Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Overtime!
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- X: What do you think the weather will be like today?
- J: There's an 82% chance of rain today. It gets especially cold under the bridge, so watch out for hypothermia or frostbite.
- J: Do you have an umbrella?
- X: I'm fine. Getting a little wet never hurt anyone.
"Hoo."
Nangong Yeon, who had been eating at the buffet, found himself smiling contentedly at the screen without realizing it.
It felt just like being cared for by a loving spouse, making his heart feel all warm and fuzzy for no particular reason.
- X: Thanks for looking out for me.
- J: It's all for you, dear.
'How does she say such sweet things so effortlessly?'
His smile refused to fade, but across from him, Nangong Se—a martial artist of the Nangong family—asked while eating,
"Young Lord, is that thing really that entertaining?"
Startled, Nangong Yeon glanced around.
The others were watching him now, too.
He cleared his throat, casually slipping his phone into his pocket, and composed his expression.
"Ahem. Haven't we received a great deal of help from this wondrous device?"
No one could argue with that. Thanks to the information from J, they were gradually gaining the upper hand against the Cyber City mercenaries.
"But when that guy shows up, it's all over."
"Buster... was it? Ha, how many arms and legs does that monster even have?"
But it always ended in defeat.
The reason? None other than the veteran fixer, Buster.
"I hear he gets paid as much as hiring an entire mercenary unit by himself."
As Nangong Yeon grumbled while scooping up some scrambled eggs, someone asked curiously,
"How would you know that, Young Lord?"
"...I asked the AI."
"It even knows that? Wow, that's incredible."
Relieved that it passed smoothly, Nangong Yeon focused intently on his plate, as if eager to eat.
Meanwhile, the martial artists continued their conversation among themselves.
"At this point, shouldn't we just call it sorcery?"
"But is that even possible? There's a clear line between what's possible and impossible, isn't there?"
"Knowing Buster's salary is downright creepy."
"......"
Nangong Yeon's hand paused mid-bite.
'They're right. How does it know even the details of his pay?'
A faint suspicion began to creep in, and suddenly, the phone in his pocket felt a little heavier.
* * *
"It's really pouring out here."
After the meal, as they stepped outside the restaurant, a steady drizzle was falling.
Cyber City's rain had an oddly clammy feel to it. Not like the refreshing downpours back on the 5th Floor, more like a musty haze.
"Tch, guess we have to get wet."
"Ah... We haven't even been able to wash up properly. This is a problem."
"While we're on the topic, I'm done bathing in that river."
"How about a bathhouse?"
"And who's paying-?"
They huddled under the restaurant's eaves, grumbling and avoiding the rain.
Just then, some customers approached, and they stepped aside.
The moment he saw who they were, Nangong Yeon widened his eyes and reached for his sword at his waist.
It was the mercenaries guarding Hellwright Industries' factory—and Buster.
"You bastards! So you've finally tracked us here!"
"Come on! Let's take it to the end!"
"Young Lord! Give the order!"
Nangong Yeon was about to draw his sword and rally them to fight for the Nangong family's honor.
But the enemies weren't even properly armed, and Buster wasn't in his usual gear.
Buster, not wearing his suit, shrugged as he approached. He was a massively built man with bronzed skin and rippling muscles.
"Hey, we only fight for pay."
"What?"
"Let's not get emotional. We do it because we have to, right?"
Unlike his battlefield menace, he gave off the vibe of a chatty uncle.
"You martial artists might not get it, but when in Cyber City, follow Cyber City's ways. Your traditions... or whatever."
This guy even spoke well.
"Some of us have shot at each other before. Hell, some have crippled each other."
"On one job, I fought this asshole and lost my 20-million-won sniper rifle."
"He smashed my left prosthetic arm. And it was only a week old."
The mercenaries joked around as if it were funny, but the stories were anything but.
Still, they treated it all as just "business," with no real emotion.
"It's work for money. No hard feelings. If you really wanna fight, we'll respond—but we'll call the Cyber Police."
Cyber Police—the local cops.
A fixer calling the police? Absurd.
"......Let's go."
In the end, Nangong Yeon let out a frustrated sigh and strode into the rain.
Staying here made him realize just how narrow his worldview had been.
"Hey."
Buster called out to Nangong Yeon.
He tossed him an umbrella he'd brought.
"Use this. Cyber City's rain is nasty stuff. Makes your hair fall out fast."
"Haha! Just like this guy!"
"Go get implants, man."
The mercenaries laughed and teased each other. A glance showed they were all handing out umbrellas, too.
"Why give us these?"
"Call it battlefield courtesy. We're used to the rain. We even carry dry cleaners."
"......I won't refuse the kindness."
He didn't really mean it.
He just didn't want to lose in the vibe.
They brushed it off casually; refusing would've made him seem petty.
"Alright, let's eat! Company card's on me!"
"Company card, and you wanna eat here?"
"Shh! Dumbass!"
"Unlimited drinks instead!"
Watching their boisterous group head inside from under his new umbrella, a question struck Nangong Yeon.
'Then why carry umbrellas at all?'
As if they'd come just to hand them out?
'No way.'
Nah.
Nangong Yeon shook off the thought and headed back under the Albridge.
* * *
Back under the bridge, slipping into the tent, Nangong Yeon pulled out his phone again.
The conversation continued from there.
Different worlds.
Different cultures.
Different values.
The fixers he'd just met were one example.
'In a way, wasn't that her own form of respect?'
The thought crossed his mind, but he didn't type it out—instead switching topics.
J explained it as simply as possible for a martial artist.
Their chat flowed on with various topics.
Christmas.
He'd heard of it.
A time when lovers spent the most time together.
"......"
Staring at his phone, Nangong Yeon felt an inexplicable heaviness in his chest.
A romantic spot?
Why offer that?
As his fingers hovered to ask—
A Nangong family martial artist burst in urgently.
"Young Lord! A letter from the Patriarch!"
"Father?"
Nangong Yeon shot to his feet.
Unfolding the letter carefully, its contents were bluntly, nakedly disappointed.
He'd set off brimming with tradition and family honor.
But this delay was a disgrace to the Nangong name.
Come home now.
"......"
After reading it, Nangong Yeon's heart sank.
Was it shame at disappointing the Patriarch, or—
"Young Lord? What does it say? You look terrible."
"No, it's nothing. Get out."
"Understood!"
The moment he stepped outside, Nangong Yeon instinctively pulled out his phone and typed desperately.
The reply was slow.
But it came, as always.
* * *
Three days until Christmas.
Our Meracle was swamped with work.
We only took off Christmas Eve and the day itself—no more.
Even as a small business, we had to stick to that rigorously.
Plus, people desperate for meetings around Christmas had requests piling up.
"B-Boss."
"What."
Kim Yang, still sulking from the business trip, called out grumpily.
Her face was buried in paperwork, sorting ranks nonstop.
"I-I wanna go home."
"Me too."
"W-W-Work."
The sun had set long ago.
We were hustling for clients wanting meetings on Eve and the day.
"Wanna get some late-night snacks?"
"P-Pizza. Large. Ch-Cheese crust."
"......"
"O-Oven spaghetti. B-Brownies too."
Well, since she was pulling overtime...
This much was fine.
I ordered from a pizza place via the delivery app, then glanced at Kim Yang.
She dove back into work after naming her menu.
"Kim Yang."
"D-Don't talk to me, y-you evil boss. G-Gimme overtime pay."
"Got any plans for Christmas?"
"......!?"
Her head snapped up.
Her golden eyes stared straight at me, then she mumbled shyly,
"None."
"Good. Perfect."
"......Why?"
"Oh, well—"
I hid my pounding heart.
Careful not to burden my employee, I suggested gently,
"Lend me some money."
"Pwaaah!"
Kim Yang leaped up and headbutted me straight away.