Chapter 22
Lion Inside(2)
Major General Kim Hyun-seung was the commander of the Army’s 2nd Corps.
However, during the battle with Agon, the corps’ military strength was reduced by half. As a result, he was absorbed into the Korean Independence Alliance and had fallen to the point of now managing the Chuncheon area.
“Is President Park Byeong-geun still the same?”
“Yes.”
Colonel Jeong Seok-yeon nodded in response to Major General Kim Hyun-seung’s question.
“What on earth is that man thinking…”
Recently, Major General Kim Hyun-seung had fallen into deep worry. The reason was the strange behavior of President Park Byeong-geun. Not long ago, a major incident occurred in the Korean Independence Alliance. The alliance’s property was stolen by unidentified assailants.
“It’s almost one person per day…”
Park Byeong-geun had committed cannibalism. This means he was eating people.
Although Park Byeong-geun’s close associates tried to keep it as quiet as possible, it was already too late.
Rumors had already spread widely that Park Byeong-geun was taking women, enjoying them, and then cutting them up to eat.
“Just thinking about it is disgusting…”
Major General Kim Hyun-seung frowned and spoke.
“This cannot continue. Such an alliance cannot survive for long.”
Even now, the warlords are eagerly watching for opportunities to expand their influence. If they’re not careful, the alliance could be torn to pieces and handed over to other warlords. If that happens, he himself would not remain unscathed.
‘Before being forcibly torn away, I must first cut off the head and attach it somewhere else.’
After organizing his thoughts, Major General Kim Hyun-seung called Colonel Jeong Seok-yeon.
“Colonel Jeong Seok-yeon.”
“Yes.”
Other warlords won’t do. Dealing with those old cunning snakes is too difficult.
“Go to Seoul for a while.”
However, the Hyeseong Group and Badass Guild are different. Since they’re run by young guys, there are certainly vulnerabilities. Major General Kim Hyun-seung was thinking of establishing a new nest there.
***
Ippotranslation
***
A leisurely afternoon.
Kang Hyeon drank his beer leisurely while looking at the dust-free sky.
“The weather is nice.”
These days, Kang Hyeon didn’t have much to do. Most of the work was done by his guild members. Originally, he had a goal to become stronger, but now he’s struggling to avoid becoming even stronger. So, unless a particularly powerful rift appears, Kang Hyeon spends time like this, drinking beer.
“Want a beer, Michiko?”
Michiko, a girl brought from Japan. She was being cared for by all the Badass Guild members.
She had grown significantly over three and a half years and was now of elementary school age, but unfortunately, schools no longer existed.
“No. It tastes bad.”
Michiko’s tone, as if she had tried beer before, made Kang Hyeon’s eyes go wide.
“What!? You’ve tried this?”
“Yes. Some uncle gave it to me and told me to drink it.”
Even if laws have disappeared.
Even if the world has come to a point where children are given bells instead of toys.
Anyone who offers alcohol to a child must be punished.
Kang Hyeon had always joked about offering beer, but he never actually intended to give Michiko any.
“These bastards!”
Kang Hyeon spat out a curse, thinking of the guild member who gave Michiko beer.
Notably, swearing in front of a child is also a very inappropriate behavior.
“Michiko. Do you remember who gave it to you?”
“An uncle with a scary-looking face.”
“Hmm… When you put it that way…”
There are almost no uncles in the guild who don’t have scary-looking faces.
“Ah… forget it. Michiko, you must never drink this again. If anyone tells you to drink it, tell me. Understand?”
“Yes!”
Michiko energetically nodded and drank her apple juice.
“Ha! Delicious! It’s amazing!”
Michiko was already imitating Kang Hyeon drinking beer.
It was a scene that made one reconsider who the worst adult for Michiko might be.
“Hmm… I need to grade the guild members soon.”
Unaware that Michiko was learning bad behaviors, Kang Hyeon was lost in other thoughts. Kang Hyeon was planning to grade his guild members and pay them wages once gold circulation stabilized. From the strongest to the weakest.
It was an operation called ‘Get strong if you want to earn more money!’. However, there were still many shortcomings to do this.
“Maybe I’ll start today.”
If he goes to each member and pets them, time will pass quickly.
The tremendous skill improvement of individual guild members would be a bonus.
“Guild Master.”
A voice calling him brought Kang Hyeon out of his reverie.
Turning his head, he saw Team Leader Han Si-hwan.
“What’s up?”
“Do you know what day it is today?”
“What?”
Kang Hyeon frowned at the sudden remark.
“That line sounds weird. It’s just like a girlfriend talking to her boyfriend.”
Kang Hyeon stuck out his lips.
“Brother! Do you really not know what day it is today!?”
Han Si-hwan stared at Kang Hyeon’s grotesque voice imitation with a serious face.
“Ahem… sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“So what day is it?”
“It’s the 5th anniversary of the guild’s establishment.”
“5th anniversary?”
“Yes. It’s been exactly 5 years since the guild was founded.”
“Really. You knew about this?”
Come to think of it, the seasons were the same.
When Kang Hyeon created the guild, it was midsummer.
And now, it was summer with scorching sunlight.
But Kang Hyeon had never cared about such anniversaries and had completely forgotten.
“Did you come to tell me this?”
“Yes. Are you thinking of having a party or something?”
“A party…”
Kang Hyeon stroked his chin and pondered, then continued.
“Let’s just drink some beer in the evening.”
“Understood.”
“Tell Shin Seong-ah and Ahn Yu-seong to come. If any other executives want to join, tell them to come.”
“Yes. But where will we meet?”
At Han Si-hwan’s question, Kang Hyeon gave a sly smile.
“Where else? Country Road.”
Country Road, a pub located on the outskirts of Badass Town.
It was the perfect place to hold a party.
***
Ippotranslation
***
The path to Country Road.
With the core executives of the Badass Guild, including Kang Hyeon, gathered together, all eyes were drawn to them.
“What’s this? What special day is it today?”
“Is he going to do his sword dance again…”
Kang Hyeon walked, overhearing such random conversations. He suddenly turned around,
“Come to think of it. There aren’t as many people as I thought?”
Including Kang Hyeon, there were just over ten people gathered. Considering that even just high-ranking executives would number in the dozens, it was a considerably small number of people.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was something that should be forcibly required.”
Shin Seong-ah said, bowing her head.
“No. The fewer, the better. Having too many would just get noisy.”
As Kang Hyeon was saying this, a woman caught his eye.
“I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.”
Around 160cm tall with a round face. A neat bob (mushroom) haircut reaching her chin, with sparkling eyes.
“She’s Baek Hee-yeon,” Shin Seong-ah said.
Kang Hyeon clapped his hands.
“Right. Isn’t she the one who was following you around calling you ‘master’?”
“Ahem…”
Shin Seong-ah awkwardly cleared her throat out of embarrassment.
“I, I, I am Baek Hee-yeon!”
“I remember. But why are you so frozen?”
On the day Kang Hyeon first returned to the guild after being resurrected, Baek Hee-yeon had once rudely accused him of being a con artist.
After that, she had been subtly avoiding and dodging him whenever he appeared. Then, she finally heard about the party commemorating the guild’s 5th anniversary.
‘This is my chance to make up for my mistake!’
She would go with her idol Shin Seong-ah and rebuild her relationship with Kang Hyeon. Baek Hee-yeon was ultimately a Bades Guild member. She couldn’t avoid the guild master forever.
‘I must show him what kind of person I am!’
She made this resolution, but reality was a mess.
“Hello.”
As Baek Hee-yeon stood rigid like a stone, Kang Hyeon lightly tapped her head.
“Yes, what!?”
“Why are you so stiffly frozen?”
“I, I’m sorry! I’ll correct myself!”
“Do as you wish…”
Kang Hyeon looked at her with an expression that said, ‘I see all sorts of strange people.’
Then he withdrew his gaze. With a bit of commotion, Kang Hyeon and the guild members arrived at Country Road.
Ding-a-ling
As they opened the door, a familiar bell sound greeted them.
“Welcome.”
The pub owner, Park Jeong-bum, greeted Kang Hyeon.
“I heard you made a reservation, is that correct?”
“Yes. There’s plenty of space for the Badass members, so please don’t worry.”
As Park Jeong-bum said, there were hardly any people in the pub.
Rumors were already widespread that Kang Hyeon frequently appeared at Country Road.
Except for those trying to curry his favor to ask for something.
No one in this city particularly wanted to meet Kang Hyeon.
“Let’s push together a few tables and sit.”
“Yes.”
They were key figures controlling the city. It was natural that things would be difficult, even if they didn’t cause harm. However, since it was the first time high-ranking guild executives had moved together like this, the pub’s customers were secretly looking at them with curious eyes.
“It’s already been exactly 5 years since founding the guild. Time really flies.”
“Indeed.”
The guild members drank beer lightly and chatted in a comfortable atmosphere after a long time.
“Are all the people here first-year members?”
“Except for Baek Hee-yeon and Choi Si-hyun from the information department, yes.”
“Everyone has worked hard.”
At Kang Hyeon’s words, all guild members made horrified expressions.
“Why are you making it so awkward?”
“Oh, the beer’s taste just dropped.”
“These guys aren’t helping set the mood.”
“Guild master, didn’t you say you hate speeches?”
“Enough. Clear out! Don’t do it, you guys.”
“Hahaha!”
Just as Kang Hyeon and the guild members were cheerfully chatting,
“Hey! Did you rent out the entire pub? Can’t you be quiet?”
A high-pitched female voice came from one corner.
Silence fell over the pub.
“L-let’s go…”
“Yeah…”
Interestingly, while the Badass Guild members remained still, other customers nervously began leaving the pub. Thinking about the imminent storm, customers gradually left. Finally, they could see who the woman in the corner was.
“What? It’s Lim So-hee!”
“Who’s that?”
“You know. That crazy wolf woman.”
“Ah.”
Some executives didn’t recognize her due to her completely changed hairstyle. Kang Hyeon kindly explained about Lim So-hee to such people.
“You idiots! She’s the Lone Wolf of the Battlefield!”
Lim So-hee stood up and shouted, her purple-dyed hair swaying.
“Enough. What’s happening here. Weren’t all matters already settled?”
“Hmph. I just came to drink beer.”
“That’s why I’m asking why you’re drinking beer here. You don’t even live here.”
Lim So-hee is famous for primarily operating in the southern region, around Busan.
In other words, there’s no reason for her to be in Seoul, where the Badass Town is located.
“I moved.”
“What?”
“I moved. I thought the atmosphere here was pretty good. I’m planning to live here from now on.”
Lim So-hee said with a slight smile.
“So, take care of me from now on.”
Lim So-hee reached out her hand toward Kang Hyeon.
Slap!
Kang Hyeon roughly slapped her hand and turned away.
“Whether you live here or not. I’m busy, so just play quietly and leave.”
Then he returned to his seat and resumed talking with guild members.
“Uh…”
Lim So-hee looked bewildered. It was so different from the situation she had expected.
‘I thought he’d at least make a recruitment offer…’
Rolling her eyes here and there, Lim So-hee grabbed her beer mug and ran over.
“Hey! Include me too!”
As they say, the thirsty are the ones who dig wells.
