Chapter 84

1. The third-stage wild boar variant in Ulsan was killed. The third-stage river cricket in Seoul Forest was torn to death. (Ordinary citizens who witnessed the events reported trauma, and the lawyer of the Tachun Guild announced plans to provide psychological counseling support.)

2. To enter the Synergies apartment, the fountain reconstruction site was destroyed. The front door of the current Tachun deputy guild leader 'Cha Seo-won's house was also destroyed. (Resulting in property damage estimated at about 15 billion won.)

3. After using the gate at Seongsang High School to return to the Narakga, the crossroads gate was torn. In the process, eight upper-level members of the Oseong Guild were injured. (The combined guild leader Jo Kyung-min demanded a 100-day stay-worthy ugwangseok from Korea to cover the treatment costs.)

The deeds Cha Haya committed over the three days while Seo-won was missing were these. If these were just the major ones, how many minor incidents must there have been?

The upper-level manseong in Seoul surrounded the guild office and staged a sit-in, causing Seo-won to face difficulties entering. Unaware of this, Seo-won was playing with a fork in a restaurant.

Ultimately, Tachun had to open the office meeting room for mediation with the union, and the previously idle employees became extremely busy.

Seo-won pressed her forehead while reviewing the documents handed over by the union. At the oval table that could accommodate about twenty people, the upper-level manseong who currently held a seat in the union were seated.

Lee Gwan-woong and the chief team leader of 'Oseong.' The deputy guild leader of 'Horororo.' The guild leader of 'DK.' The general manager of 'Tugon.'

Only those who boasted formidable power in the union were gathered here. If all the officers of every guild in Seoul had gathered, the seats would have been woefully insufficient.

Seo-won was flanked by Cha Haya and Han Don-hee on either side. At least, it was fortunate that Gang San and Yoo Chan were absent. Where was Abdulaziz?

Seo-won took a sip of the iced water brought by the manager to clear her mind. The gazes of the union members were piercing from all directions. Seo-won felt like a parent dragged to a school violence hearing, unable to defend her child who had committed an unforgivable act.

However, even if everything else were true, tearing the crossroads gate was incomprehensible.

Seo-won whispered to Cha Haya, reviewing the union's summary of his misdeeds.

Is it really possible to tear a gate?

It seems it is, being a super upper-level manseong.

That was the only answer he gave.

For me, it was just a matter of a few minutes, at most five, but it felt like a bolt from the blue. Still, since he was looking for me, Seo-won couldn't just blame Cha Haya.

"I will have Mr. Cha Haya cover the costs for items 1 and 2 in the agenda. What is the current status of the Narakga gate?"

Seo-won deliberately maintained a solemn expression throughout her speech.

"The gate was torn by Mr. Cha Haya's sword, but it has successfully repaired itself and is now functional. However, it was unusable for about 5 hours from the time it was torn," said the chief team leader of Oseong, one of the five founders of Oseong, of whom only two are still alive, one of whom is Lee Gwan-woong.

Oseong operates without a deputy guild leader, with the two founders serving as joint guild leaders. Below them are various teams, including recently absorbed guilds, such as the 1st and 2nd action teams. The chief team leader, who is seated there, commands all the action teams.

"If the gate has been repaired, then item 3 is also not a problem, right?"

They all looked at her with the same disdainful expression.

In such situations, one must be brazen. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trap they might set for Cha Haya or Tachun. Seo-won swallowed her embarrassment.

"Would the Tachun deputy guild leader laugh it off if a guild member stabs someone with a knife, as long as it can be fixed?"

The person who spoke was the deputy guild leader of Horororo.

She was a foreign professor who had gained fame as a historian in the media before becoming a manseong.

Most of the union officers, excluding Tachun, were in their 30s and 40s. Even if Seo-won hadn't been isolated in the Narakga and hadn't become a manseong, she wouldn't have participated in union meetings often.

While many guilds are part of the union, they ultimately prioritize their own interests.

Seo-won was unsure if she could protect Tachun's interests amidst seasoned professionals. The other Tachun members felt the same, choosing independent survival over being exploited by an organization.

The meeting participants began to vent their accumulated grievances against Tachun. The setting seemed to instill a belief that Cha Haya and Han Don-hee wouldn't act out.

"Alright, this is a good opportunity."

Lee Gwan-woong calmed the commotion.

"Indeed, it's a good opportunity." Han Don-hee mimicked Lee Gwan-woong, pulling down the corners of her mouth. Seo-won punched her in the side, annoyed by her insolent behavior.

"Didn't the Seacher predict that a human variant would appear in Indonesia soon? We have no reason to be at odds with Tachun, who hunts variants. Tachun deputy guild leader."

"Yes, please speak."

"I'll be brief. Join the union. Then we can consider the previous issues as part of the process of becoming one and put them aside."

Seo-won had wanted to bring a lawyer, but the union opposed it, citing that the lawyer was not a manseong. The union's intention to block any potential advice was clear.

Seo-won glanced at Han Don-hee, who was fidgeting, then turned to Cha Haya. He seemed more contemplative than usual. He probably wasn't reflecting on his actions. In fact, he likely didn't even think they were wrong.

"If you don't join the union, will you take the rights we have in the southern region?"

"It's a pity, but we have no choice."

"If our Tachun guild has more than ten members, it wouldn't violate the union's policies, right? Honestly, we are not part of the union, so we don't have to follow its policies."

Han Don-hee wiggled her pinky finger, which she had been using to clean her ear, and gave a thumbs-up. Good job, Cha Haya. Seo-won kicked her this time.

Suddenly, Cha Haya stretched his legs and trapped Seo-won's legs. Seo-won pushed his legs away, but he didn't budge.

"Why are you, of all people, the top-tier manseong? Do you think all of this is a game?"

The DK guild leader, who had been watching them from a diagonal position, aggressively intervened. The oval table had a hole in the center, making their legs visible.

"DK guild leader, even if they are young, it's not right to speak so informally."

The deputy guild leader of Horororo shook her head.

"Didn't he almost destroy the gate?!"

Bang, the DK guild leader slammed his palm on the table.

"DK guild leader seems anxious about the gate disappearing. I heard you recently found a new job. What was it? A merchant? Oh, a peddler."

The general manager of Tugon, who had been silent, spoke for the first time.

Seo-won knew her from what Han Don-hee had told her. She was a fire mage capable of melting the barbell of her ex-husband, the Hellchang guild leader. Her eyes, indicating her elemental nature, were deep golden.

"Hey, Gang Shim-woo. Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"Why am I your younger brother? I'm the eldest."

Tsk, the DK guild leader clicked his tongue. Seo-won noticed that Lee Gwan-woong's gaze toward Gang Shim-woo was not favorable. Being in the seat of honor, Seo-won could see their expressions clearly.

Hey, Cha Haya.

Seo-won whispered into Cha Haya's ear, who had trapped her legs. He leaned in closer, and his ear touched her lips. The soft yet firm sensation made Seo-won flinch. She pulled back to maintain a proper distance, fearing she might accidentally kiss his ear.

But Cha Haya whispered back into her ear.

"Video call incoming."

It was a bit louder than a whisper, making her eardrums tingle.

"From Uncle."

"Really?"

Seo-won's eyes widened in surprise.

Cha Haya showed her his phone, and Seo-won asked the union to wait a moment. Although Uncle was not a manseong, he was the guild leader of Tachun.

Until now, Uncle had managed the guild, but his departure to Sulawesi and the emergence of the Narakga had made Seo-won's responsibilities even heavier. The burden of the situation made her shoulders feel lighter upon receiving Uncle's call.

Initially, she had considered joining the union, but today's events suggested that the drawbacks outweighed the benefits.

The screen showed Uncle smiling. His appearance, still missing his upper and lower teeth, was warmly familiar.

"Uncle, are you doing well? Why haven't you been in touch?"

Seo-won stepped out of the meeting room to take the call, and Cha Haya followed.

[Seo-won, are you doing well? Thank you for all your hard work. I received a call from Cha Haya. You're in a meeting, right? I have something to say