Chapter 148 : Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Cha ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yeri pressed me with an expression that said there was no chance.

“Someone ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍connected to the Phantom Thief, and someone who did not receive an invitation. Who else could it be besides you?”

“Is ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it not a highly subjective interpretation to bring up the Phantom Thief here? The Chairman could not possibly know that I was the Phantom Thief. More than anything, he would not even have known I would attend the banquet today.”

“Fine. ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Then who else can you name, besides you?”

“Until ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍we see the remaining hints, we cannot conclude anything about anyone.”

“Then ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍until that moment, you are the prime suspect.”

“Well then, arrest me.”

I knew it was half a joke.

And I knew that, up to this point, the hints had been pointing in my direction.

Still, this hint made it perfectly clear who the Phantom Thief was.

If I was confident about anything, it was confident enough that I did not even need to see the next hint.

Of course, we still had to find it if we wanted the process to be convincing.

“More importantly, where would the next hint be? Blue…. A blue color….”

At some point, Cha Yeri began stroking her cheek as she sank into thought.

As I was about to return the hint to the flowerpot, people suddenly began crowding into the area.

“So it is true? The hints were a color game.”

“Hey, let us see it too.”

“You are the investigator in charge of the Phantom Thief, and you really are doing something, are you not?”

“Of course you know the rule is that hints must be shared with everyone, right?”

At the center of the crowd was none other than Song Beomsin.

Seeing that he had brought even more people than before, it seemed he had told others about the hint on the roof.

Well, I had expected something like this.

In this kind of game, the easiest way to catch the leader was to cling tightly to the leader’s tail.

Song Beomsin approached and snatched the note from my hand.

“This hint is written in blue. At this rate, we might get all the colors of the rainbow.”

Then he held it out to the group while keeping his gaze fixed on me.

“This is our first meeting, correct? It is an honor to meet an investigator from the Special Affairs Division.”

“Yes. But who are you?”

“Hmm. You must be rather oblivious to worldly matters. It is somewhat awkward to say it myself, but my grandfather happens to be the dean of Golden Meister, the greatest production academy in the 4th Scholastic District.”

His tone was insufferably smug.

I barely held back a sneer.

“So, who are you?”

“I said I am the dean’s grandson. Are you hard of hearing?”

“Ah. So in the end, you are someone with nothing to boast of besides your family line.”

My provocative remark.

As expected, Song Beomsin’s expression twisted.

“And you think you are something special?”

“I am quite good at knowing my place.”

“I heard you are a probationary investigator who could be dismissed at any time. Without the glow of that Special Affairs Division title, would you not have been begging in the outskirts?”

“Unfortunately for you, is that not still better than someone with nothing to show at all?”

“Y-You…!”

Before I knew it, the people around us had begun watching the contest of nerves between Song Beomsin and me.

A few went off to search for the next hint, but most watched with the interest of spectators at a fire.

Unable to find a retort, Song Beomsin promptly switched to the line he had prepared.

“More than that! Is it not cowardly for an investigator in charge of the Phantom Thief to receive help from the young lady?”

He looked around as he continued.

“Is it not? If the young lady secretly gave you hints, that is plainly cheating.”

So this was how he intended to play it.

I knew he was a character lacking in judgment, but I had not expected him to be so hopeless as to pick a fight with a stranger like me, rather than Lee Eunho.

Then again, what could I expect from a twenty-year-old raised on indulgence?

I began to speak calmly.

But Cha Yeri’s voice came first.

“I believe I told you earlier. I do not know anything.”

“Hmph. Even if it was not a hint, you might have received help the young lady herself did not recognize. As you said, who knows the layout of this estate better than the young lady? In a color-matching game like this, it goes without saying how advantageous that is.”

Song Beomsin wore a self-satisfied expression.

The crowd seemed inclined to agree with him.

To be fair, it was not entirely wrong.

Cha Yeri, as if seeing no other way, nodded.

“…All right. I acknowledge it. For the sake of fairness, I will return to the banquet hall.”

It seemed the commotion would end there, but he used the momentum and kept talking.

“I am glad you will do so, at least now. To be honest, I could not understand why you were associating with a person like this. Even if you are from the same academy.”

“What did you just say?”

“I am saying people should associate with those of a similar level. I do not know how impressive this man thinks he is, but without any background, even if he tries, he is nothing more than a flea.”

Song Beomsin turned his head toward me.

“Well, do not misunderstand. I am merely stating reality. Stop making pointless efforts to impress the young lady and give up. You said you know your place, after all—”

Before he could finish, Cha Yeri’s palm struck his cheek.

A sharp crack.

The force was strong enough that Song Beomsin toppled sideways in an ugly sprawl.

The fundamental difference in stats between a combat awakened and a production awakened.

“W-What are you—!”

He looked utterly stunned, as though he had never imagined Cha Yeri would do such a thing.

The onlookers were equally shocked, mouths hanging open.

Even I, who knew her true nature, was surprised.

In the original setting, she never displayed her inner temperament to the public.

Yet Cha Yeri spoke with a resolute face.

“Should you not be the one to know your place? By any measure, this gentleman is far better than you.”

“What did you say?”

“At the very least, he did not demand hints from me the way you did. What did you say to me earlier? That we should take the easy route? There is one misunderstanding I would like to correct— I would appreciate it if you developed some ‘awareness’ of whose presence you are daring to run your mouth in.”

“...!”

Cha Yeri stepped toward the fallen Song Beomsin.

She did not stomp on him, but her gaze alone felt like it was crushing him.

“I do not know how impressive you think Golden Meister is, but if you insult a guest I invited, I will not endure it.”

It was a statement of considerable severity.

Yet in the heavy atmosphere she radiated, no one dared speak.

With the convenient pretext of “insult” added, it was difficult to interfere rashly.

The silence was broken by Choi Suhyuk, who was mixed in among the crowd.

“From the start, no one even said he could not help, so what is the problem?”

A shout that reeked of intent.

But it worked well on the spectators.

“Well, it is his matter as well, so if he steps in himself….”

“She already said she did not know anything. Should it not have ended there?”

“They are cadets of Hero Preparatory School. They can walk together. If guiding someone through the estate could solve it, it would have ended long ago.”

“Come to think of it, that friend who is the grandson of Golden Meister’s dean is rather presumptuous, is he not? Telling Hyeonseong what to do.”

“It is not presumptuous, it is a lack of realism. If it is Hyeonseong, they could build several academies like Golden Meister.”

The tide turned in an instant.

Even Song Beomsin’s friends merely exchanged glances, unable to do anything.

Cha Yeri continued, unconcerned with the crowd’s reaction.

“I have nothing to say in defense of striking you. If you raise the issue later, I will respond with humility. Provided, of course, that you acknowledge the insult you hurled at my guest. Then, if you will excuse me.”

With that, she headed toward the banquet hall.

Everyone tracked her back like meerkats before scattering one by one.

Some went to search for the next hint, some went to gossip about what had happened, and some lost interest and returned to the banquet hall.

“Damn it….”

Song Beomsin left without even looking at me.

Judging by him, even if this incident was brushed aside, he would not give up on Cha Yeri easily.

I did not know what he would scheme next, but she would not simply let it happen.

She was a “businesswoman.” There was no way she would have struck him without calculation.

And the fact that she had shattered an image built over years in a single moment meant she had a plan worth that price.

Of course, she would regret it, but as the author, I found Cha Yeri’s change more interesting than anything.

After the people dispersed, only Choi Suhyuk remained.

He held his glass leisurely.

“The refill took quite a while.”

“Oh, I lost my way back to the banquet hall. More importantly, it seems you have no choice but to find the Red Mana Stone now. Cha Yeri took your side entirely, so you should save her face.”

“I was planning to.”

“Hmm? That sounds as though you already know where the next hint is.”

“Yes. It is probably the next hint, and the last hint.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“The Phantom Thief crossed the wall, stepped on the roof, and reached the entrance of the building. All that remains is the theft.”

“That means….”

I looked back at the door behind me.

“Well, it must be inside this building.”

***

As she headed for the banquet hall, Cha Yeri bit her lip and murmured.

“What do I do…? What do I do?”

Her mind was filled with regret.

If she could turn back time, she wanted to undo what she had just done—striking Song Beomsin.

Have I lost my mind, truly?

That strike had not been her intention.

She had swung her hand herself, yes, but it had been an impulsive act that bypassed her usual process of judgment.

To destroy an image built over years in a single moment.

She had never imagined something like this would happen before she even graduated from Hero Preparatory School.

What do I do now? Everyone will think I am insane.

Amid her repeated regret, one question rose.

Why had she done it?

She could have simply smiled and ignored him, as she always did.

So why had she made such an impulsive choice?

…It is because of Ji Seokhyeon. That man.

She could not provide a perfectly clear explanation, but when Ji Seokhyeon was insulted, her hand moved as if she had lost her reason.

As if the insult had been aimed at her.

No, it had felt even worse than that.

Am I… broken?

She liked Ji Seokhyeon, but she had not thought she was so deeply entangled that she would make such a foolish choice.

What should I do now?

She was not foolish enough to cling to an irreversible past.

She would simply choose what was best under the given circumstances.

Fine. Perhaps it is for the best. If I show even a hint of apology, all it will do is bruise my pride.

Song Beomsin had pestered her every time they met.

She had wanted to draw a proper line someday anyway, so perhaps this was convenient.

The remaining problem was her image…

Suddenly, just before the banquet hall, Cha Yeri stopped walking.

Her lips began twitching as though a sneer were forming.

Why is this happening…? I cannot stop smiling.

Was it because she had finally struck Song Beomsin, who had long been a thorn in her side?

Or because she had, in her own way, made an appeal by taking Ji Seokhyeon’s side?

She could not distinguish it precisely, but her heart felt oddly refreshed.

As though she had poured out a mass that had been piling up inside her.

“Could it be….”

To erase the thought rising in her mind, she shook her head quickly.

It could not be because she had revealed her true personality in front of people.

It had to be impossible.

The sole heir of Hyeonseong could never allow the truth to be exposed—that she was, in fact, vulgar by nature.

At least, not until she inherited Hyeonseong.

This is all because of Ji Seokhyeon. That man!