Chapter 583
Chapter 583: You've grown a lot (1)
“…Thank you very much . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk continued to quietly mumble while patting Cale's back .
Cale listened to his voice as he looked toward the castle wall past Lee Soo Hyuk’s shoulder .
‘They’re all shocked . ’
They were all looking at Lee Soo Hyuk with shocked expressions .
‘I guess this side of him is foreign to them based on how the team leader usually acts . ’
Seeing Lee Soo Hyuk being emotional like this was probably foreign to Grandma Kim and the Lee siblings behind Cale as well .
The Kim Rok Soo at this time would have found this to be extremely foreign and awkward .
But the current Cale knew why Lee Soo Hyuk was acting like this .
‘He's acting like this because he's tired . ’
How long would he have to fight to get past each and every difficult and tiring day?
The bases keep falling no matter how many people he saves; does that mean he should just give it all up and live a relaxed life?
Lee Soo Hyuk's mind was full of those kinds of questions right now .
But he did not stop .
Lee Soo Hyuk continued to fight hard every day despite the doubts and uncertainties .
That was why his mind was extremely tired out .
Seeing people from his past at such a moment would make anybody become emotional like this .
That was why Cale started to speak as Kim Rok Soo normally would, despite how happy he was to see Lee Soo Hyuk .
“How about you move away?”
Lee Soo Hyuk's shoulders lifted up a bit .
He was laughing .
“Wow . Kim Rok Soo, you haven’t changed . ”
He seemed even happier to see him .
Cale continued to speak to Lee Soo Hyuk .
“Grandma and some others are here too . Are you not going to greet them?”
“You really like to take care of other people . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk said that as he patted Cale's shoulder and then walked past him .
He first ran into the three monsters that were with Cale .
Lee Soo Hyuk looked at the monsters one by one and made eye contact with each of them .
The Steel Feather Hawk and White Rabbit's eyes clouded over .
‘He’s not afraid . ’
It would be normal to be at least a little scared or have a slight change in his emotional state, but the human that Kim Rok Soo had been looking for didn't budge at all even when looking at two monsters .
‘He's not afraid even though he’s weak . ’
He was definitely weak unlike Choi Han and Kim Rok Soo, but he was also not weak .
Of course, they could feel that he was much stronger than the other humans .
Lee Soo Hyuk didn't know what the monsters were thinking about as he then turned to make eye contact with the Dark Tiger .
Smile .
Lee Soo Hyuk could see the tiger monster start to smile . Then the tiger monster started to speak .
“Nice to meet you . ”
‘Hmm?’
Lee Soo Hyuk’s eyebrows slightly rose up .
“I am Kim Rok Soo's hyung, Alberu Crossman . I'm happy to meet the person my dongsaeng has been trying to find . ”
Alberu stopped there and quietly observed Lee Soo Hyuk .
Lee Soo Hyuk quietly observed Alberu as well before one corner of his lips rose up .
“Wow . ”
A small gasp of admiration flowed out of his mouth .
Lee Soo Hyuk looked away from the monsters and looked back at Cale for a moment before turning back toward Alberu without saying anything .
He then started to speak .
“How old are you?”
“…What?”
Alberu’s pupils shook slightly .
Lee Soo Hyuk didn't care; he walked over to Alberu, put his hand on Alberu's mane, and started to caress it as he continued to speak .
“Kim Rok Soo wouldn't call me hyung no matter how many times I told him to do that . But he's apparently willing to call you hyung . I'm jealous . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk laughed as he asked again .
“So, how old are you?”
Alberu flinched and looked toward Cale .
Cale was shaking his head as if he knew Lee Soo Hyuk would act this way .
Alberu watched Cale for a moment before looking back at Lee Soo Hyuk .
‘…His gaze shows no fear . ’
He was smiling, but he was giving off a demeanor that was hard to approach based on his gaze . But the odd thing was that, although he was giving off this hard to approach demeanor, he also gave off a demeanor that made someone want to approach him .
The easiest way to describe it would be that his overall demeanor was charismatic .
Alberu observed this person named Lee Soo Hyuk as he started to speak .
“I am 25 years old . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk smiled as if he was thankful that Alberu had answered before responding .
"Then I am older . ”
Pat, pat .
He then patted Alberu’s back before walking past him .
He didn't seem to care much about the three monsters .
But Alberu noticed that Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze had already observed both the monsters and the other humans .
‘Cale Henituse said he learned things from Lee Soo Hyuk, right?’
Alberu could tell that Lee Soo Hyuk and Cale had a lot of similarities .
Cale must have learned a lot of things from Lee Soo Hyuk .
‘But the ‘current’ Cale Henituse is more proficient at it . ’
It made sense that Cale was more proficient at it at this moment as he was in his late thirties .
Alberu quietly observed Lee Soo Hyuk’s back .
This was the same for the others as well .
Kim Po-Chul and the others who had joined Cale in Gyeongju looked toward Lee Soo Hyuk slightly tensely .
They couldn't help it because of how Lee Soo Hyuk looked .
Kim Po-Chul subconsciously started to speak .
“…All that blood . ”
He could see the red stains on the black outfit .
They must be blood, but how many monsters must he have killed in order to look like that?
“Mm . ”
Kim Po-Chul quickly closed his mouth .
Lee Soo Hyuk observed him for a moment before walking past him .
“…Wow . ’
Kim Po-Chul was gasping internally .
‘He’s a total sword, a sword . ’
Unlike how he had smiled brightly toward Kim Rok Soo or as he looked this way, he looked so cold just now such that he resembled a sword .
Kim Po-Chul subconsciously turned toward Choi Han after thinking about swords .
Lee Soo Hyuk’s gaze stopped on Choi Han for a moment as well .
‘Hmm?’
His eyes opened wide for a moment .
It was because Choi Han who had been just standing there now slowly bowed toward Lee Soo Hyuk to greet him .
‘Wait, is it a greeting?’
It felt as if… Choi Han was thanking him .
Lee Soo Hyuk looked toward Choi Han with an odd gaze because he felt that way .
Sponsored Content
Choi Han reached his hand out at that moment .
“My name is Choi Han . I heard you are the person who saved Rok Soo hyung . Nice to meet you, sir . ”
“Ah . ”
‘He really is thanking me . ’
Lee Soo Hyuk could understand the hidden meaning behind Choi Han’s extremely respectful greeting .
“It wasn’t much at all, sir . ”
“Please speak informally . ”
“Okay . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk lightly shook Choi Han's hand .
He then started to laugh as he started to speak .
“You’re quite strong, aren't you?”
“…Excuse me?”
“I can tell by your hand . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk looked down at Choi Han’s hands that were full of calluses and scars .
Choi Han could finally see Lee Soo Hyuk’s gaze that was cold even as he was laughing .
“…I am quite strong . ”
“That’s great . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk then walked past Choi Han, took a quick look at Choi Jung Soo, and then walked toward the others in the back .
Choi Han quietly observed Lee Soo Hyuk .
He was really thankful to Lee Soo Hyuk .
Lee Soo Hyuk was someone who had looked after Choi Jung Soo and Cale as if they were family .
He was someone who had saved Cale and even died in his place .
There was someone else who had died in Cale’s place as well .
Choi Han's gaze moved to Choi Jung Soo .
Choi Jung Soo was quietly looking at Lee Soo Hyuk and the sword at his waist .
‘Normally, Lee Soo Hyuk would have hugged Choi Jung Soo just as he had hugged Cale-nim . ’
Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk did not know each other right now .
They had met for the first time today .
Choi Han looked toward Cale . He immediately made eye contact with Cale .
‘Cale-nim is also looking at Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk as I expected . ’
He was watching how the two of them were crossing paths .
Choi Han could not imagine what Cale must be feeling right now .
But it hurt him to just think about it .
However…
‘They’ll naturally become connected . ’
Choi Jung Soo, Lee Soo Hyuk, and Kim Rok Soo .
These three people will naturally become connected .
‘…And me too . ’
He needed to connect with them too .
Choi Han walked over to Choi Jung Soo who was frowning while looking at Lee Soo Hyuk .
Choi Jung Soo then flinched and looked toward Choi Han .
Choi Han didn’t even look at Jung Soo as he looked toward Lee Soo Hyuk and started to speak .
“This sir uses the sword well too . ”
“…Excuse me?”
Choi Jung Soo was flustered that Choi Han was suddenly talking about him .
For the past few days, no, the two of them had not chatted since they greeted each other during their first meeting .
Choi Jung Soo was finding it difficult to say anything to Choi Han because his mind became chaotic every time he saw Choi Han’s sword art .
‘Who is this person? Who the hell is he that-’
How was he using a sword art that was similar to the ancient sword art passed down in his family?
‘His last name is also Choi . ’
Choi Jung Soo thought his head was going to blow up .
Sponsored Content
It was at that moment .
He heard Choi Han's voice .
“Don't you want to learn how to use the sword?”
“Ah . ”
Choi Jung Soo gasped . Choi Han looked toward Choi Jung Soo and continued to speak .
“You cannot ask any questions . ”
For Choi Han, Choi Jung Soo's questions…
And the truth behind them that might be revealed was a burden .
“I will only teach you sword arts . ”
Choi Jung Soo looked toward Choi Han who was younger than him and started to speak .
“Why can’t I ask any questions?”
“…I said no questions, sir . ”
Choi Han then walked over to Cale .
Choi Jung Soo quietly stared at Choi Han and Cale .
Lee Soo Hyuk had moved over to Grandma Kim while that happened .
"Grandma . ”
“…Aigoo . Soo Hyuk . ”
Grandma Kim touched Lee Soo Hyuk’s hands with shaking hands .
“Why… do you look like this? Aigoo . ”
Grandma Kim touched Lee Soo Hyuk’s face, arms, and shoulders without being able to say anything .
“…Oppa . ”
“Hey, Jin Joo . Seung Won . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk smiled toward Lee Jin Joo and Lee Seung Won who had walked up to him . But the siblings had similar expressions as Grandma Kim .
The Lee Soo Hyuk who had left their central shelter and the Lee Soo Hyuk here looked completely different .
The current Lee Soo Hyuk looked tired and worn out, unlike before .
During the whole trip since they decided to come here to Seomyeon, Busan, and followed the Gyeongbu Expressway up…
They had never expressed Lee Soo Hyuk to look like this .
A strong leader .
A leader they could trust and follow .
That was what they were expecting to see, but…
The reality was different than their imaginations .
Lee Soo Hyuk smiled at all of them who could not control their emotions while looking at him before motioning to the person in the far back .
“Park Jin Tae . ”
Park Jin Tae was standing firm as if he had turned into a boulder and could not look away from Lee Soo Hyuk .
Lee Soo Hyuk mischievously started to speak to Park Jin Tae .
“Hey, Jin Tae . Are you not going to come here? Are you not happy to see me?”
Park Jin Tae slowly started to speak .
“…Holy crap . You look like shit . ”
His voice then became sharp .
“Holy shit, why the hell do you look so terrible?!”
“What’s wrong with how I look?”
Park Jin Tae became truly angry at Lee Soo Hyuk who was looking at him as if nothing was wrong .
He could not understand why he was feeling this way .
But it made him angry .
Park Jin Tae observed how Lee Soo Hyuk looked as he thought to himself .
‘It’s obvious what happened . ’
He probably ended up looking like this after saying he would do all the difficult things and trying to save people .
It wasn't like he was a god or a machine .
As a human, he should be tired and feeling his limits .
‘I, I-’
Sponsored Content
Park Jin Tae thought about his actions since Lee Soo Hyuk had left .
Furthermore, he took another look at the person he was chasing after, the person he wanted to overcome .
“…Fuck . ”
“Hey, Jin Tae . What’s with your language after seeing your hyung for the first time in a long while?”
Park Jin Tae turned away .
Lee Soo Hyuk looked at Park Jin Tae for a moment before lowering his head .
“Hmm . ”
Lee Seung Won and Lee Jin Joo's gazes looked a little different as they peeked at him talking to Park Jin Tae .
Lee Jin Joo turned her head and Lee Seung Won opened and closed his mouth without saying anything once they made eye contact with him .
Furthermore .
“Lee Chul Min . ”
“Uhh, uhh?”
Lee Chul Min awkwardly bowed and greeted Lee Soo Hyuk . He looked quite uncomfortable .
‘Something's up . ’
Lee Soo Hyuk’s eyebrow twitched again after sensing something was off .
But more importantly…
“First . ”
He slowly turned around .
The people who came all the way here to meet Lee Soo Hyuk had a thought at this moment .
‘He’s the Lee Soo Hyuk of old . ’
His nonchalant-looking but sharp gaze headed toward Cale and the others .
“I guess I should hear why you came to see me and what is going on?”
Cale was the one to answer his question .
“Sounds great . ”
Cale then added on .
“Ah, by the way . ”
He started to speak to Lee Soo Hyuk who was looking at him with confusion as well as the people looking toward them from the castle walls and the castle gate .
“I don't want to have to repeat myself multiple times; you have a large meeting room, right? Please call over every important person . ”
It was tiring to say the same thing over and over .
“I want to say it just once . ”
In a large meeting room in the central castle at Seomyeon, Busan .
Once he had described everything…
Cale and Lee Soo Hyuk looked at each other .
“Kim Rok Soo . ”
“Yes, sir . ”
Lee Soo Hyuk quietly observed Kim Rok Soo who was looking back at him with a calm expression before starting to speak .
His slow voice echoed through the meeting room .
“Rok Soo . You said everybody here would die?”
Everybody was silent as they looked at Lee Soo Hyuk and Cale .
There was an extremely cold and sharp aura that felt as if it cut through anything coming out of Lee Soo Hyuk .
But Cale was calm as he looked into those cold eyes .
“Yes, sir . Most people here will die . ”
“You . Are you being serious right now?
“Yes . I am completely being serious . ”
“You think I would believe you?”
Cale started to smile .
‘Why is he asking such an obvious question?’
“Yes, sir . You already believe what I said . ”
One corner of Lee Soo Hyuk's lips started to go up .
“Yes . I believe you . ”