Chapter 65. “You’re going back already?”
When he was about to return after finishing the tour, Gi Taeyeon showed a rare hint of regret.
“You won’t have anything to do even if you go back anyway, so you can stay here and have some more fun.”
Han Chasu stared at him blankly, wondering what had gotten into him. Gi Taeyeon frowned, apparently realizing he hadn’t been acting like himself.
“I just thought it might be good for you to familiarize yourself by watching… Never mind. It doesn’t feel right to hold back someone who’s unwell. Go on. I’ll stop by again later.”
“Then I’ll see you then.”
The gaze that kept clinging to his back bothered him, but Gi Taeyeon did not hold him back any longer.
On the way back after the tour, one of the medical staff raised a question.
“Are you really going to do that?”
“You mean the training?”
“Yes. To be honest, I’m not sure it’ll really help you, Mr. Han Chasu.”
They looked quite serious, as if they meant it.
“I couldn’t bring it up earlier because Director Gi Taeyeon was there, but… it’s not as safe as the existing treatment methods, and I’m worried you’ll only end up getting hurt for no reason.”
Perhaps it was because they had seen the deputy head of the Development Lab, who had been designated as Gi Taeyeon’s sparring partner, collapse after getting beaten to a pulp. A dark cloud hung over the medical staff member’s face.
“It’ll be fine. I won’t actually be going up against the director. I’ll just be warming up lightly according to my own stats. And I’m not as weak as you seem to think.”
“But…”
“Then how about this? Director Gi Taeyeon probably doesn’t want to go around all twelve headquarters writing reports either.”
“Ah.”
A warm breeze seemed to pass over the medical staff member’s face. At the satisfied expression, like that of a well-fed cat, Han Chasu let out a hollow laugh.
There was no way someone as work-shy as Gi Taeyeon would fail to control his strength and injure him. It was a guess close to certainty.
‘Still, those were pretty good items.’
Han Chasu thought as he rubbed his bare wrist. The items the Development Lab had collected were all excellent in performance. His physical condition had been different when he was wearing them and after he took them off.
‘Is there no way to get my hands on them?’
He was clicking his tongue in regret as he entered the medical center.
“It’s really hard to see your face.”
A heavy voice dropped down along with a shadow.
“Mr. Han Chasu, have you been doing well after abandoning me?”
Beneath the sun, golden eyes shone with a persistent light.
***
Geum Myeonggyeol, whom he met again, had become even more burdensome than before. In what way had he become burdensome?
“Isn’t it hard to walk?”
“It’s not hard at all.”
Swatting away the hand that subtly reached toward his waist, Han Chasu scowled. He had no idea why this guy had been acting like this since earlier.
At the irritation filling those gray eyes, Geum Myeonggyeol grinned. They were walking along the lakeside at the center of the medical center.
It was a decision Han Chasu had made because he thought dragging Geum Myeonggyeol all the way to his hospital room would make things extremely troublesome.
“Hunter Han Chasu, the sunlight is strong on that side!”
“Please walk farther inside. This is an ade I just bought from the café, so please drink it.”
“…
You all can go back inside now.”
“No!”
“What are you saying?!”
The voices of a few staff members were especially loud. When Han Chasu looked at them in surprise, they quickly lowered their voices, but they could not hide the look in their eyes.
Or perhaps they simply had no intention of hiding it.
“What if you fall into the lake…?”
“You mean me, here?”
Han Chasu said, glancing over the lake. It was a distance where he could not fall unless someone deliberately shoved him hard.
“Urgh. We’re only acting according to Director Gi Taeyeon’s instructions.”
Anyone would think Gi Taeyeon was their direct superior. It was absurd, but Han Chasu decided to let it go.
‘He’s the kind of person who thinks I might die while taking a bath….’
It was obvious how much nagging he must have poured onto the medical staff. Han Chasu said he understood, more or less.
“Still, if something urgent comes up, you must go back.”
“Of course!”
It was something only Han Chasu, who did not know that the most important thing in the medical center was none other than himself, could say. The medical staff followed behind the two men with eyes blazing.
“My face feels hot. I should have brought a parasol.”
Whether the medical staff glared at him or not, Geum Myeonggyeol remained calm. His sly voice rang in Han Chasu’s ear, and a firm hand wrapped around his wrist.
“It’s hot. Please keep some distance.”
“I don’t want to. If Mr. Han Chasu twists his ankle by mistake, it’ll be a huge problem. Those jackals will snatch you away right away.”
So he would hold him properly himself, Geum Myeonggyeol whispered. In an instant, Han Chasu’s body was drawn into his arms.
“Ugh!”
Finding himself with his back pressed against Geum Myeonggyeol’s chest, Han Chasu wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
The smell of perfume was too strong. The scent of flowers in full bloom mingled with rain-soaked undergrowth. It was a stimulus strong enough to make him sneeze.
“Cough!”
“Oh dear.”
The voice that had been above his head dropped down beside him. The fragrance carried on the sudden gust of air was thick.
‘It’s awful.’
It was enough to make his head spin. He had no idea why he hadn’t smelled it until just now.
‘Did he spray it directly on his bare skin or something?’
Han Chasu turned his head with his face covered by his hand. His attempt to escape was easily blocked.
“Sorry about that. I forgot how delicate you are, Mr. Han Chasu. Are you all right?”
His body was turned around in an instant. Golden eyes carefully examined him. It seemed Geum Myeonggyeol thought Han Chasu was in pain because he had bumped into him.
Han Chasu did not have the mental energy to correct the misunderstanding, so he roughly nodded.
Just then, the wind blew. The breeze that had swept over the water’s surface gathered up the terrible fragrance and fled. It was a welcome theft.
“Phew…”
Only now did he finally feel like he could live. Han Chasu waved a hand to tell the medical staff, who were glaring from behind him, that he was fine. A man holding a syringe filled with sedative flinched to a halt.
“You didn’t bruise. What a relief.”
Whatever was happening behind him, Geum Myeonggyeol was already stroking Han Chasu’s wrist. His eyes, curved like crescent moons, looked strangely satisfied.
Han Chasu frowned and pulled his arm free. This time, Geum Myeonggyeol did not hold on.
“I would appreciate it if you walked with some distance between us.”
“I just have to be careful.”
“It’s because of the perfume.”
“Mm?”
Han Chasu pointed at his chest and said,
“The scent is so strong it’s giving me a headache. Let’s keep some distance.”
“……”
“If you don’t like it, take a walk by yourself. I’ll go back like this.”
Was he shocked by being told that his smell was awful? Geum Myeonggyeol was silent for a while.
Eyes like the sun slowly swept over Han Chasu. In truth, he was a little flustered.
‘He smelled a scent?’
For the crime of ramming into the Management Bureau’s main gate, he had only been able to come see Han Chasu after being disinfected three times. He was in a state where he couldn’t possibly smell of lotion, let alone perfume.
But there was one thing he could guess.
‘The Holy Spirit Tree That Descends to the Lowly.’
A piece of the Holy Spirit Tree that had been airlifted by private jet. It was an item his elder sister had sent out of concern for him, since his partners kept dying one after another.
If he had smelled the fragrance coming from the piece in his arms…
‘As expected, he’s no ordinary person.’
The piece of the Holy Spirit Tree had been made into a necklace, and its processing and consecration were complete. In other words, most people could not even sense its existence, let alone smell its fragrance.
‘I want him more and more.’
He had heard Han Chasu was a potion maker, but he hadn’t expected his energy sense to be this sharp even in matters like this. It was an ability that would likely be useful in many ways later on.
A clear smile formed on his lips as he looked at Han Chasu.
“I guess I dressed up too much because I was thinking about seeing you, Mr. Han Chasu. Sorry. The smell is a bit strong, isn’t it?”
“You should have sprayed it in moderation.”
“If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have sprayed it in the first place. If I’ve gone to the trouble of dressing up, I should make it noticeable, shouldn’t I? How about this distance? Is it all right?”
There was no need to tell Han Chasu about the piece of the Holy Spirit Tree. Instead of revealing the truth, Geum Myeonggyeol left the misunderstanding alone.
Han Chasu took a large step to the side and let out a sigh.
Geum Myeonggyeol’s eyes as he looked at him were deep.
***
The wind was cool today. Han Chasu walked at a leisurely pace, feeling the breeze fluttering his sleeves.
Before long, the pavilion was close at hand.
Seeing the stairs, Geum Myeonggyeol glanced back and asked,
“Need a hand?”
“No.”
As if he had expected as much, Geum Myeonggyeol merely shrugged.
Perhaps because it was the middle of working hours, there were few people in the pavilion. Even the few who had been there quietly disappeared when they saw Geum Myeonggyeol. Geum Myeonggyeol seemed not to care.
“……”
“……”
“So why did you come?”
At the main topic finally emerging, Geum Myeonggyeol’s eyes sparkled as he smiled. He seemed to have been waiting for Han Chasu to bring it up first.
“Why, of course…”
A shadow strode closer. His body scent rushed in. Before Han Chasu’s mind could even register the shortened distance, two golden eyes shone right before him.
“Because I wanted to see our dear Mr. Han Chasu.”
Leaving only that languid voice behind, Geum Myeonggyeol immediately stepped back. It seemed he was mindful of the fragrance.
“……”
Did he pour perfume into his brain?
Han Chasu looked at Geum Myeonggyeol with an incredulous expression. When their eyes met, Geum Myeonggyeol winked as if he had been waiting for it.
“Won’t you come visit my house sometime? I’d like to properly thank you for the earring.”
He asked, subtly reaching a hand toward him.
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