The moment the others and Shin Sang-yong entered the room, the gentle atmosphere between me and Jung Ha-yeon vanished as if it had never existed. I appreciated her ability to separate personal and professional matters, but right now, I had more pressing issues to address.
When the group entered and saw me standing, they initially looked relieved. I smiled and assured them I was fine when they asked about my health. But that relief was short-lived.
Soon, the group encircled me, their faces tinged with awkwardness. They weren’t fools. The abilities I had displayed against the demons had clearly surpassed their expectations for a first-year user.
After a stretch of uncomfortable silence, it was Jung Ha-yeon who finally spoke, as I had anticipated. I braced myself, considering how much to reveal as I awaited her question.
“Is there anything you’d like to tell us?”
I closed my eyes, pondering her question. I disliked giving vague answers. Although I planned to disclose most things after this expedition, there were limits. The fact that I had seen the end of the Hall Plain, obtained the Zero Code, and returned for certain reasons were secrets I couldn’t share.
Having made up my mind, I opened my eyes to find the group watching me anxiously. I paused before speaking in a low voice.
“There is something.”
“Then please, tell us.”
I tilted my head slightly, a bit taken aback by her blunt request. What exactly did she want me to say? I shook my head, feeling a bit exasperated.
“These aren’t things I can just summarize.”
Jung Ha-yeon frowned slightly, mulling over my words before continuing in a cool tone.
“So, you’re saying there are multiple things you’re hiding.”
“That’s correct.”
I admitted it without hesitation. The group exchanged uneasy glances, but I remained calm. Showing any sign of weakness would only make them think I was admitting to wrongdoing. It was better to maintain a confident demeanor to convey my stance effectively.
Jung Ha-yeon closed her eyes, then spoke again without opening them.
“I don’t know your intentions or your reasons. But I can’t say I’m pleased.”
”…….”
“Let me be honest. At first, I was quite fond of you, Kim Soo-hyun. But now, I’m not so sure. Still, I want to continue feeling this way.”
“I feel the same.”
Her expression softened slightly at my response, and she spoke in her usual clear voice.
“If you truly mean that, then please answer my questions truthfully. No lies.”
“Every user has one or two secrets.”
At my gentle refusal, her eyes flashed sharply.
“This is different. I’m starting to doubt if you’re even human, let alone a first-year user.”
“Alright. But if I answer now, will you believe it’s the truth?”
“I have my ways. You said you were willing, so I’ll take that as agreement.”
With that, Jung Ha-yeon reached into her pocket. The conversation was reaching a critical point, and the others seemed to sense it, swallowing nervously. She pulled out a small, round crystal and placed it in front of me. I almost let my expression slip when I recognized it.
“I didn’t expect to use this here. I’m sorry, but I have hopes and regrets about you. So, I hope you’ll forgive me for using this
Seeing the Crystal of Truth, I let out a small sigh. It was a rare item. In my ten years in the Hall Plain, I’d seen it used less than a hundred times. As everyone’s eyes focused on the crystal, she pushed it towards me, explaining.
“I acquired this by chance a year ago. When you place your hand on the
“Is this really necessary…?”
Despite my displeased expression, her face remained steady. I could understand her perspective. The item was valuable, a user’s trump card. She must have kept it hidden when I rescued her. Giving it up now was a significant decision, showing she had expectations of me. It was a trial I would have faced eventually, but it seemed it would be a major one.
I sighed deeply and reached for the
“Unnie, stop.”
Just as I was about to place my hand on the crystal, a slender hand grabbed mine. It was Lee Yoo-jung.
“Yoo-jung, stay out of this.”
“No, you stay out of it, unnie.”
Despite Ha-yeon’s calm words, Yoo-jung stood her ground. The two women locked eyes, tension crackling between them. Yoo-jung’s defiance was unexpected, given their usual camaraderie.
“This is necessary for me, and for all of you.”
“And who are you to decide that?”
”…….”
Jung Ha-yeon visibly frowned at Yoo-jung’s sharp words, but Yoo-jung was undeterred. Her eyes, usually warm, now burned fiercely as she faced her friend.
“You and Shin Sang-yong haven’t been with oppa for long. But we have. We’ve eaten, slept, and fought together from the start. Your accusations might not bother oppa, but they really annoy me.”
I had sensed something off about Yoo-jung earlier, and now I realized what it was. She was speaking formally, unlike her usual casual tone. Jung Ha-yeon seemed to notice too, responding in a subdued voice.
“You’re still young. Or maybe you don’t understand what the Hall Plain is. It’s a place where everyone deceives each other. If there’s any doubt, it must be addressed. That’s how I’ve survived. Should I be blunt? Strictly speaking, Kim Soo-hyun has been deceiving you all along….”
“Don’t speak so carelessly!”
Yoo-jung’s shout silenced Jung Ha-yeon. Trembling with anger, Yoo-jung continued in a sharp tone.
“Fine, I might not know everything. But I know oppa better than you do.”
“You….”
“I’m not done. You say oppa deceived us? What exactly did he deceive us about? He’s sacrificed for us, not deceived us. Even if he did, there must be a reason.”
Jung Ha-yeon wasn’t backing down either. Her usual calm demeanor was gone, and she bit her lip in frustration.
“Maybe you think that way. But have you considered that it might be your own delusion? Do the others feel the same?”
“What?”
Yoo-jung turned to Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol.
“Hey, Hyun, Sol. Do you think oppa deceived us?”
Hyun and Sol exchanged uneasy glances, not answering immediately. Yoo-jung let out a disbelieving laugh. Jung Ha-yeon spoke in a low voice.
“Deception doesn’t always mean something bad. Maybe I don’t have the right to question Soo-hyun. But even if I don’t, you all do. You have the right to know. But you’ve relied on him so much. That’s why I’m speaking up. I also trust him… sigh. Never mind.”
She seemed to want to say more but stopped herself. Hyun and Sol still looked confused, and Shin Sang-yong remained silent. Vivian watched Jung Ha-yeon with sharp eyes.
Under normal circumstances, most people would have backed down after hearing such words, but Yujeong was not most people. She rolled her eyes dramatically, as if she couldn’t comprehend the situation, and clenched her teeth in frustration. Her eyes blazed with anger, and the sparks flew towards Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol.
“Are you two just going to sit there and listen? Aren’t you angry? Don’t you feel wronged?”
“Y-Yujeong, calm down. It’s not that we don’t trust him. Let’s just hear him out first. Listening won’t hurt, right?”
“Y-Yeah, I trust him too.”
Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol stammered, trying to placate her, but their words only fueled Yujeong’s fury.
“Calm down? How can I calm down? This is ridiculous.”
”…”
Frustrated by their lack of response, Yujeong took a deep breath, as if trying to swallow her anger. Ahn Sol, worried, tried to soothe her, but Yujeong shook her off and unleashed the torrent of words she’d been holding back.
“Have you forgotten how much you owe him since the initiation? You wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for him.”
Ahn Sol hung her head in shame, while Ahn Hyun tried to maintain his composure.
“It’s not that… we just want to hear him out…”
“Hear him out? What is there to hear? Who lured those zombies away and got us out of the forest? Who saved us from being crushed by the boss monster and bought us time to escape? Who turned down the prestigious Golden Lion Clan to stay with us? Who was it?!”
Yujeong’s voice echoed in the silence that followed, her words hanging heavily in the air. She paused, catching her breath, before continuing with renewed vigor.
“Who always fought at the front lines to protect us? Who bought us new gear while using old, worn-out equipment himself? Who ran tirelessly while we trained and rested? It was him. Suhyeon.”
Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol could only stare at Yujeong, dumbfounded. Her voice, now tinged with emotion, seemed to resonate with a truth they couldn’t deny. Watching her, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. I hadn’t realized she thought of me so highly.
Though I hadn’t expected such a passionate defense, I knew Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol felt similarly. They were simply curious and wanted to hear my side of the story. In a way, Yujeong’s reaction was a bit over the top, but knowing her, it wasn’t entirely surprising. Despite the embarrassment, I felt a warmth in my heart at her fierce loyalty.
The silence that followed Yujeong’s outburst was heavy, but she wasn’t done yet. She turned her gaze to Jeong Hayeon.
“And you, you’re no different. If it weren’t for him, you and Shin Sangyong wouldn’t have made it. How can you act like this? What did he do wrong? He was just trying to protect us…”
As she spoke, Yujeong glanced at the
“That…”
Jeong Hayeon hesitated, caught off guard by Yujeong’s relentless barrage. I nodded inwardly, impressed by Yujeong’s unexpected performance. She hadn’t planned this, but the atmosphere wasn’t bad.
With the stage set, it was my turn to step in. I didn’t need to reveal everything, just enough of the truth. I focused on the
At the same time, I activated my third eye.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is (E)ro Yujin.
Yes, soon you’ll understand why I’m called Ero Yujin.
And I’ll clear my name from the dishonor of being called a eunuch. Haha.
Oops, got a bit excited there. (__)
It’s February 25th, the start of a vigorous Monday. (Though some of you might be feeling down. ㅜ.ㅠ)
After writing the 104th chapter, my first thought was, “Ah, Yujeong might get a lot of flak again.”
Compared to other female characters, Yujeong hasn’t received much attention. (Not the negative kind…)
Please don’t hate Yujeong too much. -_-a
She’s the kind of person who would blindly defend someone she cares about.
I hope you all have a happy Monday. :)
PS. I can’t think of a new introduction. How should I write it? ㅜ.ㅠ
『 Reader Comments 』
MT Bear: Oh, you’re first again. Congratulations. I’ll keep fighting too. Have a happy Monday, MT Bear!
Human Life: Haha, I enjoyed your supportive comment. I hope you’re feeling better. I support you too. And… if Hayeon and I had done anything in that situation, we would’ve definitely been caught by the kids. :)
zjekfksqlc: Haha, it’s not difficult. But if I do that, the author’s note might get very long. It’s already quite lengthy, so I’m being cautious. There was some controversy about the notes before, so I’ll consider it.
Eek: Ah, it’s not that user. But Suhyeon is a very capable user. You can look forward to it.
Hwiul: Ah, reaching 10,000 pre-orders felt like a dream when I first started writing. 20,000 is still a dream. I’ll just have to keep going. Thank you. :)
Refill: Haha, I can’t say which parts are right or wrong yet, but it’s a bit complicated. And this is a secret… we’ll meet Seraph soon. (Whispering.)
hohokoya1: Haha, Han Soyoung is a character I’ve put a lot of effort into. She might become very popular with readers. Oh, and I’m debating whether to do a character popularity poll before or after meeting Hanbyeol again.
Purple: I once tried making a map with Paint but gave up. It looked like a child’s doodle. I’ve written about it, but there are too many cities to imagine. If my home printer worked, I could draw it by hand and scan it, but it’s tricky.
Toranoanal: Oh, I see. The creator said they’d keep improving it, so I’ll ask for help next time. Haha.
Demodex: Thud. Even you, Demodex… OTL. Suhyeon is not a eunuch. Sob.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t be too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments.
If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply!
That’s all for today.
I hope you read the story with a relaxed mind.
Pre-orders, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.