Chapter 182

Riding on Min Neong, we flew through the sky and arrived at the address Meng Yao had given us.

【Qkrnfl892】—What is this shabby neighborhood? Does Mania live here?

【Min Ji】—I had no idea such a place existed in Korea…

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Isn’t this basically a slum? The security here must be terrible.

【Handsome Licker】—?? When did they move to a place like this? Their family situation must’ve gotten worse.

The neighborhood was a tightly packed villa complex with old buildings. This was where Mania Mother and Daughter lived.

“…This place feels like something yokai would love. So gloomy.”

[Even yokai would hate a place like this. I wouldn’t want to live here.]

Min Neong frowned as she looked around the neighborhood. Even yokai would be shocked by this place.

As we walked through the neighborhood while chatting with Min Neong…

*Creak. Thud!*

A rusty pipe hanging precariously from the building fell right in front of me.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Holy crap, that scared me.

【Meng Yao】—Assassination attempt. Lol.

【Jujijoa】—Who the hell did that?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—What do you mean ‘who’? It just fell on its own, lol.

If I had walked a little faster, I might’ve been in danger. Assuming my body isn’t that tough, of course.

If it were an ordinary person like Mania Mother and Daughter, they would’ve died on the spot.

“I don’t usually say this, but this place really doesn’t seem fit for humans.”

[I agree. I want to leave quickly…]

【Qkrnfl892】—For real, even our military barracks are better than this.

【Cheerful Hyeon Ji】—I want to say that’s not true, but honestly, the military barracks are probably better.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Wow, poor Mania.

【Maid】—Wow, unfortunate neighbors.

【Kyu Mi-ho】—Kyu.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—What’s with Kyu Mi-ho? She just popped up out of nowhere.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—I made her an account. Sorry for hitting her earlier, lol.

Following the address Meng Yao gave us, we arrived at the villa where Mania Mother and Daughter lived. For some reason, it felt several times more run-down than the other villas.

“Yao, are you sure this is the place?”

【Meng Yao】—Yeah, I’m sure.

【Jujijoa】—Meng Yao might look dumb, but her hacking skills are top-notch, so don’t doubt her.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Lol, she does look pretty dumb, though.

【Meng Yao】—Guburi, can I upload your masturbation video online?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—You b*tch. I’m sorry.

【Handsome Licker】—Lol, lick.

Trusting Meng Yao, we entered the building and stopped at a door in the basement.

【Cat-eared Woman】—They must live in a semi-basement.

【Semen Thief】—Looks like we’re the same kind.

*Knock knock.*

I lightly knocked on the door, but there was no response.

“…Are they not home?”

[Seems like it. I don’t sense anyone inside.]

I knocked a few more times and called out for Mania Mother and Daughter, but there was still no response. It seemed they had gone out together.

【Jujijoa】—Just open the door and go in.

“How can I just enter someone’s house without permission?”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Juji’s a criminal, so she doesn’t know basic manners, lol.

【Jujijoa】—It’s not someone else’s house; it’s Mania’s. Just go in.

【Meng Yao】—Yeah, just go in. It’s not like Mania would report you for trespassing. It’s you, Se-hoon, lol.

【Handsome Licker】—Criminals really have a different mindset. Lick.

“Even if it’s someone I know, I can’t just barge in… And the door’s probably locked anyway.”

Saying that, I tried turning the doorknob just in case. Surprisingly, it wasn’t locked.

“…What? It’s not locked?”

【Jujijoa】—I was going to tell you to pick the lock, but I didn’t expect it to be open.

【Meng Yao】—Se-hoon’s the type to break in boldly, not sneakily.

【Min Ji】—Don’t lump Se-hoon-nim in with you guys.

【Meng Yao】—But if they left the door open, doesn’t that mean anyone can come in?

【Jujijoa】—Yeah, just go in.

【Handsome Licker】—These guys really think differently from us. Lick.

I hesitated for a moment. Then, the fate of Mania Mother and Daughter flashed through my mind.

The fate where they couldn’t handle their debt and made an extreme choice.

Even though their debt isn’t that bad now, and that fate has already been destroyed, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘What if something happened to them inside…? Let’s just go in, check quickly, and leave.’

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided to go inside. As I slowly pushed the door open…

*Swoosh—*

A cloud of dusty fog seeped out from the door crack, reminiscent of a horror movie opening.

【Qkrnfl892】—Holy crap, is this a haunted house?

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Wow… What kind of house has dust coming out like that…?

【Maehwa Tree】—They haven’t been gone that long, so it’s strange.

【Cat-eared Woman】—The vibes here are bad.

The atmosphere felt like something might jump out at any moment, but thankfully, nothing happened.

[There’s really no one here.]

Min Neong looked around the entrance and said.

It was obvious no one was home without even searching the place. It was a single-room house where you could see everything from the entrance. Even the bathroom door was wide open.

【Yoho】—I hoped the interior would be better than the exterior, but nope.

【Maid】—Wow… How do they live in such a cramped space?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—It’s not unlivable. Damn teddy bear.

【Big Girl】—Maid-nim must’ve lived in a mansion before, so a small house like this is unfamiliar.

【Maehwa Tree】—Why is the house so empty? There’s barely any furniture.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Yeah, it feels like they only have the bare minimum for living.

【Min Ji】—This is way too minimal.

【Meng Yao】—Do they need a Gye Se-hoon statue?

【Kyu Mi-ho】—The Se-hoon god statue is really well-made. Kyu.

【Handsome Licker】—Kyu Mi-ho’s good at chatting too. Lick.

“What should we do now? Wait inside or go back outside?”

【Jujijoa】—Why go outside? Just wait inside and have a drink or something.

【Meng Yao】—Yeah, check the fridge.

【Handsome Licker】—Damn criminals. Lick.

Following the viewers’ advice, I decided to wait inside. Loitering outside might lead to misunderstandings.

“Then let’s take a look around while we wait.”

【Qkrnfl892】—Starting an unannounced inspection of the living quarters. Lol.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Living quarters inspection, lol.

【Jujijoa】—Is there even anything to look at?

【Handsome Licker】—Check the fridge, check under the bed. Lick.

【Min Ji】—There’s no bed.

【Handsome Licker】—Oops.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Damn b*tch.

Before exploring the house, I went to the window where a cold breeze was coming in.

The window was at street level, only showing the knees of people walking by.

【Yoho】—Wow. How do they live in a place like this?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—For real, they should at least have curtains. Anyone walking by could peek inside.

【Meng Yao】—What’s the point of peeking into Mania’s house? And it’s an alley, so not many people pass by.

A pungent, sour smell wafted from the window. The source was a yellow liquid dripping down the window frame.

“Some crazy bastard must’ve peed here…”

【Yoho】—Ew.

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Wow? Why would someone pee on someone else’s window?

【Maid】—Wow, maybe they have a hobby of peeing on random places.

【Min Ji】—Who has a hobby like that? They probably just got drunk and peed here.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Damn b*stard. Gye Se-hoon, let’s catch the guy who peed here and beat him up.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—How are we supposed to catch him? Lol.

I quickly closed the window. Mania Mother and Daughter can clean it up later.

After that, I thoroughly explored the house.

I checked out a statue modeled after me, inspected the kitchen’s hygiene, and checked the fridge for spoiled food…

“…What the hell is this?”

I was shocked when I checked the fridge. Not because there was expired food, but because it was almost empty.

“Why is there so little food in the fridge? It looks like the food Guburi brought last time is all they have.”

【Cheerful Hyeon Ji】—Wow, they haven’t finished that yet?

【Jujijoa】—How much are they rationing?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Damn.

The more I looked around, the more my head hurt. The living conditions were truly depressing.

“Guys, don’t you think we should take Mania in and educate them like we did with Guburi? If we leave them like this, it might get really dangerous.”

I said it casually, but I’d been considering it for a while. Mania Mother and Daughter needed help more than Guburi did.

‘The only ones who can help are me or a few others like Handsome John.’

Handsome John has his teaching job, so he doesn’t have much free time. It makes more sense for me, who’s practically unemployed, to help. Plus, I promised to help them achieve their dreams.

Luckily, unlike with Guburi, none of the viewers objected this time.

【Cheerful Hyeon Ji】—Yeah, taking them in sounds right.

【Big Girl】—I agree.

【Yoho】—That seems like the right move. Or I could find them a separate place to live.

【Min Ji】—I can help too.

【Maehwa Tree】—How have Mania and her daughter survived until now?

【Qkrnfl892】—With living conditions like that, aren’t they on the brink of death?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—For real, it’s a miracle they’re still alive.

Honestly, after seeing how they live, no one could object. Plus, unlike Guburi, Mania hasn’t picked fights with the viewers, so she’s not disliked.

Of course, Mania has done some questionable things too, but they were overshadowed by Guburi’s extreme behavior.

“So, everyone agrees to take Mania in?”

【Semen Thief】—Yes!

【Qkrnfl892】—No, stop asking for our permission. You’re going to do it anyway, damn it.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—Lol, exactly. Since when did you care about our opinions?

【Handsome Licker】—He’s just asking for show. Lick.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—What if Mania refuses?

“They don’t have the right to refuse.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Lol, so they’re getting kidnapped like me.

【Maehwa Tree】—Would they really say no if Se-hoon offers to live together?

【Meng Yao】—So they’re getting free food and shelter?

“It’s not free. They’ll have to work for it, like Guburi. Miso’s a student, so she can focus on her studies, but I’ll have to think of something for Mi-rae.”

【Semen Thief】—Make her a cleaner.

【Meng Yao】—The maid’s already the cleaner.

Do Mi-rae, Mania’s daughter, needs a job where she can earn money. I can’t feed and house them forever.

‘What would suit her…? Oh, she’s good at sculpting, right? Maybe I can find her a job related to that.’

As I thought about what job would suit Do Mi-rae, I sat down and waited for Mania Mother and Daughter.

10 minutes passed…

…20 minutes…

30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours…

Over 3 hours passed, but Mania Mother and Daughter still hadn’t returned.

“…Why aren’t they back? They’re not the type to go on a trip, so did something really happen?”

【Jujijoa】—Maybe they were kidnapped?

【Handsome Licker】—Kidnapping? Lol, lick.

【Min Ji】—Why would anyone kidnap Mania-nim? They don’t have any money.

【Jujijoa】—It could be human trafficking.

【Meng Yao】—Yeah, maybe organ harvesters got them.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Stop with the ominous talk, damn it.

【Meng Yao】—Se-hoon, can you track their phones?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—?? If you could do that, you should’ve done it earlier, damn it. Hurry up.

“Tracking? Hmm… Yeah, just in case, let’s try it. Please.”

I took out my phone and handed it to Meng Yao. While she tracked their location, I decided to contact some people I knew from before.

[Sent]

—Sorry to bother you after so long, but could you help me find two people? I’m worried my acquaintances might’ve been taken by loan sharks.

I tried to be as polite as possible. Then, I copied and pasted the message and sent it to dozens of people.

Soon, replies started coming in.

[Received]

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

—Long time no see, oppa! Send me their personal info, and I’ll find them within 10 minutes!

[Received]

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

—Send me their personal info, and I’ll find them right away! But which crazy b*tch took your acquaintances? I’ll catch them and beat them up!

…

[Received]

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

—Send me their personal info! And if someone really kidnapped your acquaintances, I’ll use all my connections to bury them in this industry!

The people I messaged were the loan sharks I had beaten up before.

---