Chapter 41
'…I never thought I'd see those two sitting together in my lifetime.'
Baek Eunseong's secretary, Gwak Junyoung, swallowed dryly while observing the backseat through the rearview mirror. Next to the sleeping Baek Eunseong sat Seong Dohyun, slanted in his seat, staring into empty space. Seeing those fiercely raised eyes flashing savagely in the light, he gripped the steering wheel tighter.
His skin stung from the killing intent radiating from Seong Dohyun, making it hard to even concentrate on driving, yet Baek Eunseong, sitting right next to him, seemed completely unbothered as he slept peacefully. Seeing him sleep so comfortably was a sight Junyoung had never witnessed while serving Eunseong, making it an incredibly rare scene, but the secretary couldn't even bring himself to look at it properly.
Because even turning his gaze slightly would meet Seong Dohyon's murderous eyes.
He wanted to wake Eunseong right then and there and ask. How could you sleep so peacefully with Seong Dohyun beside you? Please wake up. If that man attacks you while you're defenseless, I can't stop him.
Junyoung kept glancing at Seong Dohyun through the rearview mirror in vigilance but couldn't say a word. His sharp instincts were warning him that he couldn't predict what consequences would follow if he woke Eunseong now.
In the first place, the reason Junyoung, a C-rank, could become the secretary of Baek Eunseong, the vice guild master of Baekwoo Guild, was…
[Skill: Sharp Intuition Score 100, no, 1000]
Wasn't it thanks to his quick wits?
As Junyoung instinctively realized he should stay quiet and just drove without a word, the only sound filling the car was Seong Dohyun slamming a steel rebar into his own palm.
'Did the Guild Master do something?'
What Seong Dohyun was holding was an ordinary steel rebar commonly seen around. But the fact that it was Seong Dohyun of all people heading to Baekwoo Guild while gripping a steel rebar with such a murderous expression meant there was surely something related to the Guild Master.
The secretary chewed on his lip while observing the deeply sleeping Baek Eunseong. Whether Yang Jihwan had given him a top-grade potion before leaving, the sunken areas under his eyes had brightened somewhat, but he still looked haggard.
It was because Baek Jiseong had been summoning Eunseong at all hours these past few days. He had called him even when Eunseong was in a dungeon to question his movements—could that be related to Seong Dohyun?
Suppressing a sigh, Junyoung glanced at the Baekwoo Guild building.
Others might think of Baek Jiseong as a caring older brother who desperately worried about his frail younger brother who could collapse at any moment, but not him.
Baek Jiseong was not only keeping his brother in check but trying to kill him.
Otherwise, why would he monitor every single movement of his brother?
The fact that Seong Dohyun, who was anxious to torment Baek Eunseong, had been in secret contact with him also pointed to this. The secretary was certain that the reason Seong Dohyun, who had no proper affiliation, could doggedly chase after Baek Eunseong investigating his background was because Baek Jiseong kept feeding him information.
However, there was one thing even Junyoung, who could see through most things with his outstanding intuition, didn't know.
'Why is the Vice Guild Master bringing Seong Dohyun to the guild?'
It was the same when they entered a dungeon together before, saying he was going to take a test. What if he got hurt because of Seong Dohyun? How many times had Seong Dohyun tried to kill Eunseong while pretending it was an accident?
'And why did Seong Dohyun save Baek Hamin?'
It had already been 4 years since Junyoung started serving Eunseong. During that time, he had clearly witnessed from the side how much Seong Dohyun hated and loathed Baek Eunseong. It went without saying since even the good-natured Baek Eunseong would quietly grit his teeth and mutter curses whenever Seong Dohyun appeared.
So why on earth were the two of them suddenly, no, three people including Baek Hamin, associating with each other?
Tilting his head in confusion, he arrived in front of the guild, passed the security system with an eyeball scan, and looked around. As always, Hamin was crouching in front of the door waiting for Eunseong.
It was the moment the car slid into the entrance.
"Uncle?!"
Hamin jumped up and ran toward the car.
The secretary carefully moved the steering wheel, worried he might hit Hamin. Even if he accidentally hit Hamin, it would be the car that crumpled rather than Hamin, but regardless, his head would fly off for being careless.
"Phew."
Sighing, the secretary moved only his eyes to alternately observe Baek Hamin, Baek Eunseong, and Seong Dohyun. Because the car shook violently while parking, Eunseong was opening his eyes with a yawn, and Seong Dohyun's eyes snapped open.
The secretary, who had been tense expecting Dohyun to kick the seat while demanding where his eyes were and if he couldn't drive properly, glared back when their eyes met.
"Good grief."
But contrary to his expectations, Seong Dohyun was looking at Baek Hamin through the window with a smile.
…So he was a human who could smile too.
He always glared at Eunseong with axe-like eyes, so I thought he only had one expression.
Junyoung parked with a slightly bewildered face, then got out and opened the door for Eunseong. The killing intent that had been stinging like burning skin until just now had vanished without a trace.
Seong Dohyun, who got out through the door on the opposite side from Eunseong, entrusted the steel rebar he was holding to a golden thread and reached out toward Baek Hamin. Hamin spread his arms wide as if wanting to be hugged and pattered over to Seong Dohyun.
But then something even more shocking happened behind that.
"You can't jump into a moving car, okay?"
"I know! But Uncle came!"
"You sure talk well."
"……?"
The secretary blinked while looking at Seong Dohyun—wait, was that really Seong Dohyun?
'That's Seong Dohyun?'
Seong Dohyun scooping up Baek Hamin was not the Seong Dohyun he knew, whether looking from the front or the back. 'That' Seong Dohyun making that expression? He could make expressions other than a stiff face?
…Isn't that not Seong Dohyun? Someone wearing Seong Dohyun's shell…?
"Haha, what am I thinking."
The secretary, who had almost imagined something ridiculous, let out a hollow laugh.
No way. That couldn't be. Completely erasing the absurd thought he just had, the secretary followed behind Eunseong, who was still unable to shake off his drowsiness as he shuffled along, into the house.
Hamin, nestled in Dohyun's arms as he followed behind, was busy chattering away. He seemed thrilled that Dohyun had come to their house.
"Uncle, Uncle. What's the occasion? Did you come to see Hamin?"
"No. I need to talk with your uncle."
"H-huh? Uncle…? With the Guild Master? Or Eunseong uncle?"
"Both."
* * *
I took a ragged breath while ruminating on the thoughts I had organized during the car ride.
Calm down, Seong Dohyun. Calm down. There's nothing good about getting worked up. Throwing a tantrum in anger is exactly what Baek Jiseong wants.
No, but that bastard destroyed my house first!
I unknowingly gritted my teeth with a grinding sound, and Baek Hamin in my arms tilted his head.
"Uncle, does it hurt here?"
"No."
Shaking my head, I waved my hand dismissively at Baek Eunseong, who was blinking languidly as if traces of sleep still lingered, telling him to get lost. When I put down Baek Hamin and pointed at Baek Eunseong, Hamin grabbed his uncle's hand with a pouty face and went inside.
Now, with Baek Eunseong and Baek Hamin gone, shall I go do what needs to be done?
Originally, I planned to tell Baek Eunseong that I'd kill his brother, so hand over the materials on the list needed to repair M's Belt. That way, I could return to my original world, and Baek Eunseong could break his curse and become the guild master. It wouldn't be killing two birds with one stone, but three.
But thinking about it calmly, even I didn't have confidence in beating Baek Jiseong, who was decked out with high-grade artifacts and numerous followers.
If I made up my mind to kill him, I could probably do it, but in the process, I would definitely get seriously hurt as well.
So I changed my approach.
"Hunter Seong Dohyun? What brings you here again today?"
The office of Baek Jiseong I was guided into was spacious and clean. Of course it would be, it's the great Guild Master's office. I sat on the sofa while returning a cynical smile to the grinning Baek Jiseong.
Really… I always think this, but how can he look so different from Baek Eunseong?
When Baek Eunseong smiles like that, I'd immediately suspect he's up to something, yet there's a aspect of being charmed by his gentle impression, but when Baek Jiseong smiles like that, he just looks genuinely despicable. Refusing the drink the secretary offered, I raised the steel rebar I brought and slammed it down on the desk.
"You left this behind."
"Ah ha, you didn't have to go out of your way to bring it back, but thank you."
Wow, I really want to punch him just once, sincerely.
You destroy someone's house and smile? Is that funny?
Forget not being able to spit on a smiling face, I felt like I could throw a punch right now.
I suppressed my boiling insides and glared at Baek Jiseong.
"At least give me a reason."
"It's nothing major, but you weren't answering my calls… So I figured if you had nowhere to go, you'd eventually come."
"So you destroyed someone's house?"
This crazy bastard.
I let out a hollow laugh and kicked the desk that was blocking the space between Baek Jiseong and me. Baek Jiseong didn't bat an eye even while looking at the completely crumpled desk, simply flicking his fingertips. As the flattened desk gradually returned to its original shape, Baek Jiseong spoke.
"You just need to keep following Eunseong around and getting on his nerves like you are now, so why throw a tantrum that won't accomplish anything? If you need money, just say so. How much do you need that you're acting like this?"
Is he fearlessly making such suggestions when he probably couldn't even pay if I called out an astronomical sum?
Sighing, I started to run a hand through my hair but then stopped and furrowed my brow. Wait, like I am now? Then does that mean Baek Jiseong has been backing Seong Dohyun all this time?
Hmm. Let's think about that later for now.
Back to the main point. Right, I was going to turn a blind eye to Baek Jiseong sending Baekwoo Guild members to tail me.
Baek Jiseong was extremely wary of Baek Eunseong's influence growing, and because of that, Baek Eunseong couldn't even form a minimal team. In that situation, with me, an S-rank, frequently contacting Baek Eunseong, he must have been anxious.
So I knew everything but pretended not to.
He might be 100 times less capable than Baek Eunseong, but since he was born earlier, he became the Baekwoo Guild Master—so let him keep swimming in his inferiority complex toward his younger brother.
Let him flail about trying to maintain his position.
Not only cursing his brother who was 10 years younger to keep his guild master position, but also cursing his young nephew?
Well, it didn't matter.
He wasn't cursing me, and there was no particular harm to me either. But why should I have to watch the house I obtained through blood and sweat collapse?
I felt so unjust and angry that I wanted to jump around, but the opponent was the guild master of Baekwoo, the nation's top guild.
A way to take revenge on such a Baek Jiseong alone? There wasn't one.
Then what could I do? I kept pondering and pondering until I came here.
I glared at Baek Jiseong, then eventually nodded, feigning reluctance and crafting a hesitant demeanor.
"Fine, let's do that. I don't need money, just prepare the items I request… But before that."
"Before that?"
"Let me join Baekwoo Guild."
* * *
After finishing the contract with Baek Jiseong, I crossed my arms and called Asil.
"Go bring Baek Eunseong."
I had no intention of meekly taking this either. I planned to sink my teeth into Baek Eunseong until Baek Jiseong got on his knees and begged me to stop, that it was enough.
To do that, first…
"Baek Eunseong, is that offer from before still valid?"
"Huh?"
"Let's live together."
I needed to infiltrate Baekwoo Guild.