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Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Han Siah (4)

“Thinking back, it seems like it was always that way. My mother’s eyes always looked so lifeless when she looked at me. I always pretended not to notice. The thought of it made my head spin.”

“Turning your head away doesn’t make the truth disappear.”

“… You’re right. That’s why I cried so much, I think. It was a shock. Accepting it.”

Han Siah said with a bitter smile. Then she stared at Kim Minwoo and asked.

“Should I thank you for letting me know that I’m not loved by anyone?”

“Of course. You should be grateful. You’ve been given a chance to reset.”

“Reset?”

“Why weren’t you loved? It’s simple. Because the environment around you was shitty. Now you have a chance to change that.”

“… There must be a reason you’re helping me. What do you want from me? Should I expose the family’s secrets?”

“You can do that, or you don’t have to. That’s not what’s important.”

“Then what…”

“I know you’ve been through a lot. So come to our guild. We’ll help you.”

Han Siah fell silent.

He was asking her to join a group.

Could she trust them?

What if she was betrayed again?

Even Kim Haeun, whom she loved the most, had abandoned her. She tried to send her to her death, knowing she would die.

Would Kim Minwoo, a complete stranger, be any different?

She looked at Kim Minwoo with eyes filled with anxiety and suspicion.

Then she asked with trembling eyes.

“…Do you also covet my talent?”

“Yes.”

“… I see.”

“But don’t compare me to that Lucas guy. That’s quite insulting.”

“What’s the difference?”

“I have human decency. I quite like you, Han Siah. You can check if you want. The magic should still be in your body.”

Three days of maximized recovery.

It was the effect of the Elixir.

Since she drank it, she wouldn’t suffer from a high fever like before just by using the sensory amplification a little.

“… Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Just as I checked you, you have the right to do the same.”

“… Alright.”

Gulp.

She swallowed and activated Sensory Amplification. Through her heightened senses, she asked,

“Is it true? That you have good intentions.”

“Of course.”

Kim Minwoo answered without hesitation. His pulse and body reactions were as calm as usual.

It meant he was telling the truth.

“… Can I ask more?”

“Ask me anything.”

“What am I to you, Guild Master Kim Minwoo?”

“You’re precious. Very much so.”

Han Siah’s eyes trembled.

“Why… why?”

“Why? Because I’ve seen a lot of you. And because I think you’ll be a great help to the guild.”

“You’ve seen a lot of me?”

“Of course. If I had just approached you, how would I have known about your connection to the family?”

“That’s true…”

“I investigated everything before approaching you. And in the process, I felt a bit of sympathy. I also thought you’d be a perfect fit for our guild.”

“You mean the preciousness is just on a human level? To avoid any misunderstanding you know.”

“Well, yes. That’s natural.”

It was then.

Kim Minwoo’s pulse quickened slightly.

‘…?’

Han Siah tilted her head.

He said he cherished her in a purely human way. Did that mean there was a lie in his previous statement?

Kim Minwoo also noticed this.

‘Oh no.’

He could roughly guess the reason.

Han Siah.

He had played this character for over 400 days. The reason he knew so much about her?

Because he had played her himself.

Because he had lived in her body.

Because he had watched countless videos of other players’ playthroughs and strategies.

Naturally, it would be a lie to say he didn’t have any affection for the character.

How else could he enjoy the game?

He had affection for all the main characters.

Even Kim Minwoo, with his ridiculously difficult gameplay, was no exception.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s definitely not like that. I don’t recruit guild members based on personal feelings.

Han Siah’s eyes narrowed.

His mouth and face were calm, but his pulse always revealed the truth.

Thump.

Han Siah’s eyes narrowed.

“…Then what about Seo Yerim?”

“I recruited her based on her skills.”

Thump.

“Wait a minute. Then, by any chance, Park Siwoo…?”

“It’s the same for everyone.”

Thump.

What was this?

It was one thing if it was just women, but why Park Siwoo too?

There were only two possibilities.

Either he was bisexual.

Or it was a feeling slightly different from love.

‘It must be the latter, right?’

It couldn’t be the former.

Just thinking about the rumors that circulated just a year or two ago made it clear.

A good-for-nothing womanizer.

That was Kim Minwoo’s image.

Of course, there were no men on that list.

Considering that, the suspicion of him being bisexual was eliminated.

Then it could only be the latter.

‘…Thank goodness.’

Han Siah was relieved.

It seemed like he was talking about a different kind of feeling, not love.

Human affection or something like that.

Kim Minwoo was also relieved.

It seemed like she was about to have a strange misunderstanding.

Fortunately, Park Siwoo had pulled through.

“Shall we wrap this up?”

“Wait a minute. Just one last thing. Just one more.”

“Go ahead.”

“If I join the guild… you won’t abandon me, will you, Guild Master?”

“No.”

“…Under any circumstances?”

“Under any circumstances.”

And with that, the Sensory Amplification ended.

Thanks to the Elixir, there seemed to be fewer aftereffects than expected. She only sweated a little.

Han Siah looked at Kim Minwoo.

This one question and answer didn’t make her trust him completely.

But she felt like she had gotten to know Kim Minwoo a little better.

‘And… I need a shelter.’

Laura had already sensed something strange. If she dragged this on any longer, the family might intervene. They might even use means like sending her to a different country instead of Korea.

If she went back to the family, it would be the end for her. She couldn’t trust him completely yet, but…

“… I’ll join. The guild.”

“Great. Our guild has grown a bit now. We have four members.”

Just one more to complete the 5-person party.

However, the first priority was to resolve Han Siah’s situation.

“How are you going to deal with the family? The Patriarch won’t let me go easily…”

Lucas had sent his shadows for years, even from Korea.

Just because she joined the guild didn’t mean he would give up.

“I know. That old man is a bit obsessive.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

“We’ll start with a media campaign. I’ll take care of the dismantling, so you don’t have to worry too much. What about your mother?”

“…My mother?”

“Honestly, as a parent, she’s a failure. But even if they’ve squeezed her dry, they’ll still try to use her.”

“Ah…”

Han Siah nodded in agreement. Her mother had been her shackle.

Even though she knew her true nature, her role wouldn’t disappear overnight. The family would continue to manipulate her.

“What should I do?”

“We just received news about Kim Haeun. It seems like she’s leaving the country.”

“…Leaving the country?”

Han Siah asked in surprise.

She had lived with Kim Haeun for over 20 years.

But leaving the country?

“They’re probably trying to get her away. If she stays in Korea, she might get caught.”

“I want to stop her.”

She said urgently.

Even if she didn’t love her.

She was still her mother. The one-sided love that had lasted for over 20 years couldn’t just disappear overnight.

If she left the country?

They might never see each other again.

That was why.

She answered instinctively.

“It will be as you wish.”

“Is it possible?”

“Of course. Have you forgotten where we are?”

Korea.

This was Ilsung’s territory.

“Let’s go. To the airport.”

Kim Minwoo got up.

Han Siah followed him.

* * *

Laura.

After being practically kicked out of the room by Kim Minwoo, she hurriedly sought out the head of the Korean branch.

‘I can’t handle this on my own.’

To stop Kim Minwoo’s rampage, someone with enough weight had to step in. There was only one person available at the moment.

‘Magic Swordsman Jonas.’

Magic Swordsman.

As the name suggested, it was a dual class that used both magic and swordsmanship.

The downside was that, as with most classes like this, there was a high chance of being mediocre at both.

In other words, if one could become both, it also meant that the profession could display power beyond imagination.

Jonas was a top-tier powerhouse, close to the pinnacle of the Magic Swordsman class.

An S-rank Awakened.

His level was well over 1,500. He was also a high-ranking member of the family, among the top seven.

Not only that.

He was also the leader of the 3rd Magic Knights Division, ‘Windfire’, one of the ten within the family. He was the general manager dispatched because of Han Siah’s importance.

Laura, who had sought him out, bowed politely and said,

“Sir Jonas, I need your help.”

“I heard. Kim Minwoo. That bastard is up to something.”

“That’s right.”

Jonas nodded.

Kim Minwoo’s approach.

The strange reaction he showed towards Kim Haeun.

And now, the forceful expulsion of Laura and the other Shadows. Unless he was a fool, he couldn’t not know what Kim Minwoo wanted.

To persuade Han Siah.

The family’s response was simple.

—Get her mother out first. If there’s any interference, use any means necessary. Then escape to Germany.

Kim Minwoo.

He had precisely timed his move when the head of the family was in seclusion.

‘What a lucky bastard.’

Thanks to that, the Griff’s reaction was a little slow. But, they had no intention of being any slower.

“We’ll find Han Siah later. The priority is to get her mother, Kim Haeun, out first. We’re going to the airport. Laura, call all the shadows. I’ll mobilize the ‘Treewood’ as well.”

“…Has her departure been blocked?”

“Yes. Kim Haeun has been issued a departure ban.”

“Lobbying…?”

“It’s a lost cause. Ilsung’s, no, Kim Minwoo’s influence is far greater than we anticipated. If words won’t work, we’ll have to force our way through.”

Kim Haeun was an important tool for controlling Han Siah.

Even though she showed a strange reaction today, the relationship that had lasted for over 20 years wouldn’t be severed overnight.

As long as they got her out of Korea, it would be fine.

Then they could threaten her life, persuade her, or use all sorts of means to sway Han Siah.

If they did that, Han Siah would eventually return to her nest.

Dealing with Kim Minwoo could be done later. With that, all of Griff’s forces began to move.

Towards the private plane waiting at Incheon Airport.

Fifty mages belonging to ‘Treewood’.

The magic swordsman, Jonas.

With the shadows added, there were over a hundred people. Even if it were a guild, it was a force they couldn’t help but shake their heads at.

Just one knight order surpassing the power of a guild.

This was the power of Griff, who ruled Germany, the 4th strongest Awakened nation.

When they arrived at the airport.

The government Awakened officials who were already waiting stepped forward.

“I’m Han Younggil, the team leader of the Gate Management Department. It seems Kim Haeun is among that group. Surely you’re not going to force her departure despite the government’s request?”

“You don’t understand when I speak nicely. Did our family seem that easy to you?”

“This is Korea. In Korea, you must follow the words of the Korean government.”

“No. We follow the orders of Griff.”

Jonas then drew his sword.

The magic knights did the same.

Even though their profession was mage, they were elites who had been thoroughly trained in swordsmanship. Han Younggil and the other Awakened’s faces hardened.

“This is a Korean airport. It would be wise to put that down.”

“Try it. If you can.”

The Griff members scoffed and used magic.

It wasn’t an offensive spell.

Even though Korea was a weak Awakened nation, if a sword fight broke out at the airport, Griff would also find it difficult to handle.

It was closer to a kind of auxiliary magic that cleans up trash.

Windfire.

As befitting of magic knights who control fire and wind, a powerful wind began to push the surroundings away.

[Whirlwind (A) is….]

[Giant’s Breath (S) is….]

Whoosh…!

The government Awakened officials began to be pushed back. The Griff members advanced with triumphant faces.

“Hold on!”

The Awakened officials also used their skills and struggled to hold on. No matter how strong Griff’s power was, this was Korea.

They had gotten involved in Kim Minwoo’s affairs, but they had no intention of standing idly by in the face of such outrageous violence.

Nevertheless, the formation was relentlessly being pushed back.

Han Younggil frowned.

‘…Damn it. As expected of a magic family.’

The power of the magic was beyond imagination.

The government mages did use magic too. It’s just that the enemy’s numbers were overwhelming.

Fifty mages?

That’s by no means a small number.

Especially if they’re Griff’s elite mages.

“How dare you attack an Awakened individual from the government side?”

“Attack? It’s just the wind blowing, isn’t it?”

Jonas shrugged, raising both hands.

Han Young-gil pondered.

The best defense is a good offense.

In the end, just blocking like this wouldn’t work. Unless they also took the offensive, it would be difficult to stop Griff.

But that was a last resort.

No matter how much this was Korea, if they attacked first, there was no telling what would happen. In the worst case, a terrible bloodbath could ensue.

In that case, who attacked first would become a major issue.

Although they had cleared a path with wind magic, strictly speaking, it was difficult to see that as an attack.

Jonas and the other mages gradually got closer to the runway.

‘Damn it…’

The logic of power.

It was when the government Awakened realized they couldn’t stop them.

Suddenly, the magic that had been pushing the Awakened disappeared without a trace.

The runway became a windless zone in an instant.

Flap!

Along with the sound of flapping wings, a woman appeared in the sky.

“It’s Merhen!”

“Kim Minwoo is here!”

The Korean Awakened rejoiced.

Literally.

In the distance, Kim Minwoo appeared.