Chapter 32: Street Casting (2)
“…Wasn’t the movie really fun?”
Shin-woo laughed cheerfully.
He had planned to just watch the movie and go home, but Shin-woo followed him.
He naturally started walking beside him and suggested getting food.
―Want to grab a bite? This isn’t a company dinner. I’m just asking with genuinely no ulterior motive.
Shin-woo pointedly said.
Hearing it wasn't a company dinner made it awkward to refuse.
Following Shin-woo, Hyeon-yul tensed up.
He had almost no good memories of eating with work colleagues.
But apart from his tension, Shin-woo didn't say anything until they entered the restaurant.
Hyeon-yul, who was setting out the cutlery as if accustomed to it, looked at Shin-woo.
“Honestly, it went as expected content-wise. Except for being a bit boring at the beginning, the foreshadowing payoff was perfect, and it makes me look forward to the sequel.”
At the concise remarks, Shin-woo chuckled.
He poured water into a cup and passed it to Hyeon-yul.
Hyeon-yul stared intently at the water cup, seemingly surprised even by that small gesture.
‘Augh…’
Shin-woo inwardly suppressed the rising anger at that reaction.
Every time he saw that attitude, it reminded him how terribly Hyeon-yul must have been treated at the company run by villains.
Shin-woo instead smiled even wider and spoke.
“That director, he’s one I like. I happened to watch his first movie, and it was the worst.”
“Yes. It was the worst.”
“Normally, one shouldn’t even anticipate the next work, but there was a strange pull. Did you feel it too?”
“No. I watched it because the ratings were good. I don’t follow directors.”
There was no guarantee that the same director would make other works interesting too.
He just wanted to watch something fun.
Life was short.
“Anything enjoyed is good. It was nice for me to watch a movie comfortably after a long time too.”
Shin-woo said with a chuckle.
Hyeon-yul asked with his eyes what he meant by that.
“My first mission location was a movie theater.”
“Is that so?”
“I couldn’t save anyone, and I saw them all explode and die, you know?”
“And yet you still come to movie theaters?”
“Curious, right? Right?”
The corners of Shin-woo’s mouth lifted.
Mischief showed.
Seeing Hyeon-yul contemplating how to react, Shin-woo didn’t tease further and gave the answer.
“It’s an anxiety symptom. I feel relieved only after checking periodically. Then I developed a hobby for movies.”
“Is there such a thing?”
Hyeon-yul’s eyes widened.
That part was honestly surprising.
It wasn't just anyone; it was a Black Eagle.
“Besides me, everyone has one, or several. This job isn’t something you can do sober, right?”
Every day he went to work, what he saw were corpses.
Even if he had become desensitized, it was a sight he wouldn't get used to.
He probably wouldn’t get used to it for his entire life.
“Is that so?”
Hyeon-yul was indifferent.
His expression was unreadable, showing no hint of his thoughts.
“Yeah. Everyone has at least one mental issue, so you’re not strange either.”
Shin-woo wanted to tell him when the opportunity arose, whatever it was.
The Black Eagle was never a normal group to begin with.
What was strange about an abnormal person coming to an abnormal place?
“…Is that so?”
It was the same answer as before, but Hyeon-yul’s gaze deepened.
Still, what he was thinking was hard to read.
“Hold on.”
Shin-woo leisurely picked up his phone and quickly moved his thumb.
[Ah, what should I do about this.]
[Came to watch a movie by chance, and happened to run into Hyeon-yul.]
[Eating alone with Hyeon-yul right now.]
[Hope everyone’s having a delicious meal.]
[Good evening!]
He finished with a smug ghost emoticon.
[Chu Na-yoon: What? ??????????????]
[Chu Na-yoon: Are you crazy?]
[Chu Na-yoon: If you're drunk, knock it off and go home.]
[Chu Na-yoon: ㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗ]
‘…Heh, I won.’
Shin-woo felt elated by the surging sense of victory within him.
She bragged so much about having many friends, but this time, he had won.
[It’s true though?]
[Want proof ㄱ?]
Shin-woo’s fingers moving his thumb were incredibly smooth.
[Maknae Ji-hwan: Hyung hyung hyung hyung hyu hyu hyu hyung!!!]
[Maknae Ji-hwan: Where are you?]
[Maknae Ji-hwan: Tell me!!!!]
[Maknae Ji-hwan: Plz…, hyung!!]
Ji-hwan sent an emoticon of a fox shedding tears, again and again.
[Aigoo, Ji-hwan-aaaah.]
[Hyung is sorry.]
Shin-woo put his phone away just like that.
His phone was practically crying from the flood of messages coming in.
“Ah! Hyeon-yul.”
“…Yes.”
Hyeon-yul looked at Shin-woo warily.
“We’re going to have a welcome party, when’s good for you?”
“I’m the only newbie, who do I have to kill?”
Hyeon-yul had experienced quite a few events where newbies killed each other during welcome parties, so he didn’t understand Shin-woo’s words.
“……Huh?”
Shin-woo was taken aback instead.
Kill someone?
A welcome party was literally a place to welcome someone.
“…Ah. So, like, drink till we drop? Something like that expression, right? Hyeon-yul, you’re more fun than I thought.”
“Yes?”
Hyeon-yul and Shin-woo ended up looking at each other, feeling mutual confusion.
“……That’s not it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Wait. Something’s getting twisted here. What is a welcome party to you?”
“Isn’t it a place where newbies are killed?”
“With alcohol?”
“Can you kill with alcohol too?”
Hyeon-yul reacted as if he had learned a fact he didn't know.
“Hold on. Hooold on.”
Shin-woo quickly stopped again.
He needed to sort things out in his head.
Something was different.
Very different.
“Did you really kill…? The newbies?”
“I didn’t kill anyone. I just avoided them, and they all died on their own.”
If they were newbies, they were civilians.
There was no reason to kill them.
What went wrong?
Shin-woo gulped down water and opened his mouth.
“…We’re not like that.”
“You’re not?”
“No. It’s just a gathering to welcome you.”
“Why are you welcoming me?”
His expression genuinely showed he didn't understand, that much was clear, so Shin-woo put down his cup.
To think that was the expression he finally managed to read.
It felt quite unpleasant.
“If it’s difficult to explain, you don’t have to answer. I can figure it out myself.”
Hyeon-yul responded familiarly.
Being unable to react naturally to actions others took for granted wasn't something even medicine could fix.
If he didn't know, he just had to study and find out.
If he still didn't know, he could just ask Jeong-min.
He had always lived like that.
“Hyeon-yul.”
“Yes.”
“It’s because you came to our Team 3, not somewhere else, that’s why we’re welcoming you. Because we’re glad, and grateful.”
Hyeon-yul didn’t understand, but he just listened.
It was necessary information.
“Of course, there are many places that aren’t like that, but we are. The word ‘colleague’ is special here, unlike other places. It means someone you can trust your back to.”
“Since I haven’t experienced it, um, is it similar to celebrating a birthday…?”
“Similar!”
Shin-woo’s voice got slightly louder.
That was a relief.
“Did Teacher Jeong-min perhaps do that for you?”
“Yes. He celebrated it every year by giving me a cake. It probably wasn't my real birthday, but it didn’t feel bad.”
“That’s exactly it. How about it? Is it okay?”
Hyeon-yul didn’t answer right away.
He hesitated for a moment before letting him know.
“It’s okay.”
“Good. Then, we have a group messenger room, do you want to join that too?”
“No.”
Hyeon-yul answered without hesitation.
Then he frowned, contemplated again, and sighed.
Shin-woo didn't rush him.
He could wait as long as needed.
‘He’s awkward. Very awkward.’
Maybe it was right to approach Hyeon-yul even more slowly than he had thought.
“Could you give me… time?”
“I can give you as much time as you need. If you refuse and then regret it, tell me again. I’m ready to invite you anytime.”
Shin-woo smiled brightly.
He had managed to get a yes for the welcome party; he felt no impatience at all.
“Ah, and this might sound a bit strange, but have we perhaps met before?”
“It’s possible, but I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
Shin-woo blinked at the somewhat peculiar answer.
“I have memory impairment, so I don’t know who I am.”
Silence fell after Hyeon-yul’s reply.
Shin-woo immediately wanted to smack his own mouth shut.
The more he looked, the more familiar he seemed, so he just threw the question out there, only for it to return as such a huge boomerang.
‘To make… this mistake.’
He wanted to wipe his face, but he held back and forced a faint smile.
“Your ordered food is here.”
Only at the staff member's words did Shin-woo let out a deep breath.
He stared foolishly as the dishes filled the table one by one.
“I will eat well.”
Hyeon-yul offered his thanks, and Shin-woo forced a smile.
“…Eat a lot.”
It felt like something was stuck in his throat, so even though he was chewing his food, it didn’t feel like he was chewing.
‘Ah…….’
While eating, Hyeon-yul suddenly had a thought and looked at Shin-woo.
“By any chance, among the villains, is there one with the nickname Night Rat?”
The assassin had said the one who ordered this mole assassination incident was Night Rat.
Night Rat.
He didn't know what it meant.
Since he couldn't tell Hae-ryeon how he found out, he couldn't even mention it.
But maybe asking Shin-woo would be okay?
“There is.”
Shin-woo’s expression seemed to change, becoming quite serious.
However, he became extremely cautious.
Villains didn't have it written on their faces.
There were only a few villains whose faces were known.
If nothing else, a villain who would prick up their ears at the mention of a nickname could exist here.
“Who is it?”
“An information broker. We don’t know what the name means, nor their identity. That’s all.”
‘An information broker……. Feels like I should remember something, but I can’t quite grasp it?’
Had he seen them sometime before?
Thanks to Shin Dae-ho, he had seen many villains.
He didn't know their names, but he knew their faces.
“Anyway, did you decide to move house?”
Shin-woo mumbled as he asked.
Hyeon-yul had contacted the Crimson Witch.
She must be looking for Hyeon-yul by now.
If the Poison King found out where he lived, other villains could also find out quickly.
“Yes. I need to look into it soon. Slowly.”
As his words trailed off, Hyeon-yul’s gaze shifted to the left.
Shin-woo, who was about to say something, also moved his eyes along with him.
Was it a villain?
‘…Nope.’
Shin-woo relaxed his tension.
There was no sound, but with a flashy fire, various ingredients in the frying pan flew into the air several times.
It was quite eye-catching.
“There are three of them.”
Hyeon-yul opened his mouth while watching the fire show.
Villains, on his day off.
It was a situation worth getting angry about, but the food in front of him calmed him down.
“…What?”
Shin-woo tensed up at those words.
“Distance?”
“They’re at a distance where our conversation can’t be heard. It was a bit ambiguous, but I was right.”
Hyeon-yul narrowed his eyes.
They hadn't identified themselves as villains, so how could he pick out villains from among so many people?
He couldn't just conclude they were villains solely because they looked at him.
But seeing them follow him all the way to the restaurant convinced him.
“Where did they start following?”
Shin-woo asked.
Embarrassingly, he hadn't noticed at all.
“From when we left the movie theater.”
Hyeon-yul turned his head back to look at his food.
Their gazes had continued since then.
“…That’s strange?”
Shin-woo frowned.
Both he and Hyeon-yul were currently wearing their Smartwatches.
Didn't that mean the villains knew their disguised faces and followed them?
“We can check later.”
Hyeon-yul answered simply.
They seemed to have no intention of causing a scene either, as they weren't doing anything right now.
Honestly, he didn't want to do anything at all, but Shin-woo was there.
He couldn't pretend not to know.
“Eating first is the priority now.”
Hyeon-yul picked up his spoon.
Amidst the fluffy stir-fried rice grains, egg, onion, and all sorts of ingredients were mixed, gently covered by a black topping.
How could he remain still seeing such a beautiful sight?
The villains weren't important right now.
What was important was the food.
“But is it okay for you to eat just anything?”
Shin-woo asked, a thought suddenly occurring to him.
Taking medicine like that, there might be foods that could cause problems.
“Yes. I’m not picky about anything.”
“That’s not it, I mean if it causes any problems for your body.”
“Ah. As long as I take medicine to aid digestion, eating anything is fine. Originally……. Never mind.”
Hyeon-yul started to say more but stopped.
Jeong-min needed to hear about his condition, but Shin-woo didn't.
It could just cause unnecessary discomfort.
“Eat a lot.”
Shin-woo offered him sweet and sour pork.
Failed experimental subjects couldn't even become human.
He thought he could never ask about the time when he was an experimental subject, no matter when, as he forced the food down.
***
Hyeon-yul was satisfied.
It was the first time someone other than Jeong-min had bought him a meal.
After finishing eating, he felt strange.
Not bad.
“I ate well. Thank you. I’ll buy next time.”
“It’s fine. You just need to let me treat you.”
Shin-woo waved his hand dismissively.
He had enough money to buy his junior colleague food.
Hyeon-yul gazed blankly at Shin-woo.
Somehow, he felt like Jeong-min.
Hyeon-yul moved his eyes, and soon one eyebrow rose.
They were coming.
Hyeon-yul scanned the surroundings.
It was a busy main street with many people.
‘Are they planning to attack like this?’
It didn’t matter what method they used.
The crime of interrupting his holiday was severe.
Three people approached simultaneously.
Hyeon-yul hesitated as he was about to draw his dagger.
“Excuuse me, we are these kinds of people.”
Suddenly, they offered a business card.
S.T.D Enter.
It was a real business card.
There wasn't even any poison on it.
“…Would you perhaps be interested in becoming a singer or actor?”
Hyeon-yul froze at the words that followed.
‘……?’