Episode 35
"Ah, so your skin got rubbed raw because you bathed too long? And here I thought something else."
The truth was revealed only after all sorts of condemnation, verbal abuse, ruthless threats, and interrogation had passed.
"But why did you scrub there so hard? Your skin almost peeled off, Hyung."
"I just wanted to wash thoroughly today for some reason."
In fact, besides the nape of his neck, there were more places where his skin had peeled because he had scrubbed every nook and cranny with force.
But he couldn't answer honestly. Because the aura of Baekdam, who sat beside him, was beyond ruthless—it was fierce.
It seemed Baekdam was quite aggrieved at having been misunderstood for tormenting him.
"Aha. Well, I have days like that too. Ah, this is delicious. Hyung, try this."
Baekseon smiled brightly and picked up some meat for him. He could feel a gaze sharp enough to pierce his cheek.
So eating with bracon brothers was an incredibly difficult affair. Han Chasu barely avoided Baekdam's murderous gaze and spoke.
"I'll eat on my own."
"Are you thinking of refusing what Seoni gives you?"
"…
Thank you for looking out for me."
Baekseon smiled happily and placed meat on his plate. As if that wasn't enough, he started pushing plates directly in front of him.
Plates began to pile up like a mountain before Han Chasu. Cold sweat trickled down at the black aura rising beside him.
'Delicious food is nice, it really is. But this is all because your brother told you to feed me.'
"Mr. Han Chasu must be happy. Getting fed all this meat by our Seoni."
Han Chasu said nothing and silently pushed food into his mouth. And in an instant, he emptied the entire bowl.
"I'm done eating."
This was his escape. Just as Han Chasu shouted in a voice mixed with delight, Baekseon opened his eyes wide. He looked flustered.
"You're done after eating just that?"
He could feel Baekseon's eyes scanning him. Soon, pity colored the light yellow irises.
Han Chasu was at a loss.
They had already fed him over two servings of meat alone.
Suppressing the words threatening to burst from his throat, Han Chasu rose from his seat.
Or rather, he tried to. If it hadn't been for the hand pressing firmly on his thigh.
"Mr. Han Chasu."
A shiver ran down his spine at the low call. When he turned his head, their gazes met. Han Chasu reflexively held his breath.
It was the most tender face he had ever seen. The gaze was kind, and the smile at the corners of the mouth was even benevolent.
But from the standpoint of someone who knew it was an act, he felt nothing but chills.
"Where are you going? There's still a long way to go."
"…What?"
"You have to eat dessert too."
Along with a sweet voice, a screech—the sound of a chair being dragged—was heard. Han Chasu's face turned pale.
Fortunately, he was somehow permitted to stop by the bathroom before dessert time.
Splash—Han Chasu stopped washing his hands and fell into thought.
"Should I run away right now?"
This was likely his only chance. Han Chasu stared at the mirror with a serious face. The gray eyes reflected in the mirror were quite earnest.
"After all, I've finished everything I needed to do."
The objective of bringing Baekseon home had been splendidly accomplished. So it should be fine for the hindrance to step out at this point.
Having finished his perfect self-justification, Han Chasu turned off the faucet and recalled the structural map of the house in his head.
Fortunately, because corridors stretched into every corner of this damned house, it was easy to secretly slip away.
'If I take the right corridor from here, I can avoid being noticed until I get out.'
Good. Should I at least give it a try? Han Chasu shook off the water and slowly came out of the bathroom.
"Hyung!"
"......."
And he ran into Baekseon, who had been waiting for him with sparkling eyes.
'Ah, damn it.' He had forgotten Baekseon's excessive attachment toward him.
"Why were you in there so long? I was worried you had collapsed inside."
Baekseon smiled brightly and crossed his arms. He took after his brother in having quite strong arm strength.
"Hyung, no, our hyung is baking madeleines right now. Hyung, do you like madeleines?"
"I do…"
If possible, he wanted to leisurely eat them alone at home. Not force-feeding himself after stuffing his stomach full of meat.
"Really? What a relief. You seemed to particularly like them at the hospital, hyung, so I specially asked him to make them."
At the words that a special order had even been given to Baekdam, Han Chasu broke into a cold sweat.
'For all I know, they might have even poisoned the madeleines.'
He wondered if he should go home and get an antidote even now.
But he couldn't utter such words out loud. This place was the nest of an S-rank bracon who had lost his mind over his younger brother.
He didn't know what would befall him if he made an ill-advised joke.
'Besides, Baekdam is a healer. The situation is even worse.'
That bastard was someone who would induce food poisoning and then personally treat it with his own hands.
Had he not enjoyed cutting off and reattaching Han Chasu's limbs in the original story? In a sense, it meant he was of worse quality than Jeong Yi-heun.
'I suppose I'll just have to hope they're normal bread.'
It was the moment Han Chasu was being dragged trudging back toward the dining room.
Kuwung—the wall shook and the floor trembled.
"What, what is this…!"
A powerful pressure. A crushing force, as if hammering down from above, slammed directly into his torso.
"Kuhk!"
"Hyung, are you okay?!"
Baekseon immediately supported him. Han Chasu nodded instead of speaking.
'Damn it, I feel like I'm going to vomit.'
The food stuffed to the brim of his throat felt like it would burst out any second. But Baekseon interpreted his pale face differently.
'What should I do, our hyung is already so weak!'
The flickering light-yellow irises turned toward the ceiling. Baekseon had roughly guessed the identity of the shockwave. It was probably hunters who had received a commission to kidnap Baekdam.
After his older brother Baekdam awakened as an S-rank healer at a young age, the brothers had frequently been attacked. This usually happened because healers generally lacked offensive skills.
But fortunately, Baekdam possessed powerful offensive skills. Thanks to that, they had easily repelled those who targeted them, and as a bonus, even practiced recovery skills.
But that was a thing of the past. After Baekdam settled in Philoso and built this fortress, attacks had decreased drastically.
'To think there are still bastards who haven't come to their senses.'
Fury filled the eyes bright as forsythias. He wouldn't have been this angry if they had injured himself or his brother instead.
Because the brothers had the power to recover on their own. But this was crossing the line.
"How dare they injure hyung…"
To injure Han Chasu, who could drop dead at any moment. To injure his one and only benefactor who had sacrificed his body to save him.
They had committed an unforgivable taboo. They were beings who deserved to die.
"Those fucking bastards…"
Murderous intent surged from Baekseon as he slowly rose. Han Chasu, who had been groaning while supporting himself on the floor, turned his head in surprise. Because for an instant, he had thought Baekdam had appeared.
"Seona, wait a moment."
"I can't. Hide until it's all resolved, hyung."
There were spaces prepared throughout the fortress where one could hide. Baekseon grabbed Han Chasu and ran toward one.
"Wait, what, Seona!"
"Don't stop running!"
Even as they squabbled, the explosions didn't stop. No, they were drawing closer and closer.
Kuwung, kung, kwaang—!
From above to below. Force pressing in as if crushing a cake.
There was no time to question where Baekdam was or what he was doing. Han Chasu simply ran through the dust storm, following Baekseon.
It was at that moment that a blue light flickered.
"——!"
Time seemed to slow down. A wall where not even a single point of light should have shone. It crumbled like tofu, and a piercing beam of light sharply protruded.
Kiiiiing—the blue light instantly expanded its area. What the writhing streams of light created was a smooth body. Two legs, sharp as thorns, dug into the floor, and blade-like arms pointed this way.
At the same time, four eyes opened. Vertical, torn crimson pupils.
An enemy.
Instinct said so. His heartbeat slowed, and his eardrums filtered out the noise.
But he wasn't the only one who discovered it.
"No!"
Baekseon was blocking his path. As if it were his turn this time.
He snapped to his senses in a flash. It felt like cold water had been dumped on him. The overlaid past was erased, and reality revealed its true form.
He wasn't Kim Yuhoe. He was Han Chasu. An extra villain in a fantasy novel whose ending he didn't know.
And right now, Baekseon wasn't saving him—instead, he was driving his own life straight down to the bottom of hell.
To think he would try to lay down his life for him. If Baekseon actually died like this…
The limb-severing reassembly show wouldn't be far off. With rising goosebumps, Han Chasu grabbed Baekseon's arm.
"Stay still!"
And pulled with force. Baekseon's body turned, and his widened light-yellow eyes were visible. Their gazes met, and he could feel his astonishment.
Regardless, Han Chasu embraced Baekseon with force.
'It's okay.' I can endure it.
Han Chasu was certain.
This was a body that had even withstood a blow from the Hidden Boss of the Frost Giant Dungeon. Moreover, the situation was even better than then.
Because that damned Baekdam was somewhere in this damned house.
'If I get hurt in my younger brother's place, he'll obviously heal me.'
Shwaaaack!
The sound of something approaching sharply. Intense pain shook his body.
"Keugh!"
[ Warning! ]
[ You have suffered a fatal wound! ]
[ Abnormal status 'Continuous Bleeding' has occurred. ]
[ Health is decreasing. ]
[ Health is decreasing. ]
…[ The effects of the skill 'Regeneration' temporarily change to preserve the target's life. ]
[ Will you enter a near-death state? ]
[ Y / N ]
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