Chapter 49
"Did you eat well?"
Dohyun smirked to his heart's content as he watched Eunseong pay the bill. He, who had been smiling with a gentle face the entire time he ate jajangmyeon, received his card back from the Chinese restaurant employee and approached him.
"Honestly, isn't that cheating?"
"If you don't like it, you should've used a remote skill too."
When Eunseong clamped his mouth shut, Dohyun burst into a mischievous laugh and reached out to Hamin, who was mumbling with a candy from the dessert station.
"Let's go home now."
The backs of the three people heading home looked incredibly peaceful, but among them was someone who couldn't smile comfortably.
"Uncle Dohyun."
"What?"
"Never mind...."
It was Baak Hamin.
Hamin, who had brought up the topic first, shook his head while observing Dohyun's mood. Sensing something strange, Eunseong asked if something had happened, but he couldn't say it. Hamin, who had kept his mouth tightly shut, ran to the calendar as soon as they arrived home.
"What do I do... There are only 10 days left...."
Hamin, who was stomping his feet, looked at Dohyun entering his room. When he turned his gaze slightly, Eunseong was also looking at Dohyun for a moment before going up to the second floor.
Is Uncle Dohyun still hating the youngest uncle? How can I make people who dislike each other get along? How can I make Uncle Dohyun not leave this house?
Hamin hugged his Pani plushie tightly and racked his brain.
Actually, Hamin's worries had started about two days ago.
"What? A fine?"
Surprised by the call saying he had to pay a fine, Dohyun grabbed Hamin's hand and headed to the association. While Dohyun was talking with the association president, Hamin, who was sitting in the lobby waiting, ignored the gazes of people trying to make eye contact with him and kept fiddling with the Pani plushie's palm.
At that moment,
"What?!"
Dohyun's shout was heard. Startled, Hamin ran toward Dohyun along the vines.
"No, why is the move-in report fee so expensive?"
"Of course it is. There's even a saying that gates appear where S-ranks live. Do you know how much it costs to install new gate detection artifacts?"
I don't know how much it is, but you could just tell Uncle to pay for it. It was the moment when Hamin, who was eavesdropping on the conversation between Dohyun and the association president, reached his hand through the slightly open door.
"Baak Eunseong's house already has all the artifacts installed anyway. And he's going to leave in two weeks anyway, so what's the point..."
"Oh! Hunter Baak Hamin! You can't come in here."
Hamin couldn't move an inch until the association employee who discovered him took his hand and led him back to his original seat. The words asking if he wanted snacks or drinks didn't even register.
Two weeks? I thought we'd live with the uncles forever, but Uncle Dohyun is leaving in two weeks?
"Baak Hamin."
And not long after, Dohyun appeared in front of Hamin, who was trying to calm his shock with his mouth covered. Dohyun wasn't alone. Several hunters surrounding him were competing to hand him their business cards, and Dohyun wasn't throwing them away but putting them in his bag.
Hamin's pupils shook violently as he watched that sight.
Uncle is going to another guild? Then what about our youngest uncle's curse? What about Yang Jihwan? Uncle Dohyun is the only one who can defeat that wicked man!
"What's wrong with this kid? Did something happen?"
Dohyun, who checked the forehead of the staggering Hamin, secretly suppressed the curse for him.
Hamin, who stared up at such Dohyun, clenched his fists. Two weeks from now. He had to change Dohyun's mind within that time. It would take much longer than a hundred nights for him to grow up and become the youngest uncle's strength. Uncle Eunseong needed Uncle Dohyun.
* * *
"Why are you acting like this lately?"
At Dohyun's question, Hamin sighed and answered.
"Because I want to go home quickly."
Because of the crowds at dismissal time, he had to return home a little later than the other kids to prepare for any potential danger. Waiting for the car and playing with Dohyun using their abilities in the training room was one of his fun daily routines....
Hamin raised his eyes and bloomed roses to block the front of the training room door. Nevertheless, the ridiculously strong Do Yudam opened the door and came in without any problem. Hamin gritted his teeth as he looked at the torn rose vines.
"Baak Hamin, I told you to get along with Do Yudam."
His lips pouted like a beak at Dohyun's nagging that flew at him.
'I said I didn't want to either!'
Hamin, with his lips protruding, was watching Dohyun converse with Yudam when he turned his head with a snap. Even when he whined that he didn't want to be with Do Yudam, Dohyun, who was uncharacteristically firm in a strange direction, didn't listen to him.
For about 30 minutes after the academy classes ended, Dohyun was teaching Yudam a skill. One hour a day, no, every minute and second was precious, yet he had to have 30 minutes of his time with Dohyun stolen by Do Yudam!
When Hamin swung his arms nervously, sunflowers bloomed up to the ceiling. Hamin, who was glaring at the training room door, planted the sunflowers more densely, blocking all the flashing glances through the gaps.
"Why the sudden sunflowers?"
Surprised by the imposingly large sunflowers, Dohyun reached out to Hamin. Hamin, who ran over and grabbed that hand, sighed as he looked at Dohyun, who might or might not be perceptive.
"Hey, let's play together."
Then another unwelcome voice was heard. Hamin glared at Jeonghyeok, who had finally made an unauthorized intrusion into the training room. He was even sprinkling gem rain on the sunflowers without his permission. A while later, Kwon Soohyeok also barged in, pretending to look for Jeonghyeok, and naturally exchanged greetings with Dohyun.
Hamin, who was looking resentfully at the smooth-faced Jeonghyeok, flicked his fingertips, and numerous sunflowers began to spew out seeds.
"Baak Hamin!"
"It's because he gave them water!"
When Dohyun warned him, Hamin pointed at Jeonghyeok with a brazen face. Jeonghyeok, who was still sprinkling gem rain on the sunflowers, made an aggrieved face and looked back at Kwon Soohyeok.
"Jeonghyeok, let's go now."
Kwon Soohyeok, who had clearly said let's go but was hesitating in his actions, handed Dohyun a business card. After confirming that Dohyun received and stored the business card, Jeonghyeok smiled annoyedly at Hamin.
Dohyun, who grabbed Hamin trying to rush at such Jeonghyeok, frowned.
"Why is this kid acting like this?"
"I hate that guy!"
Hamin really hated Kwon Jeonghyeok. He hated him even more than Do Yudam, who was trying to monopolize Dohyun. It was because of what Jeonghyeok had said to him recently.
"You can't call Hunter Seong Dohyun 'Uncle' anymore."
"Why?"
When Hamin answered with a near-scream, attention focused on the two, but Jeonghyeok maintained his relaxed composure and looked down at Hamin.
"When Hunter Seong Dohyun marries my older brother, he becomes our family."
"Why would Uncle marry your brother?"
"Don't you know that? To join an affiliated guild, you either have to become the guild leader's adopted son or marry a guild member, right? And my brother came looking for Hunter Seong Dohyun. What does that mean? I'm telling you, Hunter Seong Dohyun and my brother are going to get married!"
Nonsense!
Hamin, who was struggling sorrowfully in Dohyun's arms, suddenly lifted his head. At the perfect plan that instantly came to mind, Hamin covered his mouth with his small hands.
As soon as they arrived home, Hamin hopped down from Dohyun's arms and looked for Eunseong. Then, as soon as he discovered his uncle sitting on the living room sofa, he carefully burrowed into his arms. It was a slightly different gesture from Dohyun, whom he would throw himself against without hesitation.
Due to the long-standing curse, Eunseong's body was rotting from the inside. To compare it to a tree, the inside was all rotted, and only the outer bark and roots were somewhat intact.
Hamin, with his stomach filled with strength, shouted loudly.
"Uncle! Uncle! Marry Uncle Dohyun!"
"Cough."
Eunseong, who swallowed a gasp, covered his mouth, coughed for a long time, and then looked around. Why... isn't he coming in? There's no way that sharp-eared Dohyun didn't hear it, so why isn't he coming to demand why I would marry Baak Eunseong?
At that moment, the sound of the front door opening was heard.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back."
Dohyun's face as he stepped inside was calm.
'Did he not hear...?'
Eunseong bit the inside of his cheek and grabbed Hamin, who was trying to run toward Dohyun. Then he whispered into Hamin's ear.
"What you just said is a secret from Hunter Seong Dohyun."
"What. What did you say?"
Dohyun, who was drinking water in the kitchen, approached the two with his eyebrows deeply furrowed. When Hamin kept his mouth shut, saying it was nothing, Dohyun went into his room without hiding his displeasure.
"Hamin will help you so you can do that!"
Eunseong looked at Hamin's bright eyes for a long time as he spoke innocently, then covered them with one hand. Looking at the gleaming eyes filled with enthusiasm, a vague longing rushed in.
How could he resemble his older brother so much? The eldest brother, who was no longer in this world, had always obtained what he wanted by any means necessary with such sparkling eyes. And so did the second brother.
Sighing, Eunseong hugged his nephew and sank into the ground. Eunseong, who stopped moving at a point where he thought he was somewhat far from Dohyun's ears, asked Hamin.
"What are you suddenly talking about? Marriage?"
"No! What if Uncle Dohyun goes somewhere else!"
Hamin, who was stomping his feet in Eunseong's arms, patted Eunseong's chest with a tearful face. He couldn't exactly understand what he meant, but it seemed like he was anxious about Dohyun being taken away by someone else.
If he had grown up in a different environment, if his brother were alive, this child who would have grown up innocently was now reading the room—this was so heartbreaking that Eunseong hugged Hamin tightly and said.
"Uncle made a promise with Hunter Seong Dohyun. As long as the promise is kept, Uncle Dohyun can't go anywhere."
"Really?"
Eunseong, who smiled back at Hamin who smiled brightly, opened the ground, went back up to the surface, and headed home.
Eunseong also knew well what the child was worried about. While spending time with Dohyun, Eunseong hadn't just been playing either. He didn't know the reason, but it seemed Dohyun had suddenly developed an interest in dungeons, so he had even selected a small-scale dungeon to give as a gift. He had also set aside the dungeon byproducts separately.
Not only was he providing material support, but he was also trying his best to refrain from any actions that might displease Dohyun. That was why he intentionally didn't ask what Dohyun had discussed with his brother, or why he was suddenly acting strangely.
"You're back."
"...I'm back."
It was because this greeting was so precious.
Even if Dohyun was conspiring with his brother to deceive him, he was willing to play along and be deceived.
How could he keep this person by his side for a long, long time? Even if the contract ended, he had no intention of letting Dohyun go, who had walked into his house on his own two feet like this.
"Hey."
"Yes."
When Eunseong, who was recalling various methods to keep Dohyun, answered calmly, he saw Dohyun gesturing toward the sofa with a sigh.
"Let's talk for a bit."
"Excuse me?"
Eunseong reflexively checked the calendar and confirmed the date. Naturally, there was still quite a lot of time left until the contract ended. It was still far from the promised time...?
"Baak Hamin, you come too when you're done eating."
"...Please tell me now."
Eunseong, who swallowed dry saliva, immediately sat on the sofa, and Hamin approached with an almost crying expression. The two were so tense that they couldn't even breathe comfortably. Various thoughts rushed into Eunseong's head.
Did I... make some mistake? What on earth does he want to talk about?
Could it be, the contract...
"...Did Hamin do something wrong?"
At the teary question of the child, Dohyun crossed his arms and pressed his lips firmly. As if something was deeply unsatisfactory, he looked back and forth between Eunseong and Hamin firmly, then finally opened his mouth with a sigh.
"Fix your sleeping habits."