“Come in.”
Kim Ho-jun ignored Baek Seo-jin’s glare and turned back into the headmaster’s office, his tone calm but authoritative. Following his lead, Lee Ha-yeon, Han Se-hee, Moriya Yuka, and Kang Yu-ra began entering the office one by one.
Baek Seo-jin stood frozen in place, watching as his friends disappeared into the lion’s den. His sharp gaze fixated on Kim Ho-jun’s retreating back, brimming with suppressed fury.
‘If he harms even a single hair on my friends’ heads, I’ll make him regret ever being alive.’
***
"Come in."
Seomun Ye-jin greeted the four visitors with a warm smile.
"Take a seat first. I know you have a lot of questions, but I’ll explain everything shortly."
"Alright."
At Kim Ho-jun’s invitation, the four sat down. As they settled in, Kim Ho-jun gently touched his face.
"First, I should show you my real face."
Seomun Ye-jin, Han Se-hee, and Lee Ha-yeon, who had already seen his true appearance, remained unfazed. However, Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra’s curiosity was piqued.
‘So my guess was right after all,’ thought Moriya Yuka, a flash of realization crossing her mind. Kang Yu-ra, meanwhile, suddenly recalled the name Baek Seo-jun—the one Moriya Yuka had been searching for earlier.
‘Could it be?’
The truth dawned on her.
Her suspicions were confirmed as Kim Ho-jun’s black hair shifted into a vivid blue, and his eyes turned a piercing crimson.
Before them stood the grown-up version of Baek Seo-jun, the boy who had suffered unspeakable torment in the video they had seen earlier that morning—a child subjected to cruel experiments by villains.
If Baek Seo-jin exuded a soft and gentle handsomeness, Baek Seo-jun possessed a similar appearance but with a colder, more mature aura. This stark demeanor, combined with his striking looks, left Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra captivated, their gazes drawn to him.
Yet, what Moriya Yuka felt most strongly wasn’t admiration—it was profound sorrow. She had sensed something similar when he appeared as Kim Ho-jun, but now, seeing him as Baek Seo-jun, the sadness was even more pronounced.
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She thought of her brother, Moriya Yuji, whose life, while unfortunate, was at least cushioned by sympathy and support from their family. Baek Seo-jun’s life, by comparison, seemed like a magnified tragedy—his suffering so extreme that it filled her with unbearable pity.
"Let me start by telling my story," Baek Seo-jun said, his voice steady. "Se-hee and Ha-yeon were going to explain my connection to Baek Seo-jin, but I’ll do it myself instead."
"Please, go ahead," Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra replied in unison, their focus sharpening as they braced themselves for answers to the questions they had been carrying.
Baek Seo-jun began recounting his childhood as the eldest son of the Baekho Guild, detailing the neglect, mistreatment, and dehumanization he endured.
He spoke of being denied food and clothing, treated as nothing more than a disposable tool to be used when needed. Despite being the eldest son, he wasn’t recognized as such; all the attention and favoritism went to his younger brother, Baek Seo-jin.
As the story unfolded, Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra began to understand why Baek Seo-jin had opted for the memory-altering procedure. It was clear that he couldn’t face the truth of what his parents had done to his older brother.
To cope, Baek Seo-jin had manipulated his memories, creating a narrative that suited him and burying the horrifying reality.
"What’s more shocking," Baek Seo-jun continued, "is that my parents, Baek Hyung-won and Kim Yoo-jung, sold me to SSS-class villain So Kang-seok to save Baek Seo-jin."
When Baek Seo-jun showed them the video evidence left behind by So Kang-seok, both Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra felt an intense hatred toward the Baekho Guild.
For Moriya Yuka, the sheer cruelty surpassed anything she had imagined.
"It’s worse than I thought."
Baek Seo-jun’s experiences were beyond what she could have fathomed.
He went on to describe being tortured by villains and thrown into a dimensional rift, surviving only because of his unique constitution. It was in the rift that he grew stronger and eventually returned, leading to his first encounter with Seomun Ye-jin.
"And then, as you know, Baek Seo-jin coveted my wife," Baek Seo-jun said, his tone turning bitter. "To break her spirit, my parents orchestrated a public smear campaign against us. Unable to cope with the truth, Baek Seo-jin distorted his own memories at the age of fifteen, becoming the delusional person he is today."
Moriya Yuka remained silent, overwhelmed by the revelations. She thought of her brother, Moriya Yuji, who had been pitied and cared for despite his shortcomings. By contrast, Baek Seo-jun had been treated as less than human, discarded like a tool.
"You’ve endured so much... far too much," Moriya Yuka said softly, her voice trembling.
"It’s just how it turned out," Baek Seo-jun replied nonchalantly, though Seomun Ye-jin gently held his hand, a quiet gesture of comfort.
Moriya Yuka noticed the tender exchange and realized that, despite his composed facade, Baek Seo-jun was still haunted by his past.
She turned to Han Se-hee and Lee Ha-yeon, noting the way they gazed at Baek Seo-jun with an undeniable depth of love and admiration—like women who had given their hearts completely.
"Ha-yeon, Se-hee," Moriya Yuka called, her tone inquisitive.
The two women looked at her simultaneously.
"You’re already... his, aren’t you?"
"Yes," Ha-yeon replied without hesitation.
"That’s right," Se-hee added, her voice firm.
Their expressions made it clear just how much Baek Seo-jun meant to them.
Kang Yu-ra, surprised by the revelation, recalled how Baek Seo-jun had rescued them from SSS-class villain Gye Un-jik in the past. She finally understood why they had fallen for him—it was only natural, given what he had done for them.
However, Han Se-hee’s next words went beyond what Yu-ra had expected.
"I think I understand why Seo-jun oppa wants to help you," Han Se-hee said, smiling faintly.
Yu-ra turned to her, curiosity evident in her expression.
"He found the culprit who killed my parents and brought them to justice," Se-hee explained. "I was only eleven at the time, but he made sure I knew the truth and told me I deserved to know who my enemy was."
Yu-ra was taken aback by the story, feeling a deep sense of connection with Se-hee.
‘He’s helping me because he understands the importance of revenge,’ Yu-ra thought.
Baek Seo-jun wasn’t just pursuing his own vengeance—he was helping others achieve theirs.
"You understand now, don’t you?" Baek Seo-jun asked, his gaze sharp. "Kang Yu-ra, the choice is yours. This is why I want to help you. Do you want my help?"
"Yes, I do," Yu-ra replied firmly.
Baek Seo-jun nodded slightly, then turned to Moriya Yuka.
"What about you, Yuka? It might be frightening, but do you want to learn the important truths about this world?"
Moriya Yuka smiled gently, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Yes. As Yu-ra’s friend, I feel I have to hear it."
In the corner of the room, unseen by most, the black serpent Ramisa watched the scene unfold, its crimson eyes glowing faintly.
"This is getting quite interesting," it mused to itself.