My Nosiness is World-Class (2)
I met Jeong Hosan when I was seven, at the orphanage.
Having lost my parents to a gate accident that had broken out at the time, I encountered him around the same time—he'd ended up there for different reasons.
To be honest, my first impression of the guy was the worst. Even though he was in the same boat as me, there he was, grinning ear to ear without a single tear streak on his face. It pissed me off for no reason.
What the hell does he have to smile about? Lost his parents too, and he's got nothing else going for him.
Unlike me, who'd lost everything overnight and was barely scraping by in this crumbling world, Jeong Hosan seemed totally fine. That got under my skin.
But the moment I saw him stifling sobs at dawn, I realized it. He was just like me. He'd only been pretending to be strong because he didn't want to look weak.
I never told anyone what I'd seen that day. Not even Jeong Hosan himself—I kept it secret. Figured it'd embarrass him, and honestly, I just didn't feel like saying anything.
After that, I stopped putting thorns up around Jeong Hosan.
Didn't think we'd end up this close, though...
Our bond lasted a long time. We'd both lost our parents around the same time, and we awakened to our talents around then too.
Even up until I entered the academy, my vision of the future always had him in it. But as we went through the academy and graduated, my thinking started to change.
While I was fumbling around, unable to become a proper hunter, Jeong Hosan—with his A-grade physical enhancement talent—got scouted right after graduation by the Red Dog Guild, ranked 5th among Korea's guilds.
I was a given in my future, sure. But I wasn't a given in his.
As I got older and wiser, I faced reality. I didn't fit with him anymore. A guy with trash talent like mine, who couldn't even make it as a hunter, had no business being his friend.
Jeong Hosan was so damn nice that he kept treating even a loser like me as a friend, but in the end, just as I'd predicted, our friendship dragged him to his death.
So not this time.
In this second life, I planned to cut all ties with him.
I was going to be a villain anyway. Better for him if he never knew someone like me existed.
I deleted the text on my phone and blocked Jeong Hosan's number.
Tossing the phone onto the bed, I headed for a shower first. Even if mining had gone smoother than for most, it was a jungle-type gate, and my whole body reeked of sweat.
I threw the musty clothes in the washer, then hung them up on the rooftop to dry. No one would steal ratty old training pants like these.
Once the laundry was done, I cleaned up the disaster of a room.
Right after reviving, I'd been too out of it to even look around, but staying here any longer was starting to suffocate me.
My mind, used to years of high-society luxury, was screaming.
My exhausted body craved rest, but I couldn't sleep in a dump like this.
I swept out every musty item from the place, and finally, the cramped goshiwon felt a little breathable.
"Now I can live."
Time to think about the future.
What I had planned required money. A lot of it. To take down Seol Rokjin and Korea's corrupt elite, I'd need all sorts of resources.
Today's earnings: 1.3 million won. Not bad, but nowhere near my goal.
"After living expenses, there's barely anything left."
Scraping by like this wouldn't get me there.
"Hate to resort to this, but..."
The answer was simple.
If you can't earn it, borrow it.
The bank teller eyed my face and spoke with obvious tension.
"I'm sorry, sir. I looked into it thoroughly, but given your conditions..."
"No loans available?"
"Yes."
The teller swallowed hard under my gaze. His terrified face was almost pitiful. Guess my expression had turned pretty menacing without me noticing. He started rambling to fill the silence.
"You are an awakener, but... you're not in a guild right now, and..."
He went on and on, but the gist was: You're not an awakener worth lending to.
First-tier banks don't mess around, huh.
Even as an awakener, ones who couldn't cut it as hunters got crappy treatment. Especially someone like me, with a recognition tag around my neck.
The teller's eyes flicked to my tag, and his hand stayed under the desk—ready to call security any second.
Who're you calling a potential criminal? Okay, fine, I was one.
I left the bank empty-handed in the end.
Luckily, I still had one more place to borrow from.
Push & Cash
The name sounded like they'd squeeze every organ out of you if you didn't pay up, but it was my only option right now.
Unlike the pristine bank entrance, this place's doorway was so dingy it reminded me of a gate with no exit.
A bulldog-faced guy greeted me at the door. The moment he saw me, he flashed a bright smile that didn't match his mug at all.
"Welcome, sir. Here for a loan?"
His soft, silky voice sent chills down my spine.
"Y-yeah."
He grinned wider at my stutter.
Anyone could see I screamed sucker.
"Figured. You look like an awakener to me."
Eyeing my recognition tag, he tapped his own neck and chuckled slyly.
Unlike the first-tier banks that shied away once they knew I was a mental-type awakener, this guy seemed thrilled. Made sense—they could put someone like me to use in all sorts of shady ways.
With that creepy smile, he led me down the hall.
"Our team leader will work with whatever your situation is, so don't be too nervous."
A loan shark showing mercy to my circumstances? Reassuring.
He left me in front of a black door.
Behind it was probably the team leader he'd mentioned.
I let out a short breath and opened it.
"Excuse me."
Inside was a sleek office in dark tones. A man in his early thirties, impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit, sat there.
He looked too young for a team leader role. Late twenties at most, early thirties if you stretched it—thanks to the comb-over and tight suit making him look older. Face alone? Total rookie.
This kid's running the place?
"Here for a loan?"
"Y-yes."
He gestured to the sofa with a hand. I sat awkwardly, and he spoke kindly.
"Something to drink?"
"N-no, I'm good."
He introduced himself as Choi In-hyeok, team leader. Way friendlier impression than the bulldog guy.
Unlike that thug who screamed "underworld," Choi In-hyeok looked like your average office worker. But at his age, already a team leader? He had to have a hidden side.
He slid an empty form my way.
"Fill this out first."
Name, birthdate, school, family relations—everything.
No relatives to worry about, but it still didn't feel lighthearted coming here.
His snake-sharp eyes scanned me. All friendly faces are a front. Pretending not to notice, I calmly filled it out.
He eyed the finished form, eyes gleaming.
"Babel academy grad, huh."
His gaze raked me up and down—super sketchy.
"Wouldn't be here if you'd made hunter."
Tapping his neck, he bared his teeth in a grin.
"Wonder what talent's got you wearing that."
Sounded like musing, but it was a clear question. No field for talent on the form, but with this damn tag, unavoidable.
"Low-frequency emission. Great for repelling mosquitoes. Useless on people."
No need to tell the truth here. Not a government office—they couldn't verify properly. A vague lie would do.
Impossible for a hunter, but for a failed one like me? Easy to bullshit.
He squinted.
"And they make you wear a tag for that?"
"Barely affects human brains, they say."
Choi In-hyeok stroked his chin, suspicious but no way to check on the spot.
Had to go through the Awakener Association. First-tier might access it, but not here. Even illegally, it'd take time.
I swallowed inwardly.
"Up to 130 million on you as collateral. But that'll mean up to 40% annual interest, 5 million on standard."
He'd dropped the polite speech somewhere along the way—annoying, but the amount was bigger than expected.
"Recommend 5 million. What'll it be?"
"130 million."
Choi In-hyeok's eyebrow twitched.
"Interest'll be brutal."
Then quickly added:
"No payments for three months, got it?"
Damn loan sharks. Meant to rack up three months' interest no matter what. Leeches sucking the poor dry.
"4,333,333 won monthly interest. First payment next month on the 15th. Sure you can handle it?"
Staring at my face after quoting the number. Would choke a normal citizen, but after working under Seol Rokjin—where my guts ballooned from the spending—it was pocket change.
Seol Rokjin blew through billions in minutes sometimes.
At my calm face, Choi In-hyeok looked mildly surprised. Why's this broke-ass punk so confident?
I met his eyes straight on, like what's the problem? His lips crept up.
"Hmph, long as you pay on time, no issue. But sir—if you're short even a penny, late by a day—I'll rip out your guts to get my money."
Despite the warning, he handed over the cash readily.
Just took my recognition tag's serial as collateral. That was it.
I was honestly a bit shocked at how easily he gave it.
This guy's a pushover?
Checking the heavy bag, I smiled.
130 million. 40% annual interest?
Yeah, I'll just not pay it back.