ETVC C19

Chapter 19

“W-wait!”

Before I could stop it, the guide window moved on to the next screen.

[All guild members and the guild master of Chronos have indicated their intention to participate in the 1st Guild War quest. The guild war will begin at 12 o’clock; please gather at the registered location. Guild masters, please select guild members to mark with a ‘sign.’]

Reluctantly, I chose myself as the one to bear the mark.

[Nearest opposing guild and guild master participating in the event: “Dohwawon,” Baek Soohyuk]

Additional information, which I really did not want to know, was also provided. This meant that the guy on the other side of the door was reading the same thing.

“Baek Woojin, you’re not in your right mind, are you?”

Sure enough, I heard Baek Soohyuk’s voice calling me from outside the door. It was easy to identify the guild members once you searched for the guild.

‘I’m really doomed. Is the entity giving me this quest wrong, or is it Baek Soohyuk’s fault? Or maybe it’s Kang Gwonhoo’s fault?’

Trying to escape reality, I came to one conclusion.

‘At this point, maybe the real problem is me.’

I quietly opened the door. Baek Soohyuk was standing outside with burning eyes.

“Baek Woojin, I’ve never been able to understand your thoughts.”

He looked like a buoy adrift somewhere between anger and emptiness. At least, that’s how it felt to me.

“One day you treat me well, the next you distance yourself. I thought that was teenage behavior.”

I had thought our relationship was decent before our parents passed, but apparently not. Realizing I couldn’t avoid this, I fully opened the door and faced Baek Soohyuk.

“I thought you’d decided to stay away from me entirely, but you’re still dangling around. Is it your trick to make me let my guard down before you show the worst?”

My earnest attempt at reconciliation was useless push and pull. To him, the push was probably nine times stronger than the pull.

“Are you going to stop talking to me altogether now?”

It was a last-ditch stand. Whether I spoke or stayed silent, Baek Soohyuk would be angry.

“You say you treat me like a stranger?”

“Then you shouldn’t have done what you did yesterday.”

He clenched his teeth.

“Fine. Then I’ll let it be.”

This status effect wasn’t just the content but also the tone that was unbearably hard to tolerate. I felt too sorry to even raise my head at Baek Soohyuk, who was practically a stranger.

“Do you think I’d believe you again?”

“Then try to make me submit in this quest — as always, with strength.”

It seemed I needed to silence him for a more peaceful life. With only four guild members and no experience working together, saying this to Baek Soohyuk’s guild, which I had spent over a year carefully cultivating, was audacious.

‘With Kang Gwonhoo around, it probably won’t end quickly, but there’s no guarantee he’ll help.’

I wondered why he even joined our guild in the first place.

“Alright, Baek Woojin. Who in your team has the guild’s mark?”

“Do I really have to tell you that?”

Baek Soohyuk shrugged, revealing his collarbone — seemed like he was showing off his body a bit since last time. Despite the serious situation, my gaze was drawn.

“Our guild’s mark is mine. Tear or chip my collarbone however you want.”

His confidence was fearless.

“How kind. I guess someone like me is pathetic.”

Of course, I was pathetic. It was a miracle Baek Soohyuk even tolerated Baek Woojin so far.

“If you have no strength, remember to live quietly and safely.”

Those words were frightening but somehow also reassuring.

‘Yeah. Why don’t you put me somewhere quiet and safe?’

I figured Baek Soohyuk would help me achieve my goals more easily than Kang Gwonhoo. I was afraid the method wouldn’t be gentle, though.

“If you can do that, then try.”

Ignoring Baek Soohyuk’s grumbling and sudden exit, I decided to simulate other plans.

‘Maybe this first event is an opportunity.’

A clever thought crossed my mind.

‘According to the story, this is the last chance to recover the relationship with Baek Soohyuk. This time, it might just work — and very dramatically.’

As I planned mentally, I estimated the time.

“I should start going out soon.”

I had to meet all guild members before the guild war began. The meeting place was Kang Gwonhoo’s house, which was a complication.

‘Am I slowly getting tamed by Kang Gwonhoo?’

I should have noticed sooner, but although I knew not to let my guard down, he hadn’t done anything particularly bad, so I kept underestimating him.

“I’m not fooled. Kang Gwonhoo is a bad guy, and I’m still suspicious.”

I muttered a prayer to steady myself.

Meow, who had been curled on the bed, suddenly jumped up as if it knew I was getting ready to go.

“I’m waiting. I’ll give you something delicious when I get back.”

Unlike before, Meow was stubborn, spreading its wings and clinging to my shoulder, refusing to let go.

“Ow, Ow! Meow!”

Its claws dug in tightly, and there was no way to shake it off. Its claws, thicker and larger than a normal cat’s, were leaving scratches on my sturdy body.

“Okay, okay. I’ll take you. But you have to be quiet. Got it?”

It obeyed instantly, retracting its fully extended claws. I already feared I was spoiling it.

‘What can I do? It’s cute.’

Satisfied, it affectionately rubbed its small head against my face, which was both irritating and lovable enough to distract me from the scratches. Meow seemed to feel sorry, licking the wounds with its rough tongue.

‘That’s only going to hurt more.’

Looking down at my wounds, they astonishingly healed quickly. The sharp pain gradually faded. Even with Baek Woojin’s exceptional physical abilities, this couldn’t be normal.

‘Must be Meow’s power. My Meow is a monster with many talents.’

“You have to stick close.”

There might be a cruel person who would kill a monster on sight. Someone like Kang Gwonhoo, for example. If danger arose, Meow could recognize it and run away.

‘Since it understands me, that shouldn’t be hard.’

Kang Gwonhoo’s house, which I reached by taxi, was farther than I expected. I was briefly amazed that he could come to my house two days in a row at that hour, then felt a little sad realizing a capable guy like him must have plenty of people to help him move around.

“Hyung!”

Kim Jun-ssi came running from behind, almost clinging to me. Meow briefly startled and floated upwards, then ignoring Kim Jun-ssi, sat back on me.

“Who’s this?”

“My pet monster? I call him Meow.”

Although uncommon, Beast Tamers exist, so many understood what a “pet monster” was.

“Wow, hyung, you’re really amazing. You even have a pet monster!”

Seeing such a cute, innocent reaction made me seriously question whether bringing this kind, adorable creature into this house was really a good idea.

“Is this the place?”

Ryu Jisoo arrived soon after, mouth agape. I sympathized, wondering whether to ring the bell at a mansion like something out of a drama.

“Don’t just stand there; come inside.”

The owner didn’t give much time to hesitate. Hearing the noise outside, he opened the door through the intercom before I could ring the bell. Kang Gwonhoo stood at the entrance, rubbing his head as if he just woke up, looking rather down.

“Come in.”

Kang Gwonhoo seemed dazed and couldn’t hide his annoyance. Though he looked freshly awake and half-asleep, he was dressed in going-out clothes.

He glanced at Ryu Jisoo and Kim Jun-ssi as if they were bothersome obstacles. His expression showed his emotions were still out of control.

‘Why would someone who hates humans this much want to join my guild?’

Kim Jun-ssi bowed politely.

“Hello.”

“You live in a nice place.”

Ryu Jisoo sighed in awe, appearing somewhat overwhelmed by the palace-like house.

“Is that so?”

If this wasn’t a nice place, there probably wasn’t any place in South Korea worth calling nice. He was shameless in his reply, though he knew that.

“It looks too big for living alone.”

I awkwardly sat on the sofa, asking. Kang Gwonhoo sat opposite me.

“Isn’t this just right for keeping someone confined?”