Chapter 186

Lee Eunho, who had fled from the scene, only managed to catch his breath after reaching a secluded alley in the outskirts.

He could not even perceive where he had run.

His heart pounded more than necessary, cold sweat flowed across his entire body, and he was overwhelmed by the anxiety that someone might be watching him.

'What on earth is this emotion! Why is it so suffocating!'

He was confused.

This was clearly the effect of mana.

It was a bizarre state that could not be explained by anything else.

'Could it be... that ring?'

Suddenly, the ring Do Minyeong had been wearing came to mind.

It was a ring he had never seen when they attended Hero Prep.

The problem was that the ring and the Ring of Illusions he was wearing had touched.

Though unintentional, the rings had collided exquisitely, and from that moment, an unknown anxiety had swallowed him.

"Ring of Illusions..."

Lee Eunho looked down at the ring.

Unlike usual, there was a very fine crack in it.

Since when had it been like this?

In all probability, it was when it collided with Do Minyeong’s ring.

'But what on earth was that ring?'

From the moment he had put the Ring of Illusions on his finger at an island in the South Sea, he had encountered many intense situations, but the ring had never cracked like this.

He instinctively fingered the ring.

Just then, the ring moved slightly.

'It... is coming off?'

It was a ring that could never be removed by any means.

However, once he turned the ring once, it moved easily.

'Before, it would not budge, like a brand.'

His hesitation was short.

Lee Eunho immediately removed the ring.

As he did, the anxiety that had been tormenting him since a moment ago covered him like a massive wave.

"AGHHHHHH!"

It was not physical pain.

Rather, as something that had been restraining his mind until now vanished, an indescribable mental agony began to persecute him.

To put it simply...

'What... What have I done until now!'

He had returned to the Lee Eunho who was not eroded by the Ring of Illusions.

All the values he had killed, toppled, and destroyed during that time choked his breath.

Even his desire to merely uncover the secrets of Gangwon-do vanished completely.

All that remained was regret.

"Se... Seokhyeon..."

The name that came out amidst the pain was Ji Seokhyeon.

Ultimately, Lee Eunho slumped down in a corner of the dark alley.

However, even regret was a luxury for him.

He knew all too well what he had done until now, what he would do in the future, and how much more blood would have to be shed.

'If things continue like this, humanity will be exterminated. Because of me, because I was foolishly used...'

The pressure that the Gangneung incident might be repeated due to his own choices weighed on him.

'Regret... I shall pay the price for my crimes after everything is finished.'

If the plans of Manyeong and the Demonic Being Gen did not go awry, he did not have much time left.

'I will undo everything. I must undo it. I must... break this cycle!'

A moment later, he pulled up his hood and stood up.

After assuming the full appearance of the Phantom Thief, he discharged a lightning strike and leaped into the sky in an instant.

'The first thing to do. Find Ji Seokhyeon. If it is not Seokhyeon, no one else will be able to trust me.'

Where was Ji Seokhyeon right now?

Lee Eunho, who was leaping rapidly, momentarily stepped onto the rooftop of a tall building.

"No, if it is Seokhyeon, he will certainly be..."

He would not be in Seoul.

With eyes more outstanding than anyone else's, there was no way he would be standing idly by during the events occurring in Seoul.

Furthermore, as a member of the Special Affairs Division.

"In that case..."

Having finished his thoughts, Lee Eunho turned his steps.

If Ji Seokhyeon was absent, he had to complete all preparations until his return.

Even if it was a reckless gamble, he had to do it for him.

'Because that is the fastest way to atone for the crimes I have committed during that time.'

***

Returning to Hero Prep, Kim Shinwoo summoned the instructors to the principal's office without delay.

The medical instructor was providing appropriate treatment to the cadets, including Do Minyeong, and Special Affairs Division Chief Baek Dojun was waiting near the infirmary to take Do Minyeong to Suwon as soon as she recovered.

Of course, she would not follow a stranger so easily, but if he used Ji Seokhyeon’s name, he would certainly be able to persuade her to an acceptable level.

Furthermore, if the reason that it was for the sake of the fate she possessed was added, the soft-hearted Do Minyeong would head to Suwon.

After reaching that judgment, Kim Shinwoo spoke toward the instructors gathered in the principal's office.

"Soon, I will fall."

A short and bold sentence.

As expected, there were few instructors who understood at once.

Shooting Instructor Oh Hyeokmin raised his hand.

"I am sorry, but what do you mean by that?"

"It is exactly as I said. I will be dismissed from the position of principal for some reason. Perhaps Dispel will burst in and arrest me."

"Pardon?"

Oh Hyeokmin still did not understand.

Kim Shinwoo looked over the faces of the instructors and met the eyes of Vice Principal Park Cheolyeong.

As expected, he understood Kim Shinwoo’s words.

Park Cheolyeong spoke.

"You are saying they will frame you, the Bureau doing so unilaterally."

"Yes."

"But, what is the reason for that?"

The answer to the question came from Magic Instructor Kim Seulhee.

"The fall of the hero of the Great Rift means that a domain where the Bureau could no longer interfere will vanish... right?"

Kim Shinwoo nodded.

"They will also exercise direct involvement here in District 4, at Hero Preparatory School."

Park Cheolyeong spoke again.

"And their purpose?"

"Do Minyeong, the only blood relative of the Sword Saint Kim Yuseong."

"Hah, I truly have no idea what you are talking about. What reason would the Bureau have for doing that..."

"Because that child is a Witch."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence flowed.

This time, all the instructors understood the words at once.

Perhaps because of that, there was no one who raised a hand to ask a question.

It was because they knew it was a subject they could not involve themselves in.

Ultimately, it was Kim Shinwoo who continued speaking.

"It is enough to be flustered. Ten-odd years ago, I was the same. Of course, it would be difficult to understand. However, that child is indeed a Witch. To be precise, she carries a magic tool within her body."

"..."

The silence continued.

"Kim Yuseong and I devoted everything to hide the magic tool from the Demonic Beings. Furthermore, there were many sacrifices."

Park Cheolyeong asked cautiously.

"There is no way we can disbelieve you. But what is the reason for telling us that?"

"I want you to at least know why that child is hated and why she is sad. And..."

"...?"

"I did not want to be doubted by all of you, at the very least."

Park Cheolyeong asked sincerely.

"A Witch... Is it not natural for the Bureau to target a Witch?"

"It is natural. On the surface, that is. It will be hard to believe, but right now, the Bureau has conspired with the Demonic Beings."

"Wh-what did you say?"

The instructors buzzed.

Kim Shinwoo immediately continued speaking as if even the time for them to buzz was a waste.

"If you truly cannot, you do not have to believe it. However, the things that will happen in the future will be fatal to your daily lives. Furthermore, they will threaten humanity. All I want to ask of you is to survive. No matter what happens in the future, as long as superpowers continue to exist, the talent for teaching someone will become the most important talent."

"Pri... Principal..."

"And Park Cheolyeong."

"Yes?"

"As of this moment, you are the Principal."

"...Pardon?"

Everyone showed surprised faces as if they had agreed upon it.

However, Kim Shinwoo was certain.

Park Cheolyeong, he loathed the Demonic Beings more than anyone else.

The situation has not broken out yet, but he will soon learn that the Bureau has conspired with the Demonic Beings.

Therefore, Park Cheolyeong will protect Hero Prep tenaciously.

Even if only for the sake of his son who was sacrificed in the forced awakening experiments.

"This is the entirety of my main point. You may leave now. No, it would be right for me to leave. This is no longer my office."

At those words, the office phone on the desk rang.

The origin was the main gate of Hero Prep.

When Kim Shinwoo answered the phone, an urgent voice was heard from the receiver.

—Principal! The Director-General has just visited suddenly with Dispel.

"...Their business?"

—They... they say it is to arrest a criminal.

***

A few days later, in New York.

Cha Myeonghan, the chairman of Hyeonseong Group, clicked his tongue sharply inside the hotel.

"The thing I feared has happened."

The TV he was watching was repeatedly reporting on what had occurred in Seoul.

The content was that the Sword Emperor Kim Shinwoo, the hero of the Great Rift and the younger brother of the Sword Saint Kim Yuseong, had plotted with the Demonic Beings for years to overthrow the Bureau.

It was nonsensical content, but the Bureau announced that they had already secured evidence of Kim Shinwoo’s plotting and would execute Kim Shinwoo within a few days in accordance with the Special Act on Superpowers.

"It is quite an uproar, quite an uproar."

Furthermore, they said they would block all airports and ports to catch the remnants who followed him and would paralyze all communication networks connected to the outside.

It was an announcement that was heavily problematic, but there were no people who dared to interfere in the affairs of Seoul, which had greater influence than the nation.

"So this is why contact was cut off. She must be safe and without major trouble."

Right now, the only person of the Hyeonseong family remaining in Seoul was Cha Yeri.

In the first place, her parents were in charge of overseas business.

"Well, she is the child who resembles her father the most among our family, so there won't be any problem... but the one who is concerning is that child Ji Seokhyeon."

Had Ji Seokhyeon safely escaped from Gangwon-do?

According to the plan, he should still be in Gangwon.

However, because the situation outside was flowing so radically, it was a situation where there was no benefit in stalling for more time.

"What should I do..."

Cha Myeonghan swallowed a groan.

As a businessman, it was natural to consider contingencies.

Even if everything were to be resolved smoothly, the value Hyeonseong held in Seoul always shone brighter when in a crisis.

Kim Shinwoo soon turned off the TV.

Then, he called his attendant with his smartphone.

—Yes, Chairman.

"It seems I must move up the schedule."

—Are you saying you are returning to Korea? According to the information I just received, entry itself has been blocked. At this rate, the existing schedule will also be disrupted.

"Schedule, my foot. Stop talking nonsense and just prepare to return to Seoul."

—Um... Chairman, even if we were to enter the airspace of Incheon, the control tower will not cooperate.

"Of course they won't. But when did I say I was going by plane?"

—Pardon?

"Prepare a boat. No matter how scary the Bureau is, how on earth would they know about a boat docking in a country surrounded by sea on three sides?"

—Ev... Even if you say that, how are we supposed to find a boat right now... Furthermore, should it not be that rumors about Hyeonseong seeking a boat spread?

"Actually, you are not wrong. These days, there are plenty of fellows with loose lips."

—Then, for lack of a better option, shall I prepare so we can enter as soon as the blockade is lifted?

"What are you talking about? I told you to find a boat right now. The fastest one possible. If there are fellows who wag their tongues pointlessly, just shove a bundle of cash sufficiently into their mouths. No matter how loose their lips are, what is there that cannot be solved with money? Those fellows will also end up blabbering because of money, anyway. So, tell them clearly who we are. Tell them who built the Seoul of today and why Hyeonseong is called the Black Star."