47 Episode 47 - This is My Territory, Part II (1/2)
Chapter 17. This is My Territory, Part II
Translator: Khan
Editor: RED
3.
”D-Day is tomorrow.”
Everything went very fast. They couldn't afford to not put their heart and soul into it when the monsters were already moving.
”Don't forget secrecy.” Of course, they didn't forget the warning, though they couldn't afford it.
”The fact that there is a green-grade monster in particular, and that it might come to Bucheon, should not be discussed with the other survivors.”
Not long ago, all the survivors of Bucheon City lived in fear of the Black Snake.
If it was known that there was a green-grade monster in such a situation, it was clear that not a few of the survivors would panic. Panic-stricken humans would be involved in accidents.
When the meeting ended with Jang Sung-hoon's words emphasizing secrecy, Kim Tae-hoon called over Bang Hyun-wook.
”Bang Hyun-wook, come to the conference room.”
4.
”Why did you call me, big brother?” Bang Hyun-wook asked, as soon as he returned to the meeting room of the budget committee of the Bucheon City Council.
”Why didn't you say a word at the meeting?” A question was given instead of answers. Bang Hyun-wook smiled awkwardly at the question.
”Is there anything I could say? I just have to do what I'm told.”
”Do you think you're going to be left behind?”
At the words, the awkward smile around Bang's mouth disappeared.
”Bang Hyun-wook was supposed to be the right-hand man of Kim Tae-hoon, but now do you feel like you are not even a finger. Does it bother you?”
At this moment, Bang Hyun-wook thought of himself saying, 'Nah, what is that? You speak nonsense…'
However, Bang did not show what he thought, but his face got harder. He looked like he had been stabbed deep inside.
”Is it that obvious?” he finally admitted.
”A man, who used to compete with others throughout his school years to become a professional baseball player, does not change easily, even when monsters have appeared.”
Rather early, Kim Tae-hoon noticed a change in the way Bang Hyun-wook looked at him. His behavior was different.
At first, Bang Hyun-wook looked like a puppy waiting for an order. He was afraid of monsters, but on the one hand, he was pleased about the fact that he had the power to kill them.
At the same time, he was proud of being a partner who could help Kim Tae-hoon fight, as well as the incidental things that arose from it… like the satisfaction of the snobbery, such as the surrounding gaze and treatment.
However, recently, Bang Hyun-wook was not happy. He watched Kim Tae-hoon fight without saying anything, and the gaze he had was dead.
Furthermore, such his mind was showed as a result. The brave spirit he had shown to the monsters had disappeared.
”But I don't want to pat you on the shoulders. I don't have that personality, and I've never done it.”
”I know that.”
”I don't even think I can allow you to be like a dog with an inferiority complex.” It was why he called Bang Hyun-wook over separately.
”That's…”
What Kim Tae-hoon needed was the combat power that Bang Hyun-wook had shown.
He needed the Bang Hyun-wook who ran against monsters with at brave spirit and could sometimes even joke on the battlefield. He did not need the Bang Hyun-wook who only looked like a dog with an inferiority complex.
”Be a dog with an inferiority complex or a hunting dog. The choice is yours.”
At the words of Kim Tae-hoon, Bang Hyun-wook said, gritting his teeth tightly, ”I'll be a hunting dog.”
His eyes began to glow again.
5.
”You seem to really care about Hyun-wook.”
It was Jang Sung-hoon who came to Kim Tae-hoon after he left the conference room and was alone again.
”At least, he is not one who worries whether it is good to betray me or not, or whether he could replace me.”
”Yes, Hyun-wook is not the type to plot. If he had been a plotter, he wouldn't have fidgeted in front of the boss to save his first love. However, his romance progress is very slow. As I see it, he could get married tomorrow morning if he just confessed his love to her.”
Jang Sung-hoon sighed briefly while talking.
”… are you not going to tell others about your second dream?”
Kim Tae-hoon had not told anyone about his second dream, except for Jang Sung-hoon.
It was not because he more believed Jang Sung-hoon and he less believed the rest.
It was a difference of will if he bothered to explain.
Kim Tae-hoon was the hope and savior of everyone here. Therefore, his death would be hard for himself, but also hard for those who trusted and followed him.
”I won't have a better solution, even if I talk about it.”
In a world where it was hard to even live, he didn't want to put a bigger burden on them.
Most of all, the clear interpretation of the dream was not done yet.
”Jang Sung Hoon.”
”If you have any questions, just ask me without having to sugarcoat them, or a humble attitude, calling my name.”
”Guess why I died.”
On that question, Jang Sung-hoon immediately gave his opinion instead of hesitating.
”I'm guessing the boss was killed by an Awakener.”
Kim Tae-hoon nodded. He was of the same opinion. He didn't know what injuries he had suffered or why he died in his second dream.
But there was a clue.
”When sister Sun-mi tried to cure the boss, she was not involved in the fight, and it's unlikely that monsters have a virtue of ignoring other humans and targeting the Boss. Virtue is something that goes between people, isn't it?”
When Kim died, he saw Ahn Sun-mi once. Her hair was longer than it was now, and she was not involved in combat and did not have major injuries.
That meant she was excluded from the battle.
But there was no reason for a monster to leave her alone. If she had been excluded, something would have been limited in the battle.
”If I look at it very simply, you're weak, and you're dead.”