Would you like to meet them right away?”

“Yes, I was about to go back anyway. Did he say everything was fine?”

“When we mentioned Mr. Choi Yoon-seok, the challenger named Sword Demon also complied and gave us information.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Oh, and I have one more piece of good news.” Tenner lifted his shoulders and smiled brightly. “Kang Hyung-woo. He’s also been caught.”

“…?

“When they found him in the trials, he immediately used an item to come straight to Earth.”

It had only been about 12 hours.…

Yoon-seok gaped without realizing it. Although their work ethic was swift and accurate, he couldn’t believe that he’d already been caught. He realized how insignificant Kang Hyung-woo, who used to seem scary and intimidating, was.

Maybe that was why? He felt a sense of shame out of nowhere.