"Right. Jung Hyuna’s mother. Is that person among the data stored inside you?"
[The Laugher], who had been chuckling with Cheongho’s face, soon changed appearance.
"This is what she looks like."
A soft, unhurried voice.
Pale long hair and slightly drooping eyes. About Hyuna’s height.
Not a face I’ve never seen; if you play through Cheongho-related episodes you can encounter her in photos or flashbacks.
"I understood she died after touching a cursed artifact Jeokdu sent."
"Heh-heh... I suppose one could have called me a cursed artifact."
[The Laugher] has no individual personality or character.
It’s merely a mass of cackling laughter and madness-inducing knowledge.
So, to converse with humans, it borrows other people’s mannerisms and tone.
With Chae Sonyoung’s mouth—Hyuna’s mother—[The Laugher] murmured slowly.
"Did you hear it from Hyuna? Sounds like something wonderful happened to her. While the ward is shut, it’s hard to take in outside information."
And for [The Laugher] to use someone’s form as its mask—
It has to eat that person.
"Mmm—"
Chae Sonyoung smiled briefly and looked far away.
Through the crack of the opened ward, her gaze slid farther— and farther.
"Hyuna ate the crocodile, didn’t she? And she pressed it down with a cat’s power? How splendid. But why leave it in that halfway state...? With your control, Sinhwa, you could have tuned it so the ability wouldn’t manifest at all."
[The Laugher] rolled Chae Sonyoung’s pupils around, shifted them toward where the brain would be, then spoke again.
"Ah— haha, I see. Because of the Triumvirate’s balance, hmm? If you leave her like that, Hyuna can use both the cat’s power and the crocodile’s... Remarkable. Truly a wise decision."
Even if it’s borrowing someone else’s persona— the essence doesn’t change. Still making irritating remarks.
"Sinhwa. So, why were you looking for Chae Sonyoung? Is it... because I ate her? Are you freshly angry?"
If I answer honestly...
"Not really. It’s someone else’s business, unrelated to me."
Chae Sonyoung’s eyes settled back into place.
With her face, [The Laugher] sent me a warm smile.
"A rational judgment. Even if you torment me further, you wouldn’t get any special catharsis or fulfillment."
"Right. I’m satisfied now, so change to another face. I’m not used to this way of talking— it feels awkward."
"Ke-ke-ke— very well. I’m glad you’re satisfied."
[The Laugher] returned to Cheongho’s form.
I scratched my ear and said,
"How about you stop turning into Cheongho now?"
"Why should I accept that demand?"
"Not a demand— I’m saying there’s no need anymore."
"No need?"
[The Laugher] grinned, looking intrigued.
"I didn’t understand why you aped Cheongho’s appearance all this time— but now I do. You turned into the object of a wish I hadn’t fulfilled to throw me off balance."
"Ku-ha-ha-ha! Impressive, realizing it yourself. How was it? Simple, but quite effective, wasn’t it?"
"Yeah. It wasn’t a mental attack— you just became Cheongho’s image, so there was no defense to raise, and it was hard to spot. I actually started to feel pretty friendly toward you."
But this is a tactic that only works if the other side doesn’t know.
Once someone grasps what the strategy is, doing it only provokes anger.
Besides...
"Looks like Jung Hyuna withdrew her wish."
"Yes. Hyuna found a new interest."
"Khe-he-heh... A shame. A real shame..."
Muttering that just a little more might have done it, [The Laugher] tittered.
I watched that for a moment, then spoke.
"Anyway, like I said, I don’t hold a personal grudge against you. It was your best survival strategy, I’m sure."
"I appreciate your magnanimity."
From that breezy smile, it seems he expected this reply.
Truth is, it can’t be helped.
"Right. In any case, we’re in the same boat— if you want to survive in this world, there’s no helping it."
"Ah-ha-ha— right. Whatever I did to you— u-he-he— it doesn’t change that I’m useful. So let’s keep greeting each other with smiles."
Even if it’s annoying, you form alliances with those you can ally with.
"Hmph. Since we’re on it— I’ve got the usual favor to ask today."
I said that and tossed over a small cube.
I’ve handed this to him before.
A cube compressing the purifying water contained at Paju’s Samneung.
This time, it’s laced with a massive dose of ‘impurities’— the power of the desert and of [Scaled Stratagem].
[The Laugher] pressed the cube into his chest and said,
"Ua-ha-ha-ha! Filthier and more hideous poison than last time. This will take a while."
And by inhaling that toxin— he’ll evolve into something closer to the Abyss than he is now.
"Take your time."
"Ke-ke-ke— fine. Thanks for— thanks for— uh? Uuuuh? Wait, what is this? What did you feed me? Kim Sinhwa! Kim Sinhwa! What— what is this!?"
[The Laugher]’s expression warped in an inexplicable way.
Not a scowl— more like Cheongho’s face was being clumsily smeared in an image editor.
"Ah, among the impurities there should be some of Hyuna’s memories and feelings. A little spicy?"
"Don’t play games! A human’s petty feelings— I— I would never feel anything like this! What is this!? What did you do to me!"
[shrrrrrr—]
I shook my left hand, which had turned into dozens of snakes, and answered.
"I’m pretty bad, but your empathy’s lacking too— so I gave you the concept of [Sorrow]. In a bit you’ll be moved to tears by something as small as a falling leaf."
"Stop! Stop it! Make me stop feeling this! Kim Sinhwa! Whatever I did to Jung Hyuna— it has nothing to do with you! Why are you—"
"Like I said, I don’t especially resent you. But I’m a fixer, right? I take requests."
The client promised an excellent reward.
[Quest complete!
Reward: 300 XP + Jung Hyuna will be pleased.]
"This was Hyuna’s request. She wanted you to feel the pain she went through."
"Stop— not this! Give me pain instead! Ugh— uuuuh— this! It’s enough to affect my very identity— please make this feeling stop!"
[The Laugher] begged with tears welling.
"Well, look at that! I figured tormenting you wouldn’t leave me anything— but seeing this mess is more fun than I thought."
"Kim Sinhwaaaa!!"
"Even like this, it doesn’t change that we’re useful to each other, right? I’ll open it again in a few days, so let’s smile when we meet then too."
[thunk—]
The ward door shut.
Having gained empathy, [The Laugher] will read the memories of the humans he’s swallowed.
In truth, once he adapts to that feeling, it’ll be over— but he’ll suffer for a while.
"Ah, maybe he won’t adapt."
Well...
Then he’ll just become [The Crier]. What else can you do.
Still a dark night.
Since I don’t know what will happen the instant Gong Isu arrives, there are things I have to finish.
I drove a fifty-million-won used car to Jeokdu’s cabaret-or-nightclub.
"Mmm— brother~ you came?"
"Someone’s been here, I see?"
Redhat, the nightclub Jeokdu runs, was a wreck.
The messy scene right after a brawl.
Smashed fixtures and burn marks. People being carried out on stretchers.
"Mmm— the Black King dropped by to say hello. Huh? This guy’s still alive? Hurts a lot, doesn’t it? Ah, poor thing. Stop hurting now."
"Grk—"
One of the Black King’s men died with a groan.
I sidestepped so the blood drifting my way wouldn’t hit me and said,
"Since you’re fine, he really did just ‘say hello,’ I take it?"
"Only his boys came. Ah, blood— damn it. I dressed up special since brother was coming today. Ha— that Black King bastard, not once has he helped me in twenty years."
Jeokdu lifted his blood-wet dagger up to his shoulder as he spoke.
Bang Hyeongsik, standing behind him, took the dagger away and handed over a white wet towel.
"You could have settled through Vasiliisa— why bother calling the opposition?"
"To see our brother’s face again, of course. So why the mask today? I’m hurt."
"I wore a mask last time too."
It wasn’t a skin mask.
I had on the [Mask of Carcosa]. And today’s is just the [Mask of Carcosa] as well.
As Jeokdu chuckled, wiping blood from his hands and face with the towel, I said,
"Client. Let’s settle up so I can head in. I’ve got a taxi waiting outside."
"Hyeongsik, bring in the Chinese."
At the order, Bang Hyeongsik walked out without a word.
"All set now? I sent the money to the broker already."
I made enough to buy about four of Jang Hyundeok’s used cars and still have change.
When I nodded, Jeokdu gave me a meaningful smile.
"The Black King said we should have a meal after the holiday. What holiday is he even observing? Such a filial daughter."
"A meal?"
"Yeah. The three of us."
"Hyuna?"
"Who else? It’s a Triumvirate meeting for the first time in a while."
Seeing no one to take his towel, Jeokdu tossed it onto the floor and continued,
"Since the Blue Lake Crew is shattered— the Black King must be in the mood to move in earnest."
Fair enough; Hyuna’s organization looks beyond salvage.
"Somehow I ended up the most senior of the Triumvirate— so I’ll probably have to pay. Want to join us too, brother? I’ll even let you sit beside me."
"No. I’m on the introverted side; I don’t like being invited where I don’t know people."
"Hmm— say that and then suddenly walk in holding Hyuna’s hand— I’ll be jealous."
Creepy thing to say.
Looks like he’s worried I’ll take Hyuna’s side.
"I won’t be getting involved in this side of things for a while."
"Just keep getting involved. Preferably on my side."
Just then, Bang Hyeongsik returned with Park Gwangrim.
[thud.]
The sound of a body hitting the floor.
His hair was a wreck, and the suit he always wore was soaked bright red with pooled blood.
He wasn’t merely drunk to the point he couldn’t control his body.
"Huu—"
Park Gwangrim reached a feeble hand toward me with a blank expression.
"---."
A voice seeped faintly between his lips, barely audible.
It was Chinese, and it was short.
‘Your brother will protect you. You.’
I looked at Park Gwangrim for a moment, then said to Jeokdu,
"Explain."
"What? Brother. Are we done, client?"
"Yeah. Settlement’s done."
"How cold. He’s just plastered. Leave him be and he’ll sober up."
Yeah, right.
I stared straight at Jeokdu and repeated myself.
"I’ll give you a chance. Say it properly."
"This isn’t a convalescent hospital— brother. I kept his limbs intact, didn’t I?"
Granted, even if he’s not a fighter, Park Gwangrim is an ability user.
Knowing Jeokdu’s preferences, rather than watch a guy like that rampage in delirium, he’d half-kill him and keep him bound.
For that sociopath uncle, this was maximum goodwill.
Talking more will only tire me out.
[vrrrrrmmm—]
I raised mana and lifted Park Gwangrim, then said,
"All right, client. Let’s do good business next time too. If you need more done or help, contact Vasiliisa."
"Ua-ha—!"
Clutching his belly, Jeokdu cackled until he wheezed.
"Kk— huhuuk— ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I really like you. Hh— reorder— fine, I’m open to reorders. Let’s meet again."
Hospital first.
I was going to see Dr. Lee Haseo before this night ended anyway.
