A Peaceful Day
Jin Seoyeon and Jung Hayun were talking in the room at the back of the shop.
"Jo Taeo really went missing, right?"
"…How did you know?"
"With that personality of his, he must have followed them to the third floor. And the fact that only two of them returned means something happened to Jo Taeo."
Hearing that, Jin Seoyeon pulled a necklace from her pocket.
"Unnie, that's…"
"That's right. The thing Jo Taeo treasured."
"…Looks like my guess was correct."
"Yeah. Though it's still a little early to be certain."
It had been the dangerous Doksikrim. It wouldn't have been strange for anything to happen to anyone there.
"So, how do you plan to manage? The distance is pretty far for a daily commute."
At those words, Jung Hayun looked up at the ceiling.
"There's a spare room upstairs, isn't there? I'll use that."
"…That's a storage room."
"Then I'll clear it out."
Watching her speak as if everything had already been decided, Jin Seoyeon pressed her fingers to her brow.
"Hayun, you weren't always like this. Why are you being so forceful…"
"Because I don't want to lose anyone else."
"…?"
It was a loaded remark. There had to be a reason she would say something like that.
What on earth happened while she was outside…
But seeing the stubborn light in Jung Hayun's eyes, Jin Seoyeon finally raised both hands in surrender. After all, Hayun's presence was necessary precisely for the day they would have to stand against Tipone.
"Fine, fine. Just don't bully Jinhyuk too much."
"When did I ever bully him?"
"…You cornered him like you were interrogating him earlier."
"I thought they were reasonable questions."
"They were only reasonable to you. Jinhyuk went to the third floor with Yeji because he was thinking of me. I was the one who suggested it first. So please, don't make things any harder for him. I'm asking you."
"…"
Jin Seoyeon stared at the silent woman for a moment, then let out a sigh and rose from her seat.
"Move your things starting tomorrow. I'll clear out the storage room ahead of time."
"…Thanks."
The next morning, Jinhyuk's phone rang. The name that appeared on the chat screen was Princess Yeji.
…
He was briefly at a loss for words just from seeing that, but the content was even more absurd.
Along with the message that this was a user not registered as a friend,
After pressing the friend-add button, he changed her nickname.
To Plum Blossom Empress Han Yeji.
There was a brief pause before her reply came.
A long message poured out.
Based on his experiences so far, whenever someone started talking at length, they usually had some ulterior motive.
So that's it.
A flash of insight struck Jinhyuk.
Yesterday and today both…
When he had traded the Undead's Tears, she had been standing right there. Anyone who wasn't a complete fool would know he had a large sum of money on hand.
She's planning to squeeze money out of me.
But it wouldn't work. Drawing on experience, Jinhyuk roughly mapped out her thought process.
At this level, she's an easy mark.
Tap-tap-tap.
Jinhyuk typed out a reply.
After finishing the reply, the corner of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward. For him, she was far too easy an opponent.
When Jinhyuk arrived at Exit 11, Han Yeji was already waiting. Her outfit looked as though she had put far more care into it than usual.
"…Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just got here too."
It was a lie. She had actually been standing there for thirty minutes. But she had no intention of letting that show.
Good. Just as planned.
Han Yeji repeated the words to herself. The advice she had received on the Hunter Gallery. The most plausible one had been this: dress up prettily and spend time together as naturally as if it were a date.
Go to a café, walk around a bit, then eat together—feelings are bound to grow.
And Jinhyuk, for his part, seemed completely oblivious to any of it.
Smooth sailing so far.
He really did seem clueless about the ways of the world, but if she showed him around while they walked, he was bound to realize something. Like the passionate feelings for her that he must be hiding deep inside.
I'll look forward to the day you confess first.
With that, Han Yeji lightly caught Jinhyuk's sleeve and took the lead.
"Today you just follow me. I'll take you all over the place."
"Ah, yes."
Jinhyuk stared blankly at her for a moment before trailing after her.
After that, the two of them stepped into a nearby franchise café. It was an unfamiliar space to Jinhyuk.
"Pretty shop, right?"
"No, not really."
"…"
"Looking again, it does seem pretty."
It was the classic reverse-psychology bow.
But to Jinhyuk's eyes, the decorations and ornaments that took up far more space than necessary were irritating. Especially when he looked at the layout—there were major problems with the placement. The lighting was also needlessly bright, enough to make his eyes hurt.
While Jinhyuk was thinking that, Han Yeji managed her expression as carefully as she could and spoke to him.
"It's because it's your first time. You'll get used to it gradually. So what do you want to order first? Just look at the menu and decide. I'll place the order."
Jinhyuk scanned the menu board.
…Six thousand five hundred won for a single cup of coffee?
That much for a glass of water. He almost let out a hollow laugh but forced it down.
"Americano? Latte? Or something sweet is fine too."
"I'll have an Americano."
"Unexpected. You look like you'd like sweet things."
Because it was the cheapest. If they had had instant mix coffee, he would have ordered that instead.
"The others are expensive, and I like Americano the most. Hehe."
"…"
Han Yeji lost her words for a moment, then let out a short laugh.
"Don't worry about the price. I told you I'm paying."
"Aww, no."
Jinhyuk's mind was busy with a different calculation.
This is a setup.
Start cheap, then demand something big later. He felt like he had seen something similar on the Hunter Gallery. In cases like this, the best move was to minimize spending from the very beginning and cut the flow short.
"Oh, they have cake and stuff too. Want some?"
Han Yeji casually pointed at the display case.
"No. I'm fine."
"Why? Aren't you hungry?"
"We're going to eat later anyway, so why bother?"
"W-well, that's true, but…"
Every single reaction was different from what she had expected. According to the original plan, they were supposed to order this and that and sit for a long time, naturally sharing conversation topics and growing a little closer…
Did he notice my plan? No, there's no way…
After finishing the order, the two of them sat down. Jinhyuk was examining the vibrating pager on the table with open curiosity, turning it this way and that.
"First time seeing a vibrating pager?"
"Yes."
"…You really have never been to a café."
The calm answer left Han Yeji momentarily speechless.
It's kind of pitiful, and kind of fascinating…
Come to think of it, she had felt a similar emotion while reading posts on the Hunter Gallery.
Was it the kid who got kidnapped when he was little?
Something about training in murder techniques. She couldn't remember the details, but it had been roughly that kind of story. Completely unrelated, yet somehow the two images overlapped strangely in her mind.
While Han Yeji was briefly lost in her own thoughts, Jinhyuk casually changed the subject.
"By the way, Yeji-ssi."
"Y-yeah…? What is it?"
"Why did you call me out today?"
A question that struck right at the heart. For a second it felt as if her heart had dropped, but—
"J-just because. I told you I was bored, right? Seoyeon Unnie won't hang out with me either, and besides her I don't really have anyone to meet…"
"Ahh."
"What? Why are you looking at me so suspiciously?"
"You can just be honest. If you need money—"
"…Huh?"
Han Yeji blanked out for a moment.
"Or if business has been a little slow lately…"
"…There's no way. I'm loaded."
"How much do you make?"
"Even without doing anything special, about a thousand drops into my account every month?"
"A thousand won?"
"Would it be won…"
"…!!"
She was richer than she looked. So she hadn't been trying to freeload after all.
…Then what is it?
The hypothesis he had built in his head collapsed in an instant. She wasn't short on money; if anything, her circumstances were far more comfortable than his.
I need to adjust my thinking a little.
Jinhyuk rested his chin on his hand and began observing her again.
If money isn't the goal, then maybe the "I'm bored" line was genuine.
It was the simplest answer, yet her preparation had been excessive. Above all, the outfit. Anyone could see she had dressed up carefully.
Don't tell me… surveillance?
A sudden flash of insight. Circumstantially, the timing of Jung Hayun's appearance and the start of Han Yeji's strange behavior overlapped.
Then for today I should go in the direction of leaking as little information as possible.
While Jinhyuk was thinking that, Han Yeji simply assumed he was staring blankly at her.
…Why are you looking so hard? It's embarrassing.
She cleared her throat for no reason and looked away.
After leaving the café, the two of them walked aimlessly through the nearby streets. Han Yeji took the lead and introduced various shops, but Jinhyuk's reactions remained lukewarm.
"The clothes in this store are pretty, right?"
"They seem so."
The same pattern repeated several times. Even Han Yeji was starting to look tired. Yet she refused to give up and kept leading Jinhyuk to the next course, and the next.
At this point I wonder if we just don't match.
If she had ever properly talked with guys her own age, she might have been able to lead better. In truth, meeting a guy alone like this was a first for her as well.
Did I rush things too much? But the Gallery said there would definitely be progress if I did this… Uuugh. This is hard, so hard.
It was while they were passing a small goods shop. Han Yeji's gaze was stolen by one of the items displayed in the window. It was a music box with artificial snow swirling inside a small glass bottle.
Pretty.
She thought it would be nice to have something like that decorating her room. The sound of the music box also seemed strangely calming.
"What are you doing over there?"
At Jinhyuk's call she startled with an "Ah!" and hurried to catch up.
"Ah, it's nothing."
Her head was still full of the music box, but she decided to focus on the present moment.
…And so the day began to wind down. The sun sank lower and lower, and one by one the streetlights came on.
When Jinhyuk, who had suddenly said he needed to use the restroom, reappeared from a distance, Han Yeji waved with a bright expression.
"We should eat dinner soon. Is there anything you want?"
She had researched plenty of restaurants just for this. In a way, it was the last chance. Han Yeji asked while looking forward to his reaction.
But—
Jinhyuk, who had been glancing behind him, said something unexpected.
"Let's head back for today."
Han Yeji, who had been about to walk ahead, stopped dead.
"…Huh? Already? We haven't even had dinner yet."
"Next time."
"Why so suddenly…"
She wanted a reason, but Jinhyuk's face was as calm as ever. If she showed disappointment, she would be the one who looked strange.
Han Yeji looked at him with a complicated expression for a moment, then—
"…Okay. Let's go back for today."
She let out a deep sigh and collected herself.
Han Yeji stepped back with a face full of lingering regret. But then her eyes sparkled and she added,
"But next time we really eat all the way through dinner, okay? Promise!"
"Hmm, if you're treating, I'll think about it."
"Of course I am."
"Then there's no reason to refuse. Ah, and also…"
"Yeah?"
Jinhyuk hesitated for a second, then took something out of his pocket. It was a neatly wrapped box.
"This music box. Earlier it looked like you wanted it."
"…"
Even as she accepted the item, Han Yeji's reaction was dazed.
"…You were watching?"
"Yes. From the moment we met this afternoon until now. I never took my eyes off you once, Yeji-ssi."
"…!!"
Whoosh.
Blood rushed to her face.
He was insane. How could he say something so mortifying so casually! But what was even more insane was herself.
Her heart was pounding. After making her feel so disappointed all day, pulling this at the very end was foul play. She had been right on the verge of sorting out her feelings!
"You, you…"
She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. More than that, Jinhyuk's mouth opened first.
"Yeji-ssi. I had a good time today. Thanks to you I got a nice experience."
"Y-yeah. M-me too… I had fun thanks to you…"
Han Yeji nodded repeatedly with her face buried low.
I can't let him see this face…
Even without a mirror she knew. Right now she must look incredibly embarrassed.
I have to brag about this on the Gallery. I'll prepare a whole pile of hamburger emojis.
There was no way to calm her fluttering heart. The frustration that had built up all day seemed to wash away completely.
"I have something to take care of, so I'll head off first. You can get home by yourself, right?"
"Yeah yeah. No problem. Of course."
Truthfully she wanted him to walk her home…
But since he said he had something to do, hoping for that much was too greedy. More than anything, right now she also wanted to savor this feeling alone a little longer.
"Then I'll be going first."
"Yeah. Get home safe…"
Watching Jinhyuk's back disappear into the crowd,
"Uwaaaa… I think I've gone crazy for real… How am I supposed to look him in the face now…"
Han Yeji covered her face with both hands and sank down on the spot.
After parting with Han Yeji, Jinhyuk deliberately turned into an empty alley. It was a dark stretch where even the streetlights didn't reach.
Only then did the presences that had been following him begin to close the distance. They had probably been waiting for him to move somewhere like this.
Moving exactly as expected.
While Jinhyuk walked down the alley pretending to know nothing—
"…Unlucky bastard."
A low voice came from beside him. At the same time, figures emerged one by one from the darkness. There were four in total, every one of them wearing a black robe.
Jinhyuk stopped walking. At some point every expression had vanished from his face.
"Tipone, is it."
That dry voice actually threw the other side into confusion.
"…Since when did you notice the tail?"
There was only one answer for that as well.
"From the beginning."
Before the words had even finished, the four drew their swords.
Jinhyuk likewise took out a single strand of silver-shining thread from his coat. The weapon he had received as a reward in Doksikrim—Eunyongsa.
"Just so there's no misunderstanding, I'll say this first."
"…?"
"You were the ones who bared your fangs first."
Ssshk.
The silver thread silently brushed past the body of the lead attacker, and—
Shhk.
In the next instant his flesh was sliced into more than a dozen pieces that tumbled across the ground.
"You'd better not expect any mercy."
The curtain rose on the slaughter.