VHN 13

It was only natural, as I didn’t even know Im Hae-kyung was running this shop in the first place.

‘Feeling pretty good, huh?’

Haesung Guild. Currently the largest Guild in South Korea, and one that consistently ranks high even when considering overseas Guilds. Moreover, Im Hae-kyung, the Guild Master, is arguably the strongest Psychic Hunter.

‘That Im Hae-kyung killed Do Ye-hyun…’

Why on earth? Simply because of his skill?

‘It is a tempting skill, for sure.’

But there’s no need to dwell on these questions. It was a future that disappeared anyway.

I was planning to keep Do Ye-hyun alive and by my side for a very, very long time.

In that sense, there was something more important than anything else right now.

‘I’m going to save the kid you killed.’

I need to go find my other lottery ticket, our pretty healer.

* * *

As soon as I got out of the shop, I called Joo Seo-won.

-Hello, you rude bastard.

“Where are you?”

-The office, where else? I’ve been busting my ass trying to find Do Ye-hyun’s location until just now, where would I go?

“Then wait for me there.”

I hailed a taxi and immediately told the driver Joo Seo-won’s office address.

-You’re coming now?

“Of course?”

Still, meeting Im Hae-kyung at the Hunter shop Joo Seo-won used was more unexpected than I thought, and it kept bothering me. Joo Seo-won probably doesn’t know, but should I ask him anyway?

“Do you know who runs the Hunter shop you introduced me to?”

-The Night Market? No idea.

He really doesn’t know. Wait, before that, Night Market?

“Night Market?”

-Yeah. The exact name is… Altea? I don’t remember. Everyone just calls it the Night Market and they understand. Why?

“Suits it.”

I was picturing a scene somewhere between a chaotic market and a club when Joo Seo-won said something unexpected.

-But I can roughly guess. Isn’t it being run by a Guild? Some well-known Guild.

“Why?”

-It’s too large in scale to be run by an individual, and they’re good at cutting ties to avoid being seen as state-run.

As expected, he’s sharp. As if my question felt strange, Joo Seo-won pressed me.

-Why are you asking? Did you see something weird? Share some information then.

Look at this guy.

“What are you going to do with the information I share? You can’t even sell information for the time being.”

-No, can’t I just be curious?

“No. Don’t even think about taking on other requests. You’re dead, seriously.”

Perhaps sensing my sincerity, Joo Seo-won went silent.

There was a reason why I was preventing Joo Seo-won from taking on other requests. I called Joo Seo-won my lottery ticket, but to be precise, Joo Seo-won wasn’t exactly a complete lottery ticket, but rather a slightly flawed one. There’s a bit of risk involved.

In the first place, the cooperation between Joo Seo-won and Kwon Tae-han was done on the condition of guaranteeing safety.

In other words, Joo Seo-won had been living in an unsafe state for quite a long time. Even after meeting Kwon Tae-han, Joo Seo-won was still marked by both Damyeon and Cape Prime for quite a while.

For reference, Damyeon and Cape Prime were Guilds that ranked within the top 5 in the country. Haesung, Damyeon, NeoCore, Cape Prime, Clavis. Joo Seo-won, who was marked by two of them, is quite the guy. He had a story about how it was unfair, but honestly, I don’t remember it well. It didn’t seem like an important part, and I didn’t appear in it, so I skimmed through it.

But I could guess. Didn’t Joo Seo-won get caught while running around selling information? It’s his story that it was unfair, but if we only consider the possibilities, it was quite likely.

Of course, it was true that he spent a lot of money finding Joo Min-ha, but even without that, Joo Seo-won himself was crazy about money. He readily handed over information to whoever offered more money, so the Guild he initially contracted with had no choice but to go crazy. No matter how many written agreements you have, as long as you have a skill to break them, you can scam and disappear.

He was hiding now because he could get dragged somewhere and beaten up before the cooldown on his disappearance was over. So that’s why he was shouting about guaranteeing safety so much. He wasn’t afraid of the S-class Dungeon, but of the Guild he scammed? Easy to figure out.

Anyway, there was a risk in keeping Joo Seo-won by my side just because of his ability, so I had no choice but to prevent it in advance.

‘You shouldn’t trust people too much in the first place.’

Especially someone as kind as me.

-…Still, we’re partners, right?

“Partners? Seo-won, what are you talking about?”

In the midst of all that, Joo Seo-won, who had been quiet for a while, said that. Unbelievable.

“I commissioned you. Get a grip. Should I take the money back?”

It hasn’t even been long since I gave him the money, did he already forget?

I could hear Joo Seo-won protesting loudly, but I hung up because I had arrived at the office. He immediately called back, but I ignored it and grabbed the elevator.

When I entered the detective agency, Min Jeong-bae, who was usually stationed there, was nowhere to be seen, probably having gone home.

Without hesitation, I burst open the door to Joo Seo-won’s office, and the interior was filled with hazy smoke.

“Hey! Why did you hang up the ph… Why do you look like that? Did I do something wrong…?”

Damn it, this chain smoker, seriously.

“Come out.”

If I breathe here for another 10 minutes, I’ll get lung cancer.

“Damn it, quit smoking, you bastard.”

I said it with sincerity, but Joo Seo-won mumbled while packing his things.

“You look more like a chain smoker than I do.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

I’ve never heard anyone say I look like I would smoke. Even in the military, when I said I wouldn’t smoke, the senior soldier said he understood and took away the cigarettes.

I turned the deodorizer on Joo Seo-won’s desk and poured it on Joo Seo-won’s body without hesitation.

“Ack! Hey! You’re supposed to spray that, you son of a bitch!”

“I don’t think spraying will be enough. Grab the car keys.”

I followed the protesting Joo Seo-won, pouring every last drop, then separated the plastic for recycling and dragged Joo Seo-won, who was still fuming, down to the underground parking lot.

“I’ve never seen such a crazy bastard in my life. Damn it! I smell like deodorizer now!”

“It’s better than the smell of cigarettes.”

“Agh… Damn it, you crazy bastard!”

Before getting into the enclosed car, I slightly lowered my head and smelled Joo Seo-won’s neck.

“Wh, what are you doing?”

It still smells like cigarettes even after pouring it on him. I frowned and shoved Joo Seo-won into the passenger seat without answering.

“Ack!”

“Get in.”

“Wait, wait a minute. You’re going to drive? It’s my car?”

“Then you drive while briefing and doing everything yourself.”

Anyway, he’s short-sighted. Leaving Joo Seo-won speechless at my logic, I immediately started the car.

“I really got caught up with the wrong person…”

Wrong person? If you want to talk about it, I’m the one who picked up Joo Seo-won, who was caught by Damyeon and Cape Prime at the same time. I ignored Joo Seo-won, who was muttering incessantly next to me, and drove the car to the hotel.

“Aren’t we going to find Do Ye-hyun now?”

“We are. I’m dropping you off at the hotel.”

“Hotel? Why?”

“I’m living in a hotel right now.”

“Why?”

Why does he keep asking? I glanced at Joo Seo-won, who flinched and added.

“Ah, no. Why would I go to the hotel you’re staying at?”

“I’m going to send Do Ye-hyun there, so I need you to keep him there.”

“Aren’t we… going together?”

“You’re already being tracked by Damyeon and Cape Prime, do you want to add another illegal Guild to that?”

I’m being considerate, and he’s still complaining. At my words, Joo Seo-won stared blankly at me and asked stupidly.

“How do you know all that…? Were you stalking me?”

“Seo-won, stop with the nonsense. Seriously.”

“No, seriously. How do you know all that! Are you a Damyeon mole? Did you come to catch me? No? I signed an agreement? If I go into the hotel now, aren’t Damyeon Hunters going to beat me up?”

It was the most specific nonsense I’ve ever heard. His imagination was so rich that he had already created a story.

Ha… I think this guy is more like a punishment than my lottery ticket. Should I just get a refund?

I stared at Joo Seo-won with that thought in mind, and fortunately, he seemed to sense it and shut his mouth.

Joo Seo-won opened his mouth again almost when we arrived at the hotel.

“But what are you going to do with him after you bring him?”

“Do Ye-hyun?”

“Yeah. You’re kind of crazy, so…”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, Do Ye-hyun is still only twenty years old, isn’t he too young to get involved with you? Did he do something wrong to you, so you asked me to find him?”

I was so dumbfounded that I almost had an accident. I couldn’t hide my bewilderment and asked.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…Isn’t that it?”

“Of course not. I’m going to save him from being held captive by an illegal guild, are you kidding me?”

“What? Why?”

“Why else? Because I’m kind.”

“Crazy…”

He’s asking the obvious. Of course, I’ll use his healing ability as well. And what’s with saying he’s too young to get involved with me?

“And I’m twenty four. It’s only a four year difference, stop with the nonsense.”

Hmm. Joo Seo-won was quiet for a moment, as if he finally understood my words.

“…What? You’re twenty four?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, wow… You son of a bitch! I’m twenty six!”

Understanding my words? Living like Joo Seo-won seems like it consumes a lot of energy, so I thought he would die early.