Chapter 174
“Stiffness, worsening muscle spasms, and chest tightness—these indicate an infection like tetanus. ”
“Tetanus?” Jae-Hyeok questioned. “How can an S-class powerhouse reach this point because of tetanus? Also, who gets tetanus these days? Even if you got cut by a rusty weapon or a monster, a potion would resolve it.”
“I said it’s like tetanus, not that it is. Although the pathology is similar, the disease is rooted in a curse, so standard treatment and potions were naturally ineffective.
As for detection, it is possible that other doctors and healers failed to identify the cause... but you said that shady sub-master contracted a demon, right? If that’s the case, he certainly would’ve sensed the curse energy, yet he never made a peep. In fact, considering the guildmaster’s advanced condition, he’s likely been nurturing and worsening it all this time.”
Elder Gu Suk grunted. “I’m not surprised that Jeong Jae-Uk had a hand in this. Even when the guildmaster worsened, Jeong Jae-Uk never requested help from the Shinra family... ” Elder Gu Suk’s expression turned volatile, his eyebrows all sharp angles. “As for those healers and doctors who have been allowed to visit the guildmaster, I will investigate them carefully. I suspect they were bribed.”
“Indeed.” The old pharmacist nodded. “Let alone the Shinra family, even I was refused at the door by that sub-master of yours, while you were none the wiser.”
“You? Aren’t you the owner of a health store? It’s one thing if you were a licensed doctor, but letting a mere store owner stroll into the master’s bedroom? Of course, you were stopped.”
“A mere store owner? If that were all, would I be here now? I’ve been making elixirs for decades, and given Guardian’s intelligence network, you would’ve led me personally to your master’s bedside had anyone bothered to run a background check.”
“I... No, you’re right. I was careless. Over the years, I’ve closed my eyes and ears to many things after retiring from duty and becoming an Elder...
“At the time, I told myself that although the Guardian’s management disagreed with my old principles, for the sake of greater unity, keeping quiet was for the best. But as I say that now, it sounds only like the excuse it was... ”
Elder Gu Suk sighed. Why hadn’t he done more? If only he could’ve separated Jeong Jae-Uk from Park Chang-Cheon’s side...
What worried Elder Gu Suk the most was Park Hae-Rin’s condition. She’d been manipulated and abused since childhood by Jeong Jae-Uk. Her values and perception were likely twisted; No, it most definitely is. There’s no way that child’s mind is intact... No matter how high Guardian soars with the Kang family, it might come crumbling down the moment she inherits the master’s seat.
Should I start looking for a new successor? Elder Gu Suk seriously considered.
“Elder, please don’t dwell on the past. Regret can’t change the past, but it can change the future. It’s fine as long as you don’t repeat your mistakes,” Hae-Rin said.
The elder’s eyebrows jumped.
Jae-Hyeok smiled. That geezer must not know her well.
Today, Hae-Rin had had her Initial Skill acknowledged by her father and also witnessed the downfall of the Jeong father–son pair; there was closure in that. But the past couldn’t be undone, and her wounds ran deep.
Even still...
Hae-Rin is strong.
At the start of the school year, Jeong Ru-Han had arrived pre-leveled and entered Class A; meanwhile, Hae-Rin had entered Class B at level 1. It was clear that she’d faced much discrimination, not just by the Jeongs but also by her father. Yet Hae-Rin never gave up. She always worked hard and always aimed to be first.
I guess she always hoped to escape her cage. Well, today she has.
Although he’d played a part, Jae-Hyeok knew that it was Hae-Rin’s efforts that had decided the day’s outcome. If she hadn’t awoken Park Chang-Cheon, if she hadn’t used Link in time, then both he and her father would’ve been cold corpses by now.
Jae-Hyeok fought down a smile. Hae-Rin is naturally strong-minded. Now that she’s found some closure, she’ll definitely grow stronger every day.
Along with Do-Jin, who’d mastered Flash Steps, Hae-Rin was sure to become known as one of Korea’s top talents.
Chae Da-Hee’s wide-eyed face flashed through Jae-Hyeok’s thoughts.
Of course, her as well.
Da-Hee was a genius with the sword. The other first years had taken to calling her the Saint of Swordsmanship, and Jae-Hyeok agreed. Putting aside Skill-related factors, Chae Da-Hee’s pure talent was one of the highest in Lion’s Castle.
I’m sure more than a few people will be scouting her over vacation... Jae-Hyeok’s mood soured. He knew he and his friends would have to part, but that day felt suddenly too near...
Cautiously, Jae-Hyeok set aside his champagne glass, wondering if the sip he’d taken was already influencing him.
It is still too early for me to toast others.
“Elder Gam, what were you originally going to say? I don’t think you mentioned tetanus and curses for nothing.” Hae-Rin returned the conversation to the topic at hand. There was a neat row of five champagne glasses before her, all empty.
“Smart girl. My point was this: As far as I know, very few monsters inflict diseases through curses. And fewer still that could inflict such a curse on an S-class player without notice. Only two monsters come to mind—dark elves and liches. And as it happens, a gate called the World Tree Outskirts appeared in South Korea last year, and your father participated in the attack, right?”
The old pharmacist pushed a fresh glass of champagne to Hae-Rin, who downed it like juice. The usual daze in Hae-Rin’s expression had vanished at some point, her eyes gleaming with clarity.
"Yes, and?" she urged the old man.
“Your father’s condition has improved only temporarily due to the Burning Evil elixer’s detoxification and physique-strengthening qualities. The curse has regressed. But for your father to make a permanent recovery, the curse must be broken. And for that, you must return to the source”—The old pharmacist glanced conspicuously at Elder Gu Suk—“A dark elf’s curse can be broken, but the curative calls for the heart of a dark elf. You’ll need to organize an expedition as soon as possible.”
“Um!”
Hae-Rin nodded forcefully.
Elder Gu Suk sighed.
Dark elves were a powerful race that inhabited gates S-grade and above. They worked in groups of at least a dozen, communicated verbally like humans, and were highly intelligent—fighting them was like fighting an elite special forces team of players.
This pharmacist has spent his life making medicine. He doesn’t know the difficulty of what he’s asking. Elder Gu Suk frowned and explained.
“Currently, there are only two gates in South Korea where dark elves live: the previously mentioned World Tree Outskirts gate and the Northern Resistance gate. It’s impossible to attack Northern Resistance even if several guilds joined forces, so we’d have to aim for World Tree Outskirts. However, this gate isn’t compatible with Guardian.”
Guardians’ players were firm but slow. They were especially vulnerable to the guerrilla warfare of the dark elves.
“Besides, all our attack teams are deployed elsewhere right now. It will take a month at least to secure enough troops... ”
The old pharmacist, Elder Gam, replied, “A month, you say? Well, okay.”
“It is? Alright, then. I’ll start making plans tomorrow—”
“If,” Elder Gam continued, “
you don’t mind your guildmaster’s level dropping.”Elder Gu Suk’s expression stiffened. “It’s that serious?”
Elder Gam nodded. “It doesn’t matter if he’s an S-class powerhouse. If his spasming muscles and brittle bones are left untreated for too long, he’ll naturally end up with a permanent disability, and his stats will drop in turn. Based on my examination, your master’s second wind will last a week. After that, he will rapidly degenerate.”
“I see... Perhaps we can ask the Shinra family for help?”
“Don’t kid yourself. I doubt the Saint will spare you time in a week when he’s always so busy.”
“Umm.”
The head of the Shinra family was known as the Saint for good reason. He didn’t act in pursuit of money or fame, nor did he distinguish between the aristocracy and commoners. He helped those who asked for help, especially those whose lives were in danger.
“Rushing now won’t get you anywhere. You know how that guy is. A risk of disability isn’t a risk to life. The Saint won’t prioritize your request. In that sense, I suppose it would’ve been better if your master’s condition were worse.”
“......” Elder Gu Suk couldn’t deny it and kept his mouth shut. He was well aware of the Saint’s stubbornness.
“Besides, there’s no guarantee that the Saint can dispel the curse. I recommend finding mercenaries and organizing an expedition as soon as possible.”
“Why look for mercenaries?” Jae-Hyeok interrupted. He had been listening to them bicker for some time while enjoying a Coke. But it was about time he stepped in. “The Kang family can make up for the shortage of troops. We don’t ignore the crises of our allies.”
“Oh! How many people are in the Kang family?”
Rumor had it that there was only one housekeeper left in the Kang family. However, from the way Jae-Hyeok spoke, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Elder Gu Suk was full of expectations when Jae-Hyeok raised two fingers.
“Two combatants.”
“......?”
“The two of us are a match for a hundred people.”
“......”
“Gather as many forces of the Guardian Guild as you can within a week. The heart of the dark elves will be reserved for Guardian. As for the rest of the loot, distribution will be based on contribution.”
“That... How much experience does Young Master Kang have in attacking a gate?”
“None.”
“?”
Was his evaluation of this person incorrect?
Was he actually crazy?
Elder Gu Suk felt dizzy.
***
Elder Gu Suk couldn't break Jae-Hyeok’s stubbornness.
He was firm in his intention to participate in the gate attack, and even Hae-Rin nodded in agreement. In the first place, he was the representative of the Kang family. Guardian couldn’t stop him.
After separating from Elder Gu Suk and the old pharmacist, Jae-Hyeok asked Hae-Rin to show him where her room was—she agreed with a shrug.
......
When they arrived, Hae-Rin pointed to her bedroom door as if it had nothing to do with her. “That’s my room. Now, where should we go next?”
“Nowhere. You go in and rest.”
“What? Why?”
“What do you mean, ‘why’? Your eyes are strange right now. They’re too bright. You need to get some rest.”
“So? Since when is it bad to have bright eyes?”
“It’s definitely bad since that’s not how your eyes are usually.”
Hae-Rin popped a hand on her hip. “And what are my eyes like usually?”
“Like a half-asleep cat’s.”
Hae-Rin snorted.
Jae-Hyeok didn’t argue. Hae-Rin was clearly drunk. He had watched over the rim of his Coke when she’d half drank, half slurped her twelfth glass of champagne that night.
Shaking his head, he opened the door.
“Go to sleep. I still have to go home—?!”
Hae-Rin threw her back to her bedroom and summoned a massive shield that filled the doorway, forcing Jae-Hyeok to step back.
Hae-Rin peeked around the shield.
“D-did you see it?”
“What? See what?”
Hae-Rin’s already flushed face turned red all the way to her ears.
“I-I’m asking the questions here. Did you see?”
“What? Your room? No, I didn’t... ”
“O-okay.”
Hae-Rin let out an audible sigh. She propped her shield against the door frame to block Jae-Hyeok’s view, lunged into her room, and slammed the door behind her.
“G-go home safely!” She shouted.
“Uh, yes, good night.”
“And thank you for today... Really... ”
“No problem.”
“I-I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Why bother? Well, whatever you want.”
Jae-Hyeok replied distractedly as he tidied his clothes.
Okay, it’s finally time to head back.
Jae-Hyeok left the headquarters under the warm goodbyes of Guardian’s members.
On the walk home, Jae-Hyeok’s footsteps were the lightest they’d been in eight years. He’d helped his friend and formed a key alliance to benefit the Kang family.
What more could he ask?
***
Three days later.
“They want us to take kids along? Do they think the World Tree Outskirts is a joke? Is this really an order from above? This is madness, even worse than when Jeong Jae-Uk was in charge!”
“Agreed. It looks like Guardian will be ruined sooner or later. It is better to find a new job in advance.”
The Guardian Guild members gathered in front of the S-grade gate were agitated.