Resurrection Chapter 24 - Hyung, are you okay?

“Isn’t that the all-purpose jack-of-all-trades Kim Yitae?”

“I heard he partnered with Seo Heesoo.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“Looking for some wolf pup or something?”

“He’s prettier than in the pictures.”

“Bet he’d be fun to mess with.”

Ignoring the snickering whispers, I went straight to the bar and ordered a Firemoth. No sooner had I sat down than the Golden Emperor sent a complaining message.

―The Golden Emperor says this is the first time he’s found attention so unwelcome.

I calmly soothed the flamboyant Golden Emperor. “Attention is attention, so try to enjoy it.”

―The Golden Emperor scolds that he doesn’t set foot in dens of lustful beasts.

“They may call themselves werewolves, and sure, they’re a rowdy bunch regardless of age or gender, but there’s nothing to worry about. Sickly types aren’t my style.”

―The Golden Emperor advises that if you’re bold enough to wander alone at night, you’d be better off staying home with Seo Heesoo.

“So you’re saying Heesoo hyung is better than lustful beasts?”

―The Golden Emperor says if being slightly better than claw dirt counts as better, then yes.

I cut the banter with the Golden Emperor there. The bartender brought over a Firemoth.

This cocktail, made with warmed bourbon and edible dungeon flowers, was popular among hunters for its stamina-boosting effects. Its fiery red hue, fitting its name, had a certain vibe.

I downed it in one go and slid the empty glass to the bartender, saying, “One more. And I’ve got a question.”

“What’s that?”

The young bartender asked as he took the glass, and I got to the point. “I’m looking for Yoon Younghyun and Team A. I want to know where they went after returning from the holy site yesterday.”

Traditionally, bartenders in places like this often doubled as informants. Werewolves, with their pack mentality, had tight connections, so tracking someone wasn’t hard.

Of course, there was no guarantee they’d share info with a non-werewolf. I pulled a large mana crystal from my pocket and held it out.

The bartender glanced at it, pocketed the crystal, and nodded toward the end of the bar. Someone stood and approached.

It was a slightly boyish man with narrow eyes, more youthful than young. He had a playful demeanor, but I sensed a hidden edge.

Without asking, he plopped down beside me. After a quick sniff, he said, “Looking for Yoon Younghyun?”

“Yeah.”

With barely visible speed, the man flicked a coin into the air, caught it on the back of his hand, and covered it with his palm. “Heads or tails?”

I frowned. “What’s this about?”

“Heads or tails, pick one. If you win, I’ll tell you where Yoon Younghyun is.”

“And if I lose?”

“Give up Seo Heesoo.”

I shot up and grabbed his collar. The bar fell quiet for a moment with the sudden tension, but no one intervened. In a place where knife fights were common, a collar grab was like a handshake.

Staring into the faintly smiling man’s face, I said, “Who are you?”

“Would you know if I told you? You wouldn’t.”

“Are you the guy who put out the hit on Heesoo hyung?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

“Damn it, answer properly before I rip your mouth off.”

He stared back at my growl unfazed.

Even while interrogating him, something felt off. I was sure I didn’t know him, but he seemed to know me. His eyes held a complex emotion.

His gaze was so meaningful that I wanted to understand why.

Suddenly, he spoke. “Min Gongchan, age 20 as of now, height 185 cm, weight 68 kg. A bit underweight at the moment.”

“Who asked about your weight?”

“You must’ve been piecing things together from CCTV footage.”

“How the hell do you…”

A chill ran through me, but I snapped out of it. No need to be shocked that he knew something anyone could guess. After a few words, it wasn’t hard to notice his knack for talking.

No wonder he could commission a hit from Kim Je-woo, the archer.

Instead of wasting words, I decided to grab and interrogate him. Once restrained, I could use magic to pry out his true intentions. Freeze him with [Freeze], bind him with [Bind], then teleport…

Cutting off my thoughts, the self-proclaimed Min Gongchan said, “Freeze him, bind him, then teleport?”

I hesitated mid-chant.

What the hell?

Mind reader?

No, I decided not to be rattled by cheap tricks! Anyone with magic knowledge could guess that much.

“Or maybe teleport, then freeze and bind. I know it’s one or the other, so no need to waste mana. If you’ve got questions, just ask. I’ll answer.”

“Answer the question I already asked first.”

“My identity? Just as you guessed. I’m the one who put out the hit on Seo Heesoo.”

Sparks flew from my eyes. I tightened my grip, nearly choking him. “You bastard, saying that to my face means you want to die, right?”

“Aren’t you curious why I put out a hit on Seo Heesoo?”

I froze, about to beat him to a pulp. My eyes asked, “Obviously to get my resurrection skill, right?” I couldn’t mention it aloud in a place crawling with sharp-eared werewolves.

He didn’t mention resurrection either.

Instead, he said something even more outrageous. “Because Seo Heesoo, that crazy bastard, will destroy the world.”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

The question from above snapped me out of it.

Looking up, I saw Heesoo hyung with two coffees.

I took one and smiled. “Oh, just this and that.”

Answering vaguely, I chugged the steaming coffee. Heesoo hyung’s eyes widened. “That’s not just thinking. Isn’t it hot?”

I set down the empty cup with a sheepish look. “Didn’t you see in the skill window yesterday? I’m naturally resistant to heat, so I don’t feel it much. Wanna see?”

I took off my glove, revealing my bare hand. Clenching a fist and holding it up, faint golden scales shimmered.

Not real scales, but my passive skill, Golden Scales.

This blessing from the Golden Emperor protected me from burns, frostbite, and infections. It also shielded me from heat and cold, making me comfortable in extreme environments.

In other words, I could get by with just a leather jacket anywhere.

For hunters, clothing is equipment. Fashionable or not, it’s costly. In snowy dungeons, you need furs; in rainy ones, raincoats. Add a few functions, and it’s as expensive as any item.

Bragging about the skill that saved me clothing costs, I held out my hand to Heesoo hyung. “Pretty, right? Wanna touch?”

Expecting a refusal, I was surprised when he pulled my hand closer. He examined the back of my hand, then turned it to see the palm. He didn’t stop there, inspecting my wrist and inner forearm, even running his fingers over it.

“It’s soft.”

“It’s not real scales…”

It’s kinda ticklish?

I shrugged, and Heesoo hyung asked casually, “Is it like this in hidden places too?”

“Hidden places?”

He glanced at my collar. Realizing he meant if my skin was protected there too, I quickly answered, “Oh, of course. Vital areas have denser scale patterns, so they’re tougher.”

“Good to know.”

He let go, and I pulled down my sleeve and put my glove back on. But despite my attempt to change the subject, Heesoo hyung brought it back. “What are these ‘this and that’ thoughts?”

I rolled my eyes, dodging. “Just that winter’s coming, it’s getting chilly, stuff like that.”

Heesoo hyung sipped his hot coffee and asked, “Related to sneaking out last night?”

No use. I gave up dodging and fidgeted with my earlobe. “…You weren’t asleep?”

“I was. Slept better than usual and realized I’d been put to sleep with magic. If you weren’t planning to go out, you wouldn’t have needed to knock me out.”

“It’s no big deal. I just went to track down Yoon Younghyun to shut him up.”

At my sheepish reply, Heesoo hyung’s expression turned stern. “If it’s something like that, we should go together. Aren’t I your partner, Mr. Yitae? Why do something dangerous alone…”

“You’ve got to level up today, so you need to be in top shape. I didn’t want to worry you for nothing.”

“Your sneaking out alone worries me more.”