“He had Baekho.”

Not knowing that fact, I had scolded Baekho for not following me.

“Sorry, Baekho!”

How disappointed he must have been when I didn’t try to save him, not even knowing he was captured!

But even if I knew that fact, it wouldn’t have changed anything.

“Hyeoljung Hyeok didn’t tell me where Baekho is now.”

It meant he only intended to inform that he was holding Baekho hostage.

“Well, maybe he didn’t think that far. Hyeoljung Hyeok, although impressive, doesn’t seem that smart.”

I sighed, thinking somewhat bitterly about how Hyeoljung Hyeok might feel.

Regardless, assuming he didn’t forget and didn’t write down the location, why did Hyeoljung Hyeok bother mentioning Baekho?

“Probably a suggestion to follow obediently when he comes. Otherwise, the safety of Baekho cannot be guaranteed.”

It was a very cunning method, and at the same time, it meant he knew me well. After all, other than Grandfather, excluding Danmokbi, Baekho was the most precious existence to me.

I walked silently, staring at the ground. I was too deep in thought to lift my head and observe my surroundings.

“If Baekho is a hostage, what should I do? I promised Grandfather, but Baekho’s life is at stake.”

Although I promised Grandfather that I would never engage in dangerous activities, considering Baekho, I couldn’t easily nod my head.

“But even if I step forward, there’s no guarantee Hyeoljung Hyeok will release everyone.”

While pondering, someone entered my field of vision with black shoes. Only then did I realize someone was standing in front of me. Startled, I suddenly regained my composure and looked up.

The person standing in front of me was none other than Danmokbi. He smiled warmly and said, “Now you notice me.”

“S-Sorry.”

Lost in thought, I hadn’t even noticed someone standing in front of me. As I tried to lower my blushing face, Danmokbi placed his hand on my forehead to prevent me from bowing.

When I raised my confused face to Danmokbi, he tilted his head and asked, “Why that expression? What happened?”

“… What kind of expression am I making?”

“Looks like you’re about to jump off a cliff.”

“….”

Was I making such a desperate expression? I lightly rubbed my cheeks with both hands, attempting to feel my face. Despite rubbing them, my cold cheeks remained stiff.

Danmokbi reached out, grabbing my hands. Surprised by the unexpectedly warm touch, I finally realized my fingertips were abnormally cold. Holding my hands, Danmokbi mumbled, “I get anxious when you stay silent. So tell me. Your thoughts, worries, anything.”
The tender voice made tears well up for no reason. I lowered my gaze, feeling Danmokbi’s large and warm hand, and asked,

“What if I tell you, and it makes you more anxious?”

“Anxiety is my burden, Yeon.”

In contrast to my trembling voice, Danmokbi’s response was firm.

“If there’s something that makes you anxious, I’ll bear it all. So, you just need to tell me everything.”

“Even if it’s my anxiety?”

“Just be happy.”

Hearing Danmokbi’s assertive response, as if saying there’s no need to worry, my heart ached. I bowed my head, biting my lips, then slowly smiled.

“Sometimes, I feel like I receive more love than I deserve compared to what I’ve done for you.”

I extended my hand to Danmokbi only to alleviate my guilt. I thought that if I gave a little among countless adventures the protagonist could take, wouldn’t it make everyone equally happy?

“I’m really foolish.”

In the end, I might have made Danmokbi unhappy. I was indeed an unstable creator. However, I couldn’t become a character in this novel and offer complete affection to Danmokbi.

“But even so, Danmokbi says I just need to be happy.”

Upon hearing my deliberately uttered words, Danmokbi’s eyebrows twitched.

“What are you talking about?”

I raised my head in response to his annoyed tone. I was straight in Danmokbi’s gaze.

“There’s no one like you in this world. To me, you are the only one. I can’t use words like ‘overbearing’ for the one and only person.”

His black eyes felt as scorching as a furnace. Squeezing my heart, Danmokbi firmly declared,

“So tell me. Anything, everything.”

How could I hide my feelings from someone who wanted to do anything for me because I was unique?

I poured out what I had been contemplating all day.

“… Baekho is captured by Hyeoljung Hyeok.”

“That cat?”

Danmokbi furrowed his brows. I answered with a gloomy expression,

“I haven’t seen him lately. It seems he didn’t appear because he was captured by Hyeoljung Hyeok. I didn’t know that; I thought he was mad at me and went somewhere else.”

Baekho might have anxiously wondered when I would notice his absence and come to rescue him. Yet, I thought he just got upset and left somewhere. It was truly regrettable.

“It’s not your fault. That cat was causing trouble anyway.”

“Still…”

I shook my head, denying Danmokbi’s words. Continuously having negative thoughts wouldn’t help rescue Baekho.

Danmokbi stroked his chin and said,

“Even though that cat looks insignificant, he’s a genuinely powerful supernatural being. What kind of trick did he use?”