[I originally had a personality that was easily deceived by others, so I thought it was rude to be suspicious consciously. I apologize for making you uncomfortable. Ji Sung-hyung told me.]

“What did he say?”

Well, in response to that question, Jung Soo-ho glanced around slyly.

Feeling like he should say this, Rood widened his eyes a bit.

After making eye contact with Rood, Jung Soo-ho diligently typed something on the terminal again.

[He said you might seem prickly on the outside, but you’re a soft person inside.]

Cough, as if the sound of the remark reached him, Rood suddenly coughed while sipping his hot chocolate.

Sounds continued to come from Jung Soo-ho’s terminal.
[A lot of suspicions, subtly clever, easily deceived, and while being used, if given a sense of responsibility, he tries to see it through to the end. That’s why Kang Ih-hyun is always by his side. I think you know the reason.]

“Uh, stop. Enough. I get it, so stop…….”

At that remark, Jung Soo-ho hastily lowered the volume on the terminal.

Feeling like the conversation might get longer, and wanting to hide his expression, Rood found sunglasses in his inventory and put them on, letting out a deep sigh.

‘Anyway, some things never change, saying things you shouldn’t say.’

Next to Rood, Jung Soo-ho had a worried look on his face.

“No, well, it’s fine. I got a bit annoyed, so I said some harsh things.”

[It’s okay. Anyway, what Rood said is right. I was clinging to plans that wouldn’t work in the first place. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have come to my senses.]

Jung Soo-ho was smiling as if embarrassed.

It was the same innocent expression that Rood had seen when he was in middle school, or even younger, so Rood blinked behind the sunglasses.

“…But why did you go so far alone? Isn’t it usually the style where you can’t see anything if you dig a well like that?”

[There is that, and I was a bit desperate. The thought of somehow dealing with the gate became overwhelming.]

“Why?”
Pouring the last remaining hot chocolate absentmindedly, Rood casually asked a question. There was no answer from Jung Soo-ho.

He was biting his nails, shaking his leg, contemplating something. Rood suddenly realized something.

‘Ah, that habit when he’s anxious.’

If you don’t want to say something, you don’t have to force yourself to. Just when Rood was about to convey this, something he didn’t particularly want to hear started flowing from his terminal.

[I have a friend below. Whether you call them a friend or family, they are more important than that. Because I couldn’t go down, I couldn’t see them. That’s why I was in a hurry.]

Rood’s mind went blank for a moment upon hearing that story.

The story he didn’t want to hear, or perhaps the story he really wanted to hear, was unfolding right in front of him.

Before his head could dwell on it further, his mouth was already asking a question.

“Just contact them. There should be something like letters or whatever here.”

[Oh, due to my condition, I can’t do that.]

“…What kind of condition?”

For a moment, Jung Soo-ho seemed to contemplate, biting his nails once again. After staring at Rood for a while, he began typing something on his terminal.

Tick-tock, just when Rood thought it was taking a long time.

[I’m in a slightly different situation from other people. So, I made it very difficult for that friend. Just before coming to the Guild, the last thing that friend said remains, making it impossible to contact them due to my abnormal state.] “Me? What did I say?”

Rood searched his past earnestly. Yes, he had argued with Jung Soo-ho afterward. But what did he say? He couldn’t recall it well. All that came to mind was Jung Soo-ho’s Guild admission letter and the explosive emotions at that time.

Jung Soo-ho typed another sentence into his terminal with a dark expression.

“If you’re going to act like that, don’t show up in front of me again.”

Then, Nari remembered the situation at that time.

“Get lost!”

Pff, a roll of tissue paper smacked Jung Soo-ho in the face.

He sat on the floor in confusion, wearing his school uniform.

With a voice filled with uncertainty, he spoke to Nari again.

“Nari, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But I really wanted to talk to you, and there’s a reason for all this.”

“What talk? What talk! I have nothing to talk about with you, not even… not even expected this from you. How can you say that to me? How!”

“Nari, calm down. I’ll come back. Just wait for two years there. Yeah? I’ll earn money during that time…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Did you think I needed money? I just needed a quiet, quiet place. A quiet house where no one knows me!! And all I needed was you there!! But why…!”

“We need money until we become adults now. Your uncle took the bankbook now…”
Objectively, Jung Soo-ho’s words were correct. And aside from that, deciding to enlist in the Guild was an enormous sacrifice, even abandoning his own studies. However, your Nari, even objectively understanding these facts, was not in a mental state to fully comprehend them. She was in a situation where she had no room to consider that she needed money to live and pay rent.

After several arguments, Nari, in a subdued tone, spoke quietly, “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the same as before, right? You can’t organize anything around you, can’t attend classes properly, and if it’s difficult, you quickly give up. Is it still like that now? You’re trying to give up everything, right? I’ve never seen you start something and finish it.”

At that remark, a startled Jung Soo-ho bit his fingernails. He defended himself with an uneasy attitude, “T-that’s not it. I-it’s not like that. Of course, being a Hunter suits my aptitude, and it’s something I enjoy. But even so, it’s not really for that reason. I… I care about you.”

“Do you think I’ve spent one or two days with you? I regret trusting you. Yeah, I’ll turn you off. Money? I don’t need it; don’t send it. It makes me want to vomit. I’ll turn off in your life, so live well doing what you want.”

“Please. It’s not like that. Please listen to me. Nari!!”

Jung Soo-ho ran after Nari, who was heading to the entrance, wearing his clothes and pleading.
Nari, with her shoes roughly crumpled, grabbed the entrance door. Jung Soo-ho held Nari’s shoulder as she cried out. While she sobbed, Nari looked up at him, sharpening her gaze, and said, “If you’re going to behave like that, never show up in front of me again. No, just never show up again. It’s really annoying.”

The grip on Nari’s shoulder by Jung Soo-ho’s hand lost its strength without resistance. Nari, wearing a chilly expression, left the entrance. And that was the end.

Nari’s final words became a dagger and stabbed into Jung Soo-ho. It turned into the initial state of abnormality and tormented him for a very long time.