Chapter 45
After sending off the two elated Sayeong Guild members who were pleased with the favorable contract, Eunseong was massaging his shoulders that had stiffened from tension.
“But why Han Geumseum?”
Mujin, who had suddenly stopped, asked out of nowhere.
“Why ‘Han’ Geumseum?”
“Well…”
Hearing him emphasize ‘Han’, it was clear he had doubts about the surname Eunseong had chosen. His tone was closer to displeasure than curiosity.
Before stepping into the meeting, Mujin had hoped above all that Eunseong wouldn’t show himself at all.
As confirmed through Woo Nayeong, there were already people outside Huiseon who knew of Eunseong’s return. It was certain that information hadn’t leaked to Sayeong Guild, but there was no harm in being careful. He didn’t want Eunseong’s existence to become known to the world before preparations were complete.
The fact that Huiseon considered Eunseong a monster was also a problem, but there were still those persistently tracking the disappeared Yoo Eunseong. Even though his appearance had changed and he wore black protective glasses, he thought there would definitely be those who could deduce his identity just from the fact that he traveled with Baek Mujin.
But he was persuaded by the argument that he couldn’t hide inside the house forever. Instead, a simple condition was attached. The promise to use the name ‘Geumseum’ for the time being.
“I thought it would seem strange if there was no surname, so I just attached something that came to mind.”
“A set with Hanyeong?”
“What?”
Eunseong’s head whipped toward Mujin.
“Hanyeong is just a name. It’s not Han surname with Yeong. And saying Baek Geumseum would be strange.”
“Why would that be strange?”
“I’m not your younger brother.”
“But you’re Hanyeong’s hyung?”
“I told you he’s not surnamed Han?”
Mujin probably meant nothing by it, but Eunseong was more upset than necessary. Why did he keep trying to make him his younger brother?
The feelings he had harbored for Mujin before losing his memory were definitely more than friendship. The emotions he had given up and hidden because they could never be revealed, the undeniable fluttering, remained despite having no detailed memories. Even when he knew nothing, his body had reacted to him, so it was surely an emotion he could never fold away forever. This feeling that only he possessed was sad and pitiful enough…
Taking a hundred steps back, they were friends. Being younger brothers was absolutely not acceptable. Eunseong stood on his tiptoes and pressed down on Mujin’s shoulders.
“Don’t try to act like a hyung just because you’re tall. And Baek surname would be obviously strange to anyone.”
“It’s not just height. I’m bigger than you in every way.”
“……”
“What, did you just curse at me?”
“No, no I didn’t.”
He definitely meant things like hands and feet when he said bigger. But he reflexively thought of Mujin’s genitals. Eunseong desperately held back the urge to slap his own cheek.
“Ah, I’m hurt—”
Mujin drew out his words.
“When I first picked you up, you were just adorably dirty, but now that you’ve signed a buffer contract, you’re cursing and trying to be on equal footing.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“You’re already trying to be independent, so I’m a bit sad. Eunseong-ah, I shouldn’t have introduced you to former colleagues and such. I should have just kept you locked up in a place only I know.”
“I would have run away then.”
“I know, you’re an expert at running away when things don’t go your way.”
Since there was genuine hurt in his voice, Eunseong lifted his protective glasses and studied Mujin with his eyes. But the face he encountered was full of mischief.
Not knowing that he was an indecent guy who imagined his friend’s genitals, it was just an angelic face. Eunseong felt pangs of conscience looking at those innocent, bright black eyes.
“Ah, I’m looking forward to it. Yoo Eunseong, what kind of expression will you make when you get all your buff skills back?”
What if he cries saying they’re skills he can’t even use?
Mujin wrinkled his nose bridge while looking into Eunseong’s bright blue eyes.
“What expression would I make? I’d be proud.”
“Would you?”
“That’s why we’re spending money, so you’re stating the obvious.”
“Shouldn’t you regret saying that now?”
Toward Eunseong who didn’t understand, Mujin showed another incomprehensible expression. His black eyes darkened, making people feel inexplicably drawn. Eunseong pulled down his protective glasses to hide behind them and answered deliberately gruffly.
“Why would I regret it?”
“Let’s go now. To eat. We spent a lot of money, so we need to fill our empty stomachs.”
“I’ll pay for that money.”
“I know.”
Mujin naturally took Eunseong’s hand and pulled him along. It was an infinitely familiar action, always standing in front and leading and protecting Eunseong like an older brother. Because of the warm palm’s touch, his entire elbow tingled. Eunseong was certain that only his insides were always noisy.
They walked for quite a while along the walkway full of wisteria fragrance. Eunseong, whose mind was completely distracted by the sound of his own noisy heartbeat, belatedly noticed that Mujin was circling around the same place.
“……When are we going to eat?”
When he asked carefully, Mujin squeezed the hand he was holding tightly, then burst into laughter.
“I like it best when you ask for food.” Mujin looked embarrassed but circled a couple more times. Since Eunseong didn’t dislike walking together either, he followed silently. After walking like that for a while, when a rumbling sound came from Eunseong’s stomach, Mujin reluctantly changed direction.
At the end of the walkway, a restaurant came into view. Parasol tables were sparsely placed on the lawn, and the overall atmosphere was leisurely like an outdoor picnic area.
Then, Mujin, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped. Eunseong ended up burying his nose in his back. It was partly because he was wearing protective glasses, but since he had been following thoughtlessly, he couldn’t prepare.
“……Mujin-ah?”
Eunseong was a little startled. He could feel Mujin’s body, which had been softly relaxed, suddenly stiffen with tension. Heat rose and his core pulsed. Eunseong instinctively placed his palm on his back.
He found himself breathing heavily without realizing it.
The presence of energy flowing within Mujin’s body was too clearly visible. Like seeing Curry’s form. But the precariousness of it fluctuating unstably, the strange form where circulation was cut off.
“……”
He felt a sense of wrongness. He wasn’t certain, but something was definitely wrong. While Eunseong tilted his head in confusion, multiple footsteps were heard at once. A crowd was approaching them.
His concentration scattered instantly, and Eunseong stood behind him with his ears perked up. They were probably the reason Mujin had stopped.
“Those who have received heaven’s blessing have come.”
Gentle voices immediately surrounded Eunseong and Mujin. Through the energy flowing from them, he could tell they were all civilians. That’s why Mujin couldn’t respond either.
“In this era when judgment has arrived, all who survive are chosen beings.”
“Holy radiance, the messiah of this age, only Yeongseong Gwanghwi.”
“Gain enlightenment through faith, blind one.”
Eunseong, who was holding Mujin’s arm, flinched. Because someone’s touch reached him. Someone who gripped Eunseong’s wrist with rough force shouted in a hoarse voice.
“We are all sinners! Do not refuse salvation’s hand. Follow the path of light, may there be blessing in your eyes!”
The hand firmly gripping his arm tightened more and more strongly. An indescribable disgust went down his throat from the sticky, strange body temperature.
“Do Yeongmyeong, is this also a prophecy your god made?”
Mujin’s mocking voice felt rather refreshing.
“Oh, Hunter Baek Mujin. What interest would our god have in your movements and such? I merely came out for a picnic today with lovely believers.”
Eunseong turned his head following the voice of the one called Do Yeongmyeong. His vocalization was very distinctive. The moment he opened his mouth, the believers all retreated in unison as if by agreement. As the surroundings became quiet instantly, Do Yeongmyeong’s resonant voice could be heard even more clearly.
“Seeing you two safely reunited makes me happy. How about Hunter Baek Mujin softening his expression a bit? When someone who owes me a debt acts so stiffly, even I feel a bit hurt.”
Debt? As Eunseong perked up his ears, Mujin reached out and pulled him closer.
“Why is someone who came out for a picnic wagging his tongue so long? I’d like you to take your lovely believers and get lost, since we’re hungry too.”
“When you went to the place I told you about, wasn’t it there exactly? Your precious thing. You should have learned that my prophecies aren’t something to completely ignore.”
Suddenly the energy surrounding Do Yeongmyeong changed.
As wind swirled around him, Yeongseong Gwanghwi’s believers all prostrated themselves on the ground in unison. As several began chanting prayers in unison, the atmosphere became instantly ominous.
“Behold, disappeared one. Those fingertips are embers, those eyes are calamity. Do not collapse your steps, pave a new path. Do not hesitate, realize, come forth, may your end not be like your beginning, I earnestly hope.”
“You really have gone mad.”
Tension filled Mujin’s arms tautly. Eunseong was mesmerized by Do Yeongmyeong’s strange voice while also worrying whether Mujin might use force.
“You still look clumsy. That’s why your surroundings suffer damage, isn’t it? Ignorance is also a sin. What was the new name again…… ‘Geumseum’? Dark and strange, it suits you well.”
“Shut that mouth!”
Mujin’s clenched fist turned red like molten metal from a furnace. Golden heat haze rose from his reddened skin and heat soared. Flames that could melt human bones in an instant headed toward Do Yeongmyeong.
Then Eunseong unhesitatingly grabbed Mujin’s fist. With white hands that wore no protective gear, he recklessly grasped the heated steel.
Mujin was shocked as if his heart would fall, but Eunseong himself showed no change in expression. He just slightly shook his head as if suppressing Mujin’s anger.
“I’m surprised. Hunter Baek Mujin.”
Do Yeongmyeong brushed himself off with a pretense of leisure. It seemed the flames had grazed him even though Eunseong had blocked them. The edge of his pure white robe was charred black.
“Befitting one who survived by devouring his friend, I didn’t realize your nature was so cruel and merciless. I should not have helped you then. If I had known Hunter Baek Mujin was such a shameless human with no courtesy……”
Having heard that much, Eunseong let go of Mujin’s arm. His footsteps following Do Yeongmyeong’s voice were resolute and light, so Mujin absurdly missed the timing to stop Eunseong.
Eunseong, who quickly closed the distance, reached out and fumbled to touch Do Yeongmyeong’s chin to gauge the distance. Then without a moment’s hesitation, he swung his hand.
SMACK—!
He struck one cheek precisely. The believers prostrated on the ground simultaneously gasped.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
