novelraw Chapter 267 : Chapter 267
Chapter 267 : Chapter 267
Chapter 267: Responsibility
I checked the information that came through the texts in greater detail.
Although all the words were encrypted, which made the decryption a bit challenging, it wasn’t a topic to simply dismiss as bothersome, so I perfectly deciphered all three messages.
And the result.
I irritably clicked my tongue and leaned back.
“That miserable old man. What glory does he think he’ll achieve by getting stronger there, for crying out loud?”
The observed size of the Sun was more than double what Eclipse had created so far.
Furthermore, its temperature had grown even hotter.
If he hadn’t been hiding his strength until now, it seemed his Trait had once again reached the next level, just like mine.
“Why does it feel like things are never easy, even once?”
I thought there would be no more truly dangerous situations.
I had expected a period of peace for a while, with only small struggles remaining, like tidying up the messy relationship with the Association or dealing with the aftermath of the Unhappy organization.
But that man ruined everything.
Putting my phone down, I closed my eyes tightly.
“He’s truly mastered the art of being a nuisance. Absolutely.”
Why was Eclipse in Africa?
The messages that just arrived couldn’t even guess the reason, but I could somewhat grasp the background.
The Society had once approached Eclipse.
They offered to join hands under the pretext of resurrecting someone precious to him, and Eclipse was quite shaken.
However, as someone who had already experienced that situation, I explained the truth of that resurrection, and thanks to persuasion that bordered on blackmail, he was able to stop.
Yet, he only gave up on the Society’s method; he wouldn’t have given up on the resurrection itself.
The Giant-type Monster that appeared in Africa also possessed the attributes of Immortality and Deathlessness.
It was said to be recovering gradually, having resurrected even from the nuclear bomb baptism that turned the entire continent into a land of death.
Perhaps he thought there might be a way to utilize that monster’s Trait.
That’s how he crossed the ocean, in the state of mind of grasping at straws, enduring the land of radiation just to find that monster.
However, if that monster was the same kind as the one I caught, there would only be disappointment left.
The second Sun that floated above the continent was likely the result.
After failing to resurrect his daughter, why was Eclipse returning?
It was difficult even for me to give a definite answer to that reason.
Was it simply because the food in that region didn't suit his taste?
He wouldn’t be returning for such a soft reason.
As I was planning how to greet him, I nervously tapped the table with my fingertips.
Unfortunately, the last sighting of Eclipse on a ship was the end of his location information—it was abruptly cut off.
When, where, how.
Since I didn’t know what he would do upon returning to this country, what I needed immediately was more specific information.
However, the limit of the intelligence gathering ability I could currently mobilize was clear.
The Sage’s Trait, Clairvoyance, which was still with the organization, didn’t reach overseas.
If I needed an organization that could easily gather the most important information for me right now...
I let out a sigh.
Even after all the fighting and tearing each other apart, there was no one better than the Association guys for a time like this.
But didn’t they send someone to harm me just yesterday?
Whether the goal was assassination or arrest, I couldn’t look favorably upon them.
I stroked my chin and placed my negative feelings toward the Association and the current situation on one side of a scale, and the danger level of Eclipse on the other.
Without even needing to think about it, the danger level of Eclipse was overwhelmingly heavy.
I sighed once more.
It couldn’t be helped.
I picked up my phone again and dialed a saved number.
***
The very next morning.
I tidied my clothes and stepped out into the living room.
“I have an appointment at the Association today, okay? I’ll probably eat out and come back after lunch.”
“Understood.”
So-hee, who was continuing her mountain of paperwork, answered appropriately.
However, Ji-an, who relatively had nothing to do, was lounging on the sofa and suddenly jumped up.
“I want to go with you!”
I stared at her silently for a moment before nodding.
“Sure.”
“Ah?”
Instead, Ji-an was the one who was flustered, letting out a silly sound.
In fact, she’d asked to tag along every time I went out, so it had basically become no different from a greeting.
And the result had always been my refusal.
She never expected me to allow her to accompany me.
Her bewilderment lasted only a moment before her eyes sparkled, and she climbed down from the sofa.
“I’ll get ready quickly! Don’t leave without me!”
After Ji-an finished her preparations in barely ten minutes, we headed to the Hero Association’s Headquarters.
We arrived at the Headquarters, and I entered the building lobby, looking around.
Only a month had passed since I half-destroyed the building from the lobby up.
Yet, it was quite amazing how they had already fixed it up sparkling clean, as if nothing had happened.
However, that admiration didn't last long.
The hostile gazes directed at me from all over were so intense they made my skin prickle.
In the murderous atmosphere, Ji-an, who was standing next to me, scowled fiercely.
Her fingertips twitched.
But before she could do anything more, I raised my hand and placed it on top of her head—thump.
“Stop that. Well, we have to endure simple glaring.”
“But…”
“We didn’t come here to fight this time. Besides, if you cause trouble, not me, things will get very complicated.”
The anger to pluck out the eyes of the guys who dared to treat me that way surged to the top of her head, but the stroking hand quickly melted away her ferocious expression.
After calming Ji-an, we finally reached our destination, the top floor of the Headquarters.
The Bureau Directors of each Association department were already waiting for me in the conference room.
Leaving Ji-an in the adjacent rest room, I opened the conference room door and walked in.
Under the dimly lit lighting where silhouettes were faintly visible, the Information Bureau Director glared at me, clearly showing his displeasure.
“We are not idle people who will gather just because you call us.”
Of course, that was something I wouldn’t even scoff at.
“Why pretend to be busy when you aren’t even the main body? And if you’re so busy, why did you send people to try and take me out?”
A very brief silence flowed.
The Director replied again.
“I know nothing about that.”
“I’m sure you don’t. I’m not an idiot. Never mind. You wouldn’t have left any evidence anyway, and there’s no connection, so pursuing it would just be bothersome.”
“I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The Director denied it to the end.
I waved my hand in annoyance.
It was a typical characteristic of people who politically interpreted and utilized every single statement.
Talking to people like that was torture in itself.
“Well, that’s enough. You guys. Don’t you have something to tell me?”
“What is it? You’re the one who called us because you had something to say, aren’t you?”
Another Director asked with a genuinely unknowing tone.
I let out a hollow laugh at his appearance.
Their feigned innocence was breathtaking.
Do they check acting skills when selecting Directors?
I climbed onto a chair and sat on the upper part of the backrest.
Propping up my chin, I casually dropped the word—thump.
“Eclipse.”
Simultaneously, the air inside the conference room grew doubly heavy.
For the Directors, a name that shouldn’t have come from my mouth had popped out.
“Eclipse is moving around again, and you guys haven’t said a word to me for over a day. That’s quite disappointing. Of course, even if we’re tearing at each other like we want to kill the other, that’s separate from this, isn’t it?”
The information I received from the Association side wasn’t through an official route but through a mole I had planted inside the Association.
In other words, the Association had kept the matter of Eclipse a secret from me up to this very moment.
A short silence flowed, and one Director asked.
“Where did you get that information?”
The mole within the Association still had a lot of use left.
There was no need to expose their existence and make these people wary.
Judging that, I brought up another name.
“The Battleground. I have connections there too. Anyway. This isn’t just any other matter; you should have told me about that man immediately.”
“Ahem. Hmm.”
They just cleared their throats, as if they had nothing to say.
“Well, fine. Now we have to prepare a countermeasure, don’t we? What are you going to do? Personally, I think stopping him overseas is the best option. The better, if it’s above the sea.”
The most suitable environment for dealing with Eclipse was definitely the evening hours when the sun hadn’t risen, and next was the sea.
Of course, any water would be good, but a lake or river of any ordinary size would be completely dried up.
“If we cooperate with foreign heroes, getting his location information shouldn’t be that difficult.”
As I was busy explaining the plan, I suddenly stopped talking due to the strange atmosphere flowing within the conference room.
“What is this? The look in your eyes is quite suspicious, isn’t it?”
In terms of immediate danger, it wasn’t much different from the previous monster subjugation operation.
However, their mood was much lighter than that.
One Director slowly opened his mouth.
“I will present the current Association’s opinion. The Hero Association has no intention of stopping Eclipse. No, The Sun.”
“…Did they serve rat poison for breakfast today?”
No one would say such nonsense unless they were collectively insane.
And the fact that no one was stopping them from saying such nonsense also seemed insane.
At my scathing remark, the Director cleared his throat again.
“We intend to try talking first. As per your suggestion, an attack for a blockade or arrest overseas would close off even that minimal possibility.”
Only then did I understand their true intention.
They were still hoping that Eclipse would quit being a villain and return as the hero The Sun.
And even if he didn’t, they were reluctant to strike first, wondering if he might return and live quietly again.
In any case, the Association intended to maintain a cautious stance until Eclipse showed a clear, unambiguous stance.
“Ha.”
I let out a sound like air escaping, dumbfounded.
But that was all.
I couldn't criticize the Association beyond that.
Although I didn’t like the Association’s lukewarm attitude, I couldn’t definitively say it was wrong.
Even if their rosy outlook was extremely remote, it wasn’t completely 0%.
“So that’s how it is.”
I scratched the back of my head and got down from the chair.
“Then if I needlessly step up…”
“The Association will stop you with all its might.”
“Ah, right.”
I answered indifferently.
This feeling, that I was the only one taking it seriously, didn't sit well with me.
Until now, I had moved faster and more unilaterally than anyone else in villain disasters or monster incidents that the Association found difficult to handle.
The basis of that action was the conviction that I was never wrong.
However, this time the nature was different.
The Association's opinion wasn’t entirely wrong either, so it was difficult to push forward with the conviction that I was absolutely right.
Above all, the precious people around me wouldn’t likely get hurt.
I raised both hands.
“Fine. Then I’ll completely wash my hands of this. You guys deal with it yourselves.”
I never imagined the Association would show such a lukewarm reaction.
They hadn’t asked for help, so there was no reason for me to suffer by taking all the blame.
The reason I had moved first until now was to minimize sacrifice when everyone’s opinions aligned.
Even if the worst situation occurred, the Association would deal with it somehow.
“That’s a very irresponsible mindset. If you keep avoiding responsibility and only take the easy path, things will spiral out of control.”
I got down from the chair and looked at the Directors one by one.
“Just try asking me for help later.”
Ending with a short warning, I opened the door and walked out of the conference room.
***
After an unexpected outcome at the Association, I got back into the car with Ji-an.
I glanced over and asked Ji-an, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“Do you know why I specifically brought you out today?”
“Isn’t it just because you like me and wanted to go on a date?”
Ji-an asked genuinely.
You didn’t grow to like me so much after the botanical garden date that you wanted to take me everywhere, did you?!
“Well, let’s say that.”
What couldn't I say with words?
At that answer, Ji-an smiled contentedly and squirmed around.
If not for the seatbelt, she might have hugged me right then and there.
Unlike Ji-an, my mood was quite serious.
What I was about to talk about wasn't the kind of topic that would bring out cheerful laughter at all.
Seeing a building in the distance, I spoke briefly.
“We’ve arrived.”
It was a building that was quite shabby for a restaurant.
More than anything, it didn’t look like a restaurant at all.
Ji-an tilted her head in confusion.
She slowly read the sign in the distance.
“Hope Foster Care Facility? Why are we here?”
And with a sudden, ominous thought, she wrapped her arms around her body.
“D-don’t abandon me!”
I won’t sneak into your bed at night! I won’t complain about the side dishes either!
Or did you find out I secretly stole your clothes last time?
I showed no reaction to her dramatics.
Instead, I only looked at the building in front of us.
“Because it was something I had to face someday. Someday, without fail.”
She realized that my demeanor wasn’t one for simple jokes or teasing.
Ji-an belatedly released her wrapped arms with a slightly serious expression.
“Responsibility, you see. If you ignore it, it eventually comes back at you with a size and situation that you can’t handle. The best thing is to somehow resolve it before that happens.”
I let out a long sigh and turned my gaze toward Ji-an.
“You. What do you think was the biggest mess you caused during your villain days?”
This was the turning point.
If Ji-an had reflected on her past even a little, a proper answer would come back.
I sincerely didn't want to be disappointed in her.