105 – My Victory in Surviving
“Extermination Operation Successful!”
“Successfully rescued Colonel Nam Woo-joo.”
“A miracle of the 21st century.”
“Into the 20-hour operation—.”
TV and newspapers jubilantly celebrated the success of the extermination operation.
The extermination team formed to subdue the demon Nam Woo-joo had successfully captured him alive, certainly a cause for celebration.
In a world filled with bad news like the emergency martial law due to the zombie situation, the unrest of demons, and unregistered Awakened Ones, this was a rare piece of good news.
Even the sensationalist media and press, which usually chased after scandalous stories, loudly trumpeted the achievements of the extermination team like it was a much-needed rain in a drought.
“Title: Heard from an insider that Seugal and Prince Juhyun played big roles.
Content: Thought they were just lucky silver spoons, but they seem to act when it counts??”
└ Is this noblesse oblige or what? ㅋㅋ
└ All the Seonam Group bashers should come out ㅋㅋ I fully support Princess Seugal.
└└ Those who bash Seonam are just red kids trying to destabilize Korea.
“Title: Prince Juhyun can date Yumi from Girls’ Force today, courtesy of me.
Content: I’m a Yumi fan and I permit it.”
└ I am Yumi herself, and we’ve dated enough by now.
└└ wtf
└ Prince Juhyun still managed to secure one roasting right.
Online platforms were also buzzing with posts about the extermination team’s efforts.
It seemed that everyone was thirsting for good news, and some comments deliberately hyped up the positive mood.
That’s how a day went by.
Chairman Seo Do-cheol furrowed his brow at the unusually bright sunlight as he exited the prosecutor’s interrogation room.
“Mr. Kim, what day is it today?”
Days of relentless interrogations that deprived him even of sleep had left his mind somewhat unclear. However, one thing was certain: there would be no more investigations for him.
“Sir, thanks to Seugal, you’ve overcome a great crisis. Seugal achieved great merit in this operation, so even the crow-like prosecutor fellows can’t peck at you anymore.”
On the way back in Mr. Kim’s car.
“So, is my daughter safe?”
“Yes, let’s go meet her now.”
Seo Do-cheol headed towards an old house where he once lived.
Creeeak—.
Passing the rusted gate and crossing the desolate yard, he entered the living room to find Seugal anxiously pacing back and forth.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Seo Do-cheol asked. His eyes nervously scanned her from head to toe. Except for what seemed to be a small scratch, his daughter appeared perfectly fine.
“No. Hanamjin protected me.”
“Hanamjin, that guy?”
Through Mr. Kim, Seo Do-cheol had heard roughly how the extermination went. Including the unexpected variable of the rat man, and that Hanamjin had stayed behind alone to let everyone escape.
‘That guy actually kept his promise to me.’
It was astonishing.
Because Seo Do-cheol hadn’t given Hanamjin a single penny. It was merely an o*al promise, without any evidence or record, except for Hanamjin kneeling down.
‘The reason I make money is because people don’t keep promises. People only try to keep faith in matters involving money.’
Even if it were himself, he might have ignored a non-existent promise depending on the situation.
Indeed, that’s how he’d lived his life.
But Hanamjin did not.
Someone who keeps their word and promises at all costs—what should one call such a person?
“That guy, he was a real man.”
Hanamjin had been an ill-fated meeting from the start.
He even got his arm bitten by that mad dog.
Still, though Seo Do-cheol couldn’t call himself a man, he wasn’t so petty as to hold a grudge against the boy who’d passed away so gloriously.
“I misjudged him. Thinking back now, he was an extraordinary person. He shouldn’t have died in such a place, but still, I’m glad you’re safe.”
Seo Do-cheol decided to be glad that his daughter was safe.
However, Seugal remained standing uneasily, tightly gripping something in her hand.
“Dad, I want to be alone.”
“Okay. Do that. You must be tired.”
Seugal locked herself in her room.
‘You idiot, you wouldn’t have died. You haven’t even told me why you chose me. How am I supposed to live forever wondering after you do this to me?’
The criminal who had abducted her, yet at the most dangerous moment prepared to d*e to rescue her—it was completely incomprehensible.
Seugal firmly clutched the peculiar ring she’d received from Hanamjin.
Why did he do it?
She wanted to ask, but currently entry to the Great Labyrinth was completely prohibited.
That night.
Seugal arrived at a park with a full view of City D.
She had an appointment.
Seeing her, Baek Yeo-ul, who had been waiting, said without ceremony:
“Hanamjin is still alive! We have to go save him!”
Baek Yeo-ul’s eyes were swollen.
She must have been crying a lot.
“But the Great Labyrinth’s entrance is completely sealed off. How can we do it? Even Teacher Moon Hyun-a, who pushed herself too hard, is in a coma, so there’s no way to get into the forest.”
“You’re rich, aren’t you? There’s an entrance to the Great Labyrinth in the basement of the Seonam headquarters! If we sneak in through there, maybe we can rescue him!”
“That entrance is managed by Nam Bada, who’s now the president of Seonam. Nam Bada also issued the order prohibiting entry to the maze. How do you think we can get in?”
Seugal could only helplessly shake her head.
Baek Yeo-ul glared at her.
“Then why didn’t you bring Hanamjin back? You were there at the end, right?”
“You think I should’ve stayed behind instead of him?”
Seugal was angry.
She was equally exasperated.
At the moment the rift between the two girls deepened, Baek Yeo-ul made a decision.
She would rescue Hanamjin herself.
Baek Yeo-ul thought that Hanamjin couldn’t escape because of her.
Because if she hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t hesitated about gaining great power, none of this would’ve happened.
In her hand, a strangely cold concept stone was humming.
…
—
In the hospital room, Prince Juhyun opened his eyes and got up to look in the mirror. After peeling off the eye patch and gauze on his left eye, the empty void gave him a hollowness.
“Wow, this is screwed.”
With returning vision in his right eye, Juhyun immediately grabbed his phone.
Searching his name on the internet revealed an unusually high search volume, more than usual.
But—
“Title: Is Hanamjin’s disappearance true?
Content: Honestly, two days have passed; shouldn’t we assume he’s dead?”
└ He stayed behind to save everyone.
└ Is that real? The news didn’t mention that.
└┘ My friend participated in the extermination operation. He said that everyone ran away while Hanamjin stayed till the end.
“Title: That Hanamjin guy leaves in style even in d*ath.
Content: Honestly, I disliked him for being annoying, but this makes me recognize him as a real man.”
└ How does that help you?
└ I don’t know. If he somehow survives, I might consider dating him. (I’m a cute girl.)
“d*mn you.”
Receiving more attention and limelight than Juhyun who lost an eye.
Juhyun couldn’t believe he let the most heroic role slip away.
“Is that guy really dead?”
Juhyun reminisced about the black rat swarm and the fairies that controlled them.
Thinking about it again made him fear.
To have fought until the very end against such an opponent—
If Juhyun had been there at that moment, could he have done the same?
“Ultimately, my survival is the victory.”
At that moment,
Keeerrrk.
The door opened, and his father entered.
“Juhyun! My son! I heard you woke up today. How’s your body holding up? Huh?”
“Father.”
“Quickly regain your strength and get up! Once you’re healthy, we’ll throw a party with all the people you like! There are women here to see you! Come in, everyone!”
At the chairman’s call, female celebrities waiting outside entered the room holding bouquets. They hesitated slightly upon seeing Juhyun’s severely injured face.
“Wow, he was good-looking and rich before, but now he’s just unlucky with that face.”
“Can plastic surgery fix it?”
The instant reactions from the women, who stared at Juhyun’s face, were obvious to him, having interacted with many women before. Normally, he’d have been angry, but strangely, it didn’t bother him much this time.
Even his father’s concern just felt bothersome.
What’s the point of throwing a party?
That’s not important.
The real importance lies in the dangerous creatures like the swarm of black rats lurking somewhere.
“Argh! Shut up! Did you rent out the entire hospital…!?”
Suddenly, someone from the neighboring room shouted.
The unknown doctor who had informed them about Juhyun’s condition awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Mr. Chairman, I apologize. The patient in the next room has been hospitalized for a long time and is quite touchy…”
“AAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
The noise from the adjacent patient made the impression of the women awkward.
Juhyun thought it was good timing.
“Everyone, please leave. I want to be alone.”
“Understood, son!”
Just as the chairman left the room proudly, praising his son, a man named Jeon Su-ho who had been waiting in the lobby approached the chairman.
“I’m sorry. As adults, we should have protected him.”
Jeon Su-ho felt ashamed that he wasn’t hurt.
He thought he should have been the one to stay until the end that day.
But fear had paralyzed him.
The only thought was to survive.
Everyone was probably the same.
Actually, that was unacceptable.
Because he was an adult.
Shame often comes later.
Jeon Su-ho wanted to make up for his shame by looking for Hanamjin.
If there was going to be an exploration team, he would definitely volunteer.
Even if it meant facing that ominous and unsettling darkness again.
“To be honest, it doesn’t seem like he could survive in the forest filled with such monsters… But at the very least, I’ll recover his remains, Hanamjin. That’s my duty as an adult and to the state.”
…
—
Rustle, rustle—.
As I kicked away the bread crumbs, I rummaged through the bag he had dropped. It was filled with food, so I had no worry about meals for a while.
Good luck!
“This forest is quite livable.”
“Muhehe… Truly, it’s pleasant indeed! Even the food of the outsiders is surprisingly appetizing! Especially this chocolate—it’s extremely delicious…”
After hearing from me, the springwater nymph Baonoi nodded.
Even the picky woodland fairies seem to enjoy the consumer goods of the 21st century.
So, who exactly is Baonoi?
