I Don’t Want This Reincarnation

“Ugh…”

For some reason, whenever I had a moment to myself, it felt like there was always someone coming to visit me. As I opened the door grumbling, an attendant dressed in a black suit greeted me politely and said, “The Master has called for you.”

“……”

My good mood disappeared in an instant.

Ten days had already passed since the Gureopdo Island Gate incident. In the meantime, I had deliberately turned my attention away from news relating to Cheon Sa-yeon, so I couldn’t even begin to guess why he was calling me.

The words “I don’t want to go” came up to my throat, but I swallowed them down and nodded. Anyway, as long as I had a cooperative relationship with Cheon Sa-yeon, there was no way to avoid him.

‘…let’s just endure for two more months.’

If all the gates in Seoul were cleared, this partnership would come to an end. Only then might I be able to get away from Cheon Sa-yeon and leave this place.

As the attendant led me straight to the top floor, I met Woo Seo-hyuk, who just came out of the representative office.

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi.” Woo Seo-hyuk, who approached me right away, looked at my body from top to bottom as he said, “I heard about the Gureopdo Island incident. It’s been said that you were seriously injured.”

“I’ve healed well. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. Are you here to see the Master?”

“Yes. He called for me.”

At those words, Woo Seo-hyuk had a somewhat hesitant expression.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi?”

“…just so you know, the Master is not feeling well today.”

“Pardon?”

I tilted my head at his sudden words. Not feeling well? Cheon Sa-yeon?

“Actually, he’s been like this for the past few days, not just today.”

“Um, is that so?”

“Yes. Even if he called you up to nitpick on useless things, it’s better to understand and move on for today. It can be dangerous if you accidentally provoke him.”

“……”

Just how bad of a mood was he in that you’d be so worried?

With an awkward smile, I replied, “I’ll be fine; I’ll be careful. After all, you can’t just stop meeting someone because you don’t want to see them.”

“That’s true.”

Woo Seo-hyuk immediately nodded at my words. I’d been thinking this for a long time, but Woo Seo-hyuk was pretty brazen, unlike his image.

“Then I’ll get going now. See you next time.”

“Yes.”

After a brief conversation, Woo Seo-hyuk left, and I, who was left alone, carefully grabbed the doorknob of the representative office.

I said I would hold out for two more months, but going in, I could only sigh. I opened the door, forcibly smoothing out the furrow in my brow as I went.

“You’ve come.”

As soon as I entered, I saw Cheon Sa-yeon sitting on the sofa looking at some documents. Upon seeing me, Cheon Sa-yeon put down the documents and smiled softly.

What? I thought he was in a bad mood. Nothing seemed any different than usual.

“Oh, well…” I replied sullenly and sat down on the sofa opposite him.

Cheon Sa-yeon, looking at me with a smile on his lips, asked, “Did you have a good rest?”

“Yeah. Why did you call me?”

I didn’t want to leisurely talk about what I’ve been doing lately. As soon as I jumped to the main topic, Cheon Sa-yeon handed me the document he had just been looking at.

“This…”

“This time, it’s the gate that the Jayna Guild will clear.”

Upon receiving and unfolding the document, detailed gate information entered my line of sight. It was an S-grade gate located in the G5 Area. As I slowly examined the contents, a sense of uneasiness made me frown.

“What is this?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

Cheon Sa-yeon slowly tilted his head, perhaps because he noticed the discomfort in my words.

“Isn’t this what you wanted? Access to the Jayna Guild’s gate.”

“I’m asking if you’re the one giving it to me or if Master Hong Si-ah is. Is this an official mercenary proposal sent by the Jayna Guild?”

“Is that important?”

“It’s important.”

If it was Cheon Sa-yeon’s gift, I didn’t intend to take it. I didn’t know what he intended to do, but I didn’t want to get swept up in troublesome matters again.

‘Since Hong Si-ah’s been made aware of my existence at the Gureopdo Island gate, there’s no need to force myself to take Cheon Sa-yeon’s offer.’

Let’s refuse.

Once I made that decision, Cheon Sa-yeon replied in a sullen voice, “I got this from Master Hong Si-ah. If you don’t need it, throw it away.”

“From Master Hong Si-ah? Directly given to you?”

“…yes.”

Oh. If that was true, then it was an official mercenary proposal.

That was good. I was thinking of slowly working my way into the gate. Looking at the list of participants, I could see Master Hong Si-ah’s name. A satisfied smile came out of nowhere.

“If we’re done here, I’m leaving.”

As I quickly collected the documents and stood up, Cheon Sa-yeon raised one eyebrow and raised the corner of his mouth. It was obvious he was in a bad mood.

“You must be in a hurry. It’s been less than five minutes since you’ve come in, but you’re already going.”

“Well, a bit?”

At his pointed words, I deliberately smiled brightly and confirmed I was. Since I was busy, stop talking and let me go, you bastard.

“You’re so unfair. It’s the first time we’re seeing each other in ten days.”

“Are we close enough to feel happy to see each other after a long time?”

When I responded in a sarcastic way, Cheon Sa-yeon’s eyes curved as he smiled. “If you say things like that, I’ll feel hurt, Yi-gyeol-ah.”

“Ho…”

I found himself frowning at Cheon Sa-yeon’s tone, as if he was coaxing his lover.

It seemed Woo Seo-hyuk was worried for no reason. In my opinion, Cheon Sa-yeon was very much the same as usual. He still seemed up to no good.

‘Of course, Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi doesn’t seem like the type to say things groundlessly…’

For some reason, I glanced at Cheon Sa-yeon’s face, uneasy. Now that I was looking closer, I could see that despite the smile in his eyes, his brow seemed a bit tense.

‘…no, let’s not worry about it.’

I calmed myself and firmly cut off my curiosity. Whether Cheon Sa-yeon was genuinely smiling or not had nothing to do with me. I didn’t want to get anymore involved with him.

“For the G5 Area gate.” After a moment of silence, Cheon Sa-yeon said, “How about I send Woo Seo-hyuk too? Go together.”

“No need.”

“It has already been agreed upon with Master Hong Si-ah. Take him along.”

Cheon Sa-yeon pushed firmly. I laughed out loud at that. So now you were sending Woo Seo-hyuk, not Kim Woo-jin, to watch me, were you.

‘Right. Do whatever you want.’

There was no disappointment and no desire to protest. Anyway, since I was only checking the gate, it didn’t matter if I was being watched.

“It’s been ten minutes. I’m going.”

I really didn’t want to sit face to face with him anymore. Fortunately, Cheon Sa-yeon didn’t hold me back further.

* * *

On the date stated in the document, I headed to G5 Area. I left first, leaving behind Woo Seo-hyuk, who said he had work to do in the morning.

After about two hours in the taxi, I arrived at the G5 Area and saw Master Hong Si-ah in the middle of an interview.

“Is that you, Han Yi-gyeol?”

I didn’t know anyone except for Hong Si-ah, so I was standing there alone until I heard an unexpected voice. Looking back, I saw Cha Soo-yeon looking at me with wide eyes.

“It’s been a while, Cha Soo-yeon-ssi.”

“Why are you… Are you the mercenary who’s going to participate in the gate-clearing?”

I laughed involuntarily at her pleased voice. “Yes. Is Cha Soo-yeon­-ssi also participating in this gate?”

“Of course, since the Master said she was going. I’m surprised, I never thought it would be you.”

“I was feeling awkward because I didn’t know anyone, but even if I did know someone else, it’s still nice to meet you like this.”

At those words, Cha Soo-yeon pursed her lips with a sullen expression. “Aha, you’re good at talking. I haven’t been able to keep in touch with you.”

Oops. I remembered the last time I saw Cha Soo-yeon. She asked for my number, but I didn’t give it to her because of poor circumstances.

“Um… I’ve been a little busy. If I beg you for your number now, will you give it to me?”

When I took out my cell phone just in case, Cha Soo-yeon snorted and said, “Do you think I would? That bus left a long time ago.”

Trying to get her to look at me just once, I gazed at her as I pouted*. “Ehh, don’t be like this. I was really sorry at the time.”

Smiling as harmlessly as I could, I approached Cha Soo-yeon as I held out my cell phone.

“If you give me your number, I will definitely keep it for a long time!”

My efforts seemed to have paid off because Cha Soo-yeon’s earlobes turned somewhat red as she pretended to be troubled.

“Well now, what should I do?”

“Please give me your number. If you give me your number, I’ll—ugh!”

“You punk!”

While I was trying to wheedle Cha Soo-yeon into giving me her number, someone roughly pushed me from behind.

It was Hong Si-ah, who pushed me so harshly that my waist bent forward.

“Oh my, Ability User Han Yi-gyeol? Sorry!” Hong Si-ah, upon seeing my face, quickly released my shoulders and said, “I’m usually the one who has to chase away guys who flirt with our Soo-yeon. I didn’t think it’d be you, Ability User Han Yi-gyeol.”

Guys who flirt with… Touching my numb shoulder, I answered, “It’s okay. More than that, I wasn’t…”

“Well, I understand. Isn’t our Soo-yeon pretty? However, please refrain from doing so once we enter the gate.”

“Pardon? Wait a minute, I wasn’t—”

As I tried to quickly explain the absurd misunderstanding, I froze. Behind Hong Si-ah, a familiar face appeared—it was Woo Seo-hyuk.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi? When did you arrive?”

“I arrived about 3 minutes ago.”

“Oh, then…”

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi, I have the same opinion as Master Hong Si-ah. It’s good for men and women to be friendly with each other, but please do it after the gate has been cleared.”

“……”

My mouth was wide open in embarrassment. As if they couldn’t even see me, Hong Si-ah and Woo Seo-hyuk shook hands in a friendly manner.

“Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk of the Requiem Guild? I’ve heard a lot about you. Let’s get along as we clear the gate.”

“I’ll do my best.”

As if the misunderstanding was not enough, the opportunity to explain has also flown away. I was standing there stupidly as Cha Soo-yeon approached me and whispered with an apologetic expression.

“Our Master only sees what she wants to see… So, if you want, I can explain things to her for you? That you have a lover.”

“……”

Oh damn, there was also that problem. As I covered my eyes with a hand, I said, “Ha Tae-heon-ssi and I are not like that.”

“You don’t have to hide it from me. I really do understand everything. Of course, I used to l.. like Ha Tae-heon-ssi a little, but that’s a thing of the past… I absolutely don’t approach people who already have someone.”

“No, we really aren’t together.”

“Okay, I understand, so just give me your cell phone. I’ll give you my number.”

“……”

Perhaps because she felt sorry for me, Cha Soo-yeon stopped pretending to be pouty and poked me in the side.

“Here…”

I blinked back my tears and handed my phone to Cha Soo-yeon so that the others couldn't see. Cha Soo-yeon quickly inputted her number at a speed similar to Min Ah-rin’s. How could you move your fingers so fast? Both of them were really amazing.

“Now, are you all ready? Let’s go now!” Hong Si-ah shouted in a bright and lively voice, taking the lead.

I stood side by side with Woo Seo-hyuk and Cha Soo-yeon as we entered the gate.