There was only one guy who could use a skill like that.
Kwon Taehyuk and I both raised our eyes at the same time. Sitting on a thick branch was Eun Woojeong.
Draped in a red robe and wearing a mask, in full Spiderweb attire, he leaned his chin on his hand and spoke.
“So this is what you’ve been up to... sneaking off into some mountain corner to flirt?”
I clicked my tongue inwardly when I saw Kwon Taehyuk already drawing his blade.
“How did you even know to come here?”
“How could I not?”
Eun Woojeong replied lazily.
“Everyone tied to you is under surveillance. When Yesung and Circle suddenly climbed a snow mountain and never came back down, I decided to check in myself.”
If you don’t know the trails, you could easily get lost and freeze to death. Lucky or bold—I couldn’t tell which.
Regardless of Kwon Taehyuk’s weapon, Eun Woojeong jumped down, landing gracefully, propping his chin over his mask, and tilting his head.
“Guess you don’t know, so let me clue you in. Yesung Guildmaster, just because you kissed doesn’t mean you can date Cha Seohu.”
“What?”
Kwon Taehyuk flinched involuntarily, shoulders jerking. A faint blush spread on his cheeks.
'So he heard everything.'
Not like I care—it’s not embarrassing for me.
Under Kwon Taehyuk’s wary gaze, Eun Woojeong continued.
“Because I kissed him first. So if anyone’s dating him, it should be me.”
“...What?”
“Mm?”
The faint blush on Kwon Taehyuk’s face drained away in an instant.
I refuted in disbelief.
“What are you talking about? That was just to force-feed you herbs. And anyway, were you even conscious then?”
“Faintly. Later, when I thought about it, I realized it was a kiss.”
“I’m telling you, it wasn’t—”
Why are these guys refusing to listen today?
I pressed my forehead, exhausted, when Kwon Taehyuk spoke in a trembling voice.
“Is... is what he says true?”
“If it’s just a matter of true or false, then yes.”
Thunk. Kwon Taehyuk staggered back, looking stricken, while Eun Woojeong stepped close to me, chuckling low. Why the hell was he sidling up to me?
“He was dying. I had no choice. He couldn’t chew herbs himself, so I had to give it to him mouth-to-mouth. It was closer to artificial respiration than a kiss.”
Why am I even explaining this?
“Still a kiss, though.”
“Shut it.”
“But really—”
Kwon Taehyuk lowered his head, confusion clouding his face.
'This is insane.'
I gave up on clarifying and just changed the subject.
“So why the hell did you follow us here?”
“Why else? I’ve got a lot to ask.”
Eun Woojeong answered matter-of-factly, folding his arms and sweeping his gaze up and down me.
“You... are you really Cover? You really have a skill that makes you an S-rank dealer? The build’s different, even your face is a bit different. Is that also the skill’s effect? Can you use it anytime? Any side effects?”
God, he’s a pain.
For a moment, I seriously considered calling Sahyeon to throw him out.
But Eun Woojeong was one of the system’s chosen protagonists. Things between us were already strained—if I kicked him out now, the relationship might never recover...
So I sighed and gestured.
“Follow me.”
I led him down the backyard path to the front door.
When I opened it, Song Jiwoon and King Seohwa were already standing together, sensing his presence and staring at us.
“...We have another guest.”
Song Jiwoon’s face was complicated. Beside him, King Seohwa arched a brow.
“Another man.”
“I’d rather it were a woman, honestly.”
With Eun Woojeong trailing behind me, I headed into the living room. Ryu Sunghyun had just come out freshly washed, and Cha Sahyeon returned from scouting at the same time.
I’d already explained my skill yesterday, but if I wanted his help later, Eun Woojeong needed to hear it too. Plus, this way I could introduce everyone properly.
I stood them all in the living room—Ryu Sunghyun looking sour, Cha Sahyeon glaring daggers at Eun Woojeong—and gestured.
“Say hello. This is the head of Spiderweb, an intelligence group.”
“...”
“I don’t know his real name.”
“Hello~”
Amid their baffled stares at such a half-assed introduction, Eun Woojeong cheerfully waved.
Song Jiwoon asked nervously in a low voice.
“If you don’t know his name... what do we call him?”
“Mm. Hey, you, mister, that guy, Director—whatever. He won’t care. If he has a conscience.”
“That’s harsh.”
Eun Woojeong gave a fake sob. I ignored him and jerked my chin toward the sofa.
I gave him a shorter version of the explanation I’d given the others yesterday. Still, the important details were all there, so he’d understand.
After listening in silence for a moment, Eun Woojeong asked,
“So the skill itself is what makes you S-rank, which means you can’t use any other skills. Got it. But then... what about the one you used when we fought before? You blinded me with light for a moment.”
“That was an item.”
In truth, it was my status window letting me borrow Ryu Sunghyun’s skill, but I couldn’t reveal that. So I just used the item excuse.
Even behind his mask, I could feel his suspicious stare.
'And what exactly are you going to do if you doubt me?'
I ignored it and went on.
“Got it? If you understand, then stop with this nonsense about me and Cover being in a relationship.”
“Fine.”
For once he answered readily, only to continue immediately.
“Then you’re not dating anyone?”
“No time for that.”
“Great. Then date me.”
“...?”
For a second, I thought I’d misheard. Reflexively I looked at him, but his mask hid his face.
So I looked at the others instead.
Cha Sahyeon frozen cold, Kwon Taehyuk equally stiff, Ryu Sunghyun shocked, Song Jiwoon flustered. And King Seohwa looking like she was enjoying the drama. Definitely not a hallucination.
I forced a thin smile and turned back to Eun Woojeong.
“What the hell are you babbling about?”
“We kissed.”
Around me, gasps of breath sounded.
“For the third time, it wasn’t a kiss.”
“It was.”
God, my blood pressure.
I grabbed the back of my neck. I should’ve just asked Sahyeon to throw him out. Too late for regrets.
“So what if it was? You think one kiss means the whole world has to date? Then I’d be with over a hundred people by now.”
“Then date me along with those hundred. No, actually, I don’t like sharing. So if you date me, cut off the rest.”
“...”
The way he demanded it, like it was the most natural thing, left me speechless.
An odd silence blanketed the living room. As I stared vacantly at nothing, Cha Sahyeon asked calmly,
“Want me to kill him, hyung?”
“...Let’s endure it, for now.”
Forget training—I wanted off this damn mountain immediately.
The next evening, I picked Eun Woojeong as my training opponent.
Yes, it was entirely intentional. One way or another, I was going to land a punch on his smug face. If his mask came off and exposed him, so be it.
He looked me up and down, eyeing my blond-haired form with interest, and nodded.
“Fair enough. Without any other skills, you’d better at least handle a weapon well. Who taught you the sword?”
“What’s it to you? Just summon your chains.”
“So you’ll tell me if I win? Fine.”
With a soft laugh, shining white chains materialized around him. Clink, clatter—their number increased steadily.
They shot out in all directions, latching onto trees. Standing atop the tightly woven chains, Eun Woojeong looked down at me.
“Guess I’ll have to go all out.”
Like a spider perched on its web, he swept his hand, and the newly formed chains rushed toward me as the battle began.
Koo-goong!
Every time the chains slammed into the ground, the earth trembled.
I dashed, cutting them down with my sword. The farther the distance, the more disadvantaged I was against his chains.
Wind whipped his silver hair as he watched me approach like an arrow, raising his hand casually.
A chain from out of sight snapped around my right arm. Without panic, I cut it away and twisted the sword’s trajectory straight toward him.
'Even the skill takes after its master.'
Annoying as hell.
He slipped past the blade aimed at his neck as if flowing with water, and continued manipulating the chains.
In an instant, chains crashed down between us like an iron cage. My sword shuddered, caught between them.
I leapt back, regaining distance, while he summoned even more chains.
I could feel it clearly—he was taking me seriously. More than anyone, he was a suitable training partner.
I lifted the corner of my mouth.

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