章 278: 692
[Chapter 177]
[The Period of Reconstruction (4)]
"─What's this, so unlike you?"
"Just... It's an expression of my feelings. Do you dislike it?"
"Who said I dislike it? Who would dislike this kind of event?"
Han Seohyun smiles gently.
Eunha could tell her mood had improved.
So he decided to approach her a little closer.
"..."
She just smiled silently, watching Eunha narrow the distance.
Then he reached out his hand.
He carefully took her hand without asking for permission.
She quietly entrusted her hand to him.
She let him touch her hand.
"Thinking about it this time, I feel like I haven't been paying enough attention to you, Seohyun."
"You just realized that now?"
"So I'm sorry. And thank you."
"What are you sorry for, and what are you thankful for?"
"Well... I wrote it on the cards."
"I want to hear it directly from your mouth."
"Ugh..."
Han Seohyun's eyes sparkle.
Eunha groaned briefly.
Eunha, who had entwined his hand with Han Seohyun's, opened his mouth as if resigned.
"I'm really sorry I can't tell you many things."
"That's right. People with too many secrets aren't trustworthy. So? Do you feel like telling me now?"
"...I'm sorry."
"I thought so. Alright, then what are you thankful to me for?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"I'm thankful you trust me, thankful you stay by my side, thankful you help me... I'm just very thankful."
Han Seohyun's smile deepens.
Her gaze fills with warmth.
Eunha looked at her and smiled awkwardly.
""..."
He fumbles for words while silently tracing her fingers.
Han Seohyun quietly waited until Eunha opened his mouth.
Then he spoke.
"─So I thought about how to express this, in my own way."
Fumbling.
Eunha took out a beautifully crafted ring he had asked Byuk Haesoo to make.
A ring made of silver.
A small, blue diamond was scattering a soft radiance.
"Come to think of it, we were going to get wedding rings made but didn't because we got busy with work. I made this on my own... I hope you like it."
"..."
Han Seohyun didn't say anything.
Whether it was positive or negative.
He couldn't tell what her silence meant.
He just endlessly slipped the ring onto the finger he had been caressing.
That touch was very careful.
"...It's pretty."
When Eunha withdrew his hand.
Han Seohyun caressed the ring on her finger.
After touching it for a long time.
She softly spoke up.
"Thank you. It's pretty. I'm happy."
Three short phrases.
But each word she uttered contained heavy, long feelings.
The sentiment conveyed by these brief words was more intense than long, drawn-out ones.
Eunha raised the corners of his mouth.
""..."
Now he carefully reached out and embraced her.
Then he whispered in her ear.
"──I love you."
"..."
Feelings too light for "thank you".
Feelings too lacking for "I'm grateful".
Feelings insufficient for "I like you".
Eunha conveyed his feelings.
She, who received his confession, soon responded with emotion.
"Me too. I love you."
Feelings they had wrapped up with the word "contract".
That night, they honestly opened up their hearts to each other.
Thus, they put a period on the relationship where they had been pretending not to know.
☆
That night, Eunha and Han Seohyun honestly exchanged their feelings.
The two who had been expressing themselves indirectly until now exchanged communion that much more directly, explicitly, and emotionally.
However, they didn't cross the line.
"─Give me time to prepare."
"It's okay, I'll respect that."
Because he knew what she meant.
Eunha didn't try to pry or force her.
Just spending time like this, shoulder to shoulder, was enjoyable.
The two talked about many things.
Among them were stories Eunha couldn't tell, stories he was still reluctant to talk about.
"─I'm sorry I can't tell you."
"It's okay. Whenever you feel like talking, you can tell me then. I will always be on your side, no matter what you say."
"Someday... I'll definitely tell you."
"Then I'll be waiting for that time."
Respect and consideration.
The two embraced each other's hearts and spent the day like that.
From that day on, Han Seohyun's gaze was hotter, warmer, and more affectionate than before.
The same was true for Eunha.
As the two dripped with emotion, the clan members couldn't not notice.
"─Geez. It's really an eyesore... Some people can't even date because they're so busy with work, while others are dating while working?"
"Ah, I want to stab Noh Eunha. Why am I still single..."
In Kim Minji's case, she clicked her tongue saying it was ridiculous.
Bae Subin trembled.
"Dating? I prefer eating, stretching, and fighting over dating!"
"Hoho, it must be nice."
There were also clan members like Jin Parang who weren't interested in dating yet.
In Bong Gurae's case, he watched the two with a fond gaze.
"The Lord loves all people. So please don't be too sad. The Lord loves you all. It's just that He could give a little more attention to the saint who follows His will..."
Lee Iriya kept praying with her hands clasped whenever she saw Eunha.
And she looked at Eunha with desperate eyes, they say.
"I'm sorry, but could you please restrain yourselves a bit in the office?"
After enduring for a while, Shakira finally cautioned them.
""""..."
Some clan members like Ryu Yeonhwa just kept their mouths shut.
Finally, in Jeong Hayang's case─.
"─Eunha."
"Oh, Hayang. What is it?"
She clung to Eunha with a face bright enough to break down his guard and whispered.
"─I'll be expecting too."
"..."
"Seohyun unni's ring was pretty."
With the nuance of not to forget her too.
She spoke to Eunha and then scampered away, they say.
☆
<Iron Fortress> Moon Jun died.
People were in despair.
On the other hand, there were people who saw this situation as an opportunity.
A vacancy opened in the Guardian division of the Twelve Seats.
The Fairy Government will soon select a Twelve Seat to settle this calamity and fill <Iron Fortress>'s empty seat.
Including KK Clan Lord Hwang Sangoon.
People who had been engaging in a war of nerves over who did better or worse in preventing the calamity were implicitly keeping <Iron Fortress>'s seat in mind.
At that time, the first to move among them was the KK Group.
KK Group Chairman Kim Geon attempted to lobby the Fairy Government.
In fact, there was no need to lobby.
Because there was only one person among the Guardian division who was prestigious, skilled, young, and had played a big role in this calamity.
KK Clan's <One-Man Fortress> Chu Yeonghun.
Kim Geon and Hwang Sangoon subtly recommended him to the Fairy.
She, who knew <One-Man Fortress>'s reputation, expressed curiosity, and Hwang Sangoon brought Chu Yeonghun before her on some trivial pretext.
To this, Fairy Lim Gaeul said─.
'─It's not bad. I needed a Guardian with prestige who could support large-scale forces in times of crisis. And I wanted to inject young blood if possible to refresh the political situation.'
'Hahaha! Thank you! I, Chu Yeonghun! Will be of help to the Fairy Lady in the future...'
'However, I'm concerned about Player Chu Yeonghun's affiliation. There's already Player Hwang Sangoon in KK, right?'
''..."
'But it would be a shame not to use Player Chu Yeonghun, who has a decent mask too... I guess I'll have to discuss this with the Twelve Seats and decide.'
Fairy Lim Gaeul's reaction wasn't that bad.
But the problem Lim Gaeul was reluctant about was that selecting Chu Yeonghun as a Twelve Seat might disrupt the balance between the Mana Management Organization and the clans.
This was something Hwang Sangoon had in mind too.
'Yes, it would be good to discuss with the Twelve Seats and decide. I just came with the desire to be of help to the Fairy Lady and not wanting to leave a talented person who couldn't properly realize their ambitions.'
'Fairy Lady, I'm really sorry for visiting so rudely. But I can really do well! Please trust me and entrust me, I would be grateful!'
So Hwang Sangoon didn't strongly object to the Fairy's concerns.
Lim Gaeul saying she would discuss Chu Yeonghun's selection as a Twelve Seat in the Twelve Seats meeting was a positive signal.
He left the office that day feeling he had done well to show Chu Yeonghun to her.
Although Chu Yeonghun's personality is problematic, it's not known publicly.
So it could be said there are no particular disqualifying factors for Chu Yeonghun.
There's only the issue of balance of power between clans.
Chu Yeonghun will be selected as a Twelve Seat.
Hwang Sangoon was certain.
Unlike selecting Twelve Seat candidates, the selection of Twelve Seats was greatly influenced by the Fairy, the Minister of the Mana Management Organization, the five bureau directors under the Minister, and the existing Twelve Seats.
Moreover, only they could participate in that meeting.
Therefore─.
─The reality is that clans where current Twelve Seats are affiliated don't have talents to put forward as good as Chu Yeonghun.
No matter who they put forward, they would inevitably fall short of Chu Yeonghun.
And Donghae Clan in Eunpyeong-gu, Samra Clan in Gwangjin-gu, and other clans with jurisdictions in Gangnam lack the influence to push Guardians recommended from their clans.
For example, let's say Samra Clan wants to recommend a Guardian.
But they, who don't have the qualification to attend the meeting, have to borrow the mouths of those attending the meeting.
In a situation where it's uncertain whether they will recommend that Guardian, even if they do recommend that Guardian, how actively would they support that Guardian?
Compared to that, KK Clan, which has the qualification to attend the meeting, could have an advantage in this situation.
<Iron Fortress>'s vacancy is big.
The Fairy will need someone to replace him somehow.
Even if she considers equal distribution of power between clans, she has to choose someone the public can accept.
Among current Guardians, only Chu Yeonghun can replace <Iron Fortress>.
The Fairy Government was currently focusing on rebuilding Gangbuk.
So they brought the cocoon from Uijeongbu and recently activated the cocoon.
Thus, the Fairy Government put a period on reconstruction, telling people the calamity that swept Gangbuk was now over.
But the period on reconstruction was still lacking one thing.
The Twelve Seats.
To return Gangbuk's public sentiment to normal, they needed to return to before the calamity occurred.
Now that the cocoon was restored, they had to fill the vacancy in the Twelve Seats right away.
"─Then let's start the Twelve Seats selection meeting now."
""""..."
So time passed, and the Twelve Seats selection meeting began and.
While the Twelve Seats' expressions were heavy, only Hwang Sangoon's face was bright.
He raised his hand.
"─Yes, Player Hwang Sangoon."
"I would like to recommend <One-Man Fortress> Chu Yeonghun. As you all know, Player Chu Yeonghun made great contributions to protecting the city by stopping the 3rd tier monster Caesar Hopper in this calamity..."
""""..."
As if they had expected this.
The Twelve Seats groaned.
The players they could recommend were quite limited, as they lacked suitable talents to replace him.
In such a situation, they disagreed among themselves.
Should they push Donghae?
Should they push Samra?
Or should they push a player from a clan with jurisdiction in Gangnam?
Their opinions didn't match.
Compared to that, Hwang Sangoon─.
─Two of the bureau directors attending this meeting have agreed to support KK Group this time.
He didn't lose his composure.
KK Group had made thorough preparations.
KK Group had already secured 3 votes including Hwang Sangoon's.
From the start, there was no proper justification to oppose Chu Yeonghun.
Equal distribution of power between clans.
That was not based on principles, but rather an implicitly established practice.
Who would dare mention an implicitly continued practice in an official meeting to oppose Chu Yeonghun?
Hwang Sangoon was confident of victory.
Right at that moment─.
─Bang
The door suddenly opened.
The people attending the meeting widened their eyes seeing the person who suddenly opened the door and entered.
"Pandora Clan Lord? How did you get in here? We should have prohibited entry to those without permission from outside..."
""""..."
Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eunha.
People frowned seeing his rude behavior.
Lim Gaeul also seemed displeased.
She asked on behalf of them.
Then Noh Eunha answered─.
"─I think I have the qualification to attend this meeting too."
"What?"
"As far as I know, I haven't returned the authority as an interim Twelve Seat yet. Isn't that right?"
""""...!!""""
Noh Eunha answered with a giggle.
At his answer, the people seated in the meeting room stirred greatly.
Hwang Sangoon was also surprised.
Come to think of it, there was such a thing.
I forgot about it while the Pandora Clan Lord left for Uijeongbu right after the calamity ended.
An unexpected situation.
Hwang Sangoon realized his mistake.
But he didn't worry much and waited for the Fairy's answer.
After all, the qualification given to Noh Eunha was just a pretext to command the operation to subjugate Caesar Hopper, and nothing more than to retrieve the cocoon.
Now that all missions were over, the authority should have been revoked long ago.
It's just that everyone forgot while dealing with other matters, and while Noh Eunha was isolated in Uijeongbu.
So if Lim Gaeul has normal thinking, surely─.
"─That's right. Since the authority given to the Pandora Clan Lord is still valid, he can attend this meeting. Yes, come in."
""""...!!""""
"Yes, thank you, Fairy Lady."
"But the Pandora Clan Lord's authority will be suspended after this meeting."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"..."
Contrary to Hwang Sangoon's expectations.
Lim Gaeul readily allowed Noh Eunha's attendance.
─Something is wrong.
At that moment, Hwang Sangoon sensed it.
That the variable called Noh Eunha might disrupt the planned future.
He glared at Noh Eunha.
Meeting his eyes, he bowed his head and greeted.
Pandora Clan Lord...
Hwang Sangoon also responded briefly.
Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eunha.
At first, Hwang Sangoon couldn't have goodwill towards him.
However, Noh Eunha's skills and achievements shown in this calamity were worthy of recognition.
No, they were very impressive.
Because of that, Hwang Sangoon's thoughts changed and he came to have some goodwill towards Noh Eunha.
But that goodwill─.
"I also have someone I'd like to recommend, if that's alright?"
"Yes, go ahead. Pandora Clan Lord."
""""..."
─Crunch
Is about to break again.
Hwang Sangoon glared at him as he confidently raised his hand and received permission to speak from the Fairy.
Noh Eunha opened his mouth.
"─I recommend Guardian <Great Tree> Seon Gijun of Donghae Clan as a Twelve Seat."
It was starting to be likeable, but.
It's really not likeable at all.
Hwang Sangoon gritted his teeth.
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