CH-042

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁠⁣⁠⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁠⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁣⁣⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁠⁣⁣⁠Chapter 42

In a room on the 30th floor. Seo Shin-woo and Yeom Ha-jae were in the middle of pulling out books one by one and checking the empty spaces on the bookshelf. It was a cumbersome task, but since they didn't know the monster's size, they had no choice but to examine it meticulously.

"Ngh..."

Yeom Ha-jae reached out his hand to take out a book from a high place. The bookshelf, bearing the weight, swayed unstably.

Just as a book precariously hanging was about to fall on Yeom Ha-jae's head, a hand appearing from behind snatched it.

"...Ah, thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Seo Shin-woo smiled brightly. Facing that face from close proximity, Yeom Ha-jae averted his eyes.

"Th-there doesn't seem to be a monster in this room either."

"Yes, that little guy sure is hiding well."

The two took the blankly standing Ruru and moved to the next room.

While Yeom Ha-jae and Seo Shin-woo busily moved about, Ruru seemed to be doing nothing. However, he wasn't actually spacing out. He was merely analyzing the two people's appearances from a slight distance.

Slowing his steps, Ruru watched the two walking ahead and stroked his chin.

'Hmm...'

A hunter who sincerely likes Seo Shin-woo's kindness. He clearly didn't know what poison was hidden inside that kindness.

'What is Sunbae planning to do by deceiving that person?'

It seemed the other person was already deeply smitten without needing to go to the trouble.

Sunbae probably didn't know yet, but Ruru could tell. That tone of voice, those gestures, and that gaze. Judging by the elements he displayed with his whole body, the hunter named Yeom Ha-jae undoubtedly liked Sunbae.

As proof...

Slip.

Ruru dashed forward and squeezed between the two people. Naturally occupying the spot next to Seo Shin-woo, he linked arms.

The corridor was too narrow for three people to walk side by side, so Yeom Ha-jae was pushed to the back.

"Sunbae, I've been curious since earlier, but what's that monster?"

"It's called Whitey."

"Whitey?"

Ruru stared intently at the monster.

'...It's ugly.'

"If we get hungry, can we eat it?"

"That would be a problem."

At the words thrown out like a joke, the monster, as if frightened, ran behind Yeom Ha-jae. Taking advantage of the gap where the monster disappeared, Ruru leaned his head on Seo Shin-woo's shoulder.

"?"

"Hehe..."

When he subtly even grabbed his hand, Seo Shin-woo looked down at Ruru with eyes full of contempt.

...That alone sent chills down his spine.

Seo Shin-woo twisted as if trying to pull his hand out, but Ruru didn't let go. Rather, he interlocked their fingers and widened the contact area. Then Seo Shin-woo strongly scratched the back of Ruru's hand with his nails.

The clasped hands trembled as they wrestled for strength.

"It hurts, Sunbae."

"Are you not feeling well? You don't seem to have a fever though."

It was a remark conscious of Yeom Ha-jae behind him. Feeling Seo Shin-woo's other hand wrap around his shoulder, Ruru subtly glanced back.

'Wow, he's glaring hard.'

His expression wasn't good. That was a look that could never come out unless it was jealousy.

Finding the highly provoked expression funny, Ruru stuck out his tongue. Yeom Ha-jae openly furrowed his brow.

'Idiot...'

Not even knowing what was happening in front.

Feeling he was foolish, Ruru was sneering inwardly when Yeom Ha-jae strode up from behind.

"Ow!"

"......"

"Sunbae, Hunter-nim stepped on my shoe."

It was when Ruru was whining exaggeratedly.

Stop.

Seo Shin-woo blocked the two of them.

"?"

The three, holding their breath, hid behind the corner. Not long after, the emergency stair door opened and people wrapped tightly in combat suits came pouring out.

'A rescue team, I guess.'

Since a gate had opened in the hotel, it was natural for the rescue team to enter quickly. It seemed they had just been lucky not to run into them until now.

'It would be troublesome if those people joined us here.'

Seeing the rescue team entering the next room, Ruru gestured with his eyes to the two.

At the signal to take a different staircase, they began to detour. Perhaps thinking there was no need to waste time explaining the situation to the rescue team here, Yeom Ha-jae obediently followed.

Ruru looked at the detector Yeom Ha-jae was holding. The hexahedron was still pointing upward. What that fact implied was clear.

What remained was the 31st floor. Just that room.

The card key for the 31st floor had been found when rummaging through Director-nim's pockets to find the control room key.

"I'll guide you to the 31st floor."

Ruru noticed that Seo Shin-woo tensed up as soon as the 31st floor was mentioned.

'What on earth is in the Director-nim's room?'

The reason Sunbae was this reluctant to go to the 31st floor. He would soon find out. He hid his excited heart and cheerfully began guiding.

***

While heading to the 31st floor, I tried several times along the way to separate Yeom Ha-jae using various excuses. But no matter what I said to persuade him, Yeom Ha-jae was stubborn.

'I absolutely cannot let just the two of them go.'

It was an attitude where such determination could be felt. For some reason, he even showed an incomprehensible obsession with going together.

Since he himself said he would risk the danger, forcing more would only look strange.

And so the three of us now stood in front of the penthouse door.

The fact that the monster was inside was naturally discovered. Because the lower part of the entrance door was melted as if touched by lava.

While the three paused to prepare for combat, Whitey crawled in there first.

"I'll open it."

Yeom Ha-jae, with his hand on his sword, nodded. As for me, I felt like scowling and shaking my head, but outwardly I smiled and nodded. Ruru, who had been grinning even more brightly since earlier, held the card key to the door.

The lock was released with an electronic sound, and as soon as the door opened, a sour smell wafted out.

"Ugh."

"Wow."

Unlike Yeom Ha-jae, who frowned and hesitated to enter, Ruru went inside without hesitation. Yesterday he had hated it because of the smell.

'He's openly excited.'

I too brushed past Yeom Ha-jae and stepped inside. I wanted Yeom Ha-jae to come in as late as possible, but he followed right behind me as if wary of the monster.

As soon as I stepped inside, the high-ceilinged living room caught my eye.

Near the sofa, older men were lying tangled together, and on the floor, vomit and all sorts of trash were scattered. One of the liquor bottles from yesterday was kicked by Yeom Ha-jae's foot and rolled away.

"Disgusting..."

"Disgusting indeed."

I agreed with the words Yeom Ha-jae muttered. It was something that had nothing to do with me...

"Ruru thinks it's a refined hobby."

Ruru, who had been flitting around here and there, picked up a rope that had been strewn on the floor and admired it. It was the rope I had been tied with yesterday. I could see Yeom Ha-jae's brow furrowing even more.

"Let's quickly catch the monster and get out."

"...That would be best."

As if proving the core was nearby, the detector was spinning round and round.

I hurriedly approached the sofa. Fortunately, the sofa was facing away from the entrance, so Yeom Ha-jae hadn't yet seen the top of the table.

'Everything's just as it was.'

I subtly pushed the blood-stained whip under the sofa with my foot. Next, I picked up the powder that was said to be made from dried Siren's blood. This was suspicious, no matter who looked at it.

"What are you doing?"

"!"

I quickly shoved the powder into my pocket.

"I was checking to see if there were any monsters."

"It looked like you were holding something..."

"It must be your imagination."

Perhaps having seen it before I could completely hide it, Yeom Ha-jae began to persistently question. During the brief scuffle, the old man lying at my feet tossed his body.

"Seo... Shin... wooomnya..."

"?!"

He even talked in his sleep?

I blocked his mouth with my foot, but he had already blurted out my name. Yeom Ha-jae tilted his head with a peculiar expression.

"This person, didn't he just say Seo Shin-woo?"

"Huh? No way. Haha."

I cleared my throat and subtly pulled his arm.

"As expected, there are many perverts among the rich. It's embarrassing to even look at, let's gradually move to the next room."

I tried pulling slightly and prodding, but Yeom Ha-jae, standing firm, blinked slowly.

"...Something's strange."

"Pardon?"

"I'll look around the living room a bit more. Hyung, please investigate the other room."

As if understanding those words, Whitey ran off somewhere. It was a room with its door slightly open.

It was a place I had never entered before because it was always locked. I followed Whitey into the room.

'Is this the druggie's room?'

Perhaps there might be some nice items. A second Hyun-woo, for example...

It was just as I was swallowing my saliva and about to open the drawer.

"Ugh..."

Suddenly, my vision turned black.

Staggering, I grabbed the dresser and regained my balance. Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on my stomach.

'This is happening again.'

My stomach was churning strangely. It was a sensation like I was about to throw up. I had barely been holding it in since earlier, but this might be my limit.

'Is it a hangover?'

Cold sweat running down my forehead went into my eye. I wiped my face with my arm. Even standing was hard, so I held onto the dresser and slowly slumped down to the floor.

"Kkiek?"

A puzzled cry was heard from beside me.

I needed to get up, but I couldn't put strength into my stomach. How long had I been clutching my stomach like that?

"Hyung."

Yeom Ha-jae's voice came from outside the room.

"......"

I forced myself to take deep breaths.

'Let's calm down. Calm...'

I needed to check what Yeom Ha-jae had found. As I consciously steadied my breathing, my heart, which had been pounding unsteadily, gradually calmed down.

Barely getting up from my spot, I went out of the room. Ruru had gone somewhere, and only Yeom Ha-jae was in the living room.

"Was there a monster?"

Contrary to having called my name earlier, Yeom Ha-jae was standing by the window with his back turned.

"Hunter-nim?"

"...This."

Yeom Ha-jae slowly turned around. In his hand was a familiar shoe.

"Isn't this hyung's shoe?"

"!"

I reflexively swallowed my saliva.

"No..."

"It is. I have the other one in my room."

"......"

Yeom Ha-jae looked at me silently.

"...Ah, come to think of it, Director-nim called me yesterday, so I briefly stopped by."

"I see. The work you mentioned yesterday was...?"

"Yes. I just had a wholesome conversation with Director-nim."

"So you had a strategy meeting or something in this room?"

Yeom Ha-jae's expression brightened slightly.

"Right?"

"That's right."

Relieved, I nodded.

But Yeom Ha-jae's face hardened in an instant. As if his attitude up until just now had been an act. He spoke in a dry tone.

"You're lying again."