novellhall Chapter 113 : Chapter 113
Chapter 113 : Chapter 113
Chapter 113: The Storm Leaves an Aftermath (3)
Unlike Kim Su-hyeok, my story ended much faster than expected.
If anyone were to ask why, the reason was simple.
'I do not particularly want to ramble on.'
The current situation required that my relationship with Baek Ha-seong remain hidden as much as possible.
In such a state, if I were to chatter on unnecessarily, I might accidentally say something that could be used against me.
Therefore, I had no choice but to be as brief as possible, and naturally, the content became short.
"…That is how it went, and I have no memory of anything after that."
After finishing my account, I looked around at the audience.
Everyone was silent, as if they were all concentrating on my story.
Well, it made sense.
'After all, I faced Baek Ha-seong one-on-one.'
It would have been stranger if they were not interested.
Because of that, it was also true that I felt worried on the other hand.
As I saw earlier, several people here were well-acquainted with Baek Ha-seong in the past.
'So, I cannot help but feel uneasy.'
I had explained that Baek Ha-seong spared me simply because of "interest."
If they were to harbor any suspicions, it would be troublesome.
Of course, I would naturally deny everything, but there is a world of difference between someone simply believing you and someone believing you only because they have no evidence to the contrary.
It was during that time, as I was quietly observing the atmosphere with a trembling heart amidst the silent crowd.
"I see."
A short sentence popped out from somewhere.
In this kind of atmosphere, I naturally expected Ryu Jin-seong or Shin Yu-hwan to speak first, but my prediction was wrong.
That was because the one who spoke was Hong Sera.
She nodded as if she accepted my words and continued.
"Actually, it is only natural. To begin with, that is the only possible outcome when facing that person and surviving."
"......"
"Oh. I am not trying to look down on you, okay? I am simply speaking realistically."
"I know. I did not think that way."
"Is that so? You are quite polite, unlike that self-centered beanpole you are close with."
I wondered if the "beanpole" she mentioned referred to Shin Yu-hwan.
Yes, it was certain.
Even though I did not turn my head, I could feel a heavy gaze directed this way with one hundred percent certainty.
'Those two really do not get along.'
I did not know because there was no specific mention of their relationship in the novel, but I could feel it poignantly now.
They were a pair that truly suited the term "living like cats and dogs."
In that case, what was the best course of action for me to take here?
It was very easy.
'I should just stay quiet.'
To say absolutely nothing.
How could a mere cadet like me deal with those giants?
Instead of getting caught in the crossfire of a battle between whales, the best policy was to keep my mouth shut and stay out of it.
As if she had read my mind, Hong Sera soon changed the subject and offered a moderate compliment, returning to the main topic.
"Anyway, even if luck played a part, it takes skill to seize that luck. Well done."
"Is that so?"
The one who answered my words was not Hong Sera, but Shin Yu-hwan.
"Of course! The boy’s skills were more than sufficient!"
Perhaps he did not want to lose the lead to Hong Sera.
Shin Yu-hwan continued with a slightly exaggerated voice.
"The video might not show everything clearly, but we can still tell roughly. We can see the level of what transpired."
"......"
"He was even more impressive than the boy I know, at least. Perhaps that is due to talent?"
"Yes. That is true."
I could not give a definitive answer.
What I used was my talent, but at the same time, it was not my talent.
And had I not borrowed the power of an artifact in addition to using my talent?
'Come to think of it, it is a relief.'
Normally, I should have poignantly felt the penalties of the artifact and the talent.
However, perhaps because I had been through the worst of it while I was unconscious, I was able to avoid experiencing the penalties.
This time, I had even used the penalty of my talent, so I should have suffered through the pain and a sense of helplessness...
'I can only say it is a massive relief.'
If I had experienced that, I probably would have fainted again immediately after waking up.
It was while I was thinking that.
"By the way, the boy’s fate seems quite ill-fated."
Shin Yu-hwan suddenly brought up words that had no clear meaning.
When I gave him a look asking what he meant, Shin Yu-hwan explained as if it were no big deal.
"I mean, the boy gets involved with villains quite frequently, does he not?"
"......"
"In fact, it is not easy to be involved with them that often at that age. Moreover, he has been linked with two big shots."
Well, come to think of it, from other people's perspectives, it was true that I was involved with them an unusually high number of times.
Unless someone was a villain hunter, it would not be easy to get involved with villains to that extent.
'Well, in reality, I am the one who created the reasons to get involved.'
The two big shots Shin Yu-hwan mentioned were definitely Baek Ha-seong and Yu-hyeon.
In fact, if I thought about it, was I not the one who created the reason for getting involved with Yu-hyeon?
It was a connection that started from the Suppressing Blade, so I could not deny it.
'And although Shin Yu-hwan does not know, I am also linked with the Puppeteer.'
It would not be an exaggeration to say that my connection with Baek Ha-seong started from that point of contact with the Puppeteer.
Looking at it this way, connections really do seem to follow one after another in a chain.
It was while I was thinking that.
"Involved with two big shots? What does that mean?"
Cha Yu-na, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between Shin Yu-hwan and me, asked.
Her voice was certainly soft, but I felt a slight chill.
'Is it because of the conversation we had about villains once before?'
If that was the case, I felt a bit wronged.
I had never specifically received help from Shin Yu-hwan regarding Yu-hyeon.
However, unaware of my feelings, Shin Yu-hwan smiled joyfully and accepted Cha Yu-na's words.
"Haha! That is a secret between the boy and me. You could call it a promise between men."
Excuse me. I have never made such a secret or a promise.
"Oh, is that so?"
So, I would appreciate it if you, Lady Cha Yu-na, would not get caught up in this and would stop making that face.
'Sigh, what difference does it make if I grumble like this to myself?'
I thought it would be faster to talk to Cha Yu-na separately later.
The meeting room, which had been so serious, was beginning to grow disorganized due to the long duration of the meeting.
"That is enough for everyone. We did not gather here to play."
Ryu Jin-seong's profound voice tightened the scattered atmosphere in an instant with a single sentence.
The first person to answer those words was Jo Yeong-dal.
"As The Emperor just said, I would like everyone to focus. We cannot allow today's events to be repeated, can we?"
Those were words I had no choice but to nod to.
The fact that today's events must not be repeated was a very important matter.
'Well, that is no guarantee that things will go well, though.'
It is true that the lineup on this side is brilliant.
Even a quick glance around showed that every single person was someone with immense influence.
However, the same was true for the villains on the other side.
'Furthermore, that side does not need to worry about public opinion.'
Good and evil.
If one stands on the side of good, it is only natural to care about society's gaze.
However, the position of evil is completely different.
'Because of that, even in novels, you often see cases where evil takes the lead at first.'
Even so, this was not a bad start.
At the very least, if we were prepared, we could respond quickly when attacked.
'So, I must always stay alert as well.'
The axis of the development I knew has already been twisted significantly.
Furthermore, my existence is now firmly engraved within this development.
In such a situation, would it not be foolish to believe that things will only flow according to the planned story?
Therefore.
'I must work hard to build breakwaters.'
I must build breakwaters to block the aftermath that the storm I intervened in will bring.
***
After that, the meeting continued for a few more hours before coming to a brief conclusion.
It was a natural result, as this matter was not something that could be finished with a single conversation.
There would likely be several more meetings after this, but...
'Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with me.'
Was the only reason I could attend this meeting not because of my status as a witness to explain the situation at the time?
Now that the role was over, there was no reason left for me to be involved.
'Of course, I have no intention of participating anyway.'
This is a place where my words cannot have a major impact, right?
What would change if I participated in such a place?
Rather than that, it was much better for me to work hard at what I could do.
Still, there were not only bad things about this meeting.
"Thank you all for your help. Especially you, thank you for coming out like this even though you were not feeling well."
"I hope to see you again next time~. Without that beanpole, of course."
It was the establishment of a network, so to speak.
People say that school ties, regional ties, and blood ties are very important.
And those are all words that refer to connections with people.
Being able to form those connections was very important.
Furthermore, if I thought about the prominent figures here, what more needed to be said?
'Among them, the highlight was Chairman Ju Ho-yeon.'
I had conversations with Hong Sera, Jo Yeong-dal, and people in various high and low positions, but the pinnacle was Ju Ho-yeon.
I still cannot forget the words he said to me.
If it were not for you, my daughter would have been in even greater trouble. I could not say it earlier because of the atmosphere, but as a father, I am truly grateful.
If there is anything you need materially, please let me know through my daughter. You are worthy of that as a savior.
It was material support.
How did I feel when I heard those words?
My heart was thumping so much that if he were not a man, I might have mistakenly thought I was falling in love.
That was because my most desperate need was the material aspect, and Ju Ho-yeon had essentially scratched that itch perfectly.
"This is a truly great achievement."
This was something that would not have happened under normal circumstances.
I could not help but be grateful to Baek Ha-seong.
If it were not for him, I certainly would not have been able to build such a network; in fact, the situation would have been bad.
That was how much the existence of the S-Rank villain, Baek Ha-seong, was like an unavoidable disaster.
With a pleasant heart, after greeting familiar faces like Shin Yu-hwan, Cha Yu-na, and Ryu Jin-oh.
It was just as I was about to leave the meeting room.
Grab!
Someone roughly grabbed my wrist.
Although they grabbed me roughly, it did not particularly hurt.
There was sufficient consideration mixed in even while they grabbed me roughly.
At any rate, I turned my head for the sake of my captured wrist, and there...
"Kim Su-hyeok?"
Kim Su-hyeok was standing there.
That was not all. There was Ryu Jin-oh, Oh Jin-eon, Do Gang-ho, Ha Eun-ha, and even Ju Ha-yeon?
Wait, why did everyone come here like this?
"What is go—"
"Yu-seong."
Kim Su-hyeok's voice cut me off.
It was clearly a calm voice, but nevertheless, I was overwhelmed by his presence and had to stop speaking.
A momentary silence flowed in the hallway of the meeting room, which had become quiet as most people had left.
In that quiet silence, Kim Su-hyeok spoke in a low voice.
"I think we have some separate things left to talk about. Is that not right?"
And within that, I could feel it.
"Ah..."
It felt as though this was going to be an even more difficult conversation than the one about Baek Ha-seong.
The time had come for me to take responsibility for my actions of making an independent judgment without consulting my comrades.
'And that is against Kim Su-hyeok, who never gets angry at his friends.'
Hmm. Somehow, this... yes.
I felt like I was absolutely screwed.