Chapter 274

After hearing that, Ryu Hyerin couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Pfffthahahahaha!”

Bae Jaemin stared at her blankly. Then, belatedly, he flushed and shouted, “How could you laugh at that? Do you think this is a joke?”

“Pfft, hm. N-No. If it were me… If I learned that someone was stealing my luck, I would want to kill him immediately.”

“Hey…!” Bae Jaemin gave her a resentful glare, wondering how she could joke in this situation.

She shrugged and replied, “How could you have no guts after all that you’ve done.”

“It’s not a matter of guts…!”

“Enough. So, since then you’ve been too frightened and haven’t used Seo Dawon’s luck at all?”

“……” He didn’t answer, but she needed no response. Of course he’d try to save himself. Bae Jaemin was someone who was born with only that much forethought. It was truly unfortunate that his amazing abilities were awarded to someone like him and his narrow mentality.

However, Bae Jaemin pouted, “Of course I used his luck. You asked me to stop Seo Dawon’s engagement.”

“What?”

“That’s how I did it. I stole Seo Dawon’s luck. Also… Ahem…”

“……?”

“Well, in any case, that’s what happened.” Bae Jaemin said nothing more, keeping his mouth shut. His expression conveyed that he misspoke. Ryu Hyerin didn’t pry anymore, but she had perceived what he meant.

‘After that, I dreamed of my death. That’s when he used the luck he took from Seo Dawon and came to my house…So, this bastard thought he would be able to sleep with me because of that luck…’

‘How terribly pathetic,’ but she showed no signs of her inner thoughts on her face.

‘Then, does that mean he can store the luck he’s taken and use it whenever necessary…? If he can save what he’s stored…’ After thinking that far, Ryu Hyerin sneakily dragged Bae Jaemin into her embrace. “Bae Jaemin, I have a question.”

“…What is it?”

“That luck, can you share some of it with me?”

Bae Jaemin looked at her, bewildered. His disappointed expression conveyed his dismay that she would hug him just to ask that sort of question. Ryu Hyerin snorted after seeing his face.

“You want me to share my luck…”

“What? Just answer me. Can you give me some or not?”

He bit his lips tearfully, but, as soon as she began to place some force in her arms, he eventually blurted, “Knngh! I can’t…! I can only connect with Seo Dawon and take some of his luck.”

“Tsk.”

“What do you mean, ‘tsk.’ Did I ever advertise I could do that?”

“Then, have you ever shared the fruit of your luck with me? You’ve never! So, why are you acting like you’ve been robbed?”

“……” Perhaps struck speechless, Bae Jaemin bowed his head.

Removing herself from his side, she muttered, “What a shame. For that skill to be only usable by someone made of straw.” ¹

“……”

“So, you’re saying that this luck can only go from one person to another. Right?”

“……That’s right.” Bae Jaemin seemed uncomfortable with how she described him as a man made of straw. However, it was apparent that he wanted her to forget the point that he could take another’s luck.

Ryu Hyerin almost had a cramp in her cheek from holding back her laughter. But, after listening to him, she thought of something even funnier and more chaotic. So, she quickly schooled her expression and whispered lowly in his ear. This was absolutely important. “But, if you can really suck away someone’s luck.”

“……”

“What happens when that person runs out of luck? What will happen to Seo Dawon? Is he going to die?”

“…What?”

“You said you used a lot–as much as you pleased. Wouldn’t it run out at some point?”

Bae Jaemin looked a little shocked–as if he hadn’t thought that far. And, after being unable to answer for a while, he said in a pleading, unsure voice, “No way, He wouldn’t die…”

“No, more than that, have you ever thought about killing Seo Dawon?”

“……” Ryu Hyerin noted that Bae Jaemin’s nape turned moist from tension and sweat in an instant; just the thought of attacking Seo Dawon must have frightened him. However, she continued, disregarding his reaction. “Perhaps the future your [Clairvoyance] showed you was an unfortunate event that is highly likely to occur.”

“……”

“Then… Do you think you can escape that death if you remain still?”

Bae Jaemin threw a tantrum at her words, “Are you telling me to kill Seo Dawon? What is this?!”

“I was going to help you.”

“What?” Bae Jaemin’s face was filled with distrust–no other emotion.

Well, even if they had this conversation today, she had praised Seo Dawon in front of him for way more than 1 or 2 days.

She thought he’d be burning with the desire to conquer, but she had unexpectedly stumbled upon something interesting. However, she couldn’t miss this golden opportunity, even if Bae Jaemin would be content to let it tumble out of his grasp. Ryu Hyerin changed her direction and adopted a disappointed expression, “Then did you really think I’d…just let you die?”

“…..!”

Looking at Bae Jaemin’s expression at that moment, Ryu Hyerin bit the inside of her mouth–until it bled–in order to contain her laughter. She whispered to him, keeping her face deadly serious, “According to you, luck is something you’re born with… But you’re someone that can extort another’s natural destiny.”

“Th-That’s true, but…”

“Then, you should be able to change your own destiny as well.”

Bae Jaemin looked like he didn’t know what he should say. Ryu Hyerin gave him another shove, “Besides, you’ve already changed my fate. Don’t you remember? You said I would commit suicide.”

“……”

“Then, you shouldn’t give up either–you should change the future where Seo Dawon murders you.”

“……”

Ryu Hyerin watched as several conflicting emotions flickered across Bae Jaemin’s face.

He didn’t agree, but Ryu Hyerin was certain: Bae Jaemin will soon be inclined to acquiesce to her impulsive words. If that were to happen… Won’t Seo Dawon become a mess–just like she was right now?

* * *

The last day of the lease:

Ryu Hyerin laughed at Kim Olim for the first time and cajoled the Paladin to buy her a meal. Kim Olim looked puzzled at first, but then a happy expression took over as she promised to do exactly that. And, in a few days, the two sat face to face in a private room in a luxury restaurant.

“What a shame. How much time did you say you had left in your contract with [Opera]?”

“About a year and a half?”

“Come to [Red Lotus] as soon as that’s finished. We’ll match any offers and agree to any conditions.”

Judging from the Paladin’s normal attitude, Ryu Hyerin guessed that Seo Dawon did not tell his deputy about the failed confession incident. Therefore, Ryu Hyerin smiled awkwardly, purposefully showcasing her emotions so that Kim Olim would notice.

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Kim Olim frowned. “Or, did you have another guild in mind?”

“Mm, It’s not that… Ryu Hyerin trailed off at the end of her sentence before bowing her head. Then, she raised her head again while smiling; unwiped tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

Kim Olim looked at her, startled, “Hyerin-ah, what’s wrong?”

“No, I… I’m sorry. I…I’ve been crying a lot these days…”

Kim Olim gave Ryu Hyerin a worried glance and gave the young priest a handkerchief. Ryu Hyerin intentionally sniffled after wiping away her tears.

As a result, Kim Olim’s expression drastically darkened. “If it’s about your parents again… Or if the [Opera] guildmaster is threatening you…”

Ryu Hyerin smiled and waved her hands, “No, no…. Ah… It’s… Actually, I was rejected recently. Haha. I look like an idiot, right?”

“What? What kind of crazy guy did that?” Kim Olim stared, unable to comprehend.

At that moment, Ryu Hyerin smiled, pretending to calm herself down although, inside, her anger was steadily rising. In the end, she clearly revealed the identity of the man who agitated her without speaking his name directly.

After gauging her reactions, Kim Olim remained silent for a while before sighing, “Seo Dawon definitely is a…good guildmaster, but…”

“……”

“I believe there’s a better…match for you out there.”

Ryu Hyerin continued to shed tears–now, though, her head was fully bowed. She’s come this far; it’s basically a success.

As expected, Kim Olim was the one to break the long silence. She soothed the Priest; the ends of her sentences trailed off as if she were sincerely apologetic. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to help you here… Although Seo Dawon and I are close, I can’t force Seo Dawon’s hand in this sort of matter…”

The words Ryu Hyerin was waiting for had come out; Ryu Hyerin immediately cut in, removing the handkerchief she had been dabbing to her eyes. “Still, just once… Can’t you make space for me to be alone with guildmaster-nim?”

“What?”

“It’s just…I was rejected before I could confess properly; that’s been lingering in my heart…”

“……”

“If I had just one hour…I want to have a proper conversation with him.”

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TL: Oh my god, that’s so sociopathic. I can’t even.