This was somehow more awkward and humiliating than I’d imagined. I scrambled to justify myself.
"It’s not what you think. I was just looking up someone’s name... Anyway, no new posts showed up. Is it my settings?"
― "If you didn’t ~Nоvеlight~ mess with your filters, then there probably aren’t any new posts. How the hell am I supposed to know if you won’t even tell me what you searched?"
Hyun Dowoon clicked his tongue, clearly unimpressed, and added:
― "Or maybe you got soft-blocked, so regular searches won’t show the posts anymore."
"Soft-blocked?"
― "Basically, it’s when people tweak their posts so people like you can’t find them. If you were searching a name, for example—say yours—they could add special characters in between, or mess with the syllables, like writing it as ‘Suh*u’ or swapping consonants and vowels."
As his explanation dragged on, I found myself getting more and more confused. Eventually, I had to ask the root question.
"But... why do they even do that?"
― "...It’s just internet culture. You don’t have to get it."
"Culture?"
― "Or the account could be private. If it is, no matter how much you search, you’re not gonna find anything. So just give up."
His curt tone was a bit discouraging. I wanted to see more posts praising Ryu Sunghyun, damn it. Everyone said they were all over SNS...
Well, whatever. I’d dig deeper into it later. For now, this conversation was over.
"Got it. I’m hanging up."
― "This little shit, always cuts me off after saying his piece. I had something to talk about too. You know that thing from last time—hello? Seo-hu! Don’t hang—"
Click.
I ignored whatever Dowoon was yelling and ended the call. I’d be contacting him again anyway, probably about the same search issue.
As I shoved my phone back into my pocket, I turned—and locked eyes with Kwon Seoyul, still standing there, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Without hesitation, I said:
"Get out."
"Aw, come on, hyung! That’s so cold!"
"Says the guy who broke my window."
He grabbed my arm tightly. When I glanced down, I saw the frustration clearly in his eyes under those long lashes.
"I’m not joking around here."
"Neither am I."
"I get it—you want to start a new life outside the district. Honestly, it’s better to know what you’re up to now, building a guild, than not knowing anything for months."
"......"
I raised one eyebrow without replying. Seoyul must’ve taken that as encouragement, because he pressed further.
"But you could at least be happy to see me. You keep in touch with Dowoon hyung all the time, but not a word to me..."
"Kwon Seoyul."
I couldn’t help the grin tugging at the corner of my lips. The nonsense he was spouting was so ridiculous, I nearly laughed out loud.
My lips curved upward, my eyes scrunched into a half-scowl, and I said:
"Even if it’s an excuse, at least try using your damn brain."
"Excuse?"
"Why do you care what I’ve been up to? Did you even give a shit about where I was until that man gave the order?"
"Of course—"
"I disappeared for months. I showed up again. I started a guild. I have a kid. You came here knowing all that. So why play innocent? It’s pathetic."
A new Awakened kid made you use your skill? That’s the shittiest excuse I’ve heard in a while.
Dowoon was the one who made Cha Sahyeon’s fake ID, but even without him, that man could’ve found out about the kid with no effort at all.
Seoyul wasn’t sent here without information—he was too valuable for that.
The kid spread his shadows wide to protect me from Seoyul’s attack... It was pointless. At the moment of impact, Cha Sahyeon had been lying right on top of me.
The order Seoyul received was not to harm me—which meant the harmonica attack was aimed at Cha Sahyeon alone.
An instrument like his requires delicate control. If Seoyul had wanted to hit only Sahyeon, it would’ve been easy.
Judging by the angle... he was probably on the rooftop of the building across the street.
"...So what, exactly, are you trying to say?"
All the fake smiles had vanished. Seoyul stared at me with a blank face, his voice flat.
"You’re seriously telling me to leave? I told you I came under Father’s orders."
"Yeah, you did. I didn’t get any. So do your little job—but I’m not cooperating."
I yanked my arm free and turned my back on him.
"Can’t you just come back to the district? You can bring the kid, too! Father and the others will understand."
"No thanks. Just go. You’re bad for the kid’s mental health."
"Did you just say... ‘bad for the kid’s mental health’?"
I walked over to Cha Sahyeon, who was still sitting quietly where I’d left him, licking his lollipop. I ruffled his hair gently.
Good boy. So obedient—unlike someone.
Seoyul visibly trembled in disbelief.
"How am I bad for a kid’s mental health?! And are you really going to stay here forever? You’re not coming back?"
"If you’re gonna argue, maybe put on a shirt. It’s freezing. Just because you’re an S-rank doesn’t mean you need to advertise it to the whole neighborhood."
I couldn’t help but snort.
I wasn’t kidding about the mental health comment. A half-buttoned shirt exposing his chest, bold tattoos on his forearm, earrings crowding both ears...
I had no doubt Cha Sahyeon would try to copy him.
He’d already begged me to let him get his ears pierced. If he saw Seoyul, I was afraid he’d pick up all kinds of bad habits.
"This is insane..."
Seoyul looked heartbroken, his shoulders slumping.
He must’ve thought that just showing up and mentioning "Father" would be enough for me to play along. A naïve assumption—something only someone unaware of my situation could think.
But that was typical Seoyul. If something didn’t interest him, he couldn’t care less.
There were times that made him frustrating—disappointing, even. But right now, that indifference worked in my favor.
I needed Seoyul not to care about me.
I had too many things to hide. Too many things to do.
"If you’re done talking, get out. I’ve got a mess to clean up."
"But I’m supposed to surveil you..."
"Not my problem. I know you’ve already got another hideout set up. Go there."
"Wait, hyung—!"
Even after being manhandled, Seoyul refused to budge—until I pulled a sword from my inventory.
Only then did he reluctantly shuffle toward the door. The order not to harm me held him back.
Standing at the threshold, he pouted.
"You’re really kicking me out like this?"
"Yeah. And just so we’re clear—if you show up again, I’ll kill you and spend eternity in jail. Got it?"
"Hyung!"
"Bye."
SLAM.
I shut the door without hesitation.
Exhaustion washed over me the second I turned around.
"Haah..."
I pressed my fingers against my furrowed brow, sighing.
From the couch, Cha Sahyeon had been peeking at me the whole time. Now, he ran over and threw himself into my arms.
"Yeah, you held back like a champ. Good job, little one."
He must’ve been waiting all this time for Seoyul to leave.
I picked him up and carried him to the window.
Glass shards littered the floor, cold wind blew in, and torn curtains flapped mournfully.
Can’t just leave it like this.
Even in summer, it’d be a problem. But now? In the middle of winter?
Maybe I should call someone to fix it. Better yet—maybe a Hunter who specializes in structural restoration.
Just as I was thinking through the cleanup...
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Someone knocked on the front door.
My stomach twisted. I was this close to snapping.
Kwon Seoyul, you son of a—
I let out a hot breath, rage threatening to boil over. For Cha Sahyeon’s sake, I closed my eyes and held it in.
Then walked to the door.
"I told you to get lost, you little—!"
WHAM.
I flung the door open—and froze. A cool burst of cologne hit me, along with the sight of a sleek black three-piece suit.
I looked up in shock.
Not Seoyul’s wild, fluffy hair—but dark, neatly styled hair combed back. And that face—
“...Guildmaster Kwon Taehyuk?”
"Have you been well?"
Kwon Taehyuk looked past me.
His eyes scanned the broken window, the wrecked office, the child in my arms glaring up at him. And then, with quiet calm, he said:
"Looks like you’ve had a guest."
"Ah, well..."
"I saw someone going down the stairs I didn’t recognize."
"You... ran into them?"
I asked hesitantly, and he nodded.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
This really wasn’t my day. Of all people to show up now... why him?
He studied me quietly. I hoped—really hoped—he’d say, “I’ll come back later.”
But there was no sign of that.
Guess I had no choice.
Suppressing a groan, I stepped aside.
"Come in."

Comments

Loading...