Haje tilted his head at Wonhyeok’s question before suddenly bursting into laughter.
“Was being threatened by that Jeong Grade Messenger really so frightening?”
“You know that a Jeong Grade Messenger threatened me, so you truly were watching from somewhere without appearing.”
“Yeah, I wanted to see what you would do. The Heavenly Horse appearing and taking you away was unexpected, though.”
Wonhyeok looked at Haje with an uneasy expression.
Taken only by context, it almost sounded as though Haje was saying, I would never let a Ghost Gate Messenger die.
But he had not clearly said that he would not.
No longer able to tell whether he was being paranoid or not, Wonhyeok asked Haje, “You know that abandoning your accompanying inspector like that is a serious offense, yes? Even if it was a Heavenly Horse, there is no way it could defeat a Gap Grade Messenger.”
“Yeah, yeah. Write it all down, write it all down. You survived, did you not? That is enough.”
“You say it as though it was no threat at all.”
When Haje acted like this, Wonhyeok felt an odd stubbornness rise within him.
Of course, Wonhyeok’s records might mean nothing to Haje now.
But what if this history remained and future generations read it?
Haje would remain in history as a ruthless, shameless Ghost Gate Messenger who tormented his accompanying inspector!
That was right. Wonhyeok was considering the greatest long-term revenge a recordkeeper could take.
“Even if these records may not threaten you! I will give them to Messenger Park Yehu!”
Wonhyeok declared grandly, but Haje only snorted.
“About that, a Messenger’s activities can be roughly pieced together through what they say on the communication network. Special exceptions were made because, once one becomes a high-ranking Ghost Gate Messenger, there are often cases where a clerk cannot keep up.”
“Pardon? Then these records....”
“Of course you must keep writing them. They may not be of much use for submission, but that was our contract.”
At that, Wonhyeok’s fighting spirit burned even fiercer.
Oh-ho, so that is how he wants to play this? He wants to keep all the best parts for himself?
Wonhyeok wanted to immediately threaten Haje by saying their contract was invalid. But that was an agreement this ill-mannered Ghost Gate Messenger had bound through a record stone.
He could not risk losing his place in Joseon or having twenty years shaved from his lifespan....
“Then please truly tell me. What happens if we breach the contract? Can the contract not be terminated? Such violations were not written when I put my fingerprint on it.”
“Terminate it? Termination requires mutual agreement. As for the price... Do you really want to know?”
Haje was clearly smiling beneath his veil.
Wonhyeok glared at him and nodded. Haje shrugged before speaking.
“My lifespan of one hundred years and your lifespan of fifty years are at stake.”
“You said twenty years earlier.”
“I said that to make it less frightening.”
It is frightening! And what does he mean, one hundred years? Is that Ghost Gate Messenger truly fine with risking that much of his lifespan?
Haje looked as though he were considering something before pulling a black stone from thin air.
It was the record stone!
“This is the contract we made.”
When Haje opened his hand wrapped in black silk, golden letters sprang from the record stone.
Article One. By the will of Number One Haje, hereafter Party A, the scholar Lee Wonhyeok, hereafter Party B, becomes a civil official belonging to the Office of Ghostly Inspection.
Article Two. Party A and Party B become accompanying inspectors. Wherever Party A goes, Party B accompanies him. This applies mutually.
Article Three. At the request of Party A and the Office of Ghostly Inspection, Party B is obligated to record and preserve all activities.
Article Four. Party A shall protect Party B and bears responsibility for the minimum safety necessary for recording.
Article Five. Party A shall pay Party B the promised compensation and ensure it is transferred into the designated savings association on each payment date.
Article Six. When Party B awakens, he shall continue recording matters concerning Party A. Should his lifespan end and he become unable to fulfill his duties, the contract shall be automatically terminated. However, this applies only in the case of “natural death.” If Party A could have extended Party B’s lifespan, it shall be regarded as a breach of contract.
Right, this contract.
There was a reason Wonhyeok dared confront Haje without fear while thinking, Surely he will not kill me?
But there was one problem.
“I do not think I saw Article Six before.”
“It was added automatically when you awakened.”
“How can that be? You should write a supplementary contract!”
Wonhyeok cried out in indignation, but Haje merely picked at his ear, waved a hand, and put away the record stone.
“Anyway, you are obligated to be my accompanying inspector.”
“Where did the one hundred years and fifty years come from?! They are not in the articles!”
“That is how the conditions work when you use a record stone. Because the rank is high.”
Wonhyeok held his head in dizziness.
His Awakening Fever had passed, yet he felt as though another fever might make him collapse for an entirely different reason.
This is a contract that benefits only Haje!
Of course, there was a rule saying Haje had to protect Wonhyeok....
What nonsense. That could never happen. This was completely a scam!
Wonhyeok glared at Haje, then opened the communication network.
When Wonhyeok’s gaze turned toward empty air, Haje tilted his head.
“What are you doing, Clerk?”
Without speaking, Wonhyeok opened the communication-network chat room.
[Chatroom: (Upper Ranks) / 25 people are present!]
Yakgwa All Mine (5th): The guest hall where Messenger Wonhyeok and Haje are has been frighteningly quiet for a while. There was not a murder, was there? Honestly, Haje was a little too much. Even I might try taking him on once.
Wild Grape Valley (7th): Hahaha, even then would he dare do it without fear?
Yakgwa All Mine (5th): You all have not met Messenger Wonhyeok. He is quietly fearless, and above all!! >>he does not know a single thing about the Ghost Gate industry<<
Bamboo Shoot (14th): Gasp... What if there truly was a murder? My condolences....
Yakgwa All Mine (5th): You are saying, “My condolences”? Hello~ Someone has died~
Mountain Lord (4th): Give me rice cakes.... Give me rice cakes....
Cheongok (13th): That tiger bastard is dying.
Do these people even work? There was never a single moment when they were quiet.
Wonhyeok looked at the communication network with a slightly exhausted expression before writing a torrent of text in a single stroke.
That was figurative, of course. Since the communication network floated in the air, his thoughts simply appeared without obstruction.
Jade Willow (10th): Esteemed Ghost Gate Messengers in this chat room. I am Lee Wonhyeok, accompanying inspector traveling with Haje. While I was a civilian before awakening, I was threatened by a corrupt Ghost Gate Messenger and carried into a Ghost Gate by a goblin. Haje neglected his duties and abandoned me at that time. I intended to leave a detailed record of this, but Haje informed me that doing so would be of little use. I have also only just discovered that the contract he made with me was an unjust scam. I therefore leave this report on the communication network. If there are measures to restrain him in relation to this matter, they should naturally be carried out according to the law....(More)
After he posted it, no more lines of text appeared in the chat room.
Wonhyeok was bewildered.
Can no one else see what I wrote?
Then Haje collapsed to the floor before him.
Wonhyeok thought he might have suffered some kind of emotional blow, but Haje’s shoulders and back were shaking.
He was laughing his head off.
“......”
Jade Willow (10th): For reference, Haje is laughing right now. This seems proof that Ghost Gate Messenger discipline is not being properly maintained. Why is someone like this Joseon’s Number One? I believe the ranking criteria are strange. A person cannot be revered merely because their martial strength is outstanding. Since ancient times, even military officials must understand benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom to be recognized as true gentlemen. Yet Haje lacks not only benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, but even a hint of remorse. Is he not a ruthless man? If anyone knows a way to terminate the contract within the record stone, please inform me without fail.
“Bwahaha....”
“Can you laugh right now? You scammer! You said talking on the communication network could replace records. Then you should let me keep records!”
“No, no, Clerk... You truly do unexpected things every single time... Heh, heh....”
With a sound that was almost impossible to tell whether it was laughter or crying, Haje remained collapsed behind Wonhyeok. Wonhyeok furrowed his brow and looked back at the communication network.
Fortunately, his post seemed to have been sent properly. The chat room was completely exploding.
Juha (18th): Wow.
Mountain Lord (4th): (Picture of a surprised tiger)
Yeye (23rd): Gasp...
Wild Grape Valley (7th): Is that bastard out of his mind? He is not sane.
Bamboo Shoot (14th): A new Ghost Gate Messenger is dying so quickly.... He boldly claimed tenth place, only to leave us like this. May the deceased rest in peace.
Greenwood (6th): Everything you said is correct. High-ranking Ghost Gate Messengers must not grow lax; they should always hone themselves.
Seo Jukdang (11th): Haje, do not kill Jade Willow. Handsome people are rare.
Asura (9th): Am I sleeping right now?
Cheongok (13th): What do we do? We finally got a Gap Grade Messenger, and he is about to die right away.
Sanu-i (8th): Hey, he is amazing. If you survive, visit One Strike, Twin Iron someday. I will give you something good.
Yakgwa All Mine (5th): No, I am losing my mind. What is happening? No, Wonhyeok~!!
Before Wonhyeok could read all the incoming messages, he heard a rapid rush of footsteps outside the guest hall.
BANG.
Yehu threw open the door and shouted, “Haje! You cannot kill him... Huh?”
“I-I am the one who is going to die, you idiot. Ah, I am dying of laughter.”
Then, in a flash, lines of text flooded the chat room.
Yakgwa All Mine (5th): Wow, Wonhyeok is alive? Why is he alive?
So Yakgwa All Mine truly was Messenger Park Yehu. Why did he have such a ridiculous epithet?
Wonhyeok blinked before glancing sideways at Yehu.
“Are you saying I should have died?”
“No~, that is not what I meant~ Oh? Come to think of it, you can open the communication network now?! No, the very first thing you do after opening the communication network is something so enormous....”
Wonhyeok looked at Haje with an even more suspicious gaze.
Why was everyone worried about him? Could Haje truly harm him?
But that would violate their contract.
Having barely stopped laughing, Haje said to Wonhyeok, “So, in the end, it seems you are going to keep being my clerk after all?”
“Ugh....”
Wonhyeok let out a groan, but he had no choice.
Honestly, if he kicked Haje aside and left....
He would have to immediately lose fifty years of his lifespan?
Even if he gave up that lifespan, would this novice Ghost Gate Messenger, Wonhyeok, have to face Ghost Gates and uncanny powers and wicked spirits alone?
His skills were not even suited for combat!
“What can I do when we are entangled this horribly? You will not terminate the contract, Haje, and you will not abandon the records either. There must also be some reason you chose me among so many people.”
“Yeah. You have finally figured out half of your place.”
He means I have realized half of my own value, right?
Wonhyeok said to Haje with a cold expression, “Please speak more kindly. You are Number One, yet you scam people and speak like that, so people do not trust you.”
“Why should I care?”
Park Yehu thought, What am I watching right now?