BRDM 196

chapter 196

“This guy… why does he keep being unreachable? Why is the meeting taking so long…?”

Kim Min-jung anxiously chewed her nails.

Yet there was still no response on her phone messenger app.

―Let’s see what you’re doing.
―ㅋ

The more she looked, the more the infuriating messages stuck in her mind.

‘Of all people, it had to be him!’

Normally, he barely made it to work in the afternoon. Who would have thought he’d come out early in the morning?

This was why you shouldn’t be flirting near the office.

Her careless assumption that no one would be around in the morning had led to this dreadful(?) outcome.

The problem was,

‘It’s fine, right? He really won’t tell Team Leader Im, right?’

Because he was currently in a meeting with Im Won-young.

She’d heard it was about the future development of Team Z.

The uncertainty of what could come up made her impatient.

“Sweetie,”

Zing.

“The porcelain wallpaper is beautiful, Assistant Manager Kim. Do you like museum tours?”

Um Gi-seon, trying to gauge Kim Min-jung’s reaction, got the glare of a hawk but kept talking.

“Focus on your work, Section Chief Um. Once Team Leader finishes the meeting with the Deputy Director, there will be a team-wide meeting, right? Hurry up and prepare the materials.”

“……Yes.”

The culprit who had nagged her to check out the new churros shop and caused this incident quietly shrank back.

Kim Min-jung briefly wondered if she had been too overbearing, but she quickly shook it off.

Since the previous Crevasse Operation, the perception of Team Z across the company and industry had changed drastically.

From being “White Burn’s kid” to a promising team, and now the elite that defeated Pingsin.

Many former Cheongrye members had joined, so everyone was closely watching their next moves.

Everyone seemed to expect something unprecedented.

However,

‘No. Now is precisely when we need to stay calm. Overly high expectations could just overheat the team’s atmosphere.’

Kim Min-jung thought differently.

She had already shared this view with Oh Su-heon.

‘Next, we should tackle dungeons—the long-unsolved ones, which were originally Team Z’s identity.’

Solving one or two dungeons would help cool down the overheated atmosphere.

The team’s moves could wait until then.

‘The only problem is… the Samahoe’s movements.’

Recently, everyone in the industry who needed to know had heard of Samahoe.

Would Lee Hyun just let this slide?

‘Ultimately, Senior Jang will decide, but I hope he doesn’t charge forward like a racehorse.’

Just as Kim Min-jung’s worries deepened about whether Lee Hyun would get blinded by revenge like four years ago,

“Congratulations.”

“……Huh?”

Kim Min-jung looked up at the sudden appearance of a document folder on her monitor.

Im Won-young grinned and whispered.

“You’ve got a boyfriend, right?”

‘Jaaang Hyun!!’

All her worries about Lee Hyun vanished instantly.

“Ho-ho-ho… I… I’m not sure what you mean,”

“I heard Team Leader Jang caught you right in front of the churros shop.”

“……”

“Oh, right. You said it was a secret. Don’t worry. Of course, we’ll keep it between us.”

“……”

“Later, we can talk about relationship advice, okay? Ho-ho-ho. Oh, and give Team Leader Jang a heads-up when he comes. It’s urgent.”

Kim Min-jung’s eyes blazed as she watched Im Won-young leave, humming.

‘Just wait…!! Jang Lee Hyun!!’

Um Gi-seon kept his head down even more, fearing Kim Min-jung’s glare.

Then,

‘…This.’

Kim Min-jung finally glanced at the title on the folder and calmed her gaze.

―Fourth Report on the Near Front.
―Currently, Samahoe’s destination is identified as the Palmyra Desert, and numerous sightings of broken divine entities around the desert have been reported…
―Similar to the Labbu of the <Nest of the Primeval Dragon Tiamat> that occurred long ago in South Africa…

These were not matters to take lightly.

Especially when she saw the content suggesting patterns similar to the low-ranking god Labbu, all previous thoughts vanished.

‘Could Chairman Peng’s goal…?’

Kim Min-jung erased all content related to the upcoming meeting and began drafting a new plan.

It seemed that, like during the Cheongrye days, Team Z would have almost no time to rest.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Mount Huogua.

“Wukong!!”

Fwoosh!

The Fengma King spread his wings and flew over in a hurry.

He had sensed Raphael’s presence trying to manifest at Huogua and rushed immediately.

“What about Bokhae?”

“His mania has worsened.”

“As expected. Is it because he sensed that energy?”

Sun Wukong frowned, looking at the sky.

A white light split the blue sky in half.

It was a mesmerizing sight, like the Milky Way had descended.

But the demon kings present didn’t feel the same wonder.

[Divine Society, <Malah> has expended a large amount of causality. Raphael attempts descent.]
[Do you allow the descent?]

But this was, in a sense, Sun Wukong’s sanctuary.

Or perhaps even a sacred land.

Without his permission, Raphael could not descend.

He could have expelled him, but…

“I’ll leave it to His Will.”

Zhu Bajie, the one most closely related to <Malah>, bowed slightly.

“I’ve shared what I know of <Malah> to aid you, so the decision is up to His Will.”

Sun Wukong remained silent, lips pressed tightly together.

However,

“I think it’s fine to try once, Great Sage.”

Lee Hyun voiced his opinion.

Sun Wukong’s gaze naturally turned to him.

“Why?”

“Shouldn’t we hear what his intentions are? If he only says things we dislike, we can always smash his head later, right?”

Lee Hyun casually slung the Two-Eyed God’s molars over his shoulder and smiled sinisterly.

Sun Wukong laughed in disbelief.

“Crazy.”

“But I think I’m right.”

“Exactly why you’re crazy.”

Sun Wukong shook his head, waving his hands.

[Descent approved.]
[Raphael descends!]

Fwoosh!

The white light that had split the sky slowly widened.

It was like a gigantic door opening.

Angels with wings poured down.

From six-winged seraphim to lower angels with one or two wings.

In the center, a man with orange hair radiated the most power.

‘That must be Raphael.’

Lee Hyun instinctively tightened his grip on the Two-Eyed God’s molars.

‘But why… do I feel even more ominous?’

Thwack!

“Long time no see, Great Sage of the Celestial Heavens and friends.”

Raphael lightly tapped the ground with his staff, smiling faintly.

He carried a large wooden box under his arm.

“Seeing you so robust after overcoming so many adversities fills me with pride.”

“Those who made us like this… are they joking? Did they come to mock us?”

Sun Wukong’s golden eyes flickered with fire.

But Raphael merely smiled calmly.

“Not at all. I come as an envoy of peace. This is a gift from Secretary Seo, an apology for the past.”

“A gift?”

Lee Hyun’s lip curled.

The Fengma King took the box and opened it, eyes widening.

“This is…!”

“Holy water infused with Wisdom Salt, specially made in Eden. It contains the knowledge of magic, so it should help treat the Demon King.”

Inside was a golden vessel filled with holy water.

Lee Hyun’s eyes widened slightly.

[Holy Water of Malah]
Salt from a rare area in the Garden of Eden dissolved in holy water. Refined for a special target, offering great effect when consumed.
-Type: Healing potion
-Origin: Ritual ‘Holy Water Prayer’

It seemed extremely precious even to Lee Hyun.

[Confirm]

Raphael had not lied in the slightest.

The treasure was genuinely rare.

Indeed, Raphael’s name meant “God’s Remedy,” the archangel governing health and healing.

But,

[Ominous]

Unlike the golden eyes of Sun Wukong, the demon’s senses kept warning of danger.

Meanwhile, the Fengma King carefully handed over the vessel, eyes trembling as he looked at Sun Wukong.

“Take it. It should help Bokhae.”

Nodding, the Fengma King spread his wings and soared into the sky.

Fwaah!

Raphael glanced at the departing Fengma King.

“Of course, this alone won’t completely cure the Demon King’s mania. The demonic energy planted by the Uma King is too strong.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sun Wukong slightly bowed.

Raphael smiled faintly.

“I’ve heard the Celestial Sage has changed a lot since his heavenly days. Indeed, many things are different. Long ago, you rarely offered such greetings.”

“It’s about my brothers. Past or present, if I can save them, I’d crawl under the Jade Emperor’s legs to do it.”

“Is that so? It seems we misunderstood you. We apologize as well.”

Raphael bowed slightly, but Sun Wukong’s eyes still blazed.

“First, let me hear what you intend. You schemed to drown me, and now you feign righteousness?”

Sun Wukong recalled Lee Hyun’s words.

If they said nonsense, he could crush their heads without delay.

In other words, if they could be used, they could be used freely.

Zhu Bajie thought similarly—only the source of immediate power mattered.

So, Sun Wukong wanted to hear whether <Malah> could genuinely be of help, and if so, how sincere they were.

If necessary, they could become allies against heavenly interference.

“If you see our actions as hypocrisy, we have nothing to say,”

Raphael continued, smiling faintly.

“At that time, it aligned with the scales’ balance, and now, this aligns with the balance. That’s all.”

“So what you do is justice and causes no problems?”

“Not so simply. Good and evil. Order and chaos. If one side outweighs the other, imbalance ensues.”

Sun Wukong scoffed.

“So, back then, ‘we’ pushed one side too far?”

“No.”

Raphael shook his head.

“What kind of wordplay is this?”

“The one who tipped the scales back then wasn’t ‘you all.’ It was ‘you.’”

Raphael’s calm gaze met Sun Wukong’s.

“Great Sage, you alone tipped the scale.”

“……!!”

Sun Wukong’s expression hardened.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing nodded in silent understanding.

And,

‘…Great Sage alone disrupted the balance? Enough to unsettle the celestial order?’

Lee Hyun realized the true weight behind the name “Great Sage of the Celestial Heavens.”

“You openly admit trying to scheme against me.”

“We cannot deny what occurred.”

“Then you didn’t need to involve the other brothers.”

“We never harmed your brothers directly. Other societies acted out of fear on their own.”

“So you claim no guilt? What a disgusting attitude.”

“If it appears so, we apologize. We merely perform our given duty.”

Lee Hyun began to understand Raphael and the angels’ nature: mechanical, bureaucratic beings living solely for balance.

“But this time, the evil scale tip has gone lower. So, we selected you to counterbalance it. The Judgment Lion was the start.”

Zhu Bajie pressed his lips.

“So you plan to use us as opposition?”

“Yes, similar. But it’s not a bad offer for you or Great Sage. The counter scale is a place you must face as well.”

“Where is that?”

“Gehenna.”

Raphael’s eyes darkened.

“Currently, Great Sage, your formation, the Celestial Lion Uma King, is in Gehenna.”

“……!?”

“And Gehenna, following the Demon King, now targets the Satan King.”

“……!!”

“We of <Malah> can potentially block Gehenna’s interference. We wish to discuss this in detail. We’ve already demonstrated our sincerity, so let’s talk.”

Sun Wukong pressed his lips together. Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing remained silent.

Thwack!

Raphael smiled victoriously, tapping his staff.

Could you refuse to take their hand now?

‘…So that’s it.’

Lee Hyun finally understood the sense of alien arrogance he had felt.

‘Arrogance.’

‘They are too arrogant. Raphael, the angels—they see all of us beneath them because of their mission to maintain world peace.’

A gaze reminiscent of the Jade Emperor’s.

The eyes of a world-controlling deity.

Lee Hyun hated it.

But,

Fwaah!

Raphael spread his six pairs of wings.

Simultaneously, a radiance spread.

Amid that pressure,

“So this is why I always hated your antics.”

“What do you mean—”

Shhaa!!

Puuu-

In an instant, Raphael’s head was severed, flying into the sky.

Forcibly torn.

White blood spurted like a fountain.

“Those eyes are so damn irritating. I’ve met many like you.”

Sun Wukong’s golden eyes gleamed.

“Those who only think about betraying always have eyes like that.”