Im Haekyung kept silent for a moment at my words. I added a simple explanation for him.
“I got curious about how Cheonmyeonggyo operates and looked into it... and it does seem like there’s something off inside. Seeing how they enhance skills, I wondered if they had a support-type Hunter.”
“...Mm.”
“There are too many testimonies for it to be just a con. And the scale seems bigger than I expected... anyway, from the information I picked up here and there, it feels like the cult leader’s power is overwhelming.”
“I see....”
“I think I need to check what they’re doing on the inside because I’m curious.”
Despite my explanation, Im Haekyung quietly nodded, then ignored everything I’d just worked to lay out and asked again.
“You want to... become the cult leader?”
“Yes.”
“Jehyun....”
Trailing off, Im Haekyung folded his arms and came to a stop.
“You really are... a peculiar person, Jehyun.”
“......?”
Is this really something I should be hearing from Im Haekyung of all people?
“To be precise, what I mean is I want to observe how the inside runs from a position around the cult leader’s level.”
“How is that any different?”
And while I’m at it, I’ll copy their method and figure out how to handle high-rank Hunters.
For the still-bewildered Im Haekyung, I moved a little closer to the main point.
“Have you ever looked into Cheonmyeonggyo?”
“I have. Since you said you were interested.”
“Didn’t you notice anything strange?”
“Everything from one to ten is strange. But it’s not that different from other cults, is it? The only difference is it’s got Awakened and Gate talk baked in, I suppose.”
Right. But the dangerous part was that when you viewed them from the outside, you couldn’t classify them as just a group... which was really dangerous. Weren’t they optimized to be mixed in everywhere?
'And they’re not ordinary civilians either—there are some fairly strong Hunters mixed in.'
It wasn’t something to brush off with “oh, just a religious group.” It was at a level where we should consider them a strong army and stop them.
“Like you said, the fact that they’ve got the Awakened and Gates baked in is the problem. If they turn aggressive later, how are we supposed to resolve it? They’re already plenty threatening.”
“Hmm... that’s true. But then... don’t people usually want to dismantle a religious group for the public good?”
Dismantle Cheonmyeonggyo... In the original, that’s the direction things went. Although it kept crawling back up to the end like a zombie.
But tearing down a religious group isn’t easy.
'It’s not even visible... and if you blatantly chop off the head, the backlash will likely make them act even more violently.'
You’ve got a swarm of deranged bastards huddled together—if you take the cult leader’s head, are they going to say, “Ah, the head’s gone, let’s disband”? Much more likely they’ll get pissed off and run around doing crazy shit.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to leave those Cheonmyeonggyo bastards alone....
'Change the method.'
I calmly answered while running through a few methods to flip Cheonmyeonggyo on its head.
“Well, I’m not saying I really plan to settle in as the cult leader there; I do plan to dismantle them in a suitable way.”
“I won’t ask which method you’ll use just yet. Why do you want to do it?”
“Like I said, it seems dangerous. For the public good?”
“Hm....”
Because of the mask, I couldn’t see his expression, but I could more or less guess. He was probably frowning between the brows, giving me that scolding look.
'I can picture it clearly.'
But this time, too, Im Haekyung gave his consent without much fuss.
“I was the one who brought it up in the first place... I can help you. Always.”
“Yes.”
“But if that’s the case, shouldn’t you accept the condition I set back then? Not just dropping by a few times to do appraisals, but a full transfer. And if possible, it’d be even better if you cooperated so I can pick apart your mind up close.”
So not consent—we’d come right back to square one.
'Figure this would happen.'
When I didn’t say much, Im Haekyung lowered his voice like he was offering me a very good deal and added:
“I can guarantee your safety.”
“But you’re a dangerous person, Guild Master, so I’m not really into that.”
“Oh my, you don’t trust me?”
Would I trust you? What a question.
Still, that aside, I did intend to actively join hands with Im Haekyung. There wasn’t much time left... I had to try everything I could.
I quickly weighed the efficiency.
“Let’s write a contract.”
“What kind?”
“I’ll transfer. In exchange, give me a grace period.”
“Didn’t we talk about that last time? Nothing’s changed, has it? It’s the same.”
“What’s different is that I won’t change my word. Because there will be a contract.”
Now his interest seemed piqued, and Im Haekyung slowly nodded.
“What’s the term?”
That, for once... was something precisely set.
“I’ll start reporting to Haeseong from April.”
Im Haekyung let out a short laugh, then nodded.
“Then let’s fine-tune the terms. I’ll send a document to your place.”
“Okay.”
He was already a guy whose thoughts I couldn’t read, and with a mask on, I couldn’t even see his face, which was pretty frustrating.
'Should I just rip it off....'
But the moment word got out that Haeseong’s guild master was here, I’d become a giant aggro machine, so I quickly gave up.
As if he’d guessed what I was thinking, Im Haekyung let out a short, lowered chuckle and then quietly spoke.
“When did it get this late?”
“.......”
“As expected... when I talk with you, time really flies, Jehyun.”
The faint interest in his voice subtly irked me, but instead of pointing it out, I played along.
“It does.”
But this time there was no answer—just the tenacious gaze I could feel through the mask.
***
Wrapping up the conversation with Im Haekyung, we left the night market again.
Sung Uijae, seemingly having found a few interesting artifacts, came back to the meeting point with a couple of Space-Saving Boxes in hand.
“Looks like you bought a lot.”
When I tossed that out lightly, Sung Uijae nodded and readily admitted it.
“...There was more worth buying than I thought.”
“Right?”
“Did you buy anything?”
“I didn’t buy anything.”
“Why?”
Because I was busy talking with Im Haekyung, obviously.
For the record, the moment we left the night market, Im Haekyung said he had something urgent and slipped away. It didn’t seem like he was trying to avoid talking to Sung Uijae—he really seemed to have urgent business, so I couldn’t exactly stop him.
I gave a rough answer and opened the car door.
“There was nothing I needed. I came here because of you in the first place, Hunter Sung; I don’t need to buy anything. Get in.”
“Seeing you walk out empty-handed, you must come here fairly often. You said back then it was a place you couldn’t get into. And you’re close with Haeseong’s guild master.”
“Back then, I had no intention of taking you to stand in front of Guild Master Im.”
“Yeah, thanks. I have no idea what wind blew to change your mind.”
“I suddenly felt like doing you a favor.”
Sung Uijae snorted like I was talking bullshit.
“I didn’t know you were close with Haeseong’s guild master.”
“I’m not. We just know each other’s faces.”
“How do you know him?”
“We met by chance. We’ve cleared a Gate together, too.”
After a brief silence, Sung Uijae jerked his chin at my hand on the steering wheel.
“Does he know your situation too?”
“He doesn’t. You’re the only one who knows.”
“Hm.”
Do Yehyun knew too, but explaining that would get too complicated, so I left it out. Instead of gauging Sung Uijae’s reaction, I started the engine and asked:
“Where should I drop you off?”
“I’ll send the address.”
“Okay.”
All the way to the hotel he pinned on the map, Sung Uijae stayed quiet without saying much. I didn’t have anything in particular to say either, so the car stayed silent for a while.
As we got off the big bridge, I broke the ice first.
“So, Hunter Sung, this person you’re looking for—the girlfriend with the rare disease? If you find her, are you going to return home?”
“Who knows.”
“Is your visa okay?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
It should matter. Unless he wants the nasty business of an S-rank Hunter becoming an illegal immigrant.
I glanced at him and lowered my voice.
“Let’s set a separate appointment soon. Just the two of us next time.”
“Have you built a bit of trust now?”
“Want me to be honest?”
“I get the feeling that is the answer.”
Sharp. But it didn’t feel like he was sincerely upset; his head just seemed a little crowded. Not like I could know exactly what he was thinking.
Around when we were entering the hotel, Sung Uijae called out to me in a quiet voice.
“Seo Jehyun.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t act like you know everything. I’m not saying you’re wrong.”
After a brief pause, as if thinking something over, he continued.
“As time goes by, I also feel like I’m getting farther from being human. Most Hunters probably are. You kind of feel omnipotent. And the fear of death gets a little... numbed.”
“.......”
“And there are the ones who are innately insensitive... yeah, like you. Anyway, those exist too, but... for now, I’m trying to judge things in ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) my own way.”
“Judge what?”
Then, with the corners of his mouth lifted, he tapped me on the head lightly so it wouldn’t hurt.
“To try living like a person.”
“Ah....”
“The bad news around me is a separate issue. I live just fine.”
Well, I didn’t care about his day-to-day conduct, so whatever. When I nodded, he crossed his arms, turned his body, and leaned his back against the door.
“Even with your seat belt on, sitting like that is dangerous. What if I suddenly hit the gas?”
“Dunno. My body’s sturdy.”
“Fair point.”
It’s not like I should be worrying about an S-rank Hunter. When I agreed meekly, Sung Uijae snorted.
“Yeah... anyway, the point is, don’t go judging however you please and evaluating others as you like.”
“Okay.”
“It’s arrogant.”
I nodded obediently.
“Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“You’re used to being a little shit, and suddenly you’re all polite.”
“Do you want to get out now? If I’m going to park here, I need to go all the way down and I’d rather not. Get out and walk.”
“.......”
I only said it because I saw the valet parking staff waiting up ahead, but his reaction soured again.
Before he got out, I glanced back at him and said briefly:
“See you next time.”
“If you bring Haeseong’s guild master then, I’m not seeing you.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not bringing him, right?”
“Yeah, I won’t.”
Seeing his eyes narrow, I chuckled to myself, then started the car again.
“Then... get in safe.”
“.......”
After delivering the most useless “get in safe” in the world, I pulled out right away.
'Feels like I just took care of something important.'
On the way back home, I sorted through the chopped-up thoughts. I’d listened to a bit of Sung Uijae’s personal stuff, and Im Haekyung... I’d reeled him in nicely.
'Then what I should focus on now is the Cheonmyeonggyo matter.'
Just then, my phone rang, and a familiar name lit up on the screen. I connected the call at once.
“Seowon.”
—Where are you?
“On my way home.”
When I answered shortly, Joo Seowon went quiet for a moment, then delivered the news I’d been waiting for.
—Ryu Taejun reached out.
Ah... finally.
