CH-036

The next day, upon looking in the mirror, I fell into a great shock.

'What is this?'

When I took a step closer to the mirror, the red, swollen chest entered my eyes more clearly. When I brought my hand to it, a stinging pain rushed in.

"......"

I wanted to believe it was a wound from being hit by the whip. But the bruise roundly surrounding the nipple was clearly a mark left by a person's mouth sucking.

My memories after drinking alcohol were intermittently cut off. I had hung out with the Director and his party in the penthouse, wandered around looking for my room, and collapsed on the floor. But when I woke up, it was Yeom Ha-jae's room.

After that, I was messing around with Jang Yi-jung, and Yeom Ha-jae had broken down the door and come in.

...Whether it was the Director or Yeom Ha-jae, it wouldn't be strange whichever had done it.

Why on earth did they suck the nipple?

"Haa."

Dumbfounded, I covered my face with one hand. No matter how much I agonized, no answer came out.

"It'll... go back to normal, right?"

I couldn't be sure because I had never injured my nipple in this way. I put the Ring of Healing I had taken off onto my index finger.

Just as I was about to check the mirror again with a complicated mind, the bathroom door burst open.

"Sunbae!"

"?"

"Ack!"

The guy who had barged in on his own jumped up as if surprised and covered his eyes.

"Ru, Ruru knocked on the door... but there was no answer."

It seemed I had been so focused on my thoughts that I didn't hear the knock. I took my hands off the sink and turned my body.

"Do you have some urgent business?"

Despite covering with his hands, our eyes met through the gap in his spread fingers. Ruru quickly closed his fingers.

"Director Kim asked to have breakfast together..."

"Ah."

The thing I had to do today came to mind.

...Having to see that annoying face from the morning. My already aching head seemed to throb even more.

"I'll get ready and come out soon. Can you wait a little?"

"Yesss..."

Ruru quickly retreated with backward steps.

***

A cheerful voice rang through the hallway.

"Sunbae, Ruru had a really hard time yesterday."

"......"

Maybe from the hangover, my head was still throbbing.

"Ruru wants to be compensated."

"Compensation?"

"With light contact... hehe."

'Is he asking to be hit?'

It was a foul-tempered morning. If it were up to me, I'd want to beat him soundly. But thinking about the incident that was about to occur, I couldn't afford the penalty.

"We've arrived."

"Thanks."

As I walked listening to worthless chatter, I ended up arriving at the restaurant. Ruru, who opened the door, grinned.

Entering the restaurant, I had to suppress the urge to step back.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Di—, Director-nim."

Even though we drank together yesterday, he alone had a refreshed face.

"Ah!"

Yeom Ha-jae, who had spotted me, stood up awkwardly.

'Why is that guy here?'

First, I greeted with a nod and scanned the seats.

It was awkward to face him because of what happened just a few hours ago. But there were exactly three chairs placed at the table.

I had no choice but to sit next to Yeom Ha-jae. While I was sorting out my complicated head, Yeom Ha-jae spoke first.

"Did you sleep well yesterday? Well, I caused a bit of a commotion."

"I was on the top floor, so I didn't hear."

"I see."

"I slept well after that."

After barely persuading Yeom Ha-jae, who didn't want to leave, to go back, that is. Thanks to that, I couldn't sleep even an hour.

"You couldn't have slept even an hour..."

"Yes."

"......"

Yeom Ha-jae, who had been hesitating, closed his mouth.

"Let's talk about work while we eat."

"Let's do that. But the order..."

"Ah, I already ordered the food."

The druggie gestured beside me.

"This hunter also chose your menu."

"I heard an Awakened who uses electricity was coming."

Yeom Ha-jae, who was singled out, smiled shyly. What did he order? My stomach was still churning, so I wanted to eat some hangover soup. Though anything expensive is fine.

After enduring the discomfort and waiting a moment, the food came out.

As soon as I saw the food placed in front of me, I couldn't help but widen my eyes involuntarily.

"It's pine mushroom porridge."

"......"

"You like pine mushrooms."

I felt a gaze expecting a positive reaction.

"...Thank you."

Barely one word pushed through my blocked throat. Then I heard a low laughing sound from in front.

"I didn't know the two of you were that close."

"C-close, what do you mean close, that's...!"

"Haha."

"Pine mushrooms? I didn't even know you liked that sort of thing."

Ignoring the eyes glistening with curiosity, I looked down at the plate.

"......"

Neatly placed pieces of pine mushroom.

As desired, it was indeed expensive food. It would also be good for a hangover.

But it was a menu selection with a problem I couldn't ignore.

I have a pine mushroom allergy.

'Is he doing this on purpose?'

I glanced sideways. Just then, my eyes met Yeom Ha-jae's, who had been peeking at me.

Yeom Ha-jae averted his eyes with a flustered look. Floundering, he rubbed his knife over the already cut meat, practically crushing it. There wasn't a hint of malice to be found on his reddened ear tips.

I swallowed a sigh looking at the food that had become pie in the sky. When I put my utensils down without touching it, I felt a gaze from beside me.

"My stomach is upset."

"Ah..."

Yeom Ha-jae bowed his head as if regretful. He was acting particularly passive today. Perhaps he was embarrassed about secretly sucking my nipple yesterday.

'Nip...'

I decided to put this topic aside for a moment.

More than that, I was curious about the druggie's intention.

Since he had caused such a commotion, there was no way he didn't know that Yeom Ha-jae was the one I had friction with yesterday. Yet what was the reason for calling the two of us to the same place?

Did my question show? The druggie, whose eyes met mine, opened his mouth.

"It's nice to get acquainted, right? Since you'll be seeing each other often from now on."

Seeing each other often?

The corner of the druggie's mouth twisted upward. I had a bad feeling.

'No way.'

A sentence suddenly came to mind.

"It's a relief I got another business partner..."

That business partner is.

"That person..."

Clatter.

Yeom Ha-jae noisily dropped his utensil.

"Cheolsu hyung?"

"Huh? Cheolsu?"

"......"

The conversation paused for a moment.

The druggie, who had been looking back and forth between me and Yeom Ha-jae, smirked as if a thought had occurred to him.

"Well, right. Exchange greetings."

"!"

I straightened my attire. When I pushed the chair and stood up, Yeom Ha-jae hesitated and stood up together.

"Let me formally reintroduce myself. I'm Seo Shin-woo."

"I'm Yeom Ha-jae, the Guild Leader of Atlas."

'Is this okay...?'

Harboring such doubts in a corner of my mind, I calmly folded my eyes and smiled. Yeom Ha-jae, who looked a bit surprised, smiled back. We shook hands and took our seats.

'This is something that didn't happen in my previous life.'

Atlas getting involved in something like this. How on earth did he sweet-talk them into cooperating?

To say he is glib-tongued... he's a guy who doesn't even think of managing his personality, so I can't imagine he did something that tactful. Even now, he's speaking informally to Yeom Ha-jae.

"Working with that Atlas, it's an honor."

Honestly, I didn't know about Atlas or anything until right before I died. But Yeom Ha-jae seemed quite moved by those words.

"Th-the honor is mine... Please tell me anytime if there's something I can help with."

"Haha, sure."

Yeom Ha-jae seemed to rummage through his pocket in a flurry, then held out his business card with trembling hands.

After I received the card and the atmosphere had settled somewhat, the druggie opened his mouth.

"I'm glad you two get along."

And as if about to spout some nonsense, he rested his chin on both hands and set the mood.

"Since it's a rare occasion, there's a job I'd like you to cooperate on..."

No. Reflexively, strength went into my hand and the business card crumpled.

While Yeom Ha-jae turned his head, I threw the business card under the table. The card, which should have rolled on the floor, suddenly sank straight down.

A gradually growing black circle swallowed the business card.

"Oh."

"?"

Yeom Ha-jae's gaze followed me to the floor. His eyes, which had been filled with curiosity, gradually became colored with horror.

I watched his expression change moment by moment from the corner of my eye.

"!"

Yeom Ha-jae, who had grabbed my arm, kicked off his seat and stood up.

Having my arm grabbed, I was naturally pulled up as well. The druggie, who suddenly found himself sitting alone, had a bewildered expression.

"What's wrong?"

Yeom Ha-jae tried to dash out without even answering. I put strength into my arm and held firm. Yeom Ha-jae urgently turned back.

"Right now...!"

"It's too late."

I stated shortly.

"If it were just the two of us, we might be able to get out..."

"......"

"Hunter-nim. You're not going to leave all the people here to die, are you?"

I deliberately poked at Yeom Ha-jae's weakness. As expected, Yeom Ha-jae's face crumpled fiercely. It was an expression as if he wanted to spit out a curse.

"What's going on?"

The druggie was slow to grasp the situation even in this atmosphere. I smiled gently for his sake.

"Executive Director, no, Director-nim, you can just sit comfortably."

"?"

Screams began to be heard from outside. Yeom Ha-jae pulled me toward him. This time, I obediently climbed onto the chair.

"Wh, what."

Only now realizing the situation, the druggie started screaming. Instead of his already swallowed legs, he flailed his hands wildly.

"Hyung."

Yeom Ha-jae, who had jumped to the window at some point, was gesturing with his eyes beyond the window. The gate boundary was narrowly hanging outside. It meant that if you stuck to the outside of the hotel, you would be safe. Before, I too had escaped alone using that method.

"Seo Shin-woo!"

At the sharp voice heard from behind, my head turned automatically. The druggie, with half his body swallowed, was glaring at me with one hand outstretched. His bloodshot eyes were filled with anxiety that I might leave.

"Is that the attitude of someone asking for help?"

"......"

There was no answer. Typical of a man full of nothing but useless pride, for trash. I shook my head from side to side.

"You should say, please help me."

"Quickly, help."

The druggie, gritting his teeth, commanded as if chewing the words.

"......"

Since being captured by Choi Hae-gang, I've thought a lot about the past.

I'm regretting quite a bit that I let the druggie die back then.

Because if there had been even one more ally to help, that incident might not have happened.

If I could have had stronger power. If there had been someone to develop more powerful equipment. If, six years later, there had been even one person with the status to approach the dungeon where I was trapped. I had just recently realized the importance of such allies.

So this time...

I grabbed the hand sinking into the abyss. As if waiting for it, the man pulled me into the pitch-black darkness.