Chapter 140: The Desert’s Sun Pt. 5

"I want you to change."

Lee Jun-Kyeong’s request was unexpected.

However, they all nodded with stony expressions as if they understood what he had meant.

“...”

Especially Horus.

Even though it was difficult to see his face as it was wrapped in bandages, they could feel that he was making a serious expression.

He had heard it from Inebu—that it hadn’t been long since the Nile had changed. Originally, although the Nile had been a secret organization, it had still also respected the rights of the ordinary people.

Or at least, it had before Horus had been sealed.

However, Horus had been sealed in the midst of trying to obtain the power of the red gem, and Osiris had disappeared, leaving the Nile to undergo an uncontrollable change.

Thus, they responded in agreement.

"Of course, we will."

Horus had responded, gladly accepting Lee Jun-Kyeong’s request.

“Also, I was willing to do you any favor if it was something you wanted,” Horus said as he looked at Lee Jun-Kyeong.

His shining eyes and the red gem matched strangely.

“As you, you are…”

Lee Jun-Kyeong wondered if he was imagining the Hunter’s lips curling into a smile.

“As you are the other Pharaoh of the Nile.”

“Lord Horus!”

“Horus!”

Horus' words shocked everyone. However, the Hunter continued resolutely.

“Everyone knows that the outsider, the Underdog, has been granted the glory of Ra. Would any of you deny it?”

The person most embarrassed by this bombshell was Lee Jun-Kyeong.

He quickly interrupted the Hunter, “If you’re talking about the glory of Ra, it will soon disappear…”

Horus nodded. “I know that as well.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong frowned. “Then why…”

“However, the fact that you have been granted the glory of Ra will not change. Even if you shed off the glory of Ra, that weak thing will remain…” Horus said as he pointed his finger to the gentle golden aura that exuded from Lee Jun-Kyeong’s back.

Horus also then pointed toward Lee Jun-Kyeong’s chest.

–Aren’t we also connected through this?

It was a voice that only Lee Jun-Kyeong could hear, as was still currently sponsoring both Lee Jun-Kyeong and Horus at the same time.

This was possible because their spirits were connected.

Without even letting Lee Jun-Kyeong get another word in, Horus continued with conviction, “I wish to bestow the outsider, Lee Jun-Kyeong, the title of the hidden pharaoh of the Nile. I will bestow upon him the seat of Amun.”

“Horus…!”

“Furthermore, I will rise to the position of Ra…”

Amun was the hidden pharaoh of the Nile.

Ra was the revealed pharaoh of the Nile.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“We will lead the Nile under the monarchy of Amun-Ra.”

This was Horus’ declaration that was made with unyielding determination. He was clearly refusing to tolerate any opposition.

“In addition, at Amun’s request, the Nile will change. I will no longer tolerate any discrimination between the ordinary humans and the Hunters, and will abolish the law that declares that Hunters have the right over the life and death of the ordinary people.”

Horus was like a storm, building up as he continued his last words as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“All of this will be done by Amun’s, and my own will as Ra. Egypt will face a new change!”

His declaration had ended, and Lee Jun-Kyeong faced him, chewing on his lip.

He knew what Horus was doing.

However, if he refused this now, then he knew he would end up in a troublesome matter, so he had no choice but to shut up and let it happen.

Instead, Lee Jun-Kyeong just gave them some homework to do.

“We can only change if we survive.”

To survive…

Horus nodded in agreement with a firm expression.

***

“…”

An awkward silence traveled throughout the hall. It was the first time that he was alone with Horus.

“...”

Earlier, Horus and Lee Jun-Kyeong had been sitting in the temporary residence of the Association, flanked by many people.

Now, the two were sipping coffee in silence.

Horus made Lee Jun-Kyeong uncomfortable.

Pharaoh.

No matter how much it was said that Horus was a good man, Lee Jun-Kyeong still had some reluctance in the Hunter using the title of Pharaoh.

‘Set also wanted to become Pharaoh.’

In fact, Set had even said that he was doing this for the good of the ordinary people, regardless of how twisted his idea of good was. Lee Jun-Kyeong had stepped in to stop him simply because he had wanted to be a Pharaoh.

He had been worried that Set would establish absolute power and, with his extraordinary lifespan, characteristic of a powerful Hunter, dominate everyone.

Therefore, that was why he had fought Set. Although he hadn’t been able to defeat him, it was still the reason why he had helped Horus to the throne.

‘Pharaoh.’

.

Now, Horus had also become a king.

The other Hunter suddenly said, "Please don't worry too much about this."

“…!”

Lee Jun-Kyeong suddenly looked up as the Hunter was speaking formally for the first time.

He, who had climbed to the position of pharaoh.

He, who had established his authority, had always spoken down to Lee Jun-Kyeong.

Lee Jun-Kyeong had thought that the Hunter was doing it naturally due to his position, but it had been his misunderstanding.

“I don’t know about when there are a lot of people around us, but it should be okay to be like this when it’s just the two of us.”

It seemed as though the Hunter knew the weight of the seat he held.

Therefore, when there was an audience around them, Horus would show the severity of his authority by speaking down to Lee Jun-Kyeong, but now, when it was just them, his entire demeanor had changed.

He spoke again.

"I don't like the position of Pharaoh, either."

He was a different character than Lee Jun-Kyeong had thought.

“Are you upset that I read your heart?” he asked Lee Jun-Kyeong. Lee Jun-Kyeong had forgotten that they could read each other’s inner thoughts, or at least what was directly under the surface, as they were both still sponsored by .

“No, I’m not,” Lee Jun-Kyeong responded.

“That’s a relief. I…”

Horus slowly unwrapped his bandages and said, "I intend to abolish the monarchy of the Nile."

Lee Jun-Kyeong had thought that he had been completely fused with the bandages, but the Hunter had taken the bandages off of his face and showed his appearance to Lee Jun-Kyeong.

‘Damn it,’

Lee Jun-Kyeong thought, unknowingly cursing internally.

The Hunter was so handsome. It was to the point where he could slap Baldur.

In particular, the red gem embedded in his forehead was shining quite regally, and it matched his appearance quite well.

“...”

“Ah. I apologize.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong hurriedly apologized as he realized that Horus had read his inner thoughts, while Horus seemed embarrassed.

Now that the other man’s face had been revealed, Lee Jun-Kyeong’s first impression was that the Hunter was handsome, but his second thought was different.

"You're younger than I thought."

He was young.

Horus, whom he had thought would have been older than himself, looked at best barely twenty.

“Is that a problem?” Horus asked.

“It’s just different from what I had imagined.”

Horus smiled slightly.

“To think you want to abolish the throne…” Lee Jun-Kyeong said to Horus.

“The times have changed. Moreover…isn’t the lifespan of a Hunter limitless in some cases? It’s too dangerous for someone like that to be able to hold absolute power,” Horus continued, his face expressing his determination.

“Also, I’m not sure when I will change.”

Although he was for the common people now, his essence was still human.

He was a human being, someone whose whims were as fickle as time was long.

He would be a saint if he took authority while he was a good man, but the moment he changed, he could be more of a tyrant than Set.

Horus knew exactly what could happen.

"It’s a good idea,” Lee Jun-Kyeong simply replied.

Horus nodded, content, and continued, “Uncle Set is most likely still alive.”

To think he could still use honorifics regarding someone who had killed his father.

Lee Jun-Kyeong could gauge Horus’ character from the way he spoke.

He was reliable.

"I suppose so," Lee Jun-Kyeong replied while also nodding.

“I cannot leave Egypt for the time being,” Horus said.

Lee Jun-Kyeong could anticipate what he would ask next.

“Will you find Uncle Set for me?”

He wanted him to find Set, who hadn’t died.

Lee Jun-Kyeong pondered it for a while, but soon nodded.

“I was wondering who was supporting him from behind anyway. I’ll let you know if I find him.”

“Thank you. Also, his backing…”

Horus' eyes glowed.

"I've seen who is backing him."

***

The gloomy Egypt had become noisy again.

They were at Cairo International Airport.

There were a lot of people there as the destruction in the capital hadn’t touched it. The crowd of people was so large that it was impossible for anyone to distinguish their race or nationality.

Countless people had gathered at Cairo International Airport.

Of course, most of them were journalists from all over the world.

The reason why they had gathered here was that important people were coming into Cairo today.

"They're here!"

"Everyone, get ready!"

Many leading members of the Associations had gathered here.

They had expressed deep concerns over what had happened in Egypt and had gathered to discuss how they would proceed into the future.

Japan, Africa, the United States, and even Europe—people from all over the world had begun to appear at the airport.

Flash, flash, flash, flash!

Reporters were constantly pressing their camera shutters as if to capture even one more cut.

“How do you plan on proceeding into the future?”

“How much international aid do you plan on offering Cairo?”

The din was so loud that it was a mystery if the reporters could even hear the answers.

They kept shouting and pressing their shutters, but no one answered.

“...”

They just hurried forward with serious expressions.

A spectacle.

The Cairo International Airport had become a fitting place to use that word.

The reporters started buzzing again.

“It’s Korea!”

“It’s the Korean Association!”

They heralded the arrival of the country that the world was currently paying the most attention to due to their hero, the Underdog.

Korea.

The figures of the Korean Association began to arrive one after the other.

They also crossed the international airport with grave expressions and heavy steps.

“It’s Yeo Seong-Gu!”

“It’s Yeo Seong-Gu of the League Guild!”

“He keeps appearing as a public representative, isn’t he?”

“There’s a rumor that the President of the Korean Association is supporting him!”

Another popular name in Korea was Yeo Seong-Gu.

The Hero, who had the title of Heimdall, was also deeply engraved into people’s memories.

Nothing about him had been revealed yet, but just appearing on behalf of the Association in public was more than enough to represent his power and authority.

“There’s a rumor that the next President of the Association will be Heimdall.”

The enthusiasm of the press reached its climax as journalists shouted enthusiastically at the unprecedented scoop.

The reason why the Heroes had gathered in Cairo wasn't a good thing, but it didn't matter to reporters, as the series of breaking news was more than enough to give the reporters some catharsis.

“Ohh!!!”

Behind them, a reporter filming the Heroes who were leaving at the international airport’s entrance began to shout.

Like a tumultuous wave, a series of shouts continued to the center of the international airport.

"Wow!!!!"

The shouting became louder and eventually became a roar that felt like it shook the building.

Flashes, brighter than the sunlight, filled the airport.

Someone shouted, "It's the Underdog!"

They had only found traces of him in Egypt repeatedly. It was said that the tourism revenue of Cairo had even doubled due to the number of journalists residing in Cairo in order to take a photo of the Underdog.

The enthusiasm of the journalists now made sense.

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH, FLASH!

The reporters cleared the way while they took pictures.

For those who normally ignored the words, consideration, or family, in front of a scoop, the reason they had made way was simple.

Step. Step.

There was an even greater scoop, and they moved to the side to take even more treasured pictures.

Finally.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yeah.”

Korea’s hottest trending people had met.

The Underdog and Heimdall.

The two stood, facing each other.

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH, FLASH!

They were accompanied by an explosion of flashes. The two smiled at each other and embraced one another.

Squeeze!

It was an incredibly newsworthy scene.

Also, it was a perfect scoop for journalists.

"What's the relationship between you two?"

"Are you the guardian of the Underdog?"

Ignoring the questions from the reporters, the two ended their hug. Looking at each other, Heimdall and the Underdog’s expressions were not good.

They soon turned to the exit of the international airport.

“…”

Eventually, they walked away in silence.

***

"Is that true?" Lee Jun-Kyeong asked Yeo Seong-Gu with a stony expression.

They were in a car on their way to the Egyptian Association, where the meeting would take place.

They had made sure there were no wires or anyone who could eavesdrop in the car with them. That was how important their conversation was.

"Yes. It’s true."

Baldur, Oh Hyeong-Seok.

Lee Jun-Kyeong had originally thought that it was strange that he, who was supposed to have welcomed Yeo Seong-Gu with him, had suddenly left for Korea a few days ago. However, it made sense if he had that sort of reason.

Lee Jun-Kyeong murmured to himself with subdued eyes as he looked out the window, “Odin…”

The man was missing.

1. It seems the author has doubled the usage of Amun, as Inebu was said to have the title Amun.

2. Shadows the progression of Ra in Egyptian mythos. Ra eventually was combined with Amun to become Amun-Ra in Egypt’s Empire stage, the New Kingdom. Their fusion heralded the peak of Ancient Egypt’s power.

3. Horus has been speaking down this entire time, speaking as a ruler to his subjects, even to Lee Jun-Kyeong.