Chapter 34. Terrorism
‘Who in the world named this dreadful magic like this?’
I finished my brief escapism.
Now, I had to face the truth.
It wasn’t a good sign to catch the eye of that S-Class Hunter.
‘Damn it.’
Then, there was only one choice left.
‘I can’t just leave it as it is!’
I needed to fix this trash F-Class body as soon as possible.
Whether I moved my soul to another corpse or repaired my lungs!
Once that thought entered my mind, I couldn’t just lie still anymore. I sprang into action.
‘Even if it means staying up all night researching, I need to regain my strength!’
It seemed enjoying a peaceful life was a thing of the distant future.
*
But well…
This is how research goes, after all.
You rarely get the desired result from just one experiment. It’s all a product of labor in the end.
“Phew.”
So, in a way, having no results for the past few days is the universe’s providence.
I lay down, exhausted from the repeated ritual validations.
Damn it, with this body in such a state, even the magical circles can’t provide an answer.
“It feels like all of this is meaningless. I reincarnated to take a break, yet here I am still working after being reincarnated. Why?”
My limitations were so persistent that a sense of futility crept in as failure continued.
Hummmm…
“Hmm?”
Then, at that moment…
My mobile phone, set to vibrate mode, emitted a ding.
Let’s see, I had blocked almost all the guild numbers, so there shouldn’t be any calls coming in.
“What’s this?”
I checked the screen to see a new number starting with 010 that I didn’t recognize.
I answered without thinking much. The voice on the other end was…
*
One hour later.
Near Kim Gi-ryeo’s House, in the park.
I sat on a bench, scanning the surroundings.
Not long after, a familiar figure caught my eye.
“Ms. Seonwoo-yeon.”
“Hello, Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter.”
We exchanged greetings promptly.
That’s right. The one who called me was none other than Seonwoo-yeon.
“I apologize for the sudden call. But I felt it was better to talk face-to-face for this matter.”
“No need for apologies…”
Contact from the Association is usually a hassle.
As much as I wanted to ignore it, I eventually responded to Seonwoo-yeon’s summons.
I owed this B-Class a bit, after all. Out of obligation, I should at least hear her out.
“So, what’s the matter?”
I looked up at Seonwoo-yeon, standing before me, and asked briefly.
Then, she got straight to the point.
“It’s just that we need Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter’s analysis skill.”
She said that and shyly sat down on the empty spot on the bench. Since I kept looking up at her, it seemed to be bothering her.
“Could you help me with my work? For about two weeks.”
“Are we going to appraise some items?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“Actually, I’m currently working with the police on a case…”
Thinking she’d need me for item classification, her explanation of the request took an unexpected turn.
“The investigation has hit a wall since a while ago.”
“Why?”
“The culprits left traces on a certain Gate, but we can’t interpret them.”
A shadow crossed Seonwoo-yeon’s pale face. She sighed, seemingly burdened by a heavy concern.
“We already called in national appraisers to investigate, but there were no results.”
“…”
“Real profitable requests are monopolized by overseas companies or large guilds, so the appraisers left in the field have skills that are only so-so…”
At this point, I knew interjecting could expose my Earthling identity, so I listened intently to her words.
“That’s why I’m contacting you, Gi-ryeo.”
“So, you want me to investigate the Gate?”
“I thought perhaps the outcome might be different. You’ve passed through the Magic Tower’s maze, after all. And…”
Seonwoo-yeon glanced up at the sky for a moment and struggled to speak.
“You’re the only appraiser I know who doesn’t belong to a faction.”
“Ah, I see.”
I suppose it would be hard to pull one out from a private company.
Now, I vaguely understood why she had come to me.
I mentally reorganized the request again.
But then, a small voice interrupted.
“Um, but I’m really sorry to say… the compensation may not be much…”
A tremor of anxiety.
I looked closely at Seonwoo-yeon’s darkened face. She couldn’t even meet my eyes, staring down at the ground.
“Due to budget issues, the payment is set very low. To be honest, from the perspective of an appraiser, it’s almost considered volunteer work…”
How little could the compensation be for her to say that?
If it’s at the level of volunteer work, could it be that I wouldn’t even get paid for my first-class effort?
“I know it’s an unreasonable request. But could you help me out?”
“Hmm.”
“I also helped you once…”
Though she said it right, I had received assistance from her tracking magic in that kidnapping incident.
No, actually, Kang Chang-ho did all the heavy lifting, so it’s not like she really helped me.
Still, she came to help at that late hour.
“Right, I’m thankful for that time.”
I acknowledged I owed her.
But for some reason, Seonwoo-yeon looked troubled, as if she were hiding something.
“No, forget what I just said. Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter.”
“Uh?”
“It was only natural to save someone who was kidnapped, so bringing it up like this feels inappropriate.”
In such situations, one should be a bit shameless.
Is Seonwoo-yeon really such a conscientious person…?
“If the payment is insufficient, I’ll cover it with my own money. Please cooperate with the investigation.”
Now that I think about it, I’d been curious.
It seemed Seonwoo-yeon had collaborated with the police quite often, thanks to her skill called Seocher, but her main job was still as an Association staff member, wasn’t it?
I couldn’t grasp why Seonwoo-yeon was so passionate about the investigation.
So, feeling like I was exploring an extraterrestrial being, I carelessly asked.
“Do you get any incentive if you catch the culprit?”
“No. If the case is solved, I don’t really gain anything…”
Seonwoo-yeon replied.
“But shouldn’t we do our best? Every case entangles someone’s life.”
“…”
To be honest, with that answer, I felt a slight affection toward her.
After being tormented by my morally bankrupt hometown folks (especially my boss), seeing someone so pure and kind made me feel grateful.
‘You’re quite a good Earthling.’
But that’s that.
“Ms. Seonwoo-yeon, you just said you’d cover the expenses out of your pocket.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I see. Then I’ll take the job.”
The universe’s providence is indeed cruel.
Regardless of my fondness for Seonwoo-yeon as an individual, I decided I would get fair compensation.
After all, I didn’t feel like working while starving.
‘I don’t know how little the state-determined compensation is.’
The bare minimum would just have to be squeezed out of Seonwoo-yeon. Good, I’ll take out insurance.
“Make sure to use that money right away.”
“Uh, how much…?”
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard. Even while clearly noticing it, I calmly stated my demands.
“Well, it varies depending on the menu.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know any good restaurants?”
I unabashedly revealed my intentions.
“Ms. Seonwoo-yeon, you have to pay for my meals.”
“For meals?”
“Not just today, but lunch every day during the two weeks while I work.”
As I subtly raised a finger to indicate one meal, Seonwoo-yeon’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Under those conditions, I’ll participate in the Gate investigation.”
Poor Earthling.
But I didn’t want to work without even such a minimal line.
“Oh, and I’d like noodles today.”
As I said that, Seonwoo-yeon turned pale and nodded.
A dramatic deal was struck.
*
Slurp! Sip.
What is happening…. here?
From the moment they arrived at the restaurant, that phrase lingered in Seonwoo-yeon’s mind.
With his appraisal skills, he wouldn’t be treated poorly anywhere he went.
The value of an hour from a high-end appraiser is something an ordinary worker couldn’t afford.
So, naturally, she had come prepared to be turned down.
Slurp!
But Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter accepted the proposal.
Surprisingly, he was even willing to spend time over a bowl of knife-cut noodles.
Is this even logical?
‘Why did I suggest this particular place?’
Seonwoo-yeon was sweating profusely.
‘Suddenly saying I was hungry and rushing things made me flustered, and in the end, I ended up at my usual place!’
However, contrary to her lack of composure, Kim Gi-ryeo’s demeanor remained calm.
That F-Class Hunter focused silently on his meal, and only after a while did he say,
“Hmm, this place is pretty good.”
This shabby place?
Gi-ryeo nodded, continuing to eat. It was an unexpected reaction.
‘So, it actually was good noodle soup.’
Awakened ones.
What kind of beings are they?
Many had gotten immense power overnight, leading to a plethora of so-called ‘new money’ among them.
They indulge in ostentatious luxury and vanity to the point of being vulgar.
So, Seonwoo-yeon couldn’t help but be surprised every time Kim Gi-ryeo showed modesty.
‘He even lives in such a small studio…’
But did such an impression lead her to like him? Not at all.
Though she contacted him, it was funny, as Seonwoo-yeon didn’t trust him that much.
‘He might be trying to appear like a typical F-Class Hunter by intentionally pretending to have a small budget.’
Especially after that kidnapping incident. Why hadn’t he escaped outside and instead stayed in the room with the head of the trafficking gang…?
And why had he been sneaking into high-ranking Gates all this time?
Indeed, doubts about Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter still piled up.
“……”
Seonwoo-yeon regarded the man across the table with cautious eyes.
‘Why is everything unfolding so easily?’
It was strange.
Since the reveal of his appraisal skills,
Kim Gi-ryeo had received countless scouting offers from all over.
Yet this cold-hearted Hunter, who had ignored all the love calls from various guilds, was willing to help with her request?
Simply out of gratitude for the kidnapping incident?
‘That can’t be right. No matter how you look at it, he orchestrated that situation. I was merely used in his efforts to catch criminals. He wouldn’t genuinely be grateful for that.’
Though she borrowed his hand due to urgency…
She still couldn’t trust someone who had been sneaking around Gates illegally.
Seonwoo-yeon vowed to maintain her guard against that Hunter.
In that moment…
“…!”
It seemed he had already finished his meal.
At some point, Kim Gi-ryeo had been quietly observing her, and upon noticing that, Seonwoo-yeon momentarily held her breath.
When their eyes met, it felt strangely suffocating.
“Ms. Seonwoo-yeon, let’s talk about the job now.”
The man began, his hoarse voice, worn from smoking, filled the air.
