LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 102: Riem's Paradise (2)
TL/Editor: Raei
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Han Yoo-jung felt a moment of jealousy.
Regardless of what was being discussed, Jung-gyeom's conversations always prioritized Luna.
His actions were all tailored to Luna as well.
There were times when she felt like she wasn't too far from Solace, but it was nothing compared to Luna.
Given they were part of the same Villain Alliance, it was perhaps inevitable that there would be many questions about Luna.
But for Han Yoo-jung, who had to listen to these questions repeatedly, feelings of jealousy inevitably began to simmer.
Especially when she found out that even if the entire alliance were to be captured, Luna would be exempted... there was no greater source of jealousy.
She knew that Jung-gyeom revealing himself as Dice was all for Luna.
It was she who had walked a dirtier path for Jung-gyeom, and she who had held onto him longer.
They were in the same Villain Alliance, yet Luna was receiving all this love, while she was being handed over to the association.
So, she was just being a little spiteful.
-......Gyeom....?
Song Soo-yeon stuttered in her response.
It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.
Regardless of the situation or any differences with Luna.
If she thought about Jung-gyeom's saddened face, she knew too well that she had no right to do this.
She struggled with her inner turmoil and quietly apologized.
"........I'm sorry. I was just playing around."
The trembling breath of Song Soo-yeon was conveyed.
With just that one sentence, she was greatly agitated.
It was the first time hearing such a voice from her.
She hadn't thought Song Soo-yeon, who was as cold as ice, could show such a side.
That reminded her of the dreams she had given to Luna.
In those dreams, Luna was with Jung-gyeom.
A slight regret bloomed.
It's just a dream, but... somehow, the idea of Jung-gyeom being intimately involved with another woman in a dream was uncomfortable.
Han Yoo-jung didn't want to be the one by Jung-gyeom's side.
She had once, but... her current sins were too severe. She wasn't shameless enough to do so.
...She dreamt of being by his side. But it was just a dream.
So, maybe just in her dreams, she didn't want to give him to someone else.
Han Yoo-jung thought for a moment.
What would happen if she told Jung-gyeom all of this?
Only Song Soo-yeon might know exactly what was dreamt, but... how would he react if he knew she had such lustful dreams about him?
Han Yoo-jung shook her head. She pushed the thoughts away and erased them.
-...Whether it's a joke or not, you know his name.
---
---
"...Whether it's a joke or not, you know his name."
Emotions surged within Song Soo-yeon.
Jung-gyeom, who had left her side, was now with Stella.
Their relationship was anything but ordinary.
Judging by the fact that she already knew his name.
After all, how could one casually call him 'Gyeom' even in jest?
How could someone who had been captured display such composure?
Though unknown, one thing was certain: it wasn't an uncomfortable situation.
A burning jealousy flared up.
Shameless as it may be, she despised the thought of another woman being by his side instead of herself.
This feeling was beyond her control.
It boiled up from her core, unstoppable.
She was furiously enraged.
Why should another woman be by the side of the man she loves, a man she cannot approach?
Being part of the same Villain Alliance, why was there such disparity?
She was discarded, while Stella called him 'Gyeom.'
The difference left her breathless.
Anxious thoughts chased each other endlessly.
Knowing full well there was no chance... yet, the mere fact that Jung-gyeom and Stella shared the same space implied they had a close relationship.
It felt as though they had already reached the point where they called each other by nicknames.
She could no longer suppress her racing heart.
"Where are you?"
Song Soo-yeon asked.
-....Pardon?
"Where are you? Tell me."
Song Soo-yeon grabbed her coat and crammed her feet into her shoes.
Without even knowing the destination, she burst out the door.
Meanwhile, Stella remained silent.
Song Soo-yeon started to press her.
"Where are you, where are you, where are you...! Hurry up and tell me, f*ck!"
-...I... I dont know. Im trapped in this space...
"How can someone who's trapped use a phone? Don't try to fool me, just tell me quickly."
-...I'm not locked in a basement. I can move around the place.
The more she dug, the more anxious she became.
She could deduce the fact that Stella was living in the same space as Jung-gyeom.
Were they eating together? Sleeping together?
Song Soo-yeon's grip on her phone whitened her knuckles.
After taking a deep breath and forcibly suppressing her emotions, she asked clearly.
"...Stella. Please answer me. Where is he-"
--Eh? Ah, Gye... Gyeom?
That familiar nickname rang out again, supposedly in jest.
At the same time, Stella's voice moved away from the phone.
In the background, footsteps approached.
Song Soo-yeon's heart started to race faster than ever at the sound of those steps.
Soon, a strange noise came from the speaker, followed by a man's voice.
-.......Soo-yeon.
"Ah....! Mister...! Where are you-"
-What part of my words did you not understand?
He spoke coldly. Soo-yeon's heart froze just the same.
-I told you to live without me. Why do you keep annoyingly looking for me?
"..................."
Soo-yeon opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Is this what it feels like to have a stake driven through your heart?
-...Are you misunderstanding something because we touched hands a few days ago?
"....Ah.........Ah..."
-Have you already forgotten how you deceived me? Don't you know that's the end for us?
Tears flowed uncontrollably as she struggled to plead.
"...Don't say things like that..."
The sharpness of the past was nowhere to be found.
It had been worn down, battered, and dulled.
At those words, Jung-gyeom took a deep breath. The sound of him taking a deep breath sounded clearly.
Song Soo-yeon continued.
"I still... don't want it to end... I need you... Mister... sob... I need you..."
-...I don't need you.
".....!"
Song Soo-yeon leaned against a nearby wall with her hand.
Otherwise, she felt like she might collapse.
She moved her lips for a while before speaking.
"......Say that... to my face."
Determination flickered in her tear-streaked eyes.
She felt she needed to see Jung-gyeom's face at least.
And she could vaguely sense it.
That he was lying.
Listening to the voice of his heart would make it clear.
No matter the lies, her abilities would make it known.
"Why... why are you saying such words over the phone?"
-.....
"Come in front of me and say it. Right...? Curse or hit me, but at least show your face and say it...!"
-...
"If not, I'll keep chasing after you till the end. I know I'm a b*tch, a f*cking b*tch...! But I can't go on without you now...! If you hate that, then tell me to f*ck off to my face!"
-Beep.
The call was disconnected.
"...Mister? Ah, Mister?"
Song Soo-yeon repeated looking at the phone screen and then putting it to her ear.
Jung-gyeom's voice did not come back.
Song Soo-yeon quickly pressed the call button again.
-The phone is turned off...
But only a hollow automated message replied.
As she took deep breaths and her emotions calmed, Song Soo-yeon once again realized what she had done.
She had lost her temper again. It had been a long time since she heard his voice, and yet she exploded in anger.
She slumped powerlessly to the floor.
There was so much she wanted to say.
But she couldn't say anything at all.
A hollow laugh burst out. She hated her idiotic self so much.
But it was also inevitable for her. She couldn't resolve this situation by being passive.
So, she quickly wiped her tears and stood up.
And she headed to a bustling downtown area.
If there was no clue, then she would clash until her head broke.
Someone might have seen him.
Even if only one in ten thousand had seen him, Song Soo-yeon needed that clue.
She stopped passing people and asked.
"Excuse me, have you seen this person?"
And she detailed Jung-gyeom's appearance.
There were no photos of Jung-gyeom to show.
Her previous phone was destroyed by Solace, and on her new phone, transferred only with numbers, there were no such memories.
She could only spout descriptions filled in her head.
"...He has big hands, and, and a beautiful smile. Have you seen someone like-"
"-Sorry, I haven't seen him. But can I have your number...?"
She found herself in the midst of the harassment and advances she despised most from men.
Jealousy and gossip among women stretched on.
But Song Soo-yeon didn't back down like before.
If Jung-gyeom was at the end of this, she could keep going.
The jealousy and gaze of strangers were nothing compared to the hardship of not having Jung-gyeom by her side.
---
---
-Beep.
After hanging up, I stood there, dazed.
'...Say that... to my face.'
Song Soo-yeon's words replayed in my head.
I couldn't give her any response.
How could I tell her to f*ck off to her face?
When I was first betrayed, my emotions were so intense that I could have done it.
But not anymore. I no longer have the intense impulse to ruin everything.
"......Gyeom......"
Han Yoo-jung's voice came from behind me as I stood there.
I tossed my phone aside.
I didn't want to engage in a lengthy conversation with her.
"...Stop doing useless things."
With just that, I left the room.
I had rested enough for today.
With a mask flipped onto my face, I finished preparing to go out.
Today, if I could just run into Tryno or Riem, that would be great.
I didn't want to fight with Solace today.
After lightly wishing to a god I didn't believe in, I left the hideout.
I had to start by visiting the criminal organizations.
Maybe from there, I could find a lead.
---
---
Time passed, and the sun was setting.
Song Soo-yeon was still in the area, asking about Jung-gyeom.
When she went to the police station, she found out that Jung-gyeom had already been reported missing.
It meant there was nothing left to do but continue asking around like this.
Sometimes, a few people persistently followed her.
Some asked for her number, others offered business cards with offers to appear on broadcasts...
If it were like before, she would have used her powers to make them disappear somewhere.
But she knew better than anyone what using her powers had led her to.
Moreover, Jung-gyeom's words not to use her powers anymore echoed in her head, so she didn't even consider it.
She had to struggle to shake them off like before.
Song Soo-yeon sighed internally.
There are times when suddenly all strength drains away.
And when strength drains, loneliness arrives like a twin.
She wondered what she was doing in this vast world all alone.
Song Soo-yeon closed her eyes tightly and pushed away the thoughts.
She had floundered in this loneliness and cried for days.
And if she just kept crying... nothing would change.
She would be left in the same place.
She moved on again.
"Excuse me-"
"-Hey!"
Then, someone called out to Song Soo-yeon.
Turning around, a woman with dark wine-colored hair was approaching.
Their eyes met, and the woman smiled broadly.
"...?"
And then, lust began to fill her eyes.
Song Soo-yeon instinctively felt a repulsion and took a step back.
The woman approached.
Her instincts were screaming at her to run away.
But wondering if it was just her own sense of victimhood, she didn't move.
Having spent the whole day looking for Jung-gyeom... perhaps this woman might have something to say about him.
"....Haah...."
From two steps away, the woman slowly let out a heated sigh.
".......You're beautiful..."
Chills ran down Song Soo-yeon's spine.
An alarm that she shouldn't go any further rang.
She stepped back even more.
Seeing her reaction, the woman quickly said,
"Don't run away. Don't you recognize me?"
".........Huh?"
"........It's me,"
And then the woman called out to Song Soo-yeon with her lips.
'...Luna.'
Song Soo-yeon blinked her eyes.
"....Ri.........em...?"
Riem smiled widely, laughing.