186 – HGL 186

186

“Goodness, I suddenly felt like coming to the Management Bureau today. Guess it was to meet you.”

After shaking hands, Song Jo-heon laughed heartily. Eui-jae smiled, though it wouldn’t be visible. He looked at the hallway in front of the Director’s office, which Eui-jae had his back to, and asked.

“You came to see Director Ham? Are you already on your way out after meeting her?”

“Yes. I just came out from seeing her.”

“My friend, you should have come to see me too. You have no idea how surprised I was to hear you were back!”

“Just surprised?”

Eui-jae unknowingly threw in a joke laced with bitterness. But Song Jo-heon shrugged it off nonchalantly and immediately retorted.

“Of course, I was glad! You may or may not know, but… most of the first-generation Awakened have quit being Hunters and are living in seclusion. There aren’t many people left to share old memories with.”

“……”

A smile appeared on his face, which was as fierce as a tiger’s.

“I’m truly happy to see a comrade from the past again. Welcome back.”

What kind of person was Song Jo-heon?

Most of the first-generation Awakened who Awakened right after the Day of the Rift had outstanding natural physical abilities. As a result, many of them had been soldiers, police officers, athletes, or held other jobs related to physical activity before their Awakening. Cha Eui-jae, who had been an ordinary student, was a particularly unusual case.

Song Jo-heon had been a soldier. He was said to have held a fairly high rank. When the Awakened Management Bureau was established, he had clashed with Ham Seok-jeong, who was from the police force, over the position of Director, but eventually stepped down himself. People whispered that Song Jo-heon should have become the Director, but the murmurs soon disappeared. It was obvious that Ham Seok-jeong’s ability was superior.

And to J, Song Jo-heon was….

‘Honestly, I don’t have much of an impression….’

In an era when even A-ranks were rare, let alone S-ranks. In an era when the Awakened Management Bureau was constantly struggling with a shortage of manpower due to the many problems and few Hunters. There was a certain camaraderie among the people who worked together back then. When you struggled together, crossing the line between life and death, camaraderie was bound to develop. However, Eui-jae had very little experience working with Song Jo-heon. He had mostly just received instructions.

‘…What is it?’

What is this uncomfortable feeling?

Song Jo-heon rubbed his chin and stared intently at Eui-jae.

“I can’t see your face because of the mask, but… looking at you like this, you haven’t changed much at all. Your hair color has changed a bit, though….”

“Is that so?”

“Haha, yes, it is. I’ve got a lot of gray hair now. Oh, come to think of it…. Have you heard about the General Assembly?”

“The General Assembly?”

“It’s a place where Rankers gather and talk about various things. The world has been so chaotic since the Day of Change, after all. I think you’d have a lot to say if you came too….”

“J. You were here.”

At that moment, brown hair suddenly popped out from behind Song Jo-heon. It was Jung-bin, his hair slightly disheveled as if he had rushed over. Jung-bin gave a gentle smile and bowed politely to Song Jo-heon and Eui-jae.

“Ah, I didn’t know Song Jo-heon was here too. Were you in the middle of a conversation? I hope I’m not interrupting….”

“Oh, Jung-bin! Aren’t you busy these days?”

“Haha, thanks to the Guild Master’s efforts, I’m able to take some breaks.”

“Haha! Yes, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“I have an urgent request to make of J. If you were in the middle of a conversation, I’ll wait.”

Jung-bin, standing behind Song Jo-heon, winked. It was like a lifeline falling from the sky, just as they were running out of things to say. Eui-jae preempted Song Jo-heon before he could say anything.

“Ah, we’re almost done. We were just catching up. Right?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. Well, anyway. I heard you’re working with Wave Guild these days? Did you finally decide to join a Guild?”

“No, not really. I’m just working with them for a while.”

“Haha. Instead of such a small-scale Guild, I hope you’ll consider our Samra Guild, which is systematic, organized, and quite large.”

Song Jo-heon took out a business card and handed it over. Song Jo-heon, Guild Master of Samra Guild.

“Come visit Samra Guild sometime. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Wave Guild…. Yes. Don’t get too close to that Lee Sa-young.”

Eui-jae looked up at the sudden mention of Lee Sa-young’s name. Concern clouded Song Jo-heon’s face, which had been smiling kindly since they met. He rubbed his chin and sighed.

“Maybe it’s because he’s young, but he’s a particularly rude fellow. I can’t read his mind either…. Don’t get tangled up with a strange guy and suffer, be careful.”

“Ah, yes….”

“Then I’ll leave you to it. Have a good conversation. Jung-bin, keep up the good work.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

Song Jo-heon, who patted Jung-bin’s shoulder as he politely greeted him, went down the stairs. Jung-bin listened intently until the sound of his footsteps and presence completely disappeared. Only after it became quiet did he let out a small sigh and smile.

“He’s gone.”

Eui-jae asked cautiously.

“What was that request you wanted to make?”

“Ah, that? It’s an excuse.”

“Yes?”

“The Director contacted me. She told me to call J out separately….”

Jung-bin straightened his disheveled clothes and smiled awkwardly.

“I didn’t expect it to be like this, though. I hope I wasn’t rude….”

“No. It’s not rude….”

Eui-jae glanced back. It seemed Ham Seok-jeong in the Director’s office had made a move. Should he be grateful for this? Eui-jae scratched the back of his neck for no reason and replied.

“Honestly, we were almost out of things to say anyway. You came at just the right time.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Ah, and. By any chance….”

Eui-jae mumbled, looking at Jung-bin, who was listening intently to his words.

“The Director told Jung-bin to get the house key… from you.”

“Ah, yes. The Director entrusted it to me. Here, take it.”

Jung-bin took out two keys from his suit pocket and handed them over. Eui-jae received the keys. They were familiar objects, but the sensation of touching them was unfamiliar. The key to his aunt’s house had a small rabbit doll keychain, and Eui-jae’s key had a plastic hero keychain, only two finger joints long, dangling from it. The hero keychain was particularly faded and worn.

“…Why didn’t she give it to me directly and left it with Jung-bin?”

“I don’t know…. She didn’t say anything special when she entrusted it to me.”

What was Ham Seok-jeong thinking when she kept the keys? She could have ended up burying them on her desk without ever finding their owner.

As Eui-jae fiddled with the keychain for no reason, he felt an intense energy from the lower floor. Eui-jae frowned. It was a very familiar energy. Familiar enough to know the owner.

Jung-bin seemed to have felt the same thing, as his smile changed slightly ambiguously. Eui-jae asked in a hushed voice.

“…Was he originally supposed to visit today?”

“Um, no. As far as I remember, he wasn’t. It seems he visited suddenly….” The owner of the energy was getting closer and closer to them. Soon, something black appeared beyond Jung-bin, like a déjà vu. There was a whooshing sound, like air escaping.

“You two look like you’re having fun….”

It was Lee Sa-young, wearing a Gas mask. Jung-bin leaned against the railing, making way for Lee Sa-young, and bowed politely to Eui-jae.

“I’ll be going now, since my work is done, J.”

“Yes?”

“Haha…, I came up here after getting a call in the middle of a meeting. I’m sorry. I’ll see you again later. Lee Sa-young too.”

Lee Sa-young didn’t reply and just nodded. Damn it, if nothing else, Song Jo-heon seemed to have a good eye for people. According to Ham Seok-jeong, Jung-bin and Bae Won-woo had taken care of Lee Sa-young for a while, but regardless of that, he was truly rude.

Lee Sa-young grabbed the railing and stared intently up at Eui-jae.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”

Ever since that day he faced the polar bear’s head, Eui-jae had consciously avoided Lee Sa-young. Every time he saw Lee Sa-young’s face, his heart kept pounding violently, so he couldn’t help it. Sleeping in the same house?

‘Absolutely impossible.’

But Eui-jae had no place to stay and found it difficult to find a suitable house, so he eventually stayed in the video room of the fish market for a few days with Mackerel’s help. Lee Sa-young, who seemed like he would chase after him right away, didn’t chase after him for some reason, but he did send a message through Mackerel.

‘One week’

Is it a countdown or what? It was a bit creepy, to be honest, but he brushed it off. Eui-jae looked at the Gas mask staring at him and suddenly remembered something.

Come to think of it, today was exactly one week since he had escaped from Lee Sa-young’s house!

‘He’s the type to keep his word….’

Eui-jae swallowed hard and put his hands behind his back. The key in his hand rattled with a clinking sound.

“You don’t need to tell me you’re coming to see the Director.”

“What’s that in your hand?”

“House key.”

“……House?”

Lee Sa-young’s voice lowered. The sound of his breath escaping through the Gas mask seemed to have become a bit rougher. Eui-jae hurriedly added information.

“Not a new house, the house I used to live in. The Director was managing it.”

“Who uses keys these days…. Isn’t it a password?”

“There was someone with a lock ability, a long time ago. It’s a key entrusted to that person.”

“Hmph……. Is he still alive? The person who made it.”

“What?”

Eui-jae doubted his ears. Did I hear that right? Did those harsh words really come out of his mouth?

But unfortunately, as if to cut off the bud of doubt, a cold voice without a hint of laughter continued like a blade.

“If that person dies, the ability will be released.”

“…….”

“Then it’ll just be an ordinary lock and key…. I can call a locksmith to open it.”

“You’re crazy.”

His true feelings blurted out. Isn’t this complete intimidation? Lee Sa-young narrowed his eyes and stepped up one step.

“So, who told you to leave the house?”