Chapter 434

“Have you looked in a mirror?”

That was the first thing Team Leader Choi, the first person off the aircraft, said to me.

I’d already guessed I looked rough, considering the people around me hadn’t recognized me, but was I really that much of a mess?

“No. Is it bad?”

“Yes. Bad enough that even your family couldn’t recognize you, Mr. Jin.”

“Other people, maybe, but Mom would recognize me. She went through labor to give birth to me.”

“We watched the news together on the flight here. During your interview, she asked who that filthy-looking man was and why he kept snapping at everyone.”

“…Seriously?”

I looked over Team Leader Choi’s shoulder.

Mom poked her head through the open doorway of the private jet and spoke in a voice as tiny as an ant.

“Sorry, son.”

She vanished as soon as she said it, and a slim face appeared in her place. It was Hayeon, her skin glowing as if she’d spent the past several days eating and sleeping to her heart’s content.

“I recognized you right away! I’m the only one who did, right?”

“Who are you? I’m an only child.”

“What the heck?”

Letting Hayeon’s words go in one ear and out the other, I asked Team Leader Choi, “That brat talked the most trash about me, didn’t she?”

“Yes. She was having a wonderful time egging your mother on.”

Yep. She was definitely my sister.

Hayeon must have overheard us, because she immediately pulled her head back inside. She wasn’t just good at studying—she was quick on the uptake, too.

“It’s nice to see such a harmonious family.”

“If we became twice as harmonious, someone would disappear from the family register.”

Team Leader Choi replied with a straight face.

“That would still be better. I don’t have any family. Except for my maternal grandfather, and I don’t even know where he is.”

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

“It was a joke.”

“Please use your turn signal before swerving into my lane like that.”

Team Leader Choi chuckled at my grumbling and extended a hand.

At a brief activation word, an Item imbued with Clean magic flashed brightly.

A cool breeze made of mana swept over me, blowing away all the dust and grime at once.

“Thanks. Much better.”

“Don’t mention it. You’ve certainly kept busy to the very end. You vanished without warning on the day of your departure, which put us in a rather difficult position.”

“You’re making it sound worse than it was. I was planning to be back on time.”

Team Leader Choi stared at me without a word. I scratched the back of my head and continued as if I were making an excuse.

“I just stopped by on the off chance.”

“Mr. Jin.”

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“Even if you do, this still needs to be said.”

Team Leader Choi looked me in the eye and spoke with deliberate clarity.

“You can’t save everyone. Mr. Jin, you… did your best.”

I smiled bitterly.

I had witnessed many deaths, both in the modern world and in Murim.

Sometimes I had been a spectator, far removed from what was happening. Other times, I had been at the heart of it.

And whenever it was all over, I always found myself asking the same question.

Just as I did now.

Was that really the best I could do?

The best.

The greatest and finest one could achieve after devoting every ounce of sincerity and strength.

Those two words frightened me more than anything, because there was no fixed standard for them.

Whether you had done your best was something only you could decide.

But there would always be regrets. Even if they amounted to no more than a few crumbs, as long as they remained buried deep in your heart, you couldn’t truly say you had done your best.

Because doing your best meant having no regrets at all.

“Nice weather today.”

I looked up at the sky and muttered for no particular reason, then grinned at Team Leader Choi.

“Let’s call it second-best. I’ll feel better that way.”

“How you see yourself and how others see you are two different things. To us, it was the best—and more.”

That wasn’t Team Leader Choi’s voice.

I had already sensed his presence, so I turned without surprise.

The owner of the aged voice addressed me with a gentle smile.

“So… you are leaving after all, Mr. Jin.”

I smiled back at Chairman Xiao Yang.

“The hotel rates were higher than I expected.”

“They are merchants, are they not? It is only natural to charge for the services they provide.”

“I might’ve stayed if they’d offered me a discount, but I think they were overcharging me because I’m a foreigner.”

“Oh dear. So that happened. Shall this old man give them a stern talking-to and persuade you to stay a little longer?”

“The bus has already left. It would be rude to chase it down the road and ask the driver to open the door.”

“Then I suppose I have no choice but to let you go. Ha ha.”

As if any hotel would be crazy enough to charge me—let alone overcharge me—in a situation like this.

We traded light jokes while reaffirming each other’s intentions, then clasped hands.

“You have given us more help than I could ever dare measure.”

His voice and gaze were sincere.

The people who had accompanied the Chairman also bowed respectfully to me.

Several familiar faces stood among them, including Xiao Shen and Wei Fenghu, the Minister of National Defense.

I gave them a slight nod and answered with a joke.

“I only did what I had to do. More importantly, it wasn’t volunteer work. You know that, right?”

“Ha ha. Of course.”

I had momentarily forgotten, but the bounty on the Arch Lich’s head had been an astounding fifty trillion won.¹

It was such an astronomical sum that even the compensation I’d receive for fighting in a month-long war would look like pocket change beside it.

I had never imagined possessing that much money in my life, and it still didn’t feel real.

Fifty trillion won.¹

Only half a year ago, I’d been eating seven-thousand-won² bowls of bone hangover soup to save money, then cooking ramen afterward because one bowl wasn’t enough to fill me up.

Maybe that was why I felt more dazed than happy.

“Um, by the way…”

Chairman Xiao Yang raised his eyebrows.

“Are you really going to pay me?”

The instant the words left my mouth, Team Leader Choi firmly stepped on my foot. Chairman Xiao Yang’s wrinkled eyes curved into a gentle smile.

“Why? Do you not wish to receive it?”

“No! Of course I do!”

My vehement reply sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd.

Chairman Xiao Yang laughed heartily and patted me on the shoulder.

“Did I not say so? It is only natural to pay a fair price for work performed.”

They said China was the Middle Kingdom because it was too large to be a small nation and too narrow-minded to be a Great Nation, but this old man sure was generous.

I scratched my chin awkwardly.

There was nothing wrong with receiving payment under the contract, but accepting a bounty of fifty trillion won¹ amid such devastation made me feel like a thief rummaging through someone else’s storehouse.

“If money’s tight, you can pay me in installments.”

“If you are worried about rebuilding the damage, that is something our country must handle. Your bounty is being processed quickly, Mr. Jin, so it will be paid officially soon.”

Chairman Xiao Yang leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“When I plowed the fields and pulled out the rotten stalks, piles of gold came tumbling out. So there is no need for you to feel uncomfortable, Mr. Jin.”

It took me a moment to realize he was talking about the Crown Prince Party.

According to the news, the assets seized so far already amounted to hundreds of trillions of won.³

And that was before they had even touched Wu Xueming, the faction’s de facto leader, or the rest of its leadership.

Now that’s some corruption.

A country’s landmass must be proportional to the size of its people’s nerve.

Still, they had ended up penniless and behind bars, so justice had been served to some extent.

Feeling considerably lighter, I answered, “Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“What are you saying? Thanks to you, we were able to prevent an even greater catastrophe. On behalf of all the people who could not be here today, I offer you my thanks once again, Mr. Jin.”

Before I could stop them, Chairman Xiao Yang and his attendants bowed respectfully.

The people gathered here were the major officials who moved an entire nation.

They were, in essence, the body and head of China itself.

As I stood there flustered, a familiar voice reached my ear.

“Should I get down on my knees, too?”

“Faye Chen.”

She approached with a playful expression and poked me in the cheek.

“You worked hard, young man.”

“Not at all. Everyone…”

“Of course everyone worked hard. But if you hadn’t defeated the Arch Lich, we wouldn’t have this peace. I’m sure everyone feels the same way. Except for that obnoxious prince, of course.”

Prince Felix, dressed in a dazzling formal uniform with a snow-white cloak draped over his shoulders, gave an irritated cough and stared at me.

“What?”

“I pay my respects to you, Korean commoner.”

“…I appreciate it, but could you leave out the last few words?”

“I pay my respects to you, Korean commoner.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“I am sincere.”

“I’m sure you are, you bastard. I really am a commoner.”

“That is not what I meant.”

Prince Felix suddenly extended a hand.

But unlike usual, he didn’t offer me the back of his own hand. Instead, he seized mine and pulled it toward him.

Then, while I stood there dumbfounded, he kissed the back of my hand and stepped away.

What the fuck?

Faye Chen burst out laughing at my speechless expression. Prince Felix calmly said what he had to say.

“I have shown you my respect. It shall never happen again, so treasure this honor for generations to come. Until we meet again.”

With that final remark, delivered without the slightest change in expression, Prince Felix swept away with his attendants.

Magic Johnson, who had watched the entire scene, smacked his lips.

“Charming.”

“…That’s your type?”

“Respect my preferences.”

“He has a spouse.”

“That is why I am restraining myself.”

We should never let him visit a Korean convenience store. The moment he took a bite of tuna mayo, the world would be hit by an unprecedented upheaval.

As I shook my head, Team Leader Choi spoke quietly.

“Mr. Jin. It’s time to leave.”

The words weren’t meant only for me, but for everyone gathered there.

I nodded and said my final farewells.

I made sure not to leave out Xiao Shen and Wei Fenghu, with whom I’d spent so much time.

“Take care.”

“We’ll definitely meet again, hyung.”⁴

Xiao Shen, who was only in his early twenties, rubbed his reddened eyes with his sleeve before continuing.

“I’ll become an outstanding Hunter like you, hyung,⁴ and rise to lead the public security forces that protect everyone.”

“You’re still young, but you’re already blinded by the desire for power. That job must be brutal.”

“I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve decided to accept my grandfather’s help.”

“Good. He’ll have plenty of advice for you, so listen carefully and carve every word into your bones. I don’t know what kind of man he is, but I’m sure everything he tells you will be wise and helpful…”

My words were cut off by something Xiao Shen said.

“You know him too, hyung.”⁴

“Huh? Know what?”

“My grandfather.”

“What are you talking about? The only grandfathers I know are Butler Kim from my Guild and the owner of the real-estate office outside my goshiwon.”⁵

Chairman Xiao Yang cut in with a laugh.

“Ha ha. This old man is here as well, you know.”

“Oh, come on. Nice joke…”

Wait a minute.

The corners of my eyes began to twitch.

Xiao Yang. Xiao Shen. Xiao, Xiao?

I’d dismissed it because Xiao was a common surname in China, like Kim or Park in Korea, but now that I looked at them, their faces were strangely similar too.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Even you are no different, Mr. Jin. Everyone reacts the same way.”

“…I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Hyung?”⁴

“Mr. Jin?”

What kind of novel was this?

The Younger Friend I Met in China Turned Out to Be the Chinese Chairman’s Grandson.

Even the title sounded ridiculous.

Why was everyone I met born with a silver spoon in their mouth?

After a brief bout of panic, I finally managed to force out my voice.

“Oh. I see.”

“I am grateful to you not only as Chairman, but also as a grandfather reunited with his grandson. It is a debt this old man could never repay in a lifetime.”

“Ah… No need to rush.”

Apparently, I had saved the Chinese Chairman’s grandson without even realizing it.

Still dazed, I exchanged final farewells with grandfather and grandson. Then my gaze fell on someone else.

Wei Fenghu.

I wasn’t imagining the emptiness in his smile.

Unlike his superior, he had lost someone of his own blood whom he loved.

We looked at each other in silence for a moment, then spoke at the same time.

“Goodbye.”

“Take care, Mr. Jin. You have truly worked hard.”

It was a brief exchange, but it was enough.

“Well, then.”

I gave everyone a slight bow and followed Team Leader Choi onto the waiting aircraft.

Mom looked me over with an expression that was equal parts anxious and delighted. Meanwhile, Hayeon had taken advantage of the distraction to sip champagne. When our eyes met, she gave me a sheepish smile.

“Oppa,⁶ want a glass?”

“What do you mean, a glass? You’re a minor. Hey, take that away from her.”

The Skeleton King, already in human form and seated nearby, ignored me completely. He muttered in a gloomy voice.

“It won’t stand… I’m a eunuch…”

Team Leader Choi, seated beside him, offered a few words of consolation.

“Keep your chin up. Next time, I’ll ask Mr. Johnson to do something about it.”

“R-Really?”

I nearly smacked him, but a quiet laugh escaped me instead.

At last, I felt as if I were back where I belonged.

My beloved family, whom I love more than anyone, along with my colleagues and friends.

Even though we were inside a chartered plane rather than a house, I felt an indescribable sense of comfort.

Yes. This is enough.

“We will now begin takeoff. Passengers in the cabin, please…”

An announcement rang out, and the aircraft rose toward the sky under the escort of the flight formation.

After we had spent a long while laughing, talking, and sharing stories, I sensed that the time had come.

I watched everyone sleeping soundly from the fatigue that had built up, then lay back in my plush seat.

Login.

Ding.

With the familiar notification, darkness covered my vision, and I set off.

Toward another world and another group of people waiting for me far away.