The ding of the elevator firmly snapped Si Hyun's wandering mind back to reality. As soon as the doors opened, Ha Hyuk stepped out, immediately heading to the office without hesitation or greeting anyone he passed in the hallway. Si Hyun wished Ha Hyuk would show even a hint of hesitation.
Contrary to that wish, Ha Hyuk entered the office with increased speed. His straightforward actions underscored his efficiency and value for time.
He invited Si Hyun to take a seat opposite him on the sofa. Swallowing his discomfort, Si Hyun sat down, and Ha Hyuk, seeming to have forgotten something, stood up again.
"Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Or perhaps orange juice?"
"...Coffee."
Why even offer orange juice?
It felt patronizing, as if he was treating me like a child. I'd have been grateful if he hadn't suggested milk instead.
I responded with a hint of displeasure, and Ha Hyuk, quietly chuckling, brought out two mugs. The dark liquid inside swayed. Given the place and the situation, I wasn't particularly inclined to drink it.
Using the cup more as a hand warmer, Ha Hyuk crossed his legs. Si Hyun's mind raced, trying to figure out why he had been summoned.
"I heard there was some trouble at the association."
His tone was calm, but I could almost hear the overlaid voice of a young boy mocking me, urging me to dance on stage again. Despite it not being even half a day, news traveled fast.
"...It was just a minor issue."
I hedged, unsure how far the news had spread. Admitting the association had disregarded me and that I received a B+ grade felt too demeaning. Even if the evaluation was wrong, my pride was still at stake. I didn't want to admit to Ha Hyuk that I got a B+.
"I heard you went as far as making threats. Must have been a 'minor' issue indeed."
"...Ha ha."
An awkward laugh escaped me. Others might defuse situations with a smile, but my attempt felt clumsy and obvious. It would have been better not to try, so I cleared my throat, wondering if he had called me because of the association friction.
Looking for an answer, I met Ha Hyuk's gaze just as he sipped his coffee. The curve of his lips became visible as he set the mug down. I observed how his lips moved.
"In this world, the foolish remain foolish, the ugly stay ugly, and the cunning continue to be cunning."
"Excuse me?"
"Yeon Hwa-seung, the examiner, will be expelled from the association. Redem has put pressure on, and the chairman is displeased too. Things will likely move forward by tomorrow."
"Ah."
"The chairman says he's sorry for the trouble and asks for your understanding. The grade issue was solely Yeon Hwa-seung's unilateral decision. Does that settle things for you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I was asking if that's enough to appease you."
His tone was cold. It seemed like if I said I was still unsatisfied, he'd be ready to decapitate Yeon Hwa-seung or whatever the examiner's name was right away.
Truthfully, hearing just that didn't ease my feelings, but I never wished harm on the examiner. Deciding to consider it resolving a human life, I responded that it was enough. As Ha Hyuk studied me, he finally smiled and changed the subject.
"So the grade issue is settled. As for the association's scouting offer, I assume you've handled it well."
Though his words suggested trust, his gaze said otherwise. Internally criticising him for not being consistent with his words and actions, I assured him I had rejected it. After all, accepting the scout offer wouldn't mean I could just leave.
"That's right. It's a good thing you didn't forget the contract."
Ha Hyuk pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the table. It was the contract we had signed six months ago.
Does he always carry that around?
Whether he had hastily grabbed it upon hearing about the scout or always carried it, either way, his intentions seemed dubious. It was as if he was reminding me he held the leash.
This act was enough to extinguish any positive feelings I had towards Redem. It was a peculiar talent, making someone who had no affection for him lose even the slightest interest.
"If you've finished what you came to say, may I leave now?"
"Sit back down. Who taught you to get up before the conversation was over?"
Again, his perfect mix of formal and informal speech. I reluctantly sat back down, sighing, wondering what more there was to discuss, but then Ha Hyuk brought up something I had temporarily forgotten due to the grade test.
"Adam and Eve."
"Ah..."
"Why did you want information on them...?"
His question sounded almost like he was talking
to himself. I had pushed it to the back of my mind for the test and had completely forgotten about it since. Scolding myself for erasing it too thoroughly, I hesitated to respond.
I hadn't told him anything yet.
I had shared my secret with the A-grade kids and, somehow, ended up telling Rus about the burden I was carrying, but I had never shared even the smallest detail with Ha Hyuk. There was no established bond between us.
Truth be told, I trusted him not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Other than that, my interactions with Ha Hyuk were filled with suspicion and caution. As he searched my face, I took a deep breath.
From what I've learned, I needed to share some information. Many awakeners, especially those with power and authority like Ha Hyuk and Rus, needed to know this story. Yet, the dilemma was about how much to reveal.
Information no one else had was a form of power. Being relatively powerless, I had to be cautious with my words, naturally limiting the information I could share based on the relationship. How much could I tell Ha Hyuk?
As I pondered, the man who had set his cup down broke the silence.
"Si Hyun."
"..."
"If you need anything, just let me know. Even if you're temporarily part of the guild, you're a member of my guild, and I'm your Guild Leader. That means you should share any information you've gathered with me."
Not with some foreigner.
A hint of displeasure, uncharacteristically, seeped into Ha Hyuk's voice. Si Hyun, instantly realizing who the 'foreigner' mentioned was, silently stared at the man questioning why he hadn't sought his help.
"We were the only two who knew that the irregular that appeared in the sky that day was a Gula, and that it happened to appear on that specific day. I let it slide until now because you seemed preoccupied, but now that you seem to have some breathing room, I have things I'm curious about too."
"Is that so?"
"Share with me too."
"What exactly?"
"Everything you know."
It was a significant request. Si Hyun, after sipping his lukewarm coffee a few times, put down his cup just as Ha Hyuk had. The caffeine relaxed his muscles. In the eased atmosphere, leaning back on the sofa, Si Hyun lightly tapped his knee with his fingertips before speaking up.
"What can you offer me in return if I share?"
He was inclined to share as much information as possible, but not for free. If the other party was asking first, then the information he possessed was indeed of sufficient trade value.
With Rus, the situation had been urgent, so he shared in exchange for help, but now the circumstances were different. It wasn't like Gula was appearing in the sky right this moment.
"Trying to take from me freely but asking for a trade when I ask in return makes you seem quite annoying, you know?"
"Does it?"
"Almost makes me want to drag you into the next rift as punishment..."
Si Hyun nearly flinched but maintained a calm expression. Ha Hyuk gave a slight chuckle as if joking and leaned in a bit more.
"The information about Adam and Eve."
"That alone isn't enough."
The audacity was unparalleled.
I was offering rare information, and he was providing something not particularly unique, showing my disappointment openly. Ha Hyuk, as if he had anticipated this, added another condition.
"I'll give you two days off as well."
"..."
It was tempting. Recently, Haru and I had been talking about taking a trip, so Si Hyun, realizing he had never actually taken a break, spoke up.
"If I take a break, that means more people will have to..."
"Don't worry. I'll work more to make up for your absence."
"Oh."
That appealed to me. It meant I could leave the annoying man to his work pit while I enjoyed myself. Forgetting to hide his interest, Si Hyun glanced at Ha Hyuk to gauge his reaction.
Since Ha Hyuk had been the rascal first, it seemed only fair that I play the part this time.
"...Let's add owing me a favor to the deal."
"You'd get arrested for trading like that anywhere else."
"I'm suggesting it because I believe the information I have is worth that much."
Ha Hyuk's eyes softened at my brazen counter. Our contrasting gazes locked. I didn't shy away from the pressure in his stare, waiting for him to decide between rejection and acceptance.
After a while, Ha Hyuk gave up the standoff and came to a decision.
"If I deem the information not worth the favor, we'll consider the debt null, okay?"
"Fine."
"Now that the compensation is settled, spill it. Everything you told the blond, all of it."
I dislike being out of the loop with information.
A chill seemed to spread through the room as Ha Hyuk's characteristic cold aura filled the space. It felt like the temperature had dropped. Si Hyun shrugged and began to disclose everything he knew about Gula, starting with the murals, the fantasy species, and how I came to understand the language of the irregulars.
After sharing everything, including the recent dream about the desert, the man who had been silent urged me to immediately report any further information I discovered.
We agreed I would demand new terms with each piece of information shared. I moistened my lips with the coffee left in my mug. Despite my concise summary, the tale was lengthy, leaving my mouth dry by the end.
Just as I was about to suggest we wrap up, our phones simultaneously started to ring.
Emergency disaster alert.
Judging by the alert sound, it was related to irregulars. Ha Hyuk frowned at the noisy phone and pulled it out, just in time for his own phone to ring. I took the opportunity to check my phone.
[An S-class irregular, Karis, has appeared at Incheon Airport. Support from S-class Awakeners required. Residents nearby are advised to evacuate immediately.]
The three stark sentences imprinted themselves into my blue eyes.
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