Chapter 28

Cheon So-baek was a woman who knew exactly how to wield the weapons in her arsenal and when to use them.

Money, power, her personal ability—and on top of that, the title of Cheon-seon’s disciple.

But the Special Unit rookie she had her eyes on this time wasn’t easy to win over, even when she made full use of her strengths.

What especially lingered in her mind was their first meeting, when he had flatly rejected her Oath. Just remembering it made her eye twitch—a memory soaked in humiliation.

Still, it was fine.

By the end of today, she would have him completely in her grasp.

Cheon So-baek had confidence.

This time, she would catch Hayan, who had slipped through her fingers so many times before.

She would finally unwrap that long-preserved gift and see his true worth with her own eyes.

Her ever-light and confident demeanor could bend others during conversations or negotiations, all while reminding them of her status and position.

And once she let her tone soften and her attitude turn warm, the walls in people’s hearts would crumble all too easily.

Her appearance, of course, was another weapon she couldn’t ignore.

Though she looked youthful, the mischievous smile on her fresh, pretty face contrasted with her coy movements—enough to throw even the calmest men off balance.

The weapon she intended to use this time was her greatest strength: herself.

Specifically, her playful charm—what some might call coquettishness.

“I thought you were good-looking from the first time I saw you, but your hands are bigger than I expected. Fingers so long, too.”

“Convergent evolution. They grew that way for forming hand seals.”

“But you should really cut that fringe. I’ll introduce you to a salon I use over on that block. From now on, you should go there. Maintaining dignity is part of a Special Unit member’s duty.”

“The algorithm is currently reviewing your answer positively.”

“Is there anything you’d like for dinner later?”

“Cough drops.”

…She panicked.

Wait—this was going better than expected?

Cheon So-baek chuckled inwardly.

Looking at the way Hayan seemed constantly tense, she felt certain her plan was working.

Of course, she couldn’t relax just yet.

This man might shrivel instantly before the tiniest shred of money or power, but he never truly broke.

Not wanting to lose the initiative she had seized, she leaned in closer.

Then, rising on her toes as if whispering to a lover, she asked:

“Hey, I’ve been curious about something.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember what you said yesterday? About how you persuaded Yoo Chae-seon during the reinforcement training…”

“Oh, that… huh?”

Just as she was about to unravel one of the countless questions in her mind, Hayan’s grip suddenly tightened.

A blaring horn tore through her ears.

A car speeding down the shoulder had plowed through a muddy puddle, splashing water everywhere.

Cheon So-baek realized she had been pushed against the wall, shielded by Hayan.

“Reckless driving. Are you okay?”

“Ah…”

“So-baek-nim?”

“Ah, ah! Yes! I’m fine! Quick reflexes… no, good instincts. But really, you didn’t need to! I’m a mage, you know? I’ve got auto-activated defensive artifacts, and I could just blast a car away if I had to.”

Flustered by the sudden closeness, she then noticed something else.

Hayan had been walking on the side closer to the road the entire time.

“Oh no, your clothes are dirty because of me…”

“It’s fine. They’re black anyway. Shall we keep going?”

He didn’t even realize what he was holding in his own hands.

Staring at the hand Hayan extended toward her, Cheon So-baek suddenly remembered the Sword Immortal’s words.

Never walk with a woman on the dangerous side of the road.

That way, when things go bad, you can kick her into the path and use her as a human shield.

It was one of the “dating principles” I’d heard from an old childhood friend. I couldn’t help but nod at my own quick judgment.

If I had been a moment slower, what splattered on my robe wouldn’t have been muddy water—it would have been the blood gushing from my neck.

To use the passing car as a distraction… she really was a seasoned master.

“Honestly, people are impossible to figure out. What were we even talking about? Ugh, it’s hot. Could you let go of my hand for a second?”

And now, seeing her try to retreat after her technique failed—it was proof of how cautious she was.

But since I had dragged this fight onto the ground, I couldn’t allow it to end so easily.

Sure, my Extreme Magic was sealed, but she couldn’t freely form hand seals either.

“…I kind of want to hold on a bit longer. Do you dislike that, So-baek-nim?”

“Wha—!? N-no, who said I disliked it? Do what you want…”

Her fingers twitched, tightening slightly.

Her head whipped away, and I couldn’t see her expression.

From then on, I acted according to the principles I’d learned fifteen years ago.

It wasn’t easy to recall all the simulations I’d run for tricky situations, but humans were creatures of adaptation.

When your life was on the line, you grew tenacious, clinging on like a tentacle.

“Oh my, So-baek-nim, long time no see. And who’s this you’re with?”

“Hee~ looks like the clerk thinks we’re a good match. What should we say? Maybe that we’re just slowly getting to know each other…”

“We promised never to part, not for all eternity.”

“…Oh my.”

“Wh-who promised what!? Are you insane?”

For example, in front of a third party, I had to establish that our bond wasn’t easily broken. That way, she wouldn’t dare betray me.

“You keep staring at me whenever I drink something.”

“Because it’s beautiful.”

“Ah-ha~ is that really all? I was going to give you a sip if you told me how you set up the magic circle on Cheonsan.”

“There’s only one straw.”

“…Huh?”

Even if someone offered a drink that might be poisoned, you must never show fear.

“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, the method I used was a highly advanced technique of infusing formulas into abilit—”

“Cancel, cancel! Here, take the money. Just go buy another one!”

There were several risky moments, but I navigated them all smoothly.

As we wandered through shops, cafés, and parks, the chatterbox beside me eventually fell silent.

Cheon So-baek now walked quietly, lips pressed shut, only sneaking glances at me now and then with an unreadable expression.

“It’s so bright everywhere here.”

“Well, yeah. It’s a busy district.”

“The Red Tower must be managing things very thoroughly.”

“…No amount of flattery’s going to get you anything. Ugh, it’s sweltering.”

Was she hot?

Well, I was getting tired myself after being so on edge.

It was about time to wrap things up.

I scanned around, looking for a suitably secluded spot where we could finally draw our weapons on each other.

But then I hit a problem.

This wasn’t Ground Zero. It was the Red Tower’s territory.

The alleys were spotless—not even a scrap of trash on the ground.

There was nothing here I could use as a weapon for Cheon So-baek, nor could we ambush innocent civilians after the “date.”

All my efforts until now were about to go to waste.

So in the end, was I the one being cornered as prey?

As twilight sank and the stars rose, the blue glow of mana lamps began illuminating the streets.

I stood there, unable to move forward or back—when a small sigh escaped from beside me.

“…I wasn’t going to show you this much, but since nothing else works, I guess I have no choice.”

“…Sorry?”

“You’re not that hungry yet, right? Then come with me somewhere.”

A tug at my hand.

This time, her voice carried a calm, unwavering determination, as if she had made up her mind.

The sublevels of the Red Tower.

They were both the foundation that supported the tower and the underground levels where the mages lived.

Outside the grounds were commercial buildings, but inside, only research facilities accessible to mages filled the space.

And at the very heart of it all, guarded by the strictest security, was the laboratory reserved for the tower’s master.

“A perfect place for a secret tryst between a man and a woman, don’t you think?”

“…”

“I’m kidding, don’t look so scared. You know, mages line up just to get a tour of this place? Not that anyone’s ever let in.”

“In other words, you’ve brought me to a place no one has ever walked out of alive…!”

“…Are you sure you understood what I just said?”

Watching Hayan trembling, Cheon So-baek raised her hand lightly and projected her mana.

The luminous stones on the wall flickered to life, filling the room with light.

Rows of experimental tools, grimoires, and massive metal components came into view.

Her long finger pointed toward a bulky, cylindrical construct resting against the wall.

“Doesn’t this look familiar? It was moved here after repairs not too long ago.”

“That’s the Magical Siege Turret that broke down during the aptitude test.”

“Hee~ well, to be precise, someone broke it.”

“Did they now? Who on earth would do something so heinous!”

Was he pretending ignorance, or had someone erased his memory with magic?

Cheon So-baek tilted her head, puzzled by his reaction.

“Depending on how you behave, I might let you use this place.”

“This place?”

“Division 3 doesn’t have proper research facilities. But here…”

“I understand. From the start, you never intended to settle things with those crude cold weapons scattered on the ground. Very well—I’ll steel my resolve too.”

Seeing him look around the lab with such grave seriousness made Cheon So-baek’s throat dry.

Her plan to seduce him, to pry out what the Sword Immortal had whispered to him or how deeply he knew Black Magic, had failed.

Instead, she had found herself flustered more than once.

But could he really resist this?

Inviting someone into a mage’s private research lab wasn’t like giving away money or power—it was something else entirely.

Especially for her, who had never opened this place to any other mage of the Red Tower, the meaning was profound.

Spread before him was the culmination of magitech: masterpieces embodying the essence of magical engineering.

The mana stones scattered across the desks were all top-grade.

Letting him use this place was practically the same as giving him her full support.

I’ve shown you everything of mine. Now you should reveal the secrets you’re hiding, too.

That sharp intent hid beneath her sweet tone.

And perhaps realizing it, Hayan’s steps grew heavier.

Just as she thought she had finally won him over, he stopped in front of an unexpected place.

“What’s this door?”

“Ah! Don’t open that!”

Hayan had pointed to the handle of a small door, like a storage closet, tucked at the side of the lab.

She rushed to stop him, but he had already opened it first.

Inside were piles of shredded grimoires, shattered glass bottles, and a mountain of scrap metal.

“This is…”

“Failures. All of them.”

Explaining the pitiful sight herself left a bitter taste on her tongue.

Others praised her as a flawless mage, a once-in-a-century genius.

But the truth was different.

She had simply done everything possible to reduce human casualties and repel the demons.

That meant researching magitech even when orthodox mages opposed it.

Even trying methods like enslaving demons through Black Magic.

He might wonder why someone who wasn’t even a Tower Master devoted herself so fiercely to such research.

But the reason was something she could not reveal to Hayan—or anyone else.

“…Not much to look at, is it?”

Sighing, she gave a bitter smile as she gazed up at the remnants of her work—the traces of an ordinary person buried beneath her achievements.

Dusty piles of waste, reeking of oil and chemicals.

Scraps she couldn’t throw away, terrified someone would discover them, as she was supposed to be the perfect disciple of Cheon-seon.

Surely, after seeing what lay beneath her flawless exterior, he would be disappointed.

Why hadn’t she locked it away?

Why had she brought Hayan here at all?

Just as regret began to creep in, the boy beside her spoke softly.

“…It suits you.”

“…What?”

“I think it’s like the roots of a tree, where the fruits of effort grow. More than the polished things outside, I like this side better.”

“You’re just flattering me…”

She snapped her head toward him, only to find his eyes sparkling like a child’s.

The same look he’d had during the aptitude test, marveling at the turret for the first time.

Her heartbeat thudded up into her ears with every breath.

“Besides, compared to an actual working turret, at least these are less painful. As long as they don’t kill me…”

“J-just take this!”

“A key?”

“They’re leftovers anyway! Do whatever you want—research, play with them like toys, I don’t care!”

“Oh! Really?”

She shoved him in the chest, raising her voice.

If he wanted to truly understand what he had just been handed, he would have to learn never to let it slip away.

She told herself she had achieved her goal.

But her face, flushed scarlet, was something she could never show him.