I wondered if he'd show it to me if I asked later. I was thinking I should ask him if I got the chance, but Alice spoke first.
"Let's leave the talk about abilities for now and move on to what we're really here for. From what I've heard from Master Cheon Sa-yeon's brief explanation, the current situation doesn't look too good."
"Yes. Well… given that it happened right in the middle of Gwanghwamun, and the guilds have been held responsible… I guess it can't be helped."
The situation might have been slightly better if the government or the management headquarters hadn't blamed the guilds. However, having been completely overwhelmed by the forces of the Praus Cult for nearly a year, the government and the management headquarters had no reason to look upon us favorably.
'Seriously… we've reached our limits now.'
I had this sense of impending doom that the end was fast approaching.
No one knows yet whether the end will be the world and us, or the Praus Cult. To be honest, compared to the Praus Cult, we were in a much more disadvantageous position. That said, I have absolutely no intention of backing down.
"It seems the South Korean government isn't the only problem. This incident was my first actual encounter with the Praus Cult... I didn't expect them to be this large."
"It's not just you, Deputy-Master Alice, everyone who witnessed the Gwanghwamun incident likely thinks the same. After all, no one could have imagined using a transportation item to release monsters outside."
Setting aside whether it was even possible or not, it was a horrific plan that no sane person would even think about doing. Even now, if you turn on the TV, every channel is ceaselessly reporting on the sheer number of casualties.
Alice hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking to me.
"Is Talented Han Yi-gyeol alright? Um, how should I put this? Should I say... regarding the issue of your other abilities being revealed?"
"I'm fine."
It wasn't difficult to understand what Alice was talking about. I was the very person the media was paying as much attention to as the casualties of the Gwanghwamun incident.
Because such a massive battle had broken out and various monsters, including flying monsters, were running rampant, they couldn't take a close-up picture of my transformed appearance, but that didn't mean there was no evidence.
Even though the footage was obscured by thick smoke or had come from some low-quality CCTV cameras, the entire scene of 'Han Yi-gyeol' transforming into 'Kwon Se-hyun' was captured from beginning to end. At least Intervention wasn't an ability visible to the eye... but since the Praus Cult found out anyway, it was still a problem.
"Does Talented Han Yi-gyeol have two abilities? And does your face change because of this ability as well? Ah, if you're uncomfortable, you don't have to answer."
"It doesn't make me uncomfortable. It's already been exposed everywhere anyway."
I let out a faint smile at Alice's behavior, her eyes sparkling with curiosity while glancing at me.
"Everything you said is correct. I have to transform to use my abilities other than the wind."
"Woah… Wow… I see. That's amazing."
"It's not something you see every day, so I understand why you would be surprised."
"I- I was surprised, but rather than that…"
Alice, with flushed cheeks, stared at me intently while covering her mouth with her hand.
As I faced her, confused, wondering what was going on, Alice, who was sitting opposite me, suddenly leaned her upper body toward me. Clunk, the table in the center shook with a noise from Alice's abrupt movement.
"Talented Han Yi-gyeol!"
"Yes?"
"You're still an independent, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yes."
Overwhelmed by Alice's intensity, I nodded reflexively, and she turned around and shouted.
"Theo, hurry! Get out the documents I told you to prepare earlier!"
Documents? What documents? Leaving me flustered, Theo took a folder out of the briefcase he was holding and handed it to me. Alice opened the folder—which even had the name 'Talented Han-Yi-gyeol' neatly labeled on it—and held it out toward me.
"Here, Talented Han-Yi-gyeol."
"...?"
Unable to refuse the look of anticipation on her face, I took it and examined the contents of the document.
The advantages and contract terms of the Rio Guild? The benefits and welfare facilities that guild members can enjoy? What on earth is all this? As I opened my mouth in disbelief at the ridiculous contents as I flipped through the documents, Alice asked innocently.
"What do you think?"
What do you mean, what do I think?
"It's totally great, right?"
"It's not great."
"Whattt? Is something wrong? If there's anything you want, just say the word! We can make it happen."
"I don't want anything."
I let out a sigh and closed the documents. I'd wondered what this was all about, but it turned out they were scouting me exactly the same way they had been scouting Woo Seo-hyuk.
When I made it clear that I wasn't interested, Alice drooped the ends of her eyebrows and said sullenly.
"Surely you aren't planning on joining Requiem, are you? That wouldn't be a good decision. If you come to the Rio Guild, I guarantee you'll receive much better treatment."
"No, I have no intention of joining any guild."
I shook my head as firmly as possible. I understand why Alice is making this suggestion to me.
Even without knowing about my Intervention ability, she must have realized from my conversation with Samael that my power is stronger than SS-rank, and even if not, Han I-gyeol's Wind ability alone would be more than enough to make me desirable. Above all, since I am the only one with two abilities, it is certainly worth targeting from the perspective of someone in charge of a guild.
"If moving to Australia is a burden for you, I can wait as long as you want to take. After all, this incident has made it clear that you and your associates are at odds with the Praus Cult."
"Even without that matter, my decision wouldn't change. I apologize."
Alice, still clinging to hope, made another proposal, but I shook my head all the same. Alice, who had been deep in thought, frowned at my repeated rejections then suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Then how about you go out with me, Talented Han Yi-gyeol?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, this has absolutely nothing to do with the Guild; it's something I'm asking from you personally. I really, really, truly like you Talented Han Yi-gyeol!"
"...huh?"
"I'm going to ask you seriously. To go out with me on good terms…"
"Please act appropriately."
As I couldn't regain my composure after what she'd said, her words far exceeding my expectations, Woo Seo-hyuk intervened. He somewhat roughly pulled my hand away from Alice's grasp and furrowed his brow in intense displeasure. My hand was now inside Woo Seo-hyuk's large hand, not Alice's.
"This is inappropriate."
"What's inappropriate about it, Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk? It's perfectly fine to make a move on someone you like."
"Didn't your behaviour change as soon as you found out a different side of Han Yi-gyeol ssi? That doesn't seem very polite."
"What does it matter to you? You're only Talented Han Yi-gyeol's secretary, right? Besides, I'm not asking him to marry me; I just want us to get to know each other. Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk, you're so up-tight."
"Both of you, please stop."
I pressed my hand to my forehead as I tried to stop the two of them from starting another fight. I never thought I'd hear something like this from Alice. Come to think of it, didn't she say her ideal type was a man with black hair?
'Why is she coming after me when there's a perfectly good Woo Seo-hyuk right here…'
I don't know why Alice is so fixated on me, but just like with the guild scout, I politely declined.
"I am not in a position to date, nor do I have the time for it. I'm sorry."
"Oh dear. That's a shame."
Alice glanced at Woo Seo-hyeok sitting next to me and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, there are quite a few formidable rivals, so I kind of expected this."
For someone who had been so aggressive about asking me out just a moment ago, her attitude was surprisingly straightforward and composed. Alice handed the folder back to Theo, brushed her hair aside, and said in a cheerful voice.
"Talented Han Yi-gyeol. As you've seen in the documents, we guarantee the best salary and benefits unless there's a special circumstance. We also pay special attention to guild members coming over to Australia from overseas."
"Yes, I saw it."
"However, there are people who ultimately refuse and do not come even when offered such a good deal."
Alice's dark eyes looking at me held a gentle warmth.
"Those people always had family by their side. They were so happy living with the family they loved so dearly… that no matter what offer we made, they turned it down without a second thought."
"...."
"Just like you, Talented Han Yi-gyeol."
Alice stood up lightly. Putting on the suit jacket she had taken off, she prepared to leave.
"It's a shame to see it end this way, though. The reason I went out of my way to bring it up, even though I knew you would refuse, is..."
Alice looked at Woo Seo-hyeok for a moment and spoke.
"...becuase it's sad to keep hiding your feelings. At least if you speak up, you won't have regrets from not saying anything, even if you get rejected."
It was a meaningful remark. Regret arising from not speaking up. Woo Seo-hyeok, who had listened to Alice's story alongside me, also wore a complicated expression.
"I think so too."
As I readily agreed, Alice took out a business card from her pocket with a satisfied expression.
"The number on the business card is my personal number, so contact me later if you change your mind. Though, I certainly won't."
Alice, having added playfully, turned her back without a second thought.
"It was nice meeting you. Take care, Talented Han Yi-gyeol."
With their final farewell, Alice and Theo left the reception room.
It felt as if a storm had just passed. I had been scouted by a guild and even got asked out. Perhaps because I had received two extraordinary offers in less than an hour, my head was spinning.
As I felt even at our first meeting, Alice seemed to be the type of person who speaks very freely. The topics changed so rapidly that it was a bit overwhelming to keep up, but her positive energy gave me strength as well.
"…Are you alright?"
Woo Seo-hyeok, who had been silently watching me in my dazed state, asked in a low voice. I smiled awkwardly as I placed the business card I had absentmindedly taken onto the table.
"Yes. I was at a loss, so thank you for cutting it short. I don't really have much experience with this kind of thing..."
"You handled the rejection well. It is a relief that Deputy-Master Alice didn't get pushy and backed off easily."
Come to think of it, Woo Seo-hyuk had apparently been receiving Alice's recruitment offers for quite some time, so it was understandable that he found it odd.
'But more importantly…'
I lowered my gaze and looked at Woo Seo-hyeok's hand, which was still holding my right hand.
It's much more comfortable than when Alice held it, but… now that the situation has settled, isn't it a bit awkward to keep holding my hand?
"Um, Woo Seo-hyeok ssi. You may let go of my hand now."
At those words, Woo Seo-hyuk's gaze shifted to our clasped hands. Staring at them for a long time without letting go, Woo Seo-hyuk opened his mouth with a look of deep hesitation.
"Does it… make you uncomfortable when I hold your hand, Han Yi-gyeol ssi?"
"Huh?"
"I...."
Woo Seo-hyuk's lips trembled several times before he struggled to continue.
"I hope… you don't feel uncomfortable holding my hand."