Vol.3 Chapter 21

RING RING, RING RING

Instinctively, my left hand reached out toward my bedside table as I fumbled for my phone to turn off the alarm.

Big mistake.

The moment my fingers curled around it, a sharp, searing pain shot through my left hand like an electric jolt, ripping me fully out of my sleepy haze.

“GAH—!” I yelped, practically yeeting my phone across the bed as if it had personally betrayed me.

For a second, I just sat there, cradling my bandaged hand, trying to process where the stinging pain came from. And then it hit me—I had completely forgotten about the stab wound I got yesterday.

With a deep sigh and the reluctant realization that I would have to deal with this pain all day, I carefully reached for the phone again, this time using my right hand, to turn off the alarm.

Good thing I only have very few classes today. I’ll probably just call in sick or something.

As I sat on the edge of my bed, cradling my still-throbbing hand, the weight of yesterday’s events settled over me like an unshakable fog.

I still couldn’t believe it. That kind of thing was supposed to be something you only saw on the news—stories about obsessed fans crossing dangerous lines, idols facing harassment, even attempted attacks. But to experience it firsthand?

Are her fans this extreme? This just proves that I should be more careful not to do anything to upset her die-hard fans!

Note to self: don’t even get caught accidentally sneezing in her direction. Her fans don’t mess around!

The good thing is, no one got seriously hurt… well, except for my poor hand.

Honestly, it was totally my fault. I wasn’t even supposed to get a scratch! I could’ve handled it way better if I hadn’t panicked like a total rookie.

I mean, I should’ve redirected the guy’s stab by aiming for his arm, not the knife itself. But nope, my brain short-circuited the moment I saw him pull out a knife. Who wouldn’t freeze up at that? Seriously, who in their right mind tries to stab their idol to death?

Luckily, I managed to enter the zone on time, or else it could’ve been worse.

But still, now that the adrenaline had worn off, my hand is throbbing a bit in pain even without doing anything. I tried closing my left hand just to see how much pain I could tolerate as I go about my day. Just to test the waters a little bit.

In hindsight, I might still be a bit sleepy, because that was an incredibly dumb move. As I did so, the pain in my hand hit me like a freight train.

“Ow, ow, ow!” I hissed, clutching it dramatically as if that would somehow make it hurt less… but it didn’t.

It was no surprise that the hospital staff had advised me to take painkillers before bed—without them, the discomfort would have made yesterday’s sleep nearly impossible.

Good thing Yuna didn’t see me pathetically whining like this, or else she would be even more worried and probably blame herself more than she already did.

Still, I wasn’t about to let a throbbing hand ruin my morning. I dragged myself out of bed, determined to stick to my early morning routine.

After some light stretching, brushing my teeth, and awkwardly making breakfast with just one hand, I finally sat down at the dining table with my glorious stack of home-cooked pancakes.

Just as I was about to dig in, my phone chimed. Who in the world is texting me this early?

I hesitated for a moment, then reached for the device with my uninjured hand. Glancing at the screen, a familiar name appeared—Yuna.

I quickly unlocked my phone and scanned the message. It read that she was already on her way to my place and had something important to talk about.

Right… I had almost forgotten.

After yesterday's events, I gave her my address—not because I expected her to use it, but because she had insisted on checking up on me. At the time, exhaustion had left me with little energy to argue, so I relented, assuming she would abandon the idea by morning.

Clearly, I had been mistaken.

I let out a slow breath, deciding I might as well make myself presentable. After finishing my breakfast, I set my plate aside and got to preparing.

A quick rinse of my face to shake off the last remnants of sleep, a few lazy attempts at fixing my hair, and soon enough, I was pulling on some casual clothes to look a bit more presentable. It took a while due to having only one hand to use, but I’m not short on time, so it’s fine.

Satisfied, I grabbed my phone and made my way to the elevator to head towards the guest reception area. If nothing else, I wasn’t about to keep a celebrity like Yuna waiting. Doing that felt like it would earn me the ire of her fans, which is a huge mistake if yesterday’s events weren’t proof enough.

Stepping into the condo’s guest area, I found a quiet corner to wait as I absentmindedly scrolled through my phone. The soft hum of conversation from nearby guests blended with the occasional tapping of fingers on screens, creating a subdued morning atmosphere as I waited for Yuna to arrive.

It didn’t take long to spot her standing near the receptionist’s desk, flanked by two towering bodyguards dressed in sharp black suits.

The difference was striking. Yuna, effortlessly stylish even in casual clothes, chatted with the staff in her usual cheerful way, flashing that warm smile and using her melodic voice to make her requests sound more like friendly suggestions rather than demands.

Honestly, resisting her was probably impossible for most people.

She wasn’t wearing her usual incognito outfit this time either, which only made her natural charm stand out even more. At this point, the staff had definitely realized who she was.

I made my way over, mostly out of pity for the poor guy behind the desk, who looked two seconds away from completely ignoring condo protocol and just letting her walk straight up to my apartment. His face was way too red for someone just doing his job.

As I approached them, Yuna instantly recognized me.

“Kathy~! You’re here!” she called out, practically bouncing with excitement.

I gave her a small smile in response and then turned to the receptionist guy, who looked like he was about to have a meltdown.

“She’s with me,” I said, gesturing toward Yuna.

The staff guy let out a quiet breath, his shoulders losing some of that tension. Relief flashed across his face, and—was that awe? I guess being friends with a celebrity had its perks.

I glanced around, catching whispers and subtle stares from the people nearby. Yuna’s presence was like a magnet for attention, and I wasn’t in the mood for more.

“Let’s go to my room first,” I said, keeping my voice low.

“Oh~! How bold! Already inviting me to your room? Well, if you insist!” She teased, fluttering her lashes dramatically.

“That is not what I meant,” I shot her a flat look.

How did my perfectly normal sentence get twisted into something like that? And besides, we’re both girls!

Ignoring the look I gave her, she turned to her bodyguards instead.

“You two stay here, okay?” she requested politely.

“But Miss Kang—” one of her bodyguards, the older-looking one, tried to protest, but Yuna cut him off instantly.

“No buts~! She’s a friend. I doubt there’ll be any trouble. Besides, what kind of gentleman barges into a girl’s apartment without permission? My father hired more respectable men than that, didn’t he?” Her tone carried a playful edge, but there was an unmistakable bite beneath it.

Whoa. That was unexpected. She seems a bit sharper than usual—more passive-aggressive than how she usually spoke to people. Did yesterday’s events have a hand in this? Then again, maybe this was just how she dealt with her bodyguards.

The guard clamped his mouth shut at that, exchanging looks with his colleague, clearly defeated.

Yuna just grinned, looping her arm through my uninjured one casually like she hadn’t just caused a scene.

“Alright, lead the way~!”

I didn’t hesitate. With a quick nod, I turned toward the elevator with Yuna matching my pace effortlessly. Her grip on my arm remained firm, like she had no intention of letting go anytime soon, while her sing-song voice filled the air as she hummed cheerfully.

The door slid open with a quiet mechanical hum as I pressed the button, and the steady murmur of the lobby faded the moment we stepped inside. Yet, despite the sudden privacy, Yuna remained latched onto me as her arm was looped around mine.

I sighed.

"You can drop the act now," I said once the doors slid shut, effectively sealing us off from the rest of the world.

She tilted her head.

“Hmm~? What do you mean?” she responded as her eyes glinted with playful innocence.

“I told you. You don’t have to use your idol persona around me,” I gave her a flat look.

She blinked at me, holding my gaze for a few seconds, as if debating whether to keep up the facade. Then, finally, she gave in.

Like watching a mask being lifted, her entire body language shifted. The poised, radiant presence she effortlessly exuded melted away, replaced by something far more natural and comfortable.

Her grip on my arm loosened, her posture relaxed, and her voice, once melodic and quite frankly, a treat to hear, dropped to its natural tone. It wasn’t rehearsed, and it wasn’t carefully tuned for precision. It was just her normal self. Not perfect, but definitely more human.

"Ugh, you have no idea how many people would do anything just to get the full idol treatment from me," she groaned, stretching her arms as if shaking off the weight of the act.

That may be true, but honestly, this version of her was better for both of us. It lets her relax around me, and frankly, it saves me from suffering fatal heart failure every time she does something unbearably adorable.

“I suppose… but I prefer the more genuine side of you," I said with a slight shrug.

People admire perfection, but in truth, nobody can be perfect all the time. While her flawless act might impress the world, I find that the unguarded moments—the messy, human side—make someone more relatable and easier to connect with.

She parted her lips, as if on the verge of speaking, but before a single word could leave her mouth, the soft chime of the elevator interrupted, signaling our arrival.

As I led the way, I could tell that she was deep in thought. We remained silent as she followed me closely while passing other condo units. Upon reaching my own place, I slid my keycard into the scanner, the door unlocking with a soft beep before I pushed it open.

As we stepped inside, Yuna immediately glanced around, taking in my living room with a quick sweep of her eyes.

“Quite a shabby place you’ve got,” she said, completely unfiltered.

I shot her a flat look.

“Well, excuse me for not being an extremely rich celebrity.”

She let out a small, amused laugh, clearly enjoying the jab.

“Hmm, I guess it’s got its own charm,” she mused, trailing her fingers lightly along the back of my couch, as if evaluating whether it met her celebrity-standard approval.

I sighed, shaking my head.

“Alright, enough critiques. What do you want to talk about?” I said, sinking into the sofa and gesturing for her to do the same.

She sat beside me without hesitation, but her usual energy had dimmed slightly.

For a moment, she didn’t respond. Her gaze lingered on my injured arm, eyes tracing over the bandages with a conflicted expression.

“It’s about what happened yesterday,” she finally said in a quieter tone.

She took a deep breath, her gaze briefly dropping to the floor before meeting mine again. Then, with a calm yet deliberate tone, she began to summarize everything.

“I’ve done what I can to handle the situation,” she began.

“My lawyer has already reached out to everyone involved. We secured nondisclosure agreements—along with monetary compensation, of course, especially with the owner of the arcade, who has the CCTV footage of what happened.”

That was… quick. Is that why she made so many phone calls yesterday when we were at the hospital? The sheer efficiency of it all was almost unnerving. I guess this was what money and influence could do.

Almost as if she had read my mind, she continued.

“I had to handle it quickly. The last thing I need is for this to spiral into a media storm. I don’t want any controversy, and frankly,” she paused, studying me, “given your recent actions after the Champion’s Brawl, I assume you’d prefer to stay out of the spotlight, too. Correct?”

I let out a small breath before nodding.

Yeah, she wasn’t wrong. The last thing I needed was for her die-hard fans to turn on me, blaming me for putting her in danger just because I was late to our arcade meet-up. One stab wound was already more than enough for a lifetime! I wasn’t exactly eager to add more to the collection!

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she continued.

“As for the guy who attacked us…” Her voice dropped, carrying a sharper edge now as she fixed her gaze on my bandaged arm.

“I’ve made it clear to my legal team that I want him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He’s not getting away with this. I’ll make sure he rots in jail for the rest of his pathetic, miserable life for what he did to you,” she said, her tone dripping with venom that could probably melt steel.

I nodded, keeping my face as neutral as possible, but inside, deep down? I was internally screaming at how scary this girl could be!

Note to self: Never get on her bad side. Ever.

She took a measured breath before speaking, her tone softer than before—more sincere.

“I wanted to thank you again properly for what you did yesterday,” she said with a steady gaze.

“If it weren’t for you, I might not be standing here right now. So, truly—thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

There was no hesitation in her words, no forced gratitude—just genuine appreciation. And coming from someone like her, that carried weight.

She paused for a moment, as if choosing her next words carefully. Then, after a brief sigh, she continued.

“There’s something else I need to tell you.”

Her demeanor shifted slightly, tension creeping into her posture.

“I… approached you with an ulterior motive. To recruit you into our organization,” she admitted, her voice measured.

I blinked, absorbing the weight of her confession.

“…Why are you telling me this now?”

She met my gaze without wavering.

“It doesn’t feel right to keep it a secret from someone who saved my life,” she said simply.

Silence settled between us for a moment, stretching just long enough for the weight of her words to linger. Then, with a quiet breath, she continued.

“While it’s true that I initially approached you with selfish motives… but now… I genuinely want to be your friend,” she admitted, her gaze searching mine for reassurance.

“I… I hope this doesn’t change anything between us.”

There was a rare vulnerability in her expression as she looked at me square in the eyes.

I exhaled slowly, letting my words come measured.

“I don’t think I could ever be friends with Yuna, though…”

The shift in her posture was immediate. A flicker of disappointment crossed her features, subtle but unmistakable. Her lips parted slightly, but whatever she had planned to say was replaced by a quiet, resigned nod.

“I… I see. That’s understandable, I guess,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The way her shoulders dropped, the slight downward tilt of her gaze—it was clear she was struggling to mask her disappointment. And when I noticed the way her eyes glistened, as if she were on the verge of tears, regret hit me instantly.

Ack! Don’t give me that face! I just wanted to get back at her for the many times she nearly sent me to an early grave with her antics. At this point, I was practically overdue for payback. And the perfect opportunity suddenly fell into my lap. How could I possibly let it go to waste?

Welp, I had my fun—time to wrap it up. My guilty conscience couldn’t stand making her cry.

I softened my tone, offering her a small, knowing smile.

“But I do want to be friends with the real Eun-ha Kang.”

She blinked. It took her a moment, but realization dawned, and the disappointment was swiftly replaced with exasperation.

Catching on to my teasing, she let out an exaggerated pout.

“Hmph. How sly of you,” she muttered, feigning irritation as she discreetly wiped the corner of her eye, making sure I wouldn’t notice.

Something tells me she’s not going to let this slide easily. Should I start writing my last will now?

She let out a small sigh, shifting slightly before speaking again—her tone lighter, as if deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere.

“Still, I don’t suppose you’d reconsider joining our organization? No matter the offer?”

I exhaled, shaking my head slightly.

“…I’m sorry, but I have my reasons. Maybe in time… but not now.”

She studied me for a moment before nodding, though the regret in her expression was hard to miss.

“I understand. Well… I won’t push. I owe you that much.”

She released a shaky breath she had been holding for some time, then, in an instant, her demeanor brightened.

“Well, now that’s settled, I’ll just be direct—I’m spending my last vacation day in this country with you before going back to Korea, so you’d best appreciate it,” she stated with her arms crossed as if bestowing me with some rare privilege, which probably is due to her status.

“I thought you wanted to travel a bit more after your stop in this city?” I asked curiously.

“Well, I did, but after yesterday’s fiasco? I think I’ve had enough of solo traveling for a while,” she replied, waving a hand dismissively.

Yet, despite her casual tone, the tightness in her jaw and the way her fingers flexed betrayed the unease she refused to voice.

“That’s understandable,” I murmured, watching her closely.

What happened yesterday must have shaken her more than she was letting on. Her strong will is admirable.

“Still, I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere today, so I can’t hang out with you,” I said as my gaze dropped to my injured arm.

“Who said anything about going out?” she scoffed.

Before I could even ask what she meant, she straightened her back proudly while puffing out her admittedly lackluster chest.

“I told you I’d check in on you yesterday, didn’t I? That includes making sure you’re properly taken care of today! How lucky you are—to receive the exclusive nursing services of a world-renowned celebrity like me,” she announced.

“I don’t need nursing, though,” I protested weakly.

“Nonsense! You can’t even move your left hand. How are you planning to cook? To eat? Or bathe, for that matter? Let me handle everything,” she said, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark that sent a chill down my spine.

I gulped instinctively. There was no way I was letting her bathe me like some helpless toddler! Was this payback for earlier? She didn’t even give me time to draft my will!

------------------------------

Yuna’s PoV

“Miss Kang, the private jet is prepared for departure.”

The guard accompanying me stood rigidly by the steps, his stance unwavering as he delivered the update.

I glanced at him briefly, then nodded in response. I don’t need to act friendly around him. His loyalty wasn’t mine—it belonged to my father, and that was a problem I intended to fix the moment I landed back in Korea.

The first order of business? Replacing him with someone who doesn’t spy on my every move and understands where their allegiance lies.

As I stepped into the jet, the cool, polished interior greeted me.

The leather seats gleamed under the soft lighting, and the faint hum of the engines was a comforting reminder of the luxury I had grown accustomed to. I sank into one of the plush seats, letting out a sigh that carried the weight of the day’s events.

The day’s events replayed in my mind, and an unbidden smile curved my lips. Spending my last vacation day with Katherine had been an unexpected joy. The simplicity of lounging at a friend’s house, watching movies, and indulging in trivial conversations—it was a rare experience for someone in my position. For once, I had lived the day as an ordinary girl, untouched by expectations and obligations.

Too bad I didn’t get to bathe her—what a missed opportunity. It would’ve been priceless to see her calm, collected expression crumble over something that was embarrassing for her. Oh well, some other time, perhaps.

As I reflected on the day’s events, I was interrupted by the sound of an incoming call from one of my informants.

“Hi~ Hi~! What is it?” I answered promptly.

“Miss Yuna, as per your instructions, we’ve obtained several data leaks regarding the upcoming major patch update,” the informant replied respectfully.

A satisfied smile crossed my lips.

“Oh~! That’s great news! Spill the details!” I chirped excitedly.

He launched into the summary, and my eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The upcoming patch will introduce a colossal Tower stage, featuring over fifty expansive floors, each designed to resemble a miniature city, where competitive guilds will engage in intense battles for dominance.

Additionally, the level cap will be raised to 200, more than doubling the current limit, ushering in a fundamental shift in strategic dynamics. With the introduction of this tower, the game is about to change big time. Players are going to be scrambling for the best gear and weapons, and I’m sure the competition will be brutal.

My informant failed to get data on some other major changes, but he was sure the patch would be implemented right after this season’s guild war.

I leaned back, a grin playing at my lips as I ended the call.

This was a golden opportunity. Maybe I could lend Katherine’s guild a hand with the new patch. She’d definitely appreciate assistance from the guild leader of a top 10 guild like mine, on top of having an AC champion’s privilege.

I could picture now the appreciative look on her face after I helped her guild out in a pinch.

I giggled to myself at the thought, hugging the plush armrest of my seat as I struggled to hide my excitement.

This was going to be fun.