A Forced Day Off
Even if he could handle everything else on his own, the people who came to collect for gas delivery, electricity, water, and phone bills were bound to take an interest in Han Se-gun. Whenever that happened, Se-gun introduced himself as a venture entrepreneur.
Anyway, what mattered right now was checking on Yeong-eun's condition.
"How on earth did you get hurt? A girl like you?"
Seo Rin already knew the truth, but he asked just to confirm. Yeong-eun answered in a halfhearted tone.
"Oh, nothing much… I was just riding inside a car that flipped onto its side after bouncing off the ground all cool and movie-like."
"…Wow."
As expected, Han Se-gun had no concept of "moderation." He'd figured as much, but to actually roll a vehicle in the middle of Seoul… Yeong-eun was lucky to have walked away from that.
"So what's the damage?"
"Concussion, scrapes, and bruises. Want to see how bad the bruising is?"
She said it while pretending to peel off her hospital gown.
"Hey! You're a grown young woman—what do you think you're doing?"
"Obviously I'm joking. You think I'm some kind of exhibitionist weirdo?"
Yeong-eun stuck her tongue out at Seo Rin. Coming to visit at a time like this… somehow, she was glad. Her brother, who had become so hard to see, had come himself…
"But how did you even find out? There's no way they told you from home."
"Heh heh heh. I've got my ways. Looks like you're underestimating your big brother."
"Hearing you talk like that, it seems like you're doing well."
"Of course. I'm making a ton of money, too. Really."
"Ah, right."
Yeong-eun closed her book. Seo Rin glanced at it—a study guide. Well, she was out of school, so she had to keep studying. But studying even in the hospital? Seeing her do that, it seemed like she wasn't suffering any lasting trauma from the kidnapping. Her expression was bright, free of any shadows. An ordinary girl would have developed severe social anxiety after something like that.
Had her memory been wiped this time too? On a sudden impulse, Seo Rin asked her.
"So how did you end up in that accident?"
"Well… you wouldn't believe me even if I told you, Oppa. Mm, really."
The way she said it suggested her memory hadn't been erased. Then again, the moment Se-gun realized he'd been tricked, he'd rushed straight back to Seoul—he hadn't had time to mess with her memories. But Giovanni and the others seemed tight-lipped enough that they hadn't told her anything unnecessary either. Or wait—had Giovanni been the only one who could speak Korean?
"You're talking nonsense. What do you mean I wouldn't believe you?"
"Never mind. I'm not telling."
Yeong-eun left it at that. Even if she explained, it was hard to believe—and even if he did believe her, it would only worry him. She couldn't risk stirring up needless trouble by bringing it up.
"Anyway, where the hell did you get a job, Oppa? A venture company—what kind of venture company?"
"Ah, well… some kind of se-security system thing? Something along those lines. Me, I'm just doing document deliveries, running around government offices, that kind of stuff."
"So you're an office boy?"
"Yeah. An office boy. That about covers it."
Seo Rin clapped his hands. Yeong-eun let out a sigh.
"Oppa. That kind of work has no future. It's basically the same as day labor."
"Is it? I feel like I'm learning a lot, though."
"Well… I guess that's true. How much is the salary?"
Salary? It was more like Se-gun just giving him a set amount of money—did that even count as a salary? Seo Rin thought that over and did some quick mental math.
"Hmm. About two million won a month."
Yeong-eun's eyes went wide.
"W-wait, two hundred?"
"Yeah."
"To an oppa who's not even a high school graduate—you're a dropout?"
"Uh-huh."
"And they're paying two hundred just to have you run errands? In this recession?"
"Yeah. Ah, but there's no bonuses or anything like that."
"Wow… whoever the boss is there must be a really kind person. Heart of silk. Is it maybe a shell company?"
Se-gun, kind, with a heart of silk? Seo Rin trembled at the thought.
"S-shell company? No way. It's fine, it's fine."
Seo Rin waved his hands. Anyway, he was just glad Yeong-eun was okay.
"Well, I should get going. Take care of yourself… How long are you hospitalized?"
"Ah, looks like I'll be in till the end of this week. Then I'll go home. They say there's nothing seriously wrong, so don't worry too much."
"I won't. Worry? Me?"
"Oh, really? Then worry a lot, Oppa."
Yeong-eun stuck her tongue out again. Seeing her so lively, it seemed she hadn't buried the kidnapping deep in her heart. She was his little sister, but she had a remarkably strong will—and that made Seo Rin oddly proud.
"Ahh. Fine, fine."
Seo Rin waved and left the hospital.
"Alright then, where should I go now?"
Seo Rin sighed and checked his phone. It was still only eleven in the morning. Se-gun had kicked him out and told him to go have a blast, but anyone who could have a blast in this mood would have to be pretty empty-headed.
"Well, he did look out for me, at least. From Se-gun hyung's perspective, that much is pretty huge. I should repay that consideration of his, right? Let's try having some fun."
Seo Rin grumbled as he boarded the subway. He'd never realized it, always busy with school and work—wandering around Seoul on a weekday morning was a surprisingly fresh and enjoyable experience.
"Just loafing around with nothing to do is pretty fun, actually."
Sitting on the subway, Seo Rin looked at the people around him and pulled a newspaper off the luggage rack. So where to go? Maybe he'd drop by Arjuna first?
Thinking that, he got off at the station and walked toward Arjuna. He didn't have anything particular to do there, but he wanted to say hello and chat a bit. And he also wanted to hear whether she was really dating Se-gun hyung or not. Even if they were master and disciple, even if she was older—the age gap didn't seem that big, and she was an incredible beauty, wasn't she? On top of that, the way her eyes looked at Se-gun was like a cat eyeing its prey…
"Ah, no. Dirty thoughts are popping up on their own!"
Seo Rin smacked his own head as he walked. Passersby gave him strange looks, but Seo Rin ignored them with complete confidence.
"Huh?"
But what was this? A closed sign was hanging in front of Arjuna. Seo Rin approached and pressed his ear to the door, but there was no sign of anyone inside.
"I was joking, but… is she actually over at Se-gun hyung's place? Hmm."
Lurid imaginings of the sort any boy his age might have began to bubble up. Seo Rin entertained them for a moment, then quickly shook his head. If it were a stranger, fine—but fantasizing like that about people he clearly knew just didn't sit right.
"Ah, I've really got nowhere to go. I can't call Maria while the sun's up… Still, maybe I should try calling?"
Seo Rin grumbled as he pulled out his phone and dialed Maria's number. He'd stopped using this phone out of fear the calls might be tapped, but looking at Se-gun's recent behavior, it seemed like he wouldn't do that kind of thing anymore. When he made the call, Maria's voice soon came through.
"Hello? This is Maria's house."
"You still haven't forgotten that bit, huh."
Did she have caller ID set up? No. Even if the number was displayed, this was the first time he'd called her from a cell phone. There was no way Maria would know Seo Rin's number.
"Ah, Seo Rin? You're okay?"
Maria brightened at the sound of his voice.
"Huh?"
"Thank goodness. Argon said you might have gone crazy, so I was worried."
"Ah… Argon? Wait, Maria. You two know each other? You and Argon?"
"How could we not know each other? I'm a Jinma and so is he."
Maria puffed herself up with a proud Ahem! Yeah, yeah. You're a Jinma, sure. Seo Rin thought that as he asked,
"Really? Do Jinma have some kind of mutual aid circle or something?"
"What's a mutual aid circle?"
"Like a kind of fund? Does that make more sense?"
"Hmm. Nah, Argon's too poor for that kind of thing."
Maria gave a little snort of laughter. Well, Argon did seem a bit poor. Looking at him, he gave off the vibe of a broke rock musician. The kind of guy who bounced between clubs because his music wouldn't sell, like the protagonist of some music success drama?
"R-right? Anyway, are you free today?"
"Huh? Ah, what is it? A date?"
"Uhh…"
Seo Rin trailed off. But Maria lit up and agreed immediately.
"If Seo Rin is calling, I'll make time even if I don't have any. Great! Should I come right now?"
"No, uh… let's meet after the sun goes down. Daytime would be a bit awkward, right?"
"Mm. Okay. Where should we meet?"
"Well. Hmm. Is there anywhere you want to go?"
Seo Rin asked, somehow happy. He hadn't done anything special for her, yet this girl was thrilled just because he'd called. To be welcomed like this… if only she weren't a vampire.
"Hmm, anywhere fun is fine."
"Then, um… let's do Insadong! The southern entrance of Insadong Street at seven-thirty… no, eight o'clock."
Seo Rin gave himself plenty of time. Calling a girl out late at night made him worry about getting her home, but she was a rich young lady with a driver.
"Okay! I'll wait happily."
Maria said that but didn't hang up. Was she not going to hang up first? Thinking that, Seo Rin said to her,
"Ah, then I'll hang up."
Seo Rin hung up and stretched. He'd made the appointment for eight, but there was still a long time left.
"Alright, so what do I do now?"
What now? He was stuck for places to go. Should he visit the neighborhood where he used to live? Dr. Kang's mysterious hospital, or Hyeok-jin's dojo, or something.
Seo Rin sighed and trudged toward the station.
When he entered the hospital lobby and gave Dr. Kang Ui-chan's name, the receptionist picked up the internal phone. She soon handed the receiver over the counter to Seo Rin.
"Please take this."
"Yes."
Seo Rin put the phone to his ear. Dr. Kang's voice came through from the other end.
"I'm busy, you little punk!"
"…Ah, is that so?"
Not a private practice doctor but a doctor at a general hospital—and during clinic hours, no less—so it was a natural reaction. Seo Rin sighed and hung up. He'd expected as much. Dr. Kang had a cold, uncaring side to him; he did whatever he wanted whether people came to see him or not. Well, it was that same lack of concern that let him look at Seo Rin the werewolf and just go, Ah, I see, and leave it at that.
What kind of adult is this? Seo Rin grumbled.
But a moment later, the phone rang again.
"Ah, yes?"
"It's just become lunchtime. Come on up."
"Is that how it is?"
Seo Rin looked at his watch—sure enough, the minute hand had just ticked over. Even so, to reverse himself over a difference of a few seconds. Truly willful. I'll never become this kind of person no matter how old I get, Seo Rin resolved, then ran up the stairs.
A nameplate reading "Medical Doctor Kang Ui-chan" was slotted by the exam room entrance. When Seo Rin opened the door and went inside, Dr. Kang was sitting in a chair swinging a bamboo sword.
"Welcome."
"What are you doing? In the exam room?"
"Exercise. I may not look it, but I was captain for the Korea-Japan collegiate kendo match."
Of course Seo Rin already knew that. They hadn't known each other for years for nothing—he'd heard all those stories already. Still, out of courtesy, Seo Rin asked.
"Oh, so what was the result?"
"A 5–0 thrashing."
He said it as he put the bamboo sword away. Geez, if it was something like that, most people wouldn't want to bring it up—why talk about it so eagerly? Seo Rin had never been able to understand this eccentric. Of course, that was only because Seo Rin didn't know any better. Being selected as a player for the collegiate Korea-Japan kendo match was an opportunity given only to those who placed high in national tournaments, and captain was an even more impressive position. That Dr. Kang Ui-chan could rise to that while attending medical school spoke volumes about how outstanding a swordsman he was. Well, there was also a dentist who'd won Olympic gold in fencing, so it wasn't exactly unheard of.
"So. What is it this time?"
"Ah… well, I was just bored."
"Bored? You're a pretty bland kid yourself."
Dr. Kang grumbled as he stood up.
"If that's really all, I've got to go eat."
He stripped off his white coat, tossed it on the chair, and straightened his sleeves and collar. If Seo Rin didn't say something, he looked ready to bolt straight for the cafeteria. Startled, Seo Rin continued.
"No. Uh, the thing is… I transformed."
"Haa?"
Looking surprised, Dr. Kang sat back down. He adjusted his glasses and asked,
"Transformed? What?"
"Into a werewolf."
"Hmm. I've got a feeling that if I just recorded this conversation, I could have you committed to a psych ward on the spot."
Well, that was true enough. Lycanthropy was originally a term for the delusion of believing oneself to be a werewolf.
But Seo Rin was, in fact, a werewolf. And Dr. Kang already knew that perfectly well, didn't he? Seo Rin scratched his head and laughed it off.