abcnovels
Chapter 69:
Chapter 69:
Chapter 69:
Chapter 69
The place that Kang Hye-rim, Baek Seo-ryeon and I visited was the headquarters of a magazine company.
It was the place that published the monthly magazine Collectors, which was filled with information related to collectors.
Maybe they had received a heads-up beforehand, but one of the employees came out to greet us at the entrance and guided us inside.
Seo-ryeon had some other business to take care of, so we parted ways at the lobby, and Hye-rim and I moved to the upper floor of the building for the interview.
“This place is huge.”
Hye-rim whispered to me quietly, so that the employee wouldn’t hear.
“Business related to collectors is quite big, you know. It’s not a joke to call it a magazine. It’s one of the top three in the country in terms of size.”
Besides, they didn’t just publish magazines, they also sold products and supplies related to collectors.
It wasn’t a conglomerate, but it was definitely bigger than any average small or medium-sized company.
She seemed to be intimidated by my words, as her shoulders slightly shrank.
So I lightly patted her shoulder.
“Don’t be too nervous. You are a collector who deserves respect from everyone.”
“Me?”
“Not now, but you will be in the future.”
“Thank you.”
Hye-rim smiled faintly and then quickly composed her expression when she noticed that the employee was looking at us.
The male employee was fixated on her appearance as if he had lost his soul, but then he blushed and coughed.
“I think you can meet the person in charge from here.”
“Thank you for guiding us.”
Hye-rim nodded her head slightly instead of answering verbally.
You would think that he would be offended by such an attitude, but since it suited her appearance and seemed natural, he didn’t seem to mind at all.
No, rather he seemed grateful that she nodded at his question and even smiled awkwardly.
Hmm.
I wonder if he would react the same way if he knew her true nature.
“Oh my. Welcome.”
The person in charge of the interview was a splendid career woman.
She was young, in her late twenties, and had short hair and a cat-like beauty.
She wore glasses without frames, and she greeted us warmly with a smile in her eyes when she saw us.
“First of all, I want to thank you for agreeing to do this interview.”
“No, it’s nothing. It’s good for both of us anyway.”
I stepped forward and answered on behalf of Hye-rim, and her eyes sparkled.
“Who are you sir?”
“My name is Kang Yu-hyun. I’m assisting collector Kang Hye-rim.”
“Oh my. So there was another manager besides Seo-ryeon. Nice to meet you. My name is Shin Ga-ryeong. I’m in charge of the department that handles Collecting magazine.”
Seo-ryeon?
Was this the person that Seo-ryeon mentioned as her acquaintance?
“Speaking of which, you’re a team leader? Why are you doing the interview yourself?”
“Hehe. Normally, I personally check and decide on the collectors who will be featured in the magazine. You can think of it as my personal hobby. I’m curious about what kind of person the collector who does the interview is.”
“I see.”
Hmm.
Well, she passed the mindset test.
I was worried that she might ignore or look down on Hye-rim because she hadn’t built up her reputation yet, but it seems like there’s no need for that.
Moreover, she wasn’t dazzled by Hye-rim’s appearance, but rather showed interest in her as a collector.
She must have been around this field for a long time and had a good eye for talent.
“Well then, why don’t we start with some questions?”
As soon as she started working, Shin Ga-ryeong’s eyes became sharp.
I thought she had a cat-like face before, but now she looked more like a cheetah hunting its prey.
But Hye-rim, who had experienced various things in different worlds of thought, didn’t shrink back and maintained her demeanor as a sword master.
“Ahem. Recently, unlike other collectors, you have only cleared several worlds of thought. This was unprecedented in the last few years. What is your purpose for clearing worlds of thought?”
“I don’t need a reason to clear worlds of thought. I’m a collector, so I just did what I had to do.”
“What is your main weapon and do you have any plans to reveal your attribute?”
“My main weapon is a sword. You only need to know that my attribute is related to swords. I can’t reveal anything more than that.”
“I see. I understand. Attributes are usually the lifeline of collectors, after all. Recently, you have been called a sword master, what are your thoughts on that? And do you have any future plans?”
“Yes. About that…”
The interview went on smoothly without any hitch.
Thanks to the heads-up I gave Hye-rim beforehand, she only said what was necessary and hid what was important.
If there were any mistakes in between, I stepped in and filled in the gaps.
And so, the interview ended successfully without any problems.
“Ho ho. This is, well. You two were so good at answering that I don’t think there will be any issues.”
“I guess other collectors weren’t like that?”
“Oh dear. Don’t even get me started.”
Shin Ga-ryeong sighed as if she remembered something unpleasant when I asked her.
“Some collectors act like they are so important, and they make a big fuss about the atmosphere. When I ask them to do an interview, they either act like they are too good for it or they try to flirt with me during the interview. It’s really disgusting.”
“That must have been hard.”
“Well, men are like that, but women are not easy either. Some of them openly complain in front of me that they have to do an interview in a place like this. Of course, there are also nice and sincere collectors, but they are a minority.”
“Haha. That’s how it is when you deal with people. What can you do?”
“Compared to those people, Hye-rim is so well-behaved that I actually like her. She also answers well. Of course, she is hiding the things that I’m really curious about.”
“That’s a trade secret, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“That’s why I’m more curious.”
She said that and winked at me playfully.
“By the way, I heard something interesting a while ago.”
“What did you hear?”
“…?”
Hye-rim and I were puzzled by her sudden change of tone.
“I heard that there is a teller who lives among humans.”
“…”
“That’s an interesting story, right? Usually tellers don’t do that. They have some kind of protection or something, and they are untouchable beings from another dimension. But this teller gave up his protection. And he travels around worlds of thought with a collector.”
I see.
Now I know why she kept me here separately after Hye-rim’s interview.
“So what do you want to ask me?”
“I was wondering if it would be nice to do an interview with such a teller, just a small wish of mine.”
She said that but her eyes were scrutinizing me intensely.
She seemed to be sure that I was that teller.
I didn’t believe it when people told me that I was a teller, but this is the first time someone is sure that I am one from the start.
I nodded my head obediently.
“Yes, that’s me. I’m the teller from the urban legend that’s spreading around.”
“Oh my, really!”
“Didn’t you already know? That’s why you kept me here.”
“Hehe. Sorry. When you work in this field, you naturally hear a lot of things. So I was just curious. I wanted to know what kind of person the teller from the rumor was. Oh, don’t be too upset. The original purpose was to interview Hye-rim anyway.”
“So I’m just a bonus?”
“Don’t they say that dessert is the sweetest? Well, I also have some things that I want to ask you as a bonus. It’s more of my personal curiosity than journalism for the public.”
“You’re honest.”
“That’s how sincere I am.”
She winked at me as if she was teasing me, and I raised my hands in surrender.
“So what are you curious about?”
“Oh, can I put this in the magazine?”
“That would be difficult for now.”
“Can I ask why?”
“It’s not good for me to be exposed right now.”
“…Ah, I think I get it.”
If she revealed me here, it would overshadow Hye-rim’s existence.
No matter how good it is for me, it would be counterproductive if Hye-rim, who made a contract with me, got buried because of me.
The priority is Hye-rim’s reputation, and I should naturally follow after that.
“I didn’t expect you to think that far ahead. You seem to care a lot about the collector.”
“Did it show?”
“Yes. Just by talking and exchanging glances with each other, I could guess easily. The other tellers I’ve seen were arrogant and treated collectors like tools. But you’re completely different. Honestly, if you didn’t admit it yourself, I wouldn’t believe that you’re a teller.”
“Well, there are all kinds of people in the world, right? Tellers are no exception. There is at least one teller like me out there.”
“Snort. Are you saying that yourself?”
Anyway, the main interview is Hye-rim’s thing.
If I have to do it myself, maybe two months later would be appropriate.
“Then, there is something else I want to ask you. Off the record.”
“What is it? If it’s not a problem, I can answer it.”
“The reason for clearing worlds of thought. Do you have one?”
“Hmm.”
I didn’t expect her to ask me that here.
“What reason would I have? It’s the most effective way, that’s all.”
“To gain popularity?”
“What else is more important for a collector than popularity?”
“But it doesn’t seem worth it to do something that makes you hated by the same kind of people.”
She was right about that.
Clearing worlds of thought was essentially antagonizing other collectors.
It was like stealing their food, after all.
She must have guessed that there was another reason that others didn’t know.
And that was the right answer.
“I can’t answer that question right now. If I have to, I’ll do it later.”
“Why? Is it not possible now?”
“You wouldn’t like it if you knew.”
“Even if I promise not to tell anyone?”
“You wouldn’t be able to handle it yourself.”
I answered seriously and Shin Ga-ryeong closed her lips.
Hye-rim, who had been quietly watching our conversation, also looked at me with a slightly anxious expression.
“You won’t understand what I’m saying right now. But since you know that we have a specific purpose for moving around, I’m telling you this. There is definitely a personal reason. But I’m looking at something bigger than that.”
“…”
“It’s funny to say this to someone I just met. Anyway, I think I’ve answered enough.”
In the end, Shin Ga-ryeong gave up with a sigh.
“This is, well. I was hoping to get a good material, but I feel like I only got a burden on my mind.”
“But today’s meeting was quite enjoyable.”
“Me too. Well, that’s beside the point. I want to keep in touch with you personally, Yu-hyun.”
“Yes?”
I was startled by her confident words and Hye-rim glared at Shin Ga-ryeong with a sharp look.
“Hehe. Just kidding. Let’s end the interview here.”
She brushed off the situation smoothly. Hmm.
She’s not someone to be taken lightly.
I had a feeling that this is what Baek Seo-ryeon would be like if she grew up in a different direction.
Anyway, the interview ended without any problems.
We were escorted by Shin Ga-ryeong to the lobby on the first floor and Baek Seo-ryeon joined us there.
“How was the interview?”
“It seemed to go well.”
“She’s a bit playful, but she didn’t do anything bad to you, right?”
“Not really. But why does it look so busy around here?”
The lobby was full of employees running around. It was clearly different from when we came in.
“Oh. That’s because a famous collector is visiting apparently.”
“A famous collector?”
“Yes. His name is Ju Kyung-soo. He’s an intermediate collector of rank 5. His rank is average, but he’s very active in public activities and popular among the masses.”
“Why is he coming here all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know.”
As soon as he said that, the entrance of the lobby opened and a flashy-looking man entered.
He had bodyguards around him, but I wondered why a collector needed bodyguards.
‘He looks like he loves showing off.’
But there was one strange thing.
‘Why is he coming this way?’
The guy with sunglasses came straight towards me.
He stopped in front of me and took off his sunglasses and greeted me.
Not me, but Hye-rim.
“Nice to meet you, beautiful lady.”
What the hell is this guy?