I'm Not a Speed Freak (1)
“Boss. Here's some work.”
After wrapping up my hunter gig, Mina handed me a notebook with a soft smile.
No computers or A4 paper around, so this was our makeshift solution—a notebook we'd scrounged up.
It was filled with neat, rounded handwriting detailing the requests.
“Three people came by.”
Three already? Second day since opening, and more than I'd expected.
Maybe word got around about me taking down Salmu-sa.
I lounged obliquely on the sofa and scanned the contents.
“Finding a colleague's body, checking a camp in the Gray Forest, and a missing person search.”
“I gathered as much info as I could for now.”
“Yeah?”
“The first client's missing colleague was last seen near a shopping mall in the northeast of the Gray Forest. They got into a fight with some lawless punks there, and the guy bought it.”
“Sounds like a quick trip to the mall, then.”
“The next one's a camp check...”
“There's this old camp that's been abandoned forever, but the Alligator Gang wants to set it back up. It's the closest one to the spot in the info you gave them, so they requested us.”
They could handle it in-house, but they're outsourcing to me anyway?
Whatever—worked out fine for me. Saved them manpower, and I got paid. Win-win.
I'll take this one for sure.
The last was a missing person... thing.
“Not much on the last one, huh?”
“Yeah... they just up and vanished mid-conversation. I jotted down what little they said, but you can probably ignore it.”
Vanished suddenly? Why?
I shot her a questioning look, and Mina just shrugged.
“No idea. Said something about an emergency and bolted.”
Telepath, maybe?
...Whatever. Not my problem.
“So really just two solid requests. We'll jump on 'em tomorrow. When the clients show, tell 'em to come back in two days.”
“Got it, Boss.”
“Oh yeah, where's Seolhwa?”
“Over there.”
I turned my head in the direction she pointed.
“Nngh...”
“Who knows where she scavenged that from.”
“Saw it for sale at the market.”
Who knew Rubik's Cubes still existed in this world?
I couldn't help but smile at Seolhwa, sweating bullets as she twisted the worn, scratched-up cube this way and that.
A kid who'd grown up through hell, now peacefully grunting away at a puzzle like this? If that didn't warm your heart, you were a psychopath.
Or worse.
“Hey, mister. Good haul today?”
“Made a decent chunk.”
“Phew, glad to hear it. Budget's been tight lately...”
“Tch. If it weren't for those damn Viper bastards.”
Repair costs got covered thanks to the boss's generosity, but the delay screwed our schedule—and that hit the household finances hard.
I'd cleared some buffer time for promo, but it all got pushed back. Had to rush into the Gray Forest for quick cash, scout Viper movements on the fly...
Everything went to shit, leaving me scrambling nonstop these past few days.
Couldn't even sit down and puzzle out my bigger headaches.
...Sigh.
What the hell was I even possessing, if not Quaker?
Similar powers had me convinced I was the final boss incarnate.
Just some random civilian lookalike? Distant relative?
...Or a clone?
Nah, too far-fetched.
No way.
This world didn't have tech that ad—no, it did.
The original story had that secret hero mass-production plan using hero DNA.
Either way, I needed to dig into this body's past.
Problem was where to start.
Couldn't revisit the prison where I woke up, and I had zero leads for solo sleuthing.
Kwon... whatever-his-name was, the Alligator Gang's number two, seemed to know something—but asking felt off.
With intel channels dried up, planning was impossible.
Shelve it for now.
If I wasn't Quaker, the real deal would start moving soon, clashing with heroes and stirring chaos in Seoul.
That'd be my window—when his terror hits, checkpoints and guard posts get wrecked.
Heroes hold the line, but it's still one of the rare shots to slip into the underworld.
Connections make it easy, but...
That's the issue.
Underworld links mean Viper.
After beefing with them, no dice.
So wait it out.
Who knew if it'd be months or years...
Eh, whatever.
No point stressing now. Time to plan what I can.
“Boss, heading out first thing tomorrow?”
“Yup. Gotta nail these landmark first gigs—quick and clean. Builds trust, gets the word out.”
First impressions set the tone.
“Gotcha. I'll update you on progress when clients check in.”
“How?”
“Boss, you forget my power?”
Oh.
“Right, that works.”
Once linked, distance barely matters—real-time relay, easy.
Brains of the operation in the original, through and through.
“Smart thinking, Mina. Makes things way smoother—thanks to you.”
She gazed up expectantly, tilting her head toward me.
What?
“Praise me more.”
...Still a kid at heart, huh.
“Business'll run like clockwork thanks to you.”
“More.”
...What now?
Kept demanding, but words failed me.
I racked my brain to meet her stern, expectant face.
Brain as pretty as her face...? Nah.
Screw it.
“...You're really smart, y'know.”
Dunno if that hit the spot.
I looked down at her closer-than-ever crown and rested a hand atop her head.
Gave it a gentle stroke.
“...”
Feels like petting a puppy.
How long was I at it when purple hair wedged into view?
“Oppa, me too!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Switched to my other hand for Seolhwa's head.
But seriously, how long?
I gauged the moment and dropped both hands.
Mina looked up, pouting.
“Why stop?”
“Arms hurt.”
“Oppa, more!”
“Spare my weary body and soul, please.”
Just wanna crash already.
I let my exhaustion show, and Mina sighed regretfully.
“Fine, can't be helped.”
“Oppa, bedtime?”
“Need the rest.”
“Dinner...”
“Not hungry—you two eat.”
Sleep over food right now.
“Sleep well?”
“I'll tidy the gear.”
“Thanks...”
I grabbed my stuff and headed upstairs.
---------------------
“Speed, you sure you're up for this?”
“Yes! Leaveittome! Can'tdodgeworkforever,right?!”
“Sigh... Of all the timings for this to blow up, it's gotta be when you're the only one free...”
The operations chief sighed, pinching her brow hard.
Speed thumped his chest and bellowed.
“Gotthedeets! TrustHeroSpeedtogetitswiftandprecise!”
“For god's sake, slow down.”
“Ahem. Understood!”
“Mission's to track down the guy per the report.”
“Findingpeople'smyjam! Theycallmethegodofmissingpersonsforareason!”
His rewind-speed torrent of words left the chief sighing again—unless you'd bantered with him before, good luck parsing it.
“Please.”
“Y-yes. Got it.”
“Not a tough one. Trail leads straight to the Swamp Zone, and odds are the missing guy's holed up in a Viper tunnel.”
“Any, other, intel?”
“Afraid not.”
“Roger! Onit! I'llrescuehimflawlessly!”
His cocky shout drew a smirk from Chief Lee Yeji as she turned away.
“Might drag on longer than expected—pack supplies.”
“Yessir!”
No sooner said than a gale whipped her face, tousling her long hair.
“Told you no running indoors... sigh. That hothead streak never changes.”
She leaned back in her chair, eyes closing.
This mission better succeed...
Rescuing Congressman Kang Gil-su's son.
High stakes all around.
Speed... bring him back safe.
A windy sigh drifted through the office and faded away.