Chapter 141 : Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Baek ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Dojun spoke.

“Do ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you not wish to take revenge for Gangneung?”

“What ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do you mean all of a sudden?”

“There ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is no need to lie to me. I already know that you are a survivor of the incident thirteen years ago.”

“…!”

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knew that I was a survivor of Gangneung.

How?

For a brief moment, I could not hide the vacant look that crossed my face.

It was something I had never anticipated, and I had no composure left to manage my expression.

“At Hero Prep’s entrance ceremony, and through the incident involving the former medical instructor Park Oseok, I came to hear your name. And perhaps because of that surname, it did not sound unfamiliar.”

“……”

Ji was not exactly a common surname, but that alone could not have been the reason.

If Baek Dojun truly possessed the greatest intellect in humanity, as the setting claimed, then he must have remembered me from some encounter in the past.

“The Gangneung incident was a subject the Bureau suppressed with extreme thoroughness. The records of those who fled at the time were all erased. All except for the files accessible only to the Director-General of the Bureau. Of course, I have seen those records. Yet even there, the name Ji Seokhyeon could not be found.”

“Then why do you remember my name…?”

“Because thirteen years ago, I was one of the awakened who evacuated the survivors. By chance, I heard your name while you were being escorted to safety.”

“……”

A point of contact I had never even imagined.

Even in the original novel, I had not decided who had evacuated the survivors in such detail.

It was undoubtedly a setting rewritten by an Avid Reader.

Once again, I felt it—this worldline had slipped beyond my control.

It would no longer surprise me if truths unknown even to me were revealed.

More importantly, did that mean bringing me into the Special Affairs Division had also been an extension of the Gangneung incident?

“What puzzles me,” Baek Dojun continued, “is how you were omitted from those records. A child could not have managed such a thing, and you did not seem to have a guardian influential enough to interfere.”

At some point, he had perched himself by the window.

The television was still on, but its noise did not reach me as I focused on his next words.

“Well, it is possible that your file was accidentally omitted during the paperwork. Let us set that aside. There is something far more important.”

Something far more important.

His tone suggested that I was no ordinary survivor.

That I was the sole blood relative of the Hyun Clan of Gangneung.

“You inherited the blood of the First Alchemist, did you not?”

“……”

The First Alchemist—another name for Hyun Yuyeol.

“Considering the rarity of the Demonic Eye in the history of superpowers, there is no chance that a survivor of Gangneung who wields it would not belong to the Hyun bloodline.”

I nodded, as if confessing.

No—I had no choice but to nod.

Even I, the author of the original work, could not deceive him.

“There is no need to worry. Just as I aided the survivors then, I have always been sympathetic toward Gangneung. Meeting you feels nothing short of a miracle.”

“A miracle?”

“Yes. You will become the most crucial card in my plan.”

“Your plan?”

“To eradicate the one responsible for turning Gangneung into a sea of flames. I believe you already know. That incident was not the result of the greed of the then–head of the family, Hyun Jaejun. …It all began with the current Director-General of the Bureau, Baek Dojin.”

For a fleeting moment, I sensed resolve in Baek Dojun’s voice.

As though this was not merely a quarrel between brothers.

“There is no need for further explanation. It is the same context as why the current Phantom Thief—namely the wanted criminal Lee Eunho—joined hands with a Demonic Being.”

“So you knew.”

“Of course. I also know that he took that pitch-black ragged cloak from you.”

So he had known I was the Phantom Thief.

I could fully understand why Lee Eunho in the original novel had feared Baek Dojun.

A character intelligent enough to inspire fear.

I had created him to clean up the incidents Lee Eunho caused in the original story, and in doing so, I had given him more intelligence than necessary.

“For that reason, I believe you wish to avenge that day. …And yet, curiously, your words and actions feel somewhat dissonant.”

He was right.

The character Ji Seokhyeon sought revenge, but I, myself, was not driven by that purpose.

That did not mean I intended to stray entirely from the original narrative.

If I did not address the two major pillars of the story—the Bureau and the Demonic Beings—I would inevitably face a grueling life.

“So I ask you this. I no longer wish to stand by and watch the corruption of the Bureau. And you, surely, wish to cleanse your stained past.”

“How exactly would I be of help?”

“First and foremost, we must capture the Phantom Thief Lee Eunho. The Demonic Being connected to him is highly likely to be tied to the Bureau.”

Gen, the Demonic Being…

“I am already pursuing the Phantom Thief.”

“Yes, and you are moving quite splendidly. Ultimately, what I need is your particular ability. The superpower that directly interferes with and restricts mana.”

“Are you not superior when it comes to restricting mana, Chief?”

“I, too, possess a special ability, but… how should I put it? There is a limit I cannot clearly define. I cannot nullify everything I touch.”

Baek Dojun’s ability was the nullification of superpowers based on the non-attribute.

However, even that power was ultimately bound by the status values within the setting.

Therefore, it had no effect on awakened individuals whose intelligence and attribute values exceeded his own.

Unlike me, he could not see numerical values intuitively. That must have been why he could not act rashly.

He soon approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

An attempt to nullify my superpower.

Yet, as expected, I felt no change.

It meant that Baek Dojun’s non-attribute value was lower than ninety percent dark attribute.

Perhaps sensing the same, he curled the corner of his lips in a faintly bitter smile.

“You possess greater potential than I do. If this society continues as it is, you could easily become the Chief of the Special Affairs Division one day. Perhaps even the Director-General of the Bureau.”

“I am not particularly interested in fame.”

“No one truly desires fame. What they want is the power that comes with the seat. There are few places that operate as thoroughly on power as this one.”

“…What is it that you ultimately seek, Chief? Is it simply to bring down the Director-General?”

Baek Dojun shook his head first.

“What I want is to return everything to its rightful place. Twisted ties, misunderstandings… all of it. …Will you lend me your strength?”

It was a purpose aligned with mine more precisely than I could have hoped.

Without prolonged hesitation, I nodded.

From the beginning, my meeting with Baek Dojun had been the intention of the Avid Reader.

I did not know what he intended through this encounter, but I could not oppose Lee Eunho and the Demonic Being alone.

“Thank you. That is truly a relief. If things proceed well, I shall grant you a great gift.”

“A gift?”

At my question, Baek Dojun smiled meaningfully.

Then he urged me on.

“If you are well enough to move, place a healing potion in your mouth and get up. There is someone I would like to introduce to you.”

***

Following Baek Dojun, we arrived at a small factory site located on the outskirts of Suwon.

There was not even a proper signboard at the entrance, and since it bordered Gwanggyosan Mountain, the terrain was rugged.

At night, aside from the occasional lost wanderer, there would scarcely be any sign of people.

“It would not be strange if a ghost appeared here.”

He gave a soft laugh. “Is that so?”

No one had followed us from the hospital.

Naturally, I had kept careful watch with my Demonic Eye, and in the first place, it was exceedingly difficult for awakened individuals to operate in Suwon.

Suwon housed the administrative government, and entry by those connected to superpowers was strictly restricted.

It was an exclusionary policy, but a firm decision made by the administration to maintain a system independent of the Bureau.

Many citizens still harbored resistance toward superpowers. Even among those who welcomed them, most were reluctant to see awakened individuals employed by the administration.

Envy toward what was called the evolution of humanity.

Or distrust toward awakened individuals who committed crimes beyond the control of the non-awakened.

That conflict, too, had been my intention as the original author.

Conflict always generated more stories.

In any case, only someone of Baek Dojun’s stature could freely request permission to enter Suwon.

Even with authorization, bringing along a companion as he had done with me was nearly impossible.

“…It smells like coffee?”

As I followed him inside, a scent wholly out of place with the desolate factory grounds brushed against my nose.

Judging by the machinery installed within, it was clearly a roasting factory processing coffee beans.

The workers, sweating as they labored, quickly noticed Baek Dojun. Yet they did not greet him, continuing their tasks in silence.

Baek Dojun, as if accustomed to this, moved briskly toward his destination.

“This is one of the factories that supplies beans to White Bottle. Compared to other companies, it provides less than five percent of the total supply, but its quality is among the finest.”

“I see.”

With that explanation, I could infer where we were.

White Bottle, which operated stores across the world, served as an information collection point for the Special Affairs Division.

Naturally, the Bureau was aware of this.

Thus, Baek Dojun required another collection point to evade the Bureau’s surveillance.

For instance, by supplying coffee produced here, he could obtain information data not yet reported to the Special Affairs Division—and if necessary, manipulate that data.

In other words, he would acquire the information before Kim Seyeon compiled White Bottle’s data.

In the current progression of events, Kim Seyeon had not yet noticed.

It might seem absurd that members of the same Special Affairs Division were engaged in a silent power struggle, but regrettably, even within the division, several factions had formed.

The dividing line was Baek Dojun’s appointment.

Those investigators who had served before he became Chief, and those selected under his leadership.

Aside from a few individuals—such as Maxi Fredo and Monica Bayliss—who had effectively been chosen by him, the pre-appointment faction remained stronger.

After all, Baek Dojun had only been Chief for a few years.

For a superpowered detective who had gained brief renown to suddenly become the head of the Special Affairs Division was no small affront to the pride of the existing investigators.

Even ordinary investigators of Dispel harbored resentment toward superpowered detectives. One could only imagine how the Special Affairs Division felt.

As expected, they tacitly followed the orders of Director-General Baek Dojin.

As an aside, Baek Dojun’s frequent requests to increase personnel were meant to build a faction loyal to him.

As a result, he felt the need to recruit individuals outside the division.

Most notably, the head of Dispel’s 3rd Branch, Gwon Seongjun, the exceptional hacker and alchemist Park Chaeshin, and Hong Eunseok, whom we had just met in a hidden underground facility within the factory.

The common trait among those who followed Baek Dojun was that they owed him a debt of the heart.

Not material gain, coercion, or transaction—but loyalty born of noble purpose.

Just as he had given Park Chaeshin a new life when he had resigned himself to death, and encouraged him to avenge his father.

“…Ah, you are wondering who Hong Eunseok is?”

He was the father of Hong Dahee, a support cadet who had died as a Ghoul at the hands of the Demonic Being Lee Gangju during the early days of Hero Prep’s entrance period.

When Hong Eunseok faced danger under false accusations of contact with a Demonic Being, Baek Dojun had helped him escape.

An alchemist.

“Welcome. I have been waiting for you, Seokhyeon.”

“…….”