Chapter 120
“Now, I’m going to turn on the signal jammer for a moment.”
No wonder one side of his pants was unusually bulky. When Jeon Hyeon-wook turned on the small device he took out of his pocket, there was a very faint, irritating high-frequency sound.
This only increased my curiosity. What could be so important to go to these lengths?
Before I could urge him impatiently, Jeon Hyeon-wook finally opened his mouth. His fingers, clasped together and fidgeting nervously, were covered with wounds from picking at hangnails.
Eventually, words that no one could have possibly imagined flowed from Jeon Hyeon-wook’s mouth. Prepared for Song Ji-hyeok’s fury, he confessed in a trembling voice what had happened to him.
He told about being summoned by Kim Kwang-in before going to the Regular dungeon, the secretive proposals Kim had made, and finally, when he spoke of the atrocity he had committed against Lee Su-hyeon, his entire body trembled like an aspen tree.
Meanwhile, Song Ji-hyeok’s face was completely overcome with shock.
Had he been too naive? He had naturally assumed that Lee Su-hyeon was injured in the Regular dungeon due to a stray attack. Although he had heard that some people harm other Espers with impure motives, he never imagined someone would strike from behind a person desperately trying to protect the base camp.
Feeling his blood run cold, Song Ji-hyeok spat out words through gritted teeth.
“So…”
Jeon Hyeon-wook’s body, already hanging his head low, trembled even more violently.
“You attacked Senior Su-hyeon? Deceived by ridiculous lies?”
“I’m s-sorry… GAHK!”
The enraged Song Ji-hyeok began mercilessly punching Jeon Hyeon-wook. With a bloody nose, Jeon Hyeon-wook desperately cried out.
“I-I have evidence!”
Song Ji-hyeok momentarily paused at those words. Not missing the opportunity, Jeon Hyeon-wook quickly continued.
“I have a recording of the team leader t-telling me to a-attack Su-hyeon. I also have video I secretly filmed when I went to confront him afterward.”
Jeon Hyeon-wook was telling the truth. No matter how foolish he might be, he knew he wouldn’t escape unharmed if he revealed to Song Ji-hyeok what he had done to Lee Su-hyeon. The reason he came to Song Ji-hyeok of his own accord was that his sense of betrayal toward Kim Kwang-in, who had deceived him, was greater than the anger Song Ji-hyeok would unleash.
If only he had power like Song Ji-hyeok’s, or even if he could match Kim Kwang-in, he would have attacked Kim prepared to die together. But reality was miserable. Knowing it was impossible by his own strength even if he died and came back to life, he wanted to get revenge on Kim Kwang-in even if he had to borrow Song Ji-hyeok’s power.
He had already made up his mind. He was fine with Song Ji-hyeok crippling him, or being dismissed for intentionally harming a fellow Esper. That wouldn’t erase what he had done, but he wanted to right the wrong and ask Lee Su-hyeon for forgiveness.
So even if Song Ji-hyeok beat him to death here, he wanted to make sure the evidence he had secured was passed on. If he revealed this himself, the higher-ups would almost certainly cover it up, but if an S-rank Esper with immense influence revealed it, it would surely cause tremendous repercussions in society.
Jeon Hyeon-wook was also certain that Song Ji-hyeok would definitely step up. After all, it was related to his pair Guide, who was as precious as life itself. That’s why he kept trying to contact him, but with no response, he finally took the bold step of showing up in person today.
Fortunately, his prediction wasn’t wrong. Even while fully displaying anger as if he might kill him on the spot, Song Ji-hyeok took the bait.
“Evidence?”
“Yes.”
Jeon Hyeon-wook took out his phone from his chest, which he had desperately protected despite being beaten senseless, fearing it might be damaged.
After unlocking the double security, he played a voice file, and the voices of two people filled the quiet car. It was something he had managed to capture because, on the day he was summoned by Kim Kwang-in, some unknown instinct led him to turn on the recording function before entering the meeting room. In any case, it was a blunder by Kim Kwang-in, who only saw him as an idiot despite being a member of the team he led.
Song Ji-hyeok didn’t say a single word while the file played. The same was true as he watched the video of an enraged Kim Kwang-in brutally assaulting Jeon Hyeon-wook. But the atmosphere emanating from him was savage enough to make one’s knees weak. Just seeing him gritting his teeth so hard that veins popped in his neck fully conveyed how furious he was about this unbelievable situation.
When the playback ended, the car was enveloped in silence. Only then did Song Ji-hyeok turn to the side again. Despite having conserved his energy to return with eyes intact, the blood vessels in the whites of his eyes had all burst from suppressing his rising anger.
“Where is this bastard now?”
“H-he should be attending a-an association seminar.”
“Fuck, he’s extremely lucky.”
Jeon Hyeon-wook still couldn’t raise his head with his ruined face. Seeing him like a defeated dog, the desire to vent further disappeared. Eventually, Song Ji-hyeok spoke again.
“You used your head well.”
Jeon Hyeon-wook’s shoulders jolted at the chilling words.
“As you wish, I’ll take care of that trash team leader. But don’t expect to get away with this yourself.”
“I-I don’t expect to. I’m p-planning to leave the guild once this is r-resolved.”
“That’s somewhat welcome news. …Ha, fuck.”
His head was throbbing. Though not one to escape reality, he wished the words he had just heard in this car were lies.
‘How could a team leader…’
The more he thought about it, the more his teeth ground together. If he had heard that Kim Kwang-in was at the guild, he would have gone to settle things immediately, but thanks to his absence, he had a chance to think rationally.
‘Using power on civilians is absolutely forbidden. Deliberately attacking a fellow Esper out of grudge is also absolutely forbidden.’
He recalled something Lee Su-hyeon had once said. It was probably said with Song Tae-hyeok in mind, but it served as a brake in an unexpected place.
Lee Su-hyeon’s words were absolutely right. If he were to lose his mind now and attack Kim Kwang-in, he would be no different from that person. Even if there might be some leniency since the other party touched his pair Guide first, he couldn’t completely avoid disciplinary action.
The discipline itself wasn’t anything… but he didn’t want Lee Su-hyeon to be hurt or worried because of it. In that case, there was only one way.
Creating a situation disguised as an accident, just like what this bastard beside him did to Senior Su-hyeon.
Having finished his thought, Song Ji-hyeok’s gaze turned to Jeon Hyeon-wook again.
“Do you know when the next Regular dungeon will be generated?”
“I believe one will appear in July.”
“Fuck, that’s too late.”
Survival instinct is a great thing. Somehow sensing his intentions, Jeon Hyeon-wook spoke haltingly.
“A B-BK dungeon appeared near Semosan the d-day before yesterday, and I h-heard that if it’s not cleared by tomorrow, our g-guild will send support.”
“Is that so?”
Song Ji-hyeok also immediately caught the intention and smiled with a touch of madness.
“Then A-rank Espers will be dispatched. I’ll go, and your team leader will go too.”
There was no longer any anger felt in Song Ji-hyeok’s voice. It was closer to being gentle, but Jeon Hyeon-wook felt even more chilled than before.
His premonition was accurate. With a suddenly transformed gaze, Song Ji-hyeok continued.
“Does anyone else know about this besides me?”
“N-no. No one.”
“Then send me the files now, and keep your mouth shut for a few days. I’ll let you know when the time comes.”
“W-when approximately…”
Song Ji-hyeok’s expression crumpled again at this tactless behavior.
“It won’t take long. Send the files and get out of here quickly.”
Not laying another hand on him was already an act of mercy on Song Ji-hyeok’s part. Eventually, Jeon Hyeon-wook first turned off the signal jammer he had activated just in case. Simultaneously, a notification sound came from Song Ji-hyeok’s device, and although he exhaled with an irritated sigh, he checked it.
[Esper Song Ji-hyeok, please come to the Deputy Guild Master’s office immediately.]
Why was the Deputy Guild Master looking for him now?
It was one unpleasant thing after another. Meanwhile, after sharing and sending the files, Jeon Hyeon-wook got out of the car. Left alone, Song Ji-hyeok hesitated uncharacteristically before slowly pressing the play button.
Even listening again, the disgusting conversation filled him with rage.
His glossy pupils gleamed in the darkness. The plan remained unchanged. He intended to crush Kim Kwang-in in the Regular dungeon.
Afterward, Song Ji-hyeok also got out of the car. Without even trying to hide his murderous intent, he walked steadily until he reached the guiding room marked [3-4], where he finally contained his energy.
“Hoo-.”
After calming his mind once more with a deep breath drawn from his lower abdomen, Song Ji-hyeok made his presence known at the door.
“It’s me. I’m coming in.”
As he had done for some time now, he opened the door before hearing a response. He wanted nothing more than to tightly embrace Lee Su-hyeon and be comforted by his warmth, even without receiving guiding.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
