By Zephyria 
“Don’t get carried away. Be cautious.”
―Hehe.
A low chuckle echoed, followed by a flurry of noises that made it feel as if he were right by his side.
The ebb and flow of people’s conversations, soft music, Joo-oh’s humming, and then…
―Ah, I see you here.
―Hello… hello!
Greetings. Someone had spoken to Joo-oh as he headed toward the target. It was a woman’s voice he had never heard before.
Even if he had heard it somewhere, there was no way he would remember it, but regardless, it was unfamiliar.
―I think we’ve run into each other before at… Is your companion… with you?
―Ah, right. You saw me next to the person with the updo. Jin Mu-hae went to the restroom.
―I’m sure he’ll be back soon.
―I don’t know. He didn’t tell me if it would take long.
“Don’t say weird things.”
Mu-hae knew that Joo-oh looked perfectly normal in front of others now, but he gave the warning out of a lingering sense of anxiety. There was absolutely nothing good about drawing attention to himself.
―Should I give him the message when Jin Mu-hae returns?
―Ah, no, that’s okay. Actually, I came here to say hello to you.
―Me?
―Since you happened to be alone. You’re Joo-oh, right?
―That’s right!
The conversation, which Mu-hae thought would end with a simple acknowledgment, lasted longer than expected.
Mu-hae leaned against the wall, checking the time. Hiding would look suspicious, and wandering around felt like he’d be caught on a surveillance camera or run into someone.
―You were quite cute when I saw you last time, but today you’re actually handsome too.
―Haha, really? I’m handsome? Jin Mu-hae is handsome today, too.
―That person is good-looking as well, but I prefer the gentle type.
“What is she talking about?”
He had tried to stay quiet, but he intervened instinctively. Feeling Joo-oh flinch, he shut his mouth again.
―How old are you? You’re not a minor, are you?
―Twenty-two. I’m an adult.
―Your smile is really handsome. Shh. This is a secret, but some close friends are meeting up to hang out later. Are you interested?
―Uh… thank you, but I have a schedule.
―That’s a shame. Let me know whenever you change your mind. There’s still some time left.
―Will do! Oh, by the way, the shrimp is delicious, so you should definitely try some!
With a strange farewell, the unpleasant conversation ended. Mu-hae lowered his gaze, pretending to check his Link Watch, while trying to track Joo-oh’s movement path.
He thought it would be simple since he had the layout of the venue memorized, but it wasn’t easy. Not long after he started listening, someone else struck up a conversation.
―Hello. You’re Mr. Joo-oh, right?
―Uh, yes. Um… do we know each other?
―We’ve never formally greeted, but I saw you at the Samjo Building before. You left early back then. It seems you’ve come alone today?
―No, Jin Mu-hae went to the restroom.
―Ah. Well, you two are always together.
Along with a sigh that sounded somewhat disappointed, a strange man began to introduce himself.
What his name was, where he currently worked, and how it was a funny twist of fate to keep running into him—it was all useless chatter.
They were already short on time to start the plan, and Mu-hae didn’t know why these scraps of people kept blocking Joo-oh’s path. Mu-hae moistened his dry lips and whispered calmly, suppressing his agitation.
“Stop the chatter and shake him off. Aren’t you working?”
The urge to hurry him out came through despite his intentions, but Joo-oh would understand. No matter how much he had dressed up to fill Mu-hae’s absence, what if he flirted with all sorts of bastards the moment he was alone and made a mistake?
Fortunately, the conversation stopped after a greeting about an electronic business card, and Joo-oh replied in a grumpy voice.
―Why are you angry? It’ll be suspicious if I just shake him off.
“When was I angry? I’m just telling you to cut it off appropriately.”
―You probably said that with your eyebrows like this. I know.
“I didn’t. Just look at the target. Do you think you can do it?”
After grumbling something, there was a rustling sound. He probably nodded as he usually did. Not that Mu-hae could see him.
―Position confirmed. If I push it diagonally like this, I’ll hit the person standing there, hit the biscuit, and the chocolate will splash.
“Tell me when you’re attempting it.”
―Now.
No sooner had the answer ended than there was a rustle of fabric, and then the short screams of people were heard.
―…Oh no!
―I’m so sorry! Are you alright?
―Of all things, my clothes…!
A faint commotion was captured through the wiretap. If it went according to plan, a large stain would have formed on the host’s clothes.
―I’m heading out now.
Crunch. Joo-oh whispered while eating something in the midst of it all. Following his guidance, a small figure emerged from a side door attached to the venue.
A middle-aged woman with short hair. She was the host of this event and the owner of the penthouse. The woman, who was brushing off her stained jacket and shirt, sighed and approached the locked door.
Beep—.
The lock finally released. As she scanned her fingerprint, the passage revealed itself.
The small figure entered, and the door began to close slowly. Mu-hae ran silently and grabbed the handle.
Then, he entered the passage with surprising silence. Beep—. The sound of the door closing echoed behind him, but the host, a few meters away, didn’t seem to notice his presence.
Mu-hae entered a visible restroom and hid. After holding his breath for a few minutes, the woman, who had changed her clothes, retraced her steps and left the passage.
―This is Joo-oh. My companion went to the restroom for a moment.
Meanwhile, Joo-oh was exchanging greetings with all sorts of people again. Even just listening, his voice was so friendly and sweet.
Jin Mu-hae cut the conversation with a stiff tone and reported the situation.
“I’m in. I’ll check it out and leave quickly, so wait a bit longer.”
―I think he might have an upset stomach. Should I try contacting him?
“I told you not to say weird things.”
He irritably blocked the unnecessary explanation and stepped out into the passage.
‘It’s damn spacious.’
The area used by the woman’s family wasn’t as flashy as the venue, but instead, antique decorations were placed here and there, giving it a classic feel.
He felt much more at ease since there were no obvious surveillance cameras. Mu-hae looked around slowly and passed straight through the living room.
Even if he was a layman in house layouts or feng shui, he could quickly identify positions that were easy to attack and defend.
Even if he wasn’t fighting a siege in a house, that’s just how human psychology works. The more a room is like a study, the less likely the door is to face a common area; it would be separated, yet positioned so that one could easily check the outside situation when desired.
Just then, he saw a duplex structure above a L-shaped staircase. After double-checking that no servants were around, Mu-hae leaped up there as if flying.
Fortunately, the door was open. Upon entering, he found bookshelves lined with various devices and a vast collection of books.
What an old-fashioned taste. He had known it from the interior.
If someone who checks everything electronically—whether for reading or work—still keeps paper books, it’s likely for collection rather than use.
In that case, the bookshelves were unexpectedly what Mu-hae needed to examine. Even if the space was separated, there was no way important documents or items would be kept in a house where outsiders frequently visited.
With a collection gathered this densely, the owner’s interests and tastes were bound to be reflected. That information, which would be hard to obtain through short conversations, was Mu-hae’s goal.
‘There are so damn many.’
Most were humanities books. Titles from all sorts of diverse fields blurred his vision, making him wonder if there were this many paper books in Goryeo City.
Mu-hae scanned the shelves one by one until a plausible theme appeared. It wasn’t easy to infer content just by looking at the spines of books he hadn’t read, but fortunately, books that caught his eye were gathered on one side.
[Records of the Human Species]
[The Paradox of Prosperity]
[What Resources Left for Humanity]
[Comfort Zone: A Perfect yet Imperfect Design]
There were a significant number of books on social issues, human history, the Comfort zone, and Crystal Blue. Even if the themes weren’t unusual, it meant something different if one person collected them with such passion.
He stepped forward and took a breath. The scent of old paper permeated his lungs.
Could this person be the big shot who commissioned Cheong to get the T-47? The figure in the shadows who had tried to meet him, who asserted that he would eventually find out that moment?
The meager evidence shook his heart for no reason. At the same time, the fact that the owner of this house happened to be a woman pierced his heart.
A big shot. The big shot Olga mentioned. And the mysterious big shot behind Gu-reum.
Despite knowing there were countless women of a similar age in Goryeo City, for some reason, his mind first recalled a photograph from the records.
‘She really resembles that woman.’
“…….”
No. No. Mu-hae and she looked so different that he felt pathetic for even comparing them for a moment.
Above all, what sat on the desk in this room was a frame containing a picture of an unfamiliar young man. With slightly drooping eyes, he looked incredibly gentle and frail.
In the first place, he had never even concluded that the big shot Cheong mentioned and the West Wind were the same person. It was ridiculous that he had even thought such a thing.
Mu-hae pressed his temples and turned around. Now that he had regained his reason, the sound of the conversation in his ear felt even clearer.
―Hmm. I’m not sure about the taste of alcohol yet. But it is unique.
―That’s a good thing. Still, having a glass of wine when the atmosphere is good can be one of life’s pleasures, so I recommend it.
―Hand? Shall we shake hands again?
‘Shit.’
There wasn’t much time left. Mu-hae raised his wrist and took a photo of the study.
He scanned the bookshelves as much as possible. Unlike Joo-oh, he didn’t have the talent to remember all these books.
However, while the letters engraved on the spines were being saved as documents, something unexpected happened.
Beep— To-!
Suddenly, a very familiar signal sounded. It happened while he was photographing the edge of the bookshelf.
‘What…?’
As Mu-hae flinched and stared ahead, surprisingly, the light of the Link Watch was resting on a frame the size of a human head, right next to the bookshelf.
Judging by the skyline, it was a night view of Goryeo City central, and on the surface, it was a perfectly ordinary photograph.
What on earth was this situation? He had never imagined that a Return flight code would be hidden in a stranger’s study.
Fwish—!
What floated in the air was not his father’s record. It was information about the Return flight that seemed even older.
His heart pounded loudly. Mu-hae blocked the pouring light, turned off the Link Watch hologram, and carefully approached the frame.
Knowing it was dangerous to touch things recklessly, he reached out as if possessed and checked the object.
On the plain back, someone’s handwriting was clearly written.
[Wishing for a peaceful and safe return home / XX.XX.XX]
“……!”
As if it were a gift recently received from someone important, the date written after the phrase was less than two months ago.
His vision blurred as if he had been hit in the head. Who was it? Who had tucked the Return flight information here?
How did they know that he, or someone from the Return flight, would come, and why did they write the date as if they were watching…
―Jin Mu-hae. Is it taking longer? You’ve been out too long.
“I’m coming now.”
He barely snapped out of it at the urging voice. Mu-hae placed the frame back in its position.
Confusion surged through his vision, but thinking about it could wait. For now, he had to return to where the donation event was being held.
225 – I Became a Monster in a Failed Game