Chapter 53: Perspectives Change (1)
“Such a nasty sneer is troublesome, isn't it?”
As the Poison King spoke, Hyeon-yul replied without a change in expression.
“I thought it was quite a foolish statement, so I made a mistake.”
It was typical behavior for the Poison King.
No, perhaps it was better described as typical villain behavior.
He was embodying the saying that the only good villain is a dead villain.
“Foolish?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-yul replied and looked at Hae-ryeon.
She was wavering.
“Team Leader. Don’t be swayed. Saying he could kill millions. If he could have done that, he would have done it immediately.”
Villains weren't idiots.
There was always a reason why they didn't do something they were capable of.
“It’ll be faster if you think about why the Black Eagles were created.”
Hyeon-yul looked at the distorted Poison King.
The Empire entrusted the role of catching villains not to the military, but to a group called the Black Eagles.
Why would they do that?
“While the Poison King personally might not care, most villains don’t want military intervention. In other words, it means they don’t desire a situation escalating into war.”
The moment the military mobilized, it couldn't simply be called a war in name only.
It was the moment a real war began.
But strangely, villains seemed not to want that, maintaining their power and influence at a level where the Empire couldn’t deploy the military.
Of course, all of this could be his own misconception.
But villains were poison-laced flowers, and as time passed, the roots they embedded in the Empire would only grow thicker and longer; going to war was clearly disadvantageous for the villains, no matter how you looked at it.
“If the poison spreads, many will die. But not as many as he claims. What that guy wants might be to plant fear deep in people’s hearts. He might want them to worry about something bigger coming if they don’t release him, and act accordingly.”
Internal chaos.
People’s fear.
The Black Eagles’ dilemma.
The fastest way to achieve all this was the method being used right now.
“He intends to grasp us by the throat like this and get what he wants. Isn’t that right?”
“As expected of someone formerly a villain, quite sharp, aren’t you.”
The Poison King lightly clapped his hands together.
“But you’re wrong about two things. Us avoiding war? Nonsense. It’s not us avoiding war, it’s the Empire.”
“Is that so?”
Hyeon-yul smiled quietly.
Information leaked from that heavy mouth.
The Empire didn't want war.
What was the reason?
He really wanted to rummage through that head to see if the Empire truly didn't want it.
‘This makes it increasingly regrettable to kill him.’
“Meaning, it’s not a lie that I can kill millions.”
Even as the Poison King boasted confidently, Hyeon-yul’s expression didn’t change.
“But you didn’t do it.”
He could have, but he didn't.
The Poison King must also know how significant this premise was.
“Therefore, your words are full of contradictions.”
Hyeon-yul averted his gaze from the speechless Poison King towards Hae-ryeon.
Unlike him, she seemed quite shocked.
“Team Leader.”
“……”
Even at his words, Hae-ryeon kept looking at the Poison King.
She felt like she was being dissuaded, but she couldn't help it.
Even though Hyeon-yul had said that, countless worries arose.
This wasn't just any matter; people's lives were at stake.
She had to think about how to minimize the deaths.
“It’s alright not to be swayed.”
At Hyeon-yul’s quiet words approaching her, Hae-ryeon finally looked at him.
It was different from confidence.
It was calm, as if it were truly nothing.
What should she call this?
“I can resolve it.”
Hyeon-yul’s voice, filled with conviction, calmed her worries.
It truly felt like he could do it.
Hae-ryeon clenched her fists tightly.
“Wait a moment.”
Leaving like this felt unfair.
Having taken several hits, she had to land at least one blow.
That was right.
“He gave us a gift, we can’t just leave. I have to give a gift too.”
Hae-ryeon pushed back her coat and took out several bottles.
She figured the Poison King's confidence stemmed from the fact that this poison couldn't be stopped.
That was amusing.
“Oh, what are you planning to give?”
The Poison King watched expectantly.
What could she do with bottles barely the size of a pinky finger joint?
“Watch.”
Hae-ryeon drank one of the bottles.
Her eye color changed to blue.
Snap.
As Hae-ryeon snapped her fingers, several bottles floated up.
As she raised her finger upwards, the liquids from two bottles rose.
The moment the blue liquid and yellow liquid mixed, changing color, an unknown entity was created.
It somewhat resembled what is commonly called slime.
Hyeon-yul focused, watching the curiously formed entity.
As if receiving Hae-ryeon’s command, it spread its body wide, clinging tenaciously to the tank wall and the melted parts of the room.
Though it seemed like a trivial action, the Poison King’s gaze changed.
It felt like the escaping poison was blocked.
“…What are you doing right now?”
“Restoration.”
No sooner had Hae-ryeon finished speaking than she dripped the liquid from another bottle onto the entity.
Flick.
Just as a flash of light erupted, a significant change occurred there.
“……?”
Even Hyeon-yul’s eyes widened.
He didn't know what this place originally looked like, but the entire area was literally restored.
The melted appearance was nowhere to be seen, and even the erased magic was re-inscribed.
Hyeon-yul looked at the Poison King.
His lips seemed to tremble from the overwhelming sense of futility.
It made sense, as she had erased the Poison King’s efforts in an instant.
“How about it? Getting a little angry?”
Hae-ryeon taunted the Poison King.
It was the Alchemist who performed miracles.
She had merely performed such a miracle.
“If you’re not, then I can’t help it.”
Hae-ryeon moved the last remaining liquid, fiddling with it in her hand.
What looked like mere water gradually took shape as she manipulated it.
“Try escaping as much as you want. This thing will return it to square one each time.”
Hae-ryeon stuck the roundly rolled something onto the wall.
Legs appeared, and it began to move slowly.
“……You. Youuu.”
“I hope your backstabbing hurts a lot. Let’s go.”
Hae-ryeon turned away, leaving those words behind.
“Yes.”
Hyeon-yul also moved to follow Hae-ryeon.
Only then did the Poison King’s voice, akin to a desperate struggle, reach them.
“Stop right there! Stop there…!”
“…Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
As soon as they came out, Hae-ryeon called Hyeon-yul.
Her expression was still stiff.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“I’ll take care of everything, so you go on ahead.”
“Understood.”
“…Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
Unlike a moment ago, she called him anxiously.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“You can do it, right? No, this time… you absolutely have to.”
Unlike landing a blow on the Poison King, the situation reflected in real-time was heading towards the worst.
The death toll kept rising.
In this situation, she had no choice but to rely on Hyeon-yul, who had captured the Poison King.
Hadn't he even destroyed the New Weapons?
But regardless of that fact, Hae-ryeon felt a lump in her throat.
How much pressure must he be under?
“I can do it. It’s still before quitting time, so you don’t need to worry.”
Hyeon-yul answered calmly, but Hae-ryeon finally smiled then.
Was he perhaps making a joke?
She couldn't help but think that.
“When you go outside, an Eagle will take you there.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Be careful. There might be other villains.”
“I don’t think they would be there.”
Enduring poison wasn't easy.
One had to be at Hae-ryeon's level.
“No, Mr. Hyeon-yul. It’s not certain yet, but a new villain has appeared. Poison might not even work on them.”
‘Poison doesn’t work?’
Hyeon-yul’s gaze changed slightly.
Who else besides the Poison King could such a being be?
“Then, I’ll be careful.”
Hyeon-yul gave a light nod and moved.
Slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted.
Separate from the unfolding situation, today yielded quite a harvest.
Who knew the Poison King would be this useful.
‘It was good I didn’t kill him.’
Satisfied, Hyeon-yul quickened his pace.
Unlike where the Poison King was, CCTVs existed here.
At the very least, his exit had to be recorded.
「Incident Start
—People suddenly started collapsing in a park in the T-11 area of the capital region.
Incident Progression
—Presumed dead from mass poisoning.
—Firefighters and police officers attempting rescue also died in large numbers from the poison.
—While designating it a terror zone, similar incidents occurred in other apartment complexes.
—Poison is continuously spreading.
Points to Note
—Mandatory wearing of equipment that can protect the body from poison.
—Poison color is faint, making it difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.
—Poison must be eliminated.」
This was the summary of the current mission.
Despite the urgency, it was quite well summarized.
Hyeon-yul observed the scene.
Barriers created by magic were visible here and there.
Did that mean all those places, at least over 10 of them, were where the poison had spread?
The response seemed quick.
However, it was noisy.
He didn't know why people were screaming so much even while being guided.
The ones who should be screaming now weren't the people, but the Black Eagles who had to approach the poisoned areas knowing they could die.
‘…What should I do.’
Erasing the poison wasn't difficult.
However, if he didn't move, they wouldn't know the poison was gone, so he had to move himself.
‘I don’t want to do anything conspicuous.’
The mere fact that he was from Team 3 would make all of them wary.
“Hyung(Brother)…!”
Just then, Ji-hwan’s voice was heard.
When Hyeon-yul turned his head, Ji-hwan ran over, his wavy perm fluttering.
“I heard from the Team Leader and was looking for you, were you called too, Hyung? You…?”
He had just arrived, but Ji-hwan wore an expression full of worry.
“Yes. I was called.”
“What about the Team Leader? Didn’t you come together?”
“She’s dealing with matters at the Special Criminal Containment Facility, so I came first.”
“This is that guy’s doing too, right?”
Poison King.
Ji-hwan mouthed the words silently.
“That’s correct.”
“I knew it. It had to be him. …Ah, what did you come here for, Hyung? A rescue mission for the people?”
“No. I came to get rid of that.”
“……What?”
“I came to get rid of the poison. I have to get rid of it.”
“Hyu… Hyung? Why you?”
“Because I caught that guy.”
Hyeon-yul answered briefly.
He didn't particularly want to explain how he could eliminate it.
He just looked for a way to remain inconspicuous.
“Hey. Where are you going? We need to maintain formation right now.”
At the words of another Black Eagle who followed, Ji-hwan turned his head.
He smiled brightly.
“What should I do, Team 7 member? My mission is support, but from now on, I need to support my hyung.”
The Team 7 Black Eagle looked at Hyeon-yul.
Team 3.
As soon as he saw that, he narrowed his eyes.
“What brings you here? Are you a magician?”
“I came to eliminate the poison.”
As the Team 7 Black Eagle froze at Hyeon-yul’s answer, Ji-hwan spoke up.
“It’s true. My hyung caught the Poison King.”
“…?”
Hyeon-yul looked at Ji-hwan at the sudden statement.
He was puffing his chest out as if it were his own accomplishment.
“……So.”
The Team 7 Black Eagle hesitated.
There was a well-connected person in Team 3, and through that person's mouth, a rumor had spread that a newbie caught the Poison King.
No one believed it.
He himself didn't believe it.
How could a newbie catch the Poison King?
—It’s true, okay? When you see him, treat him like a Black Eagle. You know me, right? I can't stand seeing people pick petty fights.
But Team Leader Ju-hyeon had said it was true.
He had no choice but to believe it.
“I just heard news that support was coming to eliminate the poison, was that… the Team 3 newbie?”
“Yes. That’s me.”
Hyeon-yul answered, then fiddled with his helmet.
He thought it was a good thing he wore it.
“Please come this way.”
The Team 7 Black Eagle guided the way.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll guide Hyung.”
Ji-hwan intervened.
This would probably be more comfortable.
He himself had felt today that the gazes directed at someone from Team 3 weren't favorable.
“Well then, shall you?”
The Team 7 Black Eagle reacted as if it was just as well.
“Yes. Don’t worry. Ah, could you just let others know that the support this time is from Team 3?”
“…Understood.”
The Team 7 Black Eagle gave a light nod with a reluctant expression, then quickly turned away.
‘He must be quite confused, right?’
Ji-hwan judged, watching the back of the Team 7 Black Eagle.
Everyone might dismiss it as a lie.
No matter how much Na-yoon spread the rumor, it all got buried under Hyeon-yul's background.
‘Truly despicable.’
Once the Team 7 Black Eagle disappeared, Ji-hwan quietly asked Hyeon-yul.
“Hyung, you don’t want to stand out, right?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s obvious just by looking. Anyway, how are you going to absorb the poison?”
“I’ll suck it in with my power.”
Hyeon-yul stretched out his hand.
“Is there power like that in your palm?”
Ji-hwan stared intently at his palm.
Other than being covered in scars, there was nothing special about it.
“That’s right.”
Hyeon-yul replied.
It wasn't exactly wrong.
Every part of him was darkness, shadow.
“Can you do it while holding something too?”
“I can.”
“Then take this.”
Ji-hwan handed Hyeon-yul a staff.
“Is it alright to just give it to me? Will it not hinder your magic use?”
“This is something I occasionally use just for show, but I want Hyung to use it this time.”
“Thank you.”
“Hyung. Absolutely don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t overdo it.”
“Because I know well what mindset you had when you caught the Poison King. …It’s the last flame, isn’t it.”
Hyeon-yul’s condition wasn’t good.
When he subtly asked Na-yoon, who had met Jeong-min—practically Hyeon-yul’s primary doctor—she said he couldn’t last a day without medicine.
Just thinking about it made the tip of his nose sting.
‘What does he mean?’
Hyeon-yul frowned slightly, grasping Ji-hwan’s staff.
Doesn't 'last flame' usually refer to something burning brightly before death?
Applying this to his own situation, it seemed to refer to the uncertainty of how long he could work as a Black Eagle.
‘Did he hear the story about the Poison King from the Team Leader?’
Hyeon-yul thought vaguely and nodded.
As expected.
Ji-hwan squeezed his eyes shut tightly, then opened them.
“Hyung. I’ll support you, so just erase the poison.”
No one would be able to interfere with Hyeon-yul.
Ji-hwan firmly resolved.