RE: Player again

258

[Chapter 087] [The One Who Rules the Back Alleys]

After the Fairy government was established, Jongno-gu became the center of administration for South Korea.

This was because the cocoon installed in Jongmyo Shrine's main hall exerted the greatest power among cocoons installed domestically.

Above all, Seoul was able to function as a city because it was the first to overcome the scars in the destroyed world.

In particular, the Gangbuk area drove out the monsters born at that time in a short period.

Besides that, the situation in the Gangbuk area was suitable in many ways as the center of administrative functions.

Like the Player Academy built on top of a red dungeon, or the Mana Management Bureau which was the predecessor of the current Mana Management Organization.

For these reasons, the Gangbuk area prospered.

Until 6 years later, when monsters invaded the Gangbuk area.

"Who would have thought the cocoon would break without any warning, and that those things would appear from the Han River."

Eun-ha who grumbled like that visited the slum located on the border of Bomun-dong and Sungin-dong.

It's been a while since I've been here.

Before the Fairy government was launched, Sungin-dong belonged to Jongno-gu's administrative district.

However, the Fairy government dismantled the existing Jongno-gu and reorganized the districts into nearby administrative areas to focus on handling the administrative agencies concentrated in Jongno.

For example, Hyehwa-dong and Sungin-dong were incorporated into Seongbuk-gu.

However, unlike Hyehwa-dong which was recognized as a wealthy area, Sungin-dong boasted a poor environment along with Bomun-dong which shared its administrative district.

The aspect of shabby houses packed tightly on the hillside was difficult to develop, so it ended up becoming a slum that Seongbuk-gu could no longer touch.

That meant the people living in the slum were well-versed in information submerged in society's darkness.

Where there is light, there is darkness, and water flows from top to bottom.

A person in power who spent a night with a lover might babble information about themselves at the pillow.

Because to those in power, the being they spend a night with is not a person, but merely a tool to satisfy their desires.

Not thinking that the lover selling their body for money would likewise sell information.

Also that someone working in a powerful person's house would sell information about those serving there.

And countless others besides.

The slums and upper class society had deep relationships, and the people of the slums sold everything they had.

Therefore, information that couldn't be obtained officially could be obtained unofficially through the slums.

Also because Wonderers amazingly picked up several rumors.

There was a saying that daytime words are heard by birds, and nighttime words are heard by rats.

There were people living hidden in the shadows of society everywhere.

And how to use them, depending on that, ways of living could change to be difficult or easy.

They're starting to follow me.

The slum settled in the Bomun-dong and Sungin-dong area was a crossroads where countless pieces of information passed through.

In his previous life, there was even a saying that whoever seized the back alleys of Seongbuk-gu would grasp information.

That's why as soon as he stepped into the slum, people appeared following him from behind as he went deeper inside.

I lured them too.

The largest slum in Seongbuk-gu had maze-like complex roads.

Even he who had visited a few times before his regression needed a guide to reach his destination.

So he called people.

In a way that seemed somewhat rude to those living in these alleys.

He manifested internal mana.

Those ruling this area wouldn't leave someone causing trouble in their front yard alone.

As he thought, a few people were quietly following behind.

How many?

...4 people, no, 5?

Eun-ha deliberately kicked a gate he was passing by.

A loud sound echoed around.

Those following while hiding their presence revealed hostility at his action.

There were five in total.

And one more.

A man standing blocking the way at the corner he turned right.

The man with a burly build was standing with his shoulders spread wide.

"What's a kid doing here?"

"We followed wondering who it was, but it was just a kid like this provoking us?"

Before he knew it, he was surrounded.

Those who appeared from other corners were walking towards Eun-ha with their hands in their pockets.

There were six, exactly as he had grasped.

"...One Player in name only, two who know how to handle mana from seeing it somewhere, three typical thugs."

"What? What's this kid saying now?"

"Not knowing where this is..."

"Go home and drink more of your mom's mi─!"

The man who seemed not much older than him couldn't finish his last words.

Because Eun-ha who ran out at a speed the men couldn't react to grabbed his arm and threw him.

"─Where do you think you're insulting my mother, you bastard?"

""""..."""""

One went down in an instant.

The four men blocking the alley were shocked by the situation that happened before their eyes and shut their mouths.

Those sensitive to survival instincts could immediately tell.

That their fate would be no different.

"Go tell Lee Kang-hyuk."

Eun-ha spoke while stepping on the back of the man who had fainted with his face planted on the ground.

Lee Kang-hyuk.

Recalling the man who had conquered all the back alleys of Seongbuk-gu before his regression.

"─Tell him I've come."

☆

"No way! Eun-ha! If you were coming, how nice it would have been if you told me in advance! Then I would have, huh? I would have brought the kids to welcome you!"

"How would I have your number?"

Chubby cheeks that seemed to contain mischief inside.

Lee Kang-hyuk spoke familiarly while shaking his plump cheeks.

Despite several years passing since they last saw each other's faces.

When was the last time I saw him?

He had that little interest.

To Eun-ha, Lee Kang-hyuk was just a person with no meaning.

However, if he had to assign meaning, Lee Kang-hyuk was a chess piece.

Still, Lee Kang-hyuk was someone who had conquered the slums of Seongbuk-gu.

In his previous life, Lee Kang-hyuk had a record of seizing the slums of Seongbuk-gu at a young age.

So if there was information he wanted to find, it was better to request it from Lee Kang-hyuk.

Lee Kang-hyuk at this time was still just an incompetent thug, but his potential wouldn't have gone anywhere.

"By the way, I'm disappointed in you guys! How could you think of hitting a kid I cherish like a younger brother!?"

"You didn't say anything..." "You told us to bring him..."

"And we didn't hit him, we were one-sidedly beaten by him..."

Meanwhile, Lee Kang-hyuk severely scolded his subordinates who had guided Eun-ha here.

While pretending not to hear his subordinates grumbling.

But why does he keep acting friendly?

Eun-ha tilted his head watching that.

Although he couldn't know the exact reason, Lee Kang-hyuk was favorable towards him.

"Right, Eun-ha! It's really been a long time! Should I have the kids bring some food?" "No, it's fine."

"Alright! Then do you want to drink?"

"..."

Eun-ha was tempted for a moment.

When Lee Kang-hyuk pulled out a green bottle as if to show off, he struggled greatly.

If he hadn't recalled Eun-a's repeated advice then, he might have given in to temptation.

"...I said it's fine. I didn't come to play."

"Is that so? Then I guess there's nothing we can do."

Lee Kang-hyuk muttered as if regretful.

He who was sitting comfortably leaning back in his chair like the owner in the ruined building put away the liquor bottle.

Then he opened his mouth looking down at Eun-ha who had come without contacting.

"I've heard a lot about you, Eun-ha. Entering middle school academy as salutatorian, and recently winning a crushing victory against third generation chaebol heirs?

You don't know how refreshed I felt hearing that story. As expected of Eun-a's younger brother!"

Lee Kang-hyuk praising Eun-ha while speaking as if it was nothing.

Although he should be just a common thug easily found in slums at this time, he seemed to have general information.

Eun-ha was satisfied.

But Lee Kang-hyuk seemed to interpret the expression he showed differently.

"What? Are you surprised by something like this? Ah, you must be shocked that I know your story? This isn't very difficult for me!"

Lee Kang-hyuk boasting while puffing out his chest as if showing off.

Eun-ha just went along with it.

It was annoying to deal with everything.

"But why did you come here, Eun-ha? You didn't come here not knowing where this is, right?"

"Of course not."

Eun-ha retorted to Lee Kang-hyuk whose hair was dyed a dingy yellow.

There was no way he came not knowing what the slums of Seongbuk-gu were.

He came because he had a reason.

"I came to make a request." "...A request?"

Lee Kang-hyuk's eyes narrowed.

He closed his mouth and looked Eun-ha up and down with a different gaze than before.

"Came to make a request..."

Lee Kang-hyuk sitting cross-legged while stroking his chin.

The atmosphere changed.

Eun-ha keenly grasped the moment the people standing in the room shed their clumsy appearance.

Before he knew it, they were observing him as a client.

"Coming to a place like this to make a request means it's not very good information, right?"

Lee Kang-hyuk's words were correct.

Eun-ha nodded.

The content he wanted to request from him was not something he could ask Bruno.

Although Bruno could also peek into society's darkness to some extent, Lee Kang-hyuk's information network grasping the slums couldn't be ignored.

"What kind of request is it?" "Help me find someone."

"Finding people is our specialty."

Lee Kang-hyuk who briefly heard the request content giggled while shrugging his shoulders.

For him who knew the complex alleys inside out, finding a person didn't seem to be a difficult task.

Even his subordinates all burst out laughing.

But it wasn't simply finding a person.

If it was just finding one person, I would have just asked Uncle Bruno.

The person he was looking for was someone buried in society's darkness.

Something only a person living in society's darkness could do.

However, the person he was looking for would surely be in very deep darkness.

Enough to make Lee Kang-hyuk and his subordinates faint when they heard it.

"The person I'm looking for is..."

"But Eun-ha, you don't think I'll find them for free because I'm close to you, right?"

Eun-ha tried to continue speaking.

But Lee Kang-hyuk suddenly cut off his words.

While manifesting internal mana.

"..."

Lee Kang-hyuk didn't go to middle school. He was just waiting to enter 3rd year high school academy.

As a result, he seemed to have some skill in handling internal mana.

But not enough to satisfy Eun-ha's temperament.

Internal mana was leaking profusely.

The efficiency was terrible.

There was no way he would be intimidated by the killing intent Lee Kang-hyuk emitted.

He was just dumbfounded that killing intent was being directed at him.

That was all.

"We're quite expensive. You probably don't know, but we're a big deal in these alleys."

"..."

"Finding the person you're talking about isn't a difficult task. As long as you pay the appropriate price."

Did he really think I wouldn't pay a price?

Did he reveal killing intent and ruin the mood for such a trivial reason?

Eun-ha lowered his evaluation of Lee Kang-hyuk.

Now that he looked, he was just putting on airs.

If he knew information about him, he would have grasped that pressuring someone like this wasn't the best strategy.

"...I'll pay the price."

"You? How?"

Eun-ha sighed quietly.

Then Lee Kang-hyuk snorted.

"You're not saying you'll pay the information fee with Sirius Group's sponsorship card, are you?"

"..." "Eun-ha, you probably don't know because you haven't experienced society, but we don't accept cards. We deal in cash."

I know.

That's why I brought a bag full of low quality artifacts and mana stones.

Did he really think I wouldn't know that?

He was starting to get annoyed.

"But well... since you're an elementary school classmate, Eun-ha, I could give you a discount. But there's a condition."

"...What is it?"

Lee Kang-hyuk stood up from his seat.

He who came down the stairs stopped a few steps away from Eun-ha.

He curled up his greedy chubby cheeks hideously.

To the point his eyes were no longer visible.

"─Just introduce me to Eun-a once."

Eun-ha who had been waiting for the toad-like man to speak opened his eyes wide.

He doubted his ears.

Doubted once, and doubted again.

Wondering if he had misheard.

What the f**k did this bastard just say?

With that filthy mouth.

How dare he.

Eun-ha clenched his fists.

The thought of making a request moderately disappeared without even ashes remaining.

He slowly drew out his internal mana.

Accordingly, the people guarding the room revealed wariness.

Except for the toad lost in his own imagination.

"No... you just need to let me meet Eun-a once. I'll take care of the rest, Eun-ha, you'll be the cupid of love..."

Then Lee Kang-hyuk swallowed his breath with a gasp.

He realized too late.

Until Eun-ha pulled up the corners of his mouth.

"─First you need to die once."