Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 335

335. The Devil Returns (6)

“You have something… you want me to do?”

“Yes.”

Red Butterfly looked at Do-ryeong Park as if she couldn’t understand.

As one of the Four Heavenly Kings, her only job was to protect the Teacher.

Others often mistook the Four Heavenly Kings as Park Do-ryeong’s direct subordinates, but they were more like the Teacher’s most ardent followers.

‘And also agents of factions trying to monitor Park Do-ryeong.’

Park Do-ryeong was not the real Teacher, nor did he have the Teacher’s overwhelming abilities, so he was constantly checked by many competitors.

Therefore, it was difficult for him to give orders to figures like the Four Heavenly Kings.

Of course, Red Butterfly was not affiliated with any faction. She was purely a disciple of the Teacher.

As one of the veteran members who had spent the longest time with the Teacher without belonging to either side, there was no controversy in her being appointed as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

“What is it?”

So, Park Do-ryeong’s order was unfamiliar, but she thought she could listen if it wasn’t too difficult.

“I think you should meet Kang Hyun-woo.”

“Kang Hyun-woo… you mean?”

Red Butterfly barely managed not to raise her voice. There might be listening ears somewhere.

It was certainly the hottest issue recently, but she never thought Park Do-ryeong would tell her to meet Kang Hyun-woo.

“Kang Hyun-woo will be coming this way soon. I think it would be good if you, who have some connection with him, could meet and talk to him beforehand.”

“…To be honest, I don’t think the conversation will go well.”

Red Butterfly said, recalling her past with Kang Hyun-woo.

Kang Hyun-woo had helped subdue the dungeon in her hometown during the Pyongyang Recovery Operation.

Moreover, she had improved her skills by receiving various guidance from him.

“If you’re giving this instruction based solely on that connection… Kang Hyun-woo might extend my life by about 3 seconds when things go wrong.”

“You haven’t even heard what I want you to say when you meet him.”

“Isn’t it about begging for the Teacher’s life?”

If not, she couldn’t see any reason to meet Kang Hyun-woo. It also aligned with the Four Heavenly Kings’ purpose of protecting the Teacher’s life.

Instead of getting straight to the point, Park Do-ryeong approached the window and glanced around the underground dome.

“Have you heard of the conspiracy theory about international Korean capital?”

“…What is that? Is it like the Illuminati or the Freemasons?”

“It’s a conspiracy theory that Koreans are involved in every major powerful organization in the world. Most of the world’s problems are conspiracies orchestrated by Koreans, and Korean power is constantly growing.”

“That’s a very… interesting… hypothesis.”

“No. It sounds plausible when you hear it. Lee Ji-tae is among the highest-ranking ability users in Chrome. And Lee Seo-yeon is the de facto leader of the South China Union. And there’s the Almighty Religion created in Korea, not to mention our Alliance, which includes you and me. No, from the start, the Teacher is Korean, isn’t he?”

Listening to it, Red Butterfly also thought it sounded plausible. It was natural for conspiracy theories to arise.

“It’s a coincidence, but this might be one of the futures the Teacher has guided.”

“Is that related to what you want me to tell Kang Hyun-woo?”

“I want Kang Hyun-woo to use this conspiracy theory.”

“Use the conspiracy theory?”

“Conspiracy theories can be meaningful in themselves. Do you know why the CIA and NSA are always embroiled in conspiracy theories? It’s because they leave those conspiracy theories alone and even encourage them. Do you know why?”

“…To instill fear in their enemies?”

“That’s right. Thanks to those conspiracy theories, people’s minds perceive the CIA and NSA as omnipotent and overwhelming entities. Naturally, their enemies can’t act rashly either.”

The scariest monster is the one in your head.

A monster that exists, can be faced, and can be fought with weapons is not something to be feared.

“Right now, the Teacher honestly has no chance of resurrection. It’s a waste of time and energy for Kang Hyun-woo to come all the way here to kill the Teacher. Instead, I think it’s better to pretend that the Alliance and the Almighty Religion are in a confrontational relationship and solidify this competitive system, making the conspiracy theory that the great Korean people are dominating the world not just a theory.”

Red Butterfly couldn’t tell if Park Do-ryeong’s words were sarcastic or if his usual anarchist-nationalist tendencies were showing again. But there was some truth in what he said.

People don’t like monolithic systems. If the world were unified under Kang Hyun-woo’s power, they would surely feel uneasy and displeased.

Park Do-ryeong was proposing to maintain peace by forming a superficial confrontational relationship.

Naturally, Red Butterfly was displeased.

“You’re saying there’s no chance the Teacher will be resurrected?”

“No, that’s a lie to tell Kang Hyun-woo.”

Park Do-ryeong replied immediately.

***

Red Butterfly’s eyes widened. Park Do-ryeong continued to speak quietly.

“Just yesterday, a strange object arrived. A blood pack shipped from Romania. It was Kang Hyun-woo’s blood. It took a tremendous amount of effort just to extract and package it. It’s safe as long as Kang Hyun-woo doesn’t deliberately activate the toxicity, but that just means it’s an unexploded bomb waiting to go off.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about it.”

It was Kang Hyun-woo’s blood, no less.

The Four Heavenly Kings, as well as the top executives of the Alliance, were all paying attention to that blood.

“A tremendous poison can also be a tremendous medicine. Especially… for the Teacher, who has the same type of blood.”

“You’re saying Kang Hyun-woo’s blood… is really medicine?”

Red Butterfly had heard of such a hypothesis. But she didn’t think it was something to get her hopes up about.

But Park Do-ryeong nodded.

“Until now, it was just a hypothesis, but now it’s certain. Kang Hyun-woo has used his own blood as medicine several times. The Teacher has done so as well. Using this blood, the Teacher can be resurrected.”

“You’re saying that’s certain…”

“Yes. We experimented.”

Red Butterfly rushed at Park Do-ryeong and grabbed him by the collar. Park Do-ryeong didn’t resist and just swayed.

If Kang Hyun-woo’s blood had acted as a poison, it could have killed the weakened Teacher instantly.

And he experimented?

“Don’t worry, the results are positive, Red Butterfly. Honestly, wouldn’t it be better to risk death and try, rather than living like that forever?”

“I need to see the Teacher’s condition.”

“As you wish.”

Red Butterfly left Park Do-ryeong and headed straight to the ward where the Teacher was lying.

Not far away, she could see the Teacher’s ward surrounded by thick glass walls. In front of the glass walls, the other Four Heavenly Kings were also looking at the Teacher with awe and amazement.

“Comrade Park Do-ryeong.”

Isabella, the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings, greeted Park Do-ryeong with a strange sense of awe.

The other Four Heavenly Kings, Pahad and Oscar, also greeted Park Do-ryeong politely.

They were close to being in a position to monitor Park Do-ryeong, but they were still loyalists whose loyalty to the Teacher was beyond doubt, and they prioritized the Teacher’s condition above all else.

“Do you see it, Red Butterfly.”

Red Butterfly opened her mouth at the Teacher’s condition.

For the past three years, the Teacher’s condition had been deteriorating day by day.

The size of the remaining body was even smaller than it was three years ago, as they had to cut away the rotten parts. No potion or treatment worked.

But now, the Teacher’s condition had definitely improved.

New flesh was growing on the skin where the internal organs were visible, and bones were growing. Dark spots were appearing on the snow-white hair.

“It’s really possible.”

“Yes.”

Park Do-ryeong dragged Red Butterfly back to a secluded place out of sight of the Four Heavenly Kings.

After confirming that there was no one around, Park Do-ryeong continued his persuasion.

“But this fact must be kept top secret from anyone except the Four Heavenly Kings. As you can see from the condition, it’s impossible to know when the healing will end.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“If we’re lucky, he might be resurrected as early as tomorrow. But if it’s long, we’ll have to count an endless amount of time. But all of that will be resolved once the Teacher regains his abilities.”

“The best future…”

Red Butterfly recalled the Teacher’s abilities.

If the Teacher regresses while injured, the injury remains intact, but if he heals all the wounds before regressing, he can turn back time as if he had never been injured.

In other words, no matter how much time they spend, the Teacher will return their time.

Red Butterfly felt as if the Teacher in perfect condition would appear before her eyes right away.

But that’s probably because now is ‘still’ the Teacher’s first timeline.

“So, first, we must stop Kang Hyun-woo from coming here immediately. Fortunately, Kang Hyun-woo hasn’t figured out our location yet, but it’s only a matter of time. It may seem like we’re yielding now, but this is all to regain the best future.”

Park Do-ryeong took out something tightly wrapped from his sleeve.

It was a little bigger than the palm of his hand, and it was difficult to guess the contents because it was wrapped in several layers.

“What is this?”

“It’s a gift to persuade Kang Hyun-woo.”

Park Do-ryeong said with a stern expression.

“It’s very precious. This must be kept secret even from the Four Heavenly Kings. Of course, you shouldn’t look at it either. If you know what this is, you might not like this deal either. But we have to give up this much to make Kang Hyun-woo trust us.”

Red Butterfly was curious about the object, but she soon neatly forgot about it. She had a diligent personality.

And whatever it was, the most important thing to her was the Teacher’s safety.

Unlike what others thought, Red Butterfly was not interested in things like the ‘best future’ or noble ideals. Rather, she was loyal to the Teacher personally.

The Teacher had saved her when she was going through the most difficult time and had consistently taken care of her. That alone made him worth following.

Red Butterfly firmly grasped the gift package that Park Do-ryeong gave her, held it to her chest, and nodded.

“I will protect it like my own heart and persuade Kang Hyun-woo.”

***

Because it was an urgent situation where Kang Hyun-woo could attack at any moment, Red Butterfly headed straight to the Almighty Religion.

Red Butterfly was filled with emotion as she set foot on Korean soil for the first time in a while, but there was no time to delay.

Even now, the Alliance’s information was leaking out, and branches were being eliminated one by one.

“Ms. Red Butterfly.”

In front of the Almighty Religion headquarters building, Lee Ji-tae looked at Red Butterfly with a surprised expression.

The contact Red Butterfly used to meet Kang Hyun-woo was none other than Lee Ji-tae.

Red Butterfly bit her lip tightly, barely opened her mouth, and bowed her head.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Lee Ji-tae.”

“…Yes.”

The two maintained an awkward silence.

During the Leviathan mission, Red Butterfly was unable to participate due to the Teacher’s restriction.

Red Butterfly always thought the Teacher treated her like a child.

She thought that was why she couldn’t participate in the mission, but now she realized it was concern.

But because of that, she couldn’t watch the Teacher suffer, and she only heard the story that Lee Ji-tae in front of her had stabbed the Teacher in the back.

The Teacher had saved Lee Ji-tae’s life when he was dying, but Lee Ji-tae repaid it with betrayal.

Everything looked that simple to Red Butterfly.

Lee Ji-tae opened his mouth with difficulty.

“The Teacher…”

“I came to see Mr. Kang Hyun-woo.”

But now Red Butterfly didn’t have time to antagonize Lee Ji-tae. The only way to save the Teacher was to meet Kang Hyun-woo.

Lee Ji-tae looked embarrassed and nodded.

“Let’s go up and talk first.”

Lee Ji-tae and Red Butterfly headed to the top floor together. Lee Ji-tae carefully opened his mouth in the elevator.

“Ms. Red Butterfly, I don’t know where the Teacher is or how he’s doing, but he’s not the kind of person you think he is.”

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lee Ji-tae.”

Red Butterfly firmly ignored Lee Ji-tae’s words. Lee Ji-tae lost his words and closed his mouth.

Lee Ji-tae seemed to have some standing in the Almighty Religion, as they were able to pass through together without any restrictions.

A female executive with a whip wrapped around her shoulders glared at her fiercely up and down, but somehow they were able to arrive in front of the Almighty Religion Leader’s office.

“This is as far as I can guide you.”

“That’s enough. Thank you.”

Red Butterfly briefly thanked Lee Ji-tae and slowly opened the door and entered.

She suppressed her pounding heart and organized the words she had to say in her head. But the person inside the door was an unexpected figure.

“Ah, you’re the young sister who came from the Alliance.”

But it was Yoo-min, the leader of the Almighty Religion, who revealed herself.

Come to think of it, it was natural for her, the leader, to be in the Almighty Religion Leader’s office. But it was embarrassing for Red Butterfly.

She clenched the gift box that Park Do-ryeong had ordered her to deliver and said.

“Where is Mr. Kang Hyun-woo…?”

“Ah, Kang Hyun-woo, the Chief Hunter.”

Yoo-min opened her mouth as if she was very sorry.

“He must have gone to see the Teacher to celebrate Teacher’s Day?”

***

Kugugugung.

Park Do-ryeong stared up at the shaking ceiling.

Dust and stone fragments fell as if an earthquake had struck, and the vibration continued for a while before the entire facility suddenly lost power.

After a few seconds, emergency power was turned on, but Park Do-ryeong already knew what was happening.

“Everyone, prepare.”

Red Butterfly was gone, but the remaining three of the Four Heavenly Kings began to prepare to face the enemies who would soon arrive in order to protect the Teacher.

Their goal was to buy time until the Teacher recovered even a little.

Kang Hyun-woo had come too early, but if the situation was like this, there was no choice.

“Where is Red Butterfly?”

Isabella opened her mouth.

The Four Heavenly Kings didn’t know that Red Butterfly had gone to meet Kang Hyun-woo. It was natural since he had ordered them to keep it secret from everyone.

“I sent her to carry out a way to protect the Teacher.”

She nodded suspiciously.

Red Butterfly was a member of the Four Heavenly Kings, but she wasn’t very strong. They only valued the fact that she was the Teacher’s disciple.

Park Do-ryeong noticed that several of the CCTVs illuminating the facility were flickering before they all went out.

The last CCTV showed the appearance of a scythe smashing the camera. Park Do-ryeong stood up from his seat.

“I will try to help the Teacher recover as quickly as possible. And it would be better if I was the last one to stand in the way.”

The Four Heavenly Kings inwardly thought that Park Do-ryeong was running away, but they agreed that his words were reasonable. One way or another, Park Do-ryeong was among the strongest of them.

He would be the most suitable for the role of the final barrier.

The most important thing is the Teacher’s safety. If only the Teacher wakes up, all the pain and injustice will disappear.

Park Do-ryeong thought about where Red Butterfly might have arrived.

Hoping that she wouldn’t realize his intentions too quickly.