I'll Relieve Your Fatigue ♡
A phone call came in as I was heading somewhere. It was Hee-joo. A smile crept onto my face without me realizing it. It hadn't been that long, but it felt like ages.
"Yeah, Hee-joo."
Her bright voice came through the receiver.
"Oppa, what are you up to right now?"
"Just out getting some air."
"Ah, I got a part-time job! At a convenience store!"
I was impressed for a moment. She really seemed to be turning her life around steadily. Not a hopeless case after all.
"Good job. That's awesome."
"Hehe, gotta earn lots of money quick so I don't keep owing you, oppa."
"Why? You can owe me forever."
"Huh? Y-you want me to stay by your side forever?!"
I hadn't said that. I chuckled.
"Just in case, check if the store manager has a good rep."
"Hehe, it's fine. I'm gonna live straight-laced from now on!"
Her voice was filled with hope. I smiled, wondering if it was because of me that she'd changed. I nodded. Good thing I'd lent her that room.
"Yeah, you can do it, Hee-joo. I'll cheer you on."
"Hehe, thanks! Come visit sometime. It's in my neighborhood!"
"Sure, we'll meet when I have time."
"Okay, hehet ♡"
I sighed as the call ended. Crossing the alley, Hee-joo sent a photo.
'What the...? Whoa!'
A super lewd selfie with an obscene expression. I get how grateful she is to me. I chuckled and kept walking lightly.
I returned to Ho-seong's place. After explaining everything, I sighed. Ho-seong stared at me in disbelief before bursting into laughter. It was the first time I'd seen him laugh so heartily.
"Hahaha! You, Si-hyeok, making a mistake like that? Haha!"
"Sigh, I didn't know either."
"See, you're just a regular guy outside of fighting."
"What kinda talk is that? Sigh, I went barking up the wrong tree."
A groan escaped me naturally. I'd caught the stalker to brag to noona, but everything went wrong.
Ho-seong rested his chin on his hand.
"Anyway, so who's the real culprit then?"
"That's what I don't know."
"Why not go back to the agency building? Poke around for evidence."
"Might have to. Probably nothing there, though."
"My NEET instincts are telling me the next most suspicious person is the perp! Hehe."
"Yeah, yeah."
The guy was clever enough to disable CCTV beforehand. Doubt there's evidence, but.
Ho-seong grinned.
"When noona's working, keep a close eye. Criminals always return to the scene, right?"
"You've read too many detective novels."
"From what you said, that manager's coordinating with the cops but getting nowhere."
"True."
"Or check surrounding CCTV. Maybe only the crime scene ones were out?"
The more I thought, the more it was a dead end. I looked at the monitor. Was Ho-seong's tracking wrong? No way.
Can't be wrong. How capable is this guy.
I bowed my head and focused. What was I missing? Close to noona but distant. A position where he could track her anytime.
Really no idea. Maybe her model colleagues for real?
My chest tightened. If I'm like this, how must noona feel? I rubbed my face like washing it.
Ho-seong chuckled.
"These things take time from the start."
"Yeah?"
"Investigation's about accumulating data. You think real life's a movie?"
"You're pretty movie-like yourself."
"Flatterer."
It wasn't flattery. He had talent in computer systems, but pulling off all this alone? No ordinary guy.
Ho-seong shrugged as he eyed the monitor.
"Anyway, I'll keep helping. Especially CCTV—I've got it locked down! Hit me up anytime."
"For real, hyung?"
He grinned. I nodded.
"We're not strangers."
"Sigh, seriously thankful."
"I'm prepping my own business too, so not totally free. But not swamped either. Contact me whenever!"
I looked at Ho-seong seriously. Solid guy. Come to think of it, he must be lonely too. Lost his parents in an accident young. Lucky he got a deferment right before military service as an orphan.
"But hyung, these monitors... they're CCTV, right?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't this illegal?"
"Sharp eye? Yeah, I got bored and hacked a few."
I couldn't believe my ears. He just says it so boldly? Though he tracks phones casually too. Suits him somehow.
"Whoa, what?"
"Nothing fancy. Just these you're seeing."
Ho-seong pointed at the monitors. He adjusted the resolution or something—touching it made them crystal clear. People strolling alleys and riversides casually.
I gave him a questioning look.
"Look close. Hacked all CCTV within 10km of my place."
"What?"
He pointed again. Monitors showed real-time zones everywhere. For real.
As I marveled,
"CCTV captures reality. And the app based on this..."
He pulled out his phone. An app was running—unofficial-looking. Seoul zones marked all over.
He tapped one, and messages popped up.
I tilted my head. Looked just like SNS posts.
"These are?"
"What you're thinking. Tap a spot, get SNS or community posts from there."
"Huh? That works?"
"Didn't think it'd either. Same principle as tracking that stalker."
Speechless. Was this the same guy I knew? Full-on hacker level. But why make this?
"Why though?"
"Si-hyeok, you know our school had its share of bullying scandals?"
"Yeah. Once a year or so. Even had committees."
"And kids suicided over it."
"Pissed me off."
"Exactly!"
Ho-seong suddenly pointed at me, eyes gleaming. Wondering what he'd say.
"I wanted to protect people the law and cops can't. No brawn, so frustrating."
I was surprised. He seemed like a bohemian gypsy, but he'd been living with deep thoughts. With this freakish talent.
"Private justice ain't great, but does the law or police fix everything? Nah."
"True. Stuff happens, no one's accountable. Classic Korea."
"So you and me, we'll save 'em. Help the wronged, the outcasts who are still part of society."
I whistled. Got what he meant. Noble cause. Beyond bullying, tons needed help.
Old folks hauling carts alone. Someone collapsing from illness mid-street.
Helping them would spread good vibes. But I didn't like the "good influence" talk much.
Guys yapping that are never normal.
So I was wary. Could I even help people?
But what's with the sudden wind change?
Ho-seong didn't act without purpose. Something up. No way he...
"Hyung, planning a detective agency or something later?"
"Not bad. Sharp as ever. Yeah."
Genuinely shocked. Ho-seong a PI? Legal in Korea, sure. Still amazing.
Made sense now.
"Ah, building rep before opening shop. This works."
"Right? Can't always grub for motel affair evidence. Whaddya think?"
"Me..."
Hesitated. Fighting career uncertain, but serious about it.
Ho-seong shook his head.
"Won't interfere with you, FYI."
"Yeah?"
"We ain't race car drivers. Emergencies, we roll out no exceptions. Handle jobs via app when you're free."
"Ooh."
"Early stage. Plans solidify later, we get serious then."
I grinned. Sounded fun. I was experienced already.
Like smashing Kang Ji-hoon.
Confident. Nodded. Realized today:
Strong ones ain't just in gyms. Meet 'em outside? Lucky.
Serious reply. This was opportunity too. Who knows? Help someone, turns out family? Hot as hell.
"I'll do it!"
"Great. Sending the app—install and play around."
"Got it."
"Nice working with ya!"
"Haha, same."
Grinned. Installed his app. Marveled at features. Chatted endlessly about plans.
"Tap zones here, SNS/community pops up?"
"Yup, real deal."
"Specific situations, keywords—like kids mobbing someone, or babariman mentions."
"Rush over, handle it?"
"Exactly."
Amazing. Him making this app, me buying into comic-book vigilantism—both wild.
Looked more.
"What if it's over by the time I get there?"
"Bust. But incidents pop daily in reality."
"Fair."
"Don't get down. Failures are experience."
Here's to luck. Already excited. Long as no legal blowback. Punish punks, gain fame.
"This function?"
"That one's..."
We talked nonstop, like another world. App features mesmerized me. Left around dusk.
Evening already.
Scratched head, headed home. Delicious dinner smells lingered. Up to my room. Stretched, sighed.
Stalker bastard got lucky. But feels like we'll nab him. Next time, definitely.
Clenched fist. Knock.
"Yeah."
Door opened—noona entered. Still up? Schedule tomorrow? But shocked.
"Huh?"
Noona in nurse outfit. Nurse cosplay exactly. Heart pounded like bursting.
No way I'd see cosplay up close like this. Always envied cosplay photogs—live lewd costumes?
Not jealous now. I'm the one here!
Mouth dry. What’s noona planning?
"N-noona?"
"Just got back? What kept you?"
"Ah, just worked out. Haha."
"Must be tired then?"
"Kinda."
"Wanna play grown-up doctor with noona?"
"With noona?"
Breath ragged. Noona looked lewder than ever. Even sweet, sticky gaze. Face relaxed.
"Yeah, I'll relieve your fatigue, customer ♡"
She stuck out her tongue slightly and approached me.