Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Eric Airheart (2)
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"I heard Jaeyeon gave you K."
"Seems I truly have no private life."
I replied indifferently, without any particular surprise.
"I haven't played it yet."
"Then why ask when you already know?"
Come to think of it, I'd run into the illegal implants this guy had whimsically released when I visited the game center.
Narrowing my eyes as I recalled that incident, which hadn't left a good memory.
"But do you find such whims enjoyable?"
Eric looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I let out a small sigh and recounted what had happened then.
The neatly handsome deviant quickly understood my words.
"Ah, I was just about to bring that up."
"I'd like to hear your explanation."
"Explanation? I don't think there's much to explain... I probably just let them go, right?"
The elder wiggled his ankle and rolled his eyes upward.
Leaning my upper body against the hospital room wall, I listened to his explanation.
While noting the presence of Shashinsky standing in the hallway outside and the blond subordinate.
"Sometimes I just feel an impulse to do it. It's like offering a small salvation."
"You could save them in a more conventional way."
"Well, I just felt like it at the time."
Eric said that and laughed long and loud.
"Sometimes I toss a fork to those left behind bars. Doesn't that feel more merciful than that?"
"Yes?"
I couldn't understand what he meant.
Eric chuckled lowly as he watched me raise my eyebrows.
"It's better than leaving them in a cell with no weapon."
"...You're saying you gave them a fork as a weapon?"
"It's giving them hope."
The man said it so amiably, then his eyes twinkled.
"Anyway, that's not the important part."
I was so flabbergasted I couldn't say much.
I just looked at him and let out a hollow laugh. No point trying to understand with normal logic—this guy's beyond it—so might as well hear him out.
Eric brought up the game shop where the 'From E' game had been.
I nodded quietly, and the elder reached into his suit's inner pocket.
He pulled out his phone, and the screen showed the guy from the shop's CCTV footage. The one with the hood pulled up, shoulders hunched.
I'd completely forgotten about seeing this footage.
I blinked several times, and Eric smiled faintly as he pocketed the phone.
"Find this guy for me."
I stared at the man sitting in the chair for a long while.
Then slowly asked.
"Who is this guy?"
"You'll know when you find him."
"Yes?
"What... No, how is some unknown person connected to finding my past?"
"You already know the shop owner slapped a huge premium on 'From A,' right?"
"Yes. Over ten times the price."
"Could've gone even higher."
Eric wiggled his ankle, his voice cheerful.
"There's only one 'From A' game left now, and it's with me."
"Yes?"
"That guy destroyed all the rest."
Huh?
My jaw dropped.
I was speechless at the completely unexpected answer.
No.
Why....
Who the hell is this guy?
"He bought up every one on the market and smashed them."
"That guy did?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"No idea."
The man narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Find him and hear the answer straight from the source."
Then that one got destroyed too, right?
The elder quickly addressed my anxiety. The last piece hadn't been destroyed. No idea how he knew, but he'd confirmed it was stored in a bank vault famous for its tight security.
A bank vault?
The story was getting weirder by the minute.
"Well, if you prefer, I could just retrieve the game from the vault instead."
Eric casually said something terrifying.
"But wouldn't finding the person be more fun?"
And so the conversation wrapped up.
With me finding that person I'd completely forgotten about and paid no attention to. I also got a promise there'd be no threats or violence—nothing coercive.
Truth be told, I wanted to just ask him to snag the game from the vault, but I couldn't bring myself to request a bank heist.
So for now, I settled for asking him to identify the suspicious guy.
...Well, since he brought it up, he'll probably handle it well.
Eric smiled elegantly and left.
***
Five days later, I was discharged.
It was around 9 p.m. when permission came through. I quietly prepared to leave. Since it was late, I planned to give my farewells the next day.
It was embarrassing to end up hospitalized every time I went on a mission.
I wanted more time to sort out my feelings too. I'd steeled myself, but the heavy guilt hadn't lifted.
First, back to the cabin....
The hallway was eerily quiet, perhaps because night had fallen.
As I slowly stepped into the milky-white space, I froze upon sensing the pouring killing intent.
"Ah."
There was a familiar face.
Someone whose name I didn't know. Someone I'd seen only once at the Choi Family estate and never again.
Back then, he'd smiled without malice from Eric Airheart's side and given me a warning.
Now, he was glaring at me with eyes full of hatred.
Why?
I widened my eyes, and Shashinsky, standing beside the killing-intent-spewing man, let out a deep sigh.
Eric Airheart's subordinates.
The vampire-pale redhead apologized to me.
"I'm sorry."
He still looks exhausted.
"I'll keep him in check."
"...Good to see you. You're earlier than expected."
I thought it'd be much later.
I didn't expect him back so soon.
After a light greeting to Shashinsky, I turned to their master. Eric was wearing a light-colored suit again. The indigo coat draped over it suited him strikingly well.
Does this guy always dress this flashy?
Suddenly feeling tired.
"Your face says you're suddenly tired."
"Sharp as ever."
If you know, please leave.
"Why are you here this time? Doesn't seem like you came to drag me off.... And did I do something wrong?"
The last part was directed at Eric's blond subordinate.
As soon as I finished asking, Shashinsky sighed. Eric burst into ha-ha laughter.
"No need to mind it. I've just been interested in you lately, that's all."
"Yes?"
"That's how deep my affection runs."
His nonchalant reply made it seem like he'd answered questions like this many times before.
"Affection is heavy by nature, after all."
I really hate this.
Am I the target of jealousy now?
This elder and his subordinate don't have a normal relationship either. I'd thought Jaeyeon bouncing between love and hate for Colton, and Colton never letting her go, was the weirdest.
But this doesn't seem like the dry contractual bond between Suhoi and Seung-hyun either.
After briefly failing to control my expression, I barely regained composure and turned my head.
He won't come visit like this every time, right.
"What is it?"
"I heard you were being discharged. Thought I'd bring flowers at least."
"No, that's fine."
I refused reflexively.
"I'm grateful just for the visit."
"Ha-ha. That's a real 'no thanks' face."
Even knowing that, the man shamelessly waved his hand.
Then Shashinsky, looking like he wanted to go home right away, pulled out a small bouquet, and the blond offered a nicely wrapped box.
This is insane....
"What's this?"
Afraid the blond might slit my throat if I refused, I reluctantly took the box.
Eric smiled faintly and slipped his hands into his pants pockets.
"Open it when you get home."
"...Yes. Thank you. Then, as you said, I'll...."
"Mr. Airheart."
A familiar voice cut in.
Heads turned. I widened my eyes too, taking in the three familiar people approaching from the end of the hallway behind Eric Airheart.
Not surprised by the master and Ami.
But what's the HR Director doing here?
"Got some business with my subordinate?"
And he was furious.
Stunned by the HR Director's anger—the first time I'd seen it—I was speechless. Kang Ju approached Eric with a smile, but the disgust and irritation oozing from it was crystal clear.
Even more surprising was Eric furrowing his brow upon turning to confirm the HR Director.
The two men, who always seemed to be smiling, now eyed each other with loathing.
"Hilde's tired enough as is—mind holding off on visits?"
"You're as dull as ever, no matter when I see you."
Irritation laced Eric's voice too.
"Why not get a brain scan sometime? Bet it'd yield more interesting results than the guy standing next to you."
"Why hit the one just standing still."
Yoon replied indifferently.
He scanned Eric and the subordinates with a sullen face.
"What business does the cult leader have with my junior?"
"Cult leader? I'm just a plain foundation operator. Atheist too."
"I know plenty bow to your photo in prayer."
Eric smiled faintly at Yoon.
Back to his usual self. Didn't seem to particularly like Yoon, but didn't hate him as much as the HR Director either.
"You even coming alone to his hospital room for his discharge. Say what you will, you do care for your deputy."
"Came with my little sister."
"Little sister?"
Eric's eyes widened.
The elder's ash-gray eyes filled with surprise as he asked back.
"You have a little sister?"
...She's right there.
But the deviant elder apparently couldn't see Ami.
And this wasn't the first time, it seemed. Ami wasn't surprised, just stared sullenly at the floor.
Yoon wore an expression like he'd given this answer countless times.
"Yes."
"Amazing. You don't strike me as someone with siblings."
"How does that old man run the foundation with a brain that bad?"
Ami muttered sullenly.
"What a truly stupid guy."
Hilarious.
Ami's so far from misfortune she doesn't register in Eric's vision. Joo and Yoon seem boring to him in a similar vein. Probably her short stature keeps her out of sight too.
Leaning against the wall, I stifled a laugh.
Sorry, Ami, but the situation was funny.
Glad these folks weren't on Eric's radar either.
Now I get why Ye-hyeon was happy at the salon.
Eric and Joo traded loathing-laced words for a while. Until Shashinsky, standing like a shadow, thankfully cut in with, "Time to go now."
Eric nodded and turned to me.
"See you later."
"Get some rest."
I ignored the "see you" part.
The platinum-haired middle-aged man grinned and left, saying to contact him anytime I wanted.
Shashinsky bowed silently and followed his master.
The blond subordinate lingered longer, watching me.
"He'll soon shift his interest elsewhere."
As I muttered sullenly, the youthful, refined blond raised one eyebrow.
Then, seeing me standing there grumpily, he smiled faintly.
"Not sure about that."
You'd better.
The deviant crew vanished like shadows.
As soon as they were out of sight, I turned.
"Anyway, what's up with the HR Director?"
"Oh, came to counsel you."
Joo smiled and threw a straight ball.
"Your vibe's been off lately."