FLIA 110

<8> Taeyang Guild

Yoon Seungryong raised his beer glass high and shouted in a cheerful voice.

“To the new beginning of the Taeyang Guild~!”

Their six glasses collided with Ahn Haeri cheerful clink. Yoon Seungryong drained his beer in one go, then bit into the freshly fried chicken with a loud crunch and laughed happily.

“Chanha-hyung, if this is all just a hallucination right now, then you should just let me stay in it. Okay?”

Lee Chanha gave a wry smile and emptied his glass at Seungryong’s joke. Though he spoke like that, there didn’t seem to be any real grudge between them. Even Yoon Seungryong and Seo Yakrin, who until recently had often glared at each other as if they truly wanted to kill one another, seemed to have quickly reconciled after escaping the Abyss. They still bickered often, but there was no murderous intent in it.

Right now, they were having the team dinner they had been unable to hold earlier, since reporters had swarmed them like ants after they left the Contaminant Special Isolation Bureau of the Rift Management Bureau.

That was about an hour ago, when Yohan was finishing discharge procedures at the hospital where he had been staying as a formality, to show Park Seungmin proof that he had purposely injured his head and lost his memory.

“Are you sure it’s okay to leave already? You hit your head, so shouldn’t you stay hospitalized a little longer?”

“You’re not dizzy, no headaches?”

“I’m really fine. Nothing hurts, I’m completely okay.”

Reassuring the two who worried over him, Yohan finished the discharge process and went down to the parking lot. Since no one had yet discovered that he was a returnee from the Abyss, there were no reporters from any news outlet around. Yohan had made just made up his mind that as soon as he got home he would ask his brother about what had happened.

“Yohan-ah~!”

At the familiar voice, Yohan quickly turned his head, and saw Lee Hyunmook and the other team members walking over. Yoon Seungryong waved his hand in a ridiculous manner, acting overly familiar. Yohan, who hadn’t expected them at all since he knew how busy they had been with preparations for the Taeyang Guild’s founding and interviews with the press, was so delighted that he shouted.

“Seungryong-hyung!”

Only then did Yohan remember himself and glance back at the two people with him. Yang Hwapyeong and Kim Yejoo, suddenly faced with the most famous people in Korea at the moment, froze in shock. Kim Yejoo covered her mouth with her hand and exclaimed.

“Oh my! My goodness… Yohan-ah, they must have come to see you.”

She had heard the story that her son had returned safely from the Abyss with the help of Lee Hyunmook and the others, but since it was such an unbelievable tale, she had half-doubted it. Even Yang Hwapyeong’s eyes widened in astonishment. Only after Hyunmook strode up and bowed his head in greeting did Hwapyeong snap back to his senses.

“Hello, my name is Lee Hyunmook. These are my team members.”

“…Ah! Yes, yes. I’m Yang Hwapyeong. It, it’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Hyunmook.”

Kim Yejoo, belatedly realizing that these were not just famous people but her son’s saviors, also bowed her head deeply with formality.

“I’m Kim Yejoo. Thank you so much for saving our Yohan, and for bringing him back safely.”

Yohan, embarrassed and awkward in the situation, had his face turn red. Lee Hyunmook smiled and gently stopped their thanks.

“No. You’re thanking the wrong person. In fact, the one who received a great favor was us.”

“…What? Our… Yohan?”

The two looked puzzled. Since the fact that he was a purifier had been completely hidden, Yohan’s parents only thought of him as a low-level awakener with some strength and toughness. They couldn’t imagine how their son could have helped someone like Lee Hyunmook. So they assumed it must just be polite words said for their benefit. At that moment, Lee Chanha stepped forward to back Hyunmook.

“Yohan-gun is kind, strong-willed, more courageous and warm-hearted than anyone else. Thanks to him, I truly received great help.”

Kim Yejoo and Yang Hwapyeong felt both confused and pleased at the sincere words. To have even Lee Hyunmook and Lee Chanha acknowledge their son, even if it was just a formality, made them proud. Yohan’s face flushed even deeper at the sudden praise, and before he could say anything, Seo Yakrin quickly cut in.

“Speaking of which, today the Abyss returnees decided to get together for a team dinner! Would it be alright if we take Yohan along?”

“Don’t worry about him getting home! We’ll make sure he eats well and comes back safely.”

Yoon Seungryong quickly added his words too, and Ju Hoyoung stood beside him grinning broadly, nodding over and over. At that, Yang Hwapyeong gladly pushed Yohan on the back. It was Lee Hyunmook, of all people! And a dinner gathering with the returnees, he thought it would be a good connection for the future. Kim Yejoo felt the same.

“Mom and Dad will go ahead. Have fun.”

“Right, you can stay out a little late, no need to come home early on purpose.”

With that, Yang Hwapyeong slipped his card secretly into his son’s pocket. Yohan was also tempted by the idea of the dinner, so he nodded without protest. As soon as his parents’ car drove out of the parking lot, Yohan scolded them with a smile.

“You startled me! You should have at least told me.”

“If we had told you, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.”

Ju Hoyoung chuckled as he guided Yohan toward the car. A large van was parked in the lot, and its shape looked familiar. It was the same model as the one the Sunrise Team had always used. The only difference was that instead of the logo of the sun rising over the sea, there was now a sheep with a halo behind its head. Staring at the shiny hologram-printed logo, Yohan asked.

“This… can’t we fix it?”

“Of course not! It’s already been officially announced in the press!”

Seo Yakrin answered with a broad smile, stroking the unusually fluffy sheep logo. She looked very pleased and satisfied with the new emblem.

“Ah…”

Already embarrassed for the time when the truth would eventually come out, Yohan covered his face and climbed into the car. The one at the wheel was Lee Chanha. They said this vehicle alone had cost several billions of won, and true to its reputation, it was spacious and comfortable even with several people boarding at once. In particular, since it had been reinforced to withstand even surprise attacks from monsters, the car moved with a heavy but steady weight.

Since it was right at rush hour, the traffic was a bit congested, and by the time they arrived at the dinner location, the sun had long set and it was fully dark. They went down to the building’s underground parking lot and climbed two floors up a stairwell in secret. When they opened the emergency exit door, a middle-aged woman was waiting with a tense face, but she broke into a wide smile.

“My goodness, to see the Sunrise Team, no, the Taeyang Team now? I am hlad to see you all again. Congratulations on your safe return. It’s such a relief.”

It must have been a place where they had often held team dinners before, because the restaurant owner was so glad to see them she was even teary-eyed. Among them, she greeted Yoon Seungryong with particular warmth.

“Come on in, quickly. I cleared out the whole restaurant just for today.”

The owner promptly ushered them inside. Entering through the back door, they crossed a long hallway.

The door to the innermost room stood wide open. Inside, the grill sizzled just like in any Korean barbecue restaurant, and before they had even placed an order, the table was already full with raw meat and many side dishes. The owner, when she saw Yohan, seemed very curious about who he was, but she never once asked the question. She only said to call her anytime they needed anything, then quietly closed the door behind her.

“Don’t worry. She’s someone who keeps her mouth shut.”

At Lee Hyunmook’s words, Yohan, who had been slightly worried, nodded in relief. Of course, these were people who had once drawn the greatest attention in the country. This wasn’t the first time they had eaten together in secret, hiding from the public eye. They had their ways, so Yohan picked up his chopsticks with an easy mind.

“Dinner means barbecue, of course!”

Yoon Seungryong gleefully grabbed the tongs and grilled the meat, while Seo Yakrin poured the drinks. The mountain of raw meat went onto the grill one after another with a delicious sizzle. Once Yoon Seungryong finished grilling and Seo Yakrin had filled the glasses, they clinked them together for a toast.

For Yohan, who was having a team dinner for the first time, the excitement made him shift restlessly in his seat. In the cheerful atmosphere, jokes were exchanged and at times serious talk flowed too. Since their bodies no longer absorbed alcohol after awakening, the drinks were little more than props for atmosphere, but everyone enjoyed themselves as if they were tipsy.

“Come to think of it, there’s some good news, Yohan-ah.”

“Good news?”