#57

What on earth had happened to Goo Won in this place? Clearly, he was me, and I was him, yet I couldn’t understand him at all. How could he deliver words about making someone unhappy to achieve one’s desires and then be so delighted by them? Was it because I didn’t hate Tartarus as much as he did that I couldn’t understand?

As I pondered this, I lowered my gaze to the floor. There, I saw what might have been my last hope, shredded into unrecognizable pieces and scattered across the ground.

“Honored guest. Honored guest? Are you alright? You look pale—should I call an ambulance?”

“No. There’s no need for that. I’m leaving now.”

There was no reason to stay here any longer since I had already obtained everything I needed. I quickly stood up to leave. However, my attempt to move was halted when Seo Duseok swiftly grabbed my wrist.

“……What do you think you’re doing?”

I frowned deeply at his audacity in grabbing my wrist without permission. I tried to pull my hand away, but the more I did, the tighter Seo Duseok’s grip became.

“The settlement isn’t over yet. Where do you think you’re going, honored guest?”

“Surely, I have already paid you?”

“I’d love to say, ‘No, you haven’t,’ and get paid again, but I’m not that shameless. It’s my side that hasn’t settled yet. There’s still something left to discuss. So why don’t you just sit down and hear me out?”

With a sly tone, Seo Duseok tugged on my wrist. Of course, I resisted, refusing to be dragged along. A tense battle of strength ensued, the veins standing out on the back of his hand as he tightened his grip. In contrast, I remained composed.

“If you have something to say, let go first.”

“Ah~ I was trying to set the mood, but you’re ruining it. Couldn’t you at least pretend to be dragged along for the sake of my pride?”

“I don’t see why I should care about your pride.”

I yanked my wrist out of his grip and added.

“And besides, is something that needs others to protect it really pride? Maybe you should think about that before you go to sleep tonight.”

Seo Duseok looked at me with an exaggeratedly wounded expression, as if playing the part of a victim.

“Our honored guest, how cruel! Hurting a man’s heart like this…… Should I be billing you for emotional damages?”

“Enough nonsense. Say what you need to say quickly—I have no desire to linger here with you.”

“Why? Because you don’t like me?”

“Such an obvious question. Do you really think I’d like you? If so, I’d suggest placing a hand on your heart and reflecting on your actions today.”

As I rubbed my sore wrist, still feeling the sting from his grip, Seo Duseok burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“Ah, what do I do? Our honored guest is so straightforward—I really like that.”

“That’s rather unfortunate for me. I don’t appreciate you liking me, so you should drop that thought immediately and just say what you need to say. There’s someone waiting for me outside, and I’d like to go see them.”

“You mean that obedient puppy standing outside the door like a well-trained dog?”

Calling a person a well-trained dog…… and my person at that. That comment was completely unacceptable.

“You better watch your mouth.”

“Oh my, oh my! Are you actually angry because of that dog? Our honored guest is so kind and thoughtful—how sweet!”

“Seo Duseok-ssi.”

“Ah, right. Now that I think about it, that little dog isn’t the only one by your side. I heard you’ve taken in a few more adorable pups recently. Are they as obedient? Those poor things had such a hard time before, so I bet they’d wag their tails and roll over for just a little bit of kindness. Must feel nice to own them, huh?”

Despite all my warnings, Seo Duseok had no intention of fixing his rude way of speaking.

“I told you to watch your mouth.”

I kicked the table separating us aside and grabbed him by the collar.

Though his airway was slightly constricted and his breath came out in harsh pants, Seo Duseok still refused to keep quiet.

“Wow~ you really cherish them, huh? Honored guest, let me give you a little advice. Don’t get too attached to those pretty little mutts. I don’t know why you lost your memories, but if they ever come back, how are you planning to handle it?”

“What do you know to be saying that?”

“I know that you once despised those dogs to death. And I also know that you said your memories would return one day.”

“……What?”

My memories would return? That’s what the Goo Won from this world had said?

Stunned by this unexpected revelation, I loosened my grip on Seo Duseok’s collar. His body dropped onto the sofa with a thud. Coughing violently as he massaged his throat, he eventually caught his breath and slowly lifted his gaze.

“Are you sure I said that? You’re not mistaken?”

“A mistake? No way. I never make mistakes when it comes to paid information. In this line of work, credibility is everything. You said it yourself, honored guest. That your memories would come back.”

He himself said his memories would return……

Did that mean he would eventually come back to this world? Even if I did nothing? Or did he believe I would ultimately push those children’s misery to 100%? That if I did, I would return, and he would take my place again?

A whirlwind of uncertain thoughts spun through my mind. Pressing a finger against my throbbing temple, I furrowed my brows in irritation.

The Goo Won in the game must have deliberately passed this message on to me. He wanted me to know he would return one day. But why in such a roundabout way? If he wanted to inform me, he could have just left a letter in the room. There were so many simpler options.

But instead, he chose a complicated, tedious method that made it difficult for me to uncover the truth right away. Almost as if he wanted me to find out, but not too quickly.

Why would he do that? What was he thinking? And just how much did he know?

Questions about the game’s Goo Won surfaced and sank repeatedly in my mind. Pressing a hand against my temple as my headache worsened, I let out a deep sigh.

Seriously, that guy…… he was completely incompatible with me.

“……What a lunatic.”

“Oh dear, isn’t that a bit harsh? Even if you lost your memories, isn’t it a little too cruel to insult yourself like that?”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Wow. You’re even harsher to me.”

Honestly, he was the kind of man who would still be running his mouth even if he were drowning. Just talking to him for a few minutes was exhausting.

“Are we done here?”

“Oh? Back to formal speech now? After all that casual talk?”

“If you prefer casual, I can keep using it.”

“I like how casual speech sounds friendly, but I’d rather you stick with formal speech. It feels better. And yes, we’re done. Though, if I consider the broken table and the collar-grabbing, I think I’m at a bit of a loss here. But since I like you, honored guest, I won’t charge you for that. A little free service from me.”

With an amused smirk, Seo Duseok winked at me.

……Did he just wink at me? Feeling my face contort in disgust, I pulled out my wallet from my inner jacket pocket. Taking out a stack of checks, I roughly tossed them onto the sofa.

“I decline.”

The cold, unwavering rejection made Seo Duseok laugh. He leaned back on the sofa, nearly collapsing into it with amusement. Giving him a look as if he were insane, I turned to leave, eager to escape this place as soon as possible.

But his quiet voice stopped me once more.

“Honored guest.”

“……What now?”

Bracing myself for more nonsense, I turned my head slightly. But Seo Duseok was no longer joking. He looked completely serious.

“I’ll do anything as long as I’m paid.”

“I know.”

“And I have some conscience when it comes to my clients. The honored guest I knew must have come to me for that reason.”

“What’s your point?”

With a sharp smile, Seo Duseok said,

“Since that’s the kind of person I am, come find me anytime you need something. If it’s for our honored guest, I’ll gladly help.”