"...!"
I had to make a choice. To pretend I wasn't him until the end, or to admit it meekly. That deliberation did not take long.
Slowly.
I placed the fox mask I was wearing on the table.
"I am Cheon Hae-seon. It's a pleasure to meet you."
It was a bit comical to offer such a greeting after we had already spoken at length in the private room, but in any case, the conversation as ‘Cheon Hae-seon’ was just beginning. Do I-su seemed to understand the meaning as well, a smile playing on his lips.
"How did you know? Did Yaksha and I not seem to get along?"
"Of course, I got that impression as well... but I had more concrete evidence."
"And what is that?"
"Because there are no Hunters in our country who can take down a Giant Treasure single-handedly. That's something even Gu Geon-yi cannot do."
"I am also a Hunter of the Republic of Korea."
"Haha. I should phrase that differently. I'll correct myself: ‘officially registered Korean Hunters’."
Just as he said, my official type is 'healer'. And a healer cannot clear a Poison-type dungeon alone. I don't know how much he knew, but it meant he was aware of my hidden abilities to some extent.
My eyes narrowed as I looked at Do I-su.
"We've only seen meaningful results recently, but we have been tracking the locations of Poison-type dungeons for quite some time. Understanding the current status of the dungeons is essential in the process of predicting when they will appear."
"..."
"We have known about the Cleanup Clan for a very long time. Though it's called a Clan, we also knew that it was, in effect, run solely by Iron Arm. He showed reluctance at our proposal to acquire the blood of Poison-type Monsters."
I nodded inadvertently. There was only one reason Iron Arm had wandered through Poison-type dungeons: the Gold Eternal Flower. He would have had no interest in something like the blood of a Poison-type Monster, nor the ability to collect it.
"But recently, the Cleanup Clan's performance has increased explosively. It was an achievement unbelievable for a clan that in the past had focused on its role as ‘cleaners’. So, we looked into the reason for that change."
"Looked into... Are you saying you tailed Clan Leader Iron Arm?"
"No. Not at all. We do not use such methods."
Considering the gentility that emanated from his appearance, that seemed plausible. But the world is full of people who are different on the inside from how they appear on the outside.
"There are not many people in this land who serve as ‘cleaners’. Because the market is small. We made a list of the Hunters who had previously transferred from the Cleanup Clan to other guilds. It was easier to check the affiliation of guilds, unlike with clans."
"Instead of tailing this side... you eliminated potential Hunters one by one..."
A small sound of admiration escaped from Do I-su.
"Precisely. I suspected as much when you were helping my son and daughter, but you are quite astute."
The conclusion Do I-su had reached was as follows. None of the former members had returned to the Cleanup Clan. Besides 'Cheon Hae-seon', whose identity had been confirmed through the news article, no new forces of the Cleanup Clan had been identified.
"To be honest, I wasn't 100% certain. A healer with killing ability is something that has been unprecedented until now."
"Hmm."
"But I was able to reach that conclusion from the way you explained the dungeon and your attitude toward Yaksha."
Can one really know such things from just a few words of conversation? Perhaps Do I-su possessed something more than just insight.
"As I mentioned earlier, we are investigating the ‘Rift’. Each world must have existed on its own before the Monsters appeared, so why is it that the two worlds connected in the ‘present era’?"
"Is there a clue in the Monsters' blood?"
"For now, we are merely grasping at straws."
Even though he said that, he must have some degree of conviction. He wouldn't try to make a deal with the lord of the black market without a valid reason. If the Hunter Association were to find out, he would surely pay the price.
"Ah."
I see.
Only then did I understand why Do I-su had requested a private meeting. Do I-su and I were in quite similar positions. That our appearances in our external activities and our internal ones were different.
That we were both dealing with Yaksha in the black market. And consequently, that it would be trouble for both of us if this were to leak. If one side were to reveal the secret, the other would not be at ease.
Beneath the trust Do I-su was showing, such a safety measure was in place.
'This man...'
I thought he was just an aged young master, but he has quite the nerve. Do I-su bowed politely, just as he had when we first met, and left the private room. But the image of him in my eyes now felt quite different from the first time.
"Did you enjoy your tryst?"
"Not really. He knew my identity."
"It'd be weirder if he didn't notice, with your terrible acting."
Shit.
This guy, that guy, they all act so wise with age. Must be nice being old.
"As a result, Do I-su and you are in the same boat. One has gained information, the other, power."
While waiting, Yaksha had been thinking over his own terms. Dungeons of 3-star (★★★) difficulty or lower would be handled by the black market's internal personnel, and anything above that would require my help. He would not touch any of the resources I gathered, but he would attach one person to me to collect other resources.
It was a simple, but clean method.
"Fine. The lower-level dungeons don't have much to offer anyway."
"Then all that's left is the settlement, I suppose."
"Right. And it won't be settled with just any ordinary payment."
I almost died clearing an 8-star (★★★★★★★★) dungeon, after all. Besides, hadn't I worn that ridiculous cape in front of Do I-su? Since he's a man who's sharp as a knife when it comes to deals, he must have prepared a fitting reward.
Yaksha let out a low chuckle, "Heh heh," and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
Someone cautiously walks this way. Who is it? It's too dark to see well, but after a moment, a familiar scent reaches my sensitive nose.
A woman whose temper is as fiery as her hair. A woman who doesn't even know what abilities she possesses. And a woman who yearns for freedom more than anyone else.
"Bi-soo?"
Why did Bi-soo appear at this moment? She wasn't carrying anything, so she couldn't have come to deliver something. Looking at Bi-soo's face, she also seemed to have no idea what was going on.
"What. Are you not pleased with the reward?"
"!!!"
Yaksha sticks out his tongue and makes a suggestive gesture. He's saying that Bi-soo, standing right before me, is the ‘reward’. A wave of disgust washed over me.
What the hell does this bastard take people for?
"You son of a bitch. Is a person an object? Don't give me that bullshit about a reward."
"An object? I am merely transferring the relationship of servitude based on her debt to you. How you dispose of her is up to you."
"I don't do that kind of human trafficking shit. Fine. Since I've received my reward, I can do as I please, right?"
Unconsciously growing agitated, my voice became strained. In that same tone, I spoke to Bi-soo as if making a declaration.
"Bi-soo! Starting today, you are free. Whatever your debt is, consider it paid in full. You don't have to be bound by anyone anymore."
After my outburst, a silence fell. Me, Yaksha, and Bi-soo all just stared at each other without a word. Wait a minute.
If this is the case...?
"..."
After a brief moment, Bi-soo broke the silence and asked Yaksha. Her voice trembled, full of moisture.
"F... Father... Is it... true??"
Yaksha digs in his ear and answers nonchalantly.
"Yes. You no longer need to call me father."
Bi-soo's body stiffened as if struck by lightning. Soon, thick tears began to stream down her cheeks. She, who had dreamed of freedom for years, had finally broken her shackles.
Suddenly.
Bi-soo rushes over and embraces me. Then she began to sob violently.
"Finally... finally... sob!!"
"Hey, this..."
I should probably stay quiet for now. Seeing her trembling shoulders reminds me of last night. The night she talked in her sleep, missing the father who had abandoned her.
Just like then, Bi-soo's shoulders seem endlessly frail. Her cries are so sorrowful that the tip of my nose stings.
Congratulations, Bi-soo.
You've finally gained your freedom. At this point, I feel embarrassed about my angry outburst. If I had casually brushed off Yaksha's joke, it would have created a more beautiful (?) picture.
"You're sharp as a knife when it comes to deals, but you can't be honest at times like this."
"Is that so."
Yaksha didn't bother to deny my words. Although he handed Bi-soo over to me like an object, in the end, Yaksha had given her the wings of freedom. He knew very well that I wouldn't tie her down as he had.
If he wanted to let her go so badly, he should have just done it himself. In any case, it was the first time I had felt a sense of humanity from the bastard.
"I have something to give you."
"Me?"
"No. Not you."
At that, Bi-soo flinched and turned her head. With anxious eyes, she walked in front of Yaksha.
"Close your eyes."
Yaksha said so and then fumbled for something in his clothes. He wouldn't try to harm her after finally setting her free, would he? I was a little worried, but I decided to watch silently.
A moment later, I had to retract some of my thoughts about Yaksha. What he did to Bi-soo was by no means harmful. On the contrary, it was an act akin to a blessing.
Sparkle. 'Is that...?'
I have a piece just like that at my house. The shape of a petal that shimmered with five colors like Pranium. It was a leaf of the Gold Eternal Flower.
Slowly.
Yaksha held the petal of the Gold Eternal Flower to Bi-soo's lips. Bi-soo flinched but didn't open her eyes.
Sizzle...
Watching the slowly melting Gold Eternal Flower, Yaksha asked me.
"Do you know the healing principle of the Gold Eternal Flower?"
"No." "Time."
Time?
I thought he was going to talk about some chemical principle. Then again, if he knew such things, he wouldn't have yawned when Do I-su was explaining it.
"The reason the Gold Eternal Flower is called the best of the rare herbs is simple. It's because it turns back time to the state before the damage occurred."
The ‘damage’ that Yaksha mentioned was being healed. The scar on her lips, which didn't suit her beautiful face at all. The scar, which had felt even more hideous because of that, was gradually healing.
Could it heal not only ongoing illnesses but also past scars? The saying that it was worth billions was certainly not an exaggeration.
"What's your intention, fixing something you tore yourself?"
When I asked with a scoff, Yaksha gave a mischievous smile.
"I thought she'd be less likely to run away if she was too embarrassed to go outside."
"If you worried a second time, you'd probably cut off her foot."
It seems I'm becoming like him from being around him. Judging by how I'm making jokes I don't usually make.
"Oh my god...!!"
I think I lost count after about thirty. Checking and rechecking. I don't know how many times she's looked in the mirror.
But I, too, can't believe her dramatic transformation. Now, she no longer needs to be anxious about when she might be summoned by ‘Yaksha’, nor does she need to unconsciously cover her mouth when she laughs. With the scar gone, her face is definitely more prominent.
Once the hindrance to her unique, bewitching beauty was gone, she was on par with the great Maria. While she endlessly confirmed her changed status and face, I asked Yaksha.
"But was this really a proper settlement?"
"What are you talking about, you got everything you were owed."
"In the end, I didn't get anything. It only worked out well for Bi-soo."
"What's wrong with that?"
Well, look at you. Yaksha asked me back with a genuinely curious look on his face.
"Weren't you two already in that kind of relationship? You've probably slept together too."
"?????"
What is this crazy bastard talking about?
"No?"
"No, we haven't?"
Bi-soo and I couldn't help but shout vehemently in one voice.