Chapter 356. A Hero In Paradise, But on Earth… (1) (1/2)

Kim Hannah sharpened her mind as Jang Maldong stared down at her coldly.

The smile on her face disappeared, and she instantly became expressionless.

She stood tall and clenched her teeth as she stared at the enraged Jang Maldong.

Just as Jang Maldong was about to take her silence as an affirmation, Kim Hannah spoke up.

“That’s… a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes. I know what you are trying to say, but you’re mistaken.”

Kim Hannah said firmly and straightforwardly.

Jang Maldong scoffed.

“I did not think you were so incompetent, Miss Kim Hannah.”

“I appreciate your compliment, but…”

“Of course, Seol Jihu is the one who spent the money carelessly. But was it so hard to give him a word of advice? That he should take only a little bit home at a time because his family might get suspicious?”

“That’s—”

“Fine. Let us suppose you did not know Jihu would act so thoughtlessly. Right, you might feel that you’re being unfairly accused. But I want to know. This incident worsened Jihu’s already bad relationship with his family, so what was the reason that you forced him to visit them with wine?”

“I admit that the way I approached the problem was wrong. But—”

“Yes, it was wrong. It was very wrong. But that isn’t what I am asking.”

Jang Maldong said in a seething voice.

There was a reason he was pressing her so much.

The most important step in resolving a problem was the way it was handled initially.

In a way, the problem with Seol Jihu’s relationship with his family could have been solved smoothly. Even if it wouldn’t have been easy, it at least could have improved to a much better state than it currently was.

But because Seol Jihu took the wrong first step, his family relationship had deteriorated to an almost irreversible state.

Examining why it became so bad, the cause could be found in Kim Hannah’s intervention.

Of course, she might be innocent.

But Jang Maldong had to suspect her at least a little bit because he knew how meticulous she usually was.

That perhaps, Kim Hannah had led the situation to worsen with some purpose…

“At the time, I thought that was for the best.”

Kim Hannah spoke at that moment.

“Do you remember the Delphinion Duchy Laboratory incident?”

Jang Maldong raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of a past event.

He certainly knew about the incident but could not understand why she was bringing it up.

“It wasn’t just that incident, actually. The Forest of Denial expedition, the Arden Valley Baiting operation, the Delphinion Laboratory Infiltration mission… Jihu constantly put himself in situations of extreme danger that other low-leveled Earthlings would not even think of. Without even telling me, his Inviter.”

Kim Hannah’s voice was calm and collected as she recounted the past, and she continued with a firm voice.

“It might have been a coincidence the first or the second time. But when the same thing happens a third time, it can no longer be a coincidence. While adapting to the unfamiliar environment quickly, Jihu was falling into Paradise quicker than anyone else. From all the way back then.”

“So you’re saying you did what you did because you were afraid of his Paradise addiction?”

“Because what I feared became a reality.”

Kim Hannah smacked her lips and answered.

“I told him over and over again that Paradise was not where he belonged, but he didn’t listen. In fact, whenever he went back to Earth, he looked like he wanted to return to Paradise as quickly as possible.”

Kim Hannah sighed.

“It was complicated. Jihu acted carelessly and escalated the severity of the problem, but then he avoided the problem and tried to go back to Paradise… I judged that his relationship with his family would become irreparable if left alone, so I made him visit them using the wedding anniversary as an excuse. Because at the time, his family was the only place on Earth where he might find peace.”

Jang Maldong flashed his eyes glaringly but still listened silently.

“You might think it was too hasty, Master Jang, but Jihu did not show any withdrawal symptoms that addicts often experience. He didn’t even mention anything about gambling after experiencing everything he went through in Paradise. It was as if he was never a gambling addict to begin with…”

Kim Hannah was saying that the rate at which Seol Jihu got addicted to Paradise was beyond anyone’s imagination.

“Jihu was reluctant to leave once he entered Paradise. I did think that it would be better if he took the time to get closer to his family, but that conflicted with him hurriedly needing a place of rest on Earth. In the end, I decided it was better for him to meet his family rather than growing farther apart.”

“….”

“Of course, I admit that I was too hasty. That was my mistake.”

“I see what you’re saying.”

Jang Maldong raised his chin and looked down at Kim Hannah.

“But am I wrong in thinking that you are trying to package what happened in your favor?”

“Master Jang.”

“Even a monkey can fall from a tree, but Miss Foxy making a mistake? I find that too hard to believe on its own.”

“I am human too. I’m not saying what I did was right, but I can’t be perfect all the time. Otherwise, I would still be holding onto my position in Sinyoung rather than being in this place right now.”

Kim Hannah smiled faintly.

“Looking back, I’ve always made mistakes when it came to Jihu.”

She cleared her throat and continued.

“If I may reveal my honest thoughts… you’re right. I tried to control Jihu.”

“Control?”

“Don’t think too badly of it. The Jihu from back then had a slew of problems both in Paradise and on Earth.”

Kim Hannah continued.

“I know that the current Jihu has accomplished great things that make him comparable to the legends of Paradise. But if you set them aside and only look at him as just another person, Jihu is the type of guy who needs a meticulous producer. I’m sure you understand what I mean as his master.”

Then, Kim Hannah smiled bitterly.

“But… Jihu couldn’t be controlled.”

“….”

“I felt it in my gut the first day we came to Eva. That Jihu could not be controlled. My mistake was in realizing this too late.”

Kim Hannah let loose a deep sigh. Jang Maldong didn’t say anything. He simply kept Kim Hannah bound to the same spot with a silent gaze.

“…I’m sure you know.”

Jang Maldong spoke up after a moment of silence.

“But I cannot see you, Miss Kim Hannah, in a good way.”

“Yes, I‘ve had the feeling that you do not like me.”

“I’m sure you know why. When you allied with the Triads and acted without saying a word to Jihu, I didn’t say anything because I knew it was for his own good… But I’ve always felt uncomfortable about it.”

“I understand. There are other members that hate me for that matter as well. I did it, fully aware of the consequences.”

“Yes. I know what you’ve done for Jihu so far, and so I’ll overlook the matter with his family as something that you judged to be in his best interest. But know that this will be the last time.”

Jang Maldong emphasized that there would not be a next time.

That this was his bottom line and he would not sit still if she tried to interfere again.

Kim Hannah was no fool, and she quickly understood his intention.

“If you want to prove your innocence, you will have to show me through your actions. Especially when it comes to the matter regarding Jihu’s family.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Jihu already told me last time that he would take care of it on his own. I agreed with him as well.”

“I hope you take responsibility for those words.”

That was all.

Jang Maldong took his eyes off Kim Hannah once she gave the affirmation that she took her hands off of Seol Jihu’s family matter.

He turned around and continued walking.

He had mixed feelings all the way until he arrived at the Valhalla building.

Seol Jihu was the only thing on his mind.

It was then.

Jang Maldong caught sight of someone as he went inside while still deep in thought.

Phi Sora was sitting in the lounge area, eating a sherbet.

An idea must have sparked inside Jang Maldong’s head at that moment as he suddenly raised his voice.

“Sora!”

“Whadda what!?”

When he suddenly shouted, the joyously humming Phi Sora threw the spoon in her hand in a startle.

She turned to the side, furrowed her brows, and spat out a breath.

“Grandpa?”

“Come here for a bit.”

“Why’d you shout!? You scared the living crap out of me!”

“Since when were you so easily scared? Anyway, get over here! I need to tell you something.”

“Ugh, I was in such a good mood too… What annoying job is he gonna make me do this time…”

Phi Sora grumbled, but still got up obediently and followed Jang Maldong.

“So, what is it?”

“Do me a favor.”

“A favor? You? From me?”

“Listen up.”

Jang Maldong explained slowly, and Phi Sora couldn’t hide her shock.

“W-What?”

“Do you think you can do it?”

“Well, it’s not like I can’t… but why me?”

Phi Sora was about to protest when she saw Jang Maldong’s heated gaze and shut her mouth.

“…Argh, dammit! But I fought with that son of a bitch!”

Phi Sora scratched her head and scowled.

*

Seol Jihu got up from bed rather late the next morning.

He couldn’t sleep all night.

What Jang Maldong said to him kept lingering on his mind.

He couldn’t help but have immature thoughts like ‘but we won the war’ or ‘I worked harder than anyone else’. But Seol Jihu eventually shook off these thoughts.

Jang Maldong had taught him selflessly until now, and what he said wasn’t really wrong either.

Regardless, a day had already gone by, and he had to return to Earth by the end of it.

“…Man!”

Sighing, Seol Jihu climbed up the stairs when he suddenly caught sight of a beautiful, red-haired woman coming down.

Coincidentally, their eyes met.

“Uh….”

The woman’s eyes widened.

A faint smile spread across Seol Jihu’s face.

Just looking at Phi Sora cheered him up a bit.

He was feeling a little down, and now he had the perfect person to prank.

Of course, Phi Sora reacted in a completely different way. She immediately furrowed her brows and scowled. And just as she attempted to assume indifference and walk past him, Seol Jihu clung onto her.

“Miss Phi Sora~”

“Screw off.”

“Eii, Madam Phi, why are you so angry~?”

“I told you to screw off.”

Phi Sora shot back in a sharp tone.

However, Seol Jihu didn’t back down.

Squeeze, squeeze.

He skillfully massaged Phi Sora’s shoulders and fawned over her.

“Stop! Where do you think you’re touching? Get your hands off me this instant!”

“Eii, what are you sulking for? So petty.”

“What was that?”

“Now, now, have you had breakfast? You haven’t, right? Let’s go.”

He grabbed Phi Sora’s hand and pulled her up the stairs.

Phi Sora went with him, pretending to give in. Seol Jihu had come to her just when she was wondering how she should strike up a conversation with him.

They arrived on the tenth floor.

Because it was time for breakfast, several people were already sitting together, chatting away noisily.

Seol Jihu brought Phi Sora to a seat, then went straight to the kitchen.

Shortly afterward, he walked out with a plate.

A bowl of steaming ramen was placed on the table.

Seol Jihu then placed a small plate of kimchi and a bowl of white rice, finishing the Seol Jihu Ramen Special.

Phi Sora was taken aback.