Freedom's Thrill and Sisters' Standoff
Sisters... "Let's talk about the rest tomorrow." Sio's shoulders and the corners of her eyes drooped.
"I'm... so tired..."
"It's all self-inflicted karma."
Taejun approached the slumped Sio, supported her, and they left the building.
"She's really doing it."
When we were discussing the guild deal, I'd tacked on one more condition: right here and now, in the middle of our conversation, use a skill to hide my identity.
Sio accepted without hesitation. And the moment I brought it up, she cast the skill.
And that was the result.
"Guess it takes more mana than expected."
Makes sense—she'd used it about three times just in front of me today.
"Sip—did I overdo it?" I scratched my head, watching her retreating figure as Taejun helped her along.
I'd even haggled down the fee and made some excessive requests... but hey.
Was that my problem? They'd approached me with their own agenda, right?
"Nah, they came prepared to take that risk. Yeah, yeah." I nodded to myself, tore my gaze away from the pair, and headed inside.
That was when it happened. Right before I closed the door.
Pat pat pat—
"Whoa?!"
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
"Ah, sorry. I was in a rush."
I turned to see it was Taejun holding my shoulder. Calming my startled heart, I asked without showing my embarrassment,
"W-what is it?"
"I'm truly sorry. The boss realized she forgot to get your contact info."
Oh, right. We'd overlooked the most basic thing: exchanging numbers.
I nodded and held out my hand to Taejun.
"Here you go."
Tap tap tap. Swipe—
I entered my contact in his phone and handed it back.
"Thank you. We'll be in touch."
He nodded, quickly saved it, and headed out.
I watched his back.
"Pfft! Holy crap, he just left her like that?"
Looking where Taejun was going, there was Sio sitting on the ground like she'd been discarded on the street.
How was that any way for a team leader to treat the boss? They must be really close.
Anyway, once they were gone, I headed back inside. This time, I scanned the surroundings to make sure no one would grab me, then shut the door.
"Phew—now it's really over, right?"
I perked my ears. Outside was quiet, no signs of anyone coming.
"Freedom at last!"
Savoring that sweet sense of liberation, I pulled out my phone.
What was I gonna do? Obviously, troll the forums.
"Time to fulfill Nemo's dreams..."
"Damn, this thing's performance is solid."
Watching the comments and dislikes pile up made my fingers tingle.
IP fully masked, not even the digit count visible. And the reactions...
Feels like drowning in dopamine. Perfection.
Then an unexpected comment dropped.
What nonsense is this? I tilted my head at the incomprehensible comment.
Then it hit me.
"No way... does this ability block blocks too?"
Just a hypothesis for now. But if true, no trolling power could be freer or wilder.
"Holy shit, it works."
My hypothesis checked out.
Even as the mod kept scratching with ban threats, no block or delete stuck. Couldn't touch me.
"Giggle—bring it. You won't."
How's a mere mod gonna pierce an S-rank skill? Lacking execution. Severely.
I stifled my laughter and closed the gallery.
"Phew..."
Long exhale. Dopamine crash.
"Hmm, so what now?"
What was I gonna do? I remembered planning something... but after all that, it slipped my mind.
Maybe it'll come back if I look around.
I looked up. There were those familiar backsides. Black and white dummy hairs atop heads staring at one spot.
Watching them jogged my memory: check their status.
Creep. Creep.
I sneaked up. They didn't notice even as I got close.
I reached out at point-blank and grabbed.
Grab—streeetch—
"Whoa—!"
Squeak?!
Pulling their dummy hairs to scare them: Blackie jumped and tumbled. Whitey twitched and flopped like it fainted.
Comedy gold, like a skit.
"Puhahaha!"
Squeee—!!!
Blackie climbed onto my rolling, laughing belly. Hopped up to my chest, pummeling with tiny fists.
"Pfft—!"
Squeeee—!!!
Didn't hurt at all. Tickled, even, thanks to the tiny punches.
"Pfft—okay, sorry, it's ticklish!"
Done with punches, it climbed to my face and nibbled my cheek. Slime with squishy teeth? Pure tickles.
Squeak—!
"Okay, sorry already?"
After apologies, Blackie finally hopped off.
"So why were you two staring at that?"
What they'd fixated on: the Companion Egg.
Blackie tilted its head at my question, then pointed at collapsed Whitey.
"...Just 'cause it was staring, so you joined in?"
Squeak! Vigorous nod. Classic Blackie logic: simple.
"Yeah, figures for you."
Squeee—?!
I ignored Blackie charging again and approached Whitey.
Blackie's one thing, but why's this one obsessed with the egg?
"Hey, wake up."
Tap—
Prodded Whitey's belly. No response. But not really fainted.
"Dude, if you're twitching all over, why fake faint?"
Every prod made it jolt. Obvious fake-out.
Tap tap—twitch.
Not getting up? I poked, flipped, everything. Nada.
"What the hell, seriously?"
Leaned in close to inspect. Then—
Squeee...!
"What're you doing."
Squeak......
Face close, Whitey suddenly sat up, hands raised like a scare pose.
"Huh... who'd they get this mischief from?"
Wish they'd learn my mature, composed side.
Squeak—whatever, why that look.
Blackie gave me a pathetic side-eye. Cocky little—
"...Least I don't want that look from you."
Flick—
Squeeee—!
Flicked Blackie's forehead, grabbed both napes, plopped them in front of me.
Whitey still sulking, Blackie clutching forehead. Whatever—I just appraise.
Mad? Be the owner then.
Appraisal.
"Oh, level up?"
Explains the faster moves and scorpion catches. Leveled up somehow.
"...But skill still locked."
Nearly Lv. 9, yet locked. Spill the unlock conditions already. Frustrating.
"Anyway, Blackie's fine."
I eyed Whitey and appraised.
Read the floating window slowly.
"What the—"
Hand froze at the unexpected info.
***
Meanwhile, Incheon's outskirts.
Fewer buildings than central, mountains dotting the landscape.
Sio and Taejun stared at a rundown high-rise.
"Boss, you're really setting up the office here?"
"Yeah."
Taejun looked worried, but Sio casually approached.
"Deal's done. Just need interior setup."
"Wait, finish wrapping up first."
Sio, who'd beckoned him, suddenly signaled stop.
Taejun halted, puzzled, watching her.
Sio placed a hand on the outer wall.
Fwaaah—
The building glowed golden.
"...You used a lot of mana already. You okay?"
Taejun asked worriedly. Sio shook her head dismissively.
"Already chugged three mana potions. This is nothing."
Hand on hip. Taejun smiled resignedly and approached.
That was when—
"Boss?"
Sio's face turned serious. An inexplicable pressure emanated from the usually lighthearted woman.
Taejun tensed, swallowing.
And—
Whoosh—boom!
Something—no, someone—crashed before them.
Dust billowed from the impact, a voice echoing through.
"Han Sio. Why are you in Incheon?"
Businesslike, stiff tone.
Taejun instantly knew who in the dust: Ice Flame Emperor Han Seorin.
'Big trouble.'
Engwha Guild master, Sio's older sister.
"Where I go is none of your business. Mind your own."
"I tried not to care. But... I told you not to come to Incheon."
Their eyes met. Taejun stepped back discreetly.
One: Active S-rank, Korea's strongest.
Other: Former top S-rank.
'...Expected a clash coming to Incheon.'
Nothing he could do. Just pray for the boss's judgment.
"Don't worry about me."
"The moment you came to Incheon, the family..."
"Fuck!!!"
Sio cut her off.
"Shut up... how long you gonna worry like that! If so, back then..."
Sio stopped.
Seorin spoke.
"Back then, I—"
She choked, like breathless.
Seeing that, Sio deeply exhaled to control her surging emotions.
"Just... leave me alone."
Seorin stepped back at the furious words.
'Trouble.'
Taejun froze mid-step to intervene. Emotions too deep for him.
He retreated further, hand on sword hilt.
"......"
Seorin silently stared at Sio's rough reaction. Her eyes held a subtle emotion no one could read.
Silence stretched.
Seorin spoke.
"Go back."
Short words left, she vanished instantly.
Her lips trembled faintly, unnoticed by Sio.
Dust and mana residue remained.
Sio glared with disgust, turned.
"Taejun, let's go in."
"Y-yes."
They entered. The building refracted, vanishing like never there.