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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Si-hwa’s face was visibly tense as she raised her head to look at me.
She had remained calm even in front of that powerful monster, so why was she showing such an expression at my words?
The answer was already determined.
The battle just now contained more than any conversation could.
What was embedded in that final attack was a fragment of our history and love.
Even if everything else could be dismissed as my misunderstanding, this was an undeniable truth that was being conveyed to me.
Si-hwa and I. The two of us…
“…Yeah.”
What should I say?
Where should I begin?
I couldn’t open my mouth.
The moments Si-hwa had shown me in this life flashed by like a panorama.
Only then did the pieces that I couldn’t understand begin to fall into place one by one.
How she knew my name.
Why she kept bringing up Ha-rin in front of me.
Why she enjoyed tteokbokki so much.
“…No.”
In the end, unable to decide what reaction to show, I closed my mouth.
As the owner of the hidden dungeon disappeared, the space of the dungeon began to collapse.
It was clearly the dungeon that had crumbled…
But why did it feel like my heart had crumbled along with it?
* * *
We returned to the final level of the Guryong Mountain dungeon.
But the atmosphere that had flowed between us couldn’t return.
The silent and heavy air felt suffocating.
“…Is it okay if I use this sword?”
I asked her in the most nonchalant voice I could muster.
“…Yeah. It’s fine.”
Si-hwa looked at me with eyes that seemed to have something she wanted to say, but I turned away from her and walked towards the dungeon exit, facing forward.
I felt like I couldn’t have a rational conversation with her at the moment.
“Wow! Well done, everyone! No injuries, right?”
The office staff welcomed us back, who had returned safely.
“Yes. We’re fine.”
I wanted to leave this space quickly.
I needed some time alone.
After signing the register to indicate that we had returned, I opened the door and stepped outside.
The darkening night sky seemed to represent my state of mind.
“Choi In-wook.”
Si-hwa carefully called my name.
“What.”
I wanted to answer casually as if nothing had happened, but my response came out too stiff.
“How are you getting home?”
“Taking the bus.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“It’s fine.”
It wasn’t a situation where we could ride in the car together on good terms.
“Don’t say that, just get in…”
“I said it’s fine!”
I interrupted her.
Realizing that I had spoken a bit too irritably, I apologized to her.
“…Sorry. I just want to go alone today. Let’s see each other at the academy. Si-hwa.”
“…Choi In-wook.”
“Sorry.”
With those words, I walked down the slope without looking back.
Only after confirming that she had disappeared from my sight did I stop and let out a sigh.
“Haa.”
I craved a cigarette that I hadn’t touched in this life.
I stopped by a nearby convenience store, bought the brand I always smoked, and hurriedly lit it.
Cough, cough.
I still wasn’t used to it, so I coughed, but I couldn’t resist.
“Si-hwa…”
While gazing at the drifting cigarette smoke, I quietly called her name.
* * *
Why…?
Why are you lying to me?
Why?
After receiving the report from the butler, I bit my nails.
I couldn’t understand it.
You clearly told me you were going alone today… But what is this…
The photo sent to me by the butler showed two people talking in front of the dungeon entrance.
The person facing the camera in the photo was my future husband. Choi In-wook.
And although her face wasn’t shown, I could now recognize the woman just by her back. Yoo Si-hwa.
According to the butler’s report, the two of them had successfully cleared the dungeon and came out together.
This… There must be something wrong.
In-wook wasn’t the kind of person who would lie to me and go meet another woman.
He was a man who only looked at me…
“…Yoo Si-hwa.”
It was clear that that woman had seduced In-wook.
Not only did she ignore my warning, but she was also trying to take In-wook’s side…?
I felt the string of patience that had been tightrope walking inside me snap.
There’s a limit to how far you can go.
I clenched my fist tightly.
All things return to their rightful place.
Wait, In-wook.
I’ll guide you back to the right path.
* * *
“In-wook!”
Today, In-wook seemed oddly dazed.
Did something unpleasant happen…?
Could it be that he was feeling guilty about meeting Yoo Si-hwa and seeing my face?
Yes! I thought there was a high probability of that.
Honestly, I was dissatisfied that he lied to me, but I couldn’t confront him about it.
He definitely wouldn’t like it if he found out I had someone following him.
But seeing him seem a bit remorseful, I felt my heart softening a little.
It’s okay. I, Yoon Ha-rin, was never such a narrow-minded woman.
We’re not even officially dating yet, so he can meet other women too.
Although it infuriates me that it’s Yoo Si-hwa.
Putting that aside, I was a bit hurt that In-wook wasn’t focusing on me.
“Choi In-wook!”
Only then did he look in my direction.
“Ah. Sorry.”
In-wook seemed genuinely sorry for not listening to me, smiling with his unique smile when apologizing.
“Tsk… Did you forget that we’re having dinner together today?”
“Of course not.”
In-wook answered while scratching his head awkwardly.
“Then, let’s go together right after class ends today. Okay?”
“Got it.”
Still, the thought of going on a date with him made me feel good.
Although it was a shame that we couldn’t go to the dungeon together, these private meetings would be much more helpful in building intimacy than work-like meetings.
* * *
“In-wook. Did something bad happen?”
I thought it was because of guilt, but the atmosphere In-wook was giving off was too gloomy for that.
“No… Not really… Nothing in particular.”
What… Did Yoo Si-hwa mention what I did to him?
Or did I do something to make him angry?
I started to get anxious at In-wook’s sudden change in attitude.
I thought he would be happy if I took him to a fancy restaurant…
Moreover, this was a restaurant that I frequently visited with In-wook in my previous life.
There was no way it wouldn’t suit his taste…?
“Is the food not to your liking? Should we go somewhere else?”
If that was the issue, I was willing to get up and go to another restaurant right away.
“No, no. It’s delicious. Thank you. Ha-rin.”
Then what exactly is the problem?
I wanted to pound my chest in frustration.
Say it! Say it! Why aren’t you saying anything and being so stubborn!
I knew very well how annoying it was to keep asking questions to someone who said there was nothing wrong.
And knowing that In-wook didn’t like that persistent style, I swallowed the words that had come up to my throat.
Unable to do anything, I put the food in my mouth and chewed it.
It tasted good, but…
I had hoped for a more lively and friendly atmosphere.
Could it be that he was still feeling the fatigue from the dungeon yesterday?
Silently picking at the food, I tried to deduce the reason for his behavior.
After putting down his fork for a moment, In-wook stared at me intently.
What… What is it? Why is he doing this?
In-wook, who had been looking at me with an unfathomable gaze, opened his mouth.
“Ha-rin.”
“Yeah?”
His somewhat serious demeanor made me unconsciously gulp.
“Do you know what food my mom likes the most?”
Of course, it’s samgyetang!
How could I not know his mom’s taste?
In my previous life, when his mom said she liked samgyetang, I even referred to videos and cooked it while sweating profusely.
I remembered those days when I tried so hard to make a good impression.
“That’s…”
The answer came to me so clearly that I almost answered without thinking.
“How would I know? Hehe.”
I almost blurted out the answer.
Surely, if I had answered correctly, he would have treated me like a weird stalker.
But… Why did In-wook ask this question in the first place?
He looked very serious, but that’s the question he asks?
Moreover, he didn’t even tell me in this life.
“Ah. Did I not tell you?”
No. You definitely didn’t tell me about this.
Could it be… that he’s confusing what he told Yoo Si-hwa with what he told me?
Suddenly, that thought made me feel a surge of irritation.
I couldn’t control my expression anymore.
“Haha… In-wook… Who are you confusing me with right now?”
In-wook seemed to realize his mistake and tried to quickly rectify the situation.
“No. What confusion? Sorry for saying weird things.”
…Liar.
It was another lie.
I, who had dated him for 4 years and married him.
Do you think I can’t even see through your lies?
He definitely had something he was hiding from me.
We even made a promise with our fingers that there would be no secrets…
“…Let’s get up.”
I told In-wook that we should leave first.
“Huh? Are you done eating?”
There was still a considerable amount of food left on the plate.
Whose fault do you think it is that I lost my appetite?
“Yeah. I’m done.”
Without even asking for his opinion, I paid with my card and left, saying I had something urgent to take care of.
Back in my room, I picked up my cell phone.
[Yes. Dad. Can I ask you a favor?]
You messed with the wrong person. Yoo Si-hwa.
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