Jealousy
A famous club in Gangnam.
The blaring music cut off, and the sparkling lights went dark.
Then, moments later, a dazzling procession of champagne arrived amid music that shook the space.
Cheers erupted from all around.
"Wow, that's insane. Isn't that the 300 million won one?"
"Probably. It's the most expensive thing here."
"How much money do you need to order something like that? If I poke around the VIP rooms, maybe they'll let me have a sip."
"Forget it. You'll get chased out by the guards right away."
The procession arrived at the club's largest VIP room.
As the door opened, the mingled crowd inside shouted in unison.
"Jo Kang-tae! Jo Kang-tae! Jo Kang-tae!"
"Hey, enough! Enough!"
Jo Kang-tae, decked out head to toe in top-tier luxury brands, waved his hand dismissively.
"300 million won stuff, and you're making a fuss like it's embarrassing. Just drink it already."
"Eeeeek! As expected of Kang-tae oppa! We'll drink it well!"
"Drink up and order more! I'll buy everything until the end tonight!"
"Woooah!"
Jo Kang-tae, seated in the place of honor, lifted the corner of his mouth.
The cheers that propped him up and praised him to the skies were always thrilling, no matter how many times he heard them.
"No, Kang-tae oppa, just how much do players make? This is my first time trying a 300 million won bottle."
"I make just enough. Enough to down a dozen or so bottles of this stuff every day?"
"Hey, hey, that's humility too! Where's a player like Kang-tae just 'enough'? The Player Hunter Agency, Korea's top authority on hunters! They push him harder than any average ranker. Feel honored you get to drink with him!"
"Shut up and drink, you punk! What's there to brag about?"
Even as he scolded them, the corners of Jo Kang-tae's mouth refused to come down.
Honestly, Jo Kang-tae was convinced of it himself.
He'd started climbing late, so his floor count was lacking, but he was definitely one of the hottest players in Korea right now.
One of his friends, mid-sip of champagne, spoke up.
"Kang-tae, didn't you say the Hunter Agency was giving you something else? For 50 billion won."
"I told you, that's a secret!"
"50 billion won?! The Hunter Agency just hands over 50 billion like that?"
"Kang-tae's kind of a big deal. He's the player who's gonna carry Korea's future on his back."
"Wow... What kind of item is it that's worth 50 billion?"
"It's out there. Just a bag or whatever. Something that comes from the tower—it can hold anything, even real-world stuff. They made a huge fuss about giving it even though I didn't need it. Said to use it for valuables and such."
Truth be told, he'd been nagging them for a whole month to get it for him.
The reason was simple.
The Honor's Book Runner, who had burst onto the scene like a comet.
No one knew where this bonehead mutt had come from.
The problem was that after that bastard showed up, Jo Kang-tae's popularity had plummeted.
Until just recently, every time Jo Kang-tae cleared a floor in the tower, his praises had flooded every corner.
Now it was all runner this, runner that—everyone was talking about the runner.
So he'd gotten the 50 billion won bag to show everyone loud and clear.
To prove that the Player Hunter Agency prioritized him over some no-name runner.
Rrring, rrring, rrring.
His phone buzzed amid the laughter and chatter.
Player Hunter Agency Support Team.
Jo Kang-tae grinned.
"Hey, hey! Quiet down for a sec! It's the Hunter Agency. They said the bag was ready—must be about that."
The VIP room fell silent in an instant.
"Yes. Jo Kang-tae speaking."
Jo Kang-tae, arm slung over the sofa, answered leisurely.
But that leisure didn't last long.
"Yes? What do you mean? Are you messing with me?"
We're sorry, but the Flick's Subspace Bag has been assigned to another player.
"What the hell is that bullshit?! Didn't you call me two days ago and say it was assigned to me?!"
If another item becomes available later, then... Yes? I understand. Player Jo Kang-tae. I'll transfer the call for a moment.
The line went dead, and after a pause...
Hello? Player Jo Kang-tae?
"Who the hell are you?!"
Me? I'm Lee Chang-ki, from the Personnel Division Chief's office.
Jo Kang-tae, fuming, calmed down a notch.
No matter how reckless he was, he knew just how high up the chief of the Hunter Agency's Personnel Division was.
"Does this even make sense? How can something that was promised to me go to another player?"
Promised? Who promised anything? The Hunter Agency isn't a place that hands out items to players like tribute. Item assignment and final distribution are under the Hunter Agency's authority. Variables can arise at any point in the process.
All eyes in the room fixed on Jo Kang-tae mid-call.
Mindful of the stares, Jo Kang-tae spoke up.
"Ha, so what exactly is this variable? It must be way more important than passing me over, right?"
A veiled threat: he'd naturalize elsewhere if he didn't get the bag.
Yes. A far more important variable. And if you're thinking of naturalizing, I suggest you reread that contract you signed at the start. You'd have to cough up everything you've received so far in support. Anyway, I'm busy—gotta go.
Click.
"Hello? Hello! Hey! You son of a bitch! You fucking asshole!"
Bam!!
Jo Kang-tae slammed the table.
The VIP room turned into pandemonium as it split clean in half in an instant.
Panting heavily for a while, a name flashed through Jo Kang-tae's mind.
'Honor's Book Runner.'
It had to be that bastard—whose name alone made him sick—who had snatched Flick's Subspace Bag.
Otherwise, the Hunter Agency wouldn't pull such a sharp U-turn.
Jo Kang-tae ground his teeth.
This rat bastard.
He wouldn't let him get away with it.
In front of an old office-tel in a rundown neighborhood.
Inside a sleek black sedan, a discreet transaction was underway.
"Thank you! I'll put it to good use!"
Jin Hyeok's eyes sparkled as he received the bag from Jin Yun-ho.
[Flick's Subspace Bag / Grade: Highest]
A bag once used by the greedy Flick.A bag with seemingly endless storage capacity.It can hold items that aren't from the tower as well.Items exceeding certain volume, size, or weight limits cannot be stored.
He skimmed the description quickly.
Then, as if someone might steal it, he swiftly tucked it into his inventory.
It was a 50 billion won bag, after all.
If it vanished, he'd never forget it until the day dirt filled his eyes.
Ding!
[Conditions for using the Mythical Tower 3.5th Floor Entry Ticket have been met!]
A hologram rose with the message.
It was the first time outside the tower.
This hologram, too, was someone's memory.
The background was a bustling market street in some city.
The memory's owner hummed a tune as they walked with quick steps.
Kyaaah! My ring is gone!Where are my fruits?! They were right on the stall a second ago—all of them vanished!Waaah! My candy's gone!Where's our shop sign?!
Chaos erupted behind them.
But the memory's owner kept humming along, unperturbed.
It didn't take long to realize why.
At the bottom of the view, the once-slim bag had bulged out noticeably.
Shaaaa.
The hologram faded.
'Uh...?'
Jin Hyeok wrinkled his nose.
From the memory alone, it was unmistakably a thief.
"Yu Jin-hyeok? Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry. I was lost in thought for a second."
"You blanked out so suddenly—I got worried. Well then, please read this over and sign."
A contract pledging not to affiliate with any foreign nation, for whatever reason.
Violating it meant repaying the bag—or equivalent value—in full.
Jin Hyeok shook his head.
Repay 50 billion? No way in hell.
He vowed to keep the promise and signed.
"Nothing else to do here."
Jin Yun-ho gathered the documents and glanced out the window.
It was a desolate area slated for redevelopment.
Hardly anyone was around, even in broad daylight.
"If you'll excuse me for asking, is there a reason you live here?"
The question was tentative.
He'd only learned the address after promising not to pester with recruitment or share it elsewhere.
"Well... it's cheap?"
"I see."
Jin Yun-ho murmured softly and let out a quiet sigh.
The Honor's Book Runner, the talk of the town.
No one knew yet that Yu Jin-hyeok was the runner.
But if word got out, his safety could be at risk.
Deep down, he wanted to relocate him somewhere near the Hunter Agency or a secure downtown area with good policing.
But that would require Jin Hyeok to affiliate with the agency, even as a freelancer.
Considering Jin Hyeok as an outsider, the Flick's Subspace Bag he'd just handed over was already pushing boundaries as exceptional support.
'Even if I assigned protection, he'd probably hate it. And if he found out about secret guards, it'd break my promise not to bother him.'
Scratching his head, Jin Yun-ho handed over his business card.
"If you need any help, call me anytime. Whether someone's approaching you, or you feel threatened—anything at all."
"Even for financial help?"
"Excluding that."
Jin Yun-ho swallowed dryly.
As expected of the man who casually dropped 50 billion—the guy was no pushover.
"Got it. Thanks for looking out for me."
"May I drop by occasionally? I absolutely won't be a bother. Just rarely."
"Of course. You gave me the bag, after all. Here, take this on your way."
Jin Hyeok handed over a small bag.
Kimbap he'd made that morning, which Kancho had raved about as "too delicious."
"Haha, you didn't have to go this far. I'll enjoy it."
It was packed in a disposable container.
As if preempting any excuse about returning dishes.
"Drive safe!"
Jin Hyeok stepped out, waved lightly, and headed into the office-tel with springy steps.
Watching his back, Jin Yun-ho looked at the contract he'd just signed.
Then he crossed out what Jin Hyeok had written and jotted in a fake address.
Was this okay?
It was.
The Honor's Book Runner was precious, after all.
[Using entry ticket. Entering Mythical Tower 3.5th Floor.]
What unfolded before them was a lively market street.
It had changed here and there, but it was the same place from the hologram.
Kancho and Seira's eyes darted busily at the new sights.
[You must find the girl who lost her bag!]
"Captain. Captain. That looks yummy!"
"We'll eat in a bit."
First things first: find the girl.
They headed in the direction the girl had gone in the memory.
Step, step.
After entering a small forest and walking a bit further.
A quaint little cabin by the lake came into view.
'It looks so peaceful.'
A wooden cabin nestled in a forest brimming with phytoncides.
With sunlight filtering in so nicely, it seemed like prime nap territory.
Snooore. Snooore.
As they neared the cabin, snoring sounds reached their ears.
Jin Hyeok reached out to knock.
Whoosh!!
In that instant, Kancho flung the door wide open and barged in.
"Reveille!! Rise and shine!!"
His voice boomed strict, serious, and solemn.
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T/N:
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