The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 238

-To take on subordinates means you must be able to take responsibility for the mistakes they make. You know that much, right?

Lee Shin flew in circles above Irehgue's head, speaking not with his voice but with his mind so that only Irehgue could hear.

At any other time, there would have been no need to do this.

But now, for some reason, Rwen could see Irehgue's body and hear the sounds he made, so a certain degree of caution was necessary.

-So, in a situation where those kids failed to follow orders and made a mistake, how do you plan to deal with it now?

‘…’

At Lee Shin's question, Irehgue blatantly looked away, avoiding the answer.

He had given the order to get information at first, but for Irehgue, that was just a random reason he had tacked on.

In the first place, the reason Irehgue had come here was not to obtain any information, but to resolve the pent-up feelings in the hearts of those two and take that place for himself.

He had no interest in the information from the start, so naturally, he hadn't thought deeply about that part.

Pat, pat-

As Irehgue turned his head, he saw Rwen patting Mio's back.

Judging by the words that seemed to be said, like 'What are you going to do, you foolish sister', 'Without even consulting me', 'Always so hasty', it seemed the two had also realized what mistake they had made.

"It is fine."

Seeing that, Irehgue gave Lee Shin a slight glare and spoke to the two.

The corners of Lee Shin's mouth, who was flying in circles above, curled up into a wide grin.

"But the information..."

"I said it is fine. Obtaining information was not the main objective in the first place."

For Irehgue, he was just stating the facts as they were.

However, to the two, it looked like Irehgue was lying to comfort them.

Irehgue first calmed the two down and thought about what to do.

It was possible to pressure and admonish them using the order as a pretext.

But Irehgue judged that it would be better to speak calmly like this to engrave their respective positions in their minds.

He had already shown enough of his power through the scarecrows.

"Besides, it's not like you achieved nothing, so there is no need to be discouraged."

This was said to the two, but also to Lee Shin at the same time.

It was a message to be satisfied for now, as they had found out the name of the organization, 'Resistance'.

At Irehgue's words, the two nodded without being able to say anything, and Lee Shin, who was flying in the air, suddenly flew in front of Irehgue's face and said in a voice full of laughter.

-That's a strange way to take responsibility for a failure. Shouldn't you be saying something to the person who suffered a loss because they didn't get the information they wanted, instead of comforting your subordinate?

'Unnecessary.'

Irehgue looked Lee Shin straight in the eye and said.

'What I care about is only what is within my fence. I do not care if others get hurt in the process. If you are dissatisfied with that...'

An arrogant smile appeared on Irehgue's lips.

'I will personally smash the head of the one who is dissatisfied. That is how I take responsibility for the mistakes of the subordinates I have chosen.'

-Is that so?

He would resolve his subordinate's failure by crushing an external enemy.

He would forcibly make a failure not a failure.

It was a self-centered, completely illogical, jumbled mess of words that only contained what he wanted.

-Not bad.

At Irehgue's words, Lee Shin smiled and gave him a passing grade.

At that, Irehgue smiled as if he knew it would happen.

After all, Irehgue's method was based on Lee Shin's own.

'Still, this is unpleasant.'

Irehgue, who had been smiling triumphantly, looked at Lee Shin with a sullen expression.

Through the short exchange, he had roughly figured out what Lee Shin was aiming for by not opposing his acceptance of the two.

-Well, it's good for both of us, so let's just let it go.

Lee Shin, who had roughly guessed what Irehgue was thinking from his gaze, didn't ramble on with excuses but spoke honestly with a wide smile, as he always did.

At that, Irehgue clicked his tongue softly.

'...Your attitude towards me is too irreverent.'

-In return, I'm not picking on your subordinate's mistake from a moment ago.

Irehgue had proudly declared that he would personally deal with anyone dissatisfied with his actions, but there were always exceptions to everything.

No matter how much it was Irehgue, he couldn't fight Lee Shin for real, to the death, so he agreed and moved on from Lee Shin's subsequent words.

Of course, that didn't mean his mood had improved.

-Well, don't be like that. As a reward, I'll tell you how to console those dejected kids.

'...Is there such a way?'

-Yep, it's a surprisingly simple method.

At Lee Shin's words, Irehgue gestured with his eyes, urging him to speak at once.

-It's simple. You just have to subtly let them know that they didn't do anything terribly wrong and that they are helpful to you. You make them recognize that you won't abandon them.

'...Is that all it takes?'

Irehgue asked, looking at Lee Shin with a gaze full of doubt.

It was natural for Irehgue to ask that.

Irehgue had seen countless people while moving with Lee Shin until now.

But the human teaching material that had influenced him the most and that he understood best was none other than Lee Shin, the one and only under heaven who moved as his heart desired, not caring about the gazes of others.

That was why it was hard for Irehgue to understand Lee Shin's words that one would feel relieved by the fact that they were evaluated as useful to others and would not be abandoned.

At Irehgue's reaction, Lee Shin chuckled as if he had expected it.

-Usually, when people feel that they are a useful existence, they feel like their own value has increased, so they like it. Kids are especially like that, and kids with unfortunate pasts... it depends on the case, but anyway, they'll like it.

'Hmm, since you've gone so far as to say it, I will believe you.'

Having said that, Irehgue froze for a moment as if thinking about something, then looked at Lee Shin.

'But how should I let those two know that they are useful?'

-They still have one lead to get information, don't they? You can use that.

Lee Shin's eyes turned towards Mio and Rwen.

-They said they were sold by their family and ended up in a laboratory. I don't know what it is, but it means the lord of that place is probably not a normal guy either.

'...In other words, if we go to the territory where those two were originally from and investigate, we might find something out.'

Swoosh-

'But were you thinking that far ahead?'

-Something like that. I thought of it while you were happy about getting those two, so I didn't say it separately.

'...Then why did you pick on me for killing the lord at first?'

-I was just teasing you.

At Lee Shin's words, Irehgue swung his fist at him without hesitation.

However, Lee Shin twisted his body as if he knew Irehgue would do that and dodged the attack.

If it were up to Irehgue, he would have wanted to continue until he caught him, but he couldn't because he was conscious of Mio and Rwen's eyes.

The two were already looking at Irehgue with a strange expression because he was talking with Lee Shin.

He didn't want to do anything that would further diminish his dignity as a master.

Irehgue, who had forcibly calmed himself down, fell into deep thought.

'Not bad. No, is it rather good? I can go on the journey to look around this world, which was my original purpose, and I can also buy time to build up the strength of those two. On top of that...'

Irehgue thought, looking at the two in the distance.

'On top of that, if I help them deal with the lord of that place, their loyalty to me will also increase.'

-It depends on what you do, but generally, that would be the case.

Lee Shin said that and stared at Irehgue.

-But before that, let's decide for sure.

Grin-

-Those two, are you going to leave them in this state? Or are you really going to accept them?

Instead of answering Lee Shin's words, Irehgue looked at him for a moment, then took out the remaining explosion spears from the [Black Room] and threw them in the direction of the lord's castle.

Boom-! Boom-! Boom-!

Huge explosions shook the ground in succession, and the building, which had barely been holding its shape, began to crumble.

The faint signs of human presence within the collapsed debris all disappeared.

Those who were kneeling at the sudden explosions trembled and lowered their heads even further.

Slice-

And Irehgue, as if harvesting rice, moved his feet indifferently and swung [Yagong] at them.

All those who were kneeling had their heads fall to the ground with a spray of red blood, as if they had been beheaded at a guillotine.

Splash- Splash-

Irehgue stepped proudly on the blood-soaked floor of the training ground as if it were a red carpet, put some distance between himself and the two, then looked at them again and said.

"I will ask you for the first and last time. Will you follow me?"

At Irehgue's sudden words, the heads of the two, who had been blaming themselves, shot up.

"Weren't we already your subordinates... sir?"

"That's right."

At the two's words, Irehgue said calmly.

"Yes, originally, I was going to drag you along whether you refused or not and make you mine."

Seeing Irehgue nonchalantly spitting out the words that he was going to kidnap them, the two's expressions became strange.

"Then why are you asking this... sir."

"...The situation has changed a little. You can think of it as a whim. Just think of it as the first and last chance I'm giving you to choose."

Irehgue said, looking at them.

"I don't know what you felt from my actions so far, but I have little interest in justice. I am a self-righteous tyrant who moves only for what I want and what I have."

Irehgue calmly declared the path he intended to walk from now on.

At the weight in Irehgue's words, the two looked at him with serious eyes, and Lee Shin watched him with amused eyes, as if he would pull out some popcorn if he had any.

Lee Shin was pleased with Irehgue's growth.

Irehgue's words now were a statement that he was raising the treatment of those two from toys to individuals.

'Well, even so, it seems to be only at the level of a pet.'

Still, handling a pet was a hundred times more difficult than handling a toy.

Lee Shin chuckled and watched Irehgue, who was slowly walking his own path.

"And I do not like this world. I hate this world that dares to insult the existence of the great dragon. Therefore, I intend to oppose the church and destroy this world."

Irehgue said that and looked at the two.

"If you follow me, you may face threats incomparable to what you have now. Still, do you intend to follow me?"

Splash-

At Irehgue's question, the two walked towards him without any hesitation, stepping on the red-stained floor of the training ground.

After taking just a few steps to stand before Irehgue, the two looked at him with bright eyes and said.

"We're not fooled even if you suddenly pretend to give us a choice after creating this situation... sir?"

"I don't know what's going on all of a sudden, but it's a nuisance to suddenly act like that after getting us involved as much as you have."

They were already marked by the church.

Even as they said that with that implication, there was no resentment in their expressions as they looked at Irehgue.

To resent Irehgue, what they had received was too great.

Rwen pointed at herself and said.

"I don't want to be a burden to my sister anymore. I need enough strength to endure this world I don't like on my own."

Having said that, Rwen tapped her grown horn with her finger.

"I want to become stronger. And I think that will be possible with you, Master-nim."

As Rwen finished speaking, Mio said with a sigh-filled voice.

"I've always hated this crappy world. A single drop of my sister's blood is more precious than a million of these worlds. But there's no way I'd leave her alone."

Having said that, Mio stared at Irehgue.

"So, to protect my sister, I can do anything, even listen to you, Master-nim. And under you, I will become as strong as you."

Hearing the two's resolve, Irehgue smiled faintly.

At that, the two, holding each other's hands, said to Irehgue.

"As the master wished, my sister and I will become your two horns."

"So please make us strong enough not to lose to this world."

At the two's words, Irehgue smiled with satisfaction and said.

"Do not worry. I will make it so you can place the world under your feet."

The two stared at Irehgue for a moment, then lowered their heads.

"Please take care of us, Master."

"Please take care of us, Master-nim."

Hearing those words, Irehgue nodded and smiled, then closed his eyes slightly.

And when he opened his eyes again.

"...Then, shall we start cleaning this place up?"

The eyes that had boasted their respective lights had turned black, and a wide grin was plastered on his lips.