"Is that not possible?"
The protagonist who exclaimed in surprise was Daun. Kang Sihyun, who had only regained his senses after being swept away by the children's enthusiasm, nodded slightly with an understanding expression upon seeing the guild leader's troubled face.
It was a predictable outcome.
Which sane guild would permit minors to travel abroad, especially to a country experiencing dangerous anomalies?
If the guild had readily allowed it, it would have been deemed insane, as would the country that permitted such an action. Sending eight young kids into danger would have sparked outrage in the media and warranted concern about international reactions.
Understanding the multitude of issues that could arise from granting permission, Kang Sihyun, unlike the other kids, managed to avoid being too affected. He subtly averted his gaze from Haehyuk's reproachful purple eyes.
If it was any consolation, he did attempt to dissuade them. But he ended up being swept along by the kids' enthusiasm. How could he possibly convince and turn them back in such a situation?
Though he felt unjust and dissatisfied, he admitted to himself that it wasn't entirely without fault. In a sign of reflection, he slightly lowered his eyes before lifting them again to gauge the children's expressions. Haewoon and Seowoo were still smiling brightly despite Haehyuk's opposition, and Daun looked ready to charge at him any moment.
It was the first time anyone had dared to confront Haehyuk, known for his cool-headedness.
In that aspect alone, he was impressed. Haehyuk then shuffled papers on his desk.
"Were you really that surprised? Kang Sihyun, did you not expect me to refuse?"
It wasn't out of genuine curiosity. This was more of a reproach, a criticism for not intervening sooner. By not preventing the situation from escalating to this point, Kang Sihyun felt blamed and shook his head in denial.
It seemed he had to accept the responsibility for resolution.
What choice did he have when instructed by a superior? As a minor, he had to comply with the orders. The world was full of such irrationality and unfairness.
"I knew."
"Then why didn't you stop them? It's a nonsensical idea, don't you think?"
"..."
"Isn't that right, Haewoon?"
The conversation then shifted towards Haewoon, who blinked his golden eyes innocently before breaking into a grin.
"I knew, but it seemed like it would be fun!"
Even in the face of reprimand, Haewoon remained undeterred, sheepishly scratching his head while smiling brightly. Haehyuk, expecting to further reprimand, simply sighed and looked away. Even Haehyuk found Haewoon a challenging opponent.
Or perhaps he found it too unpleasant to bother.
Kang Sihyun, who had grown somewhat familiar with Haewoon's persistent and troublesome nature, unconsciously sympathized with Haehyuk's attitude.
It was a harsh thing to say, but if Haehyuk deliberately ignored Haewoon, it wouldn't have been completely unjustified.
Ignoring Haewoon's naive laughter, Haehyuk scanned the remaining children before loudly placing a file on the desk and crossing his legs. The guild leader's gaze sharpened, momentarily causing the children to tense.
"The premise itself is flawed. The incident occurred in Egypt, so why would you go there? You're all valuable resources in Korea."
"We might find clues about the Gulra if we go to Egypt."
"Even so, we can't proceed until we've clarified what the pyramid in Egypt signifies. Egypt has already dispatched A-grade Awakened Individuals, so wait until we receive their findings."
"Will you let us go after the results come in?"
"I might consider sending Kang Sihyun alone, with a guardian."
Daun and Hamin's expressions hardened simultaneously. They both objected almost as if on cue, questioning why Kang Sihyun could go but not them. Haehyuk tilted his head.
"Because it's Kang Sihyun. He has the Healer and Copy classes, enabling him to escape or survive in a crisis, unlike the rest of you."
"We believe we're also sufficiently capable."
"Such claims would only be credible if you were at least S-grade. It's unnecessary for Korea to send A-grade Awakened Individuals when Egypt has already dispatched its own."
"So, you're considering sending Kang Sihyun alone."
"That's not an issue. If it comes to it, we plan to attach a couple of high-level Awakened Individuals for safety. It's just that it won't be any of you."
"Why can't it be us?"
The conversation seemed to be going in circles. Noticing this, Haehyuk finally removed his glasses, having sighed at the children's persistence, and stood up. Leaning against the table, he crossed his arms.
"You're under a misconception. If it weren't for the chance to gather clues about the Gulra, I wouldn't have considered sending Kang Sihyun either. And even that's not confirmed yet. As I said, depending on the information the dispatched Awakened Individuals from Egypt bring back, we'll decide whether or not Kang Sihyun will go. It's not a situation where we can just send him regardless. Especially when Kang Sihyun doesn't have any additional information about the pyramid this time around."
The logic was undeniable. The children, driven more by emotion than reason, couldn't counter the calm and rational conclusions reached. After a brief silence, Kang Sihyun, noting the thick air of disappointment among the children, took a deep breath.
Although he had hoped the children wouldn't accompany him, the turn of events left him uneasy. He worried about what plots they might hatch in his absence and felt unsettled by the prospect of things not going as planned. He felt it might be necessary to take at least one or two of them along and thus broached the subject again, this time with a more composed voice, proposing a reasonable argument for the accompaniment of at least two A-grade children. However, Haehyuk was unusually stubborn.
"I anticipated this and already concluded the discussion during the meeting. At least until the first dispatch results from Egypt are in, nothing can be confirmed, and even then, Korea might choose not to send Kang Sihyun."
"The association was as eager for information on the Gulra as anyone."
"That only underscores how much the association expects from Kang Sihyun. And even if it's not him, the pyramid investigation can proceed. Kang Sihyun can visit later, once safety is assured."
It seemed Haehyuk had made up his mind. Not just his opinion, but that of the entire association and perhaps the country, made it difficult for Kang Sihyun to protest.
Adam and Eve's traces were originally brought up by Haehyuk, and now, despite his initiative, backing down felt frustrating. The concern for safety was understandable, yet the defensive stance seemed excessive.
If such dangers were a deterrent, Kang Sihyun should not have participated in the Karis or Titan battles.
Despite his grievances, Kang Sihyun couldn't persist in his defiance and, after hearing Haehyuk's warnings again, returned to his room with the children, achieving nothing. They had left with the grandeur of generals marching to battle but returned deflated, their shoulders slumped. The children looked at Kang Sihyun with somewhat pitiable eyes.
"...Even looking at it that way, it's not possible. You all saw Haehyuk's expression."
"It's the first time Haehyuk has been this firm."
"Honestly, being cautious about the Egypt situation is understandable since it's unprecedented. I'd prefer if none of us had to go. But if only Kang Sihyun goes..."
It was somewhat disheartening.
Seowoo's voice trailed off, and everyone shared that concern, casting worried glances at Kang Sihyun. If no one was to go, it was better if everyone stayed back. But if only one person went, it would leave the rest uneasy.
Knowing this, Kang Sihyun avoided their gazes and fidgeted with his neck.
"This time, it's not something that can happen just because I want it. What can we do but wait for the results?"
What the Dekumanus pyramid represented was unknown to Kang Sihyun.
It could be a place marked by the Irregulars, like the Orc tribe, or it might house a powerful Irregular not yet discovered due to the large-scale rift. As Haehyuk said, they needed to gather information about the location before proceeding. Turning his head, Kang Sihyun looked out the window as the children, subdued, began their own tasks, waiting for news from Egypt.
Perhaps a week had passed.
Finally, news arrived from Egypt, which had been quiet since the large-scale rift.
Regrettably, it wasn't the kind of news Kang Sihyun and the children had hoped for.
"The Awakened Individuals dispatched to Egypt have gone missing. Not just one, but all five teams that went searching for them."
Following his promise to notify them of any news from Egypt, Haehyuk called the children to his office to share the unexpected news of the disappearances. Kang Sihyun, taken aback by the announcement, accepted the documents Haehyuk handed him and scanned them.
'All teams composed of A-grade Awakened Individuals dispatched have gone missing. No significant traces found near the pyramid. Request for assistance sent to the global hunter association by Egypt.'
The situation was dire, even more so than Haehyuk had indicated, leading Kang Sihyun's expression to harden. After observing the children's reactions, Haehyuk took back the documents and addressed them.
"Other countries have agreed to send available Awakened Individuals for support, but aside from the United States, there have been no volunteers."
"Is everyone too busy?"
"They're likely preserving their lives and gauging the situation."
Jihye's murmured response was met with a straightforward answer from Haehyuk, who then tapped the table lightly, a habit when deep in thought. Recognizing the gesture, Kang Sihyun straightened up and met Haehyuk's gaze.
The limitation of relying solely on personnel drafted from the United States to address the pyramid situation in Egypt was evident. Having recently been informed by Haehyuk that Korea's rift situations were stabilizing, Kang Sihyun could easily deduce that Korea would also agree to support Egypt, enhancing its global standing.
And among the available Awakened Individuals, he was the essential person to be sent.
"You agreed to assist in tracking down the traces. Since I've dreamt of it, I might know something once I get there, Guild Master."
Initiating the conversation, Kang Sihyun called out to the children. Observing those attempting to dissuade Kang Sihyun and others advocating to join him, Haehyuk exhaled deeply, his eyes momentarily flashing.
"Let's do this."
After a prolonged moment of contemplation, with his brows furrowed as if reluctantly, Haehyuk finally spoke up.
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