Chapter 45
I meant don’t pretend to be good while wearing the Dowonhyang Guild emblem on your waist.
“Yes. In your eyes, I must look like a deceiver. …Understandable.”
The man immediately became gloomy and muttered darkly.
Unlike his bear-like first impression, he seemed to be the type whose inner thoughts were easily revealed on the outside.
“I wasn’t like this from the beginning. …At first, I infiltrated this place intending to destroy it.”
When I widened my eyes in surprise at this unexpected statement, the man added with a melancholic face.
“But the longer I stayed here, you know. I began to wonder. What is good, and what is evil?”
“Well, it seems quite clear to me.”
When I spoke coldly while looking at the fallen man, the bear-like man smiled gloomily once again.
“Yes. That could be. …You said you were trying to go to Building E, right? Would you like to follow me?”
At this unexpected opportunity, my frowning face brightened up.
This man seems to be feeling guilty because of what the fallen man tried to do.
This was truly a blessing in disguise.
“…Then, can I know your name first?”
But being distrustful of humans, I don’t easily believe people like that.
“Ah, it’s Kim Young-hoon.”
‘View Kim Young-hoon’s personal information!’
[(Messenger) < Standard Avatar Contract >]
[Parashurama (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party A’) and Kim Young-hoon (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party B’) hereby enter into the following Guardian Spirit-Avatar contract.
.
Contract Period: Until humanity’s salvation
Place of Work: Earth realm
Work Compensation: Ability to manifest Parashurama’s power in the Surface World.
.
(…)]
[(Messenger) Indra casually mentions that Parashurama is quite a major god in the celestial realm.]
[Of course, he’s not to be compared with me, Indra adds, snorting and shaking his head.]
“Alright. …But, you’re an executive, right? And quite a high-ranking one at that.”
When I asked, interrupting the god’s words, the bear-like man slowly nodded his head.
I smiled at him and very brazenly demanded.
“Then, it shouldn’t be a big problem if we bring one more person from Paradise Sauna, right?”
💎
I brought Yu along, who had been busy doing laundry at Paradise Sauna.
“Oh my! What brings you here, Young-hoon-nim!”
“I’ll be taking these two workers for a while.”
He was certainly quite high-ranking, as even the fussy front desk old man who had been difficult earlier was now flustered.
The place he took me and Yu to was Building E, located at the innermost part of Dowonhyang.
“Just place your hand on my arm.”
It seemed his emblem had some kind of recognition function.
We placed our hands on his arm and easily passed through the dome-shaped mana barrier without any resistance.
Zap.
The slight feeling of static electricity lasted only for a moment.
As soon as we crossed the barrier, familiar bustling sounds poured into my ears.
“Come, come, mackerel is on sale today!”
“Buy some fruit, newlywed!”
I widened my eyes in disbelief at the scene unfolding before me.
Inside the barrier, the bustling downtown of Busan was preserved intact without any damage.
“Mom! Mom, can I buy that balloon?”
“No! We promised to only spend 1000 won today when we came out, remember?”
Children running around the streets, laughing brightly.
Women and elderly walking down the street with peaceful faces, feeling no threat whatsoever.
Delicious smells wafted from the shops lining the streets.
People were even seen using cash to shop or pay for food, just like before.
Watching this peaceful afternoon scene, I let out a small groan.
“…This can’t be. I can’t believe it.”
Building E perfectly maintained its pre-apocalyptic appearance.
As if the existence of monsters and towers outside was all a lie.
And strangely enough, for a moment, I felt this place was like paradise.
Even though it was just the same everyday scene we used to encounter.
“…I can’t believe it.”
Yu, standing next to me, was equally surprised.
While hellish scenes unfold every day outside, fighting monsters and piling stones, here was a completely different world.
However, the surprise was short-lived.
Coming to my senses, I asked Kim Young-hoon in a cold voice.
“What’s the criteria for ordinary people to enter here?”
From what I heard at the Paradise Sauna, they were ‘chosen’ ones, so it must be acquaintances selected by Dowonhyang’s leadership or that man called Cain.
To my contemptuous question, Kim Young-hoon answered briefly.
“It’s a lottery.”
“…!”
“Of course, there’s no cheating. It’s drawn fairly in front of everyone.”
Seeing my surprised face, he calmly continued his explanation.
“That’s why other workers obediently follow orders. The lottery chance comes once every two weeks. Whoever wins can enter this place.”
“I… see…”
I became confused.
I wondered how these people who kidnap and force labor on others could avoid karmic retribution.
Was it because of this?
Even though the process might be somewhat wrong, was it because it stemmed from a good purpose and intention?
[(Messenger) Indra mutters in a dignified voice that good and evil are originally complex and profound concepts.]
However, my confusion didn’t end there.
“Then, is gathering Awakened ones here to protect this Dowonhyang?”
“That’s right. The barrier alone isn’t enough.”
Kim Young-hoon added in an indifferent tone to Yu’s question.
“Or it could be to build up forces to counter that man called Yoo Hyun-min.”
At those words, I froze on the spot.
Yu, who still didn’t know that Yoo Hyung-min was my father, asked again with a puzzled face.
“Yoo Hyung-min…. You mean that famous bizarre serial killer? Are you saying this Cain person intends to fight that man?”
“That’s right. I’ll tell you in advance, even the executives don’t know the reason. We just follow what Cain-nim prophesies.”
“……”
I was momentarily at a loss for words and dumbfounded.
Was this place really connected to that man Yoo Hyun-min in some way?
It was just something I made up to bring Baek Yi-heon to Busan…
My head became complicated.
This Cain person searching for Yoo Hyung-min.
Moreover, he seemed to have foreseen this situation and even prophesied that humanity would perish in 10 years.
At this point, that man must have either read ‘TOAA’ or at least known of its existence.
But my pondering was brief.
I inwardly cursed.
‘…Damn it. What now.’
To hear that man’s name again after coming all the way to Busan.
Feeling like I could never break free from this tiresome ill fate, I quickly shook my head.
‘It’s none of my business.’
I just came here to find someone who could make barrier stones.
To escape to a shelter alone.
Yes, that’s it.
I quickly interjected before Yoo could ask for more details about that man.
“Then, do you know someone called Choi Yudam?”
“Well. It’s not a common name. At least, I haven’t heard of such a name among guild members.”
“What? So he’s not here? No way! He’s a man who awakened powerful healing abilities.”
“I said I don’t know? We’re desperately searching for healers too… If there was such a capable person, I would definitely know.”
What’s going on?
It felt like confusion was piling upon confusion.
According to Yu’s testimony, Choi Yudam did awaken healing abilities.
I thought he was naturally recruited as an Awakened after being taken to Dowonhyang…
‘Is he currently hiding his name and abilities?’
But why?
At that moment, Yu, who had been lost in thought, asked Kim Young-hoon.
“Then… Is there anyone who’s been making great contributions at the construction site recently?”
💎
Thank you for reading! ♡
