Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Homecoming (3)

BOOM—!

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍powerful explosion and a bolt of lightning echoed from far away. I could tell that Baek Ha-seong had moved exactly according to my signal.

"Is ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍everyone going to be alright?"

Actually, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was a pointless worry. Based on the standards of this world, those three were individuals who ranked among the strongest. It was more appropriate for me to worry about my own safety since I was left all alone.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as everyone knows, being strong does not mean there is no reason to worry. This was a world where even those powerful people died due to all sorts of unexpected events.

"Well, even if I worry, there is nothing I can do for them."

As I just said, I was left alone, and in terms of physical power, it was obvious that I would be a nuisance rather than a help. Therefore, I buried my worries for Baek Ha-seong and the other two in a corner of my heart and checked the current situation.

"For now, everyone is moving in a hurry."

Perhaps because of the commotion that just occurred, the personnel capable of combat were hastily preparing to move. That meant...

"It will probably take about thirty minutes."

That should be enough time for the people in my area to clear out. If so, there was only one thing I had to do right now.

"I have to wait quietly, I guess."

It would be wiser than running around and getting caught. I thought that way as I quietly waited for the members of the Baek family to disappear.

.

.

.

I spent an hour hiding and waiting. Although it was later than scheduled, the plan itself was a success. Hearing the disturbance created by Baek Ha-seong, all the Baek family members had moved away. After confirming the surroundings one last time, I immediately stood up.

"Whew, then let us head in right now."

There was no time to be leisurely. No matter how many troops they had or how strong those three were, this was the main base of the Baek family. Once the reinforcements that were not currently at the main estate began to gather, our side would eventually lose. In short, it was a race against time from here on out. Therefore, as soon as I stood up, I quickly entered the Baek family's main building.

"According to the location Baek Ha-ryeong gave me, it should be around here..."

First, I had to find the building. I spent a moment scanning the area while mentally drawing the map of the Baek family's buildings that Baek Ha-ryeong had provided.

"Is it that one over there?"

Soon, I was able to identify the building I needed to reach. Unlike the other buildings, this tiled house was entirely white. It was exactly as described in the novel.

"Those bastards, do they not feel sorry toward their ancestors?"

The fact that this building looked different from the others meant it held great significance. The building I just confirmed was a shrine where the Baek family had honored their ancestors for generations. And at the same time... it was the place where Han Seora was hidden.

'It was absurd even when I read about it in the novel.'

What kind of lunatics would kidnap someone, torture them, and use them as a hostage in a place where they honor their forefathers? I was shocked even when I was just a reader.

"Well, in a way, it is quite cunning."

However, such talk was completely useless now. In the novel, no one knew about this except for a few members of the Baek family, but now there was one more person who knew.

"I still cannot let my guard down."

As I mentioned, it was a place for honoring ancestors. Furthermore, since they were committing kidnapping, confinement, and torture—things a person of high society should never do—the security was likely beyond imagination. Moreover, Han Seora was hidden deep inside, and there was even someone guarding the ward. If I acted carelessly, I would be the one to die.

Therefore.

"I will move with maximum focus."

The success or failure of this entire operation depended on this. With that thought, I slowly stepped into the dark interior of the building.

***

The ground was deeply gouged by a single strike. This alone was enough to gauge the skill level of the two men. As if to prove it, the pressure emanating from Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong was enough to make an ordinary Player choke.

While the two maintained their silent confrontation, the voice that opened the conversation came from an unexpected source.

"Haha, this is quite a rare sight. To see Whitey and Blackie growling at each other like this. I almost want to take a photo of this."

Yu-hyeon spoke with a playful smile as he watched the two face off. At that voice, Shin Yu-hwan spoke in a low, heavy tone.

"You..."

"It has been a long time, Blackie. Have you been well?"

"You piece of trash, why are you here?"

"Why ask something so obvious? It is not strange to stay by a comrade's side, is it?"

Without a single change in his expression, Yu-hyeon spoke as if Baek Ha-seong were a precious comrade. Baek Ha-seong's indifferent expression remained the same despite Yu-hyeon’s lie. Perhaps because of that, Shin Yu-hwan furrowed his brow and spat out words of hatred toward Baek Ha-seong.

"Now you have gone as far as holding hands with a cultist?"

"What is there to refuse for the sake of my goal, even if that partner is a devil?"

"You son of a...! Because of someone like you, Big Sister Seora is...!!"

Perhaps because it involved Han Seora, who was like a sore spot for him, Shin Yu-hwan let his boiling emotions explode and was about to charge at Baek Ha-seong. However...

"Wait!"

That action was stopped by Ryu Jin-seong's sharp command.

"Have you forgotten our original goal? Do not act like a child."

"Damn it..."

"Calm your excitement unless you plan on throwing away ten years of work."

Ryu Jin-seong's scolding was quite effective. Shin Yu-hwan suppressed his anger and finally calmed down as Ryu Jin-seong advised. After confirming that, Ryu Jin-seong spoke to Baek Ha-seong in a much softer voice.

"It has been a long time."

"Indeed."

"Back then, you still looked like a boy, but now you look quite grown up."

"It has been enough time for that."

"...Is that so?"

Even at Ryu Jin-seong's words, Baek Ha-seong responded stiffly with an indifferent expression and tone. From that reaction, Ryu Jin-seong could feel that the past ten years had been a very long time for this boy as well as for them. Perhaps that was why the next words from Ryu Jin-seong carried a hint of regret that was unlike his usual self.

"Why did you leave so suddenly that day?"

"You are asking the obvious. It was because I had done something that warranted it."

"Then why have you returned? You could have lived in hiding."

"Because the time has come to achieve a dream even bigger than what I once dreamed of."

Actually, it was something he could have known without a conversation. The fact that Baek Ha-seong, who had vanished ten years ago, appeared here of all places meant he wanted revenge. Although Ryu Jin-seong did not know what he meant by a dream bigger than what he once dreamed of, it was certain that those words were trapped within the framework of revenge. Because of that, Ryu Jin-seong's heart could not help but feel heavy.

"It is something that can be achieved even without you. Do you not have any intention of leaving even now?"

"That is impossible."

"I am asking you like this, so..."

"Elder."

Cutting Ryu Jin-seong off, Baek Ha-seong took a step forward. Unlike before, he continued in a significantly heavier voice.

"I am not the same person I was ten years ago. I am not the naive boy I was back then."

"......"

"There is not a single reason for me to listen to your words."

Seeing Baek Ha-seong speak so firmly to Ryu Jin-seong, who was like a mentor to him, Hong Sera tried to step forward in anger. However...

"Haha, please stay still, young lady."

She was immediately stopped by Yu-hyeon. To a master, a single step was a distance enough to decide life or death. No matter how much of a Hero-Rank Player Hong Sera was, she could not afford to act recklessly against an enemy whose true strength she had not yet grasped.

Just as the silent standoff was about to resume, the Puppeteer, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"How long are you going to keep doing this? This is not very fun."

"It cannot be helped. Our opponents are too big to just crush, and they are not even people of the Baek family."

"Does it really matter if they are people of the Baek family? That is not what my precious contractor asked for."

The Puppeteer asked innocently, as if she truly did not understand. However, the content of her words was worth listening to.

"Hmm, now that I hear it, you are right. That is not what our Brother asked for."

Yes. What Choi Yu-seong had requested was to draw as much attention as possible. It did not really matter who the opponent was. Although Hong Sera let out a sound of confusion at the words "contractor" and "brother," Yu-hyeon ignored her and asked for Baek Ha-seong's opinion.

"What do you think, Whitey? That person seems happy to enjoy herself regardless of who it is, and I do not mind either."

"Is my opinion even necessary for this matter?"

"Did we not come here to help you? Since they are your past acquaintances, it is only polite to ask."

"Then I do not see why such a question is necessary."

After saying that, Baek Ha-seong looked at Shin Yu-hwan and his group before continuing.

"I told you just now. I am not the person I was ten years ago."

"...Ahaha! Right. You did. Oh, that was my mistake. I forgot for a moment."

Yu-hyeon burst into laughter and nodded at Baek Ha-seong's words. However, it was frustrating for Shin Yu-hwan’s group, who did not understand the conversation at all.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Hmm, should I also call you 'Elder'?"

"I asked what you were talking about."

"Haha, why ask something so obvious? Naturally..."

Yu-hyeon suddenly swung a sword strike toward Ryu Jin-seong. However, like a seasoned Hero-Rank Player, Ryu Jin-seong avoided the attack as smoothly as flowing water. Even at that, Yu-hyeon grinned and finished his sentence.

"I am saying a villain is going to act like a villain."

"You..."

"Are you planning to back down? Well, we do not particularly mind if you do."

The one who answered those words was not Ryu Jin-seong, but Shin Yu-hwan.

"Back down? Why would we hesitate to clean up trash?"

"Yu-hwan..."

"Old Man, we have already been spotted by the Baek family. You know what that means, right?"

"......"

It was just as Shin Yu-hwan said. They were not the only ones in this confrontation. Members of the Baek family were watching them from a distance. If they backed down without fighting here, it was obvious that things would become very difficult if the situation got complicated later. Ryu Jin-seong knew that fact all too well.

"Hmm..."

Despite that, the reason Ryu Jin-seong hesitated was simple. His opponent was Baek Ha-seong. He was a former student who had been unfairly branded with the infamy of a villain, rather than becoming a villain because he truly wanted to. However, his hesitation did not last long.

"...If worse comes to worst, we can just take Ha-seong into our custody."

His long career was not for nothing; Ryu Jin-seong made a more rational choice than the information before his eyes suggested. As the oldest member made up his mind, the others—Hong Sera, Han Su-yeon, and the people of the Hong family—also took their combat stances.

Thus, unlike before, a confrontation that could explode at any moment was formed. As before, it was Shin Yu-hwan who opened the gates of this conflict.

"Apologize with your death, you trash."

"I do not think that will happen. That is because..."

Baek Ha-seong trailed off for a moment, and then finished his sentence with an expression completely different from the indifferent one he had worn until now.

"You were always beneath me in the past as well."

He said it with a bitter smile mixed with provocative emotion. And with that final exchange...

CLANG—!!!

A battle in which four Players and three Villains, who could only be described as top-tier, put their lives on the line began in earnest.