Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Woman in the House
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He'd promised to attend the gathering two days ago but didn't show up, and he wanted to grill him about forcibly summoning that newbie healer—who'd been clearing dungeons like a pro—using expensive items to boot. Two birds with one stone.
Honestly, he hadn't wanted to drag himself all the way to the house, but there was no choice. The guy who kept his word with infuriating stubbornness wasn't picking up his calls.
Judging from the recent cake request, Ha Do-kyung figured Yeon Woo-jin's tastes had changed, so he'd even picked up that Memoria cake from last time.
It was a bribe of sorts, to mellow the bastard out even a little after stuffing his face.
He had a spare card key, but barging in without warning would end predictably.
To settle things peacefully, he knocked. Minutes passed with no answer. Dozens of calls later—either blocked or ignored—no sign of pickup.
"Fuck."
Bang.
Reason drowned in rage, Ha Do-kyung hammered the door like a maniac. Still nothing. Finally, he swiped the card key and let himself in.
'Dining table should do.'
As he set down the cake box, a presence prickled from behind. He whipped around.
He'd charged in cursing blindly, but it wasn't Yeon Woo-jin behind him.
"Ah, hello?"
A woman. Some stranger gripping a hefty iron stand like a baseball bat, mid-swing but yanking it behind her back.
Black hair, black eyes. Upturned corners giving her a sharp, chilling look, skin pale to the point of ghostly.
Her stoic face clashed with the blatant embarrassment splashed across it.
"...Who are you?"
No, why was she lurking behind me like that? And the stand—what the hell?
Rage evaporated, questions flooded in. Ha Do-kyung scanned the place fast.
New furniture dotted the space, but the stark barrenness screamed Yeon Woo-jin's lair.
Confirmation hit like a truck.
A woman. XX chromosomes.
Unless she was some pitiful, deranged thief invading an S-rank Esper's domain, that meant a woman was in Yeon Woo-jin's house.
Recent antics replayed in his head.
The territorial freak who loathed intruders okaying a barely-known newbie healer into his home.
Never once seen him touch sweets, yet suddenly quizzing famous cake shops.
Schoolyard survivor of the guild master's personality meltdown, Ha Do-kyung's instincts—honed to perfection—kicked in.
This woman's the culprit.
"Hah... damn. Lived long enough to see it all. A chick in that guy's pad."
Beyond comprehension, his head pounded.
Ha Do-kyung clawed at his hair and demanded Yeon Woo-jin's whereabouts. She replied.
"Ah, Yeon-woo? Sorry, I just woke up. No clue."
"...Pardon? Yeon-woo?"
Yeon-woo who? Nickname for Yeon Woo-jin? Why so chummy? Pet name?
Flustered, he stepped closer without thinking, about to confirm if she meant Yeon Woo-jin.
Sudden thud—crushing weight slammed him down. All-too-familiar, soul-crushingly oppressive force.
"What're you doing here?"
Familiar voice boomed overhead, as expected. Then her panicked one.
"Right! Yeon-woo! Call an ambulance now. Guy went down headfirst—could be a concussion!"
"I'm fine."
"No, you might be, but he's not!"
His tone with her—uncharacteristically soft. Ha Do-kyung reeled, body failing under mental whiplash.
'Crazy... Yeon Woo-jin using polite speech?'
People getting honorifics from Yeon Woo-jin? Fingers on one hand covered it. That gentle timbre? First time ever.
Head throbbed worse than the pressure.
One of them was nuts—couldn't be him, so Yeon Woo-jin.
"You deranged Yeon punk..."
Struggling up added more weight.
Like a kid hiding a secret, pressure zeroed on his head. Ha Do-kyung scowled.
Finally unleashed his ability to rise. Yeon Woo-jin relented at the last second—barely freed.
"Why ignore calls—"
Mid-rant, Yeon Woo-jin leaned into his ear.
Instinct screamed recoil, but the random word froze him.
"Ju Yeon-woo."
"Huh?"
"Ju Yeon-woo."
The name she'd used.
Shock faded; alias clicked. Ha Do-kyung snorted.
Situation grasped, he introduced calmly.
Truth? Still half-baked.
Who was she? What made territorial Yeon Woo-jin let her in? Why the nonstop glaring?
"Ha Do-kyung. Sorry for the intrusion."
"Sure. Kim Yu-jeong. Head okay? Nasty thud—hospital?"
"Nah. Esper. This is nothing."
"Ah, gotcha. An Esper..."
Her face twisted like bitter fruit.
Offered cake; smile bloomed smooth. Yep, last one was hers.
"Whoa, love this. Thanks!"
"Don't mention it. Woke you at dawn, huh? Never dreamed anyone else here. So... Kim Yu-jeong, what brings you to a place like this...?"
Sincere ask. Deadlier than crooks, sure—but their guild master.
If messy, pay up big, smooth it over.
"Haha."
Robotic chuckle. Relaxed vibe—no duress.
Yeon Woo-jin eyed her cake fixation, hand out.
"Noona, one sec."
Ha Do-kyung gawked. Ears ringing false?
Snatched her cake, poof—box gone.
Mangled treat; she flinched hard.
"Hey, why trash a good cake?"
Yeon Woo-jin shot back.
"Poisoned, maybe."
"...?"
"What if that prick laced it to off you? No eating from strangers."
"...Come again?"
Yeon Woo-jin glared.
Head cocked, beastly eyes glinting gold—raw fury bare.
"Hah..."
Laughable. He knew—no poison. Better than anyone.
Pure threat: back off.
Ha Do-kyung recognized it.
Esper instinct—possessive grip on guides. Core trait.
'...Nah. No way. Not him. Yeon Woo-jin?'
Ha Do-kyung masked his mouth. Eyes betrayed shock.
Yeon Woo-jin scorned Espers beast-moding over guides.
Watched them, swore off it—despite abysmal match rate, quit matching altogether one day.
Even as rampage loomed fatal.
His Yeon Woo-jin? Die first before unwanted crap.
'...A guide? For real?'
Hunted guides for guild's lone S-rank—slim matches.
If she matched him, rare gem? No time to idle.
"Kim Yu-jeong, gotta bounce. Sorry for today."
"Oh, okay."
"Apologies for the early drop-in."
"No sweat. Not my pad—you're free to visit, Ha Do-kyung."
Handshake offered.
Yeon Woo-jin's eyes narrowed—but no backing down this time.
"Catch you later."
"..."
Kim Yu-jeong eyed the hand.
Gaze locked brief.
Sharp black stare pierced; busted? Ha Do-kyung smirked faint.
She clasped.
"If chance strikes."
Quick shake, release.
Ha Do-kyung flexed his quietly.
"—Yeah."
Silent calm. No ripple, no wave.
She wasn't a guide.