ETHTKE chapter 21

But seriously, did Baek Yigang really silence people? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.

Was it because he didn’t want me to know that his busyness was because of me?

…Why?

“Rookie, why that face? Were you moved by His Highness’s gracious consideration?”

Reggie noticed my dazed expression and teased me with a mischievous smile.

This guy… I’ve been feeling it since earlier, but he’s really irritating in so many ways.

From his light-hearted tone that lacks any seriousness to his constant smiling face that reveals nothing about his true intentions, and those chaotic orange locks…

The more I see him, the more I realize Baek Yigang would absolutely despise him.

Now I clearly understand why he told me to avoid getting involved with the Magic Department.

“It’s just… I realized how little I actually knew about His Highness.”

“His Highness was thinking of you. So don’t feel too upset. After all, he doesn’t usually talk about himself much, right?”

Blue, with a kind expression, patted my shoulder and smiled gently.

It seems like he knows Baek Yigang quite well. Should I take this opportunity to ask him a few things?

“But how should I address you? …Senior?”

I couldn’t just call them by their names, so I awkwardly asked about their titles.

Blue and Reggie widened their eyes as if they’d heard something unexpected, then burst into hearty laughter.

…I’m not sure why they’re laughing, but I must’ve done something wrong. It’s definitely my fault.

“Haha, you can just call me hyung.”

“Just call me by my name♡”

Hmm, I think I’ll stick with ‘senior.’

“Blue senior, do you know much about His Highness?”

“Hm? No, I don’t.”

The unexpected bluntness of his response caught me off guard. Why is he saying, ‘No, I don’t’ now?! Just a moment ago, the conversation wasn’t heading this way!

Still, Blue seems more normal than Reggie, so if I talk to him properly, I might be able to get something out of him. Let’s try digging a bit more.

“But just now, you mentioned that His Highness doesn’t talk much about himself…”

“Well, just look at him.”

“…What?”

When I reflexively asked in confusion, Blue confidently continued.

“They say a person’s face is like magic. If you have sharp eyes and lifeless pupils like His Highness, it’s pretty much expected.”

…Forget what I said earlier about Blue being normal. I take it all back.

There’s no one normal here. They’re all crazy.

“Um… I’ll be going now.”

No matter the reason, hearing about Baek Yigang’s situation from someone I just met, and then even getting comforted about it, didn’t sit well with me.

The fairy who had been acting all friendly earlier suddenly felt very distant.

How long has it been since I was bragging about how much I knew about Baek Yigang? This is a problem.

Moreover, why did Baek Yigang hide something this important? I could’ve helped!

“Huh? Already? Stay a little longer.”

“Yeah, even if the others don’t, we like you. The result of abusing power is a sturdy and handsome guy like you. Thrilling.”

Reggie grabbed me as I tried to leave and began whining for me to stay.

But something about what he just said felt off… Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that.

For people who had warned me about a potential bloodbath, they seemed surprisingly unconcerned about the current situation.

Instead, their attention wasn’t on the situation, but rather on me.

Though it might not be a big deal to them, it was a huge deal for me. A very big one.

If I want to safely make Baek Yigang the emperor, I need the nobles’ support, whether I like it or not. But now, instead, they’re complaining because of me.

And this is the perfect opportunity for Piel, who’s eyeing the throne.

I’ve been too complacent. I can’t waste time here. I need to go back and find a solution.

“Hmph.”

Startled by a sudden, unfamiliar sensation at my waist, I let out a brief gasp.

I hurriedly looked down, only to see Reggie, who had been holding my sleeve, now grinning and hugging my waist.

…I have a strong feeling that those weird things on the table are Reggie’s doing.

This time, I’m pretty sure it’s not just my imagination.

“Wow, look at our newbie’s big chest♡But it’s a bit soft. You should work out more.”

“Hey, where do you think you’re touching?!”

After roughly shoving Reggie away, who had been openly groping my chest, I finally managed to escape his grasp.

And that comment about my chest being soft—that’s the second time!

“Reggie, enough with the jokes. Come to think of it, we haven’t asked the newbie’s name yet. What’s your name?”

Blue, who had been calmly watching Reggie and me bicker, skillfully stopped Reggie and asked for my name with kind eyes.

At least Blue seemed more normal than Reggie. That was some relief.

“It’s Cheong Dowoon. Cheong is the surname, Dowoon is the name.”

“Dowoon, what a pretty name.”

Just when I was wondering why he suddenly asked my name, Blue grabbed my shoulder and turned me toward the table.

The table… full of ‘those things’ from earlier.

“…Blue, what are you doing right now-”

“Dowoon, have you seen this?”

There was a strangely joyful tone in the calm voice that came from behind.

Wait a minute, wasn’t this Reggie’s doing? Why is Blue asking me this?!

“Yeah, have you seen it? How is it?”

Reggie joined in excitedly. I couldn’t figure out their intent behind the question. What answer are these perverts hoping for?

“What do you mean, how…?”

“Isn’t it beautiful? Don’t you want it? Isn’t it just perfect? Of course, it is! We worked so hard to make it!”

Before I could finish speaking, Reggie eagerly grabbed ‘it’ and waved it in front of me.

“You made it yourselves? That many?! What on earth are you going to do with all of them…!”

As I clumsily tried to avoid looking at them in disbelief, Reggie and Blue each grabbed one of my arms and forced me to face them.

Why are they doing this?! This is dangerous, really dangerous! I need to get out of here!

“Still platonic with His Highness, huh?”

“What kind of insane nonsense is that?! Let me go right now! I’m getting out of this crazy place!”

But no matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t break free from their firm grip on my shoulders.

“Hm? That won’t do. We haven’t taught you how to use them yet.”

“Listen, I don’t care at all!”

Three men, crammed together in a room with strange devices on the table… This moment was so ridiculous it made me dizzy.

If anyone were to see this, I’m sure my life would end in utter disgrace.

But where the heck is Asel at this critical moment?! Hurry up and save me from these perverts!

“Don’t be shy, these are all welcome gifts for the newbie! Enjoy them to your heart’s content!”

“No, I don’t want to enjoy—”

“Wow, you’re really loving it! No need to thank us so much.”

These people aren’t listening to me at all.

This is it, I can’t take it anymore! To hell with seniority—let’s freeze them and toss them into the northern sea!

So they can never come back!

Creak—

Just then, as the chaotic madness reached its peak, the large conference room door opened with a chilling sound.

And through it stepped a familiar white-haired man, his expression disturbingly displeased as he glared at the scene before him.

“You seem to be having fun.”

His sharp voice reverberated ominously in the air.

…What? Why is Baek Yigang here? And at this of all times?

“Ba-Baek Yigang? How are you here…?”

“Why, am I interrupting something?”

The cold gaze coupled with his frigid words exuded a murderous aura.

In the sudden heavy silence, I felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down my back.

Does he really think I’m having a good time here…? Seriously? Is something wrong with his eyes?

“Of course not!”

My pitiful retort echoed miserably in the room, and only then did I notice where his gaze was fixed.

At the end of Baek Yigang’s purple gaze…

“…Huh?”

…was Reggie, who was still holding onto my waist.

What the—since when?! Wasn’t he just standing next to me a moment ago?!

“So this is why you were so eager to come here.”

“What? No, that’s not it!”

Baek Yigang was completely off the mark, but trying to explain myself in this situation felt utterly hopeless.

Wow… I’ve never felt so wronged in my life before…