“Make yourself at home, like it’s your own place.”
How the hell am I supposed to think of this place as my home?
I probably should’ve known from the start—the fancy car he drives around, the way he drops money without a second thought, the way he hands over his card like it means nothing. The house was so spacious and luxurious, it made me wonder if someone like me even had the right to step inside.
Baek Tae-beom grabbed my wrist and started leading me around, maybe trying to guess what my stunned face meant. This is the kitchen, this is the storage room, and this one’s my room. Not a lot of furniture, right? He looked oddly excited as he spoke.
After losing my spot at the dorm because of Kang Si-hoo, I’d needed a place to stay until repairs were done. And as if he’d been waiting for that very moment, Baek Tae-beom had scooped me up. He was smiling from ear to ear like he was genuinely happy that I’d be living with him.
“And this is your room, hyung.”
“Tae-beom.”
“Yes, hyung?”
“Tae-beom?”
“Yes?”
“Baek Tae-beom?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
So he knows exactly when he’s done something.
I calmly wiped a hand down my face.
“My room’s bigger than yours…”
“This house is huge. Of course you have your own room, hyung. I didn’t know when you’d come back, so I’ve been washing the bedding with fresh sheets every day, and I set aside toiletries just for you. You just need to bring yourself.”
So that wasn’t just talk—it was real. The size of the room wasn’t even the main problem. Everything in it, even at a glance, looked better than what was in Baek Tae-beom’s own room. Judging by the location of the room, this had to be the best one in the house.
Even though he had this look on his face like he didn’t understand what the issue was, Baek Tae-beom said meekly,
“I’m sorry.”
“…Do you mean that? Why are you smiling?”
“I’m just so happy thinking about living with you, hyung.”
…How is anyone supposed to stay mad when he talks like that?
I stared at his face in silence for a moment, then stepped into the room. I flopped face-first onto the bed.
Well. If my boy says he’s happy, how could I possibly turn him down? The bedsheets were the most luxurious—and softest—I’d ever seen. As I rubbed my face into them and rolled over, I noticed Baek Tae-beom standing over me.
“Is it okay to lie down like that? What about your stomach?”
“It’s fine. You saw for yourself that I’m healed.”
I quickly lifted my shirt. And then Baek Tae-beom let out a shriek and turned around.
I propped myself up, utterly dumbfounded, and looked at his back.
“What if someone saw you just pulling up your shirt like that?!”
“Who? Who’s here besides you and me?”
“I—well, I mean, I’M looking. I might get the wrong idea, you know? You really need to be more careful, hyung.”
I looked down at myself in disbelief. Pale skin, no abs, just a faint scar left behind—what about that would give someone weird ideas?
“You literally saw me unwrapping the bandages.”
“How is that the same as this?”
“What’s different?”
I grabbed the collar of his shirt to turn him around, but he wouldn’t budge.
“…You really need to be more careful, hyung. You got hurt because you just ran in without thinking.”
“You were in danger. Do you think I had time to stop and think?”
Baek Tae-beom slowly turned back toward me. His gaze, fixed on me, was overflowing with affection. I got flustered and let go of his shirt, but he caught my hand.
“I feel the same way, hyung.”
“Stop making it impossible for me to argue.”
“Right back at you.”
Baek Tae-beom gently rubbed the web between my thumb and index finger, then let go. There was a playful glint in his gesture.
“I’ll head down and cook something. Just relax here.”
After Baek Tae-beom went downstairs, I finally had a chance to check the buzzing chat window.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Would you look at that. Look at him. Just look.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: He’s laying it on thick. I mean, come on.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Are you jealous of Apollo or something?]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Wait, never mind. You’ve always had a weird obsession with other people’s love lives~]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Keep going like this and you’ll turn into your dad (ㅇㅁㅇ;;;)]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Do you have a personal grudge against me or what?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why are you so desperate to rain on my parade?]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: I’m just~ saying I hope Apollo doesn’t turn into another playboy~ ^^~ That’s all~]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Be more like Anubis. So reliable, says barely a word, and his Constellation is totally put-together.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You think someone who just downed seven cans of nectar ‘cause he’s entertained looks put-together?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: ahaioibjamnnorl]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: This bastard’s drunk!]
They were having the time of their lives, making a ruckus like it was some private party. Meanwhile, I’d just gotten out of being holed up in the hospital for days.
I tuned out the noisy chatter and checked the new skill I had acquired.
[Skill: Chain of Flame]
[Connects the target and yourself with flame. Once the chain is established, you may transfer your life energy to the target.]
In the original story, Kang Si-hoo gained a skill related to the phoenix, but me? I only got some useless support skill. “Transfer your life energy”? That’s way too vague.
And really—during combat, the person closest to me is always Baek Tae-beom. What, I’m supposed to link myself to him and hand over my life energy? That’s absurd. S-Rank Hunters are absurdly powerful. I’d be drained dry just trying to help. This is more like a healing-type skill, and not even a good one. It probably can’t even affect people stronger than me—just weaker ones.
I glanced around and spotted a potted plant in the corner. It looked like Baek Tae-beom had been watering it every day—the soil was still damp—but the leaf tips were starting to yellow.
[You have used the skill: Chain of Flame.]
[Activating Chain of Flame.]
A ring of flame formed around my finger like a glowing ring, linking to another ring that appeared above the pot. A red thread of fire stretched between them. I waved my hand around a bit, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Still, I could feel fatigue piling up in real time. The plant, in contrast, grew visibly greener, even sprouting fresh shoots.
When I canceled the skill, the flames vanished—but the plant remained vibrant, radiating a healthy green.
I need to rest.
Even if my recovery speed is unnaturally fast because I’m a Constellation, I’d still taken serious damage. No wonder it felt slower this time. I gently touched the leaves and looked around the room. Opening the wardrobe, I found clothes hanging neatly—clothes that looked like they were in my size.
Some even had price tags still attached. When I counted the number of zeroes on one of them, I quietly hung it back up and shut the closet.
Does this bastard have a hobby of throwing money around?
As I buried my face in my hands, Apollo picked a fight.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: What, you that touched and happy?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Why are you taking your frustration out here after getting scolded by Hermes?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Who said I got scolded?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Ah, not scolded. You got put in your place. Got it.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: PWAHAHAHAHA!!!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Don’t laugh!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: All of you, OUT! I said GET OUT!]
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ begins swinging a pillow wildly.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: That hurts! ｡ﾟ(´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: It’s supposed to hurt!]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Can you all please shut up.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: I mean, seriously…]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Is it too much?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: A little, yeah. It’s a bit much.]
I checked out the en-suite bathroom connected to the room and clicked my tongue in disbelief.
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Is it really okay for me to accept all this? I haven’t given him anything. Even though I’m Tae-beom’s Constellation, I’ve never properly sponsored him. “Unmeasurable grade”? Sounds fancy, sure, but honestly, I’m not that impressive.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why are you digging yourself a hole again?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Granted, you are a measly and insignificant Constellation compared to this glorious being.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: But do you think he’s doing this because it’s hard on him? Hell no. From his perspective, it’s like tossing you a potion. No big deal.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: And even if you could give him something, what would it be?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Just appreciate it while you can.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Oho~ speaking from experience? ^^]
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ uses violence on ‘Free Wind’.]
I thought it over for a moment, then nodded to myself. Yeah, Apollo’s right. The roles between Constellation and Contractor might be a little flipped, but so what? The truth is, we need each other.
