STM 105

“I told you. I’m the only one who can lift the Kun family’s curse. So why are you….”

Tairok raised one hand. Hoiga stopped speaking without realizing it, but it was a signal to the servants nearby.

Tap tap tap.

As soon as the sound of several footsteps faded away, Tairok spoke again.

“So?”

His voice sounded indifferent, but to Hoiga it was a warning.

Keep talking, if you are curious to see what happens next.

Hoiga was immediately gripped by fear and the instinctive urge to retreat before someone stronger. But what was the point of sneaking out of the house and waiting until dawn? How could Tairok be so cruel to him?

Sadness welled up. This emotion overcame his fear, and Hoiga finally opened his mouth to face those cold eyes.

“Then tell me why. Why Adeye Lu? Why did you choose Lu?”

A flash of anger flashed across Tairok’s eyes, but the corners of his mouth twisted upwards.

“Shouldn’t you be asking why I didn’t choose you? Why ask why I chose Adeye Lu?”

Tap. He took half a step closer and spoke.

“It sounds like you’re saying that if it weren’t Lu, you wouldn’t be losing your mind like this.”

Hoiga’s pupils shook.

No.

He should have denied it, but even when his lips parted, no words came out. Tairok’s golden eyes returned to their indifferent look, and somehow that felt even more repulsive. Hoiga forced himself to speak.

“…Because it’s Lu. Because it’s that stupid, vulgar Adeye Lu.”

“Watch your mouth when you talk about my mate.”

Mate? He was already calling someone a mate when they hadn’t even had a proper engagement ceremony?

Hoiga no longer cared how Tairok saw him. He just wanted to know why this absurd situation had happened.

“Adeye Lu might be able to communicate with non-human beings, but he can’t lift the Kun family’s curse. Even so, was Lu worth choosing? The most important thing to you is lifting your family’s curse. If you think I’ll help you…”

“I don’t need you.”

Hoiga’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Tairok, I told you. There’s only one chance to break the Kun family curse. And I’m the only one who can do it on the first try!”

Hoiga’s voice, now louder, echoed through the hall. But he didn’t realize how excited he was, and he further insisted.

“Without my help, your family trapped in the castle will remain stone forever…ack!”

A large hand grabbed Hoiga’s neck, stopping him from speaking.

And as he was lifted into the air, Hoiga’s face instantly turned red from the strangulation.

He flailed his limbs, struggling to break free, but Tairok’s grip only tightened.

“Kgh… ugh….”

“There’s only one reason I’m not killing you now. Today is an important day, the day I go to bring my beloved mate. And I can’t let the foul smell of blood linger on me.”

He pulled Hoiga closer, staring into his eyes.

“So from now on, live every moment thanking Adeye Lu for saving your life.”

Tairok threw Hoiga to the floor as if he were discarding trash. He rolled to the ground with a heavy noise, but took a deep breath since it was priority.

“Ha! …cough!”

While he lay on the floor coughing several times, Tairok turned around coldly as if his business was over.

Tak, tak.

The sound of Tairok’s footsteps echoed through the floor as he walked away. Hoiga raised his bloodshot eyes.

“Tairok, you’ll regret this.”

Tairok didn’t look back, but Hoiga raised his voice as if making a vow to himself.

“One day, you’ll regret it later and shed tears of blood!”

‎

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Click, clack.

Having breakfast with Doctor Kim at the Adeye residence had become routine for me by now. Today, before leaving for the Kun residence, was no different. However, today, we simply continued eating without much conversation.

The menu was chicken tender fritters. It was a heavy meal for breakfast, but there was pickled radish on the side. Yes, it was chicken and pickled radish.

There was so much to talk about just the menu, but strangely, I didn’t feel like slandering this cursed land. It felt strange, even though we weren’t completely parting ways.

I opened my mouth, glancing at Doctor Kim, who was eating silently.

“I’ll come visit often.”

“What for?”

“Pardon?”

I was picking at a piece of pickled radish with a fork when I turned my head, thinking I must have misheard it.

“You’re saying I shouldn’t come visit?”

“I’m saying instead of wasting time coming here, you should get a grip on Tairok.”

I immediately frowned, wondering if it was Plan X again.

“We’re going to sign a contract. Why would I waste time on that?”

“You haven’t signed it yet.”

“Well. I’ll just sign it, then.”

I grumbled as I answered, but seeing Doctor Kim’s disapproving gaze, I couldn’t help but express my worries.

“He won’t refuse to sign, right?”

“He’ll sign it since it’s a matter of saving face. The problem is that it could be 30 years later. And considering that bastard’s arrogance, it’s entirely possible.”

Doctor Kim clenched her fist as she drew conclusions from what she called big data.

“So you have to use every means at your disposal to get him to sign the contract as soon as possible, whether it’s threats, pleas, or seduction.”

Every option sounded awful. I pulled out what I thought was my best card.

“What about getting him drunk and making him sign in secret?”

Her eyes were once again fitted with disdainful lenses.

“Sword masters don’t get drunk easily.”

Damn. He’s going to live forever. Doctor Kim warned me, as I grew noticeably frustrated.

“If you try some foolish trick, you’re the one who’ll end up falling for Tairok first.”

“Not my type.”

“That’s how it always starts. You let your guard down, your body gives in first, then your heart gets stolen too. Tsk.”

My body gives in?

“It’s a contract marriage. There won’t even be physical contact.”

“……”

“This time, I’m right.”

“Yeah. You’ll be right. Right after you get hit hard in the back of the head.”

Doctor Kim shook her head slowly this time.

“Don’t underestimate how promiscuous people from Tubain are. Do you know what kind of common sense is carved into their bones? ‘The bodies need to be compatible before the hearts are.’”

She took a sip of water and then slammed the glass down.

“That’s why these people don’t shake hands when they meet someone new. They test bodies first. So imagine how good they are in bed.”

“Well….”

“They’re incredible. This is no joke.”

Why ask me and answer it yourself? More than that, something bothered me.

“You haven’t even tried it yourself. How do you know?”

“I’ve seen and heard too much.”

A decade’s worth of irritation was written on her face. Well, starting with her older brother, Lu…

“What exactly are you trying to say? Are you worried Tairok will turn me into some kind of sex slave and do whatever he wants? Haha.”

“Yes.”

“……I was joking.”

“I’m not.”

Yeah. I could tell just by looking at her. That made it even more absurd.

“Ha. I didn’t mean to say that. Ha…”

I was about to say something, but it was so absurd that I laughed first.

“I’m good at it. I don’t like bragging, but I really am.”

One of her eyebrows rose, as if she couldn’t figure out how to react to this unprecedented load of nonsense. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.

“Everyone I dated contacted me again after we broke up. Every single one. They said they couldn’t forget the incredible nights we spent together. Doctor Kim.”

I leaned in and whispered as if telling her a secret.

“I’m a bad man.”

Her response was the same look an aunt would give a nephew going through an intense middle school phase.

“How many exes do you have?”

“Two.”

“……”

At her silence, I lifted my chin proudly, but the look of exasperation in her eyes only grew bigger.

“You’ve never been on the receiving end?”

“Of course not. But when it comes to using my body, I don’t lose to anyone.”

She muttered with a serious expression

“This is serious.”

Haha. I let out a hollow laugh because I was so frustrated.

“I doubt that will happen, but if Tairok were to try to seduce me with his body, he would fall for me instead.”

“……”

“You were going to say I should seduce him first, right? But I don’t want to.”

What I didn’t like was what I didn’t like. Doctor Kim was now looking at me and openly expressing her annoyance.

“Don’t come crying later saying you like Tairok.”

“Am I insane? Why would I fall for someone in a place I won’t even live in?”

I blurted out, then realized my mistake. Doctor Kim’s face hardened into a serious expression.

“Once the Eye of Hell is closed, your mission is over. From then on, your life will be here.”