Chapter 195

Yoo Ju had been chasing after the group to join them after some time had passed since she took down an Executive Member of the Execution Society.

‘There’s no time. Please… please…!’

She was using all her strength and magic power in her lower body without holding back.

Memories from the second round, not the first, flashed through Yoo Ju’s mind.

From the time she met Yoon Seong in the tutorial…

To finally receiving his confession after many twists and turns.

When Yoon Seong promised to confess something to her, she felt as if she had the whole world.

No, even having the whole world wouldn’t compare to that feeling. Without him, the world would be meaningless.

Strangely, his confession was nothing like what she had imagined, but still…

‘The connection from the first round remains.’

He also remembered the first round. Not exactly firsthand, but it was still a huge relief.

Until then, she had been haunted by the thought that the first round, which only she remembered, might be meaningless, like an illusion.

But because Yoon Seong remembered, everything she had gone through had meaning.

Even though he tried to push her away with harsh words, she let go of her pride and clung to him, managing to stay connected.

Letting go of her pride was nothing when it came to him.

If she could stay connected to Yoon Seong, if she could be his, she would gladly let go of her pride.

She was fully prepared to change herself to fit his tastes—his preferred style, tone, and actions.

There was only one thing she wanted.

As long as he didn’t push her away, she could take the time to fill his heart with the woman named Yoo Ju.

‘Wi Ho-yeon.’

The problem was Wi Ho-yeon… a woman she hadn’t anticipated, who moved faster than she did.

‘My mistake.’

She had overlooked the fact that Yoon Seong could attract other women. It was her fault for assigning a woman to his guard role.

She was insanely jealous that he had gotten involved with Wi Ho-yeon first. Especially since she had only managed to hold him after going through so much and returning.

Perhaps that was why, during their relationship, she had asked him to treat her like Wi Ho-yeon.

She wanted to show Yoon Seong that she could make him feel even better than Wi Ho-yeon.

She wanted him to know that she could handle everything Wi Ho-yeon had done for him and everything he had done to her.

‘It’s okay, I’m still his official girlfriend.’

The position of Yoon Seong’s official girlfriend was hers.

‘Everything was perfect, so why… why…’

She couldn’t understand why things always turned out this way.

‘Always…!’

Thud.

While running and lost in thought, Yoo Ju suddenly stopped.

Because she faintly sensed the presence and voices of others.

Carefully moving toward the source of the presence, she realized it wasn’t her group but others.

Peeking from a distance, she saw outlaws operating under the Execution Society.

‘What are they doing?’

From her angle, she could only see their backs.

“Damn, it’s been a while since I’ve handled a corpse. What the hell did this guy do to get a direct order from above?”

“Dunno, heard this guy caused the Execution Society a huge loss.”

“Really? Must’ve really pissed someone off.”

Hearing this, Yoo Ju’s heart started racing.

Before she knew it, she was right next to the outlaws.

“Huh? What the?”

The outlaws were startled by the sudden appearance of a woman beside them.

“W-who the hell are you?”

Yoo Ju didn’t hear them. Her eyes were fixed on the body they had dumped on the ground.

Thud.

Yoo Ju collapsed to her knees. The body in front of her… was someone she knew.

“W-what the? What’s this chick doing?”

The outlaws drew their weapons and aimed at Yoo Ju, but she didn’t react.

“Ah…”

‘Am I dreaming?’

Yoo Ju couldn’t accept the reality before her.

******

After sending Ruska away, I managed to meet one of the group members.

“You…!”

“Haha…”

Grabbing –

Yoon Yeon approached me and grabbed my collar.

“You crazy bastard…! What the hell were you thinking…!”

‘…She’s mad. Well, it’d be abnormal if she wasn’t.’

Judging by the absence of Wi Ho-yeon and Gwi Chang, it seemed they had already moved the others and came looking for me separately.

“…Sorry.”

At my apology, Yoon Yeon suppressed her boiling emotions and spoke.

“Ha… hoo… Fine, you’re safe, so I’ll let it slide. But… what the hell was that? You…”

At least rolling on the ground and messing up my hair paid off. If I looked fine, it would’ve been suspicious.

“I barely got out. But Yeon noona…”

‘Wow… almost no injuries.’

Looks like that assassin guy had his neck snapped without much resistance.

Yoon Yeon’s clothes were stained with blood, but it wasn’t hers—it was someone else’s.

“Don’t ask stupid questions. We came to save you, you damn fool.”

“……”

“Are you insane? What the hell were you thinking? Do you have no sense of danger? Why would you act so recklessly alone? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

For a moment, I flinched at Yoon Yeon’s glare. It was the first time I’d seen her this angry since the spy incident.

“Uh…”

“If you’re going to make excuses, shut up.”

‘What… if you’re not going to let me talk, what am I supposed to do?’

“…Uh, what about the others? You didn’t come alone, right?”

“Ha, damn… The others are searching elsewhere. And… the Sword Monarch is seriously injured and receiving treatment.”

“…Ho-yeon?”

I already knew Wi Ho-yeon’s condition, but I had to act like I didn’t.

“She’s not in critical condition. But she can’t move right now.”

“…That’s a relief.”

At my words, Yoon Yeon’s face twisted.

“…Relief? You think this situation is a relief?”





“What the hell, why don’t you just say it’s a relief?”

I could feel the strength in the hand gripping my collar, and I couldn’t help but be startled for a moment.

“Ugh…!”

“I’m a damn patient, a patient.”

When I pretended to be in pain, she let go of my collar.

“Ah, are you okay?”

“Huh, so this is why people fake being sick?”

I felt like I understood the psychology of those who fake illnesses.

“Ugh…”

Seeing Yoon Yeon fidgeting like this for the first time, I had to struggle to suppress the automatic smile creeping up on my face.

“Hey… hey, just carry me.”

“Huh? That’s a bit…”

Just as I thought I might have overreacted, my body was forcibly lifted.

“Wait… wait a minute!”

“We’ll move like this, so bear with the pain. It’ll be quick.”

“Damn, this is embarrassing.”

…Since I wasn’t being carried, Yoon Yeon picked me up in a princess carry and started walking.

After a while, I decided it was better to be carried on the back than in a princess carry.

Some time after being carried, we met up with the rest of the group.

“Oppa!”

“Hyung!”

Starting with the Eternity Clan members.

“You…!”

Even Ha Yu-ri.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I couldn’t say that, so I just gave a vague response.

“I’m fine. It’s just a bruise at most.”

Ha Yu-ri sighed in relief at my answer. And then…

“Ah, do you remember me…”

“…Ha Yul.”

I don’t know why she came to save me, but I couldn’t pretend not to know her.

“Of course, I remember. Thanks for coming to save me.”

“…Yes, I’m glad you’re safe.”

‘She’s much quieter compared to her sister.’

But the problem right now wasn’t Ha Yul.

“…Where’s Ho-yeon?”

I heard her life wasn’t in danger, but since she suffered because of me, I wanted to check her condition myself.

“Ah, hyung, don’t worry too much. She’s regained consciousness…”

While Hyeon-jin was speaking, Wi Ho-yeon came into view.

She was approaching me, supported by Song Ha-eun.

“…Lee Yun-seong, I’m glad you’re safe.”

‘…This makes me feel guilty.’

Seeing me safe, Wi Ho-yeon looked like she was about to cry. From my perspective, who hadn’t gone through any hardship, it was natural to feel a pang of conscience.

“Ho-yeon, you’ve been through a lot.”

“…Yes.”

She seemed to have something to say, but after glancing around, Wi Ho-yeon swallowed her words.

‘Maybe she has something to say only when we’re alone.’

Anyway, I confirmed Wi Ho-yeon’s condition with my own eyes, and fortunately, no one in the group was seriously injured.

I had prepared for the worst, but there was still a possibility someone could get hurt.

‘But… where is Yoo Ju?’

If Yoo Ju had been here, she would have rushed to me first.

‘Has she not joined yet?’

Given the time that had passed since I dealt with those two, Yoo Ju should have met the group before me.

‘Or maybe she’s looking for me separately.’

To find out where Yoo Ju was, I connected my vision with the chimera again. The shadow spirit was still attached to Yoo Ju.

‘What the hell.’

The problem was that what I was seeing was bizarre.

‘What the… what’s going on? Damn, what is this?’

Yoo Ju’s eyes had no focus. She was brutally killing outlaws she had encountered somewhere.

‘Crazy… crazy…!’

I knew immediately. The situation was completely messed up.

For some reason, Yoo Ju seemed to have completely lost her sanity. She was never this cruel, no matter how angry she got.

Sure, she could be ruthless to those who messed with me, but even that was within a certain level of reason.

‘What is this?’

At least, she wasn’t as brutal as she looked now. Seeing her drenched in blood from head to toe, she looked like a demon straight out of a story.

She was emitting a golden aura, but it didn’t feel brave or holy. She looked more like a villain than a hero.

‘Why is she like this… what happened?’

Even the surviving outlaws were trembling and wetting themselves.

Her tear-filled, unfocused eyes showed the depth of her despair.

‘Damn it!’

I had to meet Yoo Ju quickly. Anyone with half a brain would know we couldn’t leave her in that state.

“…Damn it!”

“…Lee Yun-seong?”

Wi Ho-yeon looked puzzled as I suddenly cursed.

Not just Wi Ho-yeon, but the others were also taken aback by my sudden change in attitude.

“Right now… ah.”

‘Not Wi Ho-yeon.’

She was injured. I needed to move quickly with those who were in good condition and had strong military power.

“Yoon Yeon, Ha Yu-ri, Charis, and Jae-hyo, follow me. We need to move urgently. The rest of you, wait here.”

“What are you… hey, what are you talking about?”

Yoon Yeon asked what I was talking about, but there was no time to explain.

“Right now, there’s no time to explain! Hurry!”

I had to calm Yoo Ju down as quickly as possible.