”Oh…. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not, I didn’t say something.”

I shook my head as if to say, ‘By no means thoughts’. Nonetheless, Raphael modified the topic, as if attempting to salvage the momentarily somber temper.

“I’m certain your folks are anxious, although.”

I’m certain he didn’t imply to poke enjoyable at me once more.

“It’s embarrassing, however I don’t actually have any associates.”

“What? Uh, nicely, what about your… girlfriend?”

“Uh…….”

“No manner, boyfriend…”

“Um…”

Raphael’s complexion grew paler and paler as his silence grew longer and longer. Seeing him frozen in place, clutching the anonymous gemstone, made me really feel sorry for him. He stared at me blankly, his eyes half-disembodied, after which he jumped to his ft and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry for asking the unsuitable factor….”

“No, it’s okay, you may ask.”

I laughed, attempting to interrupt the stiffened temper, however it didn’t do any good, so I grabbed Raphael’s arm, who was fidgeting whereas standing, and sat him again down on the mattress. Raphael glanced over at me as if he had been a scholar who had been referred to as to the workplace.

Simply after I thought his innocence was lovable, Raphael cautiously opened his mouth.

“I… I truly thought you had a particular relationship with the guild chief.”

“What?”

Particular? Within the literal sense of the phrase, sure. However I believe what Raphael was referring to a romantic relationship. There was a touch of expectation in his eyes, as if he needed me to say sure.

I frowned and Raphael rolled his eyes uneasily, gauging my response.

“…Isn’t it?”

“In fact not, what did you see that gave you that false impression?”

“Uhm, that….”

Raphael pulled out his cellphone once more and tapped the display screen furiously.

“The guild chief solely contacts me when it’s completely needed, , time, place, and function. Like this.”

A second later, on the display screen Raphael confirmed me was a transcript of his dialog with Simeon.

No, I’m wondering if this may be thought-about a dialog.

[Nov. 13, 11 a.m., Gangnam N Building. 1 person shot in the waist]

[21:00 on the 28th. Changwon H Village. Abrasions on the right hand and excessive bleeding, 2 people]

[31st, 13:00. Incheon C Hotel. 1 brain hemorrhage]

Though it’s a enterprise matter, it’s too stiff, and there’s not even any non-public discuss.

Is that this the Simeon I do know, the one who says issues that don’t have to be mentioned and scratches my nerves in a delicate manner? The hole between the picture and the individual I knew was so large that I felt like I used to be seeing another person.

“Even catastrophe texts aren’t this dangerous….”

“Haha, however that is the primary time I’ve seen a sentence.”

Raphael scrolled all the way down to the underside and confirmed me the newest texts.

[Raphael. Can you come over ASAP? I have a favor]

It’s definitely loads softer than their earlier contact, and it sounds just like the Simeon I do know now. However Raphael was so touched by the textual content that he clutched the cellphone in his arms and mentioned with a reminiscent look.

“Isn’t it wonderful, it’s a ‘favor’, and the guild chief is asking me to do a favor….”

Raphael shook his head in emotion, as if recalling an unforgettable reminiscence. It was totally different than earlier than, however his response was arduous to grasp, as he seemed like he would possibly burst into tears at any second.

“Is that such a shock? Work chats are presupposed to be stiff.”

“It’s as a result of hyung doesn’t know. How quiet the guild chief is often.”

A person of few phrases, that rascal?

Tilting his head curiously, Raphael whispered in a low voice, as if sharing a secret.

”If you’ve been working collectively for a very long time, you continue to discuss your loved ones, your folks, perhaps even your favourite meals or a film you noticed lately.”

“Nicely… yeah.”

“However I’ve by no means talked to the guild chief about something private, so I don’t even know his household historical past, not to mention his tastes. After I requested him if he had any issues, he simply laughed and prevented answering.”

It’s as if I’m seeing a mirror picture of the primary time, I met him on the nursery faculty. It took me a month to resolve it and now he’s nonetheless not speaking to a coworker he’s labored with for over a yr. I can see why Raphael appears wistful.

“Are you aware what he mentioned to me after I first joined the guild?”

Raphael placed on his finest critical face.

“Easy. Ask for no matter you need. Lie if you need, however don’t let me discover out.”

“…it’s scary.”

“Yeah, I do know he’s a pleasant man now, however he was actually scary again then.”

After I met Simeon and realized that it was a lot scarier to be stomped on with a pleasant face than to be simply violent. When he nodded, saying, ‘I totally sympathize’, Raphael continued excitedly.

“Anyway, the individual I not often contacted aside from work all of a sudden modified.”

“That factor from earlier than?”

“Sure! I even obtained a name as a result of I used to be late to verify the textual content message due to one thing else. I believed there was one thing very critical occurring, however he requested me to deal with an everyday one who was neither an apostle nor a hunter. It doesn’t matter what gem stones it’s, and should you want something, inform me all the pieces. I’ll do something to heal you completely.”

He was speaking nonstop, like a scholar listening to his trainer inform him about his old flame.

“In fact the guild chief has a particular somebody, don’t you suppose?”

Particular somebody. Is that what this uncommon relationship appears wish to others? The truth that Simeon, who’s detached to everybody else, values me made me really feel extra depressed than completely happy.

“It’s not like that. He requested Raphael to heal me, it’s simply one thing that occurred.”

I don’t need to make the identical mistake I made seven years in the past. When my emotions for him are bitterness, guilt, and self-pity, I ought to run away. However there’s a shackle round my neck. My plan to determine the circumstances and break away has failed.

I have to discover one other manner out. Come on, consider a manner out of this cozy cage.

It was then, as if cornered, that I heard a sighing voice.

“…That’s a disgrace.”

A disgrace? About what?

“I believed it was a aid that I lastly had somebody to depend on from the guild chief…”

…No. I’m not that good.

“I simply thought that should you had been my hyung, perhaps the guild chief would speak in confidence to me.”

I’m nonetheless fascinated about working away from right here.

“Even when it’s not me, Raphael is there and the remainder of the guild members.”

I’d suppose he’d need to be comforted, however as a substitute, Raphael’s face is grim.

“What are you speaking about, hyung. The guild chief doesn’t belief us.”

“In fact not.”

“I’m critical. Belief by way of competence, sure. However person-to-person… nicely, not fairly.”

The smile that had been so breezy once they’d first exchanged pleasantries was now tinged with bitterness.

“Within the first place, the Apostles is a company arrange by the guild grasp to make the gathering of spirituals extra environment friendly and whereas different guilds could also be totally different, we’re not colleagues, we’re items on a chessboard that transfer because the guild grasp sees match.”

I all of a sudden remembered what Simeon had mentioned about sending solely those that could be helpful to the mission, with out regard to their very own opinions. If the chief is competent, the group will run effectively, however the members will inevitably really feel that they’re merely instruments.

“In fact I and all of the apostles signed up for that system, however typically it’s a disgrace that I’ve to attract the road with everybody else.”

“Oh…”

“However I used to be actually impressed when he requested me to assist out this time, and I believe you deserve a number of the credit score. I believe the guild is altering a bit bit due to you.”

It shouldn’t be totally different. I don’t want to vary. I’m what I’m, he’s what he’s, and so we half methods. I need to disappear like sand soaked by the tide, drying with out a hint at low tide.

“Once more, we don’t have a relationship and he’s the one who put me with these things as a result of he didn’t belief me within the first place.”

I jerk my chin up and present him the leash, and Rafael’s eyes mild up with concern.

“That’s… the <Crown of Atonement>, proper?”

“Sure. He say that the second I disclose any details about the Apostle to the surface world, it will likely be tightened till I die.”

Raphael grimaced, as if a leash had been positioned round my neck. Then he quietly reached out and gently stroked the underside of my vine-covered neck. Not like Simeon’s contact, his fingertips had been tinged with remorse.

“I don’t understand how he felt when he put it, however now… Perhaps he’s regretting it.”

“Remorse?”

Remorse. How he smiled with satisfaction each time he noticed me carrying the collar.

I snorted that it couldn’t be, however Raphael spoke firmly, as if he knew what was on my thoughts.

“The guild grasp was so anxious about you if you broke your leg, he even requested me to do one thing I didn’t need to do.”

“Is that… true?”

“However due to the spirit he put… In the event you suppose you could possibly get your head minimize off, wouldn’t or not it’s many instances extra disturbing? In the event you actually get harm by it, he’ll really feel responsible.”

I used to be dazed, as if I’d been punched at the back of the pinnacle.