Episode 34
“Tsk.”
“Looks like our youngest got rejected again.”
Snickering laughter rang out. At the hand ruffling his hair, Geum Myeonggyeol snapped.
“Don’t.”
“Why? You’re in a bad mood because you got turned down? Want me to buy you ice cream?”
Golden eyes, just like Geum Myeonggyeol’s, gleamed mischievously.
Geum Irang, an S-rank Hunter known as the Druid and master of Nectar, one of the top ten guilds in England, grinned broadly and clapped him on the shoulder.
“I’m not a child. I don’t need it.”
When he sighed in disbelief, the laughter only grew louder. It was obvious she felt she had finally found something to tease him about after a long while. ‘I shouldn’t have left then.’ Geum Myeonggyeol, sunk into the sofa, furrowed his brow. He had hardly ever felt regret in his life, but this time was different.
His meeting with Geum Irang had been scheduled more than a month ago. It was an appointment he could not break—and if he did, the aftermath would be impossible to handle.
But now that things had turned out like this, regret came belatedly. ‘Of all places, why did a fight have to break out there?’ Nam Se-u was a rather distinctive character, but when it came to missions, he was a serious man. Yet he had fallen for a provocation. As if that weren’t enough, he had been so absorbed in the fight that he hadn’t even realized Han Chasu had been taken by Gi Taeyeon.
It was only natural that Geum Myeonggyeol was appalled by that unbelievable chain of coincidences.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this anxious. I guess it’s really certain this time?”
Geum Irang asked, her face now devoid of laughter. Geum Myeonggyeol frowned as if to say, why bring that up now?
“What are you talking about at this point? I told you I found something that could replace the Earring of the Malevolent God.”
Geum Irang’s eyes widened. As if wronged, she thumped her chest hard.
“You never said it was a socket item with three S-rank abilities attached!”
“Of course not. If I’d said something like that over the phone, it would’ve spread across the world in less than half a day.”
“Aha. So it’s my fault?”
“I’m saying, at the very least, couldn’t you have come to Korea?”
“Does that look possible to you?”
Geum Irang twisted her lips and pointed at the ceiling.
There, a crystal-white tree was embedded upside down. Its blue leaves trembled finely despite the absence of wind. A tinkling sound, like tiny jewels striking one another, filled the air. It was the “Tree of the Holy Spirit Descending to Lowly Places.”
A tree with the power to repel the unclean, suppress evil forces, and purify. The reason it was embedded in the ceiling of this suburban mansion was none other than Geum Myeonggyeol.
Half a year ago, the Earring of the Malevolent God had broken, and Geum Myeonggyeol had lost control over the evil spirit.
Naturally, the evil spirit, sensing that his control had weakened, did not miss the chance and tried to dominate him. What followed, of course, was an endless series of grueling battles.
For her younger brother’s sake, Geum Irang had gone to great lengths to obtain the tree’s seed and had barely managed to make it sprout.
And yet this younger brother of hers was now pretending not to know his sister’s hardship, saying he had found a substitute…
“I’m grateful you helped, but it’s fine now. I have Han Chasu.”
An increase to S-rank curse-type trait stats. With that, he could more than regain the control over the evil spirit that he had lost.
When Geum Myeonggyeol spoke with utter confidence, Geum Irang raised the corner of her mouth.
“You talk as if he’ll become yours any moment now.”
Geum Myeonggyeol shrugged. It meant, why state the obvious?
Geum Irang grinned and propped up her chin.
“Do you really think so? Your target was dragged off to the Management Bureau because of your guild member, then ignored all your calls and messages, and hid away in the house of a kindhearted S-rank healer who apparently treated him.”
“……”
“Hey, you think it’s that easy to seduce someone into signing a couple-item contract? Forget it. Don’t move from here for a while. If you go charging in with ghosts dangling all over you, you’ll get rejected.”
Leaving her murderous-looking younger brother behind, Geum Irang left her seat.
After all, teasing Geum Myeonggyeol was best when done properly.
Her footsteps were light as she descended the stairs.
***
“What is this?”
Han Chasu, who had just come out after showering, was a little startled. His missed-call list was filled with Geum Myeonggyeol’s name. ‘At this point, it’s a little scary.’ After hesitating for a moment, Han Chasu opened the message window. ‘It’s not like ignoring him forever will solve anything.’ He wrote and sent a rough message asking how he was doing, and a reply came immediately.
[You’re the only one who can make me ache like this, Han Chasu. Truly.]
[Stay safe until I return.]
He shouldn’t have sent it. Han Chasu immediately slid the screen shut. It was ten in the morning. There was about an hour left until Baek Seon arrived.
“Hmm… Should I look around the house?”
Yesterday, he had fallen asleep, so he hadn’t been able to tour the house. But his plan went awry the moment he stepped into the hallway.
“Ugh!”
The entire house was filled with an intense smell of spices. The scent was so strong it nearly made him sneeze, powerful enough to leave him stunned.
“What on earth is he cooking…? This is insane.”
After checking the dining room, Han Chasu unconsciously let out a curse.
In the middle of the enormous space, an enormous whole roast pig was turning. It was even being warmed by a wood fire, perhaps to keep it hot.
“……”
He didn’t need to approach and check to know. The source of the nose-stinging smell was that whole roast pig.
“It’s not as if this is some banquet…”
Who on earth was supposed to eat all that? As he frowned, a terrifying sound came from somewhere.
Dadadadak.
“Hehehehe…”
It was the sound of something being julienned, something being stirred, and water boiling. Could it be that the cooking didn’t end with that? Han Chasu belatedly checked the dining table.
Yesterday, there had clearly been one table, but now there were four. A chill ran down his spine. ‘He said he loved his younger brother. Is he planning to kill him by bursting his stomach?’ He was curious, but he didn’t even feel like asking. Even if he heard the reason, it was obvious he wouldn’t understand it anyway.
It was just as Han Chasu, with a fed-up expression, was leaving the dining room.
Ding—dong.
As if it had been waiting, the bell rang, and a gloomy voice called out to him.
“Han Chasu, where are you going?”
It was a voice that seemed to seize him by the nape. Han Chasu turned his head while trying hard to remain calm. Baek Dam, who had somehow come out of the kitchen, was staring at him intently.
“Where would I go? I’m not going anywhe—wait a moment. Why do you look like that?”
“Your eyes are insolent.”
“What?”
“You looked at me just now like you saw something you shouldn’t have.”
This guy is needlessly sharp. As Han Chasu clicked his tongue inwardly, Baek Dam closed the distance.
His movement was so fast it couldn’t be followed by the eye.
“You’re not trying to run away now, are you?”
Grip. The two hands placed on his shoulders were heavy. As if saying he wouldn’t let him off if he ran. Golden energy rippled over the backs of his hands.
“Of course not.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Then why on earth did you ask—wait, wait a moment. Let’s calm down, Baek Dam.”
“I don’t want to.”
Thick arms tightened firmly around his waist. Han Chasu twisted his body. But there was no way he could beat an S-rank’s strength.
“So you were trying to run after all.”
“I said I wasn’t—let go of me!”
Whether Han Chasu struggled or not, Baek Dam smiled brightly and held his waist even tighter.
“You’re not trying to back out now, are you? Hm? Seon came all the way here because of whom? You have to show him you’re not just healthy, but perfectly fine.”
Madness flowed in Baek Dam’s eyes as he murmured softly. It was a gaze filled with obsession and longing for his younger brother.
Han Chasu was at a loss for words. Baek Dam did not miss that moment.
“Ugh!”
He was so strong. Han Chasu ended up being carried by Baek Dam as they crossed the hallway. Each time Baek Dam moved, his vision shook wildly.
“Ugh…”
At the nausea rising within him, Han Chasu clenched his teeth. ‘Should I just deactivate the regeneration skill?’ Just as he widened his eyes and was about to bring up the status window, Baek Dam stopped walking.
“Ah, I almost forgot.”
Murmuring softly, he bent at the waist and met his eyes.
“If it’s hard, say so now. If I’m going to heal you on the way, I’ll have to change positions a little.”
“…
What position are you talking about?”
“Have you ever been carried like a princess?”
Han Chasu quietly turned off the status window.
Right. His opponent was not Gi Taeyeon, but Baek Dam. An S-rank healer who could cast healing with ease even while holding someone.
“Please go just a little more slowly.” Being caught by an S-rank healer was his crime. When Han Chasu asked with a resigned expression, Baek Dam smiled brightly.
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
“Haa…”
For the first time since he had possessed a villain, Han Chasu thought it might be better to be imprisoned by the protagonist instead.
If Jeong Iheun, who was in the middle of conquering a dungeon, had heard that, he would have been extremely pleased.
Meanwhile, Baek Seon stood in front of the main gate, looking up at the high wall.
“Ah, I don’t want to go in.”
Despite his declaration that he would never come home again, he had ended up returning after all. Well, he had brought it on himself.
“Ugh.”
Before long, the sound of someone running down through the garden could be heard.
Thud, thud, thud!
‘Are those footsteps welcoming me, or are they warning me that I’m about to get beaten to a pulp?’ He listened closely, but he couldn’t tell. It seemed two years of running away from home really had made him forget a lot.
Baek Seon deliberately straightened his back. It was so he could face Baek Dam with composure if he started yelling.
At last, the iron gate opened smoothly. Baek Seon did not relax his guard. And finally, the moment the three of them came face to face.
“Why does Chasu-hyung’s face look like that?”
Baek Seon’s voice rang thunderously down the main road.
“S-Seon-a?”
“His skin is all chapped. You said you fed him and put him to sleep properly, so he was sturdy. You said I didn’t have to worry! Does this look like the face of someone who’s fine? And what’s that red mark on his nape? If you’ve got eyes, look, you idiot!”
Baek Seon, who had grabbed Han Chasu’s cheek as he dangled under Baek Dam’s arm, screamed at him.
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