CH 183

[It turns out that the people who attacked the guild management headquarters are the same group that bombed the D45 Area last time. They belong to an unknown religion called ‘Praus’…]

[The crime rate between talented people and ordinary people has risen sharply. If you look at the graph, even just last month…]

[Last night, Mr A, who was assaulted, eventually died. The culprit who attacked Mr A is a B-rank talented man, and a black mask was found in his home…]

[The hatred between the talented and ordinary people is getting worse day by day. The authorities mentioned the last attack on the guild management headquarters…]

After changing channels, I eventually sighed and turned off the TV.

“Is this why they targeted the guild management headquarters?”

“No. Kang Seung-geon and those people must have been the reason for choosing the management headquarters.”

I touched the corner of my mouth at Elohim’s answer and calmly organized the situation.

“…it seems that they attacked the management headquarters to draw people’s attention and also took Kang Seung-geon along.”

“Right.”

“Why Kang Seung-geon? I know that person can no longer use his ability.”

“Well. It’s the first time they’ve targeted a human named Kang Seung-geon, so we can’t say for sure…”

Elohim, who had been slightly stretching his words as if contemplating, continued.

“Even if he can’t use his ability, he has an S-class body, so there are many places to use it. He is also the only son of a member of the National Assembly.”

Ah, right. I forgot.

“According to Elahah, who took a brief look at it, said that he was putting pressure on the guild management headquarters to find his son. Of course, it wasn’t because he cared for his child, but because he suffered a lot of humiliation during the Gangnam incident, so he was deliberately making a louder noise.”

“The situation is very complicated.”

“It’s not good.”

I was frustrated in my heart. The guild management headquarters, which lost its balance due to the attack, and the issue of hatred between the talented and ordinary people, which was heating up more and more. All this happened because of a group of black masks called the Praus Cult.

The last thing I saw was Cheon Sa-yeon’s figure, which kept flashing in front of my eyes. After thinking about it for a while, I finally asked Elohim.

“Cheon Sa-yeon… is he okay?”

“Hm. I was worried too, but he said he was better than he thought.”

Then that’s relief…

“There have been several times when the Praus believers have gone public. But it’s the first time they’ve come out so quickly and aggressively like this one.”

“You sound like you’re used to it.”

Elohim, who was explaining in a heavy voice, lowered his head slightly.

“It doesn’t feel good. They seem… to have noticed.”

“What does it mean?”

“The world has weakened a lot so that there are only a few opportunities left to touch time.”

“Ah…”

“There must be a reason why they move differently than before. Cheon Sa-yeon was guessing that way too.”

A corner of my chest throbbed and felt uncomfortable as if a thorn had pierced me. It was different from when I encountered a puppet called Abel in the D45 Area.

I didn’t know if it was because I learned how sensitive Cheon Sa-yeon could be against Samael or because I kept thinking about it.

‘It must have been something different from Abel…’

Could I know this by looking at Cheon Sa-yeon’s past? It was the part that Elohim didn’t explain…

Elohim, who stood still for a moment at the sight of me being silent because I was lost in thoughts of Cheon Sa-yeon and Samael, immediately opened his mouth and made an unexpected proposal.

“If that’s what you’re worried about, why don’t you see the child, Cheon Sa-yeon, again?”

“Pardon?”

My shoulders shrank in embarrassment immediately. However, Elohim tilted his head slightly with a puzzled expression.

“It will be easier since you’ve already done it once.”

“…yes?”

“I mean when you enter a dream with your ability. Now that your energy is stronger than Han Yi-gyeol, you will be able to do it without much effort.”

“Ah, no, that…”

I don’t know what to answer. I lowered my gaze, covering the nape of my neck with my hand, which was so hot.

“I’m not… that worried.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Just a little bit… But is it possible to connect right away just because I want to enter his dream?”

“It’s difficult for other children, but it’s possible to connect with Cheon Sa-yeon.”

Elohim got up from his seat and fumbled with his hand to close the open window. The sky through the glass was still a bit cloudy.

“Because we had an agreement with each other. If it’s difficult to meet in person, it’s the fastest way to use his dream.”

“I see.”

“Of course, if you want to meet, Cheon Sa-yeon has to sleep, but… that child, Se-hyun-ah, since you came here, he slept less on purpose, so I don’t think there will be any major problems.”

He slept less on purpose? I blinked at the words I couldn’t understand.

“I don’t know what it has to do with Cheon Sa-yeon sleeping less and me coming here.”

“Um…”

Elohim with a strange smile at the question turned around.

“Anyway, if you want, I will open the way to his dream. What would you do?”

“……”

After hesitating for a while, I spat out an answer.

* * *

A guild meeting was held at a nearby hotel on behalf of the collapsed headquarters.

After passing through the tightly guarded entrance, Cheon Sa-yeon, who had written his name on the attendance list, crossed the central hall and climbed the stairs. Ha Tae-heon, dressed in a blue suit, blocked him as he headed for the seminar room on the third floor.

“Oh, my. Did you even come to meet me? I’m touched.”

Ha Tae-heon, who had a straight forehead over half of his bangs, raised his eyebrows at the sly words. Even though he was aware of the change in his mood, Cheon Sa-yeon didn’t erase the smile on his lips.

“If you had waited, I would have come in on time for the meeting.”

“I didn’t know that, so I waited here.”

“Aha.”

At the response filled with dissatisfaction, Cheon Sa-yeon shrugged his shoulders and passed by Ha Tae-heon naturally as if flowing water.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

Of course, it wasn’t like Ha Tae-heon to leave him like that. Without hesitation, he grabbed Cheon Sa-yeon’s arm and opened his mouth in a low voice.

“You must have something to explain to me, Master Cheon Sa-yeon.”

“Well. Do I?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who looked down at his caught arm for a moment, immediately made eye contact with Ha Tae-heon.

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know.”

“What…”

“If you have any questions, find out yourself, Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon. If you want to get information from me, you need to pay for it in return.”

“……”

“…ah, the coat.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who had been pouring out only annoying replies, added as if he had forgotten it belatedly.

“I promised Han Yi-gyeol, so let me help you. Even if I said I would help, there would be nothing I could do other than add a word or two when presenting at Roheon.”

Ha Tae-heon stared at Cheon Sa-yeon with cold, sunken eyes.

“It seems that the release of the coat has been postponed again due to the constant occurrence of accidents. Master Lee Joo-ha must have a lot of trouble.”

“……”

“It would be more convenient to set an open date for this meeting…”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who had been chatting without interruption, suddenly stumbled greatly. If Ha Tae-heon hadn’t grabbed his arm, he would have fallen.

“Cheon Sa-yeon?”

“……”

In response to Ha Tae-heon’s call, Cheon Sa-yeon, who blinked while touching his forehead, asked him with a frown.

“How long until the meeting starts?”

“About 15 minutes.”

“Hu… follow me, Ha Tae-heon.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who had regained his balance, moved straight ahead. With Ha Tae-heon behind him, he entered the waiting room near the seminar room, checked that no one was there, and locked the door.

“I need to get some sleep now.”

“What?”

“I would be very grateful if you could stay by my side, Ha Tae-heon.”

After checking that the door was locked properly, Cheon Sa-yeon, who walked to the sofa, looked at Ha Tae-heon, who was standing with a frown on his forehead, and smiled as he curled the corners of his eyes.

“I’ll come back before the meeting if possible, but if not, don’t force me to wake up. Because this is more important than useless meetings like that.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who was speaking incomprehensible words, lay down on the sofa as if it was his own bed. Ha Tae-heon, who sighed at the absurd act, asked in a stern voice.

“Why should I do that?”

“When I wake up later, I’ll give you at least one answer to your question.”

“……”

Ha Tae-heon clicked his tongue at the offer he couldn’t refuse and sat down on the sofa across from him. Seeing that he didn’t leave, Cheon Sa-yeon slowly closed his eyes.

* * *

In a space full of empty darkness, things shining in vivid colours gradually appeared. Yellow flowers could be seen blooming among the fields covered with light green grass. The wide meadow under the blue sky was very unfamiliar to him.

“……?”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who looked around calmly, narrowed the corners of his eyes. It was true that he had entered his dream, but it was the first time he saw this. He had never been like this before. Cheon Sa-yeon softly brushed his bangs that were  scattered in the wind and let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed that something was wrong. He came in haste because the Prophet sent a signal that he had opened his dream, but if he had known it would be like this, he would have been more careful…

“This really works…”

A familiar voice came from behind Cheon Sa-yeon’s back as he wiped his tired eyes. He looked back quickly, and the face he had been waiting for was standing there looking at him.

“Cheon Sa-yeon.”

Han Yi-gyeol called out his name with a somewhat awkward expression. Standing with his back against the sun in the high sky, his brown hair shone as bright as gold.

Cheon Sa-yeon stared at him without even blinking as if Han Yi-gyeol in front of him would become a mirage and scatter.

His white ankles and feet were visible under his thin, soft shirt and stiff cotton pants that were barely visible. As if to show his not-so-delicate personality, the wrist was filled with the bracelet he gave that was exposed thanks to the folded sleeves.

Like Cheon Sa-yeon, Han Yi-gyeol, who had his outfit engraved on his eyes one by one, asked awkwardly.

“Did… did you have a meeting?”

“You got it right. It’s a meeting of the guild management headquarters. The building collapsed, so the location was changed to a nearby hotel.”

“Aa… should I go quickly?”

“No.”

Immediately, Cheon Sa-yeon smiled brightly.

“There is still time until the meeting, so don’t worry.”

“I’m glad.”

“I wish you had come a little closer now. Isn’t it too far for a conversation?”

Han Yi-gyeol, who looked at Cheon Sa-yeon beckoning to him, answered indifferently.

“If you are dissatisfied, you should come to me.”

“Um?”

“I’m not a dog who runs after you call…” (무슨 키우는 개 부르는 것도 아니고)

Cheon Sa-yeon touched his lips in unexpected dissatisfaction. He seemed to ponder for a moment, then gently raised the tip of his lips.

“Yeah. That’s true.”

A voice filled with kindness came out softly.

“I’m coming, Han Yi-gyeol.”