The Hero Returns

Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Act 2

It was on January 30th. The post spread quickly, not only to Abyss Online but also to various SNSs. It could have happened because of one famous awakener. He confirmed that the Dump Guild was an actual organization.

-A few days ago, Rank B awakener, Mr. Lee Ju-ho, who is also known for raising his trial level, mentioned Dump Guild. Dump Guild is called the guild of killers. Does it really exist?

-There is no clearer information about that yet. But in the opinion of many experts, yes, this society may be real.

-Then, do you think Dump Guild will create terror tomorrow?

-Well. At this time, opinions vary. Even though Dump Guild exists…

Beep—

The director of the Awakeners Accreditation Authority nervously turned off the TV. He raised his red face and asked. “What have you been up to?”

“What do you mean?” at the director’s words, Lee Ju-ho asked back while he was sitting on the couch as if he was bothered.

He sat with his legs crossed and picked his ear. It was like he decided to tease the director. And if that was the intention, it succeeded. Because the director was really upset.

“What is that interview! What the hell is it?”

“Well, since you didn’t cooperate, I had to do it.” Lee Ju-ho answered.

“But how could you sell the name of Dump Guild? What if they go crazy?!” the director shouted.

“Even if they go crazy, they will not kill as many Anyang City people. And besides, we can’t cover it up forever.”

There was nothing wrong with his words. Dump Guild was the organization that had to be mentioned someday. Before they got bigger, it was clear that this guild had to be publicized to root it out. But…

“That is all possible when the information you brought was true,” the director said.

The premise was wrong. The director still did not believe Lee Ju-ho. He also did not believe the source of the information was Kim Su-hyeun. In the meantime, the news spread. There was no wonder that the director was in trouble.

“What? Why? What is wrong now? You don’t have to take responsibility now.”

“Are you insane? How did you make this so big with that stupid post?”

“Even if it is false information, there is nothing to lose for you, isn’t it?”

“Dump Guild… Isn’t it something you made up?”

“People will die because of either Dump Guild or monsters. It’s the same.”

“You’ve got to be kidding”

When the director started to rant, Lee Ju-ho finally set down properly and opened his mouth.

“Well, things already happened. Will you now sell my name and announce that it won’t happen? Then what if the monsters fall into the city?”

“That…”

The director could not say anything about Lee Ju-ho’s words. What if it did happen? In the worst case, he might have to step down from the director position, because of the words and actions he took in a fit of anger. With his word, they would not react to prevent a sudden dungeon outbreak.

“But no matter what, other awakeners will not take action. Your words can be a piece of news, but that is not enough to make high awakeners set out.”

Lee Ju-ho was a pretty famous man. He was an awakener that showed up on the TV quite a few times. So, it was not wired that his word and interview became news on TV. There would be some citizens who would listen to him and evacuate in advance. But not everyone would. Above all, the majority of awakeners did not know the existence of Dump Guild. The high-ranking awakeners who knew their existence had not listened to Lee Ju-ho.

“If you believe your words could move the world, it’s a mistake.”

Lee Ju-ho nodded calmly at the director’s twisted words and ridicule.

“I know that.”

“What?”

“I am curious. I just did what I was told to do…”

Lee Ju-ho didn’t know much.

He just heard from Su-hyeun that the dungeon outbreak of Anyang would happen tomorrow. Only Su-hyeun knew a plan to prevent that. Lee Ju-ho just called journalists and released information as Su-hyeun asked him.

“What does Su-hyeun think? How will he handle the outbreak and evacuate people?” Lee Ju-ho thought.

“Let’s just see” —Lee Ju-ho, who had visited the director’s office at his call, got up from his seat as if he had nothing to say— “What is going on tomorrow?”

It was on January 31st. This day, it snowed all over Gyeonggi Province. The world was paying attention to two things.

The more remarkable thing between them was Green Dungeon that appeared in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Green Dungeon was one of the most difficult dungeons in existence. Numerous high-ranking awakeners participated to conquer the dungeon, including S-ranked awakener Kim Hyun-soo. The success of the attack was almost certain. The question was how much damage could be reduced in the process.

The second one was about the terror attack in Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province. There was not much interest in this part. Because there were many stories that it would be just a rumor since people could not check whether it was true or not. Furthermore, people underestimated the risk since it would be a terror to people, not a natural disaster like a dungeon. For many reasons, the story about the terror of Dump Guild was noisy only in Abyss Online.

“There are not many people who are evacuated, are there?”

-Yeah. One in five citizens evacuated after hearing the news.

Lee Ju-ho grunted and complained on a phone call with Su-hyeun. He suffered all the troubles and warned people there would be a terror, but only one in five people evacuated.

“Well, still more than 100,000 people have been evacuated. It is a pretty big number. Since there was no evidence or anything.”

-Yea. I guess you are right.

“I was very grateful to you. Mr. Lee Ju-ho, and I think the interview helped.”

“Haha. You’re welcome. Wait. Didn’t you say your mother lives in Anyang, too?”

“No. She opened her shop in Suwon City. So, she moved out there.”

-Ok. That’s good. But still, Anyang and Suwon are quite close.

“Yeah. So, I sent her a trip today. You don’t have to worry about her.”

“What are you going to do with the rest of the people? I will be there since I don’t have any other dungeons to attack…”

“Do you know what?” Su-hyeun grinned while talking to the phone. “The terror was not a lie.”

-What?

“Now, listen carefully…”

Su-hyeun started to say something Lee Ju-ho. And…

“Are you out of your mind?” That was the most ridiculous thing Lee Ju-ho had ever heard.

“I am in my right mind.”

“The idea is good, but is that possible?”

“We have to make it possible, don’t we?”

“It is easy to say but…” Lee Ju-ho thought that what Su-hyeun planned would never be possible. It was natural. It was difficult enough to question whether it was possible or not aside from intention or result.

“Anyway, see you later.”

Su-hyeun hung up the phone after that. Now, it was time to start.

“Well, I am ready…” he thought.

He put on a mask and got up from his seat. Suddenly, he felt a sense of shame.

“I can’t believe I have to wear this at this age. I haven’t worn it since I was young.”

Su-hyeun touched the character mask on his face. He sighed out and made his step.

“Huu—”

Gwon Jang-hyuk blew cigarette smoke.

He had no idea how many years he did nothing but kill time in a corner alley. Some of the friends already left him.

“Damn. There is no one to take money from…”

He was already 24 years old, but he had no intention of changing his nature. After he had been flayed once from the man he had bullied, he hesitated to bully other people, but soon he searched for other prey.

“Hey man. You sure it will be ok?”

“What?”

“People say there will be a terror here today. Didn’t you hear that?”

“Bloody hell. F*cking terror my ass.”

Gwon Jang-hyuk snorted at the advice of a friend. He knew people were noisy about terror. But he was just an ordinary man and thought that would be nonsense.

“Hey. What age are we living in? This is Korea. I don’t know why people are making a fuss about it. That was just bullshit of a crazy nut.”

“But the awakener, Lee Ju-ho testified that Dump Guild is a real thing.”

“So what? Other awakeners said that Dump Guild will not move by now?”

“But still…”

“Sh*t you, coward.”

“Why are you so hard on me? I am just worried about you, man.”

“Worried about me? My ass. You are doing this because you are scared.”

“What? You wanna die?”

It was about time to Gwon Jang-hyuk started to fight with his friend.

“I was wondering what kinds of men are chattering in this dark alley. Was it you guys?”

The four people, including Gwon Jang-hyuk, turned their faces to the voice at the end of the alley. They wondered who he was–he had a strange mask of a smiling face.

“A mask?” Gwon Jang-hyuk thought.

It was not a masquerade; he had no idea what that mask for was. He could not think anyone who wore those things would be sane. He was already in a bad mood. Gwon Jang-hyuk thought it would be safer and more fun to beat up one person with his friends rather than fighting with a friend.

“What the hell are you? Hey, you. Come over here.”

“What will you do if you know who I am?” the masked man asked.

“You will be beaten to death, of course.”

“Hahaha.”

With Gwon Jang-hyuk’s talking, the other three started to laugh. He laughed as well and glanced at the man in the mask. But something was off. Usually, people seemed a little frightened by now.

“Well. Do you think you can handle if you know?”

The man in the mask didn’t look scared at all. The eyes exposed through eye halls of the mask looked cold. And when Gwon Jang-hyuk met the masked man’s eyes, he got goosebumps all over his body.

“What…What the?” he thought.

The others also thought something was strange about this man. At that moment, the masked man raised his hand.

Whoosh—

Swoosh, whoosh—

A huge fire rose in his hands and spread. Gwon Jang-hyuk and the three other gangsters were flabbergasted and started to step back.

“W-what the hell is that?”

“Is he an awakener?”

“Why would an awakener be here…?”

Their anxiety started to elevate. The ominous thinking crossed Gwon Jang-hyuk’s head.

“Wait, is this guy…? No way.”

“Did you ask what the hell I am?”

Swish—

The masked man blasted fire over his head and burst it like firecrackers.

Boom, boooom—!

Bang, bang, bang—!

The flames burst from the sky began to fall. Su-hyeun opened his mouth, looking at Gwon Jang-hyuk. His eyes shined red reflecting the fire.

“I am a terrorist.”

It was the beginning of the show.