As soon as the morning light dared to show, a message on the checked phone announced a 10 o'clock departure. The send time was at 4 AM, a figure that piqued curiosity about Iha Hyuk's average sleep duration, but Kang Sihyun added no words beyond a simple "Yes."
Instead of engaging in trivial chat about sleep schedules, Kang Sihyun decided to wake the boys sprawled on the floor. The spots of Daun and Kang Haewoon, along with the other kids, were already empty. Memories of last night's conversation surfaced.
They could afford to take it a bit easier.
Indeed, every member of Class A was already exerting ample effort. It was just that they were abnormally obsessed with this endeavor.
Lee Hamin, for his part, was plainly trying harder to avoid getting on Iha Hyuk's bad side, Yoo Seowoo was pushing himself to escape his thoughts, and Ban Haru seemed more driven by a desire to become stronger.
With each having their reasons and narratives, there was no need to unnecessarily follow in their overexertion. Nonetheless, Daun or Baek Geonu, likely not the listeners, left Kang Sihyun gazing aimlessly at the door when the person he was shaking murmured a low groan.
"Should get up if you're awake, right?"
"…What?"
Whether he had woken from a deep sleep, the voice that responded was unusually low and deep. Yoo Seowoo's eyelids lazily lifted, and as soon as he recognized Kang Sihyun's face, he scrunched his eyes, from which Kang Sihyun detached his hand and smacked the arm wrapping around his waist.
"Stop messing around and get up."
Yoo Seowoo's physical affection had become a tad bolder lately. Although stroking hair or holding wrists was nothing new, he had taken to hugging quite frequently. Perhaps the issue was that time they slept together, and Kang Sihyun had allowed him to hug him throughout the night.
There was no way he could have left earlier without knowing in what posture they had slept.
Overlooking the fact that Yoo Seowoo had to leave early was a mistake. Kang Sihyun sighed and squinted his eyes, prompting Yoo Seowoo to lazily sit up.
"What time is it that you're like this?"
"7 o'clock. Since we've been told to leave at 10, why don’t you wake Lee Hamin?"
"Slept longer than I thought."
"Well... Ah, Ban Haru, we need to leave by 10, so it's time to wake up."
As he was about to retort, Ban Haru's eyelids twitched, prompting Kang Sihyun to quickly add. Yoo Seowoo, hearing the gentle voice, chuckled from behind. Upon receiving a signal to stop fooling around and wake up, Yoo Seowoo sluggishly roused Lee Hamin.
While Yoo Seowoo woke Lee Hamin, Kang Sihyun went to wash up and checked the fridge. Finding enough food for breakfast, he began heating some up when Lee Hamin's scream was heard.
"Ah, damn it! I said I’d wake up!"
Lee Hamin's refusal to wake up prompted Yoo Seowoo to tease him with water. Tilting the cup as if to pour, Lee Hamin yelped and quickly got up. Noting this effective reaction, Kang Sihyun took mental note.
"Just a straightforward 10 o'clock departure?"
"Yeah. We're to gather in the parking lot and wait."
"The guild master is driving, I guess."
"Seems so."
Kang Sihyun found himself riding in the guild master's car for the third time. In Redem, it was joked that riding in Iha Hyuk's car meant enduring hardships, and considering his current situation, it didn't seem far from the truth.
After finishing breakfast and chatting with the kids, Kang Sihyun gathered up by past 9:30, collected the blankets, and got dressed. Unsure whether to wear battle gear or casual clothes, he opted for the battle uniform when a message from Iha Hyuk arrived.
[We're not going to beat up Titan but to meet with Muam first, so dress neatly.]
"Ah…"
Was he psychic? How precise the timing was.
Just as he zipped up the last of his outfit, Kang Sihyun faced a message that arrived. Except for Yoo Seowoo, everyone had chosen battle uniforms, so he showed Iha Hyuk's message and everyone decided to change their outfits again. After much discussion, without any formal attire like suits available, they settled on the uniform of the strongest high school.
"Are we really going in this?"
"There's nothing else to wear. Perfect for distinguishing guild members."
"But still…"
Lee Hamin appeared uncomfortable in his uniform after months, feeling out
of place. But by the time it was 9:50, there was no time to change again. Reluctantly pulling Lee Hamin along, they headed to the parking lot to find a man leaning against a black car with the engine running.
He slowly lifted his head. As their eyes met, Kang Sihyun hurriedly checked the time.
9:55.
Not late, but since they hadn't arrived before Iha Hyuk, it felt awkward. It was like a professor waiting at the meeting spot first, making those who arrived late feel self-conscious.
Without further ado, Kang Sihyun approached the man. Iha Hyuk flashed that signature smile and directed three to the back seat and one to the passenger seat.
Lee Hamin was chosen for the passenger seat, a nonsensical reason assuming siblings might be closer, but no one was eager to sit next to Iha Hyuk after the last experience of being tormented all the way. Remembering how he had evaded Lee Hamin's gaze, Lee Hamin boarded the passenger seat, fuming.
"Why not just have everyone in the back?"
"Then I'd become the chauffeur, wouldn't I, Lee Hamin?"
Iha Hyuk provided the counterargument I was about to make. Sending agreeing looks, Lee Hamin, irritated, banged his head against the window.
Kang Sihyun pondered how to convey to him that the person in the passenger seat shouldn't sleep, and that the backseat was considered the place of honor, then decided it wasn't worth stirring trouble.
"How long will it take to get to the Muam Guild?"
"Since both guilds are based in Seoul, it won't take long. About 40 minutes?"
That was good news. Nodding his head, Kang Sihyun listened as Ban Haru, who had been observing the scenery outside while the car drove out of the parking lot and onto the road, spoke up.
"Will the atmosphere at Redem be very different?"
"The atmosphere in guilds is pretty much the same everywhere. There are those dying, those living, those suffering. At this time, it's the same wherever you go."
"Ah…"
"But Muam is a bit unique. Starting with the guild master..."
The man trailed off, suggesting understanding would come with meeting. Given Iha Hyuk's remark about his unconventional character, curiosity was piqued. Kang Sihyun recalled the various individuals he had met.
The craziest person he'd met was Ruth.
"...No longer?"
He had thought Ruth was the craziest among the crazies, but suddenly, the boy sitting on his left came to mind. Glancing at Yoo Seowoo, Kang Sihyun corrected his thoughts as he noticed him turning his head upon feeling the gaze.
The most principled crazy he had met was Ruth, and the simply crazy was Yoo Seowoo.
The strangest was Kang Haewoon, and the one who got angry the easiest was Lee Hamin.
Surprisingly, the most sociable seemed not to be Kang Haewoon but Jaei.
That reminds me, he must be at Muam.
Thinking of the green-haired figure he hadn't considered in a while, Kang Sihyun speculated about the character of the Muam guild master. With Iha Hyuk speaking thus, it seemed he definitely wasn't ordinary.
Crazies were now in short supply.
Just around him, there were several off-kilter individuals: Ruth, Yoo Seowoo, Kang Haewoon, Iha Hyuk, and occasionally Daun.
Somehow, more than half of the people he knew were crazies. He didn't want to add more suspicious characters to his list of acquaintances, hoping instead for someone with a normal disposition, or at least someone who was quick-tempered, when Iha Hyuk's car stopped in front of a building.
"We've arrived."
At his soft utterance, those who were dozing or distracted all turned to look outside.
The scene that met Kang Sihyun's eyes made him close his mouth.
"A Hanok…?"
In the middle of Seoul stood a traditional Korean house.
Then, from Lee Hamin sitting in front, an astonished voice emerged.
"Yakuza…?"
At the dubious tone, Kang Sihyun examined Lee Hamin's face. Following his gaze, Kang Sihyun turned his head to see, no matter where he looked, a suspicious figure catching his eye. Despite not being the only person standing in front of the Muam guild, he immediately captured attention.
His attire and aura were far from ordinary.
Early March.
It was chilly enough to cling to padded jackets.
Yet, there stood someone in short sleeves, wearing sunglasses.
And in what appeared to be a Hawaiian shirt.
Could it be?
The ominous feeling that arose made Kang Sihyun's eyes meet Iha Hyuk's. As he mentioned getting out of the car, Iha Hyuk checked Kang Sihyun's face through the rearview mirror and smirked.
"That person is the guild master of Muam."
Kang Sihyun sighed deeply, responding to the precise answer that pierced right through his thoughts.
It's been a while since his temples throbbed like this. Pressing his temples, Kang Sihyun stepped out of the car to confront the man approaching them.
The corners of the man's mouth under the sunglasses lifted significantly. Faced with the impactful entrance of such a character, Kang Sihyun harbored a logical question.
Is the S-grade reserved only for the crazies?
If that's the case, aiming for the S-grade title might need to be postponed...
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