“What do you mean by that?”

Though he tried to feign calmness, he couldn’t help his mouth going dry. Ryu Seo-ha lightly bit his lip.

“You cannot take a single step outside this mansion.”

The man informed him again in a polite and businesslike tone that felt strangely formal.

“Are you saying Choi Gang-hu gave such an order?”

“That’s correct.”

Well, who else would do such a thing if not him? He only asked to confirm because the situation was completely incomprehensible. Is he really trying to imprison him?

“What’s the reason?”

“I haven’t been informed about that.”

It seemed he wouldn’t get a proper answer no matter how much he asked. The other person was probably just acting as instructed anyway.

“Where is he now?”

He needed to meet with Choi Gang-hu and talk first.

“He’s in the bedroom.”

Ryu Seo-ha nodded vaguely to the man answering in a blunt tone and turned towards the master bedroom. However, the man blocked his way again.

“He said not to let anyone into the room while he’s sleeping.”

“……”

It seems he had given an order prohibiting approach in advance. It made sense, as Choi Gang-hu had a habit of sleeping while leaning against a wall. So he could respond immediately if he detected any movement approaching within attack range.

For ordinary people, sleep is when they’re most defenseless, but for Choi Gang-hu it was when he was most sensitive. That’s probably why he blocked access. To avoid attacking unintentionally.

“Please wait in your room.”

Ryu Seo-ha shook his head at the man’s brusque suggestion. No matter how spacious, he didn’t want to obediently wait in a room enclosed on all sides for Choi Gang-hu to come find him. It would make him feel trapped.

“I feel stuffy. I’d like to get some fresh air for a moment.”

“……”

“I won’t run away. I don’t have that ability anyway.”

“…Alright.”

The man finally relented and guided him to the garden. The mansion, which easily exceeded 660 square meters in floor area, also had a large private garden attached. It was truly on a palace-like scale.

He was momentarily speechless at the walking path spread out before his eyes. It was much larger in scale than he had vaguely imagined. There must be a dedicated landscaper just to maintain the garden.

The cold winter morning breeze brushed his cheeks. Fresh trees and colorful flowers filling the garden in this weather? Did they use some kind of item?

Hannam-dong apparently had many houses with a high ratio of green space even before the great upheaval. Still, he couldn’t help but be surprised. Until just recently, Choi Gang-hu, the owner of this house, had been missing.

“The caretakers’ efforts are quite impressive here.”

“I heard Secretary Jang went through considerable trouble.”

“Ah.”

“Hurriedly redecorating while the Guild Master was going through entry procedures.”

Ryu Seo-ha’s eyes widened. So this wasn’t where he originally stayed. Could it be they deliberately prepared this to confine him in this house?

Suddenly, the high outer walls built to ensure privacy looked like prison bars. Though it has good sunlight being south-facing.

“Please look around then. I’ll bring the Guild Master here.”

“Pardon?”

“He said to do so when you woke up.”

It seems they had prepared a separate means of contact. Well, there are many ways to wake him besides entering directly.

Ryu Seo-ha carefully examined the man in front of him again. It didn’t seem likely that Choi Gang-hu would give just anyone the authority to wake him. A slender build with delicate features, and a stiff expression stood out.

His height was about 178cm. Similar to his own height. He didn’t give the impression that he could easily overpower Ryu Seo-ha by force if he tried to escape. Unless he was an awakened one.

‘Awakened one?’

Suddenly, a character from the novel with a similar description to the man before him came to mind. A young man in his late 20s, a supporting character who stood out due to his unique way of speaking reminiscent of a loyal knight from medieval fantasy.

“May I ask your name?”

“It’s Park Je-hyun.”

“Ah……”

Park Je-hyun, a physical-type awakened one.

He was one of Choi Gang-hu’s closest aides who served him wholeheartedly. A character who left a big impact on readers due to his tragic end. The scene of him firmly playing the tank role until the very end vividly came to mind.

He was also someone who had regarded Choi Gang-hu as his benefactor since childhood. A definite helper position who harbored considerable antipathy towards Gangseong Guild Master Choi Jun-wan for the same reason.

“Then.”

Park Je-hyun, who had bowed excessively politely to Ryu Seo-ha who was much younger, left the garden with quick steps. Like Kwon Se-jung, there were many people with steadfast natures around Choi Gang-hu.

Ryu Seo-ha blankly stared at the distant shining Namsan Tower. Tracing the future of people who would end up devoting themselves to the From Hell Guild for different reasons.

How much and in what ways would their fates be twisted if he distorted the novel’s plot to survive? The part he had tried to ignore out of self-interest suddenly pricked his conscience. Ryu Seo-ha closed his eyes, leaning diagonally against the railing.

“You woke up early.”

Along with the sensation of firm arms wrapping around his waist, a languid low voice settled by his ear. Startled, Ryu Seo-ha tried to turn around, but failed as the other person rested his chin on his shoulder.

“Mr. Choi Gang-hu.”

“You seemed to have insomnia.”

“First, please step away…”

“Do you usually have trouble sleeping?”

Pushing away Choi Gang-hu who was just saying what he wanted from the morning, he stepped back a couple of paces and sighed.

“That kind of sudden approach, honestly, it’s burdensome.”

Ryu Seo-ha expressed his thoughts in as firm a voice as possible. Though he was cautious not knowing how the other would react, he felt it would only get worse if left alone. He thought he should clearly address it this time.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t do that.”

In a way, it was an overtly embarrassing situation. Nevertheless, Choi Gang-hu only tilted his head slightly with a composed attitude. He was prepared to face that characteristic cold expression and gaze.

Exuding an overwhelming aura as if on a runway stage even in comfortable indoor clothes, his mood surprisingly didn’t seem bad. As if he had expected this kind of reaction.

“I thought it was mutually beneficial. Is it not?”

The calm voice asked back. Mutually? Ryu Seo-ha’s gaze deepened as he caught the subtle nuance in those words. As expected. Choi Gang-hu also gains something from physical contact with him.

“For me, my mana stat increases, but what about you, Mr. Choi Gang-hu?”

He threw out the question he would normally have just pondered without easily voicing. Feeling that if not now, he would just agonize over it for a long time again. But Choi Gang-hu only smiled without giving a clear answer.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

He even changed the subject. It was clearly a sign that he didn’t want to give a detailed explanation.

“Let’s eat first.”

An evasive answer unlike him. Seeing this, there must definitely be something.

“With your sister too.”

Ryu Seo-ha’s thoughts trying to gauge Choi Gang-hu’s true intentions stopped abruptly.

“My sister? Jeong-ah noona?”

Choi Gang-hu nodded lightly and turned to look at Secretary Jang who was waiting at the garden entrance.

“Where was she again?”

“She just arrived at the dining room. Shall I guide you there right away?”

“Shall we go eat?”

This time he met Ryu Seo-ha’s gaze again as if asking for his opinion. It was an offer he absolutely couldn’t refuse. When they finally entered the dining room at a faster pace than usual, following Secretary Jang’s guidance.

“Wow! Wow wow wow!”

A woman with long straight hair came running like a golden retriever, not giving him time to greet as she slapped Ryu Seo-ha’s back and shoulders with her palms.

“You really grew up just like that! I knew this would happen. Hwaah! I’m so proud, so proud!”

“…Noona.”

“This, this, your skin is still soft and chewy! This won’t do, Seo-ha. Let’s debut while we’re at it. How about being an actor? With your face, you’d get high ratings even with bad acting!”

He accepted his older sister Ryu Jeong-ah’s touch kneading his cheeks like rice cakes. This uncontrollable tension only calms down after pouring out everything she wants to say. It’s been like that since long ago.

“Secretary Jang.”

Choi Gang-hu, who had been quietly looking down at them, suddenly called out to Secretary Jang.

“Haha, it’s nice to see the two of you… reunite so emotionally, but how about having breakfast first? Even Mt. Geumgang is best viewed after a meal, they say.”

Secretary Jang quickly approached and inserted himself between the two with a smiling face. Gently pushing Ryu Jeong-ah’s shoulder to separate her from Ryu Seo-ha while pretending to be friendly.

“Ah. I got too excited. I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? You’re meeting your family member after 5 years.”

“Still. Oh right, I didn’t even greet you properly. Nice to meet you. I’m Seo-ha’s older sister, Ryu Jeong-ah.”

After apologizing to Secretary Jang, Ryu Jeong-ah bowed politely to Choi Gang-hu who was standing silently. With her invariably cheerful voice and expression.

“I’m Choi Gang-hu.”

“I know, I know! I saw on the news that you’re an amazing person? I was completely shocked. I thought you were an actor but they said you’re a chaebol.”

Ryu Jeong-ah burst into laughter while looking up at Choi Gang-hu, who was greeting her back, with sparkling eyes. Choi Gang-hu’s expression became subtle, seemingly unable to adapt to her consistently high tension that never died down.

“Noona. Let’s sit down first. Everyone’s waiting.”

Only when Ryu Seo-ha, unable to bear it anymore, suggested they take their seats did the noisy commotion subside. In a space as large as a restaurant, dedicated servers lined up along one wall began bringing out food as if they had been waiting.

Judging by their uniforms and table setup, it seemed like bread and soup would come out as appetizers, but what actually appeared was delicious Korean food. Bulgogi, beef soup, braised short ribs, japchae, and various colorful vegetable side dishes.

“Wow, the class of a chaebol breakfast.”

Ryu Jeong-ah clapped as if she had just watched a deeply moving film. She looked pleased with the meal centered around beef.

“Please eat comfortably.”

Just as Choi Gang-hu opened his mouth, unable to resist the sparkling gaze directed at him.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“Thank you for the meal.”

The siblings expressed their gratitude in unison before picking up their chopsticks without anyone needing to go first.

Both Ryu Seo-ha and Ryu Jeong-ah started by focusing on the white rice and beef soup. Not because they particularly liked those foods more. It was due to their combative eating habits of quickly finishing the food placed right in front of them first. A habit picked up from times when they willingly jumped into danger just to obtain a single can of food.

“Whew, that was delicious!”

They emptied almost all the dishes cleanly, as if they had done the dishes. And in quite a short time too. Even perfectly clearing the dessert that came out with perfect timing.

“I’m really, really, really grateful for the delicious meal, but could I possibly have some time to talk with my brother alone? I’m actually quite shy around strangers.”

As if she hadn’t just been quietly focused on eating, Ryu Jeong-ah energetically rattled off another outrageous statement. With such an innocent expression.

Enough that even Choi Gang-hu, who normally wouldn’t budge an inch, shook his head and let them go willingly. As soon as the two of them entered the guest room alone and closed the door.

“Seo-ha.”

Ryu Jeong-ah’s expression hardened completely.

“What’s your relationship with that person?”

As if she had become a completely different person.