Chapter 178

Chapter 178. A Small World (3)

With a thoroughly expressionless face, K looked at Kim Yul and beckoned with his index finger.

“If you’ve finished cursing, come in.”

Even as his body froze, Kim Yul’s legs mechanically responded with a creak.

This was the result of being unknowingly conditioned by K’s Spartan-like mindset.

“Close the door and sit.”

Thanks to that, Kim Yul could perfectly follow K’s finger-twitching command once more.

He carefully closed the door, trying not to make any noise, and sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed.

Kim Yul stared at his knees. He couldn’t bring himself to look at K.

Just then, a deep sigh was heard from K’s direction, and suddenly, something was tossed towards the bed.

Almost reflexively, Kim Yul checked the item that had fallen on the bed sheet.

‘A passport…?’

Why was that here, and why now, of all times?

As he tilted his head in confusion, K crossed his arms and legs.

Sweat started to bead on Kim Yul’s back — a sign that the dictator was displeased.

‘Ah damn, am I really going to get kicked out of the party?’

As he nervously rotated his eyes…

“I won’t say this twice, so listen well.”

When K opened his mouth, Kim Yul swallowed hard.

He clasped his hands tightly over his knees determinedly before a single word could escape K’s lips.

Whatever came out of that mouth, he would not leave so easily.

He couldn’t be kicked out so pointlessly, not after all he’d gone through to get into this party.

“I fundamentally don’t trust humans as a species.”

Kim Yul steeled himself, listening closely to K’s words.

“I once personally saw an uncle abandon his nephew to take his brother and sister-in-law’s insurance money and flee.”

Startled by the unexpected topic, Kim Yul’s head jerked up.

“He certainly knew what life awaited his underage nephew without that money, and yet he ran.”

K still wore that cold, expressionless mask.

“I’ve seen the depths of a person’s greed, and I think everyone has such depths.”

His familiar brown eyes were sharper than usual.

“Taeho hyung, you, and I—all probably have such depths. We just haven’t had the reason to reveal them.”

“Uh….”

“So, don’t expect unconditional trust from me.”

Kim Yul blinked silently at K.

“When dealing with others, I don’t consider uncertain elements like trust or affection. It’s much simpler and cleaner to assess people based on their utility.”

His words were so calculated that they were almost overwhelming in their coldness. Yet, why was that?

“As for An Kijun, let me clarify: he posed a risk of accessing personal information about someone important to me. So, I keep an eye on him by mingling just enough. Because he has much to gain from me, he’ll stay under my control.”

As K continued his cold reasoning, Kim Yul’s tumultuous emotions quieted.

“If you plan to stay with me, you’ll need to understand this.”

If you desire warm affection or strong bonds, he suggested you join another party.

“I can introduce you to some members in the association if you like.”

Although the recruitment decision ultimately lay with their party lead…

“With your attribute rank, they’d be eager to have you.”

K then cast a sidelong glance at the bed, speaking in the same calm tone as always.

“If you’re going to leave the party, just go ahead. But if you’re staying, take a look.”

“….”

“While I was waiting, I thought this could be allowed, at least.”

With that, K uncrossed his legs and leaned back in his chair.

It was an evident gesture that he had finished speaking and awaited Kim Yul’s choice.

Kim Yul clearly understood the implication.

Yet, for a while, he couldn’t react.

He was more than bewildered—he was utterly confused.

‘He’s not someone to act like this…’

The K he knew wasn’t one to justify or explain himself like this.

In his interactions with others, K was more about compelling with logic rather than emotional persuasion.

Or rather, he likely didn’t feel the need to persuade others at all.

‘Instead of convincing someone not willing to follow him, he’d just cut them off.’

To those who trusted him and followed, he promised generous rewards.

Conversely, for those who doubted his judgment or chose a different path, he had no mercy.

K’s patience wasn’t wide enough to comfort them or forcibly drag them along.

‘He might give a final warning before cutting ties.’

And if they made a different choice after receiving that warning, he would let go without any regrets.

Because he believed the responsibility for every decision lay with the decision-maker.

Having observed K for quite some time, Kim Yul understood his thought process pretty well.

‘But why is he saying all this to me?’

It wasn’t just that. There was also the passport sitting idly beside him, housing K’s personal information.

He pondered countless times why this was here.

The conclusion was a single hypothesis.

‘A carrot…’

A carrot for him to stay, rather than leaving for another party.

As compensation for making him upset a moment ago?

‘It’s more K’s style to offer a reward than an apology or comfort.’

While initially doubtful, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a carrot.

‘He’d never reveal personal details without thinking it through.’

It was rare for K to share anything about himself.

Even if he occasionally talked about past events or experiences.

He’d never release any information that could identify his background.

K was a man meticulous, if not obsessive, about controlling his personal information.

Yet, K handed over his passport.

And he said to only look if he intended to stay with the party.

‘If I learn his real name, he’ll never let me leave the party.’

A person who doesn’t trust others couldn’t possibly let Kim Yul go after that.

The moment he looked at it, he’d be tied to the party until death.

In other words, the risk of being expelled from K’s party would completely vanish.

If that wasn’t a carrot, what was it?

“This is insane…?”

Kim Yul was so shocked that he didn’t even realize he had spoken aloud.

* * *

“This is insane…?”

Kim Yul, staring blankly at the passport, muttered under his breath.

Wondering if he was talking to me, I raised an eyebrow.

It seemed he wasn’t even aware of what he said.

‘He seems flustered.’

Maybe I should wait a bit.

As I relaxed in my chair, staring intently at Kim Yul, my mind began to wander.

‘I never thought I’d show him my passport.’

Not the fake identity that Squad Leader Yang Jochul arranged, but my real passport with my name on it.

I brought it along in case something came up when I last returned to Earth, to have a means without involving Yang Jochul.

‘It’s surprising even to myself.’

Honestly, the essence of An Kijun’s and Kim Yul’s actions wasn’t much different.

From the beginning, Kim Yul approached me with a plan to gain something.

Yet, my attitude toward the two differed significantly.

‘Unlike An Kijun, I find Kim Yul rather endearing.’

Even when he was evidently struggling, he persevered and pushed through with sheer grit.

After observing him closely, it was clear that Kim Yul was the type who fiercely seized the opportunities given to him.

‘Despite his appearance, he’s diligent.’

Ever since I devised a training schedule for him, he never once violated it.

Despite grumbling, his body moved as if programmed.

Given his persistent efforts, he was naturally different from someone like An Kijun, who was simply a monitor subject.

‘Having built some goodwill, Taeho hyung’s words added to my thoughts.’

It inevitably led to many reflections.

I admit I might have been too harsh on Kim Yul at times.

Perhaps I was subconsciously trying harder to rein myself in from becoming too attached.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s the same age as the twins….’

Sharing the same age as the twins might have somewhat influenced me.

Thinking about it all one by one, things became clear.

I wanted Kim Yul to thrive. So, I watched him with a more critical eye.

The more I drove him, the better he seemed to grow.

‘And he has followed well until now.’

But I wouldn’t forcibly hold onto someone who was unwilling.

Even after all my explanations, if he couldn’t understand my boundaries…

‘I have no choice but to connect him with the party that has the highest survival rate.’

I had already reached a conclusion and decided to pull Kim Yul out of his daze.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

He knows well enough that I’m sensitive about personal information.

Since I presented the passport as an option, he should have figured out the nature of this offer.

With a start, Kim Yul reached for the passport.

But as he hesitated without opening it, I decided to add another remark.

“For the record, I’m not planning to increase the party members for now. So if you’re staying, stop the unnecessary jealousy.”

Our firepower is enough. Yang Taeho has recently mastered additional magic, so there’s no shortage in the frontline.

There’s no reason to recruit more if Kim Yul decides to stay.

When I made that clear, Kim Yul replied with an awkward grin.

“Did I make it obvious?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“Hahaha….”

I knew he raised his guard each time an outsider tried to approach me.

Choosing party members was my prerogative, so whether he did so was none of my concern.

‘Besides, those Kim Yul was wary of weren’t even worth considering as candidates.’

Until then, I thought it didn’t matter what kind of relationship the party members maintained as long as there was no conflict between them.

Had I not heard what Yang Taeho mentioned earlier, I might have continued thinking that way.

‘Continuing together, huh….’

To be truly honest, I don’t consider them my unconditional allies.

However, just like during the Bounty Mission incident, I can trust them to watch my back when something happens to me.

Since we acknowledge ourselves as a collective aiming for mutual benefit, I can’t help but take care of them to some extent.

It’s slightly bothersome, but it’s manageable.

So, I decided to add one more thing.

“If you’re staying, quit needling Taeho hyung too.”

Since we broached the topic, I thought improving party members’ relationships would be beneficial.

“He’s being nice due to his pleasant nature; if it were me, I would’ve flipped.”

“Well, I only do as much as the uncle can handle.”

With a shrug at my mix of warning and advice, Kim Yul reached out as if to return my passport.

I frowned and asked.

“You’re not going to look?”

“I don’t think I need to.”

Is he planning to transfer to another party?

“Of course, I have no intention of leaving this one!”

“What?”

“I realized you’re unexpectedly weak in a drizzle, so I don’t think it’s necessary.”

I was at a loss for words as he grinned widely like usual.

“Woof!”

I heard a sudden noise from outside the window.

It wasn’t something passing by lightly; it was ongoing in front of the building.

I alternated my gaze between Kim Yul and the window before getting up.

Rather than continuing the current topic, I decided to pretend ignorance.

‘What’s with the drizzle?’

I persuaded him simply because someone of his rank and effort, someone I could trust to watch my back, is hard to find.

‘He said he’s not leaving, so that’s good enough.’

Receiving the passport from Kim Yul, I approached the window.

And then I involuntarily frowned.

“… Why is that here?”

“Woof, woof!”

Circling and barking in front of the door was the mysterious beast I brought with me.

I clearly left it at the Habon Temple before heading to the corrupted area.

“That thing can find its way here alone quite well.”

“What?”

Kim Yul, who approached me, delivered an unexpected remark.

Damn System