CH 156

After being treated by Lim Hye-Sook, Gi-Gyu immediately entered his gate. He wanted to check what had changed inside his body.

“Nothing feels different so far,” he spoke to himself. He didn’t feel any different, but that just meant he had to take his time to study himself. He didn’t think Lim Hye-Sook would harm him purposefully, but he could be wrong. In summary, nothing could be said for certain without a thorough self-examination. What if she had planted a bomb inside him?

-What an unnecessary thing to worry about. But I suppose it’s better than trusting someone blindly like an idiot.

Lou muttered. Lou, El, and Gi-Gyu’s other creatures had monitored Lim Hye-Sook while she worked on Gi-Gyu. Doing anything harmful under their watch would’ve been just idiotic. Moreover, had Gi-Gyu’s condition worsened due to whatever she had done, Lou and El would have known immediately.

“But still…” Right now, only a thorough self-examination could reassure Gi-Gyu.

***

-Hmm. I guess your shell feels a little more stable.

Lou announced.

El agreed, “I think so too. The cracks in your shell appeared to have been filled nicely.”

“I do feel a little more comfortable than before,” Gi-Gyu replied. Before Lim Hye-Sook’s treatment, Gi-Gyu had felt there was nothing but chaos in his head. This began after he met “himself” while meditating to study his shell. Thankfully, this dizzying sensation was slowly disappearing.

-The problem is…

Lou sounded worried as he continued,

-Just what is this “seal” keeping away from this world?

“Lou is right.” El explained, “That old woman has placed a seal of her own over your existing one. But… I can’t tell what this seal is trying to secure.”

When Gi-Gyu didn’t say anything, El quickly continued, “Death has flooded your shell and is now outside it. Your shell also has some remnants of Lou’s former self, but that’s new, Master. Therefore, this seal can’t have something to do with Lou. Based on what Lim Hye-Sook said, it appears that this seal has always been inside of you. And the recent imbalance inside your shell broke the seal… At least that is my guess.”

Gi-Gyu nodded in agreement, “You are both right.”

What was this “seal” for? What was it securing? Lim Hye-Sook hadn’t given him an answer to this question.

But…

‘She said that the 50th floor might be the answer to everything,’ Gi-Gyu thought. She had asked him to visit her after he had crossed the 50th floor. She had promised that she would explain things to him then.

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed deeply. His promise to himself about sighing less was proving itself an impossible task.

‘The 50th floor… ‘

Just what was on this floor that could give him all the answers?

“There is only one thing I need to do now.”

-Agreed.

“I think so too, Master,” El replied.

“I must reach the 50th floor,” announced Gi-Gyu.

It was finally time to return to the Tower.

***

Gi-Gyu returned home and stayed on the main floor. It had been a long time since he spent quality time with his family. Also, he had to organize his thoughts before proceeding. So, he decided to take a much-deserved physical and mental rest.

-That’s a good idea.

Lou approved of Gi-Gyu’s decision. Lim Hye-Sook had said that even though she had stabilized Gi-Gyu’s seal, it was nothing more than her magic and skill. It would take a bit of time and rest for it to manifest safely in his shell.

“Gi-Gyu, I’m so glad we are having dinner together tonight.” Lee Su-Jin hummed as she cooked in the kitchen, happy that Gi-Gyu was having a meal with his family after a long time.

‘I feel guilty,’ Gi-Gyu thought sadly. After leaving the Gangnam Gate, he should’ve met his family, but he didn’t. Things that required his attention kept happening, so he never got the time. The guilt worsened when he realized his mother must have been worried sick.

Since the exceptional gates appeared, the media had never stopped talking about them. They spoke as if it was the end of the world. Su-Jin was well aware of how her son was dispatched to fix this situation, so Gi-Gyu could imagine his mother’s worries. Right now, his mother seemed unconcerned as she cooked happily in the kitchen, but…

Poke.

Yoo-Jung, who had just taken a shower, jabbed Gi-Gyu’s waist. When Gi-Gyu turned toward her, Yoo-Jung mouthed, ‘Mom was really worried about you, so you better be nice to her.’

Then, she winked at him and went to her room to change. Gi-Gyu remained on the sofa and watched his mother. He couldn’t remember the last time he rested like this. He had, of course, taken physical breaks from time to time in the basement or inside his gate, but the ones at home felt different.

“And Tae-Shik hyung too,” Gi-Gyu wondered out loud. Tae-Shik could be his stepfather someday. And since Tae-Shik had also entered a gate, his mother’s worries probably only went up.

But…

‘I also feel relieved.’ Gi-Gyu thought, watching his mother moving nimbly as she cooked. It was such a relief to see his mother enjoying herself. Gi-Gyu slowly walked into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong, Gi-Gyu? I’m preparing a nice meal for you, so just sit down and wait,” Su-Jin protested. She tried hard to get him to return to the sofa, but he just sat down on the dining room chair and whispered, “I thought I should just stay near you.”

Su-Jin smiled at him again before resuming her cooking. Gi-Gyu watched his mother for a while longer before asking, “So is everything going well with Tae-Shik hyung?”

“What?” Su-Jin jolted and blushed. But because she didn’t deny it, Gi-Gyu assumed that things were going well between them.

Feeling a little apprehensive, Gi-Gyu asked, “Aren’t you worried? Tae-Shik hyung is also a player.”

To make matters even worse, Tae-Shik wasn’t an average player. Being one of the most powerful players out there, Tae-Shik was bound to be called to the front lines in emergencies. Gi-Gyu knew his mother was probably always worried for her son and Tae-Shik.

She replied with a serious countenance, “But he’s doing it to help others.”

Su-Jin placed a pot of soybean paste stew on the table and continued, “Both you and Tae-Shik are working hard for other people, so it is my job to be understanding. I…”

She gave Gi-Gyu another smile before adding, “I am so proud of you, Gi-Gyu. I’m not so small-minded that I can’t understand why you do what you do. Of course, I would prefer it if you and Tae-Shik could quit being players. Maybe we could open a small store and live quietly together. That would be so nice.”

Her soybean paste stew smelled amazing; Gi-Gyu knew it would taste great too. After placing a few more plates of side dishes, she explained, “But… someone has to protect the world, right? If not you and Tae-Shik, someone else will, but what about that person’s family? So, I understand that this is something I must accept.”

Su-Jin explained bravely, but deep concern returned to her eyes. She was about to call Yoo-Jung for dinner when Gi-Gyu whispered, “Mother…”

“Yes?” Su-Jin’s eyes widened, noticing the seriousness in Gi-Gyu’s voice.

“Mom…”

“Gi-Gyu?” Su-Jin seemed surprised when Gi-Gyu called her “Mom” because she couldn’t remember the last time he did this. He became the family’s breadwinner at a young age; then, he began calling her “Mother” instead of “Mom.” It wasn’t a bad thing, but Su-Jin felt sad because it meant Gi-Gyu no longer depended on her.

Her eyes teared up when she heard her son call her “Mom.”

“What kind of man was my father?” When Gi-Gyu suddenly asked, Su-Jin dropped a plate.

Lou muttered in annoyance,

-You’re the worst.

***

Gi-Gyu didn’t mean to ask this question. He blurted it out because he had been thinking about his father.

Gi-Gyu was just as surprised as he asked, “Are you okay, Mother?”

He quickly rose from his seat and began picking the pieces. As he worked quickly, Su-Jin stared at him, dazed. After gathering the pieces, he sat back down. He blushed and apologized, “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I asked this so suddenly, Mother.”

Su-Jin remained quiet. Gi-Gyu had never asked her about his father before. Her son was a stoic boy who never complained as he cared for his family from a young age.

“Gi-Gyu…” Su-Jin whispered with a loud gulp.

Her husband and Gi-Gyu’s father… She knew this day would come, and she had prepared for it.

“No, Mother,” Gi-Gyu interrupted her. “I don’t want to hear about him now. I really don't know why I asked about him. I’ve been thinking about many things lately, and… Anyway, it’s all right. I am not ready to hear yet.”

“Gi-Gyu…”

“Maybe later…” Gi-Gyu quickly replied, “I will ask you again later when I am ready.”

Su-Jin nodded heavily.

Yoo-Jung, having just changed, walked out of her room and asked, “What happened? What’s with the tense air here?”

Yoo-Jung could tell something was wrong, but Gi-Gyu quickly smiled and announced, “It’s nothing. Let’s just eat.”

Even though Gi-Gyu acted like nothing had happened, the worry didn’t leave Su-Jin’s face for a long time.

***

-Master, why did you ask such a question?

El, in her accessory form, asked Gi-Gyu in worry. She was in her accessory form because staying close to him was the best way to stabilize the new seal covering his old seal. By being on his finger as a ring, she could stay close to him and purify his shell.

“What do you mean?” Gi-Gyu asked.

-I’m talking about what you asked your mother.

El still sounded concerned. Gi-Gyu calmly said, “Well, I don’t know. Just because…”

-...

El replied with silence to Gi-Gyu’s hesitant answer. The continued silence made Gi-Gyu open his mouth. “The truth is… I’m certain my father was someone extraordinary. And I’m not just talking about him being a forerunner; I believe there is an even bigger secret.”

His father’s code name was Kronos—the first mercenary. Based on what Lim Hye-Sook had told him, and considering all the other clues he had gathered, Gi-Gyu could tell that there was a big secret behind his father.

“And I think it has something to do with the Tower,” Gi-Gyu suggested. His next meeting with Lim Hye-Sook was supposed to be after he had cleared the 50th floor. This meant that talking about Kronos might trigger the penalty. It, in turn, suggested a close relationship between the secrets of his father and the Tower.

“So I was curious if my mother knew about it,” Gi-Gyu explained.

-I see. I understand, Master.

Gi-Gyu wanted to learn whether his mother knew her husband was no ordinary player. And based on her reaction…

“At the very least, she had some idea.” His curiosity was satisfied, so Gi-Gyu didn’t find it necessary to talk to his mother about his father yet.

-...

El remained quiet, and before long, Sung-Hoon approached Gi-Gyu.

“Ranker Kim Gi-Gyu.”

“That was fast,” Gi-Gyu mentioned. He had texted Sung-Hoon 10 minutes ago, so for Sung-Hoon to arrive this early, he had to be near Gi-Gyu’s house when he received the text.

Gi-Gyu asked, “Have you been waiting for me nearby?”

“Yeah. Sort of…” Sung-Hoon became red as he replied shyly.

Apologetic, Gi-Gyu murmured, “Well… You know you don’t have to be on standby for me all the time like this.”

“This isn’t a problem at all. It’s my job, so please don’t worry. Hahaha.” Sung-Hoon laughed awkwardly.

Feeling a little better, Gi-Gyu also smiled and asked, “Did something nice happen? You look… better.”

Sung-Hoon smiled awkwardly, but Gi-Gyu could sense the positive change in his demeanor.

“Ah… Something had been burdening me, but it all worked out. I think I can relax from now on,” Sung-Hoon replied. This time, his smile was more genuine and less awkward. Gi-Gyu was happy to see that Sung-Hoon was feeling better.

“So why did you call for me today?” Sung-Hoon turned serious as he asked. Gi-Gyu rarely called him like this, and each time, it was due to some major event or something important to Gi-Gyu.

Gi-Gyu nodded and answered cautiously, “I would like to meet Suk-Woo.”