A Helping Hand from the Past
Dumbfounded by the unexpected person's appearance, Yoo Taejeong could only stare at her in stunned silence.
Had Choi Da-som known he was coming all along? If so, then that intel he'd spread that morning...
'Was a trap.'
As his thoughts grew tangled, the approaching Choi Da-som took in his disheveled state and muttered under her breath.
"I was hoping it wasn't you."
"What the hell is going on here?"
"That's what I want to know. Why the hell are you doing this?"
"Because you..."
Taejeong trailed off mid-sentence, a strange feeling washing over him. Her question didn't sit right.
"You didn't know I'd come here?"
"How the hell would I know that?"
"Then what's this? You say you didn't know, but how are you here...?"
"I saw you."
"...?"
"That building we were in this morning. You said the upper floors were dorms, right?"
"Yeah."
"I was out on the balcony when I caught a glimpse of you on the roof of the warehouse building across the street. I came down to check it out... but I never imagined it was really you."
Now the pieces fell into place for Taejeong. Just before entering the warehouse, he'd briefly dropped his Cloaking to time his skill cooldown. That's the moment she'd spotted him.
But he still couldn't lower his guard.
"So, what now? What are you gonna do with me?"
"Hold on. I'll free you in a sec."
"Free me? And then?"
"We get out of here. If they find out you're here, the whole guild will lose its shit."
"So you're just gonna let me go?"
"Of course."
With that, Choi Da-som clasped her hands together. Light leaked from the ruby magic stone on her finger, resonating with the binding formation around Taejeong. Moments later, the golden ropes binding him unraveled one by one, fully releasing the spell.
"Phew. Lucky I had the emergency key. You okay? No injuries?"
"I'm fine... But why did this even trigger? Nothing happened when I came in."
"It's a compound magic formation. There's a sensor at the far end of the warehouse—you have to touch it to activate. It's supposed to be bidirectional, but looks like they haven't installed it on the entrance side yet. Come on, let's go. If I stick around too long, it'll raise suspicions. Follow quietly."
Taejeong decided to trust her for now. He recast Cloaking and trailed behind her. Soon, they reached the assassins guarding the fourth-floor entrance.
"Everything check out?"
"Yes. In and out confirmed. Entrance side isn't set up yet."
"I see. You took so long after the signal, I thought something went wrong. Was about to come down and check. Glad you're okay."
"Keep up the good work."
"Yes, ma'am. Please head in, Vice-Captain."
They passed the fourth floor without incident and reached the entrance. Choi Da-som glanced around cautiously before slipping into a quiet alley between buildings.
"We're good. You can drop it."
Taejeong, still cloaked, responded.
"Why are you helping me like this?"
"What?"
"You know damn well why I went in there."
"Did you take something from the warehouse?"
Taejeong fell silent for a beat, then nodded. Denying it wouldn't change anything.
What surprised him was her reaction.
"Figured there had to be a good reason. You're not the type to do something like that for no cause."
"You really think that? I'm kinda thrown off here. This is your guild's business."
"Guild? Doesn't matter to me. You're more important. So... how much did you take?"
"Roughly..."
"Roughly?"
"All of it."
"All of it? You cleaned out the entire warehouse!?"
Her eyes widened as Taejeong gave a wry smile.
"Yeah. Serious now?"
"Wait, hold on."
She seemed lost in thought. Taejeong sighed and asked,
"Too much to let slide, right?"
"It's not that. Can you put it back?"
"Already used one."
"Which one?"
"The one you mentioned."
"Then it's pointless... Wanna wait here a sec?"
Taejeong gave a resigned smile, as if he'd seen it coming.
"Guess no choice. Makes sense—if you let me off, you'd be in hot water too."
"Don't go. Just wait."
With that, Choi Da-som vanished into the shadows. Watching her go, Taejeong was already half-resigned. He'd learned on the way out that she was the vice-captain. A key position in the organization. The odds of her turning a blind eye? Near zero.
They weren't exactly close anymore, either—just reconnected after eight years, and she'd dumped him for her career back then. No reason to expect mercy.
If he were alone, he'd bolt. But with Jenix Guild members still here, who knew what they'd do to them?
'Got too greedy. But the opportunity was now or never. What do I even say?'
His mind raced as footsteps approached from ahead. It was Choi Da-som, returning alone—against his expectations.
She looked up at the empty air.
"Still here?"
"Yeah."
"Phew. Good."
She let out a deep sigh, then pulled a tightly rolled scroll from her pocket and handed it to him. Taejeong took it reflexively.
"What's this?"
"Detection-nullification scroll. Use it right before you leave—should keep you hidden for twelve hours. But once they find out the warehouse was robbed, the guild master won't let it slide. He's the type to pin crimes on the innocent. It'll get you through clean."
Speechless at the unexpected kindness, Taejeong stared at her. What was this situation? It made no sense. A vice-captain covering for a crime like this—and providing an escape plan? She'd been with Gold Lion Guild for eight years, no less.
"You know what this means, right?"
"Yeah."
"And you're still letting me off? Those assassins saw you. Middle of the night, and you're the only one who went into the warehouse."
"So?"
"So? You'll be the prime suspect."
She chuckled softly.
"Don't worry about that. I'll handle it."
"Handle what?"
"You gonna go confess? This won't end with just you."
"I know, but you don't have to get dragged in because of me."
"Idiot. Sometimes you just close your eyes and let it go. Besides, I'm tougher than I look. You know that."
"Da-som."
"Get going. Don't draw attention."
With those final words, Choi Da-som walked away. Taejeong watched her fading silhouette, then muttered at the scroll in his hand.
"What the hell are you?"
After handing over the scroll, Choi Da-som returned to her dorm and gazed at the framed photo on her vanity. A younger Taejeong, and an even younger her. Their last anniversary, eight years ago. The happiest moment of her life.
Ironically, it was Gold Lion Guild that had stolen that time from her.
"Sorry. I should've come back somehow. This is all I can do."
* * *
Wracked with guilt and unable to move at first, Taejeong finally squeezed his eyes shut and bolted back to the lodging.
As she'd warned, this could spark a war. Like it or not, he had to trust she'd be okay.
'Should've been more careful.'
Self-recrimination didn't help—it was inevitable. Anyone would've tripped that. And Choi Da-som showing up was a stroke of heaven-sent luck. Not only had she gotten him out of the worst-case scenario, but she'd even given him a scroll for any inspections.
He felt pathetic for suspecting her.
'I'll repay this debt later.'
Back at the lodging unscathed thanks to her, Taejeong checked the hallway and slipped into his room. A pungent, unfamiliar scent assaulted his nose.
"What the hell is that smell?"
Frowning, he flicked on the light—and spotted Park Se-ah passed out on the bed. On the table: a whiskey bottle a third full, and damp towels everywhere. Her face was so swollen from drinking it was hard to tell if it was booze or injury.
"Can't hold your liquor and you nearly polished off a whole bottle."
Shaking his head, he grabbed the bottle and tilted it back.
Gulp, gulp.
The sharp, fiery burn scorched his throat. High-proof stuff that warmed his chest, but he downed the rest without pause.
It said just how rattled he was.
As he drifted off, a sleep-mumbled curse escaped his lips.
"Dumbass... you don't get caught there..."
Sprawled on the sofa, Taejeong woke to someone calling him.
"Boss, boss—wake up."
"Nngh... ugh, what?"
"Time for breakfast. They said at that building from yesterday."
"What time?"
"Seven. When'd you get back?"
"Around four? You ready?"
"Yes."
"Got it. Gimme a sec to wash up. Head down first."
Forcing his eyes open, he splashed water on his face, brushed his teeth, and headed to the lobby.
"Hurry! Everyone's on the bus."
He exited the building and boarded the waiting bus. Kim Hansu sat right next to him, with a operations staffer beside, both smiling warmly at him.
Their gazes felt off—different from usual—but he smiled back and greeted them.
"Morning."
"Good morning indeed. You must be starving."
"Pardon?"
"Bet you're hungry after all that exertion."
"...?"
Taejeong had no clue what he meant. Kim Hansu continued.
"You've got a real manly side, hidden away. Can't judge a book by its cover, huh? I never pegged you for it... Gotta say, I see you in a new light."
"S-Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Aw, c'mon—no need to play coy. I was right there yesterday."
Shocked, Taejeong blurted,
"You... you were really there?"
"Yup."
"H-How were you at that place...?"
"It's fine, it's fine. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do sometimes. Just don't make a habit of it. 'Late starters don't know when dawn breaks,' right? Moderation in all things."
His encouraging words only muddled Taejeong's head further.
'What the hell happened? The raid leader was there?'