Chapter 55 – Rule 22. The Leader Stays Composed (3)

 

“Do you hug and sleep with Geumyang every day?”

 

“Of course not,” I replied.

 

For a moment, I felt dizzy and lightheaded, but I barely managed to keep my composure and set the record straight.

 

I had to figure out what was being said first.

 

And then…

 

“My name is Geumyang. My job is a god. My hobbies are reading, watching anime, and movies.”

 

“Did you introduce yourself like that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I see.

 

After calming down and listening to the story from both Oh Baek-seo and Geumyang, I realized why Baek-seo quickly understood and dismissed Geumyang’s words.

 

‘Did she think it was just delusions of grandeur…?’

 

Who would believe that one was a god-like being derived from the Golden Sheep?

 

No matter what evidence was shown, it would still seem like the ravings of a pathological liar.

 

“To reiterate, you look human, don’t you?”

 

“I’m not human.”

 

Geumyang sternly corrected Baek-seo.

 

“I’m a god!”

 

Geumyang declared triumphantly.

 

‘Even if you say that….’

 

Geumyang had an adorably cute appearance.

 

Seeing her sitting on the sofa, wearing my shirt, arms crossed, looking so self-important… it was hard to find any trace of divine majesty.

 

From the start, the concept of ‘majesty’ was far from Geumyang.

 

“Instead, say you’re unemployed.”

 

“Once again, don’t use such an unworthy term in my presence.”

 

Needlessly prideful.

 

“Then… hmm….”

 

Was Baek-seo looking at Geumyang with pity?

 

“In summary, the Leader has been ‘taking care’ of this girl?”

 

“Taking care of me? That child, of me? Ha, absurd!”

 

Geumyang scoffed and got angry.

 

“Sorry, I’ll correct myself. This girl has a strange ability that can erase the Leader’s unique power cost, and the Leader has been ‘taking care’ of her, right?”

 

“The phrase ‘taking care of her’ hasn’t disappeared at all…?”

 

Did Baek-seo misunderstand?

 

“Look again, next door. This is my power, Space Domination!”

 

“Yes, it is.”

 

“Ugh, why won’t you believe it…?”

 

Geumyang tried to create a rift as a means of proof.

 

Even that, Baek-seo seemed to think, was just one of the special magical formulas that happened while removing my penalty.

 

‘This is absurd.’

 

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

“Leader, is that why you were late introducing this girl?”

 

How surprising…

 

“…Baek-seo.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Let’s talk about that later.”

 

Baek-seo, who had been smiling kindly, showed doubt in her eyes.

 

***

 

It was summer, yet the night wind was still cool.

 

After roughly finishing the conversation with Geumyang, Baek-seo treated Geumyang comfortably, and Geumyang said she had lost interest and quickly returned to her labyrinth.

 

‘It ended without any major issues.’

 

Thankfully, there were no big troubles.

 

Baek-seo and I stopped by a café to take out a drink and sat on a bench under a streetlight.

 

A light conversation should be okay.

 

“Leader, is this a date?”

 

“…!”

 

An unexpected attack.

 

I flinched at Baek-seo’s playful question.

 

‘She makes my heart flutter at the most unexpected moments….’

 

Especially after the incident in Baek-seo’s shower room last time, it was even more so.

 

I didn’t dislike it, but it was still troubling.

 

“We just came out to talk. Don’t say things like that even here….”

 

“Just kidding.”

 

Usually, when Baek-seo suddenly made such jokes, it was to change the atmosphere.

 

I understood and let it pass.

 

“Anyway, what I said earlier was a misunderstanding.”

 

I got straight to the point.

 

“What was?”

 

“I’m not taking care of Geumyang. I’m the one being helped.”

 

If there was a misunderstanding, I wanted to correct it immediately.

 

Since I would be with Baek-seo for a long time, I didn’t want any weird misunderstandings lingering.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Baek-seo’s smile disappeared.

 

“It might be hard to understand, but everything Geumyang said is true… Why are you looking like that?”

 

Baek-seo’s expression was gradually hardening.

 

What could be the problem?

 

I couldn’t help but worry.

 

“Leader.”

 

Baek-seo had an unusually serious expression.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Are you really in a master-servant relationship with that girl?”

 

Crazy.

 

What is she talking about now?

 

“I heard that you’re in a master and servant relationship. Geumyang is the master, and you’re the servant or like a dog….”

 

“…?”

 

“Is that really true?”

 

‘This is crazy.’

 

Geumyang!

 

It took over ten minutes to explain to Baek-seo.

 

Fortunately, it didn’t take as long as I expected. Baek-seo just listened without questioning too deeply about the confusing parts.

 

By the time a third of my lime mojito was left in my hand,

 

“Well… that’s the story. It might be hard to accept all at once, but just understand that it’s not a relationship to be misunderstood.”

 

After finishing the explanation, I looked at Baek-seo.

 

“Yes, I understand what you mean.”

 

Baek-seo turned towards me, hugging her knees, staring at me intently.

 

It was a comfortable posture, leaning her shoulders against the backrest, and she had taken off her shoes.

 

“Thank you for understanding.”

 

Baek-seo shook her head.

 

“No, I’m still quite confused.”

 

“Is it still hard to believe…?”

 

“Honestly… it might take some time to accept.”

 

It was a more subdued reaction than I expected.