After sending Yoo Ji-won off—who had been making a big fuss about the cold—I contacted Lee Myung-won.
– What’s going on?
“There’s something I’d like you to look into.”
I explained everything to Lee Myung-won and ended the call. Then I ran a hand through my hair, trying my best to stay calm. Baek Tae-beom gently and carefully tugged on my shoulder.
“Hyung.”
“All this was going on behind the scenes, and I was just living comfortably, enjoying the good life.”
“Hyung.”
“What the hell did they do to those kids? Some kind of ritual offering? This is driving me insane. What am I even supposed to do now…?”
“Choi Ga-hyeon.”
Baek Tae-beom called me in a kind yet firm voice. I stopped talking and looked at him.
“You didn’t ignore it knowingly, right? Of course not.”
“……”
“You just found out late. And now you’re doing everything you can.”
“…Yeah.”
“So there’s no need for you to panic like this. Give me your hand.”
Only then did I realize I’d been biting my nails without noticing. I let out a sigh and handed him my hand, and Baek Tae-beom held it in both of his hands. He gently rubbed the tips of my fingers.
“If you think about it rationally, this might actually be an opportunity. We might be able to uncover a connection between Gongmyeong and Red Apple. So right now, staying put is the best course. Your friends would agree too.”
“Friends?”
“The Constellations. You’ve been too hung up on Gongmyeong lately.”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Not wrong. This is exactly when keeping calm is best for your health. Unless you have a death wish.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Wow, thanks for the top-tier advice. Super helpful.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Ga-hyeon. Sarcasm isn’t good for your health either.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: That settles it. Let’s grab a drink.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: The hell are you even talking about now?]
A drink? In this situation? Is he serious?
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You’re carrying too much right now. Ever since you came back from the dead, you haven’t had a moment to breathe. Isn’t that right?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You’re just overloaded with stress.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Humans can literally die from stress, you know.]
He wasn’t wrong, but hearing that from Apollo of all people made it hit differently.
[CH. Private / Free Wind: You’re not trying to live like some character in a fantasy novel, dying over and over again, are you?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Who the hell would be that kind of masochist?]
Hermes saying that, like he doesn’t realize he is a character in a novel, left me speechless.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Anyway, it’s about time, isn’t it? You need to meet the one who made a contract with that wild brat bouncing around.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: He’s definitely here to deliver news about the Destruction.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: You really believe that?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: His Constellation name says it all, doesn’t it? And if not for that, why else would you have recommended him?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I’m honestly shocked at the amount of trust and faith you seem to have in me.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Apollo acts like he doesn’t care, but he’s way too obsessed with Ga-hyeon.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: He grumbles all the time, but it’s all part of his act….]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You want a punch in the face?]
My expression softened. Baek Tae-beom smiled and leaned his forehead against the back of my hand.
“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”
Get that ridiculously handsome face out of here. I can’t focus on anything.
“Move your face.”
“…Huh?”
“Ah, sorry. I said that out loud.”
“…What?”
“You’re too damn handsome.”
“…Wait, what? What did you just say, hyung?”
As Baek Tae-beom stared at me in complete confusion, I spoke again.
“Let go. I’m heading out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“To that ‘friend’ of yours’ house.”
“A friend? You mean a Constellation? Is that even possible?”
“I never told you? Well, now you know.”
“Hyung!”
Baek Tae-beom called out in disbelief. I responded nonchalantly.
“That Constellation Yoo Ji-won’s contracted with—the one he just visited—I think I need to meet them.”
“It’s not dangerous, right?”
“Not at all. So let go already.”
Baek Tae-beom stared at me like he couldn’t trust a single word, then slowly released my hand. Just as I was about to shift to the Sanctuary of the Soul, he grabbed it again.
“When will you be back?”
“Uh… soon?”
“Okay.”
Baek Tae-beom gently pulled my hand toward him and placed a soft kiss on the back of it.
“Come back safely.”
I stared down at him, speechless. Baek Tae-beom looked up at me with a shameless expression, like he’d done nothing wrong.
“You little…”
Before my face could flush red, I hurriedly teleported to the Sanctuary of the Soul.
Trying to cool my flustered face, I looked around. The damn cocoon of Angrboda, the black cobwebs, those eyesore decorations the three Constellations had left behind, and the makeshift bath and bedding I’d hurriedly set up—all of it was still the same.
But aside from all that, one thing stood out immediately.
A golden door.
No doubt about it—Apollo had installed that thing.
“Why not just drill a straight tunnel through your own soul while you’re at it?”
Grumbling to myself, I opened the door—only to find a man standing right in front of it.
He had brown hair, wore a flowing sheer fabric, held a wine glass in one hand, and a staff in the other. A wreath of grapevines crowned his head. He was a stunning young man, so beautiful that he gave off the same impression as Apollo. The moment our eyes met, he smiled warmly, eyes curving sweetly. His face was flushed—probably drunk.
And there was a strange smell.
“Hello.”
“…Who are—”
“Come in. I’ve been waiting…”
“…?”
“It took five hundred million years to meet you.”
What kind of batshit nonsense is this?
“I love you.”
Is this guy insane?
“No, I already loved you. Look at your beauty…”
“…What?”
“Do you know how long I’ve waited…?”
The man leaned forward and caressed my cheek. His violet eyes sparkled brilliantly. Feeling uneasy, I began to step back, but he quickly caught my wrist.
“Don’t leave me…”
“Sorry, but if you don’t let go, I’m going to kick you square in the jewels.”
“Ah, Ga-hyeon… so cold, even when rejecting me…”
Suddenly, a hand gripped the back of the man’s neck—Anubis.
“Come here, you drunken idiot.”
“Ah… Ga-hyeon, so many obstacles to our love…”
Only then did I realize—that idiot was Dionysus. Dragged away by Anubis, Dionysus whined the whole way. Watching from afar, Hermes greeted me cheerfully.
“You’re here, Ga-hyeon?”
But even Hermes didn’t look quite sane. He was floating upside-down in the air, his nose red as a beet—clearly plastered. The table nearby was a chaotic mess of glasses and bottles.
So that’s what it was. All that talk about drinking—they’d been throwing back booze together this whole time.
“Where’s Apollo?”
“Over there.”
Hermes giggled and pointed. Apollo was lying on the floor, playing his lyre.
Even while drunk, his music was nothing short of divine. I sighed, hauled up Apollo—who was grumbling for me to leave him be—and grabbed the floating Hermes, planting him on the sofa.
“Did you call me here just to show me this mess?”
“We didn’t… hic… mean for it to end up like this. That damn… hic, damn Dionysus bastard…”
Apollo hiccupped. That was the first time I realized even Constellations could hiccup.
“Dionysus used his Authority without permission!”
“Yeah yeah, sure he did.”
“You, go stop that lunatic!”
Me? Stop Dionysus?
I turned toward Anubis—only to realize Dionysus had already slipped away. Anubis was sprawled out on the floor in full-on animal mode, groaning drunkenly. You really shouldn’t give alcohol to a dog. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than Dionysus was suddenly right in front of me, pulling me into a tight hug.
“What are you doing?”
His ridiculously handsome face was way too close for comfort. Flashing a coy smile, he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear.
“Wanna kiss?”
“Wh-what… what did you say?”
“I’ll make you feel really good…”
Dionysus laughed softly as his hand slid along my waist. Horrified, I slapped him hard across the face. Smack! The sound rang through the air—but no one seemed to care.
“Ow…”
“Are you insane?”
“Ga-hyeon, Dionysus is insane.”
Hermes chimed in from the sofa, still lying upside-down.
“Still, looks like Dionysus’ Authority doesn’t work on Ga-hyeon. As expected from someone so… special.”
Apollo murmured somberly, strumming his lyre.
“Yip!”
Anubis grunted in agreement.
Looking at the chaotic mess around me, I let out a deep sigh and turned to Dionysus.
“Put everything back the way it was.”
“Why~?”
Dionysus smiled playfully.
“Isn’t this so nice? The intoxicating scent of pleasure… the madness filling me to the brim… I thought you’d like it too…”
“Unfortunately for you, I hate drunkards. Working part-time at a convenience store scarred me for life. And I’m not here to party.”
Dionysus pouted. Clearly, keeping your head straight around this Constellation was impossible.
With two claps, the strange scent in the air dissipated. Apollo immediately shot to his feet and grabbed Dionysus by the collar.
“Do you have a death wish?”
“Oh Apollo~ such crude language… so shameful…”
Hermes wobbled to his feet, dizzy.
“Cut it out already, Dionysus. We’ve let this go long enough, even if you are the youngest.”
“For all that, haven’t you let me get away with quite a lot?”
“Shut it, Anubis. Anyway, that’s not the point right now—”
Just as Apollo was shaking Dionysus by the collar, a loud bang! echoed from the door.
