Episode 60
“I refuse.”
Without even needing to think, Han Chasu refused outright.
“Why? It’s not like this would be bad for you, Mr. Han Chasu. My younger brother is someone you couldn’t hope for even if you were reborn. If we become family, I can treat you by your side anytime.”
From Han Chasu’s perspective, it was truly needless consideration. ‘I won’t die as long as I have the Regeneration skill anyway, so what.’ He couldn’t become family with Baekdam for something so trivial.
“As I am now is enough.”
He refused again, but Baekdam didn’t seem convinced. He looked at Han Chasu with eyes as if seeing something bizarre.
“Sufficient? That’s not sufficiency—you should call it resignation. Think carefully. Would I be doing this right now just because I want to? I know it’s not, yet I don’t know why I’m even bothering.”
Arms crossed, Baekdam raised his eyebrows. Hiding his displeasure, he thought, ‘It’s an offer with nothing to regret, so why does he hate it so much?’ Then again, when had Han Chasu ever acted sensibly? Baekdam fleetingly shifted his gaze to glance at Jeong Iheun.
This was Han Chasu, who had even rejected none other than Jeong Iheun. It meant no ordinary effort would suffice to persuade a man who had stubbornly refused even ten times his annual salary.
Then he shouldn’t have butted in from the start.
“Tch.”
When you thought about it, it was Han Chasu who had started it. ‘If that’s the case, why did he throw himself around without knowing the value of his own life?’ The circumstances were different from when he had saved his younger brother as a side matter of Jeong Seoheun. Han Chasu had saved Baekseon with clear intent, staking his life in the moment when he himself had failed to protect his younger brother.
‘Seon will never forget this guy now.’ It was an elder brother’s position already under threat. If he could no longer erase Han Chasu from his younger brother’s heart, it was better to keep him under his wing instead.
That was Baekdam’s decision.
“Ha….”
“I’m sorry, but my mind won’t change going forward either.”
Why couldn’t he just shut up instead of flapping his lips so annoyingly? A fiery rage lit up in Baekdam’s eyes as he looked at Han Chasu.
It was at that moment that Jeong Iheun, who had been watching silently until now, opened his mouth.
“It would be best to stop.”
A man brought a blanket from who-knows-where and draped it over Han Chasu’s shoulders.
“You’ve dragged this on for too long with someone who just woke up.”
“Ah, thank y—”
And he placed a dark crystal into his arms. Baekdam soon realized it was the object that had been on the nightstand. ‘So that’s why this unsightly thing was carefully placed upon the cushion—it must be a Demonic Spirit Stone.’ Spirit Stones usually had pastel tones, so this was definitely a Demonic Spirit Stone. Well, Spirit Stone or Demonic Spirit Stone, there wasn’t much difference.
What mattered was that they were usually used as therapy for mentally exhausted Awakened.
No wonder he had accepted the bet more readily than expected. ‘That scheming man would never bend my will without ulterior motives.’ Baekdam watched Jeong Iheun’s display, dumbfounded. As if incubating an egg, he nestled the Demonic Spirit Stone against Han Chasu’s chest and wrapped his arm around him.
“This way, it will come out sooner.”
“…I see. I hadn’t realized.”
“You need only hold it often from now on. It won’t break from ordinary impacts, so keep it by your side even when you sleep.”
“……Yes.”
“Mr. Han Chasu, aren’t you being too openly discriminatory?”
It wasn’t as if he had said something unspeakable, yet the eyes turning to look at him were wide with shock. At that sight, his already twisted feelings warped further.
“I’m quite upset. I have to go home and tell Seon that you cruelly rejected becoming our family, yet the person in question is just laughing away without a care….”
Han Chasu had the face of someone at a complete loss for words. Seeing him unable to part his lips, staring with wide eyes, Baekdam beamed.
“Hunter Baekdam.”
It was the moment Jeong Iheun was about to speak to him with a displeased expression.
Knock, knock.
“Excuse me!”
Right then, the medical staff entered.
“The center director told us to check once more. Sorry, but may we examine him?”
“Ah, yes. Please do as you see fit.”
“Thank you. Then the two of you….”
“We’ll remain here.”
“Surely you aren’t thinking of kicking me out, esteemed members of our incompetent medical center?”
Savoring the gazes stabbing like needles, Baekdam moved. To the foot of the bed where Han Chasu sat. A position where he could face him directly.
“Mr. Han Chasu.”
“Haah…. Yes.”
Having a lot of people around has its perks. Han Chasu couldn’t ignore his words and answered obediently.
“You know how much Seon worries about you, right?”
“…I do.”
“Then could you at least tell me why you’re so coldly turning your back on our hearts? I sincerely want to become family with you…. It hurts that you keep pushing me away.”
Sounds of people holding their breath burst out here and there. Baekdam placed his hand on his chest conspicuously, putting on a pained expression.
“Please, say something I can under—,”
At that moment, a businesslike voice echoed through the hospital room.
“It’s because I’m an orphan.”
“…….”
“Perhaps it’s because there is no such thing as family in my memory. I seem to take the concept of family rather more seriously than others.”
Baekdam froze with his hand still on his chest. He wasn’t the only one.
“Hup….”
The entire hospital room was enveloped in perfect silence. Only the occasional sound of someone inhaling could be heard.
Han Chasu’s voice resonated through the air, desolate to the point of heaviness.
“Until now, I’ve never longed for a family in my life…. But after crossing between life and death several times, my thoughts changed. Yes, perhaps watching affectionate brothers like you, Mr. Baekdam, from close by was also one of the reasons. The thought that I should find my family.”
Hiccup. The person who had been about to place a stethoscope on Han Chasu’s chest hiccuped, unable to hide their fluster.
“I-I’m sorry.”
To the medical staff looking at him apologetically, Han Chasu shook his head to indicate it was fine.
Baekdam and Jeong Iheun had long since stiffened so completely that it was hard to tell whether they were stone statues or not.
Han Chasu lowered the corners of his mouth that had tried to rise, inhaling with a calm face. Having revealed his inner feelings to this extent seemed slightly shameful, and his body trembled minutely.
He could feel strength entering the hand of the medical staff supporting him. If his guess was correct, it was likely encouragement to stay strong. ‘That’s why you should’ve stopped while you were ahead.’ Han Chasu slowly exhaled and slightly raised his lowered gaze. Baekdam still had the same stupid expression on his face. ‘Father and mother of Han Chasu, whose faces and names I do not even know, I’m sorry. Still, I don’t think you would want your son to be pushed around one-sidedly either.’ If Baekdam hadn’t pressed so hard, he wouldn’t have thought to use this as an excuse, but it couldn’t be helped.
“W-well, you see.”
Baekdam seemed to come to his senses suddenly, shaking his long hair roughly as he opened his mouth. Seeing the flustered look in his eyes, he seemed to be trying to make some excuse. ‘I can’t let this go.’ Like a hunter spotting his prey, Han Chasu’s eyes flashed. He rubbed his cheek as if his secret had been revealed, feigning bewilderment.
“Actually, I was planning to look for my parents as soon as I leave the medical center.”
“…….”
Looking at Baekdam, who couldn’t even open his mouth as if honey had been smeared on his lips, Han Chasu continued with a wistful face.
“If they have passed away, then siblings who remain, or if that isn’t possible, even blood relatives. I want to find someone, anyone.”
Eyes revealing resolute will and a deeply appealing voice were a bonus.
“That is why I cannot become someone else’s family. I’m truly sorry, Hunter Baekdam.”
Strangely, there was power in Han Chasu’s words. A power that moved people to be inspired by him.
Perhaps that was why.
“Sniff.”
“Ahem, hm.”
The eyes of the medical staff leaving the hospital room were all moist with tears. One of them even had traces of blood on their lips, perhaps from suppressing their surging emotions.
“Excuse me, just a moment.”
“Huh? Ah, go ahead.”
At those words while pointing to the restroom, the team leader nodded. The staff member bowed their head and entered the bathroom. The others left him behind and departed down the hallway.
Shhh.
“Whew….”
Wetting his face with cold water seemed to bring his senses back somewhat. The man swept back his wet hair and checked his appearance in the mirror.
Nothing had changed.
“Good.”
He had been worried about his suddenly wavering emotions. Having confirmed that there was nothing wrong, the man moved toward outside the building.
Passersby greeted him with glances or waved their hands.
The man naturally smiled back at them or waved along as he walked. Shortly after, he stood alone behind the building where few people were around.
No signs of people. No listening devices, no suspicious auras felt.
Having familiarly checked his surroundings, the man tapped the metallic accessory wrapped around his ear a couple of times.
Screech—rough noise brushed past his ear several times as if tuning a frequency. Soon, a clear voice was heard.
—What is it?
The man took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and spoke as if pouring it out.
“It seems the young master… has truly gone mad—no. It seems he has lost his memory.”
—What?
“He says… he needs a family.”
Silence continued. Slow, drawn-out breathing sounds. The man waited until the other spoke.
Suddenly, laughter filled his ear.
—That is the most welcome news I’ve heard.
If he needs a family, then we should give him one.
A low murmur tickled his eardrum.
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