<Met and Fucked in 4 Seconds>
“Hm?”
My phone buzzed while I was changing clothes. It was a message from Mun Hee-jeong.
I debated checking it for a second but decided there wasn't time.
That's Hee-jeong, right? It's fine not to reply?
Gemma, who'd been sulking silently ever since we got back, finally spoke up. She'd been pissed off for some reason after the clinic visit, but maybe my mood had lightened her up a bit.
“That's not the priority right now. I'll text back when I get a chance later.”
True enough. Gotta stay focused today, or we're screwed.
Gemma grinned in satisfaction as she watched me hide the sword stick inside the oversized paint tube and tie my shoelaces.
What was that about? Did she think my answer showed pro-level resolve or something?
I adjusted the contact lenses so they wouldn't slip as I bolted out the door, and that's when Kim Yun-ju's voice rang in my ear.
I'd tipped her off about Yeom Jin-gwan's identity and goals, asking her to keep tabs using CCTV and drone cams.
As I'd predicted, pushing up the third deal, the guy had started moving even earlier than when he grabbed the last flowerpot in the game.
“Must be in a hurry. Anyway, doesn't differ much from the schedule you hacked from his calendar, right, sunbae?”
“How about complimenting my underwear then?”
Her icy tone shut me up. Today was the day to slot in the final puzzle piece for foiling his plan.
“Heading out. Guide me.”
The contact lenses lit up with the Great East Chart data right after I spoke. Gemma and I raced straight toward the target.
* * *
I was eavesdropping on Yeom Jin-gwan's deal with the Bastards crew from an abandoned building near the tunnel.
After the second deal, I'd confirmed they weren't sweeping for bugs, so I'd planted a wiretap ahead of time. Cost me a chunk to "rent" from Kim Yun-ju, but no money worries after tonight anyway.
Assuming I survived till tomorrow to spend it.
-Clunk
From the in-ear audio, the deal was done. I pulled the sword stick from the paint tube, gripped it, and charged out.
From tailing the previous two couriers, I knew their route back to the vault hideout. And that a vault keeper stayed there too, excluding the courier.
-Thud thud!
I hopped rooftops, then dropped into ambush at the courier's path.
“Sunbae.”
Her voice dripped irritation.
Get ready.
“Hoo.”
Now!
The moment Gemma and Kim Yun-ju shouted together.
-Whoosh
-Crack!
The Spirit Descent-enhanced staff tip shattered the full-face helmet of the guy rounding the corner.
“Kugh...!!”
Through the busted smoke shield, his eyes twisted in rage and shock.
I gave him a moment to memorize my face, then triggered Spirit Lord Transformation.
“Passepartout.”
Silver keys instantly coated the staff. I twisted my wrist left.
-Click
A faint resistance in my palm. The lock clicked, ability activating.
“Urk...”
Eighteen or so. He looked about my age. The guy crumpled to the ground.
Ooh. How'd you do that?
“Blocked his semicircular canals.”
No lymph flow means no balance. A normal Shangju might resist, but Bastards grunts—minus a few—fight on gear alone. Constant body buffs from weapons, sure, but not senses sharpened like full Spirit Descent.
Meaning a sneak Passepartout-style special hits 'em cold once.
“Urp...”
I kicked the retching guy's jaw to knock him out, then stripped his bag.
Pity the one-shot trick only works once, but fire's gotta be put out.
I pulled out the syringe I'd prepped.
Lemme see, the vein...
With Gemma's Xavier-trained help, injecting the cylinder was easy. Baek Je-in's heavy sedative, powdered and dissolved in water.
No risking him waking before it kicks in. Direct vein shot's best.
No side effects, right?
Xavier was a Batman-style non-killer. Gemma, softer version, worried I'd off a Bastards punk—not even a terrorist.
“He won't die even if there are.”
Killing Bastards means backlash risks, and mental baggage too.
“Ugh, heavy bastard.”
I trussed him tight to a back-alley lamppost, then stuffed the looted red spear and Gemma's sword stick into the paint tube.
Can't you stash that somewhere else?
“Why.”
Creeps me out. Bad vibe.
Gemma sensed it too. Bastards weapons ain't normal.
“Bear with it a sec. I'll warehouse the spear later.”
Whole ancestor spirit ground in? Instinctual revulsion makes sense.
I reapplied disguise to mimic the downed guy's face, snatched his shattered helmet, and donned it.
Smooth sailing so far.
“Yeah.”
Yun-ju said Yeom was holed up at home. Closest execution date candidate: tomorrow. Had to raid the vault before tonight ended to rattle Bastards.
“Let's go.”
I swallowed a pill and headed for their hideout—the drop spot from the last two couriers. Dozens on Argo, but sole vault spot.
Can't we just pick the lock?
“Saw the keeper last time. Can't win.”
Second deal, courier opened the door—we glimpsed the vault keeper through the gap. Massive ball-jointed doll oozing menace. Reverse Ethics Armament with modded Silverback Gorilla beast soul as fake ancestor spirit. Game's early-game blocker if you stumbled on the hideout.
Beyond my current level. But raiding the vault? There's a way.
“Time it and wake me when ready.”
What?
-Bang bang!
I pounded the iron door disguised as a normal house.
“Ah, I'm drunkkk.”
Tongue's slurring, idiot. What'd you take?
“Sho drunkkk.”
Pill timed perfectly, kicking in. Ten minutes post-swallow, as expected.
“Keep the dishguise uppp.”
Hey! Hey!
“Pleash? Or I diee.”
Suddenly no explanation—how am I supposed to—
“Shleepy. Three hoursh nap.”
Blurring consciousness. Gemma's voice fading.
-Thud
I curled around the money bag and crashed on the ground.
* * *
-Bang bang!
The violent knocking roused SBG-30, the doll guarding the vault inside the hideout.
Opening the door revealed a collapsed man right there.
SBG-30 scanned his face. clutching the bag tight—cleared for entry.
The spirit-tech AI brain decided instantly.
-Whirr
SBG-30 hauled the authorized entrant to the break room, tucked him in bed, then returned to post. Protocol for downed allies nearby: assess, rest, treat.
* * *
I dreamed.
Floating in lukewarm water in endless dark space, lying down. Unlike soul-numbing sleep incense. Unlike the shallow sleep haunting me since possession.
Sedative-aided, but this buoyant bliss was new. Dreaming proved not deep sleep, mind sharp, yet truly 'resting' for once.
Didn't care how. Like eyes closed in a windless summer pool? Nah, darker here.
No thin eyelids pierced by sunlight reminding you of light.
Thus, the dream space was bizarre. Pitch black, yet I clearly sensed my form. And the mirror floating above.
“......”
Another me, horizontal, face-to-face like gazing at lying self. Mirror image close enough to touch.
-Fufu
Maybe 'cause it was the drawn blond tanned delinquent exactly. Hit 27-year-old civil servant me weird—hollow laugh at the change.
But mirror-me acted totally different.
“You think this is fuckin' funny? Ah~ang?”
Mirror-me—no, someone else in my skin—spoke. Immature killing intent upfront, face muscles twitching threateningly. Seventeen-year punk kid.
“Who the hell are you.”
Familiar face, but I can't make that expression.
“Now you brazenly ask? Priceless.”
His face split into a grin, unlike expected. Like the threat was just a joke.
“Eh, don't freak. No harm intended.”
“......”
“First time we chat face-to-face, huh?”
The blond tanned delinquent beamed genuinely bright.
“Came to say thanks. And goodbye.”
Then I knew. His identity was exactly what I saw.
< Four seconds after we met—XX >