Return of the Irregular Appraiser
Chapter 26

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 26: Threat

Lee Yeoljin and Shin Ahjeong made contact with Taejin Faction and handed over the items they had collected, returning to their daily lives.

They showed signs of getting closer and naturally mingled with their neighbors, Park Junpyo and Yang Jiwon, while anxiously awaiting the appraisal results.

While they were getting along, Taejin Faction’s subordinates arrived unexpectedly.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, we came for a mid-appraisal report on the items you entrusted.”

A man in black suit handed Yeoljin and Ahjeong a small ticket.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a guarantee ticket for the appraisal results. We expect it might take longer than anticipated, so please rest assured. There’s my number and address on it, so feel free to wait comfortably.”

“Yes? Why does ours take longer?”

Ahjeong asked, her eyes shaking as if she was anxious.

“We anticipate the appraisal results will be quite satisfactory. That’s why it’s taking longer. Please hold onto this. If our staff comes by, just show it to them.”

“Alright. How long will it take?”

“It shouldn’t take too long.”

The man stood up.

“See you next time.”

The remaining two put the tickets they received into their wallets and returned home.

“Why are they giving us this anyway?”

Jiwon, who was waiting at home, looked suspiciously at the ticket and said.

“Could it be some sort of their own marker?”

Junpyo was also puzzled. What could this be?

“Do you… know anything?”

“This is… It’s better to discard it.”

“Yes? Is it really okay though?”

Woogil immediately understood the intention behind the ticket given by the man.

[Insight Activated]

[Ink of Misfortune]

Ink made from the blood of cursed creatures that exist only in the Abyss of Darkness. This blood, mixed with the black water that arises from the abyss, carries the effect of bringing misfortune. Items written with this ink are prone to attracting misfortune, and the range and effect increase depending on the amount.

∥ B.CD 37th century

∥ Brings misfortune.

Traces of mana inscribed within it. This ticket is intended to bring misfortune to its owner.

The flow of mana inscribed on the back of the ticket. To be precise, mana flows from the sign written in the bottom right corner of the ticket.

‘I’ve never seen this before.’

When it comes to studying ancient civilizations, I could boast that I had done more than anyone else in the present day.

However, I have never heard of the Abyss of Darkness before.

Although I learned about the power of this ink through Insight, I had no way to explain it.

But leaving it as it is was not an option. I accepted the tickets from them.

‘Ignite.’

I silently invoked the ignition spell, conjuring a small flame to turn the ticket into ashes.

Basic magic concepts I had learned from a primer. It was somewhat inadequate for combat, but it was very useful in situations like this.

“Oh my!”

“No matter what…”

“They had inscribed marks on it. Having it could have caused something bad to happen.”

At my words, Ahjeong and Yeoljin hastily nodded.

“You can use magic too?”

Yang Jiwon looked at me with wide eyes.

It was as if her gaze said, ‘You can even use magic?’ It seemed to urge me to reveal anything I might be hiding rather than keeping it hidden.

However, I ignored her words, not even acknowledging them.

“If Taejin Faction’s people come, say that the neighbor’s dog chewed it.”

“But we don’t have a dog?”

“In that case, I’ll take my leave.”

When I was done, I stood up as if I had done my job.

“Hey. Mr. Kim Woogil. Can’t you hear me?”

Jiwon grumbled, but I left without responding again.

“No, are there really people like that? Isn’t it too much? Really?”

“Woogil has always been a man of few words. Bear with it.”

“Even though he was very eloquent during the appraisal.”

“Anyway, should we adopt a dog?”

Junpyo asked, prompted by my recent words.

Yang Jiwon, who was pondering over my words, looked at Junpyo.

“Have you ever raised a dog?”

* * *

Woogil personally went back to Youngwoon’s parents to warn them again.

“It seems that Taejin Faction might harm the two of you.”

“What? Um… what should we do? I’m fine, but my husband…”

Ahjeong looked worriedly at Yeoljin.

“Yang Jiwon and Park Junpyo will keep an eye on you. Don’t worry. And just in case, we’ve also arranged for secret security agents, so don’t worry too much.”

“Secret security agents?”

“Yes.”

The secret agent was me. Of course, everything would be handled from Yang Jiwon’s side, but just in case, I planned to keep an eye on them whenever I had the time. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“And please try to stay at home as much as possible, and Yeoljin must go straight home after work for a while.”

“Understood.”

“I’m fine, but will my husband be okay?”

“Wear that leather jacket. If you have that, it will protect you from dying”

The old leather jacket from the last time they appraised.

The reason I advised against selling it to Salvation was because of this.

Given the tricks Taejin Faction had pulled so far, they were ruthless enough to resort to violence.

‘I wouldn’t have thought they’d be wearing a B-grade artifact.’

After I left, the two of them tried to live as inconspicuously as possible.

Youngwoon was still busy with his entertainment career, and whenever he had time, he called to ask about their well-being, but Yeoljin and Ahjeong reassured him that everything was fine.

‘Lee Youngwoon, I will definitely repay you.’

I left, and Junpyo and Jiwon stuck to Yeoljin and Ahjeong, protecting them.

Junpyo and Jiwon walked the dog together every day, wherever they got it from, and coincidentally ran into Yeoljin on his way home from work.

When Ahjeong went out to take out the trash or went to the mart, Jiwon also moved with her, overlapping their routes.

Jiwon sometimes wondered if it was necessary to go this far, but she soon found out why.

It was when Yeoljin passed through the neighborhood alley after work, unaware of anything, just wandering around, that something caught Jiwon’s eye from afar.

The figure of a man standing on the rooftop of a building on the path he was taking.

“That… isn’t that a flowerpot?”

“What? A flowerpot?”

I grinned, but Jiwon grabbed my hand and ran to where Yeoljin was.

“Hurry up and pretend to jog and stick close to him! Quickly!”

Jiwon pushed him as if throwing him, and Junpyoran to stand by Yeoljin’s side.

And just then, a flower pot fell. Junpyo was startled and grabbed Yeoljin, pulling him away.

Crash!!

Looking at the shattered flowerpot on the ground, Yeoljin widened his eyes and looked up. There was no one there.

“Are you okay?”

“T-Thank you.”

Yeoljin tried not to show it, but his breathing became unstable, and his pupils shook slowly.

“I saw earlier that the building owner here was keeping plants on the balcony railing. Tsk, it’s dangerous for people. I’ll go say something.”

Yeoljin breathed a sigh of relief at my words.

Seeing Yeoljin’s complexion improve slightly, I escorted him back home.

Later, Jiwon came in with an annoyed expression.

“You’re back?”

“Oh, I missed it. Really, I’ll definitely catch him since I’ve seen his face!”

“Come and sit down. You’ve been watching the neighbors all day and haven’t eaten properly.”

As if drawn by the bubbling sound of the soup, she headed to the kitchen.

“Oh? Did you make this?”

Initially, she kept using informal language, insisting she had to immerse herself in the role, but she eventually yielded to my insistence and switched to respectful language.

“Yes, it’s nothing special, just kimchi stew and a few side dishes.”

I came back first, and had already prepared the meal and was waiting for her.

“Wow…, Junpyo, you cook well?”

“Just… I’ve lived alone for a long time.”

“Hey, are you kidding me? I’ve already said I’ve lived alone for a long time.”

Despite her grumbling tone, her eyes sparkled with curiosity about what to eat first.

“While you’re here, I’ll take care of the meals. I don’t have much to do compared to you, so… haha. I have to do at least this.”

I scratched my head awkwardly. To me, who seemed awkward, Jiwon said.

“Is that so? But earlier, it was Junpyo who saved Mr. Yeoljin.”

“That was because of you-.”

“Wow! This is delicious! How did you manage this?”

She exclaimed with wide eyes after slurping the soup.

“Suddenly feeling embarrassed. I’m reminded of the bland Han river ramen….”

“It’s okay.”

Jiwon smiled wryly at my words.

“You’re not going to say it’s delicious?”

“Khek! Khek! Khek!”

“Oh my, drink some water! Seriously! If you react so strongly to a joke, I want to do it again.”

“Woof!”

The large retriever we brought along at the time barked as if agreeing with her words.

“Look, even our Mungmung agrees.”

The name Mungmung was hastily chosen by Yang Jiwon because the name Meongmeong was too common.

“Ahem.”

Quickly drinking water to calm down my embarrassment, I apologized while wiping the soup splattered table.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing now. What did you do wrong?”

“Sorry-.”

“Again!”

“Woof!”

“…Thank you.”

“I prefer that.”

* * *

The threat to Yeoljin and Ahjeong’s safety grew more severe over time.

Encounters with neighborhood ladies, suspicions about poisoned coffee ordered by Ahjeong, and drunkards picking fights with Yeoljin on his way home from work.

If Jiwon and Junpyo hadn’t been around, both of them might have been seriously injured in consecutive incidents.

Since I burned that ticket that brings misfortune, it’s not a coincidence but rather an intentional act by Taejin Faction.

Junpyo reluctantly decided to drive Yeoljin to and from work for the time being.

“Jiwon doesn’t have to come.”

Yang Jiwon was sitting in the back seat.

“Why? Am I already annoying you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Junpyo, who couldn’t handle Jiwon’s personality at all, shifted the topic nervously, sweating.

“We’ll have to do this for a while.”

“I feel so sorry for this…”

Getting a ride in my car from morning till late evening made Yeoljin feel awkward and sorry.

I wonder if I was acting too much like a superior, both with the flowerpot incident and the drunkard incident. They might have been just coincidences.

“Don’t think too much like that. I’m also doing this for money.”

“But still, when someone receives kindness, shouldn’t they reciprocate?”

“No, it’s not like that. If those Taejin Faction people kept stirring things up, wouldn’t we eventually have to yield? Then we wouldn’t be able to do anything and our precious items might have been taken away. So, I’m grateful for their intervention.”

Yeoljin truly felt that way. Even if Taejin Faction didn’t return the stolen landscape painting, thanks to them, he was able to keep at least the leather armor he was wearing.

“Thank you so much.”

I smiled appreciatively at his sincere gratitude. In truth, I didn’t think I had done much.

“I…”

At that moment, a truck entered my field of vision from the adjacent lane.

It staggered and then suddenly turned its head sharply towards us.

Screeeech!!

Vroom!!

Leaving behind white smoke and skid marks, the truck abruptly crashed into our car, pushing it towards the guardrail without giving me a chance to react.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk…!

Our car was ruthlessly pushed, rolling down the steep slope.

Thunk!

Finally, the vehicle flipped over and came to a stop on the flat ground below, but it’s twisted body made it difficult to escape.

Then, the dented door of the car was pushed outwards from the inside.

Clang!!

Emerging from the gap in the crushed car, Jiwon looked at the truck, which was hanging on the guardrail, with a grimace on her face.

“These bastards crossed the line?”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

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