Chapter 33

Soram's gaze turned to Kim Jae-hyeok. The smile he had been wearing as if relieved in the morning was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah."

Jae-hyeok turned around with an exaggerated gesture as if asking if Soram had called him. And he came face to face with Soram, whose expression seemed capable of easily killing a person or two. Even Kim Jae-hyeok, who had turned around nonchalantly, was momentarily surprised, and then his face became even more furious at the fact that he was surprised.

"Did you call for me? What, are you some kind of thug?"

"..."

"Chief Jin, I regret not being able to fulfill your request. But in the end, all the rifts were eliminated well......"

"Shut up and come out. Before I drag you out."

"... Ahem, unlike the Operations Bureau who are done once they go out on dispatch, we are currently on duty. Isn't it a bit much to come to someone else's department and act like this? I have work to do too."

After finishing his words, Jae-hyeok turned his head to the monitor and typed something. In the silence where everyone in the Reconnaissance Bureau had stopped working, only the sound of his typing could be heard. The typing sound made by his trembling hands was a little more noisy.

Thud, thud, thud. Soram, who had taken three steps, stood behind him. The meaningless letters Jae-hyeok was typing on the white screen entered Soram's eyes.

The chill from the cold rain struck Jae-hyeok's back. Goosebumps rose even in the bright office. Everyone in the office focused on the two of them. He could feel the many gazes fixed on him.

It was a situation where he couldn't help but be intimidated. It was natural, as the opponent seemed to have lost it more than expected, being a 1st-grade hunter.

But this was inside the Rift Management Headquarters building, and it was the Reconnaissance Bureau office. No matter how out of control a person was, there was no way they could do much here. If he just kept ignoring the order to come out, measures would soon be taken...

Swish.

Jae-hyeok's body was lifted from the chair.

"Wha......"

Kwang!

Before he could say his next words, he was slammed onto the partition on the desk. The monitor fell backwards, and various items on the desk were knocked over. His collar was stretched out, grabbed by Soram's hand.

"You think I can't kill you here?"

People sharing the same table were startled and backed away from their seats, and the murmuring from all around grew louder.

"I don't care if you think of me as shit and try to screw me over."

"Urk..."

"But doing that to a high school senior who's not even an adult yet is too pathetic. Don't you think?"

Soram lifted the hand grabbing Jae-hyeok's collar. Of course, Jae-hyeok resisted with all his might. He kicked Soram's stomach in the air and flailed, and his fists went back and forth near the arm holding his collar and Soram's face. But the difference between a 1st-grade and a 3rd-grade was stark. He was gradually running out of breath.

Shouldn't we stop this?

Please, please stop, Chief Jin.

What should we do? Contact the Operations Bureau...

However, Soram couldn't hear the numerous voices right now.

"Just once, fuck. Why does my attempt to see the people I missed living well have to be ruined like this?"

Soram's expression was surprisingly calm for a situation where he was lifting a person. On the other hand, Kim Jae-hyeok's face had turned bright red from suffocation. Soram moved towards the office door, still holding him.

Cough, cough... It was only when Jae-hyeok was gasping for breath that Soram put him down in front of the automatic door as if throwing him. The door sensor behind him detected Soram standing in front and opened sideways. As a result, Kim Jae-hyeok tumbled backwards. Soram pushed him out with the tip of his foot.

"Breathe. You need to be alive to get fucked up."

"Let go, let go! This bastard is crazy! Help me! Save me!"

The door closed behind Soram's back. No one stepped forward in front of the 1st-grade hunter. At least Yoon Chang-hyeon followed, opening the door and shouting, "Chief Jin, please stop!" If Soram was in a state to listen to those words, it wouldn't have come to this point.

Even this morning, Soram knew a more definite means than a request.

'If you don't properly carry out the task I gave you, I will pose a clear threat to you.'

There was no more effective behavioral inducement than this. It was also a much easier and more convenient method than something like a request. The reason he didn't do that was because he wanted today to be a peaceful day not only for Ayoung but also for himself. Perhaps he had hoped for a day where he could pay for his guilt and smile in peace, even if just a little.

Kim Jae-hyeok was also an awakener. Having quickly recovered from the impact of being thrown, he got up and punched Soram.

Bam!

Even though he had put all his strength into it, driven by survival instinct, Soram's head only turned slightly.

Thwack!

On the other hand, when Soram kicked Jae-hyeok's waist with his foot, a completely different reaction came out. With a groan, Jae-hyeok screamed as he flew across the corridor. Crouching in the corner, he glared at Soram with bloodshot eyes.

"Fuck, Jin Soram is going crazy on dispatch! Hitting an employee! I'm going to post it all on the internet. You think being a 1st-grade is everything even if you're a piece of shit? Even if I get fired from the headquarters, I'll ruin your image and bury you!"

"... Ah."

Soram stopped in his tracks. That's right. In his previous life, the criticism towards Ga-eul had started from an exposé post on the internet by an employee.

A 1st-grade hunter, whose name everyone knows, abuses his power and tries to selectively go to dispatch locations. If things don't go his way, he comes down to the department managing dispatches and makes harsh complaints.

The author who wrote that content was fired for violating a confidentiality agreement. After that, he posted another article saying he couldn't stand it anymore, and the headquarters only fired him, not the 1st-grade hunter, drawing the arrow once more.

In the end, a large-scale investigation was conducted by the headquarters, and the truth was announced six months later, but the public was no longer interested in the matter. And the image that had once been created did not disappear.

"It was you."

There was no more reason to hold back. It was when Soram was about to reach for Jae-hyeok's neck.

"Soram ssi. Please stop."

Soram's shoulder, which was about to bend down, was firmly grabbed. Han Tae-un stood between Kim Jae-hyeok and Soram.

"What should I stop? Move aside."

"This is going too far. Consider the difference in grades. You are a 1st-grade, Soram ssi."

"So what? Should a 1st-grade just take shit and stay still?"

Tae-un couldn't answer. But the force grabbing Soram's shoulder remained. This was the righteous Han Tae-un who would defend even trash. Soram looked at him and rebuked sharply.

"Save your chivalry for when it's appropriate if you want me to accept it."

It was the first time Soram had spoken harshly to Tae-un. Tae-un's eyes wavered a little. But he didn't let go of Soram.

Soram looked down at the shoulder Tae-un was holding. Veins bulged on the back of Tae-un's hand.

"Let the righteous 1st-grade be the righteous Han Tae-un ssi. I'm not, so."

Soram's lips curled up as his gaze met Tae-un's.

"You're still young, Han Tae-un."

Kwang!

Seeing the movement of his pupils, there was still some inexperience left. Jae-hyeok, who had been hiding behind Tae-un and trying to escape sideways, was hit by the air wrapped in a bluish mist and slammed again.

"Argh!"

Han Tae-un's attempt to divert Soram's attention ended in a clumsy failure. They were traces that would disappear in just half a year. As Soram smiled at him, Tae-un also seemed to realize that his thoughts had been exposed.

"Let go."

"Soram ssi."

"If you won't let go, I have no choice."

"Aaaaah!"

Jae-hyeok's body was dragged towards Soram as if pulled by something invisible. The more he wanted to step on him, the easier it was to imagine him as a vehicle. With the arm not held by Tae-un, Soram grabbed Jae-hyeok's collar again.

"Do you really have to do this?"

A quiet question was heard. Soram didn't answer and instead turned his head to Kim Jae-hyeok.

"Chief Kim Jae-hyeok. You must be relieved that a apostle of justice has appeared."

"Y-You, you, this is already assault. Fuck, I'm going to sue for all of this! A 1st-grade..."

"You still expect to walk out of here intact."

The face that had barely lifted its head was met with a face talking to him as if in an interview.

"Even if you sue, you won't be able to do it with your own hands. Because I'm going to make sure you can't use at least one part of your body for the rest of your life."

"Wh-What..."

"If you ruined someone's future, you should be ruined the same way. Right? An arm or a leg, something needs to be gone for the equation to match. But since you're a 3rd-grade, you won't die. If you die, it can't be helped."

Goosebumps rose on Kim Jae-hyeok's arm. Those words alone made him vividly realize. Jin Soram was now willing to become a murderer, and it was nothing to him.

Once the doubt of 'There's no way he can hurt someone here' was shattered, he could no longer be sure of anything.

Soram raised his lips as he looked at the terrified Jae-hyeok.

Whenever something happened, he unconsciously always thought of the 'next'. He wanted to be close with Ayoung, Ga-eul, and Min-ki in the next life as well. He should treat the director better. With Han Tae-un...... maintain an appropriate distance and watch over him. Those were the things. And today, one more was added. If he had no choice but to be eighteen again.

Next time, he would kill this person first and then start.

"A mere bug like you..."

Kim Jae-hyeok's face, which had been brazen until a moment ago, was pale with fear. At this rate, even if he survived this, he would have a fit just hearing Soram's name in the future.

"Why are you ruining it? Why, a mere thing like you."

However, Soram's face as he grabbed Kim Jae-hyeok was also filled with fear rather than the satisfaction of revenge. Anxiety that what he had barely grasped would disappear was evident on his face.

Soram knew that this time, yes, it was honestly good. It was a peaceful time that had come only in his fourth life. But he also knew that this peace had a time limit. So he was furious that this precious time had been shattered like this, and he was afraid that times like yesterday, spent laughing with Ayoung and Tae-un, might not come again.

And all those emotions were poured out on the instigator of this incident. He would never let it slide.

It was when blue smoke began to rise from the palm grabbing Jae-hyeok's collar.

"Jin Soram!"

"Ugh...!"

Tae-un's arm pressed hard against Soram's chest. Pushed back, Soram slammed into the wall. Inside the dented wall, he tried to exert strength, but Tae-un didn't back down. Unlike earlier when he looked confused, Tae-un also had an angry expression.

"Are you really going to kill him? This is not a problem to be solved with violence."

As he kept making principled remarks, Soram was also getting annoyed.

"At least my anger will be resolved."

"If you pour out your anger as it is, the other person will die."

"What does that have to do with me being pissed off?"

"..."

"I'm going to vent my anger as much as that bastard did, and I don't care what happens in the process."

Soram reached out his hand while confronting Tae-un, and Jae-hyeok's surroundings were engulfed in a blue mist as he let out a "Huk, haa, save......" sound.

Bang!

Then Tae-un grabbed Soram's wrist and slammed it hard against the wall. This hurt enough for even Soram to wince.

"Soram, you..."

"..."

"Were you this kind of person?"

Soram knew exactly the emotion on Tae-un's face. It was disappointment. It was an expression he hadn't seen much when he lived as he pleased in this life, but had seen more from those around him when he lived desperately in his previous life.

Soram's body stiffened as he faced that look.

"Don't look at me like that."