99.
A terrible pain pierced through his head. There was also an unpleasant feeling as if something was kneading his brain. As he gritted his teeth and endured, someone’s hand rested on his clenched fist. Jinhyeon turned his head to look at the owner of the hand.
Lyunne. That woman was looking at Jinhyeon with fear in her expression. The moment he saw this, something shattered inside him. The person he loved and wanted to protect wasn’t Lyunne.
It was the cute person who was bold in other matters but strangely shy when it came to saying “I like you.” Yu Jin, who was now said to be dead, was Jinhyeon’s person.
Jinhyeon shook off Lyunne’s hand and stood up. The headache he still felt was terrible, but he could endure this much. He had to go to Yu Jin right away. He needed to find out if he had really died, and if so, for what reason.
If someone had killed him, he would seek revenge. He planned to torment and torture that person until they begged for death. He would tear off their limbs, spill their blood, and cut out their tongue. And after killing all those involved, he would have to kill the last person with the greatest sin.
Jinhyeon himself, that is.
He had been too arrogant. After falling into another world and rapidly becoming stronger, he had taken victory for granted. He was confident he could overcome any underhanded tactics his opponents might use.
‘But that wasn’t the case.’
Because of one drug, it had come to this.
“Jinhyeon!”
Lyunne urgently called Jinhyeon’s name, but he didn’t look back. She was also one of the people he needed to take revenge on. The only reason he wasn’t killing her right now was that his mind was still functioning somewhat rationally. If he killed the youngest daughter of the Duke’s family first, he would be pursued, so he planned to deal with her last. Lyunne stepped back at his cold gaze.
Lyunne’s face, always confident, was now filled with terror, and her body trembled slightly. The person who had brought the news moved closer to Lyunne, sensing the ominous atmosphere. He seemed ready to physically block Jinhyeon if necessary, but Jinhyeon ignored him and rushed out of the room.
He left the mansion and caught a passing carriage. The coachman was startled and angry at first, but quickly became docile upon seeing Jinhyeon’s face.
“I’ll pay as much as you want, just go as fast as possible.”
The coachman, after receiving the destination, nodded with a grim expression. The whip cracked, and the horses galloped quickly. As soon as the destination came into view, the impatient Jinhyeon left a money pouch in the carriage and jumped out. The coachman seemed to shout something, but it quickly faded as Jinhyeon ran away. Unlike usual, the front of the mansion was crowded with many people.
One of the people standing in front of the door grumbled in a low voice.
“How are we supposed to find out how he died if they won’t let us in?”
“I was told to confirm if he’s really dead.”
“Didn’t they say he died?”
“They can’t believe it.”
“These nobles and their curiosity…”
The person who first spoke clicked their tongue. At that moment, a guard standing in front of the door shouted.
“There won’t be any answers from inside, so please disperse appropriately!”
“We’d like to, but how can we when we can’t?”
“That’s not our concern. This is extremely disrespectful behavior.”
The guard frowned as he said this. Just then, a person pushed through the crowd of rabble and walked towards them. The atmosphere was so heavy and sharp that the gathered people parted slightly on both sides as he walked. Someone grumbled about maintaining order, but apparently didn’t have the courage to say it directly. He easily reached the front of the door.
“Oh!”
The guard involuntarily exclaimed when he recognized who it was.
“Jinhyeon.”
The mansion’s guards had all seen Jinhyeon practicing swordsmanship at least once, as if watching a spectacle. Jinhyeon didn’t particularly hide when he trained, and some people had gained insights from watching him. The guard currently at the door knew Jinhyeon for this reason.
‘What should I do?’
He knew that Jinhyeon was currently supposed to be with the Duke’s youngest daughter. Should he let him in? Haruna had said to stall for time if Jinhyeon came and then let him in, but the guard didn’t want to let him in easily. He respected Jinhyeon, who had started as a slave and built up remarkable skills. But he respected the mansion’s owner, Yu Jin, even more.
The guard had watched over Yu Jin since his weakest moments. It was amazing to see someone who had been broken and in despair find new resolve and take action. And from there, loyalty was born. He knew he was just an insignificant guard, and Yu Jin probably didn’t even know his name, but he still wanted to do something. The guard made a firm decision and blocked the door.
“No one is allowed to enter or leave at the moment.”
Jinhyeon moved his lips but then firmly closed his mouth. Silence fell between them for a moment. Given Jinhyeon’s exceptional skills, he might beat up the guard and force his way through. But if that happened, the guard was prepared to cling to his legs and hold on to the very end. As the guard was thinking this and tightening his grip on his spear, suddenly Jinhyeon prostrated himself on the ground.
“Please let me in. I beg you.”
Jinhyeon, who had always acted arrogantly unlike his slave background, was now prostrating himself before the guard. Faced with this unexpected situation, the guard stood dumbfounded.
“Just once, please allow me to enter just once. I’ll stay quiet and then leave.”
Is this really Jinhyeon? The guard checked again, but the person right in front of him was undoubtedly Jinhyeon. An terribly agonizing emotion flowed from the prostrated man. Although it’s usually impossible to perfectly understand another’s emotions, the guard felt he could understand this feeling. He let out a small sigh.
“Please stand up.”
But Jinhyeon stubbornly remained in place.
“I’ll let you in.”
At those words, Jinhyeon hastily raised his head.
“You must stay quiet while inside.”
“Of course.”
The guard opened the door and let Jinhyeon in. As the opened door closed and Jinhyeon moved away, the people who had been standing dumbfounded began to speak.
“Hey, you didn’t let us in!”
“That’s right! Why can’t we go in?”
They protested belatedly, but the guard cleanly ignored all their questions and resumed guarding the door.
Jinhyeon was walking through the familiar garden. It wasn’t as brightly decorated as the Duke’s estate, but he used to take walks or drink tea here with Yu Jin.
‘It was enjoyable.’
Although Yu Jin pretended otherwise, his expression changed when he saw Jinhyeon. His stiff expression would soften, and sometimes he would smile prettily. It was the face of someone looking at the person they loved. That’s why Jinhyeon could refrain from asking about what Yu Jin was hiding inside. He believed that Yu Jin would tell him someday.
But now that had become an impossible story. Upon arriving at the mansion, Jinhyeon knocked on the door. The tightly closed door opened slightly, and a familiar maid appeared in the gap. The maid saw Jinhyeon and immediately frowned.
“What business do you have?”
“I want to see Yu Jin.”
The maid’s eyes, visible through the door gap, narrowed.
“You cannot see Lord Yu Jin.”
“Please, I beg you to let me see him.”
Jinhyeon was about to prostrate himself on the ground again, but the maid shook her head.
“I’m not weak-hearted like the fool outside. If you went to someone else, why didn’t you stay there? Why did you come back?”
Tears welled up in the maid’s sharp eyes.
“You have no idea. How we feel about Lord Yu Jin! If you knew, you wouldn’t have the audacity to come here!”
Jinhyeon silently listened to the maid’s words.
“…You’re a devil.”
The maid’s shoulders shook as she sobbed. Then she retreated and disappeared. Jinhyeon entered through the open door and stepped into the mansion. The first person he saw upon entering was Haruna. She was looking at Jinhyeon with an indecipherable expression.
“What’s the matter?”
Jinhyeon answered honestly to her question, asked in her usual tone.
“I want to see Yu Jin.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to see his last appearance.”
“Why?”
“I love Yu Jin.”
“Yes, you did. Then follow me.”
Haruna turned her back and headed towards the second floor. Yu Jin’s room was located on the second floor. Jinhyeon slowly followed behind her.
“Actually, Keith was against letting you into the mansion.”
“I’m sure he was.”
Keith had disliked Jinhyeon from the beginning.
“Is there anything you’re curious about?”
“…Did Yu Jin really die in an accident?”
“And if not?”
“Then I must seek revenge.”
“Do you have the right to do that?”
“I know I don’t, but I can’t just do nothing. I’ll kill everyone who caused Yu Jin’s death, and lastly…”
“Lastly?”
“I must kill the greatest sinner.”
At Jinhyeon’s words, Haruna stopped abruptly in her tracks. She turned her upper body to look at Jinhyeon. She seemed to have realized who he meant by the greatest sinner.
