# Side Story 1
Kay, who had decided to leave ‘Alice,’ gradually prepared to depart. The first thing he did was to inform the executives of this fact. At a meeting convened by Haylen, Kay told everyone everything. They looked at him with fluctuating gazes, seemingly confused by Kay’s words.
But after a short while, they eventually came to understand Kay.
“Does this mean we won’t see you anymore?”
“If you’ll allow it, I’ll come visit.”
Kay smiled at Melia, who wore a bitter smile, telling her not to worry. He had decided to leave ‘Alice,’ but he didn’t intend to cut ties with these people. However, now that he would no longer be associated with the organization, he couldn’t freely request meetings.
So he gave them the choice. Fortunately, everyone told him to come visit anytime, without showing any sign of hesitation.
“Have you decided where to go?”
“I plan to wander here and there for now.”
Rather than making detailed plans, he wanted to go wherever his feet took him. But for some reason, all the executives’ faces stiffened at Kay’s words. Although Haylen was calmly observing the situation.
“…You’ve never traveled before, right?”
“…No.”
Kay nodded glumly at Alex’s careful question. The way they were looking at him somehow felt like they were regarding him as a clueless child.
“I guess we don’t have to worry about you getting robbed…”
Alex began to subtly express his concerns towards Kay. He failed to notice Kay’s darkening expression.
“Do you have any sense of money…?”
“How would he?”
Alex tilted his head as his words trailed off. Fenil sighed and answered him. Irritated by Fenil’s response, which showed not even a moment’s consideration, Kay frowned and spoke up. He understood they were concerned, but this was going too far.
“…I do have it.”
“As if you would. Just spend the money since you have plenty anyway. If you run out, Boss will probably give you more.”
Fenil spoke firmly with an expression that showed she didn’t trust him at all. Kay felt wronged. It was true that he didn’t have proper experience. He had lived on the streets as a child, and afterward, he had been with the organization continuously.
But this was something he could learn from now on. He wasn’t so foolish that he couldn’t do anything. He could take things one step at a time, but for them to treat him like this. What exactly did these people think of him?
Kay let out a shallow sigh and was about to refute when—
“Of course.”
—if only Haylen hadn’t naturally continued. At the words that he would give his entire fortune if Kay wanted, Kay momentarily lost his ability to speak. The fact that Haylen didn’t deny it meant that he also viewed him in the same way.
Fenil burst out laughing when she saw Kay blankly staring at Haylen. Kay might think they were overreacting. But they couldn’t help but be anxious.
If he left ‘Alice,’ many things would be different from now. For example, they wouldn’t be able to help Kay like before. And they wouldn’t be able to see the executive Kay who would immediately deploy just by being called.
Because Kay was no longer an insider. Nothing could be carelessly overlooked. They would be able to meet or help Kay only after verifying the truth of everything.
“…Aren’t you worried, Boss?”
Fenil tilted her head at Haylen’s extremely gentle expression, thinking that he would surely have the same concerns as she did.
At her words, Kay observed Haylen. Now that he was conscious of it, Haylen was indeed excessively calm.
Not just now. Even when he said he wanted to live a normal life, Haylen had consistently remained as usual, without showing any sign of concern. Kay had expected him to be at least a little anxious.
Unable to understand the reason, Kay waited for Haylen’s words. He opened his mouth with an awkward smile at the focused gaze.
“I’m not… worried.”
“Why? There’s no better example of a child left by the riverside.”
When Fenil frowned, Haylen momentarily fell into contemplation. It was evident that he was considering how to express this.
“I’m going with him.”
“Ah…, then that’s—”
Alex nodded without much thought at Haylen’s flowing words, then stopped mid-sentence. Alex, who turned his stiff neck to look at him, opened and closed his mouth. Suddenly, a suffocating silence filled the room. Alex barely came to his senses and gave an awkward smile.
“What? I misheard, right?”
“If you heard that I’m going with him, you heard correctly.”
Alex thought it might have been an auditory hallucination, but Haylen’s subsequent words confirmed that what he heard was true. It seemed no one knew about this, as even Kay stared at Haylen with a surprised expression.
“…Are you serious?”
Unlike the light atmosphere just a moment ago, Alex spoke with an expressionless face.
“Do I look like someone who would joke about this?”
Indeed, as he said, he wasn’t someone who would make such pointless jokes. But Haylen had said he would follow Kay. Alex could immediately understand the meaning of those words. With a voice full of tension, Alex opened his mouth.
“…What about the organization?”
Despite his question, his voice, filled with anxiety, suggested he already knew the answer. Haylen moved his lips slightly. An emotion filled with apology briefly passed through his eyes.
“…I plan to quit.”
“Boss?”
Kay hurriedly called out to him. It was something he had never heard before. Haylen quitting the organization. So was this why he had evaded the question when asked if he would continue to stay in the organization?
Kay’s attitude of staring at Haylen in confusion was the same as everyone else’s. Hoping it wasn’t true, but finally facing the reality of his anxiety, Alex exhaled a deep sigh.
“Why? There must be a reason.”
“…I found something I want to do.”
It wasn’t something he had said without thought. It was a decision made after long deliberation. Until now, he had never thought about leaving the organization. There was no need to. After all, to him, whether inside or outside, everything was the same.
But a change came when Kay said he was quitting the organization. The desire to live a normal life with him boiled up. He wanted to travel here and there and just live without any worries. Like himself when he was young.
He couldn’t stop the desire that had arisen. After countless worries that kept him up at night, Haylen finally reached a conclusion.
That he should quit the organization. But it was true that he felt nervous now that he was actually saying it. Haylen silently waited for them to speak.
“What about the boss position? If you quit, it’s vacant.”
“I’m thinking of entrusting it to Alex.”
Alex flinched his shoulders at the sudden mention of his name. He stared blankly at Haylen, as if unable to believe his words.
After a moment, Alex narrowed his eyes as if trying to understand Haylen’s intentions, but there was nothing to understand.
“Why are you saying you want to quit now?”
“…I know it’s late, but I don’t think I can continue like this.”
Haylen met Fenil’s gaze at her voice, which carried a slight reproach. Since it was something he had prepared for, he calmly accepted this situation. Even if he stayed in the organization, he would only continue to regret. So this decision was the best for him.
“Are you… abandoning the organization?”
“No. I’m entrusting it to someone better.”
Melia, who exhaled slowly as if suppressing her emotions, lowered her eyes. Despite Haylen being the one who spoke, her attitude seemed more fearful than his, which made Haylen unable to hide his bitter smile.
“…I don’t think I can do well.”
Alex, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine himself becoming the boss instead of Haylen.
But Haylen’s thoughts were different. He gently shook his head while looking directly into Alex’s eyes.
“I realized after our conversation last time. You are more suited to be boss than anyone else.”
“But—”
“I can’t do it anymore. I’ve found something more precious than the organization.”
Haylen glanced at Kay. The boss position requires prioritizing the organization above all else. In the past, he could prioritize ‘Alice’ because he couldn’t feel emotions of preciousness.
But now it’s different. If the organization were in danger and Kay experienced danger, he would run to Kay without hesitation. With such feelings, he couldn’t be the boss. This was another reason why Haylen thought he should quit the organization.
But unlike himself, Alex could be dedicated to ‘Alice.’ Haylen believed this without doubt.
“…Give me time to think about it first.”
“Of course.”
He thought Alex was most suited to be the next boss. However, that didn’t mean he would ignore Alex’s wishes. Haylen turned his head away from Alex, who was organizing his thoughts with his lips tightly closed.
“Can’t you just stay here?”
“…”
“Why do you want to leave? There’s not much difference between outside and here anyway.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Melia couldn’t hide her anxiety about ‘Alice,’ which she thought had just stabilized, but was now starting to shake again. Kay, who understood her emotions well, quietly lowered his head.
Melia stared at him for a long time and bit her lip. Her face was clearly filled with guilt, as if she didn’t want to see Kay like this.
“…I’m sorry for being selfish.”
“I don’t plan to quit right away.”
Although Haylen spoke in a soothing manner, it was of no help to her. Rather, it only irritated Melia’s feelings.
She shook her head vigorously. Strength entered Melia’s eyes, which were rippling with emotions.
“That’s not what’s important.”
Her straightened gaze turned towards Haylen.
“What’s important is the fact that you’re quitting.”
Melia spoke in a self-deprecating voice, as if not expecting him to understand. Haylen could only maintain silence at the unknown emotion that approached him piercingly.
