Chapter 30: That Won’t Happen (2)
“…No, what on earth is going on?”
The Team 5 leader argued with Do-jin.
He had been preventing him from leaving since earlier.
This ignorantly strong old man.
“Wait. My dying day is closer than yours, what’s the rush?”
“I’m busy.”
“I’m busy too.”
The force of Do-jin pressing down on the Team 5 leader’s shoulder was strong.
When the door opened, Do-jin and the Team 5 leader looked simultaneously.
“…Team Leader Hae-ryeon!”
The Team 5 leader looked as if a savior had appeared.
“Well, shall we begin, Team Leader Kim Nam-hoon?”
Hae-ryeon spoke abruptly, throwing open one side of her coat.
It was filled with countless tiny vials, the size of a pinky nail.
She took one out and drank it.
Tak.
As soon as the bottle dropped, Hae-ryeon instantly shot forward and grabbed Nam-hoon by the scruff of his neck.
Nam-hoon saw Hae-ryeon’s smiling expression.
He felt a chill.
Instantly, he gathered his power.
Nam-hoon’s body became like hard rock, but Hae-ryeon’s fist reached him before that.
Kwaaaang!
Nam-hoon flew into the wall, hit it, and slid down.
His body trembled violently.
What was this crazy brute force?
“Go easy, Hae-ryeon. You’ll break the building.”
Do-jin watched with his arms crossed.
“If it breaks, I’ll pay for the repairs with my own money, so don’t worry.”
“I envy you, being rich. But Hae-ryeon. How many pages long is the incident report for this?”
“One page.”
Hae-ryeon said firmly and drank another bottle from inside her coat.
“You, prepare to die.”
She intended to let him feel with his whole body just how strong a doped Alchemist was.
Hae-ryeon smiled fiercely.
***
‘…It’s noisy inside?’
Na-yoon perked up her ears.
Even though it was soundproofed, she could hear sounds like something breaking inside.
‘I don’t know how much she’s beating him, but hang in there, Team Leader! Hit him more, more! Knock all his teeth out!’
Na-yoon listened excitedly for a bit, then hastily knocked on the door.
Hyeon-yul was coming.
She was flustered because he arrived sooner than expected.
Thinking Hae-ryeon must have heard by now, Na-yoon ran towards Hyeon-yul first.
“Hyeon-yul! Over here!”
As Na-yoon waved and called, Hyeon-yul ran over.
“You could have walked slowly.”
“I’ll do that next time.”
Hyeon-yul replied, looking at the door.
Sounds of fighting could be heard from inside.
It was highly likely that Hae-ryeon was unilaterally beating up the Team 5 leader.
He himself had seen how Hae-ryeon fought during his first mission.
Like a true Alchemist, she doped herself with Potions, temporarily weakened the opponent, and then beat them to death.
The way she hit, and then hit the same spot again, was quite impressive.
He had even pondered quite a bit about what would happen if he were to fight Hae-ryeon.
‘So, it’s enough.’
—The one who ordered the assassination… is Night Rat.
He had just heard this from the assassin.
If they caught Nam-hoon, the Black Eagle would also hear the fact he found out.
That Night Rat did it.
It was better for them to find out naturally than for him to say it.
The important thing was how far Kim Nam-hoon was connected.
‘I’ll have to hear that from my side.’
Just in case, he had also checked inside the Black Eagle building.
Sure enough, bomb-like devices were attached here and there in the building, shaped like the two overturned rice bowls Na-yoon had mentioned earlier.
It was a new type of weapon.
For now, he had swallowed them all with darkness.
He was still contemplating how to dispose of them.
“Should we wait?”
Hyeon-yul spoke up since Na-yoon kept standing there.
“No. It’s not like that.”
Contrary to her words, Na-yoon hesitated.
At her ambiguous words, Hyeon-yul stood blankly for a moment, then walked over to the wall.
He took out the injection he couldn't get earlier and administered it into his stomach.
The drug circulated quickly, and his heavy head felt lighter.
“Does that hurt when you get it?”
Na-yoon asked cautiously, and Hyeon-yul shook his head.
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s rather agonizing if I don’t get it.”
If he didn't take the medicine, he felt like his body was collapsing.
It wasn't just a simple feeling; it would likely actually collapse.
Sreureureuk.
Just then, the door opened.
Hae-ryeon poked her head out.
“You’re here, Mr. Hyeon-yul?”
Hae-ryeon smiled as if nothing had happened.
She even seemed relieved.
“Yes. May I go see?”
“Of course. Team Leader Do-jin has tied him up well now, so it’s fine.”
After speaking, Hae-ryeon couldn’t help but ask Hyeon-yul, who was standing with his back turned.
“What were you doing?”
“Giving myself an injection.”
“…Ah.”
“Then, I’ll go in.”
Hyeon-yul said and quickened his steps inside.
“Ms. Na-yoon. Na-yoon?”
Hae-ryeon called to Na-yoon, who was standing still.
She had a somewhat shocked expression.
“Was that the first time you saw it?”
“…Yes.”
“I saw him getting an IV drip directly, but I hadn’t seen this. Is his condition… really bad?”
“I hear about Mr. Hyeon-yul’s condition every day, so don’t worry.”
Hae-ryeon approached Na-yoon and patted her shoulder gently.
The death of a colleague was never something one got used to, anytime, any moment.
Na-yoon, especially, saw much more with those eyes.
“Team Leader.”
“Hm?”
“…Can I put a bullet in that bastard’s head inside?”
“Not the head, but maybe the leg… might be okay?”
“Sounds good.”
Na-yoon naturally drew her gun and went inside.
***
“You came?”
Do-jin greeted Hyeon-yul and Na-yoon.
“Just a moment.”
Na-yoon approached Nam-hoon.
She strode purposefully and stood before Nam-hoon.
It looked like his face had been beaten so badly one couldn't tell his original features.
‘That’s our Team Leader.’
Click.
Na-yoon aimed the gun.
“……?”
Do-jin was surprised by the action, and Hyeon-yul watched silently.
Bang!
Na-yoon shot Nam-hoon’s leg without hesitation.
‘It’s definitely different from a normal bullet.’
Hyeon-yul saw the effect of the bullet exploding like light.
“Aaaaaaargh!”
Nam-hoon’s scream erupted.
‘Is the sound really not leaking out?’
Hyeon-yul looked around.
Broken desks, shattered computers, a wall that looked practically caved in came into view.
Just the fact that almost no sound leaked out while all this happened showed how well the soundproofing facilities were.
His eyes darted around until they met Do-jin’s.
“Good afternoon.”
Hyeon-yul greeted belatedly.
Seeing his calm face, Do-jin let out an involuntary chuckle.
A greeting amidst all this.
“You probably wanted to catch him yourself, but we couldn’t leave everything to you, a newbie, so we did it.”
“It’s alright. I had no intention of catching him myself.”
Seeing the traces of the attack that viciously targeted only the face, Hyeon-yul thought it wasn't bad.
“……You crazy bastards!”
Nam-hoon shouted, gritting his teeth.
This was all because of that guy.
“Because of this dirty bastard…….”
Before the words finished, Hae-ryeon grabbed Nam-hoon’s head.
“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can say anything, right?”
The muzzle was aimed at Nam-hoon’s forehead.
“Should I blow his head off, Team Leader? I haven’t had many experiences shooting from this distance, so I’m curious.”
Na-yoon asked with a cold gaze.
Who was calling whom dirty?
“Such words make me feel quite strange.”
Hyeon-yul looked down at Nam-hoon.
One eye was swollen shut, barely able to see with the other, yet the sight of him talking so well with his broken-toothed mouth was laughable.
“I came carrying Shin Dae-ho’s head, and you’re the collaborator, aren’t you? Don’t you know which is dirtier?”
“…….”
Hyeon-yul had no intention of playing along with that look of disbelief.
What was the point of paying attention to a puppet whose strings were cut?
“Don’t get worked up.”
Do-jin stopped Hyeon-yul.
“I’m not getting worked up like that. It was just, laughable.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll be heading home now.”
Now that he had seen the face, Hyeon-yul felt it was enough.
The rest would handle things well on their own.
He planned to go finish the knitting he couldn't finish yesterday.
‘……Ah.’
At a sudden thought, the corners of Hyeon-yul’s eyes lifted slightly.
If usually there was a somewhat blunt dullness about him, it wasn't there now.
As the atmosphere changed completely, Nam-hoon, facing Hyeon-yul, got scared preemptively.
“You should tell everything you know, properly, well.”
There were still two more guys left.
Villain A who operated the secret base, and Villain B who planted the collaborator.
Perhaps because it felt like work was piling up, he felt irritated.
“Team Leader.”
“…Huh?”
Hae-ryeon reacted to Hyeon-yul’s faint killing intent.
Was something not to his liking?
What could it be?
‘Maybe… I didn’t hit him enough?’
“Could I perhaps take tomorrow off?”
Hyeon-yul’s gaze towards Hae-ryeon was endlessly serious.
Only then did a smile touch Hae-ryeon’s face.
It seemed Hyeon-yul had reached his limit.
“Of course, you can. I was actually thinking of suggesting it myself? I’ll put it in as paid leave, so don’t worry.”
With all that Hyeon-yul had accomplished, why would she prevent him from using it?
As per the employment contract.
As long as she didn’t deviate from that, Hyeon-yul wouldn't be disappointed in her.
“Thank you.”
Only then did Hyeon-yul’s expression relax.
To be able to rest and still get paid.
This place was truly the best.
Hyeon-yul felt his heart lighten and couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from naturally lifting.
“Hey.”
Do-jin called Hyeon-yul.
“Yes, please speak.”
“What are you doing after this?”
“Going home.”
“What do you do at home?”
“I’m thinking of finishing my knitting.”
At those words, Do-jin quickly mimed drinking alcohol.
Wasn't alcohol the best way to get close?
“I know a good place, kiddo.”
Keu.
As Do-jin even made the perfect sound effect, Hyeon-yul’s expression stiffened.
If it was an entertainment district, it was absolutely dreadful.
How much chauffeuring duty had he done?
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t particularly like alcohol. Well then.”
Hyeon-yul bowed his head curtly and also bid farewell to Hae-ryeon and Na-yoon.
He walked out without looking back.
As Do-jin stared blankly, Hae-ryeon laughed loudly.
“Got rejected?”
“…Shut up.”
Do-jin reacted as if unaffected, but it was hard to hide his stiff expression.
‘It’s a really delicious place, though.’
The buchimgae (Korean pancake) there was amazing.
Do-jin, smacking his lips in regret, glanced at Nam-hoon.
Knowing he was the collaborator who drove him to this state, Hyeon-yul merely gave him a single glance, uttered a single word, and was done.
How audacious.
He had entrusted his back.
He even felt such intensity.
‘…A waste, such a waste.’
He should have brought him over.
Thinking about how to get closer gave him a headache.
The difficulty level was considerable.
‘Do I have to learn knitting too…….’
Do-jin looked at his own rough hands, and another wrinkle formed on his already wrinkled face.
“…Ah, if you were perhaps offended by the rejection, I apologize. It was truly because I don’t like alcohol. Well then.”
Hyeon-yul’s voice was suddenly heard, and his face appeared through the gap in the door.
According to ‘101 Ways for a Smooth Company Life,’ invitations to company dinners should be refused gently.
He wondered if he had been too blunt earlier.
Hyeon-yul bowed his head once more and left the place.
“Puhat!”
Do-jin laughed loudly.
He also liked the unfittingly dull side of him.
Still laughing, he approached Nam-hoon and kicked him.
Kuuuung!
The grown man flew helplessly and crashed into the wall.
It was pure strength.
“…Team Leader Do-jin?”
Hae-ryeon was surprised.
She thought he would stay quiet this time.
“What? I can just chip in for the repair costs too. I have money too.”
Suddenly, that bastard Nam-hoon felt even more detestable.
***
After arriving home, he agonized several times over what to do with the secret base.
He could pretend not to know, but Hyeon-yul put down his knitting materials and headed towards the secret base.
It seemed the Black Eagles had moved all the data from there, and leaving it any longer might mean it would be used for villains.
The experiment site needed to be destroyed, and wouldn't the heart of Villain A who owned that place also be twisted?
‘……That was my intention coming here.’
Hyeon-yul took in the surrounding situation.
The Black Eagle guarding the vicinity of the secret base was dead.
Hyeon-yul examined the corpse.
There was a very small stab wound on the neck.
It looked clean, but slightly ragged.
‘Not a sword. Thread… maybe?’
Hyeon-yul pulled on his helmet.
This was no ordinary matter.
‘This got annoying.’
What else had gone wrong?
Hyeon-yul headed towards the power room he had noted earlier.
If everyone was dead anyway, this was faster.
As Hyeon-yul stomped his foot, shadows extended like hands from the ground and ripped out every single wire.
Darkness descended upon the place where electricity disappeared.
Hyeon-yul buried himself in that darkness, almost liberating himself as he lay down his body.
Feeling himself scatter and fragment, he grasped the darkness itself in his hand.
The darkness was him, and he was the darkness.
He even felt like he was looking down from above.
It was close to clairvoyance.
While surveying the entire underground, he discovered an alien power.
Hyeon-yul moved towards it without delay.
***
Seen up close, it was an even more alien power.
Something oval-shaped was spinning round and round.
‘…A portal?’
It resembled the ones often seen in movies.
The thought was brief; Hyeon-yul spotted a man entering it.