Murim Login - Chapter 95
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 95
‘Hehehehe. Success.’
Hong Woo-jin laughed with unbridled satisfaction. He was a veteran at monitoring every move of his targets and extracting all their secrets.
The information that Jin Tae-kyung’s Younger Sister was absolutely obsessed with animals—cats in particular—proved especially useful.
“Meow, answer me. Feels good to be home, doesn’t it?”
The infiltration was seamless, flawless. Inside the kitten’s body, Hong Woo-jin let out a silent roar of triumph.
Meow.
“Kyaa, so cute! Elder Brother, did you just hear that? Did you?”
“Yeah. I heard.”
“How can you be so indifferent to something this adorable? Are you even human?”
“Then what am I, a beast?”
The problem was Jin Tae-kyung. That guy.
No matter how emotionally parched a person was, their heart should soften before something cute, especially a tiny kitten. But…
“Move over a bit. You’re blocking the TV screen.”
This one had none of that. His sensitivity was drier than the Sahara, and his Younger Sister, Jin Ha-yeon, grumbled in frustration.
“Ugh, even if someone’s cold-hearted, there’s a limit. Right, Summer?”
“Summer?”
“Yeah. Born in summer, so midsummer. Pretty name, right?”
“Midsummer? Looking at the size, this one’s at least three months old—born in late spring, so late spring would make more sense.”
“…Is that even logic, or are you just talking nonsense? Anyway, from today on, her name is Summer. Right, Summer?”
Meow.
From Hong Woo-jin’s perspective, Jin Ha-yeon was the greatest asset. Thanks to her, everything was unfolding smoothly.
“Kyaah! She answered! Summer just answered her sister, didn’t she? Didn’t she?”
Meow.
“Oh my heart!”
Hehe, such an easy mark. Just a few meows and she’s absolutely smitten.
‘This is why high school girls are… no wait, my choice of Familiar was brilliant.’
Hong Woo-jin was grinning contentedly when—
Jin Tae-kyung, who had been blankly staring at the TV, suddenly dropped a comment.
“That’s a male, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Well…”
“You don’t know yet?”
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t checked.”
“Check. Let’s see.”
What?
Things were taking an unexpected turn. Though his body was that of a kitten, Hong Woo-jin was still a vigorous young man. As Jin Tae-kyung’s large hand approached, shame suddenly washed over him.
‘That filthy bastard is going to see my…?’
To be precise, this body wasn’t Hong Woo-jin’s. Since the species was different, the physical structure was too.
However, Familiar magic meant the caster and Familiar shared everything. As a result, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
‘Absolutely not!’
Hong Woo-jin scrambled frantically into Jin Ha-yeon’s embrace.
Meowwww.
“Oh my, it seems like she doesn’t like this?”
“That’s just how the world works. Where can you find someone who only does what they want?”
“But Yeoreum is a cat.”
“Cats are no different. If she wants to eat fresh food and snag a can of treats, she has to put up with this much.”
That crazy bastard. Spouting nonsense about checking the cat’s sex. I ground my teeth and clung to Jin Ha-yeon, my only hope.
As I rubbed my entire body against her arm and shot her a pitiful gaze, her eyes softened visibly.
“What do I do? She’s so cute I could die.”
“Right, so let’s check since she’s so cute.”
“Next time. The poor thing is scared.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Yeoreum clearly doesn’t like you, oppa.”
The key was to let out a whimper at just the right moment.
Mew. Mewww.
“See? I told you, right?”
“…Well, I suppose there’s no helping it then.”
“Look at you, forcing your hands on the poor thing. Kittens are sensitive—you have to be careful with them.”
Done. I’d averted the immediate crisis. Jin Tae-kyung might act like a lunatic living alone in the world, but he was weak when it came to family.
Having already memorized all the preliminary information provided by the Sangdong Guild, I believed I was thinking several moves ahead.
‘This is why information matters. You’ve already fallen into my trap.’
But there was one fact I hadn’t anticipated.
“Little sister.”
“Hm?”
“Do you need more pocket money?”
“…Are you seriously trying to bribe me with money right now so you can mess with our Yeoreum?”
“Yeah. 100,000 won.”
“Deal. But you have to be gentle—she really doesn’t like it, okay?”
“There’s a wallet on my desk. Go grab it.”
“Eek!”
Meow?
As Jin Ha-yeon vanished like a bullet, I let out a meow laden with disbelief.
So cute she could die? Our Yeoreum? Really?
‘I can’t believe how two-faced she is.’
Just moments ago she was acting like she’d give me the world, and now she’s abandoning our Yeoreum for a measly 100,000 won?
But there was no time to lament the harsh realities of capitalist society.
“Now, let’s play with me.”
Snatch.
Jin Tae-kyung’s eerie laugh as he bound my limbs with lightning speed.
I let out a desperate cry.
‘Let go! Let go, you bastard!’
Hiss! Hisssss!
At the sound of the kitten’s fur standing on end and hissing, my only hope—rummaging through Tae-kyung’s wallet—responded.
“Brother!”
“Yeah, take another hundred thousand won.”
“Thanks!”
No, no!
My only hope had fallen into the slavery of capitalism!
Before the shock could even fade, Tae-kyung’s hot breath rushed toward me.
“Should we show our Summer some chili peppers?”
A moment of absolute crisis.
‘Link—deactivate!’
Meoooow!
With a mournful cry, all strength drained from the kitten’s body.
And in some dark place, Hong Woo-jin opened his eyes and gasped for breath.
“Gahhh!”
Since becoming a hunter and handling roughly a hundred requests large and small, this was the first time I’d felt such a threat to my life.
Looking down at my arms, where goosebumps were rising, I began to retch.
“Ugh.”
My stomach churned and my head throbbed.
Side effects from the sudden link deactivation. Only after chugging the potion I’d prepared beforehand like cold water could Hong Woo-jin finally catch his breath.
“Jin Tae-kyung, you son of a bitch….”
This was the moment I regretted accepting the request in the first place.
* * *
[Lv.2 Cat]
“Gone, it’s gone.”
I clicked my tongue and released the kitten. Three months old, perhaps. The creature, smaller than two palms pressed together, stumbled backward with a bewildered expression.
Meow.
Ha-yeon, leaving my room, discovered the scene.
“You didn’t do anything mean to our Summer, did you?”
“And you’re the one who sold that Summer for two hundred thousand won?”
“…Hmm. Hmm.”
“Fine. Geez, even when you pick something up, it’s always something like that.”
“What are you saying? This one’s so cute.”
“That’s not it… Never mind. Let’s not talk about it.”
It’s too long and complicated to explain one by one. And I had no intention of explaining anyway.
What if I told her that some sinister bastard was inside the cat’s body, observing us? She’d be anxious beyond measure. My family must never know what’s happening now.
‘It’s something I approved of anyway.’
The reason I brought a Familiar Mage into the house wasn’t because Ha-yeon asked or Mother permitted it.
‘It’s because I wanted to.’
Regardless of who hired them, they’ll keep trying even if I chase them away right now.
Whether the Familiar takes the form of an insect like last time or a cat like today doesn’t matter.
What matters is that I already know the Familiar’s true identity and can strike it down whenever I want.
‘It’s definitely around here.’
Within 500 meters of the house at most. Somewhere in that radius is the Familiar Mage controlling it. If I shake down that bastard, I’ll definitely find the connection.
‘First, I’ll plant a fist in that bastard’s mouth and get some answers.’
After all, the guy illegally surveilled a civilian—he obviously won’t be able to report me. Just thinking about giving him a proper beating made my fists itch.
‘How dare they mess around at my house?’
My vacation got interrupted, and thanks to these bastards, I’ve already spent over 300 million won. This is turning into a losing proposition any way you look at it.
Sitting with my face all scrunched up watching TV, Ha-yeon cautiously opened her mouth, gauging my mood.
“Oppa, are you angry?”
“No. What’s there to be angry about?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…Why are you doing this? You’re starting to scare me.”
I wasn’t joking—I was genuinely shocked. More shocked than when I first discovered the Familiar. Did I not know she could say things like this?
I asked her seriously.
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
“No, it’s just…”
“Then are you hungry?”
“It’s not that…”
Just as Ha-yeon stopped mid-sentence, a rumbling sound came from somewhere.
Not me. Mom stepped out for a moment to take care of something.
“You’re hungry.”
“Um, a little?”
“See, you’re so hungry you’re talking nonsense. You know where my wallet is, right? Order whatever you want to eat.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Up to 100,000 won.”
“Wow, you’re making money and suddenly you’re generous. Our oppa.”
After all these years, I finally heard “our oppa.” It was the first time since Ha-yeon was in middle school, and it gave me chills.
“You’re a Familiar, you little bastard!”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Anyway, so I can order up to 100,000 won?”
“Yeah, no wait. Yeah. Order whatever you want.”
“What about the rest?”
“…Did you leave money with me?”
“More is always better.”
I was exasperated by Ha-yeon’s boldness, but at the same time, I was happy.
This girl had never once asked for pocket money. Just looking at the clothes she wore and her general appearance, she was far more modest than other kids her age I’d often see on the streets.
‘Like an old soul.’
Now that I think about it, Ha-yeon had always been like that. She didn’t cry easily and rarely expressed her emotions openly. It was actually after she started high school that she became the way she is now.
Sometimes she could afford to be a bit childish…but she grew up too fast.
Perhaps even more so than I do.
Maybe that’s why? Nothing about the kid’s actions or words bothered me. If anything, I felt proud and pleased.
“Yeah, take it all. Take everything.”
“Really?”
“Mm.”
Ha-yeon broke into a bright smile at my words.
“Thank goodness. I was worried for nothing.”
“What do you have to apologize for?”
“I took 300,000 won from your wallet earlier.”
“…What?”
“But since you said I could take everything left over after spending 100,000 won, I feel so much better now.”
“Wait, didn’t I tell you to take 200,000 won?”
“It was an accidental oversight.”
“…Isn’t that an accidental crime?”
Never mind what I said earlier.
The sight of her humming as she walked into her room was absolutely infuriating.
* * *
The Security Team Leader of Sangdong Guild furrowed his brow.
“A cat familiar?”
“Yes, we’re certain of it.”
The person who answered with such conviction was a member of the Security Team and the guild’s only Familiar Mage. Though he was merely a C-rank hunter, his rarity as a psychic-type mage made him a core member of the Security Team.
“The target’s younger sister is apparently a cat enthusiast. He exploited that weakness perfectly.”
“Can’t you read the room? Are you really praising that bastard in front of me right now?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Team Leader 1 told me that Hong Woo-jin called to complain that we almost got caught because of him.”
“….”
“Well, when you think about it, that bastard is on our side too. But should we really be losing to some freelancer? Don’t you know the Guild Master is paying special attention to this?”
Six people had been deployed for this operation, including him. One was the Familiar Mage, four were close-range hunters specialized in tracking and concealment, and the team leader himself was a B-rank hunter.
“I think you’re all misunderstanding something. We didn’t come here just to take down one C-rank hunter.”
The Security Team Leader stared at his team members with a menacing expression.
This was a direct order from the Guild Master. They had to produce results that exceeded the directive itself.
“Let’s do this right. This is coming straight from the Guild Master. Are you planning to stop here? You should be getting bonuses and promotions.”
The team members bowed their heads in silence.
The Security Team Leader was the one who desired bonuses and promotions most desperately. The hysteria of a middle-aged breadwinner whose retirement was drawing near was no longer a matter of just a day or two.
“And you.”
The Security Team Leader pointed at the Familiar Mage.
“You do a cat too.”
“A cat? But the other side already did that.”
“So what? Do you want to end up dead like last time, fumbling around with an uncontrollable micro-sized familiar?”
“….”
“Do as I say. The girl’s a cat enthusiast, isn’t she?”
What choice did I have? After the Security Team Leader stormed out in a fit, I immediately powered on my smartphone and began searching.
Click. Click. Click.
[Ilsan Cat Adoption]
“…Will they process this as a receipt too?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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