Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Arrangement (2)

"I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍see. So that is your request."

Upon ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hearing my request, Baek Ha-seong responded with his usual composure, showing no particular sign of surprise.

"You ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do not seem very surprised."

"Is ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there a reason I should be?"

"In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a way, I am asking you to kill a former colleague. You are part of the same organization, after all."

To ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍my question, Baek Ha-seong replied as if he had heard something amusing.

"Being in the same organization does not make us colleagues. We are simply individuals gathered with different objectives. Just as the Puppeteer pursued pleasure, I pursued the goals of freedom and revenge."

"Does that mean..."

"It means we can kill each other at any time if it serves our purposes."

So that is how it feels.

It was the first time I had heard this, as I did not have incredibly detailed knowledge about the inner workings of their organization.

"And yet, it somehow stays together."

"It is likely because we rarely have reasons to clash. Our respective goals are completely different."

"Hmm..."

"However, now that you have made such a request, I suppose I can no longer say that is the case."

Baek Ha-seong fell deep into thought as he spoke.

Seeing him like that, I felt compelled to say something.

"Was it perhaps a difficult request?"

If he was contemplating this much, did it mean the outcome was uncertain?

If it was a difficult request, I was prepared to change the plan.

I did not know the exact relationship between Baek Ha-seong and Hwa-ryeon, nor did I know how they matched up against each other.

However, Baek Ha-seong replied as if it were not that big of a deal.

"It is not that. As you said, it is a difficult request, but it is not an impossible one."

"But..."

"Ah, are you worried because of how I looked just now? That was simply a different concern, so you do not need to worry."

"A different concern?"

At my question, Baek Ha-seong nodded and replied.

"I was wondering why you want Hwa-ryeon dead."

"Ah."

Certainly, that makes sense.

The image I had shown until now was not one of someone who insisted on killing a person just because they were a villain.

Thus, Baek Ha-seong’s curiosity was a perfectly reasonable doubt.

'Of course, there is a reason.'

I have probably mentioned this before.

I do not necessarily reject someone just because they are a villain, but I do have a line that I have drawn for myself.

Yes, for example, cases involving individuals who will clearly become a detriment to the future.

And as one might expect, Hwa-ryeon was one of those people.

'The midterm exams, the Blue Nightmare, and so on. Most of those atrocities started with her.'

One might ask what I mean by the Blue Nightmare; it was Hwa-ryeon who first began mass-producing it and released it into the market.

In short, she was an existence that brought nothing but harm, no matter which way you looked at it.

"Hwa-ryeon is a definitive evil."

"Definitive evil. Is that your judgment?"

"Looking at it from various angles, it is an objective judgment."

"I see."

Baek Ha-seong nodded as if agreeing with my words.

"Certainly, if one were to divide people into good and evil, she could be considered evil."

"Is that how it looks to you as well, Baek Ha-seong?"

"Yes. However, how should I put it? It might be better to see her as a case of someone who is evil but does not consider herself to be so."

"Hmm."

What Baek Ha-seong said was mostly true.

In the way the novel handled her, she was a human who seemed to be a devotee to something.

"But even so, my thoughts remain unchanged."

"I suppose so. You are a guy who knows how to take responsibility for the words you spit out."

"I appreciate you seeing it that way."

"Not particularly. I only said that because that is the way you have conducted yourself."

Baek Ha-seong spoke as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Come to think of it, there is one thing I am curious about."

"What is it?"

"Even assuming she is evil, is there really a reason for you to go as far as harming her? You do not exactly have a righteous personality."

That is true, but it hurts my heart a bit to have it pointed out so directly.

Have I really shown that many unrighteous sides of myself?

'...I do not think that was the case.'

He must be saying that because of how I work with people like Yu-hyeon or the Puppeteer despite them being villains.

Yes, that must be it.

Still, since it was not exactly a wrong statement, I did not deny it and answered Baek Ha-seong’s question.

"I have a reason."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I cannot say exactly what it is, but it is a necessary task for the future I want."

"I see. Right."

Baek Ha-seong nodded as if he roughly understood what I meant.

In fact, his following words confirmed it.

"In short, it means it is necessary for the friends you cherish."

"...That is right."

"If that is the case, your plan will not end with just that, will it?"

I could not offer any rebuttal to Baek Ha-seong’s firm statement.

What he had just said was the truth.

"I do not know what kind of future you want or what you are planning. I do not intend to know, since it does not seem like you have much intention of telling me anyway."

"..."

"But if you have gone as far as saying you will eliminate Hwa-ryeon, then at least this is not the end, is it?"

"You are right."

I readily admitted it.

There was no reason to hide it.

"Considering how you have acted until now, it seems the following plan is closely related to the organization I belong to."

"That is also correct."

"Then it is obvious. It means you intend to eliminate that masked guy as well, right?"

To think he could deduce that much just from my request to get rid of Hwa-ryeon.

I had forgotten because we had become close lately, but I was suddenly reminded of the fact that the man before me was the one called the Person of the Stormy Clouds and the Irregular, Baek Ha-seong.

"You are impressive. I did not realize you would figure it out to that extent with just that much."

"Something like this is simple. Anyone can do it, as long as they are not that spearman with nothing but muscle in his head."

...He is talking about Shin Yu-hwan, right?

It seems their relationship is the same as always.

"Ahem. Anyway, everything you said is correct."

"I see. Then I think I have a general idea of the plan you are making."

"Do you?"

"Is it not that you will leave Hwa-ryeon to me and use the remaining personnel to strike the masked guy?"

"Precisely."

"It is a wise judgment."

However, Baek Ha-seong continued speaking as if that was not all.

"But a half-hearted plan like that will not work. Do you know the true identity of that masked guy?"

"...Yes. I know."

"I suppose so. Since you even knew information about Seora, it would be strange if you did not know."

"..."

"If that is the case, you will have to set your plan even more meticulously. It will be a struggle even to face him with ordinary methods."

Everything he said was right.

That was because...

"The opponent is a Hero-Rank Player, so I do not intend to go into this with a light heart either."

The enemy we had to face was a Hero-Rank Player who possessed both power and authority in the legitimate world.

Baek Ha-seong thought for a moment at my words before speaking.

"Then I have nothing more to say. My opponent will be Hwa-ryeon anyway."

"Are you accepting the request?"

"You are asking the obvious. I told you, I will grant whatever request you make."

"Thank you."

"I am simply doing what was promised, so there is no need for thanks."

Even so, I am still grateful.

There are so many people in this world who cannot even keep a light promise.

Regardless, if this is how it goes, I will not need to worry about the Hwa-ryeon side. Baek Ha-seong will handle that matter on his own.

Therefore...

'I should focus on the Masked Man.'

In fact, I had already drawn a bit of a picture for this part as well.

And to draw this picture even more vividly and clearly, I needed some help from Baek Ha-seong.

Therefore, although I felt a bit apologetic, I eventually had to speak to Baek Ha-seong.

"Um, I have something to say regarding that masked guy."

"Go ahead."

"To solidify the situation, I think I will need a bit of your help, Baek Ha-seong. Would that be alright?"

Actually, I would have had nothing to say even if he refused.

If it came to this, it would essentially be making two requests.

But fortunately, Baek Ha-seong readily accepted.

"If it is something I can do."

"Thank you. Then..."

I felt a bit guilty for asking for so much, but I had no choice.

I had to remove as many variables as possible and arrange things perfectly to safely face what was to come.

Thus, putting aside my feelings of guilt for now, I began to explain what I had in mind.

***

"Whew..."

After our conversation—which was short in some ways and long in others—ended, the dormitory room where Baek Ha-seong had left was very quiet.

However, my mind remained as complicated as ever.

"I do not know if that was the right judgment."

To be honest, it is a plan that could be seen as hasty.

If I had planned this after Kim Su-hyeok, the other kids, and I had all grown stronger step-by-step, it would be different, but for now, it was undeniably a task with high risks.

Nevertheless, there was a reason I had made this judgment.

"Information came from Yu-hyeon."

There was the incident involving the betrayal of the Apostles and the Sect Leader previously.

At that time, did I not have a conversation with Yu-hyeon? We were certain there was a mastermind behind it.

The reason I planned this, even if it was hasty, was because of the identity of that mastermind.

"To think it was that masked guy."

I do not know how he traced the evidence to reach that conclusion, but since Yu-hyeon said he was certain, it must be reliable information.

And if I add my personal opinion to that, it was not an entirely unbelievable matter.

Considering the goal of that masked guy—who was also a Hero-Rank Player—it was something that could very well happen.

"That is why I wanted to use this opportunity to ask Baek Ha-seong to take care of Hwa-ryeon as well."

In fact, I had put all those thoughts into action.

However, even now that I had put it into action, I could not help but feel conflicted.

Was this truly the right judgment? Should I have taken a bit more time before doing this?

'...But doing that might cause an even more dangerous situation.'

The future has already changed enough as it is, and I no longer know how the things I am aware of will change in the future.

In such a situation, after learning for certain that the masked guy is targeting the heroes, I should just stay still?

That was impossible.

If I chose the safe path and it led to a bad result, I was certain I would regret it to death.

"So, let us stay strong."

I already know it myself.

The path I am trying to take can never be easy, and it is even more foolish to wish for safety on that path.

On the day I killed a human for the first time after coming to this world, did I not make a resolution?

That no matter what happened, I would definitely protect the heroes I admire.

Therefore, I decided to set aside the conflict that kept spinning in my head.

I already knew well enough that agonizing over it further would not produce a better result.

However, that did not mean all my concerns were over.

"...What should I say to the kids?"

I said that I would tell them in advance if I were going to do something, without making them worry anymore.

And those were not words I just spat out for no reason.

That was why concerns were bound to arise.

I want Kim Su-hyeok and the kids to be safe, but at the same time, I also wish for their happiness.

"If it were up to me, I would just tell them, but the problem is that if I say this, they will definitely say they want to come along."

With their personalities, there is no way they would just watch from the sidelines.

So it was natural to hesitate.

A Hero-Rank Player is not exactly a pushover, so if they join in, the process cannot be seen as perfectly safe.

"Sigh, this is hard, so hard..."

It was a task I had undertaken to arrange things cleanly in advance for the path ahead.

Contrary to that, it was a difficult night where the complicated thoughts in my head could not be settled.

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