Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Arrangement (1)

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was a quiet dawn when everyone else was asleep.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as there are always exceptions, there was someone awake even at this late hour.

Baek ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ha-seong was sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking up at the sky in a spot where a single misstep felt like it would lead to a dizzying disaster.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then...

"I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do not think there is anyone better at acting miserable than you."

Behind ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Baek Ha-seong, Shin Yu-hwan appeared, holding a bottle of alcohol unlike his usual self.

Baek Ha-seong replied in a dry tone toward Shin Yu-hwan, who was trudging toward him.

"It is a shame that I am a villain at times like this. If I were not a villain, I would have reported you as a stalker immediately."

"Then you should have lived a kinder life."

"I agree. If I had lived a bit more kindly, I would not have had to meet a stalker or a rotten junior who spits out informal speech."

Anyone could tell it was a sarcastic remark, but Shin Yu-hwan did not pay much attention and sat down heavily next to Baek Ha-seong.

"Your wit has improved since the last time I saw you. Is that the difference having peace of mind makes?"

"I wonder. So, why did you come?"

"I just came to deliver a few words. I have one piece of news I hate to deliver and one interesting piece of news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Of course, it is the news you hate to deliver. That will likely be the interesting news."

At those words, Shin Yu-hwan chuckled and continued.

"Hearing those words from you with that expression makes this a total comedy."

"Shut up and just tell me the news you have."

"Well, it is not like talking to you is particularly pleasant for me either."

Shin Yu-hwan spoke while drinking the alcohol he had brought, as if it truly was news he hated to deliver.

"Big Sister Seora asked if you had any intention of showing your face at least once."

"..."

"To be honest, I did not even want to tell you, but I am telling you because it was Big Sister Seora’s request. So, what are you going to do?"

If he were asked what he wanted to do, the answer was already decided.

Baek Ha-seong sincerely loved Han Seora, and his heart was currently full of the desire to see her right this moment.

However.

"It is an impossible story."

Baek Ha-seong folded those feelings away and spat out words that differed from his inner thoughts.

"Is that so?"

"I do not have the right to face her. Considering the sins I have committed, meeting her is something that cannot happen."

"At least you have a conscience, you piece of trash."

Harsh words flew out of Shin Yu-hwan’s mouth.

However, the words that followed were quite contrary to the harsh language he had used before.

"But Big Sister wants it. Since you have committed sins, should you not stop acting in a way that hurts her heart even more?"

Yes, it was a topic Shin Yu-hwan himself hated immensely, but it was a different story when Han Seora was involved.

Shin Yu-hwan always prioritized Han Seora’s feelings over his own.

But Baek Ha-seong’s answer remained the same.

"It is still an impossible story. There is an order to things."

"An order..."

"If you have received something, it is only right to repay it. That was the promise, and I must keep it."

"I see. You are still a piece of trash."

Shin Yu-hwan spat out harsh words just like before.

However, for some reason, he was smiling as if he found it amusing.

Was it because Baek Ha-seong was destined not to meet Han Seora? That was not it.

...No, in a way, such a reason might have been mixed in a little, but there was another reason.

"Big Sister said you would say that. She said you would definitely never return until the time was right."

"Is that so?"

"For the record, she also said you were a bastard who does not have a single bit of flexibility."

"Anyone can tell that is a lie. Why don't you at least tell a lie that is believable?"

Shin Yu-hwan clicked his tongue and continued speaking.

"Anyway, because of that, I have delivered the message. Do not go around talking nonsense later about how you did not hear it."

"Unlike some people, I am honest in those matters, so I do not think you need to worry."

"I really do not know what Big Sister Seora likes about a guy like this."

"Be quiet. So, what is the interesting news you mentioned?"

At Baek Ha-seong’s question, Shin Yu-hwan took a drink of alcohol before answering.

"It is about the boy."

"Did something happen?"

"No. Not exactly, but it feels like something is about to happen. Big Sister asked me to pay a lot of attention to the boy."

Baek Ha-seong could not help but be quite surprised by those words.

"She really said that?"

"Yeah. I was quite surprised too, but it is true."

"That is baffling."

Certainly, Han Seora’s talent does not allow her to disclose the details of the future to anyone.

Even if it is something very small.

In short, if she had seen Choi Yu-seong’s future, it meant she should not even be able to say such things to others.

Yet, the fact that she had delivered such words to Shin Yu-hwan so casually meant...

"Either a change has occurred in Seora."

"Or it means there is something special about the boy."

Even as they said this, the two of them felt they knew which side was the truth.

Something special—that was something they always felt whenever they saw Choi Yu-seong.

In fact, it was a correct judgment, as Han Seora was able to deliver those words because she had read the future within Choi Yu-seong’s past.

"Interesting."

"I told you. It would definitely be interesting news."

"And in my opinion, the first piece of news and the second piece of news seem to be related to each other."

Han Seora asking if he had any intention of showing his face, and her asking him to pay a lot of attention to Choi Yu-seong.

One might wonder what connection there is between these two, but if one thought about it carefully, there certainly was a connection.

It likely meant that a larger incident than expected would occur in the not-so-distant future.

An incident to the extent that, setting aside Choi Yu-seong, he himself might even be in danger if things went wrong.

Whether Shin Yu-hwan had reached the same conclusion as Baek Ha-seong, he spoke in a voice that was much heavier than before.

"The boy has always caused unexpected things to happen, so he will likely do so this time as well."

"My thoughts are similar."

"So, what are you going to do? If you are afraid of dying, I can take your place."

At those words, Baek Ha-seong replied with a smile that did not suit him.

"It is a life I already laid down once ten years ago. There is no way I would be afraid of dying."

"Is that so?"

"Still, I finally got Seora back, so it might be a bit frightening to die without even having been able to exchange a single word with her. However..."

"However?"

"If I cannot even provide a single repayment to the one who gave me that opportunity, with what face would I lift my head and look at Seora?"

Faced with Baek Ha-seong’s firm resolve, Shin Yu-hwan chuckled, put down the alcohol he was drinking, and stood up from his seat.

"You are spitting out good words, unlike yourself."

"I was originally this kind of person."

"Bullshit. If you were a good guy, I would be the reincarnation of Buddha."

But even as he spoke like that, Shin Yu-hwan’s expression did not look bad.

While it was true that Shin Yu-hwan disliked Baek Ha-seong, he did not dislike his mindset.

In fact, if one removed the prejudiced lens, such a mindset was something worthy of being followed.

That was why, unlike usual, Shin Yu-hwan offered a farewell to Baek Ha-seong.

"Then, I do not know when it will be, but let us see each other again when the boy wants. I will give that alcohol to you as a special gift."

"It is noisy, so hurry up and leave."

"For your information, that is grain wine, so make sure to drink it. The ritual wine one drinks before dying will be special. Haha!"

...However, as I mentioned just now, it seems he could not help but dislike Baek Ha-seong nonetheless.

***

"Ugh, it suddenly got really cold."

The peaceful month of November ended, and the winter of December had arrived before I knew it.

I could not help but make an absurd face while looking at Kim Su-hyeok, who was shivering next to me.

"...Would anyone not be cold if they were in short sleeves in this weather?"

"But Gang-ho said a man should not yield to the cold?"

Looking at Kim Su-hyeok, who spoke so innocently, Ryu Jin-oh, who was walking home with us, clicked his tongue.

"That is what people usually call being dim-witted."

"Do you think so too, Yu-seong...?"

"...I am not sure."

I want to deny it, but since it is not wrong, I cannot do so.

It hurts my heart a bit to see Kim Su-hyeok making a discouraged face, but sometimes there must be pain to become a better person.

While the three of us were walking toward the dormitory and chatting, Kim Su-hyeok spoke up as if he had remembered something.

"Ah! Come to think of it, you said you could not come to training today, Yu-seong."

"Yeah. I have things to do."

"Then we should part ways here. We were going to head straight to the training ground."

"Ah, really? Then it cannot be helped."

I wanted to go with them, but I could not do so since today’s schedule involved an important matter.

Therefore, I returned to the dormitory alone after sending off Kim Su-hyeok and Ryu Jin-oh, and in my dormitory room, there was someone waiting for me.

"You looked like you were having a harmonious time."

It was Baek Ha-seong, the partner for the important schedule I mentioned earlier.

"Were you watching?"

"I was waiting for you. Should I not check when you are coming?"

"It does not matter, but it is fascinating that you do not get caught even when you do that."

"As I told you last time, it is just a mere academy after all."

Whenever I hear such words, the feeling that this was a somewhat safe place disappears.

Still, since it is something possible only for someone with Baek Ha-seong’s level of skill, I decided not to particularly care.

In any case, I would be the only one getting tired if I poured my attention into it.

"First, shall I bring you a cup of tea?"

"Do you even have tea?"

"Just green tea bags... oh, I also have mix coffee."

"Then I will have the green tea."

I had offered out of courtesy because I thought he would refuse it for being cheap, but he did not.

And if he did not refuse, I had to bring it anyway.

Thus, I boiled water in the electric kettle that I had never used since coming here, put it in a cup with a tea bag, and handed it to Baek Ha-seong.

"It is exactly like cheap green tea."

"Well, it is tea bag green tea."

"But occasionally, something like this is not bad."

Baek Ha-seong said that while quietly savoring the green tea.

Watching him, I also came to have a similar thought.

I thought that a time like this might not be bad occasionally.

'Whenever I talked with Baek Ha-seong, we had conversations as if we were being chased.'

In fact, it was natural since we were in a state where such events were ahead of us.

Perhaps that was why it felt new to be sitting across from each other in such a relaxed manner?

But as I said just now, this was also not bad, so I also drank the green tea I had brought, following Baek Ha-seong’s lead.

We quietly drank green tea in the warm silence for a moment.

The one who opened the door to conversation first was Baek Ha-seong.

"Several months have already passed since then."

"That is true."

"From what I see, Seora is also doing well."

"Yes. I met her once as well. She has recovered a lot."

"I see. That is why I am always thinking of you with gratitude. It is something that could not have been achieved if it were not for you."

It is a bit embarrassing since he is speaking so directly.

I had heard the word benefactor before, but the atmosphere was what it was at that time, so I let it pass. Isn't the atmosphere calm now, though?

However, since it seemed Baek Ha-seong’s words were not over, I did not bother to interject.

"However, simply saying thank you in words would clearly be a shameless thing to do."

"..."

"So I am glad. The moment I can repay you is approaching quickly. That must be the reason you asked to meet today. Is that right?"

Everything he said was correct.

The reason I asked to meet Baek Ha-seong today was to offer him the request I had first promised him.

A request that could be made because it was Baek Ha-seong.

"Yes."

"Good. Just say anything. The grace you gave me is worth it. If it is a request I can grant, I will naturally do so, and even if it is a difficult request, I will try my best to make it happen."

"It will likely be no problem for you. It is a difficult but also simple request at the same time."

Yes, the request I was going to offer was certainly a difficult kind of task, but in a way, it was also a simple request.

That was because...

"I want Baek Ha-seong to kill Hwa-ryeon."

Because the request I was going to offer was a contract killing, nothing more and nothing less.

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