Chapter 177. Investigation Site (2)
"Wow, the title of genius mage really suits you."
"Ahaha…."
"And thank you so much for the party the other day. That time…."
What the hell…?
I was caught off guard by Park Min-gyu's sudden appearance, but surprisingly, the conversation flowed smoothly. The guy was a master actor. With his kind-looking uncle vibe, a smile that put people at ease, and a perfectly modulated tone that considered his interlocutor, he was pitch-perfect. No wonder he could handle all that dirty backroom business—he needed social skills like this. If I hadn't known his filthy true nature, I might've fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
I could've brushed off the chat politely, but curiosity about what he'd say next kept me going.
"By the way, what were you talking about with Min Ye-ji earlier?"
And there it was—the main point.
"Oh, she kindly offered me a spot in her guild."
"Oh… so from now on, we can call you Lee Ho-yeon of the Iron Blood Guild."
Park Min-gyu clapped like he was genuinely thrilled, beaming with that warm, grandfatherly smile.
"No. Sorry, but I turned it down."
"That's unexpected. The terms weren't to your liking? Maybe she lowballed the signing bonus since you're still a cadet? You're already pro hunter level, Lee Ho-yeon cadet."
"It's not about that… I just have no interest in joining a guild."
"Ah, I see. Well, Min Ye-ji being a woman, it might be hard for her to offer terms that appeal to you, Ho-yeon."
"…Pardon?"
"In the actual hunter industry, there's more than just money or artifacts on the table. Especially for male hunters… women, perhaps?"
Park Min-gyu floated the line, then subtly gauged my reaction. He kept that affable smile, but my eyes weren't fooled. When I showed no response, he immediately switched to a regretful, apologetic look, like he'd slipped up.
"Ah, sorry. Not the kind of talk you want, right? My bad if that was rude. I just wanted to share some industry realities."
Look at this psycho acting his heart out.
I'm barely twenty, just an adult. For a guy over forty to bow and apologize like that? Not easy. Park Min-gyu was going all out to deceive me.
Woman… woman. Wait, no way…?
The only woman linked to the Buyer Guild that came to mind… There was one.
I glanced around. I knew no one was there, but it was for show, to signal Park Min-gyu.
"No… talk like that's not so bad."
I pulled my lips into the sleaziest grin I could muster. No one around, so I could ham it up.
"Haha… well, you're a guy too, Lee Ho-yeon cadet. No man hates that kind of talk."
Park Min-gyu pulled something from his pocket. A contract.
"Nam Da-eun cadet, the famous first-year. You know her, right, Lee Ho-yeon cadet? She's signed a lifetime contract with Buyer Guild. And… she's actually got a secret deal with me. A sponsor arrangement, basically."
The word "sponsor" sent chills down my spine. Holding her little sister hostage and calling it sponsorship? Anyone overhearing would think Nam Da-eun had willingly become a whore. Is that what you do to a girl young enough to be your daughter?
"Let's be straight with each other. Join Buyer Guild… and Nam Da-eun is yours to do with as you please. Her little sister too. Here's a photo of Da-eun's sister—such a cutie, and in the future…."
"Stop. Hold on."
Park Min-gyu had even pulled out a photo of Nam Da-hee to show me. He must've thought he'd hooked me good.
But I couldn't listen anymore. Bile was rising in my throat.
"Pardon? Lee Ho-yeon cadet?"
"Something urgent came up. We'll continue this later."
"No, it's almost—"
I ignored Park Min-gyu calling after me and bolted from the party venue.
'Acceleration.'
I even cast a spell to escape at max speed, but my heart pounded.
"… Oh, right. I can't use mana."
The backlash from trying to generate mana hit like a truck, my whole body throbbing. I'd forgotten I was still a patient in my rush to get away.
"Didn't even say bye to noona."
I should've at least greeted Moon Sulin. But going back risked running into Park Min-gyu again, and I wasn't sure I could hold my temper. Even Clear Mind might not cover it. I could suppress the anger, but not act like nothing happened flawlessly.
Still, it's not a total loss.
Park Min-gyu doesn't know Nam Da-hee is gone yet. He probably assumes Nam Da-eun just went back to the academy. Not bad at all. Got something out of that nauseating chat.
Before heading back, I sent Moon Sulin a quick excuse.
I watched my smartwatch for a bit, but no reply—probably swamped with the investigation. I left the party venue as is.
*
"Unniii!"
"Come here, come here."
Spending so much time at the party made meeting anyone else tricky timing-wise. So before heading to the hospital, I stopped by the dorm to check on Liliana and Nam Da-eun.
With five people in the dorm, it felt weirdly lively. Me, Scarlett, and Liliana watched Nam Da-hee and Nam Da-eun play. The sisters looked close—the way Da-hee clung to her big sis, and Da-eun smiling as she welcomed her. Both seemed genuinely happy, which made it even better.
Da-hee, middle-schooler or not, stuck to us like a little kid. Probably starved for affection. Da-eun knew it and doted on her hard.
"Da-hee's so bright and bubbly. Right, Scarlett?"
"Yes. I was that bright when I was little too."
Scarlett, sitting beside me, said it with a straight face.
"Dude, what's with the sudden comedy bit?"
"…It's true."
"Nom nom."
"Liliana, what about you?"
"Nom… huh?"
I chatted with Liliana too, who was munching something jelly-like.
"When you were little. Did you just game all the time?"
"Well… yeah."
"…Non-stop? You weren't gaming from birth till now."
"Of course not! What do you take me for?"
Liliana stuffed more jelly in her mouth, annoyed.
"So… what'd you do? I'm curious about your hometown stuff."
Pure curiosity. With Da-eun and Da-hee in the living room, I phrased hell-home as "hometown."
"Hm… lemme think. For fifteen years after turning adult, it was all gaming. Then till thirty-five… what did I do…?"
"You and Scarlett both with these lame jokes. Forgetting that'd be dementia."
"I'm not joking."
"…Seriously, what did you do?"
Liliana furrowed her brow, pondering. Was it not a joke?
Current Status: Before becoming an adult... Ugh, my head.
This was serious. Not a joke.
"Liliana. You really don't remember?"
"Uh, yeah… no clue. Been fifteen years."
"…Fifteen years wouldn't make you forget that."
Straight-up dementia vibes. Hospital trip? But she remembers other stuff fine… Maybe a side effect from hell to here.
"Nah, people forget! You remember fifteen years ago? When you were five?"
"Five and thirty-five aren't the same!"
What twisted logic. But Liliana seemed pleased with it.
"Anyway, I don't remember. Same as you."
She nodded to herself, convinced. Weird way to buy it… but if she's fine, whatever.
Then a mutter from beside us.
"…If Liliana was thirty-five fifteen years ago… she's fifty now?"
"Yeah."
"…!"
Scarlett's eyes widened—she'd just clocked Liliana's age. Da-hee, who'd overheard, gaped and whispered:
"Gasp. Auntie…."
"I'm not an auntie!"
"Auntieyyy!"
Liliana chased the fleeing Da-hee. Good thing it was a fancy academy dorm— in a normal house, neighbors would've mobbed our door.
"Fifty… astonishing."
Scarlett was genuinely shocked. Probably thought she was younger. Looks-wise, no way fifty.
"In human terms, she's five."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
Tch. Waste of breath. Can't explain deep with Da-eun and Da-hee here. Just watch Liliana chase Da-hee till my ride-back time.
"Ho-yeon-ah. Or, Lee Ho-yeon?"
"Call me casual. Da-eun-ah. Cool?"
"Got it."
Nam Da-eun approached, done playing with Da-hee. We used full names around her to fake familiarity before, but now we're closer—first names it is.
"Flowers… what kind you like?"
"Huh?"
"Pretty colored flowers."
Flowers out of nowhere? I don't get buying flowers anyway. Gukbap with that cash instead.
"…Good value ones?"
"Value…."
Half-joking, but Da-eun nodded like it satisfied her, eyeing Da-hee.
What.
Planning to buy some next hospital visit?
She doesn't even care how old Liliana is.
Strange kid. I let it slide without overthinking.
*
The day after Lee Ho-yeon met Park Min-gyu. Thursday.
With the party venue terror investigation wrapped and guild backlog cleared, Park Min-gyu headed out on patrol.
"Great work, Guild Master!"
"You too. Everyone's doing great. Stay safe."
"Yes sir! Thank you!"
Park Min-gyu replied kindly to the rank-and-file. Some grunts had no clue how dirty Buyer Guild got—only vets got the scum jobs with the pay bumps. And only trusted ones, so picky hires.
"Guild Master's why the vibe here's always good."
"Totally. That's why I stick around. Small, but chill."
What the hell. Trash talk.
Park Min-gyu seethed at the chit-chat. Get back to work, idiots.
"How's Da-hee?"
"Fine, sir. Been quiet past few days—just feeding her and leaving."
"Good, good. No chit-chat unless necessary."
He banned guildies talking to Da-hee. Better to cozy up himself, make her dependent.
Knock knock.
"Da-hee-ya. Uncle's coming in?"
No answer needed—he opened the door. Da-hee sat blankly in the center.
"Today Uncle's…."
His friendly face froze. Mana scent thick in the air. Magic traces.
Park Min-gyu flared his mana. Leaking from a faded magic circle.
"Fuck…!"
Intruder signs. He dismantled the circle fast. Da-hee's form dissolved like smoke, leaving an empty room.
"W-what the hell! Nam Da-hee! Where's Nam Da-hee!!!"
"What's wrong, Guild Master!"
"You crazy fuck! How do you manage shit!"
His roar drew guildies in—they saw Da-hee gone too. Circle leaked after days, meaning no ongoing mana feed from the shaman. Da-hee vanished ages ago, unnoticed. Shaman had to be elite. Someone with a grudge against Buyer Guild….
"Who the…."
Wait. Not the point. A bigger name flashed in his mind.
He barked at the director who'd rushed in.
"Contact Nam Da-eun! Now!"
"Uh… no reply since the party with you. We thought she was with you…."
The director was in the dark—Park kept Da-eun and Da-hee info exclusive for his monopoly. No comms till now, so no issue. Big mistake.
And Da-eun, always compliant, suddenly ghosting? Shocking.
"You idiots call that reporting!"
"S-sorry!"
Park's kind mask cracked. Can't let this slide. Find Da-hee or his plans crumble.
"Find Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee now! Whatever it takes!"
"Y-yes! Hitting up informants!"
"Informants and info guilds too. Careful—no leaks. Got it?"
"Y-yes!"
The director bolted sweating; Park ground his teeth watching.
Can't end like this. Da-eun-ah. Da-hee-ya.
Nam Da-eun's body shimmered in his mind's eye. Soon his. Stared at it over ten years. No giving up.
He clenched his fist and stormed off somewhere.