The moment I reached out to Vivienne with greedy eyes, a memory flashed through my mind. And that fleeting memory struck my head like a hammer, ringing loudly. Startled by the impact, I managed to pull myself out of the desires that had consumed my rationality.
This isn't... right. The feeling that this is wrong pounded against my chest.
Suppressing the lust that had taken hold of me, I pushed Vivienne away. Even if desire arises, giving in to my instincts indiscriminately would make me no better than a beast. Sure, I had deliberately brought her to a secluded place with ulterior motives, but the very act of doing so was already a mistake. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and regained control.
I'm not impotent, nor am I a man without interest in women. I'm a healthy young man with a fair amount of interest in the opposite sex. But wanting a woman and actually acting on it now with Vivienne are two entirely different matters. I wasn't some base animal that indulged in its desires whenever it pleased or resolved to take a woman no matter what. I had never thought of myself that way, nor had I lived like that.
First, a deep breath.
Lately, I couldn't deny that I had been taking things too lightly, emboldened by how well things had been going for me. While I was regaining the humanity I had once lost, I had also lost the sharp edge I used to have.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with being with a woman. I could be with Vivienne if I wanted to, even now. But as I said earlier, letting myself be ruled by desire was something I refused to do. Desire should be controlled and restrained in my hands to shine, not unleashed recklessly like this. Such behavior was the kind of human being I despised the most. Resolving to take a woman no matter what? The thought was embarrassing. If I had returned only to fulfill such base urges, I might never be able to face Seraph again.
"Su-Hyeon? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"..."
As I collected myself and opened my eyes again, Vivienne spoke to me hesitantly. When I simply stared at her in silence, she seemed uneasy and continued in a cautious voice.
"No, maybe it's just me... but it feels like I'm looking at someone else."
"…Really?"
"Yeah. Don't make that face again. It gave me chills… ugh."
Vivienne hugged her arms as if shivering. I quickly relaxed my expression and put on a soft smile. Only then did she seem reassured. Smiling brightly, she sidled up to me and linked her arm with mine. I gently removed her arm and began walking toward the inn. Behind me, I could hear Vivienne whining, 'Hiiing,' in protest, but I paid it no mind.
"Su-Hyeon. Su-Hyeon."
"What?"
Despite my indifferent reply, Vivienne quickened her pace to get ahead of me, then spun around to look at me. Her pout was evident as she frowned slightly at my curt tone.
"So, I'll be with you guys from now on, right?"
"That's the plan."
"I see. Then I have something I've been... Ahh!"
As she walked backward, Vivienne's foot caught on itself, and she fell flat on her back. Her robe flared open as she tumbled, leaving her exposed. Rubbing the back of her head where she seemed to have bumped it, she noticed my gaze and quickly wrapped her robe around herself, her face twisting into a scowl.
"Pervert."
"And how does that make me a pervert?"
"Don't lie. You saw."
"I did see. But I never lied. And for the record, it's not like I deliberately did anything. You tripped on your own, your robe opened on its own, so why am I the one getting blamed? Don't pin your clumsiness on me."
My calm, logical response left Vivienne wide-eyed and momentarily flustered. Her expression softened into a sheepish look, and she reluctantly nodded.
"Oh, oh? You're right. Sorry about that. Still, you didn't have to be so serious about it. Now I'm embarrassed because of how you handled it."
Watching her concede so easily, I replied, "Just be more careful next time. Honestly, you're way too careless sometimes." Extending a hand to her, I helped her to her feet and added a remark.
"Anyway. What's the problem?"
"Well… since we'll be traveling together from now on."
"You just said that. Skip to the point."
"…That Yun-Jung and An-Sol, was it? I think they don't like me."
"Yeah, they probably don't."
When I nodded immediately, confirming her suspicion, Vivienne let out a sigh. It was true, after all. In situations like this, it's better to be upfront about the reality of things so she could understand her position clearly and work on improving it.
"Still, they're good kids at heart. Since we're all working together now, if you put in some effort to show them your good side, I'm sure things will improve."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'll also talk to them separately about it, so don't worry too much."
"T-thank you. But, um, there's something else I'm worried about…."
When I tilted my head, signaling her to go on, she hesitated for a moment before speaking in a voice as soft as a whisper.
"Um… my clothes…."
It seemed that Jung Ji-Yeon's robe was indeed far too small for her. Watching Vivienne squirm awkwardly, her face flushed red, I didn't waste any time. Without a word, I turned and started heading toward the shop.
*
After stopping by the clothing shop to purchase a mage's robe for Vivienne, we headed straight to The Modest Lady, the inn we'd stayed at previously. I had thought there would be a lot to take care of once we returned to Mule, but for now, I just wanted to rest. Most of the tasks involved the group anyway, and rushing into things wouldn't accomplish much. It was far more efficient to rest properly when needed and focus when it was time to act.
As I pushed open the rough wooden door and stepped inside, I noticed that the inn was busier than before. It was the time of day when people ordered snacks and beer, chatting noisily as they unwound. Busy serving guests, Ko Yeon-ju glanced in our direction when she heard the door open.
"Welcome, Player Kim Su-Hyeon. You're a bit later than the others."
She greeted us with a gentle smile, her demeanor as graceful as ever. I returned her greeting with a simple nod and asked if the others had already arrived. Instead of answering, she pointed to a corner of the room. There, I saw the group sitting with sullen expressions. They were idly picking at the piles of food on the table, clearly waiting for something—or someone.
Letting out a faint sigh, I noticed Ko Yeon-ju chuckling softly, her gaze warm and approving as she looked at the group.
"It seems they've been waiting for you. They're such endearing kids—rare to see these days."
"Thank you for letting me know."
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just doing my job. By the way, there's someone new with you…?"
Her sharp eyes shifted toward Vivienne, who stood uncertainty behind me. I stepped aside, gently pulling Vivienne forward.
"She's a new addition to the team."
"Hmm, a mage, it seems. You have a knack for finding talent."
"Not really. Anyway, you seem busy, so we'll leave you to it."
"Oh, right. Silly me. Well, I'll see you next time."
Ko Yeon-ju appeared eager to continue the conversation, but given Vivienne's status as a newly arrived player, it didn't feel appropriate to delve too deeply into introductions here. Politely yet firmly, I redirected the talk, signaling that now wasn't the time. She picked up on my subtle cue and stepped back, but her parting words—"See you next time"—hinted at her intent to speak again.
Since Ko Yeon-ju was a potential recruit herself, there was no reason to avoid further interaction, especially if we had a quieter opportunity in the future.
The kids noticed me as well and immediately brightened up, waving enthusiastically in my direction. I quickly made my way to their table, pulling out a chair and taking a seat before speaking.
"I told you to eat first and go rest. There was no need to wait for me."
"Even so, leaving you and Vivienne behind to eat comfortably on our own just didn't feel right," An-Hyun replied, flashing a sheepish smile as he spoke.
"Alright, alright. Anyway, let's eat. It's probably all cold by now."
Despite his modest response, An-Hyun's words showed how considerate he was, and it brought a small smile to my face. If I'd gone through with what almost happened with Vivienne earlier, the kids would have been waiting here, probably hungry and worried. Feeling a pang of guilt, I urged everyone to start eating and picked up my utensils.
Vivienne, unfamiliar with using chopsticks, opted for a fork instead. She glanced at the table, laden with dishes, and seemed unsure where to start.
"You ordered a lot," I commented.
"Well, we were hungry, hehe. Sorry, oppa. I guess I might have gone a bit overboard," Yun-Jung admitted, pouting slightly as she fessed up. Her honesty was refreshing, and the way she avoided shifting blame was something I appreciated. I gave her a light smile and reassured her.
"It's fine. We've got plenty of funds, and while it's not good to waste money, this much is okay."
"Yay! But how did your trip go?" She asked, her curiosity evident.
"Oh, speaking of that… the temple…" An-Hyun began but trailed off as he devoured his food. He must have been starving; he was eating as if he hadn't had a proper meal in days. An-Sol was quietly focused on her own plate, while Vivienne looked almost moved to tears as she savored the food, likely a stark contrast to what she'd been eating until now.
Tearing off a piece of bread, I dipped it into the seasoned soup and took a bite. The warm, savory flavor spread through my mouth, filling me with a comforting sense of satisfaction. It was the first truly peaceful moment we'd had in a while, and I let myself enjoy it.
"After visiting the temple, I also stopped by the shop. Vivienne needed new clothes," I explained.
"Yeah, her outfit was… well, even I found it awkward to look at. Good call on getting her something proper. But did you go to the temple for the exploration report?" Yun-Jung asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Partly. But they've been too busy to process reports lately. Instead, I got Vivienne treated, and we formalized things with a contract. Nothing major."
"A contract?"
The mention of a contract seemed to catch their interest. Even as they chewed their food, all their eyes turned to me. Seeing Vivienne glancing nervously at me, I decided I needed to clarify further.
"As you can see, Vivienne is now one of us—an ally who won't harm us and will assist us in every way she can. I'd explain more, but there are too many eyes and ears around right now…."
I paused and scanned the room. Sure enough, several players who had been subtly watching us quickly averted their gazes when they noticed I was looking. Judging by where their attention had been—mostly on An-Sol, Yun-Jung, and Vivienne—it wasn't hard to guess what thoughts might be running through their minds.
Once the atmosphere had calmed slightly, I resumed speaking.
"Anyway, she'll be working with us from now on. She's a skilled mage, so keep that in mind. As for a more detailed introduction, let's leave that for tomorrow when she can do it herself. And I get how everyone feels, but I'd like you all to give her a chance. She's trying to make a fresh start as a human again. You get what I'm saying, right?"
An-Hyun gave a half-hearted nod, likely having anticipated this outcome ever since we left the dungeon. An-Sol pouted but, after some hesitation, reluctantly nodded as well. Her body language, though, screamed disapproval, making it clear that fully accepting Vivienne would take some time. I figured patience would be key and shifted my attention to Yun-Jung.
What greeted me was a twisted smile on her face, one that was hard to interpret.
Yun-Jung's dangerous smile widened as she carefully read through the contract.
"Hohoho… 'Never act with hostility' and 'assist in every possible way,' you say? Hohoho," She mused, her sparkling eyes fixated on Vivienne.
Vivienne offered an awkward smile, clearly unsure how to respond, but Yun-Jung replied with a bright, almost predatory grin. Meanwhile, An-Hyun, who had been quietly observing, leaned closer to me and spoke in a low voice.
"Don't worry too much, hyung. I'll keep an eye on her."
"…Thanks. I appreciate it."
"And, uh, did you want to ask us about anything?"
Still working through another helping of food, An-Hyun stabbed a large piece of meat with his fork. I caught on quickly to what he was getting at and decided to bring it up.
"Right. I was just about to. How are the players we brought back?"
"They're both still unconscious. But they're definitely alive, judging by their breathing. We moved the guy to our room, and the girl is in Sol and Yun-Jung's room. Oh, and we upgraded the rooms to ones that are a bit larger than before."
"Good work."
"So… what's the plan?"
I paused to think. Their stats and general demeanor seemed promising, but Vivienne's presence complicated things. Even if we decided to recruit them, would they really agree, knowing Vivienne's true identity as the dungeon master? The others knew about it, too, which only added to the potential tension.
After a moment of contemplation, I lightly tapped the table with my fingers and spoke.
"We'll wait until tomorrow and see if they wake up. If they don't… we'll pay the temple another visit. We can't just take responsibility for them indefinitely."
"Got it, hyung."
An-Hyun nodded and returned to his meal. The food was undeniably good—well-prepared and flavorful. Although I could have eaten more, I wasn't particularly hungry. I set down my spoon, only for Sol to slide a large piece of meat onto my plate.
"Oppaaa, you're still recovering. You should eat more," She said with a concerned look, her eyes shimmering.
Her earnest expression made me chuckle bitterly. I picked my spoon back up, not wanting to dampen her mood. As the tension from the dungeon faded and the group settled into the familiarity of the city, the atmosphere around the table grew more relaxed.
My gaze drifted to the window, where the night had fully descended. The last traces of sunlight were gone, replaced by the dark, quiet embrace of dusk. The faint glow of lanterns illuminated the streets outside.
I sighed deeply.
For now, I just wanted to let go of everything and rest.
.
.
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