There Are No Secrets in This World
There are no secrets in this world.
Especially in this industry.
RrrrrRrrrr―
Staring at the phone that had been ringing nonstop, Hwarang Kim Yu-shin felt a headache coming on.
He had clearly terminated the contract quietly, so where on earth had the leak come from to cause this mess?
‘Well, with the representative and even the guild leader all replaced, it’s only natural the security is a mess.’
After failing promotion, the guild had fallen apart.
The previous representative vanished without a single word of farewell, and everyone above had been swept out.
In such chaotic circumstances, how could the raid team’s atmosphere possibly be good?
Exodus.
Everyone was fleeing.
‘The former representative pushed too hard. He handed out transfer clauses like candy in case of promotion failure.’
Still, it had been necessary to lure major hunters into the 2nd Division, but even so, it had gone too far…… Kim Yu-shin clicked his tongue as he pictured Lee Myeong-hwan’s usually immaculate face.
Of course, from Lee Myeong-hwan’s perspective, it had been his last chance, so he had gone all out, but Kim Yu-shin couldn’t know that far.
A moment later the phone that had been flashing on its own finally went dark.
“Should I get an agent like the young kids these days?”
Just as he muttered something he didn’t really mean, a voice suddenly came from behind.
“Not a bad idea. They can manage your condition and handle all the little things too.”
“!!…… Senior!”
Kim Yu-shin shot to his feet and bowed deeply at the waist.
He never showed this level of courtesy even to fellow rankers, but the man before him deserved respect.
The Mountain King, the Fighting King, and together with them, the living legend who had elevated Korea to the highest tier. His childhood idol.
Manwang, Han Jeong-do.
“Hahaha, you haven’t changed at all, Yu-shin. Sit, sit.”
“Yes.”
“So, got anything to eat? Excuse me, part-timer? Bring one of everything on the menu. We’ll have a taste of each. No, just bring them whole.”
“But…… Senior.”
“Hm?”
“You really…… look young.”
“Hahahaha. Thanks.”
It wasn’t flattery.
Even past sixty, Han Jeong-do in casual clothes had not a single common wrinkle.
At most he looked forty? No, with that refined air of his, one could easily believe he was in his mid-thirties.
“Hearing it from you gives me strength. You have no idea how much attention I pay to maintenance. Whew~”
“Is the rumor about the hundred billion true?”
The rumor that Manwang spent a hundred billion a year managing his aging.
Han Jeong-do laughed as if it were beneath him.
“You’re lucky if that’s all you’ve heard.”
“Huh……”
“You can’t even imagine how much I pour into keeping this body.”
Well, among the Three Kings, Han Jeong-do was the one who managed his career best. Ordinary effort would never suffice.
Facing the unbeatable opponent called time without backing down, Kim Yu-shin found himself admiring Han Jeong-do all over again.
Just then the part-timer arrived carrying every item on the café menu. Han Jeong-do took a small bite of each before pushing them aside.
“Shall we start talking?”
“If this is about recruitment, my answer is the same. I plan to rest this season.”
“Why?”
“Um…… just because?”
“Because of your family?”
“Haha…… that’s part of it.”
Kim Yu-shin was famous in the industry as a devoted family man.
The first thing he did after debuting as a hunter was marry his childhood friend, and he had children earlier than most his age.
While other hunters plastered their social media with sports cars and hotel photos, his feed was filled only with family pictures.
Wealth, fame, popularity.
In an industry that practically demanded debauchery, he was a unicorn, yet today Han Jeong-do found that very righteousness irritating.
‘That’s why people without weaknesses are such a pain.’
Kim Yu-shin reminded him of someone.
That guy who always acted so noble by himself. So perfect he made everyone around him feel miserable—the friend he had now lost.
Still, Han Jeong-do buried the feeling and continued with a flawless smile.
“Don’t worry. I came in person because I knew your heart wouldn’t be easily swayed.”
Six-year contract, no-transfer clause, guaranteed starting spot in the rivalry matches, MVP bonus, involvement in roster decisions……
“And this is the most important part.”
Thud. A sheet of paper placed on the table.
He started with a blank check as standard.
“I’ll pay whatever salary you want. Hmm…… I doubt you’d want it, but if you want the money ‘hidden,’ that’s possible too. And finally……”
He slid the check aside, and another identical one appeared beneath it.
“I’ll give you the transfer fee amount as a signing bonus.”
“!!”
Now a free agent, Kim Yu-shin had no guild, so the transfer fee he would owe was zero. None.
That was also why his popularity had skyrocketed. A ranker could be brought in with just salary, and this was practically free.
Yet Han Jeong-do was offering to add the equivalent of that transfer fee as an extra signing bonus.
“Well? Satisfied?”
Even Kim Yu-shin, who had already said he had no intention of moving, couldn’t help but be startled by a contract no ranker could easily refuse.
If they wanted him this badly…… maybe it was okay to bring up “that” he had been mulling over?
“……Actually, there’s something I want. If you can grant just that, I don’t mind taking less money.”
“Say it. I can do anything.”
“It’s……”
Kim Yu-shin’s mouth opened carefully.
A moment later Han Jeong-do’s face froze as if he had been slapped.
* * *
“Uncle, the canyon is cold, you know!”
The little girl declared confidently, hands on her hips.
The candy dangling from her mouth only added to her solemnity.
“It’s never easy! Because—”
“Because!”
Gulp. Lee Shin sucked on his Choco Pie stick and sparkled his eyes.
The girl continued in a low voice, as if revealing the secret of the world.
“……because the canyon is cold.”
“Ha! Good heavens!”
How about that? Aren’t I amazing? the girl boasted, chest puffed out.
Now! Praise me! her whole body seemed to shout.
And when it came to praise, Lee Shin was the master of praise.
Shaking his head slightly, he clapped like a seal while exclaiming, “Good heavens, oh my god.”
“So the canyon is cold.”
“That’s right.”
“And the reason is because it’s cold?”
“Exactly!”
“Damn, this is revolutionary. This is the truth!”
“Damn?”
“Ah, my pronunciation slipped. Doenjang! Doenjang! Uncle suddenly wants doenjang jjigae.”
“I like doenjang jjigae too. My mom makes it well. I hate onions and green onions, but if I pick them out she hits me. She’s a witch.”
“Really? Uncle doesn’t like onions and green onions either.”
“I knew it. Because Uncle is pretty.”
“Our little miss is pretty too. So pretty, so smart, and you even like doenjang jjigae. Amazing!”
“Hehe~!! Uncle is as pretty as me. I’ll admit that.”
Kyahaha~ Ahahaha!!
Child and man-child holding hands and spinning in circles.
Chae Dong-ha stood a step away, thinking.
‘What exactly did I just hear?’
From “the canyon is cold” to doenjang jjigae, ending with mutual compliments about looks……
Was this supposed to make sense? Was he the only one who didn’t understand? For the first time, Chae Dong-ha wondered if Korean itself needed translation.
With the Stove League finally winding down after being endlessly busy, Lee Shin, who had some rare free time, had come up to Seoul to see his younger sister, Lee Yun-ji.
Nothing special. Just eating together, “Our Yun-ji has grown so much,” “I was always this big!” casual talk, smiling at her friends who came to eat with them, then getting smacked on the back by Lee Yun-ji.
After dropping her off in the neighborhood, he had been on his way back to Busan.
That was when he spotted the problem child. A lonely little girl swinging by herself in an empty playground.
Lee Shin was the kind of person who could never ignore something like that, and well…… what followed was exactly as expected.
“But Uncle Pretty’s eyes are dark underneath. You’re a panda.”
“Uncle couldn’t sleep.”
“Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“Busy with the Stove League and all that.”
“You can just work during the day and sleep at night.”
“At night I have to play with a sick little kid.”
“A sick little kid?”
“Yeah, the kid can’t sleep alone because they’re sick, so I have to stay up and play with them.”
“……A baby? I sleep by myself!”
“Puhaha! A baby. A baby at heart.”
“Speaking of babies, one of my friends still sleeps with their mom……”
The conversation flowed according to the stream of consciousness again.
Because their mental ages were similar, they got along well.
Chattering away, Chae Dong-ha felt his energy draining just listening, while Lee Shin and the little girl were so excited they used their whole bodies to talk.
‘S-save me.’
He hurriedly texted the child’s mother.
When was she coming?
Her reply came.
― Traffic’s bad. The dad is heading over now. T_T I’ll be there soon! Sorry.
Along with a long apology came a coffee set gifticon.
Meanwhile, the other side seemed to have finally loosened up and was having a fairly serious conversation.
“Uncle Pretty, which lane do you hate the most?”
“Hated lane? Hmm…… jungle? It’s hard to get resources there.”
“I’m top!”
“Why???”
“I’m always alone! No friends! I have to play by myself! It’s lonely.”
“Ah, well, that’s true. Top is originally the lane of lonely duelists.”
“Lonely? I don’t know that word.”
“You don’t like it that much?”
“Ung…… it’s lonely. Always separated. Fighting alone. Feels like being on a deserted island.”
The little girl kicked the ground with her shoes, frowning.
Lee Shin reached out and smoothed her wrinkled brow.
“Then? Where does little miss like the most?”
“Support!”
“Support?”
“Yeah! Why support is amazing is because—”
People who help are good people, and good people are amazing people.
Support was the position that helped, and the child liked that. And most importantly—
“There are two of them! Two!!”
“Ah, right. Support always sticks together.”
“Exactly! Not lonely. You have a friend.”
“I see. Hah, smart. You really are smart. You’ve already realized the truth of life.”
The world wasn’t meant to be lived alone.
The truth the original Lee Shin had obtained after countless trials, this little girl had figured out with her tiny head. Lee Shin patted her head, impressed.
Just as he was patting her head, Chae Dong-ha came running from the other side.
But something was wrong. Why? He was pale as a sheet.
“Bro, did you see something wrong?”
“No! No!!”
“Calm down and tell me.”
“It’s that!!”
Just then a voice came from the other side.
“So-yeon!!”
“Dad!!”
The little girl ran over and threw herself into his arms.
Into the arms of a sturdy handsome man.
In that moment Lee Shin looked back and forth between So-yeon and the man. The man had a face Lee Shin knew well.
“Kim So-yeon? Kim So-yeon?”
Ah……
It came to him in that instant.
“You had a daughter?”
Kim So-yeon, daughter of Hwarang Kim Yu-shin.
* * *
A nearby Korean barbecue restaurant.
They ended up having a meal together, calling it fate.
So-yeon and Kim Yu-shin’s wife holding the baby sat at the far table with Chae Dong-ha, while Lee Shin and Kim Yu-shin took a separate table.
They poured soju for each other and talked.
“I never thought we’d meet like this.”
“Neither did I. I never imagined a meeting like this either.”
He had planned to visit soon anyway, but things had unfolded this way.
Planning things one by one was fun, but this kind of unexpected meeting wasn’t bad either.
Lee Shin smiled, downed his soju glass, refilled it, and spoke.
“You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you?”
“I can’t say I haven’t. Even today my phone died from everything that happened.”
“That’s the life of a popular person. I know that feeling well.”
“Well, it’s hard to find anyone more famous than you in the industry, Representative.”
“No. Lately someone’s been overtaking me. I only have ten articles.”
“Surely that someone isn’t me?”
“……So we finally meet. My archrival.”
Bang―!
Lee Shin lowered his voice and made a finger gun. Kim Yu-shin’s eyes widened before he burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, you’re exactly like your public image, Representative.”
“Hehehe. You mean I’m ridiculous?”
“I mean you’re genuine.”
Lee Shin thought Kim Yu-shin seemed like a pretty decent guy from their first impression.
Shameless enough to shove a camera in a crying hunter’s face, yet big-hearted enough to share glory that only a few enjoyed with everyone.
Even now, despite it being the perfect time to bring up recruitment, he kept the conversation on everyday topics.
Marriage stories, So-yeon stories, children’s education stories. Not a single word about hunters.
Had he ever had such a comfortable conversation recently? At the very least, he seemed to have depth.
Maybe that was why. Unlike with Kirin, Kim Yu-shin decided to ask first.
“You’re not bringing up recruitment?”
“Ah?”
Lee Shin, who had been about to tear into LA galbi, looked back and forth between the meat and the smiling Kim Yu-shin before awkwardly setting the meat down.
“Ahem, I was going to when the time was right.”
“After you finish eating that?”
“I can’t resist galbi.”
“Hahaha! You really are something else.”
After a round of laughter, Lee Shin straightened his clothes and Kim Yu-shin pulled his chair closer, speaking seriously.
“I just came from meeting Kirin.”
“I see.”
“Kirin offered me everything they could and a blank check. And.”
“They said they’d give the transfer fee as a signing bonus, didn’t they?”
“!!”
Those guys, of course.
Lee Shin smirked.
“The fact that you’re telling me this means you turned down those conditions.”
“Yes…… I made one suggestion, and Senior Han rejected it. In the end the contract never happened.”
Kim Yu-shin continued, eyes sparkling.
“Now I’m thinking of making that same suggestion to you, Representative.”
Just as Kim Yu-shin was about to speak, Lee Shin cut him off for the first time.
“Wait a moment. Before that, I have one question for you, Yu-shin.”
And the words that followed made Kim Yu-shin’s eyes widen until they nearly split.
“Lately, haven’t you been feeling uncomfortable while playing?”