039 – Wolf Among the Sheep # 1
Ding-ding-ding-.
Seugal kept pressing the call button.
She was still boiling with anger from the argument just moments ago, made worse by the fact that the boy had simply stormed off without a word. There was nothing like scratching her nails to ease these emotions.
Ding-ding-ding-.
But no matter how many times Seugal pressed the call button, there was no sign of the boy returning.
This realization only fueled her anger further.
“Are you ignoring me now?”
Seugal had never been disrespected by anyone. From her peers to adults, any man in her presence would at least pretend to jump if she told them to.
Even Prince Juhyun, renowned for his arrogance as the son of the emperor, treated Seugal with utmost attention and care.
Thus, Seugal was well aware of her own worth more than anyone else.
However, Hanamjin had kidnapped her and was now thoroughly ignoring her. It was as if she was merely a toy that had been thrown into a corner.
“When did you say you wanted to marry me and even sent out invitations?”
Seugal could not tolerate the current situation in many ways.
What upset her even more was the fact that she was getting upset over just some regular boy—someone who wasn’t even from a wealthy family or a top-tier student.
Seugal’s pride was wounded by Hanamjin’s arrogant, worthless attitude and behavior.
The reality that she, Seugal, had been kidnapped by such a mediocre man and was now losing her temper over it, was incredibly frustrating.
As a result, Seugal naturally began to rationalize the situation to preserve her refined and proud demeanor.
“Maybe Hanamjin isn’t just an ordinary guy after all?”
There was no way an average person could ignore her seduction, pleading, and tantrums. What if it had been Prince Juhyun who had kidnapped her instead of Hanamjin?
Though it was a disturbing and nauseating thought, Seugal was confident she could easily control Prince Juhyun. He was the kind of guy who would anxiously fidget whenever she frowned.
“Besides, he doesn’t even have the guts to kidnap me.”
On the other hand, Hanamjin was different.
Hanamjin didn’t comply with a single one of Seugal’s demands. Not even something small, like installing a nicer TV instead of a makeshift solution with newspapers.
“He doesn’t seem like your average guy.”
She had to think this way. It was impossible for her to have been kidnapped by an ordinary and insignificant man.
By elevating the other person in her mind, Seugal successfully preserved her self-esteem.
“Hanamjin, I’ll acknowledge that you’re not just some pitiful and clumsy fool. Thinking about it this way makes me feel a little better. Still, somehow–”
Ding-ding-ding-.
Seugal was still upset that Hanamjin continued to ignore her call button. All she wanted was to get Yining, who had left the basement with Hanamjin, back.
Yining made a perfect pillow, and sleeping with her soft presence nearby had been comforting.
Rustle-.
At that moment, the faint sound of movement caught Seugal’s overly sensitive ears, which had been honed from her long captivity in the basement.
Could Hanamjin be back? But the footsteps were different.
Click, click-.
The sound of high heels.
“A woman?”
Though she didn’t know who it was, it was definitely a woman—likely an adult judging by the high heels.
Soon came the sound of the doorbell ringing from the neighboring house.
What could a woman wearing high heels want with Hanamjin?
“Hey, little brother, it’s me. Are you home? Last time, we got interrupted, remember? I want to talk about Judge and Seugal’s disappearance. More specifically, I want to request investigative cooperation!”
Given her mention of investigation and cooperation, this woman could be a police officer. Seugal’s lips curved into a smirk, intrigued by the sudden development.
“I’m here because I really wanted to see you, sneaking over quietly without anyone knowing. We don’t get chances like this often. So, how about we share some deep thoughts?”
Click, click, click-.
Soon, the sound of high heels approaching the building where Seugal was held captive became distinct.
“This place feels suspicious. My instincts are telling me that.”
Click.
The footsteps stopped in front of the basement where Seugal was locked away.
“Quiet but somehow dangerous. Why? It’s just an empty house basement, after all. But it’s oddly concerning.”
Clang, clang-.
The sound of chain links and locks being handled echoed in the air.
“There are several locks. What on earth is hidden here that needed such precautions? By any chance… is there anyone inside? Hello? Is anyone there? Is someone possibly locked up in here?”
Knock-knock-knock-.
The woman was knocking on the iron door.
“Seugal, are you in there? If I were Hanamjin, who has a vendetta against the Seonam Group, I would have kidnapped you and locked you up here.”
Seugal couldn’t help but marvel at how accurate this woman’s instincts were. From her hiding spot in the basement, Seugal thought this was a perfect opportunity and decided to call out in a distinctive way:
“Hoot-hoot-hoot!”
It was an impeccable impression of an animal’s call.
Precisely, the sound of the red fox, known for its rusty fur and black-stockinged legs, and famously associated as a companion to the young prince in fairy tales.
“Hoot-hoot-hoot!”
Thanks to the concept of “mimicry” she had picked up during her time in the basement out of boredom, Seugal could replicate the red fox’s call better than anyone else.
Had it worked?
“An animal? Ugh, no. I hate animals. Just touching them gives me hives.”
The woman, who was fiddling with the lock, stepped back from the basement door. Seugal listened as the high-heeled footsteps gradually faded into the distance before leaning back against the mattress, remaining still for a considerable amount of time.
# # #
–Who-ee-ing.
Late at night, around midnight. The road leading to the orphanage’s grounds.
The cloud-like Yining drifted away far into the night sky.
“Hey! We should head home before it gets too late!”
Perhaps Yining, having been locked away for so long, simply wanted to soar high into the sky.
I wasn’t entirely sure if Yining would return to our place. But if Yining chooses not to come back, I guess I’ll have to respect that wish.
Yining does love to wander around, after all.
What about Seugal?
Though my legs were walking towards the orphanage, my thoughts were completely consumed by her. Love must be something like this, right?
“I should take Seugal for walks occasionally.”
Would chaining her up securely during walks help calm her prickly disposition? It might smooth her out a little.
But if she wriggles around and starts shouting, that would cause unnecessary trouble. Maybe it’s better to wait for the full moon before considering baths and walks. The next full moon is still about two weeks away.
Lost in thought, I reached the site of the orphanage, which wasn’t far from the abandoned factory where all the chaos with Yeomhun had happened last time.
“The Sapling Orphanage”
A place with peeling paint on the walls, groaning playground equipment made of rusting chains, and seesaws with holes—everything here screamed haunted house material.
But I am a man.
Real men aren’t afraid of ghosts. Most importantly, since I’m wearing tiger-print underwear, it’s the ghosts who should be afraid of me.
Thus, I boldly strode into the decrepit orphanage building, where the atmosphere unmistakably conveyed abandonment. Shattered windows, scattered baby bottles—everything gave off a long-neglected aura. It even triggered a sense of déjà vu somehow.
The feeling of something creeping up on my neck was unsettling. It reminded me of the time months ago when I had to search an abandoned hospital for medicine while avoiding lurking burglars. That same ominous sensation.
The sense that someone was hiding and watching me.
Clang. In short, it felt like I had stepped into a trap.
Grr-.
The smell of disinfectant was heavy in the air, naturally reminding me of the time I’d entered the abandoned hospital.
Clearly, someone was here.
“Is anyone there?”
I shone my phone light around the dark hallway. Just then, the sound of someone stepping on broken glass and falling asbestos from the ceiling was heard, before a girl with a boyish haircut and lip piercing appeared.
If not for her lack of defined chest, it would have been hard to tell she was a girl. She looked like someone who enjoyed hip-hop or something similar.
“It’s been a while since someone detected my hiding place. Are you a Newtype?”
“Newtype?”
“Awakened One.”
There were people who referred to Awakened Ones as Newtypes. While I was wary, the girl also appeared to be cautious, her nervous gaze sweeping over me.
“Are you here to join ‘The Billerns’?”
Billerns? I hadn’t expected that name to come up here.
“Me? Why do you think so?”
“You’re just like us. Your messy appearance gives it away when you look at your fingernails and hair. Are you an orphan? Or maybe you come from a financially struggling family? Or do you have adults at home who turn violent after drinking.”
She could really detect things well. I thought I kept myself relatively clean but apparently, my roots as an orphan couldn’t be hidden. I hadn’t expected to hear about the Billerns from this orphanage either.
Did Seugal know?
“Hey, that wristwatch is clearly expensive. Are you a student at Youngsa Academy?”
Zip. Like Yining sparking electricity, the girl stood with her short hair bristling. It appeared she harbored hostility toward students from Youngsa Academy.
I was curious, though.
“You seem to be an Awakened One too. Are you not from Youngsa Academy?”
“Why would I join that place? It’s like putting on a leash there. They check and register everything—fingerprints, bl**d, everything. It’s suffocating.”
Oh, I see. So she’s one of the “Unregistered Awakened Ones.” Not too long ago, I was in the same situation. Unregistered Awakened Ones tend to misuse their powers, causing many social problems. They’re basically super delinquents.
“Do you know ‘him’ if you’re from Youngsa Academy?”
The emotional tone in her voice carried vivid disdain and hatred when she mentioned ‘him’. This was likely the reason she harbored animosity toward Youngsa Academy.
A man?
“Who?”
“Geum Tae-sung. He must be in the third year by now.”
This name felt both unexpected and familiar. Whatever connection existed between this girl and Geum Tae-sung, they clearly had deep ties.
“I’m not sure. I’m a transfer student.”
Lying appropriately under the influence of the ring’s “Deception,” my curiosity about this orphanage and its relation to the Billerns grew rapidly.
“So, how do I join the Billerns? And what’s the connection between this orphanage and the Billerns?”
“If you want to know, come with me.”
There was something that connected runaway teenagers and orphans. Sensing something familiar in me, this girl quickly lowered her guard and led me to the basement of the orphanage.
