Chapter 189
Chapter 189
“Did it come in again?”
Dong-il said, looking at the neatly arranged gifts on one side of the office.
They were tokens of gratitude from the residents of Ganghwa Island.
Ginseng, deer antlers, mushrooms, wormwood, and even honey—there were plenty of special local products.
They had moved the gifts accumulated until yesterday to the warehouse, but it seemed more had arrived today.
“Ah, brother. Just think about it. How many residents did we save? More will come in the future, right?”
A young guild member in his twenties replied with a smug smile.
“Really… there’s no need for that.”
Dong-il muttered.
Yet, even as he said that, he looked pleased to have received gifts from the residents.
After all, as an ex-convict, when had he ever received such tokens of appreciation?
Feeling good about it was only natural.
“Our guild’s image has improved drastically now. When you think about it, the saying that life is a mix of fortune and misfortune really fits, doesn’t it?”
The young guild member continued excitedly.
“Fortune… what? Hey, stop using fancy terms and just speak normally.”
Dong-il reprimanded him.
“How is that not normal? I’m a graduate of Seoul National University, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re so impressive.”
“Oh, you angel!”
“What?”
At that, Dong-il turned around.
There stood Rachel, clad in a white priest’s robe.
Suddenly, Dong-il, with a smile that didn’t suit him, clasped his hands together in greeting.
It was the customary greeting of the Church of Illyria.
Rachel responded with the same greeting.
She was now referred to as the ‘angel’ among the guild members.
Seeing such a miraculous event right before their eyes, their reactions were only to be expected.
Wings of a great angel.
That was on a different level from the healing that had become tiresome to watch.
As a result, many guild members who were non-believers started expressing their willingness to believe in the Church of Illyria.
Rachel blessed each of them individually.
And knowing that fact, the number of believers continued to rise.
“Believe in the Church of Illyria, and the angel herself will provide blessings?”
That alone was enough.
Then suddenly, whether because of the surge in believers or for other reasons, she had not left and was still living next to the Yangji Guild Office.
“Angel, have you finished your morning prayer?”
Dong-il asked.
Rachel had asked not to call her ‘angel’ and to use her name, but the guild members continued to call her ‘angel’ as if they hadn’t heard, so she had simply given up on that.
“Yes.”
Rachel replied with a smile.
She then continued speaking.
“Is the guild leader here?”
“Um? Oh, yes.”
“I see. Thank you for letting me know. May the blessings of Illyria be with you today as well.”
Rachel offered a blessing and headed for the Guild Leader’s Room.
◈ ◈ ◈
Guild Leader Cheol-hyung had been very busy these days.
In this incident, the Yangji Guild played a pivotal role in saving the residents of Ganghwa Island.
That alone was enough to attract a flurry of requests for interviews from the media.
However, the story also included that almost all the guild members were ex-convicts.
In a societal atmosphere that largely didn’t believe in rehabilitation, claiming that those who committed crimes once were more likely to do it again, the Yangji Guild’s actions could not help but stir enormous interest.
The negative outlook on rehabilitation was not simply a bias.
The recidivism rate said it all.
So what exactly made the Yangji Guild’s ex-convicts different?
Such questions naturally arose.
People tried to derive their own answers to those questions.
And eventually, they couldn’t help but focus on the heroic correctional officer, Lee Si-hyun.
The commonality was that they were all ex-convicts under Si-hyun’s management, having undergone his rehabilitation.
Naturally, curiosity exploded as to the methods he used to treat the inmates that could lead to such rehabilitation.
And to find that out, it was necessary to interview not only Si-hyun but also the guild members.
That was why requests for interviews about the guild were flooding into Cheol-hyung, the head of the Yangji Guild.
Cheol-hyung was still deep in thought regarding this matter.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a sound of knocking was heard. Cheol-hyung lifted his head.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Rachel entered—a person known in the guild as the angel.
Cheol-hyung offered a polite smile.
He had heard from Si-hyun.
Had it not been for her, things might have turned out badly.
So he felt thankful.
“What brings you here?”
“I have a request.”
Rachel was always polite and calm.
She embodied the qualities of a good priest.
“Please feel free to say anything.”
“May I stay here for a while longer?”
“Of course. You can stay as long as you want.”
Cheol-hyung replied immediately.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Rachel is a precious guest of the guild. Or rather, I don’t know how you might take it, but the guild members already consider Rachel as one of their own.”
Hearing that, Rachel silently responded with a smile.
A short while later, she spoke again in a soft tone.
“Actually, a few days ago, I received a revelation from Illyria.”
“A revelation… you mean?”
Cheol-hyung’s eyes widened with curiosity.
The term ‘divine revelation’ honestly sounded ridiculous.
Most people thought so.
Yet when it came from Rachel’s mouth, it held a certain credibility.
“Yes, Illyria wishes for this unworthy daughter to stay here longer.”
“Oh… I see where this is going.”
Cheol-hyung nodded.
He had only heard of her status as a holy knight.
But he guessed she likely held a significant high position within the Church of Illyria.
If that were the case, she would undoubtedly be a busy person.
Yet, it perplexed him why she continued to stay at the guild even after finishing her work; now that mystery was being solved.
“The atmosphere in the guild looks nice.”
Rachel changed the topic.
“As you can see.”
Cheol-hyung smiled.
They had saved numerous residents without a single death in the guild.
It was an outcome that could not have been better.
“When you do good, good things come back to you.”
Rachel spoke gently.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
Si-hyun shook hands with two middle-aged correctional officers, both smiling.
He knew very well that these were merely formal pleasantries, but it still felt good.
Society tended to function on such formalities after all.
Since yesterday, he had been exchanging such pleasantries with the correctional officers he encountered, yet he had no thoughts of finding it tedious.
Promotion was just like that.
Moreover, this time, Si-hyun was being promoted to a position he genuinely desired.
“Brother!”
Kang Baek waved from the sofa in the break room.
Si-hyun walked over to sit beside him.
“Congratulations, brother.”
“What are you getting all sentimental for?”
“No, you’re becoming a big shot now. It’s not enough to congratulate you all day long.”
He gave a thumbs up as he spoke.
Si-hyun was set to receive a two-rank special promotion this time. He would instantly become a Level 4 Senior Officer.
Simultaneously, he would also take over as the head of the Security Department at the Ganghwa Island Special Detention Center.
He would assume the position as soon as the remaining two-month term of the current head ended.
For Si-hyun, who had always said, ‘I like the Security Department’, this was indeed the best position imaginable.
“It seems you really did something remarkable this time, brother.”
Kang Baek said with admiration shining in his eyes.
“Of course, idiot. If I hadn’t been there this time, it would’ve been complete chaos.”
Si-hyun chattered in an exaggerated tone.
But that was actually true.
The enemy this time was indeed the worst and most formidable opponent.
Without Si-hyun’s prompt preparations, a terrible incident would have occurred not only in the detention center but throughout Ganghwa Island.
The president had learned enough about his contributions to present this award with a commendation and a rare two-rank special promotion.
“Anyway, you must feel good, brother. You’re totally on a roll these days.”
“On a roll? What does that even mean? I’m just a correctional officer.”
Si-hyun chuckled lightly.
“Oh come on, are you kidding me? These days everywhere I go, it’s all about you!”
Kang Baek looked at him like he was clueless about the world.
“Stop exaggerating.”
“It’s not exaggeration, I tell you!”
Kang Baek banged his chest out of frustration.
Then he continued speaking.
“Did you know? A cable channel is starting production on a prison drama. And the main character is a correctional officer. Yep, and they’re using you as the model for that character.”
“What? A prison drama? Seriously? Say something believable.”
Si-hyun laughed as if that was a joke.
TV dramas are usually tailored to suit the tastes of women to boost ratings.
Surely, women had no interest in prison-themed stories.
There was no way it could be a ratings hit unless they were determined to tank it.
That was why Si-hyun reacted the way he did.
“I’m serious, it’s real. If you’re doubtful, just search on the internet. Type in ‘Beautiful Prison Life’. You’ll find it right away!”
“‘Beautiful Prison Life’? As if that title is beautiful at all.”
“That’s actually the title.”
“Goodness, what a ridiculous title.”
Si-hyun chuckled.
He still didn’t seem to believe Kang Baek’s words.
That was largely due to Kang Baek’s penchant for joking around.
Kang Baek shook his head in exasperation.
As he pondered what to say, his gaze suddenly fixed on the TV screen in front of them.
“Huh? Look at that.”
Kang Baek pointed urgently at the screen.
“That’s the interview that blew up yesterday. It’s Im Eun-hye’s interview!”
On screen appeared the figure of actress Im Eun-hye.
She was an actress who made her debut a few years ago, drawing attention for her natural beauty devoid of any artificial traits, as well as her slender figure and background from Seoul National University.
Not only that, but she displayed excellent acting skills that belied her age, making her one of the most popular actresses in the Korean film industry.
‘Eun-hye…’
Si-hyun’s eyes were also glued to the screen.
Just seeing her face brought back memories of the clumsy hunter he had been when he knew nothing.
He hadn’t been surprised at all when she said she was going to debut as an entertainer after graduating from college.
Eun-hye was not only beautiful but possessed a unique intelligence that set her apart from other beauties.
It seemed his thoughts weren’t mistaken, as she was receiving much love from the public.
-This time she plays a doctor who falls in love with a firefighter. Do you have admiration for firefighters?
The screen showed Eun-hye in a one-on-one interview with a female reporter.
-Of course I admire them!
-Them? So, are there any other people you admire?
The reporter asked with a smile.
-Hmm… there’s one person that comes to mind.
Eun-hye responded with an attractive smile.
-Who is that? Your father? Your mother?
-Correctional officer Lee Si-hyun!
-What?
The reporter’s eyes widened.
It was an unexpected answer.
She had never expected that someone would actually name a specific person in this kind of interview.
Si-hyun’s expression mirrored his surprise.
Seeing that response, Kang Baek shot him a look that said, “Look at that.”
-…Ah, Correctional Officer Lee Si-hyun is indeed remarkable. I was honestly moved when I saw him on the news.
The reporter quickly followed up.
-Yes, that’s right. He is quite different from ordinary people. He’s someone who can sacrifice himself for others. He has proven that multiple times.
‘So embarrassing… stop it, Eun-hye.’
Si-hyun muttered inwardly, his face feeling like it was going to crumple.
-You speak about the correctional officer as if you know him well?
The reporter asked with a curious expression.
-Well, not exactly. It’s just a small connection we have.
-What kind of connection is that?
-Hehe, I’ll reserve that for a no comment. Some things should remain as beautiful memories in the heart.
-Wow… what a beautiful thing to say. Is that a thing from Seoul National University? But I’m dying to know, what should I do?
-You’ll have to be patient.
Eun-hye gave a refreshing smile.
“Did you see that, brother? Since last night, the internet has been going bananas over this interview. Everyone’s asking what your relationship with Im Eun-hye is. I told you everywhere is talking about you!”
Kang Baek said enthusiastically as if to prove his point.
“….”
Si-hyun remained silent, chuckling softly.
With all the recent happenings and interviews, he had completely lost track of what was going on.
The list of questions reporters would have for him was sure to grow.
“But seriously, what is your relationship? Can you tell me just a little?”
Kang Baek leaned in closer to Si-hyun’s ear.
“She’s just a younger acquaintance, duh.”
Si-hyun chuckled and playfully flicked Kang Baek’s ear with his finger.