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Chapter 125
“Th-then… Mm! Why don’t we summon Jung Garam–instead of you–this time? Wouldn’t that be better?” Hurriedly eating the spoonfuls of porridge that suddenly approached my mouth, I expressed my opinion and observed the Mage carefully.
Surprisingly, Seo Dawon listened quite seriously to what I had to say before speaking, “In place of [possession]?”
“Ah, Mhmm…”
“Hmm… I guess it would be more annoying to have Jung Garam possess you. He may try to rush ahead with your body.”
“……”
“But, if we don’t allow him to tag along and do something, he may run wild…” Seo Dawon murmured, nodding as if he agreed with me. “Fine. If it’s this much, Jung Garam should understand.”
“R-really? That’s a relief…” I smiled broadly since unexpectedly Seo Dawon listened without much trouble.
However, Seo Dawon looked down at me and asked an unexpected question, “Did Jung Garam put you up to this??”
“Huh? N-no…It’s just…”
Although I denied his accusation reflexively, Seo Dawon’s expression let me know that he had already realized I was acting upon Jung Garam’s request. Of course, he did not grow angry at me, but he spoke as if he were frustrated, “Jung Garam is prideful and takes great pride in his skills. So, even if he realizes he’s being provoked into a trap, he’s always confident that he’ll be able to escape.”
“I-is that so?”
“That’s why, while sending him ahead as a scout, I usually sent another person along with him. He needs a calm team member to conduct missions safely.”
As the head of the [Red Lotus], Seo Dawon must have understood each of his guild member’s personality, strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. Though he may have portrayed his reasoning as motivated through mission success rate, perhaps he was also concerned about Jung Garam’s safety? Recalling how they treated each other like family when they were alive, I had guessed that Seo Dawon would not have treated them so calculatedly.
So his curtness right now may be out of concern for Jung Garam rather than consideration for the success or failure of the mission. I felt a bit sorry that I may have overlooked Seo Dawon’s concern–perhaps Jung Garam and I may have misjudged him.
On the other hand, it wasn’t as if I couldn’t understand Jung Garam’s desire to punish the man that killed him. It was hard to bring up a way to reconcile these two understandable but opposing thoughts.
“If Garam-ie fails this time, it becomes that much more difficult for you. Of course, I’ve taken steps to avoid your death, but…” the mage continued.
“Mmm…”
“This is what I’d like to ask though. Do you believe in Jung Garam to the point where you’ve resolved to sacrifice your safety…?”
“Ah…”
“If you’re acquiescing simply because Jung Garam begged, you should reconsider.”
I couldn’t immediately answer his straightforward, serious words.
However, the more I considered, Jung Garam’s vivid [memory playback] slowly flooded my mind: the arrogant enemy who made the young assassin go on the defensive with his poor skill compared to his impressive weapon, the shame he felt when the assassin was fooled by Bae Jaemin–someone he considered inferior, the pain and blood filling his throat and torn intestines…Separately, nothing would justify any distrust for Jung Garam’s capabilities.
What’s more, when would the stars align to create a highly opportunistic environment again? Bae Jaemin was currently focused elsewhere, and it was clear that Park Hoseok’s carelessness was the only chance to avenge Jung Garam’s ridiculous defeat.
Eventually, after thinking for a long while, I spoke to Seo Dawon, who was patiently waiting for my response, “I don’t think Jung Garam will lose twice.”
“……”
“I mean, you also said…that he was a genius, right? Um, I don’t exactly know Jung Garam very well, but…”
“……”
“That is to say… I believe in your evaluation of Jung Garam.”
Seo Dawon looked down at my nervous self before giving a small nod. I searched his eyes, wondering if I said the right thing.
Of course, in the meantime, Lackey kept on poking my lips with spoonfuls of porridge, and I had no choice but to eat. When I had  finished about half the bowl of porridge, Seo Dawon, who seemed to have been lost in thought, turned his fathomless eyes back to me. “Then, let’s summon Jung Garam and, afterwards, we should exchange bodies through [Possession]. Speaking of [Possession], you answered wrong during the quiz last time.”
“Huh? The quiz?”
“The quiz that raises the synchronization rate during [Possession].”
As I chewed on the porridge, I began to remember the events that transpired during [Owl’s Ghost ship]. After a while, I managed to remember being asked something strange at the end of our trip, “Ah! That thing…It suddenly asks something about your likes?”
“Yeah. It asked you about my favorite color.”
Ahh! That’s right! And, at that time, I got the question wrong.
Did Seo Dawon also receive a similarly strange question? It was such a casual question, so I pressed the answer without thinking too seriously about it…
But, Seo Dawon’s voice was solemn, indicating that the matter was more important than I had previously thought. “The most important matter in [Possession] is the synchronization rate.”
“I-is that so?”
“The closer to 100 percent, the stronger the synergy between the vengeful ghost and his master–the two can bring forth immense power.” Continuing, Seo Dawon explained about the quiz. “There are many factors involved in raising the synchronization rate. Intimacy and trust between the master and the vengeful ghost have a large impact on the synchronization rate. The quiz is a way to indirectly measure or reflect the intimacy between the two.”
Is that why something weird like ‘What color do you like?’ would appear? I scratched my head, a bit embarrassed, and asked, “You…what color do you like?”
“I don’t have a particular favorite color.”
“B-but… It said I was wrong when I chose something random…”
“If I were told to choose from choices available, I could choose one.”
Doesn’t that mean he has yet to fully understand his own tastes? I shook my head glumly while trying and failing to remember the exact wording. Would I have to memorize a set of questions and answers like a test?
So, I asked again, “Will the question regarding your favorite color reappear the next time you try to possess me?”
“Who knows. The quiz is probably random.”
“Haah…”
“You don’t have to be so forlorn. There’s many other ways to improve the synchronization rate.” Fortunately, our smart Seo Dawon had other methods to suggest.
Joyfully, I asked, “How?”
“I’ve said how intimacy and trust are important. It’s easier to increase intimacy between two people compared to trust.”
“Ah….. Well then, how do we increase intimacy?”
“However you look at it, it must be skinship.”
“S-skinship?” 1
The alternative was like a sudden thunderstorm rushing in where there were clear skies before. What do you mean skinship? At that moment, I couldn’t say anything because my mind blanked white.
But, Seo Dawon, words like a bomb, continued, “I don’t think we’ll see a significant increase if we do something insignificant like holding hands…”
“Uh……?”
“At least a hug. Also, I think we should spend at least one hour a day together.”
“W-what?”
“From today, we’re going to have to invest an hour or so in [possession]. We’ll have to rapidly increase the synchronization rate somehow during these two weeks.”
At least a hug…I locked eyes with Seo Dawon for a moment before, unable to stand it, I bowed my head within a second.
I’m supposed to embrace Seo Dawon? For at least an hour a day? Even as I first began to think that was ridiculous, my heart began to beat hard without pride. What should I even say? I couldn’t even express neither eagerness nor dislike…
However, Seo Dawon, without hesitation, reached out to me and my bowed head. He grabbed my jaw and forced me to make eye contact with him; he then hooded his eyes and laughed. “If you dislike hugs, we can do something else that’s more effective.”
“W-what…”
“Don’t you have a rough idea?”
“……” I didn’t want to appear shaken, but I could no longer tolerate those words and stepped backwards to the wall to avoid Seo Dawon’s hand. He docilely let me go.
“Let’s start this evening. We don’t have much time.”
Of course, it was all too embarrassing for me. I forgot my plan to plaster myself to the wall and shouted desperately at Seo Dawon. What on earth, Seo Dawon. You know that I have feelings for you! “W-wait a minute! I still…”
I’m sure he could read my feelings from my wide-open, bewildered eyes, but he continued to say whatever he wished, “Ah, don’t avoid my hand tonight like you just did now. You’ll start with your hands tied if you avoid it.”
And, as if it weren’t a joke, he gave a shadowed smile.
TL: Thanks for being patient you guys, here’s the first part of the multi-chapter update
Footnotes
Skinship = physical affection. Touching. You might even say it’s a form of a love language