114.
“I’m sorry, but now it’s really time to stop. We need to solve the problem that’s just come up.”
Keith’s words weren’t wrong. No matter how painful it was, this wasn’t the time to keep crying. So Yu Jin tried to forget his sorrow, even if just for a moment. Even though his heart still felt heavy after stopping his tears, there was no time to dwell on it.
“I’ll call Haruna first.”
Yu Jin nodded at Keith’s words. Keith left through the window just as he had come, and soon returned with Haruna tucked under his arm.
“I told you I could walk on my own.”
Haruna looked sleepy, but that didn’t last long. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she mercilessly slapped both her cheeks. Her hazy eyes quickly became clear.
“Was it really necessary to hit your face?”
When Yu Jin asked skeptically, Haruna replied while tying her hair:
“It’s the fastest method. More importantly, you calling me in the middle of the night must mean it’s something important.”
Once Haruna had joined them, Keith shared the story he hadn’t yet told Yu Jin. When he finished explaining how he had originally been given the mission to brainwash Yu Jin but decided to refuse, Haruna let out a groan. She immediately raised her hand and struck Keith’s back.
“You’re crazy, crazy! If something like that happened, you should have discussed it with me too!”
At that moment, Yu Jin couldn’t fully read all the emotions on Haruna’s face. Pain, sadness, guilt, and more. The mixed emotions made his heart churn.
‘I’m the cause of all this.’
If it weren’t for Yu Jin, Keith wouldn’t have made such a choice. But there was no time to be consumed by guilt. After thoroughly pounding the twin’s back, Haruna spoke to Yu Jin as if nailing it down:
“This isn’t anyone’s fault, so don’t apologize, Young Master Yu Jin.”
“Then me too?” Keith chimed in slyly, but the voice that came back to him was cold.
“You should. A hundred times, a thousand times.”
“That’s too harsh.”
“Too harsh? How could you deceive me too?”
“Didn’t you know you were being deceived all along?”
“Hearing it directly feels different!”
Haruna hit Keith with a thud, but he didn’t get angry; instead, he smiled. Seeing him look much lighter than before, Yu Jin ended up smiling too.
“No, this isn’t the time for this. We don’t have time now. First, let me ask you something. Would it solve anything if you ran away and hid?”
“No, to hold a certain position or higher in Leviathan, you have to offer your own body. They can track and eliminate a person with that.”
Haruna’s facial muscles twitched upon hearing Keith’s words. Judging by her trembling fist, it seemed she wanted to hit Keith more. But feeling that the conversation wouldn’t end if this continued, Yu Jin placed his hand on top of her fist. Only then did the strength leave Haruna’s fist.
“Then there’s only one option left,” Jinhyeon interjected at this point.
“Only one,” Haruna replied with a pained voice.
“You mean to maintain the plan as it is?”
The method was to call Keith’s master again, tell him his mind had changed, and pretend to brainwash Yu Jin. Of course, actually being brainwashed would be troublesome, so they’d have to pretend, but it was the only way to buy time immediately. In response to the three’s words, Keith blinked slowly and asked:
“Is that really okay? Will you be alright?”
Yu Jin nodded at Keith’s words. What wouldn’t one do to protect family? The sacrifice Keith had shown wasn’t something just anyone could do.
“You agree too?” Keith asked, this time looking at Jinhyeon.
“I have to agree. It’s the family of the person I love.”
Jinhyeon demonstratively pulled Yu Jin into an embrace and kissed his cheek. Keith stared at this scene with an unreadable expression before letting out a quiet sigh.
“It’s not that simple. I…”
Keith paused briefly before continuing.
“I wanted to brainwash Yu Jin to make him look only at me. Leviathan knows this too. So if we use that method, naturally Yu Jin would have to act like my lover.”
Is that really okay? It was Keith’s way of being considerate to Jinhyeon in his own way.
“I don’t like it, but we have no other choice. And even if Yu Jin sticks close to you, I know his heart won’t change. We’re now connected in our hearts.”
“You’re annoying,” Keith blurted out.
At that moment, Haruna clapped her hands.
“Alright, let’s go with that plan then. But there’s one more problem. Even if we pretend to be brainwashed, it’s likely to end up just buying time. Isn’t the opponent supposed to be such a formidable secret organization? We need more allies too.”
“We should bring in people loyal to Lucid through Elder Leion. He’s quite clever, so he’ll know how to act.”
“And we should secretly convey the truth about this matter to the imperial family too. The Master has been cooperating with the imperial family to eliminate Leviathan.”
This was a fact only known to Yu Jin, the current acting head.
“We have a lot to do, don’t we?”
“But we have to do it. To protect our precious family.”
At Yu Jin’s words, Keith shyly said, “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it!”
After that, the four discussed specific plans for what to do next throughout the early morning. Yu Jin couldn’t do much as he had to pretend to be brainwashed. The same was largely true for Keith, but it was different for the other two. For now, Haruna would take charge of Lucid’s external affairs.
“I could do well too.”
“It’s not about doing well or not. That side needs credibility too. Between me, who’s been working for Lucid all along, and you, the acting head’s lover, who do you think has higher credibility?”
“You.”
“That’s right.”
“But is it okay for me to be in charge of talking with the elders?”
“It’s fine because Elder Leion has that much flexibility. And I think you’d be better at sneaking around inside than me.”
“That’s true.”
Jinhyeon had already surveyed the interior from the moment he entered this mansion.
The structure of Lucid’s massive mansion was different from ordinary houses. There were separate spaces where people could move in the ceiling, walls, and underground. And people actually passed through these places.
“Ah, those are the shadows directly under the head of the family.”
“They seemed quite strong. Why didn’t he take them all to the demon realm?”
“Really?”
“Yes, half of them remained in the mansion.”
Perhaps Ruhan had predicted his own death. Not taking all his forces might have been his last remaining conscience. To protect his son whom he had entrusted as acting head.
But this was mere speculation. So Haruna didn’t voice these thoughts.
“There must have been a reason.”
With those words, the four concluded their discussion.
The next day, Keith called his master again. This was possible because he hadn’t yet destroyed the means to summon him.
[What is it?]
The bird looked at Keith suspiciously.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
[Changed your mind?]
“Yes, it seems I find it difficult to give up on Yu Jin after all. It’s painful every time I see him with that man.”
[Hmm.]
The bird scratched its chin with its leg.
[What happened in such a short time?]
“Many things that you can’t even imagine, Master.”
[I see.]
The bird grinned, opening its beak.
‘Does he not believe me?’
Although the change of mind was sudden, it shouldn’t be that strange. Keith tried to ease the gradually rising tension. If he showed any suspicious behavior here, Rector wouldn’t trust him. He could have directly asked for help, but decided not to. It was doubtful whether he would help to that extent.
Although he had acted generously, Rector was ultimately one of the villain group.
[Well, do as you wish.]
Rector answered nonchalantly.
[You have the brainwashing drug, right?]
“Yes.”
[When are you planning to do it?]
“I’m thinking of doing it at the deceased head’s funeral.”
[Do you need support?]
“I suppose I’ll need it after administering the drug.”
[Understood. I’ll relay that.]
The conversation with his master ended more blandly than expected. Even before Keith could properly read Rector’s intentions.
‘At least it seems he doesn’t intend to interfere right away.’
There shouldn’t be any problems with what they were planning to do immediately.
A few days later, news of Lucid’s head Ruhan’s death was announced. Adan, belonging to the 2nd Knight Unit, returned to the mansion with Ruhan’s corpse and first informed Yu Jin of this fact.
Yu Jin acted quite well. As soon as he heard the news, his face turned pale and he collapsed. Then he woke up, confirmed Ruhan’s corpse, and declared his death.
News of Ruhan’s death spread throughout the mansion in an instant. Azeth and Ahmed, who were still staying at the mansion, as well as other elders, learned of this fact. At this point, Acting Head Yu Jin opened the conference hall. This was to determine the schedule for Ruhan’s funeral.
