Chapter 397 – Side Story 12 – Kim Gi-Gyu
“No!” Old Man Hwang slammed the desk and stood up. He glared from side to side as if he couldn’t accept this situation. “I object!”
Eden Gi-Gyu’s organization that controlled the entire world held regular meetings and this was one such meeting. Every figure here was extraordinary. Any one of them could change the world on their own if they tried. Some were public figures while others stayed hidden.
Many such meetings had taken place since Eden’s inception but things rarely got this heated.
“I’m certain everyone here agrees with me!” When Old Man Hwang shouted everyone nodded to show their support. It was also rare for everyone to agree unanimously on something.
“Hmm…” Gi-Gyu moaned. Old Man Hwang and the others were making a desperate appeal to him. Gi-Gyu had brought up a suggestion today and to his surprise it had caused an unexpected uproar.
Hal now looking like a human agreed “Mr. Hwang is correct. I ask that you reconsider Grandmaster.”
Yoo Suk-Woo now Eden’s advisor said “Me too. You’re my friend but I have to side with Mr. Hwang on this.”
Mammon who ruled Eden’s underworld added “I feel the same way.”
Michael who reigned over the sky said “I think so too. You must capitulate on this Gi-Gyu.”
“…” Raphael and several others remained quiet but their nods suggested that they agreed with Old Man Hwang.
All the decisions in Eden’s meetings were made through a vote. Naturally Gi-Gyu’s opinion mattered much more than anyone else’s but this was the first time everyone disagreed with him.
Old Man Hwang sat back down and repeated seriously “Please reconsider.”
Gi-Gyu touched his forehead. This situation had become unexpectedly complicated.
‘How did this happen?’?Gi-Gyu wondered but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t come up with an answer. He looked around aware that at least one person supported him. Her support meant a lot to him but she wasn’t present at the meeting.
‘El…’?Thinking about her made Gi-Gyu a little calmer.
“All right” said Gi-Gyu. “Just as you asked I will think about it.”
Everyone sighed in relief but Gi-Gyu continued “But! This is my wedding so understand this—my opinion matters the most. So I hope you all will also reconsider.”
“…”
The meeting ended.
***
“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed deeply. He never expected everyone to be against his idea.
“Are you okay?” a soft voice asked. Feeling her warm hand on his shoulder Gi-Gyu felt much better.
“El” Gi-Gyu said softly. When he turned his head he saw that she was smiling brightly. “It’s our wedding so how did it become this complicated?”
Eden’s top brass had been wanting this for a long time now. At some point Gi-Gyu and El’s unspoken relationship became official and everyone quite strongly shared an opinion: The couple needed an heir.
“We do need an heir.”
Gi-Gyu asked “Because you think I’m going to die?”
“N-no of course not… We just need an heir!”
The need for an heir was just an excuse. Everyone just wanted Gi-Gyu and El to get married because they had been rooting for their love for a long time.
However Gi-Gyu’s request at the meeting had upset everyone.
Gi-Gyu had stated “I want a small wedding.”
He only wanted family members and close acquaintances to attend the ceremony. That alone would have made this “small wedding” quite grand but everyone had adamantly opposed the idea.
Old Man Hwang had argued “The memories of what you did for this world may have been erased but… This wedding must be an international event!”
But this didn’t make sense to Gi-Gyu as he was just a stranger to the world. Most people had never heard of the player who couldn’t level up but had fought and defeated the Creator. So an international wedding sounded illogical to him.
El murmured “I’m sure he meant that we should have a big wedding inside Eden.”
“But still…”
El’s calm voice helped Gi-Gyu relax a little. Even when they had first met El’s voice had a healing power on Gi-Gyu.
‘But after that time she became even more important to me’?thought Gi-Gyu. After syncing with the Creator Gi-Gyu had spent a long time inside his memory. He had been on the brink of insanity multiple times but Lou Jupiter and El were there to help him.
El had essentially kept him from going insane. It was then that their relationship solidified into something much more.
“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed again.
“There is no need to feel rushed.” El’s calm voice reassured Gi-Gyu. “After all there are other people’s weddings to take care of first.”
“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed even deeper.
.
***
“It’s an honor to serve you like this” said Suk-Woo.
A stylish man wearing a noticeably expensive outfit sat in the passenger seat and asked “What are you doing?”
“Please take a seat.”
Gi-Gyu laughed and asked again “What’s going on?”
“I’m so flattered that I get to drive such an important man Sir” Suk-Woo answered teasingly. He was now one of Eden’s advisors and head of one of the world’s top three guilds the Cain Guild.
“Haa… Why are you acting like that? It’s already annoying enough that everyone acts differently around me” Gi-Gyu grumbled.
“I’m just teasing you. It has been a while Gi-Gyu.”
Suk-Woo a talented player who could form portals and Gi-Gyu had been friends for a long time. But as Gi-Gyu became stronger Suk-Woo faced his own troubles. Later on while trying to save Gi-Gyu’s family Suk-Woo had gotten dragged to Gehenna.
“We can just open a portal and get there in an instant so why did you bother bringing a car?” asked Gi-Gyu frustrated.
“Because someone hates traveling by portals.” When Suk-Woo replied Gi-Gyu laughed quietly.
Suk-Woo asked “You must be troubled by this whole wedding shenanigan huh?”
“You voted against my idea too didn’t you?” When Gi-Gyu retorted Suk-Woo laughed.
“It’s true but this is your wedding we’re talking about. It needs to be big and I…” With a wider smile Suk-Woo continued “I guess… All I want is for you to get married soon.”
“And I know exactly why you feel that way” Gi-Gyu teased and both burst into laughter.
The car stopped and Suk-Woo announced “We have arrived Sir.”
“Stop that already!”
They were in front of Gi-Gyu’s house. It looked the same as Eden but Gi-Gyu’s family lived here. Gi-Gyu could hear laughter from inside.
“So you like her that much huh?” Gi-Gyu asked Suk-Woo.
“What do you mean?” Suk-Woo shrugged with a grin. Gi-Gyu smirked and pressed the doorbell.
-Is that you Son?
Gi-Gyu’s mother Lee Su-Jin asked through the intercom.
***
The dining table was already set neatly. The table wasn’t overly extravagant. There Gi-Gyu’s mother Lee Su-Jin and sister Yoo-Jung were waiting for them.
“Son!”
“Oppa!”
A man sitting beside Lee Su-Jin said nonchalantly “There you are.”
“Hello Tae-Shik hyung.”
Su-Jin argued “Gi-Gyu why do you keep calling him ‘hyung?’”
Tae-Shik agreed “Yeah it feels strange Gi-Gyu.”
Gi-Gyu pulled one of the chairs and sat down. Suk-Woo chose the seat next to Yoo-Jung and murmured “Sorry we’re late. My work ran a little longer.” action
“That’s okay Oppa” Yoo-Jung whispered.
Resting his chin on his hand Gi-Gyu sighed deeply. El was also supposed to be here but she was too busy again. Lou and El had an important role in Eden and apparently some urgent problem arose this morning. El had explained that she might be a little late but there was a chance she might miss the dinner.
“How did this happen…?” Gi-Gyu mumbled to himself.
“What are you talking about?” asked Suk-Woo.
“Is there a problem?” Tae-Shik asked concerned.
“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed again without explaining. He had known for a long time that Tae-Shik was in a relationship with his mother. Gi-Gyu actually rooted for them.
However he never expected Suk-Woo and Yoo-Jung to be in a relationship too. Gi-Gyu turned to look at them chatting and smiling.
‘Well I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.’?Gi-Gyu wasn’t opposed to the relationship. He was just still in shock despite them being together for a while now.
In the past Tae-Shik and Suk-Woo had kept Su-Jin and Yoo-Jung safe. Tae-Shik had to leave them so Suk-Woo had spent a lot more time with the two women and risked his life to protect them.
‘And Yoo-Jung fell for him during that time.’?
At first Suk-Woo had pushed her away but Yoo-Jung had chased him relentlessly.
With another sigh Gi-Gyu muttered “All the hardships are over now and everyone is busy falling in love. Why is that?”
“I think everyone wanted to love but they just didn’t have the energy for it. But now that we are safe we can all follow our hearts.” Su-Jin smiled beautifully. With help from the elixir she looked like a pretty girl in her 20s.
“I guess you’re right Mother.” Gi-Gyu nodded with a smile.
Just then El appeared. “Sorry I’m late.”
She sat next to Gi-Gyu and he finally raised his glass with a relaxed smile.
“I would like to congratulate my mother and Tae-Shik hyu—I mean my stepfather on their upcoming wedding.”
Gi-Gyu’s mother and Tae-Shik had been dating for a while now and next week would be their long-awaited wedding.
