Saturn Raid (3)

The moment Saturn’s death became known, the world could not help but be stirred up.

That was because even the Sea Sun Brigade, the place that had been called the strongest group in the world, had failed to hunt an apostle.

But because something absurd had happened in a completely unexpected place, the controversy continued.

The point of controversy was simple.

It was whether the Sea Sun Brigade’s strength was truly real.

Although there was a difference in the number of people mobilized, considering the reputation the Sea Sun Brigade had built up until now, there was no choice but for there to be much talk about the fact that they had not been able to finish off Beral with a small number of people.

“Maybe the Sea Sun Brigade is past its prime after all?”

“Doesn’t Korea have the world’s first 8th Circle black mage?”

“Marcelo is a 9th Circle too, isn’t he?”

“Wouldn’t there be some difference like beginner and user, or something like that?”

Everyone was busy running their mouths with the information and knowledge they knew, and as a war of words broke out, with some defending the Sea Sun Brigade and others criticizing it, one person who had been quietly listening to it left their seat.

Then, after looking at the procession of those who had returned victorious, they immediately moved their feet, pushed through the crowd, and shouted.

“Geum Seong-chan!! I wish to speak with you!”

The shout, imbued with powerful aura, overwhelmed the audience and drew their gazes. And when the person who had just shouted took off their hood and revealed themselves, everyone stirred.

“It’s the Sea Sun Brigade, isn’t it?”

“She’s the saintess of the Gaia Church! Ooh!!”

“Why is Hera here?!”

Everyone was murmuring, but the person who had shouted wore a sullen expression.

At that, Hera moved her feet toward Geum Seong-chan along the path created as people stepped aside. Then, with the person she sought in front of her, she continued speaking.

“I came here to recruit you into the Sea Sun Brigade.”

The reputation of the Sea Sun Brigade. Although people were currently debating because they had failed to resolve Beral in an instant, Hera was certain that in the end, they were the group that suited the modifier “the best.”

But the answer that came back was far too unexpected.

“I won’t. I’m not doing that kind of game.”

“Game… you say?”

At Hera’s flustered question, Geum Seong-chan spoke.

“I’m saying I have no interest in a group that is so drunk on playing the strong that it is neither one thing nor the other. What is so great about belonging to the Sea Sun Brigade?”

“You, our honor….”

“Instead of wasting time talking about honor, put proper effort into saving the world, the thing you’re so good at. So that we don’t have to suffer.”

He must have been referring to hunting Saturn.

Hera immediately showed displeasure and opened her mouth.

“You know it too, don’t you? Beral must have strengthened his power using some method. But Saturn did not, and instead headed straight for Korea. Are you reproaching us after winning against an enemy like that?”

“I’m telling you to do that ‘proof’ you like so much. I have not the slightest intention of joining the Sea Sun Brigade, so please do not come looking for me again.”

“…You will regret it.”

“I won’t. I already finished all the regrets I needed to have in the past.”

Hera, who met his gaze in silence for a long while, left the place behind this incomprehensible human. And though Hera thought her pride had been wounded because her proposal had been rejected, Geum Seong-chan had no way of knowing that.

Meanwhile, Go Yu-jin asked Geum Seong-chan a question as he watched Hera grow distant.

“Joining the Sea Sun Brigade is every Awakener’s dream, isn’t it?”

“If an offer came to you, Yu-jin, would you accept?”

“…Honestly, I think I would refuse too.”

Go Yu-jin had no choice but to smile awkwardly. In truth, if she acted as a member of the Sea Sun Brigade, honor would follow, but the problem was that she would be exposed to far too many dangers.

That was because the average grade of the Gates the Sea Sun Brigade handled was around Grade 7.

This was the standard called a calamity, and there was even talk that the number of Gates they had eliminated with their power alone had exceeded several hundred.

Because they possessed such tremendous power, it felt as if they were fulfilling duties befitting that power.

“It is probably true that they are strong. And I know why they are called saviors for saving humanity, but when even protecting my own rice bowl is difficult, I have no intention of fleeing elsewhere.”

After hearing Geum Seong-chan’s words, Go Yu-jin fell into complicated thoughts.

If she became part of the Sea Sun Brigade, she would certainly be placed in an environment where she could become stronger.

It would be that dangerous and busy, but it meant she would inevitably grow stronger. However, Go Yu-jin merely thought that if it had been before, she might have volunteered, but now, while looking at Geum Seong-chan, she would probably refuse.

“But, do I have to return the Keltium?”

It was a sudden question that came to mind, but Geum Seong-chan gave a clear answer.

“Keep all of it for yourself, Yu-jin. If they ask for it back, I’ll talk around it well.”

Even though it was metal worth close to a staggering two trillion won, the fact that he said that made Go Yu-jin feel reassured, while also making her feel needlessly burdened.

A celebration party for the key figures of the victory continued.

Furthermore, just as Kim Dae-san confidently said that they had secured war deterrence by showing an overwhelming achievement that even China and Japan could not do anything about, it was certain they would not be able to think of doing anything to us for the time being. So I happened to receive a question from Kim Dae-san, who had been going around looking for the key figures of the victory.

“I heard your contribution was very great. You worked hard.”

I had not expected to hear praise.

Even Kim Dae-san had been smiling throughout the party.

“What brings this on?”

“I am also a person who knows how to praise others. When something is done well, it is only right to say it was done well. And from the position of someone who forced sacrifice upon you, your victory is simply welcome.”

“So you do know that you forced sacrifice on us?”

“Of course I do. That is why I am thanking the heavens that every single one of you returned without dying.”

He said that, but unlike the smile on his lips, his eyes were not smiling. It meant there was still something he was wary of.

Why he lived in such an exhausting way was something I could not understand in many ways, but everyone had their own circumstances.

“What will you do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“There was an official announcement from the Sea Sun Brigade. They said they wanted to invite you into the Sea Sun Brigade.”

“I’ll refuse, of course. Why would I do something so bothersome?”

“…It is a matter of saving the world. Calling it something bothersome is a degree of disparagement they would not be very pleased with either.”

There was a need to be careful with my words, but I did not particularly feel afraid of or burdened by them.

In any case, it was something people could not do together if their hearts did not align.

In fact, countless strong people had refused the Sea Sun Brigade’s offers, and even now, the Sea Sun Brigade would occasionally invite people who had made their names known in official settings or reached a certain realm in order to recruit them.

This time was the same.

In truth, Saturn had not been hunted by me alone. It had been a victory obtained by everyone’s coordination and effort, pouring out an enormous amount of power in a short time.

As a result, he would not have been an easy opponent if I had been alone.

‘No, I might even have died. Saturn was not a being to think of simply.’

Since it was a victory that felt easy to obtain, it would be a mistake to think Saturn had been weak.

“By the way, there was a saintess of the Gaia Church in the country. Did you know?”

“I did not. Her appearance was far too sudden.”

Kim Dae-san was someone who usually put effort into grasping the movements of strong people. So he was a person who checked most strong people and even managed them by attaching a light degree of surveillance.

But the fact that he could not gauge the location of someone on Hera’s level meant she might have entered the country secretly through some method.

I expected that it would not be a good method, and began thinking that perhaps the Sea Sun Brigade appeared and vanished like ghosts.

“By the way, what do you think will happen going forward?”

There was talk that the Church of Ruin was rapidly losing its influence in China as an aftermath of losing Saturn this time.

It had not even been half a day, but from the Chinese authorities’ position, the Church of Ruin was nothing more than an “evil cult.”

They had declared support for the Church of Ruin because they feared Saturn. In reality, they would absolutely not believe in or follow the Church of Ruin.

And they might be preparing actions suited to that.

“The work of expelling the Church of Ruin will probably continue. Starting with China and East Asia, won’t they enter large-scale suppression operations all the way into Central Asia?”

Kim Dae-san’s expression turned serious after hearing my words.

It was a religion that possessed enormous power.

Even now, it was not an easy situation to handle.

The problem was that confirming them was extremely difficult, since there was no way to verify their secret activities.

“We will need an alternative.”

“Are you going to test the whole nation for divine power or something?”

“If they could have been found through such a method, we would have done it long ago.”

When I smirked and spoke as if telling him to figure it out himself, Kim Dae-san let out a sigh.

There could not possibly be any suitable alternative. In the end, the only alternative they could choose would likely be responding the moment the Church of Ruin revealed itself.

Afterward, the party continued in a fairly quiet atmosphere.

In truth, aside from the fifty people who had been active in this operation, there was no one who would draw attention.

And because I, who received the greatest attention, disliked exposing myself to the media, I had refused most interviews.

The more enemies one had, the more basic it was to hide oneself.

In a situation where the Church of Ruin was gaining power, it would not be strange no matter what happened, so it was right to change my attitude and draw an appropriate line.

“Seong-chan, you never enjoy yourself, do you?”

Go Yu-jin approached and spoke to me. Then she pointed at the faces of those attending the party and said.

“Over there is the Minister of National Defense, over there is the President, and over there is a conglomerate chairman. This is a playing field for people like that, so there’s no reason for me to enjoy it, is there?”

“What about me?”

“You are an exception.”

I reached out, and at my gesture, Go Yu-jin took my hand.

Then we headed to the terrace and went outside. There were already previous guests there, but they were far enough away that we did not have to mind each other.

After taking a place at a suitable spot, I looked around the city and spoke.

“The path ahead will be quite long.”

“I know. It will be full of difficult things, but I don’t think that is bad.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the world can stand right only after going through change anyway. If it cannot endure that change, it will break apart, but if it can endure it, then the small change I made today will never remain small.”

She was right. The changes created by people who lived fiercely.

That had created the form and lives of the humans of today, and the countless presents that had continued from the past were telling us of this very fleeting moment.

“People will remember today, and they will remember tomorrow too. Tomorrow’s today, today’s tomorrow. It’s an endless repetition, isn’t it?”

“There won’t be time to look back.”

Go Yu-jin stared up at me, wore a radiant smile, and wrapped her arms around the back of my neck. Then she brought her face close and spoke.

“I’d like you to look only at me right now. It would be even better if you knew how to say romantic things too.”

Then, as I felt the sensation of our lips overlapping, I also lightly caressed both of Go Yu-jin’s cheeks and savored this moment.