Chapter 646

〈Chapter 646〉 Part 2, Chapter 3, 11

<At that moment, New Seoul Government Office.>

“Hmph….”

Sun Icheol reclined on the sofa while inhaling the aroma of his herbal tea. As always at this time of year, his excitement wouldn’t settle. He picked up a document that made his heart race.

“I don’t know what Princess Seol has in mind for participating…”

<Princess Seol> Seok Harang, confirmed participation.

Even though she had unilaterally announced her non-attendance at all government events due to condition management, and all events were canceled, it wasn’t possible to force participation when one of Korea’s only two S-Rank heroes was preparing for battle.

“Ugh…so frustrating. If only my nephew was normal, I’d marry him off right away.”

“You dream too big.”

The bodyguard appeared with a mocking tone.

“What would Princess Seol see in marrying someone who’s paralyzed from the waist down?”

“As long as there’s true love, wouldn’t it be fine?”

“Don’t spout nonsense. I know exactly how your daughter came to be. Do you really think such talk is appropriate?”

“Tsk, you know me too well. Can’t you just consider it youthful passion?”

“That’s rather disgusting…”

The bodyguard openly despised Sun Icheol. Though Sun Icheol endured the mockery regarding this matter, he didn’t forget to harbor some resentment.

“So, how about my masterpiece of love, Gyeoul? What happened to her?”

“She was properly persuaded. Miss will remain in New Seoul. She works as a clerk after all; there’s no reason for her to go somewhere dangerous like Seoul.”

“Ho ho, that’s right. If she insisted on going to Seoul, I would’ve postponed the operation entirely. Hmph hahahaha.”

The bodyguard remained silent. There was absolutely no need to waste words.

“Where is Gyeoul now?”

“She’s at home. The Patriotic Youth Corps is keeping an eye on her, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Ho ho. Gyeoul lacks any sense of danger. From the start…”

As Sun Icheol began lamenting about his daughter, the bodyguard discreetly checked the last message left by Gyeoul.

– I’ll negotiate with the commander to stop the Seoul Recovery Operation.

“…No matter how much she claims it’s work, why would she be at the same place as that blond delinquent?”

Sun Gyeoul is at home.

That blond delinquent’s home.

***

“What could possibly bring you here at this late hour?”

The person who appeared upon opening the door was unexpected—it was Sun Gyeoul. Wearing a navy coat, her cheeks slightly flushed, she looked up at me.

“Sir.”

“Yes.”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“It’s not impossible.”

Gyeoul stepped inside confidently. Given the cramped layout of the New Seoul studio apartment building, Gyeoul was practically touching me as soon as she entered the doorway. I led her into the room.

“What brings you here?”

“Do I have to have a specific reason to visit?”

“Yes. Considering tomorrow is tomorrow…”

“…That’s precisely why I’m here. But…”

Gyeoul glanced around the room and gave a somewhat awkward smile. The space consisted of a bed and a desk, barely wide enough for one person to walk between them.

“Let’s sit down first.”

I offered Gyeoul a chair. She sat demurely on the cushioned seat, while I casually perched on the rumpled mattress.

“So, why did you enter the home of a robust young man at this late hour?”

“Rejected.”

Before she could finish her sentence, I cut her off decisively.

“Huh?”

“Rejected. Dismissed. Refused. Not happening. We’re definitely going ahead with the Seoul Recovery Operation.”

Seemingly caught off guard by my firm rejection, Gyeoul’s eyes began to waver, betraying a hint of unease.

“Why are you insisting on pushing this forward so forcefully?”

“And why, pray tell, are you suddenly urging me to abandon the Seoul Recovery Operation? Departure is tomorrow morning. In twelve hours, we’ll already be in Seoul.”

“It’s just…it’s extremely dangerous!”

Gyeoul clearly had something to hide; she avoided making direct eye contact.

“Dangerous, yes, very much so. But do you know what? Because of your visit here, I’m in immediate danger now.”

“Huh?”

“Considering the upcoming Seoul Recovery Operation, the daughter of Sun Icheol just waltzes into the home of a foreign man in his twenties? Suddenly, someone might barge through the door, smashing it to pieces. Ho ho.”

Sun Gyeoul isn’t an ordinary woman.

“With no bodyguards accompanying her, Gyeoul comes alone at this hour? Hmm, that seems suspicious.”

Even Nuri or Gaon would descend cautiously into this room. Yet, here was Sun Gyeoul, boldly visiting without hesitation? It wouldn’t be strange if Sun Icheol sent assassins to blow my head off immediately.

“And if Gyeoul somehow evaded her bodyguards to come here…that makes things even more suspicious.”

“…”

“This is highly questionable.”

“Sir, aren’t *you* the suspicious one? Remember what happened back then in the basement?”

Gyeoul turned the tables on me, bringing up the incident at the Yuna store. While it made me feel slightly uncomfortable, it also irritated me—how dare she question me?

“Just because you suspect me doesn’t make you innocent either, does it? We both seem to have ulterior motives.”

“But I don’t have any hidden agendas…”

“I’ve seen my fair share of people. Even without the ability to read others’ intentions, I pride myself on having a good eye for people.”

Just as I conceal my identity as the Commander, Gyeoul must be hiding something too.

“You know something, don’t you? Your reason for telling me not to go to Seoul feels less about general concern and more like…you’re worried about ‘us’ getting into trouble.”

“…”

Sun Gyeoul isn’t merely Sun Icheol’s daughter or a plot device signaling the protagonist’s death flag. There’s more to her story.

“Let’s be honest with each other. Gyeoul, perhaps you know about…”

“Having learned of my father’s misdeeds, I can no longer stand idly by.”

Gyeoul spoke cautiously. Knowing Sun Icheol’s various issues must’ve been quite a psychological shock for her.

“In Seoul—”

“Underground, there are refugees who failed to escape Seoul. They’ve been abandoned by Sun Icheol, surviving by scavenging from monster carcasses. Some have even become monsters themselves, but they’re managing to survive together despite the harsh conditions. And Sun Icheol plans to collapse the entire underground to cover up these scandals?”

Cutting her off before she could elaborate further, I revealed everything I already knew. Gyeoul’s eyes widened with surprise and confusion.

“How did you…?”

“Because I’m me.”

In this game, the extraordinary abilities of the protagonist can resolve matters with a single line. That’s because I’m the Commander.

“…Yes, that’s correct. Beneath Seoul lies a vast kingdom where many people live. …People whose existence must remain concealed.”

“And how did you find out, Gyeoul?”

“As the president’s daughter, there are things you can’t avoid knowing, even if you try not to. Just…that’s all.”

“Hmm.”

She’s definitely hiding something else, but pressing further would ruin what little progress we’ve made, so I decided to let it slide.

“…So, I want to use every means at my disposal to stop the Seoul Recovery Operation. I know what Father plans to do once he regains control of Seoul.”

“Push forward to Pyongyang, using Seoul as a stepping stone. With this momentum, he intends to conquer the old North Korean territory.”

Sun Icheol’s determination to escape won’t end with just a visit to the National Assembly. One Cube will give him average size, but two Cubes will turn him into a major player. Human greed knows no bounds.

‘Officially, it’s more symbolic than anything—a matter of land.’

“…You know everything, <Commander>, don’t you?”

Of course, Gyeoul already knew I was the Commander. It would’ve been stranger if she didn’t.

“When did you figure it out? Because you’re the president’s daughter?”

“Not at first. At first, I thought you were just making excuses, claiming to recruit porn actors and such nonsense. I planned to quit after a month. But after the incident at Yuna’s store…things started feeling off.”

The attack by Rasputin’s maids made Gyeoul start questioning my true identity.

“So, what was the decisive moment?”

“The way Yuna and the other team members treat you. No matter how foreigners might be treated, it’s not normal for four Korean women, especially ones with special abilities, to get along so harmoniously over one man, right?”

“…Is that so?”

Who would’ve guessed she’d accuse me of maintaining a harem? The conservative culture of Hell-Joseon and its clash with the Commander’s cultural background inadvertently provided clues for Gyeoul to suspect my true identity.

“So, why are you asking the Commander to refrain from participating?”

“…If you participate, I truly believe you’ll actually attempt to capture Seoul.”

“On what basis?”

“That mysterious S-Rank assassin behind you. Don’t pretend ignorance about the incident in Gangwon-do. I have eyes and ears too.”

Gyeoul’s intelligence network was sharper than expected. While there were a few plausible scenarios, it was best to move past this situation for now.

“Hmm…this is serious. I intended to seek minimal advice.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes. Please don’t reveal your identity. More importantly, please quietly keep the fact that you’re the Commander under wraps.”

“…Must it go that far?”

“If Father discovers you’re the Commander and that you intend to settle in Korea, he’ll use every means necessary to exploit your power. So, please, I’m begging you.”

Gyeul seemed desperate, revealing her knowledge of Sun Icheol’s true nature in an effort to suppress my involvement.

“The Seoul Recovery Operation is bound to fail anyway. It always does. If you don’t help, it will definitely fail.”

“But what about the heroes participating? Surely they’ll get hurt?”

“…Heroes in this country, by this time, usually conserve their strength. They’ll just patrol the city, eliminate a few wandering monsters, and retreat. This has been repeating for years now.”

“They’ll pretend to fight but retreat at the right moment. Hmm, I understand. Yes.”

Everyone shies away from real action. Even if Seoul were truly recaptured, rebuilding it after such extensive destruction would require astronomical costs.

It’s better to maintain the current status quo and continue using Seoul as a hunting ground for regular Core supplies.

‘Not that I ever intended to act anyway.’

Maybe it’s because she resembles Cheon Gaeul, but somewhere along the line, she must’ve misunderstood intelligence and ended up digging herself into a hole.

‘The Association President hasn’t informed the government yet.’

My decision to lead only our team without any external support is known to only one person besides our team members: Seol Ji-young.

“Will you really do anything if I step aside?”

“Yes. Keeping Seoul in its current state is much better.”

“Then kneel down and beg if you must.”

“Wha…what?! Kneeling…are you serious?”

At my suggestion, Gyeoul’s expression froze. I sat astride the bed, legs spread apart.

“You said you’d do anything, didn’t you?”

“B-but…!”

“How absurd! Exactly what you’re saying now makes no sense logically.”

“…”

I hold the greater moral high ground, so I have nothing to worry about. Eager to send Gyeoul off and return to my tasks, I took a risky move.

“Take it all off until you’re down to your underwear and serve me with your chest. Heroes are out there fighting monsters, yet you’re asking them to stop halfway. That’s absurd—”

“Fine, I’ll do it!”

“…What?”

Swoosh.

Gyeoul slipped off her coat, knelt humbly on the floor in front of me, and rested her head on her hands.

“Will this make you refrain from participating?”

“…”

An unexpected turn of events. Despite her wild assumptions, reckless imagination, and impulsive actions…

‘Honey.’

I promptly dropped my pants.