Chapter 18: What Are You Doing Here?
Yu Gyeongseong arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall.
The face he was searching for immediately caught his eye.
He'd figured he had some time to spare, so he hadn't rushed over, but it turned out that if he'd been just a little bit later, he would've missed him completely.
Maeng Heum spotted Yu Gyeongseong walking toward him and called out with a puzzled expression.
"Huh? Squad Leader! What brings you here at this hour? Don't tell me you're here to cover someone's shift."
Hmm... But that isn’t right. This guy's head still wasn't on straight, how could he possibly handle Law Enforcement Hall duties?
"Cover a shift? Don’t be ridiculous. You done for the day already?”
"That's what I'm saying. I busted my ass all day without a break, and before I knew it, it’s already this late.”
Yu Gyeongseong stared at him for a moment before asking.
“Where’s the rest of the squad?”
"Still inside."
'...'
So he was the first one out, huh? Even before his shift was over?
Yu Gyeongseong nodded as if he understood and started heading inside, but then he paused and turned back.
"Wait here for a bit."
Maeng Heum had started to walk away but stopped in his tracks at those words.
"...Hm? Why, you got business with me or something?"
Yu Gyeongseong said casually.
but then he paused and turned back.
Maeng Heum’s face lit up with a huge grin like he got it instantly. His voice was cheerful for the first time.
"You're buying?!"
The two men entered a tavern.
It wasn't too late in the evening, so the place was surprisingly packed with people. The atmosphere was lively everywhere you looked, with plenty of folks already well into their drinks.
Moving faster than Yu Gyeongseong had ever seen him move before, Maeng Heum snagged a table in a quiet spot and waved him over.
"What's gotten into you? Am I dreaming? I’m actually getting free food and booze from the Squad Leader!”
Yu Gyeongseong sat down with him. He knew the guy was telling the truth, but he still had to say something.
"Have I... really never treated you before?"
"Never! How else do you think you saved up all that money? Heh... I guess losing your memory has its perks at times like this! Perfect for playing dumb about inconvenient stuff."
Was it because he'd had that money in his grasp, only for it to disappear? It looked like Maeng Heum was still a little salty about having to give it back. Maeng Heum suddenly started spouting nonsense.
“Hold on, there's that old saying, ‘You die if you do something you never do.’ Squad Leaderrr! Don't you think you should give that money back to me for safekeeping?"
He was really putting on a one-man show here.
“You might be kicking the bucket… oh! Uh?”
Did he sense something from Yu Gyeongseong's blank stare? Maeng Heum suddenly looked embarrassed by what he’d just said and put on an apologetic look. With the whole cult facing a massive crisis, joking about dying was way over the line, even for him.
“Ah… my mistake, I misspoke. I think I worked so hard I’m losing my mind. Sorry about that.”
"It's fine. It's not like I'm the only one facing death here."
Maeng Heum, I know you didn't mean any harm by it. So it's really okay.
Maeng Heum perked back up and started ordering all sorts of things.
Soon the drinks arrived first, and he filled both cups to the brim.
"Alright! Cheers!"
Following the lead of the man who drained his cup in a single motion, Yu Gyeongseong slowly tilted his own.
"But seriously... what's with all this wandering around asking everyone about the Divine Demon thing? You just pop up out of nowhere like 'Divine this, Divine that!' You... you know everyone's calling you crazy behind your back, right? Best case scenario, they think you’re a total weirdo, you know?”
Yu Gyeongseong just smirked at that response, which made Maeng Heum get serious.
“Hey! I’m being serious here! Is this guy really out of his mind? Didn’t you see the totally baffled looks on the squad’s faces just now?”
Last time he'd gone to the Law Enforcement Hall, he'd checked everyone who was there at the time. So a minute ago, he’d gone in to check the other shift too. He told Maeng Heum to wait outside so he could be quick, but Maeng Heum just had to follow him in and saw the whole thing.
That's why Maeng Heum now finally believed Yu Gyeongseong was not cursing him at that time.
“The only reason they’re not cussing you out right to your face is because they know you lost your memory! Didn’t you see the look they were all giving you? The look that says, ‘I want to curse you so bad right now’??"
Yu Gyeongseong just downed another drink without saying a word. That suffocating feeling just wasn't going away.
You think I don't know that?
I feel like I've checked every single person I know, but the person I’m looking for is nowhere to be seen. Not even a hint. It’s like they're hidden behind a giant curtain.
That’s when the food started coming out.
'...'
Did he order a bunch of expensive stuff he never usually gets just because the Squad Leader was paying? Yeah, he definitely did. You could tell from his over-the-top reaction.
"Mmmm... that heavenly smell! Oh... ah, Squad Leader! What are you waiting for? Dig in!"
Maeng Heum hurriedly shoveled a bit of everything onto his plate and started chowing down like a man on a mission. Watching him, Yu Gyeongseong figured he must have been starving.
'I'm not really in the mood to eat…'
But he couldn't very well come here to eat together and then not eat anything.
Yu Gyeongseong picked up his chopsticks.
But from the perspective of someone practically inhaling food, his slow pace must've looked frustrating.
Maeng Heum had been eating quickly while sneaking glances at Yu Gyeongseong's expression, then quietly set down his chopsticks. He swallowed what was in his mouth and spoke in a low voice.
"Squad Leader."
"Mm?"
"Why don't you just leave?"
"......"
Their eyes locked, and they just stared at each other for a long moment.
Then, acting like it was no big deal, Maeng Heum picked his chopsticks back up and kept talking.
"The cult members are really shaken up. The Sacred Flame shows no signs of returning. The Cult Leader hasn't shown himself either..."
His chopsticks poked around in the food as if searching for something.
Yu Gyeongseong nodded while watching him.
"Yeah, I noticed that too."
Then Maeng Heum asked softly, almost whispering.
"You don't know anything?"
Yu Gyeongseong shook his head.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Like I told you, you're close with the Cult Leader. He made you a Squad Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall, and gave you the Heaven-Reaching Token... Ah! Did I not mention this? The Cult Leader also gave you the Qi-Accumulating Pill."
"Qi-Accumulating Pill? What's that? Is it good?"
“Good? Fuck no, it's heavenly. Our Medicine Hall can barely make a few of them in a year. It’s not like other elixirs that give you a one-and-done power boost; this thing keeps increasing your internal energy over time. That's no ordinary item, you know? The big shots are all desperately trying to get their hands on one for their own kids. Why else do you think you’re so skilled for your age?”
...Is that all? The cult's only treasure is also inside my body.
Hiding what he was really thinking, Yu Gyeongseong asked.
"How do you know all this?"
“Take a guess.”
"......"
"You told me yourself once. When I asked how you suddenly got so strong, you said you'd taken that pill."
Yu Gyeongseong just stared at Maeng Heum.
And as crazy as it sounded… it was true.
Why the hell did I share something like that with this guy?
After a moment, he spoke quietly.
"What about you?"
“Huh? Me? You're asking if I’ve ever eaten an elixir? Of course not. Why would a nobody like me get..."
As the subject of conversation was a sensitive one, his words were delivered in a whisper.
“No, not that… You were the one who asked if I should leave. Said the other guys were getting nervous. So? Aren't you?”
Then, like, ‘Oh, that’s what we’re talking about,’ he answered easily.
"Of course I'm anxious too. What choice do I have?"
"Then why aren't you running away?"
"...I was born on the Tianshan Mountain Range and have lived here my whole life. Where would I even go? My family’s all here too.”
"......"
"So why are you still here, Squad Leader?"
"......"
“You don’t have any family. Couldn’t you just pack up and go?”
The way he said it... felt like he was genuinely puzzled about why Yu Gyeongseong was still hanging around here.
This isn't something he just came up with on the spot, is it? He's a cult member, and he's telling me to desert?
"Guess my faith wasn't that strong, huh?"
Maeng Heum smirked. He swirled the drink in his cup and said.
“Well, you never said it out loud, but… my gut told me for a long time that you wanted to get out of here. The other guys all think so, too. That’s why we all figured we wouldn't be working with you for long."
So it wasn't just him. I guess I must have been pretty obvious about it.
"Really? But then... why didn't I leave?"
"Well... maybe you were afraid of being branded a traitor? The cult could've been like 'If you're leaving, give back everything you received! We're taking back all the martial arts you learned!' Especially since you received the Heaven-Reaching Token and got into the special archives."
Hmm. Was it really... just that concern keeping me from leaving?
"But now things are different. Everyone's keeping quiet about it, but word is the Six Demons couldn't even take down the Sword God when they ganged up on him. Now the other big shots from the Murim Alliance are on their way. How are we supposed to win? So… even if you leave, there won't be anyone left to come after you.”
"...You think we're going to lose?"
"Well, what about you? Do you think we're going to win?"
The emotion behind that was crystal clear.
"Then... if you're so sure about that, why are you just sitting here?"
"With the Six Demons watching us like hawks, how could I run away now? If I get caught, they’ll make a brutal example out of me for sure.”
"......"
From the way he was talking, it seemed he'd already thought this through quite a bit.
"Besides, the Tianshan Mountain Range is absolutely massive. Once we lose and all the members scatter into them, how could those self-righteous bastards possibly catch every single one of us? Rooting out every last weed would be difficult even if those assholes set up camp here and stayed for ten years. Their goal is probably to eliminate the cult’s pillars so it won’t be rebuilt. So... once they catch all the key figures, things will quiet down, don't you think so? Being a nobody has its perks. Times like these, especially."
"......"
"Don't worry about me, I'll survive somehow."
He said it casually, but maybe he was feeling more on edge than he let on. The way he talked while pouring a drink sounded strangely desperate.
"Yeah. Make sure you survive."
"Squad Leader... you're still so damn young. Don't die here for no reason, just keep your eyes open and run when you get the chance. I know the outside world is harsh, full of crafty bastards ready to scam country bumpkins like us... but with your level of skill, you'd adapt anywhere you go. You'd be treated well too. Oh, but since your head’s empty, be careful out there.”
Yu Gyeongseong smirked as he watched Maeng Heum tap the side of his own head.
But maybe to him, that smirk just looked sad.
His expression turned serious as he downed his drink.
"Kugh... Squad Leader!"
"What?"
“You know, in my opinion, I don't think you even need to bother getting your memories back. You're still young, aren't you? Start over. Meet new people. Live a new life.”
"......"
He must have thought his words weren't really sinking in, because he added one more thing.
"Who knows? Your memory isn't coming back here, anyway. Maybe if you get out there and shake things up, your memory problem will shake loose too.”
After those words, silence hung over the table for a while.
Most of the plates that had held various dishes were now scraped clean.
Maybe because the conversation hadn't been light, both of them just quietly kept drinking.
But it looked like Maeng Heum was the one who couldn't handle the silence. You could tell because he was obviously trying to find something else to talk about.
“Oh! By the way, remember that time we were sent to that restaurant? Right before I ran into you.”
"Mm?"
“So that whole ruckus… was that really you just totally wrecking the Second Squad Leader of the Rock Demon Clan’s Strike Force? How… how did you suddenly get so much stronger?”
It was a good question. Even though Yu Gyeongseong was a standout at the Law Enforcement Hall, he wasn’t strong enough to beat Dong Gong to a pulp like that.
It was an awkward question. He couldn't exactly say he’d undergone the Great Law. But it seemed like Maeng Heum wasn’t really waiting for an answer anyway, because he just chugged his drink and kept talking.
"Did you have some kind of enlightenment during that special mission? Or is having an empty head actually good for getting stronger? Whatever it was, good job! Those assholes from the Six Great Strike Forces! They act so high and mighty all the time. They had it coming! Those fuckers. Now they’ll know not to mess with us.”
"...Were we always on bad terms with them?"
“There’s a reason they call us the Special Mission Squad, you know. The other squads deal with the civilians, while all the tricky cases involving high-level experts who made it awkward to properly apply the rules are all dumped on us. We’re always butting heads with them when there's trouble. How are we supposed to be friends?”
Right then—
'...!?'
Both their heads turned in the same direction.