"What?"

The bread slipped from my hand and dropped back onto the plate. For a bit, I genuinely thought I had heard her wrong.

She was sitting in the chair beside me and her hands were folded near her lap while Elena slowly lowered her cup.

And when she looked at Viora, the atmosphere instantly became more intense.

"You want to do what?" Elena asked in a cold and low tone.

Viora let out a sigh before repeating what she had said earlier, but this time with much more confidence. "I want to go outside with Woo Jin today."

Meanwhile, my brain was already spiraling with endless thoughts.

Outside? TODAY?!

NO. Absolutely not. I am supposed to go to the Goblin Gate today. There is no way I can take Viora with me while also secretly meeting with Black and entering the Gate.

Elena shouldn’t agree to this no matter what. No, wait. What if she also insisted on coming with us too? That would be worse and I don’t want that to happen at any cost.

Elena narrowed her eyes slightly while observing Viora’s expression.

"Outside?"

"Yes," Viora nodded slightly, "it’s been so long so I want to walk around the city."

That... actually made sense. Since she had been stuck at the hospital for what felt like eternity to her.

And now, she probably didn’t want to stay trapped inside a room all day. But still, why today? Why not tomorrow or the day after that?

I had to interrupt this conversation before it reached its final point. I covered my mouth with my hand and forced a cough.

"Ahem— Viora, shouldn’t you rest a little more first?"

I said in an attempt to change the topic but Viora tilted her head toward my direction and responded, "But I already rested."

That was technically true. She slept almost the entire evening and night yesterday so she might be feeling fresh after so long.

What should I say now?

I just kept looking at her and she also didn’t move her face back toward Elena who was quietly resting her chin against her hand and looking between us.

"Ahem," after a few seconds, she brought us back to reality. I don’t know why there is always this awkward silence whenever Viora and I try to speak to each other.

But I shouldn’t worry about it for now since I have this matter to take care of right now.

"You want Woo Jin to accompany you?" Elena began and Viora replied with a simple, "Yes."

"And nowhere else?"

"Nowhere dangerous..."

Why did Viora’s answer sound so suspicious? Even Elena seemed to think the same because one of her brows rose slightly.

’Yes, it all sounds suspicious so don’t agree with Viora going outside. I will take her out once I come back but not now.’

Meanwhile, I was sweating internally hoping Elena would reject Viora but unfortunately...

"Fine... be back before lunch."

My heart almost stopped. ’Really? She agreed just like that?’

"But—"

Thank God, Elena continued before Viora could react or I could think any further.

"You are only allowed nearby. No crowded places. No strange alleys. And Woo Jin—"

While speaking, her sharp gaze instantly locked onto me.

"—if anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible."

She finished her words which made me baffled. "Why me... specifically?"

"Because she follows you around like a lost kitten." Elena replied and Viora denied it immediately in response. "I do not."

She said that while she was sitting so close to me that our arms were touching each other because she had pulled her chair closer to me before sitting.

Elena stared at the whole situation and just like yesterday only said these words, "Of course."

I looked away to hide my embarrassment while Viora slowly moved herself away only slightly to not make contact with me.

"Then it’s settled." Elena stood up while picking up her coffee cup. "I have work. Behave yourselves."

Before leaving, however, she suddenly paused near the stairs.

"Oh, and Woo Jin."

"Yeah?"

"If you secretly enter another Gate after everything that happened recently..." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "...I will personally break your legs."

"..."

"..."

Viora slowly turned toward me. "You enter Gates secretly?"

"W-What? No. Of course not. I am not insane."

Well, except for the fact that I maybe considering going to one.

Elena gave me one last suspicious look before finally walking away. The moment she went away, silence fell over the dining room.

"She definitely knows." I muttered in a really low voice while covering my face. "There is no way that was random."

Even though I know who she is and how she knows everything, I still couldn’t believe it. From now on I have to be more discreet.

Meanwhile, beside me, Viora lightly tugged my sleeve and leaned in closer before whispering.

"So... when are we going to leave?"

I slowly turned and looked at her. Honestly, she sounded excited. Not overly excited. Just... a bit. And somehow, that expression alone made it harder to refuse her.

"After a few minutes."

My reply made a small smile appear on her lips instantly. She lowered her head slightly and covered her mouth.

"Hehehe, okay."

Hearing that soft laugh this early in the morning felt strangely nice. I mean a bit too nice.

Which was exactly why another thought suddenly appeared in my mind.

’How the hell am I supposed to secretly enter a Gate later while taking care of her too?’

The more I thought about it... the more doomed I felt. On one side, there was Black and the Goblin Gate. On the other... there was this blind girl beside me who somehow wanted to spend the entire day outside with me.

Honestly, I didn’t know whether to be happy or cry about this.

"Woo Jin," Hearing Viora’s voice, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her.

"What?"

"Why are you sighing so much?" she asked.

"Am I sighing?"

"You have sighed three times already." she said.

I subconsciously touched my throat while I tilted my head slightly toward her.

What kind of ears does she have?

"Are you troubled?" she spoke again but I just denied it. "No."

"You are lying." Her response came way too quickly as if she was sure of it. And before I could even defend myself, she continued speaking in a calm voice. "Your breathing changes when you lie."

I stared at her face for a moment before looking away.

’Enhanced hearing my ass. This is basically a lie detector.’

Meanwhile, Viora lightly moved her chair even closer. The sound of wood scraping against the floor echoed through the dining room.

"Why are you moving closer again?"

"I wasn’t close enough."