Chapter 59: Rich or Not, One Bullet is All It Takes (1)
Chapter 59: Rich or Not, One Bullet is All It Takes (1)
After finishing my business at the Management Bureau, I stepped outside and walked aimlessly down the street.
I had originally planned to crash at Oxymoron’s or the Librarian’s place.
But both of them kicked me out, claiming they were too busy.
Oxymoron said she was still swamped treating the kids injured in the last war.
The Librarian told me that every time I stepped into his lab, at least a few things ended up broken.
I even went to see Hyun-seok, but after hearing my situation, he just gave me a stony look and told me to piss off home.
Knowing from experience that nothing good comes from arguing with Hyun-seok when he’s being blunt, I quietly left the Bureau and ended up as a wanderer on the streets.
…I really don’t want to go home. What should I do?
Was it a mistake to honestly confess that I couldn’t go home because I was scared of my disciples?
If I go home now, there might be a terrifying weapon waiting for me—something like a red frilly dress.
A humiliating outfit, completely different from my usual Magical Girl attire.
Just thinking about it makes my blood boil; I can’t imagine what would happen if I actually saw it.
If they tried to force me into something like that, I might just fall into corruption on the spot and start swinging my hammer.
I’ll have to face them eventually, but right now, I need time to mentally prepare myself.
Thud.
Perhaps I was too distracted while walking. I collided with someone and tumbled to the ground.
Normally, the person who hit me would be the one rolling on the pavement, as if they’d kicked a boulder, but my body was currently weakened because so much had been sucked out of me recently.
It would take two or three days to recover, but for now, unless I actively channeled mana, I just had the body of an ordinary person.
It’s only because it was me or the Librarian who fed the tentacles that it ended with mere weakening; an average Hero or civilian would have been turned into a vegetable by now.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
The woman I collided with reached out to me, looking worried that a small child had just rolled across the ground.
“I’m fine.”
I didn’t want to be harsh to someone reaching out to a child, so I mimicked a child’s tone and took her hand.
“Hmm. Are you lost? Did you lose your parents? Do you want big sister to take you home?”
As she spoke, she gestured toward the rifle slung over her back.
Since only Heroes are allowed to walk around with guns exposed, she was clearly trying to signal her status.
No doubt, there was a bit of calculation involved—helping a child is always good for self-promotion.
Or maybe it was a genuine act of justice. Either way, Heroes are usually a bunch of people with too much time on their hands.
Whether it was one or both, I didn’t feel the need to entertain her.
“I’m okay.”
I brushed the dirt off my clothes and walked past her.
She watched me walk away with a bewildered expression.
Was it because most kids would be starstruck if a Hero reached out to them, but I wasn't?
Well, it didn't matter. Seeing her gun had reminded me of a perfect place to stay.
Click.
Ring, ring, ring.
“Yes. Weapons expert speaking…”
Does this guy just pick up without even checking who’s calling? He does this every time.
“It’s me.”
“Teacher? What’s going on? You’re calling quite often lately.”
He doesn't sound panicked just hearing my voice anymore. I suppose it’s about time he got used to it.
“Where do you guys live?”
“Why are you asking th…at?”
His voice trembled, as if he thought he’d done something wrong.
“I want to see your face and Yumil’s.”
Specifically, I need a place to sleep for a day.
“Um… I don’t mind telling you, but even if I do, you won’t be able to get in.”
What does that mean?
How can I not get in if I know the location?
“Where are you right now?”
“The main road in front of the Management Bureau.”
“Then please wait at a cafe nearby. I’ll be there soon.”
He said a lot of questionable things, but I decided to follow his lead for now.
“How long will it take?”
“I think I can be there in about thirty minutes.”
“Got it.”
Hang up.
I ended the call unilaterally and looked around.
An unnecessarily large number of coffee shops caught my eye.
Flashy brands, cafes with walls plastered in glass as if inviting people to drink while staring outside.
Since he didn't specify a cafe, the main road would be best.
With that thought, I stepped into a coffee shop.
* * *
“Why is this so expensive?”
A cup of coffee was 6,000 won.
The waffle I bought without thinking, just because the clerk recommended it, was 4,800 won.
Does this mean I’ve already spent over a ten-thousand-won bill?
It’s not like I’ve never been to a cafe before. I’ve been dragged to such places many times for various meetings.
But still, this is wrong. Coffee shouldn't be more expensive than a meal.
The coffee, which usually tasted sweet when someone else was buying, felt exceptionally bitter today.
Is this the sting of losing ten thousand won?
The only saving grace was that the waffle helped offset the bitterness of the coffee.
The clerk had certainly made a good recommendation.
They must have known the coffee was bitter when they suggested it.
The fact that they gave me extra honey and cream as a "service" was probably for the same reason.
Indulging in my ten-thousand-won luxury, I stared blankly at the main road.
The bustling street in front of the Management Bureau.
When it was first established, this wide road had nothing around it, but now it had become a major commercial district.
A district built on The Cycle of wealthy Heroes splashing cash, which in turn attracted expensive shops.
Since the road had been designed as a pedestrian-only zone from the start, it became an even more attractive area for people to gather.
The fact that the Management Bureau disliked tall buildings being built nearby resulted in a cluster of charming, small buildings, which likely added to its popularity.
In that sense, the Management Bureau building itself really didn't fit in.
A commercial district lined with white buildings no taller than five stories, and at the end of it, a vast plot of land with a Black Tower soaring into the sky.
The rare visual treat was completely ruined by the Black Tower looming in the corner of my vision.
Though I suppose some people might find it atmospheric in its own way.
Just as I finished stuffing the waffle into my mouth and even crunched down on the ice from my coffee.
Running vigorously~ Cherishing~ Deeply~
My ringtone went off, and I quickly grabbed my phone.
“You here?”
After all, how many people would be calling me?
And right on the thirty-minute mark, too.
I spoke as soon as I answered, but…
“Is this Black Marauder-nim?”
A voice that wasn't the one I was expecting answered.
A man’s gravelly voice.
…How did he know?
“Who are you?”
“I am Huang. I look forward to working with you.”
“I’m not asking for your name. How did you get this number?”
I lowered my voice, wary of eavesdroppers, and poured my anger into the phone.
Blackmail? Wiretapping? How was I caught? What kind of call was this?
Screeeech.
At that moment, a black sedan pulled up in front of the cafe’s glass window.
It had an ominous look, with windows tinted so dark the interior was invisible.
Furthermore, the license plates on the front and back were blue with white lettering that read "Management."
A Management Bureau vehicle.
…Have I been caught already?
I prepared to pull out my Pry Bar so I could make a quick escape.
It’s fine. I can still get away.
If I destroy the phone and vanish, I can play it off…
Whirrr.
The car window slowly rolled down, and the person inside came into view.
A man with a rugged face and muscles that seemed ready to burst out of his suit, holding a phone to his ear. He looked at me slowly and waved.
“I’ve come to pick up Lady So-rim’s guest.”
The voice came through the phone.
Judging by his lip movements, it was definitely the brute in front of me speaking.
“Who is So-rim?”
“Oh dear. It seems you haven't properly introduced yourselves yet. I am referring to Danger Rifle.”
* * *
It was quiet.
The car was so high-end that I could only feel a slight vibration.
The vehicle glided smoothly down the road without a hint of noise.
I had quietly climbed in at the mention of Danger Rifle’s name, but I had so many questions. Why did he show up in a Management Bureau car? Who the hell was he?
Glancing at him, I noticed a silver necklace around his neck.
It was disguised as a choker, but anyone with the right knowledge would recognize it. It was a device designed to suppress the emission of Otherworldly Power from a Mutant.
The small possibility of it being a similar-looking accessory vanished when I saw the studs embedded in his neck.
Thick studs connecting the necklace to his throat. They could be pulled out with enough force, but they were designed to cause fatal hemorrhaging if removed.
I decided to start the conversation there.
“Why is a Mutant playing errand boy for a mere Hero?”
“I happened to form a bond with Lady So-rim’s family. It was a bit annoying in the beginning, but after doing it for so long, I’ve grown quite fond of it.”
Family?
He just mentioned something rather ominous.
“Family? What are you talking about? Don’t tell me Danger Rifle has ties to the Management Bureau…”
“You didn't know? Lady So-rim’s family carries quite a bit of weight within the Management Bureau…”
“What’s her last name?”
“Chong So-rim.”
The surname Chong. The Management Bureau. And a family with influence…
…Shit. They’re former chaebols.
The ones who handed over all their companies and capital the moment the Management Bureau was established to secure their positions.
They’re probably still sitting in high-ranking seats within the Bureau even now.
Wait, Chong?
“…Is Danger Rifle’s maternal uncle Park Hyun-seok, by any chance?”
“You’re well-informed.”
Dammit. Did I just break my friend’s niece’s arms and legs?
No, it’s fine. She healed perfectly. No problem.
Yeah. Even Danger Rifle said it was fine.
“Why is that girl playing Hero? She could have lived a comfortable life and still landed a position in the Bureau.”
Even though the Management Bureau is strictly meritocratic, factions and political influence still play a role to some extent.
She might not have reached the very top, but she could have easily secured a mid-level position.
“She’s admired Heroes since she was a child. She used to shoot at me all the time, saying she was going to become a Hero. And then she actually became one.”
“Hahahaha!”
A boisterous laugh, fitting for his massive frame, echoed through the car.
This is driving me crazy. Dammit.
No wonder she used such ridiculously expensive bullets; she actually had the money to pull stunts like that.
Wait, was the reason Yumil didn't need extra equipment for the radio hijacking also because Danger Rifle solved it with money?
…I’m going to lose it.
How did things get so tangled up?
Soothing the sudden headache, I leaned back into the seat and tried to organize my thoughts.
Danger Rifle, whom I thought was just some random Hero, was actually part of the Management Bureau’s upper crust.
And she and Yumil were getting along famously, running around together.
Yumil, who inherited my memories, probably knows she has ties to the Bureau. The fact that she’s still hanging out with her means there’s a significant level of trust.
The thought of the Management Bureau being involved gave me a headache for a moment, but looking at it this way gave me a different idea.
Maybe this is actually a good thing.
Since things have turned out like this, it makes more sense to use her thoroughly.
A connection to the Management Bureau. A connection I previously had zero contact with.
Isn't she the perfect pawn to create a crack in the Bureau?
However, to use that pawn, I’d have to clear the surroundings first.
“Hey. You, the muscle-bound driver.”
“I am Huang.”
“There is an A-Rank Mutant sitting in your car right now. And you belong to the Management Bureau. What are you going to do about it?”
The atmosphere turned cold.
The boisterous conversation that had briefly filled the car vanished.
All that remained was a heavy silence and the faint hum of the engine.
After a moment, the car came to a stop at a red light.
“I will do nothing.”
“Why? Shouldn't someone from the Management Bureau report this? I’m a vicious Mutant who leveled an entire city district.”
“Do you intend to harm Lady So-rim?”
“As far as I’m concerned, it doesn't matter if she leaves. As long as she keeps my secret, I have no intention of retaliating against her, no matter what she does.”
In the first place, this was something I was doing alone.
If she wants out, she can leave. I have no intention of forcing her in or holding her back against her will.
“Then it doesn't matter. I don’t owe my loyalty to the Management Bureau; I owe it to Lady So-rim.”
Well, that’s unexpected.
“Loyalty, huh? Then you must know that I’m the one who broke her arms and legs.”
If I don’t test him now, when will I?
I threw a verbal dagger at his heart, aiming to expose his true nature.
If she really is someone he cares about that much, this should bring out his true colors.
“Hahahat! Was that an attempt at provocation?”
As if my words were hilarious, he laughed heartily and slapped the steering wheel.
The horn blared loudly, enough to make me worry about startling the people nearby.
“Maybe?”
An unexpected reaction.
I wondered what he would say next.
“I have no particular ill will toward you, Black Marauder-nim. If one stands on the battlefield as a warrior, they must be prepared to lose a limb or two. A warrior grows through being broken. She’s been overprotected until now.”
Ah. So he’s one of those Type S?
No wonder his muscles were so impressive.
“And. Do you know something?”
The moment the light turned green, he stepped on the accelerator and turned his head toward me.
His eyes gleamed with intensity.
He radiated a massive fighting spirit, as if to show that he hadn't died as a Mutant yet.
“The day Lady So-rim came back with her limbs broken… she was smiling. She said she had finally met a Hero who understood her ideology.”
…That girl is a lunatic too.
I feel like I’ve been attracting nothing but crazy people lately.