Chapter 105

Perhaps it was Jun-sang’s inhuman strength, flipping a van with one hand, that unnerved them. Or perhaps it was his unyielding resilience, taking a barrage of Tasers capable of subduing a bear without even a scratch. Whichever it was, the men in the vans no longer dared to pursue the Humvee Jun-sang was driving.

Upon entering Gangneung city, Jun-sang pulled over and re-summoned Heness.

“Mmm…” Heness was still drowsy, perhaps from lack of sleep or motion sickness, unaware she had been unsummoned and re-summoned.

“Little one…” Jun-sang reached out to refasten her seatbelt. But just then, coincidentally, Heness woke up.

“…” Heness flinched, feeling Jun-sang’s hand pass near her chest. So much so that her heart plummeted. It didn’t take long for her to realize his hand was merely fastening her seatbelt, but the drowsiness that had clouded her mind instantly vanished.

“Ah, you’re awake. Sorry.” Jun-sang apologized in a calm tone, but for some reason, Heness found his nonchalance even more irritating.

Sigh…

Who was it that kept her up all night with a pounding heart, anyway? After the battle with that grotesque monster was over and she was back here, Heness realized how overtly she had revealed her feelings for him. And to top it off, she had been crying while whipping him. Although it was to help Jun-sang recover faster, recalling her actions made Heness want to crawl into a mouse hole.

In such a situation, when they found themselves in a narrow bed together, with her wearing only a thin gown, just like the first night they spent together, Heness couldn’t control the myriad thoughts swirling in her head and ended up staying awake all night. But then, come morning, Jun-sang woke up with a refreshed expression, as if he had slept perfectly soundly. Seeing him like that made her so annoyed. For the first time in her life, Heness felt an overwhelming urge to just hit someone.

“Hmph…” They say love makes you foolish, and it was certainly true for her. She used to find it ridiculous when her friends, usually so in love, would fret over trivial things all day long… Heness thought that if she ever returned, she should apologize to them first.

Jun-sang chuckled at Heness’s deep sigh and the way she turned away from him, then took the wheel again. The Humvee, with Jun-sang and Heness inside, merged onto the Yeongdong Expressway from Gangneung and headed for Seoul. In truth, Jun-sang hadn’t had much experience driving on highways since getting his license, so he was a bit nervous behind the wheel. However, his variously enhanced senses and motor skills allowed him to drive smoothly even amidst that tension. Indeed, having gained Supersense, he could probably even drive with his eyes closed if he put his mind to it.

After driving on the highway for about two and a half hours, the Humvee finally arrived in Seoul. Jun-sang drove into the city and headed towards the subway station entrance where he was supposed to meet Seo-yoon. Perhaps because it was a popular spot for young people, even in broad daylight, it was bustling with crowds.

Jun-sang slowly drove near the station and then spotted Im Seo-yoon, looking around anxiously at the opposite entrance. As soon as he saw him, Jun-sang messaged him again.

‘I’m on the opposite side. Come over.’

Upon receiving the message, Im Seo-yoon startled, quickly pulled out his phone, then let out a sigh of relief before quickly crossing the underpass. It seemed he had thought a quest had arrived.

As soon as Im Seo-yoon crossed the underpass, he leaned his head into the Humvee to greet Jun-sang, then his eyes widened as he noticed Heness, who was astonished by the sheer number of people, incomparable to Gangneung.

“Oh?” Im Seo-yoon was first surprised that the usually stoic Jun-sang had a mysterious young woman in the passenger seat, and then again surprised that the woman’s face looked very familiar.

“Miss… surely you are…”

But before he could finish his sentence, Jun-sang spoke first. “Get in.”

“…” At his short and clear words, Seo-yoon awkwardly scratched the back of his head, then quickly opened the back door and got into the car.

“Where should I go?” It was hard to imagine someone like Im Seo-yoon walking here barefoot. When Jun-sang asked, Seo-yoon leaned forward and pointed to a building near the intersection.

“Do you see that theater over there?”

“…” Jun-sang nodded silently, and Seo-yoon continued, “I left my car in the underground parking lot there.” Jun-sang nodded again and drove the car towards the theater.

Upon arriving at the theater, Seo-yoon quickly got out of the car and said to Jun-sang, “I’ll be right back.”

As Seo-yoon went down to the underground parking lot, Heness spoke, “It’s… a chaotic place.” Even after driving through Seoul for a long time, her expression was still bewildered. Jun-sang quietly replied to Heness’s remark, “It’s noisy and bustling, but it’s still just a place where people live.”

“I see.” Passersby, finding it curious to see a cute young woman looking out the window of a rare military Humvee, glanced at Heness as they walked by.

After a short while, a unfamiliar-looking SUV emerged from the underground parking lot and pulled up next to the Humvee.

“I’ll guide you. Please follow.”

“…” When Jun-sang nodded, Seo-yoon started his car and drove ahead. After driving for about ten more minutes, the two cars entered the underground parking lot of a first-class hotel next to an amusement park.

Seo-yoon quickly parked his car and approached the Humvee, speaking to Jun-sang. “I was surprised to get your call. What’s suddenly…”

But Seo-yoon couldn’t continue his sentence. Jun-sang’s hand had suddenly grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

“Jun-sang?” Heness, who was getting out of the car, cried out in surprise at his sudden action, but Jun-sang raised a hand and asked Seo-yoon in a low voice, “Did you reveal my whereabouts?”

“Huh?” Seo-yoon was startled by Jun-sang’s sudden action, and then again surprised when he was lifted by his collar, losing all strength in his limbs and becoming immobile.

“What’s suddenly…” As Seo-yoon asked again, sweating profusely, Jun-sang immediately replied, “Shortly after I contacted you, Kim Jong-kyung’s men came looking for me.”

“Ah…” Seo-yoon’s face twisted in dismay. “Those bastards… I thought they were investigating our guild, but they did something like that…”

“…” As Jun-sang stared at him silently, Seo-yoon quickly continued, “I truly know nothing about it. The Humvee might have been a clue, but I swear I never leaked any information.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Think about it. How would I know Mr. Jun-sang’s location? I didn’t put a tracker on the Humvee or anything.”

“…” As a hint of suspicion entered Jun-sang’s eyes upon hearing that, Seo-yoon seemed to realize his mistake and quickly added, “I never put anything like that on it! Really. If you don’t believe me, you can check it yourself.”

“…” Only then did Jun-sang nod and lower Seo-yoon.

“Phew…” As Seo-yoon, finally able to move his body again, breathed a sigh of relief, Jun-sang watched him quietly and said, “I’ll return that car to you.”

“…” Even if his suspicion was cleared, since both Im Seo-yoon and Kim Jong-kyung had located Jun-sang based on the Humvee’s existence, it was no longer feasible to openly drive it around. Seo-yoon, understanding this, immediately replied, “Understood. Do as you wish.” And wiping away the cold sweat that had appeared on his brow, he continued, “Follow me. I will guide you to a quiet place.”

“…” Jun-sang silently nodded at Seo-yoon, then extended his hand towards Heness, who was standing beside the car with an anxious expression. Heness, unsettled by the sudden hostile atmosphere, watched them uneasily. When Jun-sang offered his hand, she looked at it blankly for a moment, not understanding its meaning. Seeing this, Jun-sang spoke again, “Come here.”

“…” Only then did Heness realize his action meant to take his hand. Heness hesitated, then slowly approached and took Jun-sang’s hand. They had already kissed, and hugged several times… What was so difficult about just holding hands that her heart was pounding so hard? Heness, holding Jun-sang’s hand and exiting the parking lot, felt as if everyone was staring at her and couldn’t bring herself to lift her head.

Seo-yoon, watching their subtle interaction, finally realized where he had seen the brown-haired girl before.

“Ah!” He was so surprised that his usually narrow, always-smiling eyes widened so much that his pupils were visible this time. “C-could it be… that young lady from back then?”

Jun-sang replied briefly to Seo-yoon’s words, “That’s right.”

“H-how. Surely that person, I mean… Evelua? Anyway, she can’t come here freely…” Seo-yoon was flustered, babbling uncharacteristically, but Jun-sang again replied curtly, “You don’t need to know.”

“…”

“Just guide the way.”

“Ah, understood.”

But even as he walked ahead, Seo-yoon wore a troubled expression, unsure how to process this information. They could go there, but those from there couldn’t easily cross over here. That was one of the rules of the quest he knew. But how had that rule been broken? Now, right beside Jun-sang, a girl from that world clearly existed. This, depending on how you looked at it, could be a revolution. At least, how many people would accept the first appearance of a human from another world on Earth as calmly and impassively as Jun-sang did?

But whether Seo-yoon pondered such thoughts or not, Jun-sang, holding Heness’s hand, confidently walked into the hotel. Seo-yoon briefly checked his watch, then led him to the restaurant. At the entrance, the attending waiter, seeing Seo-yoon, was startled and guided them with utmost deference.

“Let’s just have a quick meal and talk.”

“Alright.”

Heness, momentarily dazed by the opulent and dazzling lighting, was led by Jun-sang to a window table and sat down.

“Wow…” As the bustling cityscape reflected through the large, panoramic window, Heness, like a child, pressed herself against the glass, completely absorbed in watching the outside world.

“Order is…”

“Order whatever you want.”

“Yes.”

Seo-yoon ordered an appropriate meal for three, then, when the waiter left, quietly asked Jun-sang, “What are you planning to do?”

Jun-sang looked at Heness’s back, who was engrossed in watching outside, and replied, “First, Kim Jong-kyung.”

“The Alliance won’t stand still.”

“And if they don’t?”

“…” Indeed, even if they intervened, they couldn’t stop Jun-sang. Seo-yoon had keenly felt that just now in the parking lot. To be so helpless, unable to move a single finger… Seo-yoon swallowed a bitter smile and spoke again, “Anyway… may I ask why you contacted me?”

Jun-sang quietly replied, “I need to get a car.”

“A car, you mean…”

“That one’s no good. It shakes too much.”

“Ah, yes…” Seo-yoon sighed internally again. The Humvee wasn’t built for a comfortable ride in the first place. Its amazing features were its 40-centimeter ground clearance, 60 percent climbing capability, 40 percent side-slope capability, 46-centimeter vertical obstacle clearance, and 76-centimeter trench crossing capability, not for a comfortable and relaxing outdoor life! …So Seo-yoon silently screamed in his mind, but no one was there to hear his outcry.

“And…” Jun-sang started to speak but stopped when the waiter brought their drinks. After the waiter poured champagne and left, Jun-sang moistened his mouth with it before speaking again, “Where is this ‘Alliance’?”

Seo-yoon asked with a stern expression, “Surely…”

Then Jun-sang said with a calm expression, “If I’m going to deal with them anyway, there’s no need to drag it out.” His tone was so casual, as if he were asking if the dessert here was delicious, but that’s precisely why Seo-yoon found it even more chilling.

This man… Just how powerful was he? Seo-yoon somehow felt his throat burning and reached for his champagne glass.