#177
“…There must be an uproar in Korea, right?”
I muttered while lying on the bed with a hot compress on my waist that felt like it might break, after spending the night of reunion. The bed on the private jet that Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun had taken to America had a subtle vibration typical of airplanes that I could feel through my stomach.
“It won’t be bad in either direction.”
Hyun Dowoon said while massaging various parts of my aching body. Shin Haejun was helping remove the makeup I had worn for the press conference from early morning.
‘I wonder.’
Just before boarding the plane back to Seoul, we held a press conference, and the American reporters were certainly all favorable. The rumors spread that America would have been destroyed if it weren’t for me, and public opinion about me was extremely positive, though I’m not sure how much the author had exaggerated.
However, there was one difficult question about why I had left Korea as if escaping, which Ray answered on my behalf. More precisely, it was an apology rather than an answer.
The scenario was that they had discovered an unusual phenomenon in the mansion garden, but couldn’t definitively call it a dungeon occurrence because the pattern was different from before. They were secretly investigating it, and when they learned that I had received an unranked assessment, they visited Korea to persuade me and ask for my help.
The part Ray apologized for was deceiving me and withholding information from me, who had followed them urgently just to help Ray and Liam.
This was an answer crafted by agreement between Hyun Dowoon and Ray, with Ray agreeing to shoulder the blame in exchange for me saving Liam.
“If you want to check, take a look. You can use the internet.”
Hyun Dowoon handed me his phone as I lay there relaxed. Intrigued, I opened the internet app and checked the reactions to the news articles.
As he said, the reaction in Korea was quite good. No, not just quite good, but really good.
“It’s unfortunate he was deceived, but it’s amazing that he successfully cleared a dungeon that even an S-class Esper couldn’t.”
“He went to America out of a sense of justice and ended up really saving them.”
“I don’t know what exactly, but it doesn’t seem bad.”
To the public, although I had gone to America after being deceived and caused a kidnapping controversy, I appeared to be a hero who had returned after saving America from a potentially huge disaster.
Some people even felt a sense of national pride that I had cleared a dungeon rated above S-class, which even America’s S-class Esper couldn’t clear.
It’s not that I hadn’t expected these reactions. What I was worried about was Ray’s position.
“Shouldn’t we protest to America at this point?”
“We shouldn’t let them off just because he’s an S-class guide.”
“We almost lost national power.”
A considerable number of people expressed opinions that strong diplomatic measures should be taken against Ray and America. Although there would likely be no special punishment or retirement for an S-class guide, they were calling for severe punishment as it was a crime against a fellow Awakened.
I had opposed making this announcement because these reactions were predictable, but Ray said not to worry about it, as the confinement was a fact even if I had willingly followed them.
‘I hope it ends without any problems…’
As I stared at the screen with mixed feelings, Hyun Dowoon, seemingly noticing my mood, covered the phone with his hand.
“Don’t worry. It will end with just taking some diplomatic advantage.”
“Ray won’t have any major problems, right?”
“You don’t need to worry too much. We’ll take care of it.”
Hyun Dowoon’s face looked somewhat sinister as he said this, but I nodded obediently. It was clear that both of them disliked me being concerned about Ray.
“Oh right, there’s something I want to say.”
I gently pushed away Hyun Dowoon’s hand that was still pressing on the hot compress and sat up on the bed.
As I straightened my back, Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun sat quietly in chairs placed beside the bed, watching my expression.
“There will be reporters swarming when we land, right?”
“Probably.”
“Everyone already knows when our plane is arriving.”
I nodded after hearing their answers.
“I’m not sure if you remember what I said before…”
“Which words?”
“I said I wouldn’t form a pair.”
As soon as I spoke, both of their expressions changed. They seemed to have intuited what I was going to say. However, not being certain, they couldn’t speak first and waited for me to continue.
“I like things to be clear. So I want to let everyone know that you two are mine.”
“…What do you mean?”
Their gazes wavered.
I opened my inventory and took out three rings. I had made these rings in the morning while Ray and Liam were discussing the press conference with the two.
If the previous ones were couple rings with a natural design, these were very elaborate and luxurious designs. They were proposal rings, after all. Unlike the previous pink diamond rings, these white diamonds sparkled in various colors depending on the light.
When I took out the rings, both of their eyes widened.
“Let’s get married.”
Just like when I first gifted the couple rings, their gazes wavered greatly. Then soon, Shin Haejun bit his lip and switched the couple ring to his right hand. Then he held out his hand to me.
I slipped the proposal ring onto his finger, which had a slight ring mark.
“…It’s really a proposal ring.”
Shin Haejun fondled the ring with an unusually demure expression.
Feeling proud, I turned to Hyun Dowoon to put the ring on him as well.
“…You’re not going to run away again after giving this, are you?”
Hyun Dowoon asked with a smile, jokingly but with a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
“Where would I go when I have nowhere to return to? Now I…”
My voice cracked, so I cleared my throat with a cough and continued, lowering my gaze.
“I have nowhere to go if I’m not beside Dowoon hyung… and Haejun. You two are my home now.”
When I called him “hyung” for the first time, Hyun Dowoon’s face instantly flushed. A smile escaped between his lips. I grabbed his hand, which was grinning uncontrollably, changed the position of the couple ring, and put the new ring on his empty finger.
“I’m glad I met with the wedding planner.”
“What? Wedding planner?”
“When we received the couple rings. I reserved a venue just in case.”
At Shin Haejun’s words, I opened my eyes wide with a dazed expression. Why did you reserve a venue?
“I was planning to persuade you to get married within this year… I didn’t expect this.”
You were really proceeding with something that might or might not happen, that had only come up as a joke?
When I was surprised, Shin Haejun made excuses, saying he had only reserved the venue and prepared that much.
“…Oh, for goodness’ sake.”
I was about to say something but closed my mouth. I thought it might be fortunate, even if a bit unique, to find someone who likes me this much again.
“Then we can have the ceremony there.”
I muttered, turning my head slightly with a cough. Anyway, since I had proposed to declare to everyone, we had to have a ceremony. I needed to firmly establish to everyone that these two were mine, so that even if another S-class guide appeared in Korea, they couldn’t take them away.
When I agreed instead of scolding him, Shin Haejun smiled excitedly.
“But why did you bring up the pair thing?”
Hyun Dowoon, who had been fiddling with his ring, suddenly asked. It was a very good point.
“Let’s form a pair too, the three of us.”
“Didn’t you say you would never form a pair?”
“I did think that, but…”
At that time, I was very fixated on the idea of being independent and having an equal relationship. Looking back now, it wasn’t such a big deal. Forming a pair doesn’t mean I’ll be dragged along by their power, does it?
“I’ve decided not to be hung up on things like titles anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“At the time, I thought if I became a pair guide… I would inevitably be subordinate to the pair Esper and have no choice but to be led around.”
Moreover, at that time, the grade difference was severe, so it was a time when my self-esteem was critically low.
“But being someone’s pair guide… doesn’t seem to be just a bad thing.”
I realized this by watching Liam and Ray. Even after forming a pair with Ray, Liam liked Ray himself, not just because he was a ‘guide’. Becoming a pair guide doesn’t mean I would only function as a guide rather than being their lover.
Above all, seeing Ray confidently rushing to Liam as he came out of the dungeon, I felt that being each other’s pair was quite important in Awakened society. It means being officially recognized as having the right to be involved with each other because of being a pair.
If we get married and tie ourselves as pairs, these two will now completely become mine. I waited for their decision with a sly smile.
“If Jaeha becomes my pair, I… would be happy.”
Hyun Dowoon spoke first.
“But… haven’t you put in effort to freely conquer dungeons? Is it okay if all that goes to waste?”
“I still want to freely come and go from dungeons. But separately from that, I want to be together as a pair when you two go to dungeons.”
Of course, I didn’t intend to frequent dungeons often. Before my grade increased, I thought using my inventory to conquer dungeons was the only way to gain recognition, but now I have these two who acknowledge me without having to struggle so hard.
Still, I was being greedy to not miss out on anything, but Hyun Dowoon seemed rather relieved at my words.
“If it’s not constraining Jaeha’s freedom, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Good. But… I can’t choose just one of you. I love you both.”
If I marry and form a pair with both of them simultaneously, it might shock the world. If I hadn’t met these two, I wouldn’t have known it was possible for my heart to be split like this.
More precisely, it feels like having two hearts rather than dividing one heart.
Having lived craving others’ love and recognition to the point of love deprivation, it seemed I wanted the love of both, not just one.
“I don’t mind. As long as you don’t add anyone else besides this person.”
Shin Haejun said, pointing at Hyun Dowoon. He meant he could tolerate up to Hyun Dowoon, but no more than that.
Of course, I had no intention of doing so either. I didn’t think there could be anyone else I could love as much as these two.
“I’m fine with whatever Jaeha wants.”
Hyun Dowoon also accepted my proposal. Then both of them reached out to put the remaining ring, my share, on my finger. Their hands collided simultaneously, and the ring bounced slightly in my hand.
Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun turned their heads and locked eyes. Hostile gazes sparked like lightning between them.
‘Uh…’
Wasn’t it heartwarming just a moment ago?
I was momentarily flustered and tried to open my mouth to calm the atmosphere.
“For wedding preparations.”
“We’re in agreement for once.”
The two who had been glaring at each other suddenly agreed and grinned at me.
I awkwardly smiled along and tried to understand the situation. Of course, no matter how much I racked my brain, there was no way to understand their highly abbreviated words.
It was much later that I learned they meant ‘We’ll compete to see who can prepare the wedding that pleases you more, and the winner will put the ring on your finger.’
It was also later that I ended up crying and insisting on putting the ring on myself because of these two who prepared a wedding on a scale that would shock the entire world.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Are there side stories?
Are there side stories? Novel Updates said there was 9 but idk?