An Unpalatable Dinner for Three

[Truth Bracelet]

• Skill 1: Verdict of Truth (Increases resistance against bewitchment magic by 20% / Passive)

“Twenty percent magic resistance…”

It was a staggering figure. I was genuinely shocked by Baek Hee-do’s generosity in lending me such a high-tier artifact without demanding any collateral.

Perhaps reading the glint of greed in my eyes, Baek Hee-do let out a smirk and dropped a chilling warning.

“This is a one-time thing. If you don’t want your wrist chopped off, return it quietly when you’re done.”

“…Tch.”

Still, calling Baek Hee-do was the right move. I’d managed to borrow an artifact like this for free.

Emboldened, I gave him a thorough once-over. Looking from his head to his toes, there wasn’t a single thing on him that didn’t look like an artifact. His earrings, his rings, even his necklace… I wouldn’t be surprised if the clothes he was wearing were enchanted, too.

“Exactly how many artifacts do you own?”

“Why would I tell you that?”

Baek Hee-do chuckled and fell silent, clearly intending to keep his secrets. However, eyeing the dangling earring that jingled near his ear, I prodded further.

“That earring is one too, right?”

“Attack power boost.”

“The necklace?”

“Fatigue recovery.”

“Wow…”

“Do you finally realize it? Just how incredible I am?”

“…”

I glared at him as he suddenly flipped into self-praise mode. He stood up abruptly, looking down at me with a dissatisfied huff.

“If you get it, at least say thank you.”

“You sure love acting like you’re doing me the world’s biggest favor.”

“Give it back then.”

“Sigh… Thank you sooo very much, Mr. Baek Hee-do!”

With that sarcastic remark, I opened a gate to head back to “the other side,” but at that exact moment, Baek Hee-do grabbed me firmly by the scruff of my neck.

“Wh-what gives?”

“You’re leaving the second business is done? Stay for a meal.”

“What?”

“I hate eating alone.”

“Ack, what does that have to do with—!”

“Just eat and then get lost.”

He practically choked me at the threshold of the gate, forcing me to close it.

‘Is he insane?’

I cursed him inwardly, but strangely, I could almost understand why he acted this way. Since he behaved like such a lunatic, he probably had no one around him. He likely didn’t have a single person in his life to share a simple meal with.

Feeling a spark of pity, I decided to humor him. However, if I had known I would run into Yoo Se-rim—dressed in casual clothes—at the hotel restaurant, I never would have agreed.

‘…Dammit.’

I met Yoo Se-rim right in the middle of the restaurant.

And I was with Baek Hee-do.

“…”

“…”

“What are you doing? Come on.”

Even as I was dragged along by a persistent Baek Hee-do, Yoo Se-rim’s cold gaze pierced through me.

I glanced at Baek Hee-do. Seeing his stiff posture, it was clear he was conscious of Yoo Se-rim’s presence in the same room. He was just choosing to ignore him.

‘What exactly is the deal between these two…?’

“Han-sol.”

As expected, Yoo Se-rim wasn’t going to let this slide.

I tried to dig my heels in to stop being dragged, but Baek Hee-do’s brute strength won out, and I continued to be hauled along.

“I-I’ll see you later…”

I eventually had to wave at Yoo Se-rim with a forced, awkward smile.

But my waving hand was suddenly snatched by Yoo Se-rim. It was only then that Baek Hee-do’s relentless pace finally came to a halt.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Baek Hee-do asked icily.

Yoo Se-rim narrowed his eyes. “And you?”

“I’m about to have dinner with a Shaman. Can’t you tell?”

“He’s my party member… and you’re eating with him?”

“Who I eat with has nothing to do with you. So, let go of his hand and get lost.”

With both of them gripping my arms in the middle of a crowded restaurant, my face burned a bright, humiliating red.

Specifically, I couldn’t understand why Yoo Se-rim lost his cool and became so aggressive whenever it involved Baek Hee-do. I stared at him in disbelief.

‘Please… just go outside and beat each other up if you want!’

I was the only one suffering while these two madmen used my wrists for a power struggle. I tried twisting my arms to break free, but neither of them budged. They were true R-rank pieces of work.

“It… hurts.”

Ultimately, I directed my complaint toward Baek Hee-do, who seemed slightly more approachable. Hearing my whisper, Baek Hee-do glared at Yoo Se-rim one last time before letting go. Yoo Se-rim followed suit a moment later.

Backing away from Yoo Se-rim’s freezing stare, I spoke cautiously to avoid provoking him further.

“…I already had plans with Baek Hee-do. So, if you’ll excuse us…”

“I believe I explained myself clearly before. It seems you didn’t understand, Han-sol.”

“…”

He wasn’t going to back down easily. His violet eyes glowed coldly as his gaze flickered between me and Baek Hee-do.

“If you’re willing to ignore my words… may I ask what kind of relationship you two have?”

He threw the question straight at us.

I felt a surge of annoyance, but when I tried to come up with an excuse, I realized I didn’t even know how to define my relationship with Baek Hee-do.

That’s when Baek Hee-do spoke up.

“Relationship? We’re just eating.”

“Eating?”

“Yeah. What, should he eat all by himself like a loser?”

Baek Hee-do scanned the room and pulled my arm again. Granted, since it was a hotel restaurant, almost everyone was dining in pairs or groups. It really wasn’t the kind of place for solo dining. I was about to nod and turn back to Baek Hee-do when—

“Then I’ll eat with you.”

“…What?”

“I happen to be hungry.”

Yoo Se-rim forced his way in with a thin, sharp smile.

I quickly grabbed Baek Hee-do’s arm as he looked ready to start a brawl right there. If we rejected Yoo Se-rim now, his unnecessary suspicions would only grow.

“…”

Baek Hee-do winced as I pinched his arm, glaring at me. Fortunately, he didn’t say anything stupid to ruin the moment.

And so… we ended up having the most suffocating dinner imaginable.

Clink.

I sipped the appetizer soup, glancing at the two men who hadn’t even touched their silverware.

I wasn’t the only one watching. Since both were famous among Awakened ones and civilians alike, more than a few people were whispering and pointing at our table.

‘I’m going to get indigestion…’

I forced the food down, but Baek Hee-do just sat there with his arms crossed, glaring at Yoo Se-rim. Yoo Se-rim met his gaze head-on without so much as a blink.

“Um, excuse me… may I clear these plates?”

Even the servers were walking on eggshells. I spoke up for the two silent statues.

“Yes, please.”

“Thank you.”

The main course arrived: steak. Only then did Baek Hee-do drop his arrogant posture. He began cutting the steak and…

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Eat.”

…He placed the pieces on my plate.

I was flustered. The only reason I struggled last time was because of that weird seafood dish I’d never seen before; I was perfectly capable of cutting a steak myself.

But Baek Hee-do just gestured for me to get on with it. I had no choice but to eat the meat he’d cut for me. Doing this right in front of Yoo Se-rim’s watchful eyes made my face flush with embarrassment.

“Ha…”

Predictably, Yoo Se-rim let out a scoffing laugh. Ignoring him, Baek Hee-do finished cutting the entire steak, swapped his plate with mine, and finally started eating his own meal.

“…”

I wanted to snap at him for treating me like a five-year-old, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it because of Yoo Se-rim.

Yoo Se-rim looked back and forth between us, his gaze lingering on my wrist. I realized he was staring at the artifact Baek Hee-do had given me. I tried to pull my sleeve down, but it was too late.

“…Baek Hee-do.”

Yoo Se-rim finally spoke.

“Stop hitting on my party member.”

Baek Hee-do looked baffled for a moment, but then his expression shifted into something subtle. Something… mischievous.

Sensing trouble, I opened my mouth to clear up the misunderstanding before Baek Hee-do could speak.

“That’s not—”

“He’s just a party member. Why are you being so dramatic?”

“It’s annoying, so stop it.”

“I don’t think I can. Han-sol and I have a pretty… intimate relationship, you see.”

He turned to me with a face that practically begged to be punched. “Right?”