Chapter 17
Now that she thought about it, Seung-eon had always chosen paths outside the mainstream.
“It’s a rough road.”
When her father decided to personally take over LUKIN amidst rumors of its bankruptcy—
“You’re still too young.”
That was what her grandmother, Lee Joo-ok, the late chairwoman of HG Group, had told her.
“No matter if LUKIN is your father’s company, it could be too heavy a burden for someone as inexperienced as you. Give it up and stay under me. It’s better not to waste your efforts on something pointless.”
Seung-eon had been twenty-five years old.
No sooner had she graduated from college than her beloved parents were killed in an unexpected car accident.
When the doctors had to forcibly deliver Woo-jin from her mother, who had been full-term and pregnant at the time, Seung-eon made a vow.
She would protect, no matter what, everything her parents had left behind.
But there wasn’t much a twenty-something fresh out of school could do. Even being born with a silver spoon in her mouth had its limits.
Just as her grandmother said, if she had stayed under her protection and climbed the ranks of the HG conglomerate step by step, she would have inevitably become one of the group’s top executives someday.
But—
“Grandmother.”
Seung-eon smiled at Chairwoman Lee, whose eyes were cold and sharp.
“It’s not pointless.”
“…What?”
“How could it be pointless to follow in my father’s footsteps?”
“…!”
“I know it won’t be easy. But one day I have to be able to tell Woo-jin—
Even if I couldn’t take our parents’ place, I saved our father’s company for you.”
“…”
“I will make it happen. Without fail.”
LUKIN.
Her father’s legacy.
And Woo-jin.
She would protect them all.
Maybe it was from then on—
She worked herself nearly to death. In fields she barely understood, she clawed her way to survival. When she didn’t have the knowledge, she hired people who could think for her, and somehow endured until now.
A smooth, easy life had been right in front of her, yet she deliberately chose not the road anyone would take, but the more difficult one.
“You want to use me as a beta tester?”
When rumors started to spread about beta testing during the final development stage of Echo,
Seung-eon’s eyes widened when she heard from the Development Team 3 that she had been included as a beta tester.
“I’ve got nothing to do with romance. Why me?”
“That’s exactly why.”
Secretary Chu replied calmly at her surprise.
“With your personality, your reactions will certainly be unusual. They want to be prepared for unique users.”
…Was that a compliment or an insult?
It sounded much more like the latter. Seung-eon had only given a dry laugh.
She’d told them fine—when the beta test started, she’d make time to participate herself.
‘Unusual,’ huh…
The employees’ prediction hadn’t been wrong.
In the first stage, set in the Middle Ages, her chosen companion wasn’t the crown prince who worshipped her, nor a high noble, nor a wealthy merchant, nor even a devout paladin—it was a mere prison guard.
And in the second stage, set in the Joseon era, the person she chose to accompany her again wasn’t a heroic outlaw, a righteous inspector, or a brave bodyguard who crossed swords to win her favor—
It was an ordinary palanquin bearer.
≪<CHOICE 2> Would you like to select Hidden Character No. 928 [Palanquin Bearer Tae-oh]?≫
And when she found out that this palanquin bearer was actually the same “hidden character” she had chosen back in the first stage—
‘Consistent taste, I see.’
She couldn’t help but laugh at her own pine-tree-like steadfast preferences.
“I have a question.”
Apparently, the palanquin bearer, Tae-oh, also found something puzzling.
As they walked a mountain path together, Tae-oh glanced at her now and then, his lips pressed tight for a long while, until he suddenly spoke.
“Why did you follow me, my lady?”
His fine brows furrowed in puzzlement.
Well…
She could have listed several reasons, but the words that came out were—
“I don’t want to walk the road that’s been set out for me.”
It had been an impulsive answer back then, yet it was exactly how her present self still felt.
“If I rely on someone else’s help in that situation, I’ll inevitably owe them. You end up feeling guilty without even realizing it.”
And—
“I hate being in debt more than anything in the world. But if I go with you, I can be completely myself.”
Because this was a choice she made—not anyone else’s.
It wasn’t a road someone else had paved, but one she had carved out herself.
“And, I just realized something.”
Smiling, she leaned in. Surprised by the sudden closeness, Tae-oh froze. Keeping her gaze locked on his, she said—
“Because you’re my type.”
“…What?”
The honest thought slipped out, and she watched his face go visibly flustered.
Of course, Palanquin Bearer Tae-oh didn’t have exactly the same appearance as the medieval prison guard, “Theo.”
But just like Theo in the Middle Ages, this Joseon-era Tae-oh gave off the same vibe.
That was probably why his finely shaped features had burned themselves into her memory and refused to fade—the two were based on the same person.
And up close like this—
‘He’s kind of cute, actually.’
From the way his black pupils trembled at her words, to his twitching nose, to the way his earlobes turned beet-red. He tried so hard not to show his agitation, but his lips pressed tight, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed to calm himself.
Just locking eyes with him made emotions stir that had never moved for anyone else before. Surely there was something wrong with her heart.
“Tae-oh.”
Savoring that indescribable feeling, Seung-eon extended her hand.
“Come with me.”
***
[20XX-10-20 13:08:11] PlayerID: 11221111 — accompanied Hidden Character No. 928
Leaving behind the brawl of men who had blocked the bridal procession,
Seung-eon kept her gaze fixed on Tae-oh, who reminded her so much of Theo.
It’s the same person.
Amazingly, she didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable.
There was no unease, no flinch of repulsion at his touch.
If anything… she felt herself wanting to get closer.
I didn’t understand at first.
She had always worried that even the smallest physical contact with a man might trigger her trauma.
So she had avoided men as much as possible, living a life of restraint and abstinence.
But after meeting Theo, and now spending time with Tae-oh, she had realized—
If it’s possible in the game…
If she could overcome this damned trauma—
Maybe, just maybe, she could do it in real life, too.
“Ah… my lady.”
What she felt now, she was sure her past self as a beta tester had felt as well.
Especially after that one kiss.
Not only had her symptoms eased, but she’d experienced an entirely new sensation—maybe that’s why she had grown bolder.
“Please, stop…”
Ignoring the man’s flustered tone,
In a heated ondol room, Seung-eon inched closer to him. His voice cracked when she drew near.
“P-please stop.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed wildly, his face flushed crimson, clearly at a loss for what to do.
“This… this isn’t right…”
Perhaps trying to avoid her, he refused to meet her eyes. But to his quiet protest—
“…Tell me.”
She asked again—
“Is it really not okay?”
She looked at him intently, as he struggled just to breathe.
