# Chapter 19
## 5. The Day of the Great Change
Watching Haeil, Jaeha nodded thinking that this person was also quite addicted to gaming.
“Okay. But let’s play later, not now. I suddenly feel sleepy, probably because I feel at ease.”
Watching Jaeha yawn, Haeil became more anxious. If Jaeha fell asleep now and Jaeyoon returned tomorrow, it might be difficult to get a chance to be alone with him. He didn’t want to let this perfect opportunity slip away.
“By the way. I hope Jaeyoon won’t be locked up in a mental hospital based on his test results, right?”
Haeil’s steady smile faltered at Jaeha’s question with slightly frightened eyes. Even though the place looked like a hotel but was filled with surveillance cameras, and even after seeing Jaeyoon go for testing, Jaeha still didn’t believe. Perhaps this was a normal reaction, but suddenly Haeil remembered Jaeyoon holding the Red Mantis head, saying he needed to show it to his brother as proof.
“Jaeha doesn’t believe in the existence of Espers.”
“Oh, no. I do believe. To some extent.”
Perhaps what Jaeha meant was something like a magician’s illusion. Seeing Haeil’s bitter smile, Jaeha hurriedly grabbed his hand and opened it. When their hands touched, a refreshing energy seemed to seep in, disarming Haeil.
“Guild Master hyung can make fire without any device in his hand. It’s like magic, but doesn’t seem like ordinary magic.”
Jaeha was trying hard to comfort Haeil and believe his words. The reason Jaeha was trying so hard was because he ultimately didn’t believe.
Even though he had shown quite a bit of evidence, Jaeha remained firm. But thinking about it, it was also true that he hadn’t properly shown any conclusive evidence.
Haeil wondered if he should take him to the lab now to show him more powerful fire. As the atmosphere grew heavy, Jaeha’s hand, which Haeil was holding, tried to slip away quietly. Becoming urgent, Haeil slightly tightened his grip and drew Jaeha’s attention.
“Jaeha, please wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
Creating fire was dismissed as a magic trick by Jaeha because it could exist in reality.
Haeil quickly searched his pockets. Most of the items obtained from dungeons were submitted to the company’s research team, but fortunately, a small potion that had no use remained. Between the antidote potion and the recovery potion, the recovery potion had a far more visible effect.
“Jaeha, this is a recovery potion.”
A pink liquid swirled in a transparent container about the length of a finger.
“Wow, what kind of drink did you put in there? The color came out really well.”
This person is really serious about cosplay.
Haeil could clearly read the thought in Jaeha’s eyes and unconsciously relaxed. Through the hand holding Jaeha, the heat that had been building up inside his body every time he used his power dissipated. The sensation of resolving discomfort that had no end in sight disarmed Haeil.
“It’s difficult to share the exact ingredients of the potion, but this can be made by combining dungeon plants. The potions that come as items have better performance.”
“So it’s like a beginner crafting potion? What’s its effect?”
Jaeha’s eyes sparkled as he asked, showing more enjoyment than belief. He looked like he was enjoying a discussion about game settings. Haeil found this Jaeha simply cute and answered with a smile.
“This amount could easily restore about one finger.”
Haeil placed one finger on the table and with a smiling face, gently appealed to Jaeha.
“So I’ll show you proof.”
“What… w-wait a minute.”
Jaeha’s hand covered Haeil’s finger on the table. With both hands touching now, not just the one already holding, Haeil felt the built-up energy dissolving much faster than before. Haeil became so immersed in Jaeha’s careful touch and the refreshing energy that he even forgot he needed to show proof.
“Guild Master hyung.”
“Yes, Jaeha.”
“Whatever you were going to show me, I think I’d rather stay ignorant.”
“Yes.”
Unlike Haeil who answered calmly, Jaeha felt like his heart would jump out, thinking he had almost witnessed something horrible. Though it might have been pretending, seeing Haeil’s serious expression made it seem like it wouldn’t end as a joke. He had thought only his brother was dedicated to his role, but the gaming-addicted Guild Master couldn’t be underestimated either.
“Don’t do anything, proof or whatever. Guild Master hyung is so serious, it seems like you’ll actually do it.”
“I won’t.”
Even though Haeil readily agreed, Jaeha was still anxious and held his finger tightly without letting go. Thanks to this, Haeil unconsciously relaxed his face into a smile. Haeil’s faint smile looked reliable and trustworthy, but it wasn’t working now.
“Ah, really. I didn’t expect Guild Master hyung to be like this.”
“Jaeha, you seem surprised.”
Jaeha was dumbfounded by Haeil’s puzzled reaction. It wasn’t the kind of response someone who calmly tried to break their own finger would show. Above all, what shocked Jaeha was that Haeil tried to do such an action so casually. It might have been just a gesture, but seeing Haeil’s attitude, it seemed entirely possible.
Jaeha’s heart leaned toward believing what they so firmly believed in.
* * *
Even after visiting the examination center that looked more like a resort, the Seo brothers’ daily life remained unchanged. Jaeyoon occasionally shared new precautions, but Jaeha still half-believed, half-doubted. While checking on his brother’s well-being, Jaeyoon met with Haeil from time to time. At dawn, as always, Jaeha ran raids with Haeil.
And then the day of the great change came sooner than expected.
“Ugh, I’m tired…”
The morning of the great change day was like any other.
The ordinary weekend morning with nothing special began with a lazy stretch.
“Ugh, my eyes won’t open.”
Rubbing his dry eyes, Jaeha came out to the living room and collapsed on the sofa.
He lacked sleep because he had been running raids until dawn every day with Haeil, who had become serious about raiding recently. Hunting with Haeil, who had good gaming sense, brought rapid level-ups and rare items, so Jaeha was excited and ran all night. Thanks to the Black Pig jerky effect, he could endure much better than before, but he had reached his limit.
“Yaaawn… sleepy.”
“Sleep more, it’s the weekend.”
Jaeyoon, who handed him water with concern, was already prepared to go out. Unlike the nearly dead Jaeha, he looked energetic.
“Are you being a cave explorer again today?”
Since the day after staying at the resort, Jaeyoon had been leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. When asked where he was going, he said he was meeting Haeil to explore dungeons or caves.
Seeing Haeil meeting his brother during the day and staying up until dawn in the game, Jaeha wondered when he ever slept.
“Yeah, something like that. Why is hyung up so early?”
“I have plans to go out.”
“Where are you going?”
“A newly opened outlet or something. Yaaawn…”
“Why would you go there?”
The brothers, who had no interest in shopping, resolved most of their shopping online. Making plans specifically for shopping wasn’t like Jaeha.
“To buy spring clothes, they said.”
“With who?”
“Do…”
As easy-to-answer questions continued, Jaeha’s yawning mouth hesitated. It was just a short word, but Jaeyoon was staring at him. Jaeha sat up straight from his sprawled position on the sofa and protested.
“Hey, what’s this? Are you interrogating me?”
“No, I’m just asking normally.”
“Then why are you staring at me? Can’t I go shopping with a friend?”
“If you’re buying clothes for yourself, go with me.”
“I’m not buying clothes for myself.”
“Hyung, don’t tell me…”
Noticing Jaeyoon’s mood sinking, Jaeha quickly continued.
“Dorim grew 3cm taller. Dojoon’s fashion sense is terrible. If he buys something like a green t-shirt again like last time, Dorim will cry.”
“Why do you care about that?”
“Ah, I’ll be late at this rate. You should go quickly too. Guild Master hyung will be waiting. I need to wash up and leave.”
Considering the recent conversation pattern between Jaeha and Jaeyoon, his brother shouldn’t be given time to think. His imagination was so good that if there was even a slight delay, he would come up with various scenarios to block Jaeha from going out.
“Hyung, come with me…”
“Don’t you know prior commitments take priority?”
Jaeha had only been going between school and home to reassure Jaeyoon who kept following him, but he was caught planning a weekend outing. However, he had no intention of canceling the plans now, so Jaeha tried to act as normally as possible.
“I should get ready before it’s too late. Where are my socks?”
Of course, they were in their usual place, but Jaeha gathered his clothes while trying to ignore Jaeyoon. After watching this to the end, Jaeyoon surprisingly took a step back.
“If you’re going out, it would be better to change the meeting place.”
Jaeha was puzzled that Jaeyoon wanted to change the location rather than the person, Dojoon.
“Why the location? They said they’re having an opening sale.”
“Not today, but there will be an accident.”
Is he doing fortune-telling after time travel?
Jaeyoon shrugged at Jaeha’s skeptical, sleepy gaze.
“I know you like the kid. So it’s better to avoid it if you can.”
“So when is this accident supposed to happen?”
“Within half a year.”
It felt like hearing a fortune teller say, “Don’t go near water in summer,” or “You know that persimmon tree at your grandmother’s house, right?” When Jaeha showed a completely doubtful expression, Jaeyoon smiled casually and headed outside.
“Come home before sunset.”
“Why are you setting my curfew?”
“Don’t forget to contact me every hour.”
“Ugh, why not just put a tracking device on me?”
“Oh, right. Wear this.”
Jaeyoon’s action of throwing a bracelet immediately after Jaeha mentioned a tracking device made him look suspicious.
“What is this? Is it a tracking device?”
“I already put that on you a long time ago.”
“…You’re joking, right?”
“Yes, I’m joking.”
It was creepy how his joke seemed more true when he smiled.
Still, it was better than when he had returned looking like a drowned rat, clinging to Jaeha and crying that he would protect him.
“Am I really supposed to wear this?”
“Yes.”
“Ugh, I don’t like accessories like this.”
When Jaeha just held the bracelet, Jaeyoon kept watching. He seemed like he would wait forever without even urging him. Jaeha wondered if Jaeyoon had brought a bracelet this time after he had rejected the earrings last time, disgusted.
He felt bad about rejecting his brother’s repeated gifts. Jaeha awkwardly fidgeted with the bracelet and made excuses.
“Only flashy people wear things like this. It doesn’t suit me.”
“It suits you. Ideally, you should wear the matching earrings and necklace with that bracelet.”
Jaeyoon was seriously considering decking out ordinary Jaeha in a full set of jewels. Reading the sincerity in his brother’s eyes, Jaeha desperately waved the bracelet.
“It’s too much! But, well, maybe a ring would be different…”
“Did you want a ring?”
“Yes, take the bracelet back and give me a ring instead…”
“Here you go.”
As if he had been waiting for this, Jaeyoon pulled a ring out of his pocket. While the surprised Jaeha could only gape, Jaeyoon pulled his hand that was holding the bracelet. Jaeyoon opened Jaeha’s fist, put the bracelet on his wrist, and slipped the ring onto his finger.
Even as Jaeha stood frozen with his hand awkwardly open, now wearing two accessories, Jaeyoon calmly explained.
“I thought you didn’t like rings. I wanted to give it to you anyway, so I’m glad.”
“…Why did a ring suddenly appear?”
It was just a surprised question, but Jaeyoon answered sincerely.
“I caught the Red Mantis to show you as proof, and this came as a reward. It was a random box and a low-grade one, so I didn’t expect much, but exactly what I wanted came out.”
Looking at Jaeyoon’s genuinely happy smiling face, Jaeha carefully examined the sparkling ring on his finger, wondering if it was a very good item. No matter how he turned it, it was just an ordinary ring that sparkled a bit too much.
“Does this ring have any special function?”
“That ring creates effects when using skills, so it won’t be much help right now.”
“…What, it’s just like those angel wings that can’t fly, just for show.”
Jaeha was disappointed; he thought it was a really good item because Jaeyoon was so happy. The ring wouldn’t show any reaction since he would never use skills anyway. As he thought this far, Jaeha suddenly realized he had been believing Jaeyoon’s words quite a bit.
“Hey, hurry and go. We’ll both be late at this rate.”
As the embarrassed Jaeha gestured as if chasing him out, Jaeyoon, heading outside, casually mentioned dinner.
“Hyung, make gochujang stew for dinner.”
“Just eat before you come home.”
“You said we need to use the Black Pig in the freezer. Please, hyung.”
Despite Jaeha’s grumbling response like a couple in a rut, Jaeyoon was rather shameless.
After confirming Jaeyoon had gone outside, Jaeha examined the clothes he was about to wear. When he mentioned the tracking device, it was just a joke, but Jaeyoon’s calm response was rather suspicious. He carefully checked the collar, sleeves, and so on, but couldn’t find any suspicious devices like those he’d seen in movies. His phone was an all-in-one type, so it didn’t seem like something could be put in there.
“Phew, I really thought it was true.”
Only after turning his room upside down was he convinced it was a joke, and Jaeha hurried to prepare to go out. After briefly glaring at the sparkling ring on his finger, he quickly removed it and put it in a drawer. The bracelet was tolerable as it was hidden by his sleeve, but he couldn’t bear to wear the ring that shined on his finger because it was embarrassing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
