/
However, that fake ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ went one step further and finally crossed a line. That bastard looked as if Seo Dawon, who appeared before him, was some great savior and jumped casually into the mage’s arms, hugging him. “Whoa! I mean, this is… I’ve been wandering around here for so long and I’m overcome with happiness to see you…”
“……”
The fake ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ didn’t stop there–he suddenly stepped backwards, made a fuss, and flapped at his now flushed neck. In addition, Lackey simply stared, with its fingers in its mouth, at its master’s shameful behavior. If that was the real Lackey, the skeleton would already have squeezed in, clacking furiously, between me and the Mage.
I snorted and glared at ‘Choi Lee-kyung.’
‘Unbelievable. If you’re going to imitate me, then you should do it properly…’
I’ve never acted like that towards Seo Dawon. So, I thought Seo Dawon would soon push away that ‘Choi Lee-kyung.’
However, Seo Dawon simply stared at him without any further movement; at that, ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ sighed, relaxing a little, and grabbed the Mage by the arm. I wasn’t the only one startled at such natural skin contact. Seo Dawon’s back became rigid, as if he was nervous; he began looking down at ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ as if he were something fascinating.
“As soon as I arrived, I was in an empty space–no one came out. I was relieved, though, that at least Lackey could be summoned…”
“You didn’t meet any monsters?”
“Yeah… There was nothing? And Choi Kyung-sik…never appeared either.” ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ gave me a sidelong glance as he mentioned the Alchemist’s name. That passing gaze was filled with wariness and discomfort…an exact replica of my expression towards him.
I met that gaze, unwilling to back down, before looking at Seo Dawon a little anxiously. It was frustrating to see Seo Dawon be so motionless within that fake ‘Choi Lee-kyung’s’ grasp; I was uncomfortable with the idea that the Mage had perhaps already made his choice.
Above all, to see someone in this [Vengeful Ghost Memory] adopt my face and pant all over Seo Dawon like that… It hurt my pride. Though I held affection for the Mage, I’ve never openly appealed to Seo Dawon like that.
‘Why… Is he writhing his body like that?’
Do I really act like that?
I wanted to grab Seo Dawon by the collar and ask him, ‘Do I act like that in front of you?’ but… I couldn’t. In the end, I glared at ‘Choi Lee-kyung,’ clenching my fists within my folded arms.
However, whatever ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ thought of my inaction, he soon turned to Seo Dawon after staring me down. He now clung to the mage completely, as if he were dangling off of Seo Dawon’s arms.
What made me furious was that Seo Dawon not only did not push the fake away, but still looked down at him wordlessly. Frustrated, I wanted to scream, ‘Isn’t making others intimidated with just a piercing stare your specialty?’ It felt like my anger was boiling within me, threatening to burst out.
“Haah. But I’m glad you’re here. Actually, I was worried that I’d be stuck here. Furthermore, suddenly… someone who looked exactly like me barged in. I’ve never seen an enemy like that, so I had no idea how to respond…” ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ said.
“……”
The fake grinned as if he were incredibly relieved. And Seo Dawon paid close attention to that bastard, without tearing his eyes away from the fake’s face.
I felt so anxious as Seo Dawon stared at ‘Choi Lee-kyung.’ His hesitation was so different from how he usually acted. No way…is he really confusing me with that fake?
“Lee-kyung-ah.” However, after a few seconds of silence, Seo Dawon turned towards me and called my name. Simultaneously, ‘Choi Lee-kyung’s expression turned dark. It was clear at that moment who the Mage chose.
After being so shaken for these past minutes, my anxiety disappeared all at once at the Mage’s call. I took one step closer to Seo Dawon, answering him joyfully, “Yep!”
“We must be inside some mirror-like thing right now.”
“Inside a mirror?”
“You look exactly the same…” Seo Dawon glanced at my right hand. “You’re right handed.”
“Huh? Yeah…”
As soon as I answered, ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ looked down, flustered, at his hands from behind the Mage. Then, in that state, the bastard slowly became transparent. ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ opened his mouth, as if to say something, but soon melted completely into thin air and vanished. It appeared like the monster was defeated once it was caught.
I stared blankly at the place where ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ had futilely disappeared. “How did you know?”
“When he held onto me, he reached out with his left hand first. Something was unnatural.”
However, Seo Dawon’s response was a bit questionable.
While ruminating on that discomfort, I mumbled to myself, “…Is the only difference between me and him our dominant hand?”
“What?” Seo Dawon didn’t ignore my murmurs and questioned it immediately.
I hesitated before eventually answering him in a grumpy tone, “Wasn’t there a lot of differences…between me and that ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ earlier? But you only kept on looking at him…Like you couldn’t tell…”
My voice rose a little at the end of my sentences, as if I were whining, ‘Why couldn’t you recognize me?’… Honestly, I was deeply upset by that, so I wasn’t able to control my emotions.
However, as soon as he listened to my words, Seo Dawon’s lips quirked up. Teasing, he said, “Ah, of course I knew about your differences from the very beginning.”
“Then, why…”
“He looks exactly like you. I couldn’t exactly lay hands on him.”
“……”
I was struck speechless; Seo Dawon turned and locked gazes with me casually. He didn’t say anything particularly ridiculous, but I strangely felt hot. It’s not like was fishing for those flirtatious comments either…
However, I soon returned to my senses and responded sarcastically, “…Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“He was smiling so brightly with your face–what could I do?”
“……”
However, Seo Dawon paid no heed to my sarcasm. His posture was relaxed; he seemed to be trying his hardest to make me feel fidgety and flustered with his words.
His words always gave me food for thought. Even when he didn’t truly like me. So, even if my heart pounded, I was angry; I wanted to refute what he said and make jokes. Something like ‘Ah, so you’re saying my smiling expression doesn’t look too good, is that it?’ I barely held those comments in.
I snorted, to tell him I could hardly believe him, and walked ahead while ignoring the Mage. However, the previous scene kept repeating in my head. Could Seo Dawon really prefer that fake–someone who adopted such silly expressions and wore his emotions on his sleeves? Or, could he be dissatisfied with the ‘me’ that never smiles so happily?
It wasn’t so easy for me to smile in front of Seo Dawon. How many people could laugh nonchalantly while trying to defend their minds–to build defenses against rushing affection? Moreover, we’re in a special relationship, and he treats me affectionately. Currently, I had to build walls on my side of the relationship so as to not cross a line–smiling was impossible.
""
Once again, Seo Dawon casually broke through the walls I built. He approached me without breaking eye contact and said, “You like my smiling face too.”
I looked at him in surprise, quickly turning my head as if I was burned by fire; I regretted that action immediately after meeting the Mage’s gaze. He was staring at me, as if he were engraving my expressions one by one inside his head. It even had the illusory effect of being sucked into his eyes–like he had access to all my thoughts.
Seo Dawon knew I have affections for him and am attracted to him. And, right now he’s probably… Wouldn’t he be extra sure that I still liked him?
[Clack Clack?]
“W-Whoa!”
“…Why hasn’t that one vanished?”
At that moment, if Lackey hadn’t squeezed its head between the gap between mine and the Mage’s legs… I might have inadvertently asked Seo Dawon the question that had been blazing within my mind.
So, after my startled heart calmed down, I felt rather relieved. And, heedless of my mood, the Mage lifted Lackey lightly, dangling it in the air, and began having a staring match with the skeleton.