DBG Vol 1 Ch 1.1

1. A False Opportunity

 

Haun is extremely poor. He is so impoverished that living in Seoul is out of the question, and he breathes the stale air in a small, 5-pyeong semi-basement in Doan City. A life where he leaves at dawn and returns at dawn—a tiresome existence—will probably repeat itself until the day Haun dies.

5-pyeong: A Korean unit of area measurement. 1 pyeong is approximately 3.3 square meters. So, 5 pyeong is about 16.5 square meters, indicating a very small living space.

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However, lately, he seemed to see a faint glimmer of hope for the future.

Haun is currently studying at the Department of Oriental Medicine, and a report he submitted as an assignment during class caught the eye of his professor, allowing him to participate in a research paper project as an undergraduate researcher after the end of the second semester. Professor Do jokingly added that the report stood out because Haun shared the exact same name as him.

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At that moment, Haun even felt grateful to his father who had disappeared, leaving behind only debts, for at least giving him this name. Haun planned to secure a job at an oriental medicine research institute using his major, and Professor Do seem to have close ties with that particular institute.

Despite being relatively young, Professor Do Haun had already made a name for himself in the field of oriental medicine, particularly in pheromone research. In other words, if Haun stayed within Professor Do’s circle and get along well with him, it could work to his advantage when looking for a job.

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That’s why, when Professor Do first showed interest in him, Haun was uncharacteristically happy. He began to have hopes that everything would go well from now on. However, as research was in full swing, Haun found himself in the professor’s office at the back of the laboratory, sitting dejectedly with his head hanging low.

“Haun-ah, do you think I brought you into this project just so you could act like this? If you keep on not sticking to the schedule, having to leave early because of this and that, what do you think that makes you look like? I’ve already adjusted the part-time hours for you, but if you keep missing research time, it’s going to be a problem. Haa. I really don’t want to say this, but why are you being so selfish? If someone has something they want to do, they should know when to give up on other things.”

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In Korean, “-ah” (아) is an honorific suffix used to address someone affectionately or respectfully. It’s similar to adding “dear” or “honey” in English when addressing someone you care about.

Everything Professor Do said was right, so Haun couldn’t refute a single word. All Haun could do was meekly apologize in a barely audible voice, “I’m really sorry…”.

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Professor Do let out an exasperated sigh and waved his hand dismissively.

“If you keep acting like this, I won’t be able to help you next time. The other students are complaining a lot too. Haun, this isn’t an individual project, and just being smart isn’t everything. You need teamwork and social skills too. If you understand, then leave now.”

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“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

With his shoulders slumped, Haun dragged himself out of the professor’s office in feeble steps. He then changed out of his lab coat and, despite having barely slept, somehow managed to complete the experiment data he had been working on and brought it to the teaching assistant. The assistant glanced at what Haun handed over and spoke indifferently.

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“Oh, Jiyeon already finished that. Just throw it away.”

Haun looked up in shock, his eyes wide. The assistant shrugged his shoulders as if feeling sorry for him.

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“What can I do? We needed it before you brought it.”

Haun glanced at the clock hanging on the laboratory wall. 2:01 PM. Yesterday evening, the assistant had suddenly sent the materials, asking him to print it out and deliver them by 2 PM the next day. Haun’s lips parted, but no words came out.  After all, this happened because he didn’t keep up with his research schedule. As soon as the assistant left, a vibration came from his pocket. Haun pulled out his phone.

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Store Manager 

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Haun-ah^^ Something came up, so I need you to come to the convenience store within 10 minutes~

2:03 PM 

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Letting out a sigh no one could hear, Haun glanced around, and quickly sent a reply.

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I’m really sorry… but I have something important to do today, so I don’t think I can make it…

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2:03 PM 

 

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Store Manager

You can’t? Unless it’s urgent, postpone it and come.

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2:03 PM 

 

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Haun had clearly asked the manager not to call him suddenly like this because he was busy these days. Suppressing the frustration rising inside him, he carefully typed his response.

 

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Sorry, I really can’t delay it.

I told you before that I can’t come to the store at the last minute because of my work in the lab…

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2:05 PM 

Store Manager 

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Haa

2:06 PM 

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I only hired you because you live nearby.

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2:06 PM 

 

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If this is how it’s going to be, I wonder why I even hired you.

2:07 PM 

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Haun’s heart sank, and in a panic, he quickly typed back, ‘I think I can come around 6 PM.’ But even after staring at the screen for a long time, no reply came. Anxiety washed over him but before he could dwell on it, a voice calling his name startled him, forcing him to shove the phone back into his pocket.

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“Did you come here just to play on your phone? What are you doing, seriously?”

“Ah, sorry!”

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Haun hurriedly ran toward the group glaring at him. He couldn’t help but think about why things always turned out this way for him, but there wasn’t much time for Haun to indulge in such regrets.

 

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* * *

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Amid people who disliked him, Haun ran around nervously, trying to read the room and avoid drawing attention. It was only after he completed his assigned research hours that he was able to leave the lab. Since he hadn’t received any further messages from the store manager, he stayed behind to clean up the lab on his own.

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He did it out of a sense of repentance for having been negligent in his research work due to the part-time jobs he had taken to support himself. It had been a long time since the sun had set, and the lack of any response from the store manager still bothered him, but since he was scheduled to work at the convenience store tomorrow, he figured it would be good to talk things over face-to-face.

After all, he had never been late before, nor had he ever slacked off at work. Since he had a good track record, maybe the manager would be understanding.

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In truth, Haun knew that focusing on his current research was far more important than his part-time job at the convenience store. However, he had no money to live on and still had to pay off the debt his father left behind every month. Giving up the part-time job wasn’t an option.

Last year, his father suddenly disappeared, leaving Haun behind with nothing but a note that simply said “I’m sorry,” along a mountain of debt owed to loan sharks. His father had abandoned him to save himself. Most of Haun’s income went straight to the loan sharks, but it was barely enough to cover the interest, let alone the principal.

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Paying off the debt alone, instead of with his father, made the process even slower while the interest grew increasingly faster, making the situation increasingly unbearable. Desperate, Haun had even filed a missing person’s report for his father, but his father had hidden so well that even a shadow of him couldn’t be found.

To make matters worse, it seemed like Haun was cursed. Every business he worked at ended up going out of business. As a result, he had to constantly search for new jobs, never able to stick with one for long.

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The convenience store he was working at now was the only place that had managed to stay open for a long time, which made it even harder for him to quit. The store manager didn’t like him, but Haun was certain the manager wouldn’t fire him first.  The store manager had a reputation for being difficult and strange, and no matter how many help wanted ads were posted, there were never any applicants. Haun steadied his nervous heart as he left the building.

As he was walking, Haun suddenly stopped when he saw a man standing near a streetlight. The man, exuding an indescribably strange atmosphere, had hair that seemed to glow like stars.

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Even though the man was standing a few steps below Haun on the stairs, he still appeared much taller. His eyes seemed to gleam, even in the backlighting. At first, Haun thought it was just the streetlight making him appear this way, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that it wasn’t just the light—his hair was actually blond.

Is he a foreigner?

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What’s a foreigner doing at the school this late at night? 

Given that some lights in the labs were still on, Haun figured the man must be someone who worked there. His curiosity quickly faded; he had things to do, and if he wanted even a little bit of sleep tonight, he needed to get home. Just as he bowed his head slightly and tried to pass the man, the unexpected happened.

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“Are you Mr. Do Haun from the Department of Oriental Medicine at Doan University?”

The deep and pleasant voice, called out his name, stopping Haun in his tracks. Startled, Haun raised his head and turned toward the man with a wary expression. When the man’s face, which had been obscured by the backlight, came into clear view, Haun felt as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs.

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The man’s face, now visible up close, was otherworldly beautiful, like a figure from a famous painting. Even as a foreigner, his deep, vividly green eyes and the finely chiseled lines of his features were impossibly mesmerizing. His blond hair, blown gently by the frigid winter wind, lightly covered a part of his neck. At the same time, the air was filled with the rich scent of lilacs.

Haun, completely entranced, forgot to respond and simply stared at the man’s face. Slowly, the mysterious man tilted his head.

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“Are you not? Have I mistaken you for someone else?”

“No, no! That’s me…”

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Unlike Haun, who was stiff and visibly nervous, the man leisurely scrutinized him from head to toe before nodding slowly.

“Nice to meet you.”

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He reached inside his dark coat and handed something to Haun. Caught off guard, Haun accepted it without thinking and found it was a business card.

 

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Disease Control Research Institute

Aither Center / Center Director

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Damien R 010-XXXX-XXXX

 

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Disease Control Research Institute? 

Is it like a Disease Control Agency?

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Haun looked at the unfamiliar words on the business card, feeling confused, then glanced up at the man named Damien. He couldn’t understand why this person had given him this.

As if sensing Haun’s confusion, Damien checked his wristwatch and spoke.

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“It’s quite late, but I know a café nearby that’s still open. Shall we go there and talk?”

Haun almost nodded instinctively but managed to stop himself. Everything about Damien’s behavior exuded a mysterious atmosphere, making Haun feel as if he were being lured in.

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“I’m sorry, but I need to go home now. Do you need something from me?”

Damien furrowed one eyebrow slightly but opened his mouth as if he had no other choice.

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“I have a job related to oriental medicine that I’d like to commission you for.”

“…To me?”

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“Yes. We need your help with a project we’re currently working on. We can pay you whatever you want. For starters, I’d like to offer you a contract deposit of 1 billion won.”

1 billion won: While this may sound like an astronomical sum in Korean currency, it’s equivalent to roughly 850,000 USD.

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Haun, who had been wondering why this man was making such a request to him, froze.

1 billion won…? 

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For a moment, Haun wondered if he had heard correctly. That amount of money would be enough to free him from the mountain of debt that had been crushing him for so long. But what kind of job came with a 1 billion won contract deposit? He couldn’t even begin to imagine what the job entailed, and at the same time, his gut was screaming that this might be a scam.

Haun had no idea what to say in response to this bizarre, surreal offer from this suspicious man. When he stayed silent, Damien narrowed his eyes.

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“The contract deposit is 1 billion won, and you’ll receive additional compensation upon successful completion of the project. Since the details of the project are confidential, I can’t explain everything until after the contract is signed. It’s not a dangerous job, and the project is similar to the pheromone drug research Mr. Do Haun have been researching on. However, you’ll need to relocate to another place, somewhere outside Korea and the duration of the project won’t be short. But the time frame can be adjusted.”

He wouldn’t explain the details until after the contract was signed? No matter how Haun thought about it, the offer sounded too suspicious. Moreover, what would a nobody like him have to do with a pheromone drug development project…? Oh.

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Suddenly, it hit Haun. This man, Damien, must have mistaken him for Professor Do. Sure, their names were the same, but how could Damien confuse them? There was a significant age difference between him and the professor, after all.

“I think you’ve got the wrong—”

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Before Haun could finish, a loud, high-pitched sound struck his eardrums, making him flinch and cover his left ear. Unlike Haun, who was visibly startled, Damien remained expressionless. He pulled something out of his pocket and clicked his tongue softly.

“It seems something urgent has come up, so I’ll have to go. I apologize for leaving so abruptly after requesting this conversation. Please contact me at the number on the business card as soon as possible. I’ll come find you again.”

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Before Haun had a chance to catch up to him, Damien had already disappeared with his long strides. Left alone, Haun felt as though he had just woken from a dream. He looked down and saw that he was still holding Damien’s business card, from which a strong floral scent was wafting.