* * *

After all, it was he who had arranged for her to be sent to a nursing home.

“I’ve been keeping in touch more lately. I was too busy before. I told her I’d visit soon. Would you… like to come with me?”

“With me?”

“Yes.”

Why would he want that… Doyoung was about to ask, but then he realized the reason.

“She wants to meet you. She feels grateful and says she’s sorry she hasn’t seen you even once.”

Reading his thoughts, Beom Sinje spoke up, the sentiment making it hard for Doyoung to decline.

“There’s nothing to feel sorry about. After all, it was all…”

“Don’t make excuses about some distant relatives. I already know the truth.”

“…Still, it’s your dad’s money, right?”

Doyoung held his ground, meeting the mildly reproachful look in Beom Sinje’s eyes.

If he backed down now, it would be as if he admitted all his prior refusals were lies.

“Fine, let’s go with that.”

Finally, Beom Sinje nodded, but for some reason, there was an uncomfortable feeling in Doyoung’s chest.

Maybe it was because it felt like Beom Sinje understood him but was willing to let it slide.

‘I can’t argue about this anymore.’

If he said anything more, it might only make him sound desperate.

“When were you thinking of going?”

“When you’re feeling better.”

“I’m perfectly fine, you know?”

And then that silent gaze again.

Grumbling internally, Doyoung refrained from repeating himself.

After all, it was Beom Sinje who had carried him to the sofa when he passed out after a medical checkup.

‘At least today, I didn’t collapse after coming back from going out.’

Though mentioning that probably wouldn’t help his case.

“Fine.”

“What are you planning to do after dinner?”

A postponed plan suddenly crossed his mind.

He remembered someone was waiting in the building complex of this officetel.

‘What to do…’

If he said he was going for a walk, Beom Sinje would definitely come along.

Even if he made up an excuse, like a convenience store run, it would likely be the same.

“I think I’ll just sleep early—I’m a bit tired.”

After pondering, he finally settled on the excuse that felt safest.

Judging by Beom Sinje’s deep sigh, it seemed to fit perfectly.

“You must be drained from dealing with those pharmaceutical reps at work.”

It wasn’t quite that bad, but Doyoung kept quiet and took another spoonful instead.

“Then, do as you wish.”

“What about you?”

“I still have some things to handle.”

“You’ll be in the study?”

“Probably.”

Beom Sinje was remarkably skilled and perceptive.

Sneaking out without him noticing wouldn’t be easy.

“Got it.”

Determined to give it a shot, Doyoung nodded quietly.

Beom Sinje observed him in silence for a moment, then resumed eating.

Later, Doyoung excused himself to his room to “rest,” and successfully slipped out, as stealthy as a stray cat.

“Zero. Long time no see.”

At the designated location, a friendly-smiling Sarah, looking nothing like her usual self in the guild, greeted him.

“Long time indeed. Should I call you Sarah?”

Doyoung approached her slowly.

They’d known each other for quite some time, but face-to-face meetings like this were rare.

“Yes, call me whatever you like. Then I’ll call you Doyoung-nim.”

“Just call me Doyoung.”

Why the formalities? Noticing the awkward title, Doyoung realized even his own tone was off.

“Should I address you formally?”

Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh my, you using formal speech—it’s refreshing but strange. Please, just talk to me like usual.”

She was right; they’d been casual for years, so changing it up now felt odd.

“Alright.”

Doyoung gave a light nod and pulled a chair over to sit down.

The stoic bartender promptly placed a glass of water and a towel before retreating.

“You’ve gotten so thin. You didn’t look robust before, but now you look like you’d blow away in a breeze.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Although he’d lost a lot of muscle and fainted easily with exertion, outwardly, he hadn’t changed that much.

Only hours ago, he’d been sighing at his reflection, but he denied it without hesitation.

Sarah, however, gave him a look that asked, ‘Seriously?’

“You’ve never been great at looking after your health…”

Her eyes scanned him from head to toe.

“Seeing you now, it’s hard to believe you were once renowned both here and abroad.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve never seen a frailer frail.”

“Oh, come on.”

She wasn’t wrong about his recent condition, but hearing it from everyone was starting to hurt his pride.

Especially when it came from a former subordinate who’d once admired him.

“I’m working on getting back in shape.”

“Please do.”

Sarah’s gaze wasn’t very convinced, but she still cheered him on.

She motioned for the bartender, ordering Doyoung’s usual drink and snack.

‘Since that incident, I haven’t touched alcohol…’

He almost declined but stopped.

Ever since his powers emerged, he couldn’t get drunk no matter how strong the alcohol.

But he wasn’t so sure now.

‘I guess one glass is fine.’

After all, his place was just an elevator ride away.

Besides, as the former head of a crime syndicate, he didn’t want to appear weak by declining a drink.

“Why did you come back to Korea? I thought I told you not to show your face here for a few years.”

“I needed to see someone. And that person, unfortunately, happened to be deep in enemy territory.”

She spoke like it was nothing, though her eyes held a hint of reproach, and Doyoung felt a prickle of guilt.

“I had no choice. They came looking for me, even to where I was hiding.”

“Beom Sinje?”

Doyoung only nodded.

The bartender silently placed the glass of alcohol in front of him.

Sarah raised her glass for a toast.

They clinked glasses lightly, and Doyoung took a sip.

After so long, the taste hit stronger than he remembered.

“Judging by his persistence, I wouldn’t be surprised if he could track you even abroad. It seems he really wanted to find you.”

“Apparently so.”

Actually, Doyoung still found it a mystery.

Why had Beom Sinje sought him out with such fervor?

He’d said it was because he couldn’t understand the wrongs he’d committed against him, but…

“It doesn’t seem like he’s that concerned about it, though.”

He didn’t press the issue, nor did he bring it up in conversation. Instead, he seemed more focused on Doyoung’s well-being, which only made him feel more confused.

“Well, considering everything you did for him, I suppose he could feel that way.”

“What did I do?”

As he sipped his drink, his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

When he looked at Sara, she was giving him an incredulous look.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing. It’s just… out of everyone I’ve met, you’re the most unpredictable. At first, you came around all smiles, doing all sorts of bad deeds. Then, out of nowhere, you were quietly lobbying for hunters’ rights against the government.”

Sarah munched on an almond from the snacks in front of them as she continued.

“And that’s not all. You’ve discreetly brought in rogue hunters, those who could stir up trouble for society, and handled them without a trace. You took on troublesome dungeons deliberately, solving the issues without any fanfare, but you let everyone think of you as infamous. I honestly wondered, what kind of person is he?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It’s not one.”

Maybe it was because it had been a while since they last met, but she felt more approachable than before.

‘She used to feel more like a secretary.’

Working her way up to manager at a major corporation, Sarah had always exuded a certain cold, sharp presence.

The fact that Doyoung could survive as the leader of Antithesis was partly due to having someone like her as a role model nearby.

But now, perhaps because they were meeting in a more informal setting, he felt more at ease.

* * *