#122
“Was it really done by the writer?”
I thought the writer had been quiet, but it seems they were plotting something. I was wondering if it was the writer’s doing or not because it was too mild, but given what Nine is saying, it must have really been the writer’s act.
: Yes, so.. it seems the writer is trying to get rid of Yeonsoo somehow.
I thought Nine had seen or heard something, but there was no specific explanation. I sighed as I looked at Nine’s worried expression.
“Then why did they… treat me so gently?”
Honestly, I expected to be threatened, but nothing particularly bad happened at the hotel except being prevented from going out.
: That’s probably… because they’ve never succeeded in trying to kill you before? Plus, you’re getting public attention now. Rather than suddenly killing you, maybe they were trying to guide you to voluntarily leave!
It was hard to imagine based on the evil appearance I last saw. Moreover, it even felt a bit sloppy, but I figured it must be true since Nine wouldn’t say anything groundless.
: In that sense! I’ll give you a quest after a long time!
“Huh?”
As soon as I tilted my head, a new quest window popped up in the game screen.
: *Spread Your Fame Far and Wide*
Quest Grade: E
Let’s act contrary to the writer’s intentions!
Start dungeon conquests and become more ingrained in the public’s mind to complete the mission~!
Reward: ???
Seeing the quest window that felt like I hadn’t seen in a long time made me feel strangely happy.
I was a bit worried about having to receive even more attention when it’s already burdensome, but Nine wouldn’t make me do anything harmful…
‘Going to dungeons certainly has its advantages.’
At the very least, I could impress upon the public that I don’t need an Esper. Then there would be a high possibility that I wouldn’t face pressure like “Who will you choose?”, “Not choosing a pair Esper quickly is selfish behavior.”
‘Did Nine consider this situation too when giving me this quest?’
Nine knows everything about my situation after all…. Thinking about it that way made me feel even more grateful to Nine.
‘I’ll ask Dowoon when he comes back from washing up.’
As I was thinking that, I heard a knock on the door and quickly turned off the game. I was about to open an internet app and say “Come in,” but the door opened first.
“Are you okay?”
Shin Haejun, with a deeply worried frown, strode over to me and hugged me tightly. He must have just finished dungeon conquest and rushed here, as I could smell a faint dusty scent from his embrace.
“Ah, sorry.”
Noticing that I slightly sniffed him, he hurriedly stepped back from me. The tips of his ears were red, as if he was a bit embarrassed.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah… No, why are you so calm? I heard you were kidnapped!”
Shin Haejun held my cheeks and turned my face this way and that. He seemed to be checking if I was injured anywhere.
“Nothing happened. I just went there, ate some good food, heard about the good points of America, and was told to naturalize… Why, what’s wrong?”
At my words, Shin Haejun’s face gradually turned grim.
“I’ll have to take measures at the group level. I wonder if they’ll understand if we block dungeon product exports…”
I said it to reassure him, but why is he so angry? Surprised, I grabbed Shin Haejun’s arm and patted it.
“W-wait. Why is the conversation going in that direction?”
I wasn’t sure how a domestic company could disadvantage America, but when Shin Haejun said it like that, it felt like something might really be possible.
Anyway, it didn’t seem like it would end as a trivial matter, so as I tried to make eye contact with Shin Haejun, he muttered with a displeased face.
“How dare they try to take you away. Unforgivable.”
“Um… it’s okay since I came back in the end, right?”
When I smiled awkwardly and tried to stop him, Shin Haejun, who had been quiet for a moment, smiled brightly and answered nicely.
“I won’t do anything you need to worry about.”
Clearly… I got the answer I wanted, but why do I feel a chill down my spine?
I had a feeling he might do something without me knowing… but Shin Haejun had already erased all traces of his sinister expression.
“Did the dungeon conquest go well?”
“Yeah. I was really worried, how can I leave my post next time?”
Shin Haejun muttered in a worried voice. I thought this kind of thing might happen again, but if it’s the writer, they’ll try countless times, so I couldn’t fully reassure him…
“Tsk… what were they doing while being together…”
“Dowoon was away for a moment. It’s not Dowoon’s fault.”
I tried to soothe Shin Haejun with an awkward smile.
“That’s right. Whatever the case, it’s a big mistake not to have protected Jaeha.”
But then I heard Hyun Dowoon’s voice from the door. He seemed to have heard all of our conversation.
‘Did he speak knowing we could hear?’
There’s no way Shin Haejun wouldn’t have noticed Dowoon approaching. He must have been warning him with a complaint.
“So I don’t intend to easily leave Jaeha’s side again.”
Dowoon smiled slightly. It was clearly meant to tease Shin Haejun.
Anyway, since everyone is gathered now…. I swallowed a sigh and said to both of them.
“Could we do a dungeon conquest as soon as possible?”
“Why suddenly…?”
“We have to do dungeon conquests mandatorily anyway… and I’ve been thinking. If the writer wants to drive me out, the only way is to increase my influence so they can’t easily get rid of me.”
As I spoke looking at Dowoon, his face strangely stiffened. It was a subtle expression, as if something was unexpected and unsettling. He always disliked sending me alone, is he worried about that?
“Wait, the writer?”
Shin Haejun asked with furrowed brows. Come to think of it, I hadn’t told him this kidnapping was the writer’s doing.
“There’s no reason for those people to suddenly kidnap me. Normally, they would have approached in a different way.”
“That’s… true.”
“Anyway… is it okay? I’ll go in with that… who was it…? That Esper person who agreed to go in with me.”
As I tried to recall and mention the person who would be my personal guide in the dungeon, telling me conquest strategies and using healing abilities if necessary, Dowoon stared at me intently.
“You mean Esper Han Nari? Jaeha, can’t you just go in with me?”
“Why?”
“It could be dangerous…”
Dowoon whispered worriedly. Moreover, Shin Haejun also tightened his lips and muttered, “Dungeons are dangerous.” It seemed the memories of what we experienced together in the dungeon flashed through his mind.
“But it’s meaningful only if I go in and come out alone. People will think you did everything if you’re with me, Dowoon.”
I’m doing this to prove that I can conquer dungeons and build fame, so it would be problematic if Dowoon took the credit.
As I crossed my arms and objected, Dowoon slowly nodded with a displeased face.
“Alright. But no extremely dangerous dungeons.”
“The center will handle dungeon assignments, so I don’t intend to intervene. But they shouldn’t give me like E-grade dungeons either.”
The goal is to make people clearly feel my power after all.
Dowoon and Shin Haejun sighed deeply with reluctant faces. They had accepted my wishes.
“Then let’s go to the center together tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to Esper Han Nari. And Shin Haejun, you should… go wash up. You’ll get dust on Jaeha.”
“Geez… I’ll be right back.”
Shin Haejun kissed my cheek and disappeared into the bathroom.
“Aren’t you cold? Dry your hair completely before coming out.”
Dowoon’s body, which had come close, smelled of moist body wash. As I scolded him for coming with his hair just dry enough not to drip water, Dowoon smiled slightly.
“I was anxious.”
“What?”
“When I found out you were kidnapped earlier, I really felt like the world went dark. So today, I feel a bit anxious and want to act spoiled.”
He sat on the bed. More precisely, right next to me. Dowoon, who pulled my hand, muttered softly.
“Will you guide me? I’m out of energy from using too much teleportation earlier.”
Liar. You look perfectly fine….
However, I could see some nervousness in his tightly clasped hand and the gaze that slightly avoided me.
‘Was my kidnapping that shocking to him?’
Thinking that way made me feel a bit sorry somehow. It wasn’t like I wanted to be kidnapped, but it’s true that I made him worry.
I held his hand as it was and guided him. While resenting the writer who made him anxious.
***
My waist was slightly stiff from being pressed down all night as the two held me tightly as if they would never let go. Still, their expressions were bright again today, so I felt much better than yesterday.
Dowoon went up to the director’s office to handle some work briefly, while Shin Haejun and I visited the medical center. It was to get a prescription after a long time and to meet Esper Han Nari who works here.
“I’m s-sorry I’m late!”
As we were sitting in the VIP waiting room waiting for Esper Han Nari, the door suddenly burst open. Then a woman wearing a white coat with her hair tied tightly in a ponytail came in, panting.
“Hello! I’m Han Nari!”
She closed the door with a flushed face, looking very excited. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at us.
“Wow, I heard about this earlier but I’m finally meeting you today! I was a bit delayed seeing a patient so I ran here in a hurry!”
She was an extremely lively woman. While I was nodding blankly and saying “Hello…”, Han Nari seemed to be talking 30 times as much as me.
And for some reason… Shin Haejun, sitting next to me, firmly grabbed my hand under the table.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
