Chapter 451 – Friend or Enemy (5)
When she woke up, her dissatisfaction with those around her was growing.
‘A person with qualifications’.
Even though she was young, she knew.
That the characteristics given to me have extraordinary power.
The reason I hid my traits was because of the huge shadow of my parents that I couldn’t escape no matter what I did.
Even if you boast about your good qualities, the answer you will get from them will be ‘thanks to having good parents.’
So I hid it.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a secret weapon, she thought to herself.
The strange thing started when I returned from a long wandering.
A face-to-face ceremony that started out of nowhere, and a quest.
She just followed without knowing where she was or what she was getting into.
After that, the trait evolved to the next level and became a ‘carer of karma’, which she finally faced.
Temperantia, the god of temperance who chose him.
The man I met in the world of my unconscious said.
This face was created by reflecting the people who had the greatest influence on my life.
His face was an exquisite mixture of the faces of two people he knew.
The first is Son Si-woo.
It was natural.
In her opinion, there was no one who had as much influence on her life as her father.
But the second one was unexpected.
‘Kim Do-jin…’
She was taken aback by his face, which took up half of Temperantia’s face.
‘Why… ?’
Obviously he said.
The face he took is said to have had the greatest influence on the life of Son Seo-yeon.
If so, it means that Kim Do-jin had such a great influence on me.
‘That… ‘Go?’
It was difficult to understand.
I’ve been learning a lot from him lately, but that’s just my story as a hunter.
I thought that there was nothing that could penetrate my entire life.
In the midst of such confusion, I received even more shocking news.
-“Originally, that position should have gone to the person who became your father, not you.”
Originally, the person who should have been chosen by Temperantia was not her, but her father, Son Si-woo.
So she asked.
Why did you choose me over my father?
To this he answered.
-“Because he is no longer fit to fight.”
It was difficult to understand.
I can’t fight.
My father is still an active hunter.
“Ah…”
Then it suddenly occurred to me.
My dad’s appearance has changed from usual.
From one day on, I could no longer see my father practicing early in the morning.
Why?
He said.
For me, early morning practice is something I have to do every day, like brushing my teeth, eating, and sleeping.
I had those characteristics, and now I have become the type of person I should be.
My father declared a break and has been taking a break for a whopping two years.
During that time, she never saw her father swing a sword.
Is it really a rest to soothe a tired body?
Or not…, Is she no longer able to swing the sword?
God said.
-“Your father was an extremely noble man.”
She found out through him.
The fact that my father’s body was broken.
That people sacrificed themselves to protect this country from a sudden disaster.
And…, And that he had been working too hard with that broken body until now.
-“A greater danger is coming. But your father can no longer stand against this.”
That’s why I chose myself.
It wasn’t just because she was Son Si-woo’s daughter.
She had talent.
Perfect physical balance that surpasses even that of her father in his prime.
And even magical talent that surpasses that of her mother.
He then declared:
-“The day your talent blooms, the world will finally become peaceful.”
It didn’t feel real.
I couldn’t believe it.
However, she accepted God’s offer and accepted the position of an apostle.
There is only one reason.
‘I need to let you rest.’
To give my father, who is overworking his broken body, a rest.
She knows well.
A person named Son Si-woo never just sits by and watches a crisis.
‘I…, To replace it.’
It wasn’t entirely for him.
It was also due to personal greed.
The shadow of my parents was so wide that no matter how much I ran, I couldn’t escape it.
When that time comes, I think I will finally be able to escape from there completely.
Not long after making that decision, she heard about the existence of her Guardians from the saint.
A group that protects the world from great evil.
-“I need your strength.”
The saint’s suggestion follows.
Son Seo-yeon did not hesitate any longer.
* * *
The moment I heard the story, my mind went blank.
I felt like I might get into an accident if I drove in this condition, so I stopped the car on her side of the road and took a moment to catch my breath.
“Whoa…”
Seoyeon, embarrassed by this, asks me in a worried tone.
“Gwae, it’s okay…” ?”
“… Yes, it’s okay.”
My daughter shouldered the duty that should have been borne by me.
But I don’t understand.
In fact, you need a good reason to change your choice, but Seoyeon didn’t tell you that.
They did tell me the reason.
Seo-yeon’s potential far surpasses Son Si-woo.
That is correct.
He has a talent that I don’t have, and thanks to me, he has a perfect body.
So much so that I can’t even remember what it was like when I was sick.
But these all sound like excuses.
The real reason is separate, and it feels like they are trying to make me understand only for secondary reasons.
I have doubts.
Maybe the reason Seoyeon was chosen instead of me…, I wonder if I have moved into this body.
If you chose my daughter knowing that the current Son Si-woo is nothing but an empty shell.
And if you told me this… ?
“It’s perfect, right… ?”
I raise my head and look at Seoyeon’s face, asking again if I’m okay.
No.
I didn’t realize that the current Son Si-woo was fake.
If that were the case, he would have had a change of heart in some way.
Ask the guy.
“Senior, are you okay?”
“Me? Why… ?”
“It’s a very heavy burden, that is.”
Hero, protector.
It’s a title given to people who all just put on a show, but do a lot of hard work.
At the same time, it is also a title that can mislead people.
They make me think I am someone who has achieved something and make me do things that I don’t need to do.
Moreover, the hardships that Seoyeon will experience will be many times more difficult and arduous than the hardships I have experienced.
He answered the question full of worry.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s okay…” .”
“Yes.”
There is no trace of regret or fear in Seoyeon’s facial expression as she nods.
“To be honest, I…, The idea of saving the world doesn’t really appeal to me. To be precise…, I have to say that the scale is so large that it hardly feels real… ?”
That will happen.
It was like that even when I was promoted to S-class and heard people say I was the hero of Korea and all.
If even the heroes of that small piece of land are like that, what would the world be like?
“I joined the Guardians just because…, Because I want to become stronger.”
There was a clear goal in Seoyeon’s shining eyes.
What is it?
The goal is to make that child so blind.
Eventually, the guy continued speaking.
“Mom and Dad…, I hope you don’t have to suffer anymore.”
“…”
“You both lived fiercely and are still living that way. Therefore…, I hope it gets a little easier now, but I think the world needs to be a little more peaceful for that to happen.”
I didn’t know.
I never thought my daughter would think so much about her family and her parents.
So it’s harsher.
If only I had shown that feeling a little more when I was still Son Si-woo.
If that were the case, I would have been very happy.
Before she knew it, both pride and disappointment for her grown daughter were flooding her heart.
“When that time comes…, We are all going on a trip together. Mom and dad…, And our dog Poppy.”
It’s a trip.
When was the last time you went on a family trip?
It seems like it was a long time ago.
I remember that even that didn’t end very well.
Because of the problem that arose at the Magic Tower, Han Joo-hee left first, and then the schedule for conquering the S-class dungeon was moved up, so I think she returned to Seoul before she could really enjoy it.
“That, and.”
Take a moment to smile bitterly at the not-so-good memories.
The guy started speaking with a trembling voice and continued talking while looking at me with a red face.
“Well, I wish Dojin would go with you then… !”
“Uh, um.”
When I don’t know how to react and am mentally choosing the right answer, this guy strikes first.
“I-I’ll just walk from here! See you later… !”
“No, wait… !”
Rattling!
Boom!
Before I could say anything, I opened the car door and rushed out.
I get lost in thought as I watch Seoyeon’s back as she walks away with great strides.
“Well…”
Unfortunately, that wish will not come true.
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
* * *
Clearing up Gwangmyeong Bridge.
This was one of the largest operations since the Guardians were founded.
Due to limitations in equipment quantity, the number of personnel deployed was small, but it was equally important.
An apostle of sloth with abilities related to brainwashing.
Because we don’t know how big of a threat he will be if we don’t get rid of him as soon as possible.
“Good…, All the paladins entered the country.”
The Holy Knights of the Vatican safely landed in Korea.
The skills of the priests selected from this branch are also very outstanding.
Above all, she had high expectations for the man she met for the first time here, Kim Do-jin.
“It was a lot better than I thought, right?”
It was a person selected by a saint.
So, I expected that he would have some level of skill, but the momentum I felt from him when I finally met him in person exceeded my expectations.
And much more.
“For a wizard, he had a very strong body.”
I felt it clearly as I smiled and patted his shoulder several times.
That was not the body of a wizard.
Rather, it was a body that was trained and refined enough to be trusted even as a skilled warrior.
It’s still a little below my standards, but I’m looking forward to it even more.
When that body matures, what kind of shape and hardness will it have?
“Ugh, seup…”
Just as I was swallowing back the saliva that was inadvertently flowing out and trying to manage my sagging expression.
Knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Rattling!
Eventually, the person who opened the door and came in was an operator belonging to the Guardians.
The name is Max.
This person is not well known to the public, but has a good reputation in the industry.
His face turned white.
Did something happen?
“Uh, over there…, Angela?”
“What’s wrong, Max? Did something happen?”
“… If it’s work, it could be work. Look at this.”
Max hands Angela the piece of paper he was holding tightly in his hand.
It was none other than a receipt.
“This is a receipt sent by Hunter Kim Do-jin, requesting processing of expenses.”
“Hey…, Really?”
She was deeply interested in the name Kim Do-jin and immediately opened the receipt.
And she was shocked.
“4.4 billion… Won?”
An unusual amount.
She frowned and asked.
“This amount… “How much is it in dollars?”
“If calculated at the current exchange rate, it is approximately…, It’s about $4 million.”
“…”
She thought.
It seems that a crazy person has joined the ranks of humanity’s guardians.
