The First Step (4)
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“It’s going to start soon.”
Manager Choi Myung-soo said.
The rehearsal was over, but Choi Myung-soo insisted on speaking to him about some last-minute details.
He was going at it for more than 30 minutes already.
“Mr. Seung-ho, I’d like to go over once more about the details we discussed earlier, it’s really important that…”
“Please stop! Stop it! My ears are already growing scabs!”
Seung-ho’s tone was close to a scream, and Manager Choi Myun-soo got surprised and stepped back involuntarily.
Still, his mouth was opening, as if hesitating, as if he still wanted to speak.
Seung-ho turned his back because he didn’t want to listen anymore, and Choi Myung-soo was standing behind him with a worried face, hands clasped as if he was praying.
“You have to open this door after 10 seconds. When you open it, you will see Drax coming in from the other direction.”
There’s only one reason Seung-ho had to endure listening to these directions.
Today is an important, compelling event for the Association.
Seung-ho, a porter left alone behind the gate, miraculously returned and became the new top-hunter.
For the first time in 20 years, he will be reunited with Drax, the previous top-hunter who led the attack.
It seemed to simple to rank who the best hunter was by just looking at metrics, but hunter ratings are indeed based on these numbers.
Seung-ho didn’t want to do this useless show where his face would be exposed to the public, but since he’s already engaging in hunter activities, for the time being, it is inevitable that his face will be known.
The Association also insisted and provided him good conditions, so he forced himself to attend.
“3, 2, 1…”
It seemed like a sigh was coming out of Seung-ho’s mouth, but it was an unexpected laugh.
As he opened the door, the camera flashes blinded him, but not so much as he could not see the man approaching him.
The face of Drax walking towards him did not change at all from 20 years ago, and the closer he got, the more familiar he felt.
The two walked at a casual pace and met exactly in the middle of the stage, giving each other strong hugs instead of shaking hands.
The camera flashes became even more intense at this dramatic scene.
When the embrace was over, they held each other’s hands and raised them, posing for several seconds for the cameras.
Seung-ho couldn’t shake his feelings.
As he looked at Drax again, he tried to keep in mind the suspicions he learned from Min-jong, but his heart became heavy with familiarity the moment he saw Drax.
They moved to their seats and settled themselves. In front of their desks were multiple microphones.
Drax tapped one of them, checked that it works, before picking it up and speaking to Seung-ho.
“It’s really nice to meet you after 20 years. I heard the news about your return, and I feel sorry for not coming right away. I would have come to Korea the day I heard the news, but it took me a while because I had a lot of commitments.”
From the moment Drax opened his mouth, an interpreter standing behind Seung-ho began simultaneous translation.
Drax spoke while looking at Seung-ho warmly.
Although Seung-ho was uncomfortable, he smiled slightly and returned eye contact. When Drax’s words were over, Seung-ho picked up a microphone and spoke.
“I understand how busy you are. Rather, I am ashamed that I could not go to you directly, my lifesaver, and express my gratitude.”
One of the journalists spoke up after hearing his words. “What do you mean? Drax is your lifesaver?”
Seung-ho was not supposed to take questions, but the reporters couldn’t hold back their curiosity at his words.
Seung-ho looked at Choi Myung-soo, who formed a circle with his arms and smiled brightly.
With that gesture of approval, Seung-ho began to tell the journalists about the retreat 20 years ago. It was a story that he had only told Min-jong so far.
Drax, who listened to the simultaneous interpretation as Seung-ho spoke, smiled and laughed a lot as Seung-ho told the story.
Seung-ho told the reporters everything, including having to cover himself with feces to survive.
“… That’s why I had time to escape because Drax was committed to protecting everyone, and eventually, I was able to return from the gate.”
As soon as his story ended, Drax stood up and hugged him while tapping his back.
Even if there was no word between the two, the meaning of the gesture was clear to everyone, and cameras started flashing once more.
Seung-ho raised his hand and returned the hug somewhat awkwardly.
* * *
Maybe it was because of the anxiety and pressure that he faced all day during the event, Drax had a tired look on his face.
Upon arriving at the hotel, he roughly untied his necktie and threw it over the bed.
“Where are Baldrow and Eid?”
“They arrived during the middle of the interview; I sent them to their rooms to rest.” Kanyu answered him.
“Did you tell them anything?” he asked. Kanyu did not respond. “You must have told Eid about Khan, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Tell them to come up.”
When Kanyu closed the door and went out, Drax moved to the window overlooking the night view of Seoul.
After a few quiet moments, Kanyu entered with Baldrow and Eid.
Kanyu already warned him about Eid before we went out. As soon as they entered the room, Eid screamed at Drax.
“Why did you send Khan away?!”
Kanyu immediately grabbed Eid’s shoulder, but the latter shook his hand away and continued to move forward.
As Eid approached, Drax stepped away from the window and moved forward to meet the fuming Eid.
Eid was surprised at his move and stopped suddenly in caution, but Drax continued and went past her, settling on a sofa, as if it was what he originally meant to do.
“Sit down, everyone. Let’s talk.” Drax said coolly.
Eid couldn’t help but wonder at his attitude. She sat down on a couch with caution, alert for any sign of change in Drax’s face.
Drax smiled as everyone got seated. “If Khan was here, it would have been great. Unfortunately…” he laughed in a self-deprecating manner.
Eid shook her lips as if she wanted to say something, but chose to stay silent and waited for Drax’s next words.
“It’s a long story. As soon my schedule in Korea is over, we will return to hunting.”
“It’s great that we’re returning,” Eid said furiously, “but you didn’t tell us why you dismissed Khan.”
“Khan left. He made that decision.”
“No!” Eid stood up, face red with anger. What a shameless answer, she thought. “You sent him away!”
Baldrow reached out and tried to get Eid back to his seat, but he shook his hand away roughly.
“Did you say anything to Khan?” she continued screaming at Drax. “We didn’t know how dirty you are. But Khan did your dirty work for you, right?”
Baldrow continued to hold Eid’s hand and tried to calm her down, but she continued with everything she had kept inside.
“The reason you wanted to return is that you were deprived of the title ‘top-hunter’ today, right? Are you jealous? Is it the desire to be the best again? Ha! Your jealousy is ugly.”
Kanyu snarled at him. “Stop it, Eid.”
Eid turned to him, frustrated, then turned back to stare at Drax’s eyes.
Those eyes remained without emotion.
It was as if she was looking at a lifeless object. She stepped back a little.
Then, Drax spoke calmly. “Eid, are you done?”
Eid flinched as he heard the sound of Drax’s voice, then composed herself. “No. I still have something to say. I’m done with you, Drax. That’s it.”
Eid turned and began walking towards the door. Kanyu tried to stop her, but Drax held his arm.
“Sit down, Kanyu. We still have something to discuss.”
When Eid reached the door, she turned the knob roughly and left without looking back.
Drax turned to Baldrow. “What about you?”
Baldrow scratched his beard. “Well, if I leave you, I can’t do things myself. There’s no reason to leave.”
Kanyu laughed at his response.
Drax simply nodded. “Thank you for staying. You can now go to rest.”
Baldrow suddenly laughed at Drax’s words.
“I haven’t heard you say ‘thank you’ for a long time. Well done. I’ll takes my rest now.” He stood and went out the door.
Kanyu looked at Drax with an anxious look.
“Are we really going to start over? Are you okay?”
Drax rose from his seat and went back to admire the view from the window.
He stretched out his hand as if he wanted to touch something outside, but quickly pulled it back.
“He seemed to suspect something…” Drax murmured. Upon hearing him, Kanyu’s turned pale.
However, Drax continued speaking casually, as if he didn’t care.
“I didn’t know why I felt that way… I felt glad. But the next time we meet… it may be dangerous.”
* * *
As she pulled out the door handle and went out of the hotel, the cold Seoul night air greeted him.
Out in the street, she raised his head and looked up at where Drax’s room was.
She sighed and watched her breath turn into white fog from her red lips as she thought about the other person who left Drax’s guild.
“Where would Khan go…” she murmured.