“…It’s too complicated. I’ll tell you when I return to my original size.”

[……]

“I-It’s true.”

Seo Dawon squinted at my awkward expression–

[You can’t even tell me who gave it to you?]

“…R-Rather than being unable to, I…”

[Is it someone I know?]

“……”

Seo Dawon continued to question me, but I only pulled back with an awkward smile. Although, of course, he gripped me straight away so I couldn’t retreat any further.

Seo Dawon watched me sweat before eventually placing me on the desk with a long sigh. I felt a bit more comfortable when the soles of my feet touched the firm surface. I glanced up at him while loosening the handkerchief draped around my shoulders.

However, after releasing me from his hands, the Mage asked a completely random question–

[Who do you like better–the person who gave you that ring or me?]

“What?”

[It’d be best to answer me honestly.]

Seo Dawon tapped me on the head. I stumbled, frowned, and grabbed his fingertips, “Are you threatening me?”

[That’s impossible.]

“I told you to not treat me like some toy!”

[Did the guy who gave you the ring treat you better than I do?]

Once I realized that Seo Dawon was being unfairly grumpy and unjustly bullying me, I pushed him away as hard as I could. Grinning, he asked persistently–

[Is that your answer?]

My hands shook at the despicable question, but I still had an excuse ready. I spoke clearly, staring back at the Mage, “…Of course, the person I like is…! Seo Dawon…”

[Your expression begs to differ.]

Though he listened to me, his doubtful face didn’t lighten.

Of course, the Seo Dawon I mentioned wasn’t the person in front of me. I liked the Seo Dawon that was less arrogant, more cynical, and needed me more.

However, I didn’t hate this guy either. So, I was able to answer with confidence, “I didn’t lie.”

[….Hm.]

“So, you should confess too! You have to say it properly, alright?” I grabbed his sleeve and shook it, my thoughts still focused on Bang Eunji. It was clear from the Mage’s expression that he was still suspicious of me, but he eventually smiled and said–

[Fine. Then, listen carefully.]

“Y-Yes?” I gulped down my saliva, put my hands together, and lifted my head to stare back at him. He returned my gaze before calling out to me with a sweet tone–

[Lee-kyung-ah.]

“……”

[You’re a bit suspicious, timid, and stupid, but…]

“……?”

[But still, from now on, I need you to stay by my side.]

“……”

I waited patiently for him to continue, but, no matter how much I stared at him, the Mage’s lips remained closed.

Eventually, I asked him again, brows furrowed, “….Wait. That’s it?”

[Yeah.]

Seo Dawon’s answer was obnoxiously short. Dumbfounded, I asked in a bewildered tone, “This… Hey! Is this a confession to you?”

[Of course. How could I be more honest than this?”

I screamed at his response, “Who talks like this to someone he likes?”

At this point, Bang Eunji naturally wouldn’t appear.

I shook Seo Dawon’s sleeve again in protest. I wanted to get this over with and receive a proper confession, but the Mage merely looked down at me with a smile.

“Don’t just smile and ignore me!”

[What do you mean, ‘ignore?’]

I almost lost all reason with that nonchalant response. In the end, I soothed my anger by inwardly stating that I was the one who made the mistake. Trying to take the wind out of my temperamental sails, I asked in a warm tone, “You’re not going to say anything like ‘I like you,’ or something similar?”

[Ahhh… You wanted to hear something like that?]

“I-Isn’t that obvious?! That’s a real confession.” I nodded happily, thinking that Seo Dawon finally understood my words. But…

[But I don’t want to? I have my own pride. Isn’t it a bit weird to confess to a guy who won’t take off a ring given to him by some other bastard?]

“Hey…! This is… There’s a reason for this!”

[I know. That’s why I haven’t cut off your finger and let the matter lie.]

“Argh…!”

He kept playing games with me until the very end.

Fed up, I tried to kick his finger angrily. However, as soon as I kicked, he moved his hand backwards, and I almost stumbled.

I barely managed to regain my balance; my body trembled in anger. Forced to recall his words, I placed a little strength on the ring; surprisingly, the ring slipped off my finger.

I clenched it in my fist and shouted at the Mage, “Is that enough?!”

[……]

Seo Dawon held back his laughter, shoulders trembling, but he couldn’t hold out for a very long time. Eventually, his laughter erupted.

Then, before I could curse him even more, he held me in his hand, lifted me up, and gently pressed me with his thumb–so disgustingly sweet.

[You’re so cute, Lee-kyung-ah.]

“Shut up.”

[Really? You don’t want to hear a confession from me?]

“Eeek… Fine, do it quickly!”

Seo Dawon giggled and poked my anxious cheeks. However, there was still a long way to go before a confession was given. Seo Dawon looked at me with a mysterious expression before making a perverted remark.

[I want to put you in my mouth and roll you around.]

“…That’s not it. Say it properly!”

[Your crying face is also to my taste.]

“…I knew it. You perverted bastard… You teased me a few times just to make me cry, you…”

[But you still like me, don’t you?]

“……”

[Say you like me until I’m satisfied.]

I glared at Seo Dawon’s arrogance. Though it wouldn’t be too difficult because he wore the face of the man I loved, this behavior was just too annoyingly similar to the real Seo Dawon. “I won’t do it! You’ll keep saying it’s not enough anyway.”

Seo Dawon laughed after I spoke and soon muttered some piercing remarks to himself–

[Rather than it not being enough… For some reason, I think you’ll disappear if I say I like you.]

“….What?”

[So, I don’t want to say it.]

Of course, I only had thoughts of returning to my original world after hearing his confession and signing the contract… The confession was basically the means for me to sign with Bang Eunji.

How on earth did he know about that?

Startled, I couldn’t hide my agitation and looked up at him blankly; Seo Dawon smiled sharply when our eyes met. He rubbed my chest as he pressed down slightly.

[Your heart is beating incredibly fast.]

“…No…”

[I see you can’t lie. I wonder where you were thinking of disappearing to.]

“…N-No. I said it’s not that. You misunderstand…”

Although I denied it all belatedly, Seo Dawon’s thoughts were already far away. Conviction steeled, he whispered to me with a languid smile–

[I want to put handcuffs on you instead of rings.]

“What?”

[After all, someone managed to lose you even though they gave you a ring.]

With that said, he kissed me on the chin. I looked at him bewildered, but I couldn’t wriggle out of his hand.

With me still in his grasp, the Mage took a very small box out of his inventory. The box was blocked by bars on all sides; anyone could see that it resembled a mouse-trap.

I looked at the thing, eyes wide open in disbelief; Seo Dawon opened the lid of the box without any hesitation. He then tried to place me inside. I shouted desperately, struggling in fear…afraid of being stuck in that trap. “Hey…! Don’t tell me, you… It’s not true, right? This really isn’t what I think it is, Seo Dawon. Hey! Seo Dawon!”

[About the ring you’re wearing.]

“What?”

[I made it myself.]

“…Huh?”

[Did the ‘Seo Dawon’ you like not tell you about that?]

I was both surprised and suffocated by those words.

How and when did the Mage before me notice? I looked up at his smiling face and opened my mouth, but I couldn’t think of anything to say.

And I became increasingly afraid of him. To be exact, I felt a vague anxiety that the level of this [Vengeful Ghost Memory] had exceeded my expectations.

And, as I expected, Seo Dawon was no longer wearing the Mage’s facade. As he pushed me into the trap, his face had blackened where most of his features should be.

“You…”

[That’s why…]

However, his voice was still that of the lovely Seo Dawon. This unidentified anomaly whispered to me, imitating my beloved Mage.

[When the handcuffs are finished…]

“…….”

[I’ll say I like…I love you as much as you want.]

The trap closed with a snap as soon as his sentence ended, and I was plunged into a narrow darkness.