Chapter 228

Slowly, I began to explain to Yoon Yeon.

Why I had helped her until now.

That the time of this continent had been reversed once, and that she had faced death.

Of course… I didn’t mention the evil deeds I had committed after her death.

‘There’s no need to bring that up.’

She listened to me silently the entire time.

From her expression, it seemed like she had a few questions while listening, but for now, she maintained an attitude of just listening.

“…So that’s how it happened.”

After I finished explaining, Yoon Yeon let out a deep sigh with a complicated expression and slowly opened her mouth.

“Haah… I get it for now.”

“……”

“So, you were originally a member of the Myth Clan, and Shin Joo-tae teamed up with those outlaws to get me killed, right?”

“That’s right.”

At my answer, Yoon Yeon let out a bitter laugh and scolded herself.

“Pfft… I was such an idiot.”

“…An idiot?”

“Isn’t that right? If what you’re saying is true, then I died because I couldn’t stop Shin Joo-tae from messing around behind my back.”

“…I don’t think you need to blame yourself like that. No one knew, not just you, Yoon.”

“No, at least as the Clan Master, I shouldn’t have let that happen. And…”

She looked at me and smiled slightly as she continued.

“I wondered why you helped me during the spy incident, but I never expected there’d be such a backstory.”

“Well…”

“Shh.”

I felt the touch of her finger on my lips.

“It’s fine. The fact that you saved me is enough. Don’t make any more excuses.”

Yoon Yeon got up from the bed and spoke with a relieved expression.

“Now all my questions are answered. I even thought you were helping me because you had a crush on me.”

At Yoon Yeon’s words, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“Haha…”

“But hey, what are you going to do?”

“About what?”

“I think I’ve fallen for you. How are you going to take responsibility for this?”

It was only natural that I couldn’t react to such a sudden statement.

‘…Shouldn’t she have more questions?’

If I were her, I wouldn’t have believed my words so easily.

“…By the way, Yoon, do you believe everything I said?”

“What? Do you want me not to believe you?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then I’ll believe you. Thinking about what you said, all the strange connections I’ve been wondering about have been filled in.”

“…That’s good then.”

Yoon Yeon seemed to remember something and informed me.

“Oh, right. I’ll be away for about a week.”

“Away?”

It was only natural to be curious about her sudden announcement.

After all, as far as I knew, Yoon Yeon didn’t have any other schedule besides her duties at the training facility.

“I’m going to visit the Library of Records you mentioned.”

“What?”

“You said it yourself. If I’m aware that this is the second round and that there was a first round, the Library of Records will show me what happened in the first round.”

It seemed like she doubted whether my words were true. She seemed intent on going to the Library of Records herself to confirm.

“…Right. Well, I wouldn’t believe me either. Got it…”

Yoon Yeon cut me off with an angry expression and spoke.

“Again, you’re misunderstanding. It’s not that I don’t believe what you said. I just want to know exactly what happened to me in the first round.”

“Ah…”

“I was thinking of spending today with you… Never mind. Anyway, come back here at night in a week.”

“What?”

Yoon Yeon spoke to me as if nailing it down.

“Come back in exactly a week. By then, I should have sorted out my feelings. And don’t even think about running away.”

“……”

“If you’re going to run away… at least come back in a week and then run. I won’t tolerate you not coming at all. Got it?”

After finishing her words, Yoon Yeon kicked me out without waiting for a response.

After leaving her place, I couldn’t help but think deeply. After all, there was no way I wouldn’t know why she told me to come back at night.

******

“Ha… What’s this? What’s with the sudden lunch?”

‘Why is she coming to my office and acting like this?’

Ha Yu-ri came to my office and started grumbling in front of me.

“Well… something must have come up.”

The reason Ha Yu-ri was acting like this was because she was temporarily taking over as the head instructor for a week in Yoon Yeon’s place.

“Ha, she said she’d handle it herself and then suddenly asks me to take over for a week. It’s ridiculous…”

“…Cut her some slack. Something came up with the clan.”

‘Though that’s not the real reason.’

Of course, the reason Yoon Yeon was away for a week was to visit the Library of Records.

For some reason, Ha Yu-ri, clearly not pleased, spoke to me.

“What’s with you? Why are you taking her side?”

“What… When did I take her side?”

“You just did.”

‘Ugh, why is she like this?’

“Seriously… Stop with the weird assumptions.”

“It doesn’t seem like an assumption. Do you like her that much?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…Whatever.”

“Ha Yu-ri, did something happen during the lecture? Why are you like this today?”

“Ugh… The trainees keep staring at me.”

‘Ah, it’s like Wi Ho-yeon’s case.’

“Not all of them, but some trainees’ gazes are so blatant that it’s annoying.”

‘…Well, with her looks, it’s unavoidable.’

After all, her appearance was the kind that would make most men’s heads turn.

“…I get what you mean, but just think of it positively. You have to accept that it’s unavoidable because of your looks. What else can you do?”

At my words, Ha Yu-ri’s eyes widened, and she smiled brightly as she spoke.

“You just called me pretty, right? That’s what you said, right?”

‘…Honestly, I can’t deny it.’

When I didn’t respond to her words, Ha Yu-ri continued, muttering to herself.

“Hehe… Well, of course. My looks are anything but ordinary. Right?”

Seeing Ha Yu-ri act so smug made me feel a bit annoyed.

‘She’s really full of herself.’

“You’re way too full of yourself.”

“Full of myself? Come on, you’ve looked at my body with those pervy eyes before.”

“What nonsense…”

“Hey, when did I ever…?”

“…When I knelt before you, you went through my body, didn’t you?”

“Hey, that was… because you were acting weird…”

“…You looked down at me with a perverted expression. I remember it clearly.”

‘Calling me a pervert? That’s not something I should be hearing from you.’

I didn’t want to be called a pervert by a woman who sneaks into other people’s private affairs.

“Ah, anyway! Admit it! Admit that you looked at me that way!”

“No…”

‘Is she crazy?’

I couldn’t hide my confusion at her sudden outburst.

“You did look at me that way, didn’t you? Right? Admit it already!”

Ha Yu-ri was shaking my body while talking, making my head spin.

“Hey, hey! What’s wrong with you? Let go…!”

Just as I was trying to push Ha Yu-ri away, there was a knock on the door.

Knock knock.

Naturally, both Ha Yu-ri and I stopped what we were doing.

‘Who is it?’

The place where Ha Yu-ri and I were talking was none other than my assigned office.

The only people who would come looking for me would be clan members or other instructors I knew.

Just as I was wondering who it could be, a voice came from outside the door.

– Excuse me, is this Instructor Lee Yun-seong’s office? I’m Trainee Seo Jeong-min.

‘Sigh…’

I was stunned. I didn’t expect him to come looking for me on his own.

‘Look at this guy…’

“…Ha Yu-ri, let’s call it a day. You should head back now.”

“Huh?”

“I have some things to discuss privately with the trainee who came to see me.”

Perhaps sensing the sudden change in my demeanor, Ha Yu-ri cautiously nodded after glancing at me.

“…Alright. See you tomorrow.”

As Ha Yu-ri opened the door, the face of the guy who came to see me came into view.

The guy was staring blankly at Ha Yu-ri, clearly taken aback by the sudden appearance of such a beautiful woman.

“Uh…”

Ha Yu-ri glanced at him briefly but ignored him and walked past.

When the guy showed no signs of snapping out of it, I spoke up first.

“Why are you just standing there? Come in.”

“Ah…”

It seemed he finally regained his composure. The guy, who had been staring in the direction Ha Yu-ri walked off, turned his head toward me and greeted me.

“Hey, it’s been a while, right? You’re Lee Yun-seong, right?”

‘Crazy bastard.’

The guy hadn’t changed at all. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about getting involved with him, even here on Earth.

“Honestly, I saw you on stage earlier and couldn’t believe it at first. I wasn’t sure, but when I heard your name, I knew it was you.”

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Cut the crap. Why did you come looking for me?”

Perhaps sensing that I wasn’t welcoming him, the guy put on a fake smile and spoke up.

“Haha… Hey, what’s with the attitude? Aren’t we friends?”

“Crazy bastard, are we friends? And since when did you start talking so casually?”

“Eh… Hey, why are you being like this? It’s not like I need to be formal with you.”

“Ha, so why did you come?”

The fact that I didn’t do anything when I first recognized him was a warning and an opportunity for him to stay out of my sight.

But I never expected him to come looking for me on his own. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey, Yoon-seong. By the way, who was that girl earlier? That was Instructor Ha Yu-ri, right?”

‘Sigh…’

This guy still thinks we’re on Earth. It pissed me off to hear him refer to Ha Yu-ri so casually.

“Damn… Is she your girlfriend or something? Wow, I couldn’t even speak when I saw her face. She looked amazing from afar, but up close, she’s just stunning.”

‘Still can’t resist a pretty face, huh?’

Well, it’s no surprise. A guy like him would’ve tried to make a move on my sister.

“Hey, Jeong-min.”

“Yeah?”

“Can’t you shut your mouth? You still can’t read the room, can you?”

Perhaps sensing the tension in my tone, the guy frowned slightly and replied.

“…What’s wrong with you, man?”

“Look at this guy. Do you think you’re in any position to act familiar with me? What the hell made you come looking for me?”

“Well… I heard you’re doing well here. Rumor has it you’re running the Eternity Clan.”

“So?”

I asked, but I could already guess why he came based on what he said.

“Hey… Can you get me into the Eternity Clan? Huh? I heard you’re a big shot here. What are friends for, right? Just help me out…”

“Pfft!”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. I had a feeling, but hearing his actual reason for coming was just too much.

The guy seemed to realize I was mocking him, as his face turned red.

But after a moment, he seemed to swallow his anger and apologized.

“…Hey, Yoon-seong. If this is about what happened on Earth, I’m sorry. Like I said back then, I didn’t know she was your sister.”

As I remained silent, he must’ve thought I was being persuaded, so he continued to make excuses.

“Hey, if I had known she was your sister, I wouldn’t have done it! And you stepped in, so nothing bad happened, right? Your sister was fine…”

“You’re full of crap.”

“W-What?”

“Fine? You bastard. I stepped in and stopped you, but if I hadn’t, do you think my sister would’ve been okay?”

“Well…”

“You were planning to go all the way, weren’t you? Right? You think I haven’t heard about you since then?”

“What…”

“You idiot, didn’t you get caught once? I heard you almost got in trouble for messing with the wrong girl.”

“Damn…”

“Got caught, huh? Wow, I can’t believe you had the nerve to come looking for me. Unbelievable.”