Chapter 32
“It’s nothing really, we met in college, he said he liked me, so we went out. At first I didn’t want to go out with him because it was too much pressure, but then I realized…” “And he did?”
Yeon-young squinted her right eye slightly, trying to recall a vague memory.
Ryu Won reached out with a warm hand and gently rubbed the corner of her right eye, as if to tell her to stop frowning.
She moved the squinted eye back to its original position.
“The more I look at you, the more I see other things and I like them.” “That’s not funny.”At the mention of the past, his face slowly hardened.
Ryu Won turned away, looking slightly pouty, as if he’d really lost interest.
Yeon-young gave him an incredulous look.
“That’s right, why did you ask? It also ended badly, and I don’t want to remember much.” “It ended badly?” “Yes, he cheated on me.” “I’ll kill him…” “Mr. Ryu Won, look.”Unable to hear his murderous words, Yeon-young pointed to the sky with a strange expression.
The sun began to rise. The dark sky became brighter and brighter, like white paint.
As Yeon-Young stood up and stepped out of the lake, steam rose from her body.
The Sly swam out as soon as it saw her leave the lake.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the world turned red like grapefruit juice.
The trees in the forest swayed gently in the breeze as they caught the sun’s halo.
A warm breeze briefly blew over Yeon-young, and it seemed that Ryu Won had taken care of drying her clothes.
“Thank you, Mr. Ryu Won.” “You shouldn’t be cold.”Ryu Won moved his hands and let the wind dry his clothes one by one, and they quickly became fluffy.
He stared at the sky and then said as if he had an idea.
“Next time, come when the sun is setting, because then the sky is all purple and beautiful.” “Really? I should really come when it’s time.”Yeon-young rose from her seat and shifted her languid body from side to side.
Ryu Won followed suit.
Suddenly, she turned her back to the sun and looked at him.
Ryu Won stopped all movement and focused on her as if time had stopped.
For a moment, he was confused as to whether she was emitting light or not. She smiled with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“Come see it with me the next time the sun sets.”Ryu Won nodded, unable to answer, as if hypnotized by the words.
***
Back at the center, after a dreamlike standby, Yeon-young was happy to have a new job.
Her main task today was to make sure that the Slys released from the pole last night would adapt well to the forest.
There was only one problem: this time she would be alone with Zhaolin, not Ryu Won.
As the first to hear the news, Ryu Won swept the conference room with a gust of wind, but this time, no amount of fussing would get through to Saeri.
Ryu Won had been sent out to eliminate snarls in other branches. Eventually, he was forced to leave, leaving Yeon-young alone in Branch 1.
Before leaving for the forest, Zhaolin urged to say a few things.
“Once you’re in the forest, all rash actions are forbidden. Just look straight ahead. You’re on the left, I’m on the right. If anything happens, run in front of the life or death pillar. There’s an emergency teleport on the pillar, you can use it.” “Excuse me, Ms. Zhaolin? No, Senior Zhaolin? What should I call you?” “I am not your senior, so you may call me by my first name. This is a gathering of spirits, so there are rules about that. There is no concept of age, so I don’t really care what you call me.” “Oh, then I’ll call you Ms. Zhaolin… Exactly what kind of soul am I looking for?” “The ones that haven’t adapted, the ones that are unusually weak in light compared to the other Sly, that’s what you’re looking for. Just make sure you check them all before sunset, and when you see them, come to the pillar. And one last thing: I hate breaking the rules the most. Please remember that.” “If it’s before sunset, we have less than two hours, but how do we keep the captured souls…? Come on, Ms. Zhaolin, Ms. Zhaolin!”Even though Yeon-Young’s question was unfinished, Zhaolin headed for the right section, leaving only what she wanted to say.
It was hard to be around a good-hearted soul like Ryu Won all the time and then have a boss who was so opinionated.
Yeon-young went to the left section and scanned the grass for Slys.
The only unusual thing was that she could strangely distinguish the Sly that had just come here from the Sly that had always been here.
As with all living things, they were already divided into two groups: those who had been here before and those who had arrived yesterday.
“Is anyone sick?”At the sound of Yeon-Young’s sweet, calm voice, the Slys began to jump up and down in excitement, like river fish that had been waiting for their owner all day.
Surprisingly, the Slys who had been with Yeon-Young calmed down immediately at her beckoning, but not the newcomers.
They jumped around more excitedly, like children who had just been stripped of their baby titles and entered kindergarten.
“Easy.”Yeon-young calmed them down and examined them carefully.
Needless to say, she didn’t take a break. From the moment she entered the left zone, she hadn’t rested her back.
But it was too much for her to check on this large population alone before sunset.
“What are you doing there?” “Ms. Zhaolin?”The voice was sharp and booming, and when he turned around, she saw that Zharim had entered the area to his left. Only then did Yeon-young realize that time had passed.
The sky was already setting. Yeon-young swallowed dryly out of nervousness.
The Slys, who had been hovering near her, seemed to notice the unusual atmosphere and moved further away.
“Didn’t you hear me earlier when I told you to be back by sunset?” “It took longer than I thought, I’m sorry.” “Is this the kind of business that takes that long?”Zhaolin asked, raising an eyebrow. She was really curious. It was true what they said about geniuses not understanding the common man.
Her orange eyes scanned Yeon-young from top to bottom. As if searching.
Zhaolin tilted her head to one side.
“How did you get on special teams?” “What?” “I don’t think you’re a good fit for special teams. The level difference is too great.” “In that case, wouldn’t it be easier for you to move to another department?” “Move to another department?” “Don’t lose face, Ms. Yeon-young.”Zhaolin was right. The spirits in the special teams of the center might have had their brains rotted out, but they all excelled in every single one of their skills.
Ryu Won, Saeri, and even Jaeho had excellent statistics.
But not Yeon-young. All she had was the immature ability to read memories.
It was a question that had always bothered Yeon-young.
‘Is this position right for her?’
She hadn’t thought about it. It hadn’t occurred to her that Yeon-young’s shortcomings could be detrimental to Ryu Won.
It was something she could consider changing departments for, as Zhaolin had said.
But having someone else confirm what she already knew made her feel sick.
Who was Sun Zhaolin?
What kind of relationship does she have with Ryu Won that she’s worried about his reputation?
“That’s good advice, but I don’t think it’s any of your business.” “Please don’t take it personally. It is advice for your own good.” “Well, even if you’re giving advice, I think it’s more appropriate for Mr. Ryu Won to give it, so please stop interfering.”There was a silence between them.
Just then, light flashed simultaneously from Yeon-young’s bracelet and Zhaolin’s necklace. With a quick flick of her hand, she touched the necklace.
As the light faded, she heard a familiar voice. It was Ryu Won.
“Sun Zhaolin, are you with Yeon-young?” “Yes, we’re together.” “We need to meet at Veronica’s Tavern right away. I have a request. Meet me in front of the clock tower. Take care of Ms. Yeon-young and bring her back.”From the sound of the conversation, it was an urgent request.
The reception went dead and Zhaolin rubbed her forehead a few times before opening the teleport with her necklace.
“Did you hear that?” “Yes.” “Let’s go to Veronica’s Tavern first.”Without another word, Yeon-Young jumped into the teleport. Her head was pounding with a headache.
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