Masquerader Chapter 1

From the morning, her steps felt heavy. However, regardless of Seol-ah’s feelings, the highway bus carrying the employees assigned to today’s event sped along the road as if gliding.  

 

Every year, on the birthday of Seomyeong Group’s Chairman Seo, the founding family—also known as the so-called royal family of the Seo clan—would go on a family hunting trip in the mountain owned by the group. Today was that day.  

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It was nothing more than mobilizing not only the entire family but also employees for the chairman’s distasteful hobby. Still, since it doubled as a birthday party for the group’s leader, the event was quite large in scale.  

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In the past, the royal family conducted martial arts events for the protection of the ancestral shrine and state, which were called “Gangmu.” Named after that royal tradition, this hunting event was about to take place, and when Seol-ah was designated as the hunting partner of the chairman’s grandson, her mother was overjoyed as if it were some great family honor.  

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In a wild hunt, participants must rely on a map and follow a designated route, so they are usually paired up in teams of two. Though called partners, in reality, their role was to retrieve hunted animals, maintain communication with the base, and handle miscellaneous tasks.  

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In short, it was a position close to assisting the royal family members who had come to enjoy the hunt. Employees of Seomyeong Group considered it the highest honor to be chosen for this role. So, she could understand why her mother was so delighted, as if it were her own achievement.  

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However, Seol-ah was neither an employee of Seomyeong Group nor someone who had any fondness for hunting. The very idea of trailing behind a chaebol heir, pandering to him while he mindlessly shot at wild animals, was utterly repulsive to her.  

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Yet, here she was, in this vast and unfamiliar hunting ground, despite her will… Because she had no real say in the matter. She had walked here on her own feet, but in truth, it was no different from being dragged against her will.  

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The trouble had begun fifteen days ago when she went to deliver blood pressure medication to her mother, who had forgotten to take it to work. Her mother had been working at Seomyeong Group’s main house for fifteen years.  

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As she handed over the medicine to her mother, who had stepped outside the towering estate walls, a convertible with its hardtop folded back slowly came to a stop beside her.  

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– “Are you the madam’s daughter?”  

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That was her first encounter with Chairman Seo’s second grandson, Seo Gyo-jin.  

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– “I didn’t know she had such a well-grown daughter. What perfect timing. I was just thinking about who to take as my hunting partner.”  

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Back then, Seo Gyo-jin had leaned casually against the car window, scanning her up and down.  

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– “You see, my fiancée is attending that day, and she’s bringing some guy she once had a thing with as her partner. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but just standing by like a fool doesn’t sit well with me either… So, you need to come with me and save my face.”  

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It seemed he wanted to engage in some emotional tug-of-war—whether it was a lover’s quarrel or a power struggle, she didn’t know. Apparently, his plan was to use her to make his fiancée jealous, but she had no interest in getting involved. She had no desire to be the shrimp caught in the middle of a whale fight.  

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– “Ah… but I’m not an employee here. And I already have plans this weekend.”  

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– “It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to be an employee. Sometimes, I bring friends too. It’s my choice who I bring. But you don’t want to? That’s odd. A lot of people would love to be invited.”  

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– “Oh, of course! How could she refuse such an invitation from you, young master? I’m sorry, she just doesn’t know any better…”  

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Before Seol-ah could politely refuse, her mother turned pale and quickly sided with Gyo-jin. Seol-ah managed to stall by saying she would think about it, but a few days later, when she sent a message declining, the response she received from Seo Gyo-jin was nothing short of a threat.  

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[If Miss Seol-ah refuses, I suppose there’s no helping it. I understand. I can’t exactly drag you there by force, and I wouldn’t do such a thing. By the way, I heard your mother’s contract renewal season is coming up. Too bad. You should let her know.]  

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And so, here she was. Seol-ah stood beside Seo Gyo-jin with a stiff expression.  

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“You said this is your first time hunting, right?”  

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Despite coercing her into coming with a dirty threat involving her mother’s job, he acted as if nothing had happened, smiling nonchalantly. Seol-ah found it difficult to look directly at his face.  

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How could a person be so shameless…?  

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Her stiff expression refused to relax. She kept her head down, absentmindedly fiddling with the walkie-talkie issued by the base.  

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“Hmm? Why are you so quiet? You keep staring at the ground.”  

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Gyo-jin chuckled, pressing her for a reaction.  

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“You’re acting like you were dragged here against your will. You’re making me feel bad.”  

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There was an edge to his laughing remark. It was a warning. A man who wielded his power and status without hesitation, who had no qualms about intimidation. She knew full well that dealing with such a person required caution.  

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Fine. Now that she was here, what else could she do?  

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Think of her mother.  

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Her mother had been overwhelmed with joy, as if this were some great honor for their family, simply because her daughter had been invited to an upper-class event. Just remembering her reaction calmed Seol-ah’s mind with reluctant resignation. She couldn’t possibly tell her mother that she had been blackmailed with her job.  

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Seol-ah resolved to just get through the day without incident. In a reluctant voice, she finally responded.  

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“Yes. It’s my first and probably my last time. How often does an ordinary person like me get the chance to go hunting in the mountains?”  

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“Haha, that’s true. It’s not an everyday opportunity, so there’s a special thrill to it. No need to be nervous. Just follow my lead.”  

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Seo Gyo-jin smoothly took the walkie-talkie from Seol-ah’s hands and continued.  

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“This is for emergencies—if you get lost in the mountains or injured and can’t move, you can use it to call for rescue. Phones don’t work well inside this area.”  

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“I see.”  

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“Oh, and one more thing. If we catch something too heavy to carry ourselves, we use it then too.”  

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When he pressed the button on the radio, a brief response came from the other end, accompanied by a crackling mechanical sound.  

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“It works well. Now, Seol-ah, you should also familiarize yourself with how to use it.”  

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Seo Gyo-jin shrugged his shoulders before handing the radio back to Seol-ah.  

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“I’m planning to catch something really amazing today.”  

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He met Seol-ah’s eyes and stretched his lips into a wide grin. Before she could feel disgust, a sense of foreboding crept in. The kind that was hard to pinpoint exactly.  

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Even as Seol-ah hardened her expression into an icy mask, Seo Gyo-jin remained unfazed, merely chuckling under his breath. A man with a different face inside and out—this was the conclusion Seol-ah came to about him. His glib, easygoing demeanor only triggered an instinctive aversion.  

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Was she being overly anxious?  

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She could feel a sharp gaze prickling against her profile. Seol-ah subtly lowered her head, pretending not to notice. She wasn’t oblivious enough to be unaware that Seo Gyo-jin’s fiancée had been watching her for some time now.  

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Right. He said he deliberately brought me here just to provoke his fiancée.  

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A long sigh escaped her lips before she could suppress it. How had she ended up stuck between a chaebol couple, playing the role of a distraction? The absurdity of her situation was almost laughable.  

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I want to go home…  

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Unaware of Seol-ah’s thoughts, the gamekeeper climbed onto the platform and spoke into the loudspeaker, signaling the official start.  

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“Attention, please. Before you set off, I’d like to remind you of some important safety instructions. For everyone’s safety, please be especially careful not to stray beyond your designated area.”  

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The air took on a peculiar excitement in anticipation of the hunt.  

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“The appropriate game includes rabbits and pheasants. Larger or more aggressive animals may pose a danger, so please refrain from any reckless actions. However, all hazardous zones are clearly marked with fences, so as long as you stay within your assigned area, there is no need to worry about safety.”  

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Seo Gyo-jin barely paid attention as he retrieved a black rifle from its case and slung it over his shoulder.  

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“Additionally, the GPS built into your firearms will track your location in real-time. If there is no valid movement for more than ten minutes in the same spot, it will be considered an emergency, and a rescue team will be dispatched immediately. If you need to take a break, simply send a quick radio signal. Now, enjoy a safe and successful hunt.”  

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Once the gamekeeper finished his instructions, people began to disperse from the headquarters one by one. Some groups descended the mountainside to reach their designated areas, while others took all-terrain vehicles. A few, despite attending the family hunt, had no intention of exerting themselves and stayed behind at the headquarters, popping open bottles of champagne.  

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Amid the bustling atmosphere, Seo Gyo-jin, who was walking a few steps ahead, turned back and gestured toward Seol-ah.  

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“Shall we go too?”  

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The hunt had begun.  

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