Chapter 40 : Erasing the Debt (3)
Chapter 40: Erasing the Debt (3)
The opponent’s hood flipped back with a whoosh. It was because of the gust kicked up by the bullet’s spiral rotation.
Srrrk.
Hair spilled down over her shoulders. A vivid crimson that reeked of orange. However, the owner’s words were anything but fresh; they were thoroughly rotten.
“Damn—it.”
A woman with a dumpling bun that suited her perfectly turned out to be the petty thief’s true identity. With her compact, well-arranged features, she had the kind of looks people called a “geek-bait face.”
But as the saying went, the windows of the soul were the eyes. Her eyes, bulging and sharply lifted, overwhelmingly canceled out the cute impression. And that wasn’t all.
“Wanna die?”
Every word was a masterpiece. Whatever had washed that filthy mouth of hers had to have been sewage water. That impudent mouth kept chattering nonstop.
“I clearly said just a second.”
“…….”
“But damn it, you didn’t even pretend to listen?”
“…….”
“And then what, one then three? Bullshit. Kang Hyunseong keeps babying you, so you don’t see anything anymore, huh.”
With the string of profanities paired with orange hair, her impression shifted instantly from geek-bait to the stereotypical delinquent. But the real highlight lay elsewhere, to the point that the curses didn’t even register.
Zzzzt.
The bullet spun violently between her thumb and index finger, then stopped rotating. It dropped to the floor, powerless. Yes. That dumpling bun had caught a bullet at point-blank range.
‘Crazy—she caught a bullet?’
Of course, the first shot had been a warning shot, so the bullet had been meant to graze past her cheek. I had even carefully adjusted the trajectory using Bullet Time. It would have been hard for her to die by accident. If she had twisted her body, it would have been a different story, but still.
Dynamic visual acuity surpassing the speed of sound, and the motor execution ability to connect that to action. Her Agility alone would have easily exceeded 30, the benchmark for superhumans.
‘…Her Agility had to be over 40 at least…….’
Before this, Jin Sobang and Seopung-gae had been the same. What kind of shop only had monsters coming in and out? No matter how I thought about it, the location had to be cursed.
“Hey, do you know who I am?”
The dumpling bun spoke, planting a hand on her hip.
“Do I need to know even trespassers?”
“Ha! Trespassing into a bar—!”
Then she snorted triumphantly.
“That’s why you run the place like that and not even a fly comes in!”
“…….”
Did she seriously not know the shop was closed?
‘Hard to believe, but.’
If that dumpling bun was ignorant enough not to even know what CLOSE meant, it roughly made sense. Lee Taebaek pondered briefly, then suddenly threw out a question.
“What’s the opposite of OPEN?”
“What kind of quiz is this all of a sudden?!”
“No backtalk.”
I urged her on, wiggling the grip of my gun.
“It’s an important issue that decides whether I fight you or not.”
The dumpling bun looked slightly intimidated.
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Hurry.”
She frowned and snapped back.
“The bastard who shot at a customer is this shameless?! The opposite of OPEN is OFF! Satisfied, huh?!”
Right.
This one was dumb.
She had just shown the feat of catching a flying bullet with her bare hand, yet her English was worse than a kindergartener’s. Was this character trait for real? All the tension drained out of me.
She hadn’t even taken issue with my preemptive strike—probably an intelligence issue too. If I were to evaluate her kindly, she was a simpleton. Unkindly… I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
Being ignorant wasn’t a crime, after all.
Teacher Toegye Yi Hwang had also said not to look down on those with little learning.
Enough! You have no right to speak of me!
“…….”
Lee Taebaek spoke again.
“You.”
The Python tried to slip free from my loosened grip, so I grabbed it tight. Not that it mattered—apparently even the Python was losing strength.
“You know trespassing into a residence is a crime, right?”
“You asking about common sense now?”
“Good. At least you have common sense.”
“You—what the hell did you just say?”
“Enough.”
Lee Taebaek cut her off while closing the refrigerator.
“If there’s a sign that says CLOSE hanging on the door, it means ‘not open for business.’ Make sure you remember that.”
“What……?”
Her amber-like pupils lost direction. Her social skills were practically newborn-level. Looking at her, Lee Taebaek clicked his tongue in pity.
“A type that has common sense but no knowledge, huh.”
“S-sh-shut up!”
The dumpling bun flew into a rage.
“E-even if I don’t know English! It never caused a-any problem living my life, okay?!”
Her flushed cheeks were on the verge of erupting like active volcanoes, and her fists clenched around her thighs trembled with embarrassment.
“The more I think about it, the more pissed I get! You talk about knowledge, but who’s the one without common sense here, you little shit!!”
It was a fairly sharp point. Correction: her English was shallow, but her intelligence didn’t seem to be the problem.
That aside, I was starting to get a handle on who the dumpling bun was.
Just a moment ago, she had mentioned Kang Hyunseong. And she had done so in casual speech, like calling a friend.
And when I scraped through my memory, it was a face I recognized, if only faintly.
‘It’s very different from the impression I knew.’
Looking closely, traces of her face five years later were faintly there. But at the time of the main story, the overall vibe had been so different that I hesitated for a moment.
Lee Taebaek unconsciously licked his lips.
‘The Tyrant of Sichuan.’
And the Ten Wings.
Poison Sovereign, Dang Munik.
That man’s grandniece.
“Dang Ji-hye.”
This dumpling bun was her.
“What, you know me?”
“You were the one who said, ‘Don’t you know who I am?!’ first.”
“Ah… right.”
Dang Ji-hye was set up as someone who monopolized Poison Sovereign Dang Munik’s affection, even compared to the direct descendants of the Dang Clan. This, too, had been that old geezer team leader’s idea.
But within the family, Dang Ji-hye was a Dang in name only—treated as an outsider. Because she had run away from Dang Gate.
Who knew what kind of wind had blown through the well-ventilated wrinkles of her brain. In any case.
After running away, Dang Ji-hye joined the Resistance through a chance meeting with the Supreme Commander. From there, in just three and a half years, she seized the position of 3rd Battalion Commander.
“I didn’t know. I only realized it now.”
Even if she looked that dumb, she was still someone exceptional. Well, would the Poison Sovereign have doted on her otherwise?
‘Come to think of it.’
Right after the emergency battalion commanders’ meeting held a few weeks ago.
There had been a battalion commander who threw needles using the Dang Clan’s assassination art known as the Twelve Knots of Hidden Fragrance. Since he had decided to stay with the 9th Battalion, it had become a non-issue.
‘So that battalion commander back then was Dang Ji-hye.’
My palm gripping the gun handle was slippery with sweat. I casually wiped it on my sleeve.
‘Right now, it’s five years before the main Recons storyline.’
It overlapped with the period when Dang Munik was scouring everywhere with headlights in his eyes, searching for her whereabouts. And not just anyone—the Poison Sovereign himself.
A chill ran through me.
I’d gone on too long with the digression. There was only one thing to do right now. As soon as I made my decision, I spoke.
“Get out.”
As I said that, I pointed the still-warm muzzle toward the half-open door.
“What? First you shoot, and now you’re trying to kick me out without even asking my purpose?”
As expected, Dang Ji-hye growled and refused the order to leave.
“Even if you’d been hit by the bullet, it would’ve ended with a shattered collarbone. You might be the only battalion commander who can catch bullets, but still.”
The dumpling bun twitched like animal ears.
“There won’t be any battalion commander who dies from getting shot. Even if, by some chance, it hit you square between the brows, no one would blame me. I just responded appropriately.”
“…….”
Silence.
“A battalion commander who got his head perforated while ‘il.le.gal.ly.tres.pass.ing’ into an external agent’s residence? At least for ten years, the 3rd Battalion won’t be short on bar snacks.”
“…….”
At the end of the silence, refined lips twitched.
“…So what! What do you want me to do about it!”
“I told you already.”
Lee Taebaek said coldly, tilting the gun barrel aimed at the door to the side.
“Get out.”
Dang Ji-hye bit her lip as if flicking it.
Wasn’t I being too dismissive of a battalion commander in name? Even if that thought crossed my mind, there was no helping it—.
“I don’t want to.”
Dang Ji-hye put strength into her eyes.
“…What?”
“Ah! I said I don’t want to!!”
A declaration.
No, it was pure obstinacy, and I was dumbfounded.
‘Is she insane?’
They put a brat like this in the seat of 3rd Battalion Commander? It made me newly realize that even the Supreme Commander was no joke.
“You—! You rejected my offer to come to the 3rd Battalion without even thinking, even though I said I’d teach you the Twelve Knots of Hidden Fragrance!! Do you know how badly I got humiliated by my battalion members back then, huh?! You don’t, do you?!”
It seemed I had unconsciously underestimated the weight class of our lofty 3rd Battalion Commander, Lady Dang Ji-hye.
The Dang Clan always repays its debts.
More than anything, knowing what she would become five years later made this all the more shocking. Damn it.
‘Is she just a namesake?’
This was going to get extremely troublesome. Just as Lee Taebaek was about to click his tongue—
Kwa—rung!
A flash-like realization pierced straight through his temple. The 「Concept: Bandit」, which had been suspiciously quiet all this time, stretched like a cat.
‘Right, of course. If it’s the Dang Clan, they have to repay debts.’
A dangerous smile formed at the corner of Lee Taebaek’s mouth.
‘But for that, it’d be more convenient if there were at least one third party.’
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than someone kicked the door open and barged in. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
I even felt the arrogant illusion that the universe revolved around me. However, the surprise entrant completely exceeded Lee Taebaek’s expectations.
“How dare you glare at Investigator Gaepa!!”
Ban Lionheart.
That proud disciple of the Baekbaek Order.
“Ab-yo!”
He launched a dropkick at the heretic who dared to talk back to the Cult Leader, raising his crutch high into the air.
Ban’s sole filled Dang Ji-hye’s crimson retinas. The next moment, a bursting sound rang out sharply.
[＃1 Small-Scale] 1.8.2 Patch Notes
◈ Main Patch
• With the unlocking of the Operator Menu, 「Timing」 could now be slightly adjusted at the operator’s discretion.
• However, for the balance of the world, 「Timing」 would not be adjusted exactly as the operator intended.
• Due to an evil inspiration, the proportional value of 「Stat: Mana」 increased by (+5.7%).
◇ Other Patches
• The effect of 「Concept: Bandit (True)」 increased, greatly boosting the operator’s shamelessness.
• Obtained 「Achievement: A Human Even Satan Would Applaud Standing」. Understanding of magic increased.
〉〉 Auto Save······.
〉〉 Applying patch
“Go-eun noona! Let’s go together!”
A boy, a crutch tucked under his arm, somehow managed to cling to Go-eun.
“I told you to rest at home, Ban.”
Go-eun let out a sigh.
Then Ban replied slyly, baring his gums.
“Hehehe. I was going to. But still, I had to say thank you to Investigator Gaepa.”
Ban, who had been in a coma, beat his chest vigorously as if he’d never been on death’s door.
“Thanks to that, that bastard died too, and there’s no one left messing with the Baekbaek Order in the Bottommost District!”
At his purely girlish smile, Go-eun soon let out a snort of laughter herself. Still, it was a little irritating.
“Aaagh! Noooonaaa!”
Go-eun ruffled Ban’s hair, which had been slicked back with wax.
“What are you doing ruining the hair I set up just to see Investigator Gaepa after so long!”
“He probably hates you using wax more.”
“Since you’re cohabiting, you seem to know Investigator Gaepa’s preferences well, noona.”
Ban fixed his hair again.
“Lee Taebaek—how did he win you guys over? In the Demon Cult, even if you wring people dry from infancy, you might increase believers by ten at best.”
“Everyone was moved by his sincere words and actions, consistent front to back, without being swayed by personal greed.”
Ban said solemnly.
Go-eun shot him a deeply nauseated sideways glance.
“They say there’s no medicine for religion. Tsk.”
“Baekbaek.”
“A dog’s barking, a dog. Fine. Ruining your lives is your choice. Let’s go.”
The two quickened their pace.
Go-eun walked while shortening her stride. Thanks to that small consideration, Ban could diligently keep up without falling behind. Watching him, Go-eun chuckled softly and deliberately kept her eyes forward.
A peculiar companionship between a former delinquent youth and a woman who had once belonged to a Demon Cult. The circumstances were as follows.
The day Lee Taebaek received a recommendation for self-reflection, Go-eun also received a call. It was from Kang Hyunseong.
During the construction of the Stiletto Club, he asked her to “take care of” a Baekbaek Order believer and Bottommost District vagrant children. He awkwardly added that he’d take responsibility and compensate her.
It started as nothing more than Lee Taebaek’s personal affair. However, the Stiletto Club occupation incident expanded in scale beyond the 9th Battalion into an organizational project of the Resistance itself.
Ahead of the full-scale war with the Gang Alliance, the Stiletto Club. The Supreme Commander’s creed was to use the current Baekbaek Order First Branch as a shelter, so that the innocent kids of the Bottommost District wouldn’t get caught up in the chaos of war.
But with the Resistance deploying all its members, someone was needed to look after the children. The Supreme Commander selected Go-eun as the right person and conveyed it through the 9th Battalion Commander close to her.
Go-eun complained for a long while, asking if she was some kind of daycare worker. Even so, in the end, she agreed in a sulky tone.
‘Petty bastard.’
Only after declaring that she’d squeeze him dry down to the spinal cord did Go-eun head for the Bottommost District.
All the way there, her hands and feet moved separately. Her expression and gait were full of irritation, yet both hands were weighed down with various dishes. Cheese, ham, soup, curry, and so on. Dishes that warmed the stomach and could be distributed to many people. Whatever was left was put in the refrigerator for the tenant to heat up as they pleased.
Go-eun suddenly turned her head.
“You guys were super wary at first when I showed up loaded with food. But why did you suddenly switch attitudes and welcome me so willingly?”
“Ah, you remember that pink-haired girl, right?”
Go-eun deliberately nodded.
“That one who glared at me like she wanted to kill me.”
“Her name’s Angela. She said you smelled like the same shampoo as Investigator Gaepa.”
“…How does Angela know Lee Taebaek’s shampoo scent?”
“She picked up Investigator Gaepa’s hair and sniffed it.”
For a moment, Go-eun’s eyes went completely blank.
“Anyway, we figured you must be an acquaintance of Investigator Gaepa. And an acquaintance of Investigator Gaepa is our honored guest, so we welcomed you with all our hearts.”
“What if I’d been on bad terms with him?”
“Then we’d have no choice but to throw ourselves into battle. We’re prepared anytime!”
Facing the reality of a cult, her words stuck in her throat. The madness of the Baekbaek Order was such that even a Demon Cult calling them ‘older brother’ and bowing deeply wouldn’t be enough.
“By the way, Angela might give you chocolate soon as a thank-you. Just take it, but don’t eat it.”
“What does that mean……?”
“She’s been feeding chocolate laced with cyanide to sewer rats lately. Angela tends to go a bit crazy when it comes to Investigator Gaepa. She said to me, ‘All the sluts hanging around Investigator Gaepa…….’ Her eyes were so vicious.”
It had been a killing glare sharp enough to frost the height of summer. Ban shuddered.
“She also said she wanted to send you off comfortably, since you brought food.”
“So that was her idea of consideration. Thanks for telling me. I almost could’ve died foaming blue at the mouth.”
Go-eun said with a gentle crescent smile.
It was the smile of someone who had given up on many things. Soon, she gave up on understanding the Baekbaek Order.
“But I understand. That feeling of wanting to get close to Investigator Gaepa, even if it takes that.”
“If you’re serious, I’m sorry to say, but seeing you even wax your hair like that, well.”
“Of cour—”
-Bang!
Just before he could finish, a gunshot rang out. From the edge of their vision. As the gunshot faded, the sounds of a struggle followed.
“In-in-vestigator……!”
Ban’s face turned pale. Carrying even his questions with him, he launched himself forward.
“Inves-ti-ga-tor Gae-pa—!”
It was hard to believe he was the same guy who had been staggering moments ago—his legs were lightning fast. He looked like a wild horse struck by acupuncture. The total amount of pain couldn’t surpass faith.
Kyaaahhhhk!
A shrill scream tore through the crack of the door. The problem was that it was a woman’s voice.
She tossed aside her budding questions. Go-eun also charged into the shop like flesh hooked by a barb.
And she witnessed it. Perhaps the most shocking scene she would ever see in her life.