A Secret Investigation
The sleek black luxury sedan was parked in the Han River parking lot. With a soft click, someone opened the door and slipped inside.
“...You’ve arrived.”
Cha Jiyun gave a polite bow to the white-haired elder who had just entered.
“Yes. This is the first time we’ve met in person like this. It’s an honor, Lady Jiyun.”
“...Not at all. If anything, the honor is mine. I’ve only ever received help from you.”
“Haha. I wouldn’t say that.”
The white-haired elder chuckled softly. He was the team leader of the Samhwa Group’s Intelligence Division.
“May I ask why you requested a face-to-face meeting today? You’ve always contacted me online before.”
“...This matter is quite important.”
“Pardon?”
“...I cannot risk any records being left online. If it leaves a trail, it could come back to bite us.”
“Isn’t our Samhwa Group messenger secured with the best encryption in the world? I don’t believe there’s any chance of a leak.”
“...This is for the one-in-a-million chance. This absolutely cannot reach anyone else’s ears. Not even the slightest possibility.”
“What exactly is this about?”
Cha Jiyun reached into her bag and pulled out a single document. She handed it to the white-haired elder.
“...I’d like you to investigate the past of the person listed in this file.”
The middle-aged man accepted the document.
“Understood. Let me take a look.”
He pulled out the paper inside and began reading.
“A student named Nam Doyun. Currently enrolled at Elphon Academy. His records are remarkably ordinary.”
“...Those records are false.”
“False?”
“...I’ve been by his side. I’ve seen his true self.”
“His true self?”
“...Yes. He’s hiding an absolutely monstrous amount of power.”
“How monstrous are we talking?”
“Would you believe me if I told you he defeated two enemies that even the Oriental Guild Master, Lee Gimin, wouldn’t be confident against?”
“...You’re serious?”
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in shock.
“...Yes. It’s the truth. I know because I experienced it firsthand. Of course, I didn’t see him fight directly.”
“Hah… For such a monster to be hiding among the cadets at Elphon Academy… It’s truly unbelievable.”
“...I knew he was concealing his strength, but I never imagined it was to this extent.”
“Still, if he’s that powerful, why stay hidden as a mere academy cadet? If he worked as a hunter, he could already be swimming in wealth and fame.”
“...That’s precisely why I’m asking you to look into Nam Doyun’s background.”
“Pardon?”
“...His parents were murdered by Requiem. He’s sharpening his blade for revenge.”
“...”
“...That’s why he has no choice but to hide his power. If Requiem ever learned who he really is, they wouldn’t let him live.”
“...Good heavens. What kind of hardship has a seventeen-year-old gone through…”
“...So I became desperate to know. I need to find out exactly which Demonic Human killed his parents.”
“....”
“If we can identify the specific Demonic Human responsible, he’ll finally be able to achieve his goal.”
“....”
The white-haired man swallowed hard.
“Now I understand why you insisted on meeting in person. If any records remained and reached Requiem’s ears…”
“...Yes. Not only would he be in grave danger, but I would likely have to abandon my academy life and live under twenty-four-hour protection.”
“This is incredibly risky. You’re taking on enormous danger by making this request, and the investigator would be shouldering the same burden.”
“...Yes.”
“Still, if it’s a request from you, Lady Jiyun, I have no choice but to accept.”
“...Thank you.”
“By the way, may I ask you one thing?”
“...Of course. Go ahead.”
“Why would you go this far—risking such immense danger—when this is ultimately something that benefits only that Nam Doyun student?”
“...It’s because… I’ve received so much from him.”
“...I see. I asked because I’ve never seen you request something for someone else before.”
“...Me?”
“Yes. You’ve always only made requests for your own benefit. Hehe, it seems spending time with that Nam Doyun student has changed you quite a bit.”
“....”
“Then this old man will take his leave.”
The white-haired elder closed the door and stepped out of the car.
“Ughhh—”
I stretched like always and got out of bed.
“What time is it?”
I glanced at the clock.
AM 6:30
Classes started at eight. I still had an hour and a half.
But today, I decided to head out a bit earlier than usual. Lately I’d been feeling my stamina dropping more and more. I figured I’d jog a couple laps around the training field to build it back up.
Rubbing my eyes—which were still crusted with sleep—I stepped out of the dormitory.
Outside, the sun hadn’t risen yet. Thick fog blanketed everything.
Step. Step.
As I walked toward the training field, I felt a presence behind me the entire time. I turned around.
“...?”
Why is she here?
Cha Jiyun was standing there, watching me with an awkward expression.
“...What a coincidence.”
She spoke with that same awkward look on her face.
I glanced around. Wasn’t this the male dormitory? How could this possibly be a coincidence?
“...A coincidence?”
“...Yes. A coincidence.”
“Then why were you standing near the male dorms?”
“....That’s…”
Cha Jiyun’s words faltered. No matter how I looked at it, she had clearly been waiting in front of my dorm room for me to come out.
“Were you waiting for me in front of my door?”
“...Pardon?”
“Besides, it’s strange. To enter the male dormitory, a woman has to go through the dorm supervisor’s office.”
“....”
“The supervisor wouldn’t have just let you through. Ah! There is one way, though.”
“...”
“The supervisor’s office only sees people who are standing. If you crouch down and shuffle in, you can slip past.”
“...There’s no way I would do something so undignified.”
I subtly glanced at her outfit. She was wearing a long skirt. But the hem was stained with dirt.
“...There.”
I pointed at the bottom of her skirt. Her gaze followed my finger.
“There’s dirt on it. Must be from crouching down…”
“...This is…”
“More importantly, what were you waiting in front of my door for? Enough to crouch past the supervisor’s office.”
“...I did not crouch past.”
Her cheeks began turning bright red.
Teasing Cha Jiyun was more fun than I expected.
“...I wasn’t waiting. We just happened to meet by chance. And since we met by pure coincidence, I just remembered something I wanted to say.”
She stared off into the distance as she spoke.
“Something to say?”
“...I heard you were interested in the Crystal Guild before. Is that true?”
Ah… So the rumor about my private conversation with Jin Hyewon had spread.
“No. I’m not particularly interested in them.”
“...Is that the truth?”
At those words, relief washed over Cha Jiyun’s face.
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“...Would you consider joining our Oriental Guild instead?”
“Pardon?”
“Of course, not as a regular member. You would start directly as vice guild master. Naturally, your salary would be set at an appropriate—extremely generous—level.”
“Pardon?”
Suddenly? Me, vice guild master of the Oriental Guild? Was that even possible? I’m ridiculously weak.
“That would be difficult.”
If I joined, my pathetic combat ability would be exposed almost immediately. Then I’d become a vice guild master who got beaten by regular members.
“...I expected as much, but it seems it really is too much to ask.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
I really am pathetically weak. The moment I joined, I’d get crushed by regular members. Even if they overlooked it once or twice during hunts, after going out together a few times, there’d be no hiding it.
“...You defeated not one, but two enemies that even the Oriental Guild Master couldn’t guarantee victory against.”
“...Pardon?”
Cha Jiyun stared straight at me. Then she nodded.
“...And you did it without a single scratch. To you, even those two must have been nothing.”
“...Me?”
The story of the principal’s involvement hadn’t spread. Her external activities were kept strictly confidential.
“...For someone with such tremendous power, the position of vice guild master must seem trivial. However, the guild master position…”
I looked at Cha Jiyun in silence. She was clearly misunderstanding the situation badly. If I joined that guild, my true level would be revealed in no time.
I conveyed my firm refusal through my eyes. Cha Jiyun nodded as if she understood.
“...As I thought. Of course, someone of your caliber wouldn’t be satisfied with merely the vice guild master position.”
“Huh?”
I was completely stunned.
“...Then I will do whatever it takes to secure the guild master position for you.”
“No… There’s really no need…”
“...I will return soon with a new contract.”
Cha Jiyun gave a polite bow and walked off into the distance.