18
"Ha."
Seung-chan let out a sigh.
'How did I end up being tracked by someone like her...'
He recalled the past, the moment he had been cornered.
There was no use dwelling on it now.
"You know that Venom and the Seoul branch are keeping a close watch."
"Doesn't that just make it a better opportunity?"
Se-jeong smirked.
"Why not use this chance to change that mask and launch a diversionary tactic?"
"Don't make things tiresome."
"Who knows? Maybe they'll mistake Egrit for a Demon from another sector."
He couldn't even muster a dry laugh.
'As if something like that could distract the Hunters.'
If anything, acting clumsily would only draw the subjugation squad right to them.
"Ooh-hoo-hoo. That’s rich, coming from someone living among humans."
"Kim Se-jeong."
"I’m curious how the people around you would react if your true identity were revealed."
"Shut your mouth."
Beneath his contact lenses, Seung-chan’s eyes shifted to Red Eyes.
"Ahahahaha."
Se-jeong handed a neatly folded note to Seung-chan.
"I’ve delivered it exactly as promised. The date and time are written there."
"……."
"I look forward to seeing that precious flame of yours burn for the sake of the Demons."
Se-jeong rose from her seat.
"And one more thing. Stop consuming this trash and start eating quality food. 'Like one of us'."
"Get lost."
At his harsh reply, she waved her hand and vanished.
That was their final meeting at Burgeria.
"Tsk."
Recalling his encounter with Se-jeong, Seung-chan clicked his tongue.
"She’s so grating."
A large-scale subjugation mission carried risks entirely different from one-on-one combat.
Given Seung-chan’s current profile, the probability of clashing with a high-ranking Hunter was high.
'In those moments, all I can rely on are the movements ingrained in my body.'
He needed to be capable of handling multiple B-rank Hunters without using any Special Technique.
He was just refocusing on his movements when—
*Ding.*
His phone, tossed to the side, signaled an incoming message.
'Is it Hyun-ah?'
He had told her he would be home in the morning, but one never knew.
He unlocked the screen, and a message popped up.
It was Ji-eun.
"What is it?"
It had been quite a while since he had calmed her down when she was about to lose control in the student cafeteria.
"You’re out."
There had been an awkward reconciliation after their argument.
Since then, they had barely managed to maintain their partnership.
[Hey.]
"……."
[Did you read the documents I sent?]
"Who reads those at this hour?"
[Hey.]
"Hmm."
[Are you ignoring me on purpose again?]
"Did you catch me?"
Ever since that day, he had been showing his true personality without restraint.
"She’s a fun one to tease."
What mattered right now wasn't something like class.
Seung-chan tossed his phone aside and began to stretch his body again.
* * *
After Professor Kang Jin-woo’s Alien Ecology Report class ended.
"If you don't want to work together, why don't you just say so?"
Ji-eun chased after him and asked as he headed toward the Liberal Arts Building.
"I don't want to work together."
"Hah?"
Ji-eun reacted with disbelief at his blunt reply.
'I should stop here.'
Without stopping his stride, Seung-chan scanned his surroundings.
Just by being with Ji-eun, he could feel gazes from all over the campus.
With the increasingly frequent battles and the upcoming large-scale subjugation mission, Seung-chan’s nerves were frayed.
He had no desire to be the constant subject of someone’s gaze.
'Even if there’s no murderous intent.'
There was no telling when the stalker following Ji-eun might latch onto him.
"I live with my younger sister."
"What kind of excuse is that..."
"Unlike you, I don't have a personal bodyguard watching over me. It’s a bit burdensome."
Seung-chan pointed behind her.
A man had been following them since they left class. He looked like a student on the surface, but he wasn't one.
'A bodyguard hired by Ji-eun’s agency.'
It was a fact Seung-chan had already confirmed through his own background check.
"What are you... I don't even know that person."
Despite her words, Ji-eun’s expression soured.
"I..."
She started to say something, then clamped her mouth shut.
Her initial intention to confront him had vanished.
"I understand."
"……."
"You should have said so sooner. I don't want to be a burden to anyone else, either."
Seung-chan shrugged.
'I thought she’d get even angrier, like usual.'
He had no ill intent in treating her harshly.
At first, it was just to seize the initiative against a partner who seemed stuck-up. He had assumed that if he repeated it a few times, the connection would naturally wither away from exhaustion.
'Though she was more persistent than I thought.'
That was all.
'We won't have any reason to get tangled up again.'
"Thanks for understanding."
"Wait."
"……?"
"We were a team, after all."
"We were."
"How about we have a meal together, for the last time?"
Her tone had shifted to informal speech before he noticed.
"I’ll give you a chance to treat me. It’s your last chance to wash away your rudeness."
'Well, ending things on good terms isn't a bad idea.'
He had cleared his schedule of everything except school in preparation for the subjugation mission.
"Then, at the Burgeria in front of school..."
"There’s a place I’ve been wanting to try. Let’s go there."
"……."
"Dinner after the 8th period today. That works, right?"
It seemed Seung-chan had no choice in the matter.
"I’ll wait at the Liberal Arts Building cafeteria."
Having said her piece, Ji-eun brushed past Seung-chan and headed toward the Business Building.
"She’s been planning this."
Watching her retreating figure, Seung-chan thought that dinner might end up being an expensive outing.
"You want to eat here?"
Seung-chan asked in front of the restaurant Ji-eun had led him to.
After a 20-minute subway ride with her, face completely bundled up, they had arrived at a shop tucked away in a shabby alley.
Restaurant Shuroop.
It looked like a place that had been antique-remodeled from a building that once served a different purpose.
Perhaps it was a failed commercial district; the surrounding shops were all shuttered.
"Why? Are you disappointed because you thought you’d have to spend money at a place that looks this scary?"
"It doesn't look expensive enough to be that intimidating."
That wasn't the problem.
'Something is off.'
An unpleasant sensation pricked at Seung-chan’s senses.
Unable to identify the source, he looked at the sign once more.
"Just come in. Do you really think someone like me would suggest just any random place?"
She claimed it was a spot that hadn't gone viral yet.
She opened the door with confidence.
'What is this? Why do I feel so uneasy?'
His sense of smell.
A strange odor wafted toward Seung-chan through his heightened olfactory senses.
"……."
Unable to find the cause, Seung-chan followed Ji-eun into the restaurant.
"It’s crowded."
"This isn't even that busy. By next week, you’ll have to wait an hour just to get in."
While she boasted about her information, they were led to a table.
"Would you like to order?"
A manager in neat attire brought a menu and asked.
'Not a Demon.'
While Seung-chan observed the man, Ji-eun ordered the meal.
"I’ll have something else..."
"Just eat it. It’s not like I wanted to eat a hamburger either."
Seung-chan shut his mouth at her sharp retort.
The food arrived after about 15 minutes.
Pasta and steak, common sights anywhere. A few pieces of bread on the side.
It was the standard configuration of a Western-style restaurant frequented by couples.
"That damn Burgeria. Just thinking about it makes me annoyed."
Ji-eun said as she moved the pasta to her plate.
"Don't insult Burgeria."
"That place... I hope it goes under."
"……."
Seung-chan kept his mouth shut at the venom in her voice.
'Well, it’s the last time, anyway.'
Seung-chan moved a piece of sliced steak to his plate.
The meal, which could hardly be called comfortable, began.
"Hmm, it really is a strange taste."
Ji-eun, who had been looking at him as if seeking agreement, tilted her head.
"What’s wrong? You look like you just bit into a rock."
"Ptooey."
"……!!"
Seung-chan spat the piece of meat onto his plate and then wound some pasta around his fork and put it in his mouth.
"Ptooey."
"H-hey, Mr. Baek Seung-chan."
Ji-eun looked flustered at his habit of spitting out the food.
"What kind of manners... is there a bug in the food?"
"No."
"Then..."
With Ji-eun sitting in front of him, looking completely bewildered, Seung-chan raised his hand.
The manager who had taken their order approached.
"I think there’s something wrong with the food."
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
"The seasoning, perhaps."
Seung-chan said, poking at the food with his knife.
"Or the spices."
The manager’s expression darkened.
"That’s impossible."
"I’m certain. My palate doesn't lie."
"……."
The manager looked at Ji-eun as if in a difficult spot. She just shook her head, looking just as confused.
"Let’s do this. Could I speak with the person who prepared this?"
"That would be difficult."
"I’m in a difficult position, too."
"Sir, the food is..."
"Please, make sure to tell the person who made this."
"……."
"That the food smells and tastes strange, as if it’s rotting."
"H-hey. You don't have to go that far..."
Ignoring Ji-eun’s reaction, Seung-chan continued.
"If you don't pass that on, I might just have to post about it on the internet."
The manager’s expression darkened even further.
"I understand. I will be sure to pass it on."
The manager bowed his head and retreated into the kitchen.
"Mr. Baek Seung-chan. I think you’re being too harsh."
Ji-eun scolded him.
"Are you a black consumer? I can't stand people like that."
"You think this tastes good?"
"If you aren't going to eat it, then don't."
Offended by the sudden situation, Ji-eun tried to pull the plate toward herself.
*Thwack.*
Seung-chan pinned the steak down with his knife to stop her.
"I’m not going to eat it, but I don't want to give it to you either."
"Hey..."
"I’ll treat you to a meal next time. Let’s go."
"You really are..."
"This isn't food for human consumption."
"Do you feel satisfied only when you go this far?"
"I’ll explain on the way, so let’s just leave. There seem to be a lot of eyes on us."
At those words, Ji-eun looked around.
"……."
She noticed people who had belatedly recognized her casting sidelong glances.
'I just wanted to finish the meal and leave quickly.'
It wouldn't be good for her image if their bickering became public knowledge.
There was a limit to how many times she could pass him off as a classmate.
"Go outside and explain yourself properly."
"Fine."
Seung-chan paid in cash and headed toward the alley without looking back.
Since it was already late in the evening, the outdoors had quickly turned dark.
"Now, let's hear the reason..."
Ji-eun, unable to finish her sentence, staggered.
She had been knocked unconscious by Seung-chan’s pressure point strike.
He caught her as she swayed and walked deeper into the alley. A moment later, Seung-chan sat her down, leaning her against the wall.
"Sleep for a bit."
After confirming her steady breathing, Seung-chan looked around.
There were no CCTVs.
"Come out now."
A brief silence descended.
A short man emerged from the darkness.
In his hand, he held a thick knife used for cutting meat.
"Kee-hee. Your handiwork was quite impressive, wasn't it?"
"Shut up."
It would be a lie to say that the frivolous laughter didn't grate on his nerves.
"You're the chef, aren't you?"
"You could say that."
The man revealed his Red Eyes in the darkness.
"I never expected a Hunter to get involved."
"A Hunter? Don't say such hurtful things."
"……."
"You know, you get in trouble when you mess around with food."
"Heh heh, I’ll have to mess around with that mouth of yours myself."
*Whoosh. Whoosh.*
The man adjusted his grip on the knife he had been spinning in his hand.
Then, he lunged forward quickly.
*Swish.*
Seung-chan twisted his body, lightly dodging the blade aimed at his throat.
"Don't be in such a rush."
*Thud.*
A kick sent the man sprawling across the ground.
"I have things to ask you, after all."
"What the..."
He had dodged the surprise attack and countered perfectly.
"Using an artifact..."
Seung-chan’s fist, already a step ahead, struck the man’s jaw.
*Bang!*
"Ugh."
The impact rattled his head, forcing the man to his knees.
"I need to know what you're doing here."
Behind his colored contacts, Seung-chan’s own Red Eyes were revealed.
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