Chapter 51: The Garden and the Ghost of a Name.
The car rolled to a stop before a villa nestled among rolling gardens. Rows of neatly trimmed hedges stretched outward like waves, while the sweet scent of blooming chrysanthemums drifted through the air. The breeze was sharp here-cleaner than the city's stale currents-and it combed through Ren's hair as he stepped out.
Harate gave the place a single sweeping glance, as if returning to familiar territory. "Ren, look around for a while. Luther and I will go meet an old friend."
Ren shoved his hands into his pockets. "Got it."
Luther leaned toward him. "Here."
Ren blinked as a small, slim pocketknife was pressed into his palm. He flipped it open slightly; it was sharp, well-oiled. A small note was wrapped around it.
"Just in case." — Harate.
Ren snorted under his breath, "Paranoid old man."
As Harate and Luther walked away, their figures growing smaller against the villa's grand entrance, Ren wandered. The gravel crunched beneath his shoes. Every corner of the villa was soaked in quiet elegance-garden paths winding like puzzle pieces, lanterns hanging from curved wooden posts, koi swimming in a pond with lazy, glimmering arcs.
Nothing looked dangerous. Not a single shadow twitched in a way it shouldn't.
He tilted his head upward, letting the wind hit his face. That's when he saw her.
A girl stood on a raised stone path, her long hair partially veiling one eye as the wind tossed it about. She was tall-just enough to make Ren instinctively straighten his posture.
For a heartbeat, something sharp coiled in his gut.
'...She looks familiar.'
A flicker of memory flashed in his head.
Yamashiro Ren.
The youngest daughter of the Yamashiro estate. He remembered her eyes-the way she'd once looked at him as if he were some stain on a perfect white cloth. She never raised a hand against him, but her presence alone could cut.
And why? Because they shared the same first name. A childish, petty reason. She'd help him if asked, sure, but not without a heavy sigh that made him feel like an inconvenience simply for existing.
The flash ended with a headache pounding faintly behind his eyes.
'This body's past life... isn't entirely mine. There's a difference here.'
He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Hey. You know where the master of this house is?"
The girl barely glanced at him. With a light shrug, she turned and began combing the area, eyes scanning the ground.
Ren raised a brow. 'She's just gonna ignore me?'
He watched for a few seconds. She wasn't searching aimlessly-her movements had a desperate precision. Finally, he sighed. "What are you looking for?"
She paused, then without turning, answered softly, "A pendant. Green. Oval-shaped."
Ren slipped the knife back into his pocket and joined her. "Got it."
They searched for a good thirty minutes, through hedges, around lanterns, beneath benches. Ren eventually spotted a glint near the base of a plum tree. He crouched and fished it out: a pendant with a deep emerald stone, glimmering faintly in the light.
"Found it."
The girl took it gingerly, holding it against her chest. For a moment, the cold mask she wore cracked; her lips trembled as she whispered, barely audible, "Why did you leave me..."
She straightened and turned to him. "What's your name?"
Ren had been analyzing her-posture, reflexes, muscle tone, eyes-so intently that he didn't notice the sharpness in her gaze until it was too late.
"...Ren."
It was like a switch was flipped. Her eyes grew colder, sharper, as if his very existence had offended something ancient inside her. Instinct roared through him; before he could think, he had the knife in his hand, blade angled low and ready. His gaze mapped out her throat, arteries, weak points.
'If she moves first, I end it in one strike.'
"Ji-eun!"
A sharp voice cut through the tension. A man strode toward them and smacked the girl lightly on the back of the head.
"What the hell are you doing? He's a guest!"
She blinked, startled, and the killing intent evaporated like mist.
The man turned to Ren, hands raised. "Put the knife down. She's not going to hurt you."
Ren muttered under his breath, "Could've fooled me..." but lowered it anyway.
Ji-eun exhaled, rubbing her head. "...Sorry. I didn't realize I was glaring."
"Glaring?" Ren deadpanned. "That was more than glaring."
The man chuckled. "I'm Song Junhyeok. Her personal butler. And this menace is Song Ji-eun."
Moments later, Harate's voice boomed from the villa entrance. "Ren."
Ren turned to see him approaching with Luther at his side. Beside them walked an older man-though calling him old felt wrong. His posture was straight, his presence sharp, like a blade hidden in silk.
Harate stopped before them. "Ren, this is Song Il-Sun. An old friend. He's the master of this villa."
Song II-Sun's eyes swept over Ren with quiet curiosity, but Ren couldn't help thinking, 'Old man? He looks like he could throw me into a wall.'
.
.
.
.
The villa's sliding doors opened with a soft *shff*, releasing a wave of warm air scented faintly with sandalwood and green tea. Ren followed behind Harate and Luther, his steps steady but his head still feeling... fuzzy.
Junhyeok, walking beside him, glanced over. "You look pale. Are you sick?"
Ren sniffed once. "Minor cold. Comes and goes. Makes my thoughts sluggish sometimes."
Junhyeok chuckled lightly. "That explains why you didn't notice Ji-eun glaring daggers at you."
"...I noticed," Ren muttered.
They were led to a large tatami room with wide windows that looked out over the gardens. A low lacquered table sat at the center, already set with porcelain teacups. Ji-eun knelt down wordlessly at the side, while II-Sun took his seat opposite Harate.
Steam rose lazily from the teapot as Junhyeok poured for everyone. Ren sat between Luther and Harate, keeping his movements measured, letting the warm air soak into his skin.
Harate took a sip and let out a pleased hum. "Excellent as always, II-Sun. I don't know what leaves you use, but they're wasted on anyone who doesn't appreciate taste."
II-Sun's lips curled into a small smile. "Trade secret. But I'll make sure to send you some."
Once everyone had their cups, II-Sun leaned back slightly, gaze sliding toward Junhyeok. "Now... What exactly happened outside? I saw Ji-eun's expression when she came in. Ren looked like he'd seen a ghost."
Junhyeok clasped his hands dramatically. "Ah, allow me to narrate."
Ren suppressed a groan.
"In the gardens," Junhyeok began with a mock-serious tone, "our guest here was quietly enjoying the scenery when the great storm-also known as Ji-eun-descended upon him. With hair flowing in the wind and eyes colder than the North Sea, she demanded his name. And upon hearing it... she unleashed a gaze that would freeze the sun itself."
Il-Sun's shoulders started to shake with laughter.
Junhyeok continued, "Ren, of course, responded like a cornered wolf-knife drawn, ready to end a life in an instant. It was beautiful, really. Very romantic, in a psychotic sort of way."
Ren lowered his cup. "...You're enjoying this too much."
II-Sun finally burst out laughing, a deep, unrestrained sound that filled the room. Harate just sighed, though a faint smirk twitched at the corner of his lips.
Ren found himself staring at Il-Sun for a moment. 'If only my old man laughed like that…' His sluggish thoughts drifted lazily, like old men wandering through memories.
Beside him, Harate sighed.
When the laughter died down, Il-Sun turned serious-not cold, but focused. "Well then, let's do proper introductions."
Formal bows and names were exchanged. The air settled, cups were refilled, and Harate finally cleared his throat. "We came here because the Gathering is approaching. I want to know your plans for this year. Since you and I are partners in this, coordination is important."
II-Sun nodded. "I'll be bringing my granddaughter, my wife, and Junhyeok. The usual."
He tilted his head. "And you?"
"I'll bring Ren," Harate said without hesitation. Then, almost as an afterthought, he glanced at Ren. "Though... Ren, who will you bring?"
Ren blinked. "...Me?"
Junhyeok leaned forward with a grin. "In the Gathering, everyone is required to bring one person with them. A companion, support, guard-whatever fits your situation. Master II-Sun brings his wife, while Mister Harate brings butler, Ji-eun brings hers..." He shrugged. "You have to choose someone too."
For a heartbeat, a face flashed through Ren's mind-Shimo's. Clear as day.
He caught himself smiling faintly without realizing.
Junhyeok noticed immediately. "Oh? He's smiling. He's got someone."
Ren straightened, forcing his face back to neutral. 'This body... has some kind of attachment to her.' He decided not to think too deeply about it. "Yeah. I have someone in mind."
"Good," Harate said simply, satisfied.
The conversation meandered into small talk after that, topics brushing over logistics, security, and subtle hints of political maneuvering. Ren mostly listened, cataloging details while sipping the excellent tea.
Finally, Harate glanced sideways at Il-Sun with a mischievous gleam. "By the way, has your granddaughter gotten stronger?"
Il-Sun arched his brow. "Why don't you test it yourself?"
Harate turned his head slowly toward Ren.
Ren froze. "...You can't be serious."
The smirk on Harate's face said he absolutely was.