“Can we talk for a moment?” Ren asked through the rolled-down window. He talked with familiar ease despite it being their first meeting since the Noblesse.0

Se-Hoon silently gazed at Ren for a brief moment before asking, “Did you prepare the compensation?”2

Unwilling to talk about anything else, Se-Hoon asked about the restitution for the curse Ren secretly left on his hand during their first encounter. At the time, Se-Hoon had recognized it immediately and thus suffered no harm, even managing to use it to glean insights into Ren’s past, but he still thought Ren should pay for it as he had done something wrong after all.0

“Of course. That’s actually why I came today,” said Ren with a smile, seemingly unperturbed. 0

Se-Hoon nodded after a moment of thought.0

“Okay, then.”0

Clunk-0

The limousine door opened automatically. Then, as soon as Se-Hoon climbed in and sat across from Ren, the door closed and the car moved forward.0

Vroom-0

Feeling the limousine gliding quietly without any vibration, Se-Hoon enjoyed the smooth ride until Ren spoke up first. 0

“Did you come here today to visit Claudel?”0

“If you’re talking about Lea, then yes.… Is this related to the compensation?”0

“No, just a personal curiosity of mine.”0

Glancing through the car window at the hospital ward, Ren continued calmly, “For the brief moment when we were both honor students, I had my eyes on her. It was a matter of course since Professor Rebecca and her parents—when they were alive—were all well-known in the enchanting industry.”0

“…”0

“I had even tried to invite her to the Noblesse, but it didn’t work out. She said it was a waste of time.”0

Recalling the past, Ren moved his gaze...0