Daytime Words for Birds, Nighttime Words for Rats
Daytime words are heard by birds, nighttime words by rats. But the identity of this greedy little eavesdropper trying to hog all those words for herself was none other than Geugeon Jejang U-san Imnida-man.
She was a thief-class user who'd been in the same party with him during a transport quest from Genesis Village to Shin-dong Village. In simple terms, someone he'd shared meals with for a few days.
"……."
It was definitely a familiar face, but running into her like this made for a strangely uncomfortable feeling.
"Geugeon Jejang U-san Imnida-man-nim."
"Just call me Jang U-san, casually."
"Sure, Jang U-san. You little rascal."
"...That's too casual."
"Kidding."
"Ho... hohoho! You're so funny!"
"……."
Under his icy glare, the corners of her mouth—which she'd forced up—drooped pitifully.
"Jang U-san-nim."
"Yesss…"
"Joining the Tteokbokki Cult of all things. I'm more than a little disappointed."
"...Sorry."
She hung her head like she had no face left to show.
"Why'd you do it? Let's hear the reason at least."
"You'll forgive me if I tell you?"
"Did I just say I forgive you?"
"That's what it sounded like."
"You just wish it sounded that way?"
"...Yeah, kinda."
"Let me put it precisely. Why'd you do it? Let's hear the reason at least."
Jang U-san hesitated before spilling the beans.
"Well... the conditions were good."
"Conditions?"
"Yeah. Steady paycheck, full benefits, paid vacation. And best of all, you can earn stable money just by playing the game."
"……."
More generous than expected. Even he'd be tempted.
"Plus, they provide a ton of in-game support. Thanks to that, I could do my second job change into a good class. And more than anything…"
She glanced at him sideways.
"More than anything?"
"I wanted to eat Hura-nim's tteokbokki one more time…"
"……."
"Of course, I refused at first, stubbornly. But before I knew it, I was signed up…"
...What is this, some phone plan scam? "Before you knew it" means you filled out the application form yourself, letter by letter.
"Um... s-so, what are you planning to do with me?"
She widened her eyes, trying to evoke pity, but such cheap tricks wouldn't work on him. He was none other than the cold-blooded brother of Lee Sera, who shed no tears even for blood.
"That depends on how well Jang U-san-nim answers my questions."
"I'll answer perfectly! Ask away!"
...First prisoner this enthusiastic. Anyway, the interrogation began.
The questioning focused mainly on her role, and Jang U-san answered smoothly. She was the closest aide to someone called the Chairman, acting as his eyes and ears. So she'd leveled stealth and infiltration skills over combat ones, with her second job change specialized in that area. Basically, his personal squad under direct command.
Right under the Chairman. Seemed like a pretty high position in the Tteokbokki Cult.
"Jang U-san-nim."
"Yes?"
"You've climbed the ranks, huh?"
"Hehe... Yeah, something like that."
She grinned bashfully, and his eyebrow twitched.
"You think that's funny?"
"...Pardon?"
"Betraying someone you shared meals with, and you find it amusing?"
"F-Family? It was just a few days together."
"What? So a few days doesn't make us family? You've fallen far."
"No, that's not—"
"Warning you. Keep those teeth hidden."
"Yes, sir…"
He pressed on with the interrogation. Next, why she'd tailed Lee Chaera. Jang U-san said the Chairman had ordered it one day, but she hadn't found anything suspicious. After figuring out from footage that he'd let the Blood Axe Thrower go, they'd started suspecting info leaks and put surveillance on her.
"Hmm…"
This Chairman guy. Good instincts or bad luck? Chaera was a spy, but he hadn't clocked it. For Chaera, it was like a crow flying by and a date dropping from the sky; for the Chairman, like stepping back from a cow and catching a rat.
Anyway, no real dirt, and since this expedition was all Chaera's credit, suspicions cleared up completely after. Surveillance lifted.
"But why keep tailing her?"
"Dunno. Chairman suddenly told me to follow Gwisinigo Kalroli to the bathroom."
"……."
Nope. Sharp instincts confirmed. Very sharp.
"Not Chairman for nothing."
His offhand mutter made Jang U-san's eyes go wide.
"The Chairman isn't the head of the Tteokbokki Cult, though?"
"Pardon? Then who's the head?"
"The Captain."
"And who's that?"
"Dunno much. They never show their face."
Haa… Mountains beyond mountains. Whatever, move on. Not the priority.
"So, what's this Chairman like?"
"He's... super kind."
"Liar."
"For real!"
"How can the head of a fanatic cult be kind?"
"F-Fanatic cult...? And he's not the head. He synthesizes the execs' opinions and makes decisions—"
"Whatever. Tell me anything else you know about this Chairman. Anything."
Jang U-san pondered deeply.
"Oh! Lately, he's been writing a great man's biography."
"Biography? Of who?"
"Obviously, Hura-nim's!"
"……."
Ridiculous.
"My biography?"
"Yes!"
"...What's the first line?"
"Um... From what I remember, 'Know the chef who became a great man?'"
"...Next line?"
"'Hura. Light of my life, flame of my soul. My sin, my spirit. Hu-ra.'"
"……."
His head throbbed. How was there not one normal person here? Well, the Tteokbokki Cult head couldn't be normal.
"...Jang U-san-nim."
"Yes."
"Steal it and burn it."
"Pardon? B-but the Chairman's working hard on it…"
He shot her a glare, and she drooped.
"Yes, sir... I'll burn it. Use it for kindling…"
He'll be so bummed... What to do... He ignored her mutterings and continued.
"Anyway, the Chairman's a pretty benevolent figure?"
"Yes. Since he consolidates opinions for decisions, he's pretty firm when he decides."
Couldn't fathom how this nutjob group's head got model CEO vibes, but not his problem. Actually, good for him. He grinned.
"So, not the type to ignore a subordinate's death?"
"...Right?"
Sensing something, Jang U-san replied uneasily.
"Definitely not the kind of great man who'd watch a subordinate die silently?"
"Uh... yeah…"
"Good."
He chuckled softly, ending the interrogation.
"That's enough. Interrogation over. Good work, Jang U-san-nim."
"Wha—what? Wait! Hura-nim, what does that mean?"
"Huhu... Don't worry. You won't die."
"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Aigoo, can't you trust me? Try trusting a meal-mate for once."
"You called me a traitor earlier!"
"Huhu... Just watch. Something fun's about to happen."
He gave her a reassuring, gentle smile, but for some reason, her face only stiffened more.
* * *
A bit later, Dahyun and Lee Chaera returned.
"Got it? Me being Son Da-eun's daughter is a secret."
While roughly explaining the situation—which naturally led to casual speech—Dahyun earnestly warned Gwisinigo Kalroli.
"Yes! Don't worry, sunbae-nim!"
Gwisinigo Kalroli thumped her chest, insisting to trust only her.
Having heard from Dahyun's intro that Hura worked at the snack bar, Chaera had swiftly become her loyal subordinate. Without Dahyun, she'd never have met Hura in person. Plus, hiding that Dahyun was daughter of 'Dahyun's Snacks' owner Son Da-eun was to avoid burdening him—how could she betray such a precious secret? Especially from her idol, legendary sunbae and 10th Tteokbokki Association Chair Lee Dahyun-nim. No way she'd ignore that.
Thus allied, the two returned to find Hura grinning satisfactorily and a woman tied tight to a tree, sniffling.
"...Huh? What's going on, customer-nim?"
"Why's she like that?"
To their questions, Hura answered nonchalantly.
"Oh, nothing much. Interrogation just wrapped up."
"...What'd you say to make her cry like that? Threaten her?"
"Haha, threaten? Perish the thought."
Hura tilted his head to peer at Jang U-san.
"Jang U-san-nim. Did I threaten you?"
"Hiiik! N-no! Of course not!"
Jang U-san nearly spasmed.
"……."
"……."
The two's gazes toward Hura grew even more suspicious.
"Aigoo. Jang U-san-nim, saying it like that causes misunderstandings. Smile while you say it."
Hura patted her shoulder with a smiling face. But the eerie glint in his eyes only chilled her.
"Ho... hoho! Threaten? Absurd! Hohoho!"
Forcing a bright laugh, Jang U-san desperately mouthed Save me! Save me! when Hura looked away.
"...Ahem."
"Aigoo, got some dust in my eye."
But Dahyun and Chaera had to pretend not to see the desperate plea. They were on Hura's side, after all.
"She someone you know?"
Dahyun asked, ignoring the plea.
"Yeah. Old transport quest meal-mate. Now she's Geugeon Jejang U-san Imnida-man-nim, wreaking havoc in the Tteokbokki Cult."
"……."
Realizing they were all in cahoots, Jang U-san drooped gloomily.
"Convinced her to help us. Right, Jang U-san-nim?"
...Nod nod.
Threatened her.
Totally threatened.
That was the thought in Chaera and Dahyun's heads.
"Well... Tteokbokki Cult issue's settled for now."
Hura sighed, arms crossed. His slightly furrowed brow suggested trouble.
"Why, Hura-nim? Problem?"
"Yes. There is."
Pacing, he explained.
"Reason I started business here: a quest. Needs a certain number of people. But Tteokbokki Cult turnout's lower than expected."
Chaera guiltily averted her eyes.
"Never imagined you'd cross the north in just that thin outfit for some trivial reason, so plans derailed."
"……."
Gwisinigo Kalroli stared at her toes, crestfallen. Dahyun patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry about that."
"Why?"
Dahyun grinned.
"Tomorrow, hordes'll swarm. Special guests included."
* * *
Gwisinigo Kalroli returned to her table. By then, most cultists had finished eating.
The Chairman at the next table spotted her return and slipped quietly into the nearby woods.
"You there."
"……."
"Report."
"……."
"...? Jang U-san. Hear me?"
No reply. A cold premonition of trouble chilled him like wind.
"……."
Clenching his fist, the Chairman quietly returned to the table.
Black-hooded execs approached him, dabbing eyes with handkerchiefs.
"Sniff... Chairman-nim. Time to meet Hura-nim."
"...Understood."
The Chairman quietly signaled a waiter, who approached promptly to guide.
"This way."
The Chairman rose. The hooded execs followed.
But he paused, telling them,
"I'll go alone."
"Pardon? But—"
"No more words. I'll go alone."
"...Yes."
They knew he never reneged on a word or acted rashly without reason. So they stopped without protest.
Gazing at Gwisinigo Kalroli a moment, he resumed walking.
"Let's go."
"Yes. This way."
Crunch—
Crunch—
The waiter led him deep into the dim woods. There, a man awaited with a sinister grin.