IGWNI Ch 17

“Well, I mean, I took a nap earlier in the day, so I guess I am not sleepy. Hahaha.”

Feeling Eustace’s gaze grow colder and colder, Yoon Jaewoo desperately racked his brain to come up with a more plausible excuse.

“And, I, well, besides, I, I can’t sleep when someone is next to me. I look tough, but I am actually very sensitive, you know?”

Eustace, who had been silently watching the awkwardly smiling Ramia for a while, hardened his lips coolly.

Whenever Eustace appeared in his Rot form and offered his tail, Ramia would giggle for a bit and then fall asleep in an instant, as if nothing had happened. He would even wrap the tail all around his body while sleeping, so even when Eustace, whose blood circulation was being cut off, pushed and rolled him with his front paws, Ramia never once opened his eyes.

“So even back in my soccer club days, whenever we had a training camp…, oh!”

Eustace got up from his spot. Then, without a single look back, he picked up his clothes and left before Yoon Jaewoo had a chance to stop him.

“…Is he angry.”

Yoon Jaewoo scratched the back of his head.

No way, he would not get angry over something like this. He is the Dweord who rules this world, for crying out loud. …He is not angry, right?

He had wanted Eustace to leave, but now that he was gone, he did not feel at ease.

Eustace is a damn bastard who only collects corpses, but… still, I am able to stay alive here because I lied and said I was his Marh-yan. If he gets tired of me because of this and just throws me away somewhere….

“Ugh…, damn it.”

Yoon Jaewoo stood up from his seat. He decided to explain things well to Jinsu hyung first, and then to sleep next to Eustace for tonight.

He just left, so he definitely would not have gone far….

Just then, he heard someone knocking on the door. Yoon Jaewoo, who was putting on his outerwear, tilted his head. Jinsu hyung never knocked on the door. He would just push the door open with his nose as if it were the most natural thing to do and claim his spot.

“…Who is it?”

At that moment, the book the man had left behind caught Yoon Jaewoo’s eye.

“Ah, the book.”

Yoon Jaewoo picked up the book and ran toward the door. He planned to hand over the book, apologize for being rude, and then ask if he would like to come in.

Opening the door, Yoon Jaewoo smiled as brightly as he could.

“…Excuse meee.”

When Yoon Jaewoo called out cautiously, the man walking ahead turned around. Every time he moved, his hair swayed as if it were rippling in water.

「Did you call for me?」

Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head.

「What is it?」

“Well, I mean, is this the right way to go?”

Yoon Jaewoo asked 불안스레, clutching the book.

The one standing at the door had been neither Eustace nor Jinsu hyung. A servant holding a lantern had bowed to Yoon Jaewoo, telling him that Dweord-nim was waiting.

There is more than one Dweord.

When Yoon Jaewoo asked, “Who?” the servant’s gaze fell upon the book. To the question, “Eustace?” the servant nodded.

It seemed he was seriously sulking. To think he would not even come to get the book himself but send a servant instead.

Yoon Jaewoo clutched the book to his chest and walked, following the servant, recalling the words Yatenbaum had told him. He had said that although Eustace looked fine on the outside, he was extremely petty and got sulky easily.

Deciding to be the bigger person this time, Yoon Jaewoo tightened his grip on the book.

As the path grew more and more remote and secluded, Yoon Jaewoo called out to stop the servant.

“Is this the right way to Dweord Eustace?”

Yoon Jaewoo asked, pointing to the end of the corridor. The servant simply nodded without giving any other reply and kept walking.

“Hey, wait a minute. Just a moment!”

Yoon Jaewoo called out urgently, but the servant had already disappeared into the darkness.

“…….”

An unsettling silence washed over the corridor. Chewing on his lip in thought, Yoon Jaewoo turned back around, still clutching the book to his chest.

If Eustace really needs the book, he will send a servant to the room again or come himself. Let’s go back for now. …I have a bad feeling about this.

As he hunched his shoulders and was about to take a step, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching him, clomp, clomp.

“……!”

Lifting his head to identify the person, Yoon Jaewoo’s face turned deathly pale.

「Hmm? Isn’t it Tasty?」

It was Cox.

At the sight of him gliding down the corridor from the far end, his blue hair fluttering, Yoon Jaewoo’s heart sank.

「Why is Tasty wandering around alone at this time of night? What about Eustace?」

An unpleasant smile spread across the face that asked the question.

…I am fucked.

Yoon Jaewoo swallowed a curse and stepped backward. He realized he had fallen into that damn birdbrain’s trap. He had heard that Dweords could change their appearance and voice as they pleased. It meant that it would have been no trouble at all for Cox Philippte to borrow the appearance and voice of a servant.

「Why are you alone? Hmm…?」

Cox, who had come right up to him in an instant, spoke as if feigning affection. Yoon Jaewoo, trying his best to pretend to be calm, bowed his head in greeting.

「Are you… lost?」

“No.”

Yoon Jaewoo shook his head firmly. If he went straight down this corridor and turned left when he saw the end, he would find his room.

“I am not lost. I will be on my way now.”

Dweord Cox was a subject of observational research, but he was definitely not someone to encounter alone in a corridor in the middle of the night.

「Tasty….」

At that chilling voice calling him, Yoon Jaewoo felt the hair on his entire body stand on end.

Dammit, what kind of name is Tasty. That crazy birdbrain.

「Shall I walk you there?」

“N-no. I can go by myself. I will absolutely go by myself.”

Yoon Jaewoo shook his head with a serious expression.

「I can’t let Eustace’s Yan wander around alone in the middle of the night…. Hehe….」

Cox had a face as beautiful as a carved jewel, but he was a man whose smile was extremely unpleasant.

Yoon Jaewoo stepped backward, waving his hands to say it was fine. Cox began to walk, sticking right next to Yoon Jaewoo.

“…Sheebural.”

Yoon Jaewoo muttered a curse, his eyes lowered. Now that it had come to this, he had no choice but to walk as fast as hell.

「Tasty…, what’s wrong with your leg?」

Looking at Yoon Jaewoo walking with a limp, Cox tilted his head. The way he asked, fiddling with his long blue hair with one hand, made him look every bit a madman. Although for a madman, his appearance was too beautiful and his shoulders were excessively broad.

「Does your leg… hurt?」

Cox’s hand reached out toward Yoon Jaewoo’s leg. When Yoon Jaewoo flinched and trembled in surprise, Cox giggled.

「It’s okay. I am always in pain too. My head hurts…, ah, my head hurts.」

Having reverted to his frail version, Cox clutched his temples and let out a pained sound. Calming his churning stomach, Yoon Jaewoo narrowed his eyes.

There was a 33 percent chance with Cox Philippte. Perhaps now was the perfect opportunity to pull on this lifeline.

“Excuse me….”

Yoon Jaewoo spoke, looking cautiously at Cox.

「…Hmm?」

“My leg, …I mean, my leg….”

He could not communicate with anyone in this castle except Eustace. After a moment of thought, Yoon Jaewoo lifted the hem of his hoodie to show his right leg. The right leg, with its hideous surgical scar, was starkly revealed in the darkness.

“My leg, …I mean.”

He thought that if this was the Dweord who had whispered that he would help him back then, there would surely be a reaction upon seeing the leg.

Cox knelt on one knee in the corridor and gripped Yoon Jaewoo’s shin. Startled by his sudden action, Yoon Jaewoo froze completely.

「You have a pretty leg.」

“Th-that….”

「You do not need legs for reproductive activities, do you…? Right?」

The moment his eyes met with Cox, who was muttering incomprehensible things, Yoon Jaewoo felt pure terror.

“I, I am, Eustace’s Yan. Marh-yan!”

Recalling Eustace’s words that no one could lay a hand on him once he had the status of a Marh-yan before a Dweord discarded him, Yoon Jaewoo urgently shouted ‘yan-yan’.

“I am a Yan. Marh-yan. Yan!”

Cox pressed his nose to Yoon Jaewoo’s knee and sniffed, taking a deep breath.

「Strange….」

You are stranger….

「It’s strange, …why is the scent of Rau so faint?」

“What did you say?”

「If you were doing it properly, the smell should be overwhelming. So much that it hurts the nose….」

Just as he was about to ask what he was talking about, Yoon Jaewoo gasped, “Huk.” Cox’s tongue licked up Yoon Jaewoo’s knee.

“Wh-what! Are, are you crazy?!”

「You act like a virgin.」

In the darkness, Cox’s eyes glinted. It was only a while later that Yoon Jaewoo realized he had fallen onto the corridor floor with a thud.

Cox, now on top of Yoon Jaewoo’s body, giggled and sniffed him.

「Strange. It’s too faint. If you were doing it, if you were using it properly, the smell would not be this faint….」

“Get off! Get off me! I’m Eustace’s Marh-yan! You crazy bastard!”

Cox’s hand reached downward. He grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s waist, then he smiled and asked.

「Shall we see if you are even using the hole?」

“You crazy…!”

Clutching his clothes, Yoon Jaewoo resisted desperately. On top of Yoon Jaewoo’s body, Cox bared his teeth and smiled.

It was a moment where he understood why Eustace and Yatenbaum disliked this guy so much. Still, since they had said he was the weakest and most pathetic one, Yoon Jaewoo thought he could somehow escape and flailed his arms and legs.

Cox staggered and fell to the side. Seizing the opportunity, Yoon Jaewoo pushed him away and got up. He ran down the corridor. He just had to get to the room. Eustace had put a barrier in that room, so if he could just get in there…!

“Ugh!”

He fell on the corridor floor. The floor, which had been perfectly fine, was moving as if it were alive. The book fell to the floor. While Yoon Jaewoo was picking up the book, Cox grabbed his ankle from behind.

「You are pretty good, huh?」

“Let go!”

「I said I would walk you there, what did I say?」

“Then fucking just walk me there!”

「Do not shout. My head hurts….」

Cox muttered, pressing firmly on his forehead. Yoon Jaewoo struggled desperately, but Cox did not budge an inch.

“I said l-let go!”

「Shh.」

Cox made a hushing gesture. He frowned for a moment, then, as if he had come to his senses, he lifted his head.

「I will just check if you are using it and then let you go. Do not worry….」

“What kind of check are you—, ugh…!”

When Cox applied force, the clothes tore away helplessly. At the sight of Cox ripping his clothes with a smile, Yoon Jaewoo thought he might actually be eaten alive if this continued.

“Let go of this!”

Yoon Jaewoo screamed at the top of his lungs. A blue flame flashed in Cox’s eyes. In that instant, Yoon Jaewoo was startled and flailed his hands. He could not breathe. It felt as if water was entering through his mouth and nose.

Cox gestured ‘shh’ and smiled. Yoon Jaewoo clutched his own throat and struggled. Cox nonchalantly clicked his tongue, saying, “Oh dear.”

「What is he saying? Hmm? I can’t hear you…?」

At the detestable sight of him leaning in close to his ear and asking sweetly, Yoon Jaewoo was certain that this guy was definitely not his lifeline. His consciousness began to fade. It was the moment the 33 percent chance vanished.

Seeing the limp, breathless Ramia, Cox tilted his head and said, “Oh?”

「Tasty. Tasty? …Is Tasty sleeping? You are sleeping, Tasty.」

He gently shook Yoon Jaewoo’s body a couple of times.

「Wake up. Wake up.」

After whispering in a very small voice, Cox looked around.

「If you sleep where no one is around, someone will take you away. …So I should be the one to take you.」

Cox grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s waist and hoisted him over his shoulder. A white hand grabbed the nape of Cox’s neck as he was walking lightly and nimbly down the corridor.

「Stop.」

「What brings you here at this time of night. To such a secluded place….」

Even when confronted by Eustace while carrying Eustace’s Marh-yan on his shoulder, Cox was neither surprised nor flustered.

Eustace extended his hand with a blank expression. Cox, smiling, handed over the Ramia he was holding. After confirming Ramia’s safety, Eustace threw his gaze back to Cox.

「Are you planning to break the unwritten rule?」

「Unwritten rule? Ah, that, right. You said he is your Marh-yan.」

「If it is fine for me to take your hand, then I will do so.」

Eustace’s white hand pointed to Cox’s wrist. Cox wiggled his hand and asked.

「This? What are you going to use it for? …Hmm, I do not want to give it to you….」

「Then make it clear. Do not touch my Marh-yan.」

「Alright. I will do that….」

Surprisingly, Cox answered cleanly. Seeing him place a palm over his heart, Eustace nodded. It was best to keep conversations with Cox as short as possible.

「But, Rau….」

「…….」

「If he is really your Marh-yan, I will not touch him. …But, if that is not the case, what are you plotting, bringing an unidentified Ramia into my castle at a time like this…. I despise things like that….」

Even as he mumbled, a chilling sincerity peeked through from time to time. Cox opened his eyes languidly and tilted his head. His blue hair cascaded down his shoulder.

「You know what I mean, right? …I hope that waking me from my sleep early was not for a useless reason.」

A small laugh escaped Eustace’s lips as he looked at Cox.

「Right.」

The corners of Eustace’s eyes curved softly. With a whooshing sound, Cox’s body slammed against the corridor wall. A groan escaped Cox’s lips.

「I hope so too.」

Eustace smiled thinly and patted Cox’s shoulder. Cox’s body, which had been stuck to the wall as if nailed, fell to the corridor floor.

The remnants of the broken wall crumbled down behind Cox. When Cox Philippte lifted his head, Eustace had already disappeared to the other side of the corridor, holding his Ramia.

Standing in the darkness, Cox Philippte rolled his tingling shoulder and smiled.

“…I was wrong….”

A small voice flowed from Ramia’s lips, as if he had regained consciousness while being carried down the corridor. At first, he could not understand what he was saying, but after Ramia repeated the same words several times, he realized it was an apology.

Eustace, who had been thinking of giving his bottom a harsh spanking, just sighed and answered, “Alright.”

After leaving the room, annoyed with Ramia who was openly showing his dislike, Eustace hesitated for a moment before changing into his Rot form and returning to the room. The moment he discovered the door was open, Eustace gritted his teeth.

It was a moment of anger at himself for not having turned this troublesome Ramia, who caused trouble the moment he took his eyes off him, into a bead until now.

As he retrieved Ramia from Cox’s hands and returned to the room, Eustace resolved to immobilize this damn troublemaker right away, regardless of any hunches or whatever.

“…I, …the book….”

He seemed to be half-asleep and disoriented. It was clear that the crazy birdbrain had undone the castle’s barrier and thrown Yoon Jaewoo into the water. In Yoon Jaewoo’s palm was the torn-off cover of the book Eustace had left behind. Eustace realized how Cox had lured Ramia out of the room.

Cox would have recognized whose book it was at a glance. The utterly insidious Cox was quick to react. He was an unpleasant fellow who never missed even the smallest gap to exploit.

“…The book….”

Eustace silently patted Yoon Jaewoo’s back with his hand. Although he had not actually drunk the water, his body’s reaction would be the same as if he had drowned. Moreover, this lake had embraced Cox Philippte’s body for a long time. Having drunk that water, his stomach would surely not be well.

“…su hyung.”

Even in his dazed state, Yoon Jaewoo rubs his face against Eustace’s hair and calls that name in a thin voice. Eustace knew that it was the name Ramia called his Rot.

“…Jinsu hyung….”

「…….」

The hand patting his back stopped.

A Rot was the incarnation of a Dweord, and a Dweord was a Rot. He had never thought of them as separate.

Just because the form is different does not mean the essence is different.

“…hyung….”

But this Ramia distinguished between the Rot and himself as completely different beings. He had not thought much of it at first, but lately, he would find his mood strangely twisting at the difference in warmth with which he treated the two.

Eustace gathered his hair and swept it back. At that, Yoon Jaewoo stirred in his arms. Watching Ramia’s movement, as if searching for the hair, Eustace let out a light laugh.

「Do you like anything as long as it has fur.」

As if he understood those words, Ramia, who had been groaning, buried his face in Eustace’s chest as if seeking affection.

Eustace narrowed his eyes for a moment as he looked at Ramia, who was digging into his embrace.

Is it because he is young and even ugly?

This particular Ramia often did things that captured the heart. It seemed to be a survival technique he had mastered to survive, being young and unattractive.

Even after returning to the room and placing Ramia back on the bed, Eustace sat beside him and pondered whether to turn him into a bead.

He gently stroked his face. He could feel a soft and supple cheek. Eustace enjoyed making beads out of Ramia and touching them. The feeling of holding a life that did not belong to this world in his hands was quite satisfying.

But this is not so bad either.

It felt like touching life in its raw, natural state.

“……!”

Yoon Jaewoo, who had been lying on the bed, shot his eyes open. Eustace withdrew his hand. The warmth of Ramia remained on his fingertips. Putting aside an unidentifiable feeling of regret, Eustace began to scold Ramia in a stern voice.

「I told you not to open the door for anyone.」

“Well, that’s because, the book…. Ah! The book!”

Remembering the book he had dropped in the corridor, Yoon Jaewoo’s face fell. Since it was a book Eustace had brought all the way from his castle, it must be extraordinarily expensive.

“I will go and get it.”

As Yoon Jaewoo got up from his seat, Eustace grabbed his shoulder and sat him back down on the bed.

「Do not do anything useless.」

“Is it not an expensive book?”

He had never even heard of a book where pictures and words were created on their own just by opening its pages. Yoon Jaewoo felt lingeringly guilty for having dropped and lost the book due to his carelessness.

Eustace laughed as if it were absurd.

To think that the first thing he says upon waking up, after having his life threatened at the hands of Cox just moments ago, is about a book.

He cupped Ramia’s head with his palm. The small, round head filled his hand. What on earth could be inside it?

“…Are you going to turn me into a bead?”

Yoon Jaewoo asked, furtively watching Eustace, who was gently stroking his head. In truth, it was a miracle that this man with a nasty personality had overlooked what he had done so far.

「Should I?」

Eustace asked back.

Yoon Jaewoo quickly shook his head.

「A Ramia is a being that must bring pleasure to a Dweord.」

“…….”

Yoon Jaewoo’s complexion turned pale. His talent show had already ended with the singing contest.

「You only throw trouble my way, so is there any reason I should not turn you into a bead right here?」

He asked Ramia, but it was also a question he posed to himself.

Yoon Jaewoo, who had no way of knowing this fact, became suddenly frightened and groaned as he tried hard to think of a reason.

“A hunch….”

「What did you say?」

Yoon Jaewoo gripped Eustace’s clothes and pulled himself up. What he was about to say was extremely important because his life depended on it. He had to convey it to him accurately.

“You will need me someday.”

Yoon Jaewoo whispered into Eustace’s ear.

“You will need me someday. …You had that kind of hunch, did you not.”

He repeated the same words. Eustace gave no reply. Yoon Jaewoo hesitated before sitting back down on the bed.

It must be my imagination that Eustace’s expression looks a little more complicated than before.

Yoon Jaewoo recalled the ‘hunch’ that Eustace had supposedly felt. Since he had heard that a Dweord’s hunch was important in this world, he probably would not kill him right now.

As Yoon Jaewoo blinked, looking up at him, Eustace’s expression finally softened.

「I have no idea what use you could possibly be, but I will have to hope that hunch is right.」

“Of course!”

「There must be a clear reason why I have left this useless, stupid, ugly, and high-maintenance Ramia as he is. Otherwise, I think I will become very angry.」

“…….”

Dammit.

I have a feeling that if this guy gets angry, it will be incredibly scary.

I must escape before that happens.

Watching Yoon Jaewoo diligently rolling his eyes, Eustace, as if a thought suddenly occurred to him, opened his mouth and said, “Alright.”

「Tell me what Cox said while he had you.」

“That birdbrain is so freaking annoying. Is he not a psycho? A psycho?”

Yoon Jaewoo said, twirling his finger next to his head. Eustace grabbed his finger and stopped it.

「You should be careful with your fingers.」

“Gasp, right.”

Yoon Jaewoo quickly looked around. Because of Eustace, he kept forgetting the etiquette he had to maintain towards a Dweord.

「It is true that he is a madman.」

“Yes, he is. Completely crazy. He just came up to me and started talking about reproduction….”

Yoon Jaewoo’s face flushed red as he was about to talk about what happened in the corridor. He could not bring himself to talk about things like procreation or reproduction in front of Eustace.

「He must have asked if you and I were having sexual intercourse.」

“……!”

「What did you answer.」

“It is not like he would understand even if I answered. Besides, we are not, not doing that, that kind of thing…. Ugh, really.”

Yoon Jaewoo’s face turned literally bright red. A smile touched Eustace’s lips. Yoon Jaewoo rubbed his face with his palms and muttered a curse, “Damn it.”

「It seems Cox thinks you are not my Marh-yan.」

“Why?”

Yoon Jaewoo asked back, his eyes wide.

「Because you are not my type.」

“…….”

「Ugly, young, and on top of that, a Ramia.」

As Eustace listed the three conditions that made him impossible to be his type, Yoon Jaewoo flared up and shouted.

“I am not ugly. I am old, too. What is wrong with being twenty-three! And as for being a Ramia…, if you look at it from my perspective, you are a Ramia to me, too.”

Yoon Jaewoo said, pointing back and forth between himself and Eustace. He deliberately slurred the last word. He was not sure if it was okay to use the word ‘Ramia’ to a Dweord.

「Ramia?」

“…….”

Damn it, he heard me.

「I am a Ramia?」

“W-well, if you put yourself in my shoes, that is the case, but, well, anyway, to just state the conclusion, …I am a decent guy to have as a lover, too.”

After speaking up to that point, Yoon Jaewoo paused for a moment, thinking, ‘huh?’

Is this not it?

「I am not so sure.」

At Eustace’s firm reply, Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes shot up.

“You said this hair color is excellent.”

「It will return to black eventually anyway.」

“Then until then, it is fine, is it not.”

He felt unfairly wronged for no reason. Yoon Jaewoo thought he wanted Eustace to know that he was a really decent person.

「Then let us just say it is.」

“Do not just say it is, say that it is fine. That I am handsome, that I am charming.”

Eustace looked down at the grumbling Yoon Jaewoo with an expression of disbelief.

「Are you not ashamed to say such things with your own mouth?」

“What, what is wrong with it. Compared to that what’s-his-name, Malik or whatever Dweord, it is nothing.”

At the mention of Malik, Eustace’s expression hardened. Just the thought of Malik, who would boast about his noble lineage, beauty, and strategic mind whenever he opened his mouth, seemed to bring on a headache.

Eustace let out a light sigh and continued.

「If Cox finds out that you are not my Marh-yan, he will definitely kill you.」

“How can that be!”

「It seems his mood has been soured by your arrival.」

It was impossible to know whether it was a matter concerning Ashir’s barrier or just a simple whim. While staying in another’s castle, Eustace had begun to investigate Cox and Malik.

The task of reading the energy surrounding them was an ability that only Eustace, the Dweord who ruled wind and air, was capable of. Since both were Dweords of considerable skill, it was no ordinary task. If the other party were to sense even a hint that Eustace was reading them, they could deliberately leak a false image. It was a battle of power.

Reading the surrounding energy was only possible from a distance where one could reach out and touch the other person, if that person was a Dweord. That is why, in between the discussions of Vedas, Eustace read the presences of the two Dweords. Of course, he had not completely ruled out Yatenbaum either. All possibilities had to be considered.

If he found a clue related to Ashir’s barrier, he had to deal with the person responsible right here. That was why he had chosen Cox’s castle. This castle, where Cox Philippte was staying, was a barrier in itself, down to every single stone it was made of. This was because it was a castle built to isolate Cox Philippte, who was no different from a walking plague, from his surroundings.

Cox Philippte basically did not welcome anyone but himself. He had expected Cox to be somewhat annoyed since he had brought a Ramia into his castle, but it seemed Cox had decided that the culprit who had disturbed his sweet slumber was Ramia. If it did not end with just a petty tantrum, Cox was the most tiresome opponent.

“Then what do I do?”

Yoon Jaewoo asked, his face filled with fear. Every time his long eyelashes moved up and down, the extent of his fear was fully revealed in his emotions.

Thinking that the young one’s terrified face was quite pitiful, Eustace continued.

「There are four ways.」

At Eustace’s words, color returned to Yoon Jaewoo’s face. Not one, not two, but four! How wide the range of choices was!

「The first is to have sexual intercourse with me.」

“……!”

「Then it will become certain that you are my Marh-yan.」

“I refuse!!”

「I refuse as well.」

“The second, hurry up, the second one.”

Yoon Jaewoo urged him to say the next method.

「The second is to engage in simulated sexual acts. That should be enough to let it slide, more or less.」

“No!”

Yoon Jaewoo wailed with a despairing face. He shook Eustace’s clothes, pestering him to tell him the next one quickly.

“Something else, tell me something else.”

「You become a bead and quietly stay inside my pocket.」

In Eustace’s face, as he continued to speak in a calm tone, not a hint of a joke could be found. Yoon Jaewoo’s hand, gripping his clothes, trembled.

Only the last method remained.

“…What is the fourth one?”

Hope and despair alternated in the voice that asked the question. Eustace narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself, “This one is a bit difficult.”

“Even if it is difficult, I will do it. I will, so please….”

Even if he were told to do a backflip while clapping his hands, he was confident he could do it through painstaking practice. Yoon Jaewoo, steeling himself for death, looked at Eustace’s lips.

「It is to not take a single step out of this room.」

“Pardon?”

「Not a single step, not one single step, until I take you and leave this castle.」

“I will do it! I will!”

Yoon Jaewoo accepted the proposal without hesitation.

「Can you do it?」

“Yes! Just leave it to me.”

Eustace looked down at Yoon Jaewoo with a strangely smiling face. There had been too many incidents in the past to easily trust the words of a Ramia who would roll off somewhere and cause trouble the moment you took your eyes off him.

“I can do it. Really. …Probably, I think I can.”

Although the last addition subtly faltered, Yoon Jaewoo desperately expressed his will. The other three methods, aside from the fourth, were things he could not even imagine.

「Alright. I understand.」

Eustace cupped Yoon Jaewoo’s face. When Yoon Jaewoo lifted his head at the cool and soft touch of his palm, Eustace added a quiet remark.

「If you fail to keep your promise, you will have to choose from the remaining three. Of course, I would like you to know that I am not keen on the first two methods.」

Yoon Jaewoo nodded so hard his neck hurt. Eustace stroked Yoon Jaewoo’s face with a satisfied expression.

Five minutes into the second half.

Yoon Jaewoo received a yellow card.