Rampage: Kim Yeo-ul (3)

The 24-hour barbecue restaurant was nearly empty. Chae Mu-jin started heading toward the open central area but stopped short when he spotted a sign. He quickly changed direction.

He settled into a secluded corner and used the table order system to request the most expensive assorted beef platter.

“E-eighty-five… eighty-five thousand won?!”

Kim Yeo-ul looked like he might faint when he saw the price. It wasn’t that he had never eaten meat before, but eighty-five thousand won for two people’s worth of beef was something straight out of fantasy—like a unicorn.

“Do you drink, Yeo-ul?”

“I… I hate alcohol.”

Having grown up under a father who turned violent whenever he drank, the mere sight of liquor made his stomach churn.

“I only drink on special occasions, and today happens to be one of those days.”

When he ordered soju, a serving robot brought over the bottle, glasses, and several side dishes.

“……”

The table was soon covered in banchan, and his stomach let out another loud growl. But even when he picked up his chopsticks, they hovered uncertainly. Raw liver, tripe, onions with black bean paste, chili peppers with soybean paste—everything laid out was something Kim Yeo-ul couldn’t eat.

Glug glug. Chae Mu-jin filled his glass to the brim with soju, knocked it back in one go, and let out a satisfied “Ahh—”

“It’s been ages since I’ve had this.”

He grabbed a handful of tripe, slathered it generously in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sesame oil sauce, and chewed. The crisp, crunchy sound was so appetizing that Kim Yeo-ul swallowed hard.

With his picky palate, he cautiously picked up a piece of tripe, but the strange texture immediately made him recoil. At that moment, Chae Mu-jin spoke while pouring himself another drink.

“Gross, right? You probably think it’ll taste weird.”

“Yeah……”

“If you really can’t stand it, just spit it out. Give it a try first.”

“Wouldn’t spitting it out be messy?”

“Better than forcing yourself to eat something you hate.”

Encouraged by the idea that he could spit it out if he didn’t like it, Kim Yeo-ul put the tripe in his mouth. The rich aroma of sesame oil and savory saltiness hit him first. It was nothing like what he had imagined. The texture was definitely strange, though—soft yet chewy, with a satisfying crunch. There was a faint earthy note, but the sesame oil and salt dominated, and once he got used to the crisp texture, it was actually fun.

Gulp. Having tried tripe for the first time, Kim Yeo-ul looked up to see Chae Mu-jin smiling at him. Embarrassed, he ducked his head.

“How is it?”

“…It’s not bad.”

“Life’s pretty much the same. It’s only scary and difficult at first. Most things aren’t that big a deal once you try them.”

“……”

Those words stung Kim Yeo-ul’s chest. He wished he could have said the same thing to his past self—the one who had foolishly endured under his violent father simply because the world seemed terrifying.

If I had run away back then… maybe Father and my little sister would have been safe.

But everything had gone wrong. All because of a fear that turned out to be nothing. He had become a monster who killed his own father, a villain who committed crimes with his powers.

Sizzle…….

At some point the meat had arrived. The sound of beef cooking deliciously on the grill filled the air. When he looked up, Chae Mu-jin was silently tending to the meat.

“Have you tried beef tongue before? It’s the cow’s tongue, and it’s seriously good.”

“I’ll try it.”

He had already eaten cow stomach—what was a tongue compared to that? Besides, the perfectly grilled tongue had a color that put every other meat to shame.

Kim Yeo-ul took a big bite and his eyes widened in shock. How could something be both so tender and so chewy at the same time? The savory, clean flavor filled his entire mouth, and the unique umami was better than any dish he had ever tasted. Tears welled up in his eyes.

There really were foods this delicious in the world. And there were people willing to buy them for him.

If I can’t trust someone like this, who could I possibly trust?

Kim Yeo-ul, who had always kept the world at arm’s length and struggled alone, cautiously looked straight at Chae Mu-jin’s face. He had never once looked directly at another person’s face before. It had been scary, but he had also assumed he would never see them again anyway.

Now that he was really looking, Chae Mu-jin’s face seemed to shine. Even though he was drinking, he was nothing like his father. His eyes were clear and bright, and his happy smile made you want to smile too just by looking at it.

When Kim Yeo-ul stopped eating, Chae Mu-jin placed several pieces of meat onto his plate.

“Eat comfortably. I’m paying for everything.”

“Manager. You said earlier that you only drink on special occasions.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“What kind of day is it? Could you tell me?”

Chae Mu-jin emptied his second glass in one go before answering.

“A day when I feel really terrible. I’m not drinking to get drunk—it’s more like a ritual. Washing away bad memories with alcohol, something like that.”

“If it’s because of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me that you’re in a bad mood……”

“Absolutely not.”

With that one glass, Chae Mu-jin had closed the book on his grudge against Kim Ji-woo. He had taken the man’s traits and skills, turning him into an ordinary person, and had even watched him get dragged away as a mental patient. It was satisfying revenge, both physically and mentally.

“Manager. Could I have a glass too?”

“If it’s your first time, you should start with beer.”

Chae Mu-jin personally brought over a beer and poured it for Kim Yeo-ul. The foam rose refreshingly. Most people loved that crisp carbonation, but to Kim Yeo-ul it only brought discomfort. It reminded him of his father.

Because it dragged up bitter and painful memories, he still hated alcohol. But he said,

“I want to be like you, Manager—only drink on special occasions.”

“What counts as a special day for you, Yeo-ul?”

“That’s… a secret.”

He downed the beer in one gulp. As expected, it felt awful. The stinging sensation sliding down his throat, the faint spreading aroma of malt—everything about it. But precisely because of that, it would be easy to remember this as a special day.

I’ll only drink on days when I feel really, really good.

Thud!

After drinking only half a glass of beer, Kim Yeo-ul slammed his forehead onto the table. Chae Mu-jin stared in disbelief.

“You’re not actually drunk after half a glass of beer, are you?”

He gave him a light shake, but Kim Yeo-ul didn’t stir. Still, it didn’t seem dangerous.

“Is he just exhausted, or is he seriously this weak to alcohol?”

Seeing how peacefully he was sleeping, there was no need to wake him.

“Guess I should finish my last drink and head out.”

The moment he lifted the final glass and prepared to stand—

“Isn’t it a shame to leave so much meat behind?”

A white-haired, hunched old man had somehow taken the seat beside Kim Yeo-ul.

Of course Chae Mu-jin knew who he was. Cheon Mu-jong, President of the Hunter Association. Cheon I-hwa’s father—in other words, his former father-in-law. There were more than enough reasons for him to show up. After all, he had received a perfect ten points thanks to the buff Chae Mu-jin displayed during the first test.

I expected him to come. I just didn’t think it would be like this.

Still, it didn’t look like he had rushed over in a hurry. As his former father-in-law, Chae Mu-jin knew him well. Right now, Cheon Mu-jong had come purely on a whim, driven by curiosity about him. Even so, he couldn’t let his guard down.

He may look like a harmless neighborhood grandfather, but there are a thousand snakes lurking inside him.

Although he wasn’t S-rank, he was the A-rank hunter closest to S-rank in all of South Korea. His strength was formidable, but what was truly terrifying was his political power. Even the President spoke to him with respect and sought his opinion—that said everything. In contrast to that absolute authority, his frail and benevolent appearance was nothing but a trap.

In my previous life, I fell right into that trap.

Just like being forced into marriage with Cheon I-hwa.

I won’t fall for it this time, former father-in-law.

The moment Cheon Mu-jong saw that Chae Mu-jin didn’t avert his gaze, he was certain. This one’s the real deal.

Not a single crack in his composure in front of me. What incredible composure for one so young.

A supporter with an estimated S-rank or higher buff skill, and a bold fellow who had dared to reject a party invitation from his own daughter, Cheon I-hwa. He was completely different from the clumsy, arrogant young man Cheon Mu-jong had expected.

What a waste. If he weren’t a supporter, I would have raised him myself.

Having an S-rank skill was good, but in the end it was still just one powerful skill. If the class itself was trash, it was no different from putting a pearl necklace on a pig.

Even so, I don’t want to hand him over to someone else.

Both Chae Mu-jin and Cheon Mu-jong had something to say, and they spoke almost at the same time.

“It would be better if we met later.”

“How about becoming a hunter directly under the Association?”

They had both skipped the preamble and jumped straight to the main point, yet neither failed to understand the other.

“There are too many eyes here, and I have a lot to say. So, would you come find me after the exam is over?”

“Heh heh, telling an old man who walks with a cane to come find you? What an impudent fellow.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t come. After all, I’m the one making time to meet you.”

“Kuhahaha!”

How many people in the world could tell the President of the Hunter Association, “I’ll make time for you”? Even the President himself had to make an appointment to see the Association President.

“Are you aware whether that confidence of yours is actually arrogance?”

“That would depend on how you see me, Mr. President.”

“And if I say it looks like arrogance?”

“From the moment I decided to live as a hunter, I naturally prepared myself for death.”

“Hoh, heh heh!”

Cheon Mu-jong straightened his back. Simply by straightening up, his presence became so overwhelming it could be felt from thousands of meters away. Some called this fighting spirit, others called it dominance. It was the aura of the strong that could stop a weak person’s heart with fear alone just by being seen.

Chae Mu-jin, who wasn’t even level 10, should have been at risk of cardiac arrest, yet…

Drop. Even as bloody tears streamed from his eyes, he did not look away.

Cheon Mu-jong confirmed those clear, strong eyes staring straight back at him. Chae Mu-jin was neither lying nor bluffing. He had shown the dignity of someone who had truly accepted death, and he did not grovel even in the face of it. Though he was a junior by a vast margin, he had earned the right to show such confidence before him.

“If only I had a son like you.”

The moment Cheon Mu-jong sat down, the overwhelming pressure vanished like it had never existed. Even while shedding bloody tears, Chae Mu-jin held out a glass of soju.

“Since you’re a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guest, at least have one drink before you go.”

“My daughter would throw a fit if she knew. I’ll just take the thought.”

Just like when he had arrived, Cheon Mu-jong disappeared in the blink of an eye. But he had not left empty-handed. A small pill sat alone on the table, as if it had been there the whole time.

“As expected, you have a generous hand.”

When he picked up the pill, a system window appeared before his eyes.

It was an elixir that was hard to obtain even with money. If one were to put a price on it, it would easily be worth an apartment in Gangnam. It was both compensation for making him shed bloody tears and an expression of affection because he had taken a liking to him.

He’s appealing to me on multiple levels at once. Saying, “Look how big my generosity is.”

Chae Mu-jin did not consume the elixir and instead stored it carefully in his inventory. His stats weren’t urgent at the moment, and elixirs had many uses, so keeping it gave him peace of mind.

The Association President will know I didn’t eat it, but as long as I don’t sell it for money, he probably won’t say anything.

Cheon Mu-jong was a sly old snake with a thousand serpents in his belly, but he was also the wealthiest man in Korea, possessing more treasures than anyone else. If they maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, they would surely be able to help each other.

The next day was the second day of the official hunter exam.

“Yeo-ul, over here.”

When they met at the bean sprout soup restaurant, Kim Yeo-ul looked noticeably haggard.

“You’re the first person I’ve ever seen get a hangover from half a glass of beer.”

“I guess I’m really weak to alcohol……”

“Even without a liver, that seems a bit much.”

While they were eating what amounted to both breakfast and lunch, a familiar name came from the TV.

“Manager. Ji-woo… he’ll be okay, right?”

“Don’t get too attached to someone you only met for half a day. You won’t last long in this industry if you do.”

“Is that so……?”

“It’s normal to watch your comrades die right in front of you. Just surviving is already considered a good death.”

“How do you know all this, Manager? Could it be that your age is……”

“I’m twenty-six. It’s not that I’ve experienced it myself—I’ve just heard about it.”

After the meal, as they walked together, Kim Yeo-ul gathered his courage and spoke first.

“About my secret……”

“Shh. You don’t talk about something that important in the middle of the street.”

“Th-then where should we talk about it?”

“Follow me.”

Kim Yeo-ul was nervous. Where on earth was he taking him? It had to be a completely secret place where no one could hear.

“Serious conversations like this are best had here.”

The place they arrived at was an ice cream specialty shop.

“Ah……”

Ice cream brought up bitter memories for Kim Yeo-ul. But Chae Mu-jin, unaware of this, spoke casually.

“Do you dislike ice cream? I like it.”

“…I like it too.”

He did like it, but it reminded him of the memory of his mother abandoning him, which would reflexively bring tears to his eyes. However, he felt that if he was with Chae Mu-jin, those memories might not surface. Taking a deep breath, Kim Yeo-ul stepped into the ice cream shop.