episode_0014

Through the curtains, the midday light pours in.

Amidst that light, dust floats lazily.

I slowly count the particles of dust.

Last night, I stayed up late due to Anna’s blame in my fantasy.

I tried endlessly to fall asleep somehow.

But my feverish body just mocked my efforts as futile.

Lying in bed until noon on an empty stomach, hunger strikes.

I rummage through the fridge and grab a tomato from the store.

Carelessly slicing it with a t-shirt, I take a big bite.

The juicy burst tingles my tongue.

That freshness makes my shoulders shiver involuntarily.

Humans feel alive only when they eat something.

After somewhat satisfying my hunger, I slump back onto the bed.

Today is Monday, a day off for the inn.

During this break, I decide to think about what side job I could do.

Although the inn NPC work has brought in some income, it’s still far from enough to cover the overdue rent.

I want to earn big money somehow with the abilities I possess.

Abilities… Angelic Hand… Cocktail…

“Cocktail?”

Come to think of it, most of the drinks I made had buffs.

The Pure Tonic had a 10% stamina recovery effect, while the Kahlua Milk reduced abnormal status duration by 30%.

So, if you drink three of these, that’s 90% resolved.

There are hardly any potions on the market with such buffs.

Most parties rely on healers’ buffs.

If my potions hit the market, there would be no need to forcibly recruit healers into parties.

There are still several raids of unexterminated monsters on the outskirts of Seoul.

Among them, there must be plenty of low-capital parties without healers.

Selling cocktails there could bring in profits several times more than what the store sells.

The only problem is…

I don’t have the ingredients right now.

Can’t just take them from the store.

Should I contact the supplier who provides alcohol to the inn?

I slowly lie down at the edge of the bed.

Then, checking my phone, I look through the call history.

“I remember talking to the inn when I received alcohol before…”

Found it.

I immediately dialed that number.

“Hello, this is Red Serpent Company.”

“Oh, hello. I’m Moment Inn’s bartender…”

“Oh, I remember. Our staff supplied champagne a few days ago.”

“Yes, I was really grateful then. You even delivered it to the store…”

“Moment Inn is our regular customer.”

I cleared my throat for a moment.

Now it’s crucial.

“I’m thinking of starting a personal business this time, wondering if I can purchase alcohol separately.”

I tried to fix my stumbling tone and explained earnestly.

The company employee patiently understood me and set up an appointment during the conversation, mentioning that the team leader seemed busy and would likely only have time this afternoon.

I nodded eagerly during the call, saying it could be done immediately.

“However… there’s something you need to be careful about.”

Contrary to all the previous kindness, he added unexpectedly.

“What is it?”

“Our team leader is in a very bad condition right now… so he might be a bit sensitive during the meeting, so please be cautious.”

“…”

I replied that I understood for now.

The appointment time is 2 p.m., and apparently, there won’t be time after today, so I hastily made the arrangement…

Be cautious because the team leader is sensitive?

Something feels off.

Nevertheless, since the appointment is set, it should be fine.

I headed to the bathroom to freshen up, but the bathtub remained untouched.

The day I can use the bathtub again is a distant future.

After a quick shower, I dressed.

Since there were no formal suits in the closet, I wore a shirt with a sweatshirt.

Well, it has a collar, so it should be fine… right?

Cheerfully opening the front door, I step outside under the clear sky.

Not a single cloud in sight today.

For some reason, I have a good feeling about today’s weather…

“…”

The wind, however, shattered as if mocking me.

“Where on earth is it…”

No matter how much I searched, the sign for Red Serpent Company was nowhere to be seen.

It should be around here according to the map.

Wearing my cross bag, I wandered the streets back and forth before hiding in the shade for a moment.

The team leader is already quite sensitive, and being late for the appointment would be a real problem.

But my rush wasn’t solely because of that.

This place belongs to a private hunter organization, not affiliated with the Association.

The organization’s name is ‘Unity.’

Rumors have it that they are a terrifying group that arranges loansharking, assaults, and even prostitution.

Why does the office have to be near their headquarters!

I nervously paced around the shade, biting my finger.

“There.”

After circling about three times, a burly man called out to me.

His deep voice made me shrink back.

It reminded me of Siwoong, whom I had met before.

“Yes…?”

The voice belonged to a member of the organization.

Guarding the front, he scolded me with an irritated expression.

“Who are you and why have you been circling around us?”

“Well…”

“You’re not a reporter from the Association, are you?”

He stepped closer to me.

With each step, it felt like the ground was pounding beneath him.

My heart raced along with the steady sound.

“Are you trying to spy on our organization and spread strange rumors again?”

The member looked around as if searching for a camera.

“I’m not a reporter; I’m just looking for a company nearby…”

“A company? There’s only Unity Group around here.”

He furrowed his brow.

Under the sunlight, his shaded face resembled a giant predator.

“You should have prepared a more believable excuse. Now hand over the camera.”

He aggressively tried to take my bag.

Startled, I stepped back.

“It’s true! I heard there’s a distribution company called Red Serpent around here.”

I explained quickly.

At that, something seemed to click in his mind, and he stopped in his tracks.

“Red Serpent…?”

He rubbed his chin, eyes darting around.

“Oh, are you talking about Team Leader’s company?”

The man resembling a predator turned towards another guard at the gate.

“Jinbae, which room was the Team Leader’s office again?”

“Room 203, on the second floor of the main building, right?”

“Yes, that’s it. They said a businessperson was coming today.”

He seemed to recall the forgotten memory, and the wrinkles on his forehead smoothed out.

“Sorry about that. Lately, we’ve had many intruders… Please come in.”

With a contrasting smile, the man apologized to me.

Then he gestured towards the grand building.

“T-There?”

A stark and massive structure.

Beneath it, the characters for ‘Unity’ were firmly engraved on a rock.

So, the company that used to provide drinks at the inn is actually Korea’s largest organization, Unity?

Feeling overwhelmed by the black company’s first impression, I stood there blankly.

The member gestured for me to follow him reluctantly.

I had no choice but to walk hesitantly through the organization’s hideout.

Occasionally, black vans and sedans could be seen passing by.

If I tried to escape here, those vans would surely chase me down.

And the hunters inside would pour out to capture me.

If I make a wrong move here, it could mean big trouble…

Perhaps they will help with the business but end up taking everything from me.

Or maybe they’ll trap me in an unfair contract and exploit me like a slave for life…

Amidst these thoughts, I found myself at the steps of the main building.

As I ascended halfway, the sound of people descending from above echoed.

Finally, a man wearing sunglasses stood at the forefront of the crowd, locking eyes with us.

His yellow serpent tattoo on his neck stood out prominently.

The snake was gaping as if trying to bite and tear at its owner’s neck.

Where have I seen that before…

“Who is that little one?”

“He’s the team leader’s guest.”

“What team leader?”

With his hand in his pocket, he raised his head stiffly to look down at me.

Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, I shrunk behind the male guide.

“It’s Team Leader Hansurin.”

“Oh, really? Since when did he have such a cute companion?”

He observed us through the gap in his sunglasses with a clicking sound.

His eerie yellow eyes scanned my body as if assessing prey.

“Not a companion, but a business guest.”

“Business, huh? Business is good. No need to dirty your hands directly, right?”

He passed by us humming as if singing.

“Miss, be careful not to get played around with. That woman ‘Hyunollim’ is no joke.”

Leaving those words behind, the man with yellow eyes headed towards a black sedan.

The encounter with him was chilling.

However, it revealed one thing to me.

That the team leader was a woman.

Still, wouldn’t a woman be better than a man with such sharp eyes like that man?

I climbed the stairs thinking that.

Finally, I found the emblem of the “Red Snake Company” that I had been searching for.

“Please come in.”

“Oh, thank you….”

I politely nodded my head in thanks.

The male guide scratched his sideburns pretentiously and kindly closed the door.

—.

The office was very quiet.

Most of the lights were off, making it eerily silent, like an empty classroom.

The only thing breaking the silence was the sound of a lighter being ignited.

The sound came at regular intervals from behind a leather chair.

The chair was turned towards the window.

Curious about the person sitting in the leather chair, I peeked cautiously.

But I was still short, and I couldn’t see who was behind the chair.

“Excuse me…”

The person in the chair didn’t respond.

Feeling uneasy, I surveyed the office scenery and slowly walked towards him.

The walls of the team leader’s office had a very peculiar interior.

Black suits were hung in sets on each wall.

It felt like looking into a spy’s secret hideout.

Feeling uneasy with this strange image, I cleared my throat and barely made it to the table.

“Are you the bartender of Moments?”

At the sudden question, shoulders flinched.

It was the first time a voice came from behind the chair, which had been consistently quiet.

Due to the tension, this time I couldn’t say anything and just stood there.

Soon, the leather chair rotated forward.

“Long time no see.”

A dark brown bobbed hairstyle swept to the side.

At first glance, she looked like a pretty college student.

But I soon realized that she was a person who fit perfectly into this organization.

It was because her eyes, almost unseen in Korea, were perfect for espionage.

I hadn’t seen such eyes since “Ranker 09” before dying.

It was eerie, like a cold wind passing by my side.

“Do you… know me?”

I firmly gripped the crossbody bag on my shoulder.

And swallowed dry saliva.

“Have you already forgotten me? It’s sad.”

Resting her chin on the table, she stared at me blankly.

Just like when I first met Sehee, I had no idea who this woman was.

“The Jin Tonic you made back then was actually good-.”

Jin Tonic?

There was only one person besides me who made the Jin Tonic after possessing…

“No way, Jexa?”

My eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.

As if I hit the mark, she chuckled with narrowed eyes.

Age: 25 years old.

Occupation: S-rank Hunter, ranked 85th domestically.

Ability: Shedding.

Information: Troubleshooter for the current Ilsim Corporation.

Only then could I remember the chilling smile I saw from Jexa in the past.

“But, back then, you were clearly a man.”

“Man? Ah, I see. That day, I went to your inn in a daze.”

“In a daze?”

“I can control the leather I shed like a spirit after molting. I probably used it twice that time.”

She points to the second suit stuck to the wall with a lighter.

So, are these suits all clothes for the spirits made from shedding?

It becomes even more eerie once you know the truth.

Humans who molt like snakes, I’ve never heard of such a thing.

What was the biggest wish when the monsters woke up?

To obtain the ability to molt.

The unfamiliarity soon transformed into fear.

I started to step back little by little.

As if conscious of that day, Jexa rose from the chair.

Her sensual figure in black slacks and a white shirt is revealed.

“I did mention that I’m a bit sensitive today, didn’t I?”

The killer with red eyes slowly approaches me.

As she gets closer, the air around seems to chill.

“Nevertheless, coming here like this must mean you have quite a charming proposal, right?”

Jexa leans towards me, her face lowered.

Her red pupils begin to mesmerize me as if casting a spell.

“Well…”

“If it’s nothing special, you better be prepared.”

She whispers, leaning on my shoulder.

Why do the people I meet always turn out like this…