206 - Murim Login

Chapter 206 Ding. - [Logout] completed. I didn't need to open my eyes to know. With the system alert, I felt all around me change—gone were the fur-covered bedding and hard wooden pillow, replaced by the soft cushions of a sofa. The bubbling sound of boiling water and a familiar scent invaded my senses. 'This, this is...' The smell of ramen. And not just any ramen, but one expertly cooked to perfection. My stomach, deprived of seasoning for over a month in the martial arts world, growled ferociously. "I'm hungry!" With an impassioned cry, I snapped my eyes open to see a familiar face peering out from the brightly lit kitchen. Disheveled hair, a patchy beard, glasses fogged with steam. My brother, Jin-ho, wiped his lenses and grinned widely. “Oh, my dear brother Tae-kyung, did you sleep well?” His tone was unusually saccharine, but my focus had shifted solely to the tantalizing aroma of ramen. “Ramen!” “Whoa, what's gotten into you?” “Kimchi!” “You really sleep like a log. I was trying to shake you awake.” “At least five bowls of rice!” “...Alright. I was going to bring them over anyway.” A moment later, facing a pot brimming with broth and noodles, I murmured in ecstasy. “This is insane…” “Just lift the top of the noodles a bit. There's a soft-boiled egg inside.” “Wow.” Surely enough, as I gently lifted the noodles, a perfectly formed soft-boiled egg emerged. Brother Jin-ho handed me two small plates with a serious demeanor. “Here, kimchi and pickled radish. The rice is white rice I took out an hour ago. Once you've finished slurping up all the noodles and sipping some broth, dump the rice in…” “You…” “Yes?” “Are you a god?” Brother Jin-ho placed a bar exam reference book under the pot and replied solemnly. “Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1. Jin-ho spoke, if you do not eat now, the broth will grow cold and the noodles will swell and tear.” “Oh, oh.” “You little lamb, why wag your tongue before ramen? Slurp it up to the last drop.” Though I'd lived a lifetime as a non-believer, no more. Revering Brother Jin-ho, I picked up my chopsticks. “Amen.” “Ramen.” Today, I wouldn't mind drowning in ramen broth. With my head buried in the large pot, I relentlessly worked my chopsticks. The proximity between my chopsticks and mouth ensured a continuous flow of noodles. Slurp! Slurp! Slurrrrrp! Bouncy noodles, spicy broth. As I broke the soft-boiled egg, ecstasy mixed with awe, and a lone tear trickled down my cheek. 'Delicious. Absolutely delicious.' MSG, how I treasure you. Intoxicated by the artificial flavors only possible in the modern world, I continued to devour until, suddenly coming to my senses, found only empty pots and dishes before me. Even the bowl previously brimming with rice was spotless. “Burp.” “What the heck.” With a hearty belch, I rubbed my full stomach while Brother Jin-ho looked at me in disbelief. “Seven packs of ramen and five bowls of rice within ten minutes alone? Are you even human?” “Soda! Cola!” “…Just hold on a moment. I'll get it.” Only after finishing off three 1.5-liter bottles of cola did I regain some semblance of sanity. “Whew, that was a feast. I'm full.” “This is odd. Why am I hungry?” “Bear with it. If you were me, you'd have done the same.” I answered offhandedly, collapsing back into the sofa. Wasn't this made from some monster's hide? It felt luxurious to the touch. “So comfortable.” In a studio apartment, there wouldn't be room for a sofa. Brother Jin-ho would have had to cook ramen in a communal kitchen or bring a burner. “Moving was definitely worth it.” Brother Jin-ho answered, scraping the bottom of the pot with a spoon. “Yeah, the house’s nice.” “Right? When Mom or Hayeon sees it, they’ll be so delighted...” A flash of realization struck. I gaped at the spacious room and furniture—so vastly different from a small studio apartment. And, seamlessly blending into this space and situation, was one person. “Hungry. Should I cook some more jjajangmyeon?” “Not this time. Say the word now if you want any.” I barely managed to squeeze out a voice. "......Ah" “Yes?” “What are you doing here, you brat!” My roar, piercing the still-dark dawn, shook the residential neighborhood in Ilsan. After hearing the entire story, I could only ask, incredulously. “You were inside the capsule in there?” Brother Jin-ho, kneeling politely with raised arms, avoided my gaze as he answered. “Yes. I held my breath and stayed perfectly still.” No wonder the movers seemed on edge. Even I didn’t sense anything amiss. Back then, compared to now, my physical strength had multiplied, and I hadn’t honed my senses to their current level. And there was one more thing. 'Who the heck would ever imagine that?' No matter how sophisticated and expensive an alarm system, if powered off, it can't alert of an intrusion. I couldn't have possibly foreseen someone hiding inside the capsule. “Sigh. What about the place you were supposed to find? Weren't you moving in with a friend?” “You know Kim Jong-su, right? My university colleague. You even joined us for drinks a couple years ago.” His face was a blur, but I vaguely remembered. Wasn't he quite a successful used car dealer at the time? If he hadn’t treated us to beef, I would've forgotten him by now. “The friend you were supposed to move in with, was it him?” “That's right. Not anymore, though.” “Could it be...” “Five million deposit. That bastard took it and vanished.” Why do bad feelings always seem to hit the mark? I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “How did that happen?” “Well, since I had exams coming up, he said he'd handle the details…” I raised a hand to stop him from continuing. No need to hear the rest; it's the same old story. One of the classic yet effective ruses. “So, without verifying, you just handed it over?” “We’ve known each other for over ten years. Who would've thought he'd do this over a few hundred thousand?” "But that 'few hundred' is your entire savings, isn't it?" If he had to sneak in through the capsule, it was clear Jin-ho didn't have any money left to pay this month's studio apartment rent. 'Isn't his hometown Jeju Island?' A top-tier, gullible black cow. Even among fools, there's none quite like him. Seeing my expression, Jin-ho lowered his head in shame. "I thought I’d stay here for a couple of months until I get back on my feet." "You could’ve just told me." "I thought about it for a long time, but the words wouldn’t come out. Still, being an older brother, I didn't want to burden my younger sibling." Seriously, what exactly does he consider a burden? "I'm really sorry." With a mournful tone, Jin-ho lowered his arms. His eyes were now glistening with moisture. "Taekyung..." "Jin-ho hyung..." I continued in a sympathetic voice. "Who told you to lower your arms?" "Huh?" "Raise them back up before I hit you." "...Yup." Sighing, I watched as he obediently raised his arms again. The situation was so unexpected that it was both absurd and somewhat troubling for me. 'He should have just told me.' In the past, it might have been difficult, but now I’m more than capable of supporting Jin-ho. No, even in the past, I would have helped him both financially and emotionally. 'After everything we've been through together.' Though not related by blood, Jin-ho was like a genuine brother to me. There were times when I considered inviting him to live with me because leaving him alone didn’t sit right with me. 'I plan to tell Mom and Hayeon only after the college entrance exams anyway, so there’s still time…' I glanced around the house with a contemplative gaze. Although it looked different from what I remembered from my childhood, it was our family home that I had finally reclaimed. A home with faded echoes of my father's now faint voice. Having reached a decision, I spoke up. "Hyung, this house won't do for now. I hope you understand." With a resigned smile, Jin-ho shook his head. "There's nothing to be upset about. It's all my fault, after all." "Have you unpacked your things?" "Not yet. I only have a few books and clothes, so it's light. I'll just head out when you leave for work." I noticed that it was already bright outside. It was eight o'clock, and considering traffic congestion and the distance from Ilsan to Bucheon, I'd be cutting it close to make it to work on time. "You might have to leave now, actually. Better pack up." "Alright, sure." "And before I get off work, make sure to clean the new place thoroughly." "...What?" "Don't get the wrong idea, not here. Just wait a second." I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my messenger. Finally, I found the address in a chat with Team Leader Choi, who I had saved as "Luxury Addict." "Ah, here it is. I just sent the address to your number, so find your way there." "Hold on. What address?" "A studio apartment." "What?" "It's the apartment the guild offered us. I declined before because it felt too much, but I'll take it now." Seeing Jin-ho's eyes widen in surprise, I couldn't help but chuckle. “Why are you so shocked? I’ve been doing well these days.” "We need to remodel this house, so let's live there together. It'll be easier for me to commute, anyway." "Ta-Tae-Kyung..." I turned away, pretending not to hear Jin-ho's shaky voice. I wasn’t keen on emotional scenes so early in the morning. I didn’t need to hear gratitude from the person who had comforted me during my hardest times. 'This is it.' Yes, this was enough. Even though the September heat had somewhat subsided, the morning commute was just as hectic. The cab driver, annoyed by the sneaky drivers weaving through traffic, honked his horn and turned up the radio volume. - An F-class gate has appeared in Ultaeri, Jangheung-myeon, Yangju City. Immediate evacuation is in effect. Cooperation with nearby hunters and military units is swiftly underway, and currently confirmed casualties stand at six... “Damn it, as if the traffic wasn't bad enough, now these monster bastards too.” Muttering vibrant curses, the driver glanced at me in the passenger seat. "Are you a hunter too?" "I am, sort of." At this point, it's hard to tell if I'm a hunter or a martial artist. Nevertheless, my official identity in the modern world is a C-rank hunter from the Hope Guild. The cab driver chuckled knowingly at my response. "I thought so. You can tell a hunter just by looking at them." "It tends to be that way." It’s like distinguishing between herbivores and carnivores, perhaps. There are exceptions, but everyone carries a certain aura. Carrying a large case with my build, I'm either one or the other. A fitness-loving musician, or a hunter. 'It's as clear as day.' It's really no big deal, especially for a cab driver who encounters numerous passengers daily. Yet, this middle-aged man seemed never to tire of talking. “Uh, can I ask you something?” Sure, go ahead. “Lately, it feels like gates are opening more frequently. Isn’t there anything that can be done about it?” “…Pardon?” “I mean, how can folks like me feel secure? I could wake up to find a gate open in my apartment parking lot any day, and no matter how many passengers I pick up, the price of land in safe zones isn’t cheap.” I replied with a perplexed face. “Well, that’s true, but why bring it to me?” “I know, I know. I just feel uneasy, that’s all.” “…I feel uneasy too.” Am I a hunter or a prophet? Not even Nostradamus could predict these things. Gate occurrences are unpredictable. It’s only thanks to the astronomical investments in deploying mana sensors everywhere that we can ensure swift early suppression. Like the breaking news flowing through the radio now. - Breaking news. The F-rank gate in Yangju City has been stabilized. Hunters and the military have exterminated a total of 58 goblins, and are actively searching for any remaining monsters... “Gates and monsters at every turn. It's exhausting.” Beep. The cab driver impatiently turned off the radio. Though the atmosphere was a bit uncomfortable, it allowed us to continue the ride to my destination in blessed silence. 'I wonder what Mom and Hayeon are up to right now.' As I was lost in thought, gazing out the window, a loud car horn snapped me back. Honk! Hooonk—! A faint honking pierced through the hum in my ear. Accompanying it was a jumble of mixed noises. I hurriedly rolled down the window. 'What is going on? An accident, maybe?' Startled by my sudden action, the taxi driver asked with a puzzled expression. "Mister, the air conditioner is on, so why...?" "Just, hold on a second." My serious tone made the driver close his mouth as I started to gather my inner energy. With senses far surpassing those of a normal human, I surveyed the congested road. At that moment, my attention was caught. "What?" In the distance, a black dot shot up into the air. As it traced a curved trajectory back down, I realized what it was and murmured to myself. "...A car?" Though crushed like a ball, I could clearly see it. The crumpled bonnet and twisted scrap metal. And as it hurtled through the air, sprinkling shattered glass, I followed its path, determined it was bound for—whoosh! 'Oh, crap.' Why does it have to land here, of all places?