Repaynt (1)
"Sis!"
"Co here."
I didn't have much ti to et anyone because I'd spent so long at the party venue. So, before heading back to the hospital, I stopped by the dormitory to check on Liliana and Nam Daeun.
It felt strange seeing five people in the dorm.
Scarlett and I were watching as Nam Daeun and her little sister, Nam Dahee, played. Dahee clung to her sister, and they both looked genuinely happy, which ward my heart.
Even though Dahee is in middle school, she clings to Daeun like a young child. Maybe it's because she hasn't received much love. Daeun seed aware of this and took good care of her sister.
"Dahee is so cheerful, isn't she, Scarlett?"
"Yes, she is. I used to be that cheerful when I was younger," Scarlett said, suddenly making a serious comnt.
"You're kidding…"
"I'm being serious…"
Nom—nom—
"Liliana, what about you?"
"Hmm… What?"
I didn't know what she was eating, but I asked her as she chewed on so jelly-like substance.
"I an when you were young. Did you just play gas all the ti?"
"Well, kind of."
"Did you only play gas your whole life?"
"Of course not! What do you take
for?" Liliana seed annoyed and shoved the jelly into her mouth.
"So, what did you do? I'm curious about your hotown."
It was a simple curiosity. After all, Hell is her hotown. Daeun and Dahee were in the living room.
"Um… let
think. After becoming an adult, I played gas for 15 years straight. And then until I was 35… what did I do?"
"You and Scarlett are both making la jokes. If you can't rember, you must have dentia."
"I'm not joking."
"So, what did you do?"
Liliana furrowed her brow and began to think.
What's going on? Is she not joking?
★ Heroine Status Window
[Liliana]
[Affection: 97] ( 1.4)
[Lust: 76]
[Appetite: 42]
[Fatigue: 30]
Current Status: Before becoming an adult… uh, my head.
This seems serious.
"Liliana, do you really not rember?"
"Um, I… I don't know. Maybe it's been so long, like, 15 years."
"You wouldn't forget everything after 15 years."
I'm seriously suspecting dentia now. Should I take her to the hospital? But then again, she rembers other things well… Could it be sothing that happened when she ca from Hell to here?
"People forget things, you know. Do you rember when you were 5?"
"Are you saying being 5 years old and 35 years old are the sa?"
What kind of logic is that? But Liliana seed quite pleased with her own reasoning.
"Anyway, neither of us rembers." Liliana nodded to herself, seemingly convinced.
It's strange… But if she says she's okay, she must be okay, right?
Then I heard mumbling from beside . "So, if Miss Liliana was 35 fifteen years ago, does that make her 50 now?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"…!" Scarlett's eyes widened, as if she had just realized Liliana's age for the first ti.
Nam Dahee, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, also looked surprised and quietly muttered, "Wow, Auntie…"
"I'm not an auntie!"
"Auntieeeee!"
With that, Liliana started chasing after the retreating Dahee.
Thankfully, we were in a posh academy dormitory; if this were a regular house, we'd have the neighbors knocking on our doors by now.
"She's around 50… That's surprising!" Scarlett exclaid, genuinely taken aback. She likely assud Liliana was much younger, and to be fair, she doesn't look 50 at all.
"In human years, she'd be about 5."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Sigh… What's the use of elaborating? I couldn't really get into it, especially with Daeun and Dahee present. I decided to just watch Liliana chase after Nam Dahee until it was ti to head back.
"Hoyeon… No, Lee Hoyeon?"
"Let's keep it casual. What do you think, Daeun?"
"Sure."
Just then, Nam Daeun, who had been playing with Dahee, ca up to . We hadn't been this informal before, but we usually only used first nas when Dahee was around, to maintain the illusion of familiarity. Now that we're more comfortable, first nas it is.
"Flowers… What kind do you like?"
"Huh?"
"Flowers. Colorful ones…"
Why the sudden interest in flowers? Honestly, I've never understood the appeal of buying them. You could have a good al with that money instead.
"Sothing cost-effective, maybe?"
"Cost-effective…"
She seed content with my half-joking response, nodded, and then shifted her gaze towards .
What's going on with her? Is she planning to bring sothing next ti? Now that I think about it, she doesn't even seem concerned about how old Liliana is.
She really is an intriguing one. I didn't think too much about it and let the mont pass.
***
The day after Lee Hoyeon and Park Mingyu t.
Thursday.
After wrapping up the investigation into the party venue attack and tackling the backlog of guild tasks, Park Mingyu set out on guild patrol.
"Thank you for your hard work, Guild Leader!"
"Yeah, thanks everyone. Always stay safe."
"Will do! Thanks!"
Park Mingyu greeted the regular guild mbers warmly. So of them were unaware of how corrupt the Buyers Guild could be.
It took so ti and trust to get assigned such tasks, and it usually ca with a pay raise. The criteria for entrusting tasks were strict, requiring reliable people.
"Thanks to you, the guild atmosphere is always lively."
"Exactly. That's why I'm still here. It might be small, but the vibe is great."
What are they even saying? These idiots.
Park Mingyu found the chatter among the regular guild mbers irritating. He preferred action over idle talk.
"How's Dahee doing?"
"She's good. She's been playing quietly for the past few days, and I've been feeding her."
"Alright, keep unnecessary conversations to a minimum."
Park Mingyu made it clear that Dahee and the guild mbers shouldn't mix too much. He wanted her to rely more on him.
Knock—knock—
"Dahee, mind if I co in?" Without waiting, Park Mingyu opened the door. Dahee was sitting quietly in the middle of the room.
"Today, Uncle—"
Park Mingyu's friendly expression turned rigid. The room had a strong mana scent—a sign of spell activity. He imdiately released his own mana, discovering it was leaking from a depleted magic circle.
"Damn it…!"
Soone had intruded. Park Mingyu quickly deactivated the magic circle. Dahee disappeared, leaving an empty room.
"What's happening? Dahee! Where is she?!"
"What's wrong, Guild Leader!"
"You fools! How do you manage anything here?!"
Guild mbers rushed in, finding Dahee missing. The magic circle had been leaking mana for days, suggesting no one had maintained it. Dahee had been gone for a while, and the unnoticed absence indicated a highly skilled mage was involved.
Soone of that caliber holding a grudge against the Buyers Guild…
"Who could it—"
Hold on. That's not the issue now.
A more pressing thought struck Park Mingyu. He turned to the manager who had entered the room.
"Contact Nam Daeun. Right now!"
"We haven't heard from her since the party. We assud she was with you, Guild Leader."
The manager was clueless about Daeun. Park Mingyu had kept information about her and Dahee confidential, thinking it would maintain control. Since there had been no communication so far, the manager hadn't acted. This was the result.
Daeun, who had always followed orders, suddenly cutting off communication made the situation even more perplexing.
"You idiots think that's all there is to it!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Park Mingyu's kind deanor twisted.
This can't go on. I have to find Dahee, no matter what. All the plans I've built are now at risk of collapsing.
"Find Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee right now. Use any ans necessary!"
"Ah, understood! I'll contact the informants!"
"Not just informants. Commission the information guild too. Be extrely cautious, don't get caught. Got it?"
"Yes, yes!" Sweating profusely, the manager dashed out to carry out the mission. Park Mingyu watched, gritting his teeth.
This can't be the end. Daeun… Dahee…
It felt like he could almost see Daeun in front of him. A body that would soon be his. He had been eyeing that body for over a decade. He couldn't give up now.
Park Mingyu clenched his fist tightly and walked away.
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