Chapter 5 (2/2)
Just as a victorious smile formed inside her head….
”As long as it's not a Contract.” (Seol)
….Seol slowly opened his lips.
”As long as it's not about a Contract, then, I'll hear you out.” (Seol)
That was what he said.
That was all he said, yet after hearing him, all thought processes inside Kim Hahn-Nah's brain came to a certain stop. Her mouth opened and closed several times, while she stared at him with a pair of dumbfounded eyes.
”….Excuse me?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
She somehow managed to eke out a reply.
”I'd like….” (Seol)
And his response….
”I'd like to receive the Invitation, not the Contract.” (Seol)
….Managed to completely shatter every imagined scenario in her head.
”….You.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Her previously-smiling face vanished straight away, as if it was nothing more than an illusion. She slowly removed her gla.s.ses while her expression became colder and colder.
”….Who the h.e.l.l are you?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
The way she spoke transformed. Even a faint hostility could be felt from her voice.
”You know who I am.” (Seol)
Seol stopped using honorifics as well, since she too stopped. Her glaring eyes became narrower still.
”You from that side of the fence?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”You know that's not true better than anybody.” (Seol)
She almost ended up acknowledging that suspicion without a basis.
It was around half a year ago, when Seol was chosen as one of the potential targets. He had not exhibited one suspicious behaviour during that time period.
Most importantly, though - if he had been to the other side even once, then the unmistakable aura of the 'Mark' should emanate from him. This alone proved that Seol had no direct relation with the other world.
Facing a situation she couldn't have imagined in a million years, Kim Hahn-Nah was lost as to how she should proceed from here. This development was far too out of her expectations.
”You expect me to believe you? When you can clearly distinguish between a Contract and an Invitation?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”So, what about it? Is ”Invitation” a taboo word that shouldn't have been mentioned in the first place?” (Seol)
Kim Hahn-Nah could only bite her lower lip at that cheeky response.
”I'm not in the mood, okay? Who was it? Who contacted you first?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”That's not really important, is it?” (Seol)
Seol deliberately changed the topic.
The things he had spoken up to now were all from the dream - the things about the Contract and the Invitation. He only threw them out there as soon as he remembered. That was it.
However, there was no way Kim Hahn-Nah would know of this little fact. It was better to leave her stewing in her own misunderstanding. This was the only weapon Seol possessed that could subdue this woman.
”What is important is the fact that I want the Invitation, not the Contract.” (Seol)
Kim Hahn-Nah breathed in deeply.
”Fine. Don't wanna talk? Then, don't. I'm curious, but that doesn't mean I have to hear it no matter the cost, anyway.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
One, two, three, four….
Kim Hahn-Nah inwardly counted up, and tried to calm her chaotic mind. However, she still couldn't erase this feeling that she had been suckered into her opponent's pace since a while ago.
”Separate from that, explain to me why you want an Invitation.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”Obviously because, I'm not interested in signing a Contract and living like a d.a.m.n slave.” (Seol)
Seol's answer was simple. Kim Hahn-Nah's brows quaked in anger.
”No, you better tell me why I should use up my precious Invitation on a worthless gambling addict like you!” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Seol hesitated ever so slightly, then.
Why was he treating things he saw in that stupid dream as reality? With that thought in mind, he couldn't help but wonder if insisting on this matter was the right call to make.
It didn't seem too late now; he could just tell her to never mind and pretend that none of this happened. After all, he had already decided to quit gambling. If he got an honest job and worked hard from now on, he'd be able to regain all the lost trust people had in him.
However….
When he declared that he was not interested in signing a Contract, the strong sense of 'refusal' he'd been feeling until now vanished, just like that. The strange and unexplainable attraction still remained strong, though.
Also, it'd be a lie to say that he wasn't curious, either. There were things he wanted to confirm, as well.
Seol recalled the very last scene of the dream.
The emotions of regret pushed him from the back. It told him to go for it. Only then, could Seol fully figure out what that feeling of refusal from just now was all about. In order to go there, he had to absolutely refuse signing any Contract whatsoever.
He gritted his teeth, and concentrated incredibly hard to comb his memories.
”Not giving me an Invitation would only prove to be disadvantageous for you.” (Seol)
”What did you say?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”You said your name is Kim Hahn-Nah, a director from s.h.i.+nyoung Pharmaceutical Corporation, right?” (Seol)
”So what?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”That company is pretty famous for continuously developing new types of medicine for the last few years…. Maybe, you guys have some kind of a fishy connection to that world?” (Seol)
The haymaker he threw while feeling half-unsure landed like a charm. He could tell, by seeing her once-leisurely expression crumbling away once more.
Seol didn't know anything about the other world, prior to having that dream. Which meant that the existence of the separate world was a top secret that the general public wasn't privy to know.
He didn't know whether she was forced into keeping this a secret, or willingly agreed to do so, but nevertheless, he figured that this was a weakness worth exploiting. And besides, the Seol of now was a civilian not under any kind of contractual obligations, so he didn't have to hold back.
”There's no need for me to walk around shouting at the top of my lungs, though. You know that the 21st Century is referred to as the Information Age, right?” (Seol)
”Are you threatening me?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”And just who was trying to lie first, here? Aren't we on an equal moral footing now?” (Seol)
”How laughable. You think anyone will believe you? Words of a b.l.o.o.d.y gambling addict?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”….Of course, that might be true.” (Seol)
When Seol simply agreed with her a.s.sessment without a fuss, a sense of unease slowly bloomed in her heart. Just why was he being so relaxed from a while ago?
”But, will those upstairs think like that?” (Seol)
Suddenly, the sounds of gritting teeth could be heard.
”You couldn't complete one little Contract, and couldn't even keep such an important secret, either…. I'm sure they will like it very much.” (Seol)
”You son of a b*tch!” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Finally, Kim Hahn-Nah dropped her facade. Seol knew he was getting really close. Well, a scammer swearing out could only mean that she was about to wave the white flag, after all.
He briefly entertained the thoughts of pus.h.i.+ng a bit more, before giving up on the idea. He had whipped her enough, so it'd be better to gently soothe her now, instead. In the end, the final decision rested solely on her shoulders.
”Of course, I too don't want to do any of that. Just an Invitation would suffice.” (Seol)
Seol took a small step back. Kim Hahn-Nah was still venomously grinding her teeth, though.
”The difference between a Contract and an Invitation is no laughing matter, you get that? I can complete Contracts with my authority, but an Invitation, I can't.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
”Then, why did you say, your 'precious Invitation' just now?” (Seol)
You motherf*cking as*hole, Kim Hahn-Nah chewed on her lower lip.
'That, that f*cking G.o.d b*stard. You said there would come a time where I have to use it. And so, this is it?' (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Kim Hahn-Nah proceeded to ruthlessly downgrade a deity from another world to nothing more than an offspring of a female dog, while roughly scratching her once-neat hair.
”I'm not lying to you. Even I need to get a permission for a regular Invitation.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Seol shrugged his shoulders. Meeting his calm gaze, her boiling head also seemed to cool down gradually. Signing a Contract was simply a business deal. 'Invitation' carried a different connotation, but still, one could say it was an extension of that side of business, as well.
From that perspective, Seol managed to exceed Kim Hahn-Nah's imaginations. He should've been called a real find in the rough, rather than a throwaway slave. This feeling she got right now, was as if she had been talking to a veteran who had fought on that side for many years already.
Even though she knew that couldn't be the case.
Kim Hahn-Nah took in several more deep breaths, before switching on her phone. Before her thumb could press the Call icon, though, a powerful hesitation managed to stop her.
'b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, just how the f*ck did I end up with an as*hole like this guy….' (Kim Hahn-Nah)
Changing a potential Contract to an Invitation was no easy thing to do. No matter how craftily she weaved her tale, it'd be impossible to escape the questions later on. For a career-centric woman like Kim Hahn-Nah, such a blip on her record could not be tolerated.
She suddenly spoke to him, her thumb still hovering above the Call icon.
”You must agree to three conditions first.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)
< 05.=”” march=”” 16th,=”” 10:30=”” pm=”” (2)=””> Fin.
(TL: Next chapter will be released on Monday, next week. Please do look forward to it!)