There was a restaurant on the first floor of this building. I remember hearing about it on the guided tourâŠ
The problem was that there were more than 1 or 2 restaurants in this complexâin fact, there were around 5 eateries in this building alone. Furthermore, the guests here are not restricted to eating in this resort hospital. Since itâs located not far from downtown, there were many other nearby restaurants.
âIâm going crazyâŠâ I frowned, acting as if I was thinking about future plans, careful not to bite my lips. While buying time, I continued to inwardly assess the situation.
I needed to choose where this faceless, nameless person would want to eat today. All I could depend on was Bae Jaeminâs testimony that heâs got an FM personality!
HaahâŠWhat do FMs eat?
God damn it, how am I supposed to know?! If I could somehow divine that, would I be suffering as a Necromancer now?
Crashâ!
Fortunately, at that time, a strange sound erupted in the room that Jung Garam had entered.
It sounded like a pile of books had toppled to the floorâŠBae Jaemin, who had been leaning leisurely against the back of the sofa across from me, stood up as soon as he heard the noise and headed towards that room.
I assumed that Jung Garam would have caused that noise, but, for now, I acted as if I had no idea what was going on.
âPlease wait a moment.â Bae Jaemin disappeared into the living room.
As soon as he could not be seen, I heard Jung Garamâs voice right behind me. âHey.â
âAck!âŠâŠâ
Werenât you just in that room earlier?
Surprised by the unexpected appearance, I almost looked back at him, but, fortunately, Jung Garam quickly pressed on my shoulder.
At that very moment, Bae Jaemin stuck his head out. of the living room and looked at me. âDidnât that sound come from this room?â
âHuhâŠ.?â
âJust now. Did you hear it?â
âAh, Yes! I did hear itâŠWhat about itâŠ..?â
âThatâs strange. It doesnât seem like anything has fallenâŠâ Bae Jaemin returned to his original spot near me.
Jung Garam spoke quietly from behind, âDonât act stupidly and just listen to me, alright?â
ââŠâŠâ
âI just switched off the [Anti-vision] in that room.â
ââŠâŠâ
It was here? JeezâŠ.Then the big painting right outside of this room simply is just a normal painting
Well, Jung Garam is a well known expert in revealing traps and discovering new paths; as soon as he saw the painting, he must have realized that it was unrelated to the [anti-vision].
âŠ..Haah
So everything I didâlooking at the lights and the paintingsâwas uselessâŠ
There was no room to wallow in my own futility, however. Jung Garam immediately said, âThe ward manager explained to us that the building contained a total of five stories. But there was a floor obscured by [anti-vision]; thereâs a half-story between the 3rd and 4th floors. No wonder the ceiling was so uselessly highâŠâ
As he spoke, he pulled up a revised map in front of me. A small new space had appeared halfway up the current floor we were on. Unwilling to be caught by Bae Jaemin, I could only roll my eyes slightly to the side to observe the map.
Iâm glad we found the anchor, butâŠI couldnât understand why the [anti-vision] anchor was hidden in this room. This was a guest room; what would happen if a visitor inadvertently touches and undermines the spell? The hidden floor would be exposed.
âI didnât think this was something Koo Kyungman could have pulled off on his ownâŠAs expected, Bae Jaemin was also involved.â As soon as I formulated my questions, Jung Garam also muttered as if he read my mind. I then realized that this room would never be assigned to ordinary guests.
âI always stay in that room when I come here. The room is spacious and quietâŠâ
I remembered what Bae Jaemin had said when we first met in the hallway. At that time, I had thought it was no more than a passing remarkâŠ
However, I couldnât afford to think for too long. Bae Jaemin smiled, seemingly tired of this circumventive conversation. He asked me, point blank, âHmm, Do you need more time to think? OrâŠis there anything else you wanted?â
Damn itâŠ
Of course, even if I noticed his participation in this scheme, that knowledge wouldnât help me with Bae Jaeminâs question now. I drank all the cooled coffee in my cup and focused my thoughts back on our previous topic. If careless, I could possibly be trapped in this room like Koo Hui-seo without a bird or mouse to witness my misfortune.
âI think heâs talking about Moon Issak. Just say any restaurant.â This time, Jung Garam could back me up. I was momentarily stumped by the unfamiliar name that popped up out of nowhere, but I soon understood that it was related to Bae Jaeminâs and my previous conversation.
But waitâŠWere you listening to the whole conversation from another room
âThen, this must be the name of the Ranker that Bae Jaemin had mentioned?â
Jung Garam took the initiative to expand the holographic map to show the names of the restaurants on the first floor. I checked out a Korean Restaurant named [Tea Banquet] and answered while staring straight at Bae Jaemin, ââŠI think Iâll have dinner at the Tea Banquet.â
âGood.â At my answer, Bae Jaemin smiled broadly once more.
My heart felt tight at the beautiful face. He looked like a pretty boy , half hidden by the eye patch, with a sweet demeanor.
As expected, people shouldnât be judged by their appearances. How many things have you hidden with that seemingly harmless smileâŠ.?
âThen, Iâll see you tomorrow.â Bae Jaemin said.
ââŠ.Yes.â
âPlease donât be too nervous. Iâll just coincidentally drop by tomorrowâŠI wonât cause trouble for Lee-kyung-ssi at the [Tea Banquet].â
That means heâs going to pretend to not recognize me? I got up from my seat, nodding my head to show that I understood.
Bae Jaemin followed as if to escort me out. He passed by me to reach the door first; his palm unfolded and turned the door knob. Briefly, a blue spark popped up from his touch; I was surprised, though my face betrayed no emotion.
Jung Garam saw that spark and clicked his tongue, âThis place is like a safeâŠâ
This placeâŠIf I came here without Jung Garam, I might not have seen the outside world again. I would have been stuck, unable to leave dead or aliveâŠ
âIf youâre bored, please come againâŠFeel free to spend the night as well.â Whether he knew I was scared or not, Bae Jaemin opened the door with his usual smile, spouting absolute nonsense. I did not answer and walked straight into the hallway.
Though I knew it seemed as if I was running away with my tail between my legs, I was unable to look back even once. Thatâs because I couldnât hear the door close until the end of the hallway.
When I arrived at my room, cold sweat rained down my back.
* * *
âMoon Lee-sak is here?â
âYeah. That guy whined to Lee-kyung because he wouldnât permit the guild to official form?â
âHe thinks Lee-kyung-ieâs on Moon Lee-sakâs side?â
âProbably?â
With me buried in the bed between them, Seo Dawon, who was back in his incorporeal form, and Jung Garam exchanged intel above my head.
The tension and anxiety only released when I stepped foot inside my roomâŠWhen I knocked on the door, I was so surprised to see Lackey rush at me with my own face, that my legs gave way. At that moment, Seo Dawon rushed to help me to my feetâŠ
Even now, while speaking with Jung Garam, Seo Dawon sat next to my face-down body and placed a cool hand on my head, checking my temperature. I was a bit bothered by the concern, but I had no energy to tell him to stopâŠAnd, it wasnât as if the cold touch felt badâŠ
I felt, once again, that the servants were different from other humans. Though his hand had been placed on my forehead for quite some while, it had yet to warm up. It was as if his fingers were covered in chilly winds. I thought, randomly, âCan he feel the cold?â
ââŠ.By the way, Why is Lee-kyung-ie so spiritless?â Seo Dawon asked.
âBae Jaemin was toying around with him.â
âThreatening him?â
âAh, fuck if I know. But you know, I finished this super quickly. It was hard to finish everything before Lee-kyung-ie cried.â
I was slightly annoyed at Jung Garamâs humiliating depictionâcrying at a single touch and begging for mercy. Honestly, though, I really wanted to cry at that time. So I closed my eyes, tamped down my crankiness, and pretended to ignore the two.
TL: Thank you for kofi-supporter for the coffee~ This bonus chapter is for you!