Chapter 151

“It’s just as you said.”

Following the stalker girl’s advice, Erica emerged from the apartment building and spotted someone hiding relatively inconspicuously but clearly watching this way.

A figure, concealing their face with a cap pulled low and a mask, was sitting in a chair while intermittently glancing toward the apartment exit.

Had the girl not warned her earlier, Erica might have simply assumed this person was waiting for someone and left it at that. But recalling the girl’s words, Erica deduced this individual was likely a reporter.

Regardless of whether this person was actually a reporter or not, with Han Ye-seul not around, Erica felt no need to tread carefully. As she reached into her pocket for her phone to hail a taxi, an idea struck her.

If Han Ye-seul had truly triumphed over [them] single-handedly and brought her here…

And if the stalker girl could deduce that Han Ye-seul had brought Erica here, then this paparazzi might have reached the same conclusion.

Perhaps this person assumed Erica had some sort of relationship with Han Ye-seul.

The moment this thought crossed her mind, Erica noticed the presumed paparazzi—a shadowy figure—but they were already rising from their seat and sprinting directly toward her.

‘So that was her warning.’

Remembering the girl’s forewarning, Erica attempted to evade but was unsuccessful.

Erica’s “protection” could be likened to the affection of some supreme being. While some affections brush past and fade, the protection bestowed by this supreme, esteemed being clung tightly.

Unlike her previous encounter where she had repurposed her protection into an offensive weapon, Erica’s body now lacked the strength to run away.

“I, uh… I have something I need to discuss with you…”

Before she could flee from the approaching mysterious individual, Erica was grabbed, forcing her into an unwilling conversation with the darkly cloaked stranger whose voice revealed her to be female.

Had the paparazzi following Han Ye-seul been male, they would likely have been accused of stalking and detained by the police already…

A thought struck Erica: if the unknown assailant from before was Candidate A for a stalker, and the someone she encountered leaving Han Ye-seul’s house was B, perhaps this person, who could be either a stalker disguised as a paparazzi or simply a stalker, was C.

Thus, Han Ye-seul’s request to her—.

‘It’s just like when I was deducing the identity of the school’s former queen.’

There might—or might not—be a culprit among these people. But if she so wished, Erica could easily misidentify one of them as the perpetrator. The situation mirrored a past scenario where she had uncovered a crime.

“Are you familiar with Han Ye-seul?”

Despite the woman’s obscured face, Erica could discern her emotions clearly.

This woman’s current expression exuded confidence, someone who believed they had uncovered a compromising secret.

“I don’t care who Han Ye-seul is.”

Had she claimed ignorance about Han Ye-seul, the other party might have countered with how one could possibly be unaware of such a popular idol. But if Erica claimed familiarity, they would probe further for details.

Trapped between these options, Erica opted for indifference. To her, Han Ye-seul was nothing significant, the kind of high-and-mighty dismissal one might expect.

While Erica thought she was merely pretending disinterest in Han Ye-seul, to the person approaching her, it wasn’t pretend.

This wasn’t acting; it was a genuinely dismissive aura. The atmosphere surrounding Erica, suggesting she’d retaliate if pushed too far, froze the paparazzi in place. This was the same paparazzi who had tried to fabricate scandalous stories and even tamper with witness testimony.

Pushing off the paparazzi’s hand resting on her shoulder, Erica walked away at a deliberate, slow pace.

—Though it was less about walking slowly and more about trying to escape as quickly as possible, without arousing suspicion.

Overwhelmed by Erica’s demeanor, the paparazzi, who had initially chased after her, decided against pursuing and instead took one last photo, perhaps believing Erica was hiding something incriminating.

*

The moment she exited the apartment compound, a girl hailed a taxi and arrived home, frantically packing essentials she might need elsewhere.

Fortunately for Erica, the house’s spacious luggage held everything she needed and still had room to spare.

While the suitcase wasn’t large enough for a computer, Erica managed to pack her unused laptop, ensuring she could continue gaming wherever she relocated.

“Well, it has to be done…”

Before leaving, Erica made sure to turn off the gas, unplug electrical appliances, ate or discarded the food left by Inna in the fridge, ticking all items off her departure checklist.

Once satisfied, Erica opened the door—

“You should tell your sister before leaving.”

Standing there, as if waiting for this moment, was her “sister,” obliging Erica to engage in conversation.

The reason Erica packed her belongings so hastily was to avoid this exact situation.

Believing the house’s CCTV would alert the other side of her planned departure, she’d hurriedly prepared to leave.

However, contrary to her expectations, her sister’s response was immediate, leaving them face-to-face.

While her sister gazed down at Erica with an unwavering stare, Erica, still shaken by the previous day’s shocking words, avoided eye contact, focusing instead on the floor.

It is said that looking into the eyes of a fearsome beast can invoke terror—regardless of gender.

Though the specifics were unclear, this woman had consumed a person. Even with supposed justifications, it was evident how terrifying she really was, potentially capable of a “bad ending” for Erica.

Thus, Erica rationalized her fear as unavoidable.

“Who are you leaving for? Not Inna, I assume. Are you returning to Lee Seo-ra? And when will you come back?”

Even in a normal sibling relationship, a sister would naturally worry about her younger sister leaving and seek clarification, yet Erica interpreted these questions differently.

To her, they sounded like a chilling threat—if she divulged her plans, this “sister” might eat the person she intended to visit.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll consider this a violation of your promise. You agreed never to leave this house willingly.”

Was this an ordinary sense of betrayal from someone hearing of human consumption for the first time?

Or was it a heightened intuition, strengthened by the “erosion of bl**d,” warning her again?

Erica couldn’t pinpoint why she felt such fear but remained silent, tightly clenching her jaw.

This “promise”—its details were unknown to her.

Though she knew it restricted her sister’s actions, she refused to betray whoever had helped her, regardless of circumstances.

For this current girl occupying the body, and for the heart the body’s original owner left behind.

“Fine, then. Consider the deal we previously made null and void. You can return to this house or not—it’s still your home. Just remember, the agreement is now terminated.”

Her sister’s words carried a superficial warmth, yet Erica noticed a fleeting glimmer of menace in her eyes before they softened again.

Unaware of this change, Erica nonetheless sensed the decisive finality in her sister’s words and looked up in defiance.

“Shouldn’t you at least inform me of the content before terminating any agreement?”

Though Erica’s gaze had only shifted from the floor to her sister’s knees, it signified newfound confidence, leading her to challenge her sister’s decision—unaware of the potential fury it might provoke.

“You truly haven’t changed a bit since then. You’re still that little child who, despite knowing they’re weaker, persists in demanding their desires.”

As Erica began to rise, her sister pressed down firmly on her head to prevent her from doing so.

“I’ll never tell you the content of the promise. Not unless you give me what I desire. If you wish to know the details…”

“Then find out what I truly desire from you first.”

With those parting words, the sudden visitor vanished as abruptly as she had appeared.

Recalling the cold sensation of the fingers that had pressed against her head, Erica rumpled her hair and returned to Han Ye-seul’s residence.