Free Web NovelAs someone who went in and out of Gates often, Im Haekyung frequently witnessed hunters with impulsive tendencies. The more often they entered, the more intense it got—naturally so.
Even if they were blinded by reward, no one throwing themselves into a Gate with a high chance of death could be in their right mind.
The problem was that this type had become conspicuously common worldwide. It was hard to argue that only aggressive people awakened, so Haekyung often entertained another thought.
'Maybe “awakening” includes that kind of impulsivity.'
But Seo Jehyun didn’t look like he’d gone off the rails after awakening; he seemed like someone who’d had that impulsivity from the start. Haekyung considered whether whoever imposed the mental restrictions on him had tinkered with the impulsivity, but it didn’t look that way either.
Turning the thought over, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Haekyung recalled his first encounter with Seo Jehyun.
They’d run into each other by chance at the hunter market he’d set up for information gathering, and the impression had been strong from the beginning.
First, it was surprising that Jehyun instantly saw through the magic-stone trick that was set up to deceive merchants, more than the fact he was arguing with the vendor. And in that situation, he’d stayed unruffled—another strange trait.
Above all, what stuck most was that he’d recognized Im Haekyung.
He hadn’t intended to reveal that in the first place, so the moment he confirmed Jehyun had figured it out, he should have gagged him one way or another. But Haekyung didn’t.
There were a few reasons. First, even if Seo Jehyun exposed him as the operator of the night market, Haekyung was confident he could shut it down quickly.
Second... from the first moment he saw him, Haekyung wanted to form a friendly relationship with Seo Jehyun.
Jehyun’s particular brand of impulsivity was a major variable, but Haekyung didn’t take it as a pure negative. It would be hard to handle, and sometimes would grate on his temper like crazy, but it looked worth tolerating.
He already knew he himself was fairly impulsive: more intense impulses than average, a lack of understanding in emotions related to other people, and a constant, low-grade irritation simmering underneath.
Of course, judging those traits as dangerous, Haekyung had learned to restrain himself.
Which is why, in many ways, his interest was piqued.
'Besides, he practically acts like he wants me to be suspicious...'
Just as Seo Jehyun was tacitly overlooking some of Haekyung’s secrets, Haekyung was willing to overlook a few suspicious points for the sake of a friendly relationship.
The first among them was the fire skill used in the Sokcho dungeon.
Claiming it was an item was nonsense. Haekyung had seen that fire with his own eyes. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
The day he returned from Sokcho, he checked every case of fire-type skill usage he could find. Very few people could produce something on that scale. If he had to name one, maybe the American hunter Chase—
But Chase’s rank, as everyone knew... was S.
'It doesn’t add up.'
Haekyung had felt Jehyun’s mana up close. Even if he suppressed it, there was no way a mana level scraping the floor could spike like that in an instant. To put out that kind of power, you’d have to burn yourself, skill or not.
The questions kept piling up, but he wasn’t frustrated. If anything, the opposite.
There were plenty more suspicious bits. Asking out of nowhere about quest-type dungeons, or making that brazen bet—“don’t you need other skills?”—as if it were nothing.
At the time, to be honest, he’d been a little taken aback. Which was why he’d brainwashed Do Yehyun, whom Jehyun had brought along—an insurance in the same vein. If Jehyun’s goal became threatening, at least in front of Haekyung, Do Yehyun wouldn’t be able to side with him.
'Doesn’t seem like he plans to threaten me, though.'
Granted, compared to his provocative, sly behavior, Jehyun’s base mana was on a completely different level from Haekyung’s; maybe it was only natural. Even so, the fact that Haekyung felt compelled to do that to Jehyun was surprising.
In any case, the conclusion was that for the first time in a long while, Haekyung felt like he was playing a fun game. It even made him feel a little younger. By... maybe twenty years.
Finishing his thoughts, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and left the office with practiced ease.
He generally preferred not to book two meetings in a day, but today was an exception. It so happened no Gates had spawned.
Down on Basement Level 1, he saw a face he’d also seen today.
Reading the wariness behind those kindly curved eyes, Haekyung greeted brightly.
“Seeing you again, Hunter Joo...”
Joo Seowon. A hunter with a tracking-type skill not exactly held in high esteem. As an information broker he seemed to be valued, but he wasn’t the type Haekyung particularly liked.
'Too emotional.'
What good is doing your job well... if at decisive moments you keep leaving yourself wiggle room under the pretext of feelings.
For instance, like now.
“The Yan Pickett matter is finished on my end.”
Yan Pickett—the target Damyeon, the country’s second-ranked guild, had commissioned Seowon to track.
Haekyung had no interest in Yan Pickett, but he knew Seowon was tangled up in a wishy-washy conflict. Normally he wouldn’t have cared, but he decided to try a trade with Seowon, on the condition of Yan Pickett’s safety.
'It’s a winning deal either way.'
If Seowon had risked himself to spirit someone away, then he clearly cared. And even if Seowon refused, the fact that Haekyung had already approached him would be a problem—he wouldn’t be able to tell Seo Jehyun.
And even if he did, there were safeties in place, so it didn’t matter.
Haekyung spoke as if persuading him.
“Isn’t it better if I guarantee Miss Pickett’s safety? Before Damyeon’s guildmaster takes an interest... I can block it.”
Softly coaxed, Seowon’s eyes wavered, but he soon refused firmly.
“It’s still difficult. I’m not taking other requests right now.”
“Because you’re contracted exclusively to Mr. Jehyun? He must have paid a hefty price.”
“It’s a personal contract, so I can’t violate it anyway.”
He lifted the corner of his mouth, but not as naturally as he had earlier in the day. It almost looked forced.
Feigning deliberation, Haekyung said,
“Then Miss Pickett could be in danger.”
“I helped once already...”
“That’ll only ease your conscience.”
“...That sounds a lot like a threat.”
Haekyung let out a brief laugh. Seowon also smiled, but there was a subtle wariness in it.
“Mm, what I just said was an open threat, to be fair. I’m not eager to toy with a student’s safety, so don’t worry too much.”
He kept his tone deliberately light. Someone this set in his decision wouldn’t respond to threats anyway. And threats weren’t really to Haekyung’s taste...
“...Then may I go?”
“Will you hear one more proposal before you do?”
“......”
Not a threat—something gentler.
“What’s hard here is selling out Mr. Jehyun, isn’t it.”
“......”
“Then how about the reverse? I’ll tell you what Mr. Jehyun asks me for.”
In short, he’d become the man in the middle ferrying information.
Even Seowon, who had been one breath from refusal, eased a touch. A faint suspicion crossed his face, as if he’d misheard.
“...Pardon?”
“I’ll tell you. I have a hunch the info he shares with you and the info he shares with me won’t be the same.”
“Why... go out of your way?”
“You just get to satisfy your curiosity, that’s all.”
Haekyung waited out the silence, then smiled.
“Not hearing a ‘no.’”
***
Saying he needed to swing by the SH building, Seowon headed out. A little later, Do Yehyun came home.
“You’re later than I expected.”
Checking the time, I greeted him as he stepped in. He’d said he was supporting a dungeon clear today; sounded like it had taken longer than planned.
“Were you... waiting for me out front?”
“Yeah.”
Fitting for a healer, he looked fine on the surface. His cheeks were red from the cold outside, though.
I pressed the back of my hand to his cheek.
“Wasn’t it cold? Your cheeks are chapped.”
“Ah, a little... but I only had to walk from the front, so it was fine.”
Avoiding my eyes, he answered, then cast his gaze off into the distance.
“Did he go?”
“Yeah. I sent him off.”
“To the police?”
He meant the source of the cultist I’d locked up. I answered offhand.
“To Haeseong’s guildmaster.”
“...Haeseong’s guildmaster?”
His expression soured immediately.
'Hilarious.'
It made sense for Joo Seowon—he knew Haekyung—but Do Yehyun? He’d only met him a few times. Why the discomfort?
“What did you tell the guildmaster...”
“Just the basics. That he’s a Cheonmyeonggyo believer and attacked us.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get close to the guildmaster?”
“Did I?”
Circumstances had given me a reason to, is all. Words change with the situation.
When I let the answer trail off, Yehyun’s eyes went sharp again. I ignored it and cut to the point. He’d said he had something to tell me and had been waiting all day; I should at least ask.
“So what did you want to say? If you’re going to scold me, keep it short.”
“...When have I scolded you.”
“You nag well.”
“That’s not it.”
He dropped his gaze just a fraction, then seemed to decide something and met my eyes again.
If I had to guess: Please be careful, or Maybe you should retire—something like that?
But what came out of Do Yehyun’s mouth was a bit off the mark. freēwebnovel.com
“I want to quit.”
Oh. Resignation, two months after hiring.
