When I frowned deeply, Raphael anxiously observed my reaction.
"…Aren't you?"
"Of course not. What gave you that idea?"
"Well…"
Raphael pulled out his phone again and began typing furiously.
"The Guild Leader only contacts me when it's absolutely essential. And the messages always come with specific times, places, and details."
A moment later, he showed me his message history with Simeon.
I wasn't sure if this could even be considered a conversation.
<13th, 11:00 AM>
[Gangnam N Building. One person with midsection puncture wound.]
<28th, 9:00 PM>
[Changwon H Village. Two people with lacerations on right hand and severe blood loss.]
<31st, 1:00 PM>
[Incheon C Hotel. One person with cerebral hemorrhaging.]
Even for business correspondence, it was far too stiff. Not a single casual word was exchanged.
Was this really the Simeon I knew? The one who went out of his way to say things just to irritate me? The gap between my image of him and this was so vast that it felt like I was looking at a different person entirely.
"Even emergency alerts aren't this curt…"
"Haha, but I received a full sentence recently for the first time."
Raphael scrolled down to show me the most recent message.
[Raphael. Can you come as soon as possible? I have an urgent request.]
Compared to his earlier messages, this was indeed much softer. This was the Simeon I knew. But Raphael seemed incredibly touched by this, hugging his phone to his chest with a flushed face.
"Isn't it amazing? He actually said 'please'. The Guild Leader asked me for a favor…"
Raphael looked like he was reminiscing about an unforgettable memory, shaking his head in awe. While it was indeed different from before, his near-tearful reaction was hard to understand.
"Is that really something to be so shocked about? Work emails are usually formal, aren't they?"
"You don't understand. You have no idea how little the Guild Leader speaks."
How little he speaks? That sly fox?
Raphael leaned in and whispered as if sharing a secret as I tilted my head in confusion.
"When you work together for a long time, you'd expect to share something at least once, right? Like family, friends, or even just a favorite food or movie."
"Well… yeah."
"But I've never had a single personal conversation with the Guild Leader. I know nothing about his family, not even his smallest preferences. I once asked if anything troubled him, but he just smiled and dodged the question."
That reminded me of my initial encounters with Sang, like when we met at the orphanage. Back then, it took nearly a month for him to open up to me. But after a whole year of working together, he still hadn't said a word to his colleagues? I could understand why Raphael looked so forlorn.
"Do you know what he said when I first joined the guild?"
Raphael's face suddenly turned serious.
"Keep it brief. Ask for anything you need. You can lie, but don't let me catch you."
"…That's harsh."
"Right? I know he's kind now, but back then, he really scared me."
I learned from Simeon that it's much scarier to be gently crushed than to be outright violent. I nodded in agreement, and Raphael, encouraged, continued.
"Anyway, the fact that someone who rarely contacted me for anything other than work suddenly changed…"
"That message from earlier?"
"Yes! And when I didn't check the message right away because of other work, he even called me. I thought something serious had happened, but he just asked me to treat a civilian, not an apostle or a hunter. He said it didn't matter what gem I used and that I should tell him if I needed anything. He even promised to do anything as long as the person could be fully healed."
Raphael talked so excitedly, like a student hearing about his teacher's first love.
Best gifts for your loved ones
"Doesn't that make you think the Guild Leader has finally found someone special?"
Someone special. Does this abnormal relationship appear that way to others? The idea that Simeon cherishes me more than others didn't make me happy; it made me feel like I was sinking deeper into a swamp.
"It's not like that. He asked for your help because of certain circumstances."
I don't want to repeat the mistake I made seven years ago. So I need to leave before I become too happy. Before my feelings for him turn into pain, guilt, and self-reproach, I have to run away. But there's a shackle around my neck. My plan to find out the condition to remove it has failed.
I need to find another way out quickly—a way to escape from this cozy cage.
As I felt cornered, a sigh escaped Raphael's lips.
"…That's a shame."
A shame? What is?
"I was relieved, thinking that the Guild Leader finally had someone he could rely on…"
…No. I'm not that kind of a good person.
"I thought that if it were you, the Guild Leader might somehow finally open his heart."
I'm only thinking about how to escape from here.
"Even if it's not me, Raphael and the other guild members are still by his side."
I thought this would comfort him, but Raphael looked even more troubled.
"What are you talking about? He doesn't trust us."
"That can't be true."
"It's true. He trusts our abilities but as people… I'm not so sure."
The smile that had brightened his face when we first started talking faded into something more bitter.
"The Guild Leader originally established The Apostles guild to collect spiritual beasts efficiently. I don't know about other guilds, but in ours, we're not really colleagues—we're just pieces on a chessboard, moving according to the Guild Leader's strategy."
Suddenly, I recalled something Simeon had said. He once mentioned that he sends only the people necessary for the mission, excluding their personal opinions. The organization runs efficiently if the leader is capable, but the members inevitably feel like mere tools.
"Of course, we all, myself included, joined the guild because we agreed with that system. But sometimes, it feels lonely, like an invisible line separates us."
"Ah…"
"But this time, when he asked for my help, I was really moved. I think you played a big role in this. The Guild Leader seems to be changing gradually because of you."
He shouldn't change. There's no need for him to change. I should go my way, and he should go his. We should part ways. I want to disappear, like sand drenched by the tide that dries up without a trace.
"I'll say it again, we're not in that kind of relationship. He's the one who put this collar on me because he doesn't trust me."
I lifted my chin slightly, showing Raphael the collar. He asked in a worried tone,
"That's…
"Yes. I heard that if I reveal any information about The Apostles to the outside, it'll tighten until it kills me."
Raphael frowned as if he were wearing the collar himself. Then he quietly reached out, gently touching the vine-wrapped collar around my neck. Unlike when Simeon had touched it, Raphael's touch was filled with pity.
"He might not have regretted putting it on at the time, but now… maybe he's starting to."
"Regret?"
Regret? No way. Every time he sees me wearing it, he smiles with satisfaction.
I scoffed at the idea, but Raphael spoke with certainty as if he knew Simeon's mind.
"The Guild Leader was extremely worried about your injured leg. He even asked me for a favor he's never asked for before."
"That's… true."
"But if he thinks that the spirit item he placed on you could strangle you to death, wouldn't that make him even more anxious? And if you did get hurt because of it, wouldn't he feel guilty?"
I was dazed, as if someone had hit me in the back of the head.
'But seeing you all beaten up, I regretted it for the first time.'
When I think about it carefully, the only time Simeon was truly flustered was when I got hurt. He was anxious when I got close to the sea cliff, afraid I might fall. The stern expression on his face and his trembling eyes back then were genuine.
Yet, he put
Yes. That's why he set those conditions.
'When you no longer think of me… that's when
If I stop thinking about him, the risk of revealing information about The Apostles will decrease.
Of course, now it's become a shackle that will never come off, contrary to his original intentions. Yet Simeon isn't worried. He already knows that I would never betray The Apostles.
He also knows very well why I keep the secret—not out of fear of the collar's pain, but simply to avoid causing him trouble. Ultimately, this game he designed this game from the start so that he would win.
Was there really no way for me to escape from him?
"Did you know?"
Just as I was sinking into despair, Raphael spoke as he gently stroked the reddened skin pressed by the collar.
"Once
"Why?"
"It's connected to its origin. It's because of the queen's fate who wore it."
I vividly remember the origin of
"Her fate… She tried to escape from the king while wearing the crown and ended up dying, right?"
"Yes. But there was something more important that happened before that."
Something important? Simeon hadn't mentioned anything like that…
Raphael spoke in a low voice as I tilted my head in confusion.
"Before she died, the queen threatened the king."
"Threatened… the king? Is that even possible?"
"She knew what the king feared the most."
"And what was that?"
Disgrace? Being dethroned? After a moment of hesitation, Raphael spoke words that took me by surprise.
"Her own death."
For a moment, it felt like my blood froze.
"She took herself hostage and threatened the king. She said if he didn't remove it immediately, she would take her own life. Even if he didn't remove it, she said it would never go how he wanted."
Why hadn't I thought of this until now?
"The king didn't listen. He never imagined the queen would be willing to die."
Why does Simeon keep me by his side? What feelings does he have for Johan? Is it affection, hatred, or something in between? These questions are useless in the face of escaping his grasp.
Have I overlooked the most important fact?
"Even after a few hundred years, the crown didn't decay as it sat on her skeleton. Some believed it was because her resentment hadn't disappeared, but I believe… it's because the king still regrets it."
Simeon is most afraid… of losing me.
That is the only truth. That is the only way to win this game with him.
"Thank you for telling me, Raphael."
Yes. Let's make a deal.
"You've helped me understand a lot."
I'll take myself hostage and escape this cage.
My opponent is Simeon. If I show even the slightest weakness, the opportunity will vanish instantly. So, I need to prepare for every possibility… even though calling this a safeguard might not be entirely accurate.
"Can I borrow your phone? I left mine at home."
Raphael looked puzzled when I suddenly mentioned the phone.
"Why do you need a phone all of a sudden?"
"I want to take a closer look at the article I was in earlier."
Pretending to be embarrassed, I forced an awkward smile, and Raphael quickly let his guard down. With an "Ah," he unlocked his phone and handed it to me.
"But hyung, I thought you weren't interested?"
"The more I think about it, the stranger it seems. I never imagined I'd be in an article…"
"Haha! I felt the same way at first."
Raphael laughed heartily and returned to focusing on matching the wavelengths of the gemstones.
The article I'd seen earlier was still on the screen. Pretending to read it, I quickly scrolled down and found the email address of the article writer. Then, I logged into my account and sent him an email.
Luckily, Raphael was so focused on finding the right gemstone that he didn't notice me typing on the keyboard. After erasing all traces of the email and logging out of my account, I returned the phone to its original screen and spoke casually.
"Lots of wild speculation."
"Don't pay too much attention to the comments."
"I guess I shouldn't. It'll blow over soon enough anyway."
Just as I returned the phone, there was a knock on the door, and Simeon entered. He'd said he would bring food, but since he came empty-handed, something must have come up. That's actually better. I plan to leave once the treatment is done.
"Guild Leader!"
Raphael greeted him with a bright smile, and Simeon responded with a faint smile.
"How's treatment going?"
"We were just about to start. I was just talking with Hajae-hyung."
Was it just my imagination? As soon as Raphael finished speaking, the air seemed to turn cold. I quickly replayed the conversation in my head but couldn't find anything wrong, yet Simeon's expression subtly hardened.
Finally, he looked at me and muttered to himself as if in deep thought.
"Hajae… hyung?"
…Was that the problem?
It seemed like he was interrogating Raphael about what had happened, but I didn't have anything to say, so I just shrugged lightly. His narrowed black eyes showed that he wasn't pleased with the situation.
"You seem to have gotten quite close."
"Hehe, that's my specialty—making friends with strangers."
Raphael seemed oblivious to the icy atmosphere, focusing on finding minerals while Simeon glared at him. Finally, Raphael found a greenish stone and placed it in my hand.
"This is it…!"
Raphael exclaimed. It didn't look any different from the others to me, so I was just confused.
"Did you find it?"
"Yes! I had a feeling it would be an emerald, and I was right."
His pure joy reminded me of a child who'd found the missing piece of a puzzle. Raphael pulled back the blanket and placed the emerald stone on my injured thigh. Then, he took out a long metal object from his pocket. It was thicker than a needle, more like a chisel used to split stones.
I didn't know what he would do with it, so I just stared blankly. Raphael grinned.
"It might sting a little."
It was the kind of thing a nurse might say just before giving an injection, and my leg tensed instinctively. Raphael raised the chisel high and struck the stone with all his might. The moment he did, an intense green light burst from the emerald. The light was so bright I had to close my eyes tightly.
Soon, I heard Raphael's triumphant voice.
"Amazing, isn't it?"
When I opened my eyes, the stone on my thigh was shattered. At the same time, the throbbing pain around the wound completely vanished. It was hard to believe, so I bent and straightened my leg several times. It moved as if I had already finished rehabilitation.
"So the stories about healing with gemstones were true…"
Do all A-rank awakened individuals have abilities like this? I couldn't stop marveling as I touched the area around the wound, and Raphael smiled happily.
"Of course it's true! Want to try walking?"
I took Raphael's hand and slowly stood up. I was afraid of possible pain, so I hesitated to put my foot on the ground. However, there was no discomfort as I walked barefoot on the hard floor. The treatment was so perfect that I felt guilty for having doubted him even for a moment.
"This is incredible, Raphael. I've never seen an ability like this."
"Haha, well, of course! Do you know who I am?"
His proud face wasn't annoying; it was actually cute, so I felt like teasing him.
"Honestly, I was a bit skeptical when you kept putting stones in my hand."
"Don't even mention those Germanium bracelets!"
"Haha, I'm just kidding. Thank you so much."
When I sincerely expressed my gratitude, Raphael seemed to get a little shy, smiling bashfully. I felt guilty about betraying such a kind person right after he helped me, but I had no choice.
"Since it's come to this, how about we go for a walk?"
I gently tugged on the hand that was supporting me, and Raphael's eyes widened.
"A walk?"
"I've been lying down for days, so my body feels stiff. I want to feel the sea breeze."
"I'd love that!"
Raphael was as happy as a puppy hearing the word "walk."
The problem is Simeon. He should agree to join us for the walk… When I looked back, Simeon stood a few steps behind, just watching us. His expression was as unreadable as ever.
"Why don't you join us?"
After a moment of silence, Simeon slowly nodded.
"Alright. But don't overdo it."
"I'm perfectly fine, thanks to Raphael."
It's surprising. I thought you would say no.
I hurried out of the room with Raphael before Simeon noticed anything strange. The security guard guarding the door followed me, but it didn't bother me. Unless he followed closely, he won't be able to interfere with my plans.
As soon as I stepped outside, the scent of the sea filled the air. As I got closer to the cliff, the distant horizon where the sky and the sea met came into view. It was always a beautiful sight, no matter how many times I saw it. But I had no time to enjoy the view leisurely.
"Ah, now it finally feels like I'm home."
I pretended to watch Raphael as he stretched while quietly assessing the situation.
The distance to the cliff was appropriate. Raphael was right beside me, Simeon was a few steps behind, and the bodyguard was even farther away. Even if they rushed over, reaching me would take a few seconds. All I needed now was to divert Raphael's attention elsewhere…
"Oh, right. Guild Leader."
Just then, Raphael turned to Simeon and spoke.
"What about inviting Hajae-hyung to join as an apostle?"
"…An apostle?"
"Yes! Although, we should ask him what he thinks first."
Now was the time. No, this was the only time.
So, let's end this. Right here.
I discreetly pick-pocketed the sword from Raphael's waist as I slowly passed him. Then, with the sword hidden behind my back, I walked toward the cliff. Raphael's voice called out when I could see the steep drop below.
"Hajae-hyung, what do you think?"
I turned slowly and saw the faces of all three men lined up. Each wore a different expression. Raphael was still clueless, the bodyguard indifferent; only Simeon noticed something was wrong as his face tensed. When he finally saw the sword in my hand, his eyes widened.
The moment Simeon tried to approach, I immediately raised the sword to my neck.
"Don't move."
Only then did Raphael notice the sword and his face turned pale.
The blade pressed against my delicate skin. Raphael wasn't exaggerating when he said it could cut through the toughest monster hide. It was so sharp that even the slight graze felt like it'd already pierced my skin. As a sharp pain creased my brow, Raphael, startled, stepped forward.
"…Hyung?"
"If you take just one more step, I'll stab my carotid artery."
Raphael flinched as I lifted the blade upright and stopped in his tracks. The amount of blood trickling from my neck seemed to worry the fragile Raphael, who couldn't hide his anxiety. Then, Simeon's voice, barely suppressing his emotions, broke the silence.
"What… are you doing?"
His dark eyes flashed with cold fury. The carefree demeanor he usually maintained was entirely gone, replaced by anger. Yet, instead of fear, I felt a strange sense of relief. Had I ever taught him that a person who loses their composure in a game is destined to lose?
"I don't want to be toyed with by you anymore. So, promise me. Promise that you'll never appear before me again… and nothing will happen."
Simeon swallowed dryly and slowly reached out toward me.
"Put that down, it's dangerous."
"I can't die anyway, so what's the big deal?"
"Mr. Hajae!"
"If you want to stop this, then promise me."
His slightly parted lips twitched, but no words came out. Who would've guessed that someone who could lie without changing his expression would be so flustered? As I thought, I was his only Achilles' heel, despite how perfect he seemed.
"…Hyung."
When I turned toward the trembling voice, I saw Raphael's face ashen with fear. I felt nothing but guilt toward him. I didn't want to show him such a pathetic hostage act…
"I'm sorry, Raphael."
"No, it's okay. So, please…"
"But I have to end this relationship here."