# 051. Day and Night (5)
The weather was getting closer to summer, but the indoor space suddenly cooled as if winter had arrived.
Jaehee looked at Jeongwoo in shock. Jeongwoo had stood up and placed his hands on the dining table, where something like white frost was rising from them. The white frost instantly froze the table and began flowing downward, freezing the floor.
“W-what is this!”
“Guild Master! Protect the Guild Master!”
Men who had been standing at the back of the hall rushed forward. These uniformly well-built men immediately surrounded Lee Shinhoo in a protective formation. All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Jaehee was startled by both Guild Sahae’s swift response and Jeongwoo’s ability. Just what kind of powers did Jeongwoo possess, and how many? He was like an onion with endless layers. Jeongwoo’s hands remained on the table, with white smoke-like vapor continuing to rise from them, adding to the chill in the air. With abilities like Jeongwoo’s, truly no one would doubt if he claimed to be a Whisperer rather than Zero. No, among the Whisperers, would there even be anyone capable of demonstrating abilities like Jeongwoo’s?
Though the men had drawn their swords and pointed them at Jeongwoo, Jaehee wasn’t particularly worried for him. Rather, he was bewildered at how what had seemed like a pleasant dinner atmosphere had suddenly turned into this.
While Jaehee was lost in these thoughts, the standoff between Jeongwoo and Lee Shinhoo continued. Amid all this, Jeongwoo subtly pulled Jaehee behind him.
“Hmm, placing guards even while dining with kids like us. Being a Guild Master must come with many dangers? Or perhaps you lack confidence in your own abilities? Ah, is that why you became a Guild Master? To have an escort like this? Though judging by skill, the Guild Master should be the one protecting these guys.”
Despite the numerous swords pointed at him, Jeongwoo wasn’t tense at all but casually made sarcastic remarks.
Though Jeongwoo’s words were enough to provoke anger, those surrounding Lee Shinhoo didn’t show any reaction. Jaehee inwardly thought that was more impressive.
Jeongwoo had single-handedly cut down Ouroboros and could even match a Constellation’s avatar. In reality, several ordinary Awakened Ones couldn’t do much against him.
“Come on, Jeongwoo. Let’s stop. Let’s stop, okay? Guild Master, please say something too. It seems like we just had a misunderstanding while talking. I don’t know how a visit meant to express our gratitude turned into this. Everyone, please lower your swords.”
“Hmm, it’s fine. Those blind swords would be hard to get hit by even if you tried. Must feel good to be protected by such children, Guild Master. I suppose this is how Guild Sahae treats its guests.”
After listening to Jeongwoo’s sarcastic remarks, Lee Shinhoo snickered and raised his hand. At this signal, his bodyguards simultaneously sheathed their swords and stepped back. Their movements were so fast and disciplined that they resembled a royal guard protecting their king.
With such a royal guard-like organization in place, yet he claims he can’t be king because he’s Zero? Did that mean he wanted to be king but couldn’t, or that he had no interest in being king?
It might be inappropriate to say, but Lee Shinhoo already looked like the king of Guild Sahae, regardless of whether he was a Royal Road or not.
“Jeongwoo-ssi is interesting. Join us like this occasionally. It would be nice to see the young ones playing together.”
Lee Shinhoo had returned to his calm tone as if nothing had happened. Jeongwoo also stepped back.
With that, the frozen ice began to melt. The air instantly became humid, and water pooled heavily on the floor. The once soft carpet was soaked beyond salvation.
But no one seemed to care.
“Guild Master Lee Shinhoo. Thank you for inviting us. Today, seeing Guild Sahae has broadened my knowledge in many ways.”
Jeongwoo also returned to his initial polite tone. If not for the soaking wet carpet, it would be hard to believe there had just been a confrontation.
“By the way, Guild Master. Have you heard about the Doomsday Cult at the Daejeon Station dungeon?”
Jeongwoo smiled as he looked at Lee Shinhoo. Lee Shinhoo’s thick eyebrows twitched briefly, but he maintained the smile on his lips.
“This guy named Kim Shin from the Doomsday Cult betrayed humanity by joining hands with a Constellation, specifically the Demon King. If Jaehee hadn’t uncovered the details, the Daejeon Station dungeon would have been impossible to clear. Isn’t it remarkable how he planned to sacrifice other humans to expand the Demon King’s influence while living comfortably himself? There are truly all sorts of people in this world. Who could have imagined humans betraying and selling out their own kind? If not for the Doomsday Cult, the Daejeon Station dungeon would have been cleared much earlier without much difficulty.”
Jeongwoo paused to catch his breath and stared at Lee Shinhoo. An inexplicable tension flowed between the two.
“People can make mistakes in life. But allying with a Constellation to sell out humanity isn’t a mere mistake, is it? I’m just amazed that I’ve lived under the same sky as such a person.”
“I see.”
Lee Shinhoo didn’t respond at length to Jeongwoo’s words. He still wore a smile, but it seemed somewhat stiff.
As Jeongwoo walked out holding Jaehee’s hand, he suddenly turned to look back at Lee Shinhoo.
“Guild Master, people should know their place. Everyone has a predetermined position, don’t they? When you desperately desire something not permitted to you, problems arise. And don’t trust the Constellations too much. Constellations can’t think like humans. I’m saying this genuinely for your sake. Just stay where you are. Be content with what you already have. You already possess so much, don’t you? Don’t be greedy for more.”
Lee Shinhoo’s smiling face broke at Jeongwoo’s final words, but Jeongwoo paid no attention.
He simply walked out of the room holding Jaehee’s hand.
When they had entered, they were warmly guided by Lee Shinhoo, but now the atmosphere was cold. There were several Guild Sahae members in the building, but they only glanced cautiously without intervening.
“Ah, I’m hungry.”
Jaehee widened his eyes when he heard Jeongwoo whisper in the descending elevator.
“Hey…! You just ruined a meal and you’re saying you’re hungry? What happened back there anyway? Suddenly the atmosphere became so hostile. I was only trying to thank him for Yeong-i’s matter, and I couldn’t make sense of it. Hey! Woo Jeongwoo! Are you not going to answer me?”
“Ah! We’re here, let’s get out. I found out there’s a good restaurant still open nearby. It’s a sushi place, and it’s supposed to be really delicious. Let’s go there. Or would you prefer tteokbokki?”
Jeongwoo spoke rapidly, giving Jaehee no chance to interject, then grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
“Hey! You’re trying to avoid the subject again! I won’t let this slide when we get home. And what was that earlier? Magic?”
“Hm?”
“That thing where you froze the table. How do you do that? And why did you do it?”
“That’s magic. Just didn’t want to clean up the mess. No one got hurt, and it’s just troublesome magic to deal with afterward.”
“Ha…! That’s so like you. But how do you do such magic? Are you actually a Whisperer and not Zero? Teach me too! I want to do that kind of magic too. Hey! But where are we going now?”
“I told you I’m hungry! Let’s go eat sushi first!”
As Jaehee bombarded him with nagging, Jeongwoo’s pace quickened. Yet he still held Jaehee’s hand firmly.
Exiting the Guild Sahae building, it was early afternoon, just after lunchtime. The weather was now too warm for spring, and several people were seen wearing short sleeves. Everyone was bustling about with their own affairs.
The sunlight was warm, and the streets were peaceful. As if not much had changed compared to recent times.
Though many people had left Seoul, it was gradually recovering now.
It was because of the Kings. As it became known that Kings had the ability to protect their subjects from monsters or any danger, people eagerly sought to become subjects. Simultaneously, companies and society were gradually finding stability.
