– Hello?

The voice on the other end of the line was unfamiliar.

It’s been a while since I last heard from Park Ji-hoon back in middle school before his voice changed. The only recent conversation we had was a brief one a few months ago.

Is this really him? I hesitated for a moment, unsure.

– Is this Jin Taekyung’s number?

“Ah, yes, it’s me. I wasn’t sure if it was someone else.”

– What the… Didn’t you save my number last time?

“I did, but for a second, I thought I might’ve dialed the wrong number. Your voice didn’t sound familiar.”

– Well, yeah. It’s been a long time since we last met, back in middle school.

“That’s true. I didn’t even recognize you then.”

– Of course. Do you know how much money I spent on this face?

A low chuckle came through the line. It was a friendly, familiar tone, free of awkwardness.

I laughed along as I settled into the VIP limousine provided by the Gate Management Bureau. The driver acknowledged me with a nod through the rearview mirror before smoothly setting the car in motion.

“So, what’s up?”

– Nothing much. I was just calling to see if you wanted to grab a drink.

“A drink? All of a sudden?”

– Yeah, you said you’d let me know when the reunion was happening, but you didn’t.

Did I say that?

Thinking back, it seemed vaguely familiar. But I’ve been so busy since then that it slipped my mind.

– I was out of the country for work when the reunion happened. Ended up missing it because of an overseas trip.

“An overseas trip?”

– Yeah, I had to handle an issue at our European branch. I only just got back.

I went to Murim, and this guy went to Europe.

I have no idea what he did there, but somehow, I feel a bit envious. I responded with exaggerated jealousy.

“Lucky bastard. You get to travel abroad and all.”

– You’re jealous? You, of all people?

Park Ji-hoon laughed on the other end.

– It’s weird hearing that from you. Are you messing with me?

“No, that’s not it.”

– Just kidding. So, are you free tonight?

A quick glance at the time showed it was already 8 PM.

Since I moved out of my parents’ house three days ago and into an office-tel in Bucheon, the only person waiting for me at home would be Jin-ho hyung.

I had the time, but the question was…

‘Is there some other motive here?’

However, the hesitation was brief.

It’s been seven years since I started working as a hunter. During that time, I lost touch with friends I was once close to in school.

Out of sight, out of mind—it’s not just something that happens in romantic relationships.

But here’s an old friend reaching out without any hidden agenda.

‘Am I developing trust issues?’

Maybe it’s the aftermath of the Won Myung-hoon incident and the hassle from certain reporters. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

– You must be really busy. Well, if you can’t make it, we can do it another time…

“No, it’s fine. Where should we meet?”

A short while later, the limousine smoothly changed course.

“You got here faster than I expected.”

Park Ji-hoon was already waiting.

The weather was getting colder, hinting at the approach of winter. He stood there in a crisp white shirt, topped with a cashmere coat, looking quite the contrast to me.

“What’s with the fancy outfit?”

“I had something important to take care of today. And let’s get something straight—you didn’t dress down, I just dressed appropriately.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with this? Jeans and a sweatshirt are fine.”

This is me making an effort. Ha-yeon nags me constantly to stop wearing sweats all the time.

“Where do you spend all the money you make? Oh, wait—you donate it all.”

“Don’t bring that up. It still stings.”

“That’s why we’re here—to drink away the sting.”

Park Ji-hoon smirked and gestured with his chin, then started walking ahead.

After passing through security guards in formal uniforms and numerous surveillance cameras, we finally reached the entrance.

I couldn’t help but gape at the sight before me.

‘What the…’

The marble floors gleamed under the light, and the walls were adorned with paintings that looked straight out of the 17th century.

‘I swear I saw that in an art textbook once. Surely it can’t be the real thing… right?’

I followed, trying not to look too much like a country bumpkin.

The place we stopped at had five elevators lined up, but there were no buttons. I wasn’t sure what to do until Ji-hoon placed his hand on a black panel, and a mechanical chime sounded as the elevator arrived almost instantly.

*Bzzt.*

“What are you waiting for? Get in.”

“…Wow.”

“What’s got you so amazed?”

“This is an office-tel?”

“It is an office-tel.”

The office-tel you know and the one I know are worlds apart. I swallowed the words back.

Maybe it’s just because we’re in Cheongdam-dong. The wealth practically oozes from this place.

“You’ve really made it, huh? Buying a place like this.”

“I picked it up when it went on sale recently. It’s just a place to clear my head occasionally.”

He said it like he was buying a new pair of shoes.

As I marveled, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. Instead of a cold, dark hallway, a living room decorated in gray tones spread out before me.

I couldn’t gauge the exact size, but the living room alone was as big as our family home’s entire floor.

“Come on in.”

Whether he bought it to clear his head or not, this was unlike any place I’d ever been in.

The living room, complete with a large lounge set and a wine cellar, looked like a high-end hotel bar.

Ji-hoon took off his coat and asked me, “What do you want to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Château Cheval Blanc, Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Royal DeMaria…”

“What the heck?”

The string of foreign words made me blink in confusion.

“What did you say?”

“Château Cheval Blanc.”

Whether it’s Château or whatever, the names are all just too complicated.

After a moment of silence, I replied, “You got any soju?”

Ji-hoon chuckled.

We stacked crates of soju and beer and drank non-stop.

We had so much to talk about, from silly memories of middle school to everything that had happened since we lost touch.

“Do you remember? That guy, No Jae-heon, from the class next door?”

“Who’s No Jae-heon?”

“The tall guy who always bragged about going to the gym. Anyway, when he and Sun Woong-jae from our class got into a fight, you…”

“Wait. Who’s Sun Woong-jae again?”

“…Did you get amnesia or something?”

From reminiscing about our middle school days to filling in the gaps since then, we kept the conversation flowing, only pausing to drink.

At some point, I realized that I’d been smiling non-stop since the conversation started.

‘This is fun.’

There’s something special about sharing a drink with someone who has the same memories as you. It makes the conversation feel different, more meaningful.

I also learned a few things I didn’t know before.

“You were rich?”

“What rich? My dad just runs a small business.”

“A small business related to hunters? And it’s been running for over 30 years?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s being rich, you sneaky bastard. People like you always turn out to be the real rich ones.”

I looked at him, not because his background made him seem different but because I was genuinely curious.

We lived in a fairly average neighborhood back then. If it had been any different, someone like me, whose grades depended on how well I could sharpen pencils, wouldn’t have gotten in.

But a business in the hunter industry is basically a goldmine.

If his family had been in that business for over 30 years, they could probably afford to have gold bars lying around.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just curious. Usually, rich kids go to the top schools in Gangnam, don’t they?”

“Guess I wasn’t that rich. Plus, I transferred here in the middle of the year.”

“Transferred? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Yeah, in second year of middle school. It didn’t seem worth mentioning.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

I tilted my head and took another sip.

I guess transferring in middle school wasn’t such a big deal. It was over a decade ago, after all.

“We only met in third year of middle school. We hadn’t crossed paths before then, so it makes sense that you wouldn’t know.”

“There were many times.”

“Huh?”

“I first saw you in front of the teacher’s office about a week after I transferred. Then in the hallway, and we even ran into each other in the bathroom.”

Vague, mosaic-like memories from over a decade ago slowly surfaced as Ji-hoon spoke.

“Wow… How do you remember all that?”

His lips, smooth without a single rough edge, curved into a smile.

“I have a pretty good memory, unlike some people.”

I laughed and refilled his glass.

“Hey, even if my memory’s bad, there’s one thing I remember.”

“What’s that?”

“You never did your homework, and during exams, you’d just mark answers randomly and then sleep.”

“Oh, that.”

“With such a good memory, how were your grades in subjects that required memorization so bad? Did you even get into college… Oh, wait, is it rude to ask?”

“Rude? Who cares?”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“And I did get into college. Korea University, business administration. I couldn’t graduate because of my awakening, though.”

“Wait, where? Korea University?”

“My parents wanted it.”

“…You’re nuts. What parent wouldn’t want their kid to get into Korea University?”

Korea University is the top school in the country. Only the brightest minds get in.

I stared at him in disbelief as Ji-hoon chuckled.

“When I tried, it worked. It wasn’t that hard.”

“Wow.”

The more I heard about his life, the more it reminded me of a straight, unobstructed highway.

A wealthy family, a sharp mind, a place at the most prestigious university, and an immediate A-rank awakening.

Unlike me, who had to take care of my family, being a hunter was just one of many choices for him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“You’re looking at me funny.”

“Did it show?”

“A lot. Taekyung, are you…”

Ji-hoon rested his chin on his hand, his voice low and slurred from the alcohol.

“Are you jealous of me?”

Jealous?

The question caught me off guard, and I was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Yeah. I guess that’s it.”

“…You’re honest.”

“Because it’s true. It’s admiration for what I don’t have, maybe even envy. But I don’t regret it—I worked hard for what I have.”

Ji-hoon’s slightly widened eyes stared at me, as if surprised.

“You can be envious, too.”

“Hey, am I supposed to be something?”

“You are. Just look at yourself. You’re a hunter being noticed not just in Korea but internationally. You might soon be one of the only five S-rank hunters in the country.”

“That’s impressive. Except for the part where I donate money and then regret it.”

I smiled as I emptied my glass. As I did, Ji-hoon watched me quietly as if he was about to say something, but then…

*Bzzzt.*

The smartphone on the table vibrated. Ji-hoon stared at the screen before licking his lips.

“Who is it?”

“Our guild’s team leader.”

“This late? Does Myeongdong Guild have a 24-hour standby or something?”

“Not exactly. It’s for something important.”

“Well, then…”

“Sorry, but we’ll have to cut this short.”

“Don’t apologize. We both know how it is.”

I set down my glass and stood up. I patted Ji-hoon’s shoulder, who was looking at me with an apologetic expression.

“I had a great time.”

And I meant it. Since becoming somewhat of a public figure, there haven’t been many people I could have a relaxed, sincere conversation with.

When Ji-hoon tried to get into the elevator with me, I stopped him.

“I’m off. No need to see me out; go take care of your business.”

A faint smile tugged at Ji-hoon’s lips.

“Yeah, let’s meet again soon. For sure.”

With that, the elevator doors closed.

Ji-hoon stood by the window, looking down.

In the dark below, one figure was leaving the building.

– Hello? Ji-hoon? Ji-hoon?

“Speak.”

– Ah, finally connected. I could hear you, but you didn’t say anything…

“I think you’re mistaken about something, Team Leader.”

The tone of voice on the other end faltered slightly at Ji-hoon’s cold reply.

Ji-hoon lifted a crystal glass and sipped from it. Instead of the soju and beer he’d been drinking earlier, it was now filled with amber whiskey.

“Next time, wait until I’m ready to speak. Don’t try to play the role of the superior.”

The phone fell silent. Both men understood well that the title of Myeongdong Guild’s Team Leader was just a facade.

“No response?”

– …Understood.

“So, what’s this urgent report about?”

The team leader answered cautiously.

– Do you know Team Leader Jeong Hyun-woo? He’s in charge of Team 8.

“I know him. Good skills, but his flexibility is less than half his talent, which is a problem.”

– It seems he’s picked up on something.

“Really? He’s sharper than I thought.”

– Yes. But I’m not sure how to handle this…

“What’s there to think about? Schedule a raid as soon as possible. Make it an A-rank.”

– You mean…

“Team Leader, do you know how many gate accidents happen in a year? I don’t know. And no one else does either. Nobody cares.”

Ji-hoon clicked his tongue.

“You’re not responding again.”

– Ah, understood.

“And about the Peace Guild… I mean the matter with Jin Taekyung…”

Ji-hoon’s voice trailed off.

He couldn’t help but think of the person who had patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

‘I had a great time.’

It was a sincere remark. And that made it even harder to stop.

– Ji-hoon?

Ji-hoon downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp.

The crystal glass crumpled in his grip like paper.

“I finished discussing it with the higher-ups today.”

They’re annoyed by him. ”

That was the gist of it. A single comment made over dinner with ‘that person,’ and that was that.

– What? But now isn’t the right time…

The shocked 1st Team Leader’s words were abruptly cut off by Ji-hoon’s icy tone.

“Isn’t it natural for a gardener to pull weeds from the lawn? I’m sure your guild leader has already been informed. This conversation is over.”

*Click.* The call ended.

In the silence, Ji-hoon gazed out at the scenery beyond the pristine glass.

Jin Taekyung had long since disappeared from view.

Murim Login — Chapter 3

Murim Login Chapter 3 — Chapter 272

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