Chapter 195
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Sudden Situation (1)
Seo Yu-ju had taken out the Execution Sanctuary executive, and after some time passed, she was hurrying to catch up with the group.
‘No time. Please… please…!’
She was channeling mana into her legs without holding back, pouring every ounce of power she had.
Memories from the second round—not the first—flashed through Seo Yu-ju’s mind.
From the moment she met Yun-seong in the Tutorial,
to the twists and turns that finally led to his confession.
When Yun-seong set up that appointment to confess something to her, she’d felt like she owned the entire world.
No, even owning the world wouldn’t compare. A world without him meant nothing.
Ridiculously, his confession turned out to be nothing like what she’d imagined, but still…
‘Our bond from the first round lives on.’
He remembered the first round too. Technically, he hadn’t lived it himself, but the relief was the same.
Until then, she’d constantly agonized over whether the first round—known only to her—was utterly meaningless, like some fleeting illusion.
Because he remembered, everything she’d endured had purpose.
Even when he spat harsh words to push her away, by swallowing her pride and clinging to him, she’d bridged that gap.
Swallowing her pride was nothing when it came to him.
If it meant connecting with Yun-seong—if it meant becoming his—she could cast aside her pride a thousand times over.
She was fully prepared to reshape herself to his tastes: the style he liked, the way he wanted her to talk, the behaviors that pleased him.
She had just one desire.
As long as he didn’t shove her away. Then she could slowly fill his heart with Seo Yu-ju.
‘Wi Ho-yeon.’
The problem was that Wi Ho-yeon—this unforeseen woman—had moved faster than her.
‘My mistake.’
She’d overlooked how women would flock to Yun-seong. Her blunder in assigning a woman as his bodyguard.
Learning he’d been intimate with Wi Ho-yeon first ignited a jealousy that drove her mad. Especially when she’d only embraced him after endless trials and her regression.
That was why, in the heat of their intimacy, she’d asked him to treat her like Wi Ho-yeon.
She wanted to prove to Yun-seong that she could make him feel even better.
Everything Wi Ho-yeon had done for him, everything he’d done to her—Seo Yu-ju could take it all, and she wanted him to know.
‘It’s fine. I’m still his official lover.’
She held the spot as Yun-seong’s official girlfriend.
‘Everything was perfect. Why… why…’
She couldn’t fathom why things always spiraled like this.
‘Always…!’
Thud.
Lost in thought as she ran, Seo Yu-ju halted her steps.
She’d faintly sensed another presence—voices.
Moving cautiously to avoid detection, she headed toward the source. Her senses picked up not the group, but strangers.
Peeking from a distance, she realized they were outlaws operating under the Execution Sanctuary.
‘What are they doing?’
From her angle, she could only see their backs.
“Fuck, hasn’t been long since I hauled a corpse. What the hell did this guy do for the bosses to order it personally?”
“Dunno. Heard he caused massive losses for Execution Sanctuary.”
“Yeah? Must’ve really pissed them off.”
Seo Yu-ju’s heart pounded as she overheard them.
In an instant, she closed the distance to the outlaws.
“Huh? What the—?”
The outlaws panicked at the woman who’d appeared out of nowhere.
“W-what? Who the fuck are you?”
Their words fell on deaf ears. Seo Yu-ju’s eyes locked solely on the corpse they’d dumped on the ground.
Thump.
She collapsed right there. The face staring back was one she knew.
“W-what the hell? What’s this bitch doing?”
The outlaws drew their weapons, aiming at her, but Seo Yu-ju didn’t react.
“Ah…”
‘Am I dreaming?’
She couldn’t… accept the reality before her eyes.
After sending off Ruska, I ran into one of the group.
“You…!”
“Haha…”
She lunged at me, grabbing my collar.
“You crazy bastard…! What the hell were you thinking…!”
‘…She’s furious. Not surprising—the alternative would be weirder.’
No sign of Wi Ho-yeon or Gwi-chang, so she must’ve handed them off to the others and searched alone.
“…Sorry.”
Yun-yeon forced down her boiling rage at my apology before speaking.
“Ha… Hoo… Fine, you’re alive, so we’ll call it even. But… what’s with that getup? You…”
It’d been worth rolling in the dirt and messing up my hair. If I looked pristine, it’d raise suspicions.
“Barely got away. But Yeon noona…”
‘Whoa… hardly a scratch.’
The assassin must’ve died without putting up a real fight.
There was blood on Yun-yeon’s clothes, but it wasn’t hers.
“Don’t ask stupid questions. I came to save your ass, you idiot.”
“……”
“Are you insane? What the hell were you doing? No sense of safety? Why go off alone like a moron? Suicidal much?”
I flinched meeting her gaze. It’d been since the spy incident that I’d seen her this enraged.
“I—”
“Save your excuses.”
‘Come on… how am I supposed to explain if you won’t let me talk?’
“…What about the others? You didn’t come alone, right?”
“Ha, fuck… The rest are searching other areas. And… Geomhu took a serious hit, so she’s getting treated.”
“…Ho-yeon-ssi?”
I knew her condition, but had to play dumb.
“No danger to her life. But she can’t move yet.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Her face twisted at my words.
“…A relief? You call this a relief?”
‘No shit, what else was I supposed to say?’
I felt her grip tighten on my collar and panicked.
“Ugh…!”
‘I’m the patient here, damn it.’
Playing up the pain worked—she loosened her hold.
“Ah, y-you okay?”
‘Tch, so this is why people fake being sick?’
Suddenly got why fakers did it.
“Ugh…”
First time seeing her so flustered—it took effort not to grin.
“Hey… just get on my back.”
‘Eh? That’s kinda…’
Wondered if I’d overacted, but then she hoisted me up forcibly.
“Hey? W-wait…!”
“We’re moving like this, so tough it out. Won’t take long.”
‘This is humiliating.’
…Since I resisted the piggyback, she scooped me up princess-style and bolted.
Halfway, I said I’d take the piggyback after all. Better than being cradled.
After a bit on her back, we met the others.
“Oppa!”
“Hyung!”
Starting with the Eternity Clan members.
“You…!”
Even Ha Yu-ri.
“Are you… okay?”
‘Yeah, perfectly fine.’
Couldn’t say that, so I mumbled vaguely.
“I’m good. Just some bruises at worst.”
Ha Yu-ri sighed in relief. Then…
“Ah, u-um, do you remember me…?”
‘…Ha Yul.’
No clue why she’d come to rescue me, but couldn’t pretend otherwise.
“Of course. Thanks for coming.”
“…Y-yes, glad you’re safe.”
‘Meek compared to her sister.’
But Ha Yul wasn’t the issue now.
“…Where’s Ho-yeon-ssi?”
No life threat, but I wanted to check her myself after all she’d been through for me.
“Ah, hyungnim, don’t worry too much. She’s conscious—”
Hyun-jin was talking when I spotted Wi Ho-yeon.
Supported by Song Ha-eun, approaching me.
“…Lee Yun-seong-nim… I’m so glad you’re safe.”
‘…Now I feel guilty.’
Seeing me unharmed, she looked on the verge of tears. From my unscathed perspective, my conscience stung.
“Ho-yeon-ssi, you’ve been through a lot.”
“…Yes.”
She seemed to have more to say but glanced around and held back.
‘Something she only wants to say when we’re alone?’
Anyway, I’d confirmed Wi Ho-yeon’s state with my own eyes. Fortunately, no one in the group had major injuries.
I’d prepared for the worst, but injuries were always possible.
‘Still… where the hell is Seo Yu-ju?’
If she were here, she’d have rushed me first.
‘Hasn’t caught up yet?’
Time-wise, she’d finished off those two long ago—she should’ve reached the group before me.
‘Or maybe she’s searching for me separately.’
To locate her, I reconnected with the chimera’s eyes. The shadow spirit was still with Seo Yu-ju.
‘What the…?’
The sight was off.
‘What… what happened? Fuck, what’s going on?’
Seo Yu-ju’s eyes lacked focus. She was brutally slaughtering outlaws she’d never met.
‘Crazy… insane…!’
I knew instantly: this was bad. Really bad.
No idea why, but she’d lost all reason. Seo Yu-ju was never this vicious, no matter how angry.
She could be ruthless to those who touched me, sure—but always within bounds of sanity.
‘What the hell is this?’
Not like the blood-drenched monster I saw now, head to toe in gore, like a demon from legends.
Golden energy radiated from her, but it felt neither heroic nor holy. More like a villain.
‘Why… why is she like this?’
The surviving outlaws were trembling, pissing themselves in terror.
Tears streamed from her unfocused eyes—her despair was bottomless.
‘Damn it!’
I had to reach Seo Yu-ju fast. Leaving her like that was unthinkable, unless you were an idiot.
“…Goddamn it!”
“…Yun-seong-nim?”
Wi Ho-yeon looked puzzled at my sudden curse.
Not just her—the others were thrown by my abrupt shift.
“Right now… ah.”
‘Wi Ho-yeon’s out.’
She was injured. I needed the fittest, strongest ones for a rush job.
“Yeon noona, Ha Yu-ri-nim, Sharis-nim, and Jae-hyo-ssi—follow me. We need to move now. Everyone else, stay here.”
“What’re you… Hey, what the hell?”
Yun-yeon demanded an explanation, but there was no time.
“No time to explain! Hurry!”
I had to calm Seo Yu-ju as soon as possible.