Chapter 120

Chapter 120

'But, if Park Hoseok is on vacation... Wouldn't his family be there as well?'

After hearing the explanation, I could believe that trying to get rid of him during the upcoming vacation wasn't such a wild plan.

Especially since it felt like Park Hoseok and Bae Jaemin's relationship was not as intimate as I had thought. Whether we capture Park Hoseok-kidnap or kill him-I believed that Bae Jaemin wouldn't be concerned with the spear wielder's safety if the information that he's the Red Dragon's spy was leaked. The pandemonium would draw Bae Jaemin's focus right away, so there was less to worry about in the aftermath.

However, the fact that his young daughters and his wife would spend their vacation with Park Hoseok snagged at my heart. Though Park Hoseok may be the most useless trash, a despicably unique existence in this world, I wasn't sure I could follow the plan if his family were harmed in this operation. It felt uncomfortable-as if a hand was grabbing at the back of my head.

'Beggars can't be choosers, but...' 1

I know I'm not in a position to be choosy against a Ranker whose [Gae Bolg] incapacitated Jung Garam. Though the younger boy avoided its attack a few times, I wouldn't be able to hold out for 10 seconds against that spear if I were to enter Park Hoseok's field of view.

In fact, the best method may be to take his family hostage and not even give him the chance to swing [Gae Bolg].

If I dithered because I had no desire to hurt a woman or her children, I had no idea whether or not my contracted servants would tolerate such weakness. Well, if I were to refuse, maybe the servants will take me out of the plan to kidnap Park Hoseok's family...

'...But I can't keep maintaining this ambiguous distance with them.'

Walking that fine line, neither here nor there, was sure to cause our relationship to become more crooked. Since we're in the same boat, I had to give my all for their revenge.

The servants signed a contract with me and treated me nominally as their master, but I wasn't in full control of them. Of course, there was a large issue in the power gap that led me to be unable to deal with them, but also the fact that I don't directly share their resentful feelings also played a part in this distance. This distance between us certainly wouldn't help in the future.

'Still, Kim Olim...would probably think similarly...?'

I briefly glanced at Kim Olim, the Paladin who stood with her arms folded in front of her like a rigid stone statue. However, after recalling her memory playback, I wasn't sure if ethics would mean anything to her anymore. Furthermore, Kim Olim also tended to follow Seo Dawon's instructions.

However, unexpectedly, Jung Garam had pointed out my concerns first. "We need to put his family to sleep or send them far away and then catch Park Hoseok when he's alone."

"We can cast a simple sleeping spell or place manipulation rituals over the mansion. For up to 8 hours."

"Sleep medication or burning drowsy grass isn't a bad idea either."

Seeing Seo Dawon and Kim Olim agree with Jung Garam's opinion, I was relieved. Others may find it funny that I'm relieved by this, but...only then was I able to take a deep breath and continue listening to their plans.

"There's more people guarding the villa than I thought. However, the villa itself is located in the forest-the family enjoys the quiet-so the area is isolated."

"The guard shifts are on the longer side as well. That'll lower the difficulty."

Since I lacked professional knowledge, I calmly busied myself with embracing all that they said.

Later, though I had no idea how they retrieved such data, they spread a wide map of Park Hoseok's villa on the table. Jung Garam took into account the gathered photos, videos, and explanations of the villa, and crafted a sophisticated 3D model map.

* * *

After running a few simulations on the model, time flew by and it was already evening. Because of the tension generated by the planning, I had lost my appetite and cleaned up the table. Still, while I picked at my food, Seo Dawon and Kim Olim disappeared from the living room. Perhaps they were dealing with another matter.

Flick-!

At that moment, Jung Garam, the only one left sitting in front of me watching me eat my food, suddenly flicked his finger; I gave him a puzzled look. Suddenly, my ears felt muffled. It felt like some foreign substance was irritating them-as if I were wearing noise-canceling headphones.

Jung Garam looked at me, "I blocked the sound for a bit."

"What?"

"I want to say something. For your ears only."

I was a bit flustered; I didn't know that Jung Garam, who wasn't even a Mage, would have access to this skill. Either way, it seemed that he had something important to say. So, I took the initiative to ask, "What is it?"

"This time, summon me instead of Dawon-ie hyung."

"......What?"

"You can call me out as if I'm alive for 30 minutes, right?"

He requested the use of the skill that allowed a vengeful ghost to manifest and use a simulacra of the strength and skills he had when he was still alive. Since I usually used Seo Dawon, I had no ready answer for Jung Garam's pesters.

"S-Seo Dawon..."

"Choi Lee-kyung... You saw how Park Hoseok killed me."

"......."

"I'll kill Park Hoseok with my own hands. I use that vaunted [Gae Bolg] the same way and spear his stomach." His face looked like a proper young master. But, unlike his playful attitude, bloodthirst poured from his eyes.

Jung Garam tilted his head and whispered, devilishly, "Until when will you live as Dawon-hyung's marionette? What this operation needs most is time, anyway. You know, since you heard the explanation with us. This time, I can neutralize him faster than Dawon-ie hyung."

"......" Of course, I couldn't answer right away.

Jung Garam, staring at my passivity, swept through his hair with his hands, frustrated. He shouted, "Why do you only use your personal skills with Dawon-hyung's permission? You can't believe in your own judgment?"

"That's...Compared to Seo Dawon, I'm..."

"Because you know nothing and your level is low? I'm telling you I'm the right choice this time, though? Even Olim-noona can't keep up with me in close-quarters combat. Dawon-hyung is normally good at everything, but, in this case, he can't match Park Hoseok once his position is exposed."

"......"

"Further, I've already experienced [Gae Bolg]'s irregular attack patterns. So, between the three of us, I'm the one that can deal with it the fastest."

I still gave him a perplexed expression; Jung Garam should know what I meant. Even if he were to explain everything here now...if Seo Dawon refused, that was it. I had no ability to stand up to the Mage; More than that, Seo Dawon was...

"Am I wrong?" Jung Garam said.

"It's not that you're wrong..."

"Then, you should tell Dawon-hyung that you're planning to summon me first during this operation."

"Rather than me telling Seo Dawon that..."

"Hyung thinks that I'll lose my rationality. That's why he won't allow it."

"......"

"He just wants to avoid small mistakes or any unforeseen situations. He thinks that if he's the one summoned, chances of failure will be reduced."

"......"

"It's because of his perfectionist tendencies. He's always been like that, but it's gotten worse after the resurrection. It's like he doesn't trust his teammates anymore."

"That's..."

"You feel it too, right? Whatever it may be, Dawon-hyung never lets you know in advance."

Just as Jung Garam said, Seo Dawon was the type to finalize all the plans within his own head. I've felt that a few times before. That's why I had no choice but to sit back and watch him anxiously.

That was exactly Jung Garam's point. I was surprised to learn that Jung Garam was left out of Seo Dawon's plans, and I was even more alarmed to learn that the young Assassin noticed my unhappiness at Seo Dawon's tendencies.

"That's true, but... Because of that... Because that's Seo Dawon's personality, do you think he'll listen to me?" Eventually, I could not deny Jung Garam's words and resignedly answered his points.

Jung Garam's expression became immediately bright as soon as I responded. He whispered, as if he were teasing me, "Isn't this a chance to experiment?"

"What?"

"Whether or not Dawon-hyung will listen to you."

"Of course he wouldn't listen to me."

"Do you really think that?"

"......"

At Jung Garam's urging, I felt a bizarre impulse. Of course when I considered Seo Dawon's behavior until now, he was the type to do as he pleased with a brazen look upon his face...There was little chance he'd accept my suggestions...But, at the same time, I thought, 'It wouldn't hurt to give it a try?'

I shook my head in denial, as if I were trying to wake myself from useless thoughts. Jung Garam-perhaps he knew the culprit behind my current hesitation-continued to firmly insist, "It's better to use me this time. Dawon-hyung is just afraid I'll mess everything up by rushing at Park Hoseok like an idiot."

"I.....I mean, I'm not trying to underestimate you... I'm..."

"Choi Lee-kyung. Look at me. Do you really think that the moment I see Park Hoseok, I'll see red and chase after him? Do you really think that I'm going to lose my mind and ruin whatever plan we have?"

That question forced me to raise my head and look carefully at Jung Garam. When our eyes met, I had no choice but to give him all the answers he wanted, "No..."

"In short, this operation is just about luring Park Hoseok to some secluded location where we can force some information out of him before killing him, right?"

"Mhm..."

"So, deliver my thoughts to Seo Dawon-hyung as a 'proposal.' I'm not asking you to win over or smother Dawon-hyung."

And, before I could do anything more, Seo Dawon and Kim Olim entered the dining room. Jung Garam looked away, as if we never had this conversation, and the two that entered appeared to not have heard mine and Jung Garam's talk.

TL: Update late at night~ I keep getting messages from kofi about some monthly subscription thing, and I honestly can't imagine why someone would do that over patreon? But I'm also clueless about things like this.

Also Garam-ie wants to take this operation in his own hands! It's interesting to see him point out some of Seo Dawon's big flaws (and Lee-kyung's) at the same time. As much as I adore the mage, I share a lot of the people's frustrations around him.