Chapter 124 – GOY 124

#124

I ​called ​my ​family ​while ​eating ​room service. Thanks ​to ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk’s ​clever ​cover story, my family ​believed ​I had left ​for special training ​overseas.

Because ​of ​that, ​they ​didn’t ​seem particularly worried ​even ​though ​it had been ​a while since we ​last spoke.

If ​Joo Seung-hyuk ​had truly ​set his ​mind ​to ​it, he could ​have completely ​erased me from society…

But ​even thinking about that ​didn’t make me feel ​particularly afraid. ​Besides…

“Hyung, ​you said training was until next ​week, but you finished ​early.”

“Huh?”

“Seung-hyeok ​Hyung ​told ​us. ​He said you’d ​be returning ​to ​the country next ​week.”

“Ah, ​yeah. It was a bit ​faster than ​expected…”

According ​to Min-soo and ​Kyung-soo, ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk ​had ​told my ​family ​that I ​would return before the break ended.

It meant ​that, from the ​start, he intended ​to let unauthorized copy[visit our site]me [unauthorized copy]go ​before the ​vacation was over…

After ​finishing ​my meal, I ​went to the ​fitness center ​to ​move my ​body ​lightly.

While exercising ​with ​Joo Seung-hyuk, ​I ​had ​been surprised by ​my ​own poor ​stamina. ​I ​thought ​perhaps my physical strength had declined due to the long confinement.

However, when exercising alone, I felt fine even after passing the 40-minute mark. Considering what happened last night, my stamina actually felt better than before.

Was it thanks to the daily morning workouts with Joo Seung-hyuk…? But when I was with him, I could barely last twenty minutes…

It was probably a matter of exercise density and intensity rather than raw stamina. Joo Seung-hyuk tended to check even the basic movements perfectly.

I didn’t think I was that messy, but compared to Joo Seung-hyuk, I was lacking in many ways.

After finishing my workout, I went to the hotel cafe.

I ordered a grapefruit juice and looked around the cafe.

Everyone here is A-Class or higher. The form of the mana surrounding the people was consistently powerful. However, even among these renowned Ability Users, no one could keep up with Joo Seung-hyuk.

A moment later, the grapefruit juice arrived.

They surely used better ingredients than the ones at the rest stop, yet the taste was inferior. The juice I drank with Joo Seung-hyuk back then was truly delicious.

Despite being annoyed because of Aaron and visit our sitenearly suffering a Mana Shock, a smile crept onto [stolen content]my [stolen content]face when I recalled that day.

Still, it’s a waste, so I should drink it.

While sipping the juice, I checked the news on my phone. I was curious about what had happened while I was confined.

[Evidence is Overwhelming… Aaron Completely Denies Conspiracy to Slander Lee Yeon-soo]

[Aaron: “I did not use Dust.” Claims Innocence.]

[Oh Seok-gwang Admits All Charges; Will He Appear as a Witness in Aaron’s Trial?]

It seemed Aaron’s trial would be held soon. By the way, he’s still denying the charges. He’s persistent. He’s probably acting this way because he trusts his family.

Especially if it’s Aaron’s brother, ‘David,’ he would stop at nothing for the sake of his younger brother…

“Guide Lee Yeon-soo.”

Just then, someone called my name. The moment I looked up and saw the person, my entire body froze.

Brown hair swept back, large eyes with deep sockets, a squared jaw, tall stature with solid muscles, and a perfectly tailored three-piece suit…

The man with an arrogant yet gentle aura was none other than…

“David Han…”

He was Aaron’s brother and an S-Class Esper, ‘David Han.’

And in the original story, he was the man who targeted Lee Yeon-soo.

After Lee Yeon-soo drove Aaron away through all sorts of schemes, David came seeking revenge for his brother.

In a word, he was an ‘arrogant mad dog.’ If Joo Seung-hyuk hadn’t killed Lee Yeon-soo, he would have lost his life to David first.

But why on earth did this man come to find me?

“You know who I am.”

David wore a painted-on smile.

“What is your business?”

In the original work, this was a man who went wild threatening to kill Lee Yeon-soo just because his brother, Aaron, was unfairly kicked out of Seong Han.

But this time, Aaron’s crimes had been laid bare and he was currently on trial.

I didn’t know what he might try to do before the first instance verdict.

“I…”

Just as he was about to state his business, staff members in suits approached.

Judging by the flowing mana, they were all A-Class Espers. Joo Seung-hyuk had mentioned he asked the hotel to provide security for me; these must be the people.

[Guide Lee Yeon-soo, is this your guest?]

The staff member asked me. It was in English, but I could handle this level of conversation.

[No.]

I didn’t know why David had come to find me. However, the best course of action was to avoid getting entangled.

When I shook my head, the staff member bowed politely to David.

[I’m sorry, but please step awa—Gah!]

Before the staff member could finish speaking, David grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

[I am speaking.]

[Esper David, what do you think you are doing!]

The other staff members nearby hurried to protest, but David didn’t even pretend to listen.

He was a monster with skills on par with Park Geon-woo. There was no way A-Class Espers could stand against him.

“I will have a brief conversation with Esper David. Please wait.”

When I expressed my willingness to talk, David finally released his grip on the staff member’s neck.

The staff stood behind him, remaining wary of David. David seemed very bothered by it, but I had no intention of conceding any further.

“Please tell me your business.”

“How cold. I’ve only just taken a seat, and you’re already trying to kick me out.”

He seemed to be just as arrogant and obnoxious as he was in the original story. Moreover, he was a lunatic who had come all this way under the guise of avenging his brother.

I didn’t want to face him for a single second. One of the three bodyguards hurried to the back. He was likely going to call for additional security.

Even if David intended to harm me, it wouldn’t be easy. Furthermore, there were several other S-Class Espers here. Since David had caused a commotion, people’s attention was already drawn this way.

If worst came to worst, I could just ask for help.

As I pondered how to escape him, David bowed his head.

“I apologize for what Aaron has done.”

“What?”

“I knew that fellow was foolish, but I didn’t know he would go as far as such despicable acts. As his brother, I offer my apologies on his behalf.”

Did he actually come to apologize?

In the original story, Aaron returned to the US because of Lee Yeon-soo’s schemes. However, it wasn’t entirely Lee Yeon-soo’s fault. There were certainly parts where Aaron himself provided the cause or caused trouble. Moreover, Aaron wasn’t just a victim; he had attacked Lee Yeon-soo as well.

Yet, despite knowing that, David had sided with his brother and gritted his teeth, vowing to eliminate Lee Yeon-soo.

The reason was simply that a Beta Guide from the outskirts of Asia had insulted his family.

Unlike the original, this time it was clearly Aaron’s fault. It was a situation where one couldn’t even claim mutual fault. However, David was the kind of man who would pour rage upon me just because the reputation of the royal family was tarnished, regardless of who was at fault.

And yet, he’s apologizing…? These were words I hadn’t expected at all.

“Are you speaking sincerely?”

“Of course. Regarding this matter, I have no excuse, even if I had ten mouths.”

He really came to apologize? I couldn’t believe it.

“How did you know I was here?”

“A friend of mine mentioned seeing Mr. Yeon-soo here, so I rushed over despite the rudeness.”

This was a luxury hotel exclusively for high-ranking Ability Users. It was entirely possible that David’s friend was staying here.

But that also meant David had been continuously looking for me. To the point where his friends knew about it.

Would someone go that far just to apologize? Come to think of it, Aaron’s trial was coming up soon. Perhaps he wants a petition or for me to testify in Aaron’s favor?

“Do you have any other business besides that?”

“I do.”

As expected, there was another purpose. A petition? Testimony? What on earth did he want to demand from me?

As I looked at him with a wary gaze, he spoke confidently.

“Lee Yeon-soo, I’ve fallen for you.”

“What?”

“I saw the video of you performing Guiding for a senior Esper while enduring a Mana Shock. I was deeply impressed.”

Ah, he means he’s impressed as a Guide. Thank goodness. For a moment, I thought the arrogant mad dog from the unauthorized copyoriginal visit our sitestory had actually fallen for me.

I got scared for nothing.

But he fell for me after seeing a video of me Guiding Moon Seon-woo, who had suffered a Red Rune Shock because of Aaron? How can someone fall for another person after seeing something related to their own brother’s mess?

Regardless, since it was a compliment, I couldn’t be too sharp.

“Thank you for evaluating my Guiding so highly.”

“I fell for you at first sight.”

“…What did you just say?”

“I love you.”

“So, you mean you love my Guiding, right?”

David must be unskilled in Korean. His way of speaking was more literary than Aaron’s.

Yes, he must have just phrased it wrong.

While I was interpreting his meaning in my own way, David continued.

“Ti amo, Yeon-soo.”

“…”

‘Ti amo’ was the only Italian phrase I knew, meaning ‘I love you.’

Does that mean he really has fallen for me?

No. No way. Having the lunatic from the original story—Joo Seung-hyuk—entangled with me is enough.

I absolutely refuse to have an arrogant mad dog lunging at me as well.

“I don’t know Italian very well…”

“Mr. Yeon-soo, I love you.”

I tried to avoid the situation by pretending not to understand, but a fastball flew straight at me.

The worst-case scenario had occurred. The mad dog from the original story had fallen for me.