Chapter 13: An appearance worthy of a king
After leaving Electhra’s office, Hae-neul walked down the hallway with heavy steps, looking deeply thoughtful. She let out a long sigh that seemed to echo against the glass walls of the skyscraper. The thought that she would have to stay by Gerhman’s side for an indeterminate period made her psychologically sick. To her, this man was nothing but a concentrate of arrogance. She wondered how she, the vice-master of the most powerful guild in Korea, could end up as a bodyguard for a newly awakened person of D rank.
As she rounded the corner of a hallway leading to the elevators, she came face to face with Gerhman. He was there, as if waiting for her, leaning casually against the wall. His hands were buried in the pockets of his pants, his eyes closed.
"So... what did Electhra tell you?" he asked without even bothering to open his eyes, keeping the same motionless posture.
Hae-neul, who simply wanted to go on her way without speaking to him, froze on the spot. She felt a pang of annoyance prick the back of her neck. She shot him a dark look, her red eyes shining with a severe glow, before letting out another sigh, more exasperated this time.
"You should already guess, shouldn’t you?" she replied dryly, already starting to move away from him.
"Don’t pay too much attention to what she says," Gerhman drawled.
Hae-neul stopped again and frowned, turning toward him with obvious incomprehension.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice rising in tone.
"What I mean is that she tends to exaggerate too much," Gerhman replied.
He finally pushed off the wall and took a few steps forward to stand directly in front of Hae-neul, which forced the young woman to step back half a pace.
"I don’t think she’s overdoing it," Hae-neul retorted in a hard tone, visibly offended by Gerhman’s casualness toward the woman she revered. "If she’s investing this much, it’s because she genuinely worries about you. You don’t even seem to realize the luck you have."
Gerhman seemed a little surprised by the virulence of Hae-neul’s reaction. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, his gaze empty. He knew very well that Electhra was worried about him, but knowing that she had gone so far as to ask Hae-neul to take care of him as if he were a fragile child didn’t really please him.
"Alala..." he said while scratching the back of his head, an almost childish gesture that contrasted with his usual coldness. "Do as you want," he finally said.
He turned abruptly to head toward the end of the hallway. Hae-neul, though frustrated, quickly followed.
"By the way, it’s not nice to eavesdrop," Hae-neul pointed out with a hint of bitter irony.
Gerhman did not slow down, but a slight half-smile appeared on his face.
"It’s not nice to talk behind people’s backs either," he replied instantly.
Hae-neul could not answer, except by clenching her fists. They arrived in front of the elevators. Gerhman pressed the descent button without any hesitation.
"Where exactly are you going?" she questioned, trying to resume her role as guide.
Gerhman did not answer right away. He waited for the metal doors to open with a light chime before entering the cabin.
"I need new clothes," he finally replied, his gray gaze catching Hae-neul’s through the mirror.
"Hmmm... I see," Hae-neul acquiesced while examining Gerhman’s current outfit. "I know a place specialized for awakened people. If you want, I can take you there. They have mana-reinforced items that don’t tear at the first fight."
"Okay," Gerhman accepted simply.
After descending to the ground floor and crossing the hall, they went to a high-end store located a few streets away. The sign was sober, but Hae-neul knew that only wealthy rankers frequented this place. Once inside, the smell of new leather and enchanted fabric enveloped them.
"Go ahead, treat yourself," said Hae-neul while crossing her arms over her chest, letting Gerhman choose his clothes. She settled into a small waiting armchair, observing the shelves with feigned disinterest.
Gerhman went off to explore the racks. He was not looking for protection, but for the aesthetic that matched his past rank. He finally stopped in front of an outfit displayed on a dark wooden mannequin. It was exactly what he was looking for: elegant, sober and functional. Quickly, he took the set and headed to the fitting rooms to change.
After a moment, the curtain opened. Gerhman came out, transformed. He wore soft leather half-boots, a fitted black pants that highlighted his athletic build, and a white shirt with the first buttons left open, revealing his silver necklaces. Over it, he had put on a fitted black vest that structured his silhouette.
Hae-neul, who had stood up when he came out, stared at him fixedly. The contrast between the arrogant young man and this refined outfit was striking. She felt her cheeks heat up suddenly, a reaction she could not control.
"That... that suits you well," she said while clearing her throat loudly to mask her trouble, turning her gaze toward a shelf of ties.
Gerhman did not thank her. He simply observed himself in the full-length mirror, turning slightly on himself to check the cut of the vest. His silence and total indifference to her compliment angered Hae-neul. She hated this feeling of being invisible in his eyes.
"Since we’re done here, let’s go," said Hae-neul, visibly irritated, her voice regaining its dry tone. She headed toward the cash register to pay the bill with the guild card. "And now?"
"Let’s go eat something," Gerhman replied as they left the store, the bag with his old clothes in hand.
"Okay," Hae-neul accepted, also feeling her stomach rumbling after this eventful day.
Together, they walked through the bustling streets to a discreet restaurant, whose dark storefront promised a certain calm. With their faces partially hidden, no one noticed their presence there. They settled into an isolated booth at the back of the room. Quickly, a waitress came to take their order.
After a few minutes, the server brought them their steaming dishes. Hae-neul, despite her bad mood, started eating with appetite. They talked from time to time, Hae-neul trying to explain the functioning of official raids to him, while Gerhman listened with a distracted ear. Once the meal was finished and the bill paid, they both left the restaurant. The cool evening air welcomed them on the sidewalk.
"Go without me," Gerhman said suddenly, stopping abruptly.
Hae-neul seemed a little reluctant. She had received the order not to leave him, but she also knew that she could not hold him back if he decided to go alone. She stared at him for a long time. Finally, she accepted with a weary nod.
"Don’t do anything stupid. Electhra wouldn’t forgive me."
She went off in the opposite direction, her red silhouette quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"Ahhhh..." Gerhman let out a long sigh of relief. The silence of his own company had been missing. He adjusted his black vest, before heading in the opposite direction, disappearing into the city.
