Ch.104Extracting Secrets

The salty taste of embarrassment, the sour taste of shame, and the bittersweet self-loathing.

Sa Gu-gu and I simultaneously picked up pieces of sweet and sour pork, experiencing emotions that paired well with the dish.

The two women were sweating with flushed faces.

“Stop freezing up and say something. Why are you flirting with my man?”

“Ah, n-no… I, um, that’s…”

“M-Mr. Park Deun-deun, are you married?”

“That’s right. Deun-deun here is my darling… ack!”

“What’s this about being married?”

I grabbed and twisted Gu Seo-ryong’s wrist as she wrapped her hand around my neck.

When Gu Seo-ryong immediately regenerated her wrist with a grinding sound, the two women’s eyes widened again.

“What kind of regeneration speed…!”

“Is this person a superhuman too?”

Then, Gu Seo-ryong, noticing something strange about the two women who weren’t particularly surprised by her regeneration, whispered softly in my ear.

“Honey, what are these things? They seem like superhumans?”

“They’re Yeo Un-jae’s disciples.”

“Oh my? Are they perhaps those heroes with strangely suggestive names like Wave and Vibe? Did they invite you to a hotel to do some ‘waving and vibrating’?”

“No! That’s not what this is about.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. We weren’t… that wasn’t our intention.”

“What do you mean that wasn’t your intention? I clearly heard the word ‘mating’ with my own ears.”

“Sa Gu-gu heard ‘mating’ too? These humans said ‘mating.'”

“Enough with the mating talk.”

Once I realized the two women were Yeo Un-jae’s disciples, the aura emanating from Gu Seo-ryong completely changed.

From hostility and irritation to curiosity, interest, and anticipation.

Gu Seo-ryong tapped my shoulder and gestured for me to follow her.

“Honey, I think we need to have a private conversation. Shall we go over there and talk for a bit?”

“I’m eating.”

“Um, Mr. Park Deun-deun… it might be best to follow her… to avoid making things worse.”

“Even these adulterous women are saying so, won’t you come along? We can order more food later.”

“Adulterous? This is really a misunderstanding. If you’d just listen…”

The two women desperately glanced at me, their thoughts floating to the surface above their bubbling emotions.

Thoughts begging me to comply and watch what I say.

“Since they’re asking too, why don’t you come?” I sighed and stood up, responding to Gu Seo-ryong’s urging, who had read their thoughts just as I had.

“Gu-gu, come here.”

“No! Gu-gu is eating! Delicious food!”

“We’ll… um… keep an eye on her.”

“Haah… alright, stay here and eat with these ladies for a bit.”

Leaving Sa Gu-gu behind, Gu Seo-ryong headed to the restaurant’s bathroom and snapped her fingers to use her ability.

An ability that prevents people within range from recognizing specific sounds—in this case, our voices.

“Why are you and Sa Gu-gu here?”

“Information gathering. This is a high-end restaurant that only people with certain status or government employees can visit, right?”

“Did you come with that government executive guy?”

“Yes, I was trying to make the executive I seduced earlier happy while looking at the city’s power data to find potential laboratory locations.”

Gu Seo-ryong pointed her middle finger toward a private room inside.

From the soundproofed room came obscene remarks directed at Gu Seo-ryong and Sa Gu-gu from a middle-aged man experiencing hallucinations.

“In this era, for humans to use energy like electricity, Meister’s city generators are essential. If there’s a facility related to the laboratory inside or near A City, we should be able to tell just by looking at energy flows.”

“So, did you find anything?”

“There are a few suspicious places. What about you? Why are you here with those two?”

“They offered to buy me food, so I came.”

“…Perhaps you need the same education as Sa Gu-gu about not following just anyone who offers food?”

“You’re the one who told me to follow them and extract information.”

“Oh my? So you followed them because I told you to? That makes me a little happy. But… why are they buying you food?”

“Hmm.”

Gu Seo-ryong, who had been quietly pleased, flicked her split tongue and leaked sticky, viscous emotions.

I waved my hand as if shooing away insects and explained how this situation came about.

After hearing the whole story, Gu Seo-ryong, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, sighed in disbelief.

“Cage, Baskerville, Yeo Un-jae… seriously, do you emit pheromones or something? Why do all these important people get drawn to you?”

“What are pheromones? Sounds like something kids would like. Is it like ‘pee-pee-kung’?”

“…Just so you know, never mention ‘pee-pee-kung’ in front of Gu-gu. Anyway, it’s good that you went to dinner with those women. And it’s good that you refused Matan.”

Having received praise that didn’t particularly please me, I asked Gu Seo-ryong a question that suddenly came to mind.

“Aren’t you going to blame me for not becoming Cage’s subordinate?”

“Why would I blame you for that? I don’t even want to pretend that you’re under Cage.”

“What about being a disciple?”

“Yeo Un-jae isn’t Cage.”

“Hmm.”

I recalled that Gu Seo-ryong had once been driven out of A City by Cage.

“It’s unlike you to act on personal grudges.”

“Oh my? What’s like me?”

“I thought you’d say I should have joined under Cage since he seems to know information about the laboratory.”

“Hmm… that’s not wrong, but if you become a hero, you’d be under surveillance by countless other heroes. To avoid suspicion, you’d have to follow Cage’s orders and be careful with your actions. I might like seeing my favorite man being cunning, but I don’t want to see him being subservient and taking orders from another man, even if it’s just an act.”

“Neither seems particularly appealing to watch.”

“That’s how a woman’s heart works.”

Is that so? It’s difficult to understand.

Glancing toward the bathroom door, Gu Seo-ryong sat on the sink and said:

“So, honey? Since I’ve created such a good opportunity, can I take advantage of this situation? It would be difficult for you to gather information alone, right?”

“Hmm… alright.”

“So you’ll do as I say?”

Since it was true, I nodded, and Gu Seo-ryong playfully tickled my chin and neck with her fingertip.

“Good, from now on, in front of those girls, you’re my husband.”

“No.”

“Don’t be like that, it’s all necessary! Just trust me this once.”

“Why should I do such a thing?”

“It would take too long to explain everything, is that okay?”

Frowning at the mention of a long explanation, I sighed and gave up on hearing it.

“If you do anything strange, I’ll stop.”

“Hmm… is kissing considered strange to you?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a shame. Then, can I borrow your hand?”

She suddenly grabbed my wrist and rubbed it against her head, messing up her hair.

With her hair disheveled, Gu Seo-ryong looked in the mirror and roughly combed it back into place.

“What are you doing?”

“Hehehe~ Stimulating guilt? Establishing hierarchy? A battle for conversational dominance?”

“What does that have to do with messing up your hair?”

“These things exist, innocent Mr. Park Deun-deun.”

With a ripping sound, Gu Seo-ryong tore the chest area of her dress and pulled at the collar of my clothes, making it sag.

“I’d love to leave kiss marks here and there on each other… but you won’t do that, will you? Well, I’ll just have to let them imagine it.”

“Is there a need to make them imagine such strange things?”

“Yes, there is. Signs of a fight stimulate guilt and help gain dominance. Traces of passionate reconciliation create a sense of relief, and if they feel they’re the cause, even A-rank heroes will feel shame and avoid eye contact. Perfect for doing sneaky things, right?”

Gu Seo-ryong, who explained her reasons without hesitation, gestured for me to follow her with a pleased smile.

Following her back to our table, I saw Sa Gu-gu, who had been devouring every dish that arrived, raise her hand and wave enthusiastically toward us.

“Mommy! Sa Gu-gu was being good and eating delicious food!”

“Yes, you did well.”

“Um, well… that…”

“You two, did your… conversation go well?”

Gu Seo-ryong gave the two women a sharp glare, then sat next to Sa Gu-gu and remained silent for a moment.

In the heavy silence, the two women glanced at my neck, Gu Seo-ryong’s torn clothes, and her disheveled hair while watching her reactions.

Judging by their emotions and attitudes, they really did seem to have some reason for their behavior.

I sat on the opposite side from Gu Seo-ryong, next to Sa Gu-gu, and ate some chili shrimp.

Then, breaking the silence, Gu Seo-ryong sighed, crossed her arms, and spoke.

“I’ve heard the gist of it from this person. It seems there was a bit of a misunderstanding.”

“Ah…!”

“First, I should properly introduce myself. I’m Gu Seo-yul.”

“Oh, yes, I’m Wave, Choi Seo-hyun, and this is…”

“I’m Lee Yu-ri, working under the name Vibe.”

“Self-introduction? Sa Gu-gu is Sa Gu-gu!”

“Yes, yes, good girl.”

When Gu Seo-ryong patted Sa Gu-gu’s face, Sa Gu-gu grabbed my arm forcefully.

“Does big brother introduce himself too?”

“I’m Park Deun-deun.”

“Big brother…?”

Confused emotions, big brother? Mommy? Little sister? Daughter? Fragments of questioning words floated through their minds.

Seeing the two heroes’ gazes directed at Sa Gu-gu and me, Gu Seo-ryong spoke in a pitiful voice.

“She’s my daughter, she’s a bit unwell. After encountering monsters, the fear of possibly dying has made her like this…”

“Ah…! That happens sometimes. I wish her a speedy recovery.”

“Sa Gu-gu not sick? Healthy?”

“Gu-gu, mommy is talking now. Be quiet and eat your food.”

“Okie.”

Gu Seo-ryong silenced Sa Gu-gu by pushing a sweet and sour meatball into her mouth, then turned to me with a pretend sad look and spoke in a trembling voice.

“With my daughter like this, I was worried this man might be tired and playing around with other women. But it turns out you two simply wanted a one-night stand…”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, I’m not blaming you two. I’m a woman too, so I understand the desire to receive the seed of a strong man in these times. Especially with superhumans, you physically feel the importance of strength, so that desire would be even stronger.”

“What…? No, that’s not it. I, um…”

“Am I misunderstanding something? Don’t tell me it’s really an affair?”

“No, wait, just a moment.”

As their confusion intensified, spinning like a maze, Gu Seo-ryong whispered an escape route to them.

“Or… did you really approach him with an offer to give your bodies in exchange for a favor? He did mention you seemed to have some reason, but I couldn’t believe A-rank heroes would go that far to ask for something.”

“That’s right, there was another reason…”

“We wanted to ask Deun-deun for a favor, but we didn’t know how else to approach him.”

“Hmm… as a woman, I understand how heavy a decision it is to offer your body for something. But it’s strange… what could A-rank heroes possibly want from this man? What could be so necessary that you’d go that far?”

“That’s…”

“If this isn’t just an excuse to escape the situation, would you explain in detail? Very, in detail.”

“Ugh…”

“I think I have a right to know, don’t you?”

Like a snake constricting its prey, the air around them seemed to press in, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Feeling the pressure, the two heroes hung their heads and hesitated before one of them grabbed her glass and gulped down her drink.

“Haah…! First, I apologize. You’re right. I should explain somewhat to clear up your misunderstanding… but I can’t go into too much detail.”

“It involves hero business…”

“Oh, I see… then you can tell me what you can while keeping certain things hidden.”

Gu Seo-ryong naturally poured alcohol into the empty glass.

From the tip of her finger touching the bottle’s mouth, transparent venom dripped into the alcohol.

When I gave her a questioning look about what poison she was adding, Gu Seo-ryong mouthed the word “truth serum.”

“If what I saw and heard was truly a misunderstanding, I’d like to clear it up.”

“…First, I want to mention that Mr. Park Deun-deun is an extremely talented superhuman.”

The two women proceeded to explain what had happened today.

How S-rank heroes Cage and Baskerville had come to scout me as a hero, but that it was really about becoming Cage’s subordinate, not about becoming a hero.

By the time their seemingly short but actually long story ended, the two women’s eyes were half-glazed.

“So, there’s nothing good about becoming Cage’s subordinate. Do you know how many heroes and humans Cage has abandoned, saying he had no choice?”

“After they die, he says they were necessary sacrifices and tells us to look at the survivors instead of the sacrifices. Who would want to be sacrificed? He… he sacrifices people and then…”

“My, my… this Cage person, I had no idea he was such a bad person.”

“Ha! Bad person? He’s not exactly bad… he just chooses to do the most annoying things.”

“It’s necessary, it’s right. It’s hard to argue against because it makes sense, but…”

“When you think about Yeoryeong unni, he shouldn’t do that, right? Really, how could he?”

“It’s betrayal, betrayal!”

The two women, drunk on alcohol and the drug, clinked their glasses with an “Eih!” and downed their drinks.

Yeoryeong—noticing my curiosity about this unfamiliar name, Gu Seo-ryong asked them like a snake whispering evil words:

“Who is Yeoryeong? I don’t think I’ve heard that name before.”

“What?! You don’t know Yeoryeong unni? Yeoryeong unni is…”

“She’s Yeo Un-jae’s daughter, who died saving Cage when he was still a B-rank hero…”