The teleporter brought them to Korea’s Player a.s.sociation in an instant.
“We"ve arriv—huh?!” He yelped in surprise.
‘W-why are there so many people…?’
It was no longer the a.s.sociation he knew. There were people at the entrance, sidewalk, and there were even people looking on from the rooftops across a four-lane road. They were all here for one reason.
“I-It’s Specter-nim!”
“Oh my G.o.d...It really is him…”
“Thank you for coming back!”
It was to see Specter.
By the estimates of the police, there were over 50,000 people gathered in front of the a.s.sociation.
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho felt touched as he looked at them. He had never imagined that so many people would gather here for him.
‘...Thank you.’
It was that much more touching because he hadn’t expected it. There was a big difference between hearing that people hadn’t forgotten him and his comrades’ sacrifice and seeing it for himself.
“Specter! Specter!”
“Specter! Specter!”
Their chants were so loud that they couldn’t be replicated by even the most expensive speakers. It was to the point he felt the vibrations up to his bones which gave him gooseb.u.mps.[1] They were all trying to send one message—We’re glad you’re back. And thank you.
“...”
Even the large billboards connected to the buildings were playing videos from his past. Seo Jun-Ho started to feel a bit shy and embarra.s.sed; he lowered his head. When he did, they started to cheer again.
“...You really are quite famous.” Even the Frost Queen was in awe.
“Specter-nim, we will escort you inside.” The a.s.sociation Players flanked him. Seo Jun-Ho looked back one last time.
‘...One day, you guys will see this too. I’ll make sure of it.’
He made a promise. He would show his friends the same, heartwarming scene.
***
“You’re here?”
When he entered the waiting room, Shim Deok-Gu stood up as if he had been waiting for him. Seo Jun-Ho took off his mask and flopped down on the sofa.
“...Is this your doing?”
“The people? Nah.” Shim Deok-Gu laughed as if he found that ridiculous. “The police estimates that there are about 52,000 people and counting. Do you think I’m the president or something?” Even if he was, it would be impossible to gather so many people in such a short time.
“How about the billboards?”
“Ahem. Well, that’s…” He must have influenced it a bit because he squared his shoulders proudly, but a moment later, he sighed and looked at his friend. “Even though I’ve known you for so long, you have always been unpredictable.”
A few hours ago, Seo Jun-Ho had sent him a message, telling him to start preparing for a press conference.
“I’m guessing you’re not going to announce your cooperation with the a.s.sociation this time, right?”
“Yeah.” Seo Jun-Ho nodded.
“You told me before you went to Rome that Specter will only have a working relationship with the a.s.sociation so that we can build connections, rather than working under us.” Shim Deok-Gu confirmed.
“I did. But I changed my mind.” Seo Jun-Ho closed his eyes and as if he remembered something, he said, “Deok-Gu, do you remember when you came to my hospital room? You said something to me that day.”
It had already been four months, but it still felt like yesterday.
“You told me that the world is peaceful now. That I don’t need to return because our sacrifice had saved the world. That I should live for myself now.”
“...”
“But after four months of seeing it myself, I don’t think that’s right.” Seo Jun-Ho concluded.
At the very least, the fiends hadn’t been this bold 25 years ago when he had been active—it was impossible for them to be this brave back then.
“Jun-Ho. That’s because of the 5 Heroes. But their effect is irreplaceable, and now…”
“I know. The fiends I encountered at Paradise were treating me like a has-been.”
They were no longer scared of him. They hunted him like a trophy to be won.
“Jun-Ho.” Shim Deok-Gu’s face was solemn. “There is nothing more dangerous than the courage of someone who is weak.”
“I know.” He completely agreed with what Shim Deok-Gu said. He had seen all too well how things could end if those with no power sought justice. “But I can’t just stand by any longer.”
“Why are you so…”
“Paradise.” Seo Jun-Ho said darkly. “Do you know why it was made? Haha—It was made to create the 2nd Specter.”
“...!” Shim Deok-Gu was stunned speechless.
“Isn’t it funny? They hated me so much...But they sacrificed thousands of children to create a being similar to me.”
“...It’s not your fault.”
“I know that. But that doesn’t change the fact that it started because of me.”
“So you’re saying that you’re gonna take responsibility?” Shim Deok-Gu asked.
“Yeah. To be honest, I thought that all I needed to do was to get a little stronger and save my friends.” But Paradise had completely changed his mind. “But after I thought about it, I don’t think it’s enough when the fiends are working around the clock.”
The fiends from the past had been different. Before they did something bad, they would always remember Specter’s face.
“Specter always shows up at the sinner’s door. All fiends who meet him die.”
Such a simple phrase had dissuaded crime, and Specter’s simple existence kept people safe.
“...But as you said, you can’t take on the same role as before.”
“I know. If it’s possible, I don’t want to do this either.” If there was someone else to carry the burden, he wouldn’t need to do anything. But no one could. “The Nine Heavens and the Rankers...Their levels and stats are higher than mine back then, but they aren’t stepping forward.”
Rather, no one could step forward. There was no one as powerful or influential as Specter.
“They know that the nail that sticks out gets hammered, so they’re wary.” After thinking about it for a long time, Seo Jun-Ho realized that he was the only person who could do this. “My skills may not be enough, but my influence is.”
The moment he opened his mouth, thousands of Players would listen. And he would make it so that fiends would think twice again before they committed a crime.
“Only Specter can destroy the fiends like this, as he did in the past.”
Seo Jun-Ho was a person. A selfish person.
‘Specter is a complete ent.i.ty. It would be a neat little ending if I retired and all that was left of me remained in history books.’
But he refused to take such an easy path. He would use his name and influence to make people vigilant of the fiends again.
“...You have made a difficult decision. I will remember your courage.” The Frost Queen applauded his bravery.
It was easy to be a hero if you had nothing to lose. It was much harder to be a hero when you could lose everything.
“...”
After a long while, Shim Deok-Gu spoke again. “...Once you make an announcement, you won’t be able to take it back.”
“I’ve already made my decision.”
“Every time the fiends incite terror, people will be looking for you. And if you don’t appear the moment they want you to, they’ll curse you.”
The admired and beloved Specter could do all this in an instant. But Seo Jun-Ho had already made up his mind.
“I know.”
“There will be a dozen, a hundred times more fiends that will be hunting for Specter.”
“It can’t be helped.”
Shim Deok-Gu let out a long sigh and scratched the hair that his stylist had spent so long styling. No matter what he said, he couldn’t change Seo Jun-Ho’s mind.
“You’re as stubborn as a mule…”
“I’ve always been like this.” Whenever Seo Jun-Ho caused a stir, Shim Deok-Gu had always cleaned up after him. As such, Shim Deok-Gu clapped his hands together. “Do whatever you want, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. What can I do for you?”
“Raise the volume. As high as you can.” Seo Jun-Ho responded.
“Even louder than they are now? Things will get pretty noisy.”
Seo Jun-Ho smiled. “Turn it up until my voice reaches the 2nd floor.”
***
The conference room was packed. They had reduced the number of seats to save as much room as possible, but there was still barely any room to breathe.
“Is this the power of Specter?”
“It’s not just reporters today. Look over there.”
The reporters gasped when they saw who was sitting near the front.
“A-are those Big 6 Vice Masters and Team Leaders?”
“They’re the heroes of our generation, but to them, he’s their hero. ”
“Even the heavy-hitter Rankers are here.”
The reporters were practically drooling. The conference today was like a buffet. No matter who they wrote about, they would be able to create scoops left and right.
“What do you think they’re talking about?”
“I dunno...Don’t you think they’ll be talking about something important though? Like global politics.”
Unlike the reporters, the Players were cool, especially the Big 6 Team Leaders.
“Paradise...I came to see Seo Jun-Ho, but I found something even better,” muttered Kiora. She was part of the mercenary Guild, Hallem.
The Team Leader of the Goblin Guild replied, “Why are you looking for Mr. Snake Head?”
“Mr. Snake Head? What are you saying, shorty?”
Gong Ju-Ha wrinkled her nose at the insult. What made her more frustrated was that Kiora’s body was much more mature than hers. She let out a long sigh, trying to contain her anger, then gave a big smile. “Ah, I’m so~ close to Mr. Seo Jun-Ho that I accidentally called him by his nickname. Unlike you, old woman, we’re really close to each other.”
“Pffft, seeing how he hasn’t joined Goblin yet, I can tell just what exactly is your relationship with him.”
“W-what are you saying? Personal relationships aren’t related to affiliations.”
“Wanna bet? I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to convince Seo Jun-Ho to join Hallem today.”
“T-that’s low!”
“Hahaha!”
The four others watched the two fight as they always did. Even though they were from each of the Big 6 Guilds, they were known to meet quite frequently. Of course, this didn’t mean that they went easy on each other when it came to compet.i.tion and Guild affairs.
“Pffft, you’re the one that set the bar that low.” Kiora chuckled.
“Oh, really? I don’t want to hear that from someone who’s always making news for getting into bar fights.” Gong Ju-Ha retorted.
“Please be mindful of your positions and shut your mouths.”
“...”
Unlike what the reporters expected, these people bickered like children, but they knew when to be quiet.
“S-Specter-nim and President Shim Deok-Gu will soon be entering. Please settle down now.”
“...”
The look in their eyes changed in antic.i.p.ation. They were about to meet the living legend, Specter.
Though, they originally came down to the 1st floor to meet Seo Jun-Ho, not Specter.
‘The Super Rookie broke the Cave of Trials record.’
‘And he did it with only a single D-rank skill…’
‘If he can get another one, he’ll grow exponentially.’
He was a perfect, S-grade gemstone. But when they came down, Specter had announced his own press conference, and they were no longer ordered to recruit Seo Jun-Ho.
‘Specter is admired all over the world.’
‘If he joins a Guild…’
‘Our influence will shoot up.’
They all had the same goal.
‘I-I can’t believe I’ll be seeing Specter-nim in person!’ Except, of course, Gong Ju-Ha.
The door clicked open as the live broadcast started. Thousands of eyes stared, waiting.
“...”
A man stepped out, radiating an exceptional presence. Specter.
1. A more literally translated sentence would be “The shouts were so loud that it made his skin tremble,” but since it sounds rather odd in English, it was changed a bit. ☜