Chapter 86
“Director Han will be here in ten minutes.”
I uncrossed my legs and stood. The crisply ironed shirt shifted softly as I moved, the tailored designer suit—once stiff—now fitting like a second skin. A silent secretary, who had been standing unobtrusively nearby, stepped forward to help me into my jacket. I was used to being dressed by others by now.
“Once Director Han arrives, you can head straight to the event venue.”
I nodded, gathering the items on the table—just my cigarettes, lighter, and wallet. After buttoning my jacket, I stood in front of the full-length mirror by the living room entrance.
“A lot of important people will be at today’s charity event. Best to be prepared.”
“I know.”
“If something like last time happens again—”
“Secretary Moon, why so chatty today?”
In the mirror, I saw myself in a muted gray checkered suit, my tie knotted tightly. From head to toe, every piece I wore was luxury. My dark circles were a little deeper, but not enough to bother me.
“I know what I’m doing.”
“But Director Han specifically—”
“Enough.”
I waved my hand to cut off Secretary Moon’s nagging and stepped outside.
“Director Han said he’d come himself, so it might be best to wait.”
“I’ll just go downstairs and wait. What’s the point of waiting here?”
“……Understood. I’ll let him know.”
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I jabbed the button for the second basement level and mashed the “close” button repeatedly. It was a small act of rebellion, fueled by my desperate desire not to share the ride with Secretary Moon. Of course, Secretary Moon easily caught up and stepped into the elevator with me.
“And Director Han has repeatedly asked you to quit smoking…”
“Doesn’t it get tiring, worrying about every little thing?”
“It’s business etiquette. Some people are sensitive to the smell of smoke.”
“I’m not in business, so why should I care about business etiquette?”
“You move with Director Han, don’t you? Ultimately, you represent his image.”
“Han Jaemin’s face is better-looking anyway, so why should I represent him?”
“Just soften your words a little, please… I beg you.”
Secretary Moon’s voice took on a pleading tone. I let out a satisfied chuckle and nodded.
“Hard to make money, huh?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Don’t you get hit with reality dealing with a twenty-year-old brat all day?”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re fine? What, are you a robot? Always saying the same thing.”
“……We’re here.”
“After the event, I’m going to Go Hankyul’s place.”
“You have a dinner appointment with Director Han.”
“I’m not going. Why would I want to stuff myself?”
“……I’ll inform Director Han.”
“Good.”
The car was already waiting. As I opened the back door, Han Jaemin sat with his arms crossed, glaring at me.
“Secretary Moon, did this kid not put on cologne?”
“Well…”
“I didn’t want to because it smells gross.”
“Your cigarette smell is worse.”
Han Jaemin flicked his head dismissively, as if he had no interest in continuing the conversation. The driver took the cue and started the car, smoothly pulling out of the underground parking lot.
“How long are you going to live in that shitty officetel?”
“That’s my business.”
To signal I had no interest in talking further, I shoved wireless earbuds into my ears. Loud music blasted—rock from a band I’d recently gotten into, recommended by Go Hankyul. Since starting college, Go Hankyul had become obsessed with rock and joined the school band. When he said he was quitting being a ranker to become a singer, I told him to go for it, and now he was getting weirder by the day. Still, the music he recommended was good, so I kept listening. Surprisingly, the loud noise calmed my mind.
After about twenty minutes, the car stopped in front of a hotel. This so-called charity event was just a stage for the rich to flaunt their wealth.
“Oh my!”
As soon as I entered the venue, several people greeted me. The first was the wife of the Security Bureau’s Chief Security Officer.
“Chanhee, when did you get even more handsome?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re all grown up now.”
“I’ve always been a man.”
Secretary Moon stomped on my foot—harder than I expected. It actually hurt. I winced slightly before forcing another smile.
“Thank you, anyway. How’s the Chief doing?”
“Oh, he’s been so busy lately. There’s still so much to handle regarding the Gate… But he’s grateful for Director Han’s active cooperation.”
Han Jaemin flashed a polite smile beside me.
“Well, it is our jurisdiction.”
“Still, people these days don’t even realize how dangerous the Gates are. They’re too busy complaining about falling property values.”
The woman glanced at me before continuing in a friendly tone.
“I heard you were deployed to an A-rank Gate again?”
“Ah, yes. That’s how it turned out.”
I answered casually.
“It must be tough, going back to hunter life after being a shield for all of high school.”
“Not really. I did take hunter courses until middle school.”
“How did you turn out so much like your father? Director Yu raised both of you so well.”
At the mention of my father, I had to manage my expression again. More accurately, the expression of a grieving son who lost both parents at once.
“It was so heartbreaking when they passed…”
“It really was.”
“But time does pass. It’s already been two years, and look how much you’ve grown.”
I stopped responding and just smiled. I had made a rule for myself: stay silent about my parents.
***
After Han Jaemin became my guardian, Hansung aggressively expanded its ranker cultivation business. As the son of the Security Bureau’s Chief Security Officer and the younger brother of a world-class ranker, I was probably just a risk-free puppet to Han Jaemin. And with my unstable but superior potential, I could become their top combat asset.
For the two years I spent in high school, I focused entirely on controlling Yu Dohyun’s mana. The incidents of bleeding or collapsing decreased, but his mana still didn’t suit my body. According to a researcher at Hansung Hospital, my mana and Yu Dohyun’s were gradually mixing, but the problem was that it wasn’t becoming fully mine.
“Since you forcibly took another person’s mana—someone who’s already dead—using forbidden alchemy, it’s inevitable that it will take time to identify the root cause.”
“So how long do I have to live like this, coughing up blood?”
The researcher hesitated before answering slowly.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Unless the mixed mana becomes yours, there’s a high probability you won’t even be able to use your original mana.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“So… you’re saying I might end up crippled?”
“Not exactly crippled, but… you may find it difficult to continue as a ranker.”
I was so stunned that a hollow laugh escaped me. So stealing Yu Dohyun’s mana was ultimately useless to me.
“Did you report this to Han Jaemin?”
“We brief him three times a day.”
“Then he knows.”
“The Director…”
The researcher continued cautiously.
“Wants to keep this a secret and have you continue as a ranker.”
“How can I be a ranker if I can’t even use mana?”
“I’m not sure about that part, but… you’re such a crucial figure in the business.”
“Important or not, what’s the point if I can’t do the job?”
This question was resolved sooner than I expected. Han Jaemin gave me a simple solution.
“Just show your face at the Gate.”
“What?”
“Since you’ve already been rated as a first-grade, no one will question it unless you’re retested. No one knows you’ve become a mana cripple. So just show up at the Gate, get in the news.”
“Are you insane?”
“What’s insane about it? It’s the most realistic and reasonable approach. Right now, the business needs you, and you’ve become a useless invalid who coughs up blood. How else are you going to prove your worth? Train in martial arts or something. Yu Hyunjae survived his useless phase by relying on martial arts.”
I felt utterly drained. The thought of living as Han Jaemin’s puppet was overwhelming, and I’d never felt more powerless.
“……If I just do this…”
“……”
“Yu Hyunjae can keep studying abroad?”
“You’ve got some nerve.”
Han Jaemin sneered, but Yu Hyunjae was all that mattered to me.
“You’ve got plenty of your father’s money. Why ask me?”
Because you’re the lunatic who casually murdered my parents.
I swallowed the words and nodded.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll do it your way.”
“Glad you’re not wasting my time with nonsense.”
Han Jaemin stood up, ruffled my hair, and gestured for me to leave. The moment I stepped out of his office, I practically tore my hair out where he’d touched it. Two years had passed like that, and now I was twenty—the end of my teens.
