Chapter 43 - Karma
Karma
Translator : Elizabeth
Although not meeting directly, I had several conversations with Seo Hyo-ju even after collecting evidence video of the false MeToo criminal. Most were about So-young.
Seo Hyo-ju decided to handle only legal responsibility of the agency temporarily until So-young becomes an adult. Didn't particularly expect or demand anything beyond that.
Nevertheless, she taught So-young wholeheartedly about problems she will experience doing business and know-how to solve them. Even made So-young, whose wounds recovered quickly thanks to the Hermit talisman, discharged and kept her by her side to let her see actual work directly.
—She learns very quickly. Worth teaching. Honestly to the extent of wanting to bring her as my employee.
When I heard those words, felt worth supporting with Star talisman and felt proud automatically.
For reference, evaluation about So-young was absolutely not made by talisman.
Because the Star talisman engraved with my signature wasn't an object letting know even unknown knowledge. Effort to utilize that effect properly was entirely So-young's share. She had continued that effort steadily.
And today. It was the first time meeting Seo Hyo-ju directly, but it wasn't that awkward.
Neatly cut bob hair above shoulders and clean suit attire. Honestly looking only at appearance, she was closer to an affiliated trainee rather than an entertainment agency representative.
She was that pretty person, but just one thing. Her eyes were overturning the atmosphere completely.
Sharp, and gloomy gaze.
Seo Hyo-ju was scanning the building with such eyes. Reason for calling her here today was also to discuss the location of my agency corporation.
Getting off the elevator, I walked toward her. Knew her face already through Tarot divination.
Hearing footsteps, Seo Hyo-ju also turned her head and looked at me. Since I reveal my face on internet broadcast, she naturally recognized me.
“Hello. I am Yu Ah-jin.”
“Yes, hello. I am Seo Hyo-ju.”
After exchanging short greetings, I decided to enter main topic immediately.
What I took out from bosom were Moon and World cards.
World exerted quite ambiguous effect when utilized as talisman. Making causality flow so conclusion is reached about certain incident or matter.
However, just using the talisman didn't mean conclusion is reached immediately. Even I couldn't know how long that time would take.
World was such a talisman.
But when used in combination with other talismans, its effect changed completely, transforming into direction expanding influence of the talisman used together.
Taking Fool talisman for example, making Fool Arcana recognizable to other people too.
And case of using World as reversed curse.
Alone it was merely to extent of stagnating progress of incident, but moment adding other talisman there….
“Kkyak!”
Seo Hyo-ju screamed at spark popping out from World card. Hit by current, she lost consciousness as is and collapsed.
Thud.
“Eut-cha.”
Of course caught her before sprawling on floor.
Didn't worry about possibility of turning into salt. Remembered when dealing with gangsters before, ability didn't activate in state where malice was overwritten by fear.
Still just in case was careful not to touch bare skin and maintained tension to let go anytime.
Fortunately, no sign of ability activating was seen.
I laid Seo Hyo-ju on floor carefully and looked down at Moon card.
Her consciousness was currently inside this.
I also sat on floor then soon followed after.
Seo Hyo-ju felt like dreaming right now.
Even if deserted, wasn't it obvious outskirts of city center, moving to top of such daldongne at once couldn't be reality right.
No, didn't need to argue daringly.
Just looking at moon in that sky could know.
—Y e s h e r e i s i n s i d e d r e a m….
Moon engraved with face looked down at Seo Hyo-ju and spoke so.
…Moon!
That too unrealistically huge moon engraved with face!
This must be a dream.
Seu-seut….
Then, suddenly Yu Ah-jin appeared from side. Without any probability like a scene in a dream.
And said.
“Your revenge. I will help.”
Did she really go crazy living clinging to revenge.
It was moment Seo Hyo-ju was about to think so sincerely.
“Would you look at this?”
As Yu Ah-jin waved hand, empty air split into long rectangle, shape like Tarot card. Inside it scenery of reality where they were until just now was reflected.
Seo Hyo-ju and Yu Ah-jin. Both people were lying down as if sleeping collapsed.
Of course just with that didn't become proof that this place is not dream.
Flop.
Seo Hyo-ju sat down on floor without word.
Confused. Just everything was confusing.
Seeing that appearance Yu Ah-jin tilted head for a moment then opened mouth calmly.
“That this is not dream, you will know soon anyway. So I will just say what I intended to say.”
Story started like that was incident caused by Kang Man-dae not long ago.
Seo Hyo-ju listening to story raised head slowly. Gaze headed to Yu Ah-jin.
“…Sending him to prison like that itself succeeded without difficulty. But I don't think Kang Man-dae paid price with that.”
Yu Ah-jin asked.
“What do you think Hyo-ju-ssi? Since sent to prison is it over?”
“…No.”
For first time since coming here, Seo Hyo-ju opened mouth.
“…Such thing is not price.”
It was gloomy voice.
Yu Ah-jin nodded.
“I think so too. So trying to do punishment in my own way, thought it would be perfect to receive your help there.”
“….”
Surprisingly Seo Hyo-ju didn't look readily willing.
Yu Ah-jin who read that reason said.
“Stepping up now, you are doing this afraid of losing one means to use for your revenge actually right?”
“….”
Seo Hyo-ju nodded silently.
Yu Ah-jin smirked.
“Surely would I have started conversation in this way just trying to receive only. As much as you help me, I also help you.”
“…Help?”
Seo Hyo-ju's eyes shone minutely. Interest seemed piqued.
Yu Ah-jin nodded.
“Honestly my ability will be helpful in whatever matter, but what touches you most right now would probably be this.”
As if telling to look well, Yu Ah-jin spread both arms wide.
And.
World.
—Hwareureuk!
Started burning dyed in vermilion light.
Shabby houses of daldongne subsided like straw on fire and emitted heat.
Chilly night air heated up harboring acrid burning smell.
Soon.
—Crack!
Roar like thunder rang from above sky.
What entered Seo Hyo-ju's vision raising head, was deep crack crossing surface of moon engraved with hazy face.
—Rumble…!
Moon.
Started crumbling down slowly.
Surface broke and inside split. Fragments containing light fell down as if collapsing filling sky.
—Kugugugugu…!
Without even a little exaggeration fragments of moon huge like ‘Mountain’ fell. Sound of atmosphere tangling and writhing shook world.
Moment those strike ground.
—………!
Earth tore like paper and air was pushed away like wall. Shockwave erasing even explosion sound burst out.
—………!!!!!!!!!
Pressure far exceeding area ear can recognize covered world.
Compressed air rushed in like tsunami sweeping burning air and dust, debris of collapsed world at once.
“Look.”
Yu Ah-jin placing destruction of world as background opened mouth.
Even though it wasn't environment where sound can be conveyed only her voice was heard clearly.
“If me can make. Real hell.”
And soon.
—Kwaguagwagagagaga…!
Shockwave swallowed everything.
“Heo-eok…!”
Seo Hyo-ju inhaled breath and raised body abruptly.
Calm voice was heard.
“My proposal, how is it?”
“Haa…! Haa…!”
Seo Hyo-ju who barely regained breath after quite a while passed finally opened mouth.
“…What do I have to do?”
Chongqing, China.
Metropolis where mountain and river cross, center of inland where industry and modern culture coexist. Right next to forest of skyscrapers of such Chongqing, there was slum where old shacks attached closely.
Zhu Yulan grown there looks up at lights of city reflected on glass wall every day. Crossing river flashing commercial district unfolds but that place was too far to approach with trajectory of Zhu Yulan's life.
Day labor earning day by day living day by day, unstable wage, house not knowing when demolished. He always says want to go to city but in that words there was no plan nor method.
Used to be absent.
Zhu Yulan opened one app with smartphone.
Fargram. International messenger app and security is excellent so there was story that people of shady side enjoy using, but had no interest in such information.
What he puts interest in is only one. Mission message sent by unidentified figure called ‘BLACK QUEST’.
This chat started by introduction of friend from same neighborhood breathed small thrill into Zhu Yulan's life.
Work Black Quest orders wasn't difficult at all. Placing note or object with unknown source in specific place, sometimes moving, and sometimes watching.
That was all.
Just with such simple work could receive coins worth 100 to 500 Yuan. As performing quest reward went up very little by little and even that change became subtle addiction.
Knew probability of being related to illegal work is big. But who cares. Money is created.
Then one day. Unusual quest completely different from usual arrived.
Prepayment 10,000 Yuan. Additional 10,000 Yuan upon completion.
Condition and content didn't seem much different from before. Was simple mission as usual. Only place changed.
Zhu Yulan accepted quest, and boarded plane to Korea immediately with paid prepayment.
Language didn't communicate at all but wasn't big problem. Just spending day sightseeing street travel was fun in its own way.
That night, he printed document written in Korean at PC bang (internet cafe). Not knowing method shouted loudly asking part-timer for help and succeeded in printing after twists and turns.
Paper printed like that went into mailboxes of certain buildings.
Quest complete.
Zhu Yulan returned to China as if nothing happened feeling strange sense of achievement.
Kang Man-dae was moving busily almost unable to sleep for recent few days. Organizing locus of responsibility for recently happened matter, systematically organized evidences collected meanwhile preparing to expose anytime.
At same time made several Coin wallets and distributed to capable guys dispersing.
“Seok-cheol-ah. Understood right? If sentence comes out discuss with Chief immediately and come visit (prison) immediately. Will tell your wallet password then.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim.”
Prepared hands capable of moving to threaten opponent even after locked in prison.
Since couldn't just trust backer (connection) really.
Had to survive somehow. Absolutely couldn't be discarded vainly. Had to calculate even life after finishing sentence.
Like that busy days flowed.
Night of one day like that.
Trudge, trudge.
Gaze of Kang Man-dae walking dark road fixed on man approaching from opposite side. Just looking at physique and gait, angle of body intuition came.
‘…Human of this side.’
As soon as instinctive judgment stood he turned direction and ran to side alley.
Thwack!
And shinbone broke by iron pipe swung by another man hiding inside alley.
“Kkeuaaaak…!”
Before scream burst out body fell to floor and stun gun stuck on top.
Jijijik.
“Eugeugeugeuk…!”
Maddening pain shook nerve and brain simultaneously. Current intensity was abnormally high. Could know at once it was illegally modified object.
Kang Man-dae lost consciousness as is.
And.
Puk.
When regained consciousness again he was lying on dark hillside.
Puk.
Turning head in state where vision is blurry appearance of bulky men digging ground with shovels was seen.
No way Kang Man-dae doesn't know that meaning.
“Eup! Eup!”
Mouth was blocked with duct tape. Needless to speak about hands and feet.
As Kang Man-dae struggled one bulky guy approached. He held smartphone and contacted somewhere.
“Woke up.”
“Eup! Eugeup!”
Beside Kang Man-dae struggling trying to detach duct tape rubbing face on dirt floor to try saying words at least, someone’s voice flowed out through smartphone switched to speaker mode.
—Man-dae-ya. First look at this.
Bulky guy spread papers on floor.
Kang Man-dae's eyes read letters on it.
Were someone’s names.
“Eup! Eup!”
He shook head desperately but since not video call that appearance couldn't be conveyed.
—Know what you want to say. Meaning threatening us wasn't your doing right?
Kang Man-dae nodded with deathly strength. Of course that also wasn't conveyed to opponent.
—We also know. In this situation no reason for you to threaten us. If it was work you did wouldn't have used Chinese daringly.
Instant Kang Man-dae's eyes brightened.
However next words followed.
—But you know, Man-dae-ya. Recently you moved quite busily.
“Eup…!”
—Don't worry. Not saying something about that. If human natural to take care of own way to live.
Silence catching breath briefly passed and.
—But you know.
Opponent’s voice sank low.
—If information leaked while doing so, story changes completely.
Kang Man-dae's face became pale gradually.
—From now on you will undergo a bit painful thing. First start with taste. After that will let you speak so reveal everything up to where you released information then.
Short silence.
—So you can die comfortably.
White and beautiful hand picked one from Tarot deck on table.
What came out was.
[DEATH]
Death.
—Reversed.
“Oh my. Seems can't die easily.”
She inserted card back into deck and turned on computer power.
“Shall do broadcast.”
Voice was refreshing.
As if shook off something so don't even need to remember anymore.