52 - Murim Login

Chapter 52 6:00 AM. Taxi driver Mr. Kim picked up his first passenger of the day. And within 10 minutes, he regretted it. “What a stroke of bad luck.” The young man appeared normal enough at first glance. A sturdy, muscular build with a neat face, you'd think he was in his late twenties at most. But then... *Sniff sniff.* It was strange. Quite a lot, actually. “Haaah.” He clutched a briefcase like it was a treasure, and every 30 seconds, he’d sneak a sniff from it and shiver as if entranced. “What the hell is he doing?” Mr. Kim felt a chill run down his spine. He'd driven a taxi for over 10 years but had never encountered a passenger like this. Just as he kept glancing warily at the odd passenger beside him... “Mister.” “Yes, yes?!” His heart nearly skipped a beat. The young man, who had looked hollow-eyed until a moment ago, now had eyes glinting like a wild beast’s. “There’s a truck behind us.” “A t-truck? A blue one?” “Yes. Hasn't it been following us since we passed the intersection?” “Well, now that you mention it, maybe.” “It could be a tail.” What kind of nonsense was this? Mr. Kim’s eyes darted around as he reluctantly agreed with the statement the passenger seemed to be asking for. “I’ll, uh, take a detour.” The young man held the briefcase tightly until the blue truck disappeared from view, as if afraid someone would snatch it from him. “Huff-huff.” Of course, he didn’t forget to take intermittent whiffs of the case. “This guy’s genuinely nuts.” The air conditioning hummed coldly inside the car, but Mr. Kim was drenched in a cold sweat. What a lousy way to start the day. Vroooom. As soon as he handed over the fare and closed the door, the taxi shot off like a bullet. Anyone watching would think he was being chased by a monster. What if he gets into an accident? I clicked my tongue and entered the apartment complex. I clutched the briefcase I had received the previous day tightly to my chest. “Three hundred million won.” It’s comparable to the amount I earned during my three years as an F-rank hunter. Of course, now I have none of it left. “I used it all to pay off debts.” There was a time when I struggled with all that debt, but gritting my teeth and pushing through, things slowly improved. I even managed to move my family to a safe apartment complex near Ilsan. Lately, life feels like a roller coaster. A roller coaster that crashes if the system disappears... No, let’s stop thinking like that. I’m finally visiting home after several months. “What was the building and apartment number again?” Since I only come here once every couple of months, it’s always like this. After staring at the cluster of apartment buildings, I pulled out my phone and made a call. It took several rings before the call connected. Click. - Hello? I thought she’d be sleeping since it’s early, but Hayun’s voice was clear. “Are you up?” - Of course I’m up. Look at the time. “It’s not even seven yet.” - Getting up early helps me study better. She’s my sister, but I can’t help but be impressed. Jinho, who treats getting up early like one of the seven deadly sins, needs to hear this. - Why did you call? “I’m in front of the apartment.” - Huh? You’re in front of the apartment? “Yeah. But I forgot our apartment number.” - ...Again? Seriously, hold on. I waited for a few minutes with the phone pressed to my ear. Eventually, a girl appeared at one of the building entrances, dragging her slippers along. Even from a distance, she exuded the unmistakable aura of a laid-back bum. Her expression of pure annoyance made me smile unintentionally. “Jinha Yeon!” “Don’t shout. It’s embarrassing.” ...Yeah, this is definitely my sister. “What brings you here without a word?” “Do I need to announce when I’m coming home?” “It’s because you hardly ever come. The district council head comes here more often than you do.” “It’s really that often?” “Yeah, that often.” Just then, the elevator stopped. At the door, Hayeon entered the password and turned the doorknob. And there... “Son!” There was someone waiting with a bright smile. Wrinkled hands and a half-done perm. The joy on her face was like a child receiving a surprise gift. Overcome with emotion, I scratched my jaw and laughed. “I’m home, Mom.” At last, I had returned. To the place where my family was waiting. Home. Sizzle sizzle. Mom was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. The delightful aroma lingered in the air. “Mom is really excited since her son’s home after so long.” Hayeon plopped down heavily beside me, scratching her belly. The worn-out sofa sank under her weight. Pig. “Is she making a feast?” “Yeah. A full spread. Thanks to you, I’ll eat well.” She answered, eyes glued to her phone screen. “Aren’t you glad to see your brother after so long?” “Huh?” “Well, you could at least give me a shoulder massage for all the hard work I’ve been through.” Hayeon let out a long sigh. “Why are you acting like this, Mr. Tae-kyung? We’re not that close.” “...What an insolent way to speak.” This playful bickering isn’t new, but it still stung a bit. I mean, huh? I went through hell and barely made it back! “You’re feeling a bit emotional, aren’t you?” Her intuition was uncanny. “Just get ready for school, freeloader.” “It’s our school’s anniversary today.” My fists trembled. I wanted to smack that annoying back of hers, but that would mean conceding defeat. “You want to hit me, don’t you? Your fists are twitching, aren’t they?” “You’re lucky you’re a girl. If you had anything down there...” “Mom! He’s sexually harassing me!” “Hey, hey!” “He said something about my... mpf, mpf!” As I was covering Hayeon’s mouth, she thrashed around. Kicking, pinching— for a nineteen-year-old girl, it wasn’t even painful. But in the midst of it, her flailing foot accidentally kicked the briefcase tucked in the corner of the couch. Thud. Whoosh. The once-closed case flew open, and bundles of crisp, yellowish bills scattered across the living room floor. For a moment, Hayeon froze. “Stop fighting and eat breakfast... huh.” As did mom, who emerged from the kitchen. In the living room, where everything had come to a standstill as if someone had pressed pause, only the quiet sound of boiling stew lingered. Sizzle sizzle. Awkwardly laughing, I finally spoke up. “Can't we talk after breakfast?” the son suggested. “Son?” It seemed breakfast would be delayed quite a while. I recounted my adventures to my family, with a bit of creative embellishment. I explained about my reawakening as a C-rank, and where the money had come from. “That’s how it went.” Their reactions were split. “I see,” my mom nodded absentmindedly. As for Hayeon... “Proof.” Of course. I didn’t expect any less. With a sigh, I tossed her my wallet. “What’s this?” “Check it.” With skeptical eyes, Hayeon rifled through the wallet. It didn’t take her long to find ‘it,’ given how empty the wallet was otherwise. “Wow.” In her hand was a card. My C-rank Hunter License, issued by the association two days ago. “Isn’t it fake?” “Want me to prove it?” “So, it’s real.” “Forging that would be a serious crime, idiot.” “And the money? You’re saying this Chief Choi guy just handed it to you?” “How many times must I tell you?” “About 350 times?” Despite her words, she seemed to believe me now. The shiny C-rank Hunter License and the stacks of three hundred million won seemed utterly out of place in this old, cramped living room. My mom, who had been sitting in stunned silence, murmured as though in a daze. “What a turn of events…” Hayeon chuckled like she had seen the world. “Right? You live long enough, you see it all.” “You’re not even twenty yet.” “It’s just a saying. But Mom?” “Yes, dear?” “Something’s burning.” “Oh no, the stew!” Mom's eyes widened in realization. I stood up hastily, but the kitchen was already a disaster zone. Following close behind, Mom wrung her hands helplessly. “Oh dear, what have we done!” The broth had boiled down, leaving the fish charred. I had been looking forward to a homemade meal for the first time in ages... Still, this outcome wasn't so bad. “Let’s just eat out today.” Normally, my mom would launch into a tirade about the unfair prices at restaurants, and Hayeon would whine for takeout chicken. But today, they didn’t say a word. “Sis.” “Yes, brother?” “Grab the cash.” “Roger that.” Hayeon eagerly scooped up the stacks of money. “I’m sorry, but our restaurant has a dress code…” The manager of the upscale restaurant, where course meals could cost hundreds of thousands per head, gave us an awkward smile. “Dress code, you say?” “Yes, as you can see, all of our other guests adhere to it as well.” Indeed. Everyone, men and women alike, wore suits, evening gowns, even dresses. ‘Sheesh, it's like a ball or something.’ Was this the 18th century France? To someone like me who only frequented local diners, it was a massive culture shock. “Let's just go somewhere else.” “Yeah, Hayeon knows a lot of good places nearby.” Seeing that my family seemed more embarrassed than me, I decided to leave. Our reflections appeared in the restaurant’s glass; despite dressing up for our rare outing, it was obvious our clothes were all bargain brands and worn out. ‘Was money really that tight?’ Most of the earnings from my thriftiness and hard labor as even an F-rank Hunter had been sent home. “A son, shall we go have some pork belly? Might be a bit heavy for breakfast, though?” “I’m down for pork belly. You’ve got good taste, Mom. A friend of mine said the meat place near the intersection is amazing.” Just pork belly. Between the C-rank Hunter License in my wallet and the heaps of money in the briefcase, there really was no reason to worry or hold back. ‘This is why I work hard.’ Someone once said. You can’t buy happiness with money. Happiness doesn’t come with a price tag. Personally, I have one thing to say to those who spew such nonsense: ‘Get lost.’ People can’t spend money they don’t have. And after a sleepless night of debating how to spend this money, I finally reached a decision. At least for today, I’d be lavish for my family. With that decision, the resolve within me grew. “Let’s delay lunch a bit.” Without waiting for their response, I flagged down a passing taxi. “Where to?” “To Mirae Department Store.” It's reputed to be the largest and most expensive in the area. My mom’s eyes widened in the rear-view mirror. “A department store?” Meanwhile, the corners of Hayeon’s mouth curved into a mischievous grin. “Sounds good. Rich brother is buying clothes for us.” Trust this intuitive girl. She knew before being told. I chuckled softly. “Buy whatever you want.” “Really?” “Get Mom’s first.” “Okay.” “You’ve got a filial son. Haha.” The driver’s comment made my mom smile, finally. “Really, anything?” “Anything.” Once confirmed, Hayeon swept through the department store like a wild colt. Her eye for scanning clothes was sharp, and her movements were so quick that it made me question if she had awakened as well. Initially focusing on the price tags rather than the clothes, even my mom began to actively participate at some point. “Mom, how about this?” “Isn’t it too short?” “How about this?” “Looks good.” “This one too!” “That’s pretty. Excuse me, do you have this in a bigger size?” Two hours later, I began to feel a physical change. ‘I’m done for.’ An inexplicable shortness of breath and aching legs. The feeling of helplessness engulfed me was reminiscent of the time I faced Cho Pil in the martial world. “How do I look, brother?” “Ugly. Get lost.” “Son, try this one on.” “I think I’ll just buy that without trying it on.” I couldn’t keep track of how many clothes we bought or how much we spent that day. But by the time we finished shopping, someone quite important at the department store saw us off. “Welcome. Please come again.” The manager, who had rigid dress codes for his restaurant, didn’t recognize us anymore. “Wow, I’ve never had anything like this.” “Really. How do they make food so pretty?” Hearing my mom and Hayeon whispering, their cheeks rosy from excitement, made me happy. Though I may have spent tens of times more than the hundreds of thousands on those dishes, it wasn’t a wasteful day at all. “But I’m still hungry. Feeling queasy.” “Why is the portion so small here?” ...I pretended it wasn't a waste.