Chapter 20
As Kwon Tae-ho stepped out of the hospital room and headed to the underground parking lot, he was surprised to find Yoo Seol waiting in front of his car for some reason.
This morning, Yoo Seol had visited the Incheon Police Department separately with Kwon Tae-ho. Although this hospital was also in Incheon, it was quite a long distance away. Kwon Tae-ho asked, puzzled.
“What’s up? When did you arrive?”
“Just now. I was finishing up at the Incheon Police Department and remembered that you were here, so I came to check.”
“Did you really have to? Why?”
“Riding the subway from Seoul to Incheon makes my legs hurt. Could you give me a ride?”
Before Kwon Tae-ho could agree, Yoo Seol marched up and snatched the car keys from his hand. Watching her naturally hop into the passenger seat, Kwon Tae-ho silently got into the driver’s seat.
“Did you wrap up your work well?”
“Yes, all the relevant documents are set to be handed over to the Seoul Police Department. Fortunately, there haven’t been any victim reports filed this time. Lucky, right? Chinatown is outside of the law, so no matter how much the executioner destroys the place, nobody seems to complain.”
“That’s convenient. It would be even better if those criminals could just keep running off to Chinatown, right?”
“…Are you suggesting that every time I have to go to Incheon for admin work because of them? If that’s the case, I want my travel expenses. And get me a car too.”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”
“…Are you serious?”
Yoo Seol looked at Kwon Tae-ho with a shocked expression, as if she couldn’t believe what she heard. Kwon Tae-ho, turning his head slightly, grinned and said, “I’m just thinking about it.”
Thud!
Yoo Seol’s punch landed on Kwon Tae-ho’s shoulder, but with her untrained body, it wasn’t going to cause any damage to a supreme master. Sighing deeply, Yoo Seol turned her head away.
“…By the way, this is unexpected.”
“What is?”
“Usually, you don’t pay this much attention to criminals. You could have handed the judicial trade case over to someone else. Did hearing their story make you feel pity?”
After the case was concluded, the two had heard about Baek Seong-cheol’s life through PayPay.
Though they were only able to learn what PayPay had recently discovered, just that alone was enough for them to grasp how tough Baek Seong-cheol’s life had been.
“It truly was a sad story.”
“In today’s world, such stories are common. That’s why they’re a problem. But I didn’t feel any sympathy for him just because of that background.”
“Oh, come on! Even the great Kwon Tae-ho could feel compassion if there was a story that heartfelt.”
“It’s nothing like that.”
Kwon Tae-ho firmly drew the line. He absolutely did not feel sympathy or concern.
“Then why did you specifically come all the way to Incheon to see Baek Seong-cheol?”
“…”
“You can’t be honest, can you?”
“What?”
“You must have heard that from here, so did you really need to ask again?”
Yoo Seol crossed her arms and looked at Kwon Tae-ho, pouting, “Sometimes, it seems like you’re so fixated on drawing a line with criminals. You’re a person too; feeling compassion toward criminals isn’t something to be ashamed of, right? Why do you maintain such a cold attitude toward them?”
Usually, Kwon Tae-ho would joke around and smile, but when it came to criminals, he was sharply decisive. To Yoo Seol, it felt almost compulsive.
Yoo Seol asked if there was some reason behind such obsession, but Kwon Tae-ho didn’t respond. He’d been asked similar questions several times before, and the result had been the same.
He never shared why he hated criminals so much.
“…Honestly, it’s a little disappointing. We’ve been through a lot together by now. Shouldn’t we be able to talk candidly with each other?”
“Just because we’ve spent time together doesn’t mean I have to share everything. Don’t pry too much, assistant.”
At Kwon Tae-ho’s response, Yoo Seol puffed out her lips and retorted.
“That’s fair. But could you at least call me something other than ‘assistant’? It’s a bit too formal, you know? In a public setting, that’s fine, but when it’s just the two of us, wouldn’t it be more comfortable if you just called me Seol?”
“Is there a reason that has to be done?”
“‘Assistant’ is three syllables, while ‘Seol’ is just one. It’s much more economical. Or is it that the great Kwon Tae-ho is too shy to call a woman by her name?”
“Shy? If anyone should be shy, it should be you, assistant.”
“Excuse me? Why would I be?”
At Yoo Seol’s question, Kwon Tae-ho glanced at her and smiled. In that moment, Yoo Seol sensed an ominous feeling and tried to cover his mouth, but Kwon Tae-ho’s tongue was much quicker.
“Didn’t someone once try to charm their superior using magic, only to fail because they lacked resistance? If it were me, I’d feel too embarrassed to face them every time.”
“Why are we talking about this now?! And we agreed not to bring that up again!”
Yoo Seol exclaimed in panic, but Kwon Tae-ho had no intention of stopping. His smile just grew wider.
“Back then, what did you say while using magic? ‘Don’t be unhappy with what I say; just work hard like a dog. If you do, I’ll definitely reward you, Woof Woof!’ How could you say such embarrassing things in a sober state?”
“Aaaah! No! Please stop!”
Kwon Tae-ho’s brutal attack forced Yoo Seol to squirm in the passenger seat, finding it impossible to contain the shameful memories she had been trying hard to forget.
“Didn’t you say you were 24 back then? Personally, I’d say it was a cute attempt.”
“…I didn’t really mean to charm you. I just heard you’re quite a scoundrel, so I thought I’d try to create a more relaxed working environment with a little suggestion. But I never thought it would have no effect at all…”
Until then, while the effects of the magic had been weak, it had never failed entirely. It was simply unusual to find someone with Kwon Tae-ho’s level of magical resistance.
“No easy path exists in life. Consider it a lesson learned.”
“…You do know working under you is a tough path, right? You just coast through tasks and constantly joke around like this. Plus, you don’t even pay properly.”
“Well, I might be a bit late with the pay, but I do end up paying you, don’t I?”
With a mischievous smile, Kwon Tae-ho suddenly asked, “Speaking of which, how about this month’s salary?”
“…I’ve already received the advance, and the rest should be deposited within three business days by the Seoul Police Department. It’s a flat sum of five thousand. Congratulations! You’ve earned five thousand in just a week. That equates to about 2.5 billion a year.”
“2.5 billion? What good is that? I can’t use that money as I please anyway.”
“That’s because it’s an emergency fund for unforeseen circumstances.”
After saying that, Yoo Seol thought for a moment and added slyly, “But, you know, wouldn’t it be alright to splurge a little today?”
“…Are you serious? Were you genuinely asking for a new car earlier?”
“No, I’m just saying, we handled a big case successfully, so can’t we have a little celebration? We could also throw a welcome party for Lee Ha-yeon while we’re at it.”
After all, Lee Ha-yeon had jumped right into joint investigations as soon as she arrived, leaving no time for a welcome party. Kwon Tae-ho nodded in agreement with Yoo Seol’s suggestion.
“What’s the new recruit doing right now?”
“They both didn’t come to the office today, so I just told them to stay home.”
“In that case, tell them to come to the office by five o’clock. Just like you said, we handled a significant matter successfully. Let’s treat ourselves.”
“Since you’re spending, could you at least take us to a more expensive place that I wouldn’t be able to afford with my usual salary?”
“Leave it to me. I know an excellent restaurant.”
“Really?”
It was just a casual remark, but he actually agreed to it?
Anticipation began to bubble on Yoo Seol’s face. For her, who had been struggling financially lately, a luxurious meal was a rare occasion. Just this morning, she had eaten jam spread on stale bread that was four days old.
And so that evening.
Yoo Seol left the office, her soaring expectations following Kwon Tae-ho, but…
“…Wait a minute, Executioner. How is this a wonderful restaurant?”
“Huh? It’s perfectly good!”
“This is just a neighborhood pork belly joint!”
As she stared at the pork belly sizzling on the grill, Yoo Seol shouted.
As she said, Kwon Tae-ho had taken them to an ordinary pork belly restaurant that could be found anywhere in town. Whether it was excellent or not was beside the point; it certainly wasn’t a place that could be called a ‘restaurant’ in a popular sense.
“You don’t know anything, assistant. This place is the most famous eatery in the area. Look! It’s ranked first in the ratings.”
“Most of the praise is for cost-effectiveness or service! What I had in mind was something a bit more, you know, atmospheric and upscale—”
“Stop talking nonsense with someone else’s money. Just eat and fill your stomach. I’ll handle the grilling.”
Yoo Seol shot a look at Lee Ha-yeon as if seeking help from her against Kwon Tae-ho’s brazen attitude.
“Yummy.”
But Lee Ha-yeon was already munching away happily at a wrapped vegetable with a satisfied expression. Sighing deeply, Yoo Seol seemed to give up.
“…Alright, this was my mistake for expecting. I am such a fool.”
“Honestly, even if it’s called a fancy restaurant, just because it’s ten times more expensive doesn’t mean it tastes ten times better. Besides, throwing a welcome party in such a place is weird. On days like this, it’s best to enjoy a generous meal with plenty of good service.”
“Exactly! And I seriously love pork belly. Oh, Executioner! Can we order some drinks as well?”
“Order as much as you want.”
“Do you drink, assistant?”
“…In moderation.”
“Manager! Three bottles of soju and beer, please! And three glasses!”
Soon after, drinks arrived, and Lee Ha-yeon skillfully mixed soju and beer for the three of them. It was clear she was no stranger to this process.
“Okay, Executioner! Let’s make a toast before we drink!”
“What toast? Just, um… Welcome to Kwon Tae-ho’s office. And both of you did a great job on this case.”
“Yes! You worked hard too, Executioner! Cheers!”
– Clink!
With a cheerful sound, their glasses clinked. Lee Ha-yeon and Kwon Tae-ho gulped down their drinks in one go.
“Hey? Assistant? Your glass hasn’t gone down at all. Can you not drink?”
“I’ll take it slow—”
“Even if you’re going slowly, it’s customary to empty your first glass. Or is it that our assistant does not welcome rookie Lee Ha-yeon?”
“Of course not! Aaaah—!”
– Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Yoo Seol downed her drink in one go, letting out a deep sigh afterward. Lee Ha-yeon cheered, clapping her hands and sparkling her eyes.
“Executioner! Forcing drinks like this is wrong! Do you think it’s the 2020s?”
“Force? I’ve never forced anyone; I’m just worried. Since our newcomer generously poured drinks, if they don’t empty their glass, they might think they have displeased you, assistant.”
“Ha-yeon wouldn’t make such a misunderstanding!”
“Can’t you? I tend to misunderstand easily.”
With a cheeky remark, Lee Ha-yeon refilled Yoo Seol’s glass. Yoo Seol looked at her in disbelief.
“What’s this—”
Up until now, drinking at Kwon Tae-ho’s office (at least the two of them just drinking together) had been a balancing act between Kwon Tae-ho’s desire to drink heavily and Yoo Seol trying to rein him in.
However, now with the emergence of a third party, Lee Ha-yeon, that balance was about to crumble. Watching the glass filling with golden liquid, Yoo Seol felt something was terribly wrong.
“Then since I welcomed you just now, how about you share your aspirations, assistant?”
“Wait a minute! Why are you taking the lead?”
“Just refill your drink and sip slowly. I’m not forcing you.”
Saying it wasn’t a force didn’t change the fact that it was essentially pressing her to do so. In reality, by the time Lee Ha-yeon shared her aspirations and emptied her glass, Yoo Seol found herself compelled to finish her drink because Lee Ha-yeon was gazing at her glass with puppy-like eyes.
“Ha-ha-ha…”
Kwon Tae-ho watched the scene with amusement.
Usually, he received all sorts of abuse and oppression from Yoo Seol, but today, Kwon Tae-ho was sure this was the day he would launch a counterattack. Under the relentless assault of Kwon Tae-ho and Lee Ha-yeon, Yoo Seol’s firm defenses began to crumble.
“Ugh, this isn’t fair…”
Yoo Seol wasn’t drinking alone, but Kwon Tae-ho and Lee Ha-yeon had both trained in martial arts. They knew how to handle a little alcohol. In contrast, Yoo Seol had no means for such tactics. Without the magic, she was just an ordinary person.
As a result…
“Hey, Kwon Tae-ho…!”
About an hour into their drinking session, the Yoo Seol they knew had completely vanished.
“You have to treat me well! Without me, you would already have a bunch of red lines! Do you understand?!”
“Sure thing. If it weren’t for our assistant’s skills, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m always grateful.”
“Don’t just say it; ugh! Show me with actions, you fool!”
“Here’s a drink as a token of appreciation.”
“Really?! Hey, our puppy, how wonderful would it be if you listen like this in everyday life? Here, let’s applaud. Good boy.”
Yoo Seol reached out to pat Kwon Tae-ho on the head. Of course, Kwon Tae-ho wasn’t about to allow that. After several attempts to reach, she eventually gave up, laughing heartily before emptying her glass.
“…Um, assistant, aren’t you too drunk? I think we should start wrapping this up…”
Even Lee Ha-yeon, usually staunch in her support, showed hesitation at Yoo Seol’s state, which was entirely different from her usual composed self.
“Why should we stop? This is fun! Are you not enjoying it, rookie?”
“It is enjoyable, but…! I’m worried you’ll be really upset when we head to work tomorrow…”
“Don’t worry. If you get this drunk, you won’t remember anything tomorrow.”
“I’ll remember everything! How smart I am—!”
“Just forget it. Even if you remember, you won’t be able to bring it up. You’ll feel too embarrassed to say it out loud. So let’s drink more amongst ourselves.”
As they each filled their glasses again, Yoo Seol pouted, feeling left out.
“Why are you two excluding me…? I work so hard every day, and what do I get in return? Today is just like that. Come on! What’s with this pork belly, anyway?”
“You ate well enough, didn’t you?”
“The meat is innocent! The criminal is you, Kwon Tae-ho! Ha-yeon! Hurry and arrest him! I’ll get the warrant later…”
“…Want more meat?”
“Huh? You’ll wrap it for me, Ha-yeon? I suppose I’m a bit full, but I can’t refuse a request from you…”
Giggling, Yoo Seol opened her mouth wide for Lee Ha-yeon to feed her the wrapped vegetables. Watching Yoo Seol munching happily, Kwon Tae-ho couldn’t help but smile.
“You’ve quickly mastered handling the assistant. Just keep her mouth busy if she’s too noisy.”
“Haha, that’s not it. You’re just unusually adorable today, and it reminded me of my little brother without me realizing…”
At that point, Lee Ha-yeon suddenly glanced at Kwon Tae-ho, as if remembering something.
“Er, Executioner. Um, that—”
Lee Ha-yeon stammered. Kwon Tae-ho immediately caught on to what she was alluding to.
“Bonus?”
“Ah, yes! We successfully closed this case after all… Though my contribution was practically nothing, I was wondering if I could still…”
Although it was usually a difficult topic to broach, the alcohol spurred Lee Ha-yeon to ask. Kwon Tae-ho chuckled at her attempt and pulled an envelope from his pocket.
“I actually withdrew some money before coming here. I put in a reasonable amount, so take it.”
“Thank you so much!”
Lee Ha-yeon grabbed the envelope and quickly stuffed it into her handbag. Though she wanted to check the amount, not only would it be impolite, but just the feel of the hefty envelope proved Kwon Tae-ho wasn’t lying.
“Wow! This is exciting…”
“Is money really that appealing?”
“Who wouldn’t love money?”
“That’s true. Can I ask how you intend to use it?”
That question darkened Lee Ha-yeon’s expression for a moment. However, she soon giggled and grinned as she replied.
“Actually… It’s for my younger sister’s hospital bills. She’s currently hospitalized.”
“Speaking of which, I remember you have a younger sister named—”
“Eun-seol. Lee Eun-seol.”
“Hospitalized? Is she suffering from an illness?”
“Yes, leukemia. But it’s not too serious! Nowadays, medical technology has developed so much, and her prognosis is good. It’s just costly. Our mom has been raising us alone in a single-parent household.”
Kwon Tae-ho refrained from asking about her father. However, Lee Ha-yeon spoke up first.
“My father passed away. He was caught up in crimes committed by returnees.”
“So that’s why you became an executioner…”
“Yeah. I just don’t want more victims like me to come into being. It’s a common reason. But the money helps too. I want to send my sister to college if she gets better. Plus, I want to care for my mom. Just various things. Hehe…”
Blushing and smiling brightly from the alcohol, Lee Ha-yeon left a warm impression on Kwon Tae-ho, who felt both impressed and sympathetic at the same time.
“Even such a bright person like her carries painful stories inside. But who in this era doesn’t have at least one or two?”
“…As long as we receive requests like this during the training period, I’ll ensure you get compensation proportional to your contribution. So work hard.”
“Really? Thank you, Executioner!”
“Hey! Me too! I work hard too! Give me a bonus too!”
“Sure, but I’ll give it to you formally after your hangover is gone—all that repentant and regretful stuff, you know?”
Suddenly, a sharp voice filled the air, making the three of them turn simultaneously.
The noise came from a table near the entrance. Sitting there were three men and women in their 20s or 30s, and one of the men stood up, shouting loudly.
“The day of judgment is not far! If you don’t want to fall into the abyss of hell, listen to the words of the Celestial Lady and act upon them! Repent, sinners! Repent, sinners!”
“I’m very sorry, but other guests might be disturbed, so could you please keep it down a bit—”
“How dare you refuse the profound words bestowed by the Celestial Lady, you ignorant fool!”
Thud!
“Ow?!”
The man pushed aside a staff member who had approached to stop him. It looked like a light shove, but the staff member flew about two meters, tumbling down to the floor.
“Executioner…”
“Yeah, I saw that too.”
And then the expressions of the two executioners changed.
“Did that guy just use martial arts?”
“Looks like it.”
Kwon Tae-ho, who replied, slowly stood up from his seat.
Unauthorized use of special powers, causing civilian harm.
“Just a moment; I need to take care of something.”
This meant it was time for the executioner to go to work.
