Chapter 68
"Uncle, where are you going?"
"To get water, to get water."
Baek Ha-min, who had jumped up at my words, got off the bed and reached out his hand.
"I want to go with you."
"You said you're sick. Wouldn't it be better to lie down?"
"I want to go with you."
Reaching out my hand, I touched the child's forehead, then spread my arms and scooped him up in a hug. Baek Ha-min hugged my neck tightly while forcing out coughs.
"Cough, cough."
"If you're sick, let's go to Yang Ji-hwan."
"No. I just want to stay with you, Uncle."
"Alright then."
I gazed at Baek Ha-min, who was clinging to me more than usual, then wet a towel with water and placed it on his forehead. There was a slight fever, but it was just the natural warmth of a young child, not an actual fever.
Despite this, Baek Ha-min kept demanding things—do this, do that—acting like a lord ordering me around.
"I want egg-dipped bread."
"You shouldn't eat bread when you're sick, eat porridge."
"Then make it with tuna instead of just plain porridge. Add potatoes too. No carrots."
I was about to scold him for being so demanding, but since he'd be kicked out once Baek Ji-seong came out of the dungeon, this would probably be the last time I could indulge Baek Ha-min's whining. So I decided to play along with this kid for even a little while.
But....
"Uncle, ah."
"Can't you eat with your own hands?"
"Yeah. I can't."
Isn't this going too far? I looked at Baek Ha-min whining for me to put jangjorim on top of his porridge, then grabbed the large spoon with a sigh.
I was going to quit if he asked me to airplane-feed him, but Baek Ha-min just opened his mouth quietly and ate. Judging by how much he ate, I should've used a ladle instead of a large spoon, but whether it was a fake illness or he was genuinely unwell, Baek Ha-min only finished one bowl before pushing the tray away.
As we went to the bathroom together to brush his teeth, those green eyes kept rolling around busily, then he mumbled with his toothbrush still in his mouth.
"Uncle, can you also sing me a lullaby?"
"I will, so brush your teeth properly."
I straightened the toothbrush for Baek Ha-min, who was only pretending to brush, then touched the child's forehead once more.
"Mm."
"What?"
"Is your stomach okay?"
"Yeah. I don't feel nauseous."
The child said he was fine, but somehow his forehead felt hotter than before, like he might actually have a fever. Yet his face color looked normal. Figuring he might just have indigestion, I laid him down and rubbed his belly when suddenly—tok, tok—raindrops hit the window.
"Uncle, is it raining?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"My knees hurt..."
Baek Ha-min, having pulled up his pants, started trembling noticeably. I suppressed the surging curse and then cupped the child's cheeks with my hands. The cheeks that had been soft just moments ago were now drenched in cold sweat.
"What's wrong with you."
"I don't know, it hurts. Waaah...!"
Baek Ha-min, gripping my wrist, suddenly started wailing. It wasn't a whiny cry but a genuine wail of distress, so flustered, I grabbed the child's leg and drew up my power.
"Heh, sniff, waaah..."
No matter how much I gathered my strength and pressed down hard, the curse, surging more violently than usual, kept shrinking back and then rising again repeatedly. Frowning, I focused on the black, flaring curse. Yet the child's crying didn't stop, still in pain.
Something was different from usual. It felt like the root of the curse wasn't in the leg but somewhere else. I tried to follow its flow with my eyes, but the rain prevented me from getting a clear view.
What does the rain have to do with the curse? Is that why Baek Kyeong-min warned me beforehand?
I patted the back of the child who was pressing his forehead against my shoulder and making sorrowful sounds, then opened the skill window.
[Celestial Command]
It would be better for him to sleep than to suffer from the pain. Shaking my wrist to play a lullaby, I laid Baek Ha-min down on the bed once he started breathing evenly. I wiped his swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks with a towel, then stepped out of the room to the sound of rain hitting the ceiling.
Standing still in the hallway, I listened to the sound.
The raindrops falling in an irregular rhythm each carried their own note. Calming my complicated mind with the peaceful sounds, I was catching my breath when a sudden car noise made my eyes snap open.
When I went to the entrance, Baek Eun-seong was struggling to come in, supported by his secretary.
"Hey, Baek Eun-seong."
I was about to tell him that Baek Ha-min's condition was serious, but Baek Eun-seong's state was just as bad.
"Mm, I'm back."
He seemed like he was trying to greet me as usual, but his voice was trembling strangely. His limp fingertips were also pale—whatever it was, it was clear the curse and the rain were connected.
I stood in front of Baek Eun-seong, who was half-dragged through the entrance by his secretary.
"Um, Hunter Seong Do-hyeon. Just a moment."
"You're the one who should wait a moment."
I shoved the blocking secretary aside and examined Baek Eun-seong's condition. Who knows where he sold his cloak—he was wearing only a shirt, and the curse was surging violently all over his body to the point where his face was barely visible. It was truly a viciously persistent curse.
The aura flowing out was so sticky that it was impressive he could even stand on two feet properly. It was at a level so severe that ordinary people wouldn't just roll around in pain—they'd be begging for death instead.
Thinking I should suppress it a bit, I reached out my hand, but Baek Eun-seong spread his arms to the sides. Then he started walking toward me slowly.
"Why."
"Can't you hug me?"
"No."
Does he think he's Baek Ha-min? And you're asking for a hug while completely drenched? This shameless bastard.
When I slowly backed away instead of answering, Baek Eun-seong lowered his eyelashes as if he expected that and laughed softly. Then when I tried to shake off the water from him, he curled up and avoided my touch.
"Mm, just... don't do that."
What the. Hugging is fine but shaking off water isn't?
I looked at him with an incredulous expression, then quickly turned around at the sound of someone tumbling out from behind.
"Waaah! Uncle!"
Baek Ha-min, who had burst out of the room, ran at me with his face covered in sweat and tears. Pounding my legs with fists full of strength, asking where I went, why I left without saying anything, Baek Ha-min fiercely glared and reached out his hand.
"Hold my hand!"
When I quickly clasped his small hand, Baek Ha-min sniffled and reached out to Baek Eun-seong too.
"You too, Uncle!"
At those words, Baek Eun-seong hurriedly grabbed his hand, and after a few sniffles, Baek Ha-min headed for the sofa. He flopped down and fell right asleep.
"Baek Ha-min, wake up."
"Mm-heung..."
The child shook his head and continued to sleep curled up, but even the slightest sound or movement would startle him awake, looking around in fright.
Don't tell me we have to stay up all night like this?
"Vice Guild Master, I brought blankets."
Meanwhile, Baek Eun-seong's secretary had brought five sets of blankets and towels, smiling proudly. They say you can't spit on a smiling face, but right now... I felt a slight urge to spit.
No matter how wide the sofa is, does he think two adults and a child can sleep there? He didn't even think about coaxing the child back to the room and just brought out blankets in a flash.
No wonder Baek Ha-min grew up spoiled.
As I sighed, I heard heavy breathing.
"Well, I'll be."
Looking to the side, Baek Eun-seong was also lying down asleep. While I was wondering how to get them into the room, the secretary suddenly offered me a glass of water.
"You must be thirsty, right?"
I was actually thirsty, so I took it bewilderedly and drank it. The secretary took the empty glass and whispered to me.
"Is your thirst quenched?"
"Yes... well."
"That's a relief. At least Hunter Seong Do-hyeon's thirst is quenched. The Vice Guild Master is currently drinking seawater."
What is he talking about? I turned my head and scanned Baek Eun-seong up and down. Seawater? Even if there's nothing to drink, he's guzzling seawater? Trying to deduce the meaning behind the secretary's words, I looked at him sideways.
"If you're going to speak, speak clearly."
I glared at him sharply, but the secretary just smiled pleasantly. He was pretending to be calm, but his loudly beating heart reached me clearly.
He's talking to me even though he looks like he's scared to death...
'Did he give me some kind of hint?'
While I was inwardly pondering in confusion, the secretary placed a towel on Baek Eun-seong's head. Startled by this, Baek Eun-seong opened his eyes and saw me next to Baek Ha-min, then quickly backed away.
Seriously, who's the one dangling with curses, and why is he avoiding me?
When I glared at him, the secretary slowly backed away. Watching the secretary quietly escape, I clicked my tongue and reached out to Baek Eun-seong. Just as I was about to suppress his curse, a sudden hand of earth appeared and lifted me up.
"Baek Eun-seong. What are you doing."
"W-wait a moment. ...Don't do that."
What kind of crazy behavior is this?
When I glared at Baek Eun-seong intensely, the hand that had trapped me slowly disappeared. Has he lost his mind from the curse? Oh, could he be mistaking me for 'Seong Do-hyeon'?
Tch, that could make sense.
He misunderstood—that I wasn't suppressing his curse but attacking him. I was about to check on Baek Ha-min, who was looking for my hand, but instead laid out blankets on the floor. He'll come down and sleep on his own when he comes to his senses. Or if the sofa is more comfortable, he can sleep there.
Wow, even though I've been with him for how many days, he still mistakes me for 'Seong Do-hyeon'? Facing the reality that Baek Eun-seong, who was so eager to stick by my side, was now being wary of me felt strangely off.
After staring at the floor for a moment, I saw a round water stain forming on the sofa and raised my hand. Thinking that shaking off the water should be fine, the moment I opened the skill window and flicked my finger—
Suddenly my vision went dark.
Wondering if a dungeon break had occurred, I remained on alert, but after my eyes adjusted to the darkness, what I saw was Baek Eun-seong's chest.
"I told you... not to do that."