Chapter 159:
“The impeachment will take some time, but it’ll be resolved soon. The evidence is overwhelming.”
A presidential impeachment was a serious matter; it would naturally take months.
But public opinion was firm, and the evidence against the President was irrefutable, so it would be decided within a few months.
“That doesn’t really matter. That damn President is as good as impeached already. The problem is Park Jung-soo.”
Seo Jae-yi wanted revenge on Park Jung-soo more than the President or Jang Woo-seok.
But despite the arrest warrant and the travel ban, Park Jung-soo was still at large.
“He can’t be dead.”
Park Jung-soo was the most obsessive and deranged person Seo Jae-yi had ever met.
He wouldn’t kill himself as long as his obsession remained in this world.
“He has no family, no close friends… there’s nothing to go on.”
Even Kwon Gyu-yeon, with her exceptional information gathering skills, hadn’t been able to locate him.
“I know. He’s surprisingly good at hiding.”
“Seon-min Unnie told me not to worry, that he’ll definitely appear before me soon.”
“Guide Joo Seon-min?”
“Yes. She visited my greenhouse a few days ago.”
Seo Jae-yi now casually referred to Baek Joo-won’s dungeon as her greenhouse.
“If Joo Seon-min said that, it’s not just empty words.”
If it had been anyone else, she would have dismissed it as a comforting platitude, but Joo Seon-min was different.
Her confidence meant she had a reason, solid evidence.
“She didn’t tell you why?”
“No. She said I didn’t need to know.”
It probably wasn’t something good, which was why she hadn’t told her.
“Whatever the reason, it’s fine as long as Park Jung-soo appears. Let’s wait and see.”
“I hope he appears before the President is impeached.”
That way, her revenge would be complete.
She had been suppressing her anger for over ten years. She didn’t want to wait any longer.
“Huh? It’s Maggie.”
Her phone rang. It was Mac Grayson.
“Hello?”
—You answered this time, not Baek Joo-won?
“What? Were you calling for my Guide? I’ll hang up then.”
Seo Jae-yi was about to hang up when Grayson hurriedly said,
—No! I was calling for you! Don’t hang up!
“I might just fly to America if you keep asking for someone else’s paired Guide. Be careful.”
—Oh, really? You’ll come to America?
He sounded delighted by her threat.
—Yes, come! I was just about to invite you.
“Why America all of a sudden?”
She had been friends with Grayson for a while, but he had always come to Korea; she had never been to America.
He had never asked her to visit, nor had he seemed disappointed by it.
So this was a first.
—Are you with your Guild Leader?
“Why are you asking about our Guild Leader when we’re talking about America? Yes, I am.”
Seo Jae-yi glanced at Kim Yoo-sung, who was sitting across from her. He tilted his head, hearing Grayson’s voice.
—Ah, good. Then you’ll be contacted. Right now.
Kim Yoo-sung’s phone rang as soon as he finished speaking. He frowned and showed her the screen.
“…It’s the US Esper Association Head.”
Mac Grayson was asking her to come to America, and now she was getting a call from the US Esper Association Head?
“You millstone, what did you do?”
—Haha. Just answer it. You can always refuse.
It was suspicious, but she couldn’t just hang up, so Kim Yoo-sung answered.
—Hello, Haeil Guild Leader. This is William Taylor, the US Esper Association Head.
“Kim Yoo-sung. Nice to meet you, Association Head. What can I do for you? I just received a call from Mac Grayson…”
—Haven’t you heard the reason yet?
“No. He just told Seo Jae-yi to come visit America.”
—…That little…
The Association Head cursed Grayson under his breath, but Kim Yoo-sung pretended not to hear. Anyone who knew Grayson would understand the Association Head’s frustration.
—A Rank 1 dungeon emerged in the US yesterday.
Kim Yoo-sung’s face hardened. Seo Jae-yi’s as well.
—It’s a fire-attribute dungeon, and the primary monsters are dragons.
Fire attribute and dragons… Kim Yoo-sung looked up at Seo Jae-yi.
He immediately understood why both Grayson and the Association Head had called him.
“Are you requesting Seo Jae-yi’s assistance?”
—Yes.
Kim Yoo-sung’s hand flew to his forehead. He hadn’t taken Grayson’s call seriously, thinking it was just a casual invitation, but he hadn’t expected a support request for a Rank 1 dungeon subjugation from the US.
“The US already has S-rank Water and Fire Espers, doesn’t it? I don’t understand why you’re requesting Seo Jae-yi’s help.”
—The Fire Esper died during the subjugation last night.
Ah. Kim Yoo-sung closed his eyes at Taylor’s words.
A Rank 1 dungeon, the worst possible scenario.
Even S-rank Espers’ survival wasn’t guaranteed in a Rank 2 dungeon; how much more dangerous would a Rank 1 dungeon be?
The death of an S-rank Esper wasn’t surprising.
—The Water Esper alone can’t contain the dungeon’s heat. So I contacted the strongest Fire Esper I know.
Seo Jae-yi had once been an Esper at risk of overloading, but not anymore. That was why the US was requesting her assistance.
—Of course, I’m aware of her recent overload. So you can refuse. I just contacted you first because she’s the strongest Fire Esper I know.
Association Head Taylor was being sincere. It was a huge risk for them to request the help of an S-rank Esper with a history of overloading.
But the situation must be dire for them to take such a risk.
—If Esper Seo Jae-yi accepts our request, we’ll treat her as a state guest, both before and after the subjugation. And we’ll pull her back if the situation becomes too dangerous.
The Association Head promised that Seo Jae-yi wouldn’t die, even if something went wrong.
Kim Yoo-sung sighed and replied,
“I can’t give you an answer right now. I’ll discuss it with Seo Jae-yi and contact you later.”
—We appreciate your consideration. We’ll be waiting.
After Taylor hung up, Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Jae-yi looked at her phone.
She was still on the line with Grayson.
“You said I should come visit, but you were actually inviting me to see hell, weren’t you?”
Grayson yelled in mock outrage at her words.
—Hell? That’s a bit harsh. I was just offering you a front-row seat to a fireworks show.
“Right. A fireworks show, and a glimpse of hell. Isn’t that right?”
—That’s right.
Grayson chuckled as Seo Jae-yi scoffed.
—But I meant it when I said I wanted to see you. I miss you.
Seo Jae-yi frowned.
It wasn’t the first time he had said he missed her. He had even flown to Korea unannounced once, just because he wanted to see her.
But this time, it felt different.
She was his closest friend; she could tell what he truly meant.
“You’re entering that dungeon, aren’t you?”
He wasn’t just saying he missed her. He sounded like he was saying goodbye, a “last time” kind of goodbye.
He was planning to enter that dungeon, prepared to die.
“What good would a Wind Esper be in a fire dungeon?”
—I’m still the strongest S-rank Esper in the US. We have to clear it before a dungeon break occurs.
Any dungeon would eventually experience a breakout if the monster population exceeded its capacity.
If the monsters from a Rank 1 dungeon, especially dragons, were unleashed, it would be a catastrophe, not just for the US, but for all of North and South America.
And considering they had wings, the entire world would suffer.
They had to clear it before that happened.
—You’ve never run away from a fight; did you think I would?
Grayson asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Right, he wouldn’t. He was proud of his abilities and aware of his responsibilities as the next Esper Association Head.
He wouldn’t abandon the people and run.
—I’ll be fine. And don’t talk like I’m already dead. I’ll be back.
“You better be.”
—Yes. And I’ll give you a proper tour of the US when I return, so you have to come visit. I’ve always been the one visiting Korea. It’s your turn.
“Fine, since you’re asking so nicely.”
—Really? Promise?
It was as good as a promise to return alive.
Grayson, sounding relieved, said he would call her again later and hung up.
Seo Jae-yi stared at his name on the screen, her expression unreadable.
“Jae-yi.”
Kim Yoo-sung, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, called her name, his voice a sigh.
“No, don’t go.”
Seo Jae-yi turned to him at his desperate plea.
“I know you’re worried about Grayson. But it’s a Rank 1 dungeon. It’s too dangerous for you, especially after your recent overload.”
Kim Yoo-sung knew her well. He could tell she was conflicted.
He didn’t want her to go. He was being selfish, but Seo Jae-yi was his priority.
“Baek Joo-won wouldn’t want you to go either.”
Seo Jae-yi flinched at the mention of Baek Joo-won’s name.
Kim Yoo-sung was relieved. He was glad there was someone who could hold her back.
That was why he had accepted Baek Joo-won, a non-human, by Seo Jae-yi’s side.
“So give up. Please, Jae-yi.”
He took her hand and pleaded with her.
Seo Jae-yi smiled wryly at his desperate plea.
He knew her too well.
“I’ll think about it. I can’t just refuse, knowing how much Maggie means to me.”
Grayson had been the one who had stopped the US from taking Baek Joo-won, her savior.
He had even offered to take her to the US when he learned about her mistreatment at the Center.
He was her precious friend, always there for her, always looking out for her.
She couldn’t just stand by and watch him walk towards his death.
She wanted to save Grayson, just as he had always helped her.
“I’ll talk to Baek Joo-won first. I won’t insist on going, so don’t worry.”
“…Jae-yi.”
But Kim Yoo-sung’s worried expression didn’t change.
He knew her too well; her words meant she was almost certainly going.