Chapter 13

RP: Vara • TL: Kim • PR: Whee

As he cast a suspicious glance, Geonjoo turned back to his limp wrist. Slender, white fingers covered the red marks, and his eyes met Sayun’s.

“… What’s your purpose?”

As expected, he was determined.

Geonjoo didn’t seem to get flustered easily, and he seemed to be quite quick-witted. Sayun held him in high regard since the first thing he asked about was business. So, he shrugged his shoulders with a carefree attitude.

“Recruiting talent?”

“By kidnapping people? It looks like this could be some kind of gangster guild.”

His tone sounded like he poured a spoonful of bluntness into his softness. Sayun could’ve taken it as sarcasm if he were to misunderstand, but he wasn’t phased at all.

It was because the Night Rats Guild wasn’t much different from a gangster guild, and Geonjoo’s suspicions were justified.

They kidnapped and imprisoned people, then threatened to kill them if they didn’t join the guild. How could that be normal?

While Sayun thought of his guild from that perspective, he was finally able to realise that Han Geonjoo was a normal person.

None of the guild members he’d caught so far had ever asked him about such things. They would just ask if they killed people, whether or not they wanted the earth to end, or when the world was going to end, only to see if the Night Rats were really ‘evil’. Thinking back on it, Sayun realised how he only picked a few out of the crazy ones that actually wanted such things to happen.

“You have a good sense for it.”

It was a compliment, but Han Geonjoo’s eyes twitched slightly. It seemed that he failed at being sarcastic, so the corners of Sayun’s mouth lifted.

‘Did it say he was 22?’

Was it because he was still young? To others, Geonjoo seemed to be acting like a snake, but to Sayun, who had been through all sorts of hardships, Geonjoo looked more like a newborn baby snake. It seemed a bit cute, so Sayun glanced at Jongsik. The comparison between Jongsik’s bear-like physique and Geonjoo who was skinny yet lean was clear.

It was nice that he was pretty, but he looked too weak. 

‘Should I help him build up some muscle first?’

Sayun was worried that Geonjoo would break if he touched him.

“Did you say that if I don’t join the guild, I’ll die?”

“If you’re curious, say no.”

“… Just by looking at you, I can tell you’re an A-Class or higher, so how can I refuse?”

‘Look at this guy.’

He had such a strange way of speaking. He looked like he was pitiful, but it also felt like he was regretful. Sayun, who had been tenaciously watching him talk, burst into laughter.

“You have good eyesight.”

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“I don’t know which guild this is, but I’m in.” 

“…”

Sayun was rather surprised by Geonjoo’s answer, which had no trace of hesitation.

“Do you know what kind of guild we are?”

“If I don’t join, you’ll kill me.”

“Even so.”

‘What if he gets caught somewhere? Did I kidnap a pushover?’

Geonjoo said he would join immediately, without any hesitation or beating around the bush. It was impossible for Sayun to believe it, since he had met dozens or even hundreds of scammers.

‘Haven’t you been taught not to follow a bad person, even if they said they would spare you? Even if you join, shouldn’t you ask a few more questions to find out who the other person is?’

It went exactly how Sayun wanted it to, but the process was bland and disappointing. Being a member of the Night Rats, when you let your guard down like this, you could get a welcoming ceremony, get a knife stabbed in your stomach, and then your friendship with the others would grow stronger, but Geonjoo did none of that. Not to mention, he went all the way back to the guild without swearing even once.

Things worked out so well that Sayun thought it was a problem.

He was curious about Geonjoo’s skills.

If he rushed in like a madman, all Sayun had to do was sort out the ranks and check his skills. But when he didn’t, Sayun felt like he was missing something.

“… You never know, maybe you’ll regret it.”

“Is regret worth my life?”

It wouldn’t be easy to laugh in a situation like this, but seeing how Geonjoo responded with a slight smile was audacious. He seemed to have quite a bit of courage, so Sayun looked at him and checked the quest window just in case.

‘Current Relationship: Cautious and Interested’

The hostility vanished before he knew it. ‘Interested’ made Sayun look up at Geonjoo. His black eyes looked so relaxed that it was hard to believe it was the same person who had been so nervous and wary of Sayun a while ago.

What changed him to such a degree?

Obviously, there must’ve been a reason. The fact that his Adaptation skill was Grade S was not enough to explain Han Geonjoo’s attitude, which had changed in just a few minutes.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Shame on you.”

As Sayun was lost in thought, Geonjoo suddenly spoke. There were others who tried to argue with him, but Geonjoo was the only one who came out with his limbs intact.

It also felt different.

Sayun recalled the expression Geonjoo had when he first opened his eyes, and suspicion slowly started to creep in.

“… I’m wondering if you’re still the same person.”

“You said I have to join the guild if I want to live. I think I should look good to you. Am I wrong? Is he the guild leader, then?”

He tilted his head towards Jongsik. Sayun looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask what kind of bullshit he was talking about, and then Geonjoo’s eyebrows relaxed.

“Then that’s good.”

“What’s good?”

“You don’t like easy people.”

‘If you like the way I acted before, I’ll stick to that personality.’

That addition was very skillful. Geonjoo’s eyebrows lifted as if he was an actor getting feedback for his acting. Sayun couldn’t get the hang of it.

He couldn’t tell whether it was a high-level performance or his nature.

“Jongsik, bring it.”

Before Geonjoo could change his mind, Sayun wanted to write up a contract, so he had Jongsik bring a wrinkled brown paper from a drawer in the corner of the chamber. Geonjoo flinched as he grabbed it.

“This isn’t just a contract.”

“Our guild is a bit thorough.”

It wasn’t just a paper contract, but an S-Class contract. If they violated the written terms, the contract would forcibly take away what was offered as collateral.

After accepting the contract, Geonjoo went quiet and Sayun couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why? Are you nervous after signing the contract?”

Even if Geonjoo regretted it now, Sayun had no intention of backing off.

He was naive, although he looked wicked. Sayun giggled at Geonjoo’s expression and then started explaining the contents of the contract.

The terms of the contract were roughly as follows:

After joining the guild, don’t let other people around you know that you’re a member of the Night Rats. Don’t disclose information about the guild even after leaving the guild. Don’t directly attack the guild after you leave. Don’t disclose the terms of the contract.

That was all. It was simple, but at the same time it wasn’t.

If the terms of the contract which were strictly applied in the best interest of the other party were not followed, one of the contractor’s legs would be taken away. There would be no potion that could heal the area injured by a breach of the contract. Sayun fluttered the contract which stated that whoever broke the contract would be a lifelong cripple, and opened his mouth.

“If you follow the rules carefully, you can live without any problems. Still, it’s not too strict, so you’re free to join other guilds after leaving this one. I’m not forcing you to stay.”

‘Maybe you’re different.’

However, Sayun swallowed those words. It would be nearly impossible to force him to stay, anyway. If he were a member of another guild, then Sayun would’ve had to shackle him down.

At first, Sayun spoke softly to make Geonjoo trust him, thinking that he might add another clause in the contract later. And so, Geonjoo, who learned how to sign the contract from Jongsik, pricked his finger with the sharp point of the needle and then handed over the signed contract.

Once he signed it, Sayun, who was watching him this whole time, frowned.

“You signed it right away, without any hesitation.”

“We’ve been having this conversation for a while. Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

That was it.

‘Yeah, that’s it, that’s definitely it. Let me see your skills.’ Sayun had to suppress the urge since he did want to fight Geonjoo. He was tired of trying to improve their relationship since Sayun was already portrayed as a strange person.

“I’m suspicious because you look too relaxed.”

“I have no choice but to relax. What should I do?”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to kill me. To say that you’re going to kill me… Your eyes seemed too desperate.”

Ah, now he was the guild leader, huh?

Geonjoo, who spoke calmly, let out a low laugh. Hearing his words, the corners of Sayun’s mouth lifted up as a response.

The first thought that came to mind was, of course, ‘Interested’. Sayun, who could assert that if the system window for his own emotions were to be displayed separately, ‘Interested’ would also be written on it.

‘You’re comfortable because you’re certain I won’t kill you.’ 

Sayun had heard people say they were nervous or scared when facing him, but this was the first time in his life that he had heard someone be comfortable.

‘So that’s why you look so relaxed.’

“That’s funny.”

What did he notice?

Was it Sayun’s eyes, like Geonjoo said? Or maybe his actions? The way he was speaking?

Sayun got up from his seat, slightly worried. Geonjoo flinched. Sayun thought he was relaxed, but seeing how Geonjoo showed a response to his actions, he didn’t think he was completely comfortable.

If Geonjoo had just a little bit more experience, he wouldn’t have made it so obvious.

It didn’t seem like he would fit in with the Night Rats, but the situation was perfect either way. To the extent that Sayun wondered why nobody recruited such talent.

“I wonder how the hell you came to that conclusion.”

“Wasn’t I what you needed?”

“You look like a B-Class. What are you so confident about?”

“I’m not sure. You’re the one who kidnapped a B-Class and recruited them.”

Sayun accepted defeat and squinted. Seeing the cheeky expression on Geonjoo’s face made Sayun ponder over two options.

Should he tell him that a newcomer should lower their tail in front of their superior, or should he let it pass by calling him ‘pretty’ once more for the sake of a smooth relationship?

There was nothing bad about choosing either one of those options, but a phone rang suddenly while he was thinking about it. It was Jongsik’s phone.

When Jongsik looked towards Sayun full of embarrassment, he signalled him to go pick up the phone. Then, Jongsik, who had gone into a corner to answer the phone, mouthed ‘Yongho Guild’ towards Sayun.

It seemed that the merger, which was supposed to be carried out in a gentlemanly manner, eventually failed.

Jongsik ended the call as Sayun beckoned him to leave. When he shifted his gaze back to Geonjoo, who blinked as if he was amazed by the communication through gestures Sayun and Jongsik had.

Suddenly, a mischievous thought crossed Sayun’s mind.

Geonjoo seemed more docile than Sayun thought because he probably didn’t even check his skills, so it was perfect timing. Sayun got up from his chair.

“If you think I didn’t kill you because of your skills, then let’s see, pretty one.”

“… Pardon?”

“Let’s check to see if your skills are really that good.”

“…?”

“Get up. We’re going to have an initiation ceremony.”

As Sayun spoke, Geonjoo stood up from his chair with a grim look on his face. Sayun continued to speak calmly as he saw the negative emotions on Geonjoo’s face.

“Oh, and…”

“Is there anything else?”

“Not really. Congratulations on joining the Night Rats Guild.”

“…”

“Let’s do it, rookie.”

Geonjoo’s eyes trembled as Sayun added that with a smile. His face instantly turned white at the mention of the Night Rats, and Sayun thought it was a sight worth seeing.