Lirim and the Beast ☆1
After a long period of wandering, the time had finally come to face life again.
Upon arriving in Minsk, Seohyeon steeled himself and looked at his reflection in a shop window.
He looked like nothing more than a homeless man.
Well, to be fair, he had never once lived a "proper" life. If his inner self and outer self were to match, this would be it. In fact, the homeless might even dislike being compared to him.
Fortunately, the staff of Tetra Anax did not leave Seohyeon to fend for himself.
"You won't be able to book a hotel looking like that. We'll make the reservation for you."
Seohyeon spent nearly half a day washing up and preparing for his trip to Korea.
"Ah…"
But he was still irritated as he chose and bought items. Shopping itself wasn't the problem. What bothered him was recalling what another staff member at Tetra Anax had said while handing him his ID.
"From now on, your name is Seohyeon. As a child, you suffered mental trauma from being bullied, couldn't adapt to social life, wandered abroad, and barely obtained a high school diploma through a GED."
"Bullying… what's that?"
"It's a form of group assault by classmates of the same age—both physically and mentally…"
…
The prince of Lycanthrope had, all of a sudden, become a victim of bullying.
According to records, he had suffered such severe abuse that a psychiatrist diagnosed him with social anxiety, general anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder.
"If it's a mental illness, that's perfect, right? Everyone will pity you. You'll be forgiven. You're a victim."
He could feel his younger sibling's warm concern.
"…You little brat."
It made him even angrier that there was no malice behind it. Of course, Seohyeon's anger at Serin wasn't limited to that.
"And only use the card in Minsk. Once you return to Korea, your credit card and bank account will be frozen."
"What?"
The card given to him held a fortune of about 4 million USD. For an ordinary person, that would be enough to live off for life. But for black market deals, weapons trading, and smuggling, seed money was essential. And now it was being frozen?
"The money in your account is just collateral to guarantee your identity. It would be suspicious for someone unemployed to cross borders without a safety net. Having money in the account makes crossing borders easier…"
From Tetra Anax's perspective, money was just paper. Tetra Anax, able to predict the future, never lost in financial markets. In fact, it was as if all the wealth of humanity belonged to him. There's a saying, "Generosity from the treasury," but in Serin's case, it was the opposite.
"What makes you empty is that you take what you want too easily. When someone says, 'Oh, I want this~' and just robs the store, what value does money or labor have?"
"I can't completely deny it, but still…"
"Seohyeon, reality isn't like GTA. Your lack of sense of reality comes from having lived in such a barbaric society, barbarically, like a beast."
"Like a beast…"
Being a Lycanthrope, it wasn't wrong. Still, the phrase had a strange ring to it, almost making him want to deny it.
"For now, Arjuna's master has taken charge of your rehabilitation. Go to Korea and start fresh with a new mindset."
"You think I'm some kind of monster? Were you always like this? Seriously annoying."
Could it be that this person gave him all the world's wealth while he lived like a beggar? Somehow, the world felt unfair.
☆ ☆ ☆
Seohyeon arrived at Incheon International Airport, traveling from Minsk, Belarus via Moscow, Russia. For someone wanted for all sorts of crimes, traveling officially without restriction felt strange.
Used to moving with mercenaries, drug dealers, and illegal immigrants, seeing young couples with children and brightly dressed tourists chatting casually was unusual.
…
Despite being annoyed at Serin, Seohyeon's heart raced, like a child anticipating a picnic—though he had never actually had a picnic. Never having attended school, Serin hadn't made him a lunatic for nothing. For someone who didn't share ordinary experiences, claiming mental illness was the easiest excuse.
Thinking of Serin made his head spin again.
"It feels strangely refreshing. When I thought freedom would come after toppling Tetra Anax and Serin became the new Tetra Anax, I felt this way. So I can't fully believe in a bright future, but… it feels good."
In the large, clean airport, among worry-free travelers, dressed neatly and pulling a suitcase, he felt a unique sense of exhilaration. Always fleeing people out to kill him, growing up in a chaotic Russia, even getting a McDonald's involved standing in line, and bartering U.S. jeans for rubles… those days were far behind.
"Weren't you supposed to meet me at the airport?"
Seohyeon muttered as he walked toward the gate. With no colleagues or Tetra Anax staff around, missing the meeting could make him an airport vagrant. With no clear location or contact, he felt anxious.
"How special do you have to look to be recognized immediately? Too confident, aren't you?"
Yet, Arjuna's master did recognize him instantly. Amid countless people, a strikingly elegant and intelligent woman waved at him.
"Seohyeon! You're Seohyeon! Wow… much more handsome than your brother!"
…
He was taken aback by her overly familiar greeting. Still, being called more attractive than his sibling, even if a flattery, wasn't unpleasant.
"Tired from the long flight? Have you eaten?"
"I had the in-flight meal, but…"
"At your age, that won't be enough. Good. Eat whatever you want within 8,000."
"8,000?"
What was 8,000? 8,000 won? He opened his wallet. There were bills, but he couldn't gauge their value. The local cost of living mattered. Judging by her tone, it must be a generous sum. Ultimately, the best thing to eat at the airport with that amount was fast food.
☆ ☆ ☆
"Still not used to Korean food, I guess? I'm Kim Seonghee. I'll be your guardian from now on."
Kim Seonghee placed the tray on the table and extended her hand. Bold woman.
If Seohyeon knew she was dealing with a Lycanthrope, she would know one grasp could tear him apart. It was like putting one's head in a lion's mouth.
Her white skin, black hair, and black eyes were incredibly attractive. Her scent—rich and sweet—was noticeable.
For monsters like vampires and lycanthropes, sexual and physical desire is the ultimate seasoning. Approaching him so casually… as a mage, did she have a way to defend herself?
Seohyeon shook her hand.
"But this is the only thing 8,000 can buy here?"
"I heard you like fast food?"
…
Of course, that's what she intended to feed him while pretending to let him choose.
Seohyeon ate while cautiously observing her. He noticed other men glancing at her too. She, however, ate delicately, sipping her drink, and looked at him kindly.
Certainly beautiful.
Trying to erase her gaze and alluring scent from his mind, he asked:
"So, what exactly am I supposed to do? Vampire hunting? Tracking rogue mages? Mercenary work?"
"Hmm…"
"Vampires seem to be escaping Tetra Anax's control. Should I investigate from Korea?"
"No. What you have to do is…"
Kim Seonghee smiled.
☆ ☆ ☆
Cafe Arjuna was a standalone building near a university park. First floor café, second floor residence, next to prime commercial property. Business was always good. The occult café had a quirky theme, but regular customers, vampire hunters, and mages seeking information visited frequently.
Seohyeon looked around. Slightly away from the busy district but in a spot likely to attract many customers. Hard to imagine vampire hunters and occultists gathering here. Perhaps the saying, "The darkest place is under the lamp," was true. Hide the tree in the forest.
"Wait a moment… Ah, here it is."
Kim Seonghee handed Seohyeon a mop.
"You know how to clean, right? Start with this. I'll teach you other tasks gradually."
She started climbing the stairs. Seohyeon hurriedly stopped her.
"Uh…"
"Call me Master from now on."
"No, it's not—"
"Ah!"
She clapped her hands.
"Of course there's something important. How could I forget?"
She hurried upstairs. Seohyeon watched, dumbfounded.
Wasn't this urgent? Vampires walking in sunlight, Tetra Anax's system collapsing, blurring boundaries between the mortal world and the moonlit world, risking catastrophe… Serin begged him for help.
Vampire assassins had impressive abilities for their experience, and Seohyeon didn't want that to spread.
After traveling from Minsk to Moscow to Incheon, they finally arrived here, and she hands him a mop?
Well, it was probably a cover. Seemingly going for something important upstairs, she was clumsy despite her intelligent and beautiful appearance. Seohyeon waited.
Soon, she returned, placing something on the table.
"Here's your employment contract."
"Employment… uh, contract?"
"Sadly, only minimum wage. I'll arrange accommodation. Oh, can you read Korean?"
Seohyeon inspected the contract under light. No hidden writing or magical symbols.