019 – Abduction, Fury Waves Crash Against the Cliffs #2
Yu Yeo-reum was quite beautiful.
One could even describe her face as handsome.
Thinking such a girl likes me and is being kind gives me, as a man, a boost of joy and confidence, but I had to refuse her affections with a heart that felt as if it were being torn apart.
To be honest, it was flattering, and it boosted my self-esteem, but I had to decline the young lady’s feelings.
“I’m sorry, but I already like another girl! If you’re okay with being a mistress or a concubine, I might consider it!”
“That’s quite disappointing.”
Saying that, Yu Yeo-reum handed me her phone.
I thought she was asking for my number, but instead, a video was playing.
“I saw you raising hell in the office building. There’s quite a commotion on Bellstar. Capturing both Samajun and Jeon So-mi is quite an achievement. I wouldn’t have been able to do something like that, so I’m here to help you.”
Am I becoming famous?
I can’t help but feel a little arrogant.
Taptap.
Yu Yeo-reum started loosening up her body, like a boxing champion stepping in place.
“Hmm?”
When I realized, her bandaged fist was right in front of my nose.
Whoosh!
The wind blowing from her fist was quite refreshing. Yu Yeo-reum withdrew her fist and said,
“However, provoking Prince Juhyun’s group doesn’t seem like a good decision. So if you want to avoid troublesome situations, it would be better to train hard enough to dodge a punch like mine. ‘Monster’ Ha Nam-jin.”
When did she punch me?
Even though I’m confident in my speed, I couldn’t even see her move. She’s incredible.
“By the way, I have no interest in men weaker than me.”
“That’s the opposite of me. I like strong women. By the way, ‘Monster Ha Nam-jin’?”
“That’s your callsign. Didn’t you know? I debated between ‘Monster’ and ‘Tiger Underwear’ before deciding.”
The heavens felt like they were falling apart. My callsign is ‘Monster’?!
Why not ‘Brad Pitt’? I even tried to understand being named after the celebrity ‘Cha Geum-woo,’ but ‘Monster’? Why?!
It was a silent scream of despair, and simultaneously, anger began to boil.
Actually, that was my plan.
Jumping all the way to the 40th floor where the office building is.
Is that possible?
Pah!
I jumped with all my might into the air.
Shoooosh! I probably rose about 10 meters?
It was higher than usual, but it wasn’t enough by my standards.
But…
Pah!
While floating mid-air, I twisted my body, using a nearby telephone pole as a stepping stone to jump again. In other words, a double jump. Thanks to that, my body soared to about 20 meters in the air.
“Jumping off obstacles mid-air? It’s similar to parkour’s triangle jump but feels more enhanced. I didn’t know your concept could do that. Since your concept can handle such applications, reaching second grade is just a matter of time.”
Even the legendary prodigy among awakened ones, Yu Yeo-reum, was impressed by my double jump, causing a surge of various emotions inside me, and all I could do was laugh.
“Fuahahaha!”
I was utterly cheerful Ha Nam-jin.
Having obtained the final piece for Seugal’s abduction, how could I not be happy? If not, I’d be psychologically messed up!
When I laughed uncontrollably, Yu Yeo-reum seemed a little surprised but soon regained her composed attitude, as if realizing something.
“Is your laughter the recoil of your ability?”
Recoil?
Now that I think about it, others said that when they use their concept, they have to endure a corresponding recoil or price.
Laughing wasn’t exactly my recoil.
Up until recently, I never experienced any such recoil when using my abilities.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Swoosh!
Yu Yeo-reum, who helped me so calmly, disappeared like a boxer running to control his weight before a boxing match, moving with light steps.
The only thing left behind was a strong scent of strawberries.
# # #
Seonam Group’s headquarters had many security personnel.
Most of them were gathered on the first floor, but even among those, most were indoors.
In short, to enter the building, one had to face the security staff.
However, no one was watching the building’s exterior walls.
There was no need to, was there?
Who would think of climbing the exterior wall to break into a world-class corporate headquarters?
“Hoo—”
I took a deep breath.
The height of the 40-story office building was about 150 meters, wasn’t it?
The crucial point was that there was another building, standing like twin towers in front of Seonam Group’s headquarters.
The gap between the buildings was about 10 meters.
It was the headquarters of the Imperial Group.
It was amazing how the height and design were identical to Seonam Group’s headquarters.
I heard that ‘Imperial’ and ‘Seonam’ were originally the same company but separated for various reasons.
Still, their buildings continued to stand side by side amiably.
“If I jump with all my might, I can reach about 10 meters high….”
“How many times do I have to jump back and forth between these buildings to reach the top?”
“Can I do it?”
“If I fail midway, I’ll plummet to the ground, flattening me into a pancake.”
In short, I’d have to stake my life on this attempt.
Let’s take this seriously.
Swoosh!
The time displayed on my smartwatch was around 1 a.m.
Tadat!
I coiled my legs like a spring and leapt into the air.
The sensation of my body floating into the sky was extremely liberating. However, before I could enjoy that freedom, I propelled my legs again, jumping toward the opposite building.
“Jump!”
Pah! Pah! Shooooosh!
The higher I jumped repeatedly between the buildings, the higher my body ascended.
Suisuisu!
3rd, 4th, 5th jump—
My thighs felt like they were about to explode, but stopping meant d*ath, so I pushed with all my might.
Eventually, after reaching my limits several times, I finally got close to my target building. However, a problem occurred.
Crrang!
The window on the top floor of the Imperial Group’s headquarters, which I intended to step on, couldn’t bear my weight and shattered.
Immediately losing my balance, I was now in danger of falling directly to the ground.
sh*t!
I’ll turn into a pancake like this!
Is this the end?
No! Resolving to fight it, I flailed, and something miraculous happened.
Pah!
My leg, stepping on seemingly nothing in the air, rebounded as if there was a stepping stone, propelling me into the sky.
This was a technique akin to air-dashing in exaggerated Chinese action films or mid-air stepping.
Could my “Jump” even allow such a thing?
Whatever!
With a heart pounding as if it would burst, I managed to step onto the terrace of the penthouse.
Though my breathing was heavy and I felt a little dizzy, it was within the expected margin of error.
“…”
The indoor space seemed unexpectedly quiet. The most important detail was that the terrace windows were open.
Security is lacking. They probably never imagined someone could intrude from 40 floors up.
Since Seugal herself is a powerful awakened one, there were no unnecessary security personnel, and as I confirmed during the party, there were no indoor CCTVs.
Silence enveloped the area.
Utilizing the careful tiptoeing skills I trained when sneaking into Manager Kkangjangdong’s potato field in the past, I entered the room quietly.
Arriving at the door.
Chulkerdeok, Geeeeek—.
“Hmm?”
Wait, isn’t that door-opening sound too loud?
Fortunately, Seugal was sleeping peacefully in her bed.
Sneak-sneak.
Her steady breathing showed she was deep asleep, and I couldn’t help but become hypnotized by the sight.
Would the prince confronting the Snow White princess who died after eating a poison apple have felt the same way?
Reaching out my hand, I felt the ‘something soft’ I was supposed to receive from Seugal, and my heart pounded wildly while my vision blurred.
It felt like reality was fading away.
Let’s begin the abduction with the things I prepared earlier—
Ding-dong.
Ding! Dong!
“!”
I startled at the loud noise and hid hastily under Seugal’s bed like a cockroach.
Ding-dong.
The ringing sounded again.
Looking outside, it seemed someone unexpected had arrived.
Was it security?
Did some unknown CCTV in the building catch my intrusion?
A loud rustling sound came from above me where I was hiding under the bed.
Tip-toe.
White feet touched the ground where I was hiding.
Seugal slipped her feet into soft indoor slippers before walking out.
“Who is it?”
—It’s me. Open up.
“Ju-hyun?”
Ju-hyun?
Ju-hyun?
Why is Ju-hyun visiting Seugal’s office at this late hour?
Chulkerdeok.
Soon the sound of the door opening echoed.
“What’s the matter? This late?”
“Seugal, do we need a reason to meet?”
“Well, yes. We aren’t anything special to each other, are we?”
Seugal’s voice from the living room was colder than I anticipated.
Like the mask she wore at the party earlier had fallen off.
Ju-hyun couldn’t hide his agitation.
“Are you deliberately doing this? About that guy.”
“That guy?”
“Ha Nam-jin. You’re not deliberately provoking me by bringing him over and treating him well?”
“Juhyan, you have an overactive ego. Why would I go through such trouble for you?”
That was a ruthless statement.
Had I heard it, I would have been too heartbroken to stop crying for days.
Ju-hyun, however, wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and despite this thousand-year-old love turning into bitterness, he added more words.
“Seugal, you shouldn’t do this to me. We all know the Imperial Group worked hardest for the President’s re-election. This world will belong to the Imperial Group from now on. I will inherit it!”
“…”
“Seugal, wouldn’t you even admit that we’d be a well-matched pair? Honestly, you’d agree with that, right? There’s no man up to your standard besides me! You would know that best, wouldn’t you?”
That Ju-hyun…
A mouthful of clever talk.
I wanted to step out and give him a piece of my mind but refrained because things would get complicated.
Fortunately, Seugal sounded utterly disinterested in Ju-hyun’s nonsense.
“I’m sleepy, so leave now.”
“Seugal!”
“I said leave. I won’t say it three times. Or, shall I reconfirm whether you’re really the man worthy of my ‘level’? Juhyun, you know you can’t win against me with your abilities.”
Jiff.
Suddenly, the suspenseful atmosphere grew. How will Ju-hyun respond here?
“…”
Ju-hyun, though seeming to have much to say, hesitated like someone without a mouth before abruptly turning around.
Chulkerdeok. The sound of the door closing echoed as Seugal returned to her bedroom and laid down.
“Idiot kid. And for being the son of a concubine.”
What a potent curse.
Maybe this was the ‘true nature’ of Seugal that Baek Yeo-ul mentioned?
I liked it. Fireworks, perhaps fitting my taste.
The important thing was that Seugal lay above me now.
In this peculiar situation, I began to feel a slight excitement. I was worried that the loudness of my heartbeat might even reach her ears.
After about ten minutes,
“This is annoying. I just fell asleep.”
Seugal seemed unable to slip into deep sleep.
She got up from the bed and started pacing around her room, which no one would have expected from the perfect Seugal.
An hour.
No exaggerations, Seugal paced for an hour. Then, as if making a decision, she went into the bathroom and turned the water on, starting to shower.
Maybe sleep’s out of the picture?
If daylight breaks, things might get complicated for me in many ways.
Seugal herself said the opportunity would only come on the day the full moon rises.
Should I withdraw and wait for the next full moon?
No, that might take too long.
A man who’s drawn his sword should show something.
Shh-shh-
I made up my mind and moved out from under the bed like a cockroach, heading towards the bathroom.
Clutching a blanket taken from Seugal’s bed.
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
My heart was beating so loudly that I feared it would drive me mad. I grabbed the doorknob of the bathroom and turned it open.
Chulkerdeok.
When I opened the door, Seugal looked at me.
The steam clouded everything but her expression of shock stood out vividly.
“You—!”
That was the most raw expression I’ve ever seen on her. She immediately showed me her palm and snarled ferociously.
“Pervert! I’ll k*ll you if you get any closer.”
Is she going to sh**t an energy beam from her palm?
It’s funny.
“k*ll me? How? I know that you get weaker under the full moon.”
“…What?”
As Seugal seemed disturbed and lost her composed posture, I rushed at her like an angry wave and quickly covered her mouth with my hand.
I then duct-taped her hands and feet and sealed her mouth with the same tape. Taking the blanket I fetched from the bed earlier, I wrapped her tightly like a sushi roll.
