IRNH C50

#50

First, they had to be killed instantly so they couldn’t mutter anything, and since it was unknown what defensive techniques they might use, Sihyeon couldn’t let his guard down.

Knowing they shared memories periodically, it seemed better to erase all evidence cleanly rather than risk gathering information.

In fact, there wasn’t much of importance even moments ago, so the choice was easy.

“No matter where you go, there’s too little to salvage from the lackeys.”

After confirming their location as they ransacked the interior, Sihyeon quietly slipped out onto the balcony and without hesitation placed his foot on the railing.

Rustle.

A faint breeze with a hint of salt brushed over his body. He gazed oddly at the cloudless blue sky, then lowered his head to glance down.

At the moment two presences overlapped, he leapt into the air.

Whoosh—

The sound of wind brushing past his ears was refreshing.

A pleasant chill of liberation spread rapidly from his heart to his limbs, wrapping his entire body.

But the reverie lasted only an instant.

Sihyeon’s expression hardened immediately as he turned, filling the throwing stars he had prepared with all his internal energy and hurled them toward a point.

He felt their eyes meet his for a moment but it was fleeting.

The stars, packed with qi so powerful even stainless steel would bend, passed softly through glass and pierced both of their heads.

The entire scene seemed like slow motion.

Watching it unfold, Sihyeon breathed deeply, savoring the return of his past martial prowess and the moment of conquest.

Thud.

“Haah, Master.”

Sihyeon laughed sharply even as he fell.

When about two floors down, he caught sight of his disciple Taewoon, who had firmly grabbed his hand and stepped lightly on air, entering Lee Kyu-min’s room with a refined face.

“You’re back?”

“…”

Taewoon, narrowing his elegant brows slightly, seemed full of things to say but ended up silent.

Sihyeon proudly stroked the head of Taewoon, who had found his way alone back to their lodging, and headed toward Kyu-min, who was still trembling inside.

“Ugh… Hyung… I thought I was going to die!!”

Sihyeon shoved away the head of Lee Kyu-min, who was clinging to him and wiping tears and snot.

The dampness on his forearm made Sihyeon frown, forcing himself to straighten his crumpled face.

“You’re not dead. Stop that.”

“Hyung! You’re too cold!!”

But Kyu-min’s whining didn’t lessen; he clung harder, accusing Sihyeon of being cold.

As the bulky man pressed closer, Sihyeon pondered briefly whether to push him away, but then his neck was grabbed tightly by a white hand.

Easily, Kyu-min was thrown onto the sofa, rolled once, and settled on the plush carpet.

“Huh?”

Confused, sitting on the floor, Kyu-min recognized who had thrown him.

Though still sniffling, he sat quietly on the sofa and began to narrate what happened like an epic tale.

Sihyeon expected the tales but didn’t try to stop him knowing they would continue anyway.

Well, he needed to hear what happened.

“To be honest, I didn’t know at first… But when I came up to this floor, I realized. I had checked in the entire floor, so no one else should be here, but there was a stranger… Eugh, goosebumps.”

“This entire floor?”

“Yes? Of course.”

Hearing this for the first time, Sihyeon briefly parted his lips then shut them quickly, realizing how big Kyu-min’s hospitality was.

He then added that he first thought the stranger was a sneaky reporter and tried to chase him away.

But one of his skills, [Survival Instinct], strongly warned him, so Kyu-min wisely hid in his room.

“Your judgment is impressive.”

“Oh really? Hehe. I didn’t know what to do when Hyung praised me… Ahem.”

Sihyeon thought Kyu-min might be better at hiding than himself and nodded firmly.

But work was work.

Sihyeon gathered qi at his fingertips and bluntly brought up the main point.

“We were attacked too.”

“W-what? You too, Hyung? No injuries? Oh, none.”

“But among the attackers was someone I know.”

Kyu-min dropped his usual air and focused on the conversation, his face serious.

His tone was low as usual but now more grounded, indicating the situation was worse than thought.

“Who… was it?”

“A Glory Guild member. Do you know him?”

Silence filled the spacious room.

Sihyeon used the moment, reading subtle unconscious signals indicating truth.

Kyu-min’s lips tightened, and posture straightened.

His pupils trembled uncontrollably.

“…W-what is this?”

“I don’t want to suspect Kyu-min. You must know something?”

Kyu-min hesitated unlike usual, eyes closed tightly as if confessing a grave secret.

“I heard two nights ago that half the Glory Guild members had gone missing.”

“What?”

Sihyeon frowned at this unexpected news.

Kyu-min’s voice trembled slightly but was resolute.

“And I think it’s probably because of my brother…”

Only then did Sihyeon understand why Kyu-min hadn’t told before and still hesitated now.

From previous conversations, Kyu-min seemed very close to his brother, making the situation puzzling.

“Sigh… Well, at least saying it helps.”

Kyu-min gave a bitter smile, sinking into the sofa, head bowed.

The news reached him exactly two nights ago.

They had remained in Gangwon-do for a while after leaving the gate and were preparing to return to Seoul.

But the news from Kim Seongbin, Glory Guild’s captain, stunned Kyu-min.

Half the guild members lost contact during a short break after returning from the gate.

It was a crisis Kyu-min had never faced managing the guild.

If disgruntled, there might be some attempt to negotiate or trade, but none occurred—they simply vanished without a trace.

Since then, Kyu-min lost sleep searching for news.

But a call from his brother forced him to postpone the search.

-“I heard you entered and returned from the gate. Come to Seoul immediately.”

His mind was in chaos.

Though he entered by any means, he never thought his brother wouldn’t know.

But the timing of the call, when guild members were disappearing and gate mysteries remained unsolved, was awkward.

Since then, strange details about his brother Kyu-hwan surfaced endlessly.

He thought his brother became cold because leading a big company required it.

So he accepted the distant relationship as necessary while his brother worked hard running everything, instead of him or Juyeon.

But looking from another angle, his brother may have forcibly taken over all tasks from him and his younger siblings.

‘But to do all this just to take over a company? We would’ve handed it over anyway.’

Thoughts abounded, but none sufficiently supported his brother’s actions.

While he wrestled with these questions, the current crisis exploded.

“So… what about those guild members?”

“Well, um… it couldn’t be helped.”

Silence fell again.

“He attacked us with genuine intent to kill. Mercy for such a person is a luxury.”

Following Taewoon’s statement, Kyu-min nodded weakly.

Though pained, he was no fool to question why Taewoon fought him.

In today’s world, people die easily from mere gestures or skills.

If someone attacks intending to kill, responsibility lies with them alone.

“I know…”

“Sigh, it must hurt, but rest a bit. We should head to Seoul immediately.”

“Yes…”

“We will prepare to leave. Also, it’s best not to tell Yujun about this for now.”

Sihyeon pondered briefly before agreeing it was better not to alarm the young boy.

He recalled how shy Yujun had been but got close to the guild members.

Though Yujun would eventually learn the truth, Sihyeon hoped it would come slowly to lessen the shock.

‘But I still need to warn him.’

Sihyeon rose slowly to visit Yujun alone in the room.

He too needed time.

The villains who destroyed his home and seemed to recognize him; those met in the gate; now open threats targeting him and Taewoon; and the mysterious stone in his possession that triggered such strong reactions.

‘Villain Alliance, what the hell are you guys?’

Shaking his head roughly, he recalled someone who might shed light on the tangled events.

Was it Lee Kyu-hwan? He hoped that person could give answers.

Grabbing Taewoon’s hand trailing quietly behind, he strode toward his lodging, eyes darkened, staring straight ahead.