Chapter 455: Eunbyul Protection Plan (2)

“Eunbyul-ssi will be protected here, in this house, for the time being.”

Sihee, Eunbyul, and Do Yehee.

The three people who heard the sudden proposal that came out of my mouth focused their gazes on me, showing different reactions.

“…Sungchul-ssi?”

One person looked like they hadn’t quite grasped the meaning of my words yet.

“Kim Sungchul-nim.”

Another person seemed concerned about what would happen after my proposal was accepted.

-Charyureuk.

“……”

Another person made a strange movement, covering their lips with a fan, as if considering the newly presented possibility.

“If there’s a place that fits the conditions I just mentioned, then my home here is the most suitable. I have a friendly relationship with Sihee-ssi, a justifiable reason to protect Eunbyul-ssi, and the force to protect you if necessary.”

“B-but… won’t it still be dangerous?”

“Dangerous? What are you talking about?”

“They’re people who didn’t hesitate to break into the Dokyung Group’s mansion. A normal home like this would be even easier.”

“…That’s only if they can pinpoint the location, though.”

Do Yehee, who had finished her thoughts while covering half her face with her fan, chimed in, supporting my impromptu suggestion.

“Even those sisters wouldn’t imagine hiding Nari in a small, unremarkable… Ah, no, a typical commoner’s house like this. In a way, it’s the only place among the locations we can use that the Geumhyang Group’s eyes don’t reach.”

“That’s true. Even if they guess, they can’t possibly search every single private house and apartment. Especially for sensitive tasks like this where maintaining secrecy is crucial.”

“F-for that reason, Kim Sungchul-ssi’s proposal seems to have enough room for consideration.”

Even if Geum Dallae’s awakened ability was memory erasure, it ultimately required her to act directly to use it.

As one of the two actual managers of the Geumhyang Group, she naturally couldn’t afford to waste too much time searching for Eunbyul.

Besides, to prepare for situations where opponents whose memories couldn’t be erased by her unique awakened ability might appear, Geum Jangmi would likely have to be involved in the search as well.

Once someone reaches B-rank or higher as a Hunter, Geum Dallae’s awakened ability might not be enough to subdue them.

Not to mention myself or Eunbyul, but right next door, there lived an active S-rank Hunter and her A-rank Hunter daughter.

As the saying goes, ‘to hide a tree, hide it in a forest.’ Hiding a person among people is the best method.

At least, that’s what I thought.

“Sungchul-ssi, you live alone, right?”

“Yes. I’ve been living alone since that incident I told you about last time.”

“Wouldn’t it be inconvenient for Sungchul-ssi to suddenly have a housemate?”

“Hmm. I haven’t really thought about that. Besides, Eunbyul-ssi and I have already seen each other’s… well, everything. Is there any room for me to be inconvenienced?”

“Even so, living together is a slightly higher-level issue. You’d need to make preparations.”

“Can’t Sihee-ssi handle the preparations? Just bring over the things Eunbyul-ssi used at the Dokyung Group mansion. Like clothes to change into, and other necessities for daily life.”

“Umm…”

Sihee still seemed unable to make a decisive judgment.

It must be a difficult decision for her to make easily.

Just the thought of not being able to keep Eunbyul, who she had been with until now, by her side would be a significant concern.

Furthermore, having her stay with me for protection would also make it hard to completely shake off a sense of unease.

If the plan goes well, this place would undoubtedly be safe, but it was obviously not a place completely free from the threat of the Geumhyang Group.

Seeing how they went as far as to confine Nari in a secret location within that mansion, the Geumhyang sisters seemed quite obsessed with Nari.

If her location were discovered, they would surely try to secure her by any means necessary. It would just be difficult to pinpoint that location.

Inside the Dokyung Group mansion, they couldn’t use brute force, so their limit was sneaking in and extracting her like they did three days ago when they kidnapped Eunbyul; it was only the two of them.

However, against a commoner’s home like mine, they might conversely use force without hesitation.

In other words, hiding Eunbyul at my place was an action that carried some risk for me as well, and Sihee was probably most worried about that aspect.

Even losing Eunbyul for just a moment made her appear so tired and haggard; if the possibility of losing both me and Eunbyul arose, her worries would inevitably more than double.

To alleviate her burden, I had to clearly express my intentions to her now.

Meaning, I would protect Eunbyul with all my might, so she didn’t need to worry at all.

“I understand your concerns, Sihee-ssi, but for now, couldn’t you trust me and entrust Eunbyul-ssi to me?”

“……”

“No matter what happens, I will ensure that the information about Eunbyul-ssi being here does not leak outside. And even if the Geumhyang Group finds out about this place, I will protect Eunbyul-ssi with all my strength.”

Perhaps my confident response was effective, as Sihee eventually agreed to my proposal, nodding quietly.

“…Alright. Since Sungchul-ssi, a man, is saying this much, it would be pathetic of me to remain anxious and unable to make a decision.”

“Pathetic? A heart that cares for a precious person is beautiful in anyone, isn’t it?”

“Honestly, Sungchul-ssi, you really are something.”

At my smooth words, she seemed even more relieved.

Seeing that reaction, it seemed she had firmly made up her mind.

“Nari.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I don’t know how long this will last, but could you live at Sungchul-ssi’s house for a while?”

“I-it is certainly an honor… but… wouldn’t my presence be a burden to Kim Sungchul-nim…?”

“There’s no need to think that way. I was the one who suggested it in the first place; if I were going to be inconvenienced, I wouldn’t have proposed it from the start.”

“Is… is that so?”

Moving from hotel to hotel within the country until the Geumhyang Group’s pursuit ceased.

Or living a life of uncomfortable wandering abroad.

Or living here, in my house, in hiding, sharing it with me.

Eunbyul herself must have known best which of these three options was the best.

“In that case, though I hate to impose…”

“……”

“I will entrust my safety to Kim Sungchul-nim.”

“You’ve made a good decision, Eunbyul-ssi.”

With Eunbyul-ssi’s final agreement, the Eunbyul protection plan was concluded.

It wasn’t a perfect plan by any means, but it was likely the best method we could think of right now.

It was the only way to simultaneously throw off the Geumhyang Group’s pursuit of Eunbyul and keep her close to me and Sihee.

---

“Alright, I think this is everything I have to give you.”

Sihee had already driven back and forth between the Dokyung Group mansion and my house several times just today.

The cardboard box she brought back contained shoes, clothes, and various other daily necessities.

“This box has clothes and shoes, and I packed personal bedding just in case you didn’t have enough. And in here are your personal toothbrush and toiletries. The electronic devices are in this box…”

“I’ll check them later and organize them, Master.”

Eunbyul took the box from Sihee, who was preparing everything for what seemed like a long-term cohabitation.

It appeared Sihee had packed with the definite expectation that this would last for a considerable time.

“…That’s not right, Nari.”

“Huh?”

“For the time being, Sungchul-ssi is Nari’s Master, right? So, you should only use the title ‘Master’ for Sungchul-ssi.”

“…B-but…”

“And besides, Sungchul-ssi will probably like it too?”

Sihee asked me with a sweet smile, having read my involuntary reaction to her words.

Since I had no particular reason to deny it, I responded appropriately.

“…Well, I don’t dislike it.”

“There you have it.”

“Ah, I understand… Do Sihee-nim…”

After calling out to Sihee with the changed title, Eunbyul looked towards me.

Making eye contact with me briefly, she immediately averted her gaze and mumbled cautiously in a voice barely above a whisper.

“P-please take good care of me, Master…”

“Yes, Eunbyul.”

“……”

I called her by her name alone, fitting her temporary status as my charge.

Seeing that, Eunbyul blushed and lowered her head, looking strangely cute.

“How long are you two going to dawdle? I finished tidying up the yard ages ago. We need to get home quickly, don’t we?”

“…We were just about to leave, weren’t we?”

Hearing Do Yehee’s voice, Sihee replied with an annoyed tone, got into the driver’s seat of the sedan, and Do Yehee, having finished restoring the yard, got into the passenger seat.

“Sungchul-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“Please take good care of Nari.”

“You don’t need to worry.”

I responded with a smile to Sihee, who offered her farewells through the rolled-down car window.

Still, it felt a bit disappointing to part ways like this after meeting after so long.

It seemed Sihee felt the same, expressing her regret towards me.

“Honestly, I’d like to stay a little longer, but it seems impossible tonight for various reasons. Still, I’ll make time somehow soon and contact Sungchul-ssi.”

“I’ll be waiting anytime.”

“…And, Nari.”

“Yes.”

“If you two get along too well without me, I might get jealous?”

“…I’ll exercise restraint.”

“Just kidding. Don’t worry about me and just let loose with Sungchul-ssi this time.”

“……I will try my best to exercise restraint.”

…Well, even if Eunbyul exercises restraint, whether I can is another question entirely.

Eunbyul and I quietly waved goodbye as the sedan carrying the two of them drove away from my house.

Only after watching the black car disappear beyond the alley did we turn and walk back into the house.

“Shall we go inside, Eunbyul?”

“Ah, yes… Master…”

“I’m looking forward to our time together.”

“I-I’m the one who should be asking that… M-Master…”

Even though we had already been intimate several times, Eunbyul blushed like she was in her first relationship.

This was also my first time living with an active-duty maid, naturally.

But somehow, the moment I thought that I might be able to handle it well with her, I felt a surge of confidence.