Had the woman’s intuition sensed some kind of unease?
Im Hanna found herself unable to move quickly. Before she could rush out in a panic, she caught Suna staring intently at her. She quickly scanned her surroundings and spotted Mar, who was leading two spirit beasts. Without hesitation, she dashed over and entrusted Suna to him. Knowing the relationship between Kim Suhyun and Han Soyoung, it was almost an instinctive decision.
But it was already far too late. When Han Soyoung, guided by a maid, opened the door to the study, she froze completely at the sight of Gehenna lying on the bed. Of course, she knew exactly who the other was.
The only small relief was that Ko Yeonju had thoroughly briefed the maids on every detail. Still, knowing something and being able to explain it coherently are two very different things. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know… she was summoned by accident… she’s not hostile… she threatened the clan lord… she recently gave birth and is recovering…” The maid babbled incoherently. Han Soyoung glanced at her once, then quietly made a move.
“I’ll wait out here.” With that, the door closed, leaving only the maid standing in the hallway, utterly confused and overwhelmed.
Gehenna was somewhat startled as well. Watching Han Soyoung step inside, one deliberate step at a time, she couldn’t help but admire her. Ebony hair that shimmered like polished black wood, eyes like dark, glossy onyx—both sticky and beautiful—a presence that was both dignified and sensuous, and skin that glowed with a subtle radiance…
‘Surely, she’s no ordinary woman.’
What caught Gehenna’s attention wasn’t just the striking appearance or the aura of spiritual power. It was something more intangible, a kind of instinct she couldn’t quite define.
‘Such a bewitching energy… she could easily bring down a nation.’
Was it mere coincidence that Han Soyoung’s user profile listed her as a “beauty who topples kingdoms”?
Gehenna studied Han Soyoung carefully. Han Soyoung was watching her too, eyes guarded and secretive, as if trying to hide something—almost as if she was trying not to reveal herself fully, as if she feared for her life.
‘She’s restraining herself, aware of who she is. But…’
Suddenly, a wave of unease surged through Gehenna. More precisely, worry for Kim Suhyun.
‘A succubus is a creature that devours a man’s flesh and bones, eventually consuming his heart. But this woman… she’s not quite a succubus. Strange. Truly strange.’
Not only had something worse than a succubus come looking for Kim Suhyun, but Gehenna felt as if her own sanctuary had been invaded. Naturally, she was upset. Why had this woman come for Kim Suhyun? What was their connection? It gnawed at her.
‘I need to see her true nature. I’m curious, but leaving this be is too dangerous.’
Though she couldn’t act recklessly, at least she could issue a warning. With that thought, Gehenna cast a subtle suggestion. A faint red glow flickered in her eyes and vanished. It wasn’t a full-blown hypnosis like before, just a barely perceptible nudge—enough to strip away the facade and reveal what lay beneath.
Han Soyoung suddenly felt a strange sensation. Though she had been shocked upon first seeing Gehenna, the maid’s reaction had led her to conclude this wasn’t the same situation as before. She wouldn’t lie and say she wasn’t curious. But above all, after all the effort she’d made to tidy her hair, it was deeply unsettling to find a woman lying on Kim Suhyun’s bed as if she owned the place.
“Why are you… here?”
Han Soyoung broke the silence first. Her voice was calm and gentle, yet carried a sharp edge. Gehenna lifted her head, half-lidded eyes focusing on her.
“Did you ignore what the maid said earlier?”
Her tone was arrogant, almost deliberately provocative. Han Soyoung’s eyebrows twitched.
“If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”
She apologized gracefully, then quietly took a seat. Gehenna, wearing an expression of mild amusement, rose calmly and sat on the sofa opposite her, smiling faintly.
“I don’t know why you’re here, but would you consider leaving quietly? I don’t recall giving you permission to enter.”
“…I’m a bit confused.”
“No. If you were a guest, there’s a reception room.”
“An appointment is a measure of trust. Though it’s a bit early, this is the place we agreed to meet.”
Polite words were exchanged, but the message was clear: Leave. No, you leave.
The two women locked eyes. The space between them crackled with a strange tension.
‘Hmm. Was my suggestion too weak? I can’t tell if this is her true self or not.’
After a moment, Gehenna assumed her signature pose—crossing her legs, resting her chin on one hand, tilting her head slightly. Her stomach pulled in, making the posture all the more convincing. Han Soyoung didn’t back down. Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her legs and folded her arms deeply, like two wild peacocks spreading their feathers, each competing in beauty.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Both women turned their heads toward the door.
A knock sounded, and the door opened. Entering was a charming little group: two people and two beasts.
“Ah, ah?”
Mar, carrying Suna, instinctively shrank back. He had come expecting to find Kim Suhyun, but instead found two women sitting face-to-face.
“Huh? Mar? And Suna too…”
What a cruel twist of fate. Just seconds later, Kim Suhyun’s voice drifted down the hallway. Having finished talking with Seo Jihan, he had rushed over after receiving Im Hanna’s call.
“Eh, eh…”
Mar, unsure what to do, lifted the solemn Suna high like a shield.
“Suna… she seems to want to see her mom and dad…”
“Mom and dad…?”
The one who echoed the words was none other than Han Soyoung. Kim Suhyun, holding Suna, suddenly noticed Han Soyoung standing up in a daze. His face went pale. A moment of realization, perhaps. Seeing Kim Suhyun like that, Han Soyoung’s mind flickered with the maid’s earlier ramblings.
At that moment—
Thump!
Something quietly stirred inside Han Soyoung.
…What happened after that, she couldn’t quite recall.
When she finally came to her senses, she was desperately recounting the conversation she’d had with Seo Jihan beside Han Soyoung as she left the front gate. She had hurriedly followed to see Han Soyoung off.
“So, we agreed on a new proposal. Originally, we were supposed to pay 50% of total profits, but we decided to match it at 33%. We’ll take 33% first, then conditionally guarantee 17% to the Shin Koran Alliance. And…”
It was ridiculous. This wasn’t the kind of conversation she should be having here, yet somehow it had come to this. It was a complete topsy-turvy situation.
As she spoke, she kept glancing sideways. Han Soyoung’s expression was always blank. She had long since realized that this emotionless look was a learned defense mechanism born from heightened senses. But today, it was subtly different. Though she maintained her poker face, a delicate sadness shone through her pale cheeks.
Suddenly, her tightly pressed lips parted slightly.
“That’s unexpected.”
The voice that slipped out was so calm and straightforward it made the silence feel almost hollow.
“I thought you’d be harsher. Like forbidding the subordinates from interfering in the Night District if they quit.”
“Haha. That’s a last resort. For now, I think it’s better to seek a mutually beneficial relationship.”
“Mutually beneficial? Not at all. Matching at 33% and guaranteeing 17% to the Shin Koran Alliance means the mercenaries are losing out.”
“No, not necessarily. I can’t disclose details, but there are conditions attached. Plus, we plan to pay 5% of profits to the Istanbul Row.”
“Still, the mercenaries lose. The subordinates get 50% to 62%, and Istanbul Row sits back and collects 5%.”
“I, Istanbul Row’s lord…”
Was it just her imagination, or was Han Soyoung’s voice growing more aggressive?
Just then, Han Soyoung suddenly stopped walking.
“Why?”
She almost retorted but held back—because Han Soyoung had said before not to ignore things.
Han Soyoung stared ahead with a pale face. The moment had come. Sooner and more suddenly than expected.
“I didn’t want to create any situation that would harm Istanbul Row.”
Revealing her true feelings, Han Soyoung slowly turned. Half her face had been visible, but now she faced her fully. An inexplicable tension surged.
“Is it me, or Istanbul Row?”
“I’m thinking of user Han Soyoung’s Istanbul Row clan.”
“Cut the vague answers.”
“…I was thinking of user Han Soyoung.”
Damn it. The curse slipped out involuntarily. She suddenly realized how foolish her words had been.
A hollow laugh escaped. Han So-young’s expression slowly shifted. Her eyelids trembled, and she clenched her teeth. Yet, shaking her head vigorously, she forced herself to compose and continued speaking.
“Actually, I caught bits and pieces of your story earlier. It was so scattered that it didn’t make sense at first, but now it’s starting to come together. That woman… she was summoned by chance, wasn’t she?”
“…?”
“Pregnancy was a condition for her return… so that woman was the one who threatened you…”
“Up to that point… who exactly?”
But no answer came. It was as if it didn’t matter at all; she just stared blankly. A strange gleam flickered in her dry eyes, like a dying candle’s last flicker—a look full of expectation.
For a moment, I was tempted. I thought maybe I couldn’t help it. Maybe I’d have to say it just like that. Maybe I could find a way to get out of this.
“…”
But it wouldn’t work with Han So-young. I barely managed to steel myself. No more disgrace. No more hurting someone precious to me.
Here and now, I draw a clear line.
“Maybe it did start that way.”
I exhaled deeply, straightened my slightly bent back, and met her gaze head-on. Now that I’d made up my mind, there was no turning back.
“I don’t know… not anymore.”
That was the moment.
Snap—the candlelight in her eyes went out. The black crystal that had been flickering wildly lost its glow and sank endlessly downward.
“You’re serious… aren’t you?”
Her voice rose strangely high. Her lower lip quivered so much it seemed to fold inward. Both of us were caught in the moment.
After a while, the corners of Han So-young’s mouth twisted oddly.
“You still don’t know how to lie. Sometimes, lying is the better choice.”
Suddenly, I felt something off about her today. It was a feeling both right and wrong. Especially the word “still” stuck in my mind, but I nodded with all my might.
“Thinking of those two, I just couldn’t lie.”
“…Then what about me?”
Out of nowhere, Han So-young exploded. She stomped her foot hard once—bang! The ground trembled nervously. My chest tightened painfully. The silence was suffocating, as if the whole world was watching us.
The sound of forced breathing lingered for a long time. I noticed her clenched fist trembling. I wished she’d just hit me with it. At least that would feel relieving.
“Am I… the bad one?”
“…”
“He cared for me, protected me, worried about me, even risked his life to save me. He always treated me sincerely. Am I the one who’s mistaken?”
“…”
“Isn’t that strange? Then should I go meet other men, have a child with someone else? Would you understand how I feel then?”
“…”
Her voice was pleading, desperate, almost like a child throwing a tantrum. She wanted me to say what she longed to hear. But I couldn’t. Not from anyone else, but Han So-young.
“I’m sorry.”
In the end, all I could do was apologize.
“Apologize…!”
Unable to bear it any longer, I squeezed my eyes shut. Then, I heard the sharp sound of wind slicing through the air. Though I was braced for it, the impact never came. Something sharp flew past and stopped just in front of me. I felt a tremble on the left side of my face. Soon after, a soft touch brushed across my cheek.
“Say something else, anything but an apology… please…”
What could I say here?
‘Mercenary Road… always looks out for me…’
‘I want to do something for him too…’
‘Is it funny? That I’m not even angry that you were in another man’s arms?’
‘Really, I just wanted to see you…!’
From some point on, Han So-young had always been sincere with me. Meanwhile, I kept up an ambiguous attitude. Deep down, I knew I shouldn’t, but maybe I enjoyed it a little.
“Just try to make an excuse… say you had no choice but to come back. This isn’t the whole plane, after all. Something like that…”
I took a deep breath I’d been holding. My throat felt like it was on fire. When I opened my eyes again, Han So-young was glaring at me with eyes full of tears. She opened her mouth briefly, then closed it, struggling to force out words.
“I wanted to repay your kindness, I longed for you, admired you, and missed you so deeply it hurt.”
For a moment, Han So-young’s face stiffened. Everything turned cold and rigid.
“Even if…”
Saying it made me dizzy. But the situation had already gone too far to turn back. So…
“You don’t have to like or love someone to care for them.”
I finally said it.
That was the final blow.
Han So-young’s body wavered slightly. Her eyes and mouth hung open in a daze. Slowly, as if about to fall, her head tilted back, staring blankly at the sky. A thin breath escaped her lips like a torn, leaking air.
How much time passed?
Dizziness hit me as if my mind was being sucked away.
“Ha… just one thing.”
Han So-young, still staring at the sky like a lost soul, finally spoke in a trembling voice.
“Have you… never thought of me as a woman? As someone of the opposite sex?”
“I hardly dared to think that.”
“Never? Not even once?”
“…No.”
At that moment, Han So-young shuddered. She quickly lowered her head and looked at me with startled eyes. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks. It was the first time I’d seen her cry.
“So… that’s how it was. I see.”
Like a child, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Her expression was ambiguous—neither quite smiling nor crying.
Then, Han So-young said,
“But… you know…”
Her voice was mixed with sobs.
“That…”
She gave a smile that was both bright and sad.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
If this were a game, you could say this is the essential route you have to take to win over Han So-young. The foreshadowing here will be resolved later in the story, but if you read carefully, it won’t be a bad experience. Somehow, this feels just like a game walkthrough. Haha.
By the way, don’t you sometimes wonder about things like this? Like how Kim Soo-hyun’s appearance differs between Earth and the Whole Plane, what were the other characters like back on Earth?
Anyway, there are only two more chapters left in the Gehenna part. Once that’s done, we’ll dive straight into the main story.
Wishing all readers a peaceful night.