Chapter 237 (1/2)

Time flowed quickly and it was soon Christmas Eve on the 24th of December, one day before the World Competition. In the meantime, the A.S.L community had been very hot. It was due to the taxes I announced as the lord of Metheus. It attracted a great deal of buzz and the news soon spread across the world. It led Metheus to the point where it was overflowing with users and no more could be received.

Helena was busy increasing the number of shacks because the increase in people meant more money. Still, it was true that too much attention was burdensome. The poor users and NPCs praised me and rumors spread that I had excellent political ability. Expectations for the upcoming World Competition had increased, but today was a very important day for me.

“I’m going.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

“Yes.”

I wore a modest black suit with a black tie, opened the door, and walked out. In front of the house, Park Muyeol was waiting in front of his car while smoking. Once he spotted me, he dropped the cigarette butt at his feet. “Why are you so late?”

“I’m sorry. Let’s go quickly. Dongbaek is waiting.”

“Oh, it’s cold.”

Park Muyeol looked up at the snow-covered sky and quickly sat in the driver’s seat. Naturally, I got into the passenger seat next to him and Park Muyeol started driving his luxury sedan. The start was stable so it seemed to be a pretty good car.

There was a small memorial park located near Seoul.

“I think it is always cold here,” Park Muyeol spoke while exhaling a cold breath.

“It is because we only come in winter.”

“Ah, is that so?”

We stepped into the columbarium. I always felt that this place, where countless souls slept, had a quiet atmosphere. There were those quietly weeping in front of the remains of the deceased while others stood by silently and just watched. I walked and walked with the strange thought that I might be ashes sooner or later.

Park Muyeol also walked silently.

“Looking at this when I’m 70 years old, I feel...”

“......?”

I turned my head slightly toward him.

“I feel like I’m crawling into the coffin these days.”

I laughed as I listened to him. Who didn’t feel like this?

“I don’t think it is time for us to meet Dongbaek just yet.”

Kim Dongbaek—the identity of the ashes in the urn we were looking for—was an early friend of Park Muyeol and I, and the three of us founded Legless Bird together. He was an orphan like me, so the three of us were close enough to give up our souls for each other. We were like family in those days.

“We’re here.”

In front of me, Park Muyeol stopped walking and I also stopped. We had been coming here for almost 35 years so we could quickly find the familiar urn containing the ashes we were looking for.

-Kim Dongbaek is sleeping here.

I looked at it and was filled with a strange emotion. Today reminded me of the day he died. Snow had poured down just like today. It was an unforgettable Christmas Eve.

* * *

35 years ago, at a closed factory in Incheon...

There, a young man dressed in a fedora, suit and shoes walked in. His name was Choi Chuntaek. It was the name of the man who was praised as a hero among merchants after he established a group called Legless Bird to protect the merchants and the weak.

“Welcome. Are you the brat who has been nicknamed Legless Bird?”

Choi Chuntaek gazed at the place in the darkness where the voice was heard. There, a large middle-aged man was walking. He walked through the path created by the group splitting to two sides and gave off the unique demeanor of a leader.

Choi Chuntaek murmured, “...Fire Bear.”

“You should put the word ‘sunbae’ in after it. It seems you still haven’t figured out the situation.”

Park Hwan, who was nicknamed Fire Bear, flicked his fingers and his subordinates dragged something over. It was a woman on a wheeled chair, tied with ropes and with tape over her mouth. It was the appearance of Choi Chuntaek’s lover, Yoo Seonyeong.

“Seonyeong!”

“Oof! Ooof!” Yoo Seonyeong struggled, but the ropes didn’t loosen easily. Seeing Park Hwan’s gesture, the subordinates understood and took off the tape from her mouth. “Chuntaek-ssi!”

“Seonyeong, are you okay? You aren’t hurt anywhere?” Choi Chuntaek asked her in a desperate voice.

The reason he was here now was because he was informed that Park Hwan of the Fire Bear Group had kidnapped Yoo Seonyeong. Park Hwan threatened to kill her if Choi Chuntaek didn’t come alone and he was forced to obey.

“Then let’s call it a day for the reunion...”

Park Hwan gestured again and his subordinate covered up Seonyeong’s mouth.

“Oof..! Let me go! Let go! Chuntaek-ssi...! Oof...! Oof!” Yoo Seonyeong disappeared into the darkness again with these screams.

Choi Chuntaek gritted his teeth as he stared after her. “...Fire Bear, release her.”

“Shit. The one asking for something should be polite. Doesn’t it depend on what you do?”

“What difference does it make?”

“Who knows? At least when you die... Guys!”

The members of the Fire Bear Group surrounded him at Park Hwan’s cry. After seeing the movement, Choi Chuntaek maintained his tension and was ready to kick at any time.

Park Hwan opened his mouth, “...That is a good posture. There are no gaps. Should I check the reputation of the Legless Bird? Attack!”