Chapter 56 #21 The Monster of the Red Silk Society (1)
Under a clear, high autumn sky. Walking along a beautiful tree-lined street, a blue awning comes into view. It was a shop selling gelato—a rare Italian treat in these parts. A girl with her hair braided back and thrown over her shoulder stopped in front of the shop.
"One strawberry, please."
"Make that two of the same for me."
The girl, Suo Haozhu, glanced sideways at the man who had appeared next to her.
He was handsome enough to earn compliments, with a refined look, but his long, horizontal eyes gave him a somehow suspicious air.
The man flashed Suo Haozhu a slight smile. Seeing it, she thought,
'He looks just like a fox.'
Those sharp eyes crinkled slightly, making him look exactly like one.
Her interest was fleeting. Suo Haozhu turned her gaze away from the man. The gelato was what mattered.
"Don't you usually like vanilla best?"
At his words, Suo Haozhu's eyes flickered.
"Huh?"
"You always liked it best with crushed nuts mixed in."
If it had just been a casual remark, a throwaway line, Suo Haozhu wouldn't have paid him any mind. But it was spot-on truth, without a shred of doubt. So she turned back to the man.
"You know me?"
"Of course. I know you very well."
Before she could say more, the gelato arrived. She took her strawberry one and eyed the suspicious guy. He held an identical one and casually licked at it.
"You..."
"It's a play day today anyway, right? How about hanging out with me? It'll be a blast."
Suo Haozhu pondered for a moment.
"You kidnapping me?"
The man shrugged at her eventual question.
"Kidnapping you would be pointless. You're way stronger."
True enough.
Suo Haozhu could crush the man before her like a bug anytime she wanted.
Today was playtime, though. And she had time to kill.
"Fine."
She nodded lightly.
Walking with Suo Haozhu, I kept stealing glances at her, gauging her mood.
━I thought that was the cringiest line in the world, but it actually worked.
'I've got confidence. Confidence that I can escape any situation.'
This petite girl, whose head barely reached my chest, Suo Haozhu, was a monster who could vaporize an entire city in an instant.
With pure physical force, no less.
So of course she wouldn't fear someone like me.
"Where do you wanna go with me?"
"Arcade first? Or wanna catch a movie?"
━Straight out of a cheesy TV date route.
'Turns out she's into that stuff, surprisingly.'
"What's that?"
But this Suo Haozhu apparently hadn't discovered the appeal yet. I led her to a nearby arcade.
The first machine I took her to was a claw grabber.
First try. Suo Haozhu failed to snag a doll. She alternated stares between the machine and her hand—did she even want the doll?—so I told her,
"Don't smash it. That's not how you do it."
"Oh?"
"Hang on."
I parked her there and sat at the machine. Having practiced for hours against her back in the day, it only took a few tries for me to nab one.
"Here. A gift."
"Gift?"
"Yeah."
Suo Haozhu's eyes widened at the obviously bootleg-brand rabbit doll.
Next up: coin karaoke machine.
Unfortunately, she didn't know many songs. But she seemed pretty thrilled when I sang a few she liked.
━Sings better than expected.
'She was the after-party star.'
Then some basketball toss, a few arcade games together. Even with her bored-looking face, Suo Haozhu kept up surprisingly well.
"This is fun."
Leaving the arcade, I grabbed crepes from a street vendor and handed one to her.
About time for a sugar boost.
Feed her at the right moment, and she won't get cranky.
Munching her crepe, Suo Haozhu asked me,
"So why'd you bring me here? Why'd you seek me out?"
Right on cue. I munched my crepe and replied,
"Personally curious about something with you."
"What?"
"When you're hitting the Silver Moon Society."
Her aura shifted at that. The air around us froze solid. The suddenly sharpened atmosphere stung my skin.
But I pressed on, unperturbed.
"Some friends of mine work there. Ideally, leave them be. Tough ask, huh?"
"You..."
Suo Haozhu's eyes turned feral.
"You know who I am?"
"Been knowing since earlier. You saw—I nailed all your tastes. Obviously I know who you are."
"You know, and you're still talking shit?"
"Just came to ask nicely."
"If you know me, fear me. Run."
"Oh, should I? Not feeling it."
Whoosh. A fist shot toward me. The wind pressure burst my capillaries. Blood tears streamed down.
I invoked my power. My main one: 'Lie'.
Target: Suo Haozhu before me.
Content: 'I don't fear you at all.'
Foundation: My demeanor over the hours spent with her.
If it failed, I'd die. I prayed it would stick.
And finally...
"True that."
It worked.
She didn't notice my trembling body, my terror. I sighed inwardly in relief.
She hates people who fear her.
That was why she'd chosen me back then.
When I met Suo Haozhu, I didn't fear death. Hell, I wanted it.
That's why she liked me.
She'd even outright demanded me from Seol Rokjin. He refused, of course, but whenever he needed deals with her, he'd loan me out.
I learned why later.
Her adoptive father had been innately fearless. As the first person unafraid of her, she fixated on him.
Now, I treasured my life, feared death—but faking the type she wanted? Easy enough.
I smiled again.
Casual, as if utterly unafraid.
"Who are you?"
First time in hours she'd asked my name.
A mischievous urge hit me.
"No fun just telling you. How about after a few more meets?"
She narrowed her eyes at that.
"Not even sure how many more you can survive..."
"Still."
"Fine."
She nodded roughly and asked,
"How'd you know all that about me?"
"We've met before."
"Me?"
"Yep."
Suo Haozhu stared at my face, like she wanted to read my mind.
Her circling me, peering intently—it was kinda cute. But knowing what she was, cold sweat poured. If the lie got exposed, I'd be shredded here.
But no talent needed this time. We'd met before—pure truth.
"When?"
"You really don't remember?"
She furrowed her brow.
"No clue. Sometimes I forget memories."
Bingo, my hunch was right. Suo Haozhu erased her memories. For power.
Still staring, she asked,
"We really met?"
"Yeah. How else would I know you so well? Kinda hurts."
"Hurts..."
She blinked. No one probably said stuff like that to her—she was always alone.
I kept my cool face and continued.
"We had a blast. Like today."
"You and me?"
"Yep. Last time at a baduk parlor. You like baduk. I'm crap at it. So I taught you 'egg battle'."
She didn't get the Korean term "egg battle".
Her head tilt was pretty adorable.
"You were good at that 'egg battle'."
"Egg... battle."
"Which was more fun—today, or egg battle?"
"Dunno. Don't remember the baduk parlor."
"Then next time, baduk parlor. I'll reteach since you forgot."
"Next?"
Suo Haozhu stared, like she'd never considered it. Erasing memories meant she'd forget this day by tonight.
Knowing that full well, I still asked,
"We can meet tomorrow too, right?"
I'd asked future her this once. Just curiosity. She seemed so bored, sick of life.
This Suo Haozhu had more spark than that one.
But those empty eyes were the same.
Her current strength came from sacrificing nearly everything.
Even memories, traded for power.
I knew her future.
Trading emotions and memories endlessly for ability, one day she kills her beloved adoptive father with her own hands. Because that day, she forgets him. Realizing it, she rampages—Shanghai vanishes from China's map.
She ends up on China's kill list, wandering the world. Still boss of the Red Silk Society, an awakener no one could ignore.
But nothing left for her.
Her future was pathetic.
Her answer that day: "Who knows." Next day, she was found dead by her own hand.
I never wanted to see that again. Maybe that's why I came to China—to stop it.
I told her,
"Say it. 'Yeah, tomorrow too. Egg battle and all.'"
She narrowed her eyes, scanning me up and down.
"Boring now. I'm out."
"Cool. Same spot tomorrow."
No reply even then. Watching her walk past, I sighed inwardly.
Too soon, maybe. Thinking that, I turned to go the other way.
A faint mutter brushed my ear.
"Don't be near the warehouse by the theater tonight."
I smiled at the advice.