Chapter 31
The moment I entered the guild master's office, Kim Sang-hyeon greeted me warmly.
Shin Ha-gyeon was nowhere to be seen.
"Me? I was safely protected at home the whole time. What about you, Vice Guild Master?"
"Didn't you already hear everything downstairs? Hahaha! It was incredible. It made me realize a clear like that was actually possible. The guild members' morale stayed high right up until the clear was confirmed. And I found myself thinking something."
"...?"
"Ah, this isn't just about the Association anymore. If Yeonwoo Guild doesn't work harder, some foreign country might steal Artist Do away from us! We need to become an even greater guild so we can protect you!"
"You really don't have to praise me that much."
"Do I look like someone who makes empty boasts? I'm not joking. Other countries will absolutely want your items too. Lobbying would be the least of it. Entire governments might get involved."
I deliberately put on a troubled expression.
"Unless something unusual happens, I plan to focus on sculpture."
I said it lightly, but I meant it.
Making items and seeing them produce good results made me happy.
But I couldn't forget who I was.
Hadn't I started making weapons in the first place so that I could continue sculpting for longer?
"Of course. We know perfectly well why this relationship started. Yeonwoo Guild will always remain beside you and support you."
It sounded like he was saying they were satisfied because they already had three commission rights per year.
Seriously.
That was exactly the kind of thing you'd expect from someone people said had devoted his entire life to growing Yeonwoo Guild.
Kim Sang-hyeon smiled brightly and continued.
"And more than anything, thank you for recognizing Yeonwoo Guild's value."
I gave him a small nod.
They weren't the only ones who thought I'd chosen my first business partner well.
"By the way, when are you going to show me?"
"Show you what?"
"The new Gate Emergence Forecasting Device."
Now it was my turn to smile proudly.
"I can show it to you right now."
"Oh!"
Kim Sang-hyeon rose gracefully and gestured for us to head outside together.
"You have no idea how excited I was inside the Gate, thinking about how badly we were going to irritate the Association."
Kim Sang-hyeon couldn't hide the slight tremor in his breathing.
There weren't many things left that could make his heart race at his age.
But ever since meeting Artist Do Hwa-in this year, things had changed.
Just look at the present.
Ahead of him was the workshop door hiding a key capable of shifting the balance of power between the Association and the guilds.
In his hand was a text from Shin Ha-gyeon, angrily demanding to know why Kim Sang-hyeon had gone without him.
How enjoyable.
He glanced sideways at Artist Do Hwa-in.
Unlike usual, the corners of the young man's eyes were slightly lowered.
Was he worrying about the coming conflict with the Association?
Or was he simply bored by the situation?
As always, his face made it difficult to tell what he was thinking.
Still, for some reason, his eyes seemed to sparkle more brightly today.
"Hahaha!"
Kim Sang-hyeon laughed loudly to release some of his tension, then followed Do Hwa-in inside the workshop.
The first thing he saw was a hexagonal machine about the size of an adult man's upper body.
No.
More precisely, it was a stone sculpture modeled after such a machine.
As he approached, the incredibly precise details became more and more visible.
His mouth opened slightly in surprise.
If the sculpture hadn't been dark gray, he wasn't sure he would've believed it was stone without touching it himself.
Perhaps Artist Do's goal this time had been focused entirely on realism.
The longer Kim Sang-hyeon stared at the sculpture, the more confused his senses became.
He felt an urge to touch it just to confirm what was real.
"Haha... Good grief. Hahahaha!"
That was why he laughed loudly once again.
He could feel Do Hwa-in looking at him strangely.
Artist Do doesn't realize how incredible his ability is.
Maybe it was because he personally created extraordinary sculptures with his own hands.
Sometimes Do Hwa-in spoke casually about things other people couldn't even imagine.
"I was already surprised when you said you'd make us weapons on the level of A-Class items.... But this really is astonishing skill."
Do Hwa-in merely shrugged with an expression that seemed to say this was nothing new.
"You've known about my sculpting ability for quite a while, haven't you?"
"...That's true."
He was just surprised every single time.
People praised Michelangelo as a great sculptor constantly.
That didn't mean they became numb to the greatness of his work.
Every time they saw it, they were amazed again.
Admired it again.
Acknowledged it again.
The sculpture in front of him was merely a reproduction of an existing object.
But that was exactly why it revealed how sharp and delicate Do Hwa-in's hands truly were.
How long has it been since I saw this?
The Gate Emergence Forecasting Device had been completed after Kim Sang-hyeon and Shin Ha-gyeon founded Yeonwoo Guild.
It had been developed after Yeonwoo's death.
Kim Sang-hyeon had watched the entire process from Shin Ha-gyeon's side.
How Shin Ha-gyeon developed the forecasting device.
And how it was ultimately taken from him.
That was why Kim Sang-hyeon stared at the sculpture for a long time, his expression filled with complicated memories.
He only looked away when Shin Ha-gyeon entered the workshop.
Shin Ha-gyeon had clearly come to complain about Kim Sang-hyeon teasing him.
But the moment he saw the sculpture in front of him, he froze.
Kim Sang-hyeon quietly watched the regret and memories cross his old friend's face before turning away.
Standing nearby was a young man who clearly had no idea why these old men were making such a big deal out of this.
Kim Sang-hyeon moved closer to Do Hwa-in and explained in a voice quiet enough not to interrupt his friend's thoughts.
"For us, the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device is something of a sore spot. We completed it far too late. And before we could even properly vent our frustration, it was taken from us."
"...Then wouldn't it be good to make a real new one this time?"
Do Hwa-in looked as though he could activate his skill immediately if they wanted.
It's a commission anyway, his expression seemed to say.
But Kim Sang-hyeon simply smiled warmly and shook his head.
"It pains me to say it, but the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device belongs under government control."
"Why?"
"Most of the people currently serving as executives in major guilds are first-generation Hunters. Glory Guild and Taepyeong Guild have younger vice guild masters, but even they only awakened a little later than the first generation."
"That's true."
"For now, it would probably be fine. We're people who know why and how the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device was created. We also vividly remember the time when Gates nearly destroyed the country. But what about the generation after us? Or the generation after that?"
"..."
"Awakened people around your age were born when the country had already begun stabilizing. They grew up hearing stories about the early Gate era from their parents. Naturally, they still fear Gates and sympathize with bereaved families... but not as deeply as their parents' generation did."
Do Hwa-in thought quietly for a moment before nodding.
The art university he'd graduated from had also been partially destroyed when Gates first appeared and had temporarily shut down.
But Do Hwa-in had never walked around campus imagining what the half-destroyed buildings once looked like.
He'd never seen it himself.
So it hadn't been carved deeply into his heart.
"What I'm saying is that if this stays in private hands, we can't guarantee what will happen ten or twenty years after we're dead."
"But... the Hunter Association is a government-affiliated organization, and it's already corrupt."
"Exactly. That's why we need to reform the Association now. The current Association President holds far too much power, to the point that even the government has trouble interfering with him. That's why he's become drunk on power and keeps taking reckless measures."
"Is Yeonwoo Guild's ultimate target the Association President?"
"More precisely, we want to reform the Association's internal system. That's not only Yeonwoo Guild's goal. It's something all the major guilds share. At the very least, we don't want an Association that only thinks about the Association anymore."
Do Hwa-in fell silent for a moment.
He stared at Shin Ha-gyeon, apparently thinking about many things at once.
"Besides, it's still too early for an all-out confrontation with the Association. We need people moving quietly between the guilds to coordinate. We also need to talk with the government, which keeps supporting the Association for reasons we don't fully understand. And we have to consider public opinion, as well as the opinions of Hunters themselves."
"..."
"Most importantly, we need to make the Hunters working inside the Association reconsider a few things."
Kim Sang-hyeon felt it was time to wrap up.
After choosing his words carefully, he decided to finish by speaking about their future plans.
"Once we've completed the groundwork for this plan, I'll contact you. Come with us to the Association, and we'll hit them where it hurts."
Do Hwa-in grinned.
"Of course. I'll make sure they can't keep bothering me anymore."
Perhaps reacting to her owner's determination, Chaeri fluttered in from somewhere and landed on Do Hwa-in's shoulder.
She puffed out the feathers on her chest as though she too intended to land a blow on the Association.
It was adorable.
Just as Kim Sang-hyeon said, I locked myself back inside the workshop while they completed their groundwork.
For the first time in a while, I took out my notebook.
I decided to spend the time filling it with every idea that came to mind, basically creating an idea bank.
For a while, my only way of following the conflict between the Association and the guilds was to check the front page of the news portal before going to bed after spending the entire day inside the workshop.
That alone was enough.
Every day, Yeonwoo Guild was praised as a national savior.
And riding that momentum, articles subtly criticizing the Association began spreading.
Their basic message was simple.
While Yeonwoo Guild risked their lives inside the Gate, what exactly did the Association do?
Then, once that public sentiment had gathered enough strength, another topic suddenly emerged.
The Gate Emergence Forecasting Device cannot detect Sudden-Type Gates.
The article's conclusion was that the forecasting technology needed further development.
But it was obvious what the article was really aiming at.
Citizens who had recently felt their lives threatened strongly recommended the article and left supportive comments.
At the very least, people began loudly calling for continued research.
Naturally, that led to another question.
Why had the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device, developed more than twenty years ago, barely improved since then?
The issue of responsibility surfaced.
I could see signs that Association-friendly media outlets were trying to redirect the conversation.
But journalists lived on clicks.
And right now, the best-selling keywords were Yeonwoo Guild and Gate Emergence Forecasting Device.
So inevitably, another topic emerged that contained both.
The past in which Yeonwoo Guild had the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device taken away.
This was probably guided by the guilds' public-opinion teams too.
There were plenty of other things they could've talked about.
The researchers who created the device.
The difficulty of the research at the time.
But instead, the articles focused directly on the claim that the Association took the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device away from the guilds that created it.
Some comments pointed out that the device had been designated a strategic national asset.
But the public, currently swept up in the fever surrounding Yeonwoo Guild, the national heroes, refused to let the topic shift.
Right now, anything that attacked Yeonwoo Guild was being demonized.
The guild alliance would probably use this timing to request quiet negotiations with the Association.
Ring-ring-ring!
As if I'd summoned it by thinking about it, my phone began ringing.
"Have you been having a pleasant day, Artist Do? The time has come...."
With help from Yeonwoo Guild members, we carried the sculpture modeled after the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device to the Association.
The entire trip there felt like a festival.
People were still swept up in national pride over the world's second solo clear of a massive Gate by a single guild.
More importantly, Yeonwoo Guild had been forced into a time attack.
Apparently, they'd also set a new international record.
Companies everywhere were launching promotions either to celebrate it or simply attach themselves to the hype.
News articles compared the atmosphere to the excitement of South Korea's legendary run to the World Cup semifinals long ago.
I have no idea how similar it really is to a year I only know through records.
But at the very least, everyone seemed intoxicated by what people online called national pride and Yeonwoo Guild fever.
♪♬♩♭~
The guards sitting in the front seats were already humming cheerfully.
With the patriotic guards' humming serving as my marching song, I headed toward the Association.
Click.
The moment I stepped out of the car, I deliberately straightened my back and made myself look confident.
Normally, I just carried myself however felt comfortable.
But today I was going to fight.
Behind me, the guards followed while carrying the sculpture wrapped in white cloth.
As arranged beforehand, we entered through the Association's rear entrance and immediately took an elevator upstairs.
When we reached the fifth floor, where the large conference rooms were located, Shin Ha-gyeon was waiting for me.
"You made it."
"I didn't expect the guild master himself to come out and greet me."
"I don't have much to do in there. If I at least escort you in, I can say I contributed something."
Shin Ha-gyeon joked as he led me toward a soundproof door.
And the moment I stepped into the conference room, I understood exactly what he'd meant by I don't have much to do.
"...Do you still not understand our guilds' position that we can no longer trust the Association after it used the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device for private purposes? Or should I bring out another piece of evidence beyond what we've already shown you? I'm not sure the External Cooperation Department will appreciate this next one."
"Guild Master Yoon Jamok!"
"Then again, the internal power struggle within the Association is none of my concern."
Badger Guild Master Yoon Jamok was pressuring the Association's representatives from the External Cooperation Headquarters with terrifying force.
"The private misuse of the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device is not the only problem. Take a look at this document."
"...This is...."
"Evidence of the human-rights abuses the Association has committed against rookie Hunters over the years."
"Human-rights abuses? The Association merely supported Hunters from behind the scenes so they could fulfill their duties for national safety!"
And beside her, Kim Sang-hyeon was finally unleashing the enormous pile of ammunition he'd accumulated over the years.
I watched quietly, impressed.
As expected, though, the Association was a formidable opponent.
As though he had never been angry at all, the man introduced as the director of the External Cooperation Headquarters took several deep breaths and quickly restored his composure.
"Even if the two of you say all that, I know you won't release these documents directly to the public. You don't actually intend to destroy the Association completely."
"..."
"..."
"All this protesting is ultimately because you want us to hand over the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device, isn't it? Anyone can tell from recent media trends. Otherwise, you would've already released everything publicly and demanded a large-scale investigation."
The director tapped the documents Yoon Jamok and Kim Sang-hyeon had placed before him.
Then he raised his chin and looked down at them.
"The Association is a government-affiliated organization. And the two of you are uncomfortable with the idea of strategic weapons known as Hunters appearing to rebel against the government, aren't you? You've both seen what happened in countries where powerful Hunters established dictatorships during the early Gate era."
"...Attacking the Association does not mean attacking the government."
"But who knows the truth? In the minds of those citizens you keep mentioning, the Association and the government are practically the same thing."
Yoon Jamok released a deep sigh before answering.
"Fine. Let's be honest. Part of what you said is correct. We do make considerable effort not to make it look like the guilds are rebelling against the government. That's also why we've merely collected evidence of Association corruption instead of using it immediately. We've been waiting for the right time."
"And I assume you want to say that now is that time."
"At the very least, I believe it's time to weaken the Association's influence somewhat. And there's one point I'd like to correct."
Yoon Jamok leaned forward.
"We are not demanding that you hand over the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device."
"Then...?"
"We said we'll make another one. A privately owned Gate Emergence Forecasting Device."
"All the research data and researchers from that time were transferred under the Association."
"Don't glare at us like that. We didn't steal your information."
Kim Sang-hyeon gestured toward me.
"We have Artist Do Hwa-in, don't we?"
"..."
"A man capable of creating a Gate Emergence Forecasting Device without any of that research data."
I pulled away the cloth covering the sculpture.
The sound of fabric scraping against stone seemed unusually loud inside the conference room.
"T-That's...!"
Perhaps because they were Association employees, they recognized the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device immediately.
I'd only ever seen one for the first time while making this sculpture.
"C-Could it be... Have you already used your skill on it?"
As expected.
Because they knew my skill transformed sculptures into items, the director's first question was whether I'd already activated it.
"Not yet."
I was the one who answered.
I casually stroked the sculpture as though I could use my skill on it at any moment and looked straight at the director.
A bead of sweat slid past his sideburn.
Apparently, he hadn't expected me to show up carrying a sculpture of the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device.
His eyes darted around.
He bit his lower lip, clearly rattled, then asked for a little time.
He needed to consult his superiors.
Apparently, he didn't have much authority himself.
In the end, Kim Sang-hyeon warned him to return within thirty minutes and let him leave.
The allies remaining in the conference room exchanged glances.
Everyone seemed to be silently preparing themselves for the real negotiations that were about to begin.
