After defeating all the monsters, Joo Seunghyuk strode over and gently lifted Lee Yeonsu into his arms.

At that moment, a flood of high-ranking Espers rushed in. They were the ones who had been deployed to the Gimpo Gate alongside Seunghyuk.

“What the hell happened? Why are there Black Wyverns in a B-rank Gate?!”

“Geonwoo, did you take them down alone?”

“What happened to your arm? Did the Black Wyvern injure you?”

“......”

“Yeonsu!”

“Joo Seunghyuk, what’s wrong with Yeonsu?!”

The Espers scrambled about, unable to grasp the situation. Park Geonwoo thought he should explain.

After all, he was the only one who knew Yeonsu had been injured.

But no words came out of his mouth.

Because of my misjudgment, Yeonsu was attacked by the Black Wyvern. I ran away and injured my arm when I tripped while fleeing. While Joo Seunghyuk killed the Black Wyvern, I did nothing but watch.

There was no way he could say that.

While he remained silent, Seunghyuk handed Yeonsu over to a healer-type Esper.

The Gimpo team hurried off toward the boss room, leaving behind the injured Park Geonwoo, Yeonsu, and the healer.

I have to go too.

Park Geonwoo gripped his bleeding arm and thought.

There was a chance an S-rank Gate had opened in the heart of Seoul. As an S-rank Esper, he couldn’t just stand by.

But his body wouldn’t move.

He was scared—terrified. Everything felt awful.

While he hesitated, the Gimpo team soon returned from the boss room.

“Is there a problem?”

Geonwoo barely managed to ask.

“No. Joo Seunghyuk took care of it.”

“Seriously, that monster of a guy. We didn’t even get to do anything.”

Did that mean Seunghyuk had taken down the boss monster too? That fast...?

Park Geonwoo couldn’t believe it. And when he realized they weren’t joking—when it sank in that it was true—he wanted to die from the humiliation.

***

Yeonsu was hospitalized. Park Geonwoo stood outside his hospital room, hesitating over and over.

He was worried about Yeonsu, but at the same time... he didn’t want to see him.

Yeonsu had remained conscious after the fall.

He must’ve seen me run away—saw me abandon him like a coward...

Park Geonwoo had always lived behind a perfectly crafted mask. Even beyond his father’s demands, he worked tirelessly to maintain that image. But everything collapsed in the Horaitron Gate.

He had believed himself to be Korea’s top Esper. Even if Seunghyuk was strong, Geonwoo never saw him as a real rival.

That was a delusion.

He wasn’t even close to Seunghyuk’s level. And it wasn’t just power.

Geonwoo abandoned Yeonsu. Seunghyuk protected him.

Just recalling that day was excruciating. The shame crushed his entire body.

But he couldn’t avoid Yeonsu forever. Park Geonwoo opened the hospital room door.

Inside, Yeonsu was too weak to even scream. He just let out shallow breaths in pain.

“Uh—um, could we get more painkillers...?”

“Yeonsu, are you in a lot of pain?”

Geonwoo rushed to his side.

“Hyung...”

“Yeah, Yeonsu.”

“Did you get hurt badly?”

“......”

He couldn’t speak. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Geonwoo was terrified. Terrified that Yeonsu had seen his pathetic behavior—that he’d talk about it and tarnish the image Geonwoo had built. But instead, Yeonsu was worried about him.

“I’m sorry.”

“...Why are you apologizing?”

“I heard from the Director. He said you got hurt trying to save me.”

...Could it be that Yeonsu didn’t remember? Or maybe the fall had prevented him from seeing it clearly...?

But why would the Director lie like that?

After the Horaitron Gate raid, Park Geonwoo had told his father everything. And the new Director was a close friend of his father’s. So then—

“...I’m fine.”

“But your arm...”

“...It’s almost healed.”

How much does Yeonsu remember? What exactly did the Director say? Without knowing, it was hard to keep the conversation going.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that. Just focus on recovering. You need potions or painkillers. I’ll call the doctor.”

In the end, Park Geonwoo fled the hospital room.

***

When he got home, his father greeted him with a hearty laugh.

“Don’t worry, son. I’ve taken care of everything.”

“Taken care of...?”

A terrible chill spread through his body.

“Fortunately, Yeonsu doesn’t remember. So we told everyone you saved him. The Director worked hard, so be sure to thank him properly.”

Of course—it had been his father’s doing.

“...Why did you lie?”

As Geonwoo spoke in protest, his father’s bright smile vanished instantly.

“What was I supposed to say? That you fell flat on your face when an S-rank monster showed up? That while the chairman’s bastard son saved Yeonsu and took down the boss, you just stood there shaking? What do you think would happen if people knew? Everything you built would be destroyed!”

His father’s words made him feel sick. But he couldn’t refute them—because he’d thought the same thing.

“...But even if Yeonsu doesn’t remember, Seunghyuk knows.”

“Only the two of you know what really happened. And if you say one thing and Seunghyuk says another, who do you think people will believe? Of course they’ll believe you! You’ve got the better image. So stop worrying.”

“......”

Geonwoo wanted to rush back to the hospital and confess everything to Yeonsu. But his legs wouldn’t move. He couldn’t bring himself to send a text or make a call either.

He was terrified that everything he had built would crumble.

He now understood all too well that the same blood ran through him as his father.

The next day, he decided to go to Africa.

He couldn’t face Yeonsu like this. But he also didn’t have the courage to tell the truth.

People praised him as a hero. But he was just running away.

Still—truth couldn’t be buried forever.

“Geonwoo-hyung, please tell me the truth.”

In Yeonsu’s eyes, there was already a strong certainty. The memories of that day had returned.

***

After a long silence, Park Geonwoo let out a heavy sigh and finally spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

It meant he was admitting everything.

“Why did you lie?”

“I didn’t mean to deceive you. I thought you remembered it all. I told the Director everything, too. But when I visited the hospital, you said something completely different, and I panicked. I think the Director lied because he wants us to imprint...”

That Director really would do something like that. But still...

“Even if the Director lied, you should’ve told me the truth.”

“I’m sorry. I meant ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ to, but I left for Africa so suddenly—”

“You didn’t have even a moment to send a text?”

“I didn’t think it was something to say over text.”

“Then what about after you got back?”

“By then, it felt awkward to bring up something so old...”

From start to finish, all Park Geonwoo gave were feeble excuses.

Was he always like this?

They’d known each other since middle school, yet Yeonsu had never seen this side of him.

He always thought Geonwoo was upright and rigid—righteous to a fault, like a bamboo stalk.

Maybe he had been wrong all along. His impression, colored by the original novel, had clouded his judgment.

Seeing Yeonsu’s cold expression, Geonwoo hurried to add more.

“Actually... I wrote it in a letter.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah. When I got your first letter in Africa, I wrote it in my reply.”

Was that true? Or was he lying, knowing the letter was lost?

Finding out was easy.

“I found the reply.”

“What...?”

“While I was overseas, the post office contacted me. Said they’d recovered a missing letter. I’m planning to go pick it up tomorrow.”

“......”

“So please tell me the truth.”

Half a lie, half the truth. In reality, he could go straight to Seunghyuk’s study and check the letter now.

Park Geonwoo looked clearly shaken. After a long pause, he admitted—

“I’m sorry.”

So the letter confession was a lie too. He was the kind of person who’d lie to cover up the truth if it hurt his image.

Even the excuse that he’d marked Yeonsu with pheromones because of his rut—it was hard to believe now.

Yeonsu no longer wanted to talk to him.

He stood up from the bench.

“I’ll have to decline your proposal for an exclusive contract.”

“Yeonsu! I admit I didn’t tell you the truth back then—but this has nothing to do with the exclusive contract. Don’t be emotional—”

He was still trying to lecture him—even after lying.

Yeonsu cut him off with a firm voice.

“It’s not because of the past. I’m currently serving as Joo Seunghyuk Esper’s assigned Guide. I can’t accept any other offers.”

“......”

“I’ll be going now.”

He bowed and turned to leave. Behind him, Park Geonwoo shouted his name in desperation.

“Yeonsu! Don’t trust Joo Seunghyuk!”

“What?”

He turned, and Park Geonwoo said with a grave look—

“Be careful. He’s dangerous. Don’t eat anything he gives you.”

“What?”

Yeonsu wanted to ask what the hell that meant—but Geonwoo turned and walked away.

Don’t trust Seunghyuk? Don’t eat anything he gives me...?

What was that supposed to mean?

It stuck in his mind, but for now, he walked to the parking lot.

He was worried Seunghyuk might’ve arrived first and was waiting.

Thankfully, he hadn’t come yet.

Actually—was that really a good thing?

What the hell is taking him so long? He was just dropping off a drunk kid. It shouldn’t take this long. Is he waiting for the elevator? No, it’s just the second floor. He could’ve walked down!

Don’t tell me... is the plot force of the original novel kicking in again?

Biting his lip anxiously—he finally saw Seunghyuk.

“Seunghyuk...”

“Why are you standing? You should wait in the car.”

“Why are you so late?”

He surprised even himself with the tone. It was sharp and cold—practically an interrogation.

How dare he talk like that to the great yandere male lead? He had to be out of his mind.

“You were waiting for me?”

But Seunghyuk just smiled sweetly. Thankfully, he didn’t seem annoyed.

“Yeah. Did you drop Kim Jun off safely?”

“Yeah.”

Even as he answered, Seunghyuk’s eyes were filled with him. That gaze put Yeonsu at ease.

Nothing had happened with Kim Jun after all.

Of course. He should’ve trusted that. He really did worry too much.