Chapter 286

Chapter 286

After his conversation with Mole Man, Cha Jin-Hyeok gained a bit of enlightenment. ‘All the people around me seem to be going crazy.’

There had to be a law of conservation of madness in the world, he thought. As he was becoming more normal, others were descending more and more into madness.

“So, even though you are a Ruler, you are confident in your tracking skills? Even more than actual Navigators?” Jin-Hyeok asked Han Sae-Rin.

“Of course.” Sae-Rin smiled brightly. It was the happiest Jin-Hyeok had seen her look recently. “I’m glad you came to me. I was already aware of what was going on through your livestream. I had finished my preparations for the tracking on my own.”

“...”

“I would have been upset if you had gone to Mole Man instead of me.”

In fact, Jin-Hyeok had gone to Mole Man first. It was only because Mole Man, who claimed to be a Miner as his secondary Job, had offered to search for Soul Stones that Jin-Hyeok ended up going to Sae-Rin.

‘But what if I went to Mole Man first. Is that something to be upset about? Normally, one won’t ask a Ruler for help with tracking someone down. I guess she is crazy too.’

Before Jin-Hyeok’s regression, Mole Man and Sae-Rin had been rivals. This rivalry had started since their days as Navigators, and even after their paths diverged into those of a Navigator and a Ruler, they continued to be acutely aware of each other and competed endlessly.

After Mole Man’s interview, where he said, “If you dig too many wells, you won’t find water,” Sae-Rin had also conducted a similar interview.

“Do I feel lacking in my abilities as a Navigator? Not at all. I am solely focused on honing my abilities as a Ruler. Dwelling on Skills you are not good at only leads to missing out on what you can truly excel at.”

‘At that time, she was so full of conviction,’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

Sae-Rin was confident and full of self-belief, and Jin-Hyeok admired that aspect of her.

However, now, it seemed she had become the opposite of that. He decided to check something. “Shouldn’t you be focusing solely on your growth as a Ruler?”

“That’s what I am doing.”

“But you’re about to undertake a tracking mission.”

“What are you talking about? A great Ruler should possess at least some tracking ability.” Sae-Rin smiled. It seemed to her that Jin-Hyeok was testing her. “You can stop testing me. I have come to my senses. I will be as intense as you.”

***

After observing the entire process of Sae-Rin’s recruitment, Lessefim trembled with irritation. “She is not even a Navigator that specializes in tracking... And a woman at that?”

Marshmallow, who was enjoying tea with Lessefim after a long while, tilted his head. ‘Isn’t she a Ruler? Why is Lessefim saying that she is a Navigator?’

However, being well aware of Lessefim’s temperament, Marshmallow chose not to voice that thought. There was no point; it would only invite scorn. Among those Marshmallow knew, Lessefim was the most difficult to deal with. It was not widely known, but Lessefim and Marshmallow were distantly related, sixth cousins, to be exact. Of course, Lessefim was the elder.

“Alright, for the sake of the argument, let’s just say that this woman possesses exceptional tracking skills,” Lessefim said.

“...”

“Even so, could she be better than me?”

“It’s unlikely.”

“But why did Chul-Soo recruit her and not me?”

“...”

“Yo, Marshmallow, tell me! Is she prettier than me?”

“I don’t think Chul-Soo cares much about appearances...”

Lessefim did not listen to Marshmallow’s reply. “I’m prettier, aren’t I?”

“La di da di da.”

“Right? I am prettier than her.”

Clearly, Lessefim was only half-listening to her younger cousin’s words.

“La di da di da.”

“Of course, I’m prettier. And as a Navigator, my abilities are naturally far superior. But why? Why? WHY? Why did Chul-Soo choose her over me?”

“Ah, so stream sniping could be an issue?”

“Exactly.”

Sae-Rin tilted her head. “Wouldn’t that make it more intense and better?”

Jin-Hyeok wanted to ask, ‘How can one track someone effectively with a livestream giving away every move?’ However, a part of him felt there could be some truth in her words.

‘No, I can’t be swayed into becoming crazy like her,’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

Everyone around him was going crazy. He needed to stay sane. Jin-Hyeok resolved to hold onto his sanity tightly. “It might add to the intensity, but the tracking process needs to be more gripping and thrilling. Showing everything live would create too many dull moments.”

“Hmm, I see.” Sae-Rin looked at Jin-Hyeok with eyes full of affection, nearly causing him to take out Miri.

“Please, don’t look at me like that.”

“What did I do?”

“Don’t look at me with those affectionate eyes.”

[#Amazing. #That’s real professionalism. #Please be my man.]

For Jin-Hyeok, it was uncomfortable to think that a comrade-in-arms harbored such indecent and horrifying thoughts toward him. The mere idea sent shivers down his spine.

‘Is it a crime to look at the man I like with affectionate eyes?’ Before Sae-Rin could voice her thoughts, she reconsidered. She had come to understand Jin-Hyeok in her own way.

“You might not realize it, but I am quite popular. Are you not aware of the memes about me circulating in various online communities? They are praising me as the prettiest Ruler in the universe,” Sae-Rin said.

“So?”

“If I act pretty and cute like this...”

‘Sae-Rin pretending to be pretty? Pretending to be cute?’ Jin-Hyeok felt even more uncomfortable.

“...the viewers love that! You mostly livestream in first person, which can maximize the viewers' reaction,” Sae-Rin said.

Jin-Hyeok felt as if he had been hit on the head.

“You are committing a crime by only considering your feelings and not thinking from the viewers’ perspectives,” Sae-Rin continued.

“I see.” Jin-Hyeok felt like he had overlooked a professional aspect. Sae-Rin’s use of the word crime left him with no room for rebuttal. “I’m sorry. I was shortsighted.”

Having gained significant insight, Jin-Hyeok steadied his heart and began the pursuit of the enemy.

***

The Lady from Arvis, a doll collector named Harkoen, struck her loyal and trusted servant, Hyde, across his face. “How dare you speak to me like that, as the chamberlain?”

With his cheek reddened, Hyde maintained his composed posture and spoke again. “I advise you that now is the time to give up on Chul-Soo.”

Slap!

Harkoen could not accept Hyde’s words at all. “Anyone else might not understand me, but you, as my chamberlain, should understand me!”

“...”

“You should be on my side!” Harkoen’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. She seemed like someone who had been betrayed by Hyde. Unable to contain her anger, she repeatedly struck Hyde’s cheek, and he accepted the blows in silence. “Say it again. Say that you will bring Chul-Soo to me.”

“It is not possible. The timing is not right. I also oppose the plan to set a trap using Corporation Alpha Male.”

“I want Chul-Soo. I must have him. Please, I’m begging you.”

“Even so, it is difficult at this moment. It would be better to wait for another opportunity.”

“No!” With no more strength to strike Hyde’s cheek, she bit her lip hard. “Get out.”

“...”

“I can’t stand the sight of you. Get out! You’re fired.” Harkoen unleashed curses that were hard to bear, and Hyde was forced to leave the mansion that he had served for decades.