We walked down the mountain in silence. The sound of our footsteps crunching through the dry leaves was the only noise, aside from the occasional rustle of the wind. Seol Min looked exhausted, and me… well, I was starting to regret coming to this place.
"A thousand years… yeah, a thousand years," I muttered. "Stupid ginseng. If it actually existed, I'd be rich by now."
Seol Min glanced at me but still said nothing. Maybe she was annoyed too, though at least she had a good reason her guildmate was dead. I had only lost time and energy.
When we arrived at the station, the train that connected Cheonggyesan Mountain to the city center was already preparing to depart. People were crowding to get on, but we managed to find seats without much trouble.
I sat by the window, watching the mountains slowly fade into the distance. My mind was racing, from the failed ginseng hunt to the Black Crescent Cult, which seemed to be involved in more shady business behind the scenes.
"Thousand-year ginseng? More like a thousand-year-old scam," I muttered with a sigh. "Those rotten cult bastards really had the nerve to fool me."
Seol Min sat beside me, looking worn out and battered, but still silent. Her face was blank, staring ahead—probably still thinking about Jang Soo's tragic fate.
"If only I hadn't gotten caught up in this nonsense," I continued grumbling. "I could be sitting in my apartment right now, watching my favorite show, eating ramen, and not dealing with this crazy cult."
The train sped toward the city, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels creating a monotonous beat. Inside, the carriage was filled with the chatter of people, all busy with their own lives. The noise only added to my frustration.
I glanced over at Seol Min. She hadn't spoken a word since the incident. Maybe she was traumatized, or maybe she was just too tired. Honestly, though, I was more concerned about myself at this point.
"So, what's your plan now?" I finally asked, breaking the silence I could no longer stand.
Seol Min sighed deeply. "I have to report everything to Golden Lion. Jang Soo… he…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Your friend is dead. I saw it myself, remember?" I interrupted, my tone dripping with sarcasm, though deep down, I knew how important the moment was to her.
She shot me a sharp look but said nothing more. Maybe she was too drained to argue.
"I'm sorry for your loss, okay?" I continued in a more serious tone. "But believe me, I have my reasons to be pissed too."
The train eventually arrived at the city's central station. We both got off, stepping into the throng of people busy with their own lives. The cold city air hit us as we walked out of the station, reminding me that my problems were far from over.
"Where are you headed?" I asked as we exited the station.
"I'm going back to headquarters," she replied shortly. "I have to report to the guild about what happened."
I nodded. "Alright then. Good luck. And… take care."
She gave a slight nod before turning and walking toward Golden Lion's direction. I watched her for a moment before deciding to head back to my apartment. There was still a lot to think about, including my plan for revenge against the Black Crescent Cult.
When I got back to the apartment, I immediately collapsed onto the couch. The exhausting trip and the frustrating situation had completely drained me.
I sat on the couch, lazily staring at my phone. Hye Rin's name flashed on the screen, reminding me of her offer to join Crimson Lotus. Seriously, a big guild? Do I look like someone who needs new friends?
I cracked open a beer, taking a sip as I gazed out the window. "Those damn cultists really fooled me," I muttered, thinking about how stupid I had been chasing after the fake thousand-year ginseng. "And now they think I'll just sit back?"
As I thought more about the fake ginseng, my annoyance grew. I couldn't let the Black Crescent Cult get away with screwing me over like this. But to get the info I needed, maybe Crimson Lotus had the connections I was missing. Annoying, but I might actually need them.
"Let's see what Hye Rin has to offer," I mumbled to myself as I pressed the call button on my phone.
When the call connected, Hye Rin's cheerful voice came through, but there was a serious undertone to it. "Taemin-ssi, have you thought about my offer? Will you be joining Crimson Lotus?"
I let out a long sigh before speaking in a bored tone. "Look, I'm not against the idea of power or whatever, but if I have to get tied down to a guild and all its drama, that's not my lifestyle."
"We won't tie you down, Taemin-ssi. You would still have your freedom if you join. We need someone like you in Crimson Lotus."
I smirked. "Now that's something I like to hear. But what I mean is real freelance. I work when I want, I show up when I want. No strings, no drama."
"Freelance?" Her voice sounded puzzled for a moment. "You mean working on your own but still being affiliated with us?"
"More or less. Just know that if I don't feel like showing up, I won't. It's as simple as that." I chuckled lightly, even though I was dead serious. I hated being tied down by rules.
"If it's that kind of freelance, it might be difficult in emergency situations."
"Yeah, if it's difficult, then so be it." I smirked. "I'm not forcing you."
I heard a soft chuckle from the other end of the phone. "I understand, Taemin-ssi. Alright, how about we make a deal? You stay freelance, but when there's a big mission or an emergency, you have to show up."
I scratched my head, thinking for a moment. "Sounds fair enough. But don't expect me to show up for every mission."
Hye Rin laughed again. "Alright, we've got a deal. Deal?"
"Deal." I ended the call, feeling a bit more relieved. At least I still had my freedom. No guild rules tying me down, and I could still get valuable information about that damn cult.
I stood up, walking over to the window of my apartment and gazing at the bright lights of Seoul. But my thoughts were only focused on one thing: the Black Crescent Cult.
"You messed with the wrong person." I gritted my teeth. "I'll make you regret it."
The next day, after agreeing to become a freelancer for Crimson Lotus, I finally headed to their headquarters. The building was large and impressive, a bit over the top in my opinion. The main door opened automatically, and a receptionist greeted me with a smile that was way too bright for the morning. I just gave a small nod, trying to appear normal, even though my mind was still filled with thoughts of that damn ginseng.
"I'm here to sign the contract," I said bluntly.
The receptionist directed me to a small room behind the lobby, where Hye Rin was already waiting. She looked at me with an expression that was hard to read. Maybe she was still wondering why I chose to be freelance instead of fully joining this big guild.
"Ready?" she asked.
I just shrugged. "You know I'm not the kind of person who likes being tied down by rules. Freelancing is more than enough."
She snorted. "Alright, just read the contract."
In front of me was a document as thick as a phone book. I stared at it for a moment, then glanced back at Hye Rin. "Seriously? Is this a work agreement or a novel?"
She chuckled. "Just read it, don't be lazy."
I started reading, but most of it was just the usual formalities. Obligations here, rights there, blah blah blah. Until I reached the section about missions and freelance limitations. Now, this was interesting. As a freelancer, I wasn't obligated to participate in all their operations. I could choose the missions I wanted, as long as I didn't breach the agreement regarding guild security and confidentiality.
"Alright, not bad. Where do I sign?" I asked after skimming the final page.
Hye Rin slid a pen toward me. "Here."
I signed the document with a casual flair. Afterward, I immediately asked, "So, do you know anything about the Black Crescent Cult?"
Hye Rin looked surprised by my question. "Why are you suddenly interested in them?"
I leaned back in my chair and sighed. "They tricked me with that 1000-year ginseng rumor. And I don't like being deceived. So, I want to know more about them."
Hye Rin's face turned serious. "That cult has been a problem for a long time, but they're hard to track. We're also gathering information on their recent activities."
"Then give me what you've got."
Hye Rin nodded slightly. "I'll send you the data we have later. But be careful, they're not to be taken lightly."
I grinned. "Don't worry, I'm not taking this lightly either."
With that, we ended the conversation. I got up and left the guild, heading back to my apartment while still thinking about my next move. That cult had to be wiped out, and I would make sure they regretted ever messing with me.