Chapter 204

“Master… I found out where Lee Yun-seong might have gone. So…”

When Wi Ho-yeon brought up the topic about me, Yoo Ju turned her head and reacted.

“…Huh?”

“Clan Master…”

“…What do you mean, where did he go?”

‘Right, I need to be found, huh? Shouldn’t they at least contact me?’

“…After thinking about where Lee Yun-seong might have taken refuge, two places seem likely. He’s probably either with the Myth Clan or the Mardan Clan.”

‘Good job, that’s right.’

I felt like praising Wi Ho-yeon for quickly figuring out where I might be.

“Then, um…”

“…It would be best to contact both clans.”

“But… what if… what if…”

“……”

“What if he’s already decided to transfer clans? I…”

“Clan Master, for now… it’s better to reach out. Even if Lee Yun-seong has made up his mind, contacting him might change his thoughts.”

‘Of course. I never really made up my mind in the first place.’

“…Ah, okay.”

Thankfully, Yoo Ju followed Wi Ho-yeon’s advice.

This was a relief for me.

But the relief was short-lived. Soon, I couldn’t help but hold my breath when I saw Wi Ho-yeon alone in her room.

“Ah… why… why…”

Wi Ho-yeon sat slumped in her room, covering her face with her hands.

“Please… I’ll do anything. Please come back…”

‘Damn it…’

“Lee Yun-seong… please…”

It seemed like she was trying to act strong in front of Yoo Ju earlier.

‘Ah, I can’t stay away for too long.’

Originally, I planned to stay away for about a month, but seeing Yoo Ju and Wi Ho-yeon’s reactions, it seemed like I’d have to return within two weeks.

‘No, judging by their reactions, even two weeks might be too long.’

Honestly, I didn’t expect Yoo Ju and Wi Ho-yeon to react like this just because I mentioned the possibility of transferring clans. My mistake.

After a while of suffering, Wi Ho-yeon quietly covered herself with a blanket and lay down on the bed.

This was usually the time when Wi Ho-yeon would be training.

It was the first time I’d seen her skip training, given how diligent and hardworking she was.

‘Sigh…’

I’ve been colder to Wi Ho-yeon than to Yoo Ju, so it seems she’s deeply hurt.

Thinking about it, I’ve never been cold to Wi Ho-yeon before, so it’s understandable.

‘…This must be a big shock for her.’

I couldn’t keep watching this scene, and it seemed like I needed to take action quickly.

‘First… I need to meet Ha Yu-ri.’

******

The next day, I urgently sent a letter to Yoo Ju at Eternity.

The reason was simple—if I kept up the act of transferring clans, Yoo Ju and Wi Ho-yeon’s conditions would likely worsen.

At the very least, their daily lives shouldn’t be disrupted.

‘…Well, I sent a letter saying I might have spoken too harshly, so things should improve.’

What I said that day wasn’t sincere. I was just angry and spoke out of frustration. I don’t actually plan to transfer clans.

I roughly wrote something along those lines, so they should feel somewhat relieved.

‘Ah, but seriously, what’s up with her?’

Meanwhile, Ha Yu-ri, who had been avoiding me, was finally forced to face me thanks to Ha Yul’s push.

“…Ha Yu-ri.”

“Yes, yes?”

‘Why is she acting like this?’

I don’t know why, but Ha Yu-ri kept avoiding eye contact with me.

With Yoo Ju and Wi Ho-yeon already giving me a headache, her behavior was driving me crazy.

‘What’s your problem?’

“Hey, Ha Yu-ri, why are you avoiding eye contact? No, why have you been avoiding me this whole time?”

“……”

In response to my questioning, she just blushed and lowered her head, giving no answer.

‘This is so frustrating. It’s like talking to a wall.’

“…Did I do something wrong to you? Why are you acting like this?”

“…N-no.”

“Sigh…”

At my sigh, Ha Yu-ri flinched and glanced at me.

“You’re not planning to tell me the reason, are you?”

“W-well…”

“Ha Yu-ri, do I have to use a command?”

“Huh? W-wait!”

“Then just tell me. Why are you acting like this?”

“Ah… it’s… ugh…”

“…What’s the reason?”

I was getting annoyed by her attitude.

I didn’t want to force her, but with her acting like this, I had no choice.

“Fine, it’s an order. Tell me the truth. Why are you avoiding me?”

“Ahhk!”

As the pain from the slave mark forced her to speak, Ha Yu-ri’s face twisted, and she began to confess.

“I… I saw…”

“What?”

“I saw it…”

‘What are you talking about?’

I was completely confused, but Ha Yu-ri, with her face red, continued while lowering her head.

“I… I saw you and the Sword Monarch… in the prison…”

“…Huh?”

My brain froze for a moment at her words.

“Y-you and the Sword Monarch… I saw you…”

I could only cover my forehead with one hand at her confession.

“Sigh…”

“I… I was so shocked… and then…”

Ha Yu-ri seemed to struggle to say it, but the command forced her to reveal the shocking truth.

“Ugh… I… I comforted myself after seeing that… so… so I couldn’t face you…”

‘…What?’

I was speechless at the absurdity of her words.

Not only did Ha Yu-ri peek at us in the prison, but she comforted herself? What?

“What…”

Ha Yu-ri, now in tears, screamed as she confessed.

“I… I comforted myself after seeing that! That’s why I’ve been avoiding you! I’m so ashamed!”

“Wh-what the…? Are you crazy?”

I could only stutter like an idiot at her ridiculous confession.

With the command’s compulsion gone after her full confession, Ha Yu-ri shouted at me, tears streaming down her face.

“What do you want me to do? You forced me to say it! I’m so embarrassed I want to die!”

“…I-I’m sorry.”

Without thinking, I automatically apologized. Her face looked like she was about to die of shame.

“You jerk! Pervert! Crazy!”





“Bastard! You son of a bitch!”

“……”

I had no choice but to quietly listen to the curses Ha Yu-ri was hurling at me.

‘Damn, if I knew this was the reason, I wouldn’t have forced her to talk.’

Honestly, who would have thought the reason she kept avoiding me was something like that?

Only now did I understand what Ha Yul meant when she said Ha Yu-ri had gone to Eternity to see me.

‘…She must have been so shocked that she just turned back.’

After crying and venting for a while, Ha Yu-ri suddenly grabbed me by the collar.

“What, what are you doing? Why are you acting like this?”

“You! It’s your fault! It’s your fault for showing me that!”

“What? What did I do wrong? You’re the one who peeked, you crazy…!”

“How could I not peek in that situation?!”

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

“Wait, let go of this first and talk. Calm down…”

Honestly, Ha Yu-ri must be embarrassed, but so am I.

I never thought anyone would peek at that situation in prison.

I finally managed to get her to let go of my collar and sighed inwardly.

‘Phew… damn it.’

I originally had something to talk to Ha Yu-ri about, but there’s no way I could bring it up in this situation.

Ha Yu-ri just hung her head low.

After a while, she spoke in a tiny voice.

“…Do you like that kind of thing?”

“…What?”

“Th-that, rough stuff… do you like it?”

‘What the…’

I was caught off guard by the sudden question. I had no idea what she was getting at.

“Y-you… you looked like you were really enjoying it back then…”

‘Why is she asking this?’

The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. Honestly, I didn’t even want to have this kind of conversation with Ha Yu-ri.

“…Why are you asking that?”

At my question, Ha Yu-ri hesitated for a moment, then asked with trembling eyes.

“…What about me?”

“…Huh?”

“What about me?”

Just moments ago, Ha Yu-ri had been avoiding eye contact out of shame, but now she was looking straight at me, her pupils shaking.

“Do you… understand what you’re saying right now?”

“Yes… w-would you… ever think of doing that with me…?”

Her eyes were a mix of fear and anticipation.

It seems like Ha Yu-ri has developed an interest in that kind of thing, just like last time.

“…Instructor Ha Yu-ri, do you have feelings for me?”

I asked just in case. Her reaction last time was also strangely off.

“…..”

Ha Yu-ri couldn’t answer my question.

“Are you… doing this because I helped you a bit? Like I said last time, your sister’s situation…”

“…I know. You said you helped me out of calculation.”

“Then why?”

“…I don’t know the reason.”

“……”

“You asked if I like you? I’m not sure… but I think I do.”

‘…I never thought she’d feel this way.’

No matter the reason, our relationship started off on the wrong foot.

Even though things are better now, I never expected Ha Yu-ri to develop feelings for me.

I feel bad for Ha Yu-ri, but I don’t have any romantic feelings for her.

It’s not that Ha Yu-ri isn’t attractive.

Her looks are undeniable, and her unique arrogance is quite charming as a woman.

But if someone asked me if I had any romantic interest in Ha Yu-ri, the answer would be no.

To put it crudely, aside from her looks and body, there’s nothing about Ha Yu-ri that particularly draws me in.

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t have feelings for you.”

That’s why I had to give that answer.

The problem was Ha Yu-ri’s response.

“…I know. I’m aware that you don’t have feelings for me.”

“You know that, and yet…”

“But… you still react to my body.”

“W-what did you say?”

“…That’s enough for me. For now, that’s enough. Anyway, if you ever feel like doing that with me… I’m willing.”

This is ridiculous.

“From my perspective, I don’t expect you to have feelings for me. Your heart is somewhere else.”

‘This is awkward…’

Honestly, Ha Yu-ri’s words did trigger some instinctive reactions in my body, but now wasn’t the time for that.

“…I get what you’re thinking, but I came here to talk about something else, not this.”

I didn’t want to have this kind of conversation with Ha Yu-ri right now. And I had no intention of doing anything like that with her here.

At least, while Seo Yoo-ju and Wi Ho-yeon are going through so much, I’m not so low as to fool around with her.

Ha Yu-ri seemed disappointed, but she seemed to understand.

“…Alright. If talking about this is too much for you now, we can do it another time. The reason you’re here is because of what you wanted to talk about, right?”

“Right.”

“Hey, I just want to ask… did you run away from home?”

‘…Running away is a bit of an odd way to put it.’

“Running away is a bit…”

“What else would you call it?”

…I had no response.

“Why did you leave Eternity? Recently, Eternity contacted our clan.”

“What did they say?”

“They asked if you were staying here, and if so, to please let them know and send you back to Eternity.”

“…Really? Then tell them I’m staying here and that I need a little more time.”

“Alright. But why did you leave? Eternity said they would refuse if you tried to transfer clans.”

“Ah, that’s a bit hard to explain, but as for the transfer…”

As I was speaking, Ha Yu-ri’s eyes lit up, and she interrupted me.

“…Are you thinking of leaving Eternity?”

“What?”

“If you’re thinking of leaving Eternity… how about joining our clan?”