/
Only then did the sequence of events begin to make sense.
Seo Dawon had even mentioned Lim Jisoo’s stealth entry into the country with me in a private meeting and had said that information was being leaked from our side. He wasn’t just being conversational; there was a high chance his words were related to the laboratory attack incident.
‘I 100% think Bae Jaemin is the culprit…’
The problem was that I had insufficient evidence to support this claim. Just in case, I turned to Bang Eunji and spoke, “Was there… anyone suspicious you saw just before the attack?”
“I only saw the guild members though?”
“Mmm…”
“Are you perhaps saying that there’s an information leak from the inside?” Bang Eunji reacted quickly to my question. Choi Kyungsik turned his head–from vacantly staring at the TV–to look at me as well.
I fell silent; I wasn’t sure how much I could reveal.
Thankfully, before the atmosphere could become awkward, Bang Eunji broke the ice. “Well, if one thinks like that, then wouldn’t everyone be suspicious? Honestly, other than Seo Dawon-nim, everyone is flawed…”
“By ‘inside,’ do you mean the guild members? No way… They have no motive.” Choi Kyung-sik and Bang Eunji’s opinions were split.
Choi Kyung-sik felt uncomfortable even imagining the possible betrayal of a guild member; Bang Eunji blatantly stared at me before turning away. It was as if she were implying ‘You’re the most suspicious one.’
“The attack would be impossible without access to internal information.” I decided to provoke the two a little.
Choi Kyungsik widened his eyes and shrunk into himself when I said I was sure of the mole’s existence. Bang Eunji maintained her calm expression, but I was sure she wasn’t carelessly listening.
Unlike before, a heavy atmosphere settled between the three of us. Bang Eunji broke the long silence, “But, Kyung-sik-ie is also correct. Is there any reason for an insider to betray us?”
“…That’s the thing about human greed–It doesn’t disappear because someone has plenty now.”
“Whether it’s money or honor…To be honest, there aren’t many places that would treat us better than Red Lotus. There’s no merit to betrayal.”
Choi Kyung-sik and Bang Eunji were ignorant of Bae Jaemin’s nature so they could say such things, but I felt frustrated in my efforts to instill awareness within them.
Therefore, I wondered if I should press my luck and mention my suspicions of Bae Jaemin, but Bang Eunji suddenly crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. “You’re not going to say that Bae Jaemin is the culprit here, are you?”
“What? You’re also suspicious of Bae Jaemin?”
“……”
“……”
Startled, I stared at her, but Bang Eunji looked incredibly disillusioned. Her expression seemed to convey, ‘What did I expect from this person.’ Even Choi Kyungsik sighed deeply.
Flustered by their attitudes, I stammered and responded, “W…What?”
“Haah, Garam-ah…”
“Jung Garam-kun. No matter how much you may dislike Bae Jaemin, this isn’t it. I think that even the most placid of people like him would snap at all your accusations and really commit a crime.”
Looking at their reactions, their trust in the Priest seemed stronger than I had imagined.
Furthermore… It seems as if I’ve lost all pretenses of objectivity since the original Jung Garam hated Bae Jaemin intensely. Only then did I realize my mistake and tried to cover for myself.
Choi Kyung-sik took the initiative to soothe me with his soft voice. “If Jaemin-ie wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t have to hire an assassin. Just yesterday, the two of us ate together and drank coffee.”
“…I’m sure he didn’t want to be exposed as a criminal…”
“What I’m saying is… you know Jaemin-ie is a Priest right?”
“I know…”
“It’s so easy to fabricate causes of death or cast a death-pursuit timer on someone with Priest skills. Between the effort of finding an Assassin that’s difficult to identify and gamble on a lower chance of success, and simply manipulating and killing my target with my own skills, I don’t think I’d choose the former.”
Of course, my ill-formed thoughts without evidence wouldn’t work on a person who speaks so firmly and conclusively. Therefore, I stepped down first, blaming myself for being so hasty with my words. “…Fine.”
“Are you upset, Jung Garam-kun?”
“Garam-ah…”
Instead of trying to keep a straight face, I turned my backs on them, crossed the living room floor, and entered my bedroom.
I felt sorrowful more than upset. In particular, I knew what Bae Jaemin had done to Jung Garam–how the young Assassin died, so their reactions felt cruel. Choi Kyung-sik and Bang Eunji did nothing wrong, though. Furthermore, their reactions were a history long past–I’m inside a [Vengeful Ghost Memory], after all…
“Haah…”
Eventually, after laying face down on the bed for a while, I got up to brush my teeth and prepared for sleep.
No matter what may happen tomorrow, I won’t neglect to monitor Bae Jaemin. When I was in Choi Lee-kyung’s body, I was worried about personal safety since I could die in one blow, but now that I’m borrowing Jung Garam’s body…
“I’ll catch you this time…”
Above all, I won’t be able to sleep in peace if I weren’t able to deal the Priest a blow in at least the [Vengeful Ghost Memory].
Since I’ve become Jung Garam, shouldn’t I, as his master, reward him with this small revenge? Even though this plaintive wish may be pathetic, I automatically clenched my fists.
* * *
When I woke up, I felt so much better; I was able to even ignore Bang Eunji’s smarmy comments. In addition, the young girl followed Choi Kyung-sik around to guard him during the day, so I could move around freely. I immediately headed straight to the Red Lotus headquarters.
“Good Morning!”
“…Yeah.” I murmured.
The security personnel were as deafening as the day before. I even packed my employee ID card that I had forgotten yesterday and safely received my entry stamp.
I came here today to meet with Seo Dawon, the guild master.
Yesterday, Seo Dawon was…That is to say, the way he was so tender and kind with ‘Jung Garam’ and so cold-hearted towards Bae Jaemin gave me courage. I pressed and scratched the [Glow-in-the-Dark Bracelet] Seo Dawon gave me with my fingertips
“What on earth… Jung Garam?”
“Garam-ie? What are you doing here at this time?”
“Ngh… H-Hello…” I stammered.
When the elevator doors I had been waiting for opened, Woo Ragi and Kim Olim departed. The two gave me a puzzled stare; at their gaze, I nervously said, “So…I’m here to see…Seo Daw–, No, Guild master…hyung.”
“Now?”
“He’s probably busy.”
“Uh… Is he super busy?” Because I wanted to talk to the Mage about Bae Jaemin as soon as possible, I didn’t catch the furtive glance the two shared.
However, Woo Ragi replied in an indifferent tone, “If it’s urgent, go.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Make sure to knock.” Kim Olim also didn’t bother to stop me, so I quickly took the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.
After riding twice, the high-speed elevator was now familiar to me; I rode up to the top floor in just a few seconds and began walking towards Seo Dawon’s office. Because the office was next to the conference room that we had a meeting room in yesterday, it wasn’t too difficult to find it. I stood in front of the door and knocked…
Knock Knock–
For some reason, there was no response from within. Just in case I wasn’t heard, I was about to knock on the door again.
“…Enter.”
Though slow, that was definitely Seo Dawon’s voice. Feeling tense, I opened the door after taking a deep breath.
When the door opened, Seo Dawon and an unfamiliar woman were standing close together. It was as if his answer was delayed because the woman was in his arms just before my knock…
The woman, still standing close to the Mage, smiled brightly, “Ah, it’s Garam-ie. Long time no see.”
“What happened?” Seo Dawon asked.
“……”
Her smile contrasted starkly against Seo Dawon’s slightly expressionless face; nevertheless, the two made a dazzling pair. Looking between the two, I froze like a fool, unable to say anything.
She was truly beautiful. I had seen a picture of her in the past, but… She was so much more gorgeous in person. Her eyes had an elegant and profound shape; the refreshing way she smiled. The caliber of her beauty was comparable to Seo Dawon.
The way they matched…The rumors of possible engagement or marriage…
“Ryu Hyerin…”
“Hm?”
I carelessly muttered her name; she made eye contact with me. Ryu Hyerin looked at me as if she wondered why I called out her name and soon approached me. Then…
“Aren’t you glad to see me?” She said as she lightly dragged me into her arms, hugging briefly before releasing me. A fresh, green floral scent wafted past my nose before dissipating.