Chapter 33
Yes… we definitely weren’t just friends.
The lingering emotion of wanting to protect him even at the cost of his own life was too intense. Just how far, what kind of relationship did we have? Eunseong rolled his eyes frantically under the blanket.
The shadow that had been cast over the blanket disappeared and he heard a small tongue-clicking sound.
“You were asleep for a long time. I need to check your physical condition.”
“…”
Eunseong couldn’t bring himself to lift his face because of the scenes that had vaguely surfaced. It had been better when his memories were completely gone. Back then, he could act so shamelessly because he didn’t know anything. Even letting him take care of his dirty feet.
“…”
“Hmm? Eunseong.”
The voice looking down at him and slowly coaxing was affectionate. Eunseong swallowed his saliva. Was he actually the type who was starved for affection? His cheeks heated up and his solar plexus tingled. Why did he feel so good? Even though he hadn’t remembered everything yet.
When he had no memories at all, he thought Mujin was scary and unfamiliar, but strangely, he wanted to trust and follow him. Then the emotions he felt now after discovering hints were surely…
Eunseong peeked only his eyes out from under the blanket.
“First, please give me some clothes.”
“How strange.”
Mujin raised his eyebrows as if surprised, then walked behind Lee Haesu and pulled out a t-shirt. Then he tossed it over with an indifferent gesture.
“You have a fever, so just wear this. And for your eyes, the blindfold…”
“While Eunseong-ssi was sleeping, Hyeonwoo-ssi made something. It’s really cool.”
Instead of scolding Lee Haesu who had quickly interjected, Mujin brought over a black box and set it down in front of Eunseong. When the lid was opened, black safety glasses in goggle form were revealed.
“Try them on. They’re yours.”
“You want me to wear these?”
“Cool, right?”
Instead of Eunseong who was just opening the box and admiring, Lee Haesu completed the appreciation. Actually, the simple word “cool” was far from sufficient.
The form completely covered both eyes, and the matte deep black surface was sleek without any excess. Most of all, what surprised Eunseong was the special material that composed the entire object. The void stone used as the main material was one of the Grade 1 rift byproducts—not only expensive but also a difficult substance that not just anyone could handle.
Eunseong carefully lifted the safety glasses and tried them on. Thanks to the feeling of the part touching his eyes sticking perfectly to his skin, he liked them even before fastening the buckle.
“How is it?”
“I can’t see anything.”
“…I suppose that would be the case?”
“It means I’m really comfortable now.”
Mujin placed his hand on top of Eunseong’s head as he expressed his admiration. Without knowing that Eunseong had stiffened, he moved his fingers as if it was something he always did, pulling out hair caught in the safety glasses and tidying it up. Every time his fingers scraped across his scalp, Eunseong clenched his ticklish hands tightly.
“Hunter Joo Hyeonwoo guaranteed you’d like them, and he was right. Honestly, I was half-doubtful. Was Yoo Eunseong’s taste originally like this?”
Just when Eunseong, who couldn’t remember who Joo Hyeonwoo was, was about to ask, Lee Haesu rustled around and got up, gathering something. Eunseong turned his head toward where the sound came from.
“Since Eunseong-ssi is awake, I’ll go inform everyone and bring them all. I’ll also get the medication and recovery support items… Oh right, I’ll check on Hanyeong’s condition too.”
When Eunseong unconsciously fidgeted at Hanyeong’s name, Mujin pressed down on his shoulder firmly with his hand. Eunseong, who had been about to follow him out, changed his mind.
“Thank you. For taking care of everything.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Lee Haesu waved his hand dismissively, muttering “busy, busy” as he opened the door and left.
After finishing tidying up various things, Mujin sat back down in the chair at the head of the bed. The atmosphere seemed like he had something to say, so Eunseong’s first thought was wanting to run away. Right after gaining an ambiguous realization about their relationship, he still needed time to observe and understand. If he opened his mouth right now, he was likely to make mistakes first.
“Do you have to wear that even when sleeping?”
To the nervous Eunseong, Mujin started with an ordinary question.
“It’s not that I have to, but wearing this is comfortable…”
“Good. That’s fortunate.”
“Yes.”
Mujin’s voice was low and calm. Even though Eunseong couldn’t see anything, he could feel his gaze. Even as the awkward Eunseong nodded his head several times like a greeting doll, he just watched silently without saying anything.
After a long silence, the two spoke simultaneously as if they had received some signal.
“Joo Hyeonwoo is…”
“Baek Sangyeon will…”
“Please speak first.”
“You speak first.”
“Who is he?”
“He’ll be punished.”
After the three overlapping statements, Eunseong closed his mouth. Then Mujin continued.
“Joo Hyeonwoo is your guild member and you were close… I think. I wanted to tell you that Baek Sangyeon will be formally investigated by the Rift Control Agency.”
“Ah…”
“So.”
Honestly, Mujin suspected that his father wouldn’t be properly punished. He would obviously use all sorts of means to wriggle out of it. But he wanted to tell Eunseong that things were being handled ‘reasonably and according to proper procedure.’ Even though it wouldn’t mean much to Eunseong who had no memories.
Of course, he had no intention of just standing by and letting Baek Sangyeon escape either.
“Actually, I wonder what meaning it has at this point, but I hope your heart feels even a little more at ease.”
“Uh…”
Not knowing how to react, Eunseong just gaped for a while.
He clearly knew about Baek Sangyeon’s emotions toward him—the damp and dark hatred—having felt it since Huiseon Guild. But his consciousness had been intermittent during the battle, and he knew nothing about their previous grudges. Moreover, since the conversation topic Mujin brought up was far beyond his expectations, he became even more flustered. Ironically, despite having been nervous.
“Is Hunter Baek Mujin okay…”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m curious if you got hurt.”
“…I’m perfectly fine.”
“Uh… that’s really fortunate.”
Another suffocating silence flowed. Eunseong’s cheeks were stinging. Even though having his eyes covered made it bearable, his mouth kept getting dry.
So when the door opened and people came in making a commotion, he ended up showing an overly welcoming expression.
“Guild leader!”
“Eunseong hyung!”
Eunseong reflexively turned his body toward where the sound came from, then startled and flinched when Mujin stepped closer and pressed down the blanket. At the touch pressing down on his thighs, the fact that he was wearing only a t-shirt over his naked body flashed intensely through his mind.
“You’re alive, you’re really alive…!”
The people who poured into the narrow hospital room like a crowd instantly surrounded Eunseong’s bed. Eunseong straightened his shoulders tensely. When Mujin’s warmth, which had been staying by his side, moved away, anxiety surged up like a lie.
Joo Hyeonwoo grabbed Eunseong’s hesitantly extended hand.
“Look how skinny our hyung got! There’s nothing but skin on his fingers!”
“Guild leader… how did this happen… Are you okay? Can you hear my voice?”
“It’s a miracle. This kind of thing… is really a miracle.”
Voices filled with joy and intense breathing filled all around. Someone touched Eunseong’s shoulder, pressed his forehead, and even cried.
“Disappearing like that… when you were alive, you didn’t even come back…”
With those words, Joo Hyeonwoo suddenly hugged Eunseong tightly. He was startled enough to jump at the casual contact, but he couldn’t push him away because he could feel all the tears wetting his shoulders and nape. After hesitating, Eunseong hugged Joo Hyeonwoo back and patted his back. Then the crying got louder.
“…I’m grateful that everyone is welcoming me, really grateful. But I don’t remember well. I’m sorry.”
Before he could even finish speaking, the entire hospital room became quiet as if holding its breath. But the silence didn’t last long.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Hyung.”
Joo Hyeonwoo pulled his body away from Eunseong. Instead, he gripped his shoulders firmly with both hands and said.
“You don’t need memories or anything like that. I remember everything. We can get to know each other again from now on. I’ll tell you everything. Hyung just needs to be healthy.”
Eunseong pressed his lips together tightly. Something hot seemed to be welling up in his chest. It was really fortunate that his eyes were covered.
“Hey, Joo Hyeonwoo, move aside. I want to see Eunseong oppa’s face too.”
“The person who whined the most is being so tough with his comments, it’s a bit much.”
“Hyeonwoo saying he’ll tell you… I’m worried from the start, what if he tricks you and then guild leader’s memory comes back…”
“Ah! When someone finally speaks, just accept it!”
Laughter finally began to seep into the boisterous voices. In the chaotic and bright atmosphere, Eunseong felt emotions clearer than his hazy memories.
These people, they really were people who had been by my side.
Eunseong felt with his whole body how those gathered around him thought of him. It was a moment when his desire to truly regain his memories became intense.
Just then, a familiar scent brushed his nose. Mujin’s large hand gently grasped Eunseong’s shoulder. As his face came closer, warm energy touched his cheek. He whispered to the agitated Eunseong in a low voice.
“I’ll be outside.”
That single sentence was heard clearly, cutting through the voices of the people who were just excitedly chattering.
Suddenly, Eunseong was seized by an impulse to check his facial expression and raised his head. Mujin lightly touched Eunseong’s cheek and then moved away without hesitation. He didn’t even have time to take off the high-performance safety glasses.
Eunseong’s hand, left empty, was tightly grasped again by one of his colleagues, but only the sound of Mujin’s footsteps moving away outside the door reached him loudly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
