Chapter 106
Terminally Ill, but It's Okay — Episode 106
I was Han Soo-hyeok's weakness.
I had put the children he was looking after to atone for his past sins on the table as a condition of the deal.
But Han Soo-hyeok had deferred my proposal.
Instead, he said he would tell me the location of the second fragment and told me to retrieve it.
He attached a condition: we would discuss it properly once I did.
In the end, it was no different from a kindness.
Either way, he had helped me keep the pursuit going.
I knew that, and Han Soo-hyeok probably knew it too.
So I couldn't press further and only nodded.
What exactly the fragments were, why Han Soo-hyeok was collecting them, where this mysterious organization was—
The questions remained, but I knew instinctively that pushing any further here would do more harm than good.
Honestly, the fact that I was still alive after bringing up his secrets was sheer luck.
If it had been the usual Han Soo-hyeok, he would have lopped my head clean off the moment I opened my mouth.
.......
But did I actually get on his good side?
I'd felt it before, but somehow he seemed a bit lenient.
I didn't really know why.
It probably wasn't because of the Limited Lifespan recklessness—the whole do-or-die charge.
No way it was actually because of greed?
['Greed' says not to agonize over something so obvious.]
......Never mind.
Anyway, it was time to focus on the next objective.
Once I retrieved the second fragment, something else would probably come into view.
"Hmm."
But it didn't look easy.
To retrieve the fragment, I had to deal with "that bastard," and since I knew him well, I was a little worried.
Of all people, it had to be "that bastard."
Dealing with him meant I also had to account for the power of the family behind him.
His disposition itself was different from our previous enemies, so I needed an even more meticulous and precise plan.
"......So that's why you shoved it onto me?"
You want to blow your nose without using your hands?
Han Soo-hyeok's words suddenly lingered in my ears.
"Having a prestigious family dig into the ugly face of a prestigious family wouldn't be so bad."
He really was a man with exceptional intuition.
"That bastard's" identity was the Guardian Joo Family, a troublesome opponent for a Demonkin.
Coincidentally, he was the third son who would clash with Joo A-rin—who had safely finished the first nest occupation battle—at every turn from now on.
......It was Joo Yeo-hoon.
He was in the same year as Jeong Ae-ri, a senior one year above us.
His personal martial strength was nothing special, but every other factor about him was formidable.
Wealth, political power, his maternal family's influence, and a ruthlessness that didn't care about means or methods.
I guess you could call him like the guy from the movie BeXrang, JoX-ho.
He was clearly a burdensome opponent to face right now.
"Well......."
But that didn't mean I had any intention of backing down.
I had to drag him out somehow, expose his connection to the mysterious organization, and take the fragment.
"Joo Yeo-hoon, huh."
I sketched out the plan in my head as I left the mansion.
The current time was already 5 p.m.
The meeting time was 8, so it was tight....... And sure enough.
When I checked my phone, there were not only missed calls but also several messages.
The person who had contacted me the most was, by far, Cheon Seo-yoon.
[You seem busy, so I'll let it slide.]
[Photo]
[Hey, how's this.]
[Photo]
[This one?]
[Ugh, whatever, just buying it.]
[But why aren't you coming? Time's tight.]
I'd wondered why she was sending me suit photos.......
[Hey, if you don't have time, want me to buy the suit for you? I've got nothing to do anyway.]
She had already sent that text earlier.
I hadn't been able to check it, so that was lucky....... No, wait.
Did this mean I absolutely had to attend the opera event now?
My neck, which had been grabbed, was still sore, and my right hand, which had blocked Han Soo-hyeok's Demonic Energy, was still blotchy.
I could hide it with clothes, but my body wasn't in normal condition, so I wanted to rest for a bit.
......This was a problem.
I decided to think about it on the way and moved on to the next message.
[Did you perhaps go alone?]
[Seeing as there's been no contact, something must have happened.]
Reina had also sent two texts.
I felt bad about going alone after we'd agreed to go together, but given the circumstances, there was no helping it.
If she had come along, we wouldn't have gotten a better result than this.
"Let's get going first."
I sent a text to Cheon Seo-yoon and Reina saying I was leaving now.
Bzzzz.
Then my phone rang again one second later.
I thought it was a reply to my reply.
[Sender: Jeong Ae-ri]
[Enjoy your time.]
She was a busy person in many ways.
Going so far as to send a text about someone else's club event.
* * *
By the time I arrived at the hotel, it was somehow already 7 o'clock.
When I stepped into the lobby, I saw several club members who had finished getting dressed up.
Fancy dresses, crisp suits....... Some had even done their hair, so the atmosphere was quite different from usual.
It seemed I was the only one who had taken this casually, so I felt awkward for no reason.
But where was she?
Cheon Seo-yoon had texted that she would wait in the lobby, so I looked around busily, but she was nowhere to be seen.
I figured it would be better to wash up than keep waiting, so I caught the elevator first.
Ding!
The doors had just opened, and I was about to step in.
"Park Ha-yul. Wait!!"
Along with a familiar voice came the sound of hurried footsteps—click-clack-click-clack.
She had apparently just come down to the lobby.
I poked my head out and looked for Cheon Seo-yoon.
"Take the clothes. The clothes."
But there was no Cheon Seo-yoon—just some beauty in a blue dress waving at me.
The voice was Cheon Seo-yoon's, but the face wasn't Cheon Seo-yoon's.......
"What the."
While I stared at her strangely, the distance between us shrank.
Ah.
And then I realized.
It wasn't a skin mask, but something was slathered all over her face.
"Did you put on makeup? I didn't recognize you."
"What are you talking about? Just take this first."
Cheon Seo-yoon hurriedly held out the shopping bag she was carrying.
"You didn't answer, so I picked it out myself. Don't complain if it's weird."
Then, as if embarrassed, she lowered her head slightly and mumbled.
Maybe her feet hurt from running in high heels, because she slipped one foot out and rubbed it against the other.
Her carefully styled and pinned-up hair had also come loose a little, hanging like a pig's tail.
Hmm.......
So I couldn't bring myself to say I wasn't going.
The suit also seemed to have been chosen with genuine thought, not just half-heartedly.
"Thanks. I'll wear it well."
"Hurry up, go put it on and come back down. There's no time. You have to finish within 30 minutes."
Cheon Seo-yoon, still looking rushed, hammered the elevator close button—tatatatat.
Rumble—
Just as my field of vision was narrowing on both sides.
"Excuse me! Are you Mr. Park Ha-yul?"
Someone else was looking for me.
It was the voice of a middle-aged man I'd never heard before, and the sound of many footsteps followed behind him.
"Oh."
Cheon Seo-yoon bent over and quickly pressed the open button, and the doors opened again.
More than a dozen people quickly surrounded us and bowed politely.
What the.
For a second, I thought I'd become the ten-thousandth customer to use the hotel elevator.
"I apologize for the late greeting. I am Kiellini, senior designer for the luxury brand 'GUZI.'"
The handsome Italian man at the front stepped forward and introduced himself.
But GUZI?
The only luxury brand I knew was GuX, so what was GUZI?
Just as I tilted my head, Kiellini clapped his hands—clap.
Then the crowd parted, and tall, large clothing racks came in one after another.
Various suits, dress shoes, belts, and so on were neatly hung on them.
I saw the mark engraved on a belt and only then realized.
"Ah, GuX became GUZI."
Well, probably because of copyright.
Once I knew what it was, the next question came to mind.
"But why are you here?"
No matter how I thought about it, I had no memory of calling for them. And just because I'd made some money didn't mean I had any intention of wearing luxury brands.
Kiellini cleared his throat a few times, then covered his mouth with his hand and murmured quietly.
"The chairwoman sent us."
"Chairwoman Lee?"
Who was Chairwoman Lee?
The only chairman I knew was Chairman Dok—Viper.......
"Ah."
It was at that moment that another chairperson came to mind.
Not Chairwoman Lee—the chairwoman. The Trinity chairwoman who had even sent me a text a little while ago.
I opened my mouth again to confirm.
"By any chance, Jeong Ae......."
"Shh, she told me to keep it a secret."
Kiellini raised a finger and quickly brought it to his lips.
He had apparently even received orders to hide her identity and deliver it.
But well.......
They had made such a flashy entrance that I wasn't sure the secret would hold.
Not only the Taehak students waiting in the lobby, but the hotel staff,
and even tourists who had just walked in gathered one after another.
Everyone was murmuring.
Each of them tossed in a word—rich person this, rich person that.
"Since we're short on time, shall we go up to the room?"
Kiellini gestured busily, telling them to bring this and that.
Amid all that bustle, I spotted one person who was especially restless.
"Uh, um......."
It was Cheon Seo-yoon.
Cheon Seo-yoon looked back and forth between the shopping bag in my hand and Kiellini, twitching her lips.
I quickly figured out what she was worried about.
So before it got any later, I tapped Kiellini on the shoulder.
"Yes, sir. Is there a particular design you're looking for?"
When Kiellini turned around and smiled brightly, I continued in a flat voice.
"You don't need to come up. I already have a suit."
I lifted the shopping bag Cheon Seo-yoon had brought.
* * *
The Verona Opera Festival was a world-famous festival held every year at the Arena, an ancient Roman ruin.
On average, between five and seven operas were performed, and the one we were going to see was called Aida.
It was one of the most famous opera performances in the world—a love story that bloomed amid war.
I entered the venue wearing the suit Cheon Seo-yoon had picked out.
It was a deep navy suit with the collar wrapped in velvet, and it looked fairly high-end.
"Ha-yul. Over here."
"What was with those people earlier? Why did they come?"
Baek Sa-young and Lee Dae-ho were sitting in seats with a full view of the venue, raising their hands.
"Were we late?"
Reina was also sitting next to them, peeking her face out.
For reference, I had met Reina before coming to the venue.
Because when I took the elevator up, she had been pacing in front of my door.
I explained the situation well. Except for the existence of Han Soo-hyeok.
Since she was a Demonkin, I had gotten ahead of things in case she developed any unnecessary resistance.
"......Whoever picked that out has a good eye."
I sat down next to Cheon Seo-yoon, who seemed awkward and couldn't meet my eyes straight on.
It just so happened that the only empty seat was there, so I sat down.......
There was a hairpin in Cheon Seo-yoon's hair that hadn't been there before.
It was a luxury item of this world, with the GUZI mark planted right in the center.
Kiellini had insisted on giving her something, so I had chosen it as a return gift.
Boom, boom, boom—
The opera began at exactly 9 o'clock, launching fireworks into the night sky.
Maybe because it was an outdoor venue with a cool night breeze, I enjoyed it for someone who didn't like performances.
It was nice to focus blankly, without any thoughts, for the first time in a while.
Sniffle.
Of course, it was distracting whenever Cheon Seo-yoon beside me cried and sniffled.
She cried so much that I started to wonder if I was an emotionless person.
I asked because I was genuinely curious.
"What's so sad?"
Then Cheon Seo-yoon blew her nose—honk—and asked me.
"You're not sad?"
"Yeah. Obviously."
At the end of the day, wasn't it just a love-and-betrayal story passed down in every country, like Romeo and Juliet or Gyeonu and Jiknyeo?
"Besides, they chose death themselves. There are way more people in the world who died unjustly. Some cases are like cold cases where the culprit still hasn't been caught. That's sadder to me."
"Wow, are you a T? Anyway, siblings dying together is sad."
"Siblings?"
But what was she talking about?
For a second I doubted my ears, then carefully opened my mouth.
"They're lovers, though?"
"......."
For reference, the performance was in Italian.