Chapter 37
When I designed the Babel Square branch, I created three completely neutral zones where no abilities could be used.
‘Friendly Emotions’ and ‘Friendly Repairs.’
And the last one was the information desk.
It served as the workplace for Alessandro, who had become a mid-level manager, and as Babel Square’s information hub.
Though it’s called an information desk, it wasn’t designed for handing out maps, guiding lost hunters, or broadcasting directions.
Eventually, someone would try to dig into the “Friendly Market,” and they would attempt to reach Babel Square to find me.
If I had to interact with them, I needed a space where my safety was absolutely guaranteed. That’s why I created the information desk.
It also helped that Alessandro was stationed there—he could filter out troublemakers easily.
“Of course, I didn’t expect anyone to come looking for me so openly.”
Even though the space was meant for such encounters, I never actually thought someone would show up.
If Ihwa-yeon knew about Understanding, she would have come straight to the information desk.
Lost in thought, I shook my head.
I couldn’t place our stiff Alessandro uncle in front of someone like Ihwa-yeon.
If they had even a slight clash…
“Or maybe if it’s an arm-wrestling match with Ihwa-yeon, it might be evenly matched?”
I walked while entertaining useless thoughts and sighed deeply as I saw the information desk in the distance.
I had been strolling slowly, yet I arrived too quickly.
Things I don’t want to do always come at me fast.
I opened my inventory and took out a black mask with a dark veil.
I had prepared it for when I had to play the role of the market owner, but I didn’t expect to need it so soon.
With the robe pulled over me completely, I became like No-Face, unrecognizable even by body shape.
When I met Cha Geun-dam, I had been wandering anonymously without fear, so I had at least known his body shape.
“So what?”
I wanted to hide myself now—what could he do about it?
Because I had warned Alessandro in advance, Cha Geun-dam was waiting quietly inside the information desk.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
As soon as I opened the door, a familiar back greeted me.
“Long time no see.”
Cha Geun-dam slowly stood and turned his head.
His voice remained calm and deep, but his eyes looked somehow tired.
“You changed your mask.”
“Yes, it’s fashionable.”
“Ah.”
Cha Geun-dam blinked at my indifferent answer.
I had a rough idea why he came looking for me… but there was no need to bring it up first.
I plopped down across from him and opened my mouth.
“Do you know anything about the scenario on the 51st floor?”
Strike first, win first.
Caught off guard by my direct approach, Cha Geun-dam frowned in his usual dry expression.
“I came with a separate purpose.”
“But I asked first.”
Cha Geun-dam slowly blinked.
Being direct is childish, but it really works.
“As you know, information about floors not yet cleared is classified. I haven’t been there either. Why are you curious about the 51st-floor scenario?”
“If you haven’t been there ‘yet,’ then I suppose you’re part of this raid group?”
Thinking I had figured him out instantly, Cha Geun-dam pressed his lips into a straight line.
This taciturn, naive hunter still doesn’t realize that sealing his lips like that is basically confirming everything.
I suddenly imagined how hard Vice-Guild Master Lee Min-jung would work to cover for him, and I felt a little teary.
“You probably came to ask me for something anyway. Before I hear that, let’s at least talk about the scenario.”
“Seems like you haven’t been to the 51st floor ‘yet’ either, Understanding.”
“‘Yet’? I have no intention of going to the 51st floor.”
As always, I was very good at evading the topic.
Since this was our second meeting, Cha Geun-dam knew this well.
After staring at me for a long while, he eventually changed the subject.
“Why did you choose that mask?”
“It’s pretty.”
“…….”
He frowned as if he couldn’t believe my answer.
My attempt to change the topic had failed miserably, leaving him stunned.
Silence filled the information desk.
If I had had more leisure, teasing Cha Geun-dam would have been fun.
“But right now, I’m a bit busy.”
“If you wanted something, you should have brought it, Cha Geun-dam.”
Quietly urged, he reluctantly closed his eyes.
“The scenario’s name is… ‘The Utterly Desperate Peace.’ I’ll need to go in myself to know the details.”
I thought quietly, recalling the 51st floor I had experienced. Achieving peace would surely be desperate.
Probably something like reconciling humans and beastmen.
Or dealing with the black mist.
This wasn’t just a random guess; it was based on my big data calculations.
Babel had required an “unachieved ending” in the 49th-floor scenario.
Originally, it was a scenario to drive out the dark mages from Falcon, which should have been destroyed and occupied.
If, as I saw, the continent of Ganasia was destroyed by black mist and humans and beastmen were killing each other to the end, predicting the scenario wasn’t too difficult.
Cha Geun-dam spoke quietly.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Can you help this time as well?”
It wasn’t surprising; I had guessed this would happen.
I was only an E-rank hunter, yet his gaze was serious as he asked.
Sure, last time on the 49th floor, my overwhelming power surprised him, but this case was different.
According to Echo, there wasn’t a clear reason humans and beastmen were fighting, yet they had been at odds for a very long time.
“If it could be solved with gold, I would have stepped in long ago.”
There was only one answer I could give.
I shook my head firmly.
“I can’t help.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t. That’s all.”
I had a definite reason, but no need to explain it.
Cha Geun-dam hurriedly added:
“Since you mentioned the scenario’s name, I thought I could ask for your help…”
“Excuse me? I helped on the 49th floor and got nothing? You got the lives of guild members, clearing the scenario, and the fame of being the first to clear the 49th floor, right?”
“…….”
“I gave you three things, so shouldn’t I get two more in return?”
Only then did he seem to remember that I helped unconditionally, and he shut his mouth.
“Can’t you just help once? There could be even more casualties this time. Please reconsider.”
Cha Geun-dam pleaded earnestly again.
Without truly knowing my identity, he was asking just to protect everyone’s lives.
‘I see now why I backed off before.’
As a fan of Number One from Wolpae, I felt a little guilty.
But truly, there was nothing I could do.
“I absolutely cannot help this time.”
Unless I were some overpowered munchkin, there was nothing I could do.
There were tasks waiting for me on the 51st floor.
I had to enter Babel Tower in the human faction first and search for research materials left by the mages Onak had killed.
Above all, I didn’t want to be officially recruited by the guild alliance raid group.
Disappointment flickered across Cha Geun-dam’s dry face.
Then he slightly leaned toward the table, moving his lips.
“Are you aware that Babel Management is looking for you?”
A sudden prelude.
‘Of course I know. It’s been weeks since I ignored the summons with the Hunter Management Director’s name on it.’
Would he know that I’m postponing something extremely dangerous until the last moment?
I didn’t answer, just shrugged.
“Just so you know, Director Park Ji-woon is not easy to deal with.”
“I doubt anyone would find Cha Geun-dam easy to deal with either.”
“……Director Park is unreadable. The fact that he’s looking for you is not something to ignore. Considering you disrupted the perfectly controlled tower system, you shouldn’t dismiss what Babel Management thinks. I assume you’ve been hiding well so far…”
Cha Geun-dam raised both arms onto the table.
He looked more serious than usual, his already stern expression even heavier.
“I already know your true face, Understanding.”
His eyes, void of any playfulness, pierced me sharply.
‘Huh?’
I was momentarily taken aback.
Even in the neutral information desk, the aura of an S-rank hunter radiated as if they could do anything.
This S-rank hunter was fully using their power to intimidate me.
‘But what can I do?’
Unfortunately, I had already met a toxic fan like Ihwa-yeon and built up resistance.
“Cha Geun-dam, you’re terrible at intimidation.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Are you sure the face you saw on the 49th floor was mine? You must have expected that I’d be sought after nationwide, right? I wouldn’t have shown up bare-faced.”
“……”
“Even under this mask and robe, my original face isn’t here. I’m curious how you found me.”
Cha Geun-dam seemed at a loss for words, opening his mouth slightly.
I thought I might have been too harsh, but I couldn’t help it.
Even if Cha Geun-dam were to get angry and overturn the table, I’d understand.
But this calm hunter merely lowered his head, not responding further.
‘Ah, my resolve is weakening again.’
I straightened myself and spoke clearly.
“I’ll say it once more. I have no intention of helping this time.”
My firm answer shook Cha Geun-dam’s eyes.
He seemed about to reply but then sighed deeply.
Then, in a calmer voice, he murmured:
“…Understood. I made it difficult for you.”
Why is he so genuinely good?
All that leaning over the table, the stance of someone trying to push me… gone.
I’m only moderately good, but compared to him, I feel like a villain.
After a long pause, Cha Geun-dam slowly stood.
He had accepted the failed negotiation with a neat, resigned look.
“Then I’ll find my own way.”
“I’ll cheer for you.”
“Thank you.”
Ouch, my conscience.
His voice of thanks was so serious that I smiled awkwardly under the mask.
It was fortunate that the mask completely hid my face.
Grasping the doorknob for a moment, Cha Geun-dam looked back at me.
“We’ll enter three days from now in the morning. If you change your mind, please help us.”
I absolutely have no intention of that.
‘Someone who never gives up, huh.’
Cha Geun-dam hesitated, then added sincerely:
“If possible, that is.”
