Chapter 72

As I got into the car, Cheon Sa-yeon, who was sitting next to me, opened his mouth.

"Let's go straight to the hotel."

"Yes."

The driver responded politely and started the car. As I turned my head and looked out the window, I felt a strange touch on my wrist.

When I turned around to see, Cheon Sa-yeon was looking into my wrist and fiddling with it. Why are you so annoying like this today?

"What are you doing?"

"You did a good job with the cufflinks."

"Didn't you send it to me to do it?"

"It doesn't really matter if you don't."

After that, I looked at the cufflinks that were fastened to the sleeves of my shirt. Elaborate and lavishly crafted cufflinks studded with red gemstones gleamed even in the dark.

"I did it because it was given to me, so if you are dissatisfied, please tell me. I'll take it out now."

"No way. It's good that you use it well."

Cheon Sa-yeon answered in a soft voice and ran his fingers down the inside of my wrist that was hidden by the sleeve of my shirt. For some reason, the simple action made the back of my neck shiver and my shoulders shudder.

'What?'

An unknown sensation touched the nape of my neck, but Cheon Sa-yeon did not stop his hand and opened his mouth.

"You've been to the Roheon Guild, so now you want to go to the Jayna Guild. Am I right?"

"Yeah, what... Jayna Guild Gate is also constantly being found anomalies, so it wouldn't be bad if you could go."

"Master Hong Si-ah will also be attending this party, so if you talk well, she will leave a seat for you."

"Aren't you going to help me?"

"Isn't it enough just to take you there? I'd rather gain some weight than that."

Turning the talk. I clicked my tongue and tightened the grip to my caught wrist.

"Stop it. How long will you touch me? All of this is sexual harassment."

"Oh, no. Are you upset?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Cheon Sa-yeon, who smiled bitterly, gently released my wrist and continued the conversation.

"I know what you want, but it's hard for me to put you, an independent, into the Jayna Guild Gate team. I don't know if Jayna wants it in the first place."

As expected, independents are uncomfortable at time like this. I sighed and nodded my head. It reminded me of Hong Si-ah I saw in the novel. I think she had an easygoing personality.

"If you feel sad, you can join the guild now."

"No, thanks."

I have no intention of joining the guild just because of this. I hate it even more if it's under Cheon Sa-yeon.

'When I was hired as a mercenary last time, I should have chosen Jayna instead of Roheon.'

I thought about it for a moment, but I made up my mind. To regret it, the gate anomaly found in Roheon was quite significant. I even found a twisted space and an unidentified pattern.

There is nothing left to regret about the past. Rather, it was much more beneficial to try to talk it out with Hong Si-ah at this party.

"Just don't disturb me. I'll figure it out."

Perhaps my answer was unexpected, Cheon Sa-yeon raised the corner of his mouth slightly with an interesting look.

"Looking forward to it."

"It's here."

Just in time, the car arrived at the hotel. The waiting hotel staff opened the car door.

"Stand close and hold my arm."

Cheon Sa-yeon handed over the coat to the attendant, who followed, bowed his head slightly and whispered to me.

'Even though we are partners, do men enter with their arms crossed?'

I had doubts, but I didn't know anything, so I followed Cheon Sa-yeon's words with the thought of not getting into an accident. As I entered the entrance of the hotel with a slight grip on his arm, a large hall was revealed under a huge chandelier.

"Welcome. I will guide you to the entrance to the party."

One of the staff greeted us politely and guided us to the entrance to the party hall located inside the hall. The door to the party hall splendidly carved in gold opened on both sides, and a party hall with a huge statue in the centre appeared.

"If possible, stay by my side. There are a lot of crazy people."

"Wait, then, when are you going to meet Master Hong Si-ah?"

Cheon Sa-yeon handed me a glass of champagne that was given to him by the staff.

"You have to be careful with the timing. We have a lot of time, so there is no need to rush."

"...don't disturb me, keep your word."

"Of course."

I didn't like the reaction that I was suspicious of everything, but I had no choice but to believe it. I took a sip of champagne and looked around.

'It seems Ha Tae-heon hasn't come yet.'

Ha Tae-heon's face was not seen among the dressed-up people. If I faced Ha Tae-heon, I wondered if it would be okay to pretend to know him.

Even in the situation where Ha Tae-heon said that we knew each other first, there is Cheon Sa-yeon by my side, so if possible...

"Master Cheon Sa-yeon."

While I was thinking about one thing or another, someone approached us. She was a woman with short black hair who made the impression of being sensitive. A woman in a suit with a strong sense of coming to work rather than party attire shook hands with Cheon Sa-yeon briefly.

"I didn't expect it, but I'm surprised you're here."

"That's disappointing. As a master, I am grateful to the management headquarters for hosting the party."

"Hmm. I don't feel the slightest sincerity, but well. Who is this?"

The woman who answered in an indifferent tone turned her gaze to me. There was a strange sense of wit in her demeanour. Cheon Sa-yeon raised one eyebrow slightly and answered in a sluggish tone.

"This is my partner, Talented Han Yi-gyeol."

"Aa. Nice to meet you. My name is Choi Mi-jin, the head of the gate management centre in the management headquarters."

Head of the gate management centre? Choi Mi-jin held her outstretched hand and bowed her head lightly to greet me.

"I'm Han Yi-gyeol."

"I wondered why Master Cheon Sa-yeon, who doesn't like this kind of place, came... Interesting."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. It's a fate that we met like this, and I hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future."

Choi Mi-jin, who smiled brightly at me and Cheon Sa-yeon, said that I would see her soon, and she left. Looking at the back of Choi Mi-jin, who was moving away with her back upright, I gently asked Cheon Sa-yeon.

"Somehow she looks like a big shot..."

"That's true if it's Choi Mi-jin, the head of the centre. Among the executives of the management headquarters, she's even worthwhile."

Contrary to the evaluation, Cheon Sa-yeon's expression didn't look cool. He didn't seem to like Choi Mi-jin, although she's a good character.

'It's just that they don't like each other.'

Choi Mi-jin also had a pretty strong personality, so I don't think she would get along with Cheon Sa-yeon. As I sipped the champagne, kicking my tongue inwardly, the new person approached with a bright smile.

"Iya, Master Cheon Sa-yeon! How long has it been?"

"Master Kwon Ji-hoon (권지훈)."

He was a handsome man with brown hair and drooping eyes. His grin and the dot on his right cheek caught the eye in particular.

"It's been almost two years since I've seen you. How have you been?"

"Sure, it is."

Cheon Sa-yeon smiled slightly in response to his greeting. His facial expressions and gestures were like a model of social life.

"My partner Han Yi-gyeol is a talented person. Master Kwon Ji-hoon, who is usually interested in talented people, may already know this."

As soon as the recent conversation was over, Cheon Sa-yeon lightly wrapped his arms around my shoulder, who was standing next to him. Kwon Ji-hoon's warm brown eyes, reminiscent of chocolate, turned to me.

"Of course. Nice to meet you, Talented Han Yi-gyeol. My name is Kwon Ji-hoon, who manages the Four Seasons (사계) Guild in Busan."

"Yes. Nice to meet you."

"The video with Master Cheon Sa-yeon was really interesting. If there is a chance later, I would like to see you in person."

"Haha..."

I laughed awkwardly at the next sentence. That video...

"It is more surprising than that. Master Cheon Sa-yeon comes to this place."

"The intent is too good to ignore."

"Indeed, everyone is suffering from the gate anomaly. The situation in Busan is not very good either."

Kwon Ji-hoon, who put down his finished glass, asked while holding a new glass of champagne.

"Are there no guilds in Seoul other than Requiem? I haven't seen Roheon or Jayna Guild Master yet. Blun, well, even if he doesn't come, it's understandable."

"Well. I don't know. We didn't really communicate with each other."

"The meeting will begin soon... uh."

That was then. The door to the party hall, which had never been opened since me and Cheon Sa-yeon came in, opened, and a pair of man and woman dressed in black suits walked in. Roheon Guild Master Lee Joo-ha and Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon.

Ha Tae-heon, who was dressed neatly with his bangs turned over and no accessories, and Lee Joo-ha, a well-groomed beauty with black straight hair that fell down to her waist, looked great on anyone.

Lee Joo-ha, who was escorted by Ha Tae-heon, immediately walked over to Choi Mi-jin and shook hands. It was far away so I couldn't hear the conversation, but the bright smiles on each other's faces didn't look bad.

"The person who came in with Lee Joo-ha is Ha Tae-heon. Oh, should I call him Deputy Master now?"

I, who had been looking at Ha Tae-heon and Lee Joo-ha in disbelief, came to my senses and quickly turned my attention to Kwon Ji-hoon's words. Even though I expected to meet, I started to get a little nervous when I actually saw Ha Tae-heon.

'Somehow, is it because it's the first time we've met at a place where there's Cheon Sa-yeon...'

I drank the remaining champagne to calm myself down.

"Hm, hm. We will provide you with instructions."

Choi Mi-jin, standing on the podium in front of the party, looked around the inside and spoke into the microphone.

"We'll start the gate progress briefing in ten minutes. Participants are requested to be seated at tables marked by region."

After that, I swallowed dry saliva. So do I have to sit at the same table with Roheon?

"Oh, no. I should get going now. Enjoy the rest of your time, you two."

Kwon Ji-hoon, who heard the guide, left to gather with the local masters. I asked Cheon Sa-yeon, watching the people murmuring to their seats.

"...do I have to sit with you?"

"You're asking the obvious thing."

Cheon Sa-yeon looked at me with a smile.

"Why? Is there any problem?"

Is there a problem? I muttered my mouth and finally turned my head without saying anything. Well, on the surface, there's no problem. It's just me who's the one being uncomfortable.

"Then shall we go? Our table is over there."

"Oh, no. Jayna guild hadn't come yet. Even if we go a little slower..."

Let go of me, you bastard! Cheon Sa-yeon strode towards the table while pulling my shoulder and hugging me. I tried to give strength to my legs, but it was just dragging me along in a funny way.

"...ah."

Ha Tae-heon and Lee Joo-ha, who were coming to the table just like us, made eye contact. Cheon Sa-yeon, who noticed that Lee Joo-ha's expression hardened slightly, greeted her with a soft voice.

"It's been a while, Master Lee Joo-ha."

"...that's right, Master Cheon Sa-yeon."

Lee Joo-ha struggled to answer in a shaky voice.