Chapter 91 - Challenge [1]

Snacks of various ȧssortments was served before Moon Jiwoo. Although they appeared to be quite delicious, Jiwoo could not find herself having any appetite towards them due to the current situation.

Three of them— Moon Jiwoo, Oh Sookyung, and Hwang Yejoon— was at a room in the hotel, discussing about the actions they will be taking. 

Jiwoo's eyes stared at the snacks while Hwang Yejoon said, "Initially, we were planning to ambush the king and kill him from behind his back. But it seems that, Sookyung, you are not willing to go through that."

A sigh escaped from Yejoon's mouth after those words left his mouth. Moon Jiwoo's eyes widened as they stared at Sookyung questioningly, wanting for an explanation.

However, Sookyung tilted his head slightly and remained silent about it. Finding the curiosity build up within her, Jiwoo made a note mentally to ask about it to him later on.

"So, now, we have to resort to the other method," Yejoon spoke out.

Raising one of her eyebrows, Moon Jiwoo questioned, "What is the other method?"

"That is duelling. Oh Sookyung will challenge the current King to a duel, and the fight will be to death," Yejoon stated, "The one who survives will be the King."

At Yejoon's words, Moon Jiwoo's eyes widened in horror while she stared at Sookyung. Challenging the current King to a duel and fighting him one on one was dangerous.

While the king had years of experience, Sookyung merely started training and bȧrėly had any training. Fighting him head on— although that was the right way— was simply sucidal for Sookyung.

"Are you crazy for choosing that? Do you want to die that badly?" Moon Jiwoo questioned.

Seeing how Sookyung shrugged his shoulders and avoided from giving her an answer, Moon Jiwoo clenched her hand into a tight fist while she glared him.

Maybe in this way, Jiwoo would not have to endanger her life, but that did not leave a good feeling within her; even Jiwoo was unable to puzzle out the reason behind it.

"He is quite determined about it. There is no use in trying to talk him out of it apparently," Yejoon said, "About the duel, it will be held three days from now on. 

I have given the King the formal letter and informed everyone in the Underworld about it. Although this is crazy, Sookyung, you might be able to do it if you are lucky. At the end, the only thing you can look up to is fate."

Slamming her hand on top of the table, Jiwoo said, "Like hell I am allowing Sookyung to go on a duel with that King. This weakling will die before he even gets to make a single attack on the King. It's better to send me to a duel instead of him."

Jiwoo stood up and stared at Yejoon with determined eyes. Moon Jiwoo did not understand herself why she was this protective over Sookyung— probably because of her instincts. Nonetheless, she could not bring herself to feel calm with the thought of him going on the duel.

"It's already decided that I will be going," Sookyung spoke out, "So, stop saying unnecessary things, Shin Daerin. I am not that weak."

Moon Jiwoo scoffed and stood up, not understanding why her mood ruined at that moment. Sookyung's attitude towards the entire thing irritated her further.

"Actually, do whatever you want. I mean, if you die, I suppose it is freedom for me. Maybe I should wish for you to die so that I can lead a peaceful life," Jiwoo said, turning her back on him and walking away as she clenched her hand into a tight fist.

As Moon Jiwoo fell back on her bed, she bit her lips while instant regret filled her at the words she had uttered back at that room. In the moment of anger then, those words escaped from Jiwoo's mouth.

Moon Jiwoo ġrȯȧnėd and scolded herself, "You are an idiot. Now I can see why people had called you that before. How could you even say that to someone who would go on a fight to death? Geez! You need to learn to control your mouth more."

It was baffling to Moon Jiwoo how panicked she felt about the situation and her nerves were unable to calm down. At the thought of Sookyung going on that dangerous duel was enough to cause apprehension and anxiety to rise within her.

It was almost as if she was worried about him; maybe she was truly worried about him. This time, it was not hard for Jiwoo to notice that this was not because of her instincts; it was deeper than that.

At the thought of her sincerely worrying about him, Jiwoo found herself being shocked. It was hard for her to believe that she had grown such feelings towards Sookyung.

"I should go and take a cold bath to calm myself down. This will be driving me crazy at this—"

Before she was able to continue, Jiwoo heard knocks on the door, and wondering who it could be behind it, she turned her head towards the door, saying, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Hwang Yejoon had walked into the room. Seeing him, Jiwoo stood up from her place and, raising one of her eyebrows, stared at him questioningly.

"Mind if I talk to you about some matters," Yejoon said, "Although you don't appear to be quite pleased with me."

'Is that the impression I gave to him? It's not like that I am displeased with him though.'

"Yeah, you can," Jiwoo said, "It's not that I dislike you. This is just how I am."

Moon Jiwoo's eyes stared at the ground while she found her cheeks heating up due to the embarrassment. This was the first time she tried to explain herself, and maybe Yejoon's friendly eyes were the reason behind it. Although the man was quite a flirt, she could see that he was a decent and amiable man.

Yejoon chuckled, and closing the door behind him, he stated, "You are quite a cute girl, Shin Daerin-ssi. If it was not for the fact that we are busy now, I would have courted you. Anyway, let's talk about Sookyung's matter."

"About that boy's matter? What else could I say other than he is completely suicidal? It so quite foolish how he thinks he will be 

able to overpower the current king and win over him. He is being overconfident; I am sure about that. That boy needs someone to knock some senses into him. 

Should I go and beat him to the point that he will not be thinking about the duel anymore?" Jiwoo stated, folding her arms across her ċhėst. Her voice showed how agitated she was.

"I believe that would not be working. Oh Sookyung is quite a smart man, and knowing his character well, Shin Daerin, you know that he had taken this path after a deep thought. 

He is not someone who will choose to go after this merely due to his pride or the right path. Try to think of why he had done it. I am pretty sure it is quite obvious," Yejoon said.

Hwang Yejoon's words sent her to a deep thought. Taking foolish actions was not something Sookyung would do; it was rather her forte. But she was unable to think of a reason behind it. Sookyung was not a man who valued morals much, and he was not the one who would do it impulsively.

"There is nothing that comes to my mind. Could it be that he got some kind of plans or something, like winning the duel with underhanded methods? That actually seems like something he would go for," Jiwoo said. That's the only thing that came to her mind, which seemed reasonable.

Hwang Yejoon shook his head and voiced out, "As much as pleasant as that sounds, Sookyung doesn't have anything prepared from beforehand. There is another reason behind it. Think harder. Who will be the one to benefit from it mostly?"

Jiwoo pursed her lips for a couple of seconds before speaking up, "The current King? He will be one to benefit the most since this will make everything easier for him. But that doesn't sound like a reason. Who could it—"

A thought had struck her, causing Moon Jiwoo's eyes to widen, and raising her index finger, she pointed at herself, finding that to be absurd herself.

To her surprise, Yejoon curved the corner of his lips to form a smile, and he nodded his head.

Seeing him reaction managed to baffled her, and she said, "No way! There is no way that could be the reason. Does it make sense for him to endanger his life for me? I mean, he could not care less if I died or lived unless I am able to protect him. He is not someone to get that emotional. I take back when I thought that he is smart; he is quite foolish."

Shrugging his shoulders, Yejoon said, "You better discuss with the current King over this."