From the car behind us, Ryu Sunghyun and Song Jiwoon stepped out. Judging by their stiff expressions, the ride had been thoroughly awkward.
Neither of them were particularly sociable, it seed — still stuck on formal terms. Honestly, I might have to secretly arrange sothing to help them bond.
“This is Circle Guild.”
Since Ryu Sunghyun was just standing there staring at , I introduced the guild building to Jiwoon in his place. I was a bit worried he’d be disappointed by the building’s modest size, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“My twin brother... he’s in there, right?”
He asked carefully, and I gave a slight nod, surprised by the question.
Co to think of it, for Song Jiwoon, this was the place where he’d et a blood relative he never knew existed.
Even if it was all fabricated by that fake, for Jiwoon — who had lived his whole life thinking his grandmother was his only family — this mont had to be overwhelming in many ways. I hadn’t thought it through enough.
‘I’ve been too indifferent.’
As soone who grew up an orphan, I never really understood the bond of blood or what made family “special.” It never felt important to .
No — rather than being an orphan, it’s probably because I was just born that way. Either way, the emotions Jiwoon was feeling right now were beyond anything I could relate to.
“Yes. The Guildmaster is probably waiting for you in the executive office. The Vice-Guildmaster will go with you, of course. But if you’re anxious, I can accompany you too.”
Originally, I’d intended to leave Jiwoon with Ryu Sunghyun and wait in the lounge.
After all, the Guildmaster of Circle had only asked to bring Jiwoon here. As a mber of a different guild, I wasn’t in any position to sit in on a private briefing about Circle’s future.
Still, if Jiwoon was this nervous and awkward with Ryu Sunghyun, then I’d just have to throw sha to the wind and tag along.
‘Even if it ans dealing with Sunghyun-hyung and the rest of Circle staring down.’
I didn’t care about the fake. That guy wasn’t soone I needed to tiptoe around. We’d be having a separate conversation soon anyway.
As I predicted, Jiwoon hesitated, lowering his lashes and murmuring,
“If you don’t mind, Cha Seohu Hunter...”
“Of course I don’t.”
I answered without hesitation, and Jiwoon’s pale cheeks tinted pink. I guess it embarrassed him to ask for help from soone younger.
“Vice-Guildmaster, is that alright with you?”
I turned lightly, assuming he’d agree — but to my surprise, Ryu Sunghyun didn’t look happy.
His normally warm brown eyes were noticeably cold. For a second, I wondered if he was angry that I had decided on my own — but his gaze wasn’t directed at . It was aid at Jiwoon.
“Hah.”
A scoffing sound ca from below. Cha Sahyeon, still holding my hand, had been silently watching the whole thing.
‘What now, you little...’
I cast a weary glance at Sahyeon, and Ryu Sunghyun finally opened his mouth, clearly reluctant.
“Well, I think that—”
“Cha Seohu Hunter.”
His sentence was abruptly cut short.
Another familiar face had stepped out of the newly arrived car.
“Did you have a safe trip?”
As always, Kwon Taehyuk approached in a perfectly pressed suit. Behind him, a line of similarly dressed bodyguards stood in formation. They looked like a damn mafia group.
“...Yeah, I guess.”
I gave a flat reply, then felt a bit guilty since he had helped out. I added a proper thank-you.
“Thanks for sending the drivers and the cars. It made getting back to Seoul a lot easier.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
We exchanged a few formal words before Taehyuk looked around, greeting Ryu Sunghyun with a nod and then scanning Song Jiwoon, Cha Sahyeon, and Eunbok, who was nestled in my arms.
“So your group grew, I see. You left for the mountain with two, and now there are more.”
“Oh, this person is a guest of Circle Guild. And as you know, this is my younger brother.”
Taehyuk’s gaze flicked briefly to Sahyeon, and his eyes narrowed.
“Didn’t you say Cover Hunter took your brother away?”
Why the hell was he prying so much?
“We t again on the mountain. If you want to talk more, let’s move. No need to stand in the middle of the street.”
I deliberately stroked the cat in my arms.
“He gets anxious, you know.”
Eunbok yawned lazily, bored out of her mind — but it was a convenient excuse.
“...Understood. I’ll accompany you, then.”
With Taehyuk now planning to follow us into Circle Guild, Ryu Sunghyun sighed quietly. Since we’d used his car, we didn’t exactly have grounds to refuse.
‘...Wait. Is this why he ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) lent us the car?’
Realizing Taehyuk’s intention, I was impressed. That stiff, uptight man had actually sched sothing.
“Let’s head in.”
Just as we were about to follow Sunghyun into the guild building—
SCREECH!
A sharp tire screech pierced the air. Alard, I looked toward the street and saw a taxi co to a rough halt.
“Screw it, hyung! You pay!”
The cab jerked a few more tis before the door burst open, and a man stumbled out in a rush.
Tousled copper hair and bright crimson eyes. The mont our eyes t, my lips parted on their own.
“Hyung! HYYYUUUNG!”
Kwon Seoyul grinned and dashed toward like a bull charging at a red flag, his energy so overwhelming I instinctively stepped back.
‘What the hell is he doing here?’
By my guess, he should’ve still been trapped in the district, unable to leave. Did that man give him another order? Was that why they tracked ?
“I missed you so muuuuch!”
My mind spun into chaos, and I couldn’t react in ti.
As Seoyul opened his arms to hug , a large figure stepped between us.
“The hell? Back off.”
“What are you doing here?”
Kwon Taehyuk looked down at the bristling Seoyul, frowning.
“You followed ? Were you tracking Cha Seohu Hunter?”
“Bullshit. Move before I kill you.”
“...Please stop, Guildmaster.”
Thanks to Taehyuk blocking him, I finally regained my senses. I stepped in before their childish bickering got worse.
“Sorry, Cha Seohu Hunter. We actually ran into each other earlier at the comrcial building...”
“Hyung! Where have you been? You weren’t answering your phone!”
“I was careful not to leave any trail. He must’ve used so kind of tracking item—”
“This isn’t the ti! Please, let’s just go back! Father—!”
“....”
My head throbbed from Seoyul’s emotional outburst and Taehyuk’s unnecessary comntary.
I glanced over to see Song Jiwoon looking overwheld and Ryu Sunghyun glaring at Seoyul with distaste.
“...Let’s just head inside—”
“Cha Seohu!”
“....”
Now what?
‘If you’re all coming, at least coordinate your arrivals.’
I was ready to scream, but the voice that called out was too familiar to ignore. A voice I hadn’t expected to hear here, of all places.
Turning toward the source, I spotted a very pissed-off friend charging straight at .
I let go of Sahyeon’s hand and took a few steps forward, ensuring Taehyuk couldn’t block this ti.
Just as I reached the front, Hyun Dowoon tackled .
“Cha Seohu, you insane bastard!”
“Hey.”
I greeted him nonchalantly as he scowled and looked over quickly — not just with his eyes, but his hands, too.
He started patting down like I was a slab of at at a butcher shop. With Eunbok in one arm, I offered no resistance and said,
“If you start groping right after a reunion, it’s kind of embarrassing, babe.”
“Shut the fuck up. What happened to your phone? Where the hell did you sell it that you didn’t get a single call?”
“It broke. I had stuff going on.”
“The hell have you been doing that you break your phone? And if it broke, why didn’t you get a new one right away?”
“I was too busy. Anyway, forget that.”
Balancing Eunbok in one arm, I reached out with the other and snatched the black-rimd glasses from the bridge of Dowoon’s nose. His eyes, still tinged blue, gave off a dense, residual aura.
My lips curled.
“You used your tracking skill, huh?”
“...Don’t ask shit you already know.”
Snatching the glasses back, Dowoon shoved them on with a scowl.
Hyun Dowoon. One of the few I truly saw as family. We’d lived together in the district since we were little. He was the one person I considered a genuine friend and brother.
Dowoon rarely ever ca outside the district. He didn’t want to — and usually, he wasn’t even allowed to.
But now, he was here. With Kwon Seoyul in tow.
“You’re really gonna run away too, just because I’m gone?”
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