The press conference following the defeat of the notorious Titan was surprisingly brief and straightforward, thanks to Taeju and Hahyuk prioritizing the guild members' rest above all.
Reporters asked various questions, starting with how the Titan was defeated, whether there were any casualties, and if Titan's death was confirmed. All these questions were anticipated and listed by Taeju and Hahyuk beforehand. The two guild leaders, having prepared their answers in advance, smoothly took control of the atmosphere.
With most questions handled by them, Sihyun and the other seven guild members, besides the two leaders, had nothing to do but observe. Standing like statues, they watched how Taeju and Hahyuk answered each question, memorizing their responses for future reference, occasionally frowning at the glaring flashes of cameras, as the press conference neared its conclusion.
Just when Sihyun glanced at the clock on the wall, thinking it was about to end, a reporter suddenly raised his hand.
"Mr. Kang Sihyun, what are your thoughts on the Titan incident?"
Out of all the awakened individuals present, the reporter had specifically called out his name. Caught off guard by the sudden question, Sihyun looked at the reporter, holding a notebook, who stared back with sharp eyes.
Though it's said not to judge by appearances, the reporter had a somewhat brutish look, reminiscent of a thug wandering back alleys or a loan shark knocking on doors in a shantytown. Sihyun sneakily glanced at Hahyuk, who nodded, signaling him to answer. Clearing his throat, which had gone unused for a while, Sihyun spoke.
"Could you clarify your question, please?"
"The emergence of Titan was prophesied! Who do you think is the savior mentioned in the prophecy?"
The question was unexpectedly pointed. Sihyun looked towards Taeju and Hahyuk, puzzled how the reporter came to know information presumably known only to the association and top domestic guilds, as they subtly shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.
Affiliated with the association, perhaps.
That wouldn't be too surprising. Facing the reporter's greedy gaze squarely, Sihyun took a deep breath and said:
"If you're thinking of using the Quadruple's point for media play, then it's exactly what I was hoping for. If this reporter isn't foolish, he wouldn't write a hostile article about me, the first Quadruple."
"The identity of the savior in the prophecy is still uncertain. However, if that savior is among those who fought Titan this time…"
Sihyun paused, glanced at the two guild leaders, and then at the other guild members. Except for the kids from Class A, who seemed indifferent whether he spoke or not, Seowoo, Hamin, and Haru looked at him with slightly worried eyes.
Having promised himself to speak out if ever such a situation arose, Sihyun briefly scanned the faces of those who had fought alongside him against Titan, then continued:
"I suppose I could be considered as a possible savior."
"I will not take any more questions. Thank you all for coming."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
As Sihyun concluded, Hahyuk quickly wrapped up the press conference. The reporters, coming back to their senses, started clamoring about the prophecy and the savior. Taeju managed to send off those voicing complaints and questions neatly, and soon, a whistle added to the now-quiet atmosphere.
"You spoke quite boldly. Wasn't that a secret?"
"We need to establish a position domestically. Plus, speaking this way will make the awakeners less threatening."
Once recognized as a savior, whether by humanity or a nation, one attains a position untouchable by others. Despite the busy schedule that had sidelined it, Sihyun hadn't forgotten about the Shadow World incident.
Defeating Titan would surely elevate his reputation, naturally increasing the attention from other guilds. To prevent attacks driven by greed, it was right for him to rise to a position they couldn't target.
If even the suspicion of an attempt to kidnap him arose, the entire nation would be in uproar, placing him in a highly respected position.
Since Hahyuk was already ranked first in terms of strength, Sihyun needed to adopt a different approach. Perhaps, he could end this situation, maybe even stop Gula that appeared months ago.
The first Quadruple.
With Russ being the world's top Triple, the extent of the first Quadruple's power was uncertain to anyone. The unknown power fueled people's imagination, giving hope that he could defeat the invincible Gula.
Unlike before, merely mentioned a few times in articles as the first Quadruple, his actions against Caris and Titan showcased his capabilities. This would ensure that citizens remember not just any Quadruple, but Kang Sihyun as the Quadruple.
By gaining recognition and hope from the people, Sihyun would finally reach the position he aimed for.
Sihyun, despite being caught off guard by the sudden question, nodded awkwardly in response to Taeju's praise for handling it well.
"The press conference might be over, but there's still a lot to tidy up, and we don't know what might happen next. So, just observe the situation from Muam for about a week before heading back. If you get bored in the meantime, you could also offer support for rifts. It's somewhat of a working holiday, I suppose."
"So, you're saying to just go on rift support for a week?"
"That would be nice."
What was a suggestion in polite terms was essentially a mandate in direct speech. Predicting the obvious implications of just lounging around Muam for a week, Sihyun casually agreed and, after having things to attend to in the meeting room, was seen off by Hahyuk and Taeju back to his lodging.
Upon exiting the press conference, the Muam guild members were spread out in front of the lodging, reminiscent of when Sihyun first arrived at Muam. When he looked at Yeonju, she scratched her cheek, showing signs of embarrassment.
"They said they wanted to see you again."
"Us?"
"Yes, they wanted to apologize for being rude at first…"
Yeonju, speaking on behalf of the Muam guild members, trailed off awkwardly. Sihyun, seeing the uncomfortable expression on the woman, shifted his gaze from her to the guild members lined up in front of the lodging.
Their impressions were certainly different from the first meeting.
Not just their expressions, but their gazes were fervent, a stark contrast to the cynical and dismissive attitudes from a month ago. As Sihyun processed this change, voices gradually emerged, and the Muam guild members bowed their heads.
"We're sorry for before!"
Their coordination in battle may have been lacking, but now, they were in sync like a well-drilled army. Surprised by the collective apology, Sihyun and the kids, who had previously faced hostility, now awkwardly accepted their gestures, finding it interesting.
The difference in treatment before and after proving one's strength was like night and day.
Was it really supposed to change this much?
Whether it was simple or special, Sihyun and the kids felt the pressure. It was only after answering every question about the battle with Titan, the guild leaders' fight strategies, and if the Caris battle was similar, did they manage to extract themselves from the Muam guild members.
Just having a conversation had drained their energy. As Sihyun returned to the lodging to sort out the rest of his day, he lay on the bed, his mind still in turmoil.
After a bit more rest, he planned to have lunch, briefly meet Hahyuk, then head to the training room for personal training to end the day.
It seemed like there wasn't much to do, yet it was complicated enough to take his breath away.
Time flew, and amidst supporting rifts and training, Sihyun also managed to wrap up the aftermath of the Titan incident. Soon, the day to return to Redem dawned.
Having shopped with Hahyuk's card the previous day, Sihyun packed his luggage into his carrier and rolled it out, where Taeju and other Muam guild members gathered in front of Hahyuk's car to see off the Redem party. Sihyun, spotting Yeonju, Jinhyuk, Inhyuk, and Bandal at the front, waved lightly at the enthusiastic Cha siblings.
"It's a shame you're leaving so early."
"We've been here long enough."
"But it's been a while since we last saw each other. Don't you plan to visit again?"
"I'll come if I get a chance. After all, you were my mentors."
As Hahyuk and Taeju shook hands and exchanged words, the mention of "mentors" caused Taeju to widen his eyes slightly before returning to his usual polite smile and heartily sending them off.
Sihyun, having gotten into the passenger seat of Hahyuk's car, glanced at Taeju one last time before boarding. As Hahyuk drove away, he looked back at the Muam guild through the window.
Everyone waved goodbye, making him chuckle softly.
"We'll be leaving now."
With a slight smile, Hahyuk ended the conversation, and the black vehicle slid away from Muam.
Back in Redem, after spending a little over a month, nothing special occurred. Hahyuk, having finished all important discussions in Muam, told Sihyun and the kids to rest well, promising that, for the time being, the frequency of rift support might decrease since the rifts seemed to be subsiding.
Hearing the news of fewer duties brought joy to Sihyun, who returned to the lodging to greet the kids who were eagerly waiting for him. As soon as he opened the door, Haewoon rushed towards him, and Hamin and Seowoo quickly intervened to moderate the enthusiastic greeting. Despite the concerns, seeing the bright faces of the kids welcoming him back, Sihyun smiled and told them he was home.
"It's not like this is a home, but... I'm back."
Despite it being a bit formal, the long-missed kids all smiled as if they had agreed to do so. After sharing the room and catching up on what had happened during the absence, Sihyun watched as one by one, the kids began to fall asleep as the night deepened.
Waiting silently until everyone was asleep, Sihyun then quietly took out his phone and checked his email.
There was a file from Russ.
'Adam and Eve information gathering case.'
With the urgent matters now addressed, it was time to tackle the tasks he had put off.
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