I Don’t Want This Reincarnation

As I got into the car, Cheon Sa-yeon, who was sitting next to me, opened his mouth.

“Head straight to the hotel.”

“Yessir.”

The driver responded politely and started the car. As I turned my head and looked out the window, I felt a strange touch to my wrist.

When I turned around to see what it was, Cheon Sa-yeon was looking at my wrist and fiddling with it. Why were you acting so obnoxiously today?

“What are you doing?”

“You did a good job with the cufflinks.”

“Didn’t you send them for me to put on?”

“It wouldn’t have been a big deal if you didn’t.”

After that, I looked at the cufflinks that were fastened to the sleeves of my shirt—elaborate and lavishly crafted, studded with red gems that gleamed even in the dark.

“I did it because it was given to me, so if you are dissatisfied, please tell me. I’ll take them out now.”

“Of course not. It’s because you’re wearing them so well that I enjoy it,” Cheon Sa-yeon answered in a soft voice, running his fingers down my inner wrist, hidden by my sleeve. For some reason, this simple action made me shiver.

‘What’s this?’

I felt an unknown sensation along the back of my neck, yet Cheon Sa-yeon did not stop his hand and said, “You’ve been to the Roheon Guild, so now you want to go to the Jayna Guild. Am I right?”

“Yes, well… Anomalies are constantly appearing in Jayna Guild’s gates, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go.”

“Master Hong Si-ah will also be attending this party, so if you talk well, she will leave a space for you in the team.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“Isn’t it enough for me to just take you there? More importantly, you should gain some more weight.”

Changing the subject. I clicked my tongue and grabbed the hand he had on my wrist.

“Please stop. How much longer will you continue touching me? All of this is sexual harassment.”

“Oh my. Are you upset?”

“And stop talking nonsense.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who smiled bitterly, gently released my wrist and continued the conversation. “I know what you want, but it’s hard for me to put you, an independent, into Jayna Guild’s gate-clearing team. I don’t know if Jayna wants you in the first place.”

As expected, being an independent was inconvenient at a time like this. I sighed and nodded. I thought of the Hong Si-ah I read about in the novel. I thought she had an easygoing personality.

“If you feel sad, you can join the guild now.”

“No thanks.”

I had no intention of joining a guild just because of this. I hated the idea even more if I joined Cheon Sa-yeon’s.

‘When I was hired as a mercenary last time, I should have chosen Jayna instead of Roheon.’

I thought that for a moment, but I cleared those thoughts away. Roheon’s gate anomaly was quite significant. I even found a twisted space and an unidentified pattern.

There was nothing left to regret. Rather, it was much more beneficial to try to talk it out with Hong Si-ah at this party.

“Just don’t disturb me. I’ll figure it out.”

Perhaps because my answer was unexpected, Cheon Sa-yeon raised the corner of his mouth slightly, looking interested.

“Looking forward to it.”

“We’ve arrived.”

Just in time, the car arrived at the hotel. The waiting hotel staff opened the car door.

Cheon Sa-yeon handed over his coat to the following attendant and bowed his head slightly, whispering to me, “Stand close and hold my arm.”

‘I know we’re partners, but do men go in with their arms hooked?’

I had my doubts, but I didn’t know anything, so I went along with Cheon Sa-yeon’s words just in case. As I entered the hotel with a slight grip on his arm, I saw a large chandelier hanging over a large hall.

“Welcome. I will guide you to the party,” one of the staff greeted us politely and guided us to the hall where the party was. The doors to the party hall, splendidly carved in gold, opened, revealing the party hall where I could see a large statue in the middle.

“If possible, stay by my side. There are a lot of crazy people.”

“Wait, then when are you going to meet Master Hong Si-ah?”

Cheon Sa-yeon handed me a glass of champagne that was given to him by the staff.

“You have to be careful with the timing. We have a lot of time, so there is no need to rush.”

“…I promise to not disturb you, so keep your word.”

“Of course.”

Since I was suspicious of everything he said, I didn’t like his reply, but I had no choice but to believe it. I took a sip of the champagne and looked around.

‘It seems Ha Tae-heon hasn’t come yet.’

Ha Tae-heon’s face was not among the well-dressed crowd. If I faced Ha Tae-heon, I wondered if it would be okay to pretend to know him.

Even in the situation where Ha Tae-heon said that we knew each other, Cheon Sa-yeon was by my side, so if possible…

“Master Cheon Sa-yeon.”

While I was thinking about one thing or another, someone approached us. It was a woman with short black hair, giving the impression of shrewdness. She wore a suit instead of something befitting a party, making it seem like she came to work, not a party. She shook hands with Cheon Sa-yeon briefly.

“I didn’t expect it. I’m surprised you’re here.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. As a master, I am grateful to the management headquarters for hosting the party.”

“Hmm. I don’t feel the slightest bit of sincerity, but no matter. Who is this?”

The woman who answered in an indifferent tone turned her gaze to me. There was a strange witty sense of humour in her demeanour. Cheon Sa-yeon raised one eyebrow slightly and drawled, “This is my partner, Ability User Han Yi-gyeol.”

“Aah. Nice to meet you. My name is Choi Mi-jin, the head of the gate management centre of the management headquarters.”

Head of the gate management centre? Choi Mi-jin held out her hand and bowed her head lightly to greet me.

“I’m Han Yi-gyeol.”

“I wondered why Master Cheon Sa-yeon, who doesn’t like this kind of place, came… Interesting.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. It's fate that we met like this, and I hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future.”

Choi Mi-jin, who smiled brightly at me and Cheon Sa-yeon, said that I would see her soon, and left. Looking at the back of Choi Mi-jin, who was walking away with her back straight, I gently asked Cheon Sa-yeon, “I get the sense that she’s a big shot…”

“You’re not wrong—she’s Choi Mi-jin, the centre head. Among the executives of the management headquarters, she’s worthwhile.”

Contrary to his evaluation, Cheon Sa-yeon’s expression didn’t look appreciative. He didn’t seem to like Choi Mi-jin, even though she had a good character.

‘It’s just that they don’t like each other.’

Choi Mi-jin also had a pretty strong personality, so I didn’t think she would get along with Cheon Sa-yeon. As I sipped my champagne, a new person approached us with a bright smile.

“Iya, Master Cheon Sa-yeon! How long has it been?”

“Master Kwon Ji-hoon (권지훈).”

He was a handsome man with brown hair and drooping eyes. His grin and the mole on his right cheek caught my eye in particular.

“It’s been almost two years since I’ve seen you. Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

Cheon Sa-yeon smiled slightly in response to his greeting. His facial expressions and gestures were the model of those who led a social life.

“My partner Han Yi-gyeol is an ability user. Master Kwon Ji-hoon, you may already know this, since you’re interested in ability users.”

As soon as he finished his words, Cheon Sa-yeon lightly wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Kwon Ji-hoon’s warm brown eyes, reminiscent of chocolate, turned to me.

“Of course. Nice to meet you, Ability User Han Yi-gyeol. My name is Kwon Ji-hoon. I manage the Four Seasons (사계) Guild in Busan.”

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.”

“The video with Master Cheon Sa-yeon was really interesting. If there is a chance later, I would like to see you in action with my own eyes.”

“Haha…” I laughed awkwardly. That video…

“But more surprising than that is the fact that Master Cheon Sa-yeon actually came to this kind of place.”

“The intent behind the party was too good to ignore.”

“Indeed, everyone is suffering from the gate anomalies. The situation in Busan is not very good either.”

Kwon Ji-hoon, who put down his empty glass, picked up a new glass of champagne and asked, “Are there no other Seoul guilds here besides than Requiem? I haven’t seen the Roheon or Jayna Guild Master yet. Blun, well, even if he doesn’t come, it’s understandable.”

“I wonder. I don’t know either since we don’t really communicate with each other.”

“The meeting will begin soon… oh.”

It was then when the door of the party hall, which had remained closed since Cheon Sa-yeon and I entered, opened, and a man and a woman dressed in black suits walked in. It was Roheon Guild Master Lee Joo-ha and Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon.

Ha Tae-heon, who wore no accessories and had his hair styled, and Lee Joo-ha, a well-groomed beauty with straight waist-length black hair, looked great in anyone’s eyes.

Escorted by Ha Tae-heon, Lee Joo-ha immediately walked over to Choi Mi-jin and shook hands. It was far away so I couldn’t hear their conversation, but the bright smiles on each other’s faces didn’t look bad.

“The person who came in with Lee Joo-ha is Ha Tae-heon. Oh, should I call him Deputy Master now?”

I, who had been looking at Ha Tae-heon and Lee Joo-ha in disbelief, came to my senses and quickly turned my attention to Kwon Ji-hoon’s words. Even though I expected to see him, I started to get a little nervous when I actually saw Ha Tae-heon.

‘Is it because it’s the first time we’re meeting when Cheon Sa-yeon is also here…’

I drank the rest of my champagne to calm myself down.

“Ahem. We will now provide you with instructions.” Choi Mi-jin, standing at the podium in front of the party, looked around and spoke into the microphone. “We’ll start the briefing on the gate progress in ten minutes. We request that you sit at the table that corresponds with your region.”

After that, I dryly swallowed back my saliva. So did that mean I had to sit at the same table with Roheon?

“Oh my. I should get going now. Enjoy the rest of your time, you two.”

Kwon Ji-hoon left to gather with the local masters. Watching everyone else look for their table, I asked Cheon Sa-yeon, “…do I have to sit with you?”

“You already know the answer.” Cheon Sa-yeon looked at me with a smile. “Why? Is there a problem?”

Was there a problem? I opened and closed my mouth several times but turned my head without saying anything in the end. Well, on the surface, there was no problem. It was just that I was going to be uncomfortable.

“Then shall we go? Our table is over there.”

“W-well, the Jayna guild hasn’t even arrived yet. Even if we go a little slower, it won’t ma…”

Let go of me, you bastard! Cheon Sa-yeon strode towards the table while his arm was still wrapped around my shoulder. I tried digging my feet into the ground, but he ended up dragging me along in a weird-looking way.

“…ah.”

Ha Tae-heon and Lee Joo-ha, who were coming to the table just like us, made eye contact. Cheon Sa-yeon, who noticed that Lee Joo-ha’s expression hardened slightly, greeted her with a soft voice.

“It’s been a while, Master Lee Joo-ha.”

“…so it has, Master Cheon Sa-yeon,” Lee Joo-ha replied, voice shaking.