“Then let me correct that to reluctant. Even so, you’re so kind that I can’t figure you out.”
What is this human—no, this vampire—talking about? A normal person would just think it in their head and be done with it, but he says it without hesitation. I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t think of what to say back.
“Tell your friend to get well soon. Then, see you again.”
After scratching me raw, Rashanin turned around with a smile and left. I stared blankly at his back as it disappeared into the crowd.
See you again.
My brow furrowed on its own. I absolutely didn’t want to meet him again.
*
How could life go exactly as one wishes?
It was one hour before Monday’s end of work when Department Head Kim Cheol-jin, who had returned from field work, called me separately to the department head’s office with a livid face.
I had an ominous premonition at the situation being the same as two weeks ago, and the premonition didn’t miss its mark.
“Lee Unhyuk-ssi. Was there something between you and the vampire from Russia?”
“Pardon?”
At the department head’s serious question, I had to gulp down my saliva. I hadn’t reported about accidentally meeting Rashanin on Saturday evening. Because it would become troublesome. Could I have been caught?
“Did you make some mistake when that bastard entered Korea?”
“You know about the accident that occurred, don’t you, Department Head-nim?”
“I’m not talking about that, was there anything else?”
“There was nothing in particular, but why are you really asking this?”
Meeting Rashanin on Saturday evening really was nothing much. Although a commotion occurred, fortunately I escaped the scene. The only problem was the subtle conversation between me and Rashanin. Even that wasn’t particularly problematic.
So I pretended not to know and asked, but the department head made a groaning sound.
“Why on earth is he like that?”
“Department Head-nim?”
“I don’t know what it’s about either. The Director told me to bring you.”
“What?!”
The Director is the highest person in the Bureau. I’m in my fourth year at the company and have never directly met the Director face-to-face. But the Director told them to bring me.
“That vampire designated you.”
“Designated? Why, why did he designate me?”
“If you don’t know, how would I know?”
Buddha Department Head-nim’s face instantly turned scary. At the glare in his eyes looking at me, I flinched for no reason. When I turned my eyes away pretending not to know, the department head let out a sigh.
“Let’s go. We have to go together anyway.”
“Go?”
“Don’t we have to see the Director?”
“Ah…!”
In that short moment, I had completely forgotten. I worried that dementia might come at this age.
I left the conference room following the department head. A strange silence flowed through the office that should have been excited before leaving work. Feeling the agents’ furtive glances following my back, I let out a sigh.
I really hated receiving attention like this.
Damn vampire.
The shameless face of the man with that sly smile came to mind. What on earth did he complain about that I have to go meet the Bureau Director who’s said to be harder to meet than the President?
My fingers twitched. If he were in front of me, I would have strangled him.
*
The Special Management Bureau for Heteromorphic Organisms was a secret organization directly under the President and was organized as a cell system. I knew there were departments managing various heteromorphs—werewolves, fairies, goblins, etc.—besides the vampire department, but I had no idea exactly where and how many there were. I only learned today for the first time that the Bureau headquarters was in Dongdaemun.
It’s grandiose to call it headquarters, but the four-story building located in a back alley was just old and shabby. Even the tacky sign reading “Jinyang Distribution Co., Ltd.” was missing the ‘ㅠ’ character from ‘distribution.’ No matter how you looked at it, it was a company going under because business was bad; it didn’t look like secret organization headquarters at all.
Following the department head into the Director’s office on the fourth floor, two people were seated. I exchanged eye greetings with Department Head Yoon Cha-hyeon from the Information Department since I had worked in the Information Department before. However, the old man sitting with Department Head Yoon Cha-hyeon was a face I was seeing for the first time. That was probably the Director.
Lee Jin-soo, the Director of the Bureau with a small build and gray hair, was a legendary figure. The rumor that he was a founding member of the Bureau and rose from a Grade 9 civil servant to the Director’s position was nothing. Now, over 40 years since the Bureau was established, the fact that he remained in the Director’s position without retiring even past the age of seventy was a mystery. According to circulating rumors, he directly controlled vampires and heteromorphic beings numbering more than five fingers, and held secrets of not only successive presidents but also National Assembly members and ministers in his hands.
He looked like a ho-ho grandfather on the outside, but the power he held was enormous. Because I was extremely tense, the Director’s gaze felt piercing.
“I’m Lee Unhyuk.”
I bowed at a 90-degree angle.
“So you’re Lee Unhyuk.”
His voice was also grandfatherly. But his eyes were as sharp as befitting his years. I bowed my head so our eyes wouldn’t meet.
“Yes.”
“I hear you’re in charge of the Grand Duke of Moscow’s successor?”
“I’m in charge of blood.”
Since Rashanin said he didn’t need blood, I was the blood person in charge in name only. Whether he knew this fact or not, the Director smiled warmly.
“Department Head Kim Cheol-jin says your work attitude is excellent.”
“Thank you.”
“But it seems you haven’t reported what happened on Saturday yet.”
“…?!”
“When an incident or accident occurs, you need to give a verbal report within 24 hours.”
“Ah… that was a coincidence… I’m sorry.”
I tried to make an excuse but stopped. Cold sweat ran down my back. Since they let such a dangerous being as Rashanin into Korea, it was natural to monitor him. I didn’t know where, how, or who was doing it, but anyway, it seemed the small incident that happened on Saturday had reached the Director’s ears.
I felt Department Head Kim Cheol-jin’s sharp gaze from behind. I said nothing happened, but now that it was exposed like this, I had to endure nagging.
“No matter how coincidental, you have to follow regulations, don’t you?”
“I’ll correct it.”
The Director spoke lightly in passing, but I had no choice but to get thoroughly reamed out.
“That’s fine. I didn’t call you to scold you. So how about being a guide?”
How about being a guide? What the hell is this out of nowhere? Without realizing it, I looked at Director Lee Jin-soo’s face. The Director smiled like a kind-hearted grandfather.
“A designation came in.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“The Russian ambassador contacted us directly and designated you. As the guide for Rashanin-ssi who came to Korea this time.”
“What?!”
Forgetting that the person in front of me was the Director, I asked back in a dumbfounded voice. What kind of backwards flying bird sound is this? A guide. I was too flustered.
“I hear you got caught up in a small quarrel on Saturday, and he says a guide is needed so the same thing doesn’t happen. He says a regular person won’t do, and also that he received help from you and is very grateful and likes you, so he’s requesting it. We can’t refuse on our end.”
At the Director’s words that he was very pleased, I cursed internally. I gave him advice to find a guide and he designates me? Why is this really happening?
This damn vampire.
While I was boiling inside alone, Department Head Yoon Cha-hyeon from the Information Department, who was seated together, opened his mouth.
“There’s an appointment at 8 o’clock today, so go to the hotel. Decide the detailed matters like schedule and reports in consultation with Department Head Kim Cheol-jin.”
“Understood.”
Who could I refuse saying it’s someone’s order? As I bowed my head saying I understood, another voice fell over my head. It was the grandfather, Director Lee Jin-soo.
“You know, I don’t think a vampire of the level of the Grand Duke’s successor came to a country like this for tourism. He must have some other scheme.”
“…!”
“We did attach a tail, but the situation is that we can’t properly monitor him because they’re just pretending not to know and turning a blind eye. So while you’re serving as a guide, find out why he came to Korea. This is an order.”
“Yes.”
