Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
58. Natural enemy (4)
Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion’s side building.
Eun-ho and young-looking Hwang-ho were sitting facing each other.
Eun-ho placed the teacup containing lukewarm tea and asked.
“Hwangho-nim, how is the battle situation? Was the barrier surrounding the broadcasting station lifted?”
“Not yet. We’re currently breaking through the barrier. It’s difficult to smash the barrier without damaging the broadcasting station’s building, eh?”
“Even if You’re anxious, You can’t reveal Yourself directly. It would also be better if You don’t use the cards Uisin hyung left You if possible.”
“I know. If needed, I can pretend that I smuggled the cards, but the opponent may notice Jo Uisin’s abilities in the end.”
Hwang-ho, who burrowed his body into the sofa, had an uneasy expression.
Currently only the main ego in the appearance of Hwang Jiho was deployed on the broadcasting station’s side.
He wished to dispatch an alter-ego outside of the broadcasting station right away. [1]
But Eun-ho stopped him from doing so, and Hwang-ho also judged sending an alter-ego would be a mistake.
Because though the Demons’ ‘Eyes’ didn’t work inside of the broadcasting station where the communication was cut off, it wasn’t like that outside of it.
There were ‘eyes’ observing outside, and if he was around the broadcasting station right now, it would be easy to feed the press.
Eun-ho asked with a soft voice.
“Did You contact Toyeon-nim? I wish to her about the observation results seen through the Moon Palace Technique.”
“After trying to directly contact that damn Moon Rabbit, I didn’t think we could communicate, so I’m looking into it through the Association. As it’s being interpreted by an outstanding researcher, it’s probably better to wait.”
Hwang-ho added a short explanation about that outstanding researcher.
At the words that the identity of the outstanding researcher was the Great Hero Iron Arm Song Manseok’s grandson and one of the 1st year class 0, Song Daeseok, Eun-ho opened his eyes wide and made a slightly surprised face.
“… Right, there was a description he liked satellites.”
“I guess Song Daeseok was described like this even in that game, eh?”
“Yes, I’m also surprised that he is on the list of the 1st year class 0’s students who are attending the school, but… I didn’t expect him to become the Association’s researcher.”
Eun-ho made a very soft face.
Hwang-ho came up with the reason for him to make such an expression.
‘I guess that in the game Eun-ho and Jo Uisin played, Song Daeseok from that place wasn’t able to attend school and wasn’t able to become a researcher, eh?’
At that moment, a rough report was sent from the Association’s side.
While listening to the report in the real time, the young-looking Hwang-ho opened his mouth.
“Song Daeseok found a plausible answer, eh?”
“Please speak. Details if possible.”
“Okay, so at the request from the Association Satellite Research Institute, Song Daeseok separated from us and headed to the Research Institute….”
According to Eun-ho’s request, Hwang-ho started to explain the circumstances in detail.
The instant he arrived, Song Daeseok said to use the app predicting the changes in otherworld variables he developed to analyze the satellite observation values and the developments observed through the Moon Palace Technique.
Song Daeseok said that app was still a prototype, so while asking other researchers for advice, he explained the algorithm for the otherworld variables changes and unfolded a chart.
Each time the variables that didn’t seem to have a relationship connected through Song Daeseok’s study and insight, the researchers couldn’t hide their amazement.
After the researchers cooperated, because a trivial syntax error occurred, and fixed it, Song Daeseok, who checked the results’ values, drew a conclusion.
— It’s a bit difficult to read because the superpower wave’s wavelength is twisted, but it’s similar to the superpower wave observed ‘inside of the otherworld’. Considering its density, it’s similar to when the floor master approaches. And something’s bothering me.
Song Daeseok hesitated, and then spoke:
— In the past, there was an otherworld simulator, whose development was halted, because it had a chance of interfering with the satellite in a long-time usage and disturb Players’ superpower waves.
— Ah, I remember it. It was said to draw on the energy of earth, and use it to reenact an otherworld.
The one who supported Song Daeseok’s words was the most senior researcher at the research institute.
There were not many people, who didn’t remember the existence of the old-style otherworld simulator, which wasn’t even released on the market and disappeared without receiving any media attention before Song Daeseok was born.
Eun-ho, who was listening to the explanation, abruptly asked.
“By the energy of earth, they mean Power of Earth, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“… Was the place that was perhaps developing that otherworld simulator and then halted it Namkung Group?”
At Eun-ho’s question, Hwang-ho nodded.
“You know well, eh? Did it also appear in the game?”
“No. However, I thought about it right away because of Power of Earth. And because of the situation in the broadcasting station right now.”
Eun-ho brought the cold tea to his lips as he spoke.
“It’s good that preparations were made[2]. Hwangho-nim please take a step back from there and observe the situation… Did You send Ham Geunhyeong-ssi to Uisin hyung’s side?”
Ham Geun-hyeong had some work to do in Hongcheon today, so he took half a day off in the afternoon and left the school.
After finishing the work, he was returning to see the class kid’s stage, but Eun-ho requested that Ham Geun-hyeong was sent to the broadcasting station as fast possible.
“I contacted him. He said he had finished work and was moving towards the broadcasting station. He was riding an air taxi, but I told him to immediately get out and move with his own power. Ham Geun-heyong running with his own power would be faster than when riding the air taxi.”
“He had to be sent not to the broadcasting station’s entrance, but towards the floor Uisin hyung currently is at. Even if there is nothing ordinary, he should first join them and see the situation.
“I sent him to the designated location…. Uh?”
The face of Hwang-ho, who confirmed the battle situation through the subordinate’s report, clouded.
It was an attitude as if he doubted if what he heard was correct.
“Just now, Ham Geun-hyeon used Apollo’s bow through the Gwangrim and destroyed the wall and barrier of the broadcasting station.”
“… Yes?”
“Ham Geun-hyeong’s Gwangrim is the ‘Eyes and Bow of Sharpshooter’. He can borrow not just a bow, but also the gaze. He might have seen something through those eyes.”
Eun-ho put down the tea cup without a sound.
Hwang-ho told Eun-ho the full report of the subordinate.
“The exchange started. Ham Geun-hyeong seems to be one-sidedly pouring arrows. It’s impossible to confirm the hostile target from the subordinate’s location.”
“What about the barrier? Is it possible to enter?”
“If we damage the broadcasting station building like Ham Geun-hyeong, it will be possible. I finished negotiation with the broadcasting station director. In five seconds, we break the wall and enter.”
Before Hwang-ho and Eun-ho could finish counting down five seconds in their heads, Hwang-ho opened his mouth again.
“I discovered suspicious movements in the underground parking lot. It seems they have the old simulator of the Namkung Group, that as you already know became the problem and… it seems they try to lure in Jegal Jaegeol, eh?”
And a few seconds later, Hwang-ho, who seemed to beat up the opponent in the underground parking lot, opened his mouth.
Hwang-ho’s face was dyed with a deep displeasure.
“I also know the opponent’s face. It’s the bastard that dared to set foot in the divine realm in the unpermitted time under the pretext of filming, eh?”
* * *
The revenge scenario the Red Lion and Yong tribe carried out after Yeom Junyeol was murdered.
In this scenario, the one designated as the revenge target was a certain national assemblyman, who provided an opportunity to kill Yeom Junyeol.
After that assemblyman’s schemes were exposed, he cooped himself up in the National Assembly Building.
‘… However, the Red Lion and Yong tribe never got to face that assemblyman.’
Yeom Bangyeol negotiated with the government and suggested that the assemblyman stepped down from his post, but the government didn’t respond to any negotiations.
At the time, conflict between Players and ordinary people gradually grew and the social mood was the worst, so the government didn’t acknowledge the fact that a young Player died because of a politician’s mistake, and his father’s revenge was considered terrorism.
As result, the whole Red Lion declared that they withdrew from the Player’s Association and gave up all benefits as Players, and then stepped out to act with the Yong tribe.
The one waiting for them in that place was Cadmus.
‘It would be fine if it was just Cadmus, but there was one more problem. The Dragon King God’s shaman maidens…!’
Ambush of the dragon dragon-slayer, Cadmus.
And the betrayal of the Dragon King God’s shaman maidens.
I was certain there existed a connection between the two.
And to prove it, I had to throw Cadmus between the Yong tribe members and check the shaman maidens.
As such, I wanted the Yong tribe to obtain Cadmus right away before the government or Association snatched Cadmus, and to sneak out of this place.
I never intended for this situation.
“Okay. I’ll make sure to bring our Yong tribe’s benefactor, Uisin-i, with me. It seems that the child, who acted as your bodyguard today, is safe, so can I leave it to you? I’ll later pick up that child and send the dragons to take on the roles of your bodyguards.”
“Yes, please do so.”
Yong Jegeon was acting like he was naturally taking me and Cadmus with him.
If teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim was here, I would try to ask him to stop it, but pitifully the moment Cadmus collapsed, our homeroom teacher-nim headed down right away.
As Yong Jegeon was here, it seemed he went to check on the safety of other children.
It was an attitude worthy of a homeroom teacher who made the right judgment when considering the manpower and worried about the class children.
‘Even so, it would be better if He took me with Him.’
However, it was already too late, I only could solve it with my own power.
I aimed for the timing, and cut in the dragons’ conversation, expressing my opinion.
“I’m okay. We don’t know if something won’t happen again. I plan to temporarily slip out, and remain around the broadcasting station until the situation is handled.”
“Uisin-ah.”
Yeom Junyeol spoke with a rather low voice.
“Even when you could use Gyeong-gu’s Gwangrim, you’ve hesitated. In other words, you prioritized solving the situation in front of your eyes instead of your safety, right? Doesn’t that mean that the duty assignment to deal with other situations was already finished?”
Yeom Junyeol was making a face of a senior admonishing an immature junior.
No, when considering the actual situation, he was doing that.
“If the preparations weren’t completed, you would heal yourself to play the next move. Isn’t that right?”
Yeom Junyeol’s words were correct.
To distribute duties, I allocated Hwang Jiho underground instead of bringing him here, and even handed him item cards.
Like with the Jamsil Baseball Stadium where he figured out all my intentions just from me asking him to do the first pitch, Yeom Junyeol correctly reasoned things out just based on this situation and my attitude.
As I was at a loss for words, because of my disciple’s reasoning, Yong Jegeon spoke with a very satisfied voice.
“Uisin-ah, if it’s difficult, how about you go to sleep for a moment?”
If I resist, are you planning to physically put me to sleep?
If it was Yong Jegeon, he would do that.
In the end, I nodded after thinking about it.
“… I’ll move on my own feet.”
At those words, Yeom Junyeol smiled faintly.
* * *
In the darkness that was difficult to see even one chi[3] ahead, the only thing illuminating the darkness was the dim light from the holographic screen.
The long finger slowly moved above that screen.
The place reflected on the screen the stretched out long finger fumbled around with was a certain broadcasting station.
“The response was quick, but it wasn’t a prepared action, eh?”
The languid voice rang out and then silence continued for a while.
“With this, it’s certain. It seems that they detect my ‘Otherworld Summoning’ thanks to the Ho tribe or To tribe, eh?”
At those words, the twins, who sat at their feet, made a fuss.
“It must because of the rabbits! The rabbits have many petty tricks since old times.”
“I don’t know about the rabbit, who doesn’t die even if she dies, but other rabbits have to be all eliminated. Those stupid bears should have dealt with them properly at the time!”
“The rabbit that doesn’t die is very affectionate. So if other rabbits are eliminated, she won’t be able to fulfill her role, right?”
“Please send us next time!”
While the owner of the long finger let in the twins’ complaints one ear and out another, they closed the screen, and then their eyes.
That appearance didn’t show any anger or regret.
“It’s done now. Because it was a ‘confirmation’ for what kind of move to play this time anyway. Nabiryeong.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
After Nabiryeong was called, the scales of butterfly that shined on the other side of the darkness scattered with ‘Pshhhh’.
Under the powder of broken scales, Nabiryong prostrated.
“Did you accomplish all my orders?”
“Of course.”
Nabiryeong replied politely.
It wasn’t visible to anyone, but the corners of Nabiryeong’s mouth, who bowed her head, raised high.
“Soon they will be able to move as You wish.” [4]
*~*~*
[1] He wished to dispatch an alter-ego outside of the broadcasting station right away. — though this sentence basically expresses the meaning of raws, it removes one part that I would literally translate as ‘siding with the heart’, and could be understood as ‘do as someone pleases’, or ‘according to one’s heart’. In this context, it emphasizes that Hwang-ho (or narrator I guess, who the hell knows, in the language that doesn’t need to state the subject of the sentence) really desires to do that.
[2] It’s good that preparations were made — I’m not sure if Eun-ho isn’t actually saying ‘Well done preparing for it’ here.
[3] chi — around 3.03 cm
[4] “Soon they will be able to move as You wish.” — Or ‘you’ will be able to move, or ‘I’ will be able… Though ‘they’ or ‘I’ are most probable here.
Translator’s note: Jo Uisin’s natural enemy no. 4: People wanting to take care of him.
And from notes under this chapter, it seems like this translator’s natural enemy is innate lack of subject in the Korean language…
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