Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 687

◈ 687. Meeting Those Who Parted Ways

Rembrary, who had been waiting for Sagamjae’s call, quickly answered the phone.

“Yes, Gamjae. What did His Majesty say?”

[The Great King told me to keep this a secret from you.]

“That can’t be. What did he say?”

Sagamjae clicked his tongue at Rembrary’s confident question. Why was he believing in someone else’s god so much, when he wasn’t even his own believer?

However, the story that Yeomra [King of the Underworld in Korean mythology] had told him wasn’t something that needed to be kept secret.

Rather, it was something that required Rembrary’s help, so he had to tell him even if Rembrary covered his ears and ran away.

[It’s the same as our opinion. The Great King says that it doesn’t seem to be the power of a demon or devils.]

“So, His Majesty doesn’t know either.”

[……No.]

“It’s okay. He might not know.”

[No. His Majesty said that if he had to choose, the phenomenon seems closer to a natural phenomenon.]

Rembrary couldn’t believe Sagamjae’s explanation and asked again.

“Like the wind? The movement and momentum were quite unusual for a normal wind.”

It was a flow that could be called wind if you insisted it was wind, but it was definitely not a normal wind. But Yeomra said it was wind.

[He didn’t even mention the word wind.]

“Then?”

[And he said it was closer to that side if he had to choose, but he didn’t say it was completely a natural phenomenon either.]

“So, he still doesn’t know?”

As Rembrary’s question returned to square one, Sagamjae frowned and said firmly.

[He says he will examine the place himself. But if His Majesty uses his power, it will cause great harm to the human world. So, for three days starting the day after tomorrow, prevent people from approaching that area. If they come by mistake, they could get caught up in it and die.]

Rembrary thought of the area where the Demon King was sealed.

It wasn’t as large as the territory of a country, but it wasn’t small enough to walk around the entire perimeter.

But if Yeomra was telling him to block off the area like an iron wall…….

“I’ll need power.”

* * *

The only person with power that Rembrary could contact in this world was one person.

“Morso, can you talk now?”

It was Morso, who was from the same other world.

Jang Tae-ri and Shin Jo-woon seemed to have power, but they were representatives of private companies.

So, to prevent people from coming to such a large place like this time, Morso, who belonged to the state, was the most suitable.

Fortunately, he hadn’t changed his cell phone number, and as soon as Morso answered the phone, he asked in a surprised voice.

[Rembrary?]

“Can you block people from approaching the area around the Demon King’s seal for three days starting tomorrow?”

[What?]

Morso asked back in a very bewildered voice.

[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]

Rembrary quickly summarized and conveyed the story that Sagamjae had told him.

“I felt a strange flow of power above the place where the Demon King is sealed. I also saw a demonkin close to the Demon King in that area, and he seemed to have come to investigate in a panic. The god here said he would examine it, so he told me to have people step back so they don’t get caught up in it.”

Rembrary didn’t even imagine that Morso would refuse his request. This wasn’t just for Rembrary himself.

As expected, Morso spat out words that were difficult to understand quickly, but ultimately said he understood.

[How many days are you talking about?]

“Starting the day after tomorrow. For three days.”

[Okay.]

Morso agreed gruffly.

Rembrary was relieved. He had safely crossed one step for now.

Now, he just had to quietly pass the time while having a delicious meal until Yeomra examined that part in detail.

However, it was when Rembrary was about to hang up the phone.

“Then, I’m counting on you!”

Just as he was about to press the end button after saying hello brightly, a low call of [Hey.] came from beyond the phone.

Rembrary, who had already pressed the end button, called again, and Morso asked in a slightly tired voice.

[If you’re showing up after two years, shouldn’t we ask each other how we’re doing?]

“I’m doing well.”

[I know that from the news, so ask me how I’m doing.]

“Are you doing well?”

Seeing that he was still in the position of Deputy Director of the Hunter Management Agency, he must be doing well, but Rembrary asked as if he was curious to grant Morso’s wish.

[You’re really asking half-heartedly.]

However, Morso seemed very bored and stubbornly clung to Rembrary’s words.

“What do you want me to do?”

[Come visit when you’re free. Let’s eat something together.]

“Why?”

*Because you’ve been through hardships. To check if you’re doing well.* Morso thought of the perfectly obvious reason, but he didn’t want to tell him about it when he heard the cheerful voice.

[Forget it if you don’t want to.]

“I’ll go. When can I go?”

* * *

Since he had treated all the urgent patients in a few days, there were no more patients with urgent needs in Redrine headquarters.

Then Daeju suggested to Rembrary.

“We don’t know how the side effects will progress, so please don’t treat people for the time being and take a rest. I will announce to the people that the High Priest has been working too hard for the people and needs to rest.”

“Are you that worried?”

“Yes. I think we should find out more about the side effects before treating people other than believers.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay to inform them well about the side effects in advance, and only treat people who are okay with it?”

“We’ll have to do that in the end if the side effects last for a long time.”

*Wouldn’t it be better to live than to die, even if there are some changes in values?* Rembrary thought this way but decided to follow Daeju’s words first.

“You know this world well, so it’s better to do as you say. I don’t know much about the values of the people here.”

*You don’t seem to know much about the values of your original world either.* Daeju thought to himself but nodded obediently first.

“Yes. Thank you for following my intentions.”

“Rather, can you lend me someone today? Morso asked me to have dinner with him. Hwasaja said it’s his mom’s birthday in a week and left.”

“It’s her birthday in a week, why already?”

“He said he’s going to count down and celebrate.”

Daeju shook his head with a dumbfounded expression and got up from the sofa.

“Have my secretary drive you. I’ll go tell him now.”

“Thank you.”

“And the accident rate is too high for people who got their licenses during the Cataclysm period. There’s a discussion about making people who got their licenses during that period retake the test. If you want to keep your license, practice in an empty lot.”

“!”

* * *

Rembrary arrived in front of the Hunter Management Agency in a car driven by Daeju’s secretary.

The Management Agency, which was much larger than when he had seen it before, looked magnificent at first glance.

In addition, twice as many people were moving back and forth in front of it than in other places, so it was even more lively.

While watching them, Rembrary realized that the clothes of the Management Agency people were almost the same. Only the colors were slightly different.

Rembrary walked along the long bridge leading to the main gate and asked the secretary about this.

“I’ve seen that black uniform in Gyeongju before. What is that uniform with black and white mixed in?”

“Black is the uniform of general national hunters. They play the role of dispatching and arresting dangerous Awakened beings, demons, and dangerous people.”

“Then what about that white uniform? There seem to be fewer of them.”

“They are hunters belonging to the Otherworlder Management Agency. This is not the headquarters, so it seems that way because they came here for work.”

“Otherworlder Management Agency?”

“Yes. That’s why those two don’t get along.”

“Why?”

“The Otherworlder Management Agency manages Otherworlders, and the National Hunter Management Agency manages dangerous people. But there are also Otherworlders who are treated as dangerous people because they receive a risk rating. There are often fights because there are overlapping areas of activity.”

“Then shouldn’t they accurately define the areas by law even now?”

“That would mean taking sides.”

*As soon as they became a little more peaceful, they started fighting among themselves,* Rembrary thought to himself, pointing to the uniforms mixed with white and black.

“What about those mixed black and white people?”

“They are hunters that the Deputy Directors have directly with them. If you look closely, those people also have different button and sleeve colors for each team.”

“They like color coordination.”

While he was curious and asking about this and that, the two had already arrived in front of the main gate. Four hunters in black uniforms were standing in front of the main gate.

“Are hunters belonging to the state directly acting as guards?”

Rembrary was curious and asked the secretary as he looked at these people, who all looked upright and strong.

The secretary’s face turned red, and he muttered softly.

“I can hear everything.”

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

Rembrary asked with wide eyes.

*It’s not that you said something you shouldn’t have, but you usually don’t talk about other people in front of them.* The secretary thought to himself and glanced at the four hunters.

As the secretary feared, the national hunters guarding the gate had heard all of Rembrary’s questions, and all four of them were looking this way.

However, they were looking not at Rembrary but at the secretary.

Because Daeju had Rembrary wear a large hooded jumper that barely revealed his eyes, nose, and mouth, they couldn’t recognize Rembrary right away and seemed to recognize the secretary first.

“You’re Redrine Daeju’s secretary, right?”

Then, as one of the hunters approached, pretending to know him, the secretary nodded with his face still red.

“Yes. He said he had an appointment with Morso, so I brought him here.”

“Brought him here?”

The approaching hunter was puzzled when Daeju’s secretary pointed to the side with his eyes while saying ‘brought him here’ and looked to the side, then shouted in surprise, ‘Rem!’

The hunter, who quickly composed himself and closed his mouth, looked back and forth between the secretary and Rembrary.

Then, when Rembrary waved his hand, the hunter was even more surprised and stepped back, then quickly picked up a walkie-talkie.

Seeing that reaction, the other three hunters also belatedly realized that the person wearing the hat was Rembrary, and their eyes all widened.

After a while. Rembrary noticed that those surprised expressions were slowly changing.

One showed curiosity, one smiled brightly, and one’s expression hardened.

Seeing that, Rembrary could immediately tell what his image was like to the outside world.

It was exactly as he had heard in the explanation: the public with moderate likes and dislikes and curiosity, some with strong hostility, and some who fervently follow him.

Seeing that, Rembrary smiled contentedly because it reminded him of his original world. The three hunters flinched even more at that nonchalant smile.

“I’ve contacted Morso.”

In the meantime, the hunter who was on the radio turned off the radio and brought two blue necklaces from inside and handed them over.

“It’s a sign that you’re an authorized visitor. Put this around your neck and follow that person.”

The hunter pointed to the inside of the main gate with his hand. A person wearing a uniform mixed with black and white could be seen running this way through the glass door.

“You mean that person?”

“Yes.”

Rembrary waited for that person to come this way, putting one of the necklaces around his neck.

But before that person opened the door and came out, Rembrary felt a strong gaze and quickly raised his head.

A black dragon was looking down at this side from beyond the window.