Chapter 281. Side Story   - Heimdall

“I’ll be back,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said from the front door.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to visit the Park siblings.”

The Park siblings were two powerful Hunters who had helped Lee Jun-Kyeong before his return. They were the best blacksmiths in the world.

Park Jae-Hyun and Park Yu-Jin had also awakened their memories of Lee Jun-Kyeong. However, the two of them didn’t appear at their periodic gatherings.

‘We’re busy.’

‘Do you think making weapons is easy?!’

The two of them spent all of their time making weapons without stopping. Nothing seemed more important to them than making weapons.

‘Go tell Lee Jun-Kyeong to come find us instead!’ the two of them said as if they still wanted to see him.

Thus, Lee Jun-Kyeong went to visit their shop from time to time.

“I want to make some armor,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said, not having left the house yet.

“Armor? There’s no need for any, is there?”

Lee Jun-Kyeong wondered if it really was such a ridiculous statement when he saw Heimdall laugh in response.

“I’ve now ended up working as a Hunter, haven’t I? I should at least get some armor.”

“If something is strong enough to hurt even you, then the world would be ending...”

“That’s not what I meant,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said, laughing. “It would be a little weird if I seemed too different from other people.”

“Ah.”

Heimdall finally nodded in understanding. Lee Jun-Kyeong had just recently completed his registration as a Hunter.

‘In such an extravagant way, huh...’

“Pfft.”

Heimdall still laughed out loud when he thought about what had happened then. It was truly the first time in a long time since he had seen Jun-Kyeong be so flustered.

“Okay,” he said. “Go ahead, our dear Lord, Sir Great Hero.”

“...”

Lee Jun-Kyeong’s face darkened.

Bang!

Great Hero—that was Lee Jun-Kyeong’s current nickname. Funnily enough, it was Lee Jun-Kyeong’s second nickname, not a title. He had been given this nickname as someone who had appeared as Heimdall’s son, Horus’ brother, and Liu Bei’s benefactor. Now, when others asked why Great Hero specifically...

‘This brat is a Great Hero!!!”

It was because Horus had declared it so. It was an old-timey nickname, but perhaps because of the “boomer” nature of his nickname, Lee Jun-Kyeong’s popularity was greater than expected. People admired the new rookie named Lee Jun-Kyeong.

‘How young was Heimdall when he sired a son?’

‘Wait a minute, something is seriously weird here!’

‘Wait, could it be...?!’

Unexpectedly, the tale had shifted into Heimdall having a child when he had been a minor. That was also an even more irritating thing for Heimdall than expected.

“I haven’t reached thirty yet!!” Although Heimdall was hoping that people would have just interpreted it as him having a child when he had been exceedingly young, even with how handsome his face was, the fact that he was bald seemed to just confirm people’s suspicions.

“As expected, Heimdall lied about his age.”

“Ugh.”

Heimdall sighed before chuckling. “It seems like you’re adjusting well.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong was doing well. It wasn’t that Heimdall didn’t know about his son’s desire to live quietly. However, such a person was the focus of public attention. Because of that, the interest in him was sky-high. But, even still, Lee Jun-Kyeong seemed to be taking it well.

Although it seemed as though Horus had done so without thinking, change was needed. Horus had already spoken to him about something like this. Lee Jun-Kyeong had defeated the Demon King and saved the world.

‘It’s true. As Horus said, he is a Great Hero.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong really was a Great Hero. But even as a savior of the world, he stayed at home without anything to do. Although he wanted a peaceful life, the way that he existed now wasn’t the only way that had to be possible.

‘He can’t be honest with himself.’

Heimdall, who lived with Lee Jun-Kyeong, was able to see Lee Jun-Kyeong’s true feelings. Lee Jun-Kyeong was unable to find his role in this timeline as days passed, one by one. That was why he seemed to be getting used to just living with nothing to do, like a dayfly, even with Heimdall trying to slowly suggest for him to live life, not just survive.

“You reap what you sow, you little brat,” Heimdall said while he looked at the entrance, where Lee Jun-Kyeong had already left.

He laughed. ‘Who told you not to control your strength?’

He, Horus, and Liu Bei had only added fuel to the fire. The person who had actually started it was that brat, Lee Jun-Kyeong himself.

“Ha-eup.”

Heimdall stood up because he also had work to do.

***

“What are you doing?”

Heimdall answered indifferently in response to Jeong In-Chang’s seemingly absurd question, “Watching TV?”

“No, I mean...! Why are you watching TV in our guild house??” Jeong In-Chang shouted.

Watching TV was something anyone could do. But why was he watching it in the guild house? Why did he come to the Northern Army Guild complex just to watch TV? Moreover, of all places, in the Guild Leader’s room??!

“This is my room!”

Heimdall lay comfortably on the sofa as he watched TV with his feet on the table. Jeong In-Chang shook his head as if he was shocked by the sight.

“Because our ‘house is too small.’”

“Just...just how childish are you...”

Jeong In-Chang wondered if this was how Heimdall was taking revenge for what he had said at their last meeting. He eventually collapsed into his chair, saying, “Do whatever you want.”

“You know what? I will.”

Heimdall's words seemed to raise his blood pressure again. However, Jeong In-Chang let it slide and changed the subject, “Is it because of the incident?”

“What?”

“I’m talking about Mr. Lee.”

There was no way that Jeong In-Chang hadn’t heard. He was the head of the great guild, the Northern Army Guild. Moreover, the incident had even been mentioned as breaking news in news reports in the first place. Currently, the most influential people in the world were Hunters.

Horus, Liu Bei, and even Heimdall were involved in this incident, as, among all of the Hunters in the world, someone who was said to have a connection with the most influential people in the world had appeared. It was impossible for him not to have heard by now.

“Well...”

“There’s no way that there were any reporters waiting in front of your house or anything.”

There wasn’t a fool in the world that would bother an SSS-Rank Hunter, not even a reporter. Rather than any physical retaliations, any report would be terrified of the repercussions that followed just from a single word by Heimdall.

“So, why are you taking refuge here?”

“I told you, that’s not it.”

Heimdall adjusted his posture, sitting up. He turned off the TV, and the room became quiet. Jeong In-Chang’s face hardened at that sight. “What’s going on?” He didn’t know how long it had been since he had last seen Heimdall’s serious expression.

Right now, Heimdall’s face was as solemn as the day that Lee Jun-Kyeong had returned. He was worried.

‘What happens if Jun-Kyeong doesn’t come back...?’

Heimdall had experienced the return of the Demon King several times. However, this was the first time that Lee Jun-Kyeong had regressed. Thus, he didn’t know if any changes would arise.

Lee Jun-Kyeong was his precious son. This was a chance for him to spend his first peaceful life with his son. Heimdall had been terrified that chance would disappear. However, Jeong In-Chang could see that his expression was the same as it had been then.

“Please talk to me,” Jeong In-Chang responded in a similarly serious tone. ‘Considering who he is now, nothing will be a burden.’

When Jeong In-Chang had awakened his memories of Lee Jun-Kyeong, there was one thing that he thought of as the most important.

‘I have to be of help to Mr. Lee. I have to be good enough to be his shield.’

He had to build his strength for Lee Jun-Kyeong. All of their other companions were overseas, and because Heimdall had declared that he wouldn’t found a guild, there was no influential organization in Korea that could help Lee Jun-Kyeong.

At first, he had thought about the Association. However, Jeong In-Chang had realized that a less controlled organization was needed. At that time, the same thing happened as before the regression.

Choi Yeong-Seong and Choi Yong-Su, who were originally the foundation of the Northern Army Guild, had offered to recruit him. Thus, Jeong In-Chang had taken that chance to swallow up the guild.

Choi Yeong-Seong and Choi Yong-Su had done the same as before, beginning to commit evil deeds in this new timeline. In the past, Jeong In-Chang would have been dragged around by them. However, the current Jeong In-Chang condemned them, took their place, and swallowed up the Northern Army Guild before raising it. As he grew it on his own, he had decided once again.

“The Northern Army Guild is Mr. Lee’s shield. Heimdall is Mr. Lee’s family. Thus, I have a duty to protect you two.”

He would become their strong shield. Heimdall chuckled at the serious look of Jeong In-Chang, whom he had not seen in a long time.

"You little tyke."

He really was thankful for the brat. Swallowing those thoughts, Heimdall said, “It’s not a big deal. I just don’t have anyone else to ask for advice.”

“So what’s going on then? Is it a power struggle? Or maybe...a powerful enemy...?”

Jeong In-Chang tried to make his own guesses, but he couldn’t come up with an answer. Even according to the information gathered by the Northern Army Guild, there didn’t seem to be anything about anything major happening to Heimdall.

Something was happening...

“I’d like to get some dating advice,” Heimdall said as seriously as possible.

***

“You’re talking about you and...Lady Athena, right?”

It was only a long time later that Jeong In-Chang had come to his senses. He had been wracking his brains as to what Heimdall was going to say, so much so that when Heimdall had said that it was only relationship advice, Jeong In-Chang had stopped breathing in shock and almost fainted.

“Well...yes... I suppose.”

Jeong In-Chang looked puzzled at Heimdall's reaction, seeing the Hunter even stuttering.

“Is this your real personality?”

“What...?”

“Weren’t you supposed to be a blunt and chic manly man?”

Heimdall’s personality before the regression had definitely been like that. Although it could be said that the tension in him had eased and he had become much more relaxed now, it wasn’t as if Heimdall’s coolness had gone anywhere.

‘Other than looking a little old, those straight and broad shoulders. The balanced physique. Perfect proportions. Handsome face...’

Jeong In-Chang inspected Heimdall. Then, was it because of that?

“The bald head...?”

“No! What are you talking about?! It’s not about my looks!”

“Ah, okay, okay... I’m not sure if you really think like that, but...” Jeong In-Chang said as if teasing Heimdall.

“No, that’s not it,” said Heimdall seriously. “My relationship with Athena is longer than you think.”

“You said that you have memories of your past life, right?”

Heimdall had been cursed by the Demon King. Whenever the Demon King repeated a regression, he had forced Heimdall to remember everything that had happened in order to raise Lee Jun-Kyeong.

Jeong In-Chang’s face darkened.

"That's right. For the first few regressions, I connected with Athena, again and again, as if I was drawn to her.”

“...”

“However, the more the regressions repeated, the more I distanced myself.”

Jeong In-Chang nodded as if he understood. Heimdall had been forced to remember all of his memories, repeating time, over and over again.

‘To always have to undergo the death of a loved one...’

It meant that Heimdall had to repeat the fact that his love didn’t remember who he was. Jeong In-Chang couldn’t even begin to imagine how painful that must have been.

“And then...” Heimdall said with an extremely depressed expression, "I forgot."

"Huh?"

What did he forget? Could he have forgotten what the feeling of their love was? No, if that were the case, they wouldn’t have been having this conversation.

“Well...” Heimdall said. “I don’t remember how to start a relationship...”

“...”

“Do kids these days confess? Or what about dates? No, more importantly, does Athena even still have feelings for me? Don’t you think her attitude toward me at this meeting was a little chilly??!” Heimdall continued quickly.

"Ha...”

Jeong In-Chang sighed as he rubbed his temples.