Chapter 51

"What are the conditions for joining the alliance?"

Seo-un asked abruptly.

"You have to pay 500 ounces of u-gwangseok once a month and attend the alliance meeting once a week. It's not a difficult task for Tachun, is it?"

Receiving a tribute as well, are they not a gang of ruffians? Seo-un spat out the bait he had thrown.

"Why do we have to pay the tribute, even if we attend the meetings?"

"For the stabilization of Narakga. We can't let the lower ranks starve to death, can we?"

Despite that, most of the lower ranks couldn't escape the fate of being homeless. Seo-un ended the rather long handshake.

"Then we will just live as we have been."

Daah—Seo-un elongated his words and bowed his head.

The Tachun guild member finally clapped his hands lifelessly, unlike before, saying it was finally over. Let's go, let's head back to the hideout. The guild members, each expressing their fatigue, bounded up the escalator.

"Ah, Team Leader. We'll take one of the trucks."

"Go ahead."

Kim Han-sol, standing below, replied expressionlessly. However, he didn't forget to whisper to the bulky figure standing next to him.

'Follow Tachun and see what they're up to.'

Cha Haya glanced at Kim Han-sol.

When Kim Han-sol didn't avert his eyes, Cha Haya said something to Seo-un. Did she somehow read his mind? She felt a bit exposed.

Cha, those guys are not as easy as they seem, right? Even if you stick with them, you'll see through them, but that's as far as it goes.

Kim Han-sol wanted to separate the two. On the contrary, he also wanted to devour Tachun whole. He wasn't sure if it would cause indigestion, but for now, he had to find a way to protect DK. The guild alliance of Narakga was moving in a direction opposite to what Kim Han-sol wanted.

"Our vice-guild leader says the coffee is really bad!"

When Cha Haya reached the end of the escalator, he shouted. Seo-un punched Cha Haya's arm, thinking, "Are you crazy?"

"I didn't say that! I drank it well!"

Thinking they were having a serious conversation, it turned out to be just a coffee taste test...

"It's only good."

Kim Han-sol, standing at the bottom of the escalator, gulped down the coffee he had made in one go.

***

Chapter 3. Turning Point.

The Tachun guild members, who had a lot of 3rd stage u-gwangseok, chose to go to Korea as soon as they arrived in Nam-dong. However, Seo-un only had 6th stage u-gwangseok in his hand.

Since it was all thanks to me that you could hunt the variants in large numbers, I extended my hand to ask for a commission.

Seo-un spoke confidently but then observed the guild members' expressions. If even one of them had looked reluctant, he might have felt so sad that he would have gone into hiding again. However, they handed over a considerable amount of u-gwangseok as if it were natural.

<'Elephant Shrew Cha Seo-un's new skill, toilet tank disguise!'>

No matter how much Seo-un was teased by the messenger, he didn't budge and dropped a piece of u-gwangseok into the toilet tank. The mineral was wrapped carefully in aluminum foil. The water level rose as soon as it was dropped, but fortunately, it didn't overflow.

Finding a place to hide this precious item was not easy, so the toilet tank at Cha Haya's place was perfect. No one would think to put 6th stage u-gwangseok in a toilet, so Seo-un decided to be the fool.

Seo-un wanted to go to Seoul together, but Abdulraziz shook his head. When Seo-un offered to provide u-gwangseok if it was insufficient, Abdulraziz laughed, saying, "Right, whether it's Yemen or Korea, it's the same."

Abdulraziz's hometown was Uzbekistan, so it wasn't a wrong statement. However, Seo-un felt a bit sorry. So, he kept nagging about going to Korea to make a video call with his family.

"Abdul, including his relatives, there are at least 50 people. He feeds all of them. Video calls? His family would look beautiful, right?"

It was actually Yuchan who pulled Seo-un out, who didn't know the situation.

Feeling belatedly apologetic, Seo-un looked up at the hideout building and saw Abdulraziz waving. He waved back, feeling a bit embarrassed, to the smiling Abdulraziz.

Gangsan and Handon-hee had already left, so the only ones heading to the gate were Seo-un and Yuchan. Cha Haya was supposed to meet them at the gate, but it didn't seem necessary. They would see each other soon in Korea anyway.

"Vice-guild leader."

"Uh-huh?"

Yuchan used a greatsword thicker than Matahari, saying it had a better grip, but Seo-un found it too big and cumbersome. The handle of Matahari, which he had at his side, was much better.

He fiddled with the handle of Matahari. How does that guy carry such a heavy thing? Seo-un, who was stroking the snake skin, felt like a pervert and stopped. He defended himself, saying he wasn't thinking of anyone else's touch.

"Why? Did you have something to say?"

Seo-un focused on Yuchan.

"Vice-guild leader, were you originally close to Cha Haya?"

Seo-un's steps were steady, but his gaze was flustered.

"Well... it might seem that way because the number of people has decreased. But we were actually close when we were in school."

"Really? I didn't know that."

"Of course, I didn't tell you. Why, do you feel left out, Yuchan?"

"A little."

Seo-un raised his hand and tousled Yuchan's black hair, which was growing in patches over his blonde hair.

"Yuchan, you should dye your roots this time. Or just go black."

Seo-un also planned to visit a salon on the way. Since Yuchan showed no reaction, he said, feeling a bit embarrassed, but trying to comfort him.

"Have I been a bit neglectful lately? I let your hair get this messy."

"Uh-huh."

Yuchan's honesty left Seo-un speechless. He bowed his head and further tousled the hair of the boy who was offering his head.

"Want to go to the salon I'm going to tomorrow?"

"Sure!"

Yuchan's sudden brightness made it seem like he had a tail. As Seo-un turned his head, the gate inspection stand came into view. Among the bustling people, he saw a man's head pop up. Seo-un couldn't take his eyes off Cha Haya from the moment he saw him.

'Is that guy so happy to see you?'

Yuchan, who had glanced at Seo-un, grumbled inwardly. He had missed the chance to ask where they were going to the salon because of Cha Haya.

Cha Haya was talking to someone, but the person was hidden behind his body. The hand touching his arm seemed to belong to a woman. Yuchan, without realizing it, glanced at Seo-un again.

The slightly bitter smile on Seo-un's face had lost the joy from a moment ago.

"Vice-guild leader."

"Uh-huh?"

Seo-un blinked and turned to Yuchan. His expression was as usual, but his gaze was gentle.

"Which salon do you go to?"

"Me? I go to a very expensive one."

"How expensive?"

"Expensive enough that a guy who donated all his money can't go there."

Seo-un pointed at Cha Haya, and Yuchan laughed out loud.

Perhaps because of the unusual laugh, Cha Haya turned around.

'You came?'

Seo-un saw a woman peeking out behind Cha Haya, who was speaking with his mouth.

Seo-un didn't recognize her, but the dragon badge on her chest revealed she was a DK guild member.

"Bro, that girl is a DK searcher."

Yuchan whispered beside Seo-un. Her name was... Kim Ji or Park Ji. Seo-un was even confused about her last name.

She was of a petite height, reaching Cha Haya's chest, and her face was delicate and pretty even from a distance. Reflecting on the women Cha Haya had met, there didn't seem to be a common preference.

Long hair, short hair, puppy-like cuteness, fox-like elegance—Cha Haya had met many women with diverse personalities. Thinking there was no common point, there was one. The women he met were undeniably beautiful to anyone.

As Seo-un approached to go through the inspection, he nodded to her. She also nodded to Yuchan standing next to Seo-un.

"Nice to meet you in person. I'm a DK guild searcher, Kim Ji."

Suddenly, Cha Haya reached out and touched Seo-un's face. Seo-un, startled by the approaching hand, flinched, but Cha Haya picked something from his nose.

"Cha Seo-un's nose eyebrow."

"…What? It's just a fallen eyelash. Hi, I'm Cha Seo-un."

Seo-un smoothed out his expression and replied to Kim Ji.

"Of course, I know the vice-guild leader of Tachun. You're the only one he calls by name without changing it, right? Cha Haya also changes my name and calls me."

"Since we have the same last name, I can't forget it."

Ahaha, Kim Ji, who laughed brightly at the harmless joke, seemed to have a good personality.

Feeling it would be hard to cut the conversation short, Seo-un signaled Yuchan to go in first. Yuchan, not wanting to waste time here, signaled back, "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Are you using the gate, Vice-guild leader?"

"Yes, I am. Are you, Kim Ji Searcher?"

"No, I'm just here to run an errand for Han-sol. Do you know that Cha Haya is really funny? He approached me when there were no searchers in Tachun, but suddenly distanced himself?"

"I never approached you because of the searchers."

"Why? You were really curious about the searchers, right? Isn't that it?"

"No, it's not. I'm a crazy guy."

"…Wow, was it Gangsan who told you? I didn't say he was a crazy guy. I just said he seemed crazy."

Kim Ji, feeling wronged, fumed. Cha Haya, with his large hand, gently held her head to calm her down. It seemed like he was also preventing her from jumping around.

"Ah, don't! I'll get even shorter."

Kim Ji, with an annoyed tone, grabbed Cha Haya's wrist.

"I'll take back what I said about you being a crazy guy, take it back!"

She let go of his hand and grumbled. She roughly smoothed her hair and glanced up at Cha Haya.

At that moment, Seo-un's smiling face froze. A shock ran through his head. He had been feeling a sense of déjà vu, and he finally realized why.

Watching Kim Ji's actions felt like looking in a mirror.

It felt like the ground beneath his feet was sinking darker than the gate.

Could it be... Did I act like that too...?

Did I pretend to dislike it while secretly observing Cha Haya's reactions?

He couldn't bring himself to meet Cha Haya's eyes at all. Not knowing what expression he was making, he had nowhere to look.