Chapter 215
A Necromancer contract was processed through the medium of ‘blood.’ That’s why I was always required to split open my palm to initiate the [Vengeful Ghost Contract].
However, due to the increasingly twisted [Vengeful Ghost Memories] and the ‘contract risk’ (which my servants still have yet to explain in detail), I sacrificed Koo Hui-seo’s blood instead of my own.
[It’s not that I couldn’t hear anything before…]
“……”
[After the contract, their voices have sounded clearer… Well, there’s no need to be so wary about this, though…]
As a result of that replacement, a few side-effects occurred. In other words, Koo Hui-seo became more aware of the servants.
Of course, even before we used the man’s blood, he informed us that he was aware of the servants’ existence. However, rather than just being aware of their presence, to hear that Koo Hui-seo could clearly hear the servants’ voices, enough to hold a conversation with them… This was an unpredictable occurrence; the tension in the room rose as the conversation continued.
I wasn’t sure how to handle this situation, so I looked towards Seo Dawon. Seo Dawon continued coldly, unfazed. “Did you know that this would happen?”
[I slightly expected this result…]
“So you knew and yet you didn’t tell us…deliberately?”
[You didn’t ask?]
Koo Hui-seo’s response took on a mocking tone. I was worried that the Mage might shout at Koo Hui-seo at this rate, but Seo Dawon continued to speak calmly. “It’ll be quite troublesome if you continue to keep secrets from us.”
[Mm, I don’t know what you’re worried about… but don’t worry… I like Lee-kyung-ssi, so… I haven’t told anyone, yet.]
“Yet?”
[Yes… I didn’t want to put you in a troublesome situation.]
Koo Hui-seo meekly blurted out that last sentence, as if he were seeking my praise.
The corners of Seo Dawon’s lips rose crookedly, as if he had heard something ridiculous. “You’re the troublesome one, Koo Hui-seo.”
[Me?]
“On the day you’re too indiscreet, and the contract is discovered, you’re going back to the hospital.”
[……]
“This time, you’ll truly be ‘alone.’ Are you alright with that?”
[……]
Koo Hui-seo’s giggling voice had been completely shut down. I could clearly feel the man’s befuddlement–he truly didn’t expect Seo Dawon to threaten to shove him back in the hospital.
However, Seo Dawon didn’t stop there and softly, tenaciously, placed more pressure on Koo Hui-seo. “It’s only natural for a slave like you to uphold and protect the contract. You didn’t tell us that using your blood as sacrifice could insidiously insert itself into Lee-kyung’s abilities. After living as a Witch’s son for thirty years, you should know what you’re placing at stake for playing around with a contract.”
[……]
“Or… have you not yet broken habits from when you were a ‘parasite’?” 1
[‘Arghhhhh!’]
As soon as Seo Dawon’s sarcastic remarks finished, someone–Koo Kyungman, I presume–shouted and soon fell silent. Any signs of groans or other noises disappeared. I thought the call had ended, but, before long, Koo Hui-seo spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
[I don’t want to speak any longer with… Seo Dawon-ssi… I’ll call again later, Lee-kyung-ssi.]
“…Alright.” I hesitated and, then, decided to hang up for now. I could hear Koo Hui-seo’s faint breathing until I finally disconnected; I thought I heard the occasional whimper… Perhaps he was crying.
I don’t know if he was crying because he was intimidated or because he was angered, but I felt sorry at the thought of a grown man clinging to the call–despite being in tears–until I finally hung up. Also, even though this was Koo Hui-seo, the memory of how he had been locked up as a chimeric tree in an empty room was still vivid in my mind… I felt an automatic sense of pity.
However, when I hung up, I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Even though he’s pitiful… I’d like to limit my conversations with him as much as possible.’
In particular, I didn’t want to deal with Koo Hui-seo while he was currently interacting with Koo Kyungman. What kind of torture was inflicted upon the brother? Before my complicated feelings towards Koo Hui-seo could even disappear, the weighty sound of the doorbell rang throughout the living room.
[Ding Dong–]
I snapped back from my daze and stared at the front door then at the Mage. I asked him with my eyes if we had another guest scheduled to visit today.
“Who’s that?”
“No one’s supposed to visit today…” However, Seo Dawon seemed ignorant as well; he loosened the arms crossed over his chest. I briefly wondered if the visitor might be Kim Sangyoon, but the Warrior usually sent an extremely formal message before seeking me out for an appointment. The identity of the sudden visitor became even more mystifying.
Eventually, Woo Ragi, the only one standing at this time, took the initiative to stride towards the intercom screen. He pressed the [Connect] button in order to see the visitor’s face. “How did this bastard know how to find this place? No way, Choi Lee-kyung, did you promise to meet him here?”
“What? W-Who is it…?
In lieu of answering, Woo Ragi turned his body to show me the intercom screen. Then, I opened my mouth, astonished, at the image of the man.
On the screen, I could see a man in a suit with his shirt buttoned all the way up to the collar–despite the fact that the summer temperature had yet to disappear and the days were still sweltering. However, that stuffy-looking outfit perfectly suited the the man’s cold eyes. I guess you could say that the aesthetic was well balanced.
[I know you’re home… You should open the door before I tear it off its hinges.]
However, unlike his appearance, the man had a fiery personality. I stared dumbfoundedly at the screen; when the man summoned metal knuckles into his hand–as if he were ready to strike–I cried out in shock. “Why on earth is Moon Issak here!?”
[Bang–!]
Before I could open the door, Moon Issak punched it and smashed through. I made eye contact with the man through the untouched screen door and the hole in the front door.
As soon as he saw me, Moon Issak smiled, baring the neat rows of his teeth. Then, instead of greeting me, he said, “Choi Lee-kyung-ssi. This is your fault–why did you ignore all the messages I sent?” 2
After seeing how speechless I was, he tilted his head, put his hand through the hole, and unlocked the half-hanging lock. He was skillful–as if he had done this once or twice before.
“What are you gonna do?” Woo Ragi, in front of me, hand slightly outstretched. His tone indicated that the question wasn’t meant for me but for Seo Dawon standing next to me.
Seo Dawon stared at Moon Issak with a rare blank face, but I felt irritation far beyond anger emanating from him. I was more nervous about the Mage than Moon Issak, who had just punched through the door…
The Mage flared his bloodlost as he kept his eyes trained on Moon Issak who entered after opening the screen door. “We’ll have to block him.”
“Are you gonna kill him? Don’t think we can stop him from talking.”
“……”
However, if I thought about it further, we were in a position where we’re unable to touch the investigator. In order to subdue him, it would be necessary to summon a Servant; in that scenario, Moon Issak would 100% recognize the Red Lotus guild member. How would he react in that situation… A splitting headache ransacked my head.
Further, in addition to other reasons as to why Moon Issak couldn’t be ‘dealt with’ at this point in time, the act of breaking open the front door and loudly entering the house may have attracted witnesses. He was a celebrity involved with various social work; if he was murdered or assumed missing, too much attention would be drawn towards us. Therefore, even Seo Dawon couldn’t help but be worried about this dangerous situation.
Eventually, Moon Issak stood in front of me without any obstructions. Of course he wouldn’t know, but the investigator had a sword pointed at his neck. I relaxed a little at the sight of Woo Ragi’s echo swords directly under Moon Issak’s chin. “What business do you have with me?”
Moon Issak’s expression didn’t hide how much he looked down on me. “Why would you do such an upsetting thing like ignoring my messages, making a busy man like myself come all this way?”
“…I was injured and was in no state to check my inbox.”
“And you don’t think you’ll be injured if I were to hit you?”
‘This bastard is a total bully…’ Unable to hide my rising anger, I glared at him. But, in the end, I sighed instead of feeding my anger and apologized to the investigator. “I apologize. However, I truly didn’t intend to ignore you.”
Then, I opened my status window and pressed on the ‘Friend message’ tab. I had to check what made him storm into my home.
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TL: Poor Hamster, he just woke up and is dealing with not 1 but 2 headaches.
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