I could see the Roheon Guild building. This was my third visit since I passed out.
"Ugh, what is it?"
As I was about to enter the front door, I was terrified to see the reporters surrounding the building. Why are there are so many of them?
'If I pass through them…'
I'm sure the reporters will catch me. Recalling the horrific interview experience I had in N42 Area, I found another entrance without question.
Fortunately, there were several entrances as the building was large. I headed upstairs via the elevator in the underground parking lot.
"I heard that the situation is the same with the Reina (레이나) Guild."
"The Requiem dispatched people with mental abilities and kicked them out… Shouldn't we do the same?"
When I got off the elevator for officials and moved to the main hall, I could hear complaints from employees everywhere. It seemed pretty uncomfortable because of the reporters who camped in the building.
I slowly looked around the first floor of the Roheon Guild, which was full of commotion. The atmosphere was definitely different from Requiem. Once again, I realized how quickly and skillfully Requiem dealt with it.
While looking around, I found Ha Tae-heon standing near the entrance of the hall. Ha Tae-heon, dressed in a white shirt, was staring at reporters outside the building with an annoyed expression.
Come to think of it, Ha Tae-heon hated reporters. In the novel, Ha Tae-heon hated reporters who were persistent and even caused friction several times.
Even Ha Tae-heon, who ignored them so as not to harm the guild, was able to guess how bothersome reporters usually were.
'Should I say hello?'
Although I expressed my intention to participate in the gate, but it was not known whether Ha Tae-heon would join. But I can't just stand here all the time… I stopped the sound of footsteps and approached Ha Tae-heon.
Well, wouldn't it be okay to just say that I'm a fan and said I'm happy to see him. Then asked him where the conference room was…
"Ah."
As I walked holding my breath, thinking about this and that, Ha Tae-heon turned his head with a flashing gaze. When I made eye contact with him, I was frozen in place like someone caught stealing.
"Umm…"
"..."
I didn't expect this situation.
I stood awkwardly and looked at Ha Tae-heon. My mouth was completely dry from the awkwardness that came over me.
Ha Tae-heon, who stared at me for a while, sighed and strode towards me.
"Where did you come from?"
"Pardon?"
I asked the sudden question stupidly. I wasn't used to Ha Tae-heon's respectful words.
"You said you would come, so we sent personnel to the entrance."
"Aah."
It was then that I realized why there was no guide. There must be someone who came out to meet the reporters. I smiled at him with regret.
"I'm sorry. The entrance looked so complicated, so I turned around and entered the underground parking lot."
"…that's fine."
Even if he said that, Ha Tae-heon's wrinkled forehead showed no sign of straightening. Um, did I just say that I had just come in through the entrance without any shame? ("그냥 쪽팔림을 무릅쓰고 입구로 들어올 걸 그랬나, I don't understand this but this sentence fit well)
"Follow me. I will guide you to the conference room."
"Ah, yes."
Ha Tae-heon pressed the elevator button in the centre of the hall. In the wide elevator that arrived soon after, only I and Ha Tae-heon got on.
"..."
"..."
A bitter silence fell. I coughed in vain and glanced at Ha Tae-heon's cold profile.
'Something's wrong…'
Of course, it was true that we are in a situation where we have to act as if we have met for the first time, but more than that, I felt uncomfortable.
I'm just going to ask a quick question. Because now it's just the two of us.
"Ahem, Ha Tae-heon-ssi."
Ttiring—This is on the 17th floor.
What's with the timing? Ha Tae-heon looked back at me and nodded his head.
"Get off."
"..."
As if I had not heard anything, I shut my mouth and got out of the elevator.
'What happened to him?'
It was too much to pretend not to know. What the hell? Is there any problem with the SS-class coat?
While thinking about various things, I arrived at the conference room. As soon as I opened the door, the members of the Roheon Guild who had come first welcomed me.
"Welcome, Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. Nice to meet you. I'm Roheon Master Lee Joo-ha."
Lee Joo-ha, who was sitting at the top, approached me and smiled while asking for a handshake. She was quite different from when I came for a contract.
"Thank you for your welcome. I'm Han Yi-gyeol."
I can't lose either. As I shook hands and smiled shamelessly, the corners of Lee Joo-ha's lips trembled slightly.
"Since Han Yi-gyeol-ssi is also here, let's start the meeting."
When I sat down on the empty seat, the attendant who was waiting in the back gave me the document. The document contained detailed information about the gate and a list of participating members.
"As you all know, the gate we're going to clear this time is Area D17. Grade A gate is not that difficult, but there's nothing wrong with being careful as the situation is."
Lee Joo-ha's cold voice, who led the meeting, had a boldness that grabbed attention.
"Our Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon will lead the team as the general manager. With trustworthy people and Han Yi-gyeol-ssi, we will be able to clear it without any major problems."
"Of course!"
"We will clean it up and come back!"
The guild members, moved by Lee Joo-ha's words, exclaimed with excitement. I frowned.
'…Deputy Master?'
I turned my head towards Ha Tae-heon. Just in time, I meet Ha Tae-heon, who was looking at me. I lowered my head slightly to hide my confused expression.
Again. It was different from the original flow.
I wanted to grab Ha Tae-heon by the collar and argue with him right away. While he hated such a position, why did he take it?
I knew Lee Joo-ha was working hard to put him in the position of deputy master. She offered it whenever she had time and Ha Tae-heon rejected it over and over again.
Ha Tae-heon believed in his own abilities and he was a personality that didn't bother with the position.
Of course, after the passage of time and the influence of Cheon Sa-yeon had grown, he was seriously considering it…
'No, I gave you the SS-class coat three months earlier. But why?'
…is this because I moved differently from the original?
"The departure is in three days. Please gather in front of the gate in Area D17 on time."
"Yes."
"I'll see you then."
I said goodbye to the members of the Roheon Guild who will clear the gate together while suppressing the complicated emotions.
The mouth with a social smile on it got stiffer, but I did my best to keep it. I wanted to look good as they were the people who would clear the gate with Ha Tae-heon in the future.
After greeting in a friendly atmosphere, the guild members rushed out of the conference room.
"Ha Tae-heon-ssi."
Ha Tae-heon, who was standing at the entrance to the conference room at my call, looked back.
It also shouldn't be like this. Even knowing that Lee Joo-ha was by his side, I opened my mouth without hesitation.
"I need to talk to you."
Ha Tae-heon's brow furrowed slightly.
"I think I can make that kind of request."
"Hey."
Ha Tae-heon stopped Lee Joo-ha, who was about to say something with a displeased face.
"Please go ahead."
"But Tae-heon-ah."
"That's all right."
Lee Joo-ha glared at me fiercely, but eventually withdrew due to Ha Tae-heon's tough attitude. Click. When the door closed, only Ha Tae-heon was left in the spacious conference room.
I was thinking about how to start a conversation, but surprisingly, Ha Tae-heon spoke up first.
"What are you trying to say?"
Ha Tae-heon used informal language to me as usual, but his cold eyes were still there.
Of course, the relationship wasn't that good before. Still, I didn't feel this far away.
I sighed and spoke in a voice that was as natural as possible.
"Um, first of all, congratulations on becoming Deputy Master."
"..."
There was no answer returned. I smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck.
"I thought Ha Tae-heon-ssi didn't like that kind of position because of your personality."
"I thought it was just a nuisance."
He came one step closer. There was still a shadow on the face looking down at me.
"Have you changed your mind?"
"I decided it was necessary, so I accepted it."
…so I guess there was a reason for that. I calmly counted the number of cases. Comparing the original and the present, is there anything that can influence Ha Tae-heon?
'Is that the gate?'
Maybe there is something wrong with the guild due to gate instability. Or to manage gates that had increased risk more thoroughly…
"I would rather ask."
"Yes?"
"I thought you'd like it because I accepted the position of Deputy Master."
"…me? No. Of course, congratulations, but I…"
"You said you wanted to get away from the Requiem Master."
I shuddered. I felt cold energy from Ha Tae-heon standing in front of me. I instinctively backed away from the tingling that touched my skin.
"You said that Roheon needs to be stronger than he is now."
"Wait, that…"
"I just chose the most obvious way for Roheon's rapid growth."
I couldn't hide my confusion. So you accepted the offer to be deputy master?
"No, it's not. That's not what I was hoping for. Even if you don't receive such a position, Ha Tae-heon-ssi will be able to…"
"That's useless."
He cut me off with a displeased expression.
"It wasn't a decision I made because I wanted to hear your opinion. For now, it's rather suspicious. I wonder if what you said to me at that time was really true."
"..."
"If that's all that I have to say, I'll go first. I'll see you in three days."
I couldn't catch Ha Tae-heon, who turned his back neatly without hesitation. Standing blankly until he closed the meeting room door and left, I covered my distorted eyes with my hand.
"Haa…"
I exhaled a weary breath. Judging from Ha Tae-heon's attitude, it already seemed too late to turn back.
「If you are the cause, it's not because of any action, it's your existence.」
Cheon Sa-yeon's words came to mind. My mood sank endlessly. It felt as if something dark had swallowed it all under my feet.
「You alone have ruined everything.」
「It must be your very existence.」
The voice came out of nowhere. Words drawn from the past were tangled together in my mind. I closed my eyes tightly and opened them with a splitting headache. The smell of disinfectant wafted from somewhere.
「You alone have ruined…」
"I know."
I know. I know it well. More than anyone else.
I slowly lowered the hand that was covering my face. My cold hands trembled slightly. Seeing that made me laugh somehow.
'Why am I like this…?'
Will it be the same? Same as always. Now I want to change.
I forcibly moved my heavy legs and left the conference room. The past, which was so dense behind my back, had persistently followed me.