Chapter 122

Through the hazy consciousness, someone's voice was heard. Thirst arose along with a tingling sensation all over my body.

"...Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. Are you awake?"

I slowly blinked my eyes and lifted my head. It was none other than Edward who grabbed my shoulder and gently shook it. Edward, speaking in an anxious voice, sighed in relief when I woke up.

"Edward-ssi."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

I answered calmly and checked my condition. Just before passing out, my body, which had been sweating and rolling on the floor, was washed clean and changed into a plain white t-shirt and cotton pants without any pattern.

A large, thick leash with chains was attached to my neck, and my hands were clasped in front and tied in handcuffs, making it impossible to move my arms. Even the energy was hardened to see if the power of the marbles I ate earlier was still there. At this rate, I could neither use my ability nor escape.

Fortunately, I still had the A-class energy recovery bracelet item and the disposable invalidation ring item that I received from Cheon Sa-yeon.

'Why didn't they take the item?'

It was Kang Seung-geon that was out of mind, but... (강승건이야 그럴 정신이 없었다지만) It bothered me that Samael found the item I had but he didn't touch it.

Contemplating while looking at the ring, I turned and looked at Edward. There might be side effects of mental control, so I was worried. Fortunately, the wound on his neck had stopped bleeding.

"Edward-ssi, are you hurt? Any uncomfortable place?"

Edward answered my question with a white face.

"I am fine."

"You have to be careful. Because you were under mental control."

Edward, shuddering at the word of mental control, said in a hoarse voice, drooping at the tip of his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry. Because of me..."

"No. It was me who was being targeted in the first place."

I smiled bitterly, blocking Edward's self-blame.

"I'm sorry to get you involved."

"Han Yi-gyeol-ssi..."

The atmosphere between me and Edward grew out of control. It seemed that it would be better to have a conversation that would be helpful for the current situation, so I asked what I had been curious about for a long time.

"Edward-ssi. May I ask how you ended up being mentally controlled?"

"Of course."

Edward rolled his eyes and recalled the past.

"After arriving at the airport in Korea, I met the bodyguards sent by Cheon Sa-yeon-ssi. It was fine until there... Someone hit me on the shoulder and I spilled a little drink on my hand."

"Ah."

"There was nothing to wipe, and it was too sticky, so I stopped by the nearest bathroom. After that, I remember..."

Edward hesitated and shut his mouth. I knew it without even having to listen. I said, hardening my brow.

"You met Samael in the bathroom."

"Yes. I think so."

Edward nodded his head. After meeting Samael, he was immediately attacked by his mental ability, and he must have come to the guild with the bodyguards while hiding the space movement item.

"I'm sorry. I was too relaxed. I shouldn't have kept the bodyguards away."

"Once again, it's really not Edward-ssi's fault."

Chloe's explanation came to mind that Edward was travelling around the world, helping many people at no cost, despite the concerns around him. Edward only acted as usual and made a choice. If it wasn't for the way he came to meet me, he would have washed his hands and left the airport without any problems.

Thinking about it that way, my stomach felt heavy and my stomach stung. If Edward was injured in this situation.

'I don't have the face to see everyone's faces.'

I have to protect him somehow. No matter what happened. Moving my tied hand, I pulled the ring from my finger and held it to Edward.

"Edward-ssi."

"Yes?"

"Please put this on."

Edward blinked as he saw the ring on his palm.

"Is this a one-time invalidation item? I made it."

"Yes. This is the item I received when I met Deputy Master Chloe."

I grabbed Edward's hand and inserted the ring. Edward, who was staring blankly at the shimmering ring on his finger, asked me with a confused look.

"Wait. Why are you giving me the ring?"

"Listen to me, Edward-ssi."

I said, raising my upper body, which had been leaning against the wall.

"Samael, this is the name of the one who brought us. As you know, he has the ability to control the mind and emotions."

A white mask that glistened ominously in the light of the chandelier flashed through my mind. Licking dry lips with my tongue in tension, I continued explaining.

"He makes a sound by flicking his thumb and middle finger before using his ability. You have to use the ring at the right time. Don't let your mind be controlled again."

"The, then what about Han Yi-gyeol-ssi?"

"Samael's ability doesn't work for me."

Even if it worked, the ring would have been handed over to Edward. Anyway, it was definitely a good opportunity.

"If you avoid the controlling even once, then I will help you escape somehow."

"However..."

"You must do what I say. Do you get it?"

Edward contorted his face and licked his lips as if he was about to say something, but didn't say anything.

He understood it too. He knew that when he was freed from Samael's grip, my situation would be at least a little easier.

Samael's intention to take a young producer talented person hostage, who couldn't fight, was very disgusting. I sighed as I looked at Edward's anxious face as he looked at the hand with the ring on, and a terrible scream was heard through the white door.

"Aaargh!"

"Gasp...!"

Edward, frightened, trembled in surprise. I also got up quickly and stopped in front of Edward. The thick chain attached to the wall shook violently.

"Kuuu, uuh! Uaaa!"

"Kill me... kill me...!"

"Huhuk, get lost! Uuh!"

Kung, kwaang! Kugung!

The floor vibrated softly with the roar of something breaking and collapsing at the same time as the screams intertwined at random. Fear spread rapidly in the minds of me and Edward, who couldn't get out of the closed room without a single window even after hearing all the sounds.

"Wh, what is this sound?"

"...I don't know."

I clenched my fists with my cold hands and stared at the door, when all of a sudden all the noises stopped. The sound of leisurely footsteps drew closer through the grotesque silence, enough to hear Edward's harsh breathing behind me.

Tock, tock.

An ominous feeling ran up my spine at the sound of clean, light heels. Like me, Edward felt something different from before, and with a pale, tired face, he backed away.

I knew it even though I couldn't see it. Samael. He was coming.

I grabbed the chains and pulled them strong, but the joint fastened to the walls weren't even dreamed of (벽에 고정된 이음새는 꿈적도 하지 않았다). The same was true of the thick leather leash that was attached to my neck.

'Edward isn't tied down, so I can make him run away if I just draw his attention well.'

I swallowed dry saliva and looked back. Seeing Edward in his small stature and youthful appearance, the corner of my heart felt heavy as if I had put the lead on it. I felt as terrible as Samael that I had given a child such a terrifying experience.

"Edward-ssi. The ring."

At my words, Edward hurriedly hid the ringed hand behind his back. A soft humming was heard from beyond the door. Squeak, as the chains dragged to the floor, the door opened, and Samael appeared as expected.

"You are awake."

Unlike before fainting, Samael, dressed in a white T-shirt and a dark red suit jacket, entered with light steps. My heart began to beat strongly with the tension that rose to the end of my neck.

"As expected, they fit very well. From the first time I saw you, I wanted you to be tied up like that."

Samael babbled and clapped twice with his white-gloved hands, then tilted his head. The fine black hair seen through the mask shook slightly.

"However... why are you doing this?"

Samael, who had been silent for a long time, facing my cold gaze, laughed out loud as if he understood.

"You are worrying too much, Talented Han Yi-gyeol. The only thing I'm interested in is you."

"......"

"If it weren't for a situation where a hostage was needed, such as a useless child like that, I wouldn't have dared to bring him."

Samael's black shoes came closer and closer. Samael's actions that were getting too close quickly pushed Edward back and glared at him.

My gaze continued to turn to Samael's hand. With his ability, Edward couldn't again... (설마 또 능력으로 에드워드를)

"I'm not interested in him."

Samael smirked at my stiff expression, put his hand in his pants pocket and lifted his chin.

"Kneel down."

"What?"

"I said kneel down."

With a smile on his face, Samael gave me orders. I stood there for a few seconds, unable to understand the meaning of the words, and then slowly blinked my eyes. I bent my knee slowly, biting the molars strongly in my mouth.

"Ha, Han Yi-gyeol-ssi..."

Edward's voice came from behind. Resistance was meaningless. Until there was somehow a chance to escape, I had to act obediently to Samael.

As I meekly fell to my knees, Samael, who had been humming softly as he tapped the mask with his index finger, opened his mouth.

"Bring me water."

As soon as those words were finished, a woman and a man walked through the open door, holding a bottle of water in their hand.

"Gasp!"

"......!"

Seeing their bare faces without their masks on, Edward took a breath and was astonished. I also reflexively frowned.

The woman's forehead was crushed and bleeding as if it had been pounded several times with something and the man next to him was barely attached with all the claws of his hand holding a bottle of mineral water.

Samael grabbed my chin and grabbed a bottle of water from a woman who approached Samael with no expression on her face due to his ability of mental control.

"Keuk...!"

"Are you thirsty, Talented Han Yi-gyeol?"

Samael's thumb came into my mouth without hesitation. Samael, who was forcing my mouth to open as if he would pull out my teeth at any moment, tilted the bottle of water he was holding.

"Gasp, cough! Uuh... cough!"

Water was pouring recklessly. Water ran down my throat through the forcibly opened mouth and nose.

After being poured with water without any resistance on my knees, I spat out a rough cough as my face was caught.