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 [Chapter 177]

[The Period of Reconstruction]

Noh Eunha and Han Changjin were isolated.

So the Pandora Clan decided to depart for Uijeongbu to rescue them.

However, because they had so many ongoing projects in Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu, they couldn't mobilize the entire clan.

"You just keep starting things, so when a situation like this happens, we can't move."

It was entirely because of Noh Eunha.

Starting with pioneering unidentified dungeons, he had brought so many tasks that there were no proper forces available to move.

Of course, Han Seohyun, who was doing the paperwork, was also struggling with the heavy workload.

Nevertheless, she somehow coordinated and sent one party to Uijeongbu.

Then she wrote a letter thanking the Shilla Clan for sending reinforcements to Uijeongbu.

She did her best to rescue the two people isolated in Uijeongbu.

And so─.

"─Really? You say there are no injuries? Well... I'm glad you returned safely without any injuries."

They rescued Noh Eunha and Han Changjin.

She was able to receive good news from Jeong Hayang who had departed for Uijeongbu.

Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

She had been pretending to be calm, but inside she had been very worried.

So when she heard the two were safe, she couldn't help but relax.

She hung up the phone, hoping for their safe return to Gangbuk.

"Administrative unni, what did they say? Are they okay? Where are they now?"

"It seems they're at Dobongsan Station now. They joined up at Manwolsa Station yesterday evening, spent the night, and are setting out now."

Jin Seona, who had been watching her intently since she received the phone call.

She, who was helping with her work in the office, poked her head out and asked.

Besides her, there were other people sitting in Han Seohyun's office.

They were those who had stayed up all night praying for Noh Eunha and Han Changjin's return.

"They'll probably enter Gangbuk a little after lunch today."

"Didn't you say they were at Dobongsan Station earlier? Then that's good. Once they pass there, it's all over. The monsters from Uijeongbu won't chase them that far. Right, guys?"

At the news Han Seohyun delivered.

The people present brightened their expressions.

Soon, starting with Bong Gurae, people stood up saying they had to go to work.

The office became relatively quiet.

Then the remaining people each spoke up.

"By the way, what should we do when the two return? It's good that they returned safely, but if they did something dangerous, they should be scolded."

"Really... Because of that Noh Eunha kid, I haven't been able to sleep properly lately and my skin has become dry. I'm not going to let him off easy when he comes back."

Cha Eunwoo, Jo Ara.

The two who had been sleeping leaning on each other's shoulders last night spoke.

The people present didn't disagree with what the two said.

"If Namhun had done that, I would have kicked his butt. I'm holding back because he's the Clan Lord... Ah, maybe it would be okay to hit Changjin oppa's back once instead."

Meanwhile, Yeowoobi clenched her fist.

Everyone burst into laughter hearing what she said.

Han Seohyun quietly agreed too.

She could see Shakira, who had been quietly working on the other side, trying to hold back her laughter.

After spending a night together, they had become comfortable with each other.

Of course─.

"─So what are you going to do, Administrative unni?"

"Hmm..."

There were still people like Jin Seona who hadn't completely opened up even though they had become somewhat close.

Administrative unni, huh.

Han Seohyun inwardly gave a bitter smile.

It meant she acknowledged her as the clan's administrative officer, but was still keeping a distance privately.

She looked at Jin Seona.

"Well, what should I do..."

""""...."""

It's a very complicated emotion.

While favorable towards me, she's still subtly wary.

She's an extremely shy person.

Han Seohyun grasped her character while observing the colors floating around Jin Seona.

Then she smiled slightly.

She had revealed her intention to decide how to treat Eunha based on how Han Seohyun treated him.

She's going to keep her boundaries.

To avoid falling out of my favor.

Han Seohyun recalled her position.

Officially, she was the clan's administrative officer.

Privately, she was Eunha's lover.

It wasn't incomprehensible that she found her difficult to approach.

In any case, Seohyun liked Jin Seona's attitude of following her.

So she found it quite cute how she was watching her reactions.

"─Even if we don't scold them, Hayang or Sae unni who are there probably scolded Eunha. Besides them, other people would have scolded them too."

""""...."""

"After staying up all night cursing, do we need to curse at Eunha and Changjin oppa too? Above all─."

The clan members' gazes focused on her.

Han Seohyun stated her thoughts and then trailed off mid-sentence.

She smiled faintly.

"─If Gangbuk hadn't collapsed, today would have been the day that kid and I got married."

""""Ah...."""

"Although the wedding was pushed back, a good day is still a good day. I don't feel like getting angry."

Perhaps Eunha is trying to return on time because he knows what day it is.

Rationally, she knew that was unlikely, but.

Han Seohyun emotionally couldn't completely exclude such a thought.

So she didn't want to get angry at Eunha.

"Let's just welcome them back saying they did well."

Come to think of it, they hadn't had time to spend comfortably together since Gangbuk collapsed.

When Eunha returns, we should spend some time together, just the two of us.

For that, I should handle today's work first.

Han Seohyun resolved.

"Seona, won't you help with the work too? It doesn't look like we'll finish with just Shakira and me."

"Yes, sure. Should I take this?"

Including Jin Seona.

The others helped her too.

So they spent time doing paperwork.

When Eunha and Han Changjin were about to return to Gangbuk─.

"─Hello? Is this Hayang?"

Just then, the phone rang.

Han Seohyun quickly answered the phone.

The clan members who were taking a break drinking coffee Shakira had brewed straightened their postures.

They listened intently to Han Seohyun's phone conversation.

"...I see."

""""...."""

"What? What did they say?"

A conversation that ended in just a few words.

They tensed up seeing Han Seohyun reveal her discomfort during that time.

Jin Seona asked as a representative.

Han Seohyun sighed.

She said─.

"─This kid left for the Mana Management Organization to give an operation report as soon as he returned from Uijeongbu."

""""...."""

"I understand he has work, but to leave without even a word of contact..."

Haha, hoho.

Han Seohyun let out a dry laugh.

Soon the clan members also raised the corners of their mouths to their ears like her.

They exuded a murderous aura.

"─It seems this kid hasn't been scolded enough."

☆

After a day passed, the recoil came.

Eunha and his companions had to experience the aftereffects of Priscis Memory's magic.

Fortunately, reinforcements came from Gangbuk so they could receive their help.

It's fortunate unni and Iriya were there. Thanks to the two casting healing magic, we were able to reduce the pain somewhat.

Although they were cursed at by the clan members.

Eunha, who had been struggling due to the recoil, was able to return to Gangbuk safely under their protection.

Meanwhile, he was also surprised.

It was because of Iriya mixed in among the clan members.

I'm grateful Iriya came, but I'm not sure if it's okay for her, a civilian who's not a player, to be here.

Uijeongbu was a restricted area.

If it became known that an ordinary person had set foot there, it could cause controversy.

Fortunately, Jeong Hayang said Iriya had received permission from the Fairy.

There were many other things that happened too.

Of course, he was hit by Noh Euna.

He was nagged at by Kim Minji.

He was scolded by Jeong Hayang.

Meanwhile, Eunha had already reached Gangbuk.

"─Then I'll go meet the Fairy Lady to report the mission completion."

"Wait, Eunha. Wouldn't it be okay to rest for a day today? Your body isn't in great condition either."

"I'm much better than earlier. It's fine. Ah, look, someone's coming out from the Mana Management Organization."

He wanted to return to the clan and rest comfortably.

But as the person who planned the operation, he couldn't show an irresponsible appearance at the end.

Eunha decided to head to the Mana Management Organization, ignoring Jeong Hayang's dissuasion.

At that moment─.

"─Then I'll go with you too."

Just as Eunha was about to get in the vehicle that had come to pick him up from the Mana Management Organization.

Jeong Hayang followed him.

"Eunha, you're not feeling well right now. You need someone to watch over you too."

"...Alright, I'll leave it to you. Thanks."

Eunha couldn't refuse Jeong Hayang's offer.

In the end, he decided to go to the Mana Management Organization with her.

The two who got in the back seat of the vehicle relaxed their fatigue by entrusting their bodies to the soft seats.

In the meantime, Jeong Hayang held out a smartphone.

Eunha tilted his head.

"Why the phone?"

"We're not the only ones who were worried about you. The people at the clan headquarters must be worried too, so you should contact them."

"That's true."

"I called Seohyun unni briefly earlier. You call her again. By the way, where did your phone go?"

"There's no way I could charge it in Uijeongbu. Come to think of it, quite a few messages must have piled up. Let me borrow your phone."

Eunha received the smartphone.

He pressed the phone icon.

There was no need to search through the list.

He had memorized Han Seohyun's number.

"Hmm..."

"What's wrong?"

Then Jeong Hayang looked at Eunha with drowsy eyes.

Eunha flinched as if he had committed a crime.

She opened her mouth.

"No... I just thought you had Seohyun unni's number memorized."

"I have your number memorized too. It's not just Seohyun's number I have memorized."

"Really? Then can I check?"

"What about you? Do you have my number memorized?"

"I even have all of Eunha's Academy grades memorized!"

"Oh my..."

Eunha clicked his tongue.

He couldn't help but click his tongue at Jeong Hayang's words that she remembered Academy grades even he didn't know.

Meanwhile, the call connected.

"Hello? Oh, Seohyun. Where I'm going right now is..."

[Hello. I heard everything from Hayang. You're on your way to the Mana Management Organization, aren't you? You really work hard. It seems you don't even have time to contact me.]

"...Are you angry?"

[Why would I be angry? You're just taking responsibility for your work, and I'm just taking responsibility for mine.]

"..."

The voice heard over the phone.

Eunha held his breath.

She said she wasn't angry, but.

Eunha could tell she was angry.

Her voice was so cold.

Eunha had to search for words to appease her anger.

At that moment, she suddenly asked.

[─Do you know what day it is?]

"..."

[I asked what day it is today.]

At Han Seohyun's question.

Eunha couldn't answer immediately.

He racked his brains trying to recall if it was someone's birthday or some anniversary.

Nothing came to mind.

But he couldn't answer with whatever came to mind.

It would be like fanning the flames.

In the end, Eunha couldn't answer and.

That was the end of it.

[Forget it. I wasn't expecting anything either. Come back to the headquarters as soon as you finish work. We decided to have a dinner to celebrate your and Changjin oppa's return today.]

"Uh... okay."

Han Seohyun hung up abruptly.

Eunha sighed with a face full of dismay.

Jeong Hayang seemed to have grasped the situation roughly seeing Eunha's reaction.

"When you return to the clan, beg thoroughly. Try acting cute like you did to me and Euna unni yesterday."

Jeong Hayang clicked her tongue and.

Eunha groaned.

☆

Mana Management Organization Headquarters.

Eunha sought out Fairy Lim Gaeul, who had been working at the Mana Management Organization rather than the Blue House lately.

"─Welcome. I heard the report, but I'm glad you weren't badly injured. Ah, yes. Sit there. Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"

"...I'll have coffee if there is any."

"Iced? Hot?"

"Cold please."

"Alright, wait a moment."

"..."

Lim Gaeul was very kind.

Eunha blinked seeing her get up from her seat and make coffee for him.

Soon after, she brought coffee for herself along with his.

"There are no guards in this office, and it's just you and me, so you can speak comfortably."

"...I'll enjoy the coffee."

"Coffee made by the Fairy, it's really hard to taste usually. You know?"

"It seems you added too much water? It's watery."

"Just drink what you're given."

Lim Gaeul said through gritted teeth.

Eunha, who had complained that the coffee was watery, smiled slightly.

She burst into laughter too.

Soon she stopped laughing.

"─Really, really thank you. I wanted to say this to you, Eunha, but I'm only able to say it now."

The Fairy showed her sincerity.

She was someone who always wore a mask and never tried to show her true feelings.

Even Eunha had rarely seen Lim Gaeul's sincerity in his previous life.

At best, it was only when teaching Ha Baekryeon, or when she was impeached and imprisoned and revealed the secrets of the New Humanity Project.

"If you're grateful, please stay in that position for a long time."

"Don't say such horrible things, will you?"

To this, Eunha also revealed his sincerity.

But she seemed to take it as a joke.

She just giggled and didn't take his words seriously.

"The cocoon you brought from Uijeongbu is in good enough condition to be activated immediately."

"Really? That's good. But I saw on the way here that the Uijeongbu cocoon hasn't been activated yet..."

"That's because you hadn't arrived."

"..."

"If we activate the cocoon you brought, we'd have to explain to people how this came about."

"..."

"But since you hadn't returned, we were in a situation where it was difficult to explain to people. So we were holding off until you returned. And now that you've returned, I have to go activate the cocoon after this schedule is over."

Saying thank you once again.

This time, she even bowed her head to Eunha.

It could be said to be the greatest courtesy she could offer.

"...Please raise your head, Fairy Lady."

"Yes, thank you."

Even if there was no one else around.

The Fairy wasn't someone who should easily bow her head.

Eunha, startled by her reaction, showed a surprised expression.

Only then did she raise her head.

"Well then, now we should get to the main point."

And then she smiled as if nothing had happened.

Eunha listened attentively.

"Your achievement in bringing the cocoon from Uijeongbu can be said to be greater than your achievement in defeating Yekyung. You might not think so, but what you saved isn't just the people of Gwangju and Gangbuk. You saved all the people who will be born in this land in the future."

Currently, Gangbuk was under reconstruction.

Not only were they rebuilding the collapsed city, but they were also pioneering unidentified dungeons.

They were also recovering people's bodies and searching for missing persons.

Gangbuk was regaining its former appearance.

But reconstruction wasn't complete without the cocoon enveloping Gangbuk.

Only the cocoon could put a period on the reconstruction.

"What you brought isn't just a cocoon. It's the strength for people to stand up again, which will guarantee peace in the present and future."

That's what Eunha had retrieved from Uijeongbu.

Hope to live tomorrow again.

Eunha's achievement could be said to be truly great.

"So in my heart, I want to give you even a Taegeuk grade."

Taegeuk grade.

It was the highest grade, one above the Eulji grade.

It was a treasure vault that had never been opened even in the previous regression.

However, Lim Gaeul shook her head.

"But if I open the Taegeuk grade treasure vault when you've just received the Eulji grade not long ago, there would be backlash from everywhere."

"..."

"Still, I can't ignore your achievements, so I thought about it..."

Eunha was inwardly disappointed.

Even the artifacts in the Eulji grade treasure vault had such great power, he was just curious about what kind of amazing artifacts were in the Taegeuk grade treasure vault.

But it couldn't be helped.

Eunha also understood Lim Gaeul's concerns.

Lim Gaeul is a fair person. Even if someone is her political opponent, she doesn't ignore those who have achieved merits.

Eunha knew Lim Gaeul's character to some extent.

Therefore, he could expect the compensation she would offer instead.

Sure enough─.

"─Just once."

"..."

"I'll give you the right to use me. There's nothing more valuable than a Taegeuk grade artifact that I could give you right now, right? So anytime, whenever you want, I'll give you the authority to use my name and power without any conditions."

What she offered was the Fairy's power.

Although it was a sword that could only be wielded once, depending on how it was used, it was a power that could determine the fate of this country.

"Of course, if this conversation becomes known, the world would become quite noisy. So let's bury this conversation only in your and my hearts today."

"..."

"Formally, you brought the cocoon purely out of patriotism, without any compensation. That's how it will be known to the world. You don't have any complaints, right? Ah, I plan to give appropriate rewards to the others."

"...Yes, that's fine."

"Then keep that in mind. Call me anytime when you need my power."

She gave him her phone number and.

Eunha nodded.

☆

"What did the Fairy Lady say?"

"She told me good things. There are a lot of people here, so I'll tell you later. You'll probably be surprised when you hear it."

The unofficial meeting with the Fairy was over.

Eunha left the Fairy's office with a beaming face.

Jeong Hayang, who had been waiting in the lobby, seemed very curious seeing Eunha's face.

However, he couldn't talk about being able to wield the Fairy's power in a place like this.

"Let's go back to the headquarters for now."

"Bibi bibi papa papa pupu pu!"

Anyway, the business was finished.

Eunha decided to leave the building, holding Jeong Hayang's hand.

Right at that moment─.

""""─...."""

The elevator stopped and.

Then Eunha encountered Twelve Seats <Beast Tamer> Hwang Sangoon who got off the elevator.

They just stared at each other blankly after their eyes met.

"...Hello."

"Hmm, yes."

It seemed he had left his phantasmal beasts behind.

The tigers weren't visible.

Eunha greeted him first and Hwang Sangoon awkwardly returned the greeting.

"But aren't you going to come out? If you block it like that, we can't go in..."

"...Sorry."

Soon Eunha spoke up.

Only then did Hwang Sangoon get off the elevator.

Then a man wearing heavy armor got off after him and─.

─Huh?

Eunha paused.

It was a familiar face.

He couldn't not know him.

"─Hello, Pandora Clan Lord. I'm Chu Yeonghun of KK Clan. I'm embarrassed, but I'm called by the alias <One-Man Fortress>."

"..."

<One-Man Fortress> Chu Yeonghun.

The man who was selected as the 2nd generation Twelve Seats in the previous regression, replacing <Iron Fortress> Moon Jun's position.

The guardian with a mohawk hairstyle smiled with a fierce face and held out his hand to Eunha.

Eunha shook it in a daze.

"I look forward to working with you."

"What brings you here..."

"Ah, that's... There's a matter. A matter worth coming for."

Although he belonged to the Dangun Clan in the previous life.

It seemed he belonged to KK Clan in this life.

Eunha fell into thought while shaking hands with him.

Why is this person on the floor where the Fairy is?

He looks like he's going to lobby or something.

Eunha couldn't help but wonder.

Considering this time and place.

There was one thing that came to mind.

2nd generation Twelve Seats...

Are they trying to recommend this guy to replace <Iron Fortress> as a Twelve Seat?

Chu Yeonghun turns his body.

Eunha clenched his fist tightly watching him walk down the corridor.

He hadn't been thinking about it.

He had been so focused on retrieving the cocoon that he hadn't considered the situation where clans were recommending guardian-type players as Twelve Seats behind the scenes.

"There won't be time to rest..."

He thought he could rest comfortably now that he had returned from Uijeongbu.

It seemed that was wrong.

Eunha muttered watching Chu Yeonghun walking away.

At that moment─.

"─Pandora Clan Lord."

Hwang Sangoon called him.

"─I heard the news. You must have had a hard time, so rest well."

After saying just that.

Soon Hwang Sangoon disappeared around the corner with Chu Yeonghun.

"Why is that person acting like that..."

"Bibi."

He's saying something very unlike him.

Hearing unexpected words.

Eunha felt disgruntled.