Murim Login - Chapter 434

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 434
“Have you looked in a mirror?”
It was the first thing Choi Team Leader said after disembarking from the aircraft.
I could roughly guess what he meant since the people around me hadn’t recognized me, but was my appearance really that terrible?
“No, really? Is it that bad?”
“Yes. Bad enough that your family members couldn’t recognize Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Come on, other people might not, but Mother would recognize me. She gave birth to me after all.”
“We watched the news together on the plane on the way here. While watching the interview, she kept saying, ‘Who is that filthy person and why do they speak so irritatingly?'”
“…Really?”
Looking past Choi Team Leader’s shoulder, Mother peeked out from the gap of the open private aircraft entrance and spoke in a voice barely audible.
“I’m sorry, son.”
In place of Mother, who disappeared after leaving just those words, a slender-faced figure appeared. It was Ha-yeon, her skin glowing with vitality from days of good sleep and meals.
“I recognized you right away! Of course, there’s only me, right?”
“Who are you? I’m an only child.”
“Wow.”
Letting Ha-yeon’s words go in one ear and out the other, I asked Choi Team Leader.
“She complained about me the most, didn’t she?”
“Yes. She was enthusiastically egging your mother on.”
Right, she’s definitely my younger sister.
Ha-yeon quickly withdrew her head, apparently hearing our conversation. She’s not only good at studying but also quick to read the mood.
“It’s a heartwarming sight.”
“If we were any more harmonious, someone would disappear from the family registry.”
Choi Team Leader answered with a serious expression.
“Still, that’s better. I don’t have a family. Except for my maternal grandfather, whom I don’t even know where he is.”
“…Why are you saying this to me?”
“It was a joke.”
“Please, let’s turn on the lights before we go in.”
At my grumbling, Choi Team Leader chuckled softly and reached out his hand.
With a brief incantation, an item embedded with Clean magic flashed brilliantly.
A refreshing wind made of mana swept away all the dust and stains covering my entire body at once.
“Thank you. That’s much better.”
“Don’t mention it. By the way, you’ve been busy until the very end. You suddenly disappeared on the day of departure, which caused quite a bit of trouble.”
“It’s nothing to worry about. I was planning to return on time anyway.”
At Choi Team Leader’s gaze silently studying me, I scratched the back of my head and continued as if making an excuse.
“I just stopped by on the off chance.”
“Jin Tae-kyung.”
“I know what you’re about to say.”
“Even if you do, I must tell you this.”
Choi Team Leader met my eyes and spoke carefully.
“You cannot save everyone. You… did your best.”
I smiled bitterly.
Until now, both in the modern world and in the Murim, I had witnessed countless deaths.
Sometimes I had been a bystander removed from the events themselves, and sometimes I had been directly involved.
And whenever everything ended, I always found myself contemplating the same question. Just like now.
‘Was that truly the best I could do?’
The best.
The finest and most excellent, having devoted all sincerity and strength.
Those two characters terrified me most. Because there was no fixed standard to measure against.
The best was a criterion that could only be satisfied through one’s own judgment.
But regret always lingered, and as long as even the smallest crumb of it settled deep within my heart, I couldn’t claim to have done my best.
True best meant being without any regret whatsoever.
“The weather’s nice today.”
I muttered absently while gazing at the sky, then flashed a grin toward Choi Team Leader.
“Let’s just call it the second best. That puts my mind at ease.”
「What one thinks oneself and another’s perspective are different things. To us, it was the best and more.」
Those were not Choi Team Leader’s words.
Already aware of his presence, I turned my head without alarm.
The owner of that aged voice greeted me with a gentle smile.
「So… you’re leaving after all, Jin.」
I returned Chairman Xiao Yang’s smile.
“The hotel accommodation fees were more expensive than I expected.”
「They’re merchants too, after all. It’s only natural they receive compensation for their services.」
“I wouldn’t mind if they offered a discount, but being a foreigner, it seemed like they were overcharging.”
「My, such a thing happened? This old man will have a stern word with them. Won’t you stay longer?」
“The bus has already left. It would be rude to chase after it down the road and ask the driver to open the door.”
「Then I suppose I must reluctantly let you go. Hehe.」
What hotel in such circumstances would dare charge me or overcharge? We exchanged light banter to reconfirm our intentions, then clasped hands.
「I’ve received immeasurable and tremendous help.」
His voice and gaze were filled with sincerity.
Those who had accompanied the state chairman also bowed respectfully to me.
Among them were some familiar faces. Shao Shen and Defense Minister Wei Penghu.
I exchanged subtle nods with both of them and answered as if joking.
“I simply did what needed to be done. Besides, it wasn’t volunteer work either. You understand?”
「Hehe, of course.」
It was a fact I had nearly forgotten, but the bounty on the Arch Lich’s head was a staggering 50 trillion.
The compensation I would receive from a month-long war was such an astronomical sum that it could be treated as pocket change.
It was an amount I had never imagined in my lifetime, so truthfully, it was still hard to believe.
’50 trillion, really.’
Just half a year ago, I had scraped by on seven-thousand-won bone broth to save money, and when that wasn’t enough to satisfy my hunger, I would boil instant noodles. Perhaps because of that, bewilderment preceded joy.
“By the way, though.”
「…?」
“You’re really giving it to me?”
The moment the words left my mouth, Choi Team Leader pressed down firmly on the ground, and Chairman Xiao Yang’s wrinkled eyes crinkled softly with warmth.
「Why, do you not wish to receive it?」
“No, no!”
At my fervent response, soft laughter rippled through the gathered crowd.
Chairman Xiao Yang chuckled heartily and patted my shoulder.
「Did I not say so? It is only natural to provide fair compensation for work rendered.」
China—too vast to be called a minor nation, yet too narrow-minded to be called a great power—and this old man was remarkably shrewd.
I scratched my chin awkwardly.
Receiving payment according to contract wasn’t a sin, but accepting a bounty of fifty trillion in such dire circumstances made me feel like a thief ransacking someone else’s storehouse.
“If your situation is difficult, installments would be fine too.”
「If you are concerned about damage recovery, that is a matter for our nation to resolve. As for the matter concerning Jin, we are already processing it swiftly, so the official bounty will be paid shortly.」
After finishing his words, Chairman Xiao Yang leaned close and whispered softly in my ear.
「While tilling the fields and pulling out the rotten roots, gold came pouring forth in heaps. So there is no need for Jin to feel uncomfortable.」
I realized he was speaking of the Crown Prince Faction.
According to the news, the seized assets alone exceeded hundreds of trillions?
And this was before even touching the leadership, including Wu Xueming, who could be called the true mastermind.
‘A corruption class masterpiece.’
It was undeniable that a nation’s territorial size was proportional to the size of its liver.
Well, having become destitute and facing prison time, they’d achieved a certain measure of justice. I answered with a considerably lighter heart.
“Then I should accept it gratefully.”
「What are you saying? Thanks to you, we were able to prevent an even greater catastrophe. On behalf of all the people who could not be present here, I express my gratitude to Jin once more.」
Before I could protest, Chairman Xiao Yang and his entourage bowed respectfully.
Those gathered here were the key officials who moved an entire nation.
They were the very body and mind of China itself.
In that moment of confusion, a familiar voice pierced my ears.
「Should I prostrate myself before a temple?」
“Faye Chen.”
She approached with a playful expression and poked my cheek.
「You worked hard, young man.」
“No, we all….”
「Of course everyone worked hard. But if you hadn’t defeated the Arch Lich, there would be no peace like this now. Everyone thinks so, right? Well, except for that unlucky prince bastard.」
Prince Felix Alexander Louis, draped in a brilliant ceremonial robe with a pristine white cloak, let out a disgruntled cough and fixed me with a steady gaze.
“What.”
「I express my respect to you, commoner of Korea.」
“…I appreciate it, but could you drop the last few words?”
「I express my respect to you, commoner of Korea.」
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
「I am sincere.」
“That’s right, you bastard. I am a commoner, after all.”
「No, that’s not what I meant.」
Prince Felix Alexander Louis suddenly extended his hand.
But unlike usual, instead of offering the back of his hand, he grabbed mine and pulled it toward him.
Taking advantage of my bewilderment, he pressed his lips to the back of my hand and withdrew.
‘What the hell.’
Watching me at a loss for words, Faye Chen burst into raucous laughter, and Prince Felix Alexander Louis spoke with perfect composure.
「It was a gesture of respect. Since this will never happen again, consider it an honor to pass down through generations. Until next time, then.」
Prince Felix Alexander Louis, his expression unchanged, uttered those final words and vanished with his entourage in tow. Magic Johnson, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, smacked his lips.
「Captivating.」
“…You had that kind of taste?”
「Respect it.」
“You have a spouse.”
「That’s why I’m restraining myself.」
I need to keep Magic Johnson away from Korean convenience stores. If he takes one bite of tuna mayo, the world will face an unprecedented upheaval.
As I shook my head in resignation, Choi Team Leader broached the subject.
“Jin Tae-kyung. It’s time to depart.”
His words weren’t directed at me alone, but at everyone present. I nodded and offered my final farewells to the gathered crowd.
I didn’t forget Shao Shen and Wei Penghu, with whom I’d spent considerable time.
“Take care of yourself.”
「We will definitely meet again, Elder Brother.」
Shao Shen, barely in his early twenties, wiped his reddened eyes with his sleeve and continued.
「I will become an outstanding Hunter like you, Elder Brother, and become the commander of the Public Security Armed Force responsible for people’s safety.」
“So young and already blinded by the lust for power. That’s going to be incredibly tough.”
「Shamefully, I’ve decided to receive Grandfather’s guidance.」
“Good. He’ll offer plenty of well-wishes, so listen carefully and engrave them in your bones. Whoever he is, I’m sure he’ll give you genuinely helpful advice….”
My words trailed off at Shao Shen’s next remark.
「But Elder Brother, you know him too.」
“Huh? Know who?”
「Our grandfather.」
“What are you talking about? The only grandfathers I know are Kim Butler from our Guild and the Real Estate Agent in front of the Gosiwon.”
Chairman Xiao Yang interjected with a smile.
「Heh heh, there’s this old man too.」
“Come on. Your jokes….”
Wait a minute.
My eyes twitched involuntarily.
‘Xiao Yang, Shao Shen. Xiao, Shao?’
It was a common surname in China like Kim or Park, so I’d overlooked it, but now that I looked closer, their faces bore a subtle resemblance.
“Don’t tell me…?”
「Yes, that’s right.」
「Even Jin seems to have no choice. Your reaction is exactly the same as everyone else’s.」
“…Ah, I’m starting to feel nauseous.”
「Elder Brother?」
「Jin?」
What kind of novel is this? ‘On the Matter of Meeting a Younger Sister in China Who Turned Out to Be the Grandson of the Chinese Chairman.’ Even the title is unrealistic.
No, everyone I meet is a silver spoon. Seized by panic for a moment, I barely managed to squeeze out a voice.
“Ah. I see.”
「My gratitude to Jin isn’t merely from my position as Chairman, but also from the heart of a grandfather who has reunited with his grandson. It’s a debt this old man can never repay in his lifetime.」
“Ah… You can repay it slowly.”
Unexpectedly, I had saved the grandson of the Chinese Chairman. With an awkward feeling, I exchanged final greetings with the grandfather and grandson, when my gaze suddenly fell upon one person.
‘Wei Penghu.’
It was no illusion that his smile seemed hollow. Unlike his superior, he had lost a beloved blood relative.
For just a brief moment, we gazed at each other in silence before speaking simultaneously.
“Farewell.”
「Take care, Jin. Thank you for all your hard work.」
It was a short exchange, but it was enough.
“Then I’ll be going.”
I gave a small bow to the gathered people and boarded the waiting aircraft, following Choi Team Leader.
Mother examined my body with an expression of both anxiety and joy, and Ha-yeon, who had been sipping champagne in the meantime, smiled brightly when our eyes met.
“Want a drink too, oppa?”
“A drink? What are you saying? You’re underage. Hey, take that glass away from her.”
Skeleton King, who had already transformed into human form and was seated, didn’t even acknowledge me and muttered in a dark voice.
“It won’t work, so I’m useless….”
Choi Team Leader, sitting beside him, offered comfort.
“Hang in there. Next time, I’ll make sure to ask Mr. Johnson for a favor.”
“Really?”
I was about to throw a punch when a snort of laughter burst out. It was because I finally felt like I had returned to my place.
Family I love more than anyone, and colleagues and friends.
Though it was inside a chartered aircraft rather than a home, an indescribable comfort washed over me.
Yes, this is enough.
– We will now begin takeoff. Passengers aboard, please….
The announcement rang out, and the aircraft soared skyward under the escort of the aerial fleet.
And after laughing, chattering, and sharing stories for a while, I sensed that the time had come.
I watched the people sleeping soundly from accumulated fatigue, then laid my body down in the plush seat.
‘Login.’
Ding.
With the familiar notification, darkness veiled my eyes, and I departed.
Toward that distant place where another world awaited me, toward other people.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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