“What do you mean by suspicious?”

When asked with puzzlement, Kwon Se-jeong uncharacteristically licked her lips lightly. Her expression was such that even onlookers could feel her anxiety. Had something happened at yesterday’s party?

“It’s okay to speak slowly. Why don’t we sit down first?”

To ease the tension, Ryu Seo-ha deliberately suggested sitting down in a lighter tone. The three sat in a circle on the shock-absorbing mat, and confirmed a minimum level of trust towards each other with a moment of ensuing silence.

“Actually, I felt something was off since we met before.”

“When?”

“Since the day we took a group photo as popup dungeon survivors… I’ve been suspicious since then.”

As it was an internationally notable incident, popup dungeon survivors were flooded with all sorts of event proposals. Taking photos and keeping records with association officials was commonplace.

He said that even the event scheduled for the day he fainted and woke up proceeded as planned. Though it faced criticism for being incomplete without Ryu Seo-ha, who was absent due to the kidnapping incident.

“Specifically, in what way?”

“How should I put it… Like a doppelganger that still needs an adaptation period?”

Kwon Se-jeong answered in a very cautious tone with furrowed brows.

“Doppelgangers shouldn’t be that common of a monster.”

Choi Gang-hu, who had been listening silently, interjected in an indifferent tone. That was true. If the number or frequency of appearance of highest alert grade monsters was that high, this society would have been paralyzed long ago.

“Can you tell us why you felt that way?”

He could guess why Kwon Se-jeong was being so careful with every word. Hwang Munseok is the First Director of the Awakened Management Bureau. He was essentially an important figure at the vice-ministerial level of the executive branch.

A position overseeing all policy decisions related to the domestic hunter industry. To suspect such a person of being a doppelganger? If proven true, it would turn the whole country upside down.

“Actually,”

Kwon Se-jeong, about to continue speaking, took a breath. It was a breath tinged with hesitation.

“Actually, Director Hwang Munseok is my father.”

A sudden, matter-of-fact confession. A question mark appeared on Choi Gang-hu’s previously indifferent face. Ryu Seo-ha quietly nodded. This was content that had been covered as a short episode in the original work as well.

“Don’t you have different surnames?”

“I inherited my mother’s surname.”

“Single mother?”

“…More like a divorcée, if we’re being precise.”

Choi Gang-hu frowned, not immediately understanding the explanation added in a dark voice. Ryu Seo-ha swallowed a sigh that was about to escape as he saw Kwon Se-jeong’s dimly flickering eyes.

In his youth, Hwang Munseok deeply loved Kwon Se-jeong’s mother. Without knowing at all that she had a husband. Only when a child was conceived as the fruit of their love did he come to witness the truth.

“My mother was, to put it kindly, a free spirit. Under the pretext of living a life true to her current emotions, she left deep scars on many people.”

After the birth, Hwang Munseok, declaring he would only take responsibility for the child, resolutely ended his relationship with the woman he had loved so much. It was meant for her to atone and return to her family, but Kwon Se-jeong’s mother ended up being divorced by her husband.

“I grew up under my maternal grandmother, but never felt financially lacking. Thanks to Director Hwang Munseok sending large sums of money monthly under the name of child support.”

A bitter smile flashed across Kwon Se-jeong’s lips. It was an expression that revealed the struggles of someone who had strived all their life not to live like their mother.

The attitude towards dealing with the past that had been revealed as a common denominator with the very different Choi Gang-hu. It was one of the reasons why he had especially cheered for Kwon Se-jeong while devouring the original work in his previous life.

“So. In what ways did you feel he was different from usual?”

Choi Gang-hu, who had been listening silently, reiterated the topic as if to return to the main point. His tone was devoid of any emotion. Amusingly, he felt relieved at the different reaction from the original work where they had formed a rapport.

“He seemed… not to recognize me. More precisely, me as his daughter.”

“He treated you completely officially?”

“Yes. It was the same at the party to encourage the delegation, and his tastes seemed to have changed too.”

“Couldn’t he just be trying to separate public and private matters? Tastes naturally change over time.”

Certainly, it could sound like flimsy evidence. If one didn’t know how dearly Hwang Munseok thought of Kwon Se-jeong, or that he was a person who couldn’t easily hide his inner affection.

“He has a shellfish allergy, but at the party, he ate shrimp with relish.”

Shaking her head slightly, Kwon Se-jeong briefly explained yesterday’s events. He showed no reaction even after eating butter-fried shrimp. At that point, it seemed more suspicious of being a shapeshifter than a doppelganger.

“I heard that you two excellently identified a doppelganger that had infiltrated during the hunter exam.”

“Hmm.”

“Please, help me.”

There was a sense of desperation in Kwon Se-jeong’s appearance as she bowed her head politely while making the request. Though not the type to be particularly affectionate just because he’s her father, naturally she would be concerned about her own flesh and blood.

“My skill only applies to actions, so.”

Unfortunately, without a clear incident that needs to be discerned, it wasn’t easy to identify the other party’s identity with the skill [Word and Deed Consistency]. Because the range of questions expands infinitely.

“…There is a method we could try.”

After pondering for a moment, he cautiously expressed his willingness to help, and Choi Gang-hu frowned. His expression clearly showed disapproval to anyone looking.

“Are you going to get involved again?”

It was understandable. There’s a limit to meddling, but here he was lending a hand in every incident happening around him. However, this time there was an aspect that couldn’t be overlooked.

“There’s something a bit suspicious.”

Choi Gang-hu, letting out a soft sigh, roughly ran his hand through his bangs.

“What do you mean by suspicious…?”

“I’ll tell you when my suspicion turns into certainty. First, after meeting Director Hwang Munseok separately.”

Ryu Seo-ha deflected Kwon Se-jeong’s questioning with an evasive answer and lightly ran a simulation in his head. Hoping his own speculation was just needless worry.

“You can’t go alone.”

Choi Gang-hu said firmly in a tone more resolute than ever, firmly gripping Ryu Seo-ha’s elbow with his large palm as they sat side by side.

“Let’s meet him together instead.”

“If we do that, it’ll probably be several times harder to confirm the truth.”

“Regardless of the reason, I can’t let you go alone.”

It was an unprecedentedly firm voice.

“I won’t be alone.”

He spoke soothingly and gently covered the back of Choi Gang-hu’s hand resting on his thick thigh. A hesitant movement was transmitted through his palm.

“Because you’ve assigned me reliable bodyguards.”

If it was Choi Gang-hu, he probably hadn’t left him alone for even a moment since the kidnapping incident. Apart from the bodyguards dispatched by the association or Promhell Guild, there would be a team utilizing stealth skills or items.

“That’s not enough.”

“I also have a characteristic that can protect myself.”

“You’re so bold. Not knowing the identity of the other party. Don’t you think you could be kidnapped again?”

“I’ll be careful to absolutely prevent that, but even if I do get kidnapped, you’ll come to rescue me, right?”

It was a statement that could be seen as frustrating, dependent, and even troublesome. But Choi Gang-hu’s slightly softened expression revealed that the statement had rather given him satisfaction.

Sighing again, he looked once at Kwon Se-jeong waiting with her lips tightly closed, once at Ryu Seo-ha’s white hand patting the back of his own hand, and then shook his head as if admitting defeat.

“But, there’s a condition.”

As a result, the one-on-one meeting with Hwang Munseok was able to proceed.

❖ ❖ ❖

The main artificial island created for the competition after the venue selection.

“Oh, Hunter Ryu Seo-ha. Welcome.”

As he entered the interior that was an exact replica of Caffè Florian, a famous spot in nearby Venice and Europe’s first café, Director Hwang Munseok greeted him with a very delighted face. There were no other customers besides them.

Though not located in a busy area, it was supposed to be quite a famous café. It seemed Hwang Munseok had rented out the entire place for a quiet meeting. Or perhaps Choi Gang-hu or Kwon Se-jeong had taken precautions in advance for any possible situations.

“I didn’t expect to see you alone like this. I was really disappointed when I heard you couldn’t come to the party yesterday. Come, sit down, sit down.”

Ryu Seo-ha sat opposite the seat with an espresso cup and briefly looked around the room that felt more like a theme room than a café. The portraits that matched well with the medieval-style interior caught his eye.

“What coffee would you like? The cappuccino is the most popular here, they say.”

Accepting Hwang Munseok’s recommendation, who was consistently friendly in his attitude, he ordered a cappuccino. Hwang Munseok also added an order for a panini generously filled with mozzarella cheese.

Was it because he was suspicious? Even while knowing it was an unfavorable prejudice, he thought the order seemed somewhat disconnected for a man in his 50s.

He almost inadvertently reached for the part where he was wearing a defensive item. It was an item that activates automatically anyway. He consciously relaxed his eyes to avoid showing his heightened tension.

“So, why did you want to meet?”

As he carefully observed Hwang Munseok’s expression asking back while lifting a small espresso cup, he took out the business card he had received before and placed it on the table.

“You told me to contact you when I had time.”

Hwang Munseok’s expression noticeably brightened.

“Have you thought about moving to a government position?”

His upper body leaned sharply towards the table. As if ready to handle the contract termination procedure and penalty issue on his behalf anytime if he just said the word.

“No.”

“Haha, still as resolute as ever. Then for what reason?”

Even when flatly denied, he showed no sign of disappointment and rather asked back with a strange expectation. It seemed as if another face was overlapping on his expression. Even though they didn’t have many commonalities in appearance or speech. This firmed his resolve.

“I wanted to hear the details. About the amazing peculiarity found in my blood.”

He decided to throw a direct curveball without beating around the bush.