“Nonsense.”

A look of displeasure settled on Cheon Shin Woo’s face. He approached me.

“No need to listen. Let’s just go.”

“Hehe, go if you want to. I won’t stop you. But will your younger sibling want to go too, I wonder?”

“What do you expect from someone with such a rotten attitude? He probably treated his sibling the same way and earned their hatred.”

I suddenly recalled hearing that top-ranked hunters all have some twisted aspects. Indeed, Cheon Shin Woo just stood out more, but the others weren’t exactly sane either.

Cheon Shin Woo stopped. Whether affected by Baek Yi Hyun’s provocation or not, a subtle anger tinged his smile.

“Baek Ya… if you’re that eager to die.”

Then came a series of explosive sounds in quick succession. Bang, bang, bang bang bang. The ear-splitting noise disrupted Baek Yi Hyun’s afterimage. I lamented the ruined state of L.R’s underground training room.

“Every time they meet, they fight like cats and dogs…”

Park Ha Young clicked her tongue. Honestly, having my opinion ignored isn’t anything new, so it doesn’t really bother me. But seeing Korea’s rank 1 and 2 fighting enthusiastically is quite concerning.

“Is that my fault?! The problem is that bastard’s rotten attitude! Huh? And if he’s a dog, am I a monkey?! Am I a monkey?!”

“…It seems you both have a death wish.”

“Ha, the rank 1 is so confident! Do you think you can take on both of us alone!”

“I never said I’d fight alongside you.”

It’s utter chaos. Bullets ricocheting off walls everywhere, along with flying daggers. And Park Ha Young, fan in hand, deflecting only the bullets and daggers coming her way…

The truly amazing thing is that not a single weapon is flying towards me.

Looking to the side, I saw Han Chae Hyun shaking her head.

She let out a sigh. I carefully observed her expression and asked.

“Should we try to stop them soon?”

“How?”

Indeed, it seemed difficult to stop the country’s three strongest fighters like this.

But regardless of that fact…

“Stop! Stop fighting! And I haven’t said I’m going anywhere or staying yet!”

My opinion hasn’t even been heard and they’re already fighting among themselves like this!

“Oh my.”

In an instant, all movement ceased. As if nothing had happened, Park Ha Young landed lightly in the middle of the now-quiet training ground.

“How cute. Did you think we were fighting seriously?”

“…”

“Hoho, though they talk tough, they have soft hearts, you see. They weren’t really fighting seriously.”

“Nonsense.”

That was true. A fight between the country’s strongest wouldn’t end with just a slightly damaged training room. I deliberately ignored Baek Yi Hyun, who looked dejected, muttering “It was just a joke…?”

“They talk big, but they’ll stop at just roughing each other up a bit. Such good children.”

“That’s not exactly what I’d call ‘good’… And, um.”

Can’t you stop adding fuel to the fire?

Seeing me unable to continue, Park Ha Young unfolded her fan.

“As expected, you don’t call him ‘elder brother’. And you’re being cautious too…”

“Didn’t I tell you to ignore that?”

“Well, it’s clear your relationship isn’t that of normal siblings. As someone of standing, I can’t ignore someone in need of help.”

“…”

“So, child, if you need help, just say so.”

“I think I’ve said at least three times that your concern is unnecessary.”

“Are you the type to kindly say something three times? Besides, you tried to leave before my business was finished.”

“…”

Slowly, the words ‘I want to destroy everything, conversation be damned’ began to appear on Cheon Shin Woo’s face. I subtly distanced myself.

“I said I refused.”

“I told you it’s not a bad proposal for you either… You didn’t even properly listen.”

“…”

“Isn’t it better to detonate a bomb yourself than wait for it to explode unpredictably? And I’m not forcing you to do it right away. At least, we should talk about it. Above all, your sibling’s opinion is being ignored.”

“…”

I’m sorry, but could you please look at someone else besides me? For a moment, I subtly avoided the gazes that had converged on me.

“If you keep acting like this, you’ll remain a hated elder brother.”

“…Hah.”

“So, are you ready to listen properly now?”

Cheon Shin Woo ran his hand through his hair with an irritated expression. Baek Yi Hyun, who had recovered by now, shouted, “Hah, as if doing something like that would restore that jerk’s ruined image!”

I thought to myself.

I’d like to drink beer while looking at the stars…

The proposal that Cheon Shin Woo rejected without even hearing the main point was the same as what I had heard from Han Chae Hyun.

It was about using me for image-making as the face or mascot of Cheonrang. In other words, instead of Cheon Shin Woo, who might beat up an interviewer during an interview, how about I do public activities as Cheonrang’s representative?

And truthfully, I had no thoughts on the matter.

“Hoho, you look deep in thought.”

“It’s pointless. No need to reconsider. I refuse.”

“When will that nasty temper of his ever improve?”

Amusingly, the person who came to mind at this moment was Min Yu Shin. If it were Min Yu Shin, he would probably welcome it with open arms and sell—no, entrust me to L.R.

To be honest, Park Ha Young’s proposal didn’t really resonate with me.

Isn’t it too unrealistic? I even started to think that this place might be a huge set and that this was some kind of show to surprise me.

“Hoho, how’s the tea?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a special blend made by Yeri. Ah, do you know who Yeri is?”

Park Ha Young asked, noticing my state. I couldn’t even tell if the tea was going into my nose or mouth, let alone distinguish its taste. I returned an awkward smile. Park Ha Young maintained her usual beautiful smile.

“…”

Cheon Shin Woo, who had received plain water, briefly frowned. I subtly avoided looking at him.

“Um, may I speak honestly?”

“Of course, feel free to do so.”

“…I’m not sure. I wonder if I should do something like that. It seems like it could be fun, but above all…”

“You think it might be dangerous?”

“…”

“Of course it would be dangerous. But child, it’s not just Jeokcheon here who’s made enemies.”

“What?”

“Shall I tell you a brief story from the past?”

Park Ha Young smiled as she savored a sip of tea. Baek Yi Hyun, who had been quiet for a while, momentarily stiffened.

What Park Ha Young brought up was a political story. Moreover, it was about the politics entangled between current Awakened, Hunters, and the Association and the four major guilds.

Her story connected with what An Un had once told me. And I couldn’t help but freeze when the name ‘Kang Se Jin’ came up.

An older sister who had particularly taken care of me and whom I had followed well when I had just returned and was affiliated with the Association.

A regrettable Association-affiliated hunter who died caught up in an S-class wave.

“It’s true that there’s deep resentment between the current political circles and the hunter circles. They always want to put us in their hands and control us.”

“…”

“What happened to Se Jin was truly regrettable. She wasn’t the type to go like that…”

The following explanation was about the detailed inside story of the ‘Dog Collar Incident’ that I didn’t know about.

Ordinary people both admired and feared Awakened ones with powerful abilities. They began to divide Awakened and non-Awakened, considering them as different beings.

If they had just been afraid, such a tragedy might not have occurred.

The non-Awakened, especially those in power, wanted to keep the Hunters under their feet and bound them with laws.

In the process, if there was anyone who stood in opposition to them, they would even go as far as to have them killed.

A hunter who acted as the Association’s only S-class to protect civilians. Se Jin, who always interfered with the actions of those in power, saying it was for the people, died alone protecting citizens in an S-class wave.

No one came to support her. Those who couldn’t miss this golden opportunity to get rid of a thorn in their side restricted access to the area, citing danger.

It wasn’t just a simple S-class gate, but a wave where monsters poured out endlessly. There was no way she could have blocked it alone.

This incident was the Bupyeong Great Disaster that claimed over a thousand casualties.

And when resentment over this began to reach the heavens, the government came up with one scheme.

To get rid of another thorn in their side and deflect the arrows of resentment, they pinned the blame on Cheon Shin Woo.

It was an absurd reason, but it still became a crime,

For the sole reason that Cheon Shin Woo was Korea’s rank 1.

On the grounds that he had stood by when he could have protected and saved people.

A new truth mixed with lies instantly ensnared him, and he stood trial.

They probably didn’t intend to kill Cheon Shin Woo, such a powerful tool.

They just wanted to manipulate him, still young, at will by using criminal charges.

And what followed is the famous development we all know, isn’t it?

The two incidents were intertwined in this complex and close manner.

I didn’t feel particularly angry anew. I just had the thought, ‘Ah, so that’s how it happened.’

Maybe because it was such an old incident.

Anyway, the story Park Ha Young told was difficult to understand easily due to the numerous political interests involved.

The Awakened Association, a national organization, and the factions within the Association, along with those who had joined hands with some politicians.

To those who could treat human lives like pieces of paper for their own gain, the greatest enemy was not Cheon Shin Woo but Park Ha Young, she said.

Someone who is recognized by the public, can influence politics, and actually does so.

Honestly, it was a difficult story. It was complicated, and I wasn’t sure if I was understanding it correctly.

“Simply hiding because Jeokcheon, that child, has many enemies will only become a bigger weakness. Rather, it’s better to make your face known to all, make your name known, and gain protection and allies from the public. La Vie en Rose is also willing to actively protect you.”

I thought I could roughly understand what Park Ha Young was trying to say.

To simultaneously raise Cheon Shin Woo’s depleted image and Cheonrang’s rigid image, while protecting me from Cheon Shin Woo’s enemies that are everywhere. She was saying that my broadcasting activities would be very appropriate for this method.

Nevertheless, there were two things I couldn’t understand.

“…What benefit does L.R gain from doing this?”