Chapter 62: Between Chaos and Order (2)

The maintenance room was abuzz with Miss Choi’s work in full swing. She had rolled up her sleeves and was fully focused on tuning up the Red Hare.

The better its performance got, the broader her smile grew, even though it wasn’t her own bike.

Watching her profile as she sweated profusely, Kim Changsik gave a faint smile.

“That guy from earlier… he’s Python, right?”

Miss Choi suddenly asked Kim Changsik, tightening a bolt with a monkey wrench. Sweat pooled thickly along the well-defined lines of her toned muscles.

“The one the Cult Leader and Executive Kim are protecting from Megacorp and the City Government.”

“Heh heh.”

Kim Changsik’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the question. It was the first time Miss Choi had shown interest in a human rather than a machine.

He nodded casually.

“The sun must be rising in the west. Miss Choi, showing interest in another person? Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s not quite interest. He’s just the biggest urban legend in the City lower levels lately. His moves are anything but ordinary, like you said.”

The cult’s intelligence network rivaled that of the Beggar Clan. As the saying goes, birds hear daytime whispers and rats hear nighttime ones. The cult’s executives collected rumors fluttering about during the day like they had wings.

On top of that, the Cult Leader’s prophetic abilities gave their intel gathering clear direction. They could selectively harvest only the most valuable information with minimal effort.

That’s how the cult first caught wind that Rahankel from the City Government was hunting for Lee Taebaek. And at the Cult Leader’s command, they spread smoke screens over his identity and whereabouts.

Otherwise, it made no sense that Rahankel—Megacorp’s infamous hunting dog who always tore into his prey no matter what—hadn’t shown up after nearly two months.

“That’s what’s surprising. I thought you had zero interest in worldly gossip, Miss Choi.”

“No matter how out of touch I am with the world, I know the basics. Sometimes you treat me like some caveman, Executive. I’m not that bad.”

Miss Choi grumbled.

“I’m a Daesung elite, after all. Guess I looked down on you. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t tease me.”

“My apologies.”

Kim Changsik scratched his cheek.

“That’s your problem, Executive. You’re too nice. That Lee Taebaek guy earlier? He had no clue about all the efforts you and the believers put in for him. Why not tell him?”

“Because we didn’t do it expecting anything in return.”

He gave a soft, knowing smile.

“You really like him, huh?”

Miss Choi, who had been squatting in front of the bike, muttered that as she stood up.

“Here, Miss Choi.”

Kim Changsik handed her a handkerchief as she wiped sweat from her waist with a towel.

“…Thank you.”

“No big deal. Consider it an apology for treating you like a caveman. Oh, and you can take that too. It’s a new over-the-counter product from the cult. For promotional purposes, of course.”

“Ah-“

Condoms, got it. Miss Choi barely swallowed the rest of her thought. That was Kim Changsik’s sore spot.

Contrary to popular imagination, the cult’s atmosphere was quite conservative. Just because they championed chaos didn’t mean they were promiscuous or anything.

In fact, she never would have joined if it were that kind of group. She had a boyfriend, after all.

So why were they handing out contraceptives? And had Kim Changsik really said the cult had extras?

As everyone knew, the former was an effort to prevent STDs, and the latter stemmed from the unusually high number of family-oriented believers in the Lilith Order. Plus, the cult blessed new life.

It started when some believers offered adult products as tribute, like voluntary taxes, and donating contraceptives became a tradition.

Kim Changsik felt awkward but couldn’t refuse. It was their sincere gesture—how could he coldly reject it?

Even if he was a thirty-year-old virgin, he had to maintain his dignity as an executive.

“Haha, was it obvious? Feels good. Finally, no more dumping those hideous things.”

“…If you hate it that much, why not suggest it to the Cult Leader? At least explain to people who ask…”

“Could I… really…?”

Chaos stems from negation, order from affirmation. Affirming Lee Taebaek’s question would violate doctrine.

It sounded absurd, but that’s religion for you. Trying to make sense of it with logic led nowhere.

A prime example was the Hundred-Fold Sect.

They chanted bizarre incantations and ended every sentence with “Hundred-Fold!” To outsiders, they looked like fanatics, but they were just following doctrine.

Kim Changsik was the same. Having joined the Lilith Order, he couldn’t affirm any question.

“You have it rough too, Executive… Anyway, that Lee Taebaek guy—based on his face alone, he looks like he’d drive women wild. You sure it’s safe leaving him alone with the Cult Leader?”

“No chance. The Cult Leader might be a bit playful with words—mildly, heavily, or X-level mischievously at times—but she’s revered as the Saintess. Besides, Taebaek here is transcendent when it comes to ‘those matters.'”

Kim Changsik placed hands on hips and lifted his chin. Miss Choi’s eyes narrowed slyly.

“‘Guaranteeing’ that goes against doctrine, doesn’t it?”

“Th-that, uh-!”

Kim Changsik stammered, realizing his slip. Just as he tried to add something—

“Oh! Interview’s over, huh? How’d it go-“

They turned to see Lee Taebaek, right on cue. As Kim Changsik moved to greet him warmly—

“-da?”

Their eyes reflexively dropped to his hand.

“Your Cult Leader’s lost her marbles.”

Something was clenched in Lee Taebaek’s fist—a slimy, translucent object oozing between his fingers.

The moment Kim Changsik spotted the thing he scattered in the red-light district, his face turned ashen, and Miss Choi looked awkward.

Kim Changsik was utterly shocked, speechless. Lee Taebaek explained nonchalantly.

“Took some effort to snag this.”

Without further ado, he headed to the Red Hare. Glancing back midway, Kim Changsik was frozen like a rock. What’s his deal?

But that was as far as the thought went. He just wanted out of this damn cult ASAP.

‘The Cult Leader’s a pro at sex jokes.’

He’d just bantered with her moments ago.

She’d teased him with a sultry voice and gestures. He considered ignoring her, but decided establishing dominance early would make things easier down the line. After a brief exchange and recovering the filthy item, Lee Taebaek was exhausted as he stepped out.

He hopped onto the Red Hare. The wall facing the bike’s rear rolled up—fitting for a garage-cum-maintenance room.

Vroooom!

The engine roared, and the needle on the dashboard slammed over. Just a flick of the wrist, and he felt the bike’s improvements. Lee Taebaek spun the front wheel stylishly and nodded at Miss Choi.

“Thanks for the help.”

“No need. Just gave it a little oil.”

She said, removing her goggles from her forehead.

“Looks like we’ll be seeing each other often. Leave it with me every time. I’ll upgrade one feature at a time. Hardware’s solid as hell, but the software’s outdated.”

“Got it.”

Lee Taebaek donned his mask. Only then did Kim Changsik hurriedly try to stop him—but

Bang-!!

The Red Hare shot forward, leaving Kim Changsik’s outstretched arm behind. Twice as fast as before.

“Whoa—way tougher than he looks.”

Miss Choi said, saluting with her hand to her brow. Then she glanced sideways.

“Shouldn’t you check on the Cult Leader, Executive?”

“……”

Kim Changsik dropped his head in resignation.

He was joyfully cruising the road when a phone number appeared on the glass windshield of the bike.

No such high-tech feature before. Probably the software upgrade Miss Choi mentioned.

An unexpected bonus. Especially after that underwhelming first meeting with the blind shamaness.

Putting aside the pleasant surprise, Lee Taebaek manipulated the handle to answer.

[Hey! Where the hell are you right now?!]

Kang Hyeonseong’s roar tore through the wind noise.

“Finished my business, heading home.”

[Taebaek, you see the news today?]

“Told you, I was out. What’s up?”

[That Sword Master bastard joined Daesung Group!]

“…What?”

[The prick went on the news saying he got inspired by someone and wanted to join up. No need to say who—obviously you. Things are going your way.]

He nearly slammed the brakes.

It had been just over ten hours since his clash with the Sword Master. A meeting and contract with Daesung in that time? Bullshit.

Daesung must have kept pressing. Desperate for any Ten Wing, they’d made an offer hard to refuse. The Sword Master tested the waters and accepted.

‘Scenario’s totally derailed.’

The Sword Master’s move wasn’t shocking. For a guy whose life revolved around money per the setting, it was surprising he’d held out this long. What threw Lee Taebaek was the timing.

About three hours ago.

-If Daesung Group recruited a Ten Wing, who would be good?

-Sword Master Muyachi. He’d be decent.

-I thought the same.

His chat with Kim Changsik flashed back. Half-joking that the Sword Master joining Daesung would be good…

What insane timing. Fuck, this isn’t some Truman Show, is it?

‘Am I really the Master of Chaos?’

The pervy Saintess’s very first line. Amid her nonsense, that one bit was dead serious.

Throb-

Damn, a stabbing headache hit. Like a bundle of needles rolling around in his skull.

[Hey, you okay?]

He must have groaned without realizing. Lee Taebaek steadied his ragged breath and reassured Kang Hyeonseong.

“…Yeah.”

[Feels like that Sword Master bastard’s got his eye on you. But marking from a big shot like that? Nothing good comes from it. He might show up in front of you—avoid him at all costs. I’ll request personal protection from the Commander-in-Chief-]

“No need.”

He’d entered a narrow road. Barely wide enough for a bike, let alone large vehicles.

“Hanging up.”

The rearview mirrors nearly scraped the walls on both sides. He had to slow down.

[What?!]

“‘That guy’s’ coming for me.”

Poorly developed buildings devoured the edges of his vision. Black silhouettes swarmed the rooftops above, swinging along railings. Dozens of them, all with flawless running form.

They trailed their arms back like pendulums, minimizing air resistance. The motion was identical, machine-precise.

Kiriring, kiriring, kiriring.

In that posture, they reached back, drew katanas, and loaded shurikens onto every finger joint. Ninjas.

“Fuck, am I an independence fighter now?”

Yeah, wondered when they’d show.

Ninjas are a national rule in worlds like this.

“Come at me, you slant-eyed fucks.”

A pale blade erupted from Lee Taebaek’s right hand—the Siheoyeon.