I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 167

167

After finishing his conversation with the Headmaster, Seonghyun set DNN [a large corporation] as his next destination.

Money wasn’t an issue.

The problem was always people.

He had more than enough money from selling the elixir, and the people around Seonghyun were in the same boat [financially secure].

However, he couldn’t suddenly expand the business too much.

Even if he started something, there wouldn’t be enough people to handle it right now.

The reason Seonghyun chose DNN as his next destination was to solve this problem.

Seonghyun had a lot of money, but he didn’t really know how to use it effectively.

Of course, if he really wanted to, he could figure out how to spend it, but he wanted to avoid unnecessary waste as much as possible.

Besides, DNN was a corporation.

Corporations inevitably had a lot of people.

Seonghyun, who was about to use Advent [a teleportation skill] to move next to Hakeno, stopped manipulating his magic power.

“He might be working, so I should visit formally today.”

The DNN headquarters wasn’t far away, so he arrived in no time.

“How did you get here… Hunter Kim Seonghyun?”

The security guard, recognizing Seonghyun’s face, bowed and greeted him.

“Hello!”

“Nice to meet you. Is Hakeno available?”

“I’ll let him know right away.”

The security guard mumbled something and then stepped aside, saying to Seonghyun.

“He said he’ll come out himself.”

“In person? What’s his schedule like right now?”

“I don’t know his schedule well, but he always has a meeting around this time. CEO Hakeno always holds meetings in the morning and at the end of the day’s work.”

“Then tell him I’ll wait. It’s not an urgent matter that needs to be handled by disrupting DNN’s work.”

“Yes. I’ll tell him right away.”

The security guard mumbled something again and approached Seonghyun.

“I’ll escort you in first.”

“Okay.”

As he entered the DNN headquarters, security guards seemed to appear from nowhere, multiplying around Seonghyun.

“This seems a bit excessive…”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Isn’t it still working hours? There must be people inside.”

“That’s right.”

“I’d appreciate it if the person who guided me here first could continue to guide me, without causing any disturbance.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The security guards who had multiplied disappeared in an instant.

“The meeting usually takes about 30 minutes, but it will probably end a little earlier today.”

“I see.”

“If you wait here for a moment, Hakeno will be here soon. I’ll be waiting outside, so please let me know if you have any discomfort.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The security guard bowed deeply and went outside, leaving Seonghyun alone in the room to wait for Hakeno.

“Is this a room for guests to wait in?”

It was more decorated than other places, so it seemed like they welcomed guests here.

“Hakeno… DNN and the former Prime Minister of Japan…”

He already knew that they had a deep relationship because he had been told before.

Then he could use this too.

“He’s here.”

According to the security guard, it would take up to 30 minutes, or at least 15-20 minutes, but he could hear footsteps from outside.

The footsteps stopped in front of the door, and after a small clearing of the throat, Hakeno’s voice was heard.

“Hunter Kim. This is Hakeno. May I come in?”

“Of course. I’m the guest.”

Hakeno slowly opened the door and bowed deeply to Seonghyun.

“How have you been?”

“Yes. Has anything happened?”

“Of course not.”

Seonghyun naturally took a seat at the head of the table, and Hakeno sat next to Seonghyun as if it were natural.

“If you had told me, I would have come to you.”

“No. Aren’t we colleagues, a team? Not a relationship between a boss and a subordinate.”

Hakeno wore a subtle smile at Seonghyun’s answer.

“About that time…”

“Stop. That story ended then. There’s no need to talk about it anymore, and there’s no need to remember it.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Seonghyun placed the data that Inhwan had organized on the table.

The funds Seonghyun could use at this point and the list of those who had joined.

“What is this?”

“Please check it first.”

There wasn’t a single personal opinion written, such as future plans or goals.

Completely objective and factual data.

“It’s like a business plan… a very unique document.”

“That’s right.”

Hakeno glanced over the documents and then put them aside, saying.

“Did you come to me with a proposal, or did you come to ask for a favor?”

“Hmm… To be clear, it’s a proposal.”

“A proposal… So you’re saying that DNN can also benefit from this, not just me personally?”

“It’s not up to me to judge that, it’s up to you, Hakeno. I’m just making a proposal.”

Hakeno laughed quite loudly as if he found it amusing.

Hakeno’s appearance as a businessman and entrepreneur, which he had never seen before, was quite impressive.

“Then I can assume that I’m in this position as the core of DNN, completely setting aside the personal feelings I have for you.”

“That’s also up to you to decide.”

“Haha, this is really curious and interesting. I honestly didn’t expect to see an entrepreneurial side in you, Hunter Kim.”

After finishing his words, Hakeno erased the faint smile that remained on his face and stared at Seonghyun.

As if to say, start now.

“First of all, you probably know this well, Hakeno. The changes in the Gates are unusual.”

“Perhaps no one in this world doesn’t know that fact. Unless they’re turning a blind eye.”

“That’s a good point. Then how many people do you think are turning a blind eye, Hakeno?”

Hakeno paused and pondered at the unexpected question.

“Not a few… I can only say it so abstractly.”

“You’re wrong.”

It was a somewhat aggressive choice of words.

Of course, Hakeno wasn’t upset, but rather puzzled.

“What… is wrong?”

“There is no place in this world that is actively responding and preparing for the changes in the Gates. In other words, everyone in this world except me is turning a blind eye.”

“Everyone except you, Kim Seonghyun…”

As far as Hakeno knew, he hadn’t seen Seonghyun doing anything separately recently.

At least until now.

“Then the reason you came to me directly today is because of that?”

“You’re right, Hakeno. That’s right.”

The list from earlier was of those who were working together on this.

He vaguely remembered that the Headmaster’s name was also on it.

“What you need from me are people who can handle this work professionally. It may be rude to say, but you haven’t done this kind of work before, Hunter Kim Seonghyun.”

“That’s also right. I know my place better than you think. The work that will start now shouldn’t just end in Korea. Regardless of talent, it’s too much and dangerous for me to handle alone without any experience.”

“…That in itself is amazing. People tend to be mistaken. They think they have talent if they have a lot of money. Foolishly. Of course, if that amount exceeds common sense, it can become a talent in itself.”

Hakeno drank all the tea that had been placed in the room before Seonghyun entered and said.

“Rather, the topic of conversation has strayed a bit because of me. I’ll be careful.”

“No. As you’ve already figured out. What I need is DNN’s managerial ability. And the relationship with Japan.”

“Japan…”

“I want to create an education that surpasses the Academy in the future.”

“Is that your ultimate goal?”

Seonghyun chuckled at Hakeno’s question and answered.

“It’s just a process, no, in fact, it’s not even a very important task to see it as a process. It’s just something I do to avoid getting hurt when I head towards my goal. To put it simply, it will be my refuge.”

“Refuge?”

“The countless things that will happen in the future. And a place to bear the countless guilt that comes with it.”

“…”

Hakeno stared at Seonghyun with a blank look.

What on earth was Seonghyun trying to do that this scale of work wasn’t even part of the process?

“Even if all of this ends as planned, I have no intention of getting involved. I have no intention of taking a seat and enjoying power.”

“What… are you trying to do?”

“My goal is simple. The complete extinction of all magical beasts. And I’m just walking this path.”

From Seonghyun’s expression, Hakeno instinctively realized.

That Seonghyun knew something.

Or maybe he had experienced it himself.

“Right now, my biggest enemy isn’t the magical beasts, but the Hunters. It’s funny that I’m bringing it up again after telling you not to, but the incident that happened a while ago. Did the magical beasts do that?”

“No.”

“As you know, Hakeno, I just wanted to put all my energy into the extinction of the magical beasts.”

“There is one thing I’m worried about.”

“What is it?”

“It’s the people who already have power through the Academy.”

Korea was fine because the Headmaster was Seonghyun’s object of faith, but other places were not.

“I’m expecting it.”

“And there’s no guarantee that something like last time won’t happen in the process.”

“I’m also… expecting that.”

“Are you still going to do it then? Something that’s not a goal or a process?”

“Yes.”

What kind of expression was Seonghyun showing in Hakeno’s eyes right now?

The face reflected in his eyes seemed calm and no different from usual.

But, Hakeno didn’t think so.

Seonghyun’s expression seemed no different on the surface, but Hakeno could tell.

That the weight of the things Seonghyun was carrying alone was so enormous that he couldn’t even imagine it.

What kind of expression was he showing as he looked at Seonghyun like that?

But from the moment he tried to grasp the weight of the things Seonghyun was carrying, he couldn’t meet Seonghyun’s eyes for some reason.

“Japan… will probably be taken care of by that person.”

“That’s a refreshing answer.”

“What should I do in the future?”

“Location and manpower. Those are the two things.”

“You’ll need a place to teach people and manpower to oversee everything in the end, right?”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Hakeno seemed to close his eyes and think for a moment.

After a little time passed, Hakeno opened his eyes and said to Seonghyun.

“I’ll proceed without any setbacks. Then what are you going to do in the meantime, Hunter Kim? Are you going to move for the extinction of the magical beasts?”

“No. I have to move only after all the preparations are finished. I need to make this process a little faster. I’m going to visit them directly. All the academies around the world.”

“…”

It was an extremely dangerous method, but also the most efficient method.

“Please proceed as quickly as possible. Time is not tight, but it’s not enough to afford to be relaxed.”

“…Yes. I will keep that in mind.”