Chapter 349

"Sangyoon-ssi. We don't have to use Koo Hui-seo's methods, but we shouldn't back down just because we might commit cruel acts. If necessary, we can make Bae Jaemin suffer Koo Kyungman's fate. Rather, perhaps we should..."

"......"

"I get it, now. Even Moon Issak, who wasn't our direct enemy, tried to use me as soon as he saw an opportunity."

"......"

"So, perhaps the fact that I showed vulnerability was the real problem here..." If necessary, I needed to be cruel and have the power to retaliate. If I had those traits, could Moon Issak have done what he did to me?

Even if Koo Hui-seo were to be criticized by all others for making Koo Kyungman unable to retaliate or resist, at least he was able to protect his position from Koo Kyungman's grasp.

And I had a lot to protect compared to Koo Hui-seo. Instead of disdainfully dismissing his cruel methods as unethical, I should have seriously considered similar measures. I felt nauseous at my own foolishness.

However, Kim Sangyoon looked as if he wanted to draw a different opinion from my argument, "That's..."

When he saw the tears in my eyes, he closed his mouth. He quickly became restless and grabbed my shoulders, "By any chance... While I was asleep, did Moon Issak...?"

"......"

He stared at my tightly shut lips, and his face contorted with distress. But, he didn't ask further questions and slowly released his grip.

With a pained expression, Kim Sangyoon spoke to me as gently as he could, "I understand. I know what you mean. So..."

"......"

"I won't judge, so you don't need to persuade me. I was always going to do as Lee-kyung-nim asked, anyway. Also, when I meet that bastard Moon Issak again, I'll rip him apart. Well...you might not believe me, but..." At the end, Kim Sangyoon trailed off and bit his lips. Perhaps he was thinking about his own limitations. Even if he saw Moon Issak right now, it would be too hard for the Warrior to overpower him.

Even though he sacrificed his life span, he failed to gain a perfect advantage against Bae Jaemin and was pathetically defeated when the Priest used [Divine Descent].

I wanted to alleviate the sense of shame on Kim Sangyoon's face, but I also coldly judged that I needed to mentally arm him in advance. If this sense of inferiority could spur him to become stronger, then Kim Sangyoon wouldn't recklessly burn away his life.

So, in the end, I didn't tell him 'You're okay as you are.' Consolation would only soften the atmosphere; such words held no real power.

Therefore, a deep silence settled between us.

Swish-

"...Are you finished with your conversation?" Koo Hui-seo emerged from behind the curtain with a strangely flushed face. Though he seemed to have overheard our conversation, his countenance remained unchanged.

And, it was Kim Sangyoon-and not me-that responded to those words, "Yes. I... My screams earlier... Anyway, I'm sorry."

"Ahhh... That's fine...? Normally, when people see Kyungman-ie for the first time, they pass out. I don't know how many times I've had to change his caretaker..."

"......" Kim Sangyoon nodded without even lifting an eyebrow. And finally, after seeing the determined expression on his face, I was able to release a deep sigh.

Koo Hui-seo closed the bed curtain carefully and approached us. The shadow of his snake-like tentacle tail trailing behind him flowed like my complicated emotions. The complicatedly twisted tentacles-reflecting my heart's current state-disappeared when I met his eyes. "Koo Hui-seo-ssi."

"Ye~es?"

"Koo Kyungman... how much longer will it take?"

"About a week?"

"..Then, afterwards... It's... going to be born?"

"Yes... I think it wants to come out now, actually. Maybe it's because it has absorbed almost all the nutrients that can be extracted from its mother..."

"......"

"Perhaps it inherited its impatient temperament from its mother...?"

I observed his strange cheer before making a small request, "...That's great. Could you perhaps get me a stamina recovery potion?"

"Understood." Koo Hui-seo slowly nodded, opened his inventory, and took out several gilded potions. I handed one of them to Kim Sangyoon. He didn't refuse, and I drank the potion after he did.

And, as I drank, I thought...

...First, I felt the need to confirm Koo Kyungman's end with all the servants. Since an unpredictable entity was about to be born from Koo Kyungman's abdomen, I may need to react or take action with the servants.

Therefore, I needed to urgently restore my stamina until I was well enough to at least summon Seo Dawon.

* * *

"......"

I knew before I opened my eyes... the owner of the cool body temperature. I ignored the goosebumps along my skin and gently woke myself in his cold arms. Then, I embraced Seo Dawon firmly.

"Why...Did you show up so late?" I asked.

"I'm sorry."

I buried my head in his chest and scolded him, though my words didn't carry any heat. Seo Dawon just smiled and ruffled my hair.

I sniffed the Mage to my heart's content as I rubbed my face against his chest. Even though he was merely a soul without a fully formed body, the Mage exuded a unique fragrance...though I don't fully remember when that started to be the case. After savoring his bitter and elegant aroma for a time, I slowly lifted my head. "What about the other servants?"

"They're waiting outside the door."

"...So, you managed to kick them out, huh?"

"If they had any tact, they should have left on their own." With that said, Seo Dawon placed the tip of my left ring finger in his mouth. He gave it a small bite; even now, I couldn't feel much sensation in that finger.

Actually, I tried to treat my left hand in any way I could while recovering my stamina. Because someone of the priest class had intentionally damaged it and then reattached it several times, the injury had some resistance to skills and healing spells, rendering potions and other healing abilities ineffective. In other words, I wouldn't be able to use my left hand freely from now on.

I had no idea if Seo Dawon was around at the time of my diagnosis. But, it seemed like he already knew, so I didn't avoid the way his lips groped my hand.

Seo Dawon finally kissed his mark on my left ring finger before lowering his eyes. I stroked the Mage's forehead with my right hand. Then, I began to talk about something I had on my mind ever since I had received my diagnosis, "I've been thinking, Dawon-ah."

"Yeah."

"I... was able to endure and hold on for much longer than I expected. Moon Issak was being foolishly greedy, but... Anyway, I managed to protect our scenario, right? Furthermore, he'll live like a mentally challenged idiot from now on..."

"......"

Sometimes, you needed to pinpoint moments of psychological victory. Despite the painful memories of defeat and humiliation... one could say I'd come out of this ordeal in a more advantageous position compared to my opponent. Even though one of my hands had become a bit disobedient, I was still better off than Moon Issak, who had lost control of his brain.

However, Seo Dawon remained silent. He closed his eyes and opened them once more, as if he were trying to catch his breath. Then, he calmly said, "Lee-kyung-ah. You weren't hurt because you were 'weak.'"

Despite his gentle tone, I couldn't help but gasp as if I had been stabbed. But Dawon-ie's words didn't end there. "You were originally in a position to command us as our summoner, but that doesn't mean you're weak and need protection."

"......"

"Also, you've won in the end. You've managed to escape on your own without the need for help from your servants. So..."

"......"

"You've won again-and we've failed to assist you. You probably won't punish me because you're so generous, but please... Don't think poorly of yourself." Seo Dawon tilted his head towards my wide-open mouth.

After a brief kiss, the Mage rose from his seat before I could hold onto him. I hurriedly followed him, but Dawon-ie had already reached the door. "Wait, I...!"

I rushed to the door, wanting to alleviate some of his guilt, but Dawon-ie didn't wait and opened it.

Outside the room, darkness engulfed everything; there wasn't even a hint of light. Yet, within that darkness, several pairs of glowing red eyes were waiting for me.

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TL: T_T Noo Seo Dawon does feel guilty.

Also, Kim Sangyoon wanted to comfort Lee-kyung so badly. I know it's the trauma, but Lee-kyung! Stop victim-blaming yourself! You did well!