"Yeah. I really hope neither you nor Hyeokjin-hyung enter the auction this time."

"Don’t worry."

Seunghyuk gripped my hand tightly.

"You must’ve been scared, seeing something like that."

"It’s okay. I’m fine."

"Should I hold onto the ring for you?"

Yesterday, after we returned to the estate, Seunghyuk had reexamined the ring’s abilities. But nothing unusual happened.

He concluded that seeing the past was a rare side effect of triggering a Linked Gate, and that the ring itself was not dangerous.

The new ring obtained from the Gate still required deeper analysis, but he decided this one was safe to wear and returned it to me.

But now that I’d claimed to see the future, he must’ve been worried again. I’d said it to protect him, but I still felt guilty for lying.

And yet, guilt aside, this was an opportunity. If I was going to return the ring to him, now was the time.

After a moment of hesitation, I opened my mouth.

"If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep wearing it. It’s not dangerous or anything."

I knew the original plot. While many details had changed, major events—like the appearance of the Nemershield Necklace—still overlapped.

If something like that happened again, I could use the ring as a reason to tell Seunghyuk about the future. I could always claim I saw it in a vision through the ring.

But the moment I said it, regret surged through me. Did I make the right choice?

I had seen his past, and that alone was enough to make me abandon my plan to run. But was it really okay to stay by his side because of some half-baked sympathy?

Should I just give the ring back now?

As I opened my mouth to speak again, Seunghyuk cupped my face gently in both hands.

"Don’t think about anything. Just being beside me is enough."

He spoke as if reading my thoughts. Startled, I couldn’t say anything—just stared at his face. Then our lips met.

The sweet taste of strawberries spread across my tongue.

***

Seunghyuk left the room to contact Do Hyeokjin.

'Now that he’s on it, nothing bad will happen.'

That’s what I found myself thinking as I watched his back disappear through the door. Even though nothing had been resolved yet.

At some point, I’d come to trust him.

Left alone, I turned on the TV. It felt oddly nostalgic—it had been a while.

Aquilus was extremely wary of appearing too close to any one country. As a result, the World Esper Association provided access to broadcasts from multiple nations—and, of course, that included Korean networks.

Seeing Korean TV while abroad made me feel unexpectedly sentimental.

The news was covering the upcoming auction of the Nemershield Necklace.

Owning that treasure meant you could be free of matching rate problems.

A miracle that no Red Lotus Flame research, new drug, or experimental relic had ever achieved—of course the Korean media was going wild.

"Major guilds and Espers from around the world are flocking to Aquilus. All eyes are on who will walk away with the legendary treasure—the Nemershield Necklace."

Whoever that ends up being... it won’t be Hyeokjin-hyung or Seunghyuk. Because I’ve changed the future.

While I was lost in thought, the next story aired.

"S-rank Esper Park Geonwoo, who had been hospitalized after a drunk driving accident, has been discharged in good health after two months."

As the anchor spoke, footage played of Park Geonwoo leaving a Korean Esper hospital.

He bowed a full ninety degrees to the reporters and began his interview.

"I apologize for the concern I’ve caused to the public."

He looked a bit thinner but still healthy.

So he’d been hospitalized this whole time... Honestly, I had completely forgotten about Park Geonwoo.

"You were watching TV?"

Startled, I turned my head. Seunghyuk was standing at the door. I hadn’t even heard him come in.

"Ah, well, um—"

Why did he have to come back right now?

I scrambled to explain. For all I knew, Seunghyuk might’ve been the one who orchestrated Park Geonwoo’s accident.

And here I was, watching Park Geonwoo the moment I got out of confinement. Of course he’d be pissed.

"I just thought it was cool they had Korean channels here. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ I was watching a segment on the Aquilus Auction, and then the news suddenly changed—!"

"Was that so?"

I braced myself for him to get angry. But surprisingly, Seunghyuk’s reaction was calm.

"Yeah."

He sat next to me and looked at the screen.

"Looks like he’s discharged."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"He’s such a drama queen. Looked like it was just a sprained leg, and he stayed cooped up in a hospital all this time?"

"Wait—his leg was sprained?"

His condition had been kept confidential, but of course Seunghyuk would’ve found out.

"Yeah."

"I see. Considering it was a drunk driving accident, I guess he got off lucky."

"It wasn’t an accident. Someone hit him on purpose."

He said it like it was nothing—words I hadn’t dared to say out loud until now.

"I-Is that so?"

"Yeah. That idiot and the audit department have been dragging their feet all this time, thinking they’ll catch the culprit. So stupid. Did they really think an S-rank Esper would die in a traffic accident? If it had been me, I would’ve never used such a pathetic method."

"Then what would you have done...?"

"I’d just kill him."

Seunghyuk answered without hesitation.

“Pfft!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

That’s so like him. If Seunghyuk hated Park Geonwoo, he’d just blow him away on the spot. No way would he resort to a roundabout, cowardly tactic like a staged car crash.

I’d been so focused on the idea that Seunghyuk might’ve been the culprit, I’d forgotten the most obvious truth.

"Why are you laughing? Are you happy I said I’d kill Park Geonwoo?"

"No. It’s just... that’s so you."

"What’s me?"

You’re a terrifying, unhinged obsessive.

But I couldn’t say that out loud, so I changed it slightly.

"Tough."

Hearing my answer, Seunghyuk burst into laughter.

"Haha! ‘Tough’? I haven’t heard that word in forever."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. Hyung, you sound like such an old man."

...Well, technically, if you count my past life, you wouldn’t be wrong.

Still, the jab hit a little too close to home, and I couldn’t help but snap back.

"Then maybe you should date someone younger and more modern instead of an old man like me."

"Who said I didn’t like you? You’re my type exactly because you’re my bottom."

Seunghyuk wrapped an arm around my shoulder, grinning slyly.

"Ugh. Hearing you say that out loud is... a little much."

When I grimaced, Seunghyuk laughed even harder.

"Haha! ‘A little much,’ huh?"

He laughed until he was clutching his stomach, tears welling in his eyes. It was unfamiliar—but nice. He looked like an ordinary college kid.

Still... I couldn’t help but ask:

"What’s so funny?"

Was it really that funny? I didn’t think I’d said anything worth laughing about that hard.

"You’re being honest. That’s what I like."

"Huh?"

"I love it when you speak your mind."

Seunghyuk pulled me close and hugged me tightly, looking up at me. His unusually large black eyes sparkled, full of childlike innocence.

"Hyung... I’m not some scary guy. Don’t be afraid of me. As long as you don’t run, I’m nice."

"Really...?"

"Yeah. Really."

With a gentle smile, he kissed me. As I accepted the kiss, his hand slipped quietly under my shirt.

***

That night, for the first time, I told Seunghyuk how I really felt.

‘Seunghyuk, stop.’

‘I can’t. I’m embarrassed.’

‘IDon’t want to.’

Until now, no matter how overwhelmed I felt, I’d only ever said “I’m tired.”

But last night, I finally said it all.

And Seunghyuk didn’t get angry, not even once.

‘Seunghyuk, are you okay? You’re not mad?’

‘Why would I be mad? I’m not the kind of person who gets angry so easily...’

He answered gently.

‘I see... then you’ll stop?’

‘Nope.’

‘......’

Of course, not getting angry didn’t mean he listened. If anything, he got more relentless.

Last night reminded me all over again—Joo Seunghyuk doesn’t know how to count.

It’s not just in bed. Even when we exercise, he never counts properly. I’d do three lunges and he’d claim I’d only done one.

Still, the fact that he didn’t get mad... it made me see him in a new light.

As I replayed everything that happened last night in my head, Seunghyuk walked back in, now dressed head to toe in black.

"You’re awake?"

"Yeah. You haven’t left yet?"

He said he was heading out early this morning to meet Do Hyeokjin.

"I’m about to. It might take a while. You’ll be okay on your own?"

His eyes were full of concern as he gently caressed my cheek. He looked like a dad heading to work after leaving his kid home alone. It made me smile.

"I’ll be fine. I’m not a kid."

"Try not to leave the hotel if you can. I’m just... worried, that’s all."

If someone was targeting Do Hyeokjin to frame Seunghyuk for murder—like in the novel—then it was possible they might come after me too.

They probably wouldn’t make a move until the auction, but it was still risky to wander alone.

Even so, Seunghyuk seemed cautious saying it, like he was worried I’d think he was imprisoning me again.

"Yeah. That was my plan anyway. This place is insanely expensive. Might as well enjoy the luxury while I can."

I deliberately answered more cheerfully. Seunghyuk smiled faintly.

"I’ve asked the hotel for special security. The place is already tight on safety, so feel free to roam around inside."

"Okay."

"Want to hit the fitness center? I’ll watch your workout before I go."

...Was he seriously suggesting that after what he did last night? I could barely even stand.

Even if Seunghyuk wasn’t as quick to anger as I thought, complaining about this might still be pushing it.

I shot him a look and muttered under my breath.

"Let’s eat first."

"Got it."

A mischievous smile crept across his lips. He was clearly teasing me. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Be careful out there."

"I will. I’ll be back soon."

Seunghyuk gave me a light peck and left the room.