The Hero Returns

Act 2

France, China, Brazil, Australia, the United States of America, Egypt, and Korea—the seven dungeons had appeared in these seven countries at the same time. They were the indigo- or blue-colored dungeons, which were of very high levels.

The first indigo-colored dungeon appeared at the Namsan Tower. Even after the raid was over, people still did not return to visit the place. The Myeong-dong streets, which were usually full of locals and foreign tourists, were also quiet.

"A lot of things have changed because of one dungeon," reporter Hwang Seung-han said in a calm voice while taking photographs of the streets of Myeong-dong with his camera.

He saw the empty streets of Myeong-dong, the Namsan Mountain, and the tower on top of it. All of this happened just because of a dungeon, even though the dungeon raid was already over.

"That's how much fear has grown for dungeons. It is also shocking that blue dungeons can appear at the same time as this."

"Is that so?"

Hwang Seung-han paused, taking pictures for a while at the word of the senior reporter named Song Jin-young. Song Jin-young lit a cigarette and looked around the empty streets.

"But our country is in a better situation. Paris is still in a panic, so is Florida. At least, nobody died here," he said.

"Yes, that's right."

"Thanks to someone," Song Jin-yeong took a long drag on his cigarette and exhaled, "we have to get used to it. These dungeons will continue to appear in the future. I'm glad people like Kim Su-hyeun are in Korea."

"Wow. What caused you to say such positive stuff?"

"Why? Is it weird that I say something positive?"

"Yeah. Were you not a fan of eschatology? Even now, I thought you would say, 'Told you. I knew it's going to happen,' or something like that."

"What? Do you think I am a melancholiac?" Song Jin-young put the cigarette back in his mouth, frowning. "Anyway. We better write hopeful and bright news articles, especially in these times. Isn't that our job?"

"Is there any good news?"

"Yes, there is." Song Jin-young grinned.

Hwang Seung-han could sense that there would be some exclusive news from that grinning. "What is it?"

"I snooped around and heard from a foreign reporter…" Song Jin-young dropped the cigarette on the ground and whispered to Hwang Seung-han's ear. "Geneva is coming to Korea."

"Really? Geneva?" Hwang Seung-han stared in wonder.

Geneva is known as the world's best Ether stone blacksmith. He is considered one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is famous for not traveling around the world. Therefore, it is big news that he would come to Korea. People said wearing Geneva's equipment from head to toe would even raise one's rank by a level.

"But why?" Hwang Seung-han asked.

"Can't you guess why? You are a reporter. Use your brain, man."

"Hmm…"

"I will give you a hint. Who is the most famous person in Korea right now? If you don't get it, you are really not qualified to be a reporter."

That was a definite hint.

Hwang Seung-han answered the one name that popped into his head. "Kim Su-hyeun?"

<hr />

At Incheon International Airport, Hak-joon and Thomas, who returned to Korea by plane, were being hounded by the crowd. Thomas waved his hand with a bright face as the people welcomed him, but Hak-joon lowered his head in embarrassment.

"Oh, this is driving me crazy," Hak-joon muttered.

Hak-joon and Thomas had just returned after finishing the raid in Australia. The two joined the Australian raid team and were able to attack the dungeon successfully.

"How the hell did people know we were coming today?"

"There are a lot of people! Yay!"

Hak-joon sighed, looking at Thomas, who jumped with a flushed face next to him. He found Su-hyeun, who was sitting far away.

"Thomas. Be careful not to fall."

"Huh?" Thomas looked at Hak-joon.

Hak-joon suddenly grabbed Thomas by the nape.

Swish—

Hak-joon and Thomas disappeared from the crowd. The reporters and onlookers who were taking pictures of the two or continued to cover them were puzzled. Hak-joon landed near a bench in the airport, set Thomas down on the floor, and walked toward Su-hyeun.

"You did a good job," Su-hyeun said.

"I thought I was dying of frustration. How did everyone know we were coming here today? It wasn't even a scheduled flight. We used our private plane!"

"Maybe it's not because of you."

Hak-joon looked puzzled at Lee Ju-ho's word, who was standing next to Su-hyeun.

"Then?"

"It's probably because of Geneva. He is supposed to arrive today as well."

"Geneva?" Hak-joon eyes widened.

Thomas, on the other hand, had no idea who Geneva was. "Who is that?" he asked.

"He is the world's best Ether stone blacksmith."

Geneva Ricklas. Many reporters have caught wind of him visiting Korea. As expected, reporters came for coverage. Even famous foreign awakeners visited Korea to meet him. Su-hyeun also knew quite a lot about him. He heard lots of rumors, to say the least. His work is usually worth billions, and his expensive equipment is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. It is said even an S-Rank awakener would have a difficult time getting Geneva's stuff.

"Would you like to meet him?" Lee Ju-ho asked Su-hyeun as they covered their faces and headed out of the airport. Of course, he meant Geneva. "If you want to meet him, you totally should."

"No, I am okay."

"Why? Aren't you curious?"

"Meh. I am not curious at all. I know somebody way better than him."

"You mean Mr. Dae-ho?"

"Yes," Su-hyeun answered without hesitation and looked back at Hak-joon. "Now that you mention it, let's go to see him."

"Me? Where?"

"To Yangpyeong. Mr. Dae-ho told me to bring you with me last time when I talked about you."

"Really?"

"Did you think I came here to pick you up because I don't have anything else to do?"

"Wow. That's harsh."

When Hak-joon made a sad expression, Su-hyeun chuckled and went on, "What's with the long face?"

"But he's not a big fan of people, is he? You said he only liked hammering out there in the mountains."

"Yeah. I have no idea what changed his mind," Su-hyeun said, shrugging. "Anyway, let's go."

<hr />

Two cars arrived at the foot of a small mountain located in Yangpyeong. The high-end sports cars did not quite fit the landscape. Su-hyeun, Hak-joon, Lee Ju-ho, and Thomas got out of the cars. The four climbed the mountain and arrived at Kim Dae-ho's workshop. The workshop occupied quite a large area. Hak-joon and Thomas only heard the story from Su-hyeun before, and it was their first time to visit the place.

"Huh. Something is strange."

At Su-hyeun's muttering, Hak-joon, who was walking next to him, asked, "Yes? What is?"

"It's so quiet."

"Of course, it's quiet. We are deep in the mountain."

"No, no. I mean hammering sounds. I can't hear any."

Su-hyeun hurried to the door and anxiously knocked.

Knock, knock—!

"Mr. Dae-ho! It's Su-hyeun. Mr. Dae-ho!"

He called in a loud voice that his shouts even echoed. But there was no answer for quite a long time.

"Mr. Dae-ho!"

"God! You're so loud!"

It was the voice of Kim Dae-ho. It came from inside the house, not from the workshop. It seemed like he was taking a nap.

"I was asleep! Your shouting woke me up!"

Screech—

Kim Dae-ho trudged toward the door and opened it. Su-hyeun looked at the hunched Kim Dae-ho.

"Sorry." Su-hyeun asked, "Were you sleeping?"

"Yes, man. Why did you come so early! I told you to come around the evening."

Su-hyeun smiled awkwardly at Kim Dae-ho's rebuke. He had no idea Kim Dae-ho would fall asleep during the day because he was usually very busy working at his workshop.

"If you're tired, would you like us to come back later?"

"Hmm… The guy behind you is very polite, unlike someone." At Lee Ju-ho's question, Kim Dae-ho smiled widely and turned. "Just come in. I am totally awake, thanks to this man."

"Thank you, sir."

"Excuse us."

Su-hyeun and the others passed the gate and followed Kim Dae-ho. Kim Dae-ho walked in front of them and headed to his workshop. It was a hot day, and inside of the workshop was even hotter like a steamer.

"Wow."

"Oh…"

Hak-joon and Thomas, who visited Kim Dae-ho's workshop for the first time, looked around with wide eyes. Lee Ju-ho had been there once before. He came to protect Kim Dae-ho from the awakeners of the Hahoetal Guild.

"Why are you so surprised? Those are my failures."

"What? Those are failures?" Hak-joon asked, looking at the equipment piled on the floor.

Even at a glance, they could tell those were pretty well-made weapons. Any blacksmith would have to take great care to make this kind of equipment. But he said those were his failures.

"It's a waste to throw them away, but it's embarrassing to hang them somewhere. So, I just piled them up here. The really good ones are downstairs."

"Then, can you just give me one from here? No, no. Can you sell it to me? Please?" Hak-joon asked.

"Why? Do you need equipment?"

"I have a good sword, but the pieces of armor here look way better than mine."

"Well, do whatever you want. You don't have to pay. Just pick anything."

"Really?"

"Yes. But I will only give you one sword and one armor. If you pick one of each, that's it."

At Kim Dae-ho's firm word, Hak-joon, who seemed excited, stopped laughing. Anybody who had a brain could figure out. Kim Dae-ho invited them to his workshop and told them that he would give them presents although he said that all the equipment there was a failure.

I can't pick another if I choose now.

Hak-joon's heart was beating fast. He thought it would be an excellent chance to get new valuable equipment.

"I will think about it first," said Hak-joon.

"Good. You are not a slow-witted one." Kim Dae-ho laughed out loud and quickened his steps again.

The basement of the workshop was a warehouse. Kim Dae-ho entered the darkroom and felt the wall for the light switch.

Click—

The inside of the warehouse was revealed when the light turned on. Various types of equipment were hanging on the wall. There were long swords, spears, knives, gauntlets, iron plate mails, leather armor, and so on. But there were not many of them. Unlike upstairs, where there were stacks of equipment, there were only a few dozen pieces of equipment in the basement.

"Wow."

"So awesome."

Lee Ju-ho had not entered here last time, so he had felt nothing but surprise to see all the things in here.

I can tell at a glance that they are all of the very high quality.

Lee Ju-ho was a nonexpert about weapons, but even he could tell those were not ordinary equipment.

Those things can compete with Geneva's work.

He understood why Kim Dae-ho had said the ones upstairs were failures.

What would happen if those items were released on the market? The market would be turned upside down, Lee Ju-ho thought.

An outstanding awakener could save a city. However, hundreds and thousands of pieces of equipment made by outstanding blacksmiths could increase the power of many awakeners. That was why Geneva was treated a lot better than the S-Rank awakeners in this era.

"Let me see. The spear you asked for last time…" First, Kim Dae-ho took the spear for Su-hyeun from one wall. "Here you are."