Episode 62
Han Chasu knew he had made quite the flashy entrance into the medical center. The moment he opened his eyes, people rushed in and caused such a commotion that it was impossible not to know. ‘But that doesn’t mean they assigned special guards to me.’
Unlike Yu Baek Hospital, the medical center belonged to the Administration Bureau. In other words, no matter how influential Baekdam and Jeong Iheun were as S-ranks, they couldn’t deploy security personnel for a private matter.
His nemesis could approach him at any time. Yet until now, he had not come near him even once.
His gaze, fixed on empty air, deepened.
Why?
Was it that he couldn’t, or that he hadn’t?
Han Chasu tried to infer what the other man was thinking, but he failed to arrive at any clear result. The information he had about his opponent was too scant. ‘Still, I do know there’s a high chance he belongs to the Security Office… which is exactly the problem.’
An outside patient, not affiliated with the Administration Bureau, going around digging into the personal information of a Security Office employee? No matter how generously one looked at it, it would invite suspicion that he was a spy.
Han Chasu discarded the plan of digging into his nemesis and killing him. The risks were too great. Besides, the other party had yet to show any threatening behavior toward him. ‘And above all, it’s impossible in this body.’
For now, he would stay with other people and observe the situation. It would be foolish to move hastily and put himself in danger. Han Chasu looked down at his pale arm and organized his thoughts.
It was then.
“Send me the organized version. Yeah, I don’t need the miscellaneous stuff… Right. That’s enough. Don’t make the list public yet.”
Jeong Iheun ended the call and turned around. His gaze, which had hovered high for a moment as if he were thinking about something, lowered. Beneath the shadows cast by his long eyelashes, his red eyes moved slowly.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
When their eyes met, he smiled brightly. Han Chasu flinched and patted the demonic spirit stone in a perfunctory manner. Jeong Iheun approached with light steps, like someone who had heard good news.
“I have good news.”
Surely he wasn’t about to bring him another demonic spirit stone. A chill ran down Han Chasu’s spine, and he quickly said,
“One demonic spirit is enough for me.”
As he spoke, lifting it up with both hands, the corners of Jeong Iheun’s mouth rose. After lightly stroking the small gray crystal, he nodded.
“I think so too.”
Han Chasu grew even more uneasy.
If it wasn’t a new demonic spirit stone, then what on earth was the good news he was talking about?
“I—”
Before he could speak, Jeong Iheun opened his mouth first.
“A few items that increase mental strength came in this time. They’re B-rank, so their effects aren’t that great, but…”
The way he trailed off made it obvious he wanted to give them to him. Han Chasu paused briefly before asking,
“Are they items that will be put up for the guild’s internal auction?”
“Yes. They haven’t been announced yet.”
“If I receive them in advance, wouldn’t that be a bit…”
Jeong Iheun’s eyes widened, then returned to their usual size. Tilting his head slightly to the side, he looked as if he were thinking about something.
“Ah, Mr. Han Chasu, you didn’t know.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s already been settled within the guild.”
What did that mean? As Han Chasu looked up at him with uneasy eyes, Jeong Iheun spoke with a perfectly nonchalant expression.
“Items that may be helpful to you, Mr. Han Chasu… In other words, potions or items with recovery-related stats attached, will be delivered directly to you without being registered for auction, if you permit it.”
“Pardon? Wait… wait a moment. When did you decide something like that?”
What the hell are you doing, deciding that on your own? When Han Chasu couldn’t hide his shock, Jeong Iheun blinked.
“I wasn’t the one who decided it.”
“Then who on earth did?”
“It was a suggestion the guild members brought up first. To be precise, it was the opinion of Potion Manufacturing Team 1.”
A fact he had forgotten for a long time flashed through his mind.
Right, I was still an office worker.
In his heart, he had already quit ages ago, so he had forgotten. As he stiffened, Jeong Iheun’s words poured down over him.
“Most of the items that come out in the free auction are donated goods or items left over after the raid team members’ distribution anyway, aren’t they? It’s not as if anyone pays money to receive them, and it was an event maintained more for fun than anything else. So it seems someone suggested that this time, everything should be passed on to you, Mr. Han Chasu.”
The fact that he went out of his way to mention donations and leftover items carried the nuance of asking him not to feel burdened. Still, thanks to that, he at least understood what the free auction was. ‘So that’s why they used the word “win” instead of “bid.”’
At any rate, he had never imagined Potion Manufacturing Team 1 would step forward for him. No, he had never even thought of it at all. ‘Could they be waiting for me?’
Han Chasu’s expression grew strange. Jeong Iheun silently waited for him as he fell into thought and said nothing for a while.
It wasn’t long before the silence broke.
“If I need them, I’ll accept them.”
“Really?”
Jeong Iheun smiled, his face brightening. Han Chasu nodded, still wearing a subtle expression.
If these were items Jeong Iheun was personally giving him, he would have refused them. But if they were a gift from the guild as a whole—and surplus resources that other people did not want—then the story was different. ‘The situation isn’t favorable. It’s better to take what I can.’
It was different from the past. He was not in a situation where he could immediately run to the exchange and purchase items. ‘The belt and bracelet I bought last time were destroyed too. If my nemesis changes his mind and attacks, I won’t be able to handle it alone.’
The A-rank defensive gear had fulfilled its purpose when he was attacked at Baekdam’s house. Thanks to that, at least his chest hadn’t been completely pierced through. ‘If it had been pierced all the way through, I would have been left with even greater aftereffects than I have now.’
Han Chasu frowned and rubbed his chest. Even now, the area around his heart sometimes ached, or it would pound abnormally hard.
The examination hadn’t found anything particularly wrong, so he had no choice but to think of it as an aftereffect. ‘Gi Taeyeon said he didn’t sense anything strange either.’
He hadn’t examined it directly. He had said that if he sent energy into the area near the wound, there was a high chance something would go wrong. ‘Once the regeneration skill gets properly on track, this should heal too.’
Han Chasu swept his hair back and looked at Jeong Iheun. He was speaking with the medical staff who had just entered.
“I’m sorry. Something came up that I have to go to immediately. I’ve only just arrived, so I feel bad.”
His expression was stiff, as if he had received an urgent message. Naturally, Han Chasu did not mind in the slightest.
“Don’t worry about me and go quickly. It’s not as if only one or two places are looking for you, Guild Master.”
Afraid that if he hesitated even a little, Jeong Iheun might say he wouldn’t leave, he hurriedly drove him out.
But something was strange. The man who should have left long ago was still lingering by the door.
“……”
What now? Han Chasu let his shoulders droop and turned his head. His gaze met eyes that seemed to want many things from him.
And then a thick arm pulled him into an embrace. He felt a body temperature slightly higher than that of ordinary people in its entirety.
It happened so suddenly that Han Chasu only realized what had happened after the force binding his body disappeared.
“No, just now. What was that?”
“……”
The face he looked up at was sunken in silence. The red eyes were swallowed by shadow, devoid of light.
[This sickening time is finally over.]
The man from the dream came to mind in an instant. A bleak expression, an unchanging face. Jeong Iheun, who had given up on the future after his younger brother’s death, flashed through his mind.
Why here, all of a sudden?
Han Chasu gripped his arm tightly.
“Guild Master.”
“Ah.”
Soon, light returned to those dazed eyes.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”
Watching his face gradually regain life, Han Chasu let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, he had thought Jeong Iheun was going to lose his reason for no apparent cause. ‘It would be a serious problem if the protagonist turned back into a psychopath now.’
Jeong Seoheun had been saved, but the karma of the original Han Chasu still remained. The internal guild information and items he had smuggled out, that was.
Right now, Jeong Iheun’s eyes were clouded by the thought that Han Chasu was his benefactor and whatnot, which was why all this was happening, but Han Chasu did not think this situation would last long.
It was trust and affection that were far too one-sided. Trust poured out without deep consideration for the sole reason that he had saved his younger brother. To Han Chasu, it seemed like a sandcastle built too easily. ‘It’ll collapse in an instant too.’
Well, there was the slim possibility that Jeong Iheun would treat him as a benefactor for the rest of his life. But his circumstances were not good enough for him to rely on such optimism and settle in.
He couldn’t live his whole life beside Jeong Iheun, trembling in fear of when what he had done would be exposed.
That was why he could not give up on resigning. Ever since he realized he had transmigrated, Han Chasu’s goal had been only that. To resign without trouble as soon as possible. ‘The problem is that there have been so many twists and turns just to resign…’
Still, it was fine now. He had handed over the Geummyeonggyeol, so once his body recovered and he left the medical center, everything would be over.
He felt a little sorry for Jeong Iheun, who would suddenly lose his benefactor, but… ‘If we had met in some other relationship, it would have been much better.’
Jeong Iheun was such a good man that even he, who did not have any particular expectations of people, felt regret. Though it was excessive, he was still a reliable older brother.
“It seems Director Gi Taeyeon’s contact treatment is quite effective.”
The low voice scattered his thoughts. When he raised his head, Jeong Iheun was smiling as he straightened his upper body. His hair, catching the sunlight, looked dark brown.
Meeting Han Chasu’s gaze as he quietly watched him, Jeong Iheun slowly clenched and unclenched his hand. ‘So what I felt back then wasn’t an illusion.’
Whenever he touched Han Chasu, he would feel a strange sensation. The fire boiling up from within his body seemed to subside, leaving behind a fluttering touch.
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