Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Chapter 7 Murderer (4)
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Kim Yul stood in front of the mirror, staring at the large scar on his back.
The wound that had been clawed open so deeply by the monster that bone was visible had almost completely healed.
It was a recovery speed impossible for an ordinary person.
But after experiencing so many unreal situations, he wasn't even surprised anymore.
He put his shirt back on and picked up his phone.
"Thirteen missed calls..."
It seemed the agency staff and team members had been calling.
He'd bolted right after debut lineup confirmation, so it was only natural.
Staring at the call log with a complicated expression, instead of calling back, he just left the room.
Passing through one door, he entered a space far too vast for one person to live in alone.
No signs of life anywhere, he crossed it to reach the kitchen.
On the table sat neatly prepared food left by the housekeeper.
Kim Yul began his breakfast-slash-lunch with that.
After taking one bite of rice, he murmured softly.
"Community."
Messages had piled up while he slept—not just on his phone.
The Korean-only party he'd gathered was casually chatting.
- Kj: I'm up now at 1 PM!
- Yokai: Oh, Juni finally awake?
- Macaron: Good morning. Mint flops hard.
- BestUnderHeaven: We got a newbie. Kimchi.
- KimchiForever: Hi.
- Kj: Ooh! Hiii. You're not one of the 111 casualties, right?
- BunnyGirl: Yeah, all confirmed.
Three dead in the mission zone, three at the agency.
The party, down to four after six deaths total, had gained two more players in a few days, back to six.
"Huh."
A chuckle escaped him midway through eating while chatting with them.
'Am I way too casual about this now?'
Chatting into empty air wasn't enough—he was treating it like normal.
'How did it come to this?'
Kim Yul dredged up his memories.
Exactly three weeks ago.
He'd gone through the first tutorial in the idol trainee dorm.
Luckily, it was early morning when everyone was exhausted and asleep, so he'd had time to clean up.
But seeing the 1/3 on the mission window gave him a bad feeling, and he bolted from the dorm.
With debut right around the corner, he couldn't spout nonsense about games and systems.
Showing up covered in blood would've made things a real headache.
'Better than holing up in the dorm and getting dragged to the police station, right?'
At the time, avoiding people's eyes was best.
Any bad rumor would've gotten him kicked from the debut lineup for sure.
His family home was perfect for hiding—barely any visitors.
His father, that politician from a prosecutor background, lived separately with some young woman.
His stepmother was busy managing overseas branches.
His half-siblings, fresh out of school, had gotten officetels near their companies and gone independent.
So this sprawling house in central Seoul was entirely his.
But he couldn't keep living like this.
'At first, they probably thought it was just a runaway and gave him time.'
The gap was too long now; the agency was starting to press.
Those recent missed calls were proof.
If he kept ghosting, his hard-won debut would go up in smoke.
'Can't just chill and practice when I might get dragged off anytime.'
With debut so close, things had gotten weirdly tangled.
Kim Yul ruffled his hair and let out a deep sigh.
'I wanted to succeed big and shove it in those Kim bastards' faces.'
Common story. Powerful prosecutor-turned-politician dad, illegitimate kid, stepmom's cold shoulder, half-siblings' abuse.
The only reason Kim Yul had endured that joyless past was one: to climb so high the Kim family couldn't even look up.
To repay every ounce of resentment.
But this game crashing into his life had ruined it all.
The community window and chat floating before him proved the last three weeks weren't a delusion.
This insane game was an unwelcome intruder in his life.
Problem was, he couldn't ignore the damn intruder.
If he got dragged into something like the tutorial again, he'd die.
'I didn't endure in this shithole house to die like this.'
Kim Yul ground his teeth, glaring at empty air.
He didn't want to die pointlessly because of this unwelcome guest.
Not before flipping off the Kim bastards who'd dismissed him as the outside kid.
So he'd pulled himself together and started the mission.
Just to survive.
Debut going down hurt, but life was more precious, right?
"Damn it..."
Cursing midway, Kim Yul forced down the rest of breakfast.
Even on days his older half-brothers kicked him around, he'd dragged himself to the table and eaten.
Not dead yet, and no reason to skip meals over maybe dying.
'Gotta eat.'
Keeps the brain sharp, body strong.
That was how Kim Yul, seventeen years with no one on his side, survived.
After eating, he crossed the now even emptier house back to his room.
Flopping onto the bed, he took deep breaths, trying to sense mana.
But after focusing all day, failure again.
Same as the brief try last night.
"Argh!"
Fed up, Kim Yul kicked the bed and fumed.
'That bastard didn't lie, did he?'
He bit his lip, pacing the room.
'What if it's bullshit to knock out rivals?'
Not even a full day of effort, but anxiety was killing him.
His party was holding off the next mission based on K's info.
If the mana operation stuff was lies, they'd just waste time.
And if he got pulled into some weird space mid-sleep like the tutorial...
Pacing and fuming, Kim Yul suddenly froze.
- K: What're you up to?
New message in the chat that started last night.
Narrowing his eyes at the window, Kim Yul—no, Kj—replied right away.
- Kj: Practicing mana operation at home... Can't feel a thing, waaah my eyes are tearing up.
- K: Where's home? Can we meet up quick?
"Huh?"
The abrupt question furrowed Kim Yul's neat brows.
Meeting some unknown, clearly stronger player?
No way without prep.
Kim Yul carefully typed back to K.
- Kj: Whoa, sudden date invite? Haven't showered today? Heehee.
Plan was reject for now, sync with party later.
But the next message shook him.
- K: Won't regret it. You'll learn why your party members died.
'He knows why hyung died?'
Codename As-sa, real name Yang Bae-joon.
The one who'd scouted Koreans for the party, took the front in the first mission.
Everyone alive owed their lives to his sacrifice.
Kim Yul racked his brain.
'Something with the agency in one night?'
'Fishing based on yesterday's talk?'
Then he shouldn't meet K.
But recalling their chats, he hesitated.
'Didn't seem malicious...'
K struck him as deeply calculating.
Gives as good as he gets.
Why suggest meeting first?
As he debated, another message.
- K: Iffy? Just say a nearby subway station. I'll leave it in a locker.
Decision made.
'Public place? What can he do?'
Kim Yul fired back.
- Kj: No no! Scraping eye boogers and heading out! Kinda curious about you lol.
- K: Location?
Handing him the choice eased his mind a bit.
- Kj: Ttukseom Station on Line 2 nearby? Cool?
- K: Yeah, about 30 min. Take it slow.
- Kj: Yep! 7th exit! I'll wear red Adidas sneakers.
Quick wash-up, teeth, change—off to the meetup.
Made it on time, luckily.
Standing at exit 7, glancing at the floating chat.
"KJ Junior?"
Unfamiliar voice from behind.
He whipped around fast enough to hear the whoosh—chill down his spine.
"Gasp."
No one behind him.
* * *
Flashy platinum blond hair: once.
Pretty, cute puppy-like face: twice.
Earrings dangling from ears: three times.
Seeing KJ in person surprised me thrice.
'What kinda guy is this?'
Seventeen, he said, but the vibe was intense.
Just a moment's fluster, though.
Whatever he looked like, just deliver the goods.
Only stopping by now 'cause it'd be hectic later.
I spoke to KJ, who couldn't keep his eyes still, glancing around.
"Hand."
"Huh?"
He awkwardly raised his hand; I dropped the USB onto it.
His already big eyes widened more.
"Uh..."
"Vids of when those guys died. Got 'em from the agency side."
"Whoa?"
"No tail on you so far, but not sure. Don't take it home—go to a PC bang or something."
"Y-y-yeah! Got it. But... K hyung? You here?"
I gripped his shoulder.
"Not not here."
"Whoaaa, epic! What is this? Skill? Invisible...? Whoa! Invisibility? That's over 1k, right? You bought it?! Insane flex!"
A laugh slipped out.
'All tensed up.'
Muscles rigid, scared of invisible attack.
Hands curled awkwardly, ready to grab the dagger from the locker.
Yet acting casual, hyped.
'Smarter than I thought?'
Impressive, in a way.
'Might be better this way.'
What I need now isn't dumb muscle—someone sharp on gains, good at math.
They'll make fine trade partners when wants align.
Kept invisibility up for that reason.
Knowing this skill's worth, he'd grasp our gap.
Better to flex ability, look like there's more to squeeze.
'Bluff, basically.'
He clocked the skill instantly—good start.
"Don't wanna get called crazy, lower your voice."
"Oh right. Looks like I'm muttering to myself. Wait, got earbuds. Pretend it's a call."
"Let's move spots first, by that convenience store."
"Okay."
I walked with him putting in wireless earbuds, away from the exit.
Tucked in a corner away from passersby, I got to the point.
"Came in person 'cause I got a proposal."
The kind needing this level of sincerity.
"What proposal?"
To his question, I voiced the thought from leaving the PC bang.
Damn System