Chapter 95 – The Legend of Black Cow (2)

“Um, Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

“Could we maybe… skip sparring today?”

“Yes.”

Kim Tae-yang asked, just in case.

An unexpected answer came back.

“Team Leader. Would it be alright if I left early today?”

“Yes, you may.”

The team leader readily agreed to Kim In-ho’s request.

He really was different from usual.

The two Kims felt their hearts pound.

The Black Cow Hat. The description written on it was clear.

The person who wears the hat becomes a pushover.

It literally meant they became an easy person to deal with.

Right now, Lee Hyunbin had become a yes-man.

“Ah, Team Leader. What’s with that hat? It’s so tacky.”

Assistant Manager Lee A-reum from the operations office said as they were heading to the team office.

Kim Tae-yang quickly whispered in Assistant Manager Lee A-reum’s ear.

Assistant Manager Lee A-reum’s face filled with disbelief. But, perhaps feeling mischievous, she spoke as Kim Tae-yang had instructed.

“Team Leader. Don’t you feel like giving me some chocolate when you see me?”

“Yes.”

At her words, the team leader nodded and took a chocolate out of his inventory.

A deep, sweet abyss wrapped in gold foil.

A-reum popped it into her mouth and broke into a happy smile.

“Team Leader. You’re not just giving me one, are you? You said you’d give me a whole box before.”

Of course, he had never said such a thing.

But Team Leader Lee Hyunbin took out a box of chocolates from his inventory and gave it to her.

“Kyaa, I love it! My sugar levels are rising! They’re rising!”

Assistant Manager Lee A-reum took the chocolates and, squealing like a dolphin in excitement, disappeared into the operations support office.

Seeing this, the two Kims were certain.

The Black Cow Hat was working. The team leader was now a perfect yes-man.

Only then did a relieved Kim Tae-yang flash a confident smile.

“Team Leader. No, wait. Honestly, shouldn’t we just drop the formalities, bro?”

“…!”

At Kim Tae-yang’s words, Kim In-ho’s eyes widened in shock.

‘Is he insane?’

Normally, saying something like that to the team leader would trigger a fiery sparring session.

But Lee Hyunbin simply smiled and replied.

“Sure.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course.”

“Oh yeah!”

Kim Tae-yang excitedly led the way to the office.

Kim In-ho, however, warily watched Lee Hyunbin.

“What is it?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

The fear ingrained in his mind was not easily erased.

* * *

“Really?”

“For real. I had no idea this item was so amazing, you know?”

As soon as he entered the office, Kim Tae-yang began to brag to his teammates.

How long had they suffered all sorts of humiliation from their team leader?

The team members looked on with suspicion, but the team leader’s gaze was exceptionally benevolent today.

“Um, Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

Seo Hyun-ji cleared her throat and spoke awkwardly.

“Be honest. Among all the female celebrities, whose autograph do you want the most?”

“Yours, Ms. Seo Hyun-ji.”

Seo Hyun-ji flinched at his words.

It was something she’d wanted to hear, but a phrase she never thought she would.

On the other hand, it even felt a little creepy.

“What is this, seriously? Is this guy setting a trap?”

“I told you, he’s not. The item analysis is right here.”

“It’s real… Team Leader, you want my autograph that badly?”

To Seo Hyun-ji’s playful question, Team Leader Lee Hyunbin smiled brightly and nodded.

“I really do.”

“Well, I guess I have no choice.”

Seo Hyun-ji rolled up her sleeves and took out a sheet of A4 paper. She then expertly signed it with a marker and handed it to the team leader.

“Happy?”

“Yes, I’m happy.”

“Pleased?”

“Yes, I’m pleased.”

Lee Hyunbin said with a gentle smile.

It was the first time she had ever seen such tenderness from Lee Hyunbin.

“Oh, Hyun-ji’s blushing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You really are blushing! Ah, this is gold. I have to take a picture!”

“Who do you think you are, taking my picture? Just try and raise that camera. I’ll melt it. It’s just hot in here, okay? Phew, it’s hot.”

At Seo Hyun-ji’s threat, Kim Tae-yang lowered his phone.

“The boss?”

The three foreign brothers also heard the rumor and tilted their heads.

They couldn’t understand how the boss they knew could be taken down by such a flimsy hat.

“No way. Boss, stop joking around. Hup, hup hup.”

The blond-haired Lee Jeon-guk said, throwing a few punches.

The team leader looked at Lee Jeon-guk and gave a slight smile.

“…!”

“He’s smiling at us?”

“I am very scared. He does not make such a smile.”

The three foreign brothers backed away in disbelief.

“Boss. There was something I always wanted to ask. Who among the knights do you trust the most?”

“Me.”

“It’s me, right?”

The team leader replied to the three foreign brothers’ question with a gentle smile.

“All three of you are precious comrades.”

“Whoa… It’s a cliché answer, but hearing it from the boss is something else.”

Kim Tae-yang puffed out his chest arrogantly.

Right now, everyone was feeling satisfied.

It was an afternoon when they would normally be getting brutally drilled by their vicious team leader.

But now, everyone was relaxing comfortably.

Kim Tae-yang sat with his legs crossed, savoring the break.

Seo Hyun-ji scrolled through articles about herself on her phone, while the three foreign brothers turned on the TV and munched on popcorn.

“……”

After being drilled every day, Kim In-ho found it awkward not to be training today.

He cautiously began training by himself.

“Hey, hey, In-ho. Take a break today.”

“It’s part of my daily routine. I feel weird if I don’t do it.”

“You gotta work when you work and rest when you rest. Right, Bini-bro?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Team Leader Lee Hyunbin was diligently cleaning various parts of the training hall.

He already liked to keep things neat and tidy, but he seemed particularly obsessive about it now.

“Wow, our Bini-bro. You’re amazing at cleaning.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Mwahahaha.”

Watching the triumphant Kim Tae-yang, Kim In-ho’s pupils began to tremble.

It was true the team leader had become a pushover, but he wouldn’t be wearing that hat forever.

Once he took off the hat…

Kim In-ho shuddered, not wanting to even imagine it. It seemed no one else was thinking that far ahead.

Just then, the training hall door opened and Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah from the aide’s office entered.

She was panting as if she had rushed, looking around the room.

“Hello.”

“Is the rumor true?”

Rumor?

Kim In-ho tilted his head at her words.

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah went over to Team Leader Lee Hyunbin, who was cleaning.

“Team Leader?”

“Yes?”

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah looked Team Leader Lee Hyunbin up and down.

After scrutinizing him for a moment, she spoke.

“There’s a rumor going around that you’ve become a pushover.”

“Me?”

“It’s not true, right?”

“Of course not.”

“I knew it.”

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah turned to leave, as if she had wasted her time.

“Why is helping everyone being a pushover?”

“…Excuse me?”

“The world is so full of light…”

A halo seemed to shine behind the gently smiling Team Leader Lee Hyunbin.

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah twitched as if she’d heard something unbelievable.

“Ah, so you’re playing that kind of game. Who is the prettiest in all the world?”

“Why, it’s you, of course.”

Hearing that, Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah clenched her fists tightly.

After a moment of silent cheering, she continued.

“Tell me about myself. Be honest now.”

“You are very beautiful and wise. You have such a sweet voice that I feel the urge to always keep you by my side.”

“Hmph… Who do you think would be happy to hear that? How ridiculous. That kind of play doesn’t make me happy at all.”

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah was smiling, huffing through her nose.

Just then, she saw someone else enter the training hall.

“President?”

“Hm, you’re here too, Deputy Manager Kim?”

The one smiling awkwardly was the guild master, Im Jae-joon.

He glanced at Team Leader Lee Hyunbin.

“What brings you here?”

“Ahem. I just had some business to attend to.”

“Business?”

“Let’s just say I had something to discuss with Team Leader Lee Hyunbin.”

“Ah…”

Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

Im Jae-joon cleared his throat and asked Lee Hyunbin something.

Then, overcome with ecstasy, he covered his face.

He looked like a devout believer who had just received a divine calling.

‘Should I call this the completion of a world where no one gets hurt?’

Kim Tae-yang leisurely sipped his sparkling water, watching Team Leader Lee Hyunbin move according to everyone’s wishes.

In truth, Kim Tae-yang knew.

That once Team Leader Lee Hyunbin took off the pushover hat, he would return to normal.

And if his memories weren’t erased, retribution would fall upon him, the one who orchestrated this.

Kim Tae-yang decided it was time to prepare a safety measure.

“Bini-bro. Come here for a second.”

“Okay, Tae-yang.”

The sight of him scurrying over like a squirrel at Kim Tae-yang’s call was utterly unfamiliar.

“Bro. Could you write something for me?”

“What is it?”

“Nothing much. Just a sort of pledge.”

Team Leader Lee Hyunbin always kept his word.

He hated it when a man went back on his promises.

A pledge.

He would make him write a promise not to torment Kim Tae-yang.

It also included a clause stating he would not take revenge for what happened today while wearing the pushover hat.

“Bini-bro. You’re going to hit me later, right?”

“Why would I hit you? Between us.”

Kim Tae-yang felt a thrill run through his body at the team leader’s words.

He now understood the feeling Deputy Manager Kim Min-ah and the President must have felt earlier.

It was enough to make him wish he could see this gentle side of him forever.

“If you’re not going to hit me, then please sign this.”

“Should I?”

Team Leader Lee Hyunbin signed it in neat block letters.

“Bro, the date too.”

“Okay.”

*Scribble, scribble.*

Watching him sign the pledge without a second thought, Kim Tae-yang laughed, “Hahaha.”

For today, he would enjoy this special, stress-free time with his team leader.

Just then, he saw Lee Seo-yeon enter the training hall after school.

Kim Tae-yang raised his hand to quickly share the joyous news with her.

“Seo-yeon, Seo-yeon. Come here!”

“Hm? What is it, Oppa?”

As Lee Seo-yeon trotted over, Kim Tae-yang slung an arm around the team leader’s shoulders and said.

“Our Bini-bro. He’ll agree to anything today. Ask him for whatever you want.”

“Bini? Are you talking about Ajeossi?”

Lee Seo-yeon’s face was one of pure bewilderment.

Kim Tae-yang felt a sense of catharsis at her predictable reaction.

He explained the situation to the clueless Lee Seo-yeon.

After hearing the story, Lee Seo-yeon tilted her head.

“Of course, you can’t believe it.”

Her reaction was perhaps natural. But what came out of Seo-yeon’s mouth was unexpected.

“Aren’t you mistaken about something? Ajeossi should be immune to curses.”

“Immune to curses?”

“Yeah. Those kinds of items are usually curse-types. But the Ajeossi I know is immune to curses.”

There are people immune to curses?

Kim Tae-yang was baffled by Lee Seo-yeon’s words.

It was at that moment.

Lee Hyunbin took off the ridiculous cow-head hat.

Of his own free will.

“See? You were mistaken.”

Lee Seo-yeon said as she headed into the locker room to change into her training clothes.

Kim Tae-yang looked at Lee Hyunbin.

Lee Hyunbin smiled.

But it was a somewhat suppressed, bitter sneer.

Kim Tae-yang cautiously took Lee Hyunbin’s calf hat. And then he put it on his own head.

“Team Leader. Do you know that you are the best?”

Lee Hyunbin met the eyes of Kim Tae-yang, who looked ready to crawl on the floor.

“Why are you calling me that?”

Lee Hyunbin gave a gentle smile.

“You should be calling me Bini-bro.”

“…!”

Kim Tae-yang cautiously held up the signed pledge from the table.

Soon, he saw Lee Hyunbin’s fist coming right through the pledge.

* * *

A city where no one lived.

The city, covered by a demonic magnetic field, was closed off, preventing people from approaching.

It was difficult for modern people to live in, but for those who wished to avoid prying eyes, it was the perfect city.

“Kei.”

In this deserted place, someone called out to the man named Kei.

“A large number of our comrades in the capital area have been captured.”

“Other regions are fine, but the capital area is in chaos.”

“It’s because of him.”

The Villains standing in the cursed land voiced their complaints.

Hunter Lee Hyunbin of the Hanul Guild.

The number of comrades captured by the S-Rank Hunter was not just one or two.

“Are we just going to take this lying down?”

The Villain organization was still like a sandcastle.

It had a focal point, but there had been no significant action since the institutional terror attack.

Everyone had high hopes when the organization was formed. But nothing had changed between then and now.

They were just hiding like cockroaches.

“Comrades.”

Kei began to speak.

“I know what our complaints are.”

A plain man with no distinguishing features. He had the kind of face you would simply pass by on the street.

No one would have thought that such a man was the leader of the Villain organization.

“The Deliveryman.”

The number of Villains captured by the Deliveryman alone was in the double digits.

If you ran into him, you had to assume you would be caught.

“You all wish to hunt him, the one who has become a symbol of heroism.”

At Kei’s words, the members of the Villain organization gave unpleasant smiles.

They had been frustrated living quietly despite possessing great power.

The very first target they chose was Lee Hyunbin of the Hanul Guild.

“I have always loved majority rule.”

Kei said with a smile.