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Chapter 8
The transformed Imugi (serpent) charged forward like a bulldozer.
There was no prelude—no feints, no probing attacks.
With its body enlarged and confidence boosted, its punches came recklessly and with even greater speed.
‘It’ll be harder to dodge leisurely like before.’
I tracked its brick-sized fists with my eyes, stepping lightly and leaning my torso back to avoid the blows.
I slipped in counterattacks here and there.
It clearly wasn’t trained in stand-up striking—the whole style was sloppy.
There were so many openings it almost hurt my head to pick one.
And thanks to my boosted Strength, my knife was doing its job.
Every time shallow cuts accumulated on its wrists, forearms, shoulders, and ribs, the Imugi’s face twisted in pain.
“Damn iiiit!”
Suddenly the bloodied creature roared.
It must’ve been frustrated at being beaten one-sidedly.
“Where’s all that confidence you showed earlier? Now you’re scurrying off like a rat!”
“Yeah, fight like a man!”
Two of its underlings shouted “encouragement” from behind, but the Imugi snapped its head toward them and barked,
“Shut your mouths!”
Then it turned back to glare at me, panting hard.
Its bigger body must’ve been burning energy at a crazy rate.
“You look tired. How about you give up and admit defeat like a man?”
“I’ll catch you and rip your mouth apart!”
“That’s a bit of a problem. This mouth of mine is responsible for half my income.”
That’s how most of our jobs go.
We meet someone and extract information from them, or hand off information to them.
Most of the time it’s operatives, diplomats, or informants from other countries—and it’s solved by talking.
If talking fails, then it’s settled physically.
“You yap too much!”
“Hmm… today’s actually one of my quieter days. That’s unfortunate.”
“You son of a bitch!”
The Imugi was the latter type—a man familiar with “physical conversation.”
But he didn’t seem to have talent for it.
That’s probably why he quit judo and started doing deliveries instead.
“Die!”
The Imugi swung its fist.
It wasn’t a jab or a hook—just a clumsy punch.
I lowered my stance, weaving under it, and closed into its guard.
Its face changed instantly—oh crap.
“Big moves bring big openings.”
With that little coaching, I slashed my knife upward from below.
I felt that familiar sensation of blade biting flesh, and its armpit split open.
Striking the weak point that Jung So-mi had taught me made the pain-filled scream inevitable.
“Aaarghhh!”
Eyes rolling back, the Imugi started swinging wildly.
Bang, bang, bang—
I rolled away to dodge the brutal fists.
Where I had been standing, the asphalt now bore fist-shaped craters.
Terrifying strength.
‘If one of those lands clean, my bones won’t survive.’
…Though that’s only if the target’s some random thug who can’t fight back.
For someone like me—someone who’s spent half his life in the shadows—the Imugi’s attacks were downright gentle.
‘Now you’re aiming at my right temple.’
‘That hook’s a feint; the real attack’s a low kick.’
His mouth was shut, but his body told me exactly what he was going to do next.
And now he was even more cautious.
Distracted by his wounded armpit, his focus was slipping.
I looked at the heavily breathing man and said quietly,
“You seem lost in thought.”
“Huff… huff…”
“No, more like your face is full of regret.”
“W-what are you talking about… me? Regret…?”
“Isn’t it? Thinking: ‘I shouldn’t have chased this guy. Picked the wrong target. Should’ve just let him go.’”
Soon, his muscles shrank and his frame began to diminish.
Looks like his skill time had run out.
‘So the skill has a set duration.’
That’s why he’d gone all in, trying to overwhelm me before it expired.
I spoke to the now smaller, exhausted Imugi.
“The word regret means to realize and repent your past mistakes.”
“…And what’s it to you.”
“I just hope you’ve learned something today.”
“Go to hell.”
He spat the words like chewing gravel, but his face showed resignation—he knew the difference in our abilities was overwhelming.
I rushed in and drove my knee into his jaw.
“Guh!”
He let out a short scream, his eyes rolled white and half back—he was out cold.
Clap—clap.
Ten minutes later, I slapped his cheek to wake him.
“Ugh…”
“Sleep well?”
Hearing my voice, the Imugi jolted upright, shocked.
He didn’t even realize he’d been knocked out.
I grabbed his chin and turned his head left.
His underlings were already on their knees on the cold asphalt.
Only then did the Imugi understand the situation; he too knelt down and begged for mercy.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. From now on I’ll live an honest life…”
Yeah right.
I cut him off and pulled 3,000 coins from my [Funds], tossing them at him.
[Funds: 300 coins]
He looked back and forth between the coins and me.
“What is this? Hush money?”
“Why would I pay compensation? We both gave as good as we got.”
“Then…”
I answered not with words but by initiating a loan contract.
Principal: 3,000 coins.
Daily interest: 10%, compounded.
Loan period: one week.
Seeing the absurd interest, he tried to refuse with his whole body, but a simple flash of my knife shut him up.
“Planning to go for round two?”
“…No. The fight’s over. By the way… are you a loan shark?”
“No. But I know loans well. I know exactly how nasty they are.”
So that’s why I’d become a [Lender].
Looking down at him trembling with injustice, I moved to the next step.
[Debtor List]
-
Jung So-mi (1)
└ Stats: Strength (7) | Agility (8) | Stamina (9) | Magic (6)
└ Skill: Weak Point Exposure (Beginner) -
Kim Dae-ho (4)
└ Stats: Strength (9) | Agility (11) | Stamina (19) | Magic (5)
└ Skill: Physical Enhancement (Beginner)
As expected, the second debtor’s Stamina was abnormally high.
Maybe he was more of a coward than he looked.
I wondered what collateral to take and then decided.
“I’ll take 3 Strength as collateral.”
[Collateral secured: Strength +3]
[If Debtor Kim Dae-ho defaults on daily interest for 5 days or fails to repay principal and interest within 7 days, you will permanently gain Strength +3.]
He—Kim Dae-ho, no longer the Imugi—stared at me in panic.
“Wait, no! Take Stamina instead!”
“Then you wouldn’t bother repaying me.”
Losing 3 Stamina wouldn’t feel like much.
But Strength—from 9 down to 6—he’d definitely feel that loss.
And by setting a short loan period, I’d make sure he couldn’t grind levels to restore his Strength.
Three stat points might not mean much long-term, but right now they’re valuable.
So he’d rather repay than lose them.
“Just survive the week. Three hundred coins—nothing much if you think about it. Kill six goblin soldiers and you’ve got it.”
“…And how do I pay the interest?”
“Oh, that part…”
Truthfully, I hadn’t thought about repayment methods. The system hadn’t explained either.
Thankfully, he figured it out himself.
“Damn… there’s a remote repayment option in the [Loan Contract].”
“Exactly. That’s it.”
Looks like using [Microloan] adds loan-related features on the debtor’s end too.
In any case, the fact I could collect interest remotely was good news.
I patted his shoulder as his face turned ashen.
“Anyway, you’ve got 3,000 coins now. Win–win, right?”
After saying goodbye to my second debtor, I finally arrived at the safe house in Goyang City late in the afternoon.
Situated near Maebongsan, the safe house was fairly large.
A two-story country house with a yard, surrounded by tall walls, with CCTV cameras installed everywhere. Expensive homes lined the area.
Walking from the gate to the front door along stepping stones, I looked around.
There was a small pond in the corner of the garden, pine trees rising elegantly around it.
A bench and table sat out front—it felt more like a vacation villa than a safe house.
“For a safe house, it looks too fancy.”
“Six years ago, some politician donated it after using it as a villa. Then it was remodeled into a safe house.”
“‘Donated,’ huh? More like ‘confiscated.’ But sure, call it a donation.”
“However we got it, it’s not bad, right? Inside there’s an interrogation room and a situation room.”
“Not just ‘not bad.’ It’s more than enough.”
So-mi added that there was even a panic room for emergencies.
Beside her, Hwang Hye-ju walked quietly, looking like she hadn’t grasped what we were talking about—only asking if it was really okay to stay here.
“This will be our base camp from now on.”
With electric fencing added to the barbed wire on the walls, it could serve as a fortress.
It also had geographical advantages.
It was about 15 km from Ilsan Lake, where the Goyang City Gate stood—relatively safe from monsters.
And with roads leading into the city, it’d be easy to reach the Gate.
The area within 5 km of the Gate was restricted, but players would be allowed in.
“Let’s go inside.”
We carried our luggage inside.
The first floor was divided only into a living room and dining area.
A high-end leather sofa faced the windows, with a fireplace, hi-end speakers, and a display cabinet full of aged whiskey lining the walls.
The whiskey bottles were over 30 years old and showed signs of use.
“I thought this was remodeled as a safe house. Doesn’t look like much changed.”
“Mm… probably because the higher-ups had a say.”
“Ah…”
I got it right away.
The “higher-ups” had probably used this place privately.
“There are plenty of rooms upstairs—pick whichever you like.”
“Then let’s unpack and rest, then meet at 5 sharp.”
Thirty minutes later we gathered in the dining room.
With its clean, modern interior, the kitchen was well stocked with utensils, seasonings, and cooking tools.
I boiled some ramen and served it to the two of them.
Hye-ju spooned some into her small bowl and said,
“Thanks for the meal.”
“Eat a lot. I made five packs.”
“Sunbae, no kimchi?”
“Hold on.”
I checked the fridge.
Built-in fridge—no kimchi.
Just mixers for whiskey and drinks like orange juice.
It was obvious now—this place had never actually been used as a safe house.
“I’ll have to hit the market tomorrow morning. Assuming any store’s open.”
I sat back down and started eating.
I was starving, having not eaten since breakfast.
Slurping up the firm noodles, So-mi hesitated before speaking.
“Uh… I got a call from the office earlier.”
“They want you back?”
“No. They said a Gate opened at the National Intelligence Service.”
Shouldn’t that mean she definitely had to go back?
I tilted my head, but she continued.
“All domestic agents are gathering at the Namsan bunker, but they ordered me to continue my assignment.”
They wanted her to keep surveillance even in this situation.
She looked puzzled.
But I thought I knew why.
“Because of Director Choi, I’d guess.”
“Director Choi?”
“My direct superior. Well, ex-direct superior.”
Just then, Hye-ju awkwardly stood up.
When I asked where she was going, she smiled nervously.
“Uh… feels like I shouldn’t be here for this conversation.”
“You can listen. Unless you’re an agent from a hostile country.”
I was a little surprised at my own words.
At some point, I’d started speaking to her informally.
“Is it okay if I drop the honorifics?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks. Anyway, Choi told me once that at Level 7 you can see the real-time viewer rankings.”
I scooped up another big bite of ramen before it got soggy.
So-mi and Hye-ju resumed eating too.
“Eat while you listen. Choi said he saw me there.”
“You mean your video made the real-time rankings?”
“He said I was number one.”
“Wow… congrats. Must be making good money.”
“Probably. If I survive the week.”
Pidomena Universe’s payout day is at the end of each month—one week left.
Would we still be sitting here eating together in a week?
“Heh.”
Maybe I’m getting sentimental with age.
I shook off the thought.
“Choi definitely wants to use me somehow. I hate to say it myself, but I’m a pretty useful guy. But he can’t just force me—if he does, I’ll disappear.”
“So that’s why he assigned me to stay by your side?”
I nodded.
“Choi knows about you.”
“And he knows about my director too.”
“They’ve probably been in touch. Anyway, it works out for both of us, doesn’t it?”
So-mi looked puzzled. “Works out?”
“We’ve been here an hour and nobody’s come knocking. What does that tell you? That we’re free to handle things ourselves as usual.”
She nodded as if that made sense.
I glanced at Hye-ju quietly eating her ramen.
When our eyes met, she quickly looked away.
The atmosphere was tense, so I cracked a joke.
“Don’t worry. If you get arrested, we’ll put in a good word for you.”
