39.
Green gave Jinhyeon a room in the inn where he stayed. The room was small and dirty, but here it was considered a decent room. Entering the room, Jinhyeon looked out the window. There were a few rats, but it didn’t seem difficult to move around secretly.
Ever since meeting Jinhyeon, Sena would often mutter:
“Wow, really. The world is so unfair!”
And whenever Sena did this, Alec always gave the same reply:
“The world is inherently unfair.”
“You know you’re really annoying, right?”
“Same goes for you.”
Though they growled at each other, they faithfully followed Jinhyeon’s orders. Sena used her rich experience to navigate the back alleys, while Alec assisted her and taught Jinhyeon swordsmanship as he had wished. Due to limitations of place and time, he couldn’t teach for long, but even with that, Jinhyeon’s skills improved significantly.
“Your progress is frighteningly fast,” Alec exclaimed.
“Soon, there won’t be anything left for me to teach you.”
“Is that so?” Jinhyeon replied nonchalantly as he sheathed his sword. He too was aware that he was different from ordinary people. He also knew how far talented individuals could rise in this world. That’s why he wasn’t satisfied with the current reality. If he could go higher, why be content here?
If this was Alec’s limit, he could ask Yu Jin to find someone stronger. He planned to eventually rise to a position where no one could teach him.
‘No need to be impatient.’
While it was pleasing to know there was still room for growth, it also brought a sense of urgency. Jinhyeon took a deep breath and spoke:
“I assume things are progressing well on your end?”
“Of course. Hans, was it? We’ve placed people on that boar-like guy’s side too.”
Things were going smoothly. What choice would Hans make when cornered? Once their numbers decreased a bit more, he planned to personally clean up the remaining ones. After that, he’d need to meet Blando. A former knight with a story. With a bit of curiosity and fighting spirit rising in him.
Would he end up fighting Blando too? Yu Jin had said to deal with him peacefully if possible, but Jinhyeon had no intention of backing down if a fight arose. Because he enjoyed it.
Jinhyeon smiled without realizing it.
His heart raced in anticipation of the upcoming battles.
While the back alley affairs were progressing steadily, Yu Jin wasn’t faring so well. Because he hated others touching his body so much, the days of going out, vomiting, collapsing, and being carried back by Keith increased. It felt like he wasn’t doing anything while everyone else was busy moving. Thinking about it made it hard to breathe. That day was one of those days.
Yu Jin lay down his tired body and stared blankly at the ceiling.
This isn’t helping at all. What if someone discovers the plan because of this? If someone else notices and starts interfering, Keith and Haruna would be in danger. Yu Jin would be in danger too, but for now, that was more worrying.
He didn’t want to lose those two, who were like his nanny. As his thoughts drifted there, he became more depressed and curled up, when he heard a small sound from somewhere.
‘What’s that sound?’
It seemed to be coming from the window. The night sky was too clear and clean for it to be something hitting against the wind. Hesitating, Yu Jin carefully approached the window. Soon, he discovered a person standing outside. But it was a familiar face.
“Jinhyeon?”
Why is someone who should be in the back alleys here? Surprised, he opened the window, and Jinhyeon lightly jumped, grabbed a protruding ornament, and started climbing the wall. Jinhyeon’s body quickly reached Yu Jin’s window and then entered.
Even seeing it, it didn’t feel real.
“…Why are you here?”
This time, the question tumbled out of his mouth.
“Am I not allowed to be here?”
“No, that’s not it. Don’t you have work to do?”
“I finished and had some free time, so I came.”
Jinhyeon calmly crossed the room and sat on the sofa. Coming at such a busy time must mean there’s some problem, right? There’s no way the protagonist Jinhyeon would make a mistake regarding work, so there was only one answer.
“It’s because of me, isn’t it?”
The surprise of meeting Jinhyeon had already subsided. Yu Jin listed his faults with a depressed expression.
“I should have been acting like a scoundrel to divert others’ attention. Is there a problem because I couldn’t do that?”
If that was the reason, it made sense for Jinhyeon to come. Yu Jin rubbed his forehead with his hand.
“I’m sorry, I should have done better.”
It was a body that had already been used plenty before, there was no need to be newly frugal with it, so why couldn’t he do it properly? He felt pathetic. Jinhyeon was quietly listening to Yu Jin’s words, but strangely, he seemed angry.
‘Nothing’s going right.’
Yu Jin tensed up, imagining what Jinhyeon might say. He thought he’d have to accept whatever was said since it was his fault.
“What exactly didn’t you do properly?”
“Acting like a scoundrel.”
“Ah, right. Acting like a scoundrel.”
Jinhyeon gritted his teeth.
“You mean going to those kinds of parties, drinking, and selling your body?”
His returning tone felt fierce. He must be angry indeed. Yu Jin nodded with a resigned expression.
“Is what I’m saying correct?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Jinhyeon stood up and approached Yu Jin who was standing.
“But why couldn’t you do it?”
“Yeah, why couldn’t I? I used to do it well before.”
Yu Jin fidgeted with his fingers as he confessed.
“It was too hard to do it again. I could manage drinking somehow, but others kept touching my body. I couldn’t stand it. It made me want to throw up.”
Unlike before, due to the memories of his past life, Yu Jin, who had no morality, developed new standards. Even Suho, who repeatedly worked overtime in a black company, took care of himself better than Yu Jin who had let go of everything. Once modern standards were in place, Yu Jin no longer wanted to carelessly use his body.
I’ve already given it to Jinhyeon, why hesitate now?
As Yu Jin was blaming himself, Jinhyeon’s hand approached him. Thinking he might hit him, Yu Jin tightly closed his eyes, but nothing happened. The outstretched hand was withdrawn with a small sigh.
“You did well.”
At the words that came out of Jinhyeon’s mouth next, Yu Jin opened his eyes wide.
“You shouldn’t carelessly use a body that’s been bound by contract. It might become mine later.”
“That’s not going to happen, you know?”
Yu Jin’s wish was to make Jinhyeon successful, send him higher, and become free. When that time comes, there are so many things he wants to do! Lounging in bed all day being lazy, taking a nap on a mat in the garden, exploring delicious restaurants! He had no intention whatsoever of sticking with Jinhyeon till the end. He would surely try to work him hard, but now he detested work.
As Yu Jin grumbled, Jinhyeon grabbed his cheek with his fingers and pinched it hard.
“Ouch!”
A groan escaped involuntarily as it hurt enough to bring tears to his eyes.
“Don’t carelessly use your body from now on.”
“But it’s necessary work!”
“You can act like a scoundrel in other ways besides that. If you really must, why not pretend to be addicted to gambling instead? Is there a rule that a scoundrel always has to do the same things?”
Hearing it, it made sense. There were several fairly large gambling houses in the capital. Going there, spending money recklessly, and losing big would also earn a bad reputation. After all, gambling addiction has always been one of the representative acts of scoundrels passed down through generations.
Yu Jin’s expression brightened.
“I guess I was worrying about something unnecessary.”
Jinhyeon let go of Yu Jin’s cheek and sighed softly. Then he pulled the still dazed Yu Jin into an embrace and whispered:
“So the problem is solved now?”
Yu Jin nodded obediently.
“Then let’s go to sleep. I’m tired.”
Jinhyeon picked up Yu Jin and headed for the bed. Yu Jin tensed up again, thinking they might have sex, but nothing of the sort happened. Jinhyeon hugged Yu Jin and closed his eyes. He must have been tired, as it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep.
Wondering if he was really asleep, Yu Jin waved his hand in front of his face, but there was no reaction.
“Sleep? Are you really sleeping?”
Thanks to Jinhyeon, his worries were resolved, but now a new question arose.
‘Why did he come all the way here to sleep?’
Hadn’t he come because he had some business? As he looked at Jinhyeon’s sleeping face, his brow furrowed and wrinkled. It didn’t look comfortable, so Yu Jin gently smoothed out the wrinkled brow with his finger, and his face became peaceful.
‘He is handsome, I’ll give him that.’
Although there was an undeniable tiredness and sensitivity, he was so handsome that even that seemed charming. Yu Jin looked at Jinhyeon for a while longer before drowsiness set in and he closed his eyes.
The sleep he had after several days was incredibly sweet.
