After escorting me to the front of my residence, Kim Sangyoon asked if Id like to have lunch with him, but none of the Red Lotus guys seemed to readily agree.

Letseat together next time In the end, after some hesitation, I had to refuse him. Fortunately, Kim Sangyoon didnt look too sad, and, with the promise to eat together next time, returned. My conscience was prickedsomehow it felt like he expected my reply. Usually if one person gives another a ride in their car, they probably expected a meal in return.

However

Sangyoon-ie is incredibly friendly these days, Seo Dawon muttered.

I thought it was probably for Kim Sangyoons benefit that I rejected him first Additionally, since it was time to resurrect a new guild member, I understood why the servants were so hastyeven time spent eating would be a waste.

So, as soon as we entered the house, I thought they would immediately ask to call forth the magic circle straight away

.Huh? W-What? You want to eat lunch first? I thought youd want to settle the contract first I said.

You look like youre starvingwhy are you in such a hurry?

Choi Lee-kyung, if you neglect to eat, youll eventually cultivate poor muscle mass.

You didnt go and secretly munch on some monsters, right?

Everyone, as if they had never entertained another thought, sat me at the table.

With a spoon in hand, I ended up eating lunch, but, if I was going to eat anyway, why did they even send Kim Sangyoon away in the first place? In any case, I ate quite a delicious lunch in the midst of the three servants burdensome watchful gazes.

They didnt rush me even after I finished my meal, but I didnt want to drag the situation for no reason. I immediately pulled out a dagger with a blue blade. It was the fourth time Id done this now, so Id like to believe my fear had decreased, but

Does it hurt that much? Seo Dawon asked.

What? I said.

You keep on biting your lips.

Seo Dawon, who had crafted the magic circle with an indifferent expression, made a comment after he turned back to look at me for a moment. I felt slightly embarrassed. Whenever I felt stressed, Id nibble at my lips until I drew blood; it seemed that, subconsciously, I fell back into that old habit.

To be honest, as a man, I didnt want to make such a fuss about a scratch, but Everytime I did this ritual, I was brought into someone elses consciousness, shouldering their hurt. To be honest, rather than adapting to the pain, I felt like each reiteration brought more agony.

Should I say that, as soon as I gripped the dagger with my hand, I felt like all my energy seeped out through the scar on my palm? It felt like the energy flowed, disappearing into the Magic Circle through my blood; that sensationthat feel of something against my palmwas so unpleasant

Still, it was honestly embarrassing to show my fear of a mere scar like that. I deliberately relaxed my lips and breathed deeply.

If youre too exhausted, do it later, the mage said.

No. Its justbetter to summon him faster.

I refusedfor my own selfish reasons, but, for some reason, Seo Dawon slightly frowned at my answer. However, as I approached the magic circles center, Seo Dawon pointedly stared at me before eventually activating the circle.

Layered lineslaced into flowery designsslowly tinged gold. I stared, captivated, by the lights dancing like fireworks in Seo Dawons eyes before lowering my head.

..Ngh. And then, in front of the mage, I cut a line across both palms. At the same time, severe vertigo overtook me. I had to sit down and place my hands against the magic circle anyway, so I ignored how the world spun around me. I just needed to endure for a little bit.

However, after the [system message] that informed the conditions had been fulfilled had popped up, the vertigo did not vanish as it had earlier. Instead, I was overcome by an indescribable pain. The severe headache and dizziness did not subside; my insides wriggled, as if I were seasick.

Urgh

At first, I thought I threw up my recent meal, butI spat blood out of my mouth instead. As soon as he saw that I threw up blood, Seo Dawon immediately knelt beside me and drew me into his arms.

Choi Lee-kyung!

What happened!?

First, take out a potion!

Lackey, who had been crouching a little ways away from the living room, ran over and hugged me with its skinny arms.

I knew something was wrong, but I couldnt stop vomiting blood. I felt somethingSeo Dawon using some skills on me?but it was no use.

Rather, whenever Seo Dawon tried to do something, I felt severe pain, and my entire body cramped. He desperately tried to tell me something, but, at that moment, I smelled something fishy from my nose.

Stop it!

Simultaneously, I heard Kim Olim crya loud roar. No way was my nose bleeding too? I wanted to raise my hand to block the flow from my nose, but I couldnt do anything.

However, when I barely managed to raise my eyelids, I thought that Seo Dawons face was far too close to mine. Furthermore, the gleam in his eyes was a little terrifying.

Emotionlessly, he said, Were going to give up on summoning Woo Ragi. Dont just endure; press the summon cancel button.

Haah

Choi Lee-kyung, do you hear me? Lee-kyung-ah

However, Seo Dawons voice seemed to grow more and more distant; at some point, I could no longer hear him. Simultaneously, my view of the clearly visible living room cut off, as if someone had turned off the light.

It was then that my stomach, which had been continuously vomiting blood, finally settled. The suffocating pain subsided in an instant. It felt like I had swallowed some painkillers and, finally, fell into deep sleep.

* * *

Choi Lee-kyung, no way, are you sleeping? Someone called to me, cautiously. I felt a delicate patting on my back.

Opening my eyes, I reflexively jumped up from my seat. I stood up with such force, the textbooks and ballpoint pens on the desk fell, clattering, to the floor.

If youre feeling sick, go to the infirmary. Dont lie down and pretend as if youre attending class.

Infirmary? Class?

Unable to understand what was happening, I looked blankly around at my surroundings. My homeroom teacher from my 3rd year of highschool stared back at me, clicking her tongue 1.

Hushed giggling noises; indifferent gazes glancing at me for a moment before falling away. The homeroom teacher continued class, as if she hadnt been interrupted, explaining concepts on the electronic blackboard.

And then, a familiar voice whispered from behind, Why did you suddenly stand up from your seat?

You

As soon as I turned around, I was struck speechless, bewildered. Seo Dawon, smiling playfully and tilting his headwas wearing a school uniform. The same uniform as me.

Youwhat are you No, but here

Hey, look forward. Homeroom Teach is glaring at me too.

..What? I corrected my posture and started listening to the lesson again, but my confusion didnt go away.

Something absurd just happened; what on earth was this bizarre reality? I had definitely been in my living room, atop a magic circle, about to summon Woo Ragi. However, after cutting my palms, I had no memory of how I ended up back in high school.

Furthermore, Seo Dawon is sitting behind me?

I didnt go to the same highschool as Seo Dawon. Seo Dawon wasnt the one who sat behind me

Huh? Who was it that sat behind me?

However, no matter how much I traced my memory I could remember the face of my former classmate that sat behind me, but I couldnt recall his name. It was as if that knowledge had been blocked.

Soon, though, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Seo Dawon naturally stood up, sat on my desk, and played games on my cell phone. Too naturally. He didnt turn to look at me, but it was as if he had done this for at least one year.

Seo Dawon.

Yeah, Seo Dawon responded, but he still didnt look my way. Looking at that cheeky attitude, he was unmistakably Seo Dawon. Furthermorenow that I took a closer lookhis face looked a little younger, and his voice was higher than usual I felt uneasy; it really did feel like the mages younger self.

So, I was struck speechless for a while; Seo Dawon unglued his eyes from the cell phone screen and turned to look at me. When faced directly with not his red eyes but more auburn irises, the words died in my throat. Was that the color of his eyes before he died?

Whyd you stop speaking?

N-nothing Anyway, you. Are you also in the Vengeful Ghost memory too? I soon returned to my senses and asked the other. I had thought he might have intervened and changed something.

However, Seo Dawon made a subtly strange expression and responded, What?

I asked if you also entered the Vengeful Ghost memory playback.

Whats that?

Huh?

When I opened my eyes wide at his absurd words, Seo Dawon frowned and placed his hand on my forehead. It was as if he was checking me for a fever.

Are you really sick? Youve been saying weird things since morning.

No, Im not saying anything weird

Youre boiling up. Then, he dragged me along by the arm with brutal force and took me to the nurses office. At the very least, he had wanted me to take a fever reducer.

TL: The angst! Summoning these ghosts is truly putting a toll on Lee-kyung. I saw a fancomic depiction of this scene a while back, which made me want to read this novel! What do you think is going on? Why is he back in high school?

Footnotes