Chapter 220

Chapter 220. Gypsophila (3)

Gi-Gyu became excited when Old Man Hwang told him “she” was here.

Was it Soo-Jung?

Without hearing the details from Old Man Hwang, he immediately left the Tower to return to Eden. Unfortunately, when he arrived, he realized the woman waiting for him wasn’t Soo-Jung.

“What’s with the face? Disappointed it’s me?” asked the woman.

“No, not at all,” replied Gi-Gyu.

Gi-Gyu smiled bitterly and greeted, “It’s nice to see you again. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Standing before him was Lim Hye-Sook, the Gypsophila Guild’s advisor and one of the very first high rankers. Gi-Gyu wasn’t disappointed by her arrival because he also wanted to meet with her.

And…

Gi-Gyu knelt and patted a boy’s head as he greeted, “Min-Su, it looks like you’ve been well. I’m glad.”

“Hyung, I missed you!” Min-Su, Old Man Hwang’s grandson and the greatest future blacksmith, had arrived here with Lim Hye-Sook.

Min-Su shyly stared at the man standing behind Gi-Gyu.

Old Man Hwang’s eyes met Min-Su’s, and he walked up to Min-Su, who began tearing up.

Min-Su stammered, “G-Grandpa…”

Old Man Hwang ran toward Min-Su and hugged him tightly. Not more than five minutes after Gi-Gyu had received the report, he was here. So, the blacksmith was also meeting the guests for the first time.

“Grandpa…” Min-Su continued to sob. Everyone watched the heartfelt reunion quietly. No one had the right or the reason to interrupt such a happy moment.

Old Man Hwang couldn’t stop crying either. He whispered, “I’m so relieved… I’m so relieved that you were safe, Min-Su.”

Old Man Hwang finally calmed down after a while and turned toward Lim Hye-Sook. He thanked her, “Thank you so much, Hye-Sook noona[1]. Thank you for keeping my Min-Su safe.”

“…?”

“…?”

Everyone became speechless, including Gi-Gyu. They couldn’t believe that the elderly blacksmith had just called Lim Hye-Sook “noona.”

***

Gi-Gyu never knew that Old Man Hwang and Lim Hye-Sook were acquaintances.

And…

‘Did he really call her noona?’ Gi-Gyu thought, dazed. He never expected Old Man Hwang to address anyone as “noona.” He could see how Lim Hye-Sook could be older than the blacksmith; what actually shocked him was Old Man Hwang's usage of the cute and familiar term. This wasn’t anything important, yet Gi-Gyu still couldn’t help feeling confused.

Lim Hye-Sook appeared from behind Gi-Gyu and asked, “What are you thinking about so hard?”

“I-it’s nothing,” Gi-Gyu stuttered. After their brief meeting earlier, Gi-Gyu had arranged a place inside Eden for her to stay.

Gi-Gyu studied Lim Hye-Sook carefully. There was an odd imbalance between her face and body. She looked unnatural and exhausted.

Lim Hye-Sook had battled and lost to Ha Song-Su just like the others. She had been in hiding ever since. Gi-Gyu suspected that being on the run didn’t give her time to rest, so he arranged a place for her to stay.

“Thank you so much. I thought I was really going to die,” Lim Hye-Sook said, proving Gi-Gyu’s assumption correct. Lim Hye-Sook looked much better now. She sat down on the sofa opposite Gi-Gyu.

Gi-Gyu asked, “So you’ve met Mr. Hwang before?”

At the moment, Old Man Hwang and Min-Su were spending some quality time together. Gi-Gyu wanted to talk to the grandfather-grandson duo too, but he knew it would have to wait.

Gi-Gyu wondered, ‘I wonder if Min-Su has met his father yet.’

Hwang Chae-Il, Min-Su’s father and Old Man Hwang’s son, was also in Eden. In the past, Old Man Hwang and Gi-Gyu had contemplated when, if at all, Min-Su should be reunited with his father.

Gi-Gyu couldn’t be distracted right now, as he had to focus on what Lim Hye-Sook had to say.

“Yes, we had a brief encounter a very long time ago. You can hear the details from him later,” Lim Hye-Sook answered.

“All right. So… How have you been?” asked Gi-Gyu. There were so many questions he wanted to ask this woman. But, if Lim Hye-Sook answered this one question he had asked, he knew he would get all the answers he was looking for.

Where did she stay after battling Ha Song-Su?

Where were the others who fought with her?

What had she been doing all this time?

And…

‘How did she get here?’ Gi-Gyu wondered. Did she come to the Bukhan River gate because she knew Gi-Gyu was here?

If not…

‘It’s possible someone told her about it.’ Gi-Gyu thought. If this were the case, there was a chance others might be on their way here too. This also meant that his enemies might know of Eden.

This was perfect because it was exactly what Gi-Gyu wanted.

Lim Hye-Sook muttered, “I can see you have many questions. Well, I suppose it makes sense. But unfortunately, there is a problem.”

Lim Hye-Sook gave Gi-Gyu a bitter smile as she added, “I am too old, and I don’t have much time to talk with you.”

“Pardon?” Gi-Gyu became confused. Lim Hye-Sook was an old woman, and she looked her age now. But Gi-Gyu had seen her in her much younger and beautiful body.

“Were you wounded?” asked Gi-Gyu.

“Yes, I was. But before that, there is a favor I need to ask.” Lim Hye-Sook looked tired.

Gi-Gyu observed her face. It was apparent she wanted something from him.

Lim Hye-Sook offered, “And even before that, let me give you the answer you are dying to know. I came here because someone told me about you and this place.”

Gi-Gyu’s eyes glowed. This was exactly what he wanted to hear. He asked hurriedly, “Who told you?”

Was it Tae-Shik? Suk-Woo? Soo-Jung…?

Lim Hye-Sook smiled as if she could read Gi-Gyu’s thoughts. She replied, “It was Lucifer. I’m talking about Soo-Jung.”

Gi-Gyu’s eyes widened. So Soo-Jung knew where he was. This had to mean she was on her way here too.

“Where is she right now? Is she safe?” Gi-Gyu asked in a panic.

Unexpectedly, Lim Hye-Sook behaved like a mute, refusing to answer and only staring at him.

“…”

Lim Hye-Sook had been helping Gi-Gyu since the moment they had met. Therefore, her silence had to mean her favor was something serious.

“Please tell me what you want,” Gi-Gyu offered. In the past, Lim Hye-Sook had given him a lot of information. And she promised him more, especially about his father, once he had crossed the 50th floor.

Lim Hye-Sook replied, “If you do me this favor, I will tell you everything you want to know. And of course… I will continue to side with you. So I’m begging you… Please.”

Desperation appeared on her face as she whispered with quivering lips, “Save Yoo-Bin.”

Gi-Gyu’s eyes widened in shock.

***

Gi-Gyu had searched for the Gypsophila Guild after creating Eden, but he learned that this guild had disappeared completely. At the time, he had assumed that the Gypsophila Guild and Lim Hye-Sook hid together as a group.

But it appeared that he had been very wrong.

Lim Hye-Sook explained, “The Caravan Guild captured Yoo-Bin and the entire Gypsophila Guild.”

Gi-Gyu couldn’t believe his ears.

Lim Hye-Sook continued, “Even while I was in hiding, I had been searching for her. I tried my best to rescue her, and I did manage to save a few of the guild members.”

Just as Gi-Gyu had suspected, Lim Hye-Sook was strong. She was one of the very first high rankers, so that made sense; sadly, that wasn’t enough to rescue Yoo-Bin.

Lim Hye-Sook added, “As you might have guessed, Yoo-Bin is still missing. I have failed her. I never recovered completely from fighting Ha Song-Su… And that fight happened not too long after I helped you cover your seal…”

Lim Hye-Sook was suggesting that this was partly Gi-Gyu’s responsibility.

“Just where is she right now?” Gi-Gyu asked in frustration. No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t think why Lim Hye-Sook would beseech him like this. All she had to do was ask. Why such fervor and urgency?

Why was Lim Hye-Sook stalling and making Gi-Gyu feel guilty?

‘It has to be because rescuing Yoo-Bin might cost me my life.’ Gi-Gyu realized that this would be a risky mission. He had to maintain his peak right now, both physically and mentally. Lim Hye-Sook had to know this, which was why she tried negotiating with him.

Lim Hye-Sook shook her head and answered, “Where she is isn’t important. I already know that. The problem is…”

Her hands shook as she continued, “Who she’s with. At the moment, Yoo-Bin is with…”

Lim Hye-Sook couldn’t finish her sentence.

But, Gi-Gyu was ready to move. He stood and announced, “All I needed to know was that the Caravan Guild captured her. This means time isn’t on our side.”

“W-what?”

“I’ll go.” Gi-Gyu promptly said to Lim Hye-Sook. “I’ll go rescue Yoo-Bin. I can hear about the rest later. But I’ll ask you one thing.”

Lim Hye-Sook nodded in confusion. She didn’t expect Gi-Gyu to agree to it this easily, especially because she thought she knew him.

Gi-Gyu asked, “Is she with Ha Song-Su?”

Lim Hye-Sook shook her head.

***

Old Man Hwang mumbled, “I guess we’re going to be busy.”

Gi-Gyu nodded. It appeared that they wouldn’t get time to rest any time soon. He replied, “Well, we knew this wouldn’t be an easy journey from the beginning. Resting is a luxury I can’t afford right now.”

Old Man Hwang seemed satisfied with Gi-Gyu’s answer.

Eden has become hectic lately because their first battle had been scheduled. This was their first official campaign since Gi-Gyu had declared the Bukhan River his landmark. However, this campaign wouldn’t involve all the soldiers of Eden, as this mission had to be carried out quickly and discreetly.

‘If Ha Song-Su shows up again, it will get ugly.’ Gi-Gyu thought in concern. He still didn’t know why Ha Song-Su had let him live. But Gi-Gyu knew one thing: He probably wouldn’t be this lucky the next time.

Suffice to say, Gi-Gyu still wasn’t ready to face Ha Song-Su.

“But…” There had to be a reason behind Ha Song-Su’s action. So, there was a possibility that the same reason could help Gi-Gyu escape another encounter alive. Was it a gamble? Yes. But based on what he had heard from Lim Hye-Sook, Gi-Gyu felt it was worth a try.

Old Man Hwang held Gi-Gyu’s hands and murmured, “All right. Let’s get this done.”

Gi-Gyu could feel the warmth from Old Man Hwang’s hands.

The blacksmith continued, “Hye-Sook noona… I owe her a lot. I know it’s not fair to ask this of you, but I’m begging you. Please help her. Hye-Sook noona saved Min-Su too.”

“Please don’t worry,” Gi-Gyu replied while stretching. He didn't need to do this because his body was always ready to fight. But he felt better doing it.

Gi-Gyu added, “I owe a great deal to Yoo-Bin, Advisor Lim Hye-Sook, and you, Sir.”

Paying debts he owed was something Gi-Gyu strongly believed in. This was one of the things that made him human.

And…

“This isn’t just about paying my debt,” Gi-Gyu continued. He had heard where Yoo-Bin was and what she was doing; he felt certain he needed to rescue her.

“Greetings to the Grandmaster,” a deep, loyal voice beside Gi-Gyu announced.

The familiar death knight was wielding a long halberd and wearing a black cloak. “We are ready.”

***

While Gi-Gyu was busy preparing his rescue plan, a woman appeared at the Incheon International Airport. She muttered, “Ugh! Why did we have to take a plane? This is so annoying!”

She was beautiful, but there was something very vague about her face. This was thanks to her cognitive impairment magic that prevented others from noticing her.

With a similar vague look, the man beside her replied, “It’s still too dangerous to travel through the Tower.”

One difference was the distinct glow in his eyes behind the round-framed glasses.

The woman ordered, “Baal, let’s get going. I can’t wait to see my pupil’s face!”

Lucifer, Soo-Jung, was finally back in Korea.

1. Noona is a term used by a younger brother or a younger male to address an older sister or an older female. ☜