The Predator and the Watercolor

What kind of system is this? Seohan’s temper was slowly rising, but the culprit who provoked him had already scurried away.

‘Calling itself an AI while saying it needs to make a living…’

As he grumbled inwardly at the system’s pettiness, Seohan suddenly came to a dead stop. An abrupt question flickered through his mind regarding the assumption that the system window was simply an artificial intelligence.

‘Is it… really an AI?’

Because the word “system” usually brings a mechanical image to mind, he had naturally categorized it as AI.

But to dismiss it as mere software didn’t make sense given the current situation. What kind of AI has the power to appear before a dead man, talk about a “Possession Project,” and then actually transmigrate him into a fictional character?

It was a fact he hadn’t fully realized because he had been so focused on surviving. Between constantly losing control of his body and struggling to improve a seemingly hopeless relationship with Lee Dohun, the fast-paced reality hadn’t allowed him the time for such fundamental questions.

“……Well, does it matter?”

Though suspicious, the true identity of ‘System R’ wasn’t of great importance to Seohan right now.

Even if the entity was the height of irresponsibility—shoving him into a body that moves on its own just because he was “cut in line”—hadn’t it also saved him from a miserable death?

Setting aside the times it made him angry, if he divided it into a binary of “helpful” or “not helpful,” it definitely fell on the helpful side.

Probably.

Seohan decided to stop thinking about the system. He didn’t have much time left before his appointment at the orphanage. He had already received permission to bring snacks, so if he wanted to stop at a mart to pick out crackers and drinks, he would be cutting it close.

His halted feet began to move busily once again.

He arrived in front of the orphanage laden with bags of assorted crackers, drinks, and even ice cream.

“Choosing snacks is harder than it looks…”

In his past life, he enjoyed good food, but that meant meals, not junk food. Seohan, who had never taken an interest in sweets or sodas, had been overwhelmed by the rows of unfamiliar snacks the moment he stepped into the mart.

Since his knowledge was limited to ancient brands and basic potato chips, choosing snacks that would appeal to children’s modern tastes was an ordeal.

Because of that, he had wasted more time than expected searching for things like “snacks kids like these days” on his phone.

‘Fortunately, I’m not late.’

He didn’t want to be branded as someone who was tardy from the very first day, so he hurried. As he carried the heavy bags, Seohan spotted a man just stepping out of the orphanage.

‘Is that man a volunteer too?’

Just as he was thinking that the world still had plenty of kind people, the man—who had been looking the other way, showing only a partial profile and his neckline—turned his head as if sensing a gaze. In that instant, Seohan felt an ominous premonition.

‘His face…’

Why is he… so handsome?

If there was one thing Seohan had learned since transmigrating, it was that the protagonists and major characters of a novel always had faces that stood out. ‘Baek Seohan’ was like that, and ‘Lee Dohun’ was like that.

However, he had never once walked down the street and wondered, Is this person a character in a novel? That was because he had never seen anyone whose looks rivaled Seohan or Dohun.

But now, the moment he saw the man’s face, Seohan knew. This man was a very, very, very important character.

‘Let’s just avoid him. Nothing good comes from getting involved.’

Avoiding him was the best policy. Since he had his cap pulled down low, he prayed there would be no disaster like being recognized.

‘Oh, please…’

As he wished, there was no disaster of the man recognizing him. Instead, a disaster occurred where his body began to move on its own. Regardless of Seohan’s internal screams, ‘Baek Seohan’s’ body began to march forward without hesitation.

He even dropped the bags in both hands onto the ground with a thud.

‘Hey! My snacks!’

Won’t the crackers break? The ice cream is going to melt!

All of Seohan’s hard work—searching the web to find snacks kids would like—was being trampled. But that was short-lived; any lingering regret vanished from Seohan’s mind the moment a single name left ‘Baek Seohan’s’ mouth.

“Jin Yeon-oh.”

‘Jin Yeon-oh?’

Did he just say Jin Yeon-oh?

[Info | ‘Jin Yeon-oh’ is the Main Gong (Top) of the novel Never Ending. (´ꈍωꈍ‵)]

The system, which had vanished and refused to appear no matter how much he called, finally peeked its head out at a time like this.

He had planned to scold it several times, but he didn’t have the luxury to feel that resentment. Seohan was completely preoccupied by the man named ‘Jin Yeon-oh.’

The man had light brown hair with a subtle reddish tint, and his ashen eyes had a power that drew people in. His pale skin, slightly downturned eyes, and a face that consistently held a gentle smile highlighted his soft impression. If Lee Dohun was like a sharply carved statue, this man felt more like a light watercolor painting.

The first thought that came to Seohan’s mind upon realizing he was Jin Yeon-oh was, Of course. Was that a face you’d just see walking around commonly? It came with the personal realization that one had to look at least this good to be called a Main Gong.

But that trivial thought was quickly erased by what came next.

‘He’s the one… who kills me.’

Jin Yeon-oh kills ‘Baek Seohan.’

To be precise, he contributes to ‘Baek Seohan’s’ suicide. Jin Yeon-oh is the one who gathers every single one of Seohan’s past evil deeds, exposes them all at once, and drives him to the edge of a cliff.

All of those actions were for the sake of rescuing Lee Dohun. Seohan’s efforts to improve his relationship with Lee Dohun had all been rooted in avoiding this specific fate.

Naturally, Jin Yeon-oh was the person Seohan wanted to avoid most. And yet, this damn ‘Baek Seohan’ personality was trudging right up to him.

“Why are you here?”

“……Ah, Seohan-ssi. It’s been a long time.”

Chills ran down Seohan’s spine. Seohan-ssi. It was a name he never wanted to hear from Jin Yeon-oh’s mouth.

‘Do they already know each other?’

Even though ‘Baek Seohan’s’ words were full of thorns, Jin Yeon-oh replied with a gentle smile. There even seemed to be a hint of delight in his voice when he said it had been a long time.

At this point, the system—which should have been feeding him info like “Jin Yeon-oh is like this and that”—remained quiet. Before Seohan could wonder why, Jin Yeon-oh added in a clear voice:

“This orphanage is affiliated with our company. I came out personally to check if it’s being run well. What about you, Seohan-ssi?”

‘Baek Seohan’ wouldn’t have actually been asking for a reason. He was likely telling the man to get out of his sight. But Jin Yeon-oh stubbornly answered the question anyway.

Even Seohan, witnessing this for the first time, realized that ‘Baek Seohan’ hated Jin Yeon-oh, but Jin Yeon-oh himself either didn’t know or was acting like he didn’t.

‘This guy is the one who kills Seohan…?’

Looking at him now, he seemed like the kindest, most innocent person in the world. But that doesn’t change the fact that he drives ‘Baek Seohan’ to the edge. Even now, he might be smiling to his face while gathering Seohan’s weaknesses behind his back.

Seohan vowed several times not to be fooled by that face.

“I told you… to wipe that damn smile off your face.”

Regardless of that vow, Seohan wanted to stop ‘Baek Seohan’ right this second.

‘Why are you like this…!’

Why are you acting like this to someone speaking so kindly!

‘Baek Seohan’ kept performing unexpected actions. Of course, he almost never acted as Seohan expected and screwed him over every time he surfaced, but this was beyond common sense. He was acting like a wild colt, behaving as if he had met a sworn enemy from a past life.

Having thrown away the polite speech he usually maintained, ‘Baek Seohan’ took another step toward Jin Yeon-oh. It was clearly his own voice, but the entirely different tone and the low growling sound vibrating in his throat made the sense of incongruity even worse.

“I’m not sure… what you mean by that…”

Jin Yeon-oh’s round eyes, blinking in unconcealed bewilderment, poked at Seohan’s conscience. He couldn’t ignore the subtle guilt blooming deep in his chest. ‘Baek Seohan’ was clearly the one in the wrong!

But ‘Baek Seohan,’ far from repenting, seemed even angrier. He closed the already narrow distance and reached out to grab Jin Yeon-oh by the collar.

Seohan truly wanted to faint.

‘I’m screwed.’

There was nothing more to see. His second life was doomed. At a time when he should be groveling at the Main Gong’s feet, he had gone and grabbed him by the throat.

At that point, Jin Yeon-oh’s fine brow furrowed slightly. To Seohan, that looked like a death sentence.

[Info | ‘Baek Seohan’ hates Jin Yeon-oh very much ヽ(°〇°)ﾉ!]

The system finally brought in a piece of information that the whole world probably already knew. Seohan felt a powerful urge to punch it.

The synergy between a useless system and a body that moved on its own was truly terrifying.