Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 144

“What do you mean, you’ll be staying here in his place?”

“Just what I said. I have some things to take care of here. So, while I’m here pretending to be Yoon Hyunchul, you’ll need to assist me accordingly.”

Hearing Suho’s words, Kim Goong-won narrowed his brows, looking as if he still didn’t quite understand.

He understood the words themselves.

But how?

Seeing Kim Goong-won’s reaction, Suho spoke.

“So, you don’t understand?”

Seeing is believing.

Suho began using Reverse Utilization Technique right then and there.

The face he projected was that of Yoon Hyunchul.

Watching Suho’s face transform in real time, Kim Goong-won’s mouth gradually dropped open. And when Suho’s face completely became Yoon Hyunchul’s, Kim Goong-won’s eyes grew as wide as his open mouth.

“Th-this… this is absurd…”

“I’ll be carrying things out roughly in this way. You get the picture now, right?”

“Y-yes, understood!”

“Still, just in case, let’s set up a little insurance.”

“Insurance?”

Suho finished speaking, then stood up and pressed several of Kim Goong-won’s Acupoint Strike points.

[ Acupoint Strike has been activated. ]

After seeing the skill activation notification, Suho pulled out a piece of gum from his pocket and handed it to him.

“Go ahead, try it.”

“……?”

Since he was told to eat it, he chewed it.

But.

“H-huh?”

Kim Goong-won’s eyes widened.

It was inevitable.

He was chewing the gum Suho gave him, yet it had no taste at all.

“I’ve blocked your sense of taste. I’ll restore it when it’s time for you to leave. But if you don’t want to live with a loss of taste for the rest of your life, you’d better cooperate.”

“H-hyungnim, don’t you trust me?”

“Would you trust yourself if you were me?”

“Wow, that’s harsh.”

“Want me to show you what harsh really means?”

“N-no, I understand, hyungnim.”

“Take it well while I’m being nice. And for your information, I’ve also restricted your lower half, so don’t even think about trying anything funny.”

“R-restricted my lower half?”

“If you’re curious, check tonight or tomorrow morning.”

“H-hyungnim!”

“Shut it, and cooperate during this period. Do well, and I’ll make sure there’s a generous amount in your commissary funds when you leave.”

“…Yes.”

This should be sufficient as insurance.

With two of the three basic desires restricted, how could he possibly betray him?

Of course, if his resentment towards Suho was so great, he could still try something despite the risk, but Suho knew his capabilities.

‘He’s not a lifer, just someone who needs to endure a few years. He can handle this short period.’

After reminding Kim Goong-won once more, Suho headed toward the next meeting room.

The next meeting room.

There, Yoon Hyunchul was waiting.

Suho greeted him with a smile.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has.”

“Your expression seems much better since we last met.”

It wasn’t untrue.

His face, which had once been filled with dissatisfaction and indifference, still looked stern, but now it had a bit more ease.

He spoke indifferently.

“It’s just… the same as usual.”

“Haha, if you say so, Mr. Hyunchul, then I’ll take your word for it. Now, let’s get to the purpose of today’s meeting…”

Suho pulled out a blindfold from his pocket and held it out.

“Would you mind putting this on?”

“Why the blindfold?”

“It’ll just be for a moment. There’s a little surprise I’d like to show you.”

“……?”

Yoon Hyunchul tilted his head at Suho’s words.

However, since it was Suho asking, he obediently put on the blindfold.

Once the blindfold was on, Suho stood up and helped him to his feet.

Then he began gently guiding him backward.

“…What are you doing?”

“It’ll just take a moment.”

After walking backward a few steps, Suho spoke.

“You can take off the blindfold now.”

“……?”

What could have changed?

Thinking that, Yoon Hyunchul removed the blindfold.

But then.

“……!”

Yoon Hyunchul’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.

It was understandable.

Just moments ago, he had been in the meeting room.

But now, what stretched before his eyes was not the meeting room.

“This place…”

A cafe.

Yes… this place reminded him of a cafe.

No, it was a cafe.

It had been so long since he’d been to one that he almost didn’t recognize it, but judging from the decor and atmosphere, this was indeed a cafe that served coffee, one he was familiar with.

With a surprised look, he asked Suho.

“…How did you do this?”

“I performed a little magic.”

“Magic?”

“Yes, but my magic isn’t quite over yet. Let’s head over there for now.”

Suho led Yoon Hyunchul to the room located at the far end of the cafe.

Though Yoon Hyunchul looked bewildered, he followed Suho’s instructions and moved with him.

But when they reached the door of the last room, Yoon Hyunchul froze in place, his body suddenly stiff.

“Oppa?”

A woman’s voice.

The owner of that voice was none other than Yoon Hyun-hee.

Seeing Yoon Hyun-hee, Yoon Hyunchul stood motionless as if paralyzed.

Was this a dream?

Or an illusion?

No, this was reality, as astonishing as it was.

“…Oppa!”

Unable to hold back, Yoon Hyun-hee rushed forward and embraced Yoon Hyunchul.

Unable to resist, he accepted her embrace, his arms wrapping around her in return.

And instinctively, he realized.

This voice.

This warmth.

Yes.

It’s her.

My sister.

My one and only sister in the world.

They’d been apart for so long, but he knew it by instinct.

This girl was indeed his sister, Hyun-hee.

So, almost unconsciously, he hugged her back, his trembling hand gently patting her back.

Feeling her shaking through her clothes.

She remained in his arms, crying for quite some time.

Saying she missed him.

Saying she missed him so much.

And then.

“…I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

Overcome with complex emotions, tears welled up in Yoon Hyunchul’s eyes as well.

Then, he suddenly remembered Suho’s presence.

As he shed tears, he looked up at where Suho was standing.

Suho stood by the door, just as before.

“You…!”

At his words, Suho awkwardly raised both hands and gave a small, apologetic smile.

“Sorry. This was the best I could do.”

“I asked you so many times…”

At that moment, Yoon Hyun-hee gripped Yoon Hyunchul tightly and spoke.

“Don’t.”

“…What?”

“I’m the one who asked to see you. So don’t blame him. If you want to blame someone, blame me.”

“……”

Yoon Hyunchul fell silent.

But soon, he had no choice but to accept his sister’s request.

“…Alright. I understand.”

It was a relief.

Honestly, he had been prepared to get slapped for bringing her here.

During this brief pause, Suho took out the takeout coffee he had prepared and spoke.

“Shall we sit and talk?”

At Suho’s suggestion, Yoon Hyunchul quietly nodded.

Yoon Hyun-hee also sat down.

It was fortunate.

He had thought that Yoon Hyunchul might get angry.

After all, Yoon Hyunchul had wanted to keep his situation completely hidden.

But Suho hadn’t wanted to grant that request.

Yoon Hyunchul was someone he had recruited specifically for his plans, someone who would remain by his side and assist him until the world was saved from the Gates.

So, Suho wanted him to be truly happy.

The time until the world was fully saved could be long, and even if all Gates were cleared and the world was saved, he wished for Hyunchul’s happiness to be everlasting.

That’s why he had chosen this method.

In the end, to solve the fundamental problem, he needed to confront it directly.

Of course, he thought the odds were fifty-fifty.

So, just in case, he had prepared an alternative: the Ring of Emotions.

If Hyunchul became angry or sad, he could use the Ring of Emotions to calm him down and facilitate the conversation.

‘I’m glad I didn’t have to use the ring.’

Unless it was absolutely necessary, Suho didn’t want to resort to using the ring.

After all, the Ring of Emotions was a tool that forcibly controlled a person’s emotions.

And so, long before bringing Hyunchul here, he had confessed the entire truth to Hyun-hee.

He had shown her his true face, told her who he really was, and explained everything he had asked of Yoon Hyunchul.

There was no such thing as an eternal lie in this world.

She had been deeply shocked.

But soon, she nodded in understanding.

“So, you’re the one who posted the picture of the noodle restaurant?”

“Yes, it was too good not to share.”

“Oh, my…”

And she laughed.

In fact, she seemed even more relieved after learning the whole truth.

That’s how he had been able to gain her help.

After distributing the coffee, Suho spent some time explaining the whole story.

And when the explanation was finally complete, Yoon Hyunchul sat in silence for a moment before nodding his head.

“…Understood. I’ll respect your decision and judgment, Suho. And thank you, for helping my sister, even though it was part of a deal.”

“It’s nothing. I believe this is the least I should do since we’re in this together. That said… I actually have one more proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes, a proposal. It’s not exactly an ordinary one, but I’d appreciate it if you could accept it.”

“…?”

What was he going to ask that he’d set it up like this?

However, Yoon Hyunchul answered without hesitation.

“Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you. In that case, would you consider going on a short trip with your sister?”

“…Pardon?”

For a moment, Yoon Hyunchul doubted his ears.

A trip?

But I’m a death row inmate.

But Suho was serious.

“I don’t think one or two hours or a few meetings will be enough for you two to catch up properly. So, why don’t you take this opportunity and go on a short trip for a few days? Given your status, traveling abroad isn’t feasible, so it’ll have to be domestic.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, though the arrangement will be unofficial, and the prison won’t know. While you’re away, I’ll be here in your place.”

“You, Suho?”

“Yes, want to see?”

Right there, Suho used Reverse Utilization Technique to take on Yoon Hyunchul’s face.

He then began equipping the items he had prepared.

It was a type of bodysuit, similar to the mimicry mask that Choi Yoon had once worn.

Its name was Muscle Skin.

After putting on the Muscle Skin and inputting various settings, Suho’s body expanded to match Yoon Hyunchul’s build.

Anyone looking from the outside would think he was Yoon Hyunchul himself.

Finally, he used a voice modulation device…

“Ah-ah.”

With the voice modulation device activated, Suho became a perfect replica of Yoon Hyunchul.

Seeing Suho’s transformation, the two of them stared at him with wide eyes.

“Wh-what is this…”

“Incredible…”

Suho smirked and said.

“I have some business with the inmates in Cheongok. So I thought I’d stay here for a while as Mr. Hyunchul. That’s my proposal to you. While I handle things here as Yoon Hyunchul, you can spend some quality time with your sister. Of course, given our circumstances, I’ll need to impose a few restrictions on you.”

“Restrictions?”

“Yes, like this.”

Suho lifted his finger and pressed several acupoints on Yoon Hyunchul’s body.

A moment later, Yoon Hyunchul’s eyes widened.

He realized that he had lost strength in certain parts of his body.

Suho explained.

“Due to the restraints on your wrists, you can’t use magic or skills anyway, but I’ve added a few physical limitations. They won’t affect your daily life, but they’ll prevent you from harming others. Even though we’re in this together, it’s always best to be cautious. I’ll also change your appearance so you can travel freely.”

Yoon Hyunchul let out a laugh, seemingly at a loss.

However.

“Understood. I’ll do it.”

He cheerfully accepted Suho’s proposal.