CH 197

Piiik. Pik.

I slowly opened my eyes to the sensation of touching my cheek. Fox, who had slept in a circle at the bedside the night before, got up first and was looking at me. The guy who was pressing my cheek with his soft sole tilted his head slightly.

Piik.

“Umm…”

While stroking Fox’s head while asleep, I found an arm wrapped around my waist. The owner of the arm was, of course, Kim Woo-jin. I laughed in vain at the sight of him sleeping while hugging me as if I was a bamboo wife.

The last time I saw him before going to sleep, he was lying stiffly. Since when had he been doing this?

‘It’s the same as when we slept on the sofa before. Is this a sleeping habit?’

I couldn’t kick him with my feet as I did back then because I felt guilty before. Kim Woo-jin, who was deeply asleep with a colourful breath, loosened his arms and I carefully got out of the bed.

“Did you sleep well?”

Piik!

I checked the time by saying a morning greeting to Fox who flew by and followed after me. 7:33 in the morning. It was quite early, but I thought it would be better to wash up and eat breakfast than to lie down again.

‘…well, if it’s simple, I think I can do it too?’

Even if I couldn’t make something great like Kim Woo-jin, I could make a salad or fried egg.

As I went to the bathroom, imagining myself making breakfast in my head, I found a chain dragging my ankle and frowned. This was pretty inconvenient.

I guessed I had to find a way to break the shackles as soon as possible. While waiting for Cheon Sa-yeon to release it, I had a strong feeling that I wouldn’t even be able to see the end of the black mask, let alone stop the Praus Cult.

Squeak. Squeak. (절그럭. 절걱.)

‘All screwed up…’ (내 팔자야)

As I frowned while holding a chain in my hand that was chasing me and crashing against the walls and furniture, I heard a knock on the front door. What’s up this early in the morning.

“Good morning.” (In English)

“Good morning, Yi-gyeol-ssi!”

“……”

I opened the door without thinking and faced the three people standing in the hallway then frowned.

It was nice to see Min Ah-rin smiling with a somewhat relieved look at me, but Park Geon-ho and Woo Seo-hyuk behind her were uncomfortable because I remembered what happened yesterday. I ignored the rest and answered Min Ah-rin.

“Yes, good morning. Min Ah-rin-ssi.”

“Hello to my Fox friend. Can I come in?”

Piiik. Pik.

“Of course. Come in.”

Waa, Min Ah-rin was delighted and took off her shoes. To Min Ah-rin, the gentle Fox flew round in the air and cried as if to say hello.

“Wait.”

I blocked Park Geon-ho, who was trying to sneak in after Min Ah-rin.

“Are you two not going?”

“Oh my, that’s too much.”

“Get out if you said it’s too much or anything.”

“I bought a bribe like this, are you really not going to let me in?”

Park Geon-ho rustled and lifted the plastic bag he was holding in his hand. It was a handmade lunch box packaging bag I had seen before.

“It’s a lunch box that I personally went to and packed myself, so it’s still warm. Let’s have breakfast together with a delicious lunch.”

“Did you want to eat together after you suppressed me yesterday?”

“Suppressed you? It was just a little touch. And I can’t disobey my boss’s orders, can I?”

“That’s your business.”

Pushing the smiling Park Geon-ho, I asked Woo Seo-hyuk, who was standing behind him.

“What happened, Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi?”

Unlike Park Geon-ho, who was no different from unemployed, I asked him because there must have been a reason for coming, but surprisingly, Woo Seo-hyuk hesitated for a moment and said with a calm expression.

“I… just came.”

“Pardon?”

“Did you sleep well?”

While I was bewildered by the unexpected answer, Park Geon-ho slipped into the room. That guy. We’ll see later.

“I slept well. Is this really the end?”

“Yes. I’ve made sure everything’s gone well, so I’ll be on my way.”

Whether it was a lie or not, Woo Seo-hyuk turned his back without any regrets. Did you really come here this morning because you were wondering if I slept well or not? I was surprised for a moment and quickly grabbed Woo Seo-hyuk’s arm, thinking of something to ask.

“Excuse me, Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi.”

“Please say it.”

“Are you going to go to work today? I’d like to meet Cheon Sa-yeon a little later.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who immediately knew what I meant, blinked his eyes once and opened his mouth.

“Master didn’t return home yesterday, but slept in the guild.”

“Pardon?”

“There is no outside schedule, so you can come to the representative office whenever you feel comfortable. I will deliver Han Yi-gyeol-ssi’s visit as soon as I go up.”

At the answer that came naturally like flowing water, I awkwardly stroked the nape of my neck and nodded.

“I’d appreciate it if you could. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Please enjoy your meal. Well, then.”

Woo Seo-hyuk bowed in silence and left the room this time. I closed the front door while looking at Woo Seo-hyuk’s straightened back as he moved away.

‘Cheon Sa-yeon slept in the guild?’

Are you that busy with your work? I didn’t think there had been a big problem with the Praus Cult, right?

As expected, I should make some time later to go up to the representative office. Cheon Sa-yeon wouldn’t hide anything from me anymore.

If we got information about the Praus Cult, we would be able to make more clear plans for the future.

When I returned to the living room after brushing my teeth and organising my thoughts, Min Ah-rin, who was taking out a lunch box with Park Geon-ho from the table, said in a lively voice.

“Let’s eat together, Yi-gyeol-ssi! I think it will be very tasty.”

“I’m going to wash up. You can eat first.”

“Then I will wait. Anyway, I got a call saying that Jeong-han-ssi will be arriving soon. Is Woo-jin-ssi still in the upstairs room?”

“Ah, Kim Woo-jin…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t told her about meeting him yet. After thinking for a while, I just answered honestly.

“He’s sleeping in my bed now. We made up last night.”

“Oh my God, Yi-gyeol-ssi’s bed…?”

“Oh…?”

After hearing my explanation, Min Ah-rin and Park Geon-ho’s expressions became strange. What kind of reaction was that?

“Yes. Somehow that happened.”

“Umm, so Woo-jin-ssi is still sleeping?”

“Right. I’ll wake him up after I wash up, just let him get some more sleep for now.”

Seeing Kim Woo-jin, who always woke up before me to prepare breakfast, couldn’t wake up was clear that he was so tired.

Seeing that Min Ah-rin was convinced, I was about to go to the bathroom this time, but suddenly, a loud thud sound resounded in the bedroom.

“……?”

Am I the only one who heard it? Min Ah-rin and Park Geon-ho, who were standing at the table together, looked at the same time as I looked at the bedroom. Soon after, bang! Something hit the floor and the bedroom door that had been closed swung open.

“Oh, Woo-jin-ssi. Are you awake?”

Kim Woo-jin staggered out of the bedroom, gasping for breath, pale and tired. I quickly approached him because the atmosphere was unusual at first glance.

“Kim Woo-jin. What’s the matter?”

“Ah…”

Kim Woo-jin, who was looking at Min Ah-rin and Park Geon-ho with a contemplative face, immediately found me, loosened his stiff brow, and blinked slowly.

“Did you have a bad dream?”

“No…”

“You’re sweating too much to say no.”

Kim Woo-jin, who made eye contact with me, took a deep breath and spoke with a slightly better complexion.

“Not really. It’s just that I’m a little confused…”

“If you’re not feeling well, sleep more. It hasn’t even been nine yet.”

“That’s right, Woo-jin-ssi. Do you have an upset stomach? Shall I bring you some medicine?”

“It’s all right now.”

I tilted my head slightly at the appearance of Kim Woo-jin, who had become crumbly like a dry and thin plant.

‘Is it because I wasn’t by his side… when he opened his eyes?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anything other than that reason, so my mouth shut. At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to go out alone later. I forcibly swallowed a sigh that filled my neck and tapped Kim Woo-jin’s shoulder lightly.

“If you can’t sleep any longer, let’s have breakfast together. I’m going to wash up first.”

“Uung.”

I didn’t know how many times I got interrupted while trying to get into the bathroom. Having made the chain transparent with the remote control, I went into the bathroom and took off my clothes.

* * *

Kwon Jeong-han, who had just arrived, put the cake box he had bought on the living room table and waved his hand slowly at me who just finish washing up.

“Hello, Yi-gyeol-hyung.”

“Yeah.”

They really came. But why did you keep gathering in this room? The owner of the room didn’t even call you, but everyone came so naturally. For some reason, the atmosphere seemed to have changed a bit while I was in China.

After washing, I went back to my room and Kim Woo-jin, who had washed up, joined then everyone started having breakfast with the lunch boxes that Park Geon-ho bought. Park Geon-ho had many problems, but the delicious food wasn’t guilty, so I ate it all up.

Come to think of it, I was going to prepare breakfast today. I had to postpone it until the next time.

“Is it delicious, Han Yi-gyeol?”

When I put the last remaining rolled egg into my mouth, Park Geon-ho, who was sitting opposite me, supported his chin and asked me with a smile. Annoying guy… I replied reluctantly.

“Yes, somewhat.”

“You’re going to reconcile with me over this too, right?”

“I don’t want to.”

“It can’t be done just once. I will buy you ten more.”

“I don’t need it.”

After confirming that the other people had almost finished eating, I washed my mouth with cold water before opening my mouth.

“I have a question for you.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me. I said as I gave the leftover raw carrots to Fox on my shoulder.

“What do you mean things are bad outside? I would like to hear an explanation.”

“Ah, that…”

Min Ah-rin, who looked around for a moment, answered cautiously.

“Actually, similar crimes have occurred in Seoul over the past few days.”

“Crimes?”

“Yes. It’s similar to the video that Yi-gyeol-ssi was in. It’s a crime in which a drunken talented person wielded a weapon or used his or her ability at an ordinary person.”

Those words reminded me of the drunkard I had met the day before. I didn’t know what kind of ability it was, but he was very drunk and swung his kitchen knife at a student. Now that I thought about it, he was wearing a suit jacket with a pretty neat appearance.

In many ways, he wasn’t dressed to rush to the student after getting drunk in broad daylight.

‘Well, of course, crime and clothes have nothing to do with it, but…’

I continued the conversation while stroking Fox’s head, who ate the raw carrots I gave him.

“You mean it’s not the first time something this has happened.”

“That’s right. There have already been more than six cases where a video was filmed or appeared in the media like this time. Among them, there were a few talented people who belonged to the guild.”

“Are they also affiliated with Requiem?”

“No. Fortunately, they didn’t have a guild… but one is from Jayna. The rest were members of the Storm Guild (는스톰 길드) and the Next Guild (넥스트 길드).”

Although Storm and Next were smaller than Jayna, they were still a well-known guild.

‘…I don’t feel well.’

They were the ones with the ability to get drunk and make a riot. At this point in time when there were already a lot of problems because of the Praus Cult, such an incident was repeating itself. There were too many unpleasant parts to simply say that the timings overlapped.

I thought I should check this part properly when I met Cheon Sa-yeon later.