"What the heck? Who rings the doorbell at three in the morning?"
"Yeah, seriously. What a thoughtless jerk."
I walked over to the monitor and pressed the button.
# Hello, Mr. Yu Jin-hyuk. This is the lobby desk. I'm really sorry to bother you at this late hour.
"Hi. No worries, I wasn't asleep anyway."
# The thing is, there's someone here insisting on seeing you right now. I told them to come back in the morning, but they're not budging.
"Who is it?"
# A middle-aged Japanese woman.
I frowned.
No one comes to mind who would visit me like this.
# So your name is Yu Jin-hyuk? Mr. Yu Jin-hyuk?
# You can't just go in there!
I could hear a commotion on the other side of the monitor.
What kind of chaos is this in the dead of night?
# I know what you did in Kyoto. Let me talk to you.
'Huh?'
Jin-hyuk placed a hand over his chest.
Good, it's still beating strong.
It skipped a beat there; I thought it had stopped.
"Security, could you send her up? I'll handle it."
# Are you sure? I can call the police if you want.
"It's fine. Thanks for dealing with this in the middle of the night."
I stared at the blank monitor.
What I did in Kyoto, huh.
After thinking for a moment, Jin-hyuk shrugged.
Honestly, I could just send her away.
There's no evidence left anyway.
But I was curious.
How did she find out? How did she track me down?
"Boss, just stay put. I'll take care of it. Or I could have that cultist slap a talisman on her."
"I hate to agree with the demon, but if the master wants, we've got options. From knocking her out to putting her to sleep—or something stronger if you prefer."
Camelia made a throat-slitting gesture.
It hit me again.
The person coming up isn't the dangerous one.
It's always my friends who are.
"It's okay. We're just talking, so stay hidden."
My friends vanished from sight.
After a short wait, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door, and the visitor appeared.
Huh? I recognize her.
Sato Tsubasa, the popular politician from Japan's Innovation Party.
She's always popping up on NewTube or the news.
This is getting more surreal by the minute.
Someone like her showing up at my place at this hour?
"Hello. We finally meet. I'm Sato Tsubasa."
She extended her hand, and I shook it.
"Finally," like she's been looking for me.
"I'm Yu Jin-hyuk."
A silence hung between our clasped hands.
'She's young. Really young.'
I didn't show it, but I was surprised.
I figured she'd be in her thirties at least, not someone who looks barely twenty.
'This'll be easy.'
Tsubasa smiled faintly.
She's rolled around in politics long enough to have thick skin.
Swaying a kid like this would be child's play.
And besides, she held the upper hand here.
"Nice place. Mind if I come in? I've been wandering around outside a lot."
Tsubasa said casually, glancing over Jin-hyuk's shoulder.
Is he from a rich family?
This isn't the kind of place someone his age usually lives in.
Or maybe...
'He's a runner getting hefty support.'
She couldn't be sure yet if this guy was a runner.
The traces she'd followed only led back to the Hosaka Corporation.
Jin-hyuk watched her quietly before speaking.
"Have you thought this through?"
Tsubasa's eyebrow twitched.
"Pardon?"
Jin-hyuk smiled leisurely and repeated himself.
"You said you know what I did in Kyoto. So I was wondering if you've really considered whether it's wise to come in."
In that instant, Tsubasa's hair stood on end.
It felt like she'd been hit with a hammer.
He was right.
This man had casually killed the chairman of a major Japanese conglomerate.
And it was highly likely he'd also wiped out the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters, though that was still a guess.
A question mark formed in her once-confident mind.
Is going in the right move?
Alone?
'Shouldn't have sent him away.'
Secrets gain value the fewer people know them.
Rotori was capable, but he was just a mercenary working for money.
After pinpointing Jin-hyuk's home, she'd sent him back to Japan first.
"If you've thought it over, come on in."
Jin-hyuk stepped aside.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Tsubasa's back.
The path into the house was wide open.
The old Tsubasa—the usual her—would've walked right in without hesitation.
But for some reason, her feet wouldn't move.
Gulp.
Tsubasa glanced over Jin-hyuk's shoulder again.
The traces from the Hosaka building were there, plus some new ones, thick and fresh.
Meaning this man wasn't alone.
"Before I come in, I want to make one thing clear."
Tsubasa sighed deeply and continued.
It's been forever since she's had to play from behind.
"I'm not here to blackmail you, Mr. Yu Jin-hyuk. I have no intention of using what I know to demand anything. I just came to talk."
"Yeah, that's why I invited you in."
"Then promise me one thing."
"A promise?"
"That I won't die screaming. And if you decide to kill me, at least give me time to say my piece. How about it?"
'Huh?'
Jin-hyuk's eyes widened in shock.
I never said anything about killing her—why is she like this?
It seemed way off base, but he decided not to correct her.
It didn't hurt him any.
"Sure."
Tsubasa nodded and stepped inside.
Unlike when the door first opened, her every move was now cautious.
In the brief moment she brushed past, Jin-hyuk's eyes followed her.
Seira's unique trait: Motion Detection.
It's meant to catch subtle movements and predict the next action, but it's great for simple observation too.
'Again.'
Just like when the door opened.
As soon as she entered, Tsubasa stared into empty space.
Like she could see something.
Then her nose twitched again.
As if sniffing whatever she saw.
Thud.
I closed the door and went in.
"Have a seat here. Want some coffee?"
"No, water's fine."
Tsubasa sat down and looked around the room.
Traces lingered everywhere.
She spoke casually.
"Looks like you live with someone."
Jin-hyuk set down the water glass and shook his head.
"I live alone. But Ms. Tsubasa."
"Yes?"
He pointed to his nose.
"It has to do with smells, right? Your awakened class."
Tsubasa froze mid-sip.
She had no choice.
No one had ever figured out her ability.
She'd never revealed it to anyone.
The moment it got out, everyone would be on guard around her.
But this guy in front of her had cracked it in under five minutes.
'Of course.'
Jin-hyuk smiled faintly.
She'd tracked him here from Hosaka's chairman's office, where no evidence should've remained.
And she'd even sensed the traces of his hidden friends.
Add in those habitual actions, and it had to be scent-based.
"Must be tough sometimes. Smelling things you'd rather not. Right?"
Tsubasa's hand trembled as she held the cup.
Her face hardened as she looked up at Jin-hyuk.
She'd let her guard down because he was young.
And she'd been completely mistaken.
The man before her wasn't the type you could manipulate.
Her success in politics, always being on top, had blurred the line.
Between confidence and arrogance.
Meanwhile, Jin-hyuk was puzzled.
I just asked a question—why is she shaking like that?
Tsubasa set down the cup and steadied her breathing.
She decided not to ask if anyone else was home.
She wasn't sure anymore.
Whether the answer would help or hurt her chances of survival.
Instead, she spoke in a trembling voice.
"Secrets are more valuable the fewer people know them. I have zero intention of blabbing about what I smelled in Hosaka's office or who it belongs to."
"Uh... sure."
Jin-hyuk found himself newly curious.
What kind of horrific scenarios were unfolding in Sato Tsubasa's imagination?
He shrugged and sat across from her.
After a moment's thought, he leaned forward.
"I have a question."
"Yes?"
I know it's random.
But since we're here, might as well make it worthwhile, right?
If Sato Tsubasa doesn't know the answer?
Oh well.
Nothing to lose.
*
North of Kyoto, near Kifune Shrine in the mountains.
An endless staircase appeared, with Cheon Se-yeon and her hunters.
"Entering now."
Before going in, the team geared up.
They'd brought equipment usable outside the tower.
No shortages to hold back their skills.
Boom!!
A golden light burst as Cheon Se-yeon's body leaped high.
The sun would rise in a few hours.
They had to finish before then.
Whoosh!
Hidden weapons flew from the forest.
They'd known they were coming, as expected.
Clang!!
The weapons didn't reach Se-yeon.
Her body was already enveloped in thick divine power.
Ordinary blades couldn't even get close.
"Grrr..."
A beastly growl echoed.
Se-yeon turned toward the forest.
'They've gone all out.'
Overall, it was bear-shaped.
But distorted from piecing together various parts.
"Keep going. I'll handle the small fry."
"Thanks."
She continued bounding up the stairs.
Attacks kept coming nonstop, but she didn't bother with a shield.
They weren't worth the effort.
She stepped on the last stair and leaped onto the shrine grounds.
The patchwork bear below wasn't the only preparation.
Onmyoji waited in formation at the center.
The elderly leader smirked.
"I don't know how you killed Kurone, but you're overconfident."
The oni of Kansai.
They'd known for a while.
That Cheon Se-yeon, Korea's famous ranker, was coming.
They hadn't run because it was simple.
They were certain.
Ranker or not.
Her abilities were well-known, so with preparation, they could take her down.
And this formation was the result.
A curse that scatters concentrated divine power, seeps in, and corrupts the human beneath.
Tailor-made for Cheon Se-yeon.
"Heh heh... It'll be quite painful."
As mana flowed in, an ominous light emanated from the ready formation.
A red hue staining the entire shrine.
After a brief buildup, the amplified light poured forth.
Straight toward Korea's ranker, Cheon Se-yeon.
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T/N:
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