Chapter 25: The Customer From Hell

“Isn’t it about time you backed off a little?

Wouldn’t it be nice to start making easy money before you get any older?

Right?”

I was so taken aback I couldn’t even respond, and while I just stared at him, the bastard kept spouting garbage.

I didn’t do a single thing wrong here, yet the back of my neck burned with embarrassment.

We were far apart, and the TV was on where Jae-yul was sitting, so he probably couldn’t hear any of this.

But of all days, why did this piece of shit have to show up when Jae-yul happened to be here?

I’m sorry, Jae-yul.

I’m… probably going to look pathetic for a moment….

“Why are you so impatient?

Why are you stripping first, sir?”

The bastard sat at the edge of the bed, and I placed a hand on my chest just as he wanted.

“Yeah, good thinking.

Now come over he—”

“My eyes are contaminated now because of your filthy body, you dogshit bastard.

Don’t you dare puff out that greasy lump you call a chest.”

“Ah—! W-Wait, what— ghh, mgh!”

Since this place was an illegal one-man guiding shop, we occasionally got bottom-of-the-barrel customers.

There were just too many criminals and lunatics in this alley.

So naturally, I got plenty of chances to test my skills.

Five years of training in assassination— no, “self-defense.”

This time, among the many sense-sharpening techniques I practiced, I chose to shake the mana flowing throughout his body.

He must’ve overused his ability, because his mana was already unstable.

The way he clawed at his own chest and foamed at the mouth meant the effect was working very nicely.

“Quiet now.

No matter how good it feels, moaning like a whore in public is not classy.”

“Mmph—!”

I clamped my hand over his mouth and whispered in his ear.

“Never heard the rumors about this place, have you?

People say if you act without manners here, you might leave in a coffin.”

That’s a lie, of course.

I’ve never actually killed anyone.

I only drag them to the brink, then heal them before sending them out.

And I charge them ridiculous medical fees afterward.

Call it gutsy business.

If they don’t like it, they can find another guide—assuming they can find one with my skill.

Looks like the lie worked, though.

The bastard’s eyes shook like crazy.

Good enough.

I withdrew my ability.

Life is easier when you establish dominance.

Even while doing this, I kept thinking about Jae-yul.

I glanced over to see him just looking at his phone, not paying attention at all.

So he really didn’t hear anything.

Relief loosened my chest.

“Hah… I-I’m sorry…! Please spare me…!”

“Yeah, yeah.

People make mistakes.

You’re still young, after all.”

“…H-huh? Ah—! Yes!!”

He looked to be late twenties, and the expression he gave me clearly said What the hell is this kid talking about?

Right, I slipped.

I’m twenty-two right now.

If I count my past life, I’m thirty-seven.

Gross.

Even after living five years since coming back, my age still feels wrong.

“Now sit still and receive the guiding, sir.

And cover up that disgusting flesh.”

Once he hurriedly put his clothes back on and knelt, I began guiding.

Maybe it was experience, or maybe eating the leftover Petra after giving it to Jae-yul helped, but my control had become delicate.

I could even tell how tangled someone’s mana was.

But I never completely healed anyone.

Obviously.

If they got cured, they wouldn’t come back.

I fixed just enough so he’d feel relief and need me again.

“You should quit smoking.”

“Y-You can tell that too?! What, what’s wrong with me?!”

Even perverts didn’t want to die.

I smacked him on the head.

“I’m not a doctor.

It just smells like rotten cigarettes.

Quit smoking, sir.”

I took every bill from his wallet as treatment fees and kicked him out.

He looked like a thug but carried a surprising amount of cash.

A satisfying start.

We could probably get beef today.

“Hey, Jae-yul. I’m done.

Wanna go get some meat for lunch?”

“You’re done?

Ah… right. I have judo practice today.”

“…Huh?

But you don’t go on weekends.”

“I do now.”

He stood up abruptly.

I had wanted him to head home early, but now that he was leaving without eating, I didn’t feel good about it.

And I didn’t even make him breakfast.

“Then eat something good with your friends.

Here.”

I tried giving him the money I just made, but he refused firmly.

“It’s fine.

I still have the allowance you gave me before.

How could I waste money you worked so hard for?”

Then he hugged me.

He always liked physical affection, but this time felt… too strong. Too sudden.

“C-Can’t breathe!”

“Oh… sorry.

Didn’t mean to.

I’ll go.

See you tonight.

Be careful today, okay?”

“…Ah.

Yeah.

Okay.”

Only after he left did I realize his expression hadn’t looked good.

Did he misunderstand something?

Or maybe… he hates that I’m doing this kind of job?

We’ve lived together for five years, yet sometimes I just don’t understand him.

The way he left kept bothering me.

The money he refused suddenly felt embarrassing, so I stuffed it back in my pocket.

“Bbo-ppi, why isn’t Jae-yul awakening yet…?”

“Grrr… arf!”

“I mean, sure, some people awaken later, and maybe he has a different trigger…

But isn’t this a bit too late?”

“Arf!”

Since Jae-yul had an important competition coming up, I’d been spending more time with Bbo-ppi lately.

Right now, we were playing tug-of-war in the middle of a Gate.

Bbo-ppi liked playing while holding dried chicken jerky, and when he played, he stayed in his small puppy form, so it didn’t take much effort on my part.

Watching his tiny body throw itself at me with full force was adorable.

“You could at least pretend to listen, you little brat.”

Bbo-ppi stopped, swallowed the jerky whole, and stared at me.

“…What?

Got something to say?”

“Pff.”

…Did he just sigh?

Like, an actual disappointed sigh?

This little shit really might be able to talk.

“Whatever.

It’s fine if it’s late.

He’s growing well anyway.”

His awakening was late, sure—

But he was healthy, strong, and skilled.

He’d earned awards in judo since he was young.

Plus, he was good at mixed martial arts, swimming, taekwondo, everything.

And on top of that—he was smart.

Once he awakened, he’d be perfect.

He’d surpass the original “X.”

Just imagining that moment made my heart pound.

What would he become…?

“Let’s clear the rest of the Gate and head out.

I need to earn money for your snacks and his academy fees.”

As I stood up, Bbo-ppi shifted back into his true form.

He had grown—significantly.

What used to be the size of a wolf was now nearly twice that.

With his silver-gray fur, he looked like some mythical creature.

“Grrraaah!”

Still just a big dog though.

I climbed onto his back, and he took off like the wind.

This was the only place spacious enough to let him run properly, so I brought him often.

“Hey—hey! Where are you going?! Hold on—!”

But then he veered off the marked path, heading straight toward what looked like a cliff.

I thought for a moment he was trying to assassinate me.

But Bbo-ppi expertly leapt down the rocky face.

“Arf! Arf!”

I was about to scold him—

But then I saw it.

“…Wait.

Are those all silverleaf herbs…?”

A small field of shimmering silver leaves spread out before us.

My heart began to pound.

Silverleaf was rare.

Expensive.

A top-tier herb.

Especially to the bald.

One dose could regrow hair overnight—so demand was insane.

“You did great, Bbo-ppi!

Seriously—great job!”

Finding one was hard.

He had found dozens.

His nose really was something special.

“Arf!”

“I’ll buy you so much chicken, just wait.”

I spent a long time carefully digging them up so the roots wouldn’t break.

My pockets would finally be full again.

New bed for Jae-yul?

New phone?

No—

Both.

He’d accept them if I called them gifts.

Just thinking of spending money made me happy.

With the bag full, we left the Gate.

Bbo-ppi turned back into a puppy and curled up in my arms.

Time to go sell.

“Hey, sir.”

I went to the supplier I’d known a long time.

When I was younger, I had no choice but to accept lowball prices.

But now? There were competitors.

If he didn’t pay fairly, I would just go elsewhere.

And today’s product was silverleaf.

He’d pay what I wanted.

“Oh, you’re here. I was waiting.”

“…Huh?”

“You didn’t hear?”

“Hear what?”

He didn’t even look at my bag—just spoke.

But his expression was different—serious.

“Y’know that guy, Cheol-min.”

“Who?”

“The Esper with the scar down his cheek. He was a regular at your place.”

The scar part made it click.

First day after moving, total pain-in-the-ass bastard.

“Oh, the pervert. What about him?”

“He disappeared two days ago.”

Two days ago…?

Saturday?

That was when he came to my shop…

…Right?