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Chapter 307
[Wait a minute, Eunji-yah.]
Seo Dawon looked straight at me before stopping his fellow guildmate. She obediently followed his words.
[Yes?]
[That Ham….ster… Can I take a closer look at him?]
[Of course! Guildmaster-nim, do you like hamsters?]
[……]
Seo Dawon took the cage without answering and simply stared at me. With a pounding heart, I worked hard to shout at the Mage, “You did something to the ring, right? Dawon-ah! Are you hearing me?”
[…….]
“Does he see me as my human self right now…? Or does he still perceive me as a hamster?”
Contrary to my expectations, and despite his calm demeanor, I could feel a cold energy in his eyes. As someone who now has known Seo Dawon for a long while, I could recognize the Mage’s mask-like smile–something he plasters onto his face quickly when faced with something displeasing.
At first, it was difficult to guess Seo Dawon’s feelings solely through his expression; his normal smiles and his mask-like smiles were pretty similar. Later on, I learned to distinguish them through the coldness in his eyes, but…
‘Why is he… looking at me like that?’
Seo Dawon’s smile, directed towards me, was exuding displeased vigilance.
When pinpointed by that vigilance, something I had not felt from the Mage in ages, I felt somewhat melancholy. Of course, I knew that within the [Vengeful Ghost Memories] I wouldn’t be faced with the same Seo Dawon I knew, but…
‘Still, that face…’
Should I say I secretly held expectations?
However, Seo Dawon, who could not know how I felt, merely observed my glum countenance and, once again, adopted that damned smile.
[Eunji-yah. This Ham…ster… Can I try raising it for a few days?]
His voice was so confident and attractive; it felt as if rejection wasn’t a possibility when the Mage spoke. When I heard his words, though, unreasonable anxiety welled within me. Why did he suddenly want me?
‘What on earth do I look like… to Seo Dawon?’
If I seemed like an ordinary hamster, there was no way the Mage would have asked to keep me.
And…
‘I wonder if Bang Eunji will tamely give me away…’
[Of course!]
“……” I stared back at Bang Eunji with a stunned expression.
‘Honestly, didn’t you just brag that there could be no greater owner than you just earlier?’
However, Bang Eunji truly acted like a docile and cute girl in front of her guildmaster. She even placed the costume box she had bought recently–with the tag still attached–in Seo Dawon’s arms. She shamelessly lied–
[Actually, Garam-chan was a hamster I specifically chose with guildmaster-nim in mind!]
[Thank you, Eunji-yah.]
[I knew you’d like him. I-I… I know everything about guildmaster-nim’s tastes…!]
[I guess so. Truly, thank you. Shall we eat a meal together next time?]
[Yes, yes! The location and time…]
[I’ll send you a message with those later.]
[Kyaaa!]
The Mage, after showing a smooth smile to Bang Eunji, strode into the [Red Lotus] guild headquarters with my cage held securely in his embrace.
His strides were wide, but my cage was still less shaky than when Bang Eunji travelled with me. However, I was more anxious with the Mage than with her.
* * *
Aftering entering his private office, Seo Dawon gently placed my cage on the desk and then turned a fixed gaze on me.
He didn’t try to talk to me nor did he open the cage; needless nervousness surging in me, I approached the transparent wall, clenched my fist, and tapped on it, “Excuse me… Dawon-ah, you understand what I’m saying…right?”
[……]
He momentarily opened his mouth, but no answer came.
At the same time, the door to the office opened; a man with a large stature entered. When I saw the tattoos covering both arms, I mumbled, “…Jo Chan-young-ssi?”
At that moment, I suddenly felt Seo Dawon quickly turning back towards me; When I flinched and stared back, Jo Chan-young took the initiative to speak.
[Why have I been called?]
His voice was calm yet cold. The Mage seemed to falter a little but soon turned slightly to show Jo Chan-young the cage that was hidden by his standing body.
When Jo Chan-young’s eyes gazed into mine, his dark and dry expression changed dramatically.
[What is this…? This cutie.]
“….Mmm?” I felt a little embarrassed and flustered by Jo Chan-young’s flushed cheeks which did nothing to alleviate his fierce facial structures.
His sparkling eyes…They felt so passionate–I almost thought he had fallen deeply in love.
Seo Dawon stared at Jo Chan-young as if he were observing the Summoner before releasing a short sigh. Rubbing at his temples, the Mage asked–
[Chanyoung-ie, in your eyes…Does he look like a hamster?]
[Yes? What are you saying… Of course? It’s definitely part of the Golden or Syrian breed.] 1
[……]
[By the way, what logic compelled you to decorate the cage like this? It’s not like hamsters are dolls or anything.]
Jo Chan-young peered inside the cage with a repulsed expression and gave the Mage some serious advice.
[Please take off those ridiculous outfits as well. That’s abuse.]
[…I’ll do that.]
I nodded emphatically since I agreed with what Jo Chan-young said.
However, perhaps the Mage had nothing more to say, Seo Dawon sent the Summoner out of his office. As he left, Jo Chan-young persistently asked.
[Are you going to raise that cutie here?]
[I’m still thinking about it.]
[If that’s the plan, I can take care of him]
[Thanks. You’re very reassuring.]
Until the end, Jo Chan-young continued to gaze at me. For some reason, it was hard to tear my eyes away from his, so I waved farewell to the Summoner. Jo Chan-young’s eyes sparkled once more, but a thick door soon blocked our line of sight.
Thud–!
[……]
Once again, the Mage looked at me as soon as the door closed. My anxiety, which had subsided a little, began to rise again.
However, as he glared, Seo Dawon said nothing and merely unfurled his palm. When I saw a magic circle floating above his hand, I opened my mouth in surprise. ‘No way… Is he going to attack me?’
I was so startled, my eyes were wide open. The magic circle spun–its interlocking components clicked like a puzzle…but…Nothing much happened. My body glowed a faint gold–that’s it.
However, even after casting this unknown spell on me, Seo Dawon’s furrowed brows did not relax. I wrung my fingers nervously–a nervous habit that often appeared when things didn’t go my way.
After a long period of silence, he finally spoke.
[What skill is this? Or maybe…An item effect?]
“…What?”
[Why are you disguised as a hamster? Or rather… how did you–even briefly–fool my eyes?]
“You… You can see me? Or can you hear me?]
[I wonder if he wants to pretend to be ignorant.]
His tone was clearly sarcastic, but, the moment he spoke straight me, the Mage truly seemed like a savior.
I cried out to Seo Dawon, wiping my tears away with the sleeves of this uncomfortable, unnatural baby suit. “Da-Dawon-ah! Hnngh…”
[……?]
Seo Dawon looked quite bewildered when he saw me burst into tears out of nowhere.
However, I continued to yell at him through this transparent wall. “W-What a relief. At least you can see the real me…”
[……]
“I… My cheeks were dyed a weird color… No, that’s not the problem–Everyone is treating me like a hamster! I’m so lonely and helpless… What’ll I do if I’m stuck here, eating sunflower seeds forever…”
[……]
“Hngh…”
Still looking bewildered, the Mage listened to the end of my rambles.
I flopped to my feet, still crying, and tried to take off my outfit first; the bib tightening around my neck and the jumpsuit was incredibly annoying. I wiped my tears with one hand and pulled at my bib with the other when, suddenly, I felt the airflow around me change. The cage lid had opened.
When I looked up, I saw Seo Dawon staring down at me.
“B-By the way… Can you take this off for me?”
[……]
I raised both arms high into the air.