Chapter 38
Changgui specialized team leader Woo Nayeong really didn’t like the new modifier attached to his name. ‘New unidentified monster specialist.’ Though it sounded plausible, the reality was that they had dumped a mission on him with no clear success cases or solutions.
To be honest, those above couldn’t just sit idle in this hopeless situation, and they wanted to place responsibility on someone. In such times, they looked for easy targets. Someone with a sense of justice, workaholic, stubborn, and secretly quite responsible – in other words, someone like the single-minded Woo Nayeong. Someone suitable for making failure notes.
I would definitely roll around in the mud creating rice grain-sized achievements, accumulate even greater failures, then get kicked out. Or I might die.
‘Then that bastard Kim Jaesu would smoothly step forward to take the team leader position.’
He would leisurely climb up to the director position, while I’d be gripping plastic tables at food stalls, downing bitter soju. I could draw a clear picture even with my eyes closed.
But yesterday, something unexpected happened.
‘That, that, that pretty bastard.’
Seeing Baek Mujin crossing through the cafeteria door, Woo Nayeong straightened his posture. From now on, he had to stop the self-deprecation and pull himself together. After all, he had to have a conversation with a young man in his late twenties – was it twenty-eight or twenty-seven? – who had run away from home after his delayed adolescence.
But Baek Mujin seemed quite pleased with his new guild game. It hadn’t even been a month since he committed the unfilial act of assaulting his father and running away from home, yet his complexion was quite bright. While Huiseon Guild, where Baek Sangyeon was bedridden, had the atmosphere of a funeral home, this son was like the main character at a birthday party.
“For such a busy person to come all the way here……”
Baek Mujin took out his phone in the middle of his greeting to check the changgui alert.
“I was surprised that you wanted to meet me, Team Leader Woo.”
“Of course, how could you be as busy as me? How busy were you that I couldn’t see your face once in 3 years, hm?”
“Good. Since you know well, the conversation will go smoothly. Let’s get straight to the point so we don’t waste each other’s time.”
Watching Mujin who didn’t even sit down, Woo Nayeong once again adjusted his expression.
“Sit down first. I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet. You’ve set this place up quite nicely – let’s talk while eating. What’s the best thing here?”
“It’s prepaid. Payment is at that kiosk over there.”
“……Isn’t it free?”
“That’s only for guild members. Team Leader Woo isn’t one.”
“……”
For a moment, only glances were exchanged instead of words. Mujin rolled his tongue once in his mouth, then sat across from Woo Nayeong.
“Talk first. Eat alone.”
When Mujin gestured, a muscle-packed man brought out tea and sandwiches as if prepared in advance. Though his words were rude, his manners hadn’t completely fallen to hell, so Woo Nayeong held hope.
“Oh, you use pretty expensive tea. Smells good.”
“Get to the point.”
“Right, the point is good. Let’s catch changgui together, Mujin.”
At the already expected topic, Mujin snorted. How boring. Seeing him come running frantically after catching just one, it seemed the Rift Control Agency was more lacking in talent than expected.
“It’s not that difficult for you.”
“I didn’t see you as that type, Team Leader Woo, but you’re too obvious. I refuse.”
He had made time thinking there might be other topics, but it fell short of expectations. Mujin openly showed his disappointment and cut down Woo Nayeong’s proposal with one stroke.
However, Woo Nayeong was also not such an easy opponent. Her hunter grade was S-class like Lee Haesu – not comparable to Mujin, but not someone to rot away at the Rift Control Agency. The fact that such a person was working as a civil servant was proof that she was no ordinary nutcase either.
She nodded as if she expected this and devoured a large sandwich in two bites.
“Hmm, then should I try contacting Hunter Yoo Eunseong?”
“……”
“That side is also a ‘being who returned alive,’ so we might have a conversation.”
She had to put down her glass cup again while trying to drink tea to cleanse her palate. The tea water began to boil, creating bubbles.
Looking up at Baek Mujin with just her eyes, all expression had disappeared from his face. Woo Nayeong hid her agitation and adjusted her voice while pretending to be calm.
“How about it, am I wrong?”
She provoked the silent Mujin once more.
“Ah, no. To be precise, it’s not that he returned alive, but a new unidentified……?”
White steam rose from the glass cup that was changing shape and melting. Woo Nayeong pulled away from the table and moved her chair back one step.
“Let’s talk with words, Mujin.”
“You seem to want force, don’t you?”
“Intimidation doesn’t work on me.”
A puff of air leaked from between Mujin’s teeth.
“Likewise. Probing doesn’t work on me either.”
The conversation returned to square one. Mujin’s eyes were saying ‘get to the point.’ Woo Nayeong crossed her arms and leaned deep into her chair while looking straight ahead.
“Let me ask. What is Yoo Eunseong to you? A friend…… it doesn’t seem to be simply that, a lifesaver? Your behavior seems too clingy to see it as just that.”
“I told you not to play word games, but you keep bringing up Eunseong.”
“Because it’s important. How far your sincerity goes.”
“I’m sincere to the end.”
“That’s why I’m saying let’s catch them together, changgui. You want to know too. It bothers you. That’s why you moved yesterday, wasn’t it?”
Having said that much, Woo Nayeong smiled slightly like someone who had realized something. The stares were piercing. All the hunters sitting around the cafeteria had their eyes and ears open toward her. Even an idiot could tell that the entire atmosphere of this space became hostile the moment she mentioned the name ‘Yoo Eunseong.’
She raised both palms as if surrendering.
“Our destination seems the same, so is there any need to go in circles? I’m saying let’s board together early. But I definitely need to know what’s in your heart.”
How far can you go? Woo Nayeong’s eyes turned white for a moment and shone. She took out a turned-off phone from the bag she had set aside and pushed it toward Mujin.
“What is this?”
“Information you need. It’s noisy outside. Stories about you and your lover. There are even rumors that Guild Leader Baek Sangyeon revived Yoo Eunseong. It’s still limited to the upper levels, but it’s a matter of time. Soon dirty rumors will spread all the way down.”
“……”
“I’ll block all of that for you.”
Mujin’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Woo Nayeong smiled slyly and got up, gathering her bag. It was the first time she felt like she had glimpsed something since facing Mujin in the cafeteria.
“Take a look through the contents inside. And contact me with that. It has a secure connection.”
She shrugged and added.
“I guarantee you’ll want to be on my side.”
“What is it that Team Leader Woo wants?”
“Me? Peace. Monster extermination.”
As if asking why he’d ask something so obvious, Woo Nayeong laughed carelessly.
“I know you want to ignore all the ridiculous rumors. I also know you don’t even feel the need to respond. But this kind of thing isn’t about whether it’s true or false – it’s about sentiment. You’re not just naively thinking that truth will eventually triumph, are you?”
“……”
“Right?”
Mujin picked up the turned-off phone from the table and slowly stood up. He took a step toward Woo Nayeong, looked down at her, and opened his mouth.
“At least there should be something interesting inside this.”
* * *
At the same time, Eunseong was visiting Hanyeong in the hospital. It was the first time seeing him in almost a week due to the rampage during the transition to District 3 and injuries severe enough to lose consciousness.
Most hunter guilds tended to set up treatment facilities within their bases. While there were hunter-specialized hospitals outside, internal treatment facilities were absolutely necessary for various reasons including security issues, special constitutions of individual hunters during recovery, and special conditions.
The guild Mujin had set up was no different. The temporary residence before Eunseong’s return only had basic facilities, but the new place they moved to paid particular attention to treatment facilities.
In one corner of a treatment room filled with warm colors, Eunseong was fiddling with Hanyeong’s hand.
“Hanyeong looks just like he’s sleeping……”
“I heard you suggested to Mujin to look for a buffer ability user.”
It was almost a whisper to himself, but Lee Haesu responded. He was examining Hanyeong’s condition and infusing healing energy into his extremities.
“Yes. I thought buffs might actually be more effective.”
“Right, good thinking.”
“Are you already making inquiries?”
“Of course. Baek Mujin is quick with that kind of thing. Though good buffers with helpful abilities are rare, don’t worry. Team Leader Yeon is already contacting Sayeong Guild. Jeongso would be best, but that place is a bit awkward.”
“Awkward?”
When Eunseong asked with a face that knew nothing, Lee Haesu chose his words for a moment. Then Joo Hyeonwoo, who had just entered the treatment room, loudly answered instead.
“Mujin hyung-nim killed the eldest son of Jeongso Guild.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
