#59
Coming out of the Management Bureau, they could see that reporters were still camped out. No matter how much it was their job, wasn’t it hard? He felt a bit of sympathy. Indeed, the world was tough to make a living in. That wasn’t just true for himself.
But no matter how much Ha-seong shot sympathetic glances toward the reporters, they couldn’t see him. Fortunately, the concealment item he had been saving was functioning properly.
“Why aren’t you coming?”
“Oh. Let’s go.”
Do-hyeok pulled the hand he was holding. Since they had been holding hands from the time they left the Management Bureau, it was quite uncomfortable. Come to think of it, there was no particular reason to hide their presence from Management Bureau internal staff, so he had said to let go when they came out, but Do-hyeok had firmly shaken his head. He really was an unpredictable guy.
The two hands that had been firmly held together only separated safely when they got in the car. Ha-seong took off the bracelet and put it back in his inventory. It was excellent at perfectly erasing presence, but thanks to the additional conditions attached, it was still an inconvenient item. He probably wouldn’t have occasion to use it for the rest of his life after today.
Do-hyeok slowly started the car. Anyway, with the clue Ha-seong had given as a starting point, it would be better to move with that information once Woo-bin figured something out. As he said, in this condition, forget being an informant, he would obviously just drag the two of them down.
“But hyung really seems to know a lot about guns.”
Do-hyeok said the same thing as Woo-bin earlier. The sight of him reciting gun types in detail in the meeting room just before seemed to have stuck in his memory.
“I know a lot of useless knowledge.”
Ha-seong answered playfully, roughly brushing it off. There had been a time when he received education like military service in the past, and he had learned about it then, but he couldn’t say that.
“There’s nothing you can’t do. Strangely.”
A quiet murmur could be heard from beside him. But perhaps because it was too quiet, those words didn’t quite reach Ha-seong’s ears. But to Do-hyeok’s eyes, Ha-seong really seemed amazing. Not only were his abilities as a hunter top-notch, but other things about him were also exceptional. He had instantly discerned what kind of build the opponent had, what type of gun it was.
He had only heard the expression “there’s nothing you can’t do” but never thought he would say it while looking at someone. Do-hyeok tapped the steering wheel.
“Are you going straight into the guild?”
“Probably.”
If you’re going in, you’re going in, what’s with the “probably”? Then Do-hyeok glanced at the time. It was a little past lunchtime.
“Hyung.”
“Why?”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Thinking it was a random question, Ha-seong also realized that it was a little past lunchtime. Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything particular since waking up in the morning. Getting his face washed by Do-hyeok, seeing him off, then watching TV briefly and earnestly fighting in comments with young people had been Ha-seong’s morning routine.
He hadn’t eaten anything, but strangely he wasn’t feeling hungry. Perhaps his injured body wasn’t ready to accept anything yet.
“Not really.”
“Really?”
Ha-seong nodded. The conversation didn’t continue after that. Do-hyeok had probably just asked out of politeness, having nothing else to say. But he learned that wasn’t the case when they arrived at the parking lot in front of a shop with the impressive sign “Master Gomtang Simmered for 100 Hours.”
“I’m hungry.”
Thinking they were going home, but being kidnapped to a gomtang restaurant again, Ha-seong looked at him with a dumbfounded face, and Do-hyeok said that and got out of the car first. Ha-seong also slowly got out of his seat. At a glance, it seemed like a shop famous for being a good restaurant. The inside of the shop was bustling with customers and staff were busily running around.
Before Ha-seong could say anything, Do-hyeok opened the door and went in.
“……”
Then the inside of the shop instantly became quiet. When Ha-seong peeked from behind, it seemed there were quite a few hunter customers in this shop. Well, naturally, it was a profession that used strength and physical labor, so the best method for recovering energy was precisely “eating.”
Eel restaurants and shops of this type were commonly frequented by hunters. Such shops were mainly selected in restaurant lists chosen by hunters too.
In other words, there was a reason why the inside of the shop had become quiet.
“Isn’t that Cha Do-hyeok?”
“Crazy, this is my first time seeing Cha Do-hyeok in person.”
“Can I post on Star Star?”
“No. You’ll get sued if you do that.”
The murmuring gathered around one person, but that person himself headed into the shop as if nothing was wrong. He wondered if there would be seats since there were so many people, but fortunately there was exactly one seat left in the back.
“What is this?”
As soon as he sat down in confusion, Ha-seong asked. Do-hyeok only replied with a listless face, saying he was hungry. Being hungry and looking for a restaurant wasn’t a problem. But did Cha Do-hyeok originally like this kind of thing? Was this kind of Korean food his taste? He wondered. Moreover, he had heard that he didn’t particularly like being noticed by people.
So fans’ cries hoping to encounter Cha Do-hyeok even once always continued, and according to what he heard, hundreds of billions in advertising proposals poured in to Cha Do-hyeok every year, but he rejected them without even looking.
“It really is Cha Do-hyeok! He must have come with a staff member.”
Murmuring sounds could be heard from the next table too. He wondered why someone who didn’t enjoy receiving attention chose a place like this of all places.
“We’ll prepare your food.”
Before long, two bowls of beef bone gomtang with steam rising were placed in front of Ha-seong and Do-hyeok. When the savory smell stimulated his sense of smell, Ha-seong also began to feel a little hungry. He thought he wouldn’t be hungry, but seeing this kind of hot soup changed his mind.
Ha-seong slowly seasoned the soup and mixed in rice. Feeling the heat from the hot earthenware pot directly, he slowly lifted his spoon. As he took a spoonful like that, Ha-seong paused slightly. He could see why this place had so many people, why it was bustling with those burly hunters.
“It’s delicious.”
The soup taste was excellent. Honestly, since being shot and waking up, he hadn’t properly eaten anything, but it felt like his stomach was settling. Like that, Ha-seong emptied his rice bowl in an instant.
“You can order more.”
“Two bowls would be too much.”
It was when Ha-seong was rinsing his mouth with water. Only then did he notice that Do-hyeok’s earthenware pot had barely decreased. It was behavior unbecoming of someone who had suddenly said he was hungry and brought someone here. Before he could ask if that was all he was eating, Do-hyeok suddenly got up from his seat again, saying let’s go now. Like someone who had been waiting only for Ha-seong’s rice bowl to empty.
“Hey……”
He tried to hold him back, telling him to eat more before going, but Do-hyeok was already at the counter receiving all the attention from around. Ha-seong, who had ended up getting a meal from him, came out and grabbed Do-hyeok’s arm. For a moment he tried to use his right hand but felt pain, so he reached out with his left hand again.
“Why?”
“You said you were hungry.”
“But.”
“Why did you only eat that much?”
“……For me, that was eating a lot.”
It was something even a passing dog wouldn’t believe. Do-hyeok’s bowl was almost comparable to freshly served food.
“Hyung should take better care of yourself and eat well. You need to get better quickly and start being active.”
Before Ha-seong could retort, Do-hyeok left those words and walked to the car.
Ah. So that’s what it was.
Only then did Ha-seong understand. As expected, Do-hyeok was someone without much of an appetite. Given his personality, he probably didn’t often come to shops like this with smells that could be polarizing. Moreover, if it was a place where he’d receive this much attention from others, even less so. Nevertheless, there was one reason he had suddenly come here. To feed Ha-seong.
“You could have at least said something.”
Ha-seong got back into Do-hyeok’s car with slightly mixed emotions after filling his stomach satisfyingly.
* * *
Inside a warehouse filled with damp air.
In a narrow place dependent on a single old light bulb that could hardly be called lighting, a man was sitting. Without taking off the cloak that covered him up to his head, he quietly waited for someone.
Creak—
The sound of a rusty iron door was heard and another man entered inside. Then the person wearing the cloak reacted and raised his head.
“How did it go?”
“Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any remaining traces. The Management Bureau guys aren’t showing any special movements yet either.”
Then a small sigh spread from within the cloak.
“It’s too early to be relieved. Did you bring the gun?”
He put his hand inside the cloak and threw it onto the table with a thud. When he picked up the gun with the MK-1190 number engraved on it, it shattered into pieces in his hand.
“That guy might have looked at this gun closely. If he knew the gun type, it could become grounds for tracking.”
Then the person wearing the cloak shook his head.
“It’s an old-fashioned gun and kids these days probably don’t even know what it is. Even if he saw it for a moment, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Who the hell is that guy? If I hadn’t stepped in, you would have been caught red-handed.”
“……”
Heavy silence circulated in the warehouse. The lighting flickered on and off like a sick chicken, and the sound of wind passing through could be heard directly from the old exterior walls.
“I don’t know either. Who he is. He wasn’t a hunter I knew…… I can’t remember his face well either.”
“Are you sure?”
“He was wearing a strange hat and even glasses so I couldn’t see well. Moreover, I was in the middle of fleeing.”
The words that there was no way he could have seen properly slowly flowed from within the cloak.
“The other side probably couldn’t see properly either. Don’t worry for now.”
The man slowly got up from his seat and approached the door again.
“I’ll contact you again when the next target is decided. Until then, stay quiet as a dead mouse.”
Like that, the chilling rusty sound was heard once more and the warehouse was completely darkened.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
