Chapter 68

 

「Master said, “Come here.” Hurry and run to your master.」

 

Before I could even exclaim, my body was thrown into Seong San-ha’s embrace as if it belonged there. Despite the shock, Seong San-ha’s laughter, felt through the vibration against my ear, was palpable.

 

Damn it! Damn it all!

 

Despite shivering from the full-body contact, my body remained still. Seong San-ha’s arms, enveloping my back, seemed to gain strength, but then a voice from nearby was heard before long.

 

“Phew, finally made it. What idiots. Why wait there when going through the back door is easier? Why are there so many people anyway? I only expected one or two.”

 

‘Who’s that? By barely coming in. Does that mean that the tree didn’t block them all?’

 

“Anyway, where’s the interview venue? There’s no one to guide us. Oh well. it’s inevitable for small companies. Ah, these are the stairs… This should be… No, it’s not here. Let’s go up and see first.”

 

The footsteps approached. The voice, after pausing as if in hesitation, moved away.

 

Seong San-ha whispered in my ear, “Sorry. Seems like there was confusion with the barrier when I entered.”

 

The voice flowing through my ears tickled, causing me to tense my neck. Then, realizing I could move now, I exerted force to push Seong San-ha away. It was just a small distance, but it felt much better than a moment ago.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Seong San-ha reached out and tapped my hood and said,

 

“It’s better to focus on finding an item than doing this.”

 

“I’ll handle it, so don’t worry.”

 

I shot back sharply but Seong San-ha was already rummaging through his inventory.

 

‘How many slots does his inventory even have?’

 

Apart from the three basic slots given to Awakeners, the only way to expand the inventory was through special skills or spending money on items. Everyone carried potions or essential items, but Seong San-ha, with the elf wood from last time and even some useless stuff, seemed like a true guild leader.

 

Seongsan-ha’s eyes turned to me with a small admiration of what he found.

 

“It’s because you’re so careless and light-handed. Even if you were caught right now, there wouldn’t be much to say, right?”

 

“What are you trying to say?”

 

Instead of answering, Seong San-ha unexpectedly handed me something. It was a silver ring with intricate engravings.

 

“I used to use this often, but now it seems it’ll be more useful to you. Take it.”

 

“I don’t need it. It probably has some strange function attached to it again.”

 

“I thought we were getting closer, but have I not earned your trust yet? Should I have kneeled down and begged?”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

As if to confirm, Seong San-ha pushed the ring right in front of my eyes. I reluctantly glanced at the sparkling ring reflecting the light and caught it.

 

<Faceless God’s Ring>

 

A ring seen by everyone, yet unknown to anyone. 

 

Allows the wearer to borrow the power of the god.

 

“It’s S-grade.”

 

“What…….? S-grade?”

 

I had anticipated it to be quite decent since Seong San-ha was the one giving it, but S-grade? It was an item that I couldn’t afford to buy even if I had money.

 

‘What kind of abilities does it have?’

 

Until Seong San-ha reached out, I examined the ring’s features, having no idea if it was disguise or cognitive dissonance due to the vague explanation. After taking off their gloves, they raised an eyebrow, then handed over the ring. As I tried to place it on my palm, Seong San-ha cheekily avoided it and instead slipped it onto his fourth finger.

 

“Like this.”

 

I had expected something significant to change once I wore the ring, but Seong San-ha in front of me remained surprisingly the same. Wondering if it hadn’t activated yet, I stared intently until Seong San-ha chuckled and covered my eyes with their hand.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Do you remember my face?”

 

The sudden question made me furrow my brows. Wasn’t he bragging about their good looks to the subject we had been discussing just moments ago?

 

“Try to recall and describe how I look.”

 

“What nonsense. Of course I…! Huh?”

 

As I tried to brush off the hand covering my eyes, Seong San-ha’s face in my mind was wiped out as if erased by an eraser. Stuck in this ridiculous situation, I froze with my arm held.

 

“I just saw you. Why can’t I remember?”

 

No matter how I tried to recall it, it was the same. Faint words surfaced when squeezed out, but that was it.

 

“The hair is like a li-lion’s mane. The face is damn handsome…”

 

As I muttered while still holding onto my arm, a light laughter rang above my confused thoughts.

 

“Damn handsome?”

 

“…Move your hand away. What’s going on?”

 

The hand covering my face dropped. The serene face of Seong San-ha appeared, and the confusion that had clouded my mind vanished as if washed away. Realizing the effect of the item, I looked at the ring with astonished eyes. Seong San-ha removed the ring from my ring finger and explained.

 

“It’s an item with the basic ability of cognitive distortion. People who meet you while you’re wearing the ring can’t remember your exact appearance.”

 

“But I know you.”

 

“Trying to recall my appearance in front of me while wearing the ring creates a contradiction. It’s not a problem if it’s outside the affected range. However, since people who knew you before might remember you as ‘Joo Hohyun,’ you need to be careful.”

 

Why does it have to be so complicated? Ultimately, it means that I need to be careful with people who know Joo Ho-hyun or Kang Eui-jin’s face, right?

 

With a puzzled expression, I looked at the ring and asked, 

 

“Is there anything else? That’s too complicated. Since you’re giving me a gift, you should make it convenient for me too.”

 

“That’s quite the perspective shift.”

 

“I don’t want something that makes me look ugly.”

 

“You need to be reasonable.”

 

As Seong San-ha chuckled and rummaged through the inventory, they glanced at me as if assessing, then scanned my body.

 

“I’m not sure about this.”

 

Seong San-ha took out a bracelet from the inventory and handed it to me. This time, it was an item that definitely changed appearances. To the past or the future of the wearer.

 

“Is this also S-grade?”

 

“It’s A-grade.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

S-grade would have been better. As I swallowed the rest of my words and put it on, a system window appeared before my eyes. Without much thought, I chose the past when prompted to choose between the past or the future. In an instant, my vision dropped downwards.

 

[Time Mirror] has been used.

 

Effect Duration:

 

[00:30:00]

 

“What the hell is this!”

 

Surprised by the sudden appearance of Seong San-ha waist filling my view, I took a step back, intending to retreat, but my foot got caught in my pants and I fell over. 

 

The floor suddenly felt much closer, and my hands seemed smaller. The robe draped over my shoulders felt heavy, as if it hadn’t shrunk like the rest. So, this was what it meant to be in the past? I had turned into a child again.

 

I expected Seong San-ha mockery to follow, but the silence was strange, so I looked up. After gazing upward for a while, I finally saw Seong San-ha’s surprised face.

 

“You…”

 

“I know. Me too. I’ve been handsome since I was young.”

 

I groaned and stood up, leaving Seong San-ha behind.

 

‘This is embarrassing. I can’t take off my clothes…’

 

I wondered if this might be better than the ring after all. With a robe that made it difficult to breathe and a completely different appearance, few people would recognize me. Seong San-ha slowly kneeled down in front of me, looking closely at my face. With one hand, he cautiously reached out and gently touched my face. His touch felt delicate, like handling a precious jewel, making me tense my neck.

 

“You, really…”

 

Seong San-ha’s expression was a mix of ecstasy and discomfort, their eyes shining brightly, seemingly looking past me. I nudged Seong San-ha’s knee with my foot.

 

“Hey! Where are you looking?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Focus. What are you looking at? I’m right here.”

 

Seong San-ha’s mouth slightly opened at my words. The strange feelings that appeared on his face as if splashed with cold water disappeared instantly, replaced by shock.

 

Puzzled by Seong San-ha’s unusual change in expression, I stared at him, but he immediately grabbed my arm and took off the bracelet.

 

“Whoa!”

 

As my body instantly grew to its usual size, I couldn’t handle myself and fell on the ground again.

 

“You… purposely…!”

 

“It’s better not to use this. It doesn’t suit you.”

 

“I don’t care! I want to wear the bracelet!”

 

“No.”

 

That crazy bastard. He seemed a bit kind for a moment, but now he’s being wishy-washy again.

 

‘What an annoying bastard! He gives it, then takes it away?’

 

Instead of the bracelet, Seong San-ha threw the ring at me. As I caught it while keeping my gaze fixed, he lightly shrugged and said, “Remember, it’s useless against someone who already knows your face.”

 

“Just give me the bracelet.”

 

“I’ll leave first. Well then.”

 

Seong San-ha turned around and disappeared. Still dumbfounded, I remained seated on the floor, rubbing my bottom and getting up.

 

“That crazy bastard… But where’s the S-grade?”

 

Come to think of it, if I looked too young, I might be ignored, right?

 

I put on the ring without much thought. Unlike when I wore the bracelet, there was no visible change, but the stability that only an S-grade item could provide was comforting.

 

‘A Faceless God? Who’s that?’

 

As I curiously examined the patterns on the ring, I heard the sound of someone confidently coming down the stairs from above.

 

“Ho-hyun  nim!”

 

“Seung-yeon ah, I’m in here.”

 

“Yes, I’ve finished preparing for the interview…your clothes are all wrinkled!”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon lifted the bangs from my forehead, brushing away the wrinkles on my robe that seemed oddly creased. As he flicked the robe, perhaps noticing my hand, he paused.

 

“Mr. Hohyun, what’s that ring? I didn’t see it earlier…”

 

“Seong San-ha gave it to me. He said people who see it won’t remember my face. Now I can move around outside more comfortably.”

 

“Did the Cheon Rang Guild Master visit?”

 

“Yeah, he just left.”

 

“He visits… often.”

 

“Yeah, it’s annoying.”

 

Stretching my arms out and arching my back, I glanced upward.

 

“Are you ready for the interview?”

 

“Yes. There are no more applicants who meet the requirements.”

 

“Great. Let’s go.”

 

Let’s go see some of the faces we’re going to work with. 

 

We excitedly stepped up the stairs.