Another Choice (2)
I examined the documents with interest. The man’s voice softened.
The man picked up the phone on his desk and asked.
A drink?
I was about to refuse, sensing that the conversation ahead wouldn't be pleasant. I really was going to turn it down.
But then…
Tsk.
Ah, my mouth is watering. I can't hold back. It's been months since I last had a lukewarm can.
Still, this doesn't seem like the kind of beverage they'd offer guests. I wonder if they even have it.
I'd planned to buy some the moment I stepped outside. Since he was offering, I wasn't about to refuse.
His expression didn't change. Must be used to this.
- Yes? Ah, understood. I'll prepare it right away!
The person on the other end of the line sounded slightly flustered.
Guess no one usually orders cola.
Gulp. Gulp.
Clack!
I set down the large cup that had held a full liter of cola. Nice. I should get one of these for myself.
The man pointed at a section of the document with his finger.
He kept emphasizing "the truth" from earlier. I could guarantee it was anything but.
I know that witch's style all too well.
The only true part was that I had been at the scene. My photo from back when I was still a civilian was plastered all over the CCTV footage.
That much I did remember. It had been a huge incident.
The man was trying to brainwash me by taking advantage of how much time had passed. I nodded along, pretending to listen intently.
Since he'd treated me to an ice-cold cola on the very first day of my regression, the least I could do was spare him a little time.
I acted clueless and asked questions here and there.
Ah, so that's the story they're spinning.
I left the man to his diligent novel-writing and thought back to the Saintess from my previous life.
So her name was Yoon Sera.
Saint Guild, though? Unfortunately, I'd never heard of it in my past life.
They must not have made much of a name for themselves before collapsing.
They're trying to discipline Yoon Sera by claiming she violated her hunter duties?
I caught only the useful information while silently apologizing to Yoon Sera in my head.
Now that I thought about it, the vague sense that I'd seen her somewhere before hadn't been my imagination.
I must have seen her in that photo. No wonder I didn't recognize her.
Unlike the man from Taeseong whom I'd seen a few times after joining, she hadn't stuck in my memory at all.
I'd never had the chance to see her in person, after all.
Wait, but why would the Association believe my words without even arranging a face-to-face meeting? This seemed like a pretty big deal. Shouldn't they verify everything thoroughly?
I pondered it for a moment before understanding. Taeseong must have pulled some strings again.
What a bunch of scumbags.
Anyway, it looks like Yoon Sera suffered greatly because of my false testimony. Maybe that's even what caused her to leave Korea for America.
The Saintess's icy glare. The way she'd sneered at me while questioning my character. That voice thick with hostility.
Only now did her attitude make sense.
It had all been the result of me being played by Taeseong Guild's schemes. Yoon Sera must have misunderstood, thinking I'd done it knowingly.
The fact that I hadn't known didn't excuse me. I'd been someone who was supposed to testify only clear facts, yet I'd spoken about things I couldn't even remember as if they were true.
All because I was desperate to join Taeseong Guild and parroted whatever they told me to say.
I'd never had any real attachment to Taeseong anyway.
Unlike ordinary hunters, joining them would make it difficult for me to grow properly.
Taeseong's system poured all its resources into promising talents while treating people like me—who'd been judged as trash—as expendable and only assigning us menial tasks.
For someone like me who needed to clear as many dungeons as possible, it was the worst possible environment.
And most importantly—
Now that I've realized their blades are aimed at Yoon Sera, the one who gave me this chance to regress, I won't play along with their schemes anymore.
Even the last traces of old affection I'd felt toward them vanished completely.
Having organized my thoughts, I quietly rose from my seat.
The Taeseong employee looked up at me in confusion. He'd been in the middle of speaking and seemed slightly flustered when I stood up.
But his expression quickly relaxed.
The employee stood up as well.
Head over where?
Did he think righteous old me had decided to testify out of anger at Yoon Sera for running away?
He seemed to have seriously misunderstood…
I opened my mouth.
That's not what I meant, you idiot.
The man froze and looked up at me. His eyes sharpened.
Silence fell.
His mouth hung open. He seemed to be having trouble processing the situation.
I sighed and turned to leave.
The man shouted from behind me.
I turned back around and replied.
I bowed politely.
A look of utter bewilderment crossed the man's face.
This was Taeseong Guild.
One of the top two guilds in South Korea, competing for the highest rank.
He must have assumed that someone with specs far below their standards, like me, would fabricate any story necessary if it meant getting into Taeseong.
Yet here I was, doing the exact opposite of what he'd expected.
Even putting on an act of being a good-natured fool who couldn't even seize an opportunity.
The man clutched his head.
Understood? My idiot act?
If I could, I'd have warned them not to lay a hand on Yoon Sera, but…
Not yet. My strength is still lacking.
I held a grudge against those who'd used me. But for now, it was time to play dumb and back off.
I could grow stronger and pay them back later.
A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.
Good.
At least he wasn't dragging it out.
I'd just reached the door, ready to leave quickly at the man's words, when—
Creak.
The door opened before I could even grab the handle.
My body stiffened.
The man hurriedly bowed toward the newcomer. His attitude was far more respectful than when he'd dealt with me.
And for good reason.
Anyone who wanted to keep earning a paycheck here had no choice but to act that way toward her.
The master of Taeseong Guild had appeared.
Han Yura.
The woman who'd been helplessly slaughtered on the day the Doom Dragon first revealed itself to the world.
It had been a while, but her current appearance wasn't much different from what I remembered.
Red hair. Sharp eyes. Her beauty remained unchanged.
A thick whip—her signature weapon—was coiled at the waist of her skintight leather outfit.
That whip, which had torn countless monsters to shreds, was something the current me couldn't even hope to resist.
Even though I knew she couldn't go completely overboard, I couldn't help feeling a bit tense.
After all, she was an S-class hunter recognized throughout South Korea.
She had sharp ears.
It would've been better if she'd just kept walking. What whim had struck her this time? Or had she been paying close attention to this matter?
I kept my eyes lowered as much as possible. Getting caught would be troublesome.
Han Yura didn't even glance at the recruitment officer as she spoke in a low voice.
…!
I was genuinely shocked.
False testimony? This crazy bitch was saying that out loud?
No matter how powerful the master of Taeseong Guild was, wasn't this going too far?
I swallowed the curses rising in my throat.
I had to keep my eyes looking innocent too.
I asked back with a bewildered expression, as if I didn't quite understand.
Han Yura stepped closer and leaned her face in front of mine. A strong rose scent stung my nose.
It worked. My idiot act.
After staring at every inch of my face for a while, she seemed to lose interest and stepped back.
I knew she was serious, but since I lacked the power, I couldn't reveal the truth yet.
Just as I started to speak—
Whoosh!
With a sharp crack, the whip flew at me without warning. Every nerve in my body focused on the tip hurtling straight toward my face as if to pierce it.
Time began to slow down.
My mind spun rapidly. I calculated the whip's trajectory and the power behind it.
Although regression had reset all my physical abilities to zero, the experience I'd accumulated remained intact.
Watching Han Yura's shoulder and arm twitch, I felt a small sense of relief inside.
Her rude, temperamental whims were still the same.
Did he think she was about to clean up a corpse? The recruitment officer screamed belatedly.
But what he feared didn't happen.
The tip of Han Yura's whip had stopped right in front of my right eye.
I stared at the end of the whip.
Other than my eyes stinging slightly from the wind pressure, I hadn't suffered any injury.
No matter how crazy Han Yura is, she wouldn't ignore international hunter laws and harm someone.
I seemed to have passed the test.
If I pretended to be startled and fell on my ass, my acting would be perfect!
Now all that remained was for Han Yura to back off quietly…
…Yeah, right.
Both corners of Han Yura's mouth curved upward.
It was a habit of hers that appeared whenever she discovered something interesting.
I'd seen that expression many times in my previous life. No one knew better than I did how much trouble that smile could bring.
Damn it.
I should've closed my eyes completely. This damn habit of mine…
This was troublesome.
It looked like I'd caught the interest of a dangerous woman.