“Ah, oh…”

For some reason, whenever I tried to rest alone, it felt like someone was always visiting me. As I opened the door grumblingly, the attendant dressed in a black suit greeted me politely and opened his mouth.

“Master called you.”

“……”

The good feeling fell into shatter in an instant.

Ten days had already passed since the Gulupdo Island Gate incident. In the meantime, I had deliberately turned off my attention from Cheon Sa-yeon’s news, so I couldn’t even guess why he was calling me.

The words “I don’t want to go” came up to the end of my throat, but I swallowed it and nodded. Anyway, as long as it was a cooperative relationship with Cheon Sa-yeon, there was no way to avoid it.

‘…let’s just endure it for two months.’

If all the gates in Seoul were resolved, this partnership would come to an end. Only then might I be able to get away from Cheon Sa-yeon and left this place.

As I headed straight to the top floor following the attendant, I met Woo Seo-hyuk, who just came out of the representative office.

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who approached me right away, opened his mouth as he looked at my body from top to bottom.

“I heard about the Gulupdo Island incident. It said you were seriously injured.”

“I was treated well. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. Are you here to see the Master?”

“Yes. He called me.”

At those words, Woo Seo-hyuk put on a somewhat hesitant expression.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi?”

“…just in case, Master is not feeling well today.”

“Pardon?”

I tilted my head at the sudden sound. Not feeling well? Cheon Sa-yeon?

“Actually, it’s been a few days, not just today.”

“Um. Is that so?”

“Yes. Even if you come to nitpick for useless things, it is better to understand and move on for today. It can be dangerous if you accidentally touch it.”

“……”

What on earth did you think you were worried about if he felt bad? I replied with an awkward smile.

“I understand. I’ll deal with it in moderation. You can’t stop seeing each other just because you don’t want to see them.”

“That’s true.”

At my words, Woo Seo-hyuk immediately nodded his head and agreed. I had been thinking for a long time, but Woo Seo-hyuk was pretty shameless because it didn’t fit his image.

“Then I’ll get going now. See you next time.”

“Yes.”

After a brief conversation, Woo Seo-hyuk left, and I, who was left alone, carefully grabbed the doorknob of the representative office.

I thought I would only hold out for two months, but when I went in, I only sighed. I opened the door to the representative office, forcing my eyebrows to bloom, which was constantly tense.

“You come.”

As soon as I entered, I saw Cheon Sa-yeon sitting on the sofa and looking at the documents. Cheon Sa-yeon, who found me, put down the documents and smiled softly.

What. You said he wasn’t in a good mood. Nothing different from usual, though?

“Oh, what…”

I replied sullenly and sat down on the sofa opposite him. Cheon Sa-yeon, who was looking at me with a smile on his lips, opened his mouth.

“Did you have a good rest?”

“Oh. Why did you call me?”

I didn’t want to talk about my recent situation in a leisurely manner. As soon as I jumped to the main topic, Cheon Sa-yeon handed me the document he had just been looking at.

“This…”

“This time, it’s a gate to clear at Jayna Guild.”

Upon receiving the document and unfolding it, the detailed gate information caught my eye. S-grade gate located in the G5 Area. As I was slowly examining the contents, I frowned at the uncomfortable feeling.

“What is it?”

“Um?”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

Cheon Sa-yeon slowly tilted his head, perhaps because he noticed the uncomfortable feeling in my words.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? Jayna Guild Gate.”

“I’m asking if you’re giving it to me or if it’s Master Hong Si-ah. Is this a mercenary proposal that was officially sent to me by the Jayna Guild?”

“Is that important?”

“It’s important.”

If it was Cheon Sa-yeon’s gift, I didn’t intend to receive it. I didn’t know what else he was going to do with this, but I didn’t want to get caught up in troublesome things after being rushed.

‘Since the Gulupdo Island gate incident, I have also informed Hong Si-ah of my presence, there is no need to forcefully receive the gate that Cheon Sa-yeon gives.’

Let’s refuse. When I made that decision, Cheon Sa-yeon answered in a sullen voice.

“This is the document I got from Master Hong Si-ah. If you don’t need it, throw it away.”

“A document was given by Master Hong Si-ah? Directly?”

“…right.”

Oh. If that’s the case, then it was an official mercenary proposal.

That’s good. I was thinking of going into the gate slowly. Even looking at the list of participants, there was Master Hong Si-ah, right? A satisfied smile came out of nowhere.

“If you’re done, I’m going.”

As I quickly got up from my seat after collecting the documents, Cheon Sa-yeon raised one eyebrow and raised the corner of his mouth. I could see that he was upset.

“You must be in a hurry. It’s been less than five minutes since you came in, but I can see you saying you’re going.”

“What, please?”

I deliberately smiled brightly and affirmed the words that I felt somewhere. I’m busy, so stop talking and let me go, you bastard.

“It’s too much. However, it was only after ten days that we met this time.”

“Am I happy to see you for the first time in a while?”

When I responded in a sarcastic way, Cheon Sa-yeon twisted the corners of his eyes and smiled as if it was fun.

“If you say it like that, I’m really upset, Yi-gyeol-ah.”

“Ho…”

As if to appease his lover, his face frowned at a quenched tone.

It seemed that Woo Seo-hyuk was worried for no reason. In my opinion, Cheon Sa-yeon was very similar to usual. There was still the unlucky thing.

‘Of course, I’m not the type of person who would make things up without Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi…’

For some reason, I glanced at Cheon Sa-yeon’s face because I felt uncomfortable. Looking at it this way, unlike the smiling eyes, the forehead seemed to be a bit stiff.

‘…no, let’s not worry about it.’

I seized all of my shaky hearts and firmly cut off my curiosity. Whether Cheon Sa-yeon genuinely smiled or not had nothing to do with me. I didn’t want to get involved in anything else related to him.

“Gate of G5 Area.”

After a moment of silence, Cheon Sa-yeon spoke another word.

“I let Woo Seo-hyeok go. You go together.”

“I don’t need it.”

“It has already been agreed upon with Master Hong Si-ah. Take him.”

Cheon Sa-yeon pushed firmly. I laughed out loud at that. Now, you’re going to attach Woo Seo-hyuk, not Kim Woo-jin, for surveillance.

‘Right. Do whatever you want.’

There was no feeling of disappointment and no desire to protest. Anyway, this time, it was just for checking the gate, so it didn’t matter if surveillance was added.

“It’s been ten minutes. I’m going.”

Now I really didn’t want to sit face to face with him. Fortunately, Cheon Sa-yeon didn’t hold me this time either.

* * *

On the date stated in the document, I headed to G5 Area. I left first, leaving behind Woo Seo-hyuk, who said he had work to do in the morning.

After driving for about two hours by taxi, I arrived at the G5 Area, and saw Master Hong Si-ah in the middle of an interview.

“What is it, Han Yi-gyeol?”

I didn’t know anyone except for Hong Si-ah, so I was standing there alone, and I heard an unexpected voice. Looking back, I saw Cha Soo-yeon with her eyes wide open.

“It’s been a while, Cha Soo-yeon-ssi.”

“Why are you… Are you the mercenary who said to participate in the gate?”

I laughed involuntarily at the pleasant voice.

“Yes. Is Cha Soo-yeon­-ssi also participating in this gate?”

“I followed because Master said she was going. I was surprised. I never thought it would be you.”

“Even if it wasn’t, I felt awkward because I didn’t know anyone, but it’s nice to meet you like this.”

At those words, Cha Soo-yeon pursed her lips with a sullen expression.

“Huhung, you’re good at talking. I haven’t been in touch with you for a while.”

Oops. Then I remembered the last time I met Cha Soo-yeon. She asked for a number, but the situation went wrong and I turned it down.

“Um… because I’ve been a little busy. If I beg you now, will you give it to me?”

Cha Soo-yeon snorted when I took out my cell phone, just in case, and said.

“Would you mind? I left a long time ago even after I left the bus.” (버스 떠나도 한참 전에 떠났는데, not sure how to translate it)

With the intention of wanting to look at her just once, I stared at Cha Soo-yeon and lowered the end of my eyebrows slightly.

“Ah, don’t do that. At that time, I was really sorry.”

With a smile as harmless as possible, Iapproached Cha Soo-yeon and held out my cell phone.

“If you give me this time, really! I will keep it for a long time.”

As if the effort paid off, Cha Soo-yeon slightly blushed into her earlobe and pretended to be troubled.

“Well, what should I do?”

“Please let it slide once. Give me your number and I’ll…!”

“This guy!”

I was trying to get a number by gently flirting with Cha Soo-yeon, but someone roughed me on the shoulder from behind. The culprit was Hong Si-ah, who pressed her upper body so strongly that my waist was bent forward.

“Oh my, Talented Han Yi-gyeol? Sorry!”

Hong Si-ah, who checked my face, quickly released my shoulders and said.

“I wanted to get rid of someone because I thought some guy was going to get in trouble with our Soo-yeon. I didn’t know you were capable of doing things.”

If that’s the reason. Touching my tingling shoulder, I answered.

“It’s okay. More than that, I’m not joking…”

“Well, I understand. Isn’t our Soo-yeon pretty? However, we have to enter the gate from now on, so please refrain from it.”

“Yes? Wait a minute. So this is—”

As I tried to quickly explain the absurd misunderstanding, I stiffened my body. Behind Hong Si-ah, a familiar face appeared. It was Woo Seo-hyuk.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi? When did you come?”

“I arrived about 3 minutes ago.”

“Oh, then…”

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. I have the same opinion as Master Hong Si-ah. It’s good to have a crush on a man and a woman, but please do it after clearing the gate if possible.”

“……”

My mouth was wide open in embarrassment. As if they couldn’t even see me, Hong Si-ah and Woo Seo-hyuk shook hands in a friendly atmosphere.

“Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk of the Requiem Guild? I’ve heard a lot about you. Please take care while we clear it.”

“I’ll do my best.”

In an instant, the misunderstanding was not enough, and the opportunity to explain it flew away. Cha Soo-yeon approached me, standing there stupidly, and whispered with an apologetic expression.

“That’s because our master only sees what she wants to see… So, do you want me to her for you? You have a lover.”

“……”

Come to think of it, there was also that problem. I said, covering my eyes with my hand.

“Ha Tae-heon-ssi and I are not like that.”

“You don’t even have to hide it from me. Because I really understand everything. Of course, I used to like Ha Tae-heon-ssi a little bit, but that’s really a thing of the past… I never touch anyone that had been owned by others.”

“No, it’s really not.”

“Okay. I got it, so give me your cell phone. I’ll give you my number.”

“……”

Perhaps because she felt sorry for me, Cha Soo-yeon stopped pretending to be pouty and poked me in the side.

“Here you go…”

I swallowed my tears and handed the phone to Cha Soo-yeon so that others could not see it. Cha Soo-yeon quickly saved the number at a speed similar to Min Ah-rin. How can you move your fingers so fast? Both were very amazing.

“Now, are you all ready? Let’s go now!”

Meanwhile, Hong Si-ah, who took the lead, shouted with a bright and lively voice. I stood side by side with Woo Seo-hyuk and Cha Soo-yeon and entered the gate.