The Line That Shouldn’t Be Crossed

“I just happened to run into someone I knew and greeted them, that’s all.”

Seo Tae-ju answered casually.

“So people greet their acquaintances with skills these days?”

At Jae-heon’s words, Seo Tae-ju made an awkward expression.

“I had no bad intentions.”

“That’s where all criminals begin their excuses.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, huh.”

Jae-heon drew the sword strapped to his back.

“Then how about I do something that could also be misunderstood.”

Seo Tae-ju let out a quiet sigh.

“Mr. Lee Jae-heon. It’s troubling when someone of your stature acts this way. Truly, it was nothing serious. Right, Garam?”

His intention was clear—forcing Garam to smooth things over.

Garam appreciated Jae-heon’s help, but if this continued, things would get complicated.

She didn’t want others getting hurt because of her.

She forced her spiraling emotions deep down.

“I’m fine. He really is someone I used to know.”

She ignored Jae-heon’s questioning gaze.

Just then, a group of people poured out of the building—members of Haetae and Hyunmu.

Seeing Seo Tae-ju and Jae-heon facing off, they looked startled.

“Did something happen?”

Mayor Choi Gun-woo stepped forward quickly.

“Something almost happened, but it’s resolved.”

Seo Tae-ju responded shamelessly.

Choi Gun-woo looked between Jae-heon, Seo Tae-ju, and Garam with clear unease.

He could roughly guess what kind of trouble could arise from this trio.

“Are you all right?”

He asked Garam instead of Jae-heon.

“I’m fine. It was nothing.”

At Garam’s words, Seo Tae-ju shrugged and smiled.

At that same moment, Jae-heon swung his sword.

Without a sound, the blade sliced Seo Tae-ju’s badge clean in half.

“Next time, mind who you lay hands on.”

He said that and pulled Garam away with him.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

A flustered Choi Gun-woo asked Seo Tae-ju.

“No. It was just a misunderstanding. It will be settled soon.”

“I suppose… that’s good.”

It was clear he doubted the story, but he didn’t pry further.

As Seo Tae-ju turned his head, Choi Gun-woo glanced at Garam with an apologetic look.

‘This is the filth of politics.’

The thought drifted through Garam’s mind, but she was too tired to dwell on it.

“Can I go back now?”

She asked Jae-heon.

“There’s no reason you can’t. But where’s Jeong Jin-young?”

“It’s not her fault. I told her my stomach hurt and that I needed fresh air.”

“You still should’ve had an escort.”

“Now that you mention it… they were supposed to follow me. Why didn’t they?”

Jae-heon’s expression turned icy.

Right at that moment, Jeong Jin-young rushed outside and ran into them.

“Guild Master?”

“Explain what happened.”

“Well…”

Calming herself, she explained what she discovered.

After Garam slipped out saying she wasn’t feeling well, Jeong Jin-young told the escort to follow her.

A while later, as the ceremony neared its end, she also stepped out—

“And then I found the escort knocked out and hidden in a corner.”

They weren’t dead or gravely injured, but the fact that the escort was down meant Garam had been alone.

So Jeong Jin-young had sprinted out in a panic.

“Do you know who did it?”

“I’m sorry. We’ll need an investigation to find out.”

“I should’ve cut him down.”

Jae-heon clicked his tongue.

“Yes? You saw the culprit?”

“I did.”

He said nothing more, forcing Garam to explain what happened.

She tried to keep her tone calm and neutral.

But as Jeong Jin-young listened, her expression twisted like a demon.

“How dare he! Miss Park Garam is a member of the Haechi Guild and the guild master’s partner. And he acted that disrespectfully? I will confront Hyunmu immediately! And Haetae as well for failing in their oversight!”

She looked ready to storm off right away.

Then she suddenly turned to Garam.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief. Still, you may be shaken. You should return and see a healer and a doctor right away.”

Her body was fine, honestly.

She wanted to refuse, but the mood didn’t allow it.

So when they returned to the guild, she was taken straight to medical.

“There are no injuries.”

Of course not.

Seo Tae-ju was cunning—he understood Garam’s value now.

He wouldn’t dare harm her physically.

Jae-heon nodded at the doctor’s report.

Only after confirming she wasn’t hurt did he seem able to speak normally again.

“Did the tower raid go well?”

“It did.”

“You came out faster than expected.”

“It just turned out that way.”

“I see.”

It didn’t feel like he would give proper answers, no matter what she asked.

Garam decided to stop questioning him.

Originally, she wanted to greet him properly, maybe even brag a little.

That she had reached level 10.

That she could raise bees now.

“I’ll get back to work then.”

“You can rest today. If you really want to work, just take care of the flowerpot.”

That sounded harder than working.

Garam swallowed the comment.

“Should I check its condition first?”

She followed Jae-heon to his room.

The familiar space relaxed her a little.

Only then did she realize something.

“Come to think of it… when did you leave the tower?”

“Not long ago.”

When she left for the ceremony, no one had announced his return.

Meaning he had exited the tower after that.

He shouldn’t have had time to rest.

So why had he come to City Hall immediately?

‘It can’t be because of me… right?’

Probably he came because the ceremony was important.

That made sense… right?

She tried to believe that, but it wasn’t easy.

After hesitation, she asked:

“Today’s event… it was important, right?”

“Not really. The minerals matter, but we can manage without them. Mayor Choi wanted it, not me.”

“Then why did you come straight to City Hall?”

“I had a bad feeling.”

High-ranked awakeners’ instincts bordered on precognition sometimes.

And they were often accurate.

But Garam didn’t know that.

Because of that, she almost misunderstood.

‘Right… he must’ve been worried about Jeong Jin-young. Not me.’

She had been one step away from a ridiculous, embarrassing delusion.

She took a deep breath and accepted the flowerpot from him.

It looked worse than usual.

“What was the 50th floor like? This guy’s in pretty bad shape.”

“A place full of fire-type monsters.”

No wonder the plant was suffering.

Garam quickly placed her hands on the leaves and used a skill.

“Touch of the Sun.”

Little by little, the wilted plant lifted its head.

After several casts, it returned to its healthy form.

“Next time… how about leaving the flowerpot behind?”

“Too many people are aiming for it. Impossible.”

“Why?”

“A ranker carrying something around makes people think it’s treasure.”

“That’s true. But… is it really a treasure?”

“To me.”

Meaning it had no treasure value to anyone else.

As they talked, the earlier tension faded.

Then Garam proudly shared her new skill.

“I can raise bees now.”

“Bees?”

“Yes! It means I can produce honey!”

Jae-heon’s expression finally softened.

Then he even smiled lightly.

“If you wanted honey that badly, I could get it for you.”

“I do want some, but isn’t it meaningful only if it’s made by the ones I raise?”

“There won’t be much, will there?”

“I’m leveling fast. Production will increase too. Just wait.”

“Maybe hornets would’ve been better.”

“Can hornets even pollinate?”

“No idea. But they’re better in combat.”

She had no idea why he kept thinking about combat in farming.

“Next time, ask the system for something that boosts combat capability. I can’t protect you forever.”

“…Was that a joke?”

“Think what you will.”

Jae-heon leaned back onto the sofa and closed his eyes.

He must’ve been exhausted after coming straight from the tower with no rest.

Garam considered leaving to give him space, but then no one would watch over the flowerpot.

So she decided to stay by its side a little longer.