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Chapter 107
Ring–
Kim Sangyoon and I entered a nearby cafe–the first one we saw with a quick glance. Seeing as how relaxed the Warrior was–not overly conscious of me–the awkwardness was all on my side.
Didn’t you usually find it hard to talk to me? I understand that we coincidentally met during your morning routine
but was there any reason to spend time together and drink coffee at a cafe like this?
“What should we order for drinks?”
“T-Then I’ll have an Americano
..”
In addition, even though Kim Sangyoon didn’t seem to care too much, I could feel the stinging gazes of those from the next tables over. I wondered if I could even tell him that I’ve bought a new house in such a public space. It wouldn’t be just informing Kim Sangyoon but also informing everyone on the first floor of this cafe

Kim Sangyoon: Hyung-nim, I
saw the recent article
However, Kim Sangyoon did not rush me, only sipping at the bitter Americano and smiling reluctantly, as if he understood everything. Then, he sent a strange one-on-one private chat message that was hard to understand.
Alternating between the chat message window and Kim Sangyoon’s slightly greasy smile alongside his hand scratching at the back of his neck, I replied with a question of my own.
Choi Lee-kyung: What
article are you talking about?
Kim Sangyoon: Red Dragon! The person we rescued was Koo Hui-seo, right?
Ah, that’s right
 Kim Sangyoon was there during the Koo Hui-seo incident.
Whenever Koo Hui-seo was mentioned, my insides fought–I took a sip of disgustingly bitter coffee to calm my stomach.
However, Kim Sangyoon, with his face reddening from the force of his excitement and his nose beginning to run, quickly sent me another message.
Kim Sangyoon: Hyung-nim, I thought about something while reading the article
Kim Sangyoon: Koo Hui-seo became the new guildmaster, but

Kim Sangyoon: Wouldn’t he do or show his sincerity to us, somehow?
‘Ahh
’
He was interested in compensation. 1 Only then did I understand Kim Sangyoon’s active attitude, and the anxiety within me began to settle.
To be honest, if Koo Hui-seo offered to pay as much as I paid for the house I purchased today, I still would have refused it. But, it wasn’t like I understood Kim Sangyoon’s expectations, so I simply clumsily laughed and nodded my head.
Kim Sangyoon smiled brightly like a child–I wondered what kind of happy scene he imagined. That smile was brilliant enough for Jung Garam, behind, to mutter that he wanted to punch the Warrior.
Choi Lee-kyung: But
He
Koo Hui-seo, that guy
Choi Lee-kyung: He’s in a bad shape
Choi Lee-kyung: I’m talking about his health

After all, Mental health is also health

I was afraid that Kim Sangyoon would propose we should visit Koo Hui-seo soon, because I had no desire to see the other. For the time being, using his health as an excuse, I wanted to dissuade him from meeting Koo Hui-seo.
However, Kim Sangyoon responded quickly after reading my message, without reading my reluctant expression.
Kim Sangyoon: Poor him
Is his condition that bad? Are you doing it today or tomorrow?
Kim Sangyoon: Grabbing an elixir from somewhere and feeding it to him, I mean

Kim Sangyoon: Ah! If not that
What about Seo Dawon’s ex-fiance
Kim Sangyoon: Opera’s Ryu Hyerin-nim. Since she’s a high-priest, you can request her to heal him


What? Ryu Hyerin was Seo Dawon’s fiance?
After reading Kim Sangyoon’s words, my mind went blank for a moment.
I looked behind myself involuntarily, wondering if I had misunderstood what was written. Seo Dawon, who couldn’t see Kim Sangyoon’s and my private chat, was simply looking down at me with a curious expression.
Choi Lee-kyung: 
Ryu Hyerin?
Kim Sangyoon: Ah! Are you also keeping everything secret from her as well?
Choi Lee-kyung: Of
of course
Kim Sangyoon: Then, I will personally search for an elixir. Occasionally, there are sales

Afterwards, Kim Sangyoon told me about his plan, but I still couldn’t tear my eyes away from the word, ‘fiance.’ And, suddenly, I recalled Koo Hui-seo and what he said to me with a gloomy face.
‘But Seo Dawon-ssi is
Before I was locked away, there were rumors that he was a dishrag
Did you know that before seeing him?’
No, it would honestly be more deceitful to claim that Seo Dawon had never dated–especially with that face and personality

‘So then, even his fiance betrayed him?’
Was that why Kim Olim was close to Ryu Hyerin in the past? Because she was her best friend’s fiance? Was that why the Paladin was that much more enraged?
With so many thoughts warring in my brain, I couldn’t concentrate on Kim Sangyoon’s words.
Kim Sangyoon: Um, what should I do?
Kim Sangyoon: Lee-kyung-nim?
It was only after Kim Sangyoon asked for me twice, that I realized I couldn’t take my attention off this matter; so, I cut him off and decided to stand up from my seat.
Kim Sangyoon: If I make prior reservations at around 3,000 workshops for this elixir

Choi Lee-kyung: That’s a good idea
Kim Sangyoon: Then you can
what? Oh, then should I proceed?
Choi Lee-kyung: Yes. But I’m a bit
busy now
 Let’s talk next time.
Kim Sangyoon: Ah, of course!
Kim Sangyoon offered to give me a ride, but I refused and went straight to the lodgings. I didn’t know how I arrived considering the state of mind I was in, but I still felt a strange distance from Seo Dawon–an odd feeling of betrayal.
‘

?’
After thinking that far, I was immediately shocked and denied those inner musings.
‘Am I crazy? Why would I feel betrayed?’
I was acting like I liked Seo Dawon

Well, I had to admit: his face was handsome, but there were too many obstacles for me to like Seo Dawon. First of all, he was not even a living being, and his personality
 I mean, it’s not like his personality was bad, but

‘

Ah, I’m going insane? Why is it that the more I think about this, the more my thoughts get twisted?’
I thought it’d be prudent to stop thinking about these deluge-like thoughts.
However, that was easier said than done. Impossible. For example, my mind kept conjuring images of his smile that seemed to always find something cute about me, or the memory of him feeding me candy by hand–I hurriedly shook my head.
‘No!’
Trying to stop these out of control thoughts, I pinched the back of my hand.
To be honest, I’ve been wary of the Mage ever since he appeared before as ‘Seo Dawon.’ He looked like the pinnacle of my ideal type–plus his personality? I swore that if I fell in love with him, I’d be damned.
I’ve been known to do stupid things, but at some point all humans have to learn. My unrequited crush would have to compete against Seo Dawon’s more compatible, innumerable past partners. That fact had raised a red flag ever since I saw the Mage–the data didn’t lie. So, I thought I had distanced myself from him and behaved professionally.
But, I couldn’t believe I’d be so agitated by the word ‘fiance’ today

However, when I returned home and closed the door–and saw Seo Dawon following me–I couldn’t hold it in and grabbed his arm. The action was so impulsive–I regretted it immediately.
“Hey, we need to talk!” I said.
“Hm?”
“I have something I need to ask you.”
However, what was done was done–irreversible.
Seo Dawon looked down at me, biting my lips, with his red eyes; he raised his hand, motioned as if he were drawing something in the air, and lowered it again. At that moment, as if cotton candy had been stuffed into my ears, I could hear nothing but ‘us.’
Fortunately, Jung Garam didn’t cause any more troubles; he shrugged and sat back on the sofa. Kim Olim took a step back from us.
That meant they wouldn’t interfere. Only Lackey approached, undeterred by the atmosphere, but it stopped a few steps away from the line that surrounded us, unable to cross over. Whining, it dropped its head and looked mournfully at me.
When I paused at the sight, Seo Dawon lightly grabbed my arm, “Shall we go to the bedroom?”
“Huh?
.yeah.”
In the end, I asked for this, so I had no choice but to suppress my anxiety and regret; I entered the bedroom with one last pitying look at Lackey.
Seo Dawon closed the door as soon as I sat on the bed.
TL: You ever been in denial so hard you start having a shoujo heroine monologue? All jokes aside, there’s a reason why MC’s reserved
including the fact that Seo Dawon’s dead RIP T_T But hey! We’ve got progress on feelings
Footnotes
The original said ë–Ąë°„ which means the paste bait used in fishing. Usually made of rice and soybean paste etc. Here, the bait for Kim Sangyoon would mean compensation.