Chapter 57

I Am Not a Reincarnator Chapter 57

My Home (1)

Ten days after the poisoning incident by the Pandinus Guild.

Oh Jin finally managed to get out of the suffocating hospital bed and was discharged.

‘I thought I was going to suffocate to death.’

Lying there with an oxygen mask on, I felt like I was going to go crazy.

“Hmm… Still, thanks to this, my ability to control lightning has improved.”

With nothing much to do while lying down, I spent the entire ten days practicing how to control lightning.

This time, I focused on finely controlling very small amounts of lightning.

Practicing with such a small amount of lightning, like what you might find in a remote control or a portable fan, gave me a different feeling.

‘It was harder than I thought.’

It felt like handling a soap bubble that would burst at the slightest touch.

Usually, I just unleash lightning with all my might, but lowering the output made it even harder to control.

‘I need to keep practicing this consistently.’

I thought that if I could improve my ability to control lightning finely, there would be many more ways to use it than I had imagined.

“Maybe, in a way, this could be considered a stroke of luck.”

If I hadn’t been bedridden in the hospital, I might never have thought about improving my fine control over lightning.

Oh Jin tidied up the hospital room where he had spent the past ten days and then went outside.

-Click.

“Are you really sure it’s okay to be discharged now?”

As he stepped outside, a section chief who had been waiting approached him.

“Yes. I’ve fully recovered.”

“……”

Han Junman bowed deeply with a stiff expression.

“I’m sorry, Oh Jin. This is all my fault for not adequately ensuring your safety.”

His clenched fists, as big as pot lids, were visibly trembling.

Oh Jin shook his head with a faint smile.

“Why is it your fault? There were specific people who tried to poison me.”

“But—”

“I was also at fault for being too hasty and not taking better care of myself.”

“Oh Jin….”

Han Junman’s eyes were filled with emotion as he trailed off.

‘Why is this guy like this?’

His face and those eyes made me feel extremely uncomfortable.

“By the way, what happened to the Pandinus guys?”

“They denied everything until the end and then scattered and fled. Other large guilds are now chasing them.”

Wow.

I knew they were going to fall, but I didn’t expect them to fall in just ten days.

‘The tongue is truly a wondrous thing.’

A giant guild in the top ten in Korea.

The Scorpion’s Apostle of the Twelve Houses of the Yellow Path was eliminated in a single scam.

‘Well, they were notorious from the start.’

Even before this incident, the Pandinus Guild had a poor reputation.

It felt like all the karma they had accumulated finally exploded.

“So, are there now only nine major guilds?”

“Ha ha. No, the tenth spot was filled by the Valhalla Guild, though they are at the bottom.”

“…A guild with fewer than twenty members, impressive.”

“They are all exceptionally skilled, which is why they made it.”

Indeed, just thinking about Park Changhyun, who was with me this time, he was a formidable fighter.

Not to mention the guild master, Lee Woo-hyuk.

“By the way, was there any talk about the Black Star Society this time?”

“Hmm… No, I didn’t hear anything specific about the Black Star Society.”

As expected.

The Black Star Society must have cut ties and left.

‘It’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t get more information about the Black Star Society this time.’

The Black Star Society and the Pandinus Guild.

I couldn’t find out what kind of transactions they had or how closely they were connected.

‘I guess I should be satisfied with having dealt with their collaborator for now.’

Oh Jin clicked his tongue.

“By the way, I did hear something about the Black Star Society, unrelated to this incident.”

“Really?”

Heard something about the Black Star Society?

“It’s not from Korea, but from abroad. Apparently, the Black Star Society is rapidly expanding its influence in Italy recently.”

“……”

These guys are not just local scumbags but global scumbags?

‘Well, with that level of influence, it’s ridiculous for them to be huddled in this small country.’

It doesn’t make sense for a group that can supposedly overturn the world to be confined to just Korea.

‘I don’t have the capacity to worry about overseas right now.’

I can’t worry about the fire next door when I can’t even put out the fire in my own house.

“Please let me know if you hear any more news.”

“Sure, I will.”

Han Junman nodded and turned around.

“Are you going straight home?”

“Yes, I need to check on our place.”

I need to see if everything is fine.

Even though I said it was you who did it when we texted, we haven’t seen each other for ten days.

“I’ll drive you home, then.”

“Oh, that would be great.”

“This way, please.”

Han Junman led him to the staff elevator, not the regular patient elevator.

“Why here…?”

“There are reporters waiting outside. You just got discharged, so you should rest in peace, right?”

Junman smiled and gave a thumbs up.

He’s so cool.

“You’re the best, bro.”

“Ha ha ha! What are you talking about, bro?”

“Then, uncle?”

“…I’m still in my mid-30s, you know?”

“Hahaha!!! That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this year.”

Come on, man, have some conscience.

He clearly looks like he’s in his late 40s, how can you say you’re in your mid-30s?

“……”

Han Junman’s expression darkened.

‘What the hell?’

Really in his mid-30s?

“In my mid-30s!! I thought you were in your 20s like me, bro!!”

“Oh, that, uh, is that so?”

Beshi.

A gorilla’s smile.

Damn.

Really in his mid-30s.

‘So he made it to the section chief position in his mid-30s?’

Han Junman must be quite capable.

Of course, the decisive factor was probably the recruitment of the Virgin’s Apostle to the association.

“I do get called young-looking sometimes! Ha ha ha!”

Han Junman’s muscles bulged as he laughed heartily.

Thud!

A shirt button popped off his chest and rolled on the floor.

Hmm.

I can understand why people called him young-looking.

“Get in.”

“Yes.”

After exiting the staff elevator, he got into Han Junman’s car.

It was a jeep that matched his massive build.

-Vroom!

The car started smoothly, unlike his rough demeanor.

It took about 40 minutes to reach home.

“I’ll contact you later.”

“Sure, get some rest, Junman.”

After parting ways with Han Junman, he entered his home.

Creak.

The familiar musty smell hit his nose.

“I’m home~!”

He called out to Haeun, who he thought was waiting inside, but—

“Huh?”

The house was completely empty.

Not just that Haeun was out, but the house was literally empty.

“What, what is this?”

Oh Jin looked around with a stunned expression.

‘Was there a burglary?’

No way.

What could a burglar take from this dilapidated house?

“If it wasn’t a burglary….”

Oh Jin called Haeun with a stiff expression.

A foreboding feeling crept up his spine.

-Ring.

“Damn!”

The call didn’t connect.

Oh Jin bit his lip anxiously.

Then.

“Hmm?”

He noticed a piece of paper on the floor of the empty room.

‘What is this?’

Oh Jin picked up the paper.

[Come to Exit 9 of Hapjeong Station immediately.]

It was Haeun’s handwriting.

“Phew.”

Thankfully, it seems she’s fine.

“What’s going on?”

Oh Jin frowned and sent a text to Haeun.

She read it but didn’t reply.

“Ugh.”

I guess I have to go there in person.

“This is like training a dog.”

After a long hour’s drive from Yeouido to get home, he now had to go back to Seoul.

He sighed deeply and went outside.

Fortunately, he had a car provided by the association, so there was no trouble getting there.

After about an hour’s drive, he arrived at Hapjeong Station.

“Did you come?”

He saw Haeun waiting at Exit 9.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“Hehe. I just wanted to play with you a bit.”

Haeun raised her nose with a smug look.

Oh Jin gave a hollow laugh and looked at her.

What kind of playing is this?

“Shut up and follow me, you jerk.”

Haeun grabbed his arm and pulled.

“……?”

I don’t know what’s going on, but—

‘I’ll find out when I follow her.’

He followed Haeun.

She led him to a high-rise apartment complex near Hapjeong Station.

It was a pretty expensive apartment, surrounded by upscale restaurants.

“…You can’t be serious.”

By this point, Oh Jin could guess what Haeun was up to.

The completely empty house.

The smug look on her face as she led him to a high-end apartment.

“What was that thing you said you had to do last time?”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

“……”

Haeun held up her card key at the entrance of the apartment.

Ding.

The door opened with an electronic sound.

They took the elevator to the 7th floor.

“A bit low, but—”

Squeak.

Haeun opened the door with a smile.

“Wow.”

A short exclamation escaped Oh Jin’s lips.

It was about 280 square feet.

For such an expensive apartment, it wasn’t particularly large, but compared to their original 80-square-foot home, it was like a palace.

Most importantly, there was no mold. No cracks in the walls, no mysterious mushrooms growing.

“What is this?”

He looked at her with a bewildered expression.

“Kyahaha! Surprised?”

Haeun poked his side.

“Well… You did buy this, but it feels a bit one-sided, doesn’t it?”

He stroked the eye patch on his right eye and smiled sheepishly.

“…Where did you get the money?”

“I told you. I wasn’t just idling for the past three months.”

She shrugged and continued.

“I also got a hefty reward this time… and took out a loan. The bank guys, who ignored me five years ago, were so eager to lend me money once I regained my strength.”

She must have pushed herself quite a bit to buy this.

“Well, we can earn more money in the future.”

Haeun patted Oh Jin’s back with a bright smile.

“Anyway.”

Squeak.

With a bright smile.

“This is our new home!”

She spread her arms wide in the middle of the spacious living room.

“…Sis.”

Shiver.

His voice trembled.

A lump of indescribable emotion rose from deep within his chest.

Of course, he thought they would move to a new home soon as an Apostle of the Virgin, but—

He never imagined it would be like this.

“Kyahaha! Can you see the amazing view? It’s close to the association and the sanctuary, so it’s much more convenient to come and go! And nearby….”

“Sis! Sis! Sis!!!”

“Kyaaaaa!”

He suddenly hugged her.

“What, what is it? What’s wrong?”

How could he express this overwhelming emotion?

Burning passion.

Endorphins surged through his peripheral nerves like a mad rush.

━I can’t hold it in any longer.

He surrendered to the torrent of emotions.

“Oh, Oh Jin, calm down for a moment….”

He pulled her waist close.

“Ugh?!”

Their lips met.