#6
#4 My Meddling is World-Class (2)
I met Jeong Ho-san when I was seven, at the orphanage.
After losing my parents in a gate accident, I ended up in the orphanage. That's where I met Jeong Ho-san, who'd landed there around the same time, but for different reasons.
To be honest, my first impression of him was the worst. We were in the same boat, but I couldn't stand seeing him all smiles, without a single tear.
What did he have to smile about? He'd lost his parents too! Why was he laughing all the time?
I'd lost everything overnight and was stuck in this messed-up world, but Jeong Ho-san seemed totally fine. It pissed me off.
But then I saw him crying quietly one morning, and it hit me. He was just like me. He was just putting on a brave face.
I didn't tell anyone what I saw that day. I kept it a secret even from Jeong Ho-san himself. I thought he'd be embarrassed, and I just, didn't want to say anything.
After that, I stopped giving Jeong Ho-san such a hard time.
Still, I didn't think we'd become this close...
We stayed connected for a long time. It was weird, we lost our parents around the same time, and we got our powers around the same time too.
Even when we entered the Academy, he was always in the future I imagined. But while attending the Academy, and after graduating, my thoughts began to change.
I was struggling, I couldn't even become a real Hunter. But Jeong Ho-san, with his A-rank physical enhancement, he got scouted by the Red Dog Guild right after graduation. They were the number 5 guild in Korea.
I always figured Jeong Ho-san would be part of my future, but I wasn't so sure I'd be part of his.
As I got older, I came to realize the reality. I wasn't a match for him. Someone like me, with a trash ability who couldn't even become a Hunter, couldn't be friends with him.
Kind-hearted Jeong Ho-san still took care of someone like me as a friend, but as I expected, our friendship eventually pushed him to his death.
So, not anymore.
In this second life, I was going to cut off all ties with him.
I'm going to be a villain anyway. It's better for him to live without knowing I exist at all.
I deleted the text message that popped up on my phone and blocked Jeong Ho-san's number.
I threw my phone onto the bed and took a shower first. Even though I mined more easily than others, it was a jungle-type gate, so my whole body reeked of sweat.
I put my musty-smelling clothes in the washing machine and then hung them on the rooftop. No one would steal these worn-out training clothes, right?
After the laundry was done, I cleaned up my messy room.
I was so out of it when I first woke up that I didn't even check out the place. But if I stayed there any longer, I'd suffocate.
My mind, which had enjoyed an upper-class life for several years, was screaming.
My body, exhausted from labor, demanded rest, but I couldn't sleep in a place like this.
Once I tossed all the stinky stuff, even this tiny-ass studio felt breathable.
"Now I feel like I can live."
Now it's time to think about the future.
What I was planning to do required money. A lot of money. To get rid of Seol Rok-jin and the corrupt higher-ups of Korea, I needed a lot of things.
The money I earned today was 1.3 million won. It wasn't a small amount, but it was far short of the amount I was aiming for.
"After taking out living expenses, there's really nothing left."
I can't achieve my desired goal by saving up little by little like this.
"I didn't want to use this method if possible."
The answer was simple.
If I can't earn it, I'll borrow it.
The bank teller who examined my face spoke with a very nervous expression.
"I'm sorry, customer. I tried my best to look into it, but with your conditions..."
"You're saying I can't get a loan?"
"Yes."
The bank teller swallowed hard at my gaze. His terrified face was almost pitiful. Apparently, my expression had become quite fierce without me realizing it. As my gaze landed on him, the bank teller quickly began to ramble.
"Even though you are an Awakened, um, you're not affiliated with a guild right now, so..."
His words dragged on and on, but to put it simply, it meant, 'You are not a valuable Awakened who can make money.'
Big banks are ruthless, as usual.
Even if you're an Awakened, the treatment of Awakened who haven't become Hunters isn't good. Especially for someone like me with an identification tag around my neck.
The bank teller's hand, which was glancing at the identification tag on my neck, was fixed under the desk, ready to call security at any moment.
Who does he take me for, a potential criminal? Well, I am a potential criminal, though.
In the end, I had no choice but to leave the bank empty-handed.
Fortunately, there was still one more place where I could borrow money.
Push and Cash
It was a name that made it sound like they would squeeze every last drop of your insides to make money if you didn't pay them back, but for now, this was my only option.
Unlike the bank, which looked decent on the outside, the entrance here was gloomy, reminiscent of an underground gate with no exit.
A man who looked like a bulldog greeted me at the entrance. As soon as he saw me, he flashed a bright smile that didn't suit his face at all.
"Welcome, customer. Are you here for a loan?"
The moment I heard his gentle voice, which contrasted with his face, goosebumps ran down my spine.
"Y-yes."
The man gave me a deep smile as he watched me stammer.
He looked like he had just caught a sucker.
"Okay. Just by looking at you, I can tell you're an Awakened, our customer?"
The man looked at the identification tag on my neck, patted his own neck, and chuckled.
Unlike the big banks, which were noticeably wary of me knowing I was a mental-type Awakened, this man seemed to welcome the fact that I was an Awakened. Well, they could use me in many ways here.
With a sinister smile, the man led me to the end of the hallway.
"Well, our team leader in charge will try to work with you, no matter what, so don't sweat it."
A loan shark saying they'll consider my circumstances, that's really reassuring.
The man left me in front of a black door.
The person called the team leader must be inside this black door.
Huff, I took a short breath and opened the door.
"Excuse me."
When I opened the door and went inside, a neat office decorated in dark tones appeared. Inside, a man in his early 30s, neatly dressed in a three-piece suit, was sitting.
He looked young for the title of team leader. Late 20s, or at most early 30s. Even that early 30s estimate was thanks to his old-fashioned parted hairstyle and tight suit; just looking at his face, he was a complete kid.
That kind of kid is the team leader here?
"Are you here for a loan?"
"Y-yes."
At my answer, the man pointed to the sofa with his hand. As I awkwardly sat down on the edge of it, the man spoke kindly.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine."
The man, who introduced himself as Team Leader Choi In-hyuk, had a much better impression than the man who had guided me here.
Unlike the man who had a face that screamed 'gangster' to anyone who looked at him, Choi In-hyuk looked like a normal office worker on the surface. But considering he was a team leader at such a young age, there must be something he was hiding.
The man handed me a blank form.
"Please fill this out first."
From my name and date of birth to the school I graduated from and my family relations. I had to write down all the information.
Since I didn't have any relatives anyway, there was nothing to hide, but it certainly wasn't a place to come to lightly.
Eyes that looked sharp as snakes scanned my body. As expected, all good faces are just disguises. I pretended not to notice the gaze and calmly filled out the form.
Looking over the completed form, the man's eyes lit up.
"You're an Awakened from Babel."
His gaze scanning my body up and down was very unsettling.
"If you had become a Hunter, you wouldn't have come here."
The man tapped his neck and smiled, revealing his teeth.
"I wonder what kind of ability you have that makes you wear that."
It sounded like a monologue, but it was clearly a question. There wasn't a section to write about my ability on the form, but as long as I was wearing this wretched identification tag around my neck, it was an unavoidable question.
"Low-frequency emission. It's great for chasing away mosquitoes. It's almost useless against people, though."
But I didn't need to tell him my ability truthfully here. Unless it was a government agency, they wouldn't be able to properly check my ability, so it would be okay to lie roughly.
It would be impossible if I had become a Hunter, but since I hadn't, I could make up any lie about my ability.
The man frowned at my words.
"They put an identification tag on you for something like that?"
"It's very weak, but they said it has the potential to affect the human brain."
At my words, Choi In-hyuk stroked his chin. He looked doubtful of my words, but there was no way for him to find out my lie right away.
To find out my ability, he would have to go through the Awakened Association. Unlike big banks, they wouldn't be able to view information directly here. Even if they found out illegally, it would take quite a bit of time.
I swallowed hard inwardly.
"Maximum 130 million won with you as collateral. But if you take it like this, the annual interest rate will have to be up to 40%, and with a normal interest rate, it's up to 50 million."
Choi In-hyuk's tone, which had dropped honorifics at some point, was quite annoying, but the amount was larger than I expected.
"The recommended amount is up to 50 million, which one would you like?"
As soon as Choi In-hyuk's question ended, I quickly shouted.
"130 million won."
At my words, Choi In-hyuk's eyebrows twitched.
"The interest will be a lot to handle."
Choi In-hyuk, who said that, quickly added.
"You know that you can't make repayments for three months, right?"
As expected, damn loan shark. He meant to make me pay three months' worth of interest no matter what. Truly, they're like cockroaches, sucking the marrow out of ordinary people.
"Interest alone is 4,333,333 won per month. The first repayment date is the 15th of next month. Are you confident?"
Choi In-hyuk, who recited the amount, stared intently at my face. It was an amount that would make an ordinary citizen's breath catch in their throat, but to me, who had worked under Seol Rok-jin and had a swollen liver from audacity, it was a trivial amount.
Just how extravagant Seol Rok-jin's spending was. There were times when he spent hundreds of millions, billions of won in minutes.
Choi In-hyuk wore a slightly surprised expression at my calm face. He must be wondering why a guy who has nothing is acting so confidently.
When I looked straight into Choi In-hyuk's eyes as if asking what the problem was, the corners of Choi In-hyuk's mouth slowly curved upwards.
"Hmm, whatever the case, as long as you repay our money on time, there's no problem. But let me tell you, customer. If you're even a penny short, if you're even a day late. At that time, even if I have to scrape out your insides, I will come to get my money."
Despite such a warning, Choi In-hyuk gave me the money quite readily.
I did hand over the serial number of my identification tag as collateral, but that was all.
I was honestly a little surprised that Choi In-hyuk gave me the money so easily.
Is this guy actually a pushover?
After checking my heavy bag, I smiled.
130 million won. 40% annual interest?
Yeah, I just won't pay it back.
