Chapter 155 : Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Complicated Ties (2)

An ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍abandoned lot in Glory lay sprawled beneath an exceptionally bright full moon.

There, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I was continuing my meeting with the Puppeteer.

"Kyahaha! ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I was a bit upset because you had not visited in so long, but I will let it slide since you brought such an interesting story!"

"Is ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that so?"

As ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I recounted the events at the cathedral, the Puppeteer giggled, saying it was fun.

Normally, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I would have muttered a word about her being a crazy woman under my breath in response to her reaction, but I did not do so this time.

No, I did not have the leeway for that.

That was because the conversation I had with Baek Ha-ryeong was still lingering in my mind.

'I never imagined Baek Ha-seong would have a biological younger sister.'

At first, I wondered if she was lying, but I immediately dismissed that possibility.

In the first place, there was no reason to tell such a lie to a cadet who had been a victim of Baek Ha-seong.

Because of that, my head could only become more complicated.

'For now, she seemed to not know exactly why Baek Ha-seong went against the family.'

Of course, this could also be an act intended to make it seem that way.

As long as there was no definitive proof, making a hasty judgment was never a good idea.

Therefore, I had stopped at giving a vague answer to Baek Ha-ryeong's question as well.

'To make a more certain judgment, I need to meet Baek Ha-seong.'

Had she not revealed herself to be his biological sister?

First, it was important to confirm whether that was true through Baek Ha-seong.

It would not be too late to think about other things after that.

Having finished my judgment, I directed my words toward the Puppeteer.

"Do you happen to have a contact or something for Mr. Baek Ha-seong?"

"Hmm? I do not have anything like that. Why would I need something like that when we are not even close?"

Still, shouldn't there be at least one contact channel if you are nominally in the same organization?

But the person in front of me was the Puppeteer.

Since she was someone who should not be judged by common sense, I had no choice but to accept it.

Just as I was about to speak with that thought, unexpected words jumped out of the Puppeteer's mouth.

"I do not have a contact channel, but I do have a way to meet him."

"Really?"

"But before that, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Why do you use formal speech with him but talk casually to me? And throw away the excuse you used before."

The Puppeteer asked the question with a somewhat displeased expression.

Did she perhaps dislike the fact that I had been speaking casually to her all this time?

"Then shall I use formal speech from now on?"

"No, that is not what I mean!"

"...No, then what are you dissatisfied about?"

"The problem is that your mindset in treating us is different!"

The Puppeteer turned her head away as if the reason she just stated was everything.

I could not help but find her reaction absurd.

'Logically, would it not be more nonsensical to treat them both exactly the same?'

On one side was a crazy woman whose thoughts were completely transparent, and on the other was a man with such deep schemes that it was difficult to even read his intentions.

Treating those two the same was inherently impossible.

On top of that, there was the fact that I liked the character of Baek Ha-seong.

'...Of course, I cannot say the reason I just thought of out loud.'

Why would I say something like that to an already angry opponent and invite trouble?

And I thought I could vaguely understand what part the Puppeteer was angry about.

If I thought according to the Puppeteer's way of thinking...

'She probably feels that way because she got to know me first, but feels like I am paying more attention to Baek Ha-seong.'

It might not be exact, but it was likely similar.

The novel mentioned that the Puppeteer's mental age was no different from a child's.

If so, the words I should say here were obvious.

"That is because I am not very close with Mr. Baek Ha-seong."

I went with the approach of humoring the Puppeteer as much as possible.

Even if she was a crazy woman, she was someone who had not caused me any harm so far and had actually helped me, right?

Even if it was tedious, I could certainly humor her that much.

"What does that mean?"

"They say the closer you are to someone, the more informally you treat them. It is like that."

"...Hmm? Is that how it is?"

"Of course. Look at how many years we have known each other."

It was around May when we met, so it had been three months.

"Kyahaha! Right? Of course, it is only natural that you are closer to me than to that guy."

"......"

It was exactly as I thought.

The Puppeteer immediately laughed brightly and agreed as if she had never been pouting.

I still found it absurd, but I decided to just accept it.

It always made one's head spin to try and understand someone who was outside the realm of understanding.

After that round of networking(?) was over.

It was I, the one in a hurry, who spoke first.

"So you are saying there is a way to meet Mr. Baek Ha-seong?"

"Hmm? Oh, right. Of course! Who do you think I am? Although there are conditions."

"Conditions?"

"I have to use my toys and dolls, so it is impossible inside Glory."

The Puppeteer explained the detailed reason.

She said that because of the ward separating Glory from the outside, communication with anything outside was blocked, unless they were toys or dolls already inside Glory.

In the middle of her explanation, I also learned an uncomfortable truth that I did not particularly want to know—that the toys the Puppeteer mentioned were always on standby inside Glory.

"Then does that mean I have to take a portal and go outside?"

"That is right. Besides, it will take a little bit of time."

"Hmm..."

It was a bit late to be going out.

The sun had already set, and it would soon be past evening and into the night.

'Still, it should be fine.'

It happened to be the weekend tomorrow.

On the weekend, there are no problems with going out even without stating a specific purpose.

Besides, I was just going to have a brief meeting with Baek Ha-seong after going out; I was not staying out overnight, right?

So there should be no major issues.

"I understand. Then would right now be okay?"

"Kyahaha! That sounds good to me. Interesting things never happen to those who stay still!"

Is that how it works?

It was good to be diligent, but her reasoning seemed a bit strange.

'Well, that is not what is important right now.'

The most important thing in this situation was the meeting with Baek Ha-seong.

Requesting help from the Puppeteer was something I could handle all at once at that meeting.

Therefore, I left my useless thoughts behind and exited Glory with the Puppeteer.

***

"Am I supposed to wait here?"

"Yes. It might take some time, but he will definitely come if you wait. Kyahat!"

I arrived with the Puppeteer at a cliff on a dark, secluded mountain.

At first, I was suspicious enough to wonder if she was taking me there to bury me, but those suspicions were cleared before long.

Step, step.

I realized the Puppeteer's words were correct from the sound of footsteps approaching from afar.

Baek Ha-seong appeared along with the sound of regular footsteps.

In one hand, he was holding a villain—no, what had been one of the Puppeteer's toys—as he showed himself.

"I wondered what was going on since the Puppeteer was suddenly doing something she never does, but it was your doing."

"Calling it my doing is a bit much. It was merely a mutual cooperation achieved through a request."

"Is that so? Then let's just leave it at that."

Baek Ha-seong casually agreed with my words, tossed what he was holding in his hand, and approached us.

At that sight, the Puppeteer got angry and asked why he had to break it so recklessly, but that was only for a very brief moment.

She probably did not feel it was a great waste since most of her toys were made from mediocre villains anyway.

At any rate, with the meeting established again, it was Baek Ha-seong who spoke first.

"It feels a bit much to say it has been a long time, since it has not even been a week."

"That is true."

"So what is the matter? There must be a reason why you tried so hard to meet me through the Puppeteer."

He gets straight to the point.

Well, this is better than useless greetings.

"First of all, there are two things, but I will tell you the other one later."

"Later?"

"Yes. Later."

It was a matter that could potentially be a sensitive family history.

Even if the Puppeteer was the type not to care about things that did not seem interesting, there was no need to speak of it here.

So it would be better to talk separately.

Baek Ha-seong also seemed to understand my meaning, as he nodded.

"Very well. Then what is it you want to say now?"

"It is about what I mentioned last time. I thought it would be better to speak while we are all together."

Of course, saying it would be better to speak while together was just an excuse.

No matter if she was the Puppeteer, would she believe me if I said 'I just wanted to see Baek Ha-seong'?

Therefore, the request for cooperation was the most appropriate reason I could give now, and Baek Ha-seong expressed his willingness to listen.

"Right. It would be better to talk where everyone involved is gathered."

"Yes. I think so too."

"Wait a minute! Are you two going to keep talking about things I do not know?!"

The Puppeteer intruded and cut into our conversation.

It was perfect timing.

As they say, strike while the iron is hot.

Thus, I explained the details of what I wanted to ask the Puppeteer for help with, and as a result...

"Hmm. Is that something that cannot be done without me?"

"Of course. Where else could I find someone as skilled as you?"

"Kyahahat! That is true. You occasionally say the right things, do you not? If you put it that way, I can help you! It looks like it might be fun too."

With an appropriate assist from Baek Ha-seong, I was able to easily obtain her help.

Though it was quite strange that she agreed so easily to something that could potentially cost her life...

'Because it is the Puppeteer.'

Yes. That one reason was enough.

What other reason would be needed?

At any rate, the conversation that could be had in front of the Puppeteer was over.

Therefore, I spoke up to bring this meeting to a close.

"If there is nothing more to discuss, shall we leave it at this for now? I have an appointment tomorrow."

"That would be best."

"Hehe, I agree too!"

The brief conversation ended there.

With that, Baek Ha-seong vanished with the wind, and the Puppeteer and I returned to Glory.

...So, from here on, it was the real main topic.

***

WHOOSH!

Baek Ha-seong appeared in my dormitory room again, making our earlier parting seem meaningless.

I bowed my head slightly toward him.

"I am sorry for the trouble."

"It is fine. If I found something like this troublesome, how would I survive in this world?"

"Is that so?"

"That is how it is. So, what was it you were going to say later?"

As expected, Baek Ha-seong got straight to business as soon as he appeared.

'How should I start?'

I did not know if Baek Ha-ryeong's words were the truth or a lie.

However, if it was the truth, it was a matter that could be a very sensitive question for Baek Ha-seong.

Therefore, I could not help but worry about what to say.

I racked my brain for a moment.

'As I thought, it is better to be direct.'

After some thought, I concluded that it was better to be blunt.

Even if I talked around the subject, would I not eventually have to bring up the main topic anyway?

If so, it was a wiser choice to speak of the main point from the start rather than beating around the bush.

'And Baek Ha-seong will likely prefer that much more too.'

In the first place, he was not a man associated with conversations that went in circles.

Having made that judgment, I spoke to Baek Ha-seong.

"There was an incident recently, and I have something I want to ask you regarding it."

"If you are acting like this all of a sudden, it must be an urgent matter."

"It is an urgent matter, in a way."

If Baek Ha-ryeong really was his biological sister, there might be changes to my future plans.

I did not know how he understood my words, but Baek Ha-seong spoke as if he understood.

"If that is the case, go ahead. I will answer if it is something I can answer."

"Um, first of all, I hope you will listen without misunderstanding."

"Since we both know what each other's weaknesses are, there is no reason for you to say something useless. Speak."

"I understand. Ahem, then..."

I cleared my throat at Baek Ha-seong's acceptance and immediately asked the question.

"Do you happen to have a biological younger sister? Her name is Baek Ha-ryeong."

"...What?"

And I could state for certain.

The expression Baek Ha-seong made after hearing my question was the most emotional expression I had seen on him since I met him.