Chapter 136

It had been a while since I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

I sat up, my head slightly throbbing.

“You’re awake?”

Beside me, Baeksan was looking at me with a bored expression.

I had used up almost all my Aura and borrowed Ji-eun’s power to shoot again.

My body, feeling the limits as all the remaining Aura was drained, had forcibly shut down my consciousness.

I let out a hollow laugh, thinking about how I had boasted loudly to Ji-eun only to faint afterward.

How embarrassing.

“What about the mission?”

“It’s resolved. The Iceland Hunters came, and the Spirit Lord explained everything.”

Listening to Baeksan, I looked outside and saw the snowy landscape of Iceland.

It seemed we were in an Icelandic hospital.

Since I had just collapsed from exhaustion, no special treatment was needed, which was a relief.

“And a Spirit Master named Jeroni also came.”

“Ah, because of Sa-ran.”

He must have come late after realizing his disciple had disappeared.

He said he was a contractor of the Spirit King.

Since Ji-eun is tied to the next Spirit King, Gold Piece, I thought it might be good to talk to him.

“More importantly, that charger.”

“Don’t call her a charger.”

When I glared at Baeksan for calling Ji-eun a charger, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, that Ji-eun girl. I’ve been thinking, this incident might be related to your sister’s affairs.”

“What, Ji-eun?”

I looked at Baeksan with surprised eyes.

“But Ji-eun is…”

“The Spirit Lord confirmed it. Her soul itself is mixed with the next Spirit King. Her Hunter rank will soon be meaningless.”

Hearing that, I pursed my lips.

While I welcomed Ji-eun’s growth, I couldn’t help but worry.

“Isn’t it a good thing? Considering future events, getting stronger is much better.”

Baeksan spoke as if thinking about his own world, and I reluctantly nodded.

“So, you’re saying Ji-eun is also part of the puzzle related to my sister?”

“It’s just a guess, but there seems to be one connection.”

Baeksan’s eyes reached the window.

Outside, the Tower of Apocalypse stood tall in the sky.

“With you, Ji-eun, and Kang Mari, maybe…”

Muttering to himself, Baeksan then turned to look at me.

“Maybe it’s better to find Kang Mari. I’m getting frustrated not knowing what she’s up to.”

Hearing that, I scratched my head.

“I want to too, but…”

Even Seolhyang, who should be an expert in such searches, hasn’t found her yet.

“Well, more importantly, you have something to resolve first.”

At that moment, I felt a chilly aura as Baeksan looked towards the door.

Following that aura, I turned my head and saw the female members through the slightly open door.

From Si-ho at the bottom to Ji-eun, Yoo Woo-jung, and even Eva noona.

They were all silently watching me.

Hmm, time to get scolded.

I decided to quietly accept my fate.

After scolding Ha-chan together for overdoing it,

Si-ho and Ji-eun were walking on the snow.

Although Ha-chan had woken up, he needed to rest for the day, so he was resting in the hospital room.

An awkward atmosphere flowed between the two.

They both knew who it was because of.

“Si-ho.”

Ji-eun was the first to break the awkward atmosphere.

The reason they came out was because Si-ho had called Ji-eun.

So when Ji-eun called Si-ho, Si-ho turned to look at her.

Seeing Si-ho, who still looked like a doll, Ji-eun stopped walking.

“Why did you want to talk alone?”

When Ji-eun asked, Si-ho remained silent for a moment before opening her cherry-like lips.

“Ji-eun, you like the Manager, don’t you?”

That was something both of them knew very well.

Both of them liked the same person.

Even if the process wasn’t the same, the fact that they liked him was certain for both.

So when Si-ho asked, Ji-eun nodded.

It was a feeling she had acknowledged long ago.

“Si-ho, you like Ha-chan oppa too, right?”

“Yes, I like him the most in the world. The Manager is Si-ho’s prince.”

Hearing Si-ho’s firm words, Ji-eun thought that this must be what a girl in love looks like.

Si-ho in love was more beautiful than anyone.

So Ha-chan must have gradually fallen for her.

“…If you came to tell me to give up because you like Ha-chan oppa…”

When Ji-eun hesitantly spoke, Si-ho shook her head.

“I won’t say that.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, because the Manager comes first for Si-ho.”

Si-ho’s world revolved around Ha-chan.

Feeling that, Ji-eun was choosing her words when Si-ho spoke.

“Ji-eun, you have no intention of giving up on the Manager either, right?”

“…Right. I really like Ha-chan oppa.”

Ji-eun blushed and honestly confessed her feelings.

Just thinking about Ha-chan made her heart race. This feeling was something she would never get again, so it was precious.

So she couldn’t give up.

Even though she had been rejected once, Ji-eun’s feelings weren’t so shallow as to be extinguished by that.

‘Ha-chan oppa said he would think more seriously about my confession.’

Ha-chan had always taken her feelings seriously.

Ji-eun knew that, which made her like him even more.

And the memory of him saving her today was something she would never forget.

Even now, she kept thinking about his embrace.

“So I came out to tell you, Ji-eun.”

At that moment, Si-ho spoke.

When Ji-eun looked at Si-ho again, Si-ho was looking at the sky.

Beside the winter moon, the aurora was shimmering.

Looking at that beautiful scene, Si-ho said,

“There are others besides Ji-eun and Si-ho who like the Manager.”

Hearing that, Ji-eun opened her mouth.

“Woojung unnie?”

At first, seeing her aggressively pursuing Ha-chan, Ji-eun didn’t pay much attention to her.

Even Ha-chan was always indifferent to her advances.

But lately, Ji-eun knew that she had become sincere.

Her actions were becoming more intense, but Yoo Woo-jung also genuinely liked Ha-chan.

“I mean people.”

And Si-ho didn’t even consider Yoo Woo-jung as a person.

It was a bit harsh, but knowing Si-ho’s coldness except towards Ha-chan, Ji-eun didn’t say anything.

“…Then Sehee unnie?”

Ji-eun thought of Sehee, whom she had recently met.

She was strikingly beautiful, even to Ji-eun.

With natural blonde hair, blue eyes, and the long limbs typical of foreigners, she was enviable as a fellow woman.

And the way Sehee looked at Ha-chan felt very affectionate.

Ji-eun knew that although she didn’t express her feelings to Ha-chan, she often looked at him longingly.

Moreover, she was an adult.

She was older enough for Ha-chan to call her noona.

The charm of an adult was something Ji-eun couldn’t possess now.

“She’s there too, but.”

But Si-ho also shook her head.

“There are two really dangerous unnie.”

And Si-ho’s small fists clenched tightly.

Seeing Si-ho’s eyes burn like this for the first time, Ji-eun made a surprised face.

“Two unnie?”

“Shin Sora unnie and Baekseolhyang unnie.”

Si-ho explained about Seolhyang and Ayu.

After hearing all that, Ji-eun’s face turned pale.

Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun, the strongest in the world.

Baekseolhyang, the Iron-blooded Empress and head of the World Returner Association.

The fact that these two, the strongest in power and status, passionately liked Ha-chan made Ji-eun purse her lips.

Why would such people like Ha-chan?

‘No, because it’s Ha-chan oppa.’

Surely, they must have gotten involved with him in some way.

The person she liked the most was the coolest person in the world, so it was impossible for anyone not to fall for him.

Already deeply infatuated, Ji-eun had already accepted it.

At the same time, she fidgeted with her hands and sighed.

“…I don’t have much to boast about except learning cooking and housework.”

Wondering if she could look good to Ha-chan, Ji-eun had been diligently learning housework from her mother recently.

So, not being able to think of any other strengths, Ji-eun became timid, and Si-ho slightly pressed her lips.

“Housework…”

I should study that.

Si-ho made that resolution to herself and continued speaking.

“And both of them must have confessed.”

“Ugh.”

Ji-eun’s face showed disappointment.

If those two had confessed, had her confession been rejected?

Suddenly, her heart began to ache.

“…Are you okay, Si-ho?”

With such great people confessing and pursuing Ha-chan, Ji-eun asked Si-ho if she was worried.

Si-ho nodded.

“Yes, we’ve already compromised.”

“Compromised?”

Hearing that, Ji-eun’s eyes widened.

She didn’t understand what kind of compromise they had made.

“We agreed that becoming the Manager’s wife together wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Huh, huh?”

Ji-eun doubted her ears.

She couldn’t understand what this doll-like little girl was saying.

Seeing Ji-eun’s dumbfounded expression, Si-ho continued.

“As long as the Manager is happy, the two unnie and Si-ho don’t mind.”

“Is, is that really okay? Did Ha-chan oppa accept that?”

Ji-eun, who couldn’t accept it by common sense, asked.

“The two unnie must have already pushed it.”

Seeing Ha-chan’s recent actions, Si-ho guessed.

Surely, both of them must have already told Ha-chan about their decision.

Given Ha-chan’s personality, he must have reluctantly accepted it.

With them liking him so much and even compromising, Ha-chan couldn’t refuse.

“…Ha-chan oppa, you’ve been through a lot.”

Ji-eun began to feel a bit sorry for Ha-chan.

“Why are you telling me this, Si-ho?”

Then Ji-eun asked Si-ho with curiosity.

Si-ho looked at Ji-eun and told her the reason she had shared this story today.

“You said you wouldn’t give up either.”

“…Yes.”

“Si-ho thinks Ji-eun is okay.”

Ji-eun’s eyes blinked once.

And she realized that Si-ho saw her as the same as the two unnie.

Was it strange to feel happy about that?

On the other hand, Ji-eun was secretly feeling hopeful.

If she couldn’t be chosen, wouldn’t it be okay to stay by Ha-chan’s side in any way?

Given Ha-chan’s personality, he would surely love anyone to the best of his ability.

Ji-eun imagined living with Ha-chan and Si-ho, setting aside the two unnie.

Waking up in the morning, facing Ha-chan, and being embraced by him, Ha-chan would surely pat her head.

Then, after waking up, they would kiss, and in the morning, again, well, you know.

“Huuu.”

Ji-eun covered her bright red face with her hands.

The cold of Iceland couldn’t reduce the heat coming from her face.

As Si-ho stared at her, Ji-eun tried to hide her face and quietly said,

“…It seems nice.”

In the end, Ji-eun had completely fallen for it.