Chapter 30 - That Won’t Work (2)

* * *

* * *

“... What on earth is going on?”

Team Five’s leader demanded an explanation from Dojin, who had been preventing him from leaving for some time now. The ignorant old geezer had nothing going for him but brute strength.

“Just wait. I’m closer to my dying day than you are. What’s so urgent that you’re in such a hurry?”

“I’m busy.”

“So am I.”

Dojin’s grip bore down hard on the Team Five leader’s shoulder.

When the door opened, both turned toward it.

“... Team Leader Haeryeon!”

Team Five’s leader looked at her as though she were his savior.

“Well, shall we get started, Team Leader Kim Namhun?”

Without any preamble, Haeryeon pulled open one side of her coat. It was packed with tiny potion bottles, each no larger than a little fingernail. She took one out and drank it.

CLACK.

The instant the bottle fell, Haeryeon lunged forward and seized Namhun by the collar. The smile on her face sent a chill through him.

He immediately drew on his power. His body turned to solid rock, but Haeryeon’s fist reached him before the transformation was complete.

CRASH!

Namhun flew into the wall and slid down it, his body trembling.

What was this insane strength?

“Take it easy, Haeryeon. You’ll break the building.”

Dojin watched with arms folded.

“If I do, I’ll pay for the repairs myself. Don’t worry.”

“Must be nice, having all that money. By the way, Haeryeon, how many pages will the incident report be?”

“One.”

Her answer was firm as she drank another bottle from inside her coat.

“You’d better get ready to fucking die.”

She intended to make him feel, with every inch of his body, just how strong a potion-boosted alchemist could be. Haeryeon smiled viciously.

* * *

‘... It’s pretty noisy in there, isn’t it?’

Nayun pricked up her ears. Despite the soundproofing, she could hear something breaking inside.

‘I don’t know how hard you’re beating him, but keep it up, Team Leader! Hit him harder! Knock all his teeth out!’

She had been happily listening when she abruptly knocked on the door. Hyeonyul was coming back, sooner than she had expected, catching her off guard.

Deciding Haeryeon must have heard her by now, Nayun hurried over to meet him.

“Hyeonyul! Over here!”

She waved and called to him, and he ran over.

“You could’ve just walked.”

“I’ll do that next time.”

As he answered, Hyeonyul looked at the door. He could hear fighting inside. Most likely, Haeryeon was giving Team Five’s leader a one-sided beating.

He had seen how she fought during his first mission. As befitted an alchemist, she boosted herself with potions, temporarily weakened her opponent, then beat them within an inch of their life.

The way she struck the same places she had already battered had left quite an impression. He had spent a fair amount of time wondering what would happen if he fought her himself.

‘So that should be enough.’

[“The one who ordered the assassination...was the Night Rat.”]

He had just heard that from the assassin. Once they had Namhun in custody, the Black Eagles would also learn what he had discovered: the Night Rat was responsible.

It was better for them to discover it naturally than for him to tell them. What mattered was how far Kim Namhun’s connections extended.

‘I’ll have to hear that for myself.’

He had also inspected the Black Eagles’ building, just in case. Sure enough, bomb-like objects had been attached all over it. They were shaped like two overturned rice bowls, just as Nayun had described earlier.

A new type of weapon.

For now, he had swallowed every last one with darkness. He was still considering how to dispose of them.

“Should we wait here?”

Hyeonyul spoke up because Nayun was still standing there.

“No. It’s not that.”

Despite her words, Nayun hesitated. Hyeonyul stood blankly at her ambiguous reply, then walked over to the wall. He took out the injection he had missed earlier and administered it into his abdomen.

The medicine circulated quickly, clearing the heaviness from his head.

“Does that hurt?”

Nayun asked cautiously, and Hyeonyul shook his head.

“No. It’s actually worse if I don’t take it.”

Without the medication, he felt as though his body were falling apart. It was more than a feeling—it really would fall apart.

The door slid open just then, and Haeryeon poked her head out.

“You’re back, Hyeonyul?”

She smiled as though nothing had happened. In fact, she even looked relieved.

“Yes. May I go see him?”

“Of course. Team Leader Dojin has him securely tied up now, so it’s fine.”

Then, noticing that Hyeonyul was standing with his back to her, Haeryeon couldn’t help asking,

“What were you doing?”

“Giving myself an injection.”

“... Oh.”

“I’ll go in, then.”

Hyeonyul hurried inside.

“Nayun. Nayun?”

Haeryeon called to her as she stood motionless. She looked shocked by something.

“Was that your first time seeing it?”

“... Yes. I’ve seen him getting an IV, but not this. Is he...in really bad shape?”

“I get updates on his condition every day, so don’t worry.”

Haeryeon approached and patted her shoulder. Losing a colleague was never something one grew used to, no matter when or how it happened. Nayun, in particular, had seen far more with those eyes of hers.

“Team Leader.”

“Yes?”

“... Can I put a bullet in that bastard’s head?”

“Not his head, but his leg...might be all right?”

“Sounds good.”

Nayun casually drew her gun and went inside.

* * *

“You’re here?”

Dojin greeted Hyeonyul and Nayun.

“One moment.”

Nayun strode over to Namhun and stopped in front of him. It looked as though Haeryeon had concentrated her blows on his face until his original features were impossible to make out.

‘That’s our team leader for you.’

CLICK.

Nayun aimed her gun.

“...?”

Dojin was startled by her action, while Hyeonyul watched quietly.

BANG!

Without hesitation, Nayun shot Namhun in the leg.

‘They really are different from ordinary bullets.’

Hyeonyul saw the bullet burst like a flash of light.

“Aaaaargh!”

Namhun screamed.

‘Does the sound really not carry outside?’

Hyeonyul looked around. He saw a broken desk, a shattered computer, and a wall that was practically caved in. The fact that so little noise had escaped while all this happened showed just how effective the soundproofing was.

As his gaze wandered, he met Dojin’s eyes.

“Hello.”

Hyeonyul belatedly offered a greeting. His composed expression drew an incredulous chuckle from Dojin. A greeting, at a time like this?

“You probably wanted to catch him yourself, but we couldn’t leave everything to a new recruit. So we handled it.”

“That’s all right. I never intended to catch him myself.”

Looking at the traces of the relentless assault on Namhun’s face, Hyeonyul thought they hadn’t done a bad job.

“... You crazy fuckers!”

Namhun shouted through clenched teeth. This was all because of that bastard.

“Because of this filthy son of a bitch...”

Before he could finish, Haeryeon seized his head.

“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can say whatever you like.”

A gun barrel pointed at Namhun’s forehead.

“Shall I put a hole in his head, Team Leader? I haven’t fired from this close very often. I’m curious.”

Nayun asked, her gaze icy. Who was he calling filthy?

“Hearing that feels rather strange.”

Hyeonyul looked down at Namhun. One eye was swollen shut, leaving him barely able to see with the other, yet he still managed to run his toothless mouth. It was comical.

“I brought in Shin Daeho’s head. You’re a collaborator. Don’t you know which of us is filthier?”

“...”

Namhun stared at him in disbelief, but Hyeonyul had no intention of playing along. What was the point of paying attention to a puppet whose strings had been cut?

“Don’t get worked up.”

Dojin tried to rein him in.

“I’m not. I just found it funny.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ll be going home now.”

Having seen Namhun’s face, Hyeonyul felt he was done here. They would handle the rest. He intended to finish the knitting he hadn’t been able to do yesterday.

‘... Ah.’

Something suddenly occurred to him, and the corners of his eyes lifted slightly. His usual vaguely blunt, vacant air was gone. The abrupt change in his demeanor frightened Namhun, who was facing him.

“You’d better tell them everything you know. Properly. Thoroughly.”

There were still two more bastards left: Villain A, who had operated the secret base, and Villain B, who had planted the collaborators.

Perhaps it was the feeling that his work was piling up, but he was irritated.

“Team Leader.”

“... Hm?”

Haeryeon reacted to the faint bloodlust coming from him. Was he unhappy about something? What could it be?

‘Did I...not hit him enough after all?’

“Could I take tomorrow off?”

His eyes were utterly serious as he looked at her. Only then did Haeryeon smile. Apparently, he had reached the limit of what he could endure.

“Of course. I was actually going to suggest it myself. I’ll put you down for paid leave, so don’t worry.”

After everything Hyeonyul had accomplished, why would she refuse him leave? She would follow the employment contract. As long as she stayed within its terms, he would have no reason to be disappointed in her.

“Thank you.”

Only then did his expression relax. He could rest and still get paid. This place really was the best.

His heart felt lighter, and he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.

“Hey.”

Dojin called to Hyeonyul.

“Yes? Go ahead.”

“What are you doing after work?”

“Going home.”

“What are you doing at home?”

“I’m thinking of finishing my knitting.”

At that, Dojin immediately mimed taking a drink. What better way to get close to someone than over alcohol?

“I know a good place, kid.”

“Ahh.”

Dojin even supplied the perfect satisfied sigh, and Hyeonyul’s face stiffened. Nightlife districts were horrifying. How many times had he been made to play chauffeur?

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’m not very fond of alcohol. Goodbye.”

He bowed, said goodbye to Haeryeon and Nayun as well, and left without looking back.

Dojin stared after him in a daze, and Haeryeon laughed loudly.

“Got turned down, did you?”

“... Shut up.”

Dojin responded as though unbothered, but couldn’t quite hide the stiffness in that expression.

‘The food there really is good.’

Their savory pancakes were incredible. Smacking lips in disappointment, Dojin glanced at Namhun.

Even knowing that this was the collaborator who had hounded him so relentlessly, Hyeonyul had merely given him a look, said a few words, and left it at that. What remarkable composure.

I’m leaving the rest to you.

That was the powerful impression he had left instead.

‘... What a waste. Such a waste.’

Dojin should have recruited him. Trying to think of a way to get close to him was a headache. This was quite a challenge.

‘Do I have to learn knitting myself...?’

Dojin looked down at those rough hands, another crease forming on an already wrinkled face.

“... Oh, if I offended you by refusing, I apologize. I really just don’t like alcohol. Goodbye.”

Hyeonyul’s voice sounded unexpectedly, and his face appeared in the doorway.

According to 101 Ways to Make Workplace Life Run Smoothly, invitations to after-work gatherings should be declined gently. He wondered if he had been too blunt earlier.

Hyeonyul bowed again and left.

“Pfft! Ha!”

Dojin burst into laughter. That incongruously clueless side of him was appealing, too.

Still laughing, Dojin approached Namhun and kicked him.

THUD!

The grown man flew helplessly through the air and slammed into the wall. It was pure physical strength.

“... Team Leader Dojin?”

Haeryeon was surprised. She had thought Dojin would stay out of it this time.

“What? I can chip in for the repairs. I have money too.”

Suddenly, that bastard Namhun seemed even more repulsive.

* * *

After getting home, Hyeonyul repeatedly pondered what to do about the secret base. He could simply pretend he knew nothing, but instead, he set down his knitting and headed there.

The Black Eagles seemed to have removed all the documents. If he left the place standing any longer, it might end up serving villains again.

The experimental facility needed to be destroyed. Wouldn’t that also torment Villain A, its owner?

‘... That’s what I came here for, anyway.’

Hyeonyul took in the scene around him. The Black Eagle who had been guarding the secret base lay dead.

He examined the body. There was a very small cut on the neck. It looked clean, but its edges were slightly ragged.

‘Not a sword. A thread...?’

Hyeonyul pulled on his helmet. This was no ordinary incident.

‘What a nuisance.’

What had gone wrong this time?

He headed for the electrical room he had noted earlier. If everyone was dead anyway, this would be faster.

When Hyeonyul stamped his foot, hand-like extensions reached from the shadows and tore out every last wire. The power vanished, and darkness descended.

He lay back, enveloped in that darkness, all but setting himself free. He felt himself scatter and split apart, then grasped the darkness itself.

The darkness was him, and he was the darkness. He even felt as though he were looking down from above. It was almost like seeing through things.

While surveying every part of the underground complex, he discovered an alien power. Without delay, he moved toward it.

* * *

Up close, the power felt even more alien. Something oval-shaped was spinning round and round.

‘... A portal?’

It resembled the ones that so often appeared in movies. Before he could dwell on it, Hyeonyul spotted a man entering it.