Chapter 29

“Hmm, it’s quiet.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

I waved at Mina, who was reading a book she got from somewhere, and stared blankly out the window.

Did they give up?

Well, that’s a relief…

But it doesn’t seem like it.

I felt a strange unease in the peaceful routine that had been going on for a week.

You know how they say it’s the calm before the storm?

That’s exactly how it feels.

But trying to eliminate the source of my anxiety like some monk would be too extreme.

Of course, if I went alone, could I wipe them out? Impossible.

They outnumber us, and they’ve got guns.

My ability isn’t completely useless against guns, but I can’t guarantee I’d survive concentrated fire.

Honestly, even one-on-one, Salmusa is a tough opponent, so this whole assumption is pointless.

But if he’s targeting me…

I’d have no choice but to deal with him.

In this apocalyptic world, the only way to get even a moment of peace is to either gain strong power or kill all your enemies.

…I wasn’t like this before.

Maybe it’s because I’ve taken over Quaker’s body.

I feel like his cruel and cold personality is rubbing off on me.

Sure, that kind of personality helps in surviving this world, but is that a good thing?

My old personality as an ordinary office worker is fading, and I’m becoming more like Quaker.

It’s an inevitable change in this harsh world, but I didn’t want it to happen.

…Now’s not the time for this.

I stopped overthinking, got up from the couch, and stretched.

It’s been a while since I didn’t go to the gray forest, but there’s still a lot to do.

I need to teach Seolhwa Korean and basic math, and since I’m about to open my business, I need to hang the sign once it’s done. I also have hunter work to do and need to find a decent weapon.

Right, a weapon.

I’ve been collecting as many iron balls as I can, but since they’re consumables, they’ll eventually run out.

And if I run into someone who can neutralize iron balls, my combat power will be halved.

So I need to get a weapon that lasts longer.

A gun…is out of the question.

I don’t know how to use a sword.

Carrying a weapon you can’t use is just stupid.

“I guess I’ll have to make one or order it.”

Since ability users prefer weapons that maximize their abilities, they can commission craftsmen to make them.

Most are just amateurs who can only make decent stuff, but…

Seoul is different.

They can produce high-performance weapons based on preserved technology.

Of course, most of them are sold to officially recognized heroes, but it wouldn’t be strange to find one in the black market.

Part of the heroes’ job is to recover weapons circulating in the black market.

The protagonist ends up getting their own weapon there, but that’s just protagonist luck.

I don’t have that.

I’ll have to save up to buy one or find something decent to use.

…Or maybe I’ll just make one myself.

I’m not that skilled, but I could probably make something usable.

It’s not like I want something complicated.

Honestly, even if I just sharpen a bunch of spears and throw them with my ability, it’d be threatening.

Though the thought of carrying spears on my back is a bit overwhelming.

“Boss, it’s time to go get the sign.”

“Boss, huh.”

I jokingly asked them to call me that, but I didn’t think they’d actually do it.

“Should I call you Uncle instead?”

“Call me whatever you want.”

“…I’ll stick with Boss. Calling you Uncle makes me feel like a kid…”

Mina closed her book with a thud and placed it on the small desk that had become her usual spot.

By the way, where did she get that outfit? She’s wearing a pure white office look…it reminds me of the original work.

In the original, she had a similar outfit.

Though it was more form-fitting.

“Boss?”

“Ah, sorry. Let’s go. Seolhwa.”

“…Yeah.”

Seolhwa, who had been scribbling in her notebook in the corner, nodded and stood up.

“You’re coming too.”

“Okay.”

“You can’t stay in the office forever.”

I’ve been keeping her inside because of the snakes, but it’s time to let her get some fresh air.

I’m not keeping her like a pet bird; I can’t keep her locked up forever.

“Alright…”

Her smile, with her cheeks slightly puffed, was adorable.

She was known for her beauty in the original, so it’s no surprise…

“Mina, anything to say?”

“…No, Boss. Nothing.”

She’s clearly sulking while saying that.

“Then let’s go. We need to hang the sign before it gets late.”

———————

“How is it?”

“Very well-made, with a classic touch.”

“I’ve been in this business for twenty years. Even those guys in Seoul can’t match my sign-making skills.”

A handcrafted sign in a somewhat old-fashioned style.

The wooden sign, coated with something to protect it, gleamed in the sunlight. Is it ready to hang? It’s pretty heavy, though…

“You’re quite strong. Are you a physical enhancement ability user?”

“No. Just an application of my ability.”

Humans are bound to this planet by gravity, right?

If I use repulsion to push against gravity, it becomes lighter.

“Then we’ll be going.”

“Alright. Take care.”

I’ll nail it perfectly in the spot I prepared and then rest.

“Boss, aren’t you going to see Jang?”

“With this?”

“Good point.”

“Boss, I’m hungry.”

“Let’s hang the sign first, then go eat. Let’s have a feast to celebrate officially starting our detective business.”

“Hooray~”

It’s a bit tight, but we should enjoy days like this.

We headed straight to the office with the sign.

The road to the office was eerily quiet.

Enough to feel unsettling.

At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but seeing Mina and Seolhwa’s expressions, it wasn’t.

“…Is this intentional or not?”

Of all days, on this good day…

“Mina, Seolhwa, go to the hotel.”

“…Boss, be careful.”

“Be careful.”

“I know.”

But I’m not cowardly enough to run when there might be a problem with my beloved home.

For Koreans, housing issues are more important than life.

“I’ll be back, so eat without me.”

What about this sign?

I leaned the sign I was carrying against a corner of the alley.

I didn’t think Mina and Seolhwa could carry it.

No one’s going to take it, right?

…This isn’t the time to think about that.

I habitually checked the iron balls in my pocket.

I should’ve brought more.

It’s heavy, so it would’ve been hard…

I quietly moved forward and arrived at the office.

No one’s here.

But—the door I locked when I left was open.

At least they didn’t break it.

With a pointless thought, I entered the open office.

“Ah, you’re here. Have a seat.”

“I’m the boss here.”

So this is how it’s going to be, huh?

I surveyed the dozen or so outlaws in the office and the sharp-looking man sitting on the couch, waiting for me.

That guy…Salmusa.

The most powerful outlaw among the divided factions of the snakes.

In the original, he joined Quaker, but not now.

The original hasn’t even started yet.

“If you’re the boss, you should treat your guests properly.”

“Do you know what trespassing is?”

“What’s the point of law in this world? It’s lighter than a bullet casing these days.”

“So you came to settle things with your fists?”

“I’m not some gorilla. I don’t think everything can be solved with strength.”

“Oh, really?”

I glared at him, sitting across from me.

Like a stereotypical hitman, with a scar across his face and an eyepatch, he took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

“Care for a smoke?”

“No.”

“Even if you’re leaving, you should leave on a good note.”

“That’s my line.”

The air in the office grew heavy.

Probably because of the murderous aura from those outlaws.

But…I wasn’t that scared.

And that seemed to intrigue him, as he took the cigarette out of his mouth and asked me.

“I noticed it when you killed my men, but you’ve got quite the guts. How about it? Join me, and I’ll let you live.”

“Screw you.”

“Tsk.”

The murderous aura intensified.

“I liked you. What a shame.”

“Sorry, but joining someone isn’t my style.”

You think I’d join you? Are you crazy?

Hearing my refusal, he looked at me with a regretful expression and spoke.

“Well then…I heard you’re about to open your office…guess you’ll have to file for closure.”

The outlaws behind him slowly started to surround me.

Hmm. So that’s how it’s going to be.

“Cleaning up is going to be a pain.”

“…All talk, huh. Boys.”

The moment he gave the signal, I used my repulsion ability at full power.