Chapter 14

RP: Vara • TL: Kim • PR: Whee

Yes, no matter how smart Han Geonjoo was, he never would’ve thought that the guild he was about to join would be the Night Rats. The only clue he was given was Sayun’s name that was written on the contract.

However, the name Kwon Sayun was not widely known.

Every time he went outside, he hid his appearance by wearing a ring that interfered with facial recognition, and when he had a meeting, he hid his existence by sending Jongsik and the other executives. Naturally, the identity of the leader of the Night Rats was therefore wrapped in a veil to such an extent that even the guilds related to the Night Rats wouldn’t know it. Even the easiest of names to find were never revealed, so when the reporters who wrote headlines, they didn’t know his face or name.

So, was there any way to know that Kwon Sayun was the leader of the Night Rats?

If he had known, he wouldn’t have been so arrogant. The look on Geonjoo’s face, with eyebrows raised in surprise, proved that fact.

Sayun smiled contentedly once he met his sullen eyes.

He would’ve been disappointed if Geonjoo didn’t react like that even after he heard the name of ‘Night Rats’. Even if a person was relaxed, it should’ve been moderate. If they’re too composed, it’s not fun.

It seemed like a childish thing to do to a 22-year-old, but to Sayun, it felt like a victory. Originally, people became crazier and childish as they grew older, so Sayun’s current act was proof that he was steadily growing.

If it was a flaw that he grew up with no objective in mind, but there was nobody to criticise him for it anyway.

After summarising the situation, Sayun tapped Jongsik’s shoulder, who was standing up straight as if he was a jangseung.

tl/n: jangseung (장승) also known as a village guardian. It’s a Korean totem pole usually made of wood. — said wikipedia

“Let’s go, Jongsik.”

“…Are you going to take him too?”

“There should be an initiation ceremony.”

“Really?”

“It sounds fun.”

“I’m against it.”

“When was the last time you didn’t do something just because you were against it?”

Jongsik wept at the rebuke. He wasn’t bold, even with his size. As Sayun was holding Jongsik’s shoulder, he glanced back at Geonjoo, who was following them.

“Be honest, you’re curious too.”

“How good are you at starting a new job?”

“Huh?”

When Sayun looked at his status window, Geonjoo seemed to be very good, but he wondered if he would work against other people.

Due to the nature of the guild, the Night Rats were more likely to deal with people rather than monsters. Geonjoo would have to go to trades or auctions whenever he had the time, assassinate, and even camp at the gates to steal drops. Therefore, blackmail and intimidation were normal, and they didn’t hesitate to torture and murder if necessary.

Until now, so many guys with missing screws had joined and Sayun taught them separately. But Han Geonjoo was different. What does a beginner, who barely awakened a week ago and had lived a normal life, know what to do?

Since Geonjoo knew nothing, Sayun took it as an opportunity to check his innate sense and nature.

A sigh of resignation was heard.

“Still, it might be dangerous. Don’t you think it’s better to educate him appropriately first?”

“It’s more thrilling because it’s dangerous.”

“…I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but brother really has great taste.”

“What? Well, I told you, he’s important. I can’t teach this kid like how I educated every rat that joined.”

There was only one way that Sayun used to educate guild members.

Beating and neglecting.

Sayun never really taught anyone properly, so once he had been subjected to the system, it became an easy way of doing things.

He just neglected them until they died, fed them a potion, and beat them again as discipline. That was the secret of the rapid growth of the Night Rats, but he couldn’t teach Geonjoo in that way. What he had to prioritise wasn’t Han Geonjoo’s education, but to maintain an amicable relationship with him.

Even if it was a necessary process to raise him to an S-Class, he couldn’t easily touch him, and if Sayun had to beat him, he’d make sure Geonjoo would go through someone else’s hand instead of his own.

However, it was difficult to bring other members to the chamber now that time was running out. It wasn’t possible to ask Jongsik to beat Geonjoo. Considering such circumstances, it was kind of force majeure for Sayun to drag the pretty one to the Yongho Guild.

tl/n: force majeure = superior force, irresistible compulsion

<Skill ‘Self-Justification (A-)’ is activated.>

“…”

The timing was terrible as well.

Obviously, Sayun was paying a lot of karma to remove 80% of his small skill notifications, but his eyes narrowed at the notification window that popped up at such a weird time. Every time something like that happened, Sayun really felt like the gods were scrutinising his head through the system.

“…So where are you going?”

Geonjoo asked after obediently listening to the command that Sayun had given him. At the same time, Sayun received the large pair of sunglasses from Jongsik and put them on top of his nose.

“Well, do you want to meet the old man?”

“The old man?”

“Yeah, there’s a man who’s drunk on imaginary glory but never had any.”

The corners of Sayun’s mouth raised up, because just thinking about Chunbok made him angry. He didn’t know what would happen if he were to commit a crime now. Jongsik looked at Sayun and trembled.

“Don’t laugh like that. You’re not a gumiho. Even though your face is pale, red lips and blue eyes… Ugh!”

tl/n: 구미호 (gumiho) = nine-tailed fox, cunning/evil woman. he’s basically comparing Sayun to a gumiho.

Jongsik seemed fine, but the problem was that he started spewing useless words. 

With the dagger that he had hidden in his sleeve, he pressed it against Jongsik’s waist and he froze. He was very scared, even though he didn’t get hurt since Sayun did it with the knife’s handle. When the noisy person closed his mouth, a peaceful silence followed. Sayun nodded in satisfaction and turned his attention to Geonjoo, who had asked the question.

“I’m going to the Yongho Guild.”

“The Yongho Guild?”

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I wonder what…”

“…?”

Sayun didn’t finish his sentence and stared up at Geonjoo instead. He spun the dagger he was holding in the air, making a metallic sound.

“Why would the Night Rats Guild go there? Of course, we’re going to play.”

And commit crimes at the same time.

Sayun grabbed the spinning dagger, putting it at his waist. Jongsik shook his head, and Geonjoo looked at Sayun with eyes that were difficult to describe.

Between the two men who chose to keep quiet, Sayun was the only one who was happy.

***

“…”

“Why are you rolling your eyes?”

“Uh…”

When Geonjoo got into the car and rolled his eyes, Sayun was watching him. He seemed a bit startled since he hadn’t expected Sayun to speak to him all of a sudden, but still replied with a short ‘it’s nothing’. He had an awkward expression on his face.

At first glance, it seemed that he was terrified, so Sayun took out the contract.

“You’re afraid of committing crimes, aren’t you?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Oh my. Even if you’re afraid, I can’t end the contract.”

Sayun forgot to tell him, but Geonjoo had to be a part of the Night Rats for at least three months before he would be able to leave.

A smile that some might call mean spread at the corners of Sayun’s lips. At Sayun’s shameless words, Geonjoo sighed.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of such a thing.”

“Of course you’d hear it for the first time, I just told you about it.”

“Isn’t this something you’re supposed to tell me before I sign the contract?”

“Why? You don’t want to stay together for up to three months?”

“…”

“Looks like you have strong legs. Would you like to run to the Yongho Guild?”

“I mean, six months is fine.”

Sayun spoke as if he was about to open the door for Geonjoo himself, but then he paused. Jongsik, who was watching them through the rear mirror, raised his hand as he was laughing after overcoming a 22-year-old rookie.

“Excuse me, brother. I’m here too.”

“What was that?”

“It was just the two of you talking, and I thought you forgot about me so I talked to you.”

Jongsik looked at Sayun, as if he was expecting him to invite the conversation. The corner of Sayun’s mouth twitched towards his subordinate who didn’t want to be excluded, then lifted his leg.

Bang!

It made a pretty loud sound, and the entire car, noy just the front seats, shook violently. Surprised by the rattling noise of the car, Jongsik hurriedly grabbed the steering wheel. It would’ve been a disaster if it hadn’t been so quiet on the road at dawn.

“Brother!”

“Jongsik.”

“…What?”

“Just drive.”

“…”

“Do you have any complaints?”

Sayun shook his head. Jongsik murmured quietly saying that he was no better than a rookie with the way Sayun was treating him. If he was going to complain, he should’ve done it where Sayun couldn’t hear it.

He was being arrogant these days.

Sayun was too busy with work and he got bored of discipline so he let it go, but it gradually got worse. It was Jongsik who took care of himself and Sayun for the longest time, so he let him do whatever he wanted without saying anything.

Whatever it was, there was a saying that went something like ‘if the surface of the water is clear, then the bottom is also clear’.

Recently, however, the amount of times he meddled in guild affairs had increased, so it seemed that Jongsik would push Sayun out of his position and become the guild leader.

Bang!

Jongsik was startled when Sayun kicked the front seat once again, hoping that Geonjoo might learn something. Perhaps his hand slipped because the sound of the honk made Geonjoo’s head turn. With a confused expression, he looked at Sayun and Jongsik.

“Brother! I’m driving!”

“So then drive properly.”

“I’m doing that! Do you want all of us to die?!”

“What?”

It seemed that Jongsik needed one more kick before he came to his senses. Thinking so, Sayun turned his head towards Geonjoo, feeling his eyes on him.

Geonjoo was stiff. At that moment, Sayun swallowed all of his anger, thinking that the sight looked too mischievous, so he lowered his leg and crossed it over the other.

The silence lasted briefly. Sayun opened his mouth as he looked at the gloomy Jongsik.

“Even if you look like that, you’re good at your job.”

Geonjoo nodded when he took in the executive’s image which seemed to have shown too much longing so far. Truthfully, he didn’t look convinced in the slightest.