Episode 302: Waiting Position

◄

☰

►

Professor Jang stroked his beard and let out a hearty chuckle.

“Well, I never thought I’d hear something like that. After the memorial was built, everyone just completely forgot about the West Sea rift. They were too busy debating whether the new Number One could really fill J’s place…”

“…”

“The West Sea rift was a space beyond my understanding. And yet… I found myself wanting to research it again. I went straight to Director Ham and told her, ‘I’m following this guy. I’m going to see if I can open the rift.’ Then I packed my bags and left.”

Cha Eui-jae flipped through the clippings one by one. So, all of this was collected by Lee Sa-young. Just for the sake of someone who saved his life and promised to come back. Because that person might have lost their way and couldn’t return. Because they might still be alive.

‘To rescue someone whose name and face he didn’t even know…’

Cha Eui-jae’s fingers lightly traced an old newspaper clipping. It was a blurry photograph of a young man wearing a black mask and a white scarf. The image had been taken from a distance and was low in quality. Lee Sa-young’s obsession was sometimes difficult to comprehend.

But thanks to that obsession, Cha Eui-jae was standing here now. He let out a quiet chuckle.

‘Well… looks like birds of a feather found each other.’

If this was fate, then so be it. Suppressing the strange warmth bubbling in his chest, Cha Eui-jae asked,

“Professor, could you tell me more?”

“Oh-ho? About what?”

“About Lee Sa-young. Anything’s fine.”

Before the professor could answer, Seo Min-gi, who had been waiting outside the door, interjected.

“The director scolds the guild leader quite often. It’s a love-hate relationship.”

“Why?”

Seo Min-gi adjusted his sunglasses.

“Would you be pleased if someone kept stealing your most important personnel? The guild leader even had the audacity to try scouting Team Leader Jung Bin.”

“Oh-ho-ho… Considering Director Ham’s personality, she held back a lot if all she did was scold him. If Team Leader Jung Bin had actually left, she would’ve sought revenge one way or another.”

“…On whom?”

“Who else? The guild leader, of course. Even I would’ve wanted to punch him.”

Professor Jang laughed heartily as he threw out such ruthless words. Cha Eui-jae stole a glance at Seo Min-gi’s face. In a world where Pado Guild didn’t exist, Seo Min-gi had been part of the Awakened Management Bureau.

Meeeh. The small lamb nestled in Cha Eui-jae’s arms let out a soft bleat. He gently set the lamb down and watched its fluffy little form waddle away, deep in thought.

‘Maybe I should go back and watch some old videos of Lee Sa-young.’

The video room at Mackerel’s place had been so cozy.

Then suddenly, his head snapped up. Right— Mackerel! He had to check on the Mackerel siblings. There was no guarantee that whitening would occur in the same area as the Memorial Dungeon, but…

‘There’s no harm in being cautious.’

At that moment, Professor Jang clicked his tongue and glanced around the room.

“I’ve worked with both of them. Honestly, Director Ham and the guild leader are the same. Watching them go at it— it’s mutual loathing between kindred spirits.”

“Well said.”

With his goal achieved, Cha Eui-jae should have hurried to the fish market. But he couldn’t help but join in on the discussion.

“…But.”  

“Yes? What is it?”

“Doesn’t Director Ham have the better personality?”  

“Oh-ho?”  

Some things just had to be judged objectively, no matter how much he cherished Lee Sa-young.