“Mmff! Mmmph!”
Sensing the murderous intent in my eyes, Kwon Seoyul hurriedly nodded.
When I finally released him, he groaned and rubbed his jaw dramatically like I’d nearly dislocated it.
“You almost broke my jaw, ugh... that hurt!”
The audacity. I’m a support-type; even if I tried, that slap wouldn’t have had any real force. He’s just being extra. Honestly, if I could shift into combat mode and land a real punch, that’d be a dream come true.
“Ahem... I went to Hunter Cha Seohu’s office to ask for his cooperation in this matter,” Kwon Taehyuk interjected, clearing his throat with a somewhat awkward gesture, trying to explain the situation. But the awkwardness in the air wasn’t going anywhere.
I immediately turned to gauge Ryu Sunghyun’s reaction. Just as I feared, he was giving a sheepish smile—the kind people make when they learn something wildly unnecessary about a stranger.
‘Fucking hell...’
I’d thought this mission might help deepen our rapport. Progress, I’d hoped. Instead? It was heading straight into regression territory—all thanks to Seoyul.
After an unbearable pause, Eun Woojeong finally spoke up.
“Well... with that face, I can see why women would be all over him. Right, Vice-Guildmaster Ryu?”
“Huh? Ah, y-yes...”
“......”
I’m sorry, but no. That didn’t help. At all. And dragging Ryu Sunghyun into this kind of bullshit was even more infuriating.
Sure, Sunghyun had known about it in my previous life—but the situation back then had been completely different. So was our relationship.
He was as sincere about love as he was about everything else. In the past, he used to warn me not to date around so casually and kept a tight leash on me for my own sake.
But now... there was no reason for him to care. No interest, no connection. After hearing what Seoyul said, he might even start thinking I’m not someone worth getting close to.
‘Enough. Now’s not the time to spiral.’
The more I thought about it, the more miserable I felt, so I forced myself to shut down that train of thought.
“Let’s move. We’re seriously running out of time now.”
I gave Ryu and Woojeong a nudge forward and shot Seoyul a withering glare as he trailed behind. He hunched his shoulders, putting on a ridiculously wounded expression.
Once we reached Yeongchumun, the western gate, we spotted guards standing in position just like they had at the entrance to the National Folk Museum.
Judging by their presence... they looked about B-rank. We were stronger, but sneaking past them without being noticed was out of the question. I turned to Seoyul.
“You go first.”
“Yessir.”
He answered with a defeated sigh and walked out without hesitation. The rest of us stayed hidden in a nearby alley, watching him.
Seoyul approached the guard directly in front of the gate and exchanged a few words before unbuttoning the cuff on his right sleeve. He rolled it up past the elbow, revealing a tattoo underneath.
“What is he doing?” Kwon Taehyuk asked.
If it had been Woojeong asking, I would’ve ignored him—but I still felt guilty toward Taehyuk, so I couldn’t brush it off. And judging by Sunghyun’s curious glance, he wanted to know too.
“He’s showing his number. Proof that he belongs to the district.”
If only Seoyul had kept his mouth shut earlier, I could’ve glossed over it. I sighed and continued.
“Does everyone from that district have one of those?”
“...No.”
I couldn’t very well say that only the ‘brothers’—the man’s most loyal tools—carried the number. So I kept it vague. That’s when Woojeong jumped in, picking up where Taehyuk left off.
“From the way you were talking to him earlier, Hunter Cha, it seems you also have ties to that district. Does that mean... you have one too?”
“...Yes.”
“Where?”
“......”
I knew it’d be worse if I stayed quiet—but I just... «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» froze.
Thankfully, before I had to answer, Seoyul gave us the go-ahead with a wave. I immediately turned away from the three of them and headed for Yeongchumun.
“Don’t look around. Move quickly.”
The guard, after confirming I was part of Seoyul’s group, opened the gate and issued a low warning.
And with that, we finally slipped into Gyeongbokgung (Main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty in Seoul).
Inside, the wide dirt path split into three directions. Going straight ahead would eventually lead to the area where the event was taking place.
“There’s no one here for now,” Sunghyun murmured, “but the closer we get to Gyeongbokgung itself, the more likely we’ll run into guards or guests.”
“Then we can’t go too close,” Taehyuk replied, nodding. He pointed down the path.
“If we keep going straight, we’ll reach Sujeongjeon. From there, we can move toward Geunjeongjeon (Main throne hall for royal ceremonies and official meetings), where the event is being held. But that outer wall will likely have guards posted as well... so what if we detour left, toward Sajeongjeon (Official office hall where the king worked daily)?”
Sajeongjeon was the council hall behind Gyeongbokgung.
“There’s also Cheonchujeon (Auxiliary hall, used as personal or support space) and Manchunjeon (Auxiliary hall used for rest or private matters) right next to it. If we get on the rooftops of those three, we’ll have a decent vantage point without getting too close.”
“Sounds good. Let’s head that way.”
We moved carefully through the dim palace grounds.
The four others—being S-rank—had heightened senses and avoided detection with ease. We passed Sujeongjeon (King’s workspace for informal meetings) and slipped through a side passage leading to the row of buildings: Cheonchujeon, Sajeongjeon, and Manchunjeon.
Climbing up onto the council hall roof gave us a clear view of the event grounds past the opposite wall. But Gyeongbokgung towered so much higher that we could only see the far left and right ends of the venue.
“Looks like Kwak Seunggyu is blocked from view by Gyeongbokgung,” I muttered.
Taehyuk and Sunghyun hopped between the rooftops of Cheonchujeon and Manchunjeon, scoping out every angle—but no sign of Kwak.
We’d have to get closer. That meant bending the plan a bit. Still, I’d accounted for this possibility.
‘Originally, I was going to sneak in myself, since Taehyuk and Sunghyun are both too recognizable...’
But now, I had a better option. I looked over at Eun Woojeong.
“Mr. Woojeong. You said you’d be helpful, didn’t you?”
Our eyes met. He blinked, smiling faintly—clearly having guessed what I was about to ask. I turned to the others and explained.
“Rather than me going, it’s safer for someone who was officially invited—like Mr. Woojeong—to head into the venue and locate Kwak Seunggyu.”
“Hm...”
“He’ll have to search the entire venue, but as a celebrity, wandering around won’t seem out of place.”
Taehyuk gave us both a glance, clearly weighing the suggestion. Then he asked Woojeong directly.
“Can you do it?”
It was clear he agreed that my plan was better than the original. I waited, smiling knowingly, for Woojeong’s answer.
“Sure. I did say I’d help, didn’t I?”
“Wonderful. That’s a relief.”
“But—I have one condition.”
A condition?
I blinked, caught off guard. Woojeong smiled and turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“I’d like someone to come with me. I don’t even know what this Kwak Seunggyu guy looks like. And even if I find him, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.”
Wait a sec—don’t tell me...
Before I could say anything, he stepped forward, grabbed my shoulder, and gave me that foxlike grin.
“So, you’ll come with me, won’t you, Hunter Cha?”
“Wait—why me—”
I was about to protest, but the words caught in my throat.
Who else could go?
Taehyuk and Sunghyun were out from the start. And there was no way in hell I’d send Seoyul with Woojeong. That would be a nightmare waiting to happen.
“...Well?”
Woojeong pressed, tone all too cheerful.
This was bullshit. But I had no better choice. Grinding my teeth, I pried his hand off my shoulder.
“Well, I suppose I have to. After following us this far insisting you'd be useful, it’s a little shocking you suddenly need me—but sure. I get it.”
“I appreciate it.”
We exchanged tight, forced smiles that practically sparked with static. Watching our little showdown, Kwon Taehyuk sighed quietly.
“Hyuuung, can I come too? I don’t wanna stay here...”
If you don’t want to be here, then ignore the damn orders and go stalk us from afar or something.
“Quit whining and sit still. Let’s go.”
I shoved Seoyul’s face away as he tried to cling to me, then gave Woojeong a look to move out.

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