TL note: Im not sure why spacing/indentation is off for this chapter and the last

After cutting through the silence, Woo Ragi stretched his long legs and rose from his seat. Then, he pressed on Choi Kyung-siks small head with the palm of his hand. I told you that you wouldnt be able to escape from this even after you died, right?

Youre in the same situationwould you please stop putting on airs?

Nope. Im free and without debts; youre Seo Dawons slave.

Even after dying and coming back to life, I see that your maw 1 is still the same.

No matter how I squinted, this scene was completely different from a warm reunion between long-lost colleagues.

Choi Kyung-sik didnt lose to Woo Ragistill bantered back and forth with the swordsmanbut it still felt like the poor Alchemist was crushed. He wasnt laughing as leisurely as he did before In contrast to Woo Ragis grin, his face gradually turned pale, looking half-dead.

So, I inadvertently looked carefully up at Seo Dawon, sitting next to me. I wondered if he actually threatened Choi Kyung-sik and was holding him hostage.

Seo Dawon, as if he accurately read my thoughts from my impure eyes, crossed his legs. Then, as if he were an innocent, altruistic soul, he spoke gently, Ragi says such strange things. Kyung-sik-ie and I have a very egalitarian and lawful contract.

However, if we looked back on all that had happened since the servant contract, Seo Dawon had never hesitated to take advantage of others; he had the talent to control others and not let them do as they pleased Strangely, all of a sudden, I felt an incomprehensible emotion rise for the Alchemist. It was a bit too weak to be called sympathy. I would never call it affectionbut maybe it was similar to curiosity My hostile feelings towards the other seemed to have slightly eased.

Previously, Seo Dawon said that he pulled Choi Kyung-sik out of an unfavorable lawsuit Does the Alchemist owe him because of that?

As I thought that, I gave Choi Kyung-sik a side-long glance. When he met my eyes, he released a long sigh and murmured a complaint. If I could turn back time, I would never have gotten involved with guildmaster-nim.

That makes me upset?

If I hadnt followed hyung, I would have retired in my 40s and lived as a landowner. Rather than being upset, you should restore my life to its original state. Choi Kyung-sik didnt hide his annoyance and continued to talk back to the Mage.

I was surprised by the way Choi Kyung-sik nonchalantly revealed his honest opinions. In a way, it was true their current situation was caused by Seo Dawons failure.

So, when Choi Kyung-sik pinpointed the Mages weakness, I couldnt help but to sharply gasp and stare at Seo Dawon. But, how should I say this Choi Kyung-siks words bookended things so nice that, rather than adding to the chilly vibe, the atmosphere gradually began to become lively. As if the Alchemist had broken through the awkwardness of the situation.

How very He spoke so meanly, but its strangely refreshing

Seo Dawon no longer maintained distance; his attitude became more honest. In other words, he retread familiar modes of communication as he began to sarcastically quarrel with Choi Kyung-sik with a relaxed tone. Kyung-sik-ie is like that. Hes good at saying things he doesnt particularly mean. Hes a bit shy?

Is there anyone who doesnt know that I was kicked out of my previous job for improper speech conduct?

Of course people know. Also, Im the savior that delivered you out of that hell.

It was a contract with the devil.

Think of how high your career soared when you came to Red Lotus.

That was the result of all my vacations being cut short due to crazy workload.

Youre the type to get better results when under a little pressure.

If thats considered just a little pressure, all the alchemists would probably have killed themselves and left no one around them behind. But, since Im me, I could meet Guildmaster-nims ridiculous demands.

There was something cute about Choi Kyung-sik, who looked annoyed by Seo Dawons gentle attitude. Maybe it was because he looked so much like a geeky scholar. 2 Slowly, I began to slightly understand the Alchemists personality, and my body released some tension.

At that time, Kim Olim, who showed no interest in their argument, as if she found it all tiresome and boring, suddenly picked up her ringing cell phone and stopped when she saw the caller. She handed over the still ringing phone over to me as she said, I was going to tell you something once you awoke, but it slipped my mind.

W-What is it?

Koo Hui-seo called yesterday as well.

Why? What happened

I didnt allow him to meet you since youve been in a bad condition; but it seems his patience has reached its limit. He says that if you dont fulfill your promise, hell break the contract.

What?

What kind of promiseJust as I thought that, I recalled how I had obtained Koo Hui-seos blood and accepted his invitation to visit his home before I could activate Choi Kyung-siks contract

I completely forgot

I thought this was a bit troublesome, but I received the cell phone that the Paladin handed over. And Seo Dawon, sitting next to me, looked at the phone with blatant loathing.

[Koo Hui-seo]

Of course, I also felt complicated when I saw the name on the screen. He was someone who could pull a sigh from me just by looking at his name.

Mm First things first, I should take this?

Still, a promise was a promise; I looked around at everyone before touching the screen. Among all those around me, I was most conscious of Seo Dawon. Although I knew there was little difference by now, I intentionally switched to speaker-phone. Then, taking a deep breath, I carefully opened my mouth. Hello?

[]

Hello?

[]

Excuseme? 3 Its Koo Hui-seo right? Id like it if we could get to business as quickly as possible.

[Ha]

I said he should spit out what his business was as soon as possible, but all that answered me was a strange, back-chilling sigh.

Seo Dawon began to tap his toes. In anycase, the rapidly chilling vibe wasnt the only problem. Though I was curious about Seo Dawons expression and wanted to turn around, I hurried to talk nervously to Koo Hui-seo again. Hui-seo-ssi, Ive been sick all this while and havent been able to meet you. Im sorry. I didnt mean to break my promise.

[]

I think well be able to meet by tomorrow. Therefore Excuse me, are you listening to me?

[Ye~es]

[Hngh]

Koo Hui-seo immediately replied to my question in a hushed tone.

But, following that answer, was a brief, strangely sharp groan. I thought I had misheard, but the groan continued to cut through the silence.

That sound was It made me feel unpleasant. It was just likethat bastard was calling me with some kind of lewd video in the background.

No way No matter how much of a pervert this bastard may be, thats.something like that is

I wanted to deny any assumptions my mind conjured, but I was caught by a deep sense of doubt. I recalled all that Koo Hui-seo had done so far; I couldnt speak.

At that momentJung Garam must have heard the same sounds I didthe Assassin casually threw out a comment. Hes not masturbating, is he?

[No. I was playing with Kyungman-ie.]

While I froze, unable to answer Jung Garam, Koo Hui-seo responded with a bright voice through the receiver.

I wanted to reproach the man for answering so calmly, but I got a headache at the thought of arguing with him, so I decided to just ignore him. However, whatever that play could involve, Koo Kyungman continued to grunt out the occasional faint, cut-off groans.

[Lee-kyung-ssi is just too much. I was super upsetI couldnt get in touch with you at allI was so bored and lonely that I, to Kyungman-ie]

[So, I decided to Gasp! Hmm, fool around a little]

[Kyungman-ie has loosened a lot, so its no longer as much fun]

What on earth had loosened? It was not like Koo Kyung-man was some self-assembled toy As I was getting more and more stressed by his peculiar word choicediction that made me imagine such severely dark scenesSeo Dawon spoke coldly, How did you hear Jung Garams voice?

! I was stunned by Seo Dawons question and froze. Come to think of it, Jung Garam hadnt been physically summoned. If the servants werent summoned, no one else could see the manifestations of their soul-like apparitions nor hear their voices. Hui-seos answer, just now, made chills run down my back.

Once again, Koo Hui-seo did not need for the servants voice to be conveyed through my own voice and answered Seo Dawon directly.

[I thinkits because something of me has been left behind in Lee-kyung-ssi Until you wash that out, Ill be mixed in as well.] 4

His tone was languidand yet joyful at the same time.

TL: This is why I think Choi Kyung-sik is such an interesting kid. Hes a bit of a blunt tsundere (ish) but also someone that is wholly focused on his survival. I think he sees a little bit of his own situation in Choi Lee-kyung tbh. As much as (implied) he is thankful for Seo Dawons interference in his issues, Choi Kyungsik is still a wary individual who realizes that hes also a bit of a shrimp in a whale fight (and in danger because of that). Thankfully, I think Hamster realized that Choi Kyung-sik doesnt hate him or anything here~

Also RIP Koo Kyungman