* * *
“It is almost time. I cannot explain it exactly, but the rejection of the timeline will disappear forever before long. You do not need a binding release item. It will be useless to you.”
Seohwa thought differently.
To put it simply, the current situation was a tug-of-war between the System and the timeline.
On the left side, the [Wish Ticket] and the [Magna Carta] were on the same team, while on the right side, the [Timeline] stood firm, pulling the rope.
With two of the System’s powers acting on the left, they were barely at a standstill.
If the oath was cancelled, only the Wish Ticket would remain on the left.
At that point, she wouldn’t even be able to resist before being dragged to the right.
‘I was prepared for the timeline’s rejection anyway, but…’
Her head felt heavy.
The Hate phenomenon was headache enough, but what was this hidden mission?
What kind of clue was she supposed to find?
She felt toyed with by these massive forces—the System and the timeline—powers that a mere human could never approach.
Perhaps because Seohwa’s expression looked lonely, Kobami rubbed its head against her with a soft “Ggyuu.”
Kang Yigeon also tilted his head, looking worried.
Seohwa spoke brightly on purpose.
“I understand. I’ll try to believe you. Our Mr. Kang Yigeon always speaks the truth.”
Kang Yigeon held out his palm.
“Then give it to me.”
“Give you what?”
“The binding release item.”
“…….”
“…….”
Kang Yigeon stared at Seohwa, and Seohwa stared back at Kang Yigeon.
There was a brief staring contest, but the loser was already decided.
“Fine, here. Are you satisfied?”
“I am satisfied.”
When she handed over the binding release item, Kang Yigeon took it in his hand and examined it.
He seemed to check the item description, then immediately clenched his fist and crushed it.
The remains crumbled and fell to the floor.
‘That was a gift for Kobami, though.’
-Ggyung.
She toyed with Kobami for no reason.
Thinking Kang Yigeon might notice her disappointment, she changed the subject.
“Anyway, we need to check the network security. The map of surveillance camera locations, security personnel, shift times, and so on. I’ll just sit here, so go find out quickly.”
“Please wait. One phone call is all it takes.”
Kang Yigeon, seemingly determined not to leave Seohwa for even a second, took his phone and moved from the living room to a small room.
A playful urge to run away right now bloomed in Seohwa’s heart.
But she knew that while it was a joke to her, it wouldn’t be a joke to that man, so she waited quietly.
Kang Yigeon returned after five minutes.
“The information will arrive tomorrow.”
“What did you say when you asked for it?”
“I didn’t specify a particular network. I requested the entire security status of every secret building under the Ministry of Awakened Affairs.”
“Smart. Good job.”
Seohwa spoke as if praising a puppy performing a trick.
Kang Yigeon looked down at her blankly, then sat across from her and leaned forward.
“Now, let us have the conversation we haven’t been able to have.”
“We’ve been talking plenty.”
“Do we not still have much to learn about each other?”
‘How much do you know about me, not as an assistant? You memorize my Prana and Mental Power stats, but do you know what my hobbies are or how I spend my time on my days off?’
“Actually… you’re right. We still don’t know much about each other.”
As she spoke, she wondered if it was okay to say ‘about each other.’
It felt like she was the only one who didn’t know him.
Didn’t Kang Yigeon get 100 on the Lee Yuje test?
By answering exactly the opposite of how Seohwa would.
“How on earth did you know whether I like Jjamppong or Jajangmyeon more?”
“We spent three years together.”
“We never even went to a Chinese restaurant together.”
“That is enough time to know you cannot eat spicy food.”
Seohwa snapped back.
“I like spicy food! I’m good at it, okay? Didn’t you see me eating the spicy fish soup earlier?”
Kang Yigeon smiled softly.
Looking at this face, anyone would wonder why his nickname was the Tyrant or the Northern Grand Duke, and why he wasn’t called the Angel or the Southern Admiral.
“You are even cuter when you are annoyed.”
Goosebumps broke out on her arms.
It had been so long since she heard a compliment (if it was one) like “cute.”
Kobami, who was wrapped around her wrist, chirped at the sudden gooseflesh.
“You’ve become quite shameless while I wasn’t looking, Mr. Kang Yigeon.”
“I suppose I am becoming like the person I love.”
“That’s cheating. If every conversation turns into flirting, it’s a game I can’t win.”
“That is not true. There is always a way for you to win. You must know.”
She knew. She just couldn’t use it because it felt like playing with someone’s heart.
Seohwa pouted.
She leaned her back deep into the sofa and used magic to lift a piece of apple that Kang Yigeon had personally cut and put it in her mouth.
It was sweet and crunchy.
“Mr. Kang Yigeon, do you eat spicy food well?”
“I do. When you were hiding alone, where did you live and what did you do? Where did you get money? Did you eat properly?”
Questions poured out.
In his purple eyes, she saw worry for her past life and a determination to get answers no matter what.
Right. She realized.
These were the kinds of questions she should have been asking.
‘Is the second awakening good? What’s the skill? Is the Prana still displayed as 9999? Did any new traits appear?’
‘Is that what you are most curious about right now?’
She should have asked if he was eating properly first.
How cruel was she to Kang Yigeon?
What a cold person.
And yet, why did he…?
“I cooked for myself. My cooking skills improved a lot. I’ll make you a fancy meal sometime. And as for money, I had a secret vault…”
Seohwa calmly answered Kang Yigeon’s questions.
Then she asked him.
If he had found any hobbies.
If he was sleeping well.
If he was still taking a lot of medicine.
The two talked for a long time.
At a distance where their knees almost touched.
Making eye contact and exchanging questions.
It was something that had never happened in any of Seohwa’s timelines.
When they first arrived at the villa, she was too tired and overwhelmed to look around properly.
Her only impression was that it was a clean model house, but now that she had found peace and looked again, she could see the meticulous touch of a perfect man everywhere.
Seohwa had never visited Kang Yigeon’s home in this timeline, but she had been there several times in past timelines.
A colorless, black-and-white, cold, and quiet house that resembled its owner.
It had been the same impression in every timeline until now.
But the villa was different.
The exterior was round and charming, looking like a place where forest fairies might live.
The interior was filled with pretty and cute props, unlike his usual home which lacked even a single ornament.
Small, cute animal figures were lined up on the TV stand, and colorful objects hung on the walls.
The sofa was a pastel sky blue, and the carpet was light green.
The curtains were even pink.
The interior looked like it had been painstakingly decorated for social media photos.
It didn’t suit Kang Yigeon.
“Do you like it?”
“Uh… I can’t possibly dislike it.”
It was the polar opposite of the owner’s taste, but it fit Seohwa’s taste perfectly.
As someone who believed that the eyes must be happy for the heart to be happy—whether it was people, objects, or houses—Seohwa looked around the villa with a satisfied heart.
This house also fulfilled its role as a seaside villa; the blue sea could be seen from the bedroom, the living room, and the bathroom.
There was a soundproof wall, so the sound of the waves crashing could be turned on and off like music.
There was a swimming pool outside the villa, and with the press of a button, walls would rise from all sides and a ceiling would appear so it could be used even on rainy days.
While the first floor was fresh, charming, and like a fairy tale, the second floor was filled with wooden furniture, giving it a cozy and warm feeling.
The second floor wasn’t low either; it was high enough for Kang Yigeon, who stood at 196cm, to walk around comfortably with his back straight.
When Kang Yigeon pressed a button on the remote, the ceiling opened to reveal a transparent window.
The sky over the Sokcho sea in midsummer was deep blue.
“I made it so that you can observe the universe at night with an astronomical telescope.”
“Did you… by any chance, build this house instead of buying an existing one?”
“Yes. Because I thought it would be needed someday.”
“Why would you need a fairy-tale villa like this, Mr. Kang Yigeon?”
“It is ‘us’.”
Kang Yigeon corrected the word.
“It is the safest place in the world that only we know. I decided that both I and you needed a place to rest comfortably. We have lived dangerously for a long time.”
Seohwa didn’t know how to react.
Because she had lived her life thinking it was natural to be in danger for a long time.
“If a zombie apocalypse happens, we can come here. You have a warehouse stocked with canned food, too, right? And an emergency generator.”
She made a joke after thinking about it, and Kang Yigeon answered seriously.
“There is a generator, but I did not think of a canned food warehouse. I will have one made.”
“No, why on earth is there a generator? It’s a joke, so please don’t make the warehouse.”
If a zombie apocalypse happened, they wouldn’t be able to come to the villa until the situation settled.
As Awakened, they would have to save people.
Struggling to survive for the sake of those they were close to, for the sake of strangers, and for the sake of those they usually disliked.
Only after all disasters ended would they seek out the villa.
So…
“I like the villa being just a villa.”
“…….”
“Not a shelter, not a safe house. Just a villa.”
‘When the incident ends, the next thing is always—’
“After every incident is over.”
‘Love.’
“Just a place to come and rest…”
Seohwa thought about when this incident would end.
She thought everything would finally be over and she could rest after conquering the Grade 6 dungeon.
The right to die had disappeared, and she was still inside an incident.
Not even near the incident, but right in the middle of a raging storm.
“Hunter Seohwa.”
Kang Yigeon took a step forward and pulled Seohwa into a sudden hug.
Seohwa wasn’t short, but because the other person was so large, she was buried in his arms like a doll.
“It will be soon.”
“What will?”
“Until we can use the villa as just a villa.”
A heavy conviction was contained in Kang Yigeon’s low voice.
“There is not much time left.”
Kang Yigeon was not a man who would lightly throw out words just to give hope.
It was a sincerity he had shared after much thought and calculation.
But Seohwa couldn’t believe those words.
Usually, she would have replied playfully, “Yes, let’s do our best together,” but now she only closed her eyes, leaning her cheek against his firm shoulder.
* * *
What Happened to Seohwa’s pronouns?