Insurance
Insurance
The change happened in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the dense thicket vanished, and what filled my vision was the massive arena from before.
Another spatial shift.
But unlike last time, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.
"Ha... finally back."
As the tension drained away, exhaustion crashed over me all at once.
My already worn-out body and mind felt utterly wrecked.
We weren't alone.
The final fifty survivors.
Their appearance was no different from ours.
If anything, they were even filthier.
Some looked like they'd rolled around in a mud pit, while others were so caked in dried blood it was hard to tell if they were human or monster.
The exceptions were the ones in black robes and the scrawny figures clad in armor.
Only they looked exactly as they had when they first entered.
I didn't know what trick they'd pulled, but unlike us, who seemed to have aged ten years, they remained impeccably clean.
'Unbelievable.'
I let out a small, hollow laugh.
That was when it happened.
The Gladiator emerged from the spire.
"Everyone, you've all worked hard. My eyes were thoroughly entertained. It was a truly excellent spectacle for the first time in a while."
A flat, rigid tone.
As if the manic voice that had been providing the live commentary had been a complete act, her voice now held not a single trace of emotion.
And her attire had changed slightly.
Instead of the tattered cloth, she wore a black suit and glasses, looking every bit like a successful career woman.
"Old man, is that another personality of hers or something?"
"It is. Most likely."
Judging by his tone, this was the old man's first time seeing her like this too.
Anyway, the host, Gladiator, calmly continued.
"A Fire Seed is, by nature, something that blossoms from the depths of brutality. Congratulations. You have proven your worth. The final fifty who have seized the Fire Seed. We look forward to your continued struggles in the upcoming tournament matches."
Snap. She lightly flicked her fingers.
Immediately, fireworks erupted from all directions, painting the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors.
"The matches will resume tomorrow at midnight, so please get whatever rest you need. That concludes the first trial."
After adjusting her glasses, the Gladiator strode haughtily back inside the spire.
—ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!!!
—BLOOD!!!! SKULLS!!!! FLESH!!!!
—GLORIOUSLY!!!! MAGNIFICENTLY!!!!
A deafening roar of cheers and applause hammered my eardrums.
Left behind, I stared at the entire spectacle, dumbfounded.
A kind of madness, I'd call it.
Honestly, any ordinary citizen who could watch a scene drenched in rape and slaughter and still chase an even bigger dopamine hit—they couldn't possibly be considered normal.
"Hmm... seems like things are more or less wrapped up. Shall we head back to the camper for now?"
"Yes. Let's hurry back and fill our stomachs too."
"I want chicken! Pizza and dumplings... ah! And pigs' trotters too!"
Talk about a quick attitude switch.
Mirkella, who had been gagging with a deathly pale face moments ago, was now chirping excitedly, her face brightening the moment food came up, as if her earlier state had never existed.
"First, I'd like to wash. I'm so disgustingly filthy I can barely stand it."
"I feel the same. Ah, perfect timing, Hui-ryeong just messaged me."
The semi-transparent window always lingering at the edge of my vision flashed.
It was a notification that a whisper had arrived.
I immediately accessed the bulletin board.
Ladylike Maiden : Yo
Ladylike Maiden : Yo dumbass.
Ladylike Maiden : Is it over? It's all done, right?
Ladylike Maiden : Saw the whole thing earlier and you guys were completely pathetic lmao
Ladylike Maiden : All that back and forth struggling over a single tiny mouse, it was a total shitshow lololol
Ladylike Maiden : What. Why no answer? You saw it. Why you leaving me on read?
Ladylike Maiden : You wanna die?
Ladylike Maiden : Answer me.
.
.
.
The relentless barrage of texts left me slightly dazed.
Normally, I'd have indulged her generously, but right now my body and mind were too exhausted to muster the energy.
I scribbled a quick reply.
Yajeongkojeong : Just finished now. Be there soon.
Ladylike Maiden : Why so slow replying? You seriously wanna die?
Yajeongkojeong : That was fast for me, damn it.
Ladylike Maiden : Whatever you say. Anyway, if it's done, get your ass to the camper.
Ladylike Maiden : Got stuff to talk about so hurry up.
...So full of energy.
My Lady Ha kept sending messages, nagging me relentlessly.
She really was an extreme case in this regard.
"What's unnie saying?"
"Just to hurry back. Tsk, impatient bitch as always."
After shrugging lightly in response to Kim Ha-yoon's question, I shifted my gaze to the MILF and her daughter.
The moment our eyes met, they gave the exact same reaction, perfectly in sync as mother and daughter.
They scowled in disgust, radiating hostility.
"You two, follow us."
"...Why should we?"
"Because your mom agreed to cooperate with us?"
But I retorted without a care.
Their circumstances were none of my business.
From the moment I slapped the enslavement scroll on Park Soo-jin, her fate was sealed to remain with us.
And her daughter Kim So-jin couldn't abandon her own mother either, so she naturally had no other choice.
"Ha, you broke the agreement first and now you talk about cooperation? Don't make me laugh."
"Then go your own way alone."
"Fine! I will!"
Kim So-jin turned her back without hesitation, but sadly, her mother couldn't do the same.
The enslavement scroll.
Whether she wanted to or not, she had no choice but to obey my words.
"No, Mom? Let's go, I said?"
"...I'm sorry. I'd like to, but I can't."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"...It's hard to explain. But one thing's for sure, that bastard did something to me."
"What?"
Park Soo-jin looked genuinely unwilling.
But in the end, she sighed and followed my words, walking over to our side.
Kim So-jin's face flushed with disbelief at the sight.
"Argh! Just why are you acting like this! Huh!? Why are you suddenly doing this too, Mom!"
After a brief tantrum, tearing at her hair in frustration, Kim So-jin squeezed her eyes shut and then shuffled toward us after her mother, as if she had no choice.
Meeting her glaring eyes, I let out a laugh.
"See? Your mom can't do jack shit against a single word from me."
"...What the hell did you do to her?"
I shrugged instead of answering.
She ground her teeth, looking even more furious.
It had been a while since I'd met such a feisty bitch.
This one's going to be fun to torment.
A chuckle on my lips, I moved forward.
"First, let's go back and eat. Wouldn't that be better for you too?"
Again, no answer came.
But seeing her eventually trail behind us, she was a woman who knew when to bend.
She was the type to wait for an opening to stab you in the back rather than charge in headfirst.
Though, there was no particular need to be wary.
If anything, this reaction was proof that it was safe.
That type can't act without certainty.
'How ironic. The mother threw her daughter away without a second thought, but the daughter can't bring herself to do the same.'
Contrary to her tough exterior, the woman named Kim So-jin had an incredibly soft heart.
So, even without the enslavement scroll, I figured it wouldn't be hard to break her.
*
And so, we finally arrived at the camper.
There, for some reason, a stranger was present.
Shaggy hair.
A scruffy beard.
And a facial structure that somehow looked familiar.
'Hiss... what is it? Feels like I've run into him somewhere before...'
For whatever reason, he was completely bound.
Tied up tightly like a prisoner of war, he was leaning his back against the parked vehicle.
"Hey. Finally here, huh?"
And what was even stranger was that he looked at us in that state and broke into a lazy smile.
Not a normal reaction.
His tone also sounded like he somehow already knew us.
"What's this?"
"What's this, you say. That's harsh. Even if I look like this, I'm your father-in-law."
"...What?"
He just kept grinning weakly at my bewildered question.
Just when I thought I could finally get some rest, what the hell was this now?
Throb. As a headache set in, I pressed my temples.
That was when it happened.
The camper door swung open, and a familiar blonde head popped out.
"Oppaaa!!"
It was Jeong Ji-min.
She happened to be taking out the trash, a bag dangling from her hand, but this pea-brained idiot rushed straight at me with it still in hand.
"Hey, hey—! W-wait—!"
Normally I'd have dodged skillfully, but unfortunately, I wasn't in my usual condition.
She rammed straight into me, and I fell backwards, the back of my head smacking the ground hard.
"Gurgh! Th-this damn bitch finally did it...!!"
"Oh my, I'm so clumsy. Oh dear, oh dear! What do I do! Oppa, are you okay?"
Then she startled with a huge fuss, as if she truly hadn't expected me to fall backwards.
Judging by her expression, it seemed like a mistake... but knowing this one's personality, I couldn't rule out the possibility she'd done it on purpose.
"...Forget it. Just forget it and get off me, damn it..."
"Aww, I'm sorry oppa. Really didn't think you'd actually take that hit."
"...Normally I would've dodged. But I wasn't exactly normal, now was I?"
"W-well, that's true. Hehe."
Jeong Ji-min smiled sheepishly, scratching her cheek.
While I desperately suppressed the urge to thump her on the head, Angelica held out her hand, asking "You alright?" I took it and barely managed to stand.
"Ughhh... You. I'll deal with you later."
"H-huh? No, oppa. I-it was a mistake. For real."
"I'm sure it was."
"You don't believe me!?"
Pushing away Jeong Ji-min as she shoved her face at me begging to be forgiven, I pointed with my chin at the unidentified man tied up.
"More importantly, who's that guy? Did you guys know he was here like this?"
"Uh... Ahh~ well, about that...."
Just as Jeong Ji-min, having peeled her cheek off my palm, was about to continue,
"That guy, he's my mom's acquaintance."
Someone else answered from inside the camper.
It was Ha Hui-ryeong's distinctively clear, ringing voice.
"What?"
"Acquaintance. You know what an acquaintance is. Someone you know. Get it?"
Ha Hui-ryeong came up to me while talking, slowly patting down my body here and there with her hands.
Muttering quietly, "No problem... no problem... hmm, you're fine."
"An acquaintance? Daughter, you're going to make your daddy sad."
At that moment, the unknown man who had been quiet suddenly spoke up.
At his oily tone, Ha Hui-ryeong's face crumpled instantly.
"Daddy my ass. Weren't you the one who got dumped? And you're younger than me, so stop dropping the formal speech, alright?"
"There's a flaw in that statement. First, I wasn't dumped. I never heard a farewell from her, so we haven't broken up. Therefore, in terms of family seniority, I'm still above you."
"Ugh, what the hell is he saying, this crazy bastard."
Ha Hui-ryeong shuddered with a disgusted look, rubbing her arms.
Angelica spoke to her.
"Hmm... So that means this is the guy who ran off with that ajumma?"
"That's what he says, or whatever. Ah, I don't really know myself. Going by what he says, it seems true but...."
"Seems?"
"Something feels off. He says he was with my mom, but then claims he doesn't know where she went. Does that even make sense?"
Listening quietly to Ha Hui-ryeong's story, I also vaguely recalled.
Now that I thought about it, wasn't that young guy who ran off with her ajumma said to have been abandoned in Seocho-gu?
'No issue with the route there.'
If he said he came out of the Order right after being abandoned, it wasn't strange for him to have settled in nearby Gwanak-gu.
This place was, relatively speaking, more livable than other areas.
"I remember telling you that multiple times. She left the Order without a word. So it's only natural that I don't know her whereabouts."
"Then you did get dumped."
"No, since I haven't heard a confirmation, it's not official yet. Yes, not yet."
A murky flame flickered in his eyes as he smiled bitterly.
Dark, sticky emotions... this guy was definitely a warped type too.
I looked at him and spoke.
"So? What's your purpose in finding us? No, how did you even find us in the first place?"
"Finding you was a coincidence. I was originally trying to find her, but I ended up finding the daughter first by accident."
He clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
I gave him a puzzled look and asked again.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"They say old objects often have souls dwelling in them. A reborn object like that craves love. A blind love so deep it will eventually seek out its owner again, even if abandoned."
"???"
But instead of answering, he launched into an irrelevant and rambling story.
Love this, objects that, memories whatever... the man was a long-winded talker to the point of earache.
If I cut out all the useless chatter and summarize, his story went like this.
In short, his trait, 'Tsukumogami,' allowed him to breathe a soul into objects imbued with memories.
The older the object, the stronger the soul that dwells within, and the stronger its attachment to its owner.
And that attachment eventually transforms into sorrow.
An object abandoned by its owner weeps sadly, emitting light or vibrations toward where the owner is. He confessed that he'd been tracking Ha Hui-ryeong's mother, Ha Ah-ri, using this trait.
"Hmm... So what's the object?"
"Our daughter has it. It was confiscated the moment I was caught."
"H-hey! Fuck! That daughter shit again! I told you to stop calling me that!"
I stared at Ha Hui-ryeong as she shrieked in fury.
Her movement stilled for a moment, and then, awkwardly scratching her cheek, she pulled a rocket pendant from her pocket.
"This is the object?"
"Yeah. I gave it to my mom as a gift when I was little."
Click. Opened, the pendant revealed a cozy family photo.
Her family when she was young.
Ha Hui-ryeong fanned herself with her hand as if embarrassed.
"Geez. How long ago was this, and that woman still carries it around..."
"Hmph... But how does this connect to us?"
"Dunno. The object suddenly reacted and when I came to check, we were here. Maybe because I'm her biological daughter?"
The man shrugged at her words.
"That possibility isn't zero. There's no rule saying an object can only have one owner, so maybe it recognized you as an owner too."
What a power, simultaneously understandable and incomprehensible.
Honestly, not very useful.
The fact that the object pointed to Ha Hui-ryeong meant it had practically lost its effectiveness, hadn't it?
Yeah, now that it was in another owner's hands, there was no reason for it to point the way anymore.
"Uh... I get the gist. But why's he still tied up like this? Honestly, this guy seems pretty useless now."
"He says there's one more object. A ring, was it?"
Ha Hui-ryeong fumbled in her pocket and held up a silver ring.
And when she took the ring westward, it trembled faintly.
"...That's the first time I've seen a ring move on its own."
Even the One Ring doesn't move by itself, does it?
"Right? For now, it seems like he's not lying. So I kept him tied up and was going to discuss what to do with him with you."
"Hmm... Good job. Well done."
Though somewhat out of the blue, having more options was always a good thing.
First, our course of action wouldn't change, but what if the Gladiator rejected our proposal?
Then the request would essentially be a failure.
We wouldn't even be able to get the letter, our only clue.
Well, the chances of that are low, but? In case things went wrong, having some insurance against an unavoidable situation wasn't bad at all.
"Well, fine for now. Let's talk about this later. First, let's wash up and eat."