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Chapter 194
Of course, I might run into Ryu Hyerin in this time period. After all, the ‘Red Lotus’ was intact, and she was Seo Dawon’s fiance.
However, I was shocked by a different aspect than when Bae Jaemin had appeared. In particular, I hadn’t expected to see the Mage and her standing together. So, I hurriedly bowed my head. I didn’t want anyone else to notice my expression. “I’m…sorry. I didn’t realize…that the two of you were together.” I retreated a few steps to further avoid being in this situation.
“What’s going on?” Seo Dawon asked–his tone sounded odd.
I tried to press down on my agitation by applying pressure to my voice box, trying to strengthen my voice. “Later…. I’ll tell you later.”
“Hmm? Because of me? Don’t mind me–I’m fine,” Ryu Hyerin said in a friendly voice, trying to dissuade me and grabbing onto me. I saw a diamond ring–suitable for marriage proposals–on the ring finger of her left hand that she used to hold onto me.
‘…Did Seo Dawon give that to her?’
Even though I knew this wasn’t the time to be having those thoughts, these thoughts unstoppably forced themselves into my mind. Lest my distorted expression be perceived, I bowed my head even more.
“Hyerin-ah, I’ll pick you up in the evening.” Seo Dawon was the one who ended this ambiguous situation.
I raised my head at Seo Dawon’s words; he was smiling at Ryu Hyerin with a face that seemed to ask her for her understanding. Ryu Hyerin looked disappointed, but soon chicly smiled and picked up her handbag. “Tch… So you’re asking me to leave now? I was going to stay with you until evening.”
“I can’t concentrate on work with you here.”
“I guess if you can’t speak with me here…” Ryu Hyerin smiled brightly, as if she was in a good mood, and turned towards me. “See you next time, Garam-ah.”
Seo Dawon left the room with her to see her off. It was until his presence felt distant that I flopped down in an empty chair with a deep sigh.
“Haah…” I wiped my face with my hands. When I remembered how Seo Dawon had smiled at her with his eyes–the first time I’d ever seen that–annoyance suddenly rose within me. He’d never smiled like that to me… And, what? He couldn’t focus on work with her there?
“That’s so cheesy?” I said, voicing my childish envy. If Seo Dawon were in front of me right now, I would have wanted to slap him on the back.
Click–
It was then.
As soon as I said that, the door suddenly burst open; startled, I jumped out of my seat. Contrary to my expectations, Seo Dawon wasn’t the one to enter the room.
“Uh…H-How did you come here…”
“Where’s guild master-nim?” An unsmiling face, lowered eyes… Bae Jaemin asked perfunctorily.
* * *
“Was Hyerin-ssi here?”
I meant to reflexively answer him, but Bae Jaemin was quicker, blinking and murmuring to himself. It was surprising how quickly he deduced that. I clamped my lips tightly shut; Bae Jaemin glanced at me before striding inside.
I was incredibly uncomfortable, but I couldn’t kick him out since this wasn’t my room; I simply stepped back, creating distance between us. Jung Garam was infamous for his hatred of the Priest, so I didn’t think he’d pay any mind to my vigilance.
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As expected, Bae Jaemin quietly sat in an empty chair without blinking an eye at me. As I pretended to not notice Bae Jaemin, I became certain of one thing.
‘Bae Jaemin also… really hates Jung Garam.’
At a surface glance, others may think that Jung Garam was the only one fastidious in his dislike, but, looking at the Priest’s attitude now that the two of us are alone, I could see that Bae Jaemin didn’t care for Jung Garam either. However, he was clever enough to reign in his rudeness towards Jung Garam in front of others. That was why Jung Garam, every day, seemed like someone creating a mountain out of a molehill.
While glaring at the back of Bae Jaemin’s head, I inwardly clicked my tongue. Now that I had become Jung Garam, I thought his double-faced personality was even more despicable.
‘Ah, but… I wanted to report how suspicious Bae Jaemin is when Seo Dawon returns, but what should I say if this bastard is still here?’
Looking at him, I was at a loss for what to do. Even if I were to speak vaguely, Bae Jaemin may perceive that we were talking about him.
However, I could not think about this issue further.
“Mm? What’s up with you, Jaemin-ie?” Seo Dawon had opened the door and entered.
Though the Priest maintained an expressionless face right before, he adopted a smile as soon as he saw Seo Dawon entering the room.
I couldn’t believe how dynamic his change in expression was. Previously, he sat with his eyes wide open, exuding a gloomy aura; now, he became a bright, prosperous young master. He could probably pass any snags in any interviews or meetings. Garam definitely didn’t call him a disgusting abomination for no reason.
“I’ve found the assassination client and am reporting in,” Bae Jaemin said.
“Really? You’ve found him sooner than expected.”
“Everyone trembled just by the mention of Guild Master-nim’s name. It was easy to gain their cooperation.”
The Priest had even stealthily slipped in some flattery within his words.
Seo Dawon didn’t confirm nor deny Bae Jaemin’s claim, but considering how carefully he read the documents the Priest handed over, the report didn’t seem too bad.
The Mage was so savage to the other when they had last talked; perhaps their conversation ended well, the aura surrounding them was bright and refreshing. I, of course, was disconcerted by that conversational flow.
“So… in your opinion, you think the Assassin was commissioned by Virtuoso Workshop?”
“Yes. The data I’ve given you is from the accounting office. The accounting office has long dealt with the Virtuoso Workshop. We believe they had hired a ‘freelancer’ with pre-laundered slush funds 1.”
“The Assassin has no affiliations?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Alright. Good Job.”
Bae Jaemin reported his work sincerely; I stared between the two, mouth dry. In this scenario, I didn’t think it would go over very well if I were to shout that Bae Jaemin was suspicious.
“Then, I’ll be on my way. Please contact me if there’s something else that needs to be confirmed. Feel free to speak with me comfortably,” Bae Jaemin said.
“See you tomorrow.”
Surprisingly, Bae Jaemin didn’t linger and was the one to retreat from the conversation first. After finishing his report, he left the room without looking backwards–just like a faithful office worker.
Even after Bae Jaemin left, Seo Dawon read various reports as if he were absorbed in his work …Though I was still inside the room, I thought the Mage had immersed himself until he had forgotten my presence.
“Garam-ah. Did you just come here to play?”
“N-no…”
Of course, I had thought wrong–a brief illusory moment of calm. Seo Dawon stealthily glanced at the clock before turning back to me.
I didn’t know how far I could push my luck, so I chewed at my lips as I returned his gaze. On the other hand, Seo Dawon seemed relaxed and leisurely.
“…Does hyung also think I’m making a big deal about Bae Jaemin?” After a deep sigh, the words I uttered were so pathetic–one could mistake it for mere whining. I had wanted to say something more professional and objective, but… As expected, that was beyond me at the moment.
However, Seo Dawon looked calmly at me without smiling or frowning. “You have a good intuition.”
As he spoke, the Mage set aside Bae Jaemin’s report–the one he had been reading just seconds ago. It was an unspoken promise to listen to me till the very end, just as he had done for the Priest.
I was on one hand graceful but, on the other, I felt pressure in the pit of my stomach as I recalled how the Mage had been checking the clock. If I continue to stutter, Seo Dawon would probably rise from his seat and say we should continue to talk another time…
‘……No. This isn’t the time to think like that.’ I erased my thoughts before I could get off topic. 2
I steeled my expression and said, “I think Bae Jaemin…is lying about something.”
“But you don’t have evidence yet–is that it?” Seo Dawon smiled jokingly; he seemed to have already understood all my inward conclusions. I nodded my heavy head.
Seo Dawon closed his eyes briefly–as if he were contemplating something–then opened his mouth. “I’ll craft an excuse for you, so go ahead and follow him until you’re satisfied.”