Chapter 10: The Petty Man Never Forgets Resentment

If I said I had never imagined it, that would be a lie.  

What emotions would stir if I met my ex-wife, Ha Yeon Lee?  

Would I spit on that disgusting face?  

Even if I didn’t, wouldn’t I swing my fist at her?  

But  

“It’s been a while.”  

Only a calm greeting came from that long-awaited meeting.  

Why?  

Because emotions had been worn away by hundreds of years?  

No.  

They remain unchanged.  

Honestly, I could only be certain I forgot when I was on the Gritia Continent.  

But now, the moment I returned to the modern era, those buried emotions reignited.  

Burning fiercer than before, like a volcano ready to erupt at any second.  

Looking at that filthy face that deceived me, I want nothing more than to swing my Knight Sword right now.  

But I can’t.  

No, rather, I won’t.  

‘She must never die an ordinary death.’  

She must perish repenting and regretting, in pain and disgrace worse than what I endured.  

“Brother…?”  

Interrupting that encounter was someone.  

A neat-looking man in his early thirties I had seen just moments before.  

‘Chulwoo Shin.’  

The man who recently announced his romance with Ha Yeon Lee and held a grand engagement ceremony.  

He was more known by his titles than his name—  

South Korea’s top Awakener.  

Master of the Shinhwa Guild.  

One of the world’s top 10 Breakers.  

Each of those titles spoke volumes of his tremendous reputation.  

But now, this mighty man was nothing more than a petty fellow jealous of a meeting with his ex-husband.  

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Chulwoo Shin.”  

Yet he hid it well.  

‘Of course.’  

Too many eyes were watching.  

Though the Shinhwa Guild held a stronghold within the Tower’s boundary, outside it was a different story.  

“Please, step inside for a moment.”  

“Why are you trying to control the media!”  

“You’re infringing on the public’s right to know!”  

The crowd outside was bustling, unable to get past the barricades set up by the Shinhwa Guild.  

Reporters holding cameras.  

Officials from other guilds bearing different emblems.  

Their intentions were obvious.  

‘It seems the Tower’s message didn’t reach only me.’  

The message announcing the clearing of the very hard difficulty wasn’t meant solely for me.  

Now that I think about it, I remember hearing that whenever an achievement like the first clear occurs, all Awakeners receive a message.  

Thanks to that, this commotion had erupted.  

The excitement to scout and interview the Awakener who cleared the very hard difficulty for the first time in the world.  

Yet no one could surpass the dignity of the Shinhwa Guild.  

‘Indeed.’  

South Korea was called the Myth Republic for a reason.  

But to think their influence extended to controlling not only rival guilds but even the media…  

I couldn’t help but reconsider the overwhelming power of this guild.  

“Mr. Kim Si-won.”  

Before I knew it, he spoke again, having completely hidden his irritation.  

||  

Shaking myself from my thoughts, I looked at him.  

“Did you clear the first floor on very hard difficulty, by any chance?”  

He likely already suspected, but his eyes, like Ha Yeon Lee’s beside him, silently hoped I hadn’t.  

“I don’t see why I should tell you.”  

He was mistaken.  

He thought that just because he was Chulwoo Shin, the Master of the Shinhwa Guild, everyone would treat him favorably.  

And at that moment—  

Suddenly.  

The mask he had been wearing was about to be torn off.  

“…This is important business. Personal feelings must be set aside…”  

“Important business, huh? Then wouldn’t it make sense to start by explaining what that business is, instead of asking questions just to get the answers you want from me?”  

He was visibly struggling to hold back.  

Normally, he would have snapped by now.  

After all, he was the master of the great Shinhwa Guild.  

Except for a few, no one could resist his words.  

But he couldn’t leverage his authority this time.  

‘The roles of superior and subordinate have reversed.’  

Even though I was an Awakener and a novice to the Tower, I knew how significant control over the first floor was.  

Control meant becoming the Tower Administrator, which meant having authority over the South Korean Tower.  

Controlling what I had assumed to be a common space?  

The Myth Republic was more than just talk; it was a reality.  

And if I were to clear very hard difficulties on floors two, three, and so forth, gaining control over them all?  

‘No wonder they’re desperate.’  

That was why they were causing this ruckus, trying to control everything around them.  

“We’re looking for the Awakener who cleared the very hard difficulty.”  

Despite my aggravating attitude, he managed to keep up his mask.  

No wonder he was number one.  

I felt the same on the Gritia Continent—those at the top of a nation were so for a reason.  

Chulwoo Shin was no exception.  

“Based on this conversation, it seems you, Kim Si-won, are that person.”  

Silence was consent.  

Realizing that, Chulwoo nodded once.  

“So, I have a proposal. Won’t you join the Shinhwa Guild?”  

He disregarded the fact that I was Ha Yeon Lee’s ex-husband.  

“The Shinhwa Guild prides itself as the best guild in the country. This applies to salary, benefits, facilities, and Tower strategies alike. If you want to live as an Awakener in South Korea, I believe aiming for the Shinhwa Guild is your best choice.”  

He wasn’t wrong.  

The Shinhwa Guild was indeed South Korea’s top guild.  

Even the surrounding guilds didn’t dare approach.  

Considering its overwhelming influence, it was natural to choose Shinhwa, even for welfare.  

“And for a talent who has succeeded in clearing the very hard difficulty, we’re willing to offer a blank check. Whatever you want, just say it. We’ll accept any condition.”  

He spoke confidently, as if ready to seal the deal on the spot.  

If I didn’t hold a grudge against Ha Yeon Lee or the Shinhwa Guild, I might have been tempted by such sweet words.  

I admit it.  

But  

“A blank check, huh? That’s definitely an interesting offer.”  

I glanced at Ha Yeon Lee.  

Her eyes twitched, clearly displeased with this situation.  

She probably never expected me to awaken—(though I hadn’t)—or clear the very hard difficulty.  

And if I accepted his offer, joining the guild, the relationship would become unbearably awkward.  

But that wouldn’t happen.  

“So, what should I do? I want something else.”  

“We’re willing to meet any demand.”  

“Ha Yeon Lee.”  

Before she could answer, I said her name.  

“Yes?”  

“If you want me, kick Ha Yeon Lee out of the guild. If you do that, I’ll gladly join the Shinhwa Guild.”  

A blank check?  

Money meant nothing to me now.  

What I wanted was revenge against Ha Yeon Lee.  

Her ruin for deceiving me.  

The guild expulsion I just demanded was the first step.  

Of course.  

“…Impossible.”  

The reply was immediate.  

“To expel a current guild member just to accept someone else is unthinkable, at least by my standards.”  

“Is that so? Then the negotiation’s off. That was the only condition I wanted.”  

The response was expected.  

And it was the answer I hoped for.  

From Chulwoo’s perspective, it was only natural.  

No matter how important the talent, no sensible leader would throw out existing members publicly like this.  

Yet he made the offer for one purpose.  

Justification.  

Yes, this was about justifying it.  

I made it clear I was hostile to Ha Yeon Lee, and they refused.  

So, any conflict arising from this would be their responsibility.  

“Are you really going to do this?”  

Ha Yeon Lee’s face flushed red, almost bursting with the anger she had held back.  

I looked at her.  

“Yes. It’s true we parted on bad terms.”  

Not just bad.  

I had lived in hell.  

Broken to the point where dying right then wouldn’t have been surprising.  

Yet for her, it was merely “bad terms,” a trivial matter.  

“But you must separate business and personal matters.”  

At first, Chulwoo seemed to want to stop her.  

But seeing that she wasn’t as agitated as expected, and judging her words had some logic, he left her be.  

Perhaps sensing that, the vile mouth started moving again.  

“You know what disappointed me the most about you, brother? This exact attitude. Why are you so petty? You awakened and cleared the world’s first very hard difficulty floor. You should have ambitions to match that. And yet, you want to kick me out of the guild just because of one woman? Do you really think getting rid of me will help your life?”  

After the sharp criticism—  

“Brother, let’s forget our miserable past. Both of us have now laid the foundation to live a new life. Please, don’t focus on the trees; look at the forest.”  

Even offering profound reflections on life.  

“I agree with Ha Yeon’s words.”  Perhaps interpreting my silence as agreement, Chulwoo stepped in.  

“I cannot fathom the wounds these events caused you, Mr. Kim Si-won. But there is more life ahead. Please do not cling to trivial grudges; it’s better to look to the distant future and draw a bigger picture.”  

His tone was lecturing, as if teaching.  

To sum it up:  

‘What a pair of fools.’  

Yes.  

That phrase fit perfectly.  

These two were seriously mistaken.  

They dismissed everything I endured over the past year as trivial.  

Of course.  

The perpetrator never understands.  

The fact that a frog can be killed by a stone tossed like a joke.  

The fact that it was a despair too deep to be brushed aside as trivial.  

“I understand emotions are running high. Please contact me once you’ve settled down.”  

He handed me a business card, seemingly deciding that further discussion was impossible.  

I accepted it without a word.  

“I expect a wise response.”  

He probably intended to turn his back without hesitation, acting indifferent.  

“…No need to wait.” I said, turning back to face Chulwoo Sin and Ha Yeon Lee.  

Right in front of them, I crumpled the business card in my hand and said, “Separate business and personal matters? Sorry, I’m not a magnanimous man capable of doing that.”  

I am a petty man who must repay every grudge taken against me.  

“So accept the petty man’s resentment with open arms.”  

“What…?”   Chulwoo and Ha Yeon Lee opened their mouths in confusion.  

Soon, they understood what I meant by resentment and realized the Tower’s message.  

[Kim Si-won, Administrator of the 1st Floor, has set an access restriction.]  

[Access to the 1st floor has been denied to all members affiliated with the Shinhwa Guild.]  

A restriction on 1st floor access.  

This was a condition applied solely to the Shinhwa Guild, affecting every one of its members.