Chohong didn't return to Carpe Diem's office immediately. No, it'd be far more correct to say she couldn't.

Seol Jihu turned around in a trance and left after the explanations came to an end. He didn't even suggest going back together. As a matter of fact, he didn't say anything. Chohong felt this heavy pressure from his back silently growing further away from her.

“God damn it.”

Chohong found herself pacing up and down the vicinity of the office for a long while before finally taking large strides up the steps to the side of the building.

She breathed in deeply and swung the door open, only to find Seol Jihu had already finished getting ready to leave. She stood there and vacantly stared at him neatly fill his bag up.

“You….”

“….”

“Hey, you. What are you doing?”

“I've got a place I need to go.”

Seol Jihu didn't even bother to turn around as he answered. Chohong nearly jumped up in fright before a wry chuckle leaked out of her lips.

“No way. It's not that, right?”

“What's not it?”

“You're angry and just want to let me know about it, right? Okay, okay. I got it. Hey, let's all calm down and have a seat so we can talk like adults. Right? Let's talk for a second. Hm?”

Seol Jihu snorted derisively.

“What are you even on about? You think I'd rush into the enemy camp all alone?”

If not, that sure would be a big relief. Even then, Chohong's face was full of complicated, mixed-up emotions. However, Seol Jihu completely disregarded that, slung the bag over his shoulder, and finally, picked up his spear. One wouldn't normally dress like that unless he was planning to leave the safety of the city for a while.

“Where are you thinking of going, then?”

“No need to worry about it.”

“What was that?”

“I'll take care of this by myself. I want to do it with my own strength, you see.”

Seol Jihu walked right past Chohong. She squeezed her eyes shut and quickly grabbed his arm.

“Are you really gonna be like this?”

“What do you mean, be like this?”

“Hey, you!! Okay, wait. Fine. I'm sorry about not telling you anything, but….”

“No, that's not it.”

Seol Jihu abruptly stopped walking and made a curt reply.

“You did tell me something, alright. The problem is with you lying, that's all.”

Chohong faltered a little, then. His eyes were as icy and hard as the air permeating within the office. She gritted her teeth and shouted out.

“B-But, you, you also did that, too!”

“….”

“I know I made you worry, but even you….!!”

“At the very least, I told you beforehand, didn’t I?”

He cut her words off like a sharp...