CHAPTER 262: THE FIRST RETURNEE (1)

[Three hours ago...]

"YOU WANT to talk to me in private?"

Bitna nodded in response to Yeon Soobin’s question.

The Vice President brought him to the private lounge of Director Shin Geon’s office as if he owned it.

[Well, they’re married, so...]

"What do you want to talk about, Bitna-ssi?"

"Vice President, is there a Returnee in our country?"

"Returnee?"

"A person who came back after getting swallowed by a dungeon for years."

"Ah," Yeon Soobin said, and then he paused for a moment. "No. There hasn’t been an official record of a person coming back after missing in the dungeon for years."

"Then I’ll be the first recorded Returnee in the world."

"You want to reveal that you’ve returned after getting stuck in the dungeon for years?"

"Is that something I shouldn’t do?" Bitna asked back. "You’re from the government, Vice President. You should be transparent to the citizens of our country."

"I just don’t want them to have false hopes," Yeon Soobin said firmly. "You’re the exception to the rule, Bitna-ssi. If we introduce you as the first recorded Returnee in the world, people might expect that their loved ones who got swallowed by the dungeon would also return."

"Is it bad? Vice President, do you think those people who have lost their loved ones to the dungeons have stopped waiting for their loved ones to return? No, they didn’t. Well, not unless they’re trash like my family."

Her family was dysfunctional, so she never expected them to wait for her.

But most families had normal relationships.

"Bitna-ssi, do you believe that there are other people like you? People that have survived after getting swallowed by a dungeon?"

"Why not? I’m not a special person. Maybe, in the future, more Returnees will come home."

"Are you willing to be the symbol of hope?"

"I already expected that when the System told me I have a chance of returning home," Bitna said, shrugging. "To be honest, my reason for revealing that I’m a Returnee isn’t noble. I just want the enemies to pay attention to me— I want to distract them so they will leave Wonhee and the Big 4 alone."

"But if that happens, they will attack you."

"I can fight, so I’ll be fine. Unlike Wonhee, most of my skills are attack skills."

"We will assign Hunters to protect you then."

"Nah, just focus on protecting Wonhee."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah," Bitna said, nodding. "So, let’s do it now. I want to do a press conference and announce that I have returned. You don’t have to brief me about what to do because I know what and what not to say to the reporters."

She was a chaebol heiress, after all.

Moreover, she had already once gone though a scandal that ruined her life before the Outbreak.

[I bet most reporters still remember that scandal.]

"Alright," Yeon Soobin said while nodding. And then he looked up at her from head to toe before giving her a disapproving look. "I’ll send you to my baby sister’s salon."

Bitna rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

***

WOW.

Yeon Soobin really sent Bitna to a beauty salon.

Moreover...

"Bitna-ya."

Oh.

Chu Wonhee and Hwang Yejun were there.

[That’s probably why the salon was closed and only us are here.]

"Wonhee-ya, did your brother ask you to come here?"

"Yeah. Oppa called me earlier and told me to help give you a makeover," Wonhee said shyly. "This is the salon I usually go to. I asked my stylists to take care of you today. And I also asked them to bring clothes that might suit you."

Bitna could actually see that.

In fact, when she first entered the salon, she thought she was inside a boutique because of the branded clothes hanging in several racks.

But it was something that she was used to as a chaebol.

"Bitna-ya, Oppa said you’ll be having a press conference later," Wonhee said. "Do you want to change your hair color?"

"Yeah. I want to dye it black since people will take me more seriously if I look ’presentable’ enough."

That actually applied more to old people.

[But I need to appeal to everyone, so I should look like a proper chaebol.]

"Can I choose your clothes for you?" Wonhee asked excitedly. "I’m an expert when it comes to dressing up for a presscon."

Aigoo.

[Wonhee looks so cute when she’s excited.]

No wonder Hwang Yejun couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

"Yes, please," Bitna said, nodding. "You can choose my clothes for me, Wonhee-ya."

"Thank you, Bitna-ya," Wonhee said excitedly before running towards the racks of clothes. "I’ll be back."

After Wonhee left, the hair stylist who introduced herself as Momo asked Bitna what she wanted to do with her hair.

Bitna told Momo what style she wanted, and then the stylist excused herself to prepare the things she would be using later.

And now...

"What?" Bitna complained at Hwang Yejun who remained standing in front of her. "Do you have anything to say to me?"

"Won’t you stay here for good?"

Okay, that made her quite nervous.

"Whatever do you mean by that?"

"You seem pretty reckless to me," Hwang Yejun said, raising an eyebrow at her. "I know you said you wanted to protect Wonhee by distracting the enemies. But you know that you’re putting yourself in danger, don’t you?"

"I can fight."

"Yeah, sure. Are you trying to die?"

"..."

"You don’t have to answer my question since I’m not that interested anyway," Hwang Yejun said casually. "But Wonhee will be sad if you die, so I’ll have to apologize to you in advance."

"Apologize for what?"

"If I see you dying in front of me and Wonhee, I’ll save your ass off even if you don’t want to."

"Hey, you’re speaking too comfortably to me."

"You started it."

[This smartass...]

"I don’t know why you’re trying to die, and I actually don’t care, but don’t do it in the name of "protecting" Wonhee," Hwang Yejun warned her coldly, his red eyes glowing menacingly. "I’ll never forgive you if Wonhee blames herself for your death."

"You talk as if you’re so sure about me being suicidal."

"I know a crazy person when I see one."

"..."

"I heard you wanted to kill your family. You’re probably planning to die after killing them."

"..."

Hwang Yejun clicked his tongue. "Don’t give them an easy death, idiot. It’s more fun to give them hell while they’re alive instead of killing them with one shot."

"Aww. I’m starting to get touched, Hwang Yejun. Can I call you ’hyung?’"

"No."

Bitna couldn’t help but laugh— not just because of Hwang Yejun’s blatant refusal, but because their entire conversation was fun. "You’re such a sharp bastard, Hwang Yejun."

"Tell me more about it," Hwang Yejun said, and then he gently flickered Bitna’s forehead. "Broccoli, kill them all."

***

"ARE YOU ready, Bitna-ssi?"

"You can call me Seon Chowon for today, Vice President," Bitna said to Yeon Soobin. "I have no choice but to use my real name."

After Bitna got dolled up for the occasion, Wonhee and Hwang Yejun accompanied her to the Sarang-hee Hotel where the press conference would take place.

Yeon Soobin was already there when they arrived.

"Alright, Chowon-ssi," Yeon Soobin said, offering his arm to her like the noble gentleman that he was. "Shall we?"

Bitna nodded, and then she waved at Wonhee. "See you later, Wonhee-ya."

"Good luck, Bitna-ya," Wonhee said worriedly as if she was nervous in Bitna’s place. "If you get too nervous, just give Soobin Oppa a sign. He’ll definitely save you."

"I’ll remember that."

After that, Bitna and Yeon Soobin came out and walked towards the makeshift stage with a long table and several chairs.

But only Bitna and Yeon Soobin sat.

Flashes of cameras almost blinded Bitna.

But she didn’t blink.

The entire hall was filled with reporters.

"Thank you for coming on such a short notice," Yeon Soobin said, addressing everyone in the hall politely. "I’d like to introduce a very important person to the entire country."

And then the APA Vice President turned to her.

[It’s my turn to speak, huh?]

"Hello, everyone. I am Seon Chowon, the missing daughter of Chairman Seon Chul of the SC Group," Bitna said, internally disgusted that she had to use her dead name. "I was swallowed by the Crack eight years ago— and, as you can see, I survived and returned home."

A collective loud gasp erupted from the audience.

And, almost immediately, all hands went up in the air.

But the reporters seemed to be impatient as they ambushed Bitna with questions without waiting to be called.

"How many years were you stuck in the dungeon, Seon Chowon-ssi?!"

"How did you survive for eight years in the dungeon?!"

"Were you alone?!"

"Yes, I am alone all those years," Bitna said, deciding to answer the questions that she could answer. "I survived because I awakened as a Guide. The System helped me survive."

Actually, she was more than a Guide.

[But the world isn’t ready for that conversation yet.]

"How did you survive when you awakened as a Guide, Seon Chowon-ssi?! Guides can’t fight!"

Bitna smiled because that was the question she was hoping for. "Are you sure about that?"

"Excuse me?"

"The age where Guides are only expected to, well, guide Hunters will be over soon," Bitna said confidently, placing a hand over her chest. "I am the living proof that Guides are more than that."

"We have invited some guests that will prove Seon Chowon-ssi’s claim," Yeon Soobin added, looking at the Hunters guarding the door behind them. "Please let them in."

***

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