Chapter 29

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 22, 2025

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

29.

“Why are you acting like this?”

Lee Seong-han maintained his expressionless face.

Kneeling on one knee, he looked like a determined swordsman from a pirate manga, ready to unleash a triple-sword style.

There was a certain bounce to his movements, but the feeling was strange.

It wasn’t for nothing that he felt uneasy.

“My lord?”

“Major.”

Lee Seong-han stood up, tapping his waist with his fist.

“There’s a problem. This woman, Hong Seo-min.”

“Damn it.”

Kang Mi-young pressed her fingers against her temples.

Today was a day Lee Seong-han also felt like cursing.

* * *

…Nothing happened!

Yeah, right.

Lee Seong-han reported everything he had discovered.

Identity.

History.

Lifetime.

Everything after reading her memories. Is this what Kang Jin-young’s [Memory Scanning] feels like? After finishing his report, Lee Seong-han returned to his formal stance.

Kang Mi-young stared at him for a moment before turning her head away.

*Ahem.*

She quietly cleared her throat, covering her mouth. They had silently agreed not to mention it. No need to embarrass themselves.

A momentary farce.

Kang Mi-young returned to her cold demeanor.

“It’s a fake.”

“Correct.”

“There’s no reason not to trust you. Good. Do you have a next plan?”

“Yes.”

That kind of response makes military life a bit more bearable.

Lee Seong-han had his own internal struggles at first. Should he switch sides to Hong Seo-min? He briefly considered it, but it quickly faded.

‘Become a puppet and work 24/7 without being able to die? Not just desk work, but actual combat? Are you insane?!’

He’d rather choose death. Kang Mi-young is a thousand times better as a superior.

At least Kang Mi-young guarantees some autonomy.

That alone is already a perfect score.

Who wants to deal with chores during vacation time?

…Though, looking back at the messages updating every second, things do change.

“First, it’s confirmed she’s been captured. I read her memories. It’s the power of enhanced reconnaissance.”

Actually, it’s not the power of reconnaissance.

It’s something beyond that.

It’s because of the [■■■■ Eyes] gazing down from somewhere far, far away. Where did that trait even come from?

“You’re so capable every time I see you, I can’t help but want you.”

“I know. My friends from the island nation said the same.”

“…I see.”

Lee Seong-han sighed. Ever since gaining this ability, he’s been receiving love calls from all over.

The Hunter Management Bureau.

The National Intelligence Service.

Even the hunter organizations from China and Japan, part of the East Asian Trinity!

Now his name is even being mentioned in Europe.

｢We’ll have to strengthen our defenses.｣

As Kang Mi-young said, the world is always changing and progressing, but if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed from the past to now,

It’s human malice.

The best-selling *Art of War* says it’s fine to crush those who extend their hands in peace (probably).

Lee Seong-han knows it too.

You can’t let a spy who colludes with the enemy live.

No matter how much he dislikes the government, he can’t hate South Korea. He’d make sure they’re no longer part of this world.

“Are you going?”

“Huh?”

“I asked if you’re going. If you receive an immigration offer from a foreign country you’re not sure about, would you take it?”

*Screeeech!*

A monstrous roar echoed.

A chubby mole-like creature jumped at Kang Mi-young!

“……”

Kang Mi-young stretched out her arm and grabbed the mole’s face.

*Squish—*

The mole’s face crumpled.

The roaring mole soon fell silent.

“Sorry. I don’t like leaving backstabbers alone.”

“I’ll always be a member of free South Korea!”

“Good, that’s the answer I wanted.”

After that, it was a repetition of battles.

* * *

“Multiple enemies ahead!”

“Confirmed. Proceeding first.”

Numerous monsters and traps.

It felt like entering a dungeon in a fantasy game.

They planned to clean out the entire market and loot as much equipment as possible, not sparing a single speck of dust.

“It’s an incredibly large cave.”

“Moles have a habit of hoarding valuables. That wasp nest is the mole’s fortress.”

“Shall we break through?”

Kang Mi-young pulled out a lighter from her pocket and lit it.

“Just burn it.”

And so, the party dealt with the mole’s nest. It would be quiet for a while.

The path back to the fountain was eerie, but with glow sticks scattered around, it wasn’t hard to navigate.

*Clatter clatter.*

As soon as they arrived at the plaza, the equipment they had stuffed into their bags rattled.

Lee Seong-han spread a cloth on the ground and laid everything out in a straight line.

“First, we’ll wait for the backup team. To deal with a Puppet Master, we need to use the same tactics to have a chance.”

A war of attrition.

How many can we mobilize?

“Anyway, the entry procedures will take time. The later the timing, the higher the chance of problems.”

“Are you suggesting we handle it now?”

“No. Besides, we need to gain something, right?”

“Gain what?”

“Honor.”

Lee Seong-han slapped his knee.

“Hong Seo-min is insane. Trying to stage a coup for a superhuman like in dramas will only worsen the situation.”

“Right. We’re already short on manpower. It’s all leaking out.”

He’s not unaware.

The K-government’s flaws aren’t just one or two. Lee Seong-han’s re-enlistment was like that too.

The number of Awakened Ones had dropped so much that they brought back a 30-year-old law as is.

Re-enlistment.

Every time he thinks about it, his blood boils and he can’t breathe.

“Hong Seo-min will die.”

“Why?”

“To put it bluntly, she has too many enemies. It’s only natural for us.”

“Us… *cough*.”

Kang Mi-young twitched her eyebrows and avoided eye contact.

“Ah, don’t worry. We’ve administered a few anesthetics, so she should be fine. No reactions, and she’s not awake.”

Kim Seo-jeong.

She made his blood boil.

[It’s a fake made of Chaos magic.]

[Confirmed.]

‘I know.’

Lee Seong-han turned his head. He almost let it slip.

An awkward silence.

Kang Mi-young snorted and gulped down cold water.

“Still, she’s crossed the line too much. She’s vicious, cunning, and lusts after men. She’s a fox-like woman, close to being a nuisance.”

Wow, Major, you’re so eloquent. It flows like a clear stream.

Kim Seo-jeong, leaning against the fountain, snored softly, stretching out carelessly.

Seeing her not shy in front of men, maybe this is just how she is.

“What’s the plan?”

“Kill her.”

“Now?”

“No. After we get what we need.”

Simple as that.

This woman is most likely Hong Seo-min. No, it’s 100%, no, 120% certain.

Or maybe her original self is there but being controlled, with only the outer shell flipped. Either way, she needs to be dealt with.

Killing her now guarantees safety.

But it would disrupt the quest.

It’s a puppet show, can the Puppet Master be missing?

Because of the 『Kang Mi-young Hypnosis Incident』, he wants to kill her right away, but what can you do?

For the sake of discharge?

Lee Seong-han was confident he could debate Satan for 100 minutes.

“Hong Seo-min has a weakness.”

Kang Mi-young’s eyes widened.

“What is it?”

“The strings controlling the puppets. If you grab them, that bitch becomes useless.”

Lee Seong-han casually continued his explanation. Kang Mi-young maintained a “Huh, really?” expression.

The explanation gradually reached its conclusion.

Kang Mi-young wouldn’t not know, so he kept it brief. Though the result was shocking.

“Strings?”

Why is this guy like this?

“It might be related to your reconnaissance ability. Hong Seo-min’s puppets are indistinguishable from real humans at higher levels. Not the organs, though.”

“So that’s why you put your finger in my—”

Kang Mi-young’s face turned beet red. *Shh.* She waved her hand as if to say, stop.

“T-that was because of hypnosis. I already apologized, didn’t I? I’m not a pervert like Kang Jin-young who lusts after men. I don’t whine for love.”

Even as she spoke, she avoided eye contact. Blood tells, after all.

Her sullen expression was just like Kang Jin-young’s.

Before coming, he had asked Kang Jin-young about puppets.

“Strings? The Puppet Master’s strings?”

“You don’t know? I heard the association saw them.”

She rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a long time.

“Hmm. I’m not sure about the Puppet Master having strings? I’ll ask the intelligence department, but I can’t guarantee results.”

The first time, he let it slide.

Maybe she got hit on the head for some reason and got amnesia or something.

But Kang Mi-young is like this too, so doubts arise. What if Hong Seo-min secretly slipped something into the water to erase memories of the “strings”!

Wow, Hong Seo-min is amazing!

Wait, isn’t it common sense that marionettes are moved by strings?

Kang Mi-young nodded as if she understood.

｢I want it. I desperately want it. I want to keep it by my side and spend my life on the front lines. I can’t let Kang Jin-young take it. The fate of the nation is at stake.｣

Lee Seong-han, startled, turned his gaze to the fountain.

He could see it.

Something connected to those strings.

It was blurry, but he could sense its essence.

*Crackle crackle—*

The sound of burning embers broke his train of thought.

They had made a small bonfire using wooden furniture from the market.

“Let’s eat.”

“……You’re good at cooking too, huh?”

*Gulp.*

Blood tells, after all. Kang Mi-young’s face was beet red.

｢Does he have a girlfriend? He probably does… with such manly energy.｣