“Seong Hyunjae didn’t seem very pleased. To be precise, should I say he found it a bit awkward.”
Given what his condition was, that made perfect sense. If someone had the power to take on the Origin, they’d be threatening even to a Transcendent.
“What about everyone else?”
I swallowed dryly without thinking. If the Puppeteer knew White Bird, then perhaps she had some information on Yuhyun, too. Why she’d taken my younger brother, and what she planned to do with him. I guessed it was to force me to help her, but I wasn’t certain.
“Well... they asked after everyone’s well-being.”
“My regards?”
“They asked if Han Yujin’s brother, the ward who manipulates water, the red-haired spearman, and the blonde support mage were all doing fine.”
That must have meant Yuhyun, Yerim, Hyun-ah, and Noah. Surprisingly, Myeong-woo wasn’t mentioned. Perhaps because he was destined to be under the Filial’s protection no matter if the world ended—or maybe because he wasn’t S-Rank.
“So she’s looking out for every S-Rank close to me.”
Kim Seong-han wasn’t that close, anyway. And Evelyn wasn’t mentioned either.
“Oh, and the red cat, too.”
Well, to a Transcendent, an S-Rank monster might feel no different than an awakened human. Yuhyun wasn’t a Transcendent, but he leaned that way.
“But why pick you?”
She gave me a suspicious look. There were plenty of S-Ranks—why me? Hwang Rim hummed, stroked under his chin, then spoke.
“They said Transcendents can’t really intervene in this realm. I’m, you could say, one of the seeds they planted in advance.”
“You too?”
“It’s different from the Government Official seed. It’s just groundwork for connections. They scattered dozens of us at random. I guess I was the most useful~ I heard there are unawakened lower-rankers, even those African poison-dart frogs.”
“So you basically implanted communication devices into beings of this world?”
“Something like that. A conduit that can even send small parcels. But it has lots of limits, and the target’s ability must meet a certain threshold.”
So Hwang Rim’s deal with the Puppeteer was purely coincidental.
“...She just happened to catch someone like you.”
“Why? Jina, my ability’s great.”
Hwang Rim made an aggrieved face.
“What can a guy in handcuffs complain about?”
“The Breeder’s ability was just a bit better.”
“Shameless. Don’t you know why she targeted Director Song?”
“Because he’s dangerous. Safety—”
“Hey, hey!”
I clamped Hwang Rim’s mouth shut and glanced at Song Taewon. His face betrayed no change, but who knew what he was thinking.
“Um, Director Song, could you... step outside for a moment?”
“I can’t. I can’t guarantee Han Yujin’s safety.”
I should have come with someone else. If I left now, Hwang Rim would certainly try to run. The earth on the table would render Director Song momentarily powerless. I should have stashed that earth in my inventory—my mistake. Though if I had, Hwang Rim might have escaped carrying him. At least Hwang Rim alone would have gotten away.
“Then at least my ears—ugh!”
He licked them! My palm and my feelings were instantly filthy.
“You bastard—”
“Want me to lick more?”
“...You human scum.”
Ugh, gross. I wanted to wash my hands, but hated the thought of rubbing them on my clothes or the towel. As I stood there scowling with my hand raised, Director Song produced that familiar handkerchief.
“I’ll pass. It’d feel gross even if it was boiled clean.”
“I brushed my teeth after lunch.”
Hwang Rim insisted his mouth was clean and offered me a handkerchief from his inventory. Then he peered at Song Taewon with those slanted eyes.
“You’re not a child—you should listen.”
“Adults get hurt too!”
Turning twenty or graduating college doesn’t magically make you mature. You just try to live responsibly as more burdens come.
“Mr. Han, I—”
“If you’re going to say you’re fine, shut up. Or I’ll go block it myself.”
Song Taewon closed his mouth.
“But if it’s not about being fine, and you truly want to know...”
He met Taewon’s eyes and continued.
“If it’s pure curiosity and not duty or obligation, you may stay.”
Song Taewon’s mouth opened, then closed without a word. Silence stretched until he finally forced out a voice.
“I think I need to know.”
So it was duty after all. Of course. Director Song must have moments he’d rather avoid. Nobody likes hearing unpleasant things. Unless one’s temperament is truly odd, one would instinctively cover their ears.
“Not knowing is more unsettling.”
“See?”
“You’d better shut up.”
“There’s hardly anything I know. I’m just warning you— it’s dangerous. If it can swallow Seong Hyunjae, it can swallow almost anything.”
...Even Transcendents. Hwang Rim spoke with breezy nonchalance.
“They only targeted Seong Hyunjae, so compatibility’s still low. In human form, it can at most block a skill—and even that not perfectly.”
It would take time, but only lower skill grades would drop for a while.
“Still, anyone Transcendent who learns about it would want to eliminate Song Taewon. Few people know so far, though.”
“...You haven’t been gossiping about this everywhere, have you?”
“Couldn’t even if I wanted to.”
“A contract?”
“Not me—starts with the Puppeteer. Precisely, a contract with White Bird. The Puppeteer learns these things through White Bird’s foresight. There’s a restriction: she can only speak to those who already know. If even one person here didn’t know about Taewon’s condition, I couldn’t say a word.”
Then the chance of it spreading among Transcendents seemed slim. The elder hadn’t told the newcomers yet, and the Crescent Moon stayed silent too. She wouldn’t speak of it lightly, not with Seong Hyunjae at stake.
“And you?”
“I get shared info through the seed. Just enough to trade. Beyond what you and Jina know, I don’t.”
Since we learned it, the Puppeteer could intervene. I recalled how the Filial children had tried to conceal everything.
The more you know, the more entangled you become—yet you can’t not know in this case.
“Could I stop it?”
Song Taewon, who’d been sitting silently, spoke.
“Wait, Director Song—that...”
“Transcendents are thought unstoppable by ordinary human power.”
“Besides, they can’t directly enter here!”
If they could be stopped, what then? I remembered Director Song’s last sight under the King of Harmless—a fate no one survived. That power couldn’t be contained in a human vessel. If Seong Hyunjae filled it, he’d vanish.
“That chatterbox only throws parties for a reason. Don’t get any wild ideas.”
No response came. This was maddening.
“For now—well, even if you used it, it’d only work once. Save it for emergencies.”
I said that and left it at that. There was no way Director Song would spare himself... which made him even more dangerous! I had to stop him.
“Can I unlock these now?”
Hwang Rim held up his cuffed hands.
“Why should I trust you? You haven’t told me about Park Ha-yul’s side of things.”
“That was just another trade. Even in China they thought, ‘This situation is weird...’ and requested it.”
His fingers looked intact, so I guessed he was telling the truth. I wondered what he’d done before the Rewind. He might have escaped to America and been living well.
“So you could keep trading and screw me over later. I can’t just let you go.”
“Jina, I’ve already been screwed twice. I’ve been good to you.”
“Put your hand on your conscience and say that.”
Hwang Rim placed both hands on his chest politely.
“My conscience is the size of my chest.”
“Unless you’re Director Song, yours is inversely proportional. You just watched from the sidelines.”
“But I let Yun-i off easy.”
“...What?”
Unbelievable. I glared at him and he started justifying.
“In that place, they trample people down as a specialty. But Jina, you were treated like a person.”
“How so?”
“They normally strip you before they start.”
Hwang Rim said matter-of-factly.
“Clothing affects one’s mental state more than you’d think. If everyone else’s dressed and you’re the only one naked, you don’t feel equal. And you don’t tease or shame the naked—you treat it as normal. You should feel that, unlike us, it’s natural for you to be naked and crawling on the floor.”
Director Song’s brow furrowed. I’m sure mine did too.
“After you spread them on the floor, they vary based on how much you resist~ I won’t go into details.”
“...I don’t even want to hear it.”
“My preference is bribery, so don’t look at me like that. These days money solves most things—why waste effort on silly stuff? Anyway, there was a monster-breeding matter, so they treated you nicely: fed you at the table, gave you a private bathroom in your room.”
Hearing that, I thought, maybe... fine.
“What should we do?”
I asked, looking at Director Song.
“Legally, there’s no punishment, right?”
“No. From what I’ve heard, they didn’t harm Han Yujin.”
They only gave him a cigarette.
“How about the attempted kidnapping of Director Song?”
“Both parties are S-Rank Hunters and overseas, so it’s difficult.”
“And if I personally buried that guy?”
“...If Han Yujin did it alone? It’s fine. If an F-Rank kills an S-Rank, it’d effectively be ruled suicide.”
True enough—an F-Rank couldn’t even scratch with a knife. Even a special dungeon item wouldn’t help. Hwang Rim made a pitiable face.
“Jina, I have lots of money.”
“So do I.”
Should I grab the SS-Rank restraints and head out? They’d be useful, but not for the kids. I hesitated. Only three left. Gear really is king. I fetched some wire from my inventory and gently bound it around Hwang Rim’s neck.
“Try running, and you’ll really die.”
“That’s harsh.”
“At least I’m not stripping you. How gentlemanly.”
“If you want me to strip—”
“Get your hands off my pants, you lunatic! Don’t you feel shame?”
“Why would I? Other men might feel shame, but not me.”
...Arrogant lunatic. I glared, and he proudly puffed out his chest.
“I’m exceptional in many ways.”
Annoying, but true.
“You bastard. No one around me feels ashamed because of you.”
Except me. Damn. I’d be fine, honestly... No matter. Our standards differ too much.
“You said stripping affects the mind.”
“That’s by ordinary standards. Even the Government Official seed would stand tall.”
Song Taewon scowled. He clearly hated being grouped with Hwang Rim. No—he really hated it. He hardly showed dislike that strongly.
“Seong Hyunjae and Jina’s brother too. Jina’s brother might care about big brother’s gaze. The Sesung Guild Leader could feign shame. Liet would feel none.”
“I think so too, but where does Liet come in? Know each other?”
“He likes dragons.”
As he said that, Gyeol recoiled from his gaze and hid behind me. What should I do with Hwang Rim? It was awkward to let him go, but I couldn’t hold him either. If the Puppeteer was truly friendly to me, it’d be best to release Hwang Rim gently. Still, I wanted to punch him at least once—
“Master.”
No. 71 appeared out of nowhere. That “Master” title alone had to change, or I couldn’t bring the kids here anymore!
“Someone is approaching.”
“What?”
Immediately came a knock: knock, knock.
“Shall I permit entry? If we strengthen defenses, the drawer’s stability might falter.”
“Okay. Hand me the cuffs!”
We hadn’t replenished our mana, so it seemed better to release Hwang Rim and exit via the drawer. Song Taewon moved to protect me as I hurriedly unlocked Hwang Rim’s cuffs, and then—
Screech—
A grating sound, and a round black portal appeared in midair. A hand stretched through it—an ordinary human’s hand. Its index finger twitched, beckoning Hwang Rim.
An invitation, it seemed.
“...The Puppeteer?”
I glanced at Hwang Rim for confirmation. He rose and approached the hand. Then the hand—
Whack!
Struck Hwang Rim’s head down.
“Ouch.”
The Puppeteer seemed slightly pleased. Gyeol clapped in delight. On reflection, the Puppeteer must have had quite the headache dealing with someone like him. Then she grabbed Hwang Rim by the ear and yanked him through the dark portal.
“Jina, be careful bringing someone linked to a Transcendent into the drawer. The drawer isn’t fully protected in your world, and if the contract holder is tracked, it’s easy to locate. Especially Seong Hyunjae—if you must bring him in, use the drawer inside a dungeon. The dungeon is managed by the Filial.”
“Uh... please tell her thank you.”
“See you next time—love you~”
“Bullshit.”
With that, Hwang Rim, still yanked by the collar, vanished through the portal. With no reason to stay in the drawer, I joined Song Taewon outside. Everything else was as before, except the glass jar of soil from the conference table was gone.
“Do you think someone took it?”
“There’s no sign of intrusion.”
Song Taewon quickly inspected the door and windows. If the Puppeteer retrieved it, that’d be a relief.
“Don’t stay alone for a while. Just in case. And wait for the Sesung Guild Leader and—”
Would it be safe to have them here? They might get kidnapped too. I wished I could talk more with the Puppeteer.
First, I needed to confirm Seong Hyunjae was unharmed. We went down to the annex’s first floor, where Yuhyun was waiting, frowning.
“Where is he?”
“Oh, they took him.”
It’s a long story to explain. Since we needed to tell the others, we headed back to the main building.