Unlike the thrill of the previous day, the ride home was quiet and peaceful.As we passed through the area where the fight had been, Muhae paused, frowning at thoughts of the Twilight Fang’s remains, then clicked his tongue and urged the driver on.After two days’ journey, our rental vehicle arrived in Goryeo City in the early afternoon.Muhae completed the mission turn-in, reported the strange Anomaly sighting in an unusual location, and only after resting for some time did we enter the Tae-eul District.“Temporary registration?”“He’s someone we rescued outside not long ago. He lost his memory in the accident and we’re just watching over him.”“He looks fine. Who’s vouching for him?”“We are. He’s just tagging along to see the city—and we didn’t want to leave him behind when we went for a free drink.”Aside from a brief delay because Joo-o wasn’t registered as a citizen, everything went smoothly.Not that Muhae had ulterior motives, but having Joo-o—who looked harmless—at his side would draw less suspicion. No one in their right mind would bring an unpredictable partner into the city if they were up to something.So it was only at dusk that Muhae finally crossed into the official residential area.Even the poorest streets of the Tae-eul District were orderly. Roads stretched out in straight lines, and the buildings rose in uniform rows. Of course, the farther from the center you went, the more characterful the constructions became, but compared to the haphazard extensions in the slums, this felt remarkably tidy.Joo-o seemed to notice, too, his curious gaze darting about. Muhae gripped his arm and pulled him alongside, making sure he couldn’t break off and wander.“Heh heh.”That foolish little laugh drifted to my ear. The smile beneath Joo-o’s hood was genuinely happy.His grin never faltered—whether we were meeting the client or stepping into a shabby tavern. As a result, people couldn’t help but glance at us wherever we went.Muhae himself was tall and sharply featured—hard to miss—and Joo-o, with only his lower face visible, had an oddly charming presence.The client, visibly relaxed now that we’d returned to Goryeo City, must have noticed the attention we were drawing.“Let’s move to an inner table,” he said, picking a secluded spot. Beer and simple snacks arrived promptly.Muhae lifted the glass in front of Joo-o and sipped, sliding the plate of food aside.“That was quite an experience. I ran into some acquaintances today, and they couldn’t believe I’d actually been there. When I told them I’d seen an Anomaly, they panicked.”“They just issued an Anomaly alert in that sector—you must’ve drawn some attention.”“I’ve heard about you, too. You’re pretty famous in those circles. Well, all the same… thank you for taking my request. Truly.”If you know enough to thank me, please don’t bother me with requests next time. I almost swallowed the words, remembering that there would be no next request from this man.We ended up making small talk. Muhae didn’t mind interacting with people, but with work ahead, his sociability plummeted.At just the right moment, Joo-o spoke up.“When are we leaving?”“Why? Bored? We’ll be here at least two or three hours.”“Going alone?”“……”“……”“You’re not asking when I’m heading home, are you?”Remarkably, Joo-o guessed Muhae’s schedule without explanation, probably overhearing Dr. Jeong at the clinic. He’d spoken openly enough that anyone with ears could hear, but it still felt strange that Joo-o understood the logistics from just that snippet.He was still something of a lunatic—if he suddenly showed restraint, Muhae found it unsettling.“I’ll be back soon. Until then, eat whatever you want.”“Hmm… I’m torn.”“Don’t be. Just eat your meal—no funny business. If anyone talks to you, don’t answer. Got it?”“I’ll eat a lot. Since Muhae isn’t here.”“When have you ever said you ate too much?”He’d already devoured the snacks we’d ordered alone, and while Muhae drank with the client, Joo-o had clung to his arm as if holding on for dear life.It was annoying, but soon I’d have to leave him behind. To keep him satisfied, Muhae sacrificed one free arm and bought time.“I’ll be right back—going to the restroom.”Feigning full enjoyment of the meal, Muhae finally rose.“Again—”“I’ll be eating.”Warmth lingered in Joo-o’s arm as Muhae gave him a quick glance, then hurried out of the tavern.Once Muhae was gone, the buoyant mood in Joo-o’s chest sank slightly.It was his first time inside Tae-eul District, so he was excited, but still… something felt off.Joo-o frowned and began ordering almost everything on the menu. Crispy fries, steak, fried rice—if all that arrived, the hollow feeling might ease. When the fragrant aroma hit his nose, he’d surely lose half his reason and gorge himself.“This is for Muhae,” he announced.The client’s face stiffened at the mountain of food, then relaxed when he heard those words. Understandable—he’d taken on debt covering his late wife’s hospital bills five years ago, and though he’d paid it off with his savings, now the only money left was for his own burial.In La Vida Blue, NPCs all had backstories. Even in a buggy game, sub-quests were startlingly detailed. Finding these side-stories was part of the charm—even if the main plot was flawed, these little dramas were obsessively crafted.Joo-o didn’t mind the dense tangents. “‘Feels like I’m really living here,’” he must have thought. Even without his past memories, the emotions he’d felt playing the game remained etched inside him. He’d been obsessed with this crap game—otherwise, he wouldn’t have remembered details after fifteen rough years.“What was your wife like?”Without thinking, Joo-o grew curious about details the game never revealed. Now that La Vida Blue was real, he’d collect even more story and items, and his heart raced at the thought.“Uh… ordinary. As ordinary as me. But she was more resourceful than I was, and very understanding.”“Did you have children?”“I… wanted them, but it didn’t work out.”Remembering the love letters he’d found in the game, Joo-o fell silent and stared at the client’s hand.Just then, our mountain of food began to arrive. The scent was intoxicating, but having been human for only a few days, Joo-o could resist better than before.“Here.”He pushed a spoonful of fried rice toward the client, then picked up his own bowl. The nutty, salty, spicy-sweet richness filled his hollow stomach.He wasn’t even eating quickly, yet the food vanished miraculously. Passersby stared.“You really can eat.”“Muhae said the same thing.”“I’ll keep eating. I’m heading to the restroom soon.”As he left, the attention grew more blatant. Just as Joo-o was slicing another thick steak, someone approached our secluded table.“Hey, you seriously gonna eat all that?”A rough voice. The man’s close-cropped hair and coarse features looked menacing.Joo-o glanced briefly, then pretended not to see and focused on his meal. He felt a sudden touch but ignored it; in retaliation, his hood was yanked off.“Don’t recognize you around here.”What the hell… he was some extra NPC I’d never seen, acting like he owned the place.Low-life gangs existed everywhere, and trouble followed them. But compared to the slums, these guys were amateurs—still, they could be dangerous.Joo-o remembered Muhae’s warning to stay put and only ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) frowned softly, his lips tightening. He cared more about Muhae’s mission—and his meal—than these punks.Perhaps annoyed, the close-cropped thug reached for Joo-o again.“…!”“I don’t think it even tastes that great.”The thug snatched a slab of steak and jammed it into his mouth.Joo-o’s calm eyes flickered with warning.

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