The Path

Kim Ji-woo took a bus to visit his father's place.

On the bus, Ji-woo recalled everything that happened on the day of the calamity that fell upon the Mapo district.

First, when Ji-woo used Null's eyes. He was slightly exhausted, as well as bleeding from his nose and mouth.

Second, Ji-woo overheated his body, even though it was not causing harm to him. He was still not sure if it was good or bad for the future.

Both of those strange experiences had never occurred even once before in the Magical world.

Ji-woo itself was not sure about the cause. He could only guess the reason. It might happen with the difference in physique build or might be the full power of the Nullifier. Only both of those were not the same for his current condition from the past life.

Either way, Ji-woo preferred the latter part and to find his full strength back as the solution. Furthermore, Nullifier couldn't easily invade his emotions every time a fight breaks out.

Not long, Ji-woo arrived at the cemetery. His appearance was different from the other day he came there. Before, he only wore a black and white suit. But now, he only wore a simple hoodie and long pants.

Under the bright sunlight and warm breeze, Ji-woo sat on his knees in front of the graveyard. Kim Kang-woo, his father's name engraved on the tombstone.

Ji-woo bowed his head to the ground deeply twice. Afterward, he looked at the grave and spoke about his purpose.

"Father, I came again. I am sorry for letting mother get hurt. If only at that time... "

Ji-woo silence for a moment.

"If I had it, I could come faster and save Mother.

"No! There should be no excuse. It's all my fault."

Ji-woo clenched his fists.

"Father, don't worry about us anymore. I will create a safe place, enough for mother and Ji-won to live. I promise!

"When they know how capable I am. Those people will search for my information, undoubtedly exposing Ji-won and Mom in the process. It's impossible to keep it a secret when the world knows who I am. But, I will make sure nothing can happen to both of them."

Carelessly revealing his strength was not a wise move. Ji-woo knew that, especially since he didn't know how strong the high-rank hunters and creatures from the Portal Gate were.

However, Ji-woo's true strength could give him some confidence. Like, he could defeat any obstacle that would stand in his way later on.

"Thank you. I'm glad I can speak to you about this. I will come again later. Goodbye, father."

Ji-woo got up and bowed at his father's graveyard. He then left a bucket of flowers in front of his father's tombstone. He walked away from the cemetery with determined eyes.

'It's not my strength that invites chaos, but chaos forcing me to get back my full power. I don't have a choice, even if it means I might become the most powerful being in this world with a bunch of envious eyes wanting to kill me. I will still choose that thorny road. From the beginning, my path was already the bloody one.'

---- ----

At the hospital after Ji-woo came back from the cemetery. He watched some news about the Mapo incident and Hunters Association in the main lobby.

On the scene, camera flashlights could be heard and seen, taking a picture of Chairman Yu from Hunters Association.

The press conference got held to inform the public about the Mapo-gu condition. Plus, assured them about the safety of South Korea. Although, such a thing had already got shared by any media that covered the incident. The Hunters Association still needed to release an official statement at the end.

("Good afternoon, citizens of South Korea. I'm Yu Dong-Chul, Chairman of the South Korea Hunters Association. I'm standing here right now to tell you about the current Mapo-gu. We have already swept across the district and cleaned up all the creatures from the Red Gate. Thus everything is safe and under control now. The residents can go back to their original home, and the victim already gets the treatment. The only left now is to build several buildings and facilities that got destroyed by the incident. We hope the government will cooperate to speed up the recovery of the Mapo district. That is all and thank you.")

The flash of the cameras started again as Chairman Yu left the podium. However, Chairman Yu suddenly stopped beside the platform, confusing the reporters and journalists.

Out of nowhere, Chairman Yu bowed 90 degrees and made a speech.

("I am extremely saddened for Mapo-gu and apologize to all of you who put their hopes in the hunters. This incident falls heavily on my responsibility to carry the safety of our country as the Head of Hunters Association.")

Chairman Yu left the press conference room feeling guilty but still showcased the aura of the leader.

The reporters and journalists were taken aback by this sudden action, thus forgetting to do their jobs.

("F*ck!! I forgot to ask the Chairman!")

("Da*n it!!! I will get an earful from my superior for this!")

("Sir! Sir!")

("Chairman Yu, wait!!!")

The bodyguard stopped the reporters and journalists from chasing further.

Ji-woo then looked away and shook his head. The news he had just seen showed how heavy the responsibility for the many human lives rested on the shoulders of a leader. He understood what a leader was, as he followed the Supreme Commander Stormrage through the Great war before.

It was a position that couldn't be changed or given to any other person without the quality. It was not about strength.

It was about a person who could carry the burden of many people. That person was also easy to trust too. It made the other person think, with that kind of leader, anything would be possible.

Ji-woo stopped his thought and then continued his way toward his mother's room.

---- ----

Meanwhile, at the main conference room of the South Korean national assembly building,

"Haish, that old man! We told him to hold a press conference not to bring up the government's name, as we should not get dragged for the incident. Yet, he instead asked us for help. Ungrateful bas***d!"

"S**t! How can he talk like that?! Saying like we are not doing anything!?"

"We will get criticized more if we don't help him to do what he said in the press conference."

One of the Officials on the opposite side interjected. "His words are not wrong."

"What! He is a mere chairman from an association. He doesn't have the right to give an order to the government!"

"Yeah, we should have fired him."

"You need Mr. President's approval for that."

"..."

"..."

"What now? Bunch of you want to hire a few S-rank assassin hunters to kill Chairman Yu? Or are some of you capable of moving an Apex-rank hunter to do the job?"

"Uh..."

"Um... No?"

"Then, shut up! Just do your job properly!"

The room became gloomy and quiet. For some sluggish officials, Chairman Yu's words were a little bit difficult to implement.

---- ----

After the news of the press conference, Ji-woo returned to the room. He and his sister prepare for the hospital discharge process. They would leave early in the evening.

Despite going back to their home later, Ji-woo probably would still be busy taking care of Eun-bi matter. He even asked help to mister Lee Ik-jun, the porter from the Ganjang guild.

A few days ago, when Elijah woke up for the first time, Ji-woo was already back from the Red Gate and changed his clothes, was waiting in the room with his sister.

Kim Ji-won didn't know what happened to his mother and Eun-bi.

On the other hand, Elijah still remembered the thing that happened before she lost consciousness. She asked Ji-woo about what happened to Eun-bi and her whereabouts.

Ji-woo started telling his mother about the accident. Not long, his mother couldn't help crying after hearing the story from Ji-woo.

Ji-woo didn't want to hide anything from his mother. But now, he regretted seeing his mother feel guilty for being able to live because of Eun-bi. Before, she said his mother was like a mother figure for her. That was why he understood why Eun-bi could go that far to save his mother.

Ji-woo felt sorry about Eun-bi. Even though they only had known each other for a few weeks. Eun-bi was the first person that offered him a job when he wanted to help his family. Eun-bi was also the one that accompanied his mother during his disappearance six years ago.

Therefore, Ji-woo decided to let his mother rest more. And he would handle all matters related to Hwang Eun-bi's funeral. He even went as far as asking for help from mister Lee. He didn't know how to prepare a funeral because of staying for a long time in another world.

Eun-bi was an orphan. So, she didn't have any relatives. Only Elijah was the one that Eun-bi listed as a close acquaintance in her smartphone. Even the insurance company named Lee Elijah as someone that would inherit everything from Eun-bi. If there something happened to her. After all, she was a hunter, a job where the risk of death was high.

The funeral will take place tomorrow. The faster, the better.