The Mist Vol 4 Chapter 10

Vol 4 Chapter 10

It was still a bit difficult to say, but as Kapros called out the name, bewilderment filled the Master Instructor's wife's eyes.

"...Yes."

"Do you... know his contact information?"

Watching her expression change, Kapros anxiously called out to her again.

"Ma'am."

As he suppressed his impatience and waited, after a long while, she slowly opened her mouth.

"Why are you asking that?"

Her voice was gentle but sufficiently stern. Like the Master Instructor's voice that had awakened him before, her voice clearly conveyed that she had no intention of telling him without a proper reason and determination. However, the biggest reason Kapros wanted Jeong Seung-jo's contact information now was because of Caesar's face he had seen in yesterday's video, so he couldn't explain properly.

That look in Caesar's... no, Jeong Seung-jo's eyes in the video. How surprised he had been to see those eyes that resembled the hatred-filled gaze directed at him just before the accident three years ago.

Kapros's decision to contact Jeong Seung-jo first wasn't entirely sudden. It was also the first thing he had thought of when he decided to start doing what he could from now on, and he believed it was something he had to do.

Still, he had thought that the primary need was to prepare his heart step by step, but Jeong Seung-jo in the video had changed enough to overturn all those thoughts in an instant and looked precarious. It would be a lie if Kapros said he didn't feel anxious after seeing that.

He had many thoughts, but as he struggled to speak, the Master Instructor's wife sighed and opened her mouth.

"As a matter of fact, I was going to contact him first from my side."

"Pardon?"

Kapros's eyes widened at the unexpected words.

"Even if you've made the difficult decision to take a step forward, as long as one of your feet is tied to his, if he's not somewhat prepared as well, all that's left is falling down again after a hasty attempt, isn't it?"

It was an unexpected statement. One of his feet tied to Jeong Seung-jo's?

"Mu-heon, give him time to prepare too. Would it be alright if I contact him first once and then let you know?"

"But..."

"You can think I'm just being meddlesome in my old age. I don't want to experience another day like that again. I'll do anything to prevent that."

The moment Kapros saw the sadness in her eyes as she said "that day," he gave up on what he was about to say. He clenched his teeth tightly, then relaxed and sighed.

"...Yes. Please do that."

"Thank you, Mu-heon. Just once. After I contact him just once, I won't stop you."

Two days after Kapros returned, saying he understood, the Master Instructor's wife stood before him with a very stiff expression.

"Mu-heon."

"Yes. What did he say?"

Seeing her unable to answer with her rigid face, Kapros felt he knew, but he still stubbornly urged her on.

What had Jeong Seung-jo said in response to the message that Kapros wanted to contact him?

Finally, she let out a long, thin sigh and spoke with difficulty.

"Mu-heon... That child said he doesn't want to meet you."

***

[ You have a video call from number 01A-1169-G89SCB. Will you accept? ]

[ You have a video call from number 01A-1169-G89SCB. Will you accept? ]

[ You have a video call from number 01A-1169-G89SCB. Will you accept? ]

[ You have a video call from number 01A-1169-G89SCB. Will you accept? ]

...

Jeong Seung-jo, sitting in a dark room, only opened his mouth quietly after the fourth voice rang out.

"Connect."

Pop!

[ Hello, Mr. Jeong Seung-jo. I'd like to say hello too, but there's no time for that. Can you explain your actions yesterday? Although it wasn't in the contract terms, I clearly remember you agreeing to my words... ]

Unlike his usual snake-like smile, the man appeared with a slightly hardened face as he spoke. Jeong Seung-jo, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

"...I don't remember."

[ I asked you not to forcibly trigger special events as much as possible until the balance between you, who had completed all quests, and others was matched. ]

"Do I have to play the game while considering others' circumstances?"

Jeong Seung-jo's eyes, as he spoke slowly, were looking elsewhere, not meeting Yoon Seok-ho's gaze in the hologram screen of the video call. Yoon Seok-ho closely observed those seemingly hollow eyes.

[ Of course not. ]

"..."

[ I was just wondering if there was another problem that prevented you from keeping your promise, which is why I contacted you, but if that's not the case, I don't need to ask further. I understand your intention. ]

Despite the lack of response, Yoon Seok-ho quietly finished speaking, briefly scanned the dark room, said goodbye, and hung up. Only after a long while did Jeong Seung-jo raise his head in front of the empty screen where light was leaking.

Yesterday's action was certainly impulsive. It was something that had to be done someday, but it didn't necessarily have to be done yesterday. However, from yesterday until this moment, various emotions that seemed like they wouldn't subside unless he broke something were writhing like a storm inside him. Now that there was nothing left for him to break in reality, that action was an inevitable choice. Anywhere would do if he could rampage. If he didn't, it felt like he wouldn't be able to endure.

***

"So this is Bistale..."

Kran, who had passed through the gate and entered the main street, muttered as he looked around the city intently.

"It's surprisingly ordinary."

Bistale's notoriety was frequently seen even in the community Kapros had looked up. The content was mostly along the lines of 'that infamous user is there,' or 'there was a big fight in Bistale today and dozens of users were wiped out,' but Un-o remained calm as always, even though he clearly knew these stories better than Kapros.

"It's less so than I thought, but..."

Kran was still looking at the people walking around as if something might jump out at any moment.