Chapter 18
As Danbi’s face contorted, Hyun kept his blade leveled at her and spoke calmly.
"Judging by that expression, it seems you remember as well."
"Are you saying you remember the previous round? The game that was already reset?"
"Reset?"
Hyun raised an eyebrow as if he had no idea what she was talking about. His gaze remained sharp and piercing.
'Wait, if that’s the case.'
Danbi slowly leveled her own dagger toward him.
You, don't tell me...
"Are you trying to kill me again?"
"You are under a grave misunderstanding."
Hyun stepped closer. Danbi retreated until her back hit the wall.
Hyun bit his lip as if swallowing a rising surge of anger.
"It was none other than you who pointed a blade at me first."
"What?"
Simultaneously, Hyun swung his sword at Danbi. With a metallic *clang*, the two blades crossed, and their gazes locked between them.
Suddenly, a scene flashed through her mind.
It was a moment when she had crossed swords with Hyun inside the Royal Wardrobe. But it wasn't now.
It was a scene from the distant past, lingering in the back of her memory. Hyun’s voice echoed as if from far away.
"Surely you aren't going to say you don't remember?"
At that moment, another scene flickered before her eyes.
She, dressed in black, and Hyun, wearing the Royal Dragon Robe, were facing each other with swords drawn.
Before long, the dagger in her hand slashed through the garments for the Rain-Praying Ritual.
"What is this memory?"
Danbi lifted her head with a bewildered expression.
"I was the one who damaged the Rain-Praying Ritual garments? I never did such a...!"
"Don't tell me, does time in the game flow even while I'm not logged in?"
Come to think of it, it had been like that from the start. Even while she wasn't logged into the game, time within it had been flowing on its own.
Does that mean the characters were moving on their own while I was gone?
Then, was it really me who damaged the Rain-Praying Ritual garments...!
Just then, a blue window appeared in the air.
「A new main quest has arrived.
─Assassination.
You are an assassin who has infiltrated the Inner Court to assassinate the King.
Kill the King and complete the mission.」
At the same time, countless scenes flooded into her mind like a tidal wave.
Danbi staggered, struggling to hold onto her past memories.
***
Hyun grabbed the woman’s arm and threw her onto the bed. As he climbed roughly over her, the face he had so loathed to touch was right before his eyes.
Hyun pulled one corner of his mouth into a crooked smirk.
"They said you were the cunning daughter of the Right State Councilor, but unlike what I thought, you’re quite transparent. How long has it been since we met, and just how much do you intend to show me?"
"No, why is this...!"
The woman quickly pulled her clothes together. Seeing her flushed face, a sudden wave of irritation surged within him.
Is she acting innocent?
Fine, let’s play along with that tune.
Hyun approached with a sly smile. The woman hurriedly turned her head and stammered.
"W-wait!"
Hyun did not stop. Just as the woman squeezed her eyes shut and their lips were about to meet—
"……? Hey!"
The woman suddenly dropped her head. As if she had lost consciousness.
"Hey, what are you doing now?"
There was no answer from her. Hyun shook her gently.
"Hey, hey!"
Then, *tap*, the woman opened her eyes.
"Did you call for me, Your Majesty?"
"Just now, what...!"
"I stayed up all night, heart fluttering at the thought of seeing your royal countenance, so I must have dozed off. Please forgive me for my rudeness."
Hyun was so taken aback by her completely changed demeanor that he stood there with his mouth agape.
Then, the woman, who had been staring straight at him, suddenly began to untie her own ribbons.
"What are you doing?"
"I wondered if there was something you desired..."
Hyun jumped up from the bed.
"That is enough. It seems I have seen things."
As Hyun turned his back, the smile vanished from the woman’s face in an instant. Then, she pulled something from her robes.
A dagger engraved with flower patterns.
Staring intently at Hyun’s back, she slowly opened the sheath. The sharp blade emitted a cold, blue light in the silence.
"I am tired today, so you may leave."
The tip of the blade was aimed at Hyun, who waved his hand as if annoyed, but only for a moment.
When there was no response from her, Hyun turned around abruptly. The woman, sitting demurely on the bed, smiled sweetly.
*Tsk.*
Hyun sighed and reached for the door. He only wanted to end this noisy night.
Then, a voice came from behind his back.
"Your Majesty. Please grant me the rank of Bin."
"……What did you just say?"
At the absurd request, Hyun turned back around. The woman’s lips curved upward, though her eyes remained cold.
"I asked you to grant me the rank of Bin."
Hyun stood crookedly and sneered.
"What reason would I have to grant the rank of Bin to someone whose hand I haven't even held yet?"
"I know where the Royal Seal is."
"……!"
Hyun widened his eyes before he could stop himself, then feigned indifference and let out a laugh.
"What are you talking about? The Royal Seal—"
"You already knew. That the Royal Seal is a fake."
Hyun stopped, speechless. Then, his face contorted for a moment.
"How did you know?"
He stepped toward her in one stride and leaned in. He could feel her unpleasant breath on the tip of his nose.
"That the Royal Seal is a fake."
The woman was silent for a moment, then stared straight at Hyun.
"I know where the real Royal Seal is."
Hyun stared at her, then suddenly burst into laughter. His hearty laughter echoed loudly through the room.
"Very well, Bin. So, where is this real Royal Seal now?"
"There is one more condition."
"……A condition?"
Hyun raised his eyebrows menacingly.
"Are you trying to bargain with me right now?"
"It is not a bargain, but an exchange. An exchange, by nature, requires the two items to be of equal value, does it not?"
"……An exchange."
Hyun pondered for a moment, then crossed his arms.
"So, what is it that you want?"
"Rain."
"……?"
"Please bring the rain, Your Majesty."
A few days later, late at night, just one week before the Rain-Praying Ritual.
The moonlight was faint, obscured by clouds, and the wind howled eerily.
Hyun walked cautiously through the Royal Wardrobe. Fabrics and ceremonial robes for tailoring were piled in layers under the dim light.
Suddenly, Hyun’s footsteps came to a halt.
"Who is there?"
When no answer came, Hyun turned around. In the darkness, he saw a figure wrapped entirely in black clothing.
Hyun reflexively drew the sword at his waist. At the same time, the figure lunged at him.
The cold sound of clashing metal pierced the silence. Blades grazed each other repeatedly, and Hyun stepped forward, a beat faster.
As he leveled his sword upward, the cloth covering the figure's face fluttered in the wind. At that moment, a familiar face flashed before his eyes.
"You...!"
Hyun turned his body to follow her as she dashed out the door.
Just then, *creak*, something caught under his foot. As he looked down, he saw a sheath engraved with flower patterns.
Seven days later, in front of the Sajikdan Altar.
"Guards! Search Lady Yeo’s person at once!"
"Yes!"
As soon as Hyun’s command fell, the Royal Guards grabbed the woman’s arms from both sides. They began to search her body roughly.
She struggled with a bewildered expression.
"What is the meaning of this!"
A moment later, one of the guards searching her shook his head.
Just then, several other guards came running from afar.
"Your Majesty."
"What happened?"
The guard who approached handed a dagger to Hyun.
"As you commanded, we have found a dagger without a sheath."
Hyun slowly picked up the dagger resting on the guard's hand. Then, he pulled the sheath from his robes.
The moment the dagger fit perfectly into the sheath, the woman’s eyes widened in shock.
***
Danbi lifted her head slowly, clutching her dizzy head. Hyun’s blade was still pointed at her.
"Then, don't tell me, the assassin who was trying to kill you all this time...!"
"All those words and actions were part of a scheme to harm me."
"No, I just..."
*Crash!*
At the same time, the door burst open, and Rang, along with the soldiers, swarmed into the Royal Wardrobe.
Hyun shouted toward them.
"Guards! Seize this person at once!"
"Yes!"
At the command, the Royal Guards leveled their blades and began to close in. Danbi retreated slowly.
Her back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to run.
Danbi squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly, the moment the guard’s blade soared into the sky and her head was severed in an instant flashed through her mind.
"Wait!"
She immediately stretched out both hands toward them. The soldiers stopped for a moment, seemingly taken aback by her unexpected action.
Danbi turned her head straight to Hyun. She pointed her finger at the air.
The blue window was still floating there.
「The game cannot be terminated.」
Danbi shouted desperately.
"This is all a game! It's a game!"
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