However, Lackey was strangely docile. If it were the real Lackey, it would have bared its teeth as soon as Seo Dawon touched its body.
If I were to compare try and humanize the skeletonā¦ I suppose it seemed more absent-minded than usual. Seeing its attitude, I definitely felt that the skeleton before me was a distinct āfake,ā separate from the original Lackey. However, when I saw it struggling with its hands reaching out towards me in a way that was similar to my precious servant, I felt some pity for the fake skeleton.
However, Seo Dawon coldly said, āWeāll probably need to destroy this.ā
āAhā¦Really? Canāt we just leave it?ā
āNormally, these kinds of copies disappear automatically when discovered.ā
āHowever, this oneās still left behind.ā
āMmmā¦ But, Iām saying this because I truly donāt know, butā¦ If we just leave itā¦would that be dangerous?ā
āI donāt know yet. However, this isnāt a normal situation. Itās better to eliminate sources of anxiety.ā
I didnāt want to particularly harm the fake skeleton, but, because Seo Dawon had such a strong opinion, I stopped trying to hold Lackeyās outstretched hand. In this situation, Seo Dawonās judgment would be better than mine, anywayā¦ Though my heart was uncomfortable, it couldnāt be helped if the fake could possibly be dangerous.
However, when I held Lackey to ready it for disposal, I felt a certain presence behind us.
[Itās been a long time, guildmaster-nim]
There, behind us, was Choi Kyung-sik smiling at both of us with his hands in his gownās pockets.
After Choi Kyungsikās ambiguous greetingāwas he truly welcoming or was he sarcastic?āSeo Dawonās appearance began to change slowly. That is to sayā¦he returned to his original form, shedding Bae Jaeminās appearance.
Flippantly looking down at his body, Seo Dawon crossed his arms and adopted a placid expression rather than noting his physical change. He then asked Choi Kyung-sik, āDid you do all this to reject the contract?ā
His question was incredibly straightforward. In addition, combined with his domineering expression, the Mage sounded like he was about to start a quarrel. However, Choi Kyung-sik faced Seo Dawon, smiled good-naturedly, and shook his head.
[Of course not. I definitely must sign that contract.]
āThen why have you dragged us along, taking your sweet time?ā
[Haah. Iām sorry for that. I didnāt do that on purposeā¦ Iāve lost track of time while exploring Choi Lee-kyung-ssiās subconsciousness.]
At the sudden mention of my name, I opened my eyes wide and looked between the two guild members. However, before I could fully understand their conversation, the Mageās body gradually became transparent. Startled, I rushed to his side.
However, for some reason, it was impossible to get within a meter radius of Seo Dawon. Just earlier we were close enough to hold hands, but now I couldnāt resist this illusory force field.
I reflexively looked at Choi Kyung-sik; he met my gaze and shrugged his shoulders.
[Itās incredibly nice to see him after so long, butā¦ Guildmaster-nim is, at any rate, an uninvited guest here.]
āYouā¦ to Choi Lee-kyungā¦ā Seo Dawon muttered.
[Weāll be there soon after this conversation is finished, so thereās no need to tremble with anxiety.]
Close to fully transparent now, Seo Dawon opened his mouth and said something, but I couldnāt fully hear what he said. Then, he was soon disconnected from this space.
After casually kicking Seo Dawon out of this āmemory,ā Choi Kyung-sik took large strides to stand before me. Peering at me with shiny eyes from above his eyeglass frames, he looked at me as if he were observing something fascinating.
The Alchemist felt different from his cheery self from within the [Vengeful Ghost Memory]; tense with anxiety, I moved into a withdrawn posture. Smiling, Choi Kyung-sik continued to ask questions to my wary self.
[Actually, Iām a little skeptical of this contract. Iām unsure youāll be able to endure and continue to proceed through these sorts of [Vengeful Ghost Memories] in the future.]
[You already look like youāre at your limits with mineā¦ What are you getting out of this contract? If you continue like this, youāll become an existence thatās neither dead nor alive.]
I could hardly understand what the Alchemist was saying, so I had no choice but to blink my eyes and continue to listen.
āIām reaching my limits? And what does he mean by an existence thatās neither dead nor alive?ā
Choi Kyung-sik seemed to have noticed my confusion.
[It seems like you werenāt making informed decisions.]
āWhatā¦ I donāt understand what youāre sayingā¦ā
[Youāve never thought about it?ā¦ How experiencing a dead personās memories might affect you?]
Choi Kyung-sikās words were like a sword piercing through my lungs.
However, though I was embarrassed by what he said, I immediately protested. Various thoughtsāvarious excusesāpiped up in my brain.
āWhy shouldnāt I experience the memories of the deceased? Am I behaving weirdly? Even though Iāve been hurt before, Iāve never once failed in signing the contractā¦ā
Those excuses were probably why I could answer so quickly, even though, in reality, my thoughts were all jumbled up. āI-Iāveā¦ never felt any discomfort. And, if something was wrong with me, Seo Dawon would take some sort of countermeasuresā¦ā
[So, itāll be okay because guildmaster-nim is protecting you?]
However, Choi Kyung-sik threw back my words at me in an innocent tone.
[Do you really think that?]
[Do you think that the guildmaster-nim would have been ignorant all this while?]
[If Guildmaster-nim knew and yet kept silent because itās ānot important for you to knowāā¦]
[Wouldnāt you feel betrayed?]
Is this what it feels like to be suffocated? I stumbled like a fatally injured person; Choi Kyung-sik dragged me into his embrace as if to support me. However, before I could lean on him, he reached out both hands, pushing at my chest until I stood in place.
āā¦I donāt know why you would say that. Choi Kyung-sik-ssiā¦ donāt you want to be revived, more than anyone else?ā I tried to speak calmly, looking at his cold expression without avoiding his gaze. Choi Kyung-sik looked at me as if he were looking at a mysterious puzzle and slowly loosened the hold he had on my arm.
[Of course I want that. However, itās unfortunate that youāre my only option.]
[This may sound harsh, but after we complete the contract, you and I will be in the same boatā¦]
[Iām simply pointing this out because Iād rather not board a sinking ship. I have no personal feelings or grudges with you.]
After speaking, Choi Kyung-sik smiled; his eyes seemed to really convey that he was feeling no particularly salient emotions.
It was only then I got a glimpse of what kind of person Choi Kyung-sik was. Being able to get along with everyoneālaugh with everyoneādidnāt mean that he was actually close to those people. He was a man who always moved through life with a suitable maskāa smile on his lipsāand maintained clear boundaries.
And, according to Choi Kyung-sikās judgement, I wasā¦ a precarious person that may collapse at any moment.
So, I clenched my teeth and said, āEven if I were to become a lunaticā¦ Seo Dawon would probably have expected that outcome. Then, heāll search for another method on his own. Also, I havenāt fallen into madness yet.ā
āMore than anything, whether or not Iāll remain sane or go insane, youāve already boarded this boatās deck.ā
āYouāre the one who doesnāt have a choiceānot me. I already have four servants; youāre merely an option for me.ā I was careful not to cry, but, fortunately, I had no need to be so cautious. I felt like my temper was cooling rather than rising.
Choi Kyung-sik blinked at me a few times and then stroked his chin with a politely melancholic smile.
[I apologize, Choi Lee-kyung-ssi. Itās been a long time since I died, so I think my words are coming out rather aggressively.]
[However, I think Iām still a good āoption,ā so letās proceed with the contract. If youāre no longer angry at me, that is.]
He apologized very gently; both he and I knew it wasnāt a sincere apology.
However, I was in a position where I needed to accept his apology; the Alchemist bowed to me, as if heād march along to my beat. Once again I clenched my teeth and manifested the [Vengeful Ghost Contract].