Chapter 23: Guild Kick-Out Method

“Did you hear about it, senior? The newly appointed chief seems ready to declare war on crime,” said Jong-woon, babbling beside him. Kyunghun half-listened while frowning at the messages arriving on his phone. All of them were from Seohyeon.

[Seo-Hyeon: How can you hang up on someone like that?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: 1]
[Seo-Hyeon: 2]

[윤: Hey, Seohyeon]
[Seo-Hyeon: 3]

[윤: Are you declaring war or sending a warning?]
[윤: If you try to start a word chain, you’re dead]

Apparently still upset about being hung up on yesterday, Seohyeon had been flooding Kyunghun with messages since the morning. Even though Kyunghun was deliberately ignoring them.

[윤: You little… Did you think Hangul was made just for you, Your Majesty?]
[Seo-Hyeon: ㅇㅇ Compassionate spirit]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung, what are you doing?]

Kyunghun, observing in disbelief, remained silent while Seohyeon rambled on alone.

[Seo-Hyeon: No sleeping, no eating, no breathing, no dying]
[Seo-Hyeon: If you’re late replying, my heart rate speeds up]
[Seo-Hyeon: I thought I got blocked again like last time]
[Seo-Hyeon: My fingertips are tingling now]

“Should I block him again?”

Kyunghun, reading the messages, tried to tap the screen to play along, but then looked at Jong-woon with a thoughtful expression.

“Hey, Jong-woon. Shouldn’t you avoid making game friends?”

The sudden question confused Jong-woon, who had been reading an article about the new police chief. After lending Ruru to Kyunghun, he hadn’t thought much about it until now.

“Game friends? You mean in the guild? You should just solo, like me. Leveling up is better solo, and for dungeons or bosses, you can just join a party. No need to stress over friendships,” Jong-woon explained.

Kyunghun nodded, pretending to understand.

“So it’s better to keep distance. No need to get close?”

“Yes, from behind the monitor is just right. Meeting in person can lead to trouble. Just enjoy the game at a comfortable distance. Friendships there are meaningless.”

Though Jong-woon’s advice was correct, watching someone constantly pestering him all day made Kyunghun think of nothing but blocking him.

“You’re right, but I worry about the kid,” Kyunghun muttered.

“…A kid? Whose kid?”

Kyunghun answered while chewing the bread he had tried to eat.

“There’s a small, somewhat pitiful kid.”

The sunlight, shining through a cloudless sky, warmed his face as he slowly turned his gaze. But still, the person he was waiting for hadn’t shown up.

The narrow alley barely had space for one car. Kyunghun’s team at the violent crimes unit had been staking out the area in pairs for two months. Even after Kyunghun returned from hospitalization last month, the person they were waiting for hadn’t stepped outside.

Two months ago, a man in his 40s was murdered in Jangildong. Three suspects were involved, two were already arrested, and the remaining one hadn’t even had a warrant issued due to low flight risk.

Kyunghun grumbled, watching the person stay home all day.

“That guy needs to come out, so we can reexamine evidence or reapply for a warrant. What’s he doing all day, making soybean paste?”

Jong-woon, annoyed, followed Kyunghun’s gaze and sighed at his senior’s relentless night work.

“Hyung, you were up all night yesterday too. I’ll keep watch, so please rest. And isn’t the captain too harsh? You just got out of the hospital…”

Just as Jong-woon finished complaining, Kyunghun’s phone vibrated again.

Of course, it was Seohyeon.

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung, I’m curious]
[Seo-Hyeon: Why are you ignoring me after reading?]
[Seo-Hyeon: When I call you ‘Hyung’]
[Seo-Hyeon: Sometimes you treat me worse than a dog you’re raising]

Kyunghun slowly moved his fingers to type.

[윤: Hey, Seohyeon]
[Seo-Hyeon: ???]

[윤: How are your parents? Is your family okay?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Why are you suddenly checking on me?]

Kyunghun hesitated but typed:

[윤: Because I worry about you]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung, why are you suddenly so annoyed?]
[윤: Are you eating well?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Can’t you worry properly?]
[Seo-Hyeon: I’m not anyone else, I’m Seohyeon]

Despite Seohyeon’s surface annoyance, he responded carefully when Kyunghun expressed concern. Then, suddenly annoyed again, he started throwing a fit.

[Seo-Hyeon: My name is Seohyeon, damn it]

Unable to hold back, he immediately called Kyunghun again, urging him to pick up.

“Senior, senior,” Jong-woon called urgently. Kyunghun lifted his head from the phone. A man in a black hoodie and cap was walking fast outside the apartment.

Kyunghun’s fingers moved quickly.

[윤: Hey, Seohyeon]
[윤: I’m going, hyung]

Messages from Seohyeon quickly flooded in:

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung???]
[Seo-Hyeon: Ah, damn it]
[Seo-Hyeon: f*ck!!!!!!!!!!]