Chapter 3: A Web of Sweet Lies

Cheongshin was the one who had approached him first. He had adopted an exceptionally amiable demeanor, speaking of ‘realization’ while poring over intricate blueprints. This could only mean…

“Ah, you’re so incredibly beautiful…”

A low, hushed voice reached Doyoo’s ears, startling him back to full awareness. He quickly scanned his surroundings. The only person nearby was Cheongshin, standing right beside him.

As their eyes met, Cheongshin blinked and tilted his head, as if asking what was wrong. His lustrous black hair swayed gently in a timely gust of wind.

“Excuse me, but did you just say something?”

“Me? No, Senior, I didn’t say anything.”

His blinking, feigning complete ignorance, was like a scene from a painting. Doyoo narrowed his eyes. For a fleeting moment, a chill ran down his spine from the incredibly low voice he’d heard. It was exactly the kind of voice Cheongshin would produce if he deliberately lowered his tone.

“I must have misheard.”

However, Doyoo dismissed his suspicion. There was no way Cheongshin would tell him he was “incredibly beautiful.”

After all, they had just met. Doyoo simply brushed it off, attributing it to the accumulated fatigue from his arduous month and a week of hardship finally catching up to him.

“More importantly, Senior.”

“Yes?”

“I heard you’ve been inviting other juniors to work on their graduation projects with you, but you haven’t said anything to me.”

Cheongshin’s words made his intention abundantly clear. Doyoo blinked rapidly, his heart beginning to pound.

“Will you work on the graduation project with me…?”

“Of course. I genuinely want to, Senior. To be your partner.”

Cheongshin’s resolute declaration of his intent to collaborate on the graduation project was precisely the demeanor Doyoo had been so desperately seeking.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Doyoo did something a ‘nerd’ would never have done.

“Se-Senior?”

“Thank you so much!”

Doyoo, gripping Cheongshin’s hand tightly with both of his, beamed broadly. However, his smile remained hidden from Cheongshin, obscured by his mask and horn-rimmed glasses.

Cheongshin stared blankly, his gaze shifting between Doyoo’s sparkling eyes and the hands clutching his own. Unaware that the handsome man’s cheeks were subtly flushing, Doyoo spoke in a bright tone.

“Please take care of me!”

“Ah… The pleasure is all mine… Please take care of me too.”

Watching Cheongshin respond with a dazed expression, Doyoo felt a surge of certainty internally.

‘If the culprit is indeed a student at the academy, they would likely possess an appealing face that easily wins people over, and an ability to effortlessly manipulate others through their actions.’

Lee Cheongshin perfectly fit the description of the individual Team Leader Seong Heeyu had advised him about before infiltrating the academy.

Simultaneously, his extensive experience from numerous field operations as part of the Kadan Mage Association’s Special Division whispered to Doyoo.

This guy was the ‘lawbreaker’ Kadan had been searching for all this time.

That was why Doyoo gripped Cheongshin’s hand so tightly.

With eyes sparkling like sunlight on water, he looked at Cheongshin, whose cheeks seemed to have flushed even deeper, and made a firm resolution.

He vowed to uncover this guy’s secrets and return to headquarters.

After exchanging contact information with Cheongshin, scheduling a meeting to discuss their project in earnest, and returning to his infiltration lodging, Doyoo excitedly sent a message to Seong Heeyu that very day.

[I think I’ve finally caught a tail.]

He received this reply in return:

[Don’t act rashly until you’re absolutely certain. Haha.]

The two consonants the team leader used, the repeated ‘ㅎ’s, sent a shiver down Doyoo’s spine. He understood the implied meaning behind thoses.

It was a warning not to act impulsively and make foolish mistakes, and a metaphorical threat that if he let go of the tail he’d just caught, Seong Heeyu would personally kill him.

Doyoo’s excitement was short-lived. He quickly composed himself and sent a humble reply.

[Understood. I will be careful.]

No reply came.

The next day, Doyoo practically ran to the cafe where he was scheduled to meet Cheongshin, arriving long before their appointed time. It was fifty minutes before their meeting, yet he felt he had no time to spare.

His mind was racing, preoccupied with the task of installing the recorder and miniature camera he’d packed in his bag, and ensuring they were undetectable by Cheongshin, a mage.

“Welcome!”

As the door chimed open, an employee greeted Doyoo warmly. Doyoo instinctively opened his mouth to reply, then remembered the [Nerd Manual]’s instruction that ‘nerds do not verbally respond.’ He merely nodded his head. He then turned to find a suitable spot to set up the recorder and camera.

Their eyes met.

Doyoo froze on the spot, then barely managed to collect himself and check the time. Their appointment was for 11:00 AM. The current time was 10:13 AM. But why? The face he was supposed to see at 11:00 AM was already here.

“Senior Doyoo!”

At the sound of Cheongshin’s voice, calling Doyoo with such a lively expression, those who had already been glancing at Cheongshin now looked at Doyoo. Doyoo bowed his head low, like a chicken pecking at feed, and made his way to Cheongshin.

“Hello, Senior.”

It was the same greeting as yesterday, yet Cheongshin’s voice was distinctly brighter. Now that Doyoo looked, it wasn’t just his voice. While Cheongshin always seemed to radiate light even at the academy, today he appeared exceptionally brilliant. Doyoo sat opposite him and cautiously inquired.

“Did I, by any chance, suggest we meet at 10?”

“No. You said 11, Senior.”

“But you’re already…”

He wanted to ask, ‘Are you already here? Are you that free? Or is it because you’re the culprit, eager to sink your teeth into your prey?’ But Doyoo swallowed his words.

Nerd’s shouldn’t ask too many questions. He knew that if he revealed his true identity and lost the tail before catching it, Seong Heeyu would personally wring his neck, making him even more cautious.

“Because I wanted to see you, Senior. Didn’t you come early because you wanted to see me too?”

“…”

‘Why is he smiling so sweetly?’

Doyoo lowered his gaze, observing Cheongshin as he rested his chin on both hands and smiled brightly.

He did so to avoid revealing his watchful gaze. Meanwhile, a chilling thought struck him: ‘Could Cheongshin also be here to set up a recorder or camera, just like me?’ His heart plummeted.

“Well, it doesn’t matter either way. Please, sit down, Senior.”

“…Okay.”

“What would you like to order? If you like coffee, how about some? I hear their blending here is quite good.”

“I can’t drink coffee…”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t drink it, but he disliked it. He had no desire to spend money on bitter, black liquid, so Doyoo refused. Cheongshin narrowed his eyes and offered a peculiar smile.

“So, Senior can’t drink coffee. Do you like sweet drinks, then?”

“No. I don’t really like sweet things either.”

In truth, he adored sweets, to the point of carrying candy in his bag every day, yet Doyoo effortlessly spouted the lie.

“Then perhaps you like tea?”

“Yeah…”

‘This is strange,’ Doyoo thought.

Cheongshin seemed poised to take notes the moment Doyoo’s attention wavered.

Cheongshin’s questions grew increasingly probing, to the point where Doyoo couldn’t help but recall how cults in the past would delve into a new target’s preferences to gain their favor.

“If it’s tea, do you prefer black tea? Herbal tea? Traditional tea? What kind do you like?”

“I like all kinds of tea, indiscriminately.”

“I see. But if you had to pick a favorite among them?”

“Hmm, black tea…?”

“You like black tea. Which type of black tea do you prefer? There are so many kinds, like Darjeeling, Assam, Earl Grey, Keemun, Uva. Their origins differ, and their harvest seasons vary slightly. Do you drink it straight, or as milk tea? Oh, do you have a preferred brand?”

He had just thrown out a casual answer, never expecting such a barrage of questions in return. Doyoo had intended to subtly unsettle Cheongshin today, but he now realized it was impossible.

Cheongshin was already unsettling Doyoo.

In truth, Doyoo knew absolutely nothing about black tea. The only kind he was familiar with was Earl Grey.

Even that wasn’t thorough knowledge. A colleague from the Special Division enjoyed Earl Grey, which led Doyoo to try various Earl Grey-based foods, but honestly, Doyoo was one of those people who thought all tea tasted like the same watered-down flavor.

“Earl Grey… I like it.”

“Ah, I see. I like it too, Senior.”

Fortunately, Cheongshin, who Doyoo had expected to bombard him with more questions, did not pose any further inquiries.

He simply wore a charming smile that suited his face perfectly. Doyoo paused, considering how to respond, then hesitantly opened his mouth.

“…I see. You like tea too.”

“Yes. I like it, Senior.”

It felt as if he was placing particular emphasis on the phrase, ‘I like it, Senior.’

What on earth was that about? Doyoo tilted his head, sensing a subtle strangeness.

He grew even more puzzled when he saw Cheongshin’s jaw clench in response to his action, but unable to ask directly, Doyoo shifted his gaze to the menu.

“I’ll have this. You’re still here, though.”

“Yes. Senior, that’s a milk tea, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll go order it.”

“No, please, stay seated. I’ll go.”

“No, it’s fine—”

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Cheongshin swiftly rose from his seat. As Doyoo started to stand with him, Cheongshin shook his head. After a moment’s hesitation, Doyoo settled his shifting weight back onto the chair and sat down.