Under Creature – Chapter 1.5

Author: nicotine

He lowered his head and fell into thought. Should he continue to live a stressful life with this agonizingly repetitive time loop, or should he stick by Seo Dohyun’s side and at least get some kind of clue?

Soon, a low voice emerged.

“I need time to think.”

“How many days?”

“A week.”

At Yigeom’s words, Dohyun smiled with satisfaction.

“I’ll look forward to a positive answer.”

🦅࿐

On their way back after parting with Yigeom, Jewoo asked with an excited tone,

“Hey, hyung. Dohyun hyung. Is Yigeom hyung coming to Latter?”

“I hope so.”

Jewoo, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled bashfully.

“Hyung, you like Yigeom hyung too.”

“Why? Do you want him to come?”

“I like him. He looks scary, but he’s really nice.”

Dohyun, focusing on the road ahead as he drove, recalled Yigeom. He didn’t seem that nice, always screwing up his face and cursing whenever he saw him.

It was a one-sided and selfish thought, remembering only Yigeom’s attitude towards him and not the things he himself had done.

Anyway, he had been contemplating whether he should really kill Yigeom if he kept complaining about not using his ability, but since he said he’d give an answer in a week, he could just wait until then.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing Master and Yigeom hyung fight together. It’s amazing that he can remember abilities…!”

Indeed, Seo Dohyun shared Jewoo’s thoughts on that. There would be synergy if they fought together. Only if they worked well together, that is. Otherwise, they would just be a disorganized mess.

Yoon Yigeom.

He seemed calm and quick-witted.

What would it be like to fight alongside him?

Even if it wasn’t exactly anticipation…

“Well, I’m curious.”

🦅࿐

Contrary to the given week, Yigeom was able to finish his contemplation very easily. The reason was none other than Seo Dohyun.

“This fucking bastard.”

The world has gone mad.

That bastard couldn’t even wait a week and restarted the loop, crazy bastard.

Yigeom, who had spent a full 24 hours and 50 minutes, let out a deep breath. He felt his forehead heating up.

—Have you finished thinking?

That bastard’s voice came from the phone.

This was practically a half-threat. Is this guy even human? The moment he refused his offer, he had to be prepared to make the most of the extra 50 minutes.

“I’ll go. I said I’ll go. I’ll go, alright?”

A shallow laugh was heard.

—I’ll send you the office address, so see you tomorrow.

“…….”

This is infuriating, really.

Didn’t he say he wouldn’t set foot in the creature world? That even if he did, he would only take on rookie management positions like Kwon Sanghyuk? Because of Seo Dohyun, all his plans had gone up in smoke. He couldn’t help but be angry.

But despite his anger, the next morning, Yigeom’s body was dutifully moving towards the address Seo Dohyun had sent.

Damn repetition, freaking repetition, agonizing… He expressed his anger with various modifiers. Still, it wasn’t enough.

“…Is this it?”

Here? Arriving at the presumed location of Latter’s office, Yigeom stared at the old and shabby building.

Latter’s office, located on the first floor, had a glass door instead of a metal one, and what appeared to be hand-applied black film covered the interior. On top of the film, the word ‘Latter’ was written crookedly in white marker pen.

‘Ahem! Well…. Our office is currently under renovation…. It’ll be quite messy. A cafe is much cleaner and nicer, right? Haha.’

Was it really under renovation?

Yigeom checked the address Seo Dohyun sent him once more.

‘This is the right place.’

Let’s go inside for now.

He strode in, opening the glass door. His eyes met with Cha Jewoo, who was eating cup noodles. He put down the cup noodles and stood up.

“Wow! Hyung, welcome! It’s even better to see you here!”

“…Yeah. Jewoo, nice to see you too.”

Yigeom slowly looked around the interior.

A large map of Seoul was stuck on one wall, and a whiteboard listed CA Areas categorized by date. There was a dusty desk and computer; it seemed they ate meals in front of it, as the keyboard was covered in sticky something.

What about the rest of the place? As if they lived and slept in the office, there was a bed with a cute character blanket and an electric blanket with its cord stretched out.

So this is….

“This is Latter’s office, right?”

“Yes!”

Jewoo answered energetically, as if telling him not to deny it.

“Can I… see the second floor?”

“The second floor is a residence. The landlord lives there.”

“Seo Dohyun?”

“Huh? No? Master hasn’t come to work yet. He’s a late sleeper. The second floor is just a kind elderly couple.”

Yigeom’s pupils quaked. Judging by Jewoo’s words, this shabby place was all there was to Latter’s office.

A top guild? But with a dirty environment where rats seemed likely to crawl across the ceiling, and such a cramped space, he had reasonable doubts about whether it was truly a top guild.

Or are all top guilds in this kind of environment?

“Yigeom hyung? The… office is a bit dirty, right?”

Jewoo scratched his head, embarrassed.

This 20-pyeong (approx. 66 sq meter) office, poorly managed and unsanitary, was Latter? Now that he thought about it, the renovation excuse seemed like a way to avoid inviting him to the office.

“How many guild members are there?”

He had heard it was a small guild, but seeing Latter’s office, it couldn’t accommodate 30 people, let alone 100. There’s a minimum and maximum number of people who can comfortably occupy a 20-pyeong space.

Jewoo counted, folding his fingers one by one.

“Latter’s members are Master, me, and Seo Doa, Master’s younger sibling, and there’s also a hyung who’s in the military, but I haven’t seen him yet. Lastly, Yigeom hyung! That’s all. Hehe.”

As Jewoo pointed at him with his index finger, Yigeom felt, simply put, disillusioned. He felt like he had been scammed. He was confused.

The number of guild members was ‘5’, countable with one hand, no need for two. A truly top guild, not one on the verge of collapse? No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t believe it.

‘If you come to Latter, I’ll give you the vice president position. Well, you’d become the vice-master. What do you think? It’s a pretty good offer, right?’

Suddenly, Seo Dohyun’s previous words flashed through his mind.

Vice-master in a guild with only five members….

But his disappointment was short-lived; Yigeom changed his mind. He hadn’t come here because of the money or the size of the company. Whatever it was, he wanted to get at least a small clue when Seo Dohyun used his ability. Nothing else mattered.

Still, if there was one thing he was really curious about,

“If it’s a top guild, are the profits high?”

“Y-Yes! The office may look like this, but we have nothing to envy others in terms of money!”

Jewoo said indignantly.

“If you’re curious, I can show you!”

If he was saying this much, it must be true. Relieved, Yigeom scanned the office once more and sat on the bed with the electric blanket on. The cold wind seeping through the gaps in the glass door made him extremely cold.

“I was going to tell you to sit somewhere comfortable, but you’ve already sat down. Yigeom hyung, have you had lunch?”

“Not yet.”

“Perfect. Master is bringing back hamburgers. Let’s eat together.”

Jewoo put aside the cup noodles he was eating and waited for the hamburgers.

While Yigeom warmed himself up on the bed, only the clicking sound of Jewoo’s computer mouse echoed in the office.

‘Isn’t this better than being too neat?’

Whether he wanted to rationalize it or genuinely felt that way, the extreme dirtiness of the office evoked a strange and peculiar feeling that he could use it carelessly like his own home. As he listened to the sounds of the mouse and keyboard, snuggled under a warm blanket in the middle of winter, Yigeom’s eyes slowly began to close.

Just then, a sudden gust of cold winter wind blew in. Yigeom, who had been forcing himself to stay awake, snapped his eyes open. Someone had opened the door.

“Oh, you’re already here.”

“Dohyun hyung, you’re here?”

As if waiting, Jewoo dashed barefoot to receive the hamburgers from Seo Dohyun’s hands.

Yigeom, suppressing the anger that naturally welled up at the mere sight of Seo Dohyun’s face, straightened his hunched body. Then he suddenly noticed a small girl behind Seo Dohyun. At a glance, she was clearly Seo Dohyun’s younger sister.

With upturned eyes, a high nose bridge, a sharp face, and lips that were always curled upwards, they were spitting images of each other.

“Hello. You’re the new recruit who was supposed to come today, right? I’ve heard a little about you. I’m Seo Doa. Feel free to speak comfortably.”

“…Yeah, hi.”

After Seo Dohyun stepped aside and closed the door, he introduced Doa to Yigeom.

“Is this the first time you’ve seen Gyeom? She’s my younger sister. The former former former vice-president.”

“Who’s Gyeom?”

Somehow, his pretense of familiarity had increased. Yoon Yigeom became Yigeom, and then Gyeom.

More importantly, former former former?

“What’s with the ‘former former former’?”

“She was the vice-president when Latter was founded, then it was the hyung who went to the military, and then me! Yigeom hyung is the 4th generation vice-president!”

…Is this crazy? Yigeom knew that Jewoo, speaking brightly, was not at fault. However, a deep sense of emptiness rose within him. It was absurd.

“Isn’t this a total scam?”

Half-threatened, scammed. And the so-called Master doesn’t even hesitate to kill. It was practically a guild of criminals.

Dohyun tilted his head, feigning ignorance.

“What? I’ll make you vice-president, and I’ll treat you well. Why is this a scam? Oh, is there something else you want? Do you want to eat a hamburger first?”

“Did everyone here get threatened into joining?”

At Yigeom’s words, spoken with his hackles raised like a lynx, Seo Dohyun put on a slightly hurt expression.

“Threatened? Everyone joined willingly. Just like you.”

Like me? Like meee? Yigeom burst out laughing in disbelief.

“Gyeom oppa. Here’s your hamburger and cola. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got you a bulgogi burger, but if you don’t like it, just tell me. I’ll switch it for a shrimp burger. There are fries too.”

True to her Seo Dohyun blood, Doa, despite having just met him, casually addressed him using the shortened form of his name without hesitation.

“Bulgogi is fine.”

He decided to eat and think.

Eating a hamburger in front of a murderer was a recipe for indigestion. While he forced himself to savor the taste and chewed, Seo Dohyun, as if something came to mind, opened a drawer next to the computer desk and said,

“Gyeom. After you eat, find your ring size here.”

“Ring?”

Every time he called him Gyeom, Gyeom, it annoyed Yigeom, so he just wrinkled his nose slightly whenever he heard it and didn’t specifically object, so the nickname stuck.

“Yeah. There’s a hyung named Namgoong Sanha who’s in the military. He’s good with his hands, so he made a few and left them. It’s a ring for Latter guild members.”

Now that he looked, Seo Dohyun was wearing the same ring on his right index finger, Cha Jewoo had it on a chain as a necklace, and Seo Doa wore it on her left ring finger. The silver ring had a black groove in the middle so it wasn’t too plain.

How skilled was he? Curiosity piqued, Yigeom put down his half-eaten hamburger and headed to the desk drawer. Then he doubted his eyes.

“Haha. Sanha hyung made a lot, thinking about the new recruits who might join while he’s in the military. There are various sizes, so you can wear it on whichever finger you want. Isn’t that great?”

“…This isn’t just ‘a lot’.”

There were easily over a hundred rings packed tightly inside the drawer. It wasn’t like they were selling rings, and besides, weren’t he and Jewoo the only new recruits who joined while that person, whom he hadn’t even met, was enlisted?

“Did he join the military recently?”

“It’s been over a year. He’s getting discharged in six months.”

Seo Doa, who was eating fries, answered for him.

Meanwhile, Seo Dohyun was rummaging through the rings in the drawer, visually estimating Yigeom’s ring size. Then, finding a similar size, he took Yigeom’s hand and put it on, saying,

“It fits perfectly. Also, it’s trendy for guilds to have mottos these days, so I made one for Latter.”

A creeping sense of unease rose within Yigeom.

“Latter only has five members, so it’s the perfect environment for bonding, right?”

Seo Dohyun grinned at Yigeom.

“From now on, Latter is family.”

Let’s get along. Since his lips were naturally upturned, even his smile was annoyingly pretty.

There are a few types of companies to avoid. Companies that operate chaotically without order, companies where overtime is a given and vacations require careful consideration, and so on. Among them, the absolute worst to avoid would be….

In stark contrast to Dohyun’s smile, Yigeom’s sharp and pointed features became noticeably grim.

Have you ever seen such a family-like guild?

Yigeom muttered to himself.

What should I do? Should I get out of here now? He’d come too far for that. If he could avoid the time loop by staying by Dohyun’s side, he had to find a way, or if not, he had to at least get some warning of the agonizing loop that came without notice.

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Right, he’d said it himself. Yoon Yigeom. Whatever it is, money is everything. Even Jewoo, look at the money piling up in his bank account. Even in this family-like guild, wouldn’t his perspective change just by looking at the money deposited in his account?

Just check the bank account, the bank account. Maybe then, these guys will start to look appealing. Maybe this group of criminals will really start to look like family. You never know with people, right?

Resolving this, as Yigeom tidied up the discarded hamburger wrappers, the ring on his index finger sparkled.

Seo Dohyun was sitting on the worn black leather sofa, reading the rest of his comic book, and Cha Jewoo was back at the computer, doing something he’d been at since earlier. Seo Doa was scribbling something in a notebook with a pencil on the other side.

As they each went about their own business, Yigeom, unsure of what to do, stood awkwardly before going over to Doa and asking quietly.

He felt more comfortable with Doa, a complete stranger, than with Dohyun and Jewoo, who had caused his death that day.

“What are you doing?”

“My math homework for tomorrow.”

“How old are….”

“What? You had homework for tomorrow? I didn’t do it! Seo Doa, can I copy yours?”

School? Cha Jewoo, cutting off Yigeom’s question about her age, threw aside his keyboard and approached Doa.

“Just copy the answer key.”

“It’s obvious when you copy from the answer key, especially in the solution process!”

“Then solve it yourself. You copy too identically, it’s obvious. Don’t you remember? I got scolded last time because of you.”

At Seo Doa’s pointed remark, Cha Jewoo groaned.

“Are you two the same age?”

At Yigeom’s question, the eyes of the two who were bickering turned towards him.

“Yes, we’re both eighteen, same school, same class. How old are you, Gyeom oppa?”

“Twenty-two.”

“You’re the same age as my brother.”

“Same age?”

Yigeom looked at Dohyun, who was flipping through a book with a bored expression.

“Whoa, then we’re all the same age! Wow, that’s amazing.”

Ignoring the dumbfounded Jewoo, his eyes met with Dohyun’s.

Since Seo Dohyun had casually called his name even though they’d just met, he had also called him by name without thinking. Their first meeting hadn’t been very good anyway. He had assumed Dohyun was around his age based on his appearance, but he never imagined they would be the same age, twenty-two.

Feeling his gaze, Seo Dohyun put down his comic book and smiled gently.

“Why? Do I not look twenty-two?”

“What about university?”

“I don’t go.”

Yigeom looked at them with a perplexed expression.

“Do you guys always do this? Don’t you work?”

Someone from the Association had said that Latter was a top guild but was busy despite having a small number of members.

“No work today.”

Saying so, Seo Dohyun pointed to the calendar on the desk.

“But the days marked with red circles are when we’ll be busy, so keep those days free if you have other plans.”

Yigeom immediately checked the calendar.

7, 10, 13, 14, 22, 25, 30?

“What are these?”

“Those are the days when creatures are expected to appear in our assigned area this month.”

“You figured that out with that CA Area detector thing?”

“Oh, yes. You didn’t know?”

“I heard the explanation, but….”

Kwon Sanghyuk, as if I could trust that guy’s words.

“Jewoo, since you’re Gyeom’s senior, teach him a lot.”

“Yes! Yigeom hyung, would you like to sit here?”

At Dohyun’s command, Jewoo excitedly pulled an empty chair next to him and patted it. As Yigeom sat down, he took out a thick stack of stiffly laminated A4 papers and handed them over.

“This is the CA list for the area we’re in charge of this month, sent by the Association. We have to deal with all the creatures that appear here.”

“What if there’s no time?”

“If we’re busy, we sometimes ask other guilds, but….”

Jewoo trailed off.

“Other guilds don’t really accept Latter’s requests.”

“…….”

In short, even if they shit their pants, there’s no one to wipe their ass for them, right?

“You’re saying five people, no, four… …three people are handling all these vast areas?”

The number of people in Yigeom’s question gradually decreased.

A total of five guild members.

One was in the military, leaving four including himself, but since he wouldn’t be participating in combat, it was right not to include him. That’s how it should be.

“Hey, why are you like this? It’s four people now, four!”

Jewoo pointed at Yigeom and smiled brightly.

…Treat me like I don’t exist. I didn’t want to join in the first place.

Whether or not he knew Yigeom’s feelings, Jewoo was happy, saying that finally, with a new recruit, they had some leeway. A sudden thought occurred to Yigeom, and he hurriedly continued,

“But I’m the vice-master. Do I really have to do this kind of thing?”

“…….”

“…I, I was incredibly busy when I was the vice-master.”

After a brief silence, Jewoo finally spoke. Yigeom, unfazed, continued,

“You said you’d treat me like a vice-master. I’m not catching creatures. No, I can’t catch them.”

It was a truly bold and shameless statement. And it was true. How could he catch them? Yigeom frowned slightly. He’d rather cheer from the sidelines.

“Since you’re the vice-master, you should be at the forefront!”

Jewoo slammed his hand on the desk.

“Hey! When I was the vice-master! Every single day I followed Dohyun hyung’s tail! And did this! And that! I did everything!”

“So.”

“Huh?”

“That was you.”

At Yigeom’s nonchalant words, Jewoo blinked.

“I’m scared, so I’ll stay in the back. You guys catch the creatures.”

Jewoo was speechless at Yigeom’s calm tone, devoid of any embarrassment.

“Then you won’t get any of the profits.”

At Dohyun’s words, Yigeom expressed his difficulty. His top priority was to monitor Dohyun’s indiscriminate use of his ability, but….

“I’ll assist from behind like a celebrity manager, so can’t you give me tips or a salary or something?”

“Hunting creatures is surprisingly easy, oppa. So don’t worry too much.”

Doa, who had been doing her homework, chimed in. These stubborn people wouldn’t even consider letting him stay in the back, even if he died.

What? Latter is family? Let’s die together, is that it?

Two were actual family, one was saying frightening things about dedicating his life to Latter, and even the one in the military made over a hundred rings for new recruits before his discharge, showing that his dedication to the group was also no joke.

A family-like guild….

This is really annoying. What am I supposed to do here? Of course, on the premise that I don’t catch creatures.

Seo Dohyun was the Master, and he’d seen him catch creatures alone before, so he’d naturally be busy, Seo Doa and Cha Jewoo were focused on school, and while he didn’t know what their abilities were, Doa, as the Master’s blood relative, would undoubtedly be well-treated as long as he was here. The one in the military… well, he was contributing to national security.

Yigeom looked at Seo Dohyun.

“Hey, what am I supposed to do here?”

Dohyun was silent for a moment before speaking.

“We do have to catch creatures.”

As soon as he said those words, Yigeom’s face crumpled like a piece of paper.

Intrigued by the conversation, Dohyun put down the book he was reading and sat up on the sofa. His red lips parted, forming a beautiful curve.

“Let’s put that aside for now.”

Thank goodness. I don’t have to catch creatures.

His relief was shattered by Seo Dohyun’s next words.

“Let’s draw up a contract first.”

“…Paperwork?”

“Yes. A contract.”

Normally, one would have to take the Hunter test at the Association and complete the Hunter registration before joining a guild.

However, Yigeom had run out of the testing site, and the next Hunter test was next month. Since he would be working at Latter, they would teach him various things and help him improve his skills, so they needed to make sure he didn’t run away as soon as he finished the Hunter test.

In other words, it was a contract to prevent him from leaving.

There was the standard course, where one took the test through the Association, completed the Hunter registration, and then chose a guild to join, and there was the elite course, where one was discovered by a guild immediately after awakening, learned various knowledge and combat methods within that guild, and then joined immediately after taking the test.

The advantage of the elite course was that if the guild’s prospective recruit showed high scores on the test, it would enhance the guild’s prestige.

The rumor that a promising new recruit carefully nurtured by Yeho would be taking the test next month was already widespread. This was due to Guild Master Kim Yiseong boasting about it everywhere.

And Yoon Yigeom.

Seo Dohyun planned to crush Yeho’s new recruit in this test and make Yoon Yigeom the highest scorer. With his simulation ability, first place was a given. All that remained was to manipulate things to his liking, and he smiled charmingly.

“You can stamp your seal here.”

Doa held out a contract that she had seemingly prepared beforehand.

Behind her, Jewoo quickly prepared an ink pad and placed it in front of Yigeom. They were the same age, and they worked together seamlessly.

Since there was no escape route left, Yigeom gave up and decided to stamp his seal.

“Hehe. I’m looking forward to seeing what Yigeom hyung’s second awakening will be.”

“How do you do a second awakening?”

Yigeom suddenly recalled his first awakening. That day, in front of his front door, when he faced seemingly endless death and night.

Yigeom’s face paled. He cowered like a frightened hamster and mumbled. Perhaps.

“Are you going to kill me again?”

The eyes of Latter members blinked blankly at Yigeom.

“…….”

Silence fell upon Yigeom’s question. A faint chuckle broke through the stillness.

“I won’t kill you. Don’t be scared.”

“Gyeom oppa, you’re cuter than I thought.”

“Hyung! Can I call you Gyeom hyung too!?”

Behind Seo Dohyun, who spoke with a sly grin, Doa and Jewoo added their playful remarks.

A light blush crept up Yigeom’s pale skin.

Ah, I made a fuss for nothing. But wasn’t it natural to be scared? He had died five times at the hands of Seo Dohyun alone. Thinking about it made him angry. Who was laughing earlier? Seo Dohyun? Cha Jewoo? It was definitely a man’s voice.

Yigeom, lightly scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment, gradually began to radiate anger.

Just then, Seo Dohyun stood up. Then, he abruptly opened the tightly locked storage room door. Inside, it was filled with exercise equipment that one would typically see in a gym.

“Sanha hyung likes to work out.”

That guy who went to the military?

Dohyun pointed to a dumbbell loaded with weight plates.

“Want to try lifting it?”

“Something that heavy is a bit…”

“Gyeom hyung, even Seo Doa can lift that!”

“…Doa?”

Yigeom looked at Doa with disbelief. Doa, who had returned to quietly doing her homework at her desk, lifted her head.

“Yes. After the first awakening, that’s a piece of cake. Gyeom oppa will probably find it light too. Didn’t you take the Hunter test?”

“…I ran away.”

“Huh?”

Doa’s eyes widened. After checking the calendar in response to Yigeom’s question, Seo Dohyun said,

“I’ll schedule you for the test next month.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“The test creatures are extremely weak. If you know the strategy, you can easily catch them.”

Yigeom still kept his lips tightly shut.

“Next month is a Wednesday! Can we go watch too?”

Dohyun smiled sweetly at the younger ones.

“Sure. You can come.”

Even dogs and pigs can come in, so why not you guys? It was a friendly voice, unlike the chilling tone in the VIP room.

“But if it’s Wednesday, isn’t that a weekday? Don’t you have school?”

Yigeom raised a fundamental question.

“School?”

“It’s a weekday. You have to go to school.”

Yigeom happened to have no classes that day. If he had a lecture, he could have made an excuse. Now he was stuck, destined to be dragged to the testing room. He clicked his tongue in regret.

Jewoo blinked and hesitantly raised his hand to express his opinion.

“Gyeom hyung, what’s wrong with skipping school?”

“A student should go to school. What kind of obvious question is that?”

“Well, I was planning to go, but…we earn good money and live well even if we don’t go to school.”

Seo Doa quietly nodded in agreement with Jewoo’s words.

‘I thought she was a model student since she was doing her homework.’

Apparently not.

Actually, he was planning to quit this whole thing once he found a solution. Creatures? Would he continue with something life-threatening? Absolutely not.

He felt like the timeframe might be extended a bit, but the deep conviction that he would leave this field someday was rooted within him. To do so, focusing on his studies was essential.

‘You guys shouldn’t decide on your career paths so early either.’

It was a profession where lives were literally on the line. To Yigeom, it was appalling that these high school kids, not even adults yet, were so blinded by money that they thoughtlessly chose being a Hunter as a career.

If they didn’t properly focus on school attendance and academics, a situation could arise where they wouldn’t be able to leave this field even if they wanted to later.

“Cha Jewoo, Seo Doa. You two. From now on, unless it’s something important, go to school.”

“Huh? Everything we do as Latter members is important, how can we do that?”

“If I tell you to go, you go. Why so much talk?”

Isn’t that what students are supposed to do? Why the intimidated looks?

“It’s a vice-master’s order. Go to school.”

He figured he might as well use the authority he had gained. As Yigeom spoke firmly, the two students looked at Seo Dohyun with pleading eyes, as if asking him to intervene, but he just shrugged.

“He said it’s a vice-master’s order. Go to school.”

If they gave him the title, they should treat him accordingly.

“That’s so unfair! When I was vice-master, you just bossed me around!”

You’re still bossing me around! Jewoo whined that his treatment was unfair. When everyone ignored him, he grabbed Yigeom’s arm and shook it.

“Gyeom hyung, I’m truly a valuable asset, are you telling me to waste it at school?”

“What’s your ability?”

Jewoo held his hand in front of Yigeom’s eyes. As Yigeom blinked, wondering what he was doing, a beautiful pink flower bloomed in Jewoo’s palm.

“It’s something like this! How is it? Isn’t it totally awesome? Amazing?”

“…Go to school.”

“Huh!?”

Valuable asset, my foot. Go to school and tend the flowerbeds.

“Hyuuung…!”

“Cha Jewoo, come out for a second.”

Just then, Seo Doa pushed Cha Jewoo aside and stood in front of Yigeom, showcasing her ability as if performing a talent show. Suddenly, the surroundings darkened as darkness descended.

“Oppa, I’m an offensive type. Unlike Cha Jewoo, who’s miscellaneous, I’m helpful in combat.”

At Doa’s assertion, Yigeom stared at her intently. She looked exactly like Seo Dohyun, but her actions were unexpectedly naive. Still, she treated him like the vice-master.

“Do you think it’s okay for students to skip school?”

“The purpose of school is to find one’s career and aptitude, and we’ve already found that and are pursuing our career paths…”

“Shut up.”

Yigeom dismissed Doa’s words. If they truly considered this their career path, this was a company, and Yigeom was their superior. If their superior tells them to do something, they should do it. What were they doing?

“Go if I tell you to go.”

He didn’t know about the one in the military, but did Seo Dohyun want to drag his younger sibling into combat after Jewoo? If he’s an adult, shouldn’t he be acting like a guardian? All that talk about Latter being family was just empty words.

“You said you go to the same school, right? Send me a picture as proof when you go to school tomorrow. I’ll check it.”

As Yigeom went and plopped down on the sofa, he heard the two students whispering.

“Hey, Cha Jewoo. Do you know how to use Photoshop? Photo manipulation or something.”

“Uh… I’ve never learned it. Do you?”

“I don’t, that’s why I asked you. You’re always on the computer, but you don’t even know that? What have you been doing all this time?”

“What!? I was working! You don’t know how busy the vice-master is? I have to check Latter’s assigned CA Area and plan the schedule!”

Yigeom listened to their conversation leisurely. Their whispers reached him clearly, as if he had super-hearing.

‘Is it because of the first awakening? This is one good thing.’

By the way, checking the CA Area and planning the schedule? If Jewoo, the former vice-master, did it, was that now his job? He had come to Latter solely because of Seo Dohyun, but since he was here, he felt he should do some work.

Seo Doa, finally giving up, clung to her older brother, Seo Dohyun.

“Oppa, aren’t we getting another new recruit? Let’s quickly replace the vice-master.”

“Well, I don’t have any plans to for now.”

With the vice-master right in front of them, they dared to discuss rebellion. Yigeom, now somewhat enjoying his authority, said to Doa,

“Seo Doa, finish your homework and have me check it.”

“…You’re going that far?”

“Stupid Seo Doa. You should know when to stop.”

“You too, Cha Jewoo. Don’t even think about copying Doa’s homework.”

“…Yes.”

Jewoo, who had been mocking Doa, dejectedly nodded. He seemed to be regretting his past, wondering why he hadn’t wielded his power when he was vice-master.

Seo Dohyun smiled with satisfaction as he watched the two obediently go back to their homework.

“I think we chose a good vice-master this time.”

“Dohyun hyuuung? This vice-master? Was the last one not good?”

“Cha Jewoo, be quiet. I’m doing my homework. Don’t make noise.”

Seeing Cha Jewoo constantly being scolded by Doa, Yigeom could sense the hierarchy here. Jewoo was at the bottom.

Having finished his business, Yigeom stood up.

“Alright. Then I’ll see you in a month, on the day of the test, and if there’s nothing else to do today, can I go?”

“What are you talking about?”

Dohyun pointed to the calendar behind him, where specific dates were marked with a red pen.

7, 10, 13, 14, 22, 25, 30?

“Keep those dates free.”

Weren’t those the dates when creatures appeared in the CA Area?