Chapter 593: Key Player (4)

It was only for a short time, but as he normally couldn’t express his emotions well, I could tell this right away.

When I looked at him with a slightly puzzled look, I saw him trying to smile as if he was even more surprised. It was forced, but it seemed to attempt to reassure me.

At that moment, I realized that he probably felt a bit embarrassed.

It seemed like a mistake, but I didn’t think it was my fault. How could he act honorably in that situation? Elune had completely ruined what he was picturing.

‘What should I do about this?’

I couldn’t find any other way. If I let Kim Hyunsung know what was going on above, I knew my options would increase, but there was no way I could just do that.

For the time being, I thought observing the situation and making time to think about it had to be my top priority.

It was the most urgent matter, but I had to start with what was right in front of me.

The northwest region that was supposed to be entrusted to the warrior was an issue, but District 5 wasn’t without its own problems, either.

I was certain I didn’t do anything wrong, yet somehow everything had still become a mess. I was getting a headache from it.

“First, I think you should head towards the tutorial dungeon. I’ll just take care of the problems here, and I’ll join you right away. Please go on ahead, but don’t forget to check the trainees once in a while as well.”

“Kiyoung, I’ve been thinking about it. I think it would be better to move together…”

‘Come on, what’s up with that?’

“I want to, but we’re running out of time. You have to attend to your responsibilities. I understand what you’re worried about, but you don’t have to accompany me. I have already decided. If it were anything else, I would agree with you, but this time, I need you to trust me.”

“But…”

“Let’s get moving. Staying here won’t do us any good. It would be better to discuss what direction to take after finishing our respective jobs. It’s not a matter that can be easily solved, anyway. Now that we’re certain that the warrior doesn’t exist in this timeline, it seems like the only option we have right now is to strengthen the northwest region’s defense. I’ll take care of fortifying that area…”

“…”

“…”

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“There is nothing else we can do except scout out the tutorial dungeon more intensively. I’ll do it.”

“…”

‘Hmm… Is that okay? Will he be able to do it properly?’

“I wanted to go with you, but… Since you don’t want to, I’ll take care of everything as much as I can until you come back, so I hope you don’t overdo it.”

“Ah…”

‘It’s not that I don’t believe in you, but… you can do this, right?’

There was no way I could leave the responsibility to him without worries.

It wasn’t an appropriate example, but it was like a noble who had never done any housework before suddenly suggesting to leave the family to him and to go outside to play instead.

There was no way I could feel relieved. Rather, it would be stranger not to worry that he would create an even bigger mess. However, I couldn’t tell him my honest thoughts. I felt that asking for his help and then telling him openly not to do it was too disrespectful.

Above all, if I refused even his desire to help, I knew it wouldn’t look good.

‘No, it will be too weird.’

If that could help Kim Hyunsung be at ease, then…

‘Okay. If that’s what it would take to make you feel better.’

It was the most rational way.

“I would grateful if you did that. Manager Kim Mi-young knows that area well, so it would be better to contact her and form a team with her.”

“I see. I’ll do that.”

‘With her, I will at least feel less concerned.’

Manager Kim Mi-young would stick to Kim Hyunsung and take care of the work.

“I’m sorry for making you help me with this work.”

“I’m just doing what I have to do. More importantly… um… Kiyoung, I’m really sorry for asking you this so many times, but…”

“Yes?”

“Are you sure there’s really nothing wrong with your body?”

“…”

“…”

“Yes, as I said multiple times already, I am very healthy. You don’t have anything to worry about. I’ll get going then.”

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

I stood up and smiled as if nothing really happened, but his face still looked bitter.

‘What’s with you? What is it? What’s happening?’

I thought it was just my imagination that he looked even sadder, but I swiftly realized that the bastard misunderstood something. That was because I saw Cho Hyejin’s face looking at me with the same expression as Kim Hyunsung.

‘Hyunsung, fuck… What the hell did you tell her?’

I could guarantee that I had never seen Cho Hyejin looking at me with such an expression.

At least in my memory, Cho Hyejin had never stared at me so warmly.

“I’m sorry. I’m a little late.”

‘You… You came back after being called by him.’

It was too obvious.

She said she was going to the bathroom just before we left, but her brightened face told me she recently received a call from Kim Hyunsung.

It wasn’t easy to pretend to be fooled by such things. I didn’t know what she heard, but she was completely different from earlier when she was checking equipment indifferently.

Anyone could tell that she was worried about me.

“Stop looking at me. Others will misunderstand.”

“It’s not that. Anyway… Forgive me for being late.”

“There’s no need for forgiveness. There are times when you have to do something even though you’re in a hurry. I’m the type of person that if I don’t go to the bathroom before an expedition, I would feel kind of uncomfortable. I know that we don’t have that many similarities, but we have these things in common. By the way, it seems this is the first time I’ll be moving with hyung-nim after so long… It’s a little flattering. Isn’t that right, Hyejin?”

“Yes, yes. I f-feel the same way.”

“Well, we’re not going to somewhere stress-free… Still, that doesn’t mean it’s incredibly hazardous either. This is strangely making me reminisce about the old days.”

“Dangerous events can still transpire, so don’t be totally at ease. Our role is to escort the Vice Guild Master and the rest of the rearguard. I understand the excitement, but we don’t know what might happen.”

“I know, I know. Such a thing is natural. Don’t worry. I’ll protect him even in death. Everyone can rest assured. Don’t you worry about it either, hyung-nim. I won’t let anything bad happen to you again.”

“In fact, it won’t be a big deal.”

“Really?”

“Of course, there is a high probability that nothing will happen. Deokgu, the reason why you and Hyejin were asked to join us was simply for precaution. It’s not because I’m certain dangers are lurking in there. That doesn’t mean there’s no possibility that there are remnants, though. Well, actually, it would’ve been enough to bring just Hayan or Sora and Yuno Kasugano… Anyway, let’s proceed. Hayan, the spell.”

“Ah… Yes. Yes. I’ll c-chant it now, so please stand inside the magic circle.”

‘It sure is comfortable.’

I thought of going on expeditions while chatting in the wagon like before, but the method we were using was faster and more efficient.

At Jung Hayan’s words, the people composing the expedition team had begun to move quietly.

It was a small party made up of Park Deokgu, Cho Hyejin, Jung Hayan, Han Sora, Yuno Kasugano, and some of my personal guards, but it was by no means a weak party.

We essentially boasted power unnecessary for going through ruins and handling post-work, but our expedition’s importance was indescribable.

‘That place was full of treasures, after all.’

I didn’t know if she knew it would be a great gift for her, but Han Sora just looked scared that she had to go underground with a particular person. She was biting her fingernails as if she was getting even more anxious the more she saw Jung Hayan, who seemed to be in a good mood. She surely deserved to be called a Jung Hayan expert.

“…!”

As I was lost in thoughts for a moment, my body was surrounded by bright light, and my vision began to reverse.

Whooosh! With that feeling, my body was in a completely different place.

‘This is really amazing.’

The moment I had to admire Jung Hayan’s magic was far too short. That was because District 5, which had collapsed entirely, came into view in no time at all.

Even though I received a report about the damages, it seemed more ruined than I expected.

It particularly hit me that there was a completely destroyed part of the District. It might’ve been faster to build a wall from scratch.

The terrible scene made me feel down.

“Sigh…”

‘It will take more than a year.’

The construction of District 5 itself hadn’t even been complete yet when the incident occurred.

Of course, it was near completion, but the management committee judged that it would have taken at least three more months, or even more than six months, considering that there was a lot to worry about with processing or repairs.

I was afraid that it had come to the point where we had to start from the beginning. It was regrettable in many ways since I wanted to deploy our troops in the districts as soon as they were finished.

Oblivious to what I was thinking, Jung Hayan was busy sending me a smile. Even though I already realized that I shouldn’t blame her, I wanted to shake her arm off of me out of spite.

“I heard that you were coming, Chairman.”

“You are…”

‘It’s Jihye’s personnel.’

“I was worried if I would make it on time, but fortunately, you arrived after I found the hideout’s entrance. I shall guide you there.”

“Okay.”

“As you predicted, I was able to find the entrance to the basement within the government building. You said that there was magic, so I expected it to take some time, but it seemed that it disappeared when the structure collapsed.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

“Yes, it wasn’t easy to find the right way. There were many puzzles and traps besides magic, causing us to struggle a bit. It was hidden with tricks simple enough like putting the door behind a cupboard, but the structure itself was encrypted enough that only them could verify it. I feel like the designer really thought it through. It was like a dungeon. A very well-designed dungeon.”

“That might just be an accurate description. It’s no different from a dungeon since it’s the place that the demon contractors used.”

‘It definitely is…’

It was worth calling it that, at least.

What was different was that humans artificially made it and that there was no need to attack it.

Essentially, it was a dungeon that had already been cleared and waiting to give out the reward.

‘It makes me feel better thinking of it like that.’

I didn’t know what and how much I could get, but I hoped to gain more than what I lost.

No, I had to get even just one thing.

The moment the warrior project, chosen by Benignore, had completely collapsed, that was the only place I could lean on.

I exchanged a few words with the guide and walked for a considerable amount of time. Before long, a wide cavern-like area had begun to unfold before us.

“From here on out, we’ll be entering uncharted territory. We wanted to go ahead and check if it’s safe or not, but… Lee Jihye…”

“Yes, I know what you mean. First… I want to thank you for your hard work.”

“I just did my duty.”

“Don’t say that. I will never, ever forget your hard work. I will tell Jihye about it as well.”

“Thank you.”

He then left with his head bowed down.

‘Jihye is still Jihye.’

Even at a glance, he looked loyal.

There were so many things to do that she couldn’t even rest properly, making me wonder how she even found the time to find her own personnel.

My Mind’s Eyes told me his level wasn’t low by any means. That alone told me how valuable he could be.

‘Well, that’s not important right now.’

As I looked around, I saw the party members’ faces seem a little tense and nervous. In particular, Park Deokgu and Cho Hyejin felt a little more sensitive. I also noticed Han Sora glancing at me.

‘I guess she’s feeling it.’

If I wasn’t the Plaguelord, wouldn’t I have felt the same thing she felt?

The quick-witted Jung Hayan stared at her when she saw Han Sora sending me signals, but there were no problems other than that.

“Let’s go in.”

Park Deokgu nodded, taking the lead.

After a while, my jaw dropped due to the scenery that promptly greeted us.