IH Ch 126

Chapter 126

People’s eyes widened as if they could not comprehend what they were seeing; some even screamed and stumbled back from their televisions.

Beasts could only exist inside gates.

Yet the place on the screen was not a gate—just a mountain.

The person secretly filming must not have expected a beast either; in panic, the camera dropped.

And then Hwang Jae-i reappeared.

As if he had reviewed the footage along with everyone else, he lifted his gaze and looked forward, speaking steadily.

[It is true that I was there at the time. I had arrived and been offered a meal by the elders you just saw, and I repaid their hospitality.

Of course, some of them were non-awakened, and the fact that I used force against them is unquestionably my fault.

I acknowledge that.]

Then he held up a sheet of paper.

On the worn page was written: “Petition Against Unilateral Redevelopment Plans.”

Beneath it were roughly thirty signatures—some neat, others wobbly, like they had only recently learned to write.

Once people had gotten a clear look, he lifted the second document: a bankbook copy.

The displayed amount: 680,000 won.(467$)

[The broadcast claimed these villagers received compensation and refused to leave, but the truth is different.

This is the entirety of what they were paid—and they never agreed to sell their land or homes.

I learned this while investigating the matter myself, and I intend to pursue legal measures.

I do not know much about redevelopment, but it is difficult to understand how a parcel of land measuring ten thousand pyeong and a home could be valued at 680,000 won.]

His tone was calm, but beneath it one could hear the unspoken sentiment: Are you kidding me?

The Hwang Jae-i of old would have cursed outright, but today he remained composed—dropping quiet bombs one after another.

[I know that what happened in that village is not something requiring the intervention of an S-rank hunter.

I planned to resolve the situation and leave immediately, but as you just saw—someone released beasts intentionally after noticing my presence there.

It was a residential area, with civilians living nearby.

The beasts released ranged from A-rank to B-rank.]

He stepped slightly to the side, and the screen filled with photographs of the area where beasts had appeared.

Though “photographs” was generous—they mostly showed sunken craters, melted stone, scorched earth, and charred tree remains.

Only the final image displayed something that could barely be recognized as the body of a beast—massive, but warped.

Most beasts he eliminated had melted from heat or turned to ash.

People knew his attribute well enough not to question it.

The real question filling everyone’s mind was: Who released beasts to target Hwang Jae-i?

What began as idle curiosity turned to grim silence.

After ten seconds, the images faded and Jae-i reappeared.

[The reason I was there is related to Pungjin.

That day, Pungjin publicly declared that I was an illegitimate child, and soon the entire nation was buzzing about nothing else.

To be honest, the situation was…]

For the first time, his words trailed off.

He inhaled shallowly and continued.

[I needed a change of pace.

But once I arrived, an array of unexpected events unfolded.

Regarding what happened there—I accept responsibility and will accept any punishment due.

Therefore, I ask that the government and the Association thoroughly uncover the truth behind everything that happened.]

He fell silent, staring straight ahead.

Illegal, coercive redevelopment.

False reporting by the media.

And the individuals who released beasts near civilians to attack him.

Even without him saying it outright, viewers felt their minds assembling the pieces, one by one.

Everyone held their breath as he spoke again.

[I also understand that a certain individual I personally suspected may have met an unfortunate end, and absurdly enough, I am being suspected as the mastermind behind it.

I have received a request to answer a few questions regarding Chairman Lee Yong-geon’s death.]

Jae-i let out a small laugh.

His lips curled higher than ever before, yet a deep displeasure accompanied it.

Then he murmured, barely audible:

[If I had done it, I wouldn’t have done it like that.]

Indeed—if Hwang Jae-i had handled it, it would not have been such a noisy, grotesque spectacle.

Anyone could tell the crime scene had been crafted to create chaos.

The downcast angle of his eyes made him look immersed in deep contemplation; viewers waited without moving.

Everything he had said so far was heavy—but somehow, it still felt like there was more.

Then he slowly lifted his head.

After holding his gaze toward the screen for three seconds, he spoke.

[I am tired.

Therefore, I intend to relocate my guild and my residence.

To a place where my body and mind can be at ease.]

People blinked.

Relocate his guild?

To where?

All guilds were centered in the metropolitan region.

Even minor guilds stayed within Gyeonggi province.

This sounded like a riddle.

Was he moving somewhere quieter in the outskirts of Seoul?

Then he dropped the real bomb.

[The Jae-i Guild will relocate to Pohang.

Despite everything that happened that day, the warmth and kindness I received there gave me great comfort.

I wish…]

He exhaled softly and smiled faintly.

[…to live somewhere I am genuinely needed and shown true kindness.]

Then he bowed politely.

The broadcast returned to its usual programming.

Though Hwang Jae-i had vanished from the screen, the viewers remained frozen.

Minutes passed before screams erupted across the country.

“You may move now.”

At the staff member’s cue—who had checked repeatedly even after the broadcast ended—Jae-i finally ruffled his hair messily.

He stripped off the suffocating outer jacket and draped it onto the podium before stepping away from the camera.

It seemed he hadn’t made any mistakes.

His expressions and gestures between lines hadn’t felt awkward.

More than anything, his raised lips ached from how often he’d forced them upward.

As he tapped his cheek with the back of his hand, Yohan rushed toward him.

“Guildmaster! You could honestly win acting awards! You were incredible!”

He held out his laptop, showing the guild’s official app crashing.

“The second the broadcast ended, people flooded in—the servers died instantly! Ours are usually rock-solid! I think your last line shocked everyone!”

Of course it did.

A guild relocating outside Seoul was unthinkable.

Guilds were always centered around capital regions around the world—because that’s where infrastructure and population were.

But nothing required that.

With the Jae-i Guild’s scale, its base could be anywhere.

They simply kept using the original Seoul building because it was there.

Then Ahn Yuna approached with her phone.

“Call from the Association President.”

“…….”

“He’s called more than twenty times since your broadcast started. He’s basically a stalker.”

Her tone was joking, but the situation was serious.

They had given zero notice about moving the guild headquarters.

But to be fair, the Association President had also given them no notice—despite knowing the truth about him and Hwang Hajin.

And they had let the deliberate defamation campaign unfold unchecked.

Jae-i could no longer stomach it.