Chapter 112 – Truth (1)

The Chameleon Troupe relocated to a new base in an underwater cave near England’s Bristol Channel. A guild expedition would occur near Suwon’s abandoned factory, so they took the opportunity to move.

“Oooh…”

The Chameleon Troupe gathered to assess their revenue for the third quarter and discuss the battle prowess of their seat candidate. At least, they had planned on doing that. However, several members couldn’t make it due to missions or personal affairs. Only five had gathered. Boss stood in front of them and displayed a video of Kim Hajin’s mission.

“He killed 20 people in 21 seconds. Is that even a gun?”

A handsome man with a gentle complexion spoke in awe. He was Chameleon Troupe’s seat of green, Jin Yohan.

“How can a gun be that strong? What a mysterious gift.”

“So? What do you think?” Jain urged him to give his assessment.

“Hmm… I’m not sure, but he should be around a high-intermediate rank hero.”

“What? That high?”

“Huh? How is that high?”

Jin Yohan’s tone caused Jain to frown. This was the problem with strong people. They underestimated the standards of lower ranks.

“Then 10 high-intermediate rank heroes could beat you.”

“Nah, that’s an exaggeration. Maybe a hundred.”

Jin Yohan shook his head and generously praised himself.

“What do you think, Jain?”

“I think he’s… intermediate rank. Like Kim Suho, he should be about intermediate rank, grade 7 to 9. I’m not sure about how he’ll fare against a strong opponent, but he seems helpful against many weaker opponents.”

Jain quickly pointed out Kim Hajin’s strengths and weaknesses. Kim Hajin would’ve collapsed from the praise if he overheard.

“Eeeh, only intermediate rank?”

“I’m being generous too. If he has that much potential at only 17… think about how he’ll be in 5 years. He’ll become an incredibly sharp weapon.”

Jain already concluded that Kim Hajin had a weapon-type gift that enhanced and transformed weapons. He also had a special physique that added an anti-magic property to his magic power.

“We need Gyeong for assessments like this. Is he still in the demon realm?”

“Yeah, that fool doesn’t want to come out.”

The demon realm was also another name for Pandemonium. Humans avoided talking about it, but Pandemonium was even more lavish and hedonistic than Las Vegas. Anyone could enter so long as they had the strength to break through the crowd of monsters. Cheok Jungyeong took pleasure in fighting there.

“What does Boss think?”

Jain asked their leader. However, she didn’t reply. Jain turned and saw Boss clicking on a gaming console.

“Boss, you’re playing a game?”

“Hm? Ah… it’s nothing.”

Boss nonchalantly replied with her eyes still fixed on the console. She looked rather cute.

“Did you fall in love with electronics after exchanging a few texts with Kim Hajin?”

“…”

Pibibip— A game-over effect could be heard. Boss switched off the console and looked sharply at Jain.

“Don’t get cocky.”

Jain slowly looked away, but recalled how friendly Boss acted when texting Kim Hajin. She felt slightly wronged and somewhat jealous. Then she changed the subject to Droon.

“Droon, did you clean up properly?”

“Yep. The victims were all rescued and I ate the rest! Both humans and bullets.”

Droon responded with a bright smile as Jain sighed.

“Say you fed it. It’s creepy if you ate it. Also, did you find out about that wolf?”

“Yeah, it’s Kim Hajin’s pet!”

“No, that’s not what I…”

Jain felt unsure about that mysterious wolf that suddenly shot out of Kim Hajin’s chest.

“Don’t worry about that.” Boss stepped in.

“I will ask him myself. Kim Hajin trusts me very much.”

“Really?”

“He’ll believe me if I say you use red beans to make wine.”

“Well, if you say so.”

Jain nodded for now.

***

As promised, we met 2 days later in front of the Korean restaurant Chae Nayun had reserved. Han Jung Gak boasted 3 Michelin stars and I ended up joining the other five.

“Welcome. Come in, come in.”

Chae Nayun enjoyed eating at Han Jung Gak from childhood and led the group. The interior resembled a traditional Korean house that looked quite homely. We followed Chae Nayun to our seats at a long table for six. I sat in the middle next to Kim Suho and Yi Yeonghan as Chae Nayun sat in front of me.

“The food here is amazing. Look forward to it.”

Chae Nayun said as she looked into my eyes. I avoided her straightforward gaze and pretended to nod. She initiated the conversation in a cheerful voice.

“Being here reminds me of the past.”

“The past?”

“In 1972. We stayed there for about 7 weeks. My skills improved so much. I haven’t lost once since I came back.”

“Didn’t you lose to Rachel?”

“That was a tie!”

The others happily chattered about the world of the past. They also spoke about their worries concerning the upcoming exams. I silently listened as we waited for the food. Suddenly, I noticed that Shin Jonghak acted strangely.

“Oi, Kim Suho. Are you preparing well for exams?”

“It’s so-so. What about you?”

“Have you ever seen me study? I’m different from you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Right, we’ve been different since birth. Someone like you who only works hard wouldn’t understand.”

Shin Jonghak displayed his rivalry against Kim Suho, but didn’t act particularly hostile. He should’ve been more intimidating like in the original story, but his current actions seemed mellow to the point that I found it funny. Of course, this was a good thing. However, I still felt curious. Why did Shin Jonghak change so much?

“Your food has arrived.”

A waiter interrupted my thoughts and brought all sorts of dishes like braised short ribs, soy sauce marinated crab, kimchi, and stone pot rice. They served your typical Korean food. Only the grilled short rib patty was limited to one per person among the dozens of side dishes. I also liked it the most and took a bite.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

The patty melted in my mouth as I subconsciously exclaimed.

“Yeah, it’s really good.”

Kim Suho commented from next to me. He seemed to be the type who savored his food as he only nibbled a small corner. However, I put the entire patty in my mouth.

“It’s good, right? Right? See, I told you it was going to be good.”

Chae Nayun happily cheered as I ate. “It’s good, right?”

“It is, so quiet down.”

“Huhu.”

I swallowed and went back to observing Shin Jonghak. He stared at Kim Suho with hawk-like eyes for any breach of table manners so he could nitpick, but soon gave up to focus on eating. I also looked down at my plate.

“What?”

For some reason, another grilled short rib patty had appeared. What happened? Did I spit it back out? I raised my head and made eye contact with Chae Nayun. She smiled. So she gave it to me. Chae Nayun moved her mouth without a sound when I pointed to the patty with my chopsticks.

You can have it.

“…”

I felt burdened by her kindness. However, the patty’s irresistible smell tickled my nose. Gulp. I swallowed hard. In the end, I surrendered and took a bite. A spark suddenly went off in my head as I chewed. I looked at Chae Nayun eating a rice bowl before turning to Shin Jonghak. Kim Suho, Shin Jonghak, Chae Nayun. In this three-way relationship, the biggest source of Shin Jonghak’s character development was… Chae Nayun.

I stared at Chae Nayun. Did giving her the time capsule affect her too much? No, that was impossible. Chae Nayun liked handsome men. She suddenly laughed.

“Why are you staring? Do you want me to order more?”

“Huh? Oh, um, no.”

“Excuse me, Aunty!” Chae Nayun called a waiter before I could stop her.

“Can we get two more grilled short rib patties?”

I watched her cheerfully ordering more and felt an inexplicable sadness.

***

We went to a nearby karaoke bar after lunch. Chae Nayun sang surprisingly well. Kim Suho and Yi Yeonghan also sounded decent. Yoo Yeonha looked forward to Shin Jonghak’s performance, which was also better than average. However, Kim Hajin was… on a whole different level. He could’ve been successful as a professional.

“Wow, my ears are melting.”

“Why don’t you just go pro?”

Kim Suho and Yi Yeonghan made a fuss as Yoo Yeonha glanced at Chae Nayun. Kim Hajin’s singing just ended, but Chae Nayun’s eyes remained closed as she savored the lingering images. Then Yoo Yeonha received a message on her smartwatch.

[Come outside. I have something to talk to you about.]

It came from Kim Hajin. Yoo Yeonha glanced at him before leaving the room. She waited for about 3 minutes when…

“Hey, buddy.”

Someone called her in a friendly tone. Yoo Yeonha couldn’t help but laugh. “Buddy? What’s up with the sudden English?”

“It means friend. Don’t you know?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t? Well, you know how I am, right?”

Kim Hajin laughed and nodded. He cut straight to the chase since Yoo Yeonha didn’t like small talk.

“Of course. I need you to make some bullets.”

“Eh? Bullets?”

Yoo Yeonha didn’t expect such a request.

“Yeah, but I’m not looking for manufactured ones. I’m asking for custom-made. It’s possible, right?”

“Yes. Essence of the Strait has state-of-the-art technology for it.”

Most bullets were smaller than a thumb. Compressing mana into such a small object could only be done with state-of-the-art technology developed in the 2000s.

“I know. Also…”

Kim Hajin took out a small leaf from his pocket. Yoo Yeonha couldn’t tell whether he picked it up from the ground or plucked it off a branch. The item didn’t fit the situation.

“What’s this? A leaf?”

“Grind it up and put it inside the bullets.”

“Come again?”

Yoo Yeonha carefully scrutinized the leaf after receiving it. She couldn’t find anything special about it no matter how much she looked. She frowned and stared at him.

“You won’t tell me what it is even if I ask?”

Kim Hajin nodded.

“I just have to grind it and put it in the bullets?”

“Yep.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks. Ah, tell the others I’m heading out first.”

Yoo Yeonha tilted her head. “We’re leaving soon too, so why don’t you just stay?”

“I don’t feel comfortable. Shin Jonghak is eyeing me too much.”

Kim Hajin nudged her shoulder. Yoo Yeonha took a few steps back in shock.

“D-Don’t do that. It hurts.”

“Ah, sorry. Anyways, I’m leaving.”

“Yes, see you.”

Yoo Yeonha watched him leave as she rubbed her shoulder. Then an emergency message arrived on her smartwatch.

[Master, we may have found an incident related to Kim Hajin.]

Yoo Yeonha’s eyes widened.

[Report.]

[Something called the Kwang-Oh Incident occurred the year Kim Hajin was born. There is a huge cover-up on it. Someone attacked one of our men while looking into it.]

“Attacked?”

Yoo Yeonha quickly replied. The amount of effort and money she spent on her investigators lingered on her mind.

[Is he okay?]

[Yes, he is recovering without any issues.]

[Send me what you’ve gathered so far and halt the investigation for now. The safety of our investigators always comes first.]

[Understood, Master.]

Yoo Yeonha stared at the words, Kwang-Oh Incident.

“Kwang-Oh Incident… Kwang-Oh Incident… Why does it sound so familiar?”

She recalled the phrase from a casebook inside her family home’s library. No, it was more like her father’s diary. She was only seven, but clearly remembered. She didn’t understand it back then because he wrote most of it in Hanja, but her father harshly scolded her for reading it without permission.

“I’ll have to take a look later.”

I can sneak a peek since Father is going on a trip this Friday.

“Huhu.”

Yoo Yeonha felt proud. Now she could properly return the favor to her ally. She saw Chae Nayun glaring at her when she happily turned around.

“Hiik!”

Yoo Yeonha jumped in surprise. “H-Hey, Nayun, what’s up?”

“I wondered where you went?”

Chae Nayun gestured for her to come back.

“Uh, yeah… Oh, Nayun, that person said he’s leaving first.”

“What? Why? What did he talk to you about?”

Chae Nayun frowned as she asked. Yoo Yeonha found this side of her quite cute and poked her with her finger.

“Ak! What is it?”

“Geez, you don’t have to look at me like that.”

“Like wh— ah, hey, aaang, s-stop!” Yoo Yeonha kept poking her from her side and a more sensitive area.

“Ahng, st-stop poking me.”

“What was that?”

“R-Really, aang. Hey!”

Chae Nayun could no longer endure it and covered her breasts. “Why are you poking me there? Are you crazy?”

“It’s because I’m jealous.”

Yoo Yeonha explained as she looked for an opening. She couldn’t help but wonder how someone could have such a perfect figure. Her skin looked milky white as well. Poke, poke.

“Ah, aah. S-Stop, d-don’t. I-I’m ticklish, ah, stop—!”

Chae Nayun ran away from Yoo Yeonha with a flushed face.