“…”0

Meirin silently stared at the three unexpected drop-ins before shifting her gaze to Se-Hoon. The look in her eyes was demanding an explanation, accusing him of having planned it all along.0

But upon seeing how she was filled with suspicion, Se-Hoon hurriedly waved his hands in denial.0

“I didn’t have any say in this.”0

“…”0

“I’m serious! If I wanted to smuggle the armor out, I’d do it secretly. I’m not dumb enough to do it so openly.”0

“…”0

“I mean… it’s not like I’m their guardian… or anything…”0

Despite his explanations, Meirin’s skeptical look did not go away. Feeling wronged, Se-Hoon sighed.0

So this is why they weren’t replying to my texts…0

In the beginning, he had warned them not to leave Babel recklessly, fearing they’d meet an untimely death. But recently, he had loosened the reins, confident they could handle themselves.0

And now those three who had repaid his goodwill with betrayal stood before him, looking unbearably smug. But while he wanted to smack each of them, oddly enough, he wasn’t actually mad.0

After all, that was just how they were.0

I guess it’s my fault for letting my guard down.0

If a dog ripped apart one’s couch because it hadn't gone on a walk for a long while, whose fault was it? Not the dog but the owner’s, for not taking it out in time.0

Se-Hoon accepted he had been too relaxed, thinking they were more obedient than before. He noted down that he had to talk to them about the matter later, as he had to focus on handling the current situation at the moment.0

At least this isn’t as awful as it could be.0

His primary goal was to secure or destroy the Golden Origin Armor without making an enemy of Meirin. For that end, the hardest part had been getting his hands on it...0