At Least Two Moves Ahead
He was at least two moves ahead.
Name.
The word that distinguishes one person from another.
The thread of connection we desperately cling to amid countless fleeting encounters, so we don't forget.
In other words, something to remember special bonds by.
"I'm Han Gayul. Call me that."
That was a name.
Without a name, people fade easily from memory.
But memorize the name, and even if the face slips away, you can recall that person's existence.
What conversations you had.
What kind of vibe they gave off.
All the memories and moments shared seep in, as if stored in that single name.
That's why we share our names.
It's the same as saying, remember me.
So.
I don't give my name out easily. I don't want to be remembered.
Getting deeply entangled is inefficient.
I'm usually the competent one who ends up having to look after others.
Using people isn't bad, but I don't have any grand goals worth going that far for.
So after ending up in this body, I figured I'd never need a name at all.
"Han Gayul. Got it memorized."
Now I needed one.
Someone knew me now.
It should've been a touching moment, in a way.
Haaaah—
I'm done for.
Properly marked.
Caught by the tail by some shadowy big-shot broker whose identity I couldn't even guess.
Not memorizing my name because he wants to remember me, but because he needs it to exploit me.
What'll he make me do from now on?
I don't even want to think about it.
"Han Gayul, huh…."
Tick, tock.
The clock ticked louder than usual, echoing in my ears.
He murmured my name softly, slowly scanning me where I sat beside him. The brief silence felt heavy, dragging on.
After that pause, another question.
"An alias?"
"Never had a real name to begin with."
"I figured as much…."
He nodded, as if it all made sense.
Then the one-sided interrogation began. Full background check mode.
"That injury from the other day—it's fine now?"
"No issues."
"Did you go to the hospital?"
"Why, when there's no problem?"
"I see… Breakfast?"
"Just ate."
"What'd you have?"
"Ramen."
"Not healthy. Eat something else."
"……?"
"You clean your room yourself?"
"Who else would?"
"Impressive mental fortitude. Good job."
"……??"
I side-eyed him.
What the hell was this conversation?
These questions were so inefficient.
And "good job"? What did that even mean?
Did he think I'd been living like a total shut-in?
"You don't have to be so guarded around me. Like I said, I'm not here to do anything to you."
Whoa… that line.
Hard to buy it.
After tossing out those weird questions like pickup lines, how could I not be suspicious?
Whatever. He pressed on with more questions anyway.
"Parents?"
"No way."
"So… you've been living here alone all this time?"
"Why ask the obvious?"
"Anyone drop by regularly?"
"Nope."
"How'd you make money till now?"
"Just… worked hard at whatever."
His face twisted.
What did I say wrong? He looked pissed, like when he'd pinned me down before.
"Why'd you need the money?"
"I was short on it."
"Then… where'd you get the mana stones?"
"Answer honestly."
"I got 'em myself."
"You went into the Tower alone?"
"Yeah."
"With just those tunnel-digging and item-transport skills? Solo?"
"…Yeah."
"Then what's the deal with these mana stones? They don't even drop in Nightmare. Probably man-made, right?"
"Uh…."
News to me.
Doom mana stones must be different, huh?
"Did you make these yourself?"
"…No."
"What difficulty did you climb?"
"Uh… Hard?"
"Lying again. Not Hard-tier items."
"……."
"Ten billion isn't pocket change. What'd you need that much for? Someone using you as a collector and demanding a cut?"
"Not that either…."
"Name your backer."
"There isn't one."
"Fine… I have ways even if you won't talk. It'll be okay from now on, so you cut ties with all that too."
Hmm, this was getting tangled.
I'd tried to play nice, but some things I just couldn't answer.
They tied straight to my real secrets.
But what backer? He'd been assuming that from the start.
Felt like he'd already decided the answer, regardless of what I said.
What the hell did he want to know?
"If that ten billion were yours, what would you spend it on?"
"Nothing special. Stay home as much as possible, live comfortably—put it all toward that."
"So naive. No matter how much you hide, you'll have to face society eventually. That's too easy an escape."
"What're you even saying?"
These weird comments kept coming.
I was stuck in a situation where hiding was my only option, okay?
A pro like me cooped up here? I hated it too.
I just wanted to live normally, work a regular job.
Sigh, no point explaining.
But… why did everything feel so off?
Come to think of it, hadn't he said if I didn't reply, he'd come collect the money himself?
No way, right?
"First, give back the money I gave you. It's not clean enough for you to handle."
"Ugh…."
My fears came true in an instant.
How could he be so ruthless….
Yeah, this was his real intent.
Give the drug, then the illness to tame me. Make me crave it again.
Such a calculating bastard.
He knew I had no foundation and was shaking me to the roots.
Haa. Hated giving it back.
Maybe test him a bit.
"What if I don't wanna…?"
"………."
Whoosh.
He stood without a word.
Then stepped right in front of me, looming down. His massive frame cast a shadow that swallowed me whole.
"Wh-what're you gonna do?"
My voice trembled on instinct.
Why stare down like that all of a sudden?
One word of defiance and he planned to off me here?
Ugh, looking up felt so weird with this tiny body.
Overwhelmed.
Felt like I shouldn't resist.
Being short was seriously tough. The psychological pressure was no joke.
Thud.
"Hik!?…."
His hand landed on my head.
A chill ran through me; my body twitched.
Voice leaked from my thin vocal cords, like when the Goblin Champion grabbed my waist.
"Listen. Dirty money like that won't help your future. It'll cloud your judgment, taint you with the wrong things."
Lecture while patting my head.
Felt like being dominated.
Wanted to swat his hand away, but no.
I knew his game.
Resist, and he'd crush my skull. Why else put his hand there?
This was a warning.
Ignore it more, and I'd die.
Ugh.
My body kept trembling faintly.
I'd have brushed it off like nothing before.
But this height, this eye level. Kept feeling crushed.
I wasn't that short, but he was overwhelming. I'd always been the one looking down.
Was a woman's body always like this?
Logically fine, but my body reacted first.
Proof: since the change, I'd been shaking way more.
Just felt scarier for no reason.
"O-okay… I'll give it…."
Damn it.
Surrendered in the end.
My dreamy happy life, gone like this….
But survival first. Life over money.
Poof!
I summoned stacks of cash in front of him.
My treasures, lovingly stored in Inventory. Farewell time.
Smooth—
He ruffled my hair once, then pulled his hand away.
Chilling, but I endured.
Meant he'd spare me.
"Inventory skill?"
"Yeah…."
"You pulled it all out?"
"………."
"Everything. Looks a bit short. Bad habit."
Damn, eagle eyes.
Figured the sheer volume would hide the bit I'd stashed back in Inventory.
Crap, crap.
Poof!~
Emptied Inventory completely in the end.
By the time he counted each bundle, hiding was pointless anyway.
How was he so thorough?
I'd do the same in his shoes… but being on the receiving end sucked.
Haa~
Me.
Broke as a beggar now.
Getting it then losing it hurt like hell. Wanted to cling.
He'd aimed for that psychology.
What now? How to eat?
"One month. Live off this—no shady stuff. Look for a decent job if you can. Start saving and learn to manage money. Then in a month, I'll give you enough that won't fall short."
Luckily, he handed back one stack of 50,000-won bills.
Humiliating, but that bundle was 100 bills.
Five million won.
Snatch!
Had to take it quick.
But… more money in a month?
And why look for a job?
What was his angle?
Come to think of it, the whole convo had felt off. Skimming the surface.
So I stared right at him.
"Still… you seem oddly familiar. Have we met before?"
Flinch.
He peered at my face, suspicious.
Probably from encountering the Nightmare NPC.
No matter how I hid, body shape, outline, stray hairs, eyes—they didn't conceal easy. A guy like him would connect NPC to me instantly.
Had to keep him from piecing it together.
Best bet: change the subject with a question.
"Stop keeping secrets and get to the point already? I answered everything. You came here—what do you want from me?"
"That's not it… You still don't trust me?"
"Would you?"
"…Hold on. Where'd you learn that attitude? Don't use 'you' with your elders."
"Th-then what? What's your name?"
"Olgami… Just call me sir."
Olgami?
His name, or codename?
I didn't know this world well enough to gauge how big a deal he was.
Research later.
For now, fix the address as ordered.
Such things were subtle pressure points—better comply.
No need to make it obvious I was the underdog.
"Uh… sir?"
Huh.
Wasn't an awkward term normally, but forcing it felt off.
Stuck in my throat.
But did it satisfy him?
"Yeah… not bad. That's enough for today. Since you don't trust me yet. Here instead."
Rummage rummage.
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a business card.
"Trouble? Call me. Like I said, no plans to harm you."
I took it on reflex.
Black card, nameless except for a number. Thick and smooth like plastic.
Why this suddenly?
Call if in trouble?
Creeeak~
While I glanced at the card, the broker had already headed to the door and opened it.
Really no other business?
Just leaving like this.
What? Brain froze.
He hadn't even stated his business.
Leaving just like that?
"Gayul."
Chill!!
Called so affectionately.
I flinched without thinking.
Lifted my gaze in surprise—he was looking back at me.
And even.
Smirk.
A wistful, pleased look.
Those deep, lingering eyes.
For some reason, that gaze and smile sent shivers down my spine.
"See you later."
Click.
The door shut; he was gone.
Just like that, end of visit.
Exit complete.
"Uh…?"
Shiver shiver shiver!...
What? What just happened?
What was that smile about?
Just scary.
Why act like that??
Barging in out of nowhere, no business stated, then vanishing with that smug grin!?….
Ugh.
Something… something was off.
Left after saying all those weird things.
Why come here at all? What was the point??
Really just to get my name? No way—not from such a meticulous guy.
All calculated?
Then how far ahead was he?
This guy really.
Ugh, ahh.
"Monster…."
My brain couldn't comprehend.
What warning had he come to give?
What did that smile mean for me?
At least two moves ahead.
What the….
I spaced out for a while—
staring at the front door, trying to decode that smile.