Chapter 40

“Ayu, I don’t know what it is, but it’s not like that. I just came to talk about Baek Seol-hyang and Giraseong.”

First, I tried to calm Ayu down by explaining the situation.

But come to think of it, I didn’t actually talk about Giraseong at all.

However, Ayu made a dissatisfied face and looked at Baek Seol-hyang.

“Then why is her face red?”

Oh, sharp.

As expected of Cheonma’s keen eye.

“It’s because it’s hot. We should lower the air conditioner temperature.”

Baek Seol-hyang, feeling a bit guilty, fanned herself lightly as she made an excuse.

By the way, I also felt a bit guilty, so I kept my mouth shut and stayed still.

Wait, why should I feel guilty?

Thinking about it, it’s annoying.

When I glared at Ayu, she shot me a sharp look, so I lowered my eyes.

Scary.

“Alright. Then I’ll join in too.”

Meanwhile, Ayu plopped down next to me on the sofa and crossed her legs and arms.

Baek Seol-hyang, who had been staring at her, shook her head and then turned to me.

“That’s right. Let’s get to the main point now.”

“Wait, what have you been doing until now if not talking about the main point?”

Ayu interrupted, but I ignored her and started mentioning the main point Baek Seol-hyang had brought up.

“Yekaterina is planning to sell artificial dimensional gates to hunter companies in various worlds.”

Baek Seol-hyang nodded as if she already knew about it.

Ayu also seemed to be involved in something, as she made a displeased face.

“On the surface, that’s why Ha Si-ho was targeted. But there’s probably more to it.”

Baek Seol-hyang seemed to have mostly grasped the situation.

“Yes, and through her, I heard that they will contact JMC on August 1st.”

“That’s strange. She didn’t seem like someone who would talk so carelessly.”

Baek Seol-hyang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It seemed like she was hinting that there was more to say if I wanted to explain myself.

I glanced at Baeksan.

He met my eyes and nodded slightly.

“It’s okay to tell her. As I said before, she probably has some idea. Just.”

Baeksan seemed to have something on his mind as he stroked his chin.

“It’s better not to mention the regression. She probably doesn’t know about that yet. She just knows that something is attached to you. If you say that a dimensional traveler got possessed by you during a dimensional movement trouble, she’ll roughly understand.”

Baeksan quickly provided an excuse.

I also thought it wasn’t a good idea to reveal Baeksan’s existence right now.

As he said, the future could change unpredictably, and I wanted to maintain the advantage of his regression as much as possible.

It’s not that I don’t trust Baek Seol-hyang, but since Baeksan said so, I judged it was the right thing to do for now.

“Baek Seol-hyang, how much have you heard about what happened to me and Si-ho on the island?”

“Well, through the investigation, I heard that Aoki Kaito died not from disappearance but from a wide-area lightning attack.”

It was Baeksan’s doing.

“Yekaterina, despite being a lightning-resistant lightning-type ability user, was on the verge of death due to lightning interference that messed up her internal and nervous systems. And Ha Si-ho is not a lightning-type ability user.”

She accurately grasped the situation and explained it.

Ayu was also looking at me with a suspicious expression.

“…Domi Oppa, did you awaken as a hunter?”

Ayu seemed to have noticed that something strange was going on around me.

Well, since Ayu was also there when she came to save me, it was understandable that she felt something was off based on what Baek Seol-hyang said.

“That’s the thing.”

So I told them the same reason Baeksan had mentioned.

Hearing that, Ayu crossed her arms and seemed a bit unsatisfied but still seemed to accept it.

“…No wonder Domi Oppa’s body looked so clean.”

“Clean?”

“Your energy flow was too smooth, as if all the barriers were gone. It was bothering me, but if that’s the reason, I can understand. I could do the same if I possessed a normal person’s body.”

Ayu presented a possibility similar to what Baeksan had said.

Is that how all Returners are?

“So, is that person with you?”

I nodded.

Seeing that, Ayu smiled slightly and asked the following question.

“Is it a girl?”

“A guy.”

“Oh, that’s a problem. Domi Oppa said he likes guys.”

Ayu seemed oddly relieved.

Why is that suspicious?

“But still, thank him for me. Thanks to him, Domi Oppa is alive.”

But her last words seemed sincere as she looked into the air and even bowed her head.

Baeksan laughed and nodded, saying, “Okay.”

They’re getting along well even though they can’t see each other.

These two seem to get along well.

Looking at Ayu, I turned to Baek Seol-hyang.

Ayu is simple, so she might believe it, but the problem is Baek Seol-hyang.

She knows a lot and is an intelligent person.

From what I’ve seen of Baek Seol-hyang, she’s not the type to easily accept such suspicious stories.

Perhaps that’s why Baek Seol-hyang was silent, crossing her arms and seeming to ponder.

Her crossed arms naturally drew attention to her overwhelming chest, but I tried to resist.

“Alright.”

And Baek Seol-hyang smiled at me as she said that.

“A possessor, huh? It’s not entirely impossible. Since I also saved Ha-chan’s life, please thank him for me.”

She seemed to believe it for now.

Baek Seol-hyang seemed to say that.

It seems I can breathe a little easier.

“If there’s a chance, you can tell me more.”

“I will.”

And with that, I nodded with a bitter smile.

If there’s a chance, I’ll have to tell her then.

“You said JMC is contacting Giraseong, right?”

“Yes, I heard it’s on August 1st.”

“JMC, JMC…”

Baek Seol-hyang tapped her cheek with her finger, lost in thought.

“As a hunter company, they’ve been keeping their promises well, and there’s no unfair treatment. They have three S-class hunters, the most in the country. There’s no reason for them to mess with artificial dimensional gates.”

Baek Seol-hyang seemed to think that JMC had no reason to mess with artificial dimensional gates.

“We’ve also been moving actively because of the artificial dimensional gate issue. We’ve had quite a few clashes with Giraseon recently. The hunter companies must know about it.”

As she looked at Ayu, Ayu, who had brought a coffee-flavored cookie, took a bite and said,

“It will take more time to wipe out Giraseon. No, honestly, it would be difficult to completely wipe them out worldwide. They were created by those who escaped or survived from us. The only ones we can wipe out immediately are those in ambiguous positions like that Russian woman.”

“That’s right.”

Has Ayu been wiping out Giraseon all this time?

Moreover, since they are the same Returner group, it seems there are many tricky things.

“It would be possible if we take the time, but.”

“During that time, Giraseon will try to lure companies. There won’t be a few companies that will be blinded by profit and fall for it.”

“Why not just wipe out those companies too?”

“Dimensional gate phenomena are the hunters’ responsibility. Returners are few, so we can’t cover that part. If you want the whole world to be in chaos due to lack of manpower, that’s fine.”

Suddenly, a serious conversation started between the two.

The conversation is getting deeper than I thought.

I wondered if it was okay for me to listen to this, but the two didn’t seem to mind me much.

“Then shouldn’t we at least root them out in Korea? How many S-class Returners are there in Korea now?”

“You, me, and Geumgang-ho.”

Geumgang-ho (Golden Tiger).

As soon as I heard that nickname, my eyes widened.

His name is Gye Du-sik.

A North Korean who was eventually annihilated by a large-scale dimensional gate phenomenon and is now one of Korea’s representative Returners.

During the Korean War, he alone prevented North Korean and South Korean soldiers from attacking civilians, earning the nickname “Tiger of Geumgang Mountain.”

Even ordinary people like me know about this incredibly famous Returner.

“Why is that old man still so robust?”

“In martial arts terms, he has undergone rejuvenation twice.”

“That’s all meaningless, right? That old man isn’t a martial arts Returner in the first place.”

“He’s been enjoying martial arts novels lately.”

Why is it?

Listening to this story makes my heart race.

I’ve been studying Returners to create a world where Returners can return, so I’m very interested in Returner stories.

That’s why the behind-the-scenes story of Korea’s representative Returner is so fascinating that I can’t help myself.

“Stop being a Returner fanboy. Your face is creepy.”

Because I was all ears, Baeksan, who couldn’t stand it, spoke up, and I quickly fixed my expression.

“That Geumgang-ho is personally annoying. That old man is too righteous.”

“But his skills are undeniable. He also treats me like a granddaughter. Including Cheonma.”

“Come on, a granddaughter? That old man isn’t even related by blood.”

Being treated like a granddaughter by that Geumgang-ho.

I’m jealous. I want to be treated like a grandson.

“Don’t think stupid things again.”

Ignoring Baeksan, who saw through my thoughts, I quietly listened to the two’s conversation.

“Where did the others go?”

“Giraseon isn’t only in Korea.”

Ayu clicked her tongue and leaned back in her chair.

“Let’s protect our country first.”

“They must trust us.”

“Funny. You’ve completely forgotten the past.”

The past?

When I looked at Ayu as if asking what it was, she pursed her lips as if she had said something she shouldn’t have.

What happened between these two?

It seems they’ve been through more than I expected.

‘Ayu clearly told me at first that she had distanced herself from hunter or Returner work.’

Before that, did she work at the Returner Association?

Well, otherwise, I wouldn’t know why Ayu is so familiar with people like Eun-hyeon and Geumgang-ho.

‘Was there something that wasn’t disclosed to the public?’

I’m curious, but I don’t intend to pry if she doesn’t want to talk.

I’m not yet someone who can delve deeply into the Returners’ affairs.

“Let’s talk about that separately later. What’s important now is what Ha-chan said about JMC. JMC is the largest hunter company in Korea. If JMC is shaken by Giraseon, it will affect the lower levels, so it’s better to stop it.”

“But you said there’s no reason for them to fall for it, right?”

“We can’t know the detailed internal circumstances. There might be a power struggle among the successors who have come of age.”

When I heard the word successor, I raised my head.

Because the person I hate so much that I want to tear my hair out, Gwak Sa-yeon, is one of those successors.

Just mentioning Gwak Sa-yeon makes me react unconsciously.

“Ha-chan, what’s wrong?”

Seeing my reaction, Baek Seol-hyang tilted her head as if asking if I had something to say.

“That, the person I mentioned earlier who made a false report.”

“Domi Oppa, that woman who ruined your life?”

Ayu also remembered and made a disgusted face.

Baek Seol-hyang also seemed to recall what she had heard earlier, and her eyes changed.

“That’s Gwak Sa-yeon, one of JMC’s successors.”

Looking at the two, I smiled awkwardly.

“Actually, one of the reasons I started moving this time was because of that.”

The biggest reason I got involved in this matter was revenge, not for Seo-ho or Si-ho.

So honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing.

In their eyes, I must look like a saint risking my life for Seo-ho and Si-ho, so I couldn’t just stay silent.

“Haha.”

At that moment, Ayu suddenly started laughing.

At the same time, for some reason, the table in front of me and the surroundings seemed to be shaking slightly.

An earthquake?

When I looked at Ayu, her expression was so fierce that it seemed like a demon was rising.

How angry was she? Her hair was gradually turning bright red.

Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun was coming.

“So, it was that bitch who tormented Domi Oppa.”

She’s going to die.

Gwak Sa-yeon is going to die.

“Yes, Gwak Sa-yeon.”

At that moment, Baek Seol-hyang, who had put down her teacup with a clink, smiled.

But that smile wasn’t a real smile.

Something was shimmering above her head, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

“Cheonma.”

“Don’t stop me.”

“I’m not stopping you. Just, you can’t kill her. You have to bring her back alive.”

Ayu and Baek Seol-hyang’s eyes met.

For some reason, it felt like I was witnessing the moment when the two’s opinions aligned for the first time.

“Uh, hey.”

Seeing the two expressing their emotions more intensely than I thought, I called out in panic, and their gazes flew to me.

I flinched at their gaze, but I quickly calmed down because the emotions in their eyes were all concern.

“Thank you. But I want to deal with Gwak Sa-yeon myself.”

The reason I told the two about Gwak Sa-yeon was because I was the one who brought up this matter, so I wanted to explain the situation to the involved parties.

It wasn’t to ask them to take revenge for me.

Hearing my words, the two fell silent for a moment.

Ayu soon returned her hair color to normal and let out a deep sigh, and Baek Seol-hyang also nodded.

“Alright. But even Ha-chan can’t do anything about JMC, who backed Gwak Sa-yeon, right?”

“Uh, yes, that’s right?”

As an individual, there’s nothing I can do about JMC, the top hunter company in Korea.

I wasn’t expecting that much.

“Yes, that’s enough.”

What’s enough?

What’s going to happen to JMC now?

As I was thinking about JMC disappearing in the near future, Ayu leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Still, if it really doesn’t work out, you can rely on me. Got it?”

Seeing her telling me not to try to do everything alone, I smiled gratefully and nodded.

Was it just my imagination that Baek Seol-hyang’s eyes started to look scary again?

“Ah, by the way, there’s one more thing I need to tell you about Gwak Sa-yeon.”

Then suddenly, I remembered one more thing I hadn’t mentioned.

As the two listened, I got straight to the point.

“That woman seems to really like Seo-ho.”

I heard that Seo-ho was being harassed, and through Baeksan, it seems they’re even getting married.

Honestly, Seo-ho’s marriage to that woman is definitely Gwak Sa-yeon’s doing.

How dare she covet our Seolsan Iri.

As expected of the crazy woman I acknowledge.

“I just thought of it.”

“…Seo-ho is Si-ho’s older brother, right? And Giraseon is targeting Si-ho.”

Baek Seol-hyang quickly started to assess the situation after hearing a few things from me.

“I see what Giraseon’s plan was. Originally, Giraseon would have kidnapped Si-ho and made a deal with Seo-ho.”

She spoke as if she could see the situation clearly.

“They would have guaranteed Si-ho’s safety in exchange for Gwak Sa-yeon cooperating with the artificial dimensional gate. Gwak Sa-yeon has feelings for Seo-ho, so she would have agreed to that request.”

“If that happens, the JMC successor position…”

“Gwak Sa-yeon would take it. With Seo-ho, an S-class hunter, the artificial dimensional gate, and Giraseon’s support, it wouldn’t be difficult.”

Looking at Baeksan, he nodded as if agreeing.

He’s a regressor, after all.

Amazing.

To predict the future so perfectly with just a few fragmented pieces of information I provided.

I knew Baek Seol-hyang was smart, but I didn’t know she was this good.

“But now the situation has changed. Ha-chan protected Si-ho, and the kidnapping failed. We’ve also assigned a Returner to Si-ho separately, so they can’t target her recklessly. Of course, we’ve also assigned someone to Si-ho’s mother.”

They even took such measures behind the scenes.

Baek Seol-hyang was looking at the situation more comprehensively than I thought.

Moreover, even though Baek Seol-hyang probably knows about Si-ho’s circumstances, she treated Si-ho’s mother properly.

“But there’s one person in an ambiguous position who is confident in their abilities. Then who would Giraseon target next?”

There was one person who came to mind.

“Seo-ho.”

“Correct.”

She confidently declared Giraseon’s target like a checkmate.

“He’s the best card to make a deal with Gwak Sa-yeon. Moreover, if successful, Si-ho would come as a bonus. She wouldn’t abandon her brother.”

“Then we should—”

“Wait for now.”

When I shouted that we should protect Seo-ho, Baek Seol-hyang raised her hand to stop me.

“Giraseon has been lying low since the failed kidnapping of Si-ho. That’s why our purge has been delayed.”

“Are you going to use Seo-ho as bait?”

“It’s not very ethical, I know. Of course, we should inform Seo-ho in advance and prepare secretly. But it’s a good opportunity. It’s the best situation to root out Giraseon in Korea. Moreover, we can lure out Gwak Sa-yeon.”

And a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“Of course, if Ha-chan doesn’t want to, we won’t do it.”

“…Is my opinion important in this situation?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Si-ho and Seo-ho are Ha-chan’s acquaintances. It’s not my place to ask for such a thing.”

I understood her words.

As she said, I was the most suitable person to explain this situation to Seo-ho.

But I was also worried about Seo-ho’s safety.

Given Seo-ho’s personality, he would definitely agree if I told him.

As long as Giraseon exists, Si-ho’s safety will continue to be threatened, and moreover, he also has a desire for revenge for