There was a time when I was utterly disenchanted with human relationships.
At work, I had to deal with a bald, grumpy section chief who constantly nagged and acted like a know-it-all, and when I got home, I had to console my unemployed girlfriend who just lounged around doing nothing.
Whenever I had to visit my hometown for holidays, I would sigh deeply from morning on.
“When are you going to get married? You’ll be thirty soon—have you saved up 100 million won yet? Why don’t you work for a better company instead of a small business?”
I knew they were only trying to help me, but even so, I dreaded hearing their words in person.
Sometimes, messages or text feel like a much better medium for communication than talking face-to-face, which always felt comparatively more burdensome.
I don’t know about others, but at least I always felt that way. That’s why I envied those who were lively and positive, the powerful elites who could live without financial worries and the skilled employees at prestigious companies.
So, as Mate Daylight in my second life, I decided to live more actively and positively than I had before.
I accumulated funds quickly by traveling through various dungeons and trained hard enough to reach the position of Deputy in the Magic Division, a role befitting someone traveling with Yuren Star Dust.
Although it was far busier and harder than my past life as a salaryman, it was tolerable.
Not only did my efforts expand my opportunities to spend time with the heroines…
“Thanks to you. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Saving my father, reviving our family name… It’s all because of you.”
If the heroines were happy, I was willing to overwork my body endlessly.
Judith’s complicated family affairs, Muse’s revolution to oust the monarchy, Xyah’s corruption, and the perspective of Shirai—I solved all of them single-handedly.
Of course, for something as large as the revolution, I received help from many people because the scope was enormous.
With the indestructible Xyah, Shirai who could command the entirety of the Espera Sect, the legendary genius mage Alphin the Herta, and Judith, the daughter of the Moon Dust Dukedom—I worked alongside each of them.
And finally, there was Nipia, the only member of the royal family I could reach within my limited sphere of influence.
Through my own efforts, I evolved from a one-off character into someone who could hold their own as a supporting role. In particular, during the battle with Ashura, I faced death alongside the heroines, building bonds of friendship, trust, and countless emotions with them.
That was why I had always regarded them as comrades. I believed without a doubt that they would rush to my aid whenever I encountered difficulties.
We had faced life and death together. They were precious connections I cherished more than anyone else.
Even when Judith rejected me, my trust in them remained unshaken—until now. Shirai’s softly spoken words are breaking that unwavering trust for the first time in this life.
“If you abandon me, I’ll tell them everything—the secrets of the Daylight Church only I know.”
I had always tried to approach the heroines with positivity.
No, even without making an effort, my affection for the heroines was so overwhelming that being cold to them was initially impossible.
I always prioritized their feelings over mine and constantly treated them with a positive attitude, never showing any sign of hardship.
“What do you mean by that?”
For a moment, my voice dropped so seriously that even I was taken aback—how much more so for the people around me.
From the moment Shirai joined us, the atmosphere in the office was already grave, but it worsened further with just one sentence from me.
It’s strange, but the already tense atmosphere grew even colder as if an air conditioner had been turned on—a palpable, chilling cold seeped through my skin.
“If you want to, go ahead and say it.”
“A-Are you serious…?”
Shirai, seemingly alarmed, stammered, clutching tightly onto my right arm. She reopened her eyes too, and the previous unsettling chill was gone.
The usual kind and pure Shirai.
Her long, beautiful eyelashes stood out because she always walked with her eyes closed. Even in situations where I would’ve lost my temper, seeing Shirai’s lovely face invariably calmed me down and brought peace to my heart.
She was so beautiful, so angelic that everyone called her the Blind Angel.
But now, despite looking at Shirai’s face, I feel nothing.
I want to avoid causing her harm, so I unconsciously distanced myself, allowing the pent-up resentment I had suppressed to manifest in another form.
“Go ahead, you can say that I’m a cult leader if you want.”
The moment I impulsively blurted out, Shirai froze, unable to move even a finger, her face filled with regret.
*
A chilling, eerie sensation, as if standing barefoot on thin ice.
Could this also be part of Muse’s scheme?
Even Muse’s violet irises were trembling slightly like everyone else, which is not common.
It’s incredibly rare to see Muse flustered in front of others.
No one could bring themselves to speak, and the room was filled with an oppressive silence.
I quickly composed my thoughts.
In the worst-case scenario, if everyone here sides with Muse, what should I do first? Comparing the remaining characters I haven’t yet recruited with the current four heroines present.
There’s a chance of success if both Alphin the Herta and Princess Nipia can fully support me.
After making a rough calculation, I gently removed Shirai’s hand from my right arm.
“Muse, I understand what you’re thinking.”
I straightened my shirt, tie, and suit, stood up from the sofa.
Because I’d been sitting for too long, I felt stiff all over from my shoulders to my toes.
I stretched my arms into a cross for a light stretch. Then, after fully pulling and extending my limbs, I finally stretched one last time and prepared to move.
My footsteps led me to the sofa where Xyah was sitting.
I leaned against the backrest, facing Xyah, who wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“Xyah.”
Her scraggly robe, her petite stature.
Usually, at this age, the scent of shampoo and perfume lingers pleasantly on girls’ hair.
However, Xyah was different. The silver hair flowing beneath the robe smelled natural.
Unlike the artificial scents of shampoo, conditioner or body wash, it felt like taking a deep breath of natural forest air.
“Are you thinking about it a lot?”
Xyah turned her body 90 degrees to face me but still couldn’t look me in the eye. Instead, she clutched her robe tightly.
“Muse mentioned earlier that I used you.”
The revolution hasn’t even begun. There’s still plenty of opportunity for reconciliation.
For instance, I could manipulate her with sweet words by exploiting her affection for me.
Of course, I would never do such a thing.
What I truly desire is the happiness of the heroines. I do not want to see them swaying in different directions because of mere romantic feelings, even if I die trying.
“I admit part of what she said is true.”
Xyah’s body flinched. Her complexion darkened.
She probably didn’t expect to hear the word ‘used’ from me.
I wanted to tell her something. You need to listen to the whole thing, especially in Korean.
“So now it’s your turn to choose—whose side will you stand on, based on your own will?”
I’ve always hoped that Xyah would live freely, without being caught up in unnecessary things.
I wanted her, with her innocence as natural as her silver hair, to showcase her freedom in a pure environment far from anything tainted.
“It’s okay even if you don’t choose a side. You might think, ‘this has nothing to do with me, so I’ll ignore it.’ In the end, choosing is always about following your own will.”
That’s right.
Your own will.
“Alright,” Xyah, with her own will, finally looked me in the eye, smiled slightly, and nodded.
“Have you been sneaking glances at my wrist this whole time?”
The memory of her shooting an arrow at my wrist yesterday resurfaced, and her expression darkened.
When I see her expression change so easily by a single word from me, I feel a bit of dissonance. Despite doing nothing special, it seems she holds me in high regard.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me.”
Xyah sighed in relief the moment I said I’m fine.
‘Still feels good to get that off my chest.’
Having said what needed to be said, all that was left was to escape this tedious office.
I got up from the sofa, walking steadily toward the door.
I could pull the handle and leave the office any moment.
Had Shirai not grabbed my wrist.
“I’m sorry.”
I had already made it to the door, handle in hand. Through the crack, I could see a glimpse of the female staff member who supported Shirai earlier.
All I had to do was walk out.
Shirai’s grip wasn’t strong enough to stop me easily.
But her desperate refusal to let go made me hesitate for a moment.
“Sorry… I never meant to… I must’ve gone crazy for a moment.”
Shirai, with a voice that sounded like she was about to burst into tears and filled with sorrow despite our audience, whispered it to me. Listening filled me with pity.
“Are… are we still going to travel together…?”
As always, I answered Shirai’s question the same way.
To avoid giving rise to any expectation or disappointment, however slight.
This time again, the answer was the same.
“I don’t know.”
I shook off Shirai’s hand and left the office.
The outside air felt refreshing.
Even if inside, I was not feeling the same way.
