Chapter 448: Clearing Up Misunderstandings (3)

Sihee muttered with a serious expression, starting the conversation with the news that Eunbyul had disappeared.

And the moment Do Yehee saw Sihee’s expression, she quietly crossed her arms and rested her chin on her hand.

Setting aside Do Yehee’s subtle demeanor, as if she’d noticed something, the first thing that needed confirmation was naturally Sihee’s claim that Eunbyul had disappeared.

“Eunbyul-ssi has disappeared?”

“…Yes. Normally, she should be acting as my servant inside the Dokyung Group mansion, staying out of sight. But for some reason, starting three days ago….”

“…Acting as a servant?”

“……Ah.”

So desperate was she, Do Sihee blurted out Eunbyul’s secret.

I thought it was a perfect opportunity, so I firmly dug into the small opening she’d shown.

Reacting as if I had just learned something I never knew before.

Sihee probably thought she’d have to tell me eventually.

It would be best to get the full story directly from her mouth right now.

“Actually….”

“…….”

“The name Eunbyul isn’t her real name; it’s an alias.”

“I kind of figured. It’s not a common name.”

“And Eunbyul’s true identity is… Geum Nari, the youngest daughter of the Geumhyang Group.”

“…….”

Although I had known this for half a year already, I still pretended to be surprised.

Adding details like ‘I knew her identity all along’ in this situation would only complicate the conversation.

It was definitely better to quickly get the explanation from Sihee and hear about the circumstances of Eunbyul’s disappearance.

“Is that so.”

“…I’m sorry, Sungchul-ssi. I should have told you beforehand, Sungchul-ssi, but it ended up coming out like this….”

“Let’s put trivial matters aside and focus on the important topic first. Eunbyul-ssi’s disappearance is the more crucial issue right now.”

“…Right.”

Sihee quietly bowed her head at my consideration and continued the story about Eunbyul’s disappearance.

“Eunbyul ran away from her family home, the Geumhyang Group, due to some complicated circumstances, and was currently hiding her identity while working as my exclusive maid.”

“…I see.”

“It’s been about three years since Nari started working as my servant. Since she was already a young lady from a wealthy family, she learned servant duties quickly. Once she had the basics down, I brought her on as my exclusive servant to keep her less conspicuous.”

Considering it coincided with the time Geum Nari, who was a B-class Hunter back then, stopped her Hunter activities and disappeared, Sihee’s story seemed to align somewhat.

“I thought I had kept her hidden well for three years, avoiding the eyes of the Nari sisters….”

“So Eunbyul, no, Nari-ssi, disappeared three days ago, and that’s why you look so tired, Sihee-ssi, searching for the missing Nari-ssi.”

“…Nari is my first colleague, and the only one who has remained by my side besides you, Sungchul-ssi. Of course, that woman played a significant role in how she ended up with me….”

“…….”

The golden-haired young lady glared at the red-haired young lady with eyes full of hatred.

She was probably furious, thinking about all the colleagues Do Yehee had taken from her until now.

It would be nice if she explained her actions towards Sihee properly, if only to avoid adding unnecessary misunderstandings.

“…That’s why you should have developed a better eye for people, Sihee. Because your judgment is full of holes, only insects looking to use you flock to you.”

“What……?”

“First, you need to fix your mindset of still thinking of those bitches as colleagues.”

That mouth, which always managed to infuriate anyone who heard it every time it opened, had truly abysmal communication skills.

…It’s no wonder Sihee always calls that woman a crazy bitch.

It’s only natural to get infuriated when dealing with a woman who can only speak like that, even in a situation like this, for over a decade.

“Crazy bitch. Are you even human? I told you not to touch Nari. After stealing more than ten people from me, now you’re after Nari and Sungchul-ssi…!”

“Don’t play dumb, you bitch! If you don’t bring her before my eyes right now, I’ll really kill you, Do Yehee, or whatever.”

“Refrain from using vulgar language. I wonder how your personality became so twisted.”

…You’re probably more than half the reason for that.

Leaving them like this would only escalate into a physical dogfight instead of constructive conversation, so I intervened, mediating between the two.

We don’t have the luxury of wasting time arguing when there are pressing issues to resolve right now.

“Enough, both of you, stop it. More importantly, the priority right now is finding Nari-ssi, isn’t it?”

“She’s definitely hiding her…! No matter what means you use, you can’t take Nari away from me, so resorting to cowardly, forceful methods…!”

“It wasn’t me, Sihee. Try to develop a more objective perspective when viewing things.”

“You started taking ‘vacation’ and skipping official duties a week ago! Plus, Nari disappeared three days ago! And today you even stormed Sungchul-ssi’s house… Anyone would find you the most suspicious…!”

“…Well, I suppose it could look that way to you, Sihee.”

“That’s right! Seeing as you disappeared somewhere from morning till night every day while on ‘vacation,’ you must have been plotting some disgusting, sinister plan behind the scenes again…!”

Based solely on Sihee’s words, Do Yehee would certainly be the prime suspect right now.

Her credibility was already rock bottom, even negative, and the circumstances seemed suspicious, coinciding perfectly with Geum Nari’s disappearance.

It was only natural that the arrows of suspicion would first point towards this woman.

“…And you already knew Eunbyul was Geum Nari.”

“It was too obvious. A probationary maid suddenly entering the household right when Sihee’s most precious friend disappeared.”

“What’s the reason? Because Nari defied you? Because she interfered with your duel just once in the black mud swamp…!”

“I’m not petty enough to hold a grudge over such trivial matters like you, Sihee.”

“You bitch…!”

-Slap!!

Before I could even stop her, a second slap landed on Do Yehee’s other cheek.

She seemed overwhelmed with emotion, possibly thinking she might lose her oldest friend.

Despite being slapped, Do Yehee calmly and clearly conveyed what she needed to say to her younger sister.

“…If getting slapped like this calms your head, I’d say hit me as much as you want, but it doesn’t seem particularly effective.”

“What……?”

“Think a little more calmly. Don’t let your prejudice cloud your judgment just because I’m standing before you, Sihee.”

“It’s not prejudice…!”

“If I were planning something against that child, Geum Nari, wouldn’t it be strange to make a move only now, after three whole years?”

“……!”

Sihee was momentarily speechless, unable to easily refute Do Yehee’s words.

Conversely, Do Yehee, despite being slapped twice, appeared to be persuading Sihee to have a proper conversation.

Something about the atmosphere felt off; it didn’t quite sit right that she was the culprit.

Though I couldn’t pinpoint why, I had a gut feeling this woman hadn’t hidden Geum Nari or put her in danger.

Of course, this was purely my speculation without any concrete evidence.

“Uh, Nari defied you not long ago…. That’s why I started preparing then….”

“Nari had annoyed me on several occasions before. Besides, if I were planning something against her as you say, I would have prepared much faster instead of taking a vacation.”

“…….”

“In the first place, have you never considered that the method you used to protect Nari was too flimsy?”

“What……?”

“I understand you wanted to keep her close, but you should have reasonably expected that you’d be the first one suspected if Nari disappeared.”

“…….”

Sihee was rendered speechless again by Do Yehee’s logical argument.

Towards the silent Sihee, Do Yehee continued the conversation calmly, arms crossed.

“…Still, it seems the child’s disappearance might not be entirely unrelated to my vacation.”

“Huh?”

“……What?”

“I should have assigned someone reliable to stay with Nari. Even if the opportunity arose, I never thought they would resort to such drastic measures.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Do Yehee muttered words that were difficult to understand immediately.

Sihee glared at Do Yehee, her suspicion unwavering, due to her attitude.

Do Yehee continued speaking with an unabashed expression, as if stating the obvious.

“How do you think that child has been safely protected within the Dokyung Group until now?”

“……?”

“I told you. Your methods, Sihee, were too obvious.”

“……Huh?”

“Who do you think has been warding off suspicion from those bothersome sisters of Geumhyang all this time?”