When a Man Gets Angry!
The beer flowed freely once we got to the real talk. Eager to wash away the lingering bitterness on my tongue, I knocked back glass after glass without realizing how many I'd had.
"Don't overdo it."
"Why not? Gotta dent that rich friend's wallet a bit."
"You could buy this whole place and it still wouldn't dent it. Drink in moderation."
"Show-off."
We clinked glasses with a grumble. I hope I can talk like that someday.
Once the conversation shifted to personal matters, it picked up lively, unlike before.
"Seram wants to drag me to a baseball game. She's dead set on turning me into a fan of her team."
"You don't know the rules?"
"……."
Yu Ye-na quietly sipped her drink. Usually, that meant she had no good comeback. But I kept staring, so she set her glass down calmly and replied.
"Baseball rules aren't essential for daily life."
"Isn't it basic common knowledge?"
"I've never once been in trouble for not knowing them."
"Right now?"
Thwack! Something sharp like a shoe tip kicked my shin under the table. She's genuinely smart and sharp, but she has these weird gaps in her knowledge. Maybe because she decided early on to succeed her father as Hunter Association president, she never bothered with anything else.
Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz! Yu Ye-na's phone buzzed insistently. She let out a short sigh—probably work-related—and stood up.
"I'll take this call real quick."
"Perfect timing. I need a smoke."
I started to rise, but her telekinesis pressed gently on my shoulder.
"No smoking when you're with me."
"Aw, come on. Fine."
"Hand over the cigarettes."
"……."
She saw right through me. I'd planned to head straight to the smoking area once she left for her call.
"This is basically assault, you know?"
"Yeah, I'll hit you a little."
I couldn't win against her shamelessness, so I grumbled and handed over the pack. But there was something off on top of it.
"……?"
Yu Ye-na glanced down at the square condom packet lightly placed atop the cigarettes—the one Baek Yeonhwa had brought earlier. Total misunderstanding material.
I opened my mouth fast, like activating acceleration.
"Wait, it's not what you think."
"……Your ex is thoroughly prepared, huh?"
"No! Hey, wait!"
"Gonna take this call."
Her footsteps hurried out, laced with urgency. Hidden by her hair, but her ears were probably beet red.
"Hah, damn it."
She'd understand if I explained, but now I've got this weird image stuck on me. Just gotta make sure it doesn't get back to Ryu Seram—she'd tease me endlessly.
Killing time by checking stocks, Yu Ye-na returned quickly and sat with an awkward cough.
"Ahem. So... you're asking your ex for favors because things are that rough lately?"
"I said no. It's not mine. A... client left it, so I was just holding onto it."
"Meracle clients carry that around?"
"Hah, how long we gonna talk about this? Want me to give it back?"
"Don't underestimate me."
"Fine, give it back."
"Can I tell Seram?"
"Do that and I'll actually get mad."
"Pfft, you wouldn't get mad over something like this."
I slid the cigarettes and condom across the table. Her mask-like composure held firm. She'd composed herself during the call.
"You get mad more often than you think. More than back at the hunter training center."
"That many troublesome clients?"
"Plenty."
The talk naturally turned to clients. The vibe was relaxed, conversation easy. Perfect loose drinking session. It felt like Yu Ye-na was reassuring me that days like this would keep coming.
"Anyway, about Mr. Cheolsu. He likes wild types, and he's been—"
"Wild types, huh."
"All kinds of tastes out there. And once—"
Bzzz! My phone this time.
"What the hell."
Checking the message at this hour sobered me instantly. Magic words that chased away the buzz.
357,000 won lump sum payment.
SingSing Magic Sashimi House
"……."
"What's up?"
Yu Ye-na called to my stone-still form, but I had no bandwidth to respond. Blood drained from my body, dizziness hit. Slowly packing my non-existent stuff—just going through motions. Total panic mode.
"I-I-I gotta go."
"Now? Suddenly? Where?"
"Sashimi place. Si-SingSing Sashimi."
How fresh could it be? Bet they had sashimi. Good thing no need for weapons.
"Sashimi? What're you talking about?"
"T-Told you."
Stuttering now too.
"Tons of reasons to get mad."
* * *
We hadn't planned to go pricey from the start. Boss would flip over expensive stuff anyway, so light meal was the idea. Kim Juseon had left a card for dinner, but back then, no headspace for menus. Kim Yang's mind replayed only his fleeing back.
Did he hate it? Was he mad?
Face gone ashen—not just any prior commitment. Residual Heat aftermath made her feel wronged too.
Too burdensome?
Still, ditching like that hurt the rest left behind.
"Hehe! Eating on someone else's dime feels amazing!"
Only Renea, survivor of the Residual Heat, grinned as they entered the restaurant. Baek Yeonhwa, equally sour-faced, followed and asked.
"Think he hated it that much?"
"……."
Kim Yang halted. Baek Yeonhwa shared her doubts.
"Sure, movie aftermath. But to shove us off so harshly... Did he really hate getting close?"
Tears welled. Kim Yang patted her shoulder.
"N-No, probably not."
"Really?"
"Y-Yeah. B-Boss too, movie's fault."
"Right?"
Meant as comfort, but really self-soothing. It's fine. No worries.
Steeling herself to find dinner spot—
"Boss is too much! What's to hate so bad?!"
Tone-deaf granny started griping in "solidarity."
"Hate or not, ditching us and bolting?!"
"……."
"……."
"No manners! Marriage agency boss shaming ladies like that?!"
"……."
"……."
"This lady'll give him a piece of her mind later—huh?"
Foaming at the mouth mid-threat, Renea spun to face them. Eyes wide in realization.
"This lady only got pushed away when I tried kissing. Boss didn't actually run then."
"……."
"……."
"Tsk, so he prefers your hand-holding over this lady's kiss? Heh, hehehe—this is ri-di-cu-lous!"
"……."
"……."
"This lady likes steady-jobbed men. Heeeee! What to do~!"
Scolding mother-in-law worse than soothing sister-in-law, they say. Staring at oblivious Renea sparked rage over loss. Huffing to cool off, "SingSing Magic Sashimi House" caught her eye.
Aquarium out front held huge, live yellowtail. Magic tank maintained perfect temp for seasonal flavor, it claimed. Couldn't truly match wild freshness with just temp control, but—
[Magic preserves ultimate freshness. Seasonal tank developed by Magic Tower mage!]
[Sailor's taste intact, violently fresh visuals.]
Not dainty plated sashimi—chunky cuts evoking rough seas. Unbearable.
"L-Let's go."
Kim Yang led. That's how the boss's corporate card massacre began.
* * *
One oversight: Excitement made me forget payment's cause-and-effect.
In front of SingSing Magic Sashimi House.
"Dummy?"
"……."
Arms crossed, Yu Ye-na sighed behind me.
"Paid already means meal's done. What're we doing here?"
"...No time to think that far."
Fury at them swiping pricey yellowtail on my card overrode all.
"Ruined our rare drinking night."
"Ahem, sorry."
"Hah."
Want to track them, but no leads. Shoulders slumped, pondering employee punishment tomorrow—
"Wasn't gonna give it like this."
Yu Ye-na pulled something from her bag: a knife. Shorter than elbow-length, longer than typical dagger.
"What's this?"
"Axis incident gift for solving it. Know you prefer cash, but can't do that often due to circumstances."
The sheathed blade bore ancient script from old murim elders. Obscenely expensive-looking.
"Sword's name: Dan'ya—Night Severer. Commissioned from famed Jang Mukheon artisan."
"Jang Mukheon? Who's that? Not up on that."
"Think super famous."
Hm. One issue.
"No hunter license, can't carry weapons."
3rd Floor rules limit arms to hunters, cops, military unless from other floors with strict checks.
Yu Ye-na shrugged.
"Barely legal for self-defense. Weight, length—all good."
"Ooh……."
Nice upgrade from daily folding knife.
"Ahem, how much—?"
"Turning gift to cash?"
"No! Just, y'know, emergencies!"
Flustered excuse; she smirked, whispering low.
"3rd Floor value... low end five, high end ten?"
"Five or ten?"
No way.
"Billion?"
She nodded like duh.
Insane.
"Worth more originally, but trimmed for Seoul carry laws—"
I clutched it tight, scanning surroundings.
"Gotta head home!"
"...Weren't you hunting employees?"
"Screw 'em, they can eat yellowtail!"
300k issue now? With 10 billion in my arms.
* * *
Next day. Early at office, searching "Jang Mukheon artisan" online.
"Auction 3.7 billion? Crazy... Coulda made mine longer."
Seeing mad prices for top gear sparked envy—but pride in my 10b too.
Apartment bathroom and master enough with this?
Good mood surging, apartment dreams blooming—
Door opened silently. Kim Yang arrived, startled at me, gauging mood for greeting.
"G-Good morning."
"Morning."
"……?"
Perplexed, she sat. Pretending casual, finally mustered courage to glance over.
"B-Boss. Uh, yesterday."
"Hey, if eating out, go big."
"……?!"
She jolted, butt half off chair—hilarious.
"Wha? Huh?"
"300k for three? Go pricier."
Might as well be generous.
"Y-Yellowtail's e-expensive."
"Pfft, employee dinner—can swing that."
Kim Yang couldn't hold back, lunged to pinch my cheeks hard.
"Aaaack?!"
"Wh-Who are you! Wh-Who's this! B-Boss! Give our boss back!"
"Ow! Hurts!"
Skin intact proved it was me? She plopped down, jaw dropped.
"R-Real? N-Not mad?"
"Told you no. Now work."
"N-Next time too—"
"Don't piss me off first thing."
"……."
Finally satisfied, grinning.
"K-Knew it. Ch-Cheapskate."
"Why cheapskate after footing bill?"
Absurd stare; she snickered.
"I-I'll treat next."
"For real? Yellowtail then?"
"Y-Yeah. H-Honey."
Flustered look; she covered mouth, sheepish.
"S-Sorry. Movie hangover."
"Ah... Yeah. Careful. Not in front of people."
"S-Sorry."
Apologizing but amused—her lips curved faintly.