CH 117

“I heard you don’t go home these days.”

Lee Sein spoke to Choi Cedric. Her gaze was soft, as if she was worried about him.

“Yeah, well. I just don’t.”

Choi Cedric replied, trying to shake off the frightening image that had just flashed through his mind.

“You don’t like where you live? Do you want me to find you somewhere else?”

“It’s not like that. The house is nice.”

Choi Cedric lived alone in a luxury apartment along the Han River owned by C&L Corporation. It is known for its panoramic view from the living room window, lavish interiors, and tight security optimised for celebrities.

It’s a house anyone would envy, but there’s a simple reason why Choi Cedric hasn’t been home much lately: it’s a place where Lee Sein’s eyes can reach. Since it is owned by C&L Corporation and that place is his residence, it is natural for Lee Sein to manage it. However, from some point on, her intervention has been unwelcome and unbearable.

Since when was it? Ah, it was after her secretary disappeared. The uncomfortable feeling has grown to the point where he feels more comfortable in a dungeon with an Eternal Flame than at home.

So no matter where he moves, the situation is the same.

“Really? Then, should we remodel it? While the CEO’s office is also under construction, it would be refreshing to freshen everything completely.”

“Maybe another time. It’s still a bit of a mess.”

“…All right.”

With a bright smile, Lee Sein gave some instructions to the employees. As if to prove the absurdity of the reluctance he’d felt earlier, that figure was exactly Lee Sein whom Choi Cedric knew.

An ambitious yet sensible person who was willing to be a family of Choi Cedric and Choi Rona.

“We only have one family. You should try what you can so that you won’t regret it.”

Again, the conversation he had with Kwon Rieul came to mind. It was something Choi Cedric had once said to her.

He said that in such a smug way, but he himself had forgotten that words.

He can’t rely on others. He has to figure out what’s going on around him on his own.

“…Cedric?”

“I just stopped by while passing by. I know CEO-nim is busy, so I’m going to go now.”

“Okay. You’re going to see Rona, right?”

“Yes.”

Despite his words, when Choi Cedric left the representative’s office, it wasn’t to visit Rona’s hospital room.

One floor down from the top floor, around the corner, in the innermost room. It was the office used by the secretary, Aeon, before he disappeared. They had already retrieved anything that might be evidence, but he was still hoping to obtain some information.

In Aeon’s office, two employees were tearing down a partition.

“What’s that?”

“Ah! Oh, Hunter Choi Cedric-nim.”

The employees dropped the partition on the floor and turned around. A brief moment of embarrassment flashed across their faces. However, Choi Cedric didn’t seem to care, and asked again what they were doing.

“CEO Lee Sein-nim said that this office is being demolished, so we were in the process of cleaning it up.”

“Really? It’s different from what she told me.”

“What?”

The employees looked surprised.

“She told me to keep it as it is in case there is evidence that we haven’t found yet.”

“……”

Confused glances met in the air. Lee Sein is a strict about rewards and punishments. If there is confusion in the instructions and it is known that they tampered with the office, they will be greatly reprimanded.

Choi Cedric, who had lied so casually, jerked his head and pointed out the door.

“Leave it.”

“Yes, yes!”

“That’s right. Wait a second. About this.”

Now we’re in trouble. Who said the wrong thing? Choi Cedric called back the employees who were trying to rush out while muttering such complaints.

“It’s better not to report this to the CEO for now. She’s a little sensitive about the construction today.”

There’s a look of hesitation on their faces. According to the ethics, it was necessary to report the confusion of the instructions immediately and reconfirm the contents. However, it would have been a pain in the arse to go report to her while she was in a sensitive state.

Choi Cedric eased their worries with a refreshing smile.

“I’ll put in a good word for you later.”

“….! If you do, we’ll be grateful.”

“Thank you.”

“Go.”

Only when they were completely gone and he couldn’t hear their footsteps did he enter the office. He closed the door behind him and looked around.

The office was empty, however, as all incriminating items had been removed.

“……?”

While looking around, something got stuck in his foot. Looking down, it was a small star-shaped ornament. Is it a keyring?

Choi Cedric moved his gaze towards the direction it had rolled. It’s nothing but a blank wall. No, when he looked closely, there were fine lines drawn on the wall.

“……!”

He tapped on it and there was a sound from the inside. It was obviously hollow.

Choi Cedric drew his sword and thrust it into the gap in the wall. He gave it a good twist and the outer panel came off without difficulty. Beyond the wall was a tiny space, barely big enough for a child to squeeze through. There was nothing to indicate that Aeon had touched it just before he disappeared.

All that remained was a photograph.

It looked like it had been taken a long time ago. It must have been not long after the founding of C&L. Lee Sein was smiling awkwardly at the camera. Beside her was her secretary, Aeon…..

“Ugh…!”

Suddenly, his head hurt. Choi Cedric stumbled and groaned, holding his head. The photo fell out of his hand and onto the floor.

The headache quickly subsided. Choi Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow with his hand and picked up the photo.

It looked like it had been taken a long time ago. It must have been not long after the founding of C&L. Lee Sein was smiling awkwardly at the camera. It’s a self-portrait of Lee Sein.

He felt like he forgot something. What is it? He couldn’t remember.

A small note was written on the back of the photo. The content is….

“Grimoire….?”

***

Cafe sales were booming every day, and unintentionally I became quite famous.

I’m embarrassed to say it, but to my surprise, yesterday I was approached by someone who wanted to make a biography for children with me as a model.

“Thank you for the offer, but I refuse.”

“Hunter Kwon Rieul-nim, please reconsider. So that children growing up can look up to you, Hunter-nim….!”

“….don’t say such scary things.”

Why do children need to look up to me? I understand you’re looking for fresh items, but isn’t that too much?

The next regularly scheduled holiday, which had finally arrived, happened to be Christmas Day. I decided to throw a Christmas party since it’s been a while. Even if it’s called a party, all I planned was to do was invite acquaintances and have some snacks. I’m tired of the unintentional celebrity life, so I should spend time like this sometimes.

Most of the people I invited said they’d be there, but I didn’t hear back from my Uncle. Not only that, but he didn’t even read the message on KakaoTalk.

I thought he’d be happy because he was dressed as Santa and handing out gifts….

I asked Kwon Jiwoon, but he said he hadn’t even met his father. He said he would search his whereabouts just in case. Judging by the lack of updates on YouTube, I don’t think he went to the mountains again.

I left him a message asking him to come to the party, even if it was late, and started preparing for the party.

[Dimensional Shop ☆★☆★ Christmas Special Sale ★☆★☆

§Loyal Customers§ Exclusive ☞Special/Star/Ser/Vi/Ce ☜

This is a special sale only for The Eligible customers who have been loyal to us.

Christmas Party Set (including Christmas decoration set and Christmas recipe)

: ☆★Special Discount Price★☆ 50 Rubies

※ Note: If you turn off this window now, you will never be able to purchase it again.]

Ack, my eyes hurt….

The Dimensional Shop was tactfully displaying such items. I could feel their intent to take my hard-earned rubies back from me, but I bought it with great enthusiasm anyway. I’ve worked hard to earn them, so I should feel good about spending them like this.

“Nyaaa, nyaaa (Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells)!”

“Kkyu, kkyu, kkyu!”

“…Bells.”

It’s okay because my family is enjoying it too.

[You have acquired a new recipe ‘Christmas Hot Chocolate’.]

[You have acquired a new recipe ‘Christmas Cake’.]

[You have received the purchased Christmas Party Set in your inventory.]

First, I decided to make hot chocolate.

In the mug, I put plenty of Chocolate Sauce from Hell. I poured in the heated milk, let it melt, and then topped it with soft milk foam. In the end, I decorated it with marshmallows and finely chopped chocolate, and it looked pretty good.

[Item: Christmas Hot Chocolate (★★★★☆)

Status: Good (Time Remaining: 01:00:00)

Effect: It makes you feel like Christmas.]

Uh….?

Indeed, after the Christmas season passed, it would be a meaningless effect.

Next, we made a Christmas cake together. The sponge cake was topped with whipped cream strawberries to make it look delicious.

[The condition has been met.

Combo bonus will be generated.

Combo: Christmas Party Set (Christmas Hot Chocolate, Christmas Cake)

Effect: It makes you incredibly feel like Christmas.]

The cake was kept in the fridge, and we all enjoyed some hot chocolate as a tasting before the guests arrived.

“……?”

However, I didn’t notice any special effects. The hot chocolate, with its savoury milk and rich, sweet chocolate flavour, is very delicious, but that’s all.

“Nyaa, nyaaa, nya (Look out the window, look out the window)!”

“Kkyu, kkyu, kkyu!”

“……….”

Aha. I was already in the Christmas spirit before I even drank my hot chocolate, so I didn’t feel the effect.

The final step was to decorate the cafe for Christmas. I took out a little light bulb from the decoration set I bought at the Dimensional Shop earlier. I thought it would be pretty if I put it on the wall of the store.

But then Ash looked in my direction as if he had something to say.

“Hey, you know.”

He doesn’t call me ‘Noona‘ these days. He was cute back then.

“Ash, what’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

“I have one of those too. Something to decorate the cafe.”

“Is that so? Ah, the miniature one?”

“….Yeah.”

He put on a sulky face to hide his shyness, but I could tell he was proud.

“Then let’s decorate the cafe with the ones Ash made. Hurry up and bring it.”

“….! Okay.”

He ran off to his room. When he returned, he held a … demon castle in his hand.

“……?”

Am I not fully awake? I saw something weird.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was still an unbelievable sight in front of me.

The part-timer of my house placed a miniature of a castle with a proud expression on his face.

“Ash … what is this?”

“The palace where the Primordial Chaos dwells, the Throne of Darkness.”

It even had a Gothic spires and a miniature dog with three heads on the wall. Ugh, it’s a perfect miniature of a demonic castle that feels too realistic.

As I averted my gaze to avoid eye contact with the three-headed dog miniature, I had a sudden realisation.

Wait, I think I’ve seen this before. The Throne of Darkness?

‘Ether-Wiki.’

[Checking your eligibilities … Completed.]

[The Eligible: Verifying Kwon Rieul…..]

‘Skip.’

I skipped down the string of entries, and opened the most recent one.

《Throne of Darkness》

Type: Place>Architecture

Description: A palace inhabited by the Primordial Chaos.

Photo: [More]

………………………..

I alternated between the photo attached to the Ether-Wiki and the miniature made by Ash.

It’s perfectly identical. How could they be so identical? I was terrified of this child’s talent….