“What? You’re letting me go?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“What do you mean?”

Choi Yu Han replied.

“Exactly as I said. I’m going to let you go from here.”

It was unbelievable. Of course it was. I was bewildered that the guy who had just been scolding me for coming out here suddenly changed his attitude.

“What about your Focus group?”

Choi Yu Han answered nonchalantly.

“They won’t know what I’m doing right now, so it doesn’t matter.”

This guy is also quite self-willed…

You need this level of guts to suddenly become the leader of Haeseong High as a transfer student. I marveled at the situation, out of place.

“And the Three Musketeers already know you’re here. They’ll be on their way right now. So the purpose of kidnapping has been achieved.”

I thought he was purely showing compassion, but it seems all his actions were calculated. He must have determined that he could handle it even if he let me go.

‘Whatever, I’m just glad.’

I was grateful if Choi Yu Han was going to release me. I timidly opened my mouth.

“Thanks.”

At that, Choi Yu Han chuckled.

“If you understand, wait here for a bit. I’ll go check the situation outside and come back.”

I nodded.

It was too dark and scary inside the emergency exit, so I left the door slightly open and waited for Choi Yu Han.

By the way, this is an abandoned building, so of course there’s no electricity. The light outside is because the guys from Haeseong High brought various lighting devices. But even outside, it’s not that bright.

‘Choi Yu Han is surprisingly kind.’

Is it because I’ve only seen him picking fights with the Three Musketeers with a smile on his face? His attitude towards me was slightly unexpected.

‘The enemy of my friend is my enemy! I thought it would be like this.’

Choi Yu Han didn’t seem to want to make me an enemy even though I was friends with the Three Musketeers. No, he was rather favorable, I should say.

‘Just looking at what he’s doing for me now.’

In fact, I would have nothing to say even if he directly shipped me off to Ryu Tae Geon, but he’s going to let me go even at the risk of being marked by the Focus.

At this point, I became curious. What in the world happened between a normal person and the Three Musketeers to make them such enemies? And it seemed like a one-sided emotion.

From what I saw, while Choi Yu Han harbored hostility towards the Three Musketeers, the Three Musketeers seemed to not even know of Choi Yu Han’s existence until recently.

‘He must have his own circumstances too.’

There’s no one without a backstory in this novel.

‘Whatever it is, it won’t be a completely unreasonable reason.’

Does that mean the Three Musketeers are also at fault? Well, that’s possible. They wouldn’t only do good things either.

As I was trying to convince myself, I suddenly remembered.

‘Ah, right. He’s also a ‘character’.’

That means Choi Yu Han is also included in my happy ending quest targets.

‘Hmm. Then in the end, it means I have to find out his circumstances.’

My head suddenly started to ache.

After thinking for a while, I clenched my fist and made a resolution.

‘Alright, let’s try to find out this time.’

Come to think of it, this was a real opportunity.

When else would I get to talk with Choi Yu Han for this long? I can’t exactly go to Haeseong High and kidnap him. And we’re not close enough to casually chat either.

‘But how do I bring it up? Should I just ask straightforwardly?’

At that moment, Choi Yu Han returned.

“Come out.”

I awkwardly stood up and stepped out of the emergency exit.

Surprisingly, it was quiet outside. At least there didn’t seem to be anyone else around here.

“Let’s go quickly. Before anyone comes.”

At those words, I swiftly followed behind Choi Yu Han.

And while watching for an opportunity, I opened my mouth.

“By the way, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

But is it okay to ask like this? Oh well, I don’t know. After hesitating for a moment, I just said it.

“Why do you hate the Three Musketeers so much?”

At that, Choi Yu Han paused for a moment.

I guess I touched on the wrong thing.

Choi Yu Han turned to look at me with a smile, but he seemed subtly angry.

“You’re not trying to say that the Three Musketeers are actually good guys if you get to know them, so I should be friendly with them, right?”

“No, I’m not saying that…”

He seems to have a lot of built-up feelings. I don’t know what it’s about though.

‘He really hates them.’

Choi Yu Han hated the Three Musketeers the most out of the people I’ve possessed. Even Ryu Tae Geon wasn’t to this extent. At this point, I’m really curious what the reason is.

“You know… I’m also curious about something.”

Choi Yu Han spoke again after walking a few steps. I nodded generously.

“What is it? Ask.”

Then Choi Yu Han said.

“Do you like the Three Musketeers?”

If you ask like that… I have nothing to say.

‘Did I like them?’

What’s certain is that I disliked them at first. Especially Sung Ji Chan and Ban Ha Min’s way of speaking. I almost passed out hearing it.

‘But recently… Well, I don’t dislike them.’

It’s fun being with them. It feels like something would be missing if they weren’t there.

Without realizing it, I seem to have grown quite attached to them. To the point of having these thoughts. I answered Choi Yu Han.

“I probably like them?”

“Why is it a question?”

I don’t know either.

Instead of answering, I shrugged.

Choi Yu Han chuckled seeing me like that.

“I hate the Three Musketeers.”

I know that.

When I looked at him with an expression of ‘so what do you want me to do about it’, Choi Yu Han continued.

“To be exact… I hate that the Three Musketeers have a friend like you.”

What does that mean?

If you’re going to say it, I wish you’d say it in a way I can understand. But contrary to my wish, Choi Yu Han shut his mouth.

I had no choice but to wrack my brain to interpret Choi Yu Han’s words.

‘Does he mean he doesn’t like me?’

Looking at his attitude, he doesn’t seem to particularly dislike me.

Then is the problem that the Three Musketeers gained a ‘friend’?

But what’s wrong with having a friend?

In the first place, what does ‘a friend like Lee Ju Eun’ mean?

Then I suddenly thought.

‘Could it be like if you can’t have it, you’ll break it…?’

A feeling of unfairness that he also wants to be friends with the Three Musketeers but only I became friends with them?

‘…I don’t think that’s it.’

I shook my head.

The hostility Choi Yu Han had towards the Three Musketeers seemed genuine. It had a clearly different nuance from that kind of jealousy.

“Well… If you hate it, it can’t be helped.”

I didn’t ask further.

Choi Yu Han also didn’t open his mouth as if he had no intention of saying more.

And so we started walking again.

No, we tried to.

“Wait!”

Ah, you startled me.

What is it? Who is it?

‘Were we caught in the end?’

I hurriedly turned my head towards the direction of the voice. And…

“…Huh?”

There stood Kim Deok Pal with a triumphant expression.

‘What the, why is that bastard here?’

While I was dumbfounded by the appearance of an unexpected person, Kim Deok Pal approached us with a villainous laugh.

“Choi Yu Han, you bastard! You were hiding a girl!”

Kim Deok Pal pointed at Choi Yu Han.

“I saw everything, so don’t even think about making excuses. I’m going to tell the Focus that you were holding a girl!”

Damn it.

This guy is going to get in my way in the end.

I gritted my teeth, thinking of my persistent ill fate with Kim Deok Pal.

Kim Deok Pal said despicably.

“And I’m going to become the leader again. Muhahaha… Ow!”

Bam!

Choi Yu Han took care of Kim Deok Pal with one blow and said indifferently.

“Let’s go.”

“…”

I looked at the fallen Kim Deok Pal.

Isn’t the extra treatment too harsh?

I felt pity for Kim Deok Pal as a fellow extra. Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted to help him.

“…Okay, let’s go.”

I obediently followed behind Choi Yu Han.

And so, the Kim Deok Pal incident was neatly concluded.

Fortunately, nothing else obstructed us after that.

Perhaps we were lucky, but we didn’t run into anyone else on the way.

Now we just need to get out safely…

I secretly turned on the system and used the map function. The exit was right in front of us.

At that moment, a loud commotion was heard from the entrance.

‘What is it?’

I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s not a good sign for me. I need there to be no one at the entrance so I can get out. I looked at Choi Yu Han with anxious eyes.

‘What do we do now?’

However, Choi Yu Han had an unreadable expression.

“Oh no, it seems the prince has arrived.”

What nonsense is that?

I openly made a displeased face.

‘This damned world of humans doesn’t feel ashamed saying such things.’

Whether I did or not, Choi Yu Han was deep in thought. He seemed to be pondering hard about something, and finally opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“Change of plans.”

“What?”

Choi Yu Han looked at me and grinned.

With an ominous feeling, I unconsciously took a step back. Choi Yu Han said.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be a hostage again.”

What the hell is this bastard saying?

I was flustered and shook off Choi Yu Han’s arm. But once again, Choi Yu Han was faster.

“Let go, you crazy bastard!”

“Just bear with it for a bit. You’ll be able to leave soon.”

You said you changed plans! How am I supposed to leave!

‘Why is this bastard suddenly like this!’

But Choi Yu Han didn’t give me an answer.

‘This damn jerk.’

In the end, I was dragged somewhere by Choi Yu Han with my arm grabbed. Of course, I tried my best to resist, but it was just a waste of energy.

And finally, Choi Yu Han stopped in front of the entrance.

The noisy entrance became quiet in an instant with the appearance of Choi Yu Han and me.

“Ah, everyone’s gathered here.”

Choi Yu Han looked around once, then fixed his gaze on one person.

Then he grinned.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

I turned my head, following Choi Yu Han’s gaze.

And there was someone I knew.

“…This is nonsense.”

It was Seon Woo Jin with an expression I had never seen before.