STM 150

I tried to avoid contacting Doctor Kim unless it was for something serious. If I heard asking again, “Did you sleep together? Did you?”, I’d honestly have no choice but to confess.

But this time, it was serious. I actually succeeded in signing the contract, so it was worth a call.

The timing was perfect since no one was around to bother me. Black Bear was training to use the divine beast’s power, and Tairok was busy training too, keeping his promise to accept that same power. Because of that, I could face Doctor Kim without any distractions.

“Look at this.”

I waved the contract in my hand. Doctor Kim leaned her face so close to the communication tool that her nostrils looked huge.

“Stop shaking it and hold still.”

“Just look at the bottom. He signed his name properly and even stamped his seal.”

“Right, good job… Wait. What’s this extra clause at the bottom? I get the pickled vegetables, but he has to return within ten days if he goes outside? Why?”

Shit. I waved the paper specifically so she wouldn’t see that. I quickly hid the contract behind my back, but Doctor Kim brought up the uncomfortable topic.

“Do you want to be with Tairok so much that you can’t even stand ten days apart?”

“It’s the opposite. I set the ten-day limit because I don’t want to be stuck with him… You wouldn’t understand even if I explained, so don’t worry about it.”

Doctor Kim, being a former doctor, looked visibly offended by the suggestion that she wouldn’t understand.

“I know more than you do.”

“What exactly do you know?”

“I know Tairok has feelings for you.”

What kind of… where did that come from? It was so ridiculous I couldn’t even laugh. I just ran a hand through my hair and shook my head.

“No, he doesn’t. Don’t say such weird things.”

“If he didn’t, he’d never write such trivial demands into a contract for you.”

“Ha! What do trivial things have to do with feelings?”

“You really don’t know anything.”

Doctor Kim stared at me through the crystal ball.

“People only take care of the trivial things when they have feelings. Especially men like Tairok, who usually don’t care about others.”

“…”

“Why do you look so scared?”

“Who’s scared?”

I grew annoyed, but Doctor Kim just chuckled, looking completely relaxed.

“Are you afraid you’ll become a traitor if you develop feelings for Tairok?”

“Absolutely not. I will close the Eye of Hell no matter what happens. Even if Tairok hates me for it.”

It was better for him to hate me. If he ever blindly took my side and tried to grant my wishes later on, that would feel even more suffocating.

But that won’t happen. It shouldn’t. I looked down without realizing it, and an indifferent reply reached my ears.

“He won’t hate you. So don’t worry and just date him however your heart leads you.”

More nonsense. I glared at the communication device in disbelief, but Doctor Kim calmly continued her ridiculous talk.

“I’ll take all the responsibility. Just blame me. That’s all you have to do.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Newcomers don’t need to take responsibility. That’s why there’s a person in charge.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not trying to be funny. My role here doesn’t have much time left. I’m saying I’ll carry the whole burden, so why are you getting annoyed?”

How could I not be annoyed?

“Don’t talk nonsense about not having much time left! I came to Tubain in the first place…”

I stopped when I realized my voice was too loud, but Doctor Kim’s eyes were already full of suspicion.

“Why did you come to Tubain?”

“Why else? To get revenge with my only comrade and to close the Eye of Hell. And if you think about it, Doctor Kim, you aren’t the person in charge of this. Technically, I am.”

“What?”

“I’m telling you this now, but even though I was a team leader in the volunteer corps, I was the final decision-maker at the last laboratory.”

“…You were?”

Doctor Kim looked like she didn’t believe it, but I nodded firmly.

“Yes. Everything happened because of my decisions. Now that we’re on the subject, don’t you have anything to report to me?”

Doctor Kim frowned.

“Hey, you…”

“Hoiga will definitely try something. Is he harassing Adeye?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

The answer was a bit suspicious, but I figured she’d handle it.

“Oh, I heard the hunting tournament was postponed. Instead, a huge party will be held at the imperial palace soon for those who were looking forward to it.”

“How do you know that?”

“I got an invitation.”

“Reject it.”

“I already sent my refusal. These people… they have no idea how busy I am.”

“Right, there’s no need to get involved with them. But why are you so busy?”

Why? Out of everyone, shouldn’t Doctor Kim know?

“Why else? I’m busy searching the Acorn Forest. It’s huge.”

Doctor Kim’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ll send you some supplements. Take them, run around the forest, and work hard on your relationship with Tairok.”

Oh, come on. I was the one who frowned this time.

“Stop giving me relationship advice and take care of your own health. Don’t forget to take your supplements, Doctor. That way, you’ll live to see the Eye of Hell close and watch the traitor cry tears of blood.”

Doctor Kim’s eyebrows twitched with dissatisfaction. However, she seemed to agree with my next words.

“Life never goes according to plan. No matter how much you prepare, the future doesn’t follow your will. So, worrying about the future is the most useless thing in the world.”

“But you have to prepare. Do your best until the end. Then, at least when…”

Doctor Kim seemed ready to add more about the virtues of doing one’s best, but the communication device suddenly cut off.

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“Do your best until the end. Then, at least when things go wrong, you can proudly… Huh?”

Doctor Kim was about to lecture him on the merits of effort when the connection died. She tapped the tool, but there was no response. It seemed the time limit ran out.

I should have brought several of them, Doctor Kim thought as she leaned back in her chair. She let out a hollow laugh at the dark communication tool.

“Ha. He says he’s the one in charge.”

The junior’s defiance was absurd, but Doctor Kim grabbed a tonic from her desk and downed it in one gulp. Even if Lu denied it, if Tairok’s heart moved, it might only be a matter of time before Lu fell too.

Even if I don’t live to see them have kids and live happily, I have to stay alive to see the Eye of Hell close, just like he said. With that vow, Doctor Kim pulled a stack of documents toward her to check several contracts.

The Ma family was borrowing a massive amount of money, just as expected. And all that money came from several small businesses that Doctor Kim operated under borrowed names.

Lately, the Ma family acted like they’d suddenly become idiots, charging forward like a horse off its leash. It was almost surprising that such people were once her rivals.

The only thing that changed was Hoiga’s departure from the family. If that was true, it meant Hoiga alone carried the family’s wealth. It was obvious how much Hoiga must cherish the Ma family.

Doctor Kim checked the collateral one by one and signed the approvals without hesitation. At this rate, the day she’d see the traitor’s tears of blood wasn’t far off.

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Tap, tap. What? Is time up already? I knew the communication tool didn’t last long, but I had so much to say this time that I lost track of time.

At least we covered the important stuff. And I didn’t really need to hear Doctor Kim’s final words. I’d heard them before.

“Even if the future doesn’t go as planned despite your efforts, you must do your best now.”

With her black hair, black eyes, and a face that resembled my maternal grandmother, she used to teach the merits of effort with a serious expression.

“That way, you can proudly blame others.”

I chuckled to myself and looked out the window. Usually, people say, “You must work hard so you won’t have regrets,” right?

But her reason appealed to me more than the common wisdom of the world. That’s probably why Doctor Kim hung up and immediately went back to finding things she could do right now. To stay proud.

Others around me lived for the present too. Black Bear went deep into the forest to start training even though success was unlikely, and Tairok stayed in the training ground day and night, swinging his sword while chasing a faint sensation.

It isn’t that they aren’t afraid of failure. Everyone is a slave to anxiety about the future.

There is only one way out: escape into the present. Those who realize this know how to focus on the task at hand.

So, I forced myself to forget the uncertain future and stood up. I had to do something too.

I have to open the door to bring the Borhumi divine beast here. That way, I can proudly curse that snake-head later. Actually, it should just come out on his own.

Doctor Kim’s motto made me feel better since I could proudly blame others. Anyway, people really don’t change. I shook my head.

“Auntie is still exactly the same.”