Chapter 8: Hearing.

Chapter 7: Interrogation.

A month had passed.

Many things had happened during this period, which felt both short and long.

First and foremost, the most talked-about event was the downfall of the Raven Guild.

The guild, which had rapidly grown and garnered public attention as an A-rank guild, was emergency arrested after evidence was found of them using illegal artifacts, specifically sacrificing a child.

This news quickly spread, causing a great shock.

Naturally, people’s interest turned to the artifact that had rapidly propelled a C-rank guild to prominence, but the Association announced that they would not disclose information about the artifact for safety reasons and had destroyed it.

Although people’s interest in such a dangerous artifact—one the Association deemed necessary to conceal information about—intensified, the Association’s strict management ensured no information about it was leaked.

However, interest in the artifact only grew, leading to an increase in speculation and groundless rumors.

‘The Association must be secretly using the artifact instead of destroying it.’

‘The artifact’s power doubles a hunter’s abilities.’

‘The artifact hasn’t been destroyed yet.’

Yet, the Association merely denied all rumors.

This was because, from the start, there was no such thing as an artifact.

The power they believed to be an artifact was simply the ability of a child, and that child had yet to awaken.

“Hoo…”

“Chairman, we have finished confiscating and organizing all information from the Raven Guild.”

“Yes, well done.”

Choi Tae-seok examined the documents Ryu Se-jin handed him, recalling the time his granddaughter interrogated Baek I-hyeon.

“What is the child’s name?”

“I don’t know. An artifact wouldn’t have a name.”

‘Gritting her teeth.’

Ha-yeon unknowingly gritted her teeth, but she took a small deep breath and calmly continued her questions.

“Where did you abduct that child from?”

“Haven’t I been telling you since earlier! It’s an artifact legitimately obtained from a gate!”

At Baek I-hyeon’s brazen attitude, Ha-yeon couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Don’t spout nonsense! A living child is an artifact?”

Ha-yeon grabbed Baek I-hyeon, who was being interrogated while restrained, and raged, but he merely spoke as if it were obvious.

“Then should I say it’s a new monster found in a gate?”

“If you didn’t abduct her, then at the very least, you should say she’s a child caught in a gate!!”

“A child caught in a gate? So you’re saying she’s human? Logically, a child survived a C-rank gate alone, lived for three months without eating or drinking anything, and regenerated quickly from any injury without dying. And you still call that a human?”

Baek I-hyeon’s genuine attitude of not considering the child a human filled Ha-yeon with more disgust than anger.

According to the investigation, just as he claimed, the Raven Guild had kept the child in a small box for three months, depriving her of food and water, and harming her as if she were an object.

Despite this, Ha-yeon, feeling as though she didn’t even want to touch him, let go of his collar and spoke.

“Are you even human, acting like this?”

“Ha, let’s say, for argument’s sake, that the artifact is indeed a person. Even then, that kid showed no signs of dislike whatsoever. She followed my orders as if it were the most natural thing. She should be grateful to me for acknowledging her ability and putting it to good use!”

“…”

His words held no trace of falsehood.

Ha-yeon, disgusted to be in the same space and breathing the same air as such a human, stood up and stepped backward.

At that, Baek I-hyeon continued speaking with even greater arrogance.

“Hey, let’s be honest here.”

“…What?”

“Do you think I don’t know about the Association’s sly raccoons? On the surface, you act like you’re justly restraining, interrogating, and punishing us, but that’s not the reality, is it?”

“What are you talking about…”

“What you scoundrels are after is the artifact! Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you trying to take the artifact we possess for some absurd reason because you covet it so much?!”

Justice.

At the word ‘justice,’ Ha-yeon instantly remembered her deceased parents and gritted her teeth.

‘Yes, kill him.’

‘That’s not a human.’

‘A talking piece of trash.’

‘He’s trash, not even worthy of the gravity pulling him down.’

The moment Choi Ha-yeon, losing her composure, moved her hand to draw the dagger hidden on her thigh to slit his throat.

“Stop.”

Choi Tae-seok personally stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

“Grand…father?”

“I will interrogate him myself. You go in and rest.”

“But that scoundrel!!”

“Choi Ha-yeon.”

“…!”

“You are not being rational right now. Step back.”

“…”

At his cold words, Ha-yeon finally regained her senses and retreated, and he took her place, offering a formal smile.

****

“Ha, I never thought such a high-ranking lord would step forward. Did our guild’s artifact really tempt you that much?”

“Hmm, I’ve heard everything. Baek I-hyeon, Guild Master of the Raven Guild.”

Despite clearly not using any magic, the aura he exuded made Baek I-hyeon sweat and tense up, but he forced a relaxed smile and spoke.

“It’s truly an honor for the Chairman himself to interrogate me.”

“Right, Baek I-hyeon. Is this your assertion? That the girl is an artifact, legitimately obtained, and thus the property of the Raven Guild, and that this detention is illegal?”

“Hmph, of course!”

“Alright, I understand your claim well.”

“…?”

“Then, shall we go through it point by point?”

“Wh-what are you talking about…”

“First, you said that girl was an artifact, correct?”

“Y-yes.”

“Artifacts are fundamentally not living beings. However, that child is alive. How do you explain that?”

“Th-that’s because it’s an artifact! Who’s to say it isn’t an artifact that makes itself look like a human?!”

“Then there’s a price that artifacts naturally demand. What is that price?”

“…!”

Stunned by Choi Tae-seok’s point, Baek I-hyeon thought for a moment with trembling eyes, then shouted.

“A monster! Yes, if it’s not an artifact, it might be a monster!”

“A monster… Yes, there are monsters that mimic humans. So, you’re saying you illegally captured a monster and brought it into our world? That is a very serious crime.”

“!!!”

“In the first place, our investigation of that child has already confirmed that she is human, not a monster.”

“It’s a new monster, so it’s not certain…”

“Baek I-hyeon.”

“Cough!”

In an instant, the air shifted, pressing down on Baek I-hyeon.

With just a slight release of mana from Choi Tae-seok, Baek I-hyeon felt his entire body tear apart, as if he would lose consciousness.

‘Th-this is the Chairman, the legendary hunter…!’

Baek I-hyeon, forgetting even to breathe, was simply crushed by the mana, barely able to move his eyes to look up at him.

“You are truly a repulsive individual.”

“…”

“We already know the child’s ability from interrogating your guild members. The power to take others’ wounds… It is certainly anomalous.”

“…”

“But do you truly believe that merely because of that, it’s justified to treat a child as an artifact, confine her to that cramped box, deprive her of food and water, and torture her?”

“Cough!”

Baek I-hyeon coughed up blood, further crushed by the mana, but Choi Tae-seok did not stop speaking.

“She followed orders naturally? A legitimately obtained artifact? A monster?”

“S-save me…”

“Is it truly a hunter—no, a human—who is consumed by their own greed, tortures and exploits a child, and then justifies it through self-delusion?”

“P-please…”

“I resent the reality of this country where such trash cannot be executed. But you, you will never see the light of day again.”

Upon hearing Choi Tae-seok’s final words, Baek I-hyeon lost consciousness, having soiled his pants.

“Hoo…”

Choi Tae-seok coldly looked down at the unconscious Baek I-hyeon, then let out a sigh.

“I still have a long way to go. I should have interrogated him about any hidden information regarding that child…”

Just then, the door opened, and people entered to drag Baek I-hyeon away, while Ryu Se-jin approached Choi Tae-seok.

“There should be no issues. The information obtained from interrogating the Raven Guild members matches Baek I-hyeon’s claims. They, too, likely exploited the child without knowing exactly what her ability was.”

“Where did Ha-yeon go?”

“She went to that child. I hear she’s been sticking by the child’s side, even during meals and sleep.”

“…”

Choi Tae-seok recalled his granddaughter, screaming and blaming herself after losing her parents, and slowly rose from his seat.

“Save that child. No matter what it takes.”

“I understand.”

As Choi Tae-seok recalled past events, he set down the documents Ryu Se-jin had handed him.

The documents contained almost all information about the Raven Guild, but the information about the child matched what had been obtained through interrogation.

“I apologize, there wasn’t much gain.”

“…It doesn’t matter.”

“Also, reporters came, demanding information about the artifact. Even though I told them it was top-secret information as usual, they were persistent this time.”

“Ignore them. If the information is released, those who target that child will appear.”

“I understand. Therefore, I believe the Chairman will have to personally apply pressure this time.”

“Yes, I understand. You should go and rest too.”

As Ryu Se-jin bowed and was about to leave the Chairman’s office at Tae-seok’s words, someone rushed in without even knocking.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been quite rude, but the urgent news brought by the Association member was…

“Ch-Chairman!”

“…!”

“The child! The child has awakened!”

“What?!”

It was enough to make Choi Tae-seok rise from his seat.

One month.

The girl had finally opened her eyes.