Chapter 708: Are You That Assassin From Back Then?

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Are you not afraid of death?"

Cha Yiran asked Geom Mugeuk the very same question the Evil Alliance Chairman had once asked her. The Chairman's words, promising he would wait for her in hell first, had felt entirely sincere.

Geom Mugeuk simply shook his head. "I am afraid."

She had expected a man like the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Young Cult Leader to claim he had no fear of death whatsoever.

However, Geom Mugeuk continued with what seemed like complete honesty.

"I'm an anxious person. The kind who worries about all sorts of things in advance. For someone like me, how could I not be afraid of death? I'm afraid of my own death, and I'm even more afraid of the people around me dying. You asked me if I was a fool earlier, didn't you? I am a fool. I know full well that the more connections I make, the more worries I'll have, yet I keep increasing the number of people who shouldn't die."

As Geom Mugeuk stared intently at her, Cha Yiran asked, "Am I included among those people who shouldn't die?"

To her surprise, Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"What if that person sees me later and says this? 'Hey, you call yourself the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, and you couldn't even save the one woman who likes me? What the hell were you doing?' I'd be so ashamed I wouldn't even be able to lift my head. I wouldn't be able to act all high and mighty in front of him anymore."

It was such a simple reason that it resonated all the more.

"There's that kind of loyalty among men. The kind that says you have to protect your friend's woman. Although you're only half a woman."

At the phrase 'half a woman', Cha Yiran let out a dry laugh. He had said it that way because she was the only one who liked Ak Gunhak. But still, half a woman?

"There's a reason why men in this murim die young."

Though she said that, Cha Yiran could feel it. This Young Cult Leader sitting beside her was not such a simple person.

This time, Geom Mugeuk asked, "What are you thinking so hard about?"

Looking at the flowers in the garden, Cha Yiran answered, "I'm thinking about whether you're a fool or a madman."

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud. He could definitely feel her heart wavering, perhaps because she thought he had saved her life.

"How much time do we have?"

"What time?"

"The time until the assassination."

The assassination was scheduled for tomorrow. Only a few hours remained until the Purple Orb.

"Why do you ask?"

"If there's time left, let's have dinner together one last time."

"Well, it's certain you're a madman."

A gust of wind blew past the two of them and the flower garden they were watching. The sunset, carried on the wind, spread across the garden, presenting the flowers in a new shade of beauty to the two people.

Watching Geom Mugeuk admire the sight, Cha Yiran thought to herself. It was supposed to be the other way around. He should be captivated by her face, not the flowers, hanging on her every word.

Instead, she was the one being constantly led on.

"Let's go eat, it's my request! They say you grant a dead person's wish, so can't you grant a living person's? And am I just some ordinary person? I'm your lifesaver, am I not? You think I wasn't scared of the Evil Alliance Chairman? Is that all? When you were drunk, throwing up, and crawling around…!"

As if she did not want to hear another word, she shot up from her seat.

"Wait here while I go change."

Several splendid outfits hung inside the closet. As Cha Yiran chose what to wear, her gaze fell upon a corner where a black martial arts uniform was folded.

After a moment of hesitation, Cha Yiran picked up the uniform and said, "How long are you going to hide?"

Just then, Hwa Domyeong revealed himself from behind her.

"Isn't that red palace gown on the left nice?"

However, Cha Yiran slammed the closet shut with a sharp sound.

"Are you angry?"

"Angry? What's there to be angry about? I've known for a long time that you're a coward."

"You're angry."

"I'm going to change. Turn around."

Hwa Domyeong turned his back, and Cha Yiran began to change her clothes.

"The Evil Alliance Chairman wouldn't have killed you. The Evil Alliance owes the Young Cult Leader a great debt. A man like him, who is clear about his debts and grudges, wouldn't have killed you recklessly."

Cha Yiran changed her clothes without a word.

"This plan was all calculated. So don't misunderstand and think I abandoned you."

"I didn't say anything."

"You're angry right now!"

Yes, she was angry. The reason for her anger, however, was not Hwa Domyeong. It was not because he had failed to step forward and help, either.

The reason she was angry was…

After she finished changing, she tucked the box containing the orb into her clothes.

"I'll be back."

Just then, Hwa Domyeong spoke. He addressed her without turning around.

"Don't go."

"You'll be persuaded by the Young Cult Leader. Just like Ak Gunhak was persuaded."

Cha Yiran's reply did not come.

"……"

The sound of a door opening was heard.

When Hwa Domyeong turned around, Cha Yiran had already left the room. He did not leave right away. His thick makeup made it impossible to know the exact emotion on his face, but it was at least not disappointment or anger.

"……"

He sat with his feet propped up on the table, fanning himself gently as he watched the sunset outside the window.

While Cha Yiran was changing, Geom Mugeuk waited for her. Just then, someone cautiously approached him. The person who drew near after hesitating about a hundred times was none other than the Seventeenth Bridge.

"I have a request for you, Young Cult Leader."

"Speak."

Earlier, when she had confronted the Evil Alliance Chairman, the Seventeenth Bridge had prepared for death. In that moment, she felt just one regret.

She regretted that she would die without being able to thank the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior who had saved her. It was surprising that she had thought of him at that moment. That was why she had mustered her courage.

"To the member of the Faceless Warriors with the crescent moon drawing, please give him this throwing knife and tell him thank you for saving me. I feel like if I don't say it today, I'll never be able to."

The Seventeenth Bridge politely handed over a throwing knife. It was a token of gratitude she wanted to give to the Faceless Warrior.

Geom Mugeuk immediately returned the throwing knife to her.

Realizing her mistake, the Seventeenth Bridge quickly bowed her head and apologized.

"I was rude to a person of your stature."

Come to think of it, this was like asking the Young Cult Leader to run an errand.

I must be crazy.

She had lost her mind for a moment, thinking only that she could not miss this opportunity. Her impatience to deliver the message before the Young Cult Leader left had caused her to make such a huge mistake. She had even made the request directly without getting permission from Cha Yiran. She would have no excuse if he decided to kill her.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk's voice was heard.

"Give it to him yourself later."

When the Seventeenth Bridge looked up in surprise, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said, "After all this is over, I'll give you a chance to meet him in person, so you can give it to him then and tell him yourself."

The Seventeenth Bridge bowed her head in relief.

"Thank you, Young Cult Leader."

She ran back, brushing off her startled heart. As she went, she regretted not having thanked him more properly. That was how flustered she was.

Soon after, Cha Yiran appeared. She had heard their conversation as she approached.

"Are you really going to let them meet?"

"I'll let them meet."

Seeing her incomprehensible expression, Geom Mugeuk explained his reason.

"In life, when would one ever get the chance to meet one of the Faceless Warriors, arranged by the Young Cult Leader? And when would one of the Faceless Warriors ever get to receive thanks from an assassin? With just a word from me, I can give them an experience others could never have in their entire lives, right? So is there any reason not to let them meet?"

Cha Yiran said nothing. It was a sentiment and a way of thinking she did not possess. She thought that if she were Geom Mugeuk, the outcome would have depended on her mood. She might have gotten angry, thinking, 'How dare she ask me to deliver a message?' Or she might have promised to deliver it and then forgotten. Yes, maybe she would have delivered it in a good mood.

But to arrange for the two of them to meet? That was something that did not exist in her world.

"And who knows what can happen between people? What if those two fall for each other, elope in the middle of the night, and then one day, you run into them walking down the street, holding a child's hand? Since they are my people and your people, when we wave at them, they will smile instead of killing themselves."

"!"

That was something that did not even exist in the dreams of her world. However, knowing that his words were sincere was what made dealing with Geom Mugeuk so difficult.

"If we're still alive by then."

"We will be alive. Us, and them. That's what we're constantly striving for."

He was not just talking. The fact that the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had spared all of the Beautiful Bridges' assassins would also be included in that 'striving' he just mentioned.

"I'll buy dinner today. Since you saved my life."

"Buy me an expensive meal. I'm so tense, I'm craving meat!"

She walked ahead first, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind her.

"The clothes suit you well."

Cha Yiran quickened her pace even more and replied, "It's just that I didn't have anything else suitable to wear right now."

The two ate dinner together.

At least while eating, they did not discuss serious topics. They talked about the weather and their favorite seasons. They even argued over the food, debating where to find the best version of a dish. No, another place was more delicious.

And so, the two finished their meal.

"Thanks to you, I ate well."

"I'm glad."

She too had a proper meal for the first time in a long while. She could not even remember the last time she had eaten and conversed with someone so relaxed.

"Well, have you changed your mind now?"

Cha Yiran stared silently at Geom Mugeuk and asked back, "Did you put a potion in the food to change my mind?"

"I did. The effects should be kicking in right about now."

Cha Yiran smiled faintly at Geom Mugeuk's joke. The potion was already working its magic. Because even in this moment, she was conflicted.

She had never imagined she would have such worries. Betraying the organization? Being won over by the enemy?

It was not Geom Mugeuk's words that had swayed her. Words could be fabricated easily enough. The problem was that she was swayed by the person, Geom Mugeuk. By those clear, deep eyes that seemed to see right into her heart. By his sincerity from another world.

And one more thing. Ak Gunhak was a big factor. If Geom Mugeuk was the person that wonderful man liked, then he must be someone amazing. That kind of thought had an influence.

Come to think of it, regarding their relationship with Ak Gunhak, the way she saw Geom Mugeuk and the way he saw her was a subtle but crucial difference.

The person he likes.

The person who likes him.

Cha Yiran asked with a calm gaze, "Do you know what it means for an assassin to give up a contract?"

She, at least, knew better than anyone what it meant to her. She had died as an assassin until the very end.

"What does it mean?"

"First, I'll lose my reputation as an assassin. Of course, since it's not known to the world, there's not much of a reputation to speak of."

"But you have a reputation you've built in your own heart."

Geom Mugeuk understood her heart.

"There's a practical problem too. If I give up the contract, I have to return double the contract fee. Since the fee for this one is so enormous, I'll have to use all the money I've ever earned to pay it back."

That was not the only problem.

"And they'll try to kill me."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Yes, those bastards would not let her go willingly. Just as they would not let Ak Gunhak go.

"On the other hand, what I gain is…"

After a brief pause, she imitated Ak Gunhak.

"Huh? Why are you saving me?"

She laughed, as if finding her own words ridiculous.

To that empty laugh, Geom Mugeuk added one thing. "There is something you'll gain instead."

"What is it?"

"Me. The me who will tell that person how hard you tried. Even if he leaves, I will remain."

For a moment, Cha Yiran stared at Geom Mugeuk without a word. Yes, in any sense, gaining the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Young Cult Leader would surely be valuable. But how long would this feeling last?

"At first, you'll smile when you see me, but after seeing me once, twice, every time you see me, you'll think of me as a traitor. 'That woman, she betrayed once, she'll betray again.'"

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

"I'm sorry, but we won't have many chances to see each other anyway. I'm too busy. Our good relationship will be maintained simply because we see each other after a long time. Someone will probably come up to you and say something like this. 'Are you that assassin from back then? Wake up, the Young Cult Leader has abandoned you.'"

Somehow, it felt like that would really happen. But it did not feel bad.

"You don't have to give up the contract."

Geom Mugeuk was being as considerate of her as possible.

"Just don't forget your promise to me."

It was the promise to accept his contract if she failed the assassination.

Cha Yiran slowly shook her head. "If you thought I was that shameless, you've misjudged me."

Cha Yiran closed her eyes for a moment. How much time passed like that? She hardened her resolve.

"I knew a day would come when I would part ways with them. That's why I always tried to keep my distance. I just didn't know it would be this time."

She made a decision that would change her life.

"I will give up this contract."

It was giving up, not betrayal. It was not because she had any special loyalty or gratitude towards them. She had dealt with them as an assassin, so she intended to fulfill that responsibility.

Geom Mugeuk's face, looking at her, was filled with joy.

"Thank you. I will make sure you never regret making this choice."

Now, she revealed everything to Geom Mugeuk honestly.

"My original mission was to kill the Evil Alliance Chairman at the celebratory banquet."

Earlier, she had been paralyzed by the Evil Alliance Chairman's spirit. However, that was when she was an exposed assassin. The situation would have been different if she had stood before him as the woman who had just become the world's number one beauty.

"But when you appeared, a new mission was given."

She took out the box containing the orb from her clothes.

"They told me to make you take this. But there was a condition. The order was to make it fall into your hands naturally, not as if we were intentionally giving it to you. I gave you two chances to take it, but you didn't even touch it."

That day she was dead drunk, and the day she was changing her clothes, Geom Mugeuk had not coveted the orb.

"I'll have to return this to them too."

She slowly opened the box. The red light of the orb was both transparent and deep. Something was shimmering around the blood vessel-like patterns spreading inside it.

"……"

The Secret Box reacted even more strongly than before.

It was at that very moment.

"……"

The orb inside the box slowly began to rise into the air.