Chapter 39

‘The real issue is whether I can take Yekaterina out that day.’

Her safety is currently being handled by the World Returner Association.

It’s not something I can just casually bring up.

‘Then I just need to talk to them.’

Humans are communicative animals.

Given how big this incident has become, the help of the World Returner Association is inevitable.

This isn’t something an individual can handle alone.

“Got it. Thanks for telling me.”

After saying that, I got up, opened the door, and left.

As I did, Eun-hyeon, who was sitting in a chair by the door, fiddling with her nails, looked at me.

“Is the conversation over?”

“Yes, thank you for waiting.”

After thanking her, I cautiously asked a question.

“I heard a bit about Giraseong from Yekaterina. Could you tell me more about it?”

“That.”

“You can discuss that with me.”

At that moment, the sound of heels clicking and a soft voice reached my ears.

Her silver hair, cascading down, shimmered under the light.

With a beautiful face, she smiled faintly as soon as she saw me.

Just that alone seemed to change the atmosphere around us.

She was none other than Baekseolhyang.

I didn’t expect her to show up at this moment, so I widened my eyes in surprise, and she gave a shy smile.

“Ha-chan, we meet quite often, don’t we?”

“Yeah, haha, I keep bothering you.”

“Bother? You’re always welcome, Ha-chan. Feel free to visit anytime.”

As Eun-hyeon mentioned, it seems the World Returner Association thinks highly of me.

Given that Baekseolhyang, the Association President, is treating me this way, it must be true.

I’m always grateful for her kindness.

“Wow, playing coy, huh?”

At that moment, Baeksan spoke in a disgusted tone.

Come to think of it, Baeksan seemed to know Baekseolhyang even before the regression.

Playing coy.

I was a bit curious about how Baekseolhyang acted in front of Baeksan.

“You wanted to talk about Giraseong, right?”

Baekseolhyang asked, as if she already knew everything, and I nodded.

It would be easier to talk with Baekseolhyang, the Association President, than with Eun-hyeon.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to a room where we can talk comfortably. Eun-hyeon, take care of that side.”

“Yes, understood.”

After entrusting Yekaterina to Eun-hyeon, I followed Baekseolhyang.

Suddenly remembering Ayu, I texted her that I was meeting with Baekseolhyang.

She said she’d be somewhere else, but I didn’t want to miss her.

“This room should be fine.”

Meanwhile, Baekseolhyang led me to a room on the second floor.

It was more like a spacious lounge than a room.

There was a makeshift bed in the corner, a sofa, a coffee pot, drinks, a fridge—everything you’d need for a break.

‘Is this where the Association staff rest?’

Given the time, it seemed other staff members weren’t around.

That’s probably why Baekseolhyang chose this place.

“Please, have a seat.”

As Baekseolhyang sat on the sofa, I sat across from her.

Then, I got a clear view of her face.

She, who always looked beautiful, blinked her long eyelashes as our eyes met.

Then, she shyly lowered her eyes, playing with the ends of her hair with her slender fingers.

“If you stare at me like that, even I’ll get self-conscious.”

“Ah, s-sorry.”

It was a momentary lapse on my part.

I wouldn’t get sued now, but staring at someone’s face isn’t exactly pleasant.

As I awkwardly scratched my head, Baekseolhyang covered her mouth and laughed.

A beauty is like a painting.

Just the thought that I made her laugh made me feel proud.

“Cut the crap.”

And Baeksan was looking at us with a disgusted expression.

“Damn it, why did I regress? These two are so shy, it’s like they’re in sync. Damn it.”

Saying that, Baeksan left, as if he couldn’t stand to watch.

What did I even do?

“Ha-chan, I heard you liked men before, but it seems that’s not the case?”

“Huh? Ah, that time.”

Glaring at Baeksan, I forced a laugh at Baekseolhyang’s question.

Come to think of it, I had a reflexive defense mechanism from a past incident.

“I had a bit of a troublesome experience before. It’s a quick reflex I developed since then.”

“What kind of experience?”

Baekseolhyang seemed interested.

It’s a bit hard to talk about.

‘I’ve only told Ayu about this.’

Ayu was originally a guy, so I told her.

I haven’t told any other guild members about my past.

Ayu knows the details, but she doesn’t know who exactly falsely accused me.

‘Come to think of it, Ayu back then.’

She said she’d beat up the girl who accused me if I told her who it was.

At the time, I thought it was a joke, but now I wonder if she was serious.

“Is it a difficult story to tell?”

Baekseolhyang smiled apologetically, and I shook my head.

“No. It’s just an old story, so it’s not something to worry about. Back in university, I was falsely accused of sexual harassment. Of course, I didn’t do anything.”

“What? A false accusation?”

“That person had some grudge against me. They had a strong background, so nothing came of it in the end. Looking back, it’s kind of pathetic.”

I should have gone back and slapped that girl a thousand times.

At that moment, I felt something unusual and looked up.

For some reason, Baekseolhyang’s face seemed to be smiling, but it didn’t feel like a smile.

The corners of her mouth were trembling.

“So that’s why you left university, Ha-chan?”

“Ah, yes.”

Perhaps because she’s the Association President and also the chairman of Rodri Company.

She seemed to know how I ended up at Rodri Company as an employee.

“To think such a thing happened without my knowledge…”

She let out a short breath and placed her hand over mine on the table.

The soft touch of her hand was quite distracting.

Whether I liked it or not, she gently stroked my hand with her thumb and spoke quietly.

“Don’t you want to go back to university?”

“Huh?”

“The university you left because of that false accusation. I think I’d have regrets if it were me.”

I can’t say I don’t have regrets.

It was a place where I once pursued my dreams.

But too much time has passed for that now.

“I never went to university. Actually, I was caught in a dimensional shift, so I didn’t even finish middle or high school.”

She smiled faintly and looked into my eyes.

“I have memories of elementary school. A friend I went to school with every day. We eventually parted ways when they moved, though.”

“Perhaps.”

“Yes, the day they moved, I was caught in a dimensional shift. I must have seemed like I disappeared to them. We promised to keep in touch, but I couldn’t. So, I also have regrets about school.”

Her eyes were filled with longing.

“It’s probably nostalgia. I can’t go back to those days, but I keep reminiscing about them, which makes me more attached.”

She smiled faintly, looking detached.

“Last time, you asked if I play games. Actually, it was that friend who liked games. I just watched back then. But I started playing on a whim, and now I still do.”

As the Association President, Baekseolhyang is also a Returner.

Like other Returners, she was a victim of dimensional shift, separated from her family, and even after returning, that pain must still linger.

Baekseolhyang, who always seemed perfect, looked quite vulnerable today.

So, without thinking, I held her hand.

Startled, Baekseolhyang looked at me, then blushed and averted her eyes.

She looked quite cute.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Even if it’s later, let’s go to university together. I’ll go with you.”

I don’t know if it’ll be the school life she imagines, but if it’s something she regrets, I want to help her resolve it.

I’ve received so much help from Baekseolhyang.

If I can repay even a little of that, I’m willing to do anything.

“R-really?”

Baekseolhyang’s face visibly brightened.

She looked like a girl, overjoyed and unsure what to do.

Come to think of it, how old is Baekseolhyang?

“Hey, you’re at it again the moment I look away.”

At that moment, Baeksan suddenly appeared.

Startled, I let go of her hand, and Baekseolhyang, looking somewhat disappointed, fidgeted with her fingers before placing her hands on her lap.

No matter how pitiful she looked, grabbing a woman’s hand like that…

‘But this time, Baekseolhyang reached out first.’

It’s mutual, so it’s fine.

“More importantly, you’re in big trouble.”

Big trouble?

With Baekseolhyang beside me, I could only glare at Baeksan, who silently pointed towards the door.

As I turned my head towards the door, it suddenly swung open.

“Do. Mi. O. Ppa?”

Calling my name syllable by syllable, the person who appeared was none other than Ayu.

For some reason, her hair was gradually turning red, similar to Cheon Hong-ryun’s, which sent a chill down my spine.

“Leaving cute me behind, talking to another woman, and alone with her? Talking?!”

Ayu, boiling with anger, stomped towards me.

Why is she acting like this?

I looked back at Baeksan, but he just gave me a pitiful look without saying a word.

“Cheonma, if you walk like that, the floor below will shake.”

“I’m light, so it won’t shake! You’re the heavy one!”

“True. You are lighter than me.”

“Hey, what are you looking at?!”

Why do these two start fighting the moment they see each other?

It seems like their relationship is getting worse by the day.