It must have been a long time for him.
It’s been well over five or six years since I last saw you.
Seo Kang-rim looked at him, smelling the scent of blood all around him.
“Well, it hasn’t been that long. We met once at a training facility.”
At those words, Kang Do-hyeon looked slightly surprised and then twisted the corners of his mouth.
The place where the two met a while ago was the Viper’s Room.
When Seomun Yongnyeo came to visit, the envoy who accompanied her was Kang Do-hyeon.
Even though his face was covered, Seo Kang-rim could feel the atmosphere and hostility and immediately recognized his identity.
“If you noticed, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it wasn’t a good situation to say hello.”
Even now, it didn’t seem like a good time to say hello.
In my previous life, we had a slightly more gentle encounter.
As the day of awakening arrived, many people realized their abilities, but there were also those who awakened before that.
Those who are closely related to gods, such as priests, shamans, or those related to them.
In the case of Kang Do-hyeon, he was also a case of awakening before the day of awakening.
The Protectorate used to scout out the first Awakened and make them into messengers.
Seo Kang-rim glanced at Kang Do-hyeon and asked.
“Did the Protectorate tail you? Or did you do it on your own?”
“You asked that first. I thought you were going to ask about your mother.”
“… … How are you, teacher?”
“My mother passed away.”
His teacher, Seo Hwa-gyeong, died.
Seo Kang-rim couldn’t hide his bitterness.
‘As expected, the teacher has passed away.’
In her previous life, she had already died several years before the day of awakening came.
Although he knew this, Seo Kang-rim asked the question again.
“How did you end up dying?”
“Suicide. He left behind a will.”
“Why wasn’t I called to the funeral?”
“Why are you calling me? You left home without permission.”
Kang Do-hyeon looked at Seo Kang-rim as if he were a stranger, or rather, as if he were an enemy.
There was a time when Seo Kang-rim and Kang Do-hyeon lived like brothers.
The young Seo Kang-rim became Seo Hwa-gyeong’s disciple and spent his childhood at her house.
With Seo Hwa-kyung’s only family member and only son, Kang Do-hyun.
They were of similar age, and the neighborhood kids were bullying Kang Do-hyeon.
It was because he was a shaman’s son.
So, it was only natural that the two became close.
They became friends, brothers, and family.
But that was an old story.
“Mother’s will is… … .”
-Bang!
Kang Do-hyeon instantly grabbed Seo Kang-rim by the collar and pushed him away.
Anger was seeping across Kang Do-hyeon’s calm face.
“Do you think you are worthy to call her mother?”
Every time Seo Kang-rim called Seo Hwa-kyung “mother,” he would get angry like that.
That must have been the reason why Kang Do-hyeon started to hate Seo Kang-rim.
There are two main types of shamans.
One is hereditary shamanism, where the status of shaman is passed down from generation to generation.
Another one is Gangsinmu, who becomes a shaman after being possessed by a god like Seo Gangrim.
Even though the children bullied Kang Do-hyeon and called him a shaman’s son, he respected his mother.
She wanted to become a shaman like her mother, but Seo Hwa-gyeong did not want to pass the title on to her.
Because I knew how painful it was to live as a shaman.
However, Kang Do-hyeon, who could not give up, tried to become Kang Shin-moo, but he lacked the skills.
There was no god who came to visit him without a spirit.
And not long after, Seo Kang-rim entered Seo Hwa-kyung’s house.
As a relationship between teacher and student, divine mother and divine sons.
Kang Do-hyeon devoted himself to training in order to gain Seo Hwa-gyeong’s recognition, but no clear results were achieved.
The desire for talent soon turned into jealousy towards Seo Kang-rim.
Seo Kang-rim, who has extraordinary magical powers, unlike others.
Seo Kang-rim, who is visited by a strong god.
Seo Kang-rim, who receives his mother’s sympathy and favor.
[Why does your mother love you more than me, her own son?]
[Why do you get possessed by a spirit and not me?]
[Why don’t you receive the divine power? It would have been better if I had received it… … !]
For Seo Kang-rim, being possessed by a god was a misfortune and hell, but for Kang Do-hyeon, it was the opposite.
He longed for the hell of Seogangrim.
Seo Kang-rim cried all night long, shedding blood in search of the god he wanted to abandon.
——————
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Seo Kang-rim thought that his own existence was making him unhappy.
Because of this, after Seo Kang-rim left Seo Hwa-kyung’s house, he lost contact with them and lived there.
I thought that if I disappeared, Kang Do-hyun would be happy.
But his prediction turned out to be wrong.
Kang Do-hyeon spoke while still holding Seo Kang-rim by the collar.
“Why don’t you fight back? You could easily shake it off.”
“… … .”
“Are you even looking at me?”
“I don’t want to fight.”
Kang Do-hyeon frowned even more, as if something in those words bothered him.
He let Seo Kang-rim go as if he was throwing her away.
“Don’t make fun of me. I’m not the same person I was back then. God has come down to me too.”
“… … .”
“Even if you don’t want to fight now, you will have to fight someday.”
Leaving those words behind, he put his mask back on and disappeared into the darkness.
There was still a foul smell of iron lingering around.
Hancheol, who had been holding his breath, spoke carefully.
【That guy… … What is he? He seems like your sworn brother or something.】
“I think they think I’m a complete stranger.”
【Tsk tsk, this whole thing happened because the older brother was jealous of his younger brother. If they got along well, their dead mother would feel better.】
Get along well with each other.
I wish that could happen, but right now I feel lost.
In the previous life, the relationship between Seo Kang-rim and Kang Do-hyeon was quickly restored.
Funnily enough, the reason was because Seo Kang-rim was weak.
Kang Do-hyeon was angry instead of laughing or being satisfied when he saw Seo Kang-rim still weak despite having completed the training course.
[Why are you so weak? You were possessed by a god!]
[If you are this weak, then what am I, who has hated you for so many years?]
[You have to be stronger than me! That’s what you have to do!]
I thought he was going to be that angry, but he couldn’t leave the weak Seo Kang-rim alone and came into the shelter.
When he came to his senses, they were back to being like brothers again.
[I can’t stand to see you so weak! You have to be strong, at least like me!]
I was able to repair my relationship thanks to my weakness in my previous life, but this life was different.
That’s why he guessed that Kang Do-hyeon would not welcome him.
Hancheol, who was watching the situation at that time, comforted him.
【Well, time will solve it. When you guys get older… … .】
“I can’t wait until then.”
Seo Kang-rim had to join hands with Kang Do-hyeon as soon as possible.
One thing he needs now is information power.
In order to confirm Baek Young and Yu Ha Rang’s location, the Protectorate’s information power was absolutely necessary.
To do that, we need to recruit the car owner, Kang Do-hyeon.
He looked up at the sky for a moment, thinking about something.
‘When we fought, the teacher would mediate.’
It seemed as if Seo Hwa-kyung would suddenly appear at any moment and yell at them, asking where the fight was coming from.
But Seo Hwa-gyeong died, and the heavens were silent.
A bitter wind blew across the cemetery.
* * *
“Come in.”
After Seomun Yongnyeo’s permission was granted, the office door opened.
The person who came inside was Kang Do-hyeon.
She sat in her office chair and glanced up at Kang Do-hyun.
“Did you meet Seo Kang-rim?”
“yes.”
“Would you like to join our team?”
The dart spun between her fingers.
As if he was going to throw it away.
Kang Do-hyeon answered silently.
“No. I declined.”
“Why?”
“He said he had something else to do. He didn’t say anything specific.”
Seomun Yongnyeo let out a short breath and put the dart down on the desk.
She said it with regret.
“I had high hopes because you said you knew Seo Kang-rim, but I guess it was too much.”
It was Seomun Yongnyeo’s intention to send Kang Do-hyeon to Seo Kang-rim.
After hearing that the two people had known each other before, he sent Kang Do-hyeon this time to try to persuade them.
“Didn’t I tell you? We weren’t that close.”
“Really? That’s strange. When we met in the Demon Realm, I think Seo Kang-rim recognized you.”
“… … .”
Kang Do-hyeon didn’t answer with a hardened expression.
He was unhappy with this situation for many reasons.
Seomun Yongnyeo must have known that fact as well, but she continued talking without caring.
“Is there anything else you would like to report? What was Seo Kang-rim doing?”
“They were hunting the devil.”
Even though he clearly saw Seo Kang-rim visiting Han-cheol’s blacksmith shop and digging up the grave, he lied.
I did encounter the devil, so it wasn’t like I was completely deceived.
Seomun Yongnyeo stared at him quietly and then said.
“You said you had other things to do, but all you did was hunt demons?”
“yes.”
“Hmm… … .”
The chair that Seomun Yongnyeo was sitting on spun around and creaked.
She stared into space for a moment, lost in thought, then opened her mouth.
“Meet Seo Kang-rim again and ask him for advice.”
“Again… … you say?”
“Yeah. Isn’t that what they call the Samgochoryeo?”
Seomun Yongnyeo smiled brightly.
It was a smile whose meaning and depth were unknown.
She opened a message window and wrote something.
“But in the current situation, even if you make another offer, there’s a high chance that it will be rejected.”
After I clicked the Complete Writing button and then clicked Send, the message window disappeared from my sight.
She said it with a calm expression, as if she had sent an invitation.
“I’ve asked Seo Kang-rim to help me conquer the Demon Realm. You should go with me.”
“… … .”
“If we fight together and conquer the Demon Realm, won’t Seo Kang-rim also let down her guard a bit?”
“What if Seo Kang-rim doesn’t accept the request?”
“Then we have to think of another way.”
Kang Do-hyeon’s expression was stiff, as if he was a little embarrassed.
Seomun Yongnyeo got up from her seat and approached Kang Dohyun.
A gentle hand patted his shoulder.
“Doesn’t Chief Kang Do-hyeon like the idea of Seo Kang-rim joining the company?”
“no.”
“There’s no need to tell unnecessary lies.”
At those words, Kang Do-hyeon bit his lip without even being able to refute them.
Seomun Yongnyeo laughed silently at the sight.
“Then please take good care of me, Chief Kang Do-hyeon. I really want Seo Kang-rim.”
* * *
Seo Kang-rim was standing in front of a building with a gold rope drawn like a police line.
There was still some time left until the appointed time.
He was looking back at a message he had already read several times.
‘Seomun Yongnyeo asked for help in conquering the Demon Realm.’
It was common for the Protectorate to ask Hunters for favors.
That was understandable, as there were many things that could not be handled by the Protectorate’s personnel alone.
So I wasn’t that surprised when I received the request, but it was unexpected that Kang Do-hyun was assigned as my companion.
‘Is there something else to do other than conquering the Demon Realm?’
If he knew that he and Kang Do-hyeon were acquainted, he might have been using that to scout him.
Seo Kang-rim agreed, even though he vaguely guessed that.
‘I tried to summon Kang Do-hyeon somehow, but Seo Moon-yongnyeo took care of the arrangement.’
If Seomun Yongnyeo wanted to use him, he wanted to use the opportunity in return.
At that moment, Seo Kang-rim heard footsteps and raised his head.
“Oh, Mr. Seo Kang-rim. You came early.”
A messenger wearing a mask and black clothing was standing there.
But there were two, not one.
One of them is Kang Do-hyeon, standing with a trembling expression.
And another one looked happy, even though he had no expression.
“It’s been a while, Seo Kang-rim.”
Annabi shook Seo Kang-rim’s hand as if she was happy to see him.
Her eyes sparkled with indescribable joy.
