A Dark Past
“Could it be your sister…?”
“No, it’s not.”
Jung Ha-yeon dismissed my speculation with a single word. This situation was already dramatic enough, but if that female user had been Jung Ji-yeon, it would have crossed a line. Thankfully, Jung Ha-yeon firmly denied it.
“Of course, that girl doesn’t have the best reputation, but she’s still my precious sister. Anyway, the female user in question was a mage who joined a few months before us. I won’t reveal her name. She was talented enough to be considered for leadership training. At first, she seemed startled when our eyes met, but then she smiled at my frozen expression. And then she spoke to the man who was deeply engrossed in his actions.”
Could it be… Yubin? Sung Yubin. I tilted my head. She was currently following Park Hyun-woo around. But it didn’t quite add up for that man to be Park Hyun-woo. I had many thoughts swirling in my mind, but I decided to focus on the story for now.
“I still vividly remember the conversation they had. I’ll tell you exactly as it happened. It started with the woman. ‘Isn’t there a girl who follows you around?’ ‘Huh? Oh, her. Why?’ ‘She seems special to you.’ ‘Special? I don’t think so.’ ‘She seems to really like you. Is it okay to do this with me?’ ‘Oh, it’s fine. She’s quite pretty, but not my type. I prefer passionate women like you.’”
Jung Ha-yeon recited the dialogue as if it were yesterday, even though it must have been over a year ago. It must have been a significant shock for her to remember it so clearly. As I listened, I couldn’t help but make a bewildered face, to which she responded with a sad smile and continued.
“The woman laughed gleefully at the man’s words. ‘Really? Still, I feel sorry for her.’ ‘It’s okay. There’s something a bit regrettable, but… she was brought in as a bribe anyway.’ ‘A bribe?’ ‘Yes. There’s a rumor that the Golden Lion Clan’s scout is a killer of new users, especially fond of smart, pretty young girls. I thought Ha-yeon would be perfect, with her decent skills and good looks. That way, the scout might favor me… but that girl messed it up. Damn it. Ow, that hurts. Be gentle.’ ‘Sorry. Just thinking about her makes me so angry. Anyway, she’ll soon offer herself to the scout, so let’s not worry about it. It’s annoying… ah.’”
Listening to the conversation, I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought of Jung Ha-yeon. The depth of her composure when I first met her was no lie. As a man, I couldn’t fully grasp her feelings, but I could only imagine how heart-wrenching it must have been for her. What was even more frightening was that she recited the conversation without shedding a single tear. After hearing her story, I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.
“Yes. To him, I was just a tool for his advancement. Even though I was thrown into this hellish Hall Plain, I thought it would be okay as long as I was with him. But that dream was just my own delusion. From start to finish, he only thought of himself and used me.”
“So, what happened after that…?”
“I went straight to the personnel manager. I woke him up from a deep sleep and told him I was quitting. The surprising part was that he agreed without a word. Isn’t it funny?”
Of course. Keeping her would be risky, and there was no reason to stop her from leaving. The clan had nothing to lose, and if she walked out on her own, they wouldn’t stop her. After finishing her story, she took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. I habitually pulled out a cigarette. As I placed it in my mouth, a faint flame flickered at the tip.
For a while, neither Jung Ha-yeon nor I spoke. An awkward silence hung between us across the table. Eventually, enough time passed for me to finish the cigarette. Watching me flick the ash, Jung Ha-yeon spoke in a relieved voice.
“Thank you. You’ve listened to a long, unpleasant story.”
“Don’t mention it. I understand you.”
“I don’t like empty words. What exactly do you understand?”
“The challenges of being a woman in the top clan and as an individual. The unfair treatment you endured. The frustration that finally erupted after the actions of the man you saw as your last hope. I understand, empathize, and sympathize with your situation.”
As I laid out my thoughts, she gave a sad smile and spoke again.
“Alright. Then it’s time to get to the main point.”
Watching her clasp her hands together, I shook my head. Her eyes widened in surprise at my reaction.
“It’s too late. You’ve said too much today. Let’s stop here…”
“The night is long, and we have plenty of time.”
“We can continue next time…”
“No. I want to resolve this today.”
Jung Ha-yeon looked at me with eyes that seemed to burn with a blue flame. Before I knew it, she had grabbed my hand, which was resting on the table, as if she would never let go. Her hand felt cold and firm against mine. Realizing her determination, I spoke calmly.
“What more do you want to say?”
“It’s about the debt and repayment you mentioned.”
I looked at her silently. I understood her situation, but this was a separate matter. If she was appealing to my emotions, she had come to the wrong person. But her eyes didn’t hold such intentions.
I adjusted my posture. This was the beginning of the second round after the ruins of the research lab. This time, the roles were reversed, and I was in the position of the judge.
“How do you plan to repay that debt?”
I responded quietly, and Jung Ha-yeon shrugged her shoulders and shook her head gently.
“I’m sorry for using the ‘Crystal of Truth’ to corner you. But since that day, I’ve developed a habit of distrusting people, especially men. I needed to be sure.”
“I understand that you had your reasons. But that doesn’t justify your actions. Please distinguish between personal and professional matters.”
“I know. But I really don’t understand. What do you want from me, User Kim Soo-hyun?”
“That’s something you need to figure out. It’s not for me to decide.”
I didn’t back down. I sympathized with her, but I couldn’t let it slide. Some might call me rigid, but this was the Hall Plain. Having shared life-and-death information, I had the minimum justification to kill her if necessary. And she knew that too.
In response to my firm tone, she spoke with a weary voice.
“I thought a lot after returning from the ruins. But… in the end, I concluded that I have nothing to offer.”
”…Please elaborate.”
“Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know? What could I possibly offer you right now?”
”…”
“User information? Gold coins? Skills? Free service? Should I draft a slave contract? I don’t know what you want. Honestly, I have nothing to give.”
I let out a small sigh at her words. I habitually tapped the table. And then it hit me… I liked her. I finally understood why I was drawn to her. She knew her limits. She understood her place.
Of course, she had crossed the line once at the research lab. But that action showed she had a purpose, something she wanted to confirm. Now it was time to draw that out.
“Some of the things you mentioned seem a bit excessive.”
“Heh. Excessive? My user information isn’t as valuable as yours. I don’t have any gold coins. Skills? Sure, I’m good, but not as good as you. Free service is the same. A slave contract? There are too many restrictions for it to be valid between users. Let me be clear. Even if I join your group, it won’t be a form of repayment. To you, I’m just another user who could be there or not.”
“Why do you belittle yourself like that?”
“This is reality, and it’s the truth. And…”
Jung Ha-yeon, who had been speaking quickly, paused for a moment. Our eyes met in the air. She exhaled a breath and spoke with a forlorn expression.
”…I need you.”
Seeing her finally reveal a bit of her true self, I spoke in a regretful tone.
“Repayment doesn’t have to be material. I wanted your genuine trust and faith.”
“You’re trying to make me out to be a shameless woman. I can’t forget that moment when you said you’d protect those precious to you, and the ‘Crystal of Truth’ proved your sincerity. I want to be among those you hold dear. So let me change the question. Even if your initial group has been with you from the start, how can I earn your trust now?”
“Trust and faith aren’t things you can build overnight. You’re rushing, and I don’t think you’re unaware of that. What is it you truly want to say?”
Though I spoke those words, I had a hunch about why she was acting this way. Simply put, she was still haunted by past trauma. My presence seemed to stir up those old wounds, leaving her torn between fear and the desire to hold on. That inner conflict was making her anxious.
“To you, the user Jung Ha-yeon holds no value. So, there’s only one thing left.”
“Jung Ha-yeon.”
She responded in a low voice.
“Jung Ha-yeon, not as a user, but as a woman. That’s the only value I have left to offer you.”
After hearing her words, I looked at her with a cold gaze. She met my eyes without a hint of wavering. Silence hung between us for a moment before I stood up.
“Of course, I’m a man before I’m a user, and I do like women. I have basic desires. However,” I paused, letting disappointment seep into my voice, “I’m not someone who gets involved with just any woman for no reason.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
I knew she didn’t mean it that way, but she still hadn’t given me the answer I was looking for. Before she could finish, I turned away, adding one last remark.
“This is disappointing. I’ll be leaving now.”
And at that moment—
“Do you think…!”
Her low cry stopped me in my tracks as I was about to head for the door.
“Do you think I’m the kind of woman who would get involved with just any man?”
Her voice, tinged with tears, made me sigh and turn back to her.
“Your words certainly left room for misunderstanding. I know you’re not that kind of woman, but it’s hard not to be taken aback by your sudden behavior.”
She looked up at me with a conflicted expression, but the conflict didn’t last long. After a brief pause, she began to speak again.
“Yoo-jung said I don’t know you well, but I actually know you quite a bit. I’ve heard so much about you while helping the kids train. You’re so much like him. Leading people through trials, earning their trust, being the top at the User Academy, and even receiving an offer from the Golden Lion Clan. But when you turned down their offer to stay with the kids, that’s where your paths diverged.”
“So, do you see me as a substitute for him?”
When I pointed out what I feared, Ha-yeon shook her head urgently.
“No! It’s just… I’m tired of the deceit in this world. I couldn’t bring myself to deceive others. I could if I tried, but I despise it too much. So, I decided not to deceive or be deceived.”
Understanding her nature a bit more, I turned back to stand beside her. She gently rested her forehead against my chest and continued.
“But… User Kim Soo-hyun is different. There’s something about you that’s unlike the others. Maybe I’m reaching my limit. After the ‘Crystal of Truth,’ I felt I needed to hold onto you, to stay by your side. You said you wanted my trust and faith.”
”…Yes, I did.”
Ha-yeon lifted her head slightly to meet my gaze. I lowered my eyes to meet hers, gently brushing her hair with my hand. She closed her eyes, savoring the touch, but her words didn’t stop.
“Honestly, I still have questions. If you had such power, you wouldn’t have let Ji-yeon die. But I won’t ask you. I’ll bury it in my heart.”
“I can answer that for you.”
“I’ve heard bits from the kids, and I have my suspicions. I’ve seen things with my own eyes. It’s not the same as hearing it from you, but I’ve decided to think that way. I’m tired of being deceived and hurt. But I’m still a woman. After losing a sister I trusted and relied on, I felt myself wavering.”
“So, leaning on me will help you steady yourself?”
She nodded quietly in response. Seeing that, I pulled her back into my arms, and she nestled her face against my chest. A deep smile spread across my lips.
I’m sorry, but she’s mistaken again. I didn’t expect Ha-yeon to open up like this. It was the first time I’d heard her story. But it’s not bad. I don’t need ambiguous trust or potential right now. If I embrace Ha-yeon, our relationship will undoubtedly progress.
I feel no guilt. Witnessing their deaths and choosing to return, I left all that behind. For their sake, I can do anything without hesitation. Feeling a tickle in my chest, I took a deep breath and spoke softly.
“This sounds like a magician’s way of thinking.”
”…Yes, it does. I can give you my trust and find my own peace. I need a place to rest and lean on. Everything I’ve said today is the most trust I can show you right now. So…”
She lifted herself from the chair, wrapping her arms around my neck, and whispered as she leaned into me.
“Tonight, I hope you’ll respond to my trust, Soo-hyun.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Originally, I was going to write:
“I opened the door and walked down the hallway. I could hear Jung Ha-yeon crying behind me, but I didn’t care.”
But I thought I’d get a lot of backlash for that… ㅜ.ㅠ
Anyway, I hope you understand why Ha-yeon acted this way in episodes 111 and 112. And I must confess, there’s a bit of personal experience mixed into this episode. Just a little, though. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Rororororap: Congratulations on being first! :) Your username reminded me of lollipops for a moment. Haha.
Monster Slayer
Episode 41: Yes, that’s correct. However, despite having a much higher base magic power than Ahn Hyun, the growth rate isn’t exceptionally high.
Episode 48: As you can see from the rank, it’s an ability that can’t even be compared. The Eyes of Temptation can’t hold a candle to the Third Eye.
Episode 83: It’s an advanced application of basic magic. Examples include Reverse and Overlap.
Episode 84: Many parts were skipped, so it might be confusing. Episode 85 should clarify things.
ghdtjdrud: She’s a pitiful character in her own way. She seems strong on the outside, but she hasn’t overcome the pain from back then. ㅜ.ㅠ
GradeRown: You’re almost right. Haha. That’s why power is so frightening. It changes people.
Idrian: You can drop the “Go” in front. Haha. Please, please drop it. ㅜ.ㅠ
Blami: Hehehe. That’s a good method too. Look forward to what happens to those guys.
Resonating Soul: I don’t like NTR either. At least in this novel, none of the women around the protagonist will experience that.
Human Life: Haha. Thank you. But who is Un-hyun? ?ㅇ?
Dreaming Garden: Hehe. Thank you. >3<
Purple: Ah, I see. All the basic city settings are already planned out. Haha. I’ll make sure to include them by episode 200. The cities might be introduced soon.
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