Haryeong Escape Number One (Taek) 2
Chilya Pavilion.
A serving boy stood before the innkeeper.
Pressured by the man’s imposing build and heavy presence, he couldn’t even bring himself to lift his head.
“What am I being called for?”
The innkeeper gave a low-voiced order.
“The two men in black who just left. The innkeeper wants them followed. Find out who they are and where they’re headed.”
The serving boy’s shoulders twitched.
Those men in black... they were the clients.
You didn’t investigate or tail a client.
That was how you threw trust away in the underworld.
But for the innkeeper to give a direct order like this...
It wasn’t ordinary.
It meant there was a reason serious enough to take the risk.
The serving boy quietly clasped his hands in salute.
“I’ll do it.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Tap-tap-tap!
The serving boy raced down the main road with light-footed movement, his speed sharp and swift.
Fog hung thick, and the darkness ran deep.
Still, he couldn’t afford to slow down.
If he lost them now, he would never catch up.
If I’m going to tail them, it would’ve been better to bring more people.
Why had they sent only him?
The question flickered through his mind, but he forced it away.
He could only focus on carrying out the order.
He scanned his surroundings as he ran.
Before long, the forms of the two men in black came into view.
Fortunately, they didn’t seem to have left the main road yet.
He steadied his breathing and slipped into the crowd.
Keeping his distance, he followed them.
Then—
Whoosh!
“…!”
The tall man among the two in black suddenly turned his head.
His heart nearly dropped out of his chest.
The serving boy’s brow furrowed.
Did I get made?
But he was a professional.
He acted casual, pretending to browse the wares at a nearby stall.
He picked up a piece of fruit, his gaze drifting sideways.
He didn’t lose sight of the two men.
A moment later, they moved again.
The serving boy once more kept his distance and trailed after them.
After walking some way, they went into an inn.
He slipped quietly over the threshold.
He watched them pay the attendant and climb the stairs.
Only after they had completely disappeared did he go up to the counter.
“Those two people in black who just came in—what room did they go to?”
“Huh? Ah, customer... I can’t just tell you that—”
“I’m from Chilya Pavilion.”
The attendant’s expression stiffened.
“...Room 401.”
“Thank you.”
The serving boy climbed the stairs.
At room 401.
After holding his breath for a long while, he poked the corner of the paper window with a fingertip.
Swish—
He pressed one eye to the opening.
But then—
“…!”
Everything beyond the hole was pitch-black.
It was as though the entire door had been covered by something.
What the hell... why can’t I see anything?
A bad feeling crawled up his spine.
Could they have noticed me?
He couldn’t back out now.
This was the innkeeper’s order.
Biting his lip, he made up his mind.
Looks like I’ve got no choice.
He cleared his throat.
“Customer, it’s the attendant. We received a request saying there’s a lost item in this room, so would it be all right if I took a quick look inside?”
No answer.
“Customer?”
His scalp went cold.
“I’m coming in.”
Thud! Click!
He pierced the paper and released the latch.
Creaaak!
When he opened the door, a black robe fluttered into view.
He yanked it aside and looked into the room.
The window stood open, curtains billowing in the wind.
And there was no one there.
He rushed straight to the window.
“Damn it! They jumped out the window...!”
He stuck his head out and searched below.
No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find a trace.
Bang!
He slammed his fist into the frame.
“Damn it... damn it all...!”
Grinding his teeth, he searched the room from top to bottom.
He opened drawers, shoved aside the curtains, even reached under the bed.
Something snagged at his fingertips.
He pulled it out: a black set of clothes and a bamboo hat.
The outfits they’d been wearing.
He let out a hollow laugh.
“...They dumped every trace and left.”
Clean.
There was no way to find them now.
“Ha...”
He sank to the floor.
They’re not ordinary... not at all.
His thoughts tangled.
What am I supposed to tell the innkeeper now...?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
He ran for what felt like forever.
His breath burned in his chest, and his legs throbbed.
Baek Wontae clutched his chest and leaned against the wall of an alley.
“Haah... haah...”
Yihyeon also stopped beside him.
Baek Wontae asked, “Haah... how is it?”
Yihyeon glanced around.
“It’s fine. No one’s following us.”
“Whew...”
Baek Wontae exhaled in relief.
He dropped his head low, then the corners of his mouth curled upward.
“Kek... sob...”
A laugh he seemed to be forcing back.
Yihyeon stared at him, baffled.
What’s so funny?
They had been tailed by the Haomun.
It had been a life-or-death situation, so what was there to laugh at?
And yet, before he knew it, a burst of laughter escaped him too.
“Ha... hahaha...”
Once the tension broke, something hot seemed to pour out of his head.
It was a sense of release, much like the one he’d felt when he’d lied to Manager Jo.
Baek Wontae gave him a sidelong look.
“What, you can laugh too?”
Yihyeon covered the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“...I’m not a block of wood.”
Baek Wontae let out a chuckle and stepped closer.
He lifted a palm in a teasing gesture.
Yihyeon tilted his head.
“What is it...?”
“High-five.”
“Huh... what?”
Baek Wontae snorted.
“Just hit my hand.”
Yihyeon raised his hand with an uncertain look on his face.
His palm lifted alongside Baek Wontae’s.
Something in his chest felt strangely lightheaded.
Then, naturally, he swung his arm.
Not because Baek Wontae had told him to.
Because he wanted to.
Smack—!
At the moment their palms met, something strange lingered in the air.
Yihyeon stared dumbly at his hand.
Baek Wontae said to him, “Let’s head to the escort bureau. There should be one still open even this late.”
“Got it.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Chilya Pavilion, the innkeeper’s office.
The serving boy couldn’t lift his head.
He forced his trembling voice steady.
“I’m sorry, innkeeper. I... failed to tail them.”
He didn’t dare look up.
Just feeling her gaze would lock his whole body in place.
In only a week, she had identified every problem in this place and torn the whole thing apart and rebuilt it in a single day.
She tolerated neither mistakes nor failure.
Anyone who dared oppose her had been crushed mercilessly.
The only ones left were those who lived in fear.
There had never been a Haomun cadre like her before.
The terror of Chilya Pavilion itself.
“Hah...”
The innkeeper let out a short breath.
“How did they escape?”
The serving boy quickly collected himself and reported everything in detail.
The innkeeper propped her chin on her hand and fell into thought.
“...”
They noticed a Haomun tail, dealt with it, and then escaped...
She had thought they were not ordinary men, but this went beyond that.
The smaller one didn’t seem to have any internal energy.
The man in back must have been the one who noticed the tail.
That solid build, that disciplined posture.
He was probably the escort.
His martial skill was likely considerable.
The one who covered the door with a robe, discarded all traces, and jumped out the window was the client’s mind; the one who carried it out was the escort’s skill.
Their coordination was perfect.
With that level of judgment and reflex, they couldn’t be ordinary merchants.
She had only sent a tail as a test, but it was a complete defeat.
The words he had left behind surfaced in her mind.
“Don’t be impatient. We’ll meet again.”
We’ll meet again...
That line wouldn’t leave her head.
Would we really meet again?
Given the nature of this matter, their connection was probably already over.
They might never cross paths again.
And yet...
For some reason, she wanted to see him again.
Even though she didn’t even know what his face looked like.
The Baekhyang packaging he’d brought.
Something no one else had ever managed to do.
She felt a strange kind of yearning.
Maybe... if it’s that man, he might be able to grant my wish.
The moment that thought brushed through her mind—
the innkeeper let out a snort of laughter.
What am I even thinking?
It was only one transaction.
Just that, and yet she was expecting something from another person?
Maybe it was the strain of nonstop overwork, anxiety, and tension.
She silently rebuked her own softness.
And the serving boy, meanwhile, felt more fear than ever before.
Right after he finished reporting his failure, the innkeeper had snorted with laughter.
...She laughed?
A chill like the one from North Sea Ice Palace crawled down his spine.
Why the hell is she laughing? Is she already thinking about how to tear me apart?
His eyes went bloodshot.
Shit, shit, shit...!
She had ordered a tail on a client. This was no ordinary matter.
There was no way the punishment for failure would be light.
He had to do something before he died.
The serving boy said hurriedly, “If I may offer a humble opinion, I doubt they’ve left Haryeong yet. I’ll go at once and order every inn and escort bureau to search for the two men traveling together.”
She said nothing.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
After a long silence, the innkeeper spoke.
“You worked hard.”
“......?”
“We’ll end the tailing here. You may go.”
Go?
Where?
To hell?
The serving boy froze, then stole a glance at her expression.
It was bizarre.
He had just reported failure, and yet there was no trace of anger.
Instead, she looked calm.
That was even more terrifying.
He asked carefully, “Then... as for punishment...?”
The innkeeper’s eyes slowly shifted to him.
Then came a blade-cold voice.
“Do you want me to punish you?”
“N-no! I’ll work hard!”
The serving boy snapped into a fierce salute.
He turned on his heel with military precision and stepped out the door.
Then, before she could change her mind, he bolted like a kicked dog.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Meanwhile, Baek Wontae and Yihyeon were hidden in a narrow alley near the escort bureau.
Baek Wontae said, “The escort bureau’s probably full of Haomun bastards too. Just in case, if anyone goes in there, we’ll slip in with them.”
Yihyeon nodded.
He was inwardly impressed by the man’s caution and judgment.
Still unaware that the tailing had already ended.
---