novelraw Chapter 310: RYU SUNGBIN (1)
Chapter 310: RYU SUNGBIN (1)
HOW LONG was I out this time?
Ever since Ryu Sungbin became a literal slave to the Virus, there were more times that he was ’out of it’ than being sober.
It was because he was always in pain.
And he was always in pain because Song Heejin, the ’Mother’ who was supposed to be dead already, had been working hard to cut half of his Core.
Yes, that was the preventative measure the Virus took to keep him under control.
Of course, that was the same with Jin Sooin and Matthew.
The poor kids who had to suffer because I sacrificed them for the greater good...
"Oh, are you sober today?"
Ryu Sungbin didn’t have the energy to glare at Song Heejin, so he just shot her a cold glance.
It was kind of humiliating, though.
After all, he was lying on a bed naked— with only a thin white sheet covering the lower half of his body.
His ’surgery’ had just finished, after all.
They can’t cut my Core in one go, so I’ve been under at least five ’surgeries’ now.
"Don’t worry, Sungbin-ah— we’re about to cut your Core into half, so you’ll be free from these surgeries soon enough," Song Heejin said while looking down at Ryu Sungbin. "The same goes for Jin Sooin and Matthew, of course."
Ryu Sungbin still couldn’t get used to Song Heejin’s young appearance.
For some reason, the witch was able to possess the body of a young woman.
That’s probably how Mother survived when Ki Gayoon had already killed her original body.
Ryu Sungbin couldn’t wait to pass on that piece of information to Moon Noa.
Noa Hyung and the others need to know that Mother is still alive and just using a different body.
"Strangely enough, we can’t touch Lee Sarang’s Core."
Hearing that almost put a smile on Ryu Sungbin’s face.
So, even though the System failed to help Lee Sarang escape that night, it managed to protect her heart and Core.
That was enough.
"It seems like the System is protecting Lee Sarang, as she is the second strongest Esper in this country after Ki Gayoon," Song Heejin said. "Even the Virus itself can’t touch her."
Ryu Sungbin was almost relieved by that, until the damned ’mother’ opened her mouth again.
"Luckily, it’s so easy to break Lee Sarang mentally."
Tsk.
Ryu Sungbin didn’t want to admit this, but it was really Lee Sarang’s weakness.
Sarang has always been mentally unstable because of his other persona— the ’Ice Queen.’ Only Ki Gayoon can tame her.
"And we found a way to control her~"
Ryu Sungbin furrowed his brows, but he kept his mouth shut.
When you keep quiet, your enemy is bound to talk more and more.
"Who knew making Lee Sarang fall in love is easy?"
Ryu Sungbin couldn’t stay quiet after hearing that.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Lee Sarang is a pushover without her Ice Queen persona," Song Heejin said. "All we had to do was choose a Guide that suited her taste, make him act kind towards her, and she already fell for him."
"There’s no way Lee Sarang would fall for someone like that easily when her standard is Ki Gayoon," Ryu Sungbin said, scoffing. "I’m sure you did something to mess with her mind."
Song Heejin burst out laughing. "You’re right. Do you know that the Guides we raised can actually control Espers? Don’t worry, you’ll understand what I’m talking about once Bambi starts guiding you, Sungbin-ah."
"Ah, so that’s your plan— to use Guides to control the Espers of this country."
"The era of Espers is over, Sungbin-ah. It’s time for the whole world to see that Guides are actually the ones controlling the Espers and not the other way around."
"I see it now," Ryu Sungbin said, nodding weakly. "Now I know why you wanted to control the top Espers of this country first."
"Even if you know, you can’t share it with anyone else."
"What?"
"Do you think we’re just trying to cut your Core every time you undergo surgery? Of course not. We’re also installing several ’bombs’ in your heart. They are worse than making an Oath of Silence— those little ’bombs’ would explode if you say something you shouldn’t."
Ah, as expected.
This is why the Virus was confident about ’recruiting’ us to its side despite knowing we will never be loyal to it.
But their personal feelings were out of the question now.
The System promised that it would find a way for me to communicate with Noa Hyung. But how can we do it now?
Ryu Sungbin couldn’t help but feel bitter.
The System is fucking useless.
***
BEFORE Ryu Sungbin knew it, he had already become the most important figure in the country.
Half of the time, he actually didn’t know what he was doing.
Hence, he was surprised when he appointed a useless and corrupt politician as the new President of South Korea.
Worse, he also appointed ’Kim Munhee’ as the new chief of the National Guide Bureau.
I practically took away President Kwak and Noa Hyung’s power over the country.
So, right now, the country was being run by monsters wearing human skin.
I can’t breathe...
"Sungbin Hyung, you don’t look well."
Ryu Sungbin almost flinched when ’Ho Jungwon’ suddenly held his hand.
This isn’t the real Ho Jungwon— his body is just being possessed by the pink bob.
"Do you need guiding?"
Ryu Sungbin pulled his hand away from ’Ho Jungwon,’ disgusted by his ’innocent act.’
Well, it’s not really an act, but...
"Ah, I’m sorry for touching you without permission, Hyung," ’Ho Jungwon’ said apologetically, even bowing his head. "I know you haven’t accepted me as your new Guide yet, but I’m worried about you. You’ve been using your Mana a lot these days, so you need to recharge. But you’re not doing that."
Ryu Sungbin clenched his hands tight, annoyed that the pink blob had suddenly changed its personality now that it was using Ho Jungwon’s body as a vessel. "You—"
"Sungbin-ah, don’t take your anger out on Bambi."
’Bambi.’
That was Ho Jungwon’s new name.
It’s the name that the pink blob uses.
"Bambi-ssi, you’re dismissed for today."
Ho Jungwon— no, Bambi— bowed his head politely. "Yes, Chief Kim."
After that, the pink blob wearing human skin left the room.
Now, Ryu Sungbin was alone with Chief Kim Munhee.
This one is fake— the real Munhee-ssi is already gone.
"Sungbin-ssi, we deliberately erased Bambi-ssi’s memories when he was still a pink blob monster," the fake Kim Munhee said. "We did it to make sure that his memories won’t be read by the System or Espers with mind-reading ability. After all, the fact that people who have died in the past are still alive should be kept a secret. Moreover, erasing his memories as a monster helps us cover his scent as one. Espers like Ki Gayoon has sharp senses, and they can tell when they’re facing a monster. By erasing Bambi-ssi’s memories, we also erased his ’scent.’ So, don’t mention anything related to the past."
"Are you not going to erase my memories of the past?" Ryu Sungbin asked. "I also know the things that the pink blob monster knows."
"That shouldn’t be a problem since you and the other kids wouldn’t be sober for most of the time anyway."
"Fuck you."
"Cursing doesn’t suit you, Sungbin-ssi— you’re not Ki Gayoon."
"Who do you think taught that kid to curse?"
The fake Kim Munhee just chuckled. "Ki Gayoon is here," she said, suddenly turning serious. "Go and stop him from meeting Lee Sarang."
Oh.
"You look hopeful," Kim Munhee said in a mocking tone. "Even though you’re sober right now, you still can’t say anything to Ki Gayoon. Moreover, you still haven’t met Jin Sooin and Matthew, have you?"
This fake is threatening me by using the kids.
Of course, it worked.
"I know that," Ryu Sungbin said, scoffing. "You don’t have to remind me of what to do to protect the kids."
***
"LEE SARANG is currently receiving Guiding from her Exclusive Guide," Ryu Sungbin said, stopping Ki Gayoon from meeting Lee Sarang. "Are you going to interrupt that, you crazy bastard?"
Ki Gayoon frowned. "What? That kid has an Exclusive Guide now?"
"Lee Sarang isn’t a child anymore."
Ki Gayoon just clicked his tongue, and then he turned his back on Ryu Sungbin as if he couldn’t wait to leave that place.
"Are you already leaving, Gayoon-ah?"
"I told you— I’m only here to check on Lee Sarang."
Of course, you’ve always had a soft spot for the maknae. But...
"Don’t you have questions for me?"
"About what?"
"You know what I’m talking about," Ryu Sungbin said, frowning. He had already expected Ki Gayoon not to care about them, but he was still disappointed. "I broke up with Noa Hyung, I officially kicked you out of the group, and I appointed the new President and the new chief of the National Guide Bureau."
"Do I look like I care about your business?"
"So, you really have abandoned us—"
"You’re older and more mature than me," Ki Gayoon said, cutting him off. "Plus, you care about the kids like I do. I don’t care if you turn this country upside down. Heck, I’ll even let it slide if you mess with me. As long as you take care of the kids, I won’t get in your way."
Ryu Sungbin smirked bitterly. "Because you can’t be bothered?"
"Because it’s you, Ryu Sungbin— you’re the true leader of our group and not me," Ki Gayoon said, pausing for a moment. "But, of course, I’m still stronger than you."
Ryu Sungbin wasconfused at first, and then he suddenly burst out laughing. "Gayoon-ah, I really can’t beat you."
"Naturally."
Ryu Sungbin was relieved.
He was relieved that despite Ki Gayoon’s apparent indifference, he still cared about them in his own twisted way.
And this kid still trusts me.
"Gayoon-ah."
"What? I’m busy, so spit it out already."
"You don’t need a Guide."
Because the government will only give you a Guide who has the power to control you.
Ki Gayoon just raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.
"It’s a curse," Ryu Sungbin lied, because that was all he was allowed to say. Since Ki Gayoon was quick-witted, he was hoping that the true #1 Esper would get what he wanted to say. "I’m cursing you to die alone— to die without finding a proper Guide."
Ki Gayoon just scoffed, and then he turned his back on Ryu Sungbin.
Ah.
I failed.
Ryu Sungbin couldn’t blame Ki Gayoon.
After all, I sounded like I was picking a fight.
"I get it."
What?
Ki Gayoon stopped walking and looked over his shoulder, staring at Ryu Sungbin straight in the eye. "I’d rather die than accept a Guide from the government."
Ah, he really got it.
Ryu Sungbin was relieved that Ki Gayoon got his message, but he would pay a heavy price for that later.
***
NOTE: Hello!
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