I Don’t Want This Reincarnation

I could see the Roheon Guild building. This was my third visit, including the time I passed out.

“Oof, the hell?”

As I was about to enter the front door, I was terrified to see reporters surrounding the building. Why were there so many of them?

‘If I pass through them…’

I was sure the reporters would catch me. Recalling the horrific interview experience I had in the N42 Area, I went to find another entrance without question.

Fortunately, there were several entrances since the building was large. I headed upstairs via the elevator in the underground parking lot.

“I heard that the situation is the same with the Reina (레이나) Guild.”

“Requiem dispatched people with mental abilities… Shouldn’t we do the same?”

When I got off the elevator for officials and moved to the main hall, I could hear complaints from employees everywhere. It seemed pretty uncomfortable because of the reporters who camped in the front of the building.

I slowly looked around the first floor of the Roheon Guild, which was full of commotion. The atmosphere was definitely different from Requiem. Once again, I realized how quickly and skillfully Requiem dealt with it.

While looking around, I found Ha Tae-heon standing near the entrance of the hall. Ha Tae-heon, dressed in a white shirt, was staring at reporters outside the building with an annoyed expression.

Come to think of it, Ha Tae-heon hated reporters. In the novel, Ha Tae-heon hated reporters who were persistent and even had disputes several times.

Even Ha Tae-heon, who ignored them so as to not harm the guild, could tell how bothersome reporters usually were.

‘Should I say hello?’

Although I expressed my intention to participate in the gate clearing, it was not known whether Ha Tae-heon would join. But I can’t just stand here all the time… The sound of my footsteps died down as I approached Ha Tae-heon.

Well, wouldn’t it be okay to just say that I was a fan and say I was happy to see him? Then ask him where the conference room was…

“Ah.”

As I walked holding my breath, thinking about this and that, Ha Tae-heon turned his head with a flashing gaze. When I made eye contact with him, I was frozen in place like someone caught stealing.

“Umm…”

“……”

I didn’t expect this situation.

I stood awkwardly and looked at Ha Tae-heon. My mouth was completely dry from the awkwardness that came over me.

Ha Tae-heon, who stared at me for a while, sighed and strode towards me.

“Where did you come from?”

“Pardon?” I said stupidly to his sudden question. I wasn’t used to Ha Tae-heon speaking respectfully.

“You said you’d be coming, so we sent personnel to the entrance.”

“Aah.”

It was then that I realized why there was no guide. There must be someone who came out to meet the reporters. I smiled at him regretfully.

“I’m sorry. The entrance looked so packed, so I turned around and entered the underground parking lot.”

“…that’s fine.”

Even though he said that, Ha Tae-heon’s wrinkled forehead showed no sign of straightening. Hm. Did you perhaps expect me to walk through the front entrance at my own risk?

“Follow me. I will guide you to the conference room.”

“Ah, right.”

Ha Tae-heon pressed the elevator button in the centre of the hall. In the wide elevator that arrived soon after, only Ha Tae-heon and I got on.

“……”

“……”

A bitter silence fell. I coughed in vain and glanced at Ha Tae-heon’s cold profile.

‘Something’s wrong…’

Of course, it was true that we were in a situation where we had to act as if we had met for the first time, but more than that, I felt uncomfortable.

I was just going to ask a quick question. Because now it was just the two of us.

“Ahem, Ha Tae-heon-ssi.”

Ding—this is the 17th floor.

What was with the timing? Ha Tae-heon looked back at me and nodded his head.

“Let’s exit.”

“……”

As if I had not said anything, I shut my mouth and got out of the elevator.

‘I wonder why he’s like that?’

There was no way I could pretend to not notice. What the hell? Was there something wrong with the SS-class coat?

While thinking about various things, I arrived at the conference room. As soon as I opened the door, members of the Roheon Guild, who had arrived first, welcomed me.

“Welcome, Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. Nice to meet you. I’m Roheon Master Lee Joo-ha.”

Lee Joo-ha, who was sitting at the top, approached me and smiled while she stuck out her hand for a handshake. She acted quite differently from when I came for a contract.

“Thank you for welcoming me. I’m Han Yi-gyeol.”

I couldn’t lose either. As I shook hands and smiled shamelessly, the corners of Lee Joo-ha’s lips trembled slightly.

“Since Han Yi-gyeol-ssi is also here, let’s start the meeting.”

When I sat down on the empty seat, the attendant who was waiting in the back gave me the document. The document contained detailed information about the gate and a list of participating members.

“As you all know, the gate we’re going to clear this time is Area D17. A grade A gate is not that difficult, but there’s nothing wrong with being careful in this situation.”

Lee Joo-ha’s cold voice, as she led the meeting, had a boldness that grabbed one’s attention.

“Our Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon will lead the team as the general manager. With trustworthy people and Han Yi-gyeol-ssi, we will be able to clear it without any major problems.”

“Of course!”

“We will clean it up and come back!”

The guild members, moved by Lee Joo-ha’s words, exclaimed with excitement. I frowned.

‘…Deputy Master?’

I turned my head towards Ha Tae-heon. Just in time, I met Ha Tae-heon’s gaze, who was looking at me. I lowered my head slightly to hide my confused expression.

Again. It was different from the original flow.

I wanted to grab Ha Tae-heon by the collar and argue with him right away. He hated such a position, so why did he take it?

I knew Lee Joo-ha was working hard to put him in the position of deputy master. She offered it whenever she had time and Ha Tae-heon rejected it over and over again.

Ha Tae-heon believed in his own abilities and he had a personality that couldn’t be bothered with the position.

Of course, after the passage of time and as Cheon Sa-yeon’s influence had grown, he seriously considered it…

‘No, I only gave you the SS-class coat three months earlier. So then why?’

…was it because I acted differently from the original?

“The date of departure is in three days. Please gather in front of the gate in Area D17 on time.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“I’ll see you then.”

I bid goodbye to the members of the Roheon Guild who I will clear the gate with as I suppressed complicated emotions.

My social smile became stiffer, but I did my best to keep up. I wanted to look good as they were those who would clear the gate with Ha Tae-heon in the future.

After bidding each other goodbye amicably, the guild members rushed out of the conference room.

“Ha Tae-heon-ssi.”

Ha Tae-heon, who stood still at the entrance to the conference room at my call, looked back.

It also shouldn’t be like this. Even knowing that Lee Joo-ha was by his side, I opened my mouth without hesitation.

“Let’s talk.”

Ha Tae-heon’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I think I can make that kind of request.”

“Now look here…”

Ha Tae-heon stopped Lee Joo-ha, who was about to say something with a displeased face.

“Please go ahead.”

“But Tae-heon-ah.”

“It’s all right.”

Lee Joo-ha glared at me fiercely, but eventually withdrew due to Ha Tae-heon’s tough attitude. Click. When the door closed, only Ha Tae-heon was left in the spacious conference room.

I was thinking about how to start a conversation, but surprisingly, Ha Tae-heon spoke up first.

“What are you trying to say?”

Ha Tae-heon used informal language to me as usual, but the coldness in his eyes remained.

Of course, our relationship wasn’t that good before anyway. Still, I didn’t feel this distant from him back then.

I sighed and spoke in a voice that was as natural as possible.

“Um, first of all, congratulations on becoming Deputy Master.”

“……”

There was no response. I smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck.

“I thought Ha Tae-heon-ssi didn’t like that kind of position because of your personality.”

“I thought it was just a nuisance.”

He came one step closer. There was a shadow on his face as he looked down at me.

“Have you changed your mind?”

“I decided it was necessary, so I accepted it.”

…so I guess there was a reason for that. I calmly counted the number of cases. Comparing the original and the present, was there anything that could influence Ha Tae-heon?

‘Was it the gates?’

Maybe there was something wrong with the guild due to the instability of the gates. Or it was so he could manage the gates thoroughly after they’ve become more dangerous…

“I would rather ask something else.”

“Yes?”

“I thought you’d like that I accepted the position of Deputy Master.”

“…me? No. Of course, congratulations, but I…”

“You said you wanted to get away from the Requiem Master.”

I shuddered. I felt cold energy from Ha Tae-heon standing in front of me. I instinctively backed away from the tingling that touched my skin.

“You said that Roheon needs to be stronger than he is now.”

“Wait, that…”

“I just chose the most obvious way for Roheon’s rapid growth.”

I couldn’t hide my confusion. So you accepted the offer to be deputy master?

“No, that’s not it. That’s not what I was hoping for. Even if you don’t receive such a position, Ha Tae-heon-ssi will be able to…”

“Talking nonsense.” He cut me off with a displeased expression. “It wasn’t a decision I made because I wanted to hear your opinion. For now, it’s rather suspicious. I wonder if what you said to me at that time was really true.”

“……”

“If that’s all that you have to say, I’ll go first. I’ll see you in three days.”

I couldn’t catch Ha Tae-heon, who turned his back neatly without hesitation. Standing blankly until he closed the meeting room door and left, I covered my distorted eyes with my hand.

“Haa…”

I exhaled a weary breath. Judging from Ha Tae-heon’s attitude, it already seemed too late to turn back.

「If you are the cause, it’s not because of any action, it’s your existence.」

Cheon Sa-yeon’s words came to mind. My mood sank endlessly. It felt as if something dark had swallowed everything beneath my feet.

「You alone have ruined everything.」

「It must be your very existence.」

The voice came out of nowhere. Words drawn from the past were tangled together in my mind. I closed my eyes tightly and opened them with a splitting headache. The smell of disinfectant wafted from somewhere.

「You alone have ruined…」

“I know.”

I know. I know it well. More than anyone else.

I slowly lowered the hand that was covering my face. My cold hands trembled slightly. Seeing that made me laugh somehow.

‘Why am I like this…?’

Will it be the same? Unchanged? Even though I want things to be different.

I forcibly moved my heavy legs and left the conference room. The past, which was so dense behind my back, had persistently followed me.