CH 100

“Kim Woo-jin. Are you still in contact with the person who gave you gate information?”

“I’m in touch with him, but… why?”

“There is something I want you to find it.”

At those words, Woojin Kim put on a puzzled expression.

“What is it?”

“First, about Samael and the puppeteer.”

Kim Woo-jin, who realized what I meant, nodded his head with his sunken eyes.

“The puppeteer, we tried to find out even if you didn’t ask. But who is Samael?”

“It’s a name the puppeteer had said over and over again. My guess is that the name of the person with the ability to control Kang Seung-geon’s mind is Samael. He’s in the same group with the puppeteer.”

“Um, I got it. We will find out together.”

“And…”

I pondered for a moment and then spoke.

“Please also find out about Kang Seung-geon.”

“Kang Seung-geon?”

Kim Woo-jin distorted his face and said in a ferocious voice. Surprised by the sharp look of Kim Woo-jin I had seen for the first time, I opened my eyes wide, he turned his head to cover his mouth with his hand.

“…I hate him.”

“……”

Oh, yes, it seemed.

“I want to know something.”

When I was dealing with Kang Seung-geon with Ha Tae-heon, I remembered what he said.

“I, I remember. Fuck. I just remembered.”

A voice was full of madness. The blood was rising and the eyes were burning red. I felt the malice clearly.

“You? It was you, right? Shit, that time. That stinky shantytown!”

Stinky shantytown. The life of Han Yi-gyeol, presumed to have lived a hard time before meeting Cheon Sa-yeon.

I was just guessing, but… it was better to know for sure. There was something more worrisome than that.

“Kim Woo-jin.”

“Oh?”

I looked at Kim Woo-jin for a moment. Since the information came in through Kim Woo-jin, Kim Woo-jin must also see about Kang Seung-geon.

How would Kim Woo-jin react to that?

“Did you say that you will always be by my side?”

Kim Woo-jin’s auburn eyes gleamed. Then he nodded his head coldly.

“Ung, ung.”

“Are you sure you will keep that word?”

“Of course.”

Think about it for a bit and answer me… It wasn’t a bad feeling though. I said to Kim Woo-jin said with a bright smile.

“Okay. That’s enough.”

“……”

Kim Woo-jin looked mesmerized somewhere. He was out of his mind today.

“When can you get it for me?”

“Oh, oh?”

Kim Woo-jin, whose neck and face heated up like a tomato, answered with a crawling voice, covering his face with his hands.

“As, as soon as possible… I’ll ask for it. It won’t take long. About a few days…”

“Good.”

“I, I need to wash my face…”

Kim Woo-jin, who hastily turned away from me, staggered into the bathroom. It was because he was so shy. I clicked my tongue and turned on my cell phone.

Uuung!

“What?”

As soon as it was turned on, the phone rang loudly and various notifications appeared on the screen.

Text messages, missed calls, and even messengers. Why were there so many? I opened the messenger first.

「Kim Soo-hwan: Yi-gyeol-ssi! I saw the news ㅠㅠ~ Are you okay?」

「Kim Soo-hwan: Don’t get sick ㅠㅠ」

「Kim Soo Hwan: (Emoji)」

Seeing the picture of the cat sitting on the floor and crying sadly, I replied with a smirk.

「Han Yi-gyeol: Hello, Kim Soo-hwan-ssi, I’m fine. 」

It was too bothersome to spell correctly. I immediately checked the next messenger.

「Cha Soo-yeon: Are you okay?」

「Cha Soo-yeon: When you wake up, send me an answer!」

「Cha Soo-yeon: We’re going to eat pizza together. You didn’t forget, did you?」

「Cha Soo-yeon: Surely! Send it by all means! Got it?」

As I was reading the text, I felt like I could hear a voice. Come to think of it, Cha Soo-yeon also said that she had come to the Requiem hospital room when I passed out. I couldn’t keep my promise, but I was sorry that I seemed to have caused her only concern.

「Han Yi-gyeol: I woke up.」

「Han Yi-gyeol: Of course. Whose promise it? Of course, I remember.」

Next was Hong Si-ah.

「Hong Si-ah: Hello, Talented Han Yi-gyeol. Got the number from Soo-yeon and send you a message. Are you fine?」

「Hong Si-ah: I’m glad that the damage has been greatly reduced thanks to the ability of Talented Han Yi-gyeol…」

「Hong Si-ah: I’m a little worried that you haven’t woken up yet. Call me when you wake up!」

After thinking about it for a while, I sent an easy reply.

「Han Yi-gyeol: Hello, Master Hong Si-ah. I’m already fine.」

I thought that Hong Si-ah had come to the scene because I was kidnapped in Jayna’s area, but I didn’t know she was going to send a separate call like this. Were you more affectionate than you look?

Everything else piled up were messengers from strangers. How the hell did you get the number?

After scrolling through dozens of messenger lists, I got tired and just turned it off. It was all useless content like being a reporter or a broadcast station PD. It looked like I had to change my number.

The situation was similar to that of the messenger, as most of the texts and missed call lists were from unknown numbers. While scrolling down the list of texts with a bored expression, I found a number that caught my eye.

「Call me when you wake up.」

It was Ha Tae-heon. Can I call him on this cell phone?

‘But. Now, there is no need to secretly contact him to avoid Cheon Sa-yeon’s monitor.’

After thinking for a while, I immediately pressed the call button. I brought the cell phone to my ear where I heard a call connection sound, and Kim Woo-jin, who had gone to the bathroom, returned.

“Han Yi-gyeol.”

“Wait a minute.”

When I raised my hand and gave a sign to Kim Woo-jin, who was talking to me, he calmly nodded. It looked like a puppy that had heard something like ‘Wait!’.

When I was about to give up and hang up after a fairly long call connection sound, the call was finally connected. The voice over the phone was exactly what I expected.

[Han Yi-gyeol.]

I raised an eyebrow slightly and replied with a smile.

“Yes, Ha Tae-heon-ssi.”

[Did you just wake up now?]

“No, I woke up yesterday. I forgot my phone.”

[Body?]

“It’s fine.”

[Tell me exactly.]

“Yes?”

What exactly? Confused when he asked, Ha Tae-heon continued with a sigh.

[Tell me more in detail. About your physical condition.]

Embarrassed by the unexpected request, I spat out gibberish.

“Uh… Just, I’m healthy? The healer has healed me and there are no wounds. My energy is fine, too. Yes.”

Although it was a stupid answer, Ha Tae-heon was rather satisfied, so he brought up the main point without saying much.

[The situation isn’t very good.]

“It seems that Master Cheon Sa-yeon blocked it, but I think I need to change my cell phone number first.”

It happened in the middle of Gangnam, so there were many eyes to see. I expected the media to focus on the seriousness of the situation, but I didn’t expect this much attention.

Ha Tae-heon, who had been quiet for a while after hearing my answer, soon opened his mouth.

[Han Yi-gyeol.]

“Yes?”

[If you are uncomfortable being there, you can come here.]

What was this again.

[I don’t know how far Master Cheon Sa-yeon will take care of you. I know that the culprit who tried to kidnap you using Master Kang Seung-geon hasn’t been caught yet.]

“Um, that’s true.”

[Come to Roheon. Master also agreed to this, so there is no need to be cautious.]

“……”

I guess he was being serious? I smiled awkwardly and touched the nape of my neck.

“Even if you suddenly ask me to come to Roheon… I’m in a bit of a situation.”

[Situation?]

“That…”

Contemplating how to say no, I suddenly had a different thought.

‘Wait. Why should I say no?’

Now, the situation between me and Cheon Sa-yeon wasn’t the same as before. I could be kicked out of the Requiem even tomorrow. Ha Tae-heon, who noticed that I was seriously thinking about it, spoke like a wedge.

[I don’t know what the situation is, but safety comes first.]

“That’s true.”

[Your home address, including your cell phone number, must have been leaked.]

“That part is fine.”

Because the house didn’t exist. I turned around without saying a word.

“Anyway, I don’t think it’s a matter to be decided right now. I will think about it a little more.”

[…I got it.]

“Thank you for your concern though, Ha Tae-heon-ssi.”

To the sincere thank you, Ha Tae-heon responded with a terrifying tone.

[I hope you make a wise choice. If you make up your mind, call me.]

“Yes. I understand.”

Finally, the call was disconnected. I couldn’t believe Ha Tae-heon cared so much about me. I smiled happily and put down my cell phone, and Kim Woo-jin, who had grown pale, caught my eye. Why was he suddenly like this again?

“Kim Woo-jin?”

“Are you leaving?”

The subject was cut off, but it wasn’t difficult to understand. I smiled bitterly and spoke softly.

“Well.”

“…can’t you not go?”

“It’s not something I want to do. If Master Cheon Sa-yeon tells me to leave, I have to leave.”

In the first place, I wasn’t even a member of Requiem. Although it wasn’t intentional, I realized once again that I depended on Cheon Sa-yeon a lot. Now that the relationship with Cheon Sa-yeon became uncertain, it seemed good to hold Ha Tae-heon’s outstretched hand.

I folded my arms and thought seriously, but Kim Woo-jin, who was hesitantly looking at me, opened his mouth carefully.

“Then I will go too.”

“Where?”

“Roheon…”

If you were a clone magician like Kim Woo-jin, Roheon would welcome with open arms, but was it necessary to change the guild because of me? Still, the number one guild in Korea was Requiem.

“Well, if you want to. If we didn’t renew the contract, moving wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Renew, renewal contract?”

For some reason, Kim Woo-jin’s expression became even more depressed. I looked at Kim Woo-jin biting his lip, and the phone I had put on the table vibrated.

“…what?”

It was a reply from Kim Soo-hwan. Along with the messenger saying it was good, there was a link.

「Kim Soo-hwan: This is Yi-gyeol-ssi’s fan café that I found!」

「Kim Soo-hwan: I don’t know if you don’t know, so let’s send it ^0^*」

Fan cafe? Han Yi-gyeol fan café?

When I clicked on the link with all my heart, I saw a picture of me and the name of the cafe engraved in the centre.

‘Talented Han Yi-gyeol fan café – a group of people who love and support Han Yi-gyeol’

“……”

What is this…

Kim Woo-jin also stood next to me and looked at my cell phone as I was lost in my ability to speak. Then he opened his eyes and muttered.

“Talented Han Yi-gyeol fan café… A fan café?”

“Ho…”

It was ridiculous and I laughed out loud. I already knew that talented people were more popular than the general public, but it was a fan cafe. I wasn’t Ha Tae-heon or Cheon Sa-yeon.

Apparently, the impact of the video was greater than I expected. With a sigh of embarrassment, Kim Woo-jin hurriedly pulled out his cell phone and started moving his fingers quickly.

“What are you doing?”

I was worried about how it looked, so I asked.

“I want to join the fan café, too.”

…this crazy.

I want to join Sa-yeon and Yi-gyeol fan cafe… (つ≧▽≦)つ

Ah! But do you remember that MC told us about Ah-rin moved to Roheon Guild in Abyss novel? It’s like Woo-jin will replace her if Yi-gyeol really joins Roheon (but from the spoiler, Yi-gyeol is still independent).

And we still haven’t met Geon-ho… (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃

Bonus pic of the latest illustration: