After entering the house, Park Yun-su sat across from Lee Seon-jae with his head bowed low.
Lee Seon-jae’s wife, Yu Mi-ran, brought over coffee for them.
Clack!
Clack!
The way she placed the coffee on the table was far from gentle.
However, neither Lee Seon-jae nor Park Yun-su took offense at her attitude.
In a way, it was only natural.
Once Yu Mi-ran sat down beside her husband, Lee Seon-jae looked at Park Yun-su and asked, “What on earth happened? And why do you look like that?”
Park Yun-su’s appearance was nothing short of wretched, and his complexion was haggard.
At the question, Park Yun-su let out a heavy sigh and began to speak.
“Sigh, I don’t even know where to start… I lost my mind for a moment and touched gambling. I squandered every bit of the inheritance I received from my father.”
At those words, Lee Seon-jae barked out, “Hey! You crazy bastard! Gambling? Are you seriously saying that right now?!”
“I know. I know I’m a madman. I blew a fortune worth billions and even borrowed money from my acquaintances. I should have stopped there, but I couldn’t, and I ended up reaching out to you. Back then, I was truly out of my mind and couldn’t see anything else.”
Lee Seon-jae’s eyes were filled with rage as he stared at Park Yun-su.
If he had invested in something else or used the money for some other reason, he might have understood.
But gambling?
Why did it have to be gambling?
“So? Did you blow that money too?”
Both Lee Seon-jae and Yu Mi-ran already had a good guess as to what the answer would be.
There was no way someone addicted to gambling would still have that money.
Watching them, Park Yun-su spoke with a miserable expression. “After I borrowed the money from you, I intended to go straight to a gambling den. But since it was late, I went into a nearby motel first. I lay down on the bed, but I couldn’t stop staring at the money you lent me.”
Lee Seon-jae and Yu Mi-ran simply listened.
“…”
Park Yun-su continued. “Even though we’re friends, you didn’t ask a single thing and even took out a loan to help me. I realized that if I took that money to a gambling den, I would truly become a piece of human trash. I snapped out of it at that moment. No matter how much I’d ruined my life through gambling, how could I spend that money? I realized I was truly insane.”
After taking a sip of coffee, Park Yun-su went on. “From then on, I started working daily labor at construction sites to earn money. Every time I felt like I was going crazy wanting to gamble, I looked at the money you lent me and held on for dear life. My hands were literally shaking, and I wanted to run to a gambling den right then and there, but I gritted my teeth while looking at your money.”
With those words, Park Yun-su pulled a thick bundle of cash from his chest pocket.
Thump!
“Even so, I couldn’t completely let go of the lingering attachment to gambling. I gritted my teeth and endured, but I eventually reached my limit. I felt like I was going to lose it and run to a den with this money at any moment. So I thought—my patience ends here. That’s why I came. Because I can’t trust myself anymore. I felt like if I kept holding onto this, I’d eventually end up at a table. So before it was too late, before I lost my grip on reality, I came to stand before you as a friend one last time.”
Looking at the bundle of cash, Lee Seon-jae remarked, “This looks like more than what I lent you.”
Lee Seon-jae had lent him 50 million won.
Judging by the thickness of the bundle, it seemed to exceed that amount.
“I added the money I earned from working. It’s not much, but consider it interest.”
The money Park Yun-su handed over was 60 million won—10 million more than what he had borrowed.
“Do you think I lent it to you expecting interest? I’ll only take back exactly what I lent. So, just take the rest.”
As Lee Seon-jae tried to set aside 50 million and return the rest, Park Yun-su looked genuinely startled.
-Remember this.
Your uncle will probably try to take only the borrowed amount and return the rest to you.
But what if you take that money?
I’ll leave what happens next to your imagination.
Seong-jun’s warning flashed through his mind.
The moment he took that money, the fear of becoming fish food at the bottom of a quiet reservoir washed over him.
“No, don’t do that. Please, don’t. If you give me that money, I might run straight back to a gambling den with it. Like I said, my patience has reached its limit. I truly, sincerely want to quit gambling. To do that, I can’t have any money on me. If you really think of me as a friend, help me quit.”
Watching the desperate Park Yun-su, Lee Seon-jae couldn’t find the words to respond.
“…”
“Gambling dens exist everywhere in this country. If I stay here, I’ll never be able to quit. So, I’m planning to work on a deep-sea fishing vessel for a few years. If I roll around at sea for a few years without thinking, won’t I be able to quit? So please, don’t let my resolve crumble. I shouldn’t have any money on me right now. Only then will this determination hold.”
What else could he do?
When a friend went this far, Lee Seon-jae couldn’t exactly force the money into his hands.
“Sigh, if that’s your wish, I understand.”
“Don’t keep it tucked away saying you’ll give it back when I return. If you think of me as a friend, you must never do that. That money is my last bit of pride, and the only way I can remain your friend. So use it where you need it. Only then will I feel like I can stay your friend, and only then will I be able to endure. Okay? I’m begging you. Please!”
There was a sense of desperation in Park Yun-su’s voice.
Why?
Because if he didn’t do this, he would be killed by Seong-jun without anyone knowing.
However, in Lee Seon-jae’s eyes, that desperation looked like a sincere desire to quit gambling.
“Fine, I understand. If that’s how you feel, I’ll spend every bit of it.”
At Lee Seon-jae’s words, Park Yun-su let out a small smile.
“Thank you. For protecting my last bit of pride. And sister-in-law, I am truly sorry. You must have suffered a lot because of me. Seon-jae here is a bit foolish, so when it comes to friends, he doesn’t always look at the situation clearly. Please keep a firm grip on him so nothing like this ever happens again.”
Yu Mi-ran gave a bittersweet smile. “Yes, I will. Anyway, if you haven’t eaten yet, please wait a moment. I’ll set the table quickly.”
It was true that he had tried to swindle a friend, but since he had returned the money with interest without spending it, Yu Mi-ran felt she should at least treat him to dinner before he left.
However, Park Yun-su shook his head and hurriedly stood up.
“Ahaha, no, no thank you. I have to leave right now to catch the boat. Let’s save the meal for when I return after a few trips around the ocean. I’ll be going then.”
As Park Yun-su stood up in a rush, Lee Seon-jae rose as well. “You’re leaving already?”
“I only stopped by briefly before heading to the boat, so I don’t have much time. I’m truly sorry. Let’s wash away the bad memories and have a glass of soju next time we meet.”
“Yeah, alright.”
When Lee Seon-jae tried to walk him out, Park Yun-su waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t come out. It’s a burden.”
At the mention of it being a burden, Lee Seon-jae ultimately did not step out the door.
“Got it. Take care. Be sure to contact me when you’re back in Korea.”
Toward Lee Seon-jae, who was waving at him, Park Yun-su waved back with a bitter smile.
Then, he turned and stepped into the elevator.
***
Once outside, Park Yun-su checked again to see if Lee Seon-jae had followed him before boarding a waiting SUV.
Slide!
After sliding the door open and climbing inside, he immediately closed it.
Seong-jun and Choi Gyu-taek were inside the vehicle.
“Did you wrap things up the way I told you to?”
At Seong-jun’s question, Park Yun-su nodded hurriedly.
“Yeah, yeah. I did everything you told me to. A-Are you going to let me live now?”
As Park Yun-su tentatively asked while watching his reaction, Seong-jun calmly pulled an envelope from his pocket.
“Here is the 10 million won I promised. Whether you go back to the gambling dens with this or do something else, I don’t care. But remember this one thing. Never show your face near my uncle again. If I even sense you’re around… you will immediately experience a hell worse than death.”
Everything Park Yun-su had blurted out in front of Lee Seon-jae was a script written by Seong-jun.
This was the only way his uncle could lighten the burden on his heart and resolve the financial issues to some extent.
When Seong-jun issued the cold warning, Park Yun-su nodded frantically.
“O-Of course. I’ll never go near Seon-jae again. I promise.”
“I’ll drop you off up ahead, so go your own way. Leave Seoul as quickly as possible.”
Park Yun-su’s usefulness ended right here. Seong-jun had no intention of seeing him again, nor did he want to, so he dropped him off at a nearby subway station.
Slide.
As soon as the door opened, Park Yun-su scrambled out of the car and ran off in a hurry.
Watching him, Choi Gyu-taek asked cautiously, “Is it really okay to just let him go like that? The thing about gambling addicts is that when they get desperate, they don’t care about promises or anything else. If he runs out of money and faces the worst-case scenario, he might reach out to Lee Seon-jae again.”
Choi Gyu-taek spoke with conviction, as if certain that Park Yun-su would return to the gambling dens and eventually pester Lee Seon-jae again.
In response, Seong-jun fiddled with his phone without a word before speaking to Choi Gyu-taek.
“I’ve deposited the additional fee. Please check.”
Since he had promised an extra 50 million if Park Yun-su was found and brought within two weeks, he kept that promise.
However, after checking the deposit details on his phone, Choi Gyu-taek asked in confusion.
“Huh? Wasn’t the additional fee 50 million? 80 million was deposited.”
He looked puzzled because 30 million more than the agreed 50 million had been sent.
“There’s something extra I need you to do. Please monitor Park Yun-su’s movements for about a month. And if he sets foot in a gambling den again, leak information about him to the loan sharks. Of course, if he doesn’t go near a gambling den for a month, you can just withdraw.”
He currently had 10 million won in his possession.
If he didn’t go near a gambling den for a month even with that money, it would mean he was determined to quit.
But would he be able to?
It was almost certain that he would step back into a gambling den within a month.
That was why Seong-jun told him to hand over the information to loan sharks the moment he set foot in one.
Once Park Yun-su fell into the hands of loan sharks, his life was essentially over.
“Loan sharks, I see. You’re going to use their hands to handle him in the end. Well, those guys can be quite persistent. Understood. I’ll make sure the additional task is handled perfectly. Oh! And Seong-jun, I’ll register you as a VVIP of our Speed Private Detective Agency from now on, so please contact me anytime if you need anything.”
Their first meeting had been through Gwang-taek, but now, independent of Gwang-taek, he had become a major client.
Thus, Choi Gyu-taek wanted to maintain a personal connection with Seong-jun.
“I’ll do that.”
Having neatly settled the matter regarding his uncle, Seong-jun felt his heart grow much lighter.
***
On the way home after parting with Choi Gyu-taek.
Seong-jun stopped by a convenience store, bought a can of beer and some snacks, and sat at a table outside.
Pshhh!
He cracked the beer open.
Gulp! Gulp!
“Kaaaah.”
After taking a refreshing gulp, Seong-jun leaned back in his chair.
“Now Uncle and Aunt won’t have to suffer. Since they can put out the immediate fire, they’ll have some breathing room.”
Seong-jun had given his uncle 60 million won under the guise of Park Yun-su paying him back.
He wanted to give more, but that would have ruined the script he wrote.
How much could someone earn by jumping around daily labor jobs for a few months?
Even at most, 10 million was the limit, so he added exactly that much.
Of course, even that would be enough to solve their immediate difficulties.
“First, the re-awakening test is the priority. I need to reach A-rank as quickly as possible. It won’t be too late to provide proper help then.”
His uncle and aunt, unaware of his re-awakening, still believed Seong-jun was an F-rank buffer—the lowest tier of the awakened society, earning a mere 300,000 won daily wage even while risking his life in dungeons.
If Seong-jun offered help now, would they even accept it?
But the story would change once he took the re-awakening test after reaching A-rank.
Not only would he be re-awakened as an A-rank, but he would also be a healer—a class often referred to as nobility.
By then, his uncle and aunt would no longer refuse his help.
They would know very well just how much money a high-ranking hunter, especially a ‘noble’ healer, could earn.
Gulp!
Gulp!
Seong-jun took another refreshing sip of beer and was about to grab a snack when…
Ring ring ring ring~
His phone rang.
Checking the caller, it was none other than Gwang-taek.
“Huh? Brother Gwang-taek at this hour?”
It was already past 1:00 AM. Since Gwang-taek had never called at such an hour before, Seong-jun was even more curious.
“Yes, Brother. It’s me.”
When Seong-jun answered, Gwang-taek’s excited voice came through the phone.
-Seong-jun!
Do you know what’s right in front of my eyes?!
How would Seong-jun know what was in front of Gwang-taek?
“What? What is it?”
-A dungeon!
A dungeon just formed right in front of me!
You know about it, right?
The first-entry benefits?
I don’t know the rank or attribute yet since I haven’t entered, but if it’s a dungeon we can clear, we can totally rake it in with the first-entry bonuses!
That was it.
A newly formed dungeon was sitting right in front of Gwang-taek.
“A new dungeon? Oh! If the rank is right, that would be amazing.”
First-time entrants receive upgraded rewards along with the first-entry benefit, one of which was a massive increase in experience points.
Even if it wasn’t a dark-attribute dungeon, it was a golden opportunity to gain a large amount of experience.
‘It would be great if it was dark-attribute, but even if it’s something else, the first-entry benefits alone will give massive experience. Plus, since we’re the first to enter, there won’t be other parties, and there will be monsters everywhere. We can monopolize the entire dungeon.’
If the dungeon Gwang-taek discovered was one they could clear on their own, they could enjoy incredible benefits.
-Anyway, aren’t you the core of our party, Seong-jun?
If you say you’re coming, I’ll call Yu-seon right away. Of course, if you think it’ll be too hard, I’ll just report it to the Association.
What do you want to do?
No matter how good of a B-rank tanker Gwang-taek was, it was impossible for him to maintain a three-person party and run a dungeon alone.
All of this was only possible because of Seong-jun’s buffs.
That was why Gwang-taek prioritized Seong-jun’s opinion above all.
“Why even ask? Of course we have to go. Send me the address. I’ll take a taxi and head there right away.”
-Haha, I knew you’d say that.
I’ll send it via text right now, so come quick!
I’ll contact Yu-seon immediately too.
After hanging up, Seong-jun downed the rest of his beer in one go.
Gulp!
Gulp!
“Kaaah, a fresh new dungeon. I hope the rank is just right.”
If the dungeon rank was not too high but not too low—just right for them—it would be a total jackpot.
But things in the world don’t always go as planned.
He intended to boldly give it up if the rank didn’t match.
***
In the mountains, slightly off the hiking trail of Inwangsan.
Because it was late at night, there were few people, and since it was slightly off the trail, there was especially no sign of life.
Seong-jun’s group gathered there.
“Are you here? We were waiting.”
Even though Seong-jun received the call first, Yu-seon lived not far from Gwang-taek’s house while Seong-jun was further away, so Seong-jun arrived last.
“How did you even find this place, Brother? It’s quite a distance from the hiking trail.”
“It’s nothing much. I occasionally come up here alone in the early morning to get some fresh air and clear my head, but I suddenly heard a strange sound. When I left the trail and came here, a dungeon portal was just finishing its formation. I called you the moment I saw it.”
Gwang-taek had luckily witnessed the dungeon’s formation process from the beginning.
“Well, you sure are lucky. Anyway, Yu-seon, why is your bag so full?”
Seong-jun’s backpack was empty and loose, but Yu-seon’s backpack was bulging with something.
At that, Yu-seon opened her bag and pulled something out.
“What else would it be? It’s our daily bread. If this is a dungeon we can handle on our own, shouldn’t we hunker down here for a few days? We can’t just let the first-entry benefits go to waste.”
First-entry benefits vary slightly depending on the dungeon’s rank, but they were known to last for up to a week.
Regardless of that, however, while they finished their hunt and went home, others would be attacking the dungeon, which meant the number of monsters available for them to hunt would rapidly decrease.
That was why Yu-seon intended to stay in the dungeon for days without coming out if it was a dungeon they could clear themselves.
“That’s true, but only if it’s a rank we can handle. What if it’s a rank that’s too much for us?”
“What else? Hunter-grade combat rations don’t cost that much anyway. The shelf life is long, so I can just set them aside and use them one by one when we run other dungeons.”
Seong-jun smirked at Yu-seon’s words.
“True, that works too. Anyway, we should check the rank first. Let’s form a party and enter.”
If you enter without a party, the first-entry benefit is only given to the first person who enters.
However, if you enter in a party, the benefit is given to the entire party, so they formed a party before entering.
After completing the party formation.
“Shall we go then?”
Gwang-taek, the tanker, entered first, followed immediately by Yu-seon and Seong-jun.
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