Chapter 17. The Dreamer (1)
Rather, Yoo Hae-bin herself, who had so thoroughly fooled him, was at a loss for words. Sometimes he seemed like the smartest person in the world, so why was he so oblivious at a time like this?
'It's not like I wanted to get caught...'
Truth be told, that wasn't entirely honest. She didn't want to get fully exposed, but she had hoped for a subtle thrill—the kind where discovery hovered just out of reach. It would be a lie to say she hadn't imagined safely navigating the crisis and returning home with a smug sense of pride.
And one more thing. Honestly, this was so dark even she kept it confined to her fantasies...
'What if I did get caught...'
Of course, Lee Dojin would be shocked. But if he didn't get too upset afterward. The boss who was annoyingly powerful yet endearing. His fiancée, still in America hunting for sneakers without even arriving at the stadium yet. His little sister, who got prickly and sensitive at the mere mention of her brother. The girl in the same classroom who harbored hopeless dreams, closer than before but still not quite a friend.
Without any of them interfering.
Just Yoo Hae-bin and Lee Dojin alone in this sealed car, sitting so close they could hear each other's breaths.
Even after knowing all the sordid things she'd done over the weekend, he wouldn't be disgusted.
And so the mood would turn strangely intimate, their relationship advancing in a rush...
It would be a lie to say she hadn't squirmed alone imagining that from Friday night until this very moment.
>
Of course, judging by how things were going now, fat chance—the hopeful scenario seemed utterly impossible.
Gazing at Lee Dojin, who had been completely duped and set the clothes down without a hint of suspicion, she grumbled inwardly.
'No way... does he really not know?'
If he sniffed carefully, he'd realize the scent on the clothes matched her body odor exactly. But he didn't seem to have thought that far.
Logically, it made sense that he wouldn't notice. It was unimaginable for Lee Dojin, and she'd tricked him quite cleverly, after all.
Still, Yoo Hae-bin felt inexplicably wronged. She wasn't upset about the shameless act he'd unknowingly performed right in front of her—far from it. A twinge of regret mixed with a thrilling sting in her chest as she spoke to him.
"Aw, thanks. You took such good care of me on that mountain back then."
"You're acting extra sweet today. Did you do something wrong to me too?"
This time, he was close to the truth. The idiot had rambled nonsense like how refreshing the scent was and that he should research making his laundry smell like that—without a shred of evidence, just because she was being a little nice. Irritated yet curious, Yoo Hae-bin asked,
"I haven't done anything wrong, obviously... Who messed with you, Professor?"
"Oh, it's not that. Lately, Sea's been super sweet. At first I thought something broke at home, but she said no. Even when I offered to up her allowance, she refused. She's not adjusting well, and I'm wondering how long this'll last."
Yoo Hae-bin muttered to herself again.
'What a joke. Can't even hide that grin.'
So that's what it was—he'd built it up just to brag about his sister. Missing the meaning in her sidelong glare, Lee Dojin kept driving and rattling off praises.
On Friday, she'd come home drunk and even added bean sprouts to his ramen. Saturday, they'd gone out together and watched a movie at home—first time in years, all peaceful. "And yesterday, after training, she brought back food on her way home? Tteokbokki, sundae, and fritters. I asked if she could eat it all since there was so much. Guess what she said?"
"..."
Not wanting to hear his beaming face any longer, Yoo Hae-bin mimicked the voice she knew as best she could.
"What else? 'I didn't buy it just for me... I'm hungry, so sit down quick... Hmph.' Something like that, right?"
Screech—the car halted at a red light. Lee Dojin stared at her blankly and asked,
"...Were you imitating Sea?"
"Oh, you caught on? Was it good?"
"The lines were spot-on... but what's with the 'hmph' at the end?"
"It's like a stage direction in a play. (Makes a sassy face.) You know. Hey, Professor, why'd you take your hands off the wheel? Gonna hit me? I might let it slide if it's a gentle pat—oh, green light. Focus on driving."
Vroom—He floored the accelerator a bit roughly this time, grumbling,
"...You're really asking for it."
"Ahem, in Lee Sea style. 'Oppa... you gonna hit me?'"
"Cut it out..."
"Geumneunheuleogeum heut...'"
After that childish bit, Yoo Hae-bin chuckled and leaned back into the plush seat. His outrageous act of pressing his face against one of her most intimate areas felt avenged enough.
'Any more and he might actually get mad.'
It wasn't far from the mart to her place. Even driving slowly, it took less than fifteen minutes. About halfway there, Lee Dojin suddenly spoke up.
"Might have something coming up soon."
He didn't elaborate, but she knew what it was about. The conversation he'd had with Phantom's boss after returning from Gyeongju last Friday. He was sharing the decision with her too.
With a hint of tension, Yoo Hae-bin asked,
"What is it?"
"Gonna kill someone."
"Reason?"
"One of my enemies. One of the scum who forced you out of your home."
"Where?"
"Lure him into Silver Demon Mountain. Once he's in, we'll warp from Seoul. Officially, it'll be a disappearance."
Finally, she asked the key question.
"Who's the target?"
"Arnaud Duré. I could do it alone, but it'd be easier with your help... Interested?"
"Even if you said no, I'd be in."
"Knew you'd say that."
His tone held a note of gratitude as he outlined the details. Just the two of them—no other Phantom members. "We've been too visible lately. I could handle it solo, but with you, it's a hundred percent."
"But isn't he pretty strong? Saw videos and stories online saying he's top ten among the 36 Heroes in good condition."
"Not wrong, but he won't be at his best inside Silver Demon Mountain. I'll kill him before he can."
By then, the car pulled up to her officetel. She grabbed the mart bag and got out, and he called after her.
"Aiming for mid-May. I'll let you know when it's set."
"Got it! See you in class tomorrow!"
Waving cheerfully, Yoo Hae-bin turned toward home. But then... a sudden thought made her call back.
"Oh, Professor."
"Yeah?"
His face showed only resolve and calm. Was he prepared for what she was about to say? Or... had it not crossed his mind at all?
Hesitating a bit, she told him,
"Lee Sea's softer than she seems. If our plan works... she might get hurt."
She half-expected anger. Telling her not to meddle would be fair. But he didn't flare up. He just looked somber for a moment...
Then replied in a bitter voice.
"Thanks for the advice."
"Uh... then I'm sorry for butting in..."
"No, I'm grateful. For advising me, for looking out for my sister. If it's not too much trouble, keep it up. Tell me if something seems off, and watch out for Sea too."
His bitter tone softened into genuine thanks by the end.
'What do I even say to that...'
Flustered by his unexpectedly gentle sincerity, Yoo Hae-bin finally managed,
"Before we shared a room, you'd have snapped. (Scowling) 'Who are you to worry about my sister?' Like that."
"...My impression?"
"Haha, not denying it. Anyway, heading in. See you tomorrow!"
Waving again, she hurried to her officetel. Staying longer might make her want to keep talking.
She wasn't planning to rush in so boldly he'd find it burdensome. Sure, she'd done shameful things too embarrassing to voice... but those only happened because she wasn't caught.
Do her best, but steadily, step by step. That was Yoo Hae-bin's principle for her Lee Dojin strategy.
Humming as she entered her home, she unpacked the mart bags first. Then showered and returned to the living room, eyeing the clothes rack.
Her gaze fixed on one spot. Walking toward it, she murmured inwardly.
'No sudden moves—keep it from our kind, cute, cool Dojin. I can handle it alone.'
Stopping, Yoo Hae-bin reached for one side of the rack. Clothes identical in design to the ones she'd given Lee Dojin—the ones she'd worn from Friday evening until today.
Clutching them, she spoke as if addressing them.
"From tonight... you're my pajamas."
Her voice held no kindness. The clothes, having witnessed their "fellow's" ordeal over the past days, rustled like screams under her touch—but she ignored it.
Then she draped the outfit—essentially stolen from Lee Dojin—over her body.
The faint lingering scent of him. The soft touch against her skin.
All of it pleased her immensely.
May 12th, Wednesday afternoon.
No classes, so with Professor Seo Sang-wook's permission, I skipped work and headed to a spot pretty far from school. It was quiet, few cars on the road, and I drove slowly, lost in thought.
Yoo Hae-bin's words from two days ago still lingered deep in my mind.
I have to kill one of the 36 Heroes.
I've all but decided on Arnaud Duré.
No issue there, but...
I could guess Sea would be sad. Not as close as with her teacher Charlotte Tate, but she'd built some rapport with him.
Like when she heard about Yeom Ui-jun's death. Or worse.
She'd grieve, despair, grow anxious about the suspicious events around her.
I'd try to comfort her as best I could, but would it go as planned? Yoo Hae-bin might be right.
No matter how I console her, Sea would be shocked by the death itself—and I know that yet push forward.
This gap can't be bridged. Sea will definitely be hurt.
Once I've resolved to kill Arnaud Duré, it will happen.
Knowing that but not stopping... am I upholding my own principles?
Probably not. That's what I've thought since Monday night.
Not true reflection—if it were, I'd change plans.
Just aimless self-reproach without clear purpose.
Lost in such thoughts, time passed, and I arrived at Professor Seo Sang-wook's lab.
Before I could walk far from the car, someone already there approached.
"We meet often these days. Always glad to see you."
Arnaud Duré.
His voice sounded genuinely pleased, but to me...
"You look unwell."
"No, it's nothing."
Compared to our first meeting when he arrived in Korea, he clearly seemed more depressed. The feeling grew stronger each encounter.
Guilt, perhaps.
Hiding my complex emotions, we headed to the lab as he asked curiously,
"So, what exactly is the research?"
"Ah, let me explain simply first."
My first achievement: the defense construct.
That focused on mana utilization and its systematic applications.
This time, the opposite.
Research on mana sensitivity and the resulting mana attributes.
Plus something to pique Arnaud Duré's interest.
"Natural mana in specific spaces and existing there. Each Awakener's mana sensitivity and the attributes manifested from it."
"Hm...?"
Even he, the top authority in this field, looked puzzled.
Hard to guess, even for him.
I feigned a meaningful tone and delivered the conclusion.
"The connection between them... I might have found it."
"...!"
His eyes widened.