“First of all…….”

I swallowed dryly. The breeze brushing my back felt unusually cold. It was already November—nights were quite chilly. When I returned to the past, it had been early summer.

“How much do you know… and since when?”

Moon Hyun-A was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t reappeared. She wouldn’t leave me without reason—something must have held her back.

“…Damn it, was it fun?”

That she’d prepared to separate Moon Hyun-A from me meant, after all…

“She must have made contact before tonight’s banquet. But were you only watching? Waiting to see me get rejected?”

“For now, I’ll answer that I did not see or hear anything.”

Seong Hyunjae lowered the outer corner of his eye as he spoke.

“I went to the rooftop as planned, confirmed Han Yujin’s presence, then parted ways with Moon Hyun-A and came down here. So I couldn’t have seen or heard anything from that point on. You’re not actually dating, are you?”

“…No.”

I was about to be rejected anyway, but at least it would be a clean dismissal.

“Besides, you deliberately left the rooftop—yet you say you lost sight of her. Was Chloe that trustworthy to you?”

Even though the rooftop was a short leap away, one false move and I could have attacked Chloe. Yet I calmly reentered, took the elevator down—impossible. Even Seong Hyunjae doesn’t have X-ray vision.

“I trusted Han Yujin.”

“You keep your mouth shut and still talk shit. Sorry, Gyeol—let’s block your ears.”

I moved to cover my fairy dragon’s raised ears. Gyeol shook his head. When I whispered “just a moment,” he pouted but wisely reached up to press his own ears closed with his little paw. His cuteness loosened the tension in my chest a bit.

“I thought you brazen, of course. But me—an idiot for never doubting you. You delivered information at lightning speed—was it from then? Did you meet right after?”

It was possible. Seong Hyunjae had no reason to meet Chloe or anyone else for my sake. He’d simply withheld the information rather than lie. I should probably be grateful he’d taken the initiative.

Yet I felt hurt—no, angry. Lately Seong Hyunjae had shown me many courtesies. Perhaps I’d fallen into the foolish assumption he’d always help me and tell me everything. He had no reason to.

“Whatever, forget it.”

I exhaled slowly.

“I think I trusted you, Seong Hyunjae, too easily. A cold shower brings me back to my senses.”

Seong Hyunjae only raised an eyebrow.

“If your decision was made out of necessity, then explain. If you say there’s a sure way to escape the crescent-eyed one, I might believe you. Honestly, if you said ‘I can restore your brother and protect everyone you care about,’ I’d be tempted.”

“I thought you’d save her for me.”

“What? Seriously? And I only said I’d understand—not that I’d go easy on you. You think I’d let it slide if you got in my way? We’re on the same side for now, so I protect her. If she were on the other side, I’d be the first to crush her.”

I wouldn’t rest easy until I’d dealt with that man. Really. His ability wasn’t the only worry—he knew too much. The thought chilled me.

Two S-ranks. My debt to him tied me down—and damn it, Seong Hyunjae even knew that. Though the lounge was far, one well-placed bomb and they’d rush here. Jason too might side with Chloe. Besides Moon Hyun-A, that made three or four.

I could share attack-skill buffs twice. Seong Hyunjae knew that too. Noah’s skill wasn’t available yet—and though powerful, it had a long cooldown. Using it would practically guarantee our victory.

“Seong Hyunjae.”

To be sure I secured her… The night was deep, the moon high.

“You know, back then I gave her quite a lot of leeway.”

“If you say that, how can I help but feel my heart flutter?”

“Then be honest. Tell me your scheme.”

“I received a proposal.”

Seong Hyunjae took a letter from his inventory—its paper and envelope clearly dungeon byproducts.

“Before the banquet began. Precisely, just before Han Yujin came down.”

My nerves, taut until then, relaxed somewhat. If it was right before, I understood why he hadn’t told me: too little time, and he prioritized verifying Chloe first. Testing her while I knew nothing could be more accurate.

“Then what about Hyun-A?”

“Hunter Miller didn’t know the situation, either. She just had no reason to refuse.”

Seong Hyunjae said, explaining that Hyun-A ordinarily wouldn’t accept a request she didn’t favor. Though a guild master, she was still an S-rank hunter—just like Ye-Rim, who Haeyeon Guild couldn’t simply command.

Apparently Evelyn was tasked with separating Moon Hyun-A.

“No reason to refuse—despite not knowing the situation?”

“If an accident occurred, responsibility falls on the guild master. Fortunately, no serious collision happened. Or perhaps the location was changed?”

So that’s it—Evelyn set the stage for Hyun-A to pick a fight. I’d thought Hyun-A simply disliked her, but perhaps Evelyn also loathed Hyun-A. What a shame. Were they trying to provoke a fight?

“It’s not ‘how’ you held Hyun-A back—but the reason.”

If he intended to show me that letter, I’d welcome it. Show it to me. But Seong Hyunjae slipped the letter back into his inventory. Then—

“……!”

Suddenly my wrist was seized. Faster than I could track. He drew me in a graceful spin, half a turn, shifting my stance from the railing toward the glass doors. Gyeol growled softly as Seong Hyunjae released my wrist. The lights mounted on the railing cast his figure into shadow.

“It’s only for Han Yujin that I tell you this.”

“…You want us to part? That she will leave?”

“You think too negatively.”

“Then speak plainly. You can’t spring something like this without warning—tell me exactly, clearly, what you want.”

“Be selfish.”

Seong Hyunjae’s tone was level.

“…Pardon?”

“Or how about I erase your mind completely?”

“…What bullshit is that?”

Chloe, standing a short distance away, frowned. If she were anything like Director Song, she wouldn’t ignore an F-rank threatened by an S-rank. Ironically, she might even protect me from Seong Hyunjae.

“I’ve had that impulse. It’s been some time since returning from China.”

The corners of Seong Hyunjae’s mouth curved into a painted-on smile.

“I’ve been waiting for some commotion to stir.”

“I truly don’t understand you.”

“I needn’t say first—it’d mean nothing.”

“…I really don’t know what you want. You’re waiting for me to do something?”

“Yes.”

His gaze down on me felt suddenly cold. I wanted to grab him by the collar and demand—what did he truly want? Damn, did he think himself some ancient god? Spouting vague lines, watching for me to follow ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ his lead, then praising me?

“Why should I do what you wish?”

“It’s not only me.”

Now his voice was maddeningly gentle.

“Many people wish it.”

“…I feel like punching you right now.”

He laughed, then coyly suggested:

“For that, playing the villain might be fun.”

He spun the tone with playful malice.

“Could be interesting.”

“You’re crazy.”

He seemed to change, yet remained the same—unpredictable, unknowable, impossible to anticipate. What did he truly want me to do? Had I done something offensive? I’d worked hard—endured hardships—and if he still found me lacking, damn it, he might as well slit open my stomach.

“I can’t grasp your words, but do not commit villainy lightly. Especially at the Sesung Guild Master’s position—you’d cause too much harm.”

Chloe interrupted with a serious expression. …Was she truly not on Park Ha-Yul’s side?

“By the way, Chloe—do you know anything about my abduction to China?”

I threw the question out vaguely. No matter how I asked, she wouldn’t spill……

“I am sorry about that incident.”

“…Pardon?”

“How unexpected.”

Seong Hyunjae, also surprised, turned toward Chloe. She, as if never intending to hide, continued calmly.

“Officially, I came to deliver a letter to the Sesung Guild Master. But personally, I wanted to check on Director Han Yujin’s condition.”

“But you said you disliked me?”

“Apart from personal feelings, Director Han was a victim.”

“Do you mean you admit complicity with my kidnappers? May I record this?”

“I was not involved. I simply did not intervene.”

Her guilt lay in knowing yet not stopping it.

“I agreed it was the solution with the least harm. With you kidnapped, the military threat could be neutralized.”

“…I’d like to hear more details.”

“The first contact came from Hwang Lim.”

…What? Though I half-expected it, that man truly sided with the military.

“He said if the military fully controlled the Goblin King, the standoff with the Martial Alliance would collapse. That was unacceptable. Also, a long-range portal risked leading to foreign invasion.”

I shivered at the thought: unleashing undead hunters via long-range portal… and China harbored many unknown S-rank hunters—nobody would know whence they came.

“So you abducted me to draw in Korean hunters? You could have simply requested cooperation.”

“That would be an international incident.”

A fair point. Since I’d been kidnapped, Korean hunters could storm China and no one could object.

“And only by Director Han Yujin’s abduction could we naturally move toward Nosan Island. From there, we could capture the Korean hunters.”

“It succeeded—but if it had failed, we would have been the sole victims?”

“Korean hunters were stronger than expected. Originally Hwang Lim and his faction were to cooperate, but it proved unnecessary.”

…So that’s why Hwang Lim grabbed only Cho Hwa-un and left. Once the goblins escaped and Yun-Yun rampaged, his mission was done?

“Are you sure you may tell me all this?”

“If Director Han Yujin is safe, I intended to inform you before departure. I also have a letter from Hwang Lim—will you accept it?”

Chloe watched my expression intently. I sighed, extending my hand. Frankly, being told “I dislike you” shocked me more. Hwang Lim was but a passing memory. Chloe drew the letter from her inventory and handed it to me. I wondered what nonsense it contained—but for now, I stored it.

“So the conclusion is: my abduction was done in goodwill?”

“Of course it was wrong.”

Chloe spoke firmly. Then—

“Have you broken ties with that ‘noona’ of Park Ha-Yul, whose name you still don’t even know?”

“No.”

…What the hell.

“I cannot share any more details. If you seek revenge, I understand—but I will resist.”

She bowed apologetically, then turned to Seong Hyunjae.

“Please reply before I depart.”

Without another word, Chloe opened the glass door and walked out. I felt even stranger than when the system message had appeared. Bad method, but good intentions—those words scraped at my chest. It would have been easier if she’d just been evil.

“One more thing.”

Seong Hyunjae turned to me.

“A good person can become an enemy at any time.”

“…I know. Among those who cursed me, plenty were good, kind people.”

“And anyone who would harm Han Yujin is an enemy, regardless of their intentions.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep