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Set had thought all of this strange, to be precise, ever since he met the god impersonating Ganesha.
‘Is this inside a ‘novel’?’
‘If you look at it that way, I suppose it is.’
If this entire world was inside a novel, anyone could figure out that the damned god was the author. That meant he could at least control the characters in this world, namely themselves.
Set became certain of this when fire kept being associated with him. The god was controlling Set’s actions by making situations unnatural and constantly giving hints. Perhaps if Set hadn’t thought of getting on the stake himself first, the fire wouldn’t have engulfed him in the end.
His increasingly cold mind also turned to Hadad. There must be a clear reason for Hadad’s sudden change as well.
“…”
Hadad closed his mouth at Set’s words. Confusion could be seen in his eyes. Perhaps Set had accurately pointed out something that Hadad himself had been doubting.
“…So.”
Hadad’s head, which had been lowered to the ground, turned back to Set. Gripping tightly the red sword made from his sword energy, Hadad continued speaking.
“So, are you saying we should make up now?”
“Hadad.”
“I already knew that damn god was playing with me. No? Set, let me say it again, I’ve been the protagonist since birth. When do you think I realized that fact?”
With each word he uttered, an unbearable anger settled beneath Hadad’s voice, which he muttered as if grinding his teeth. It perhaps resembled pain.
“When I found out what my ‘star’ was.”
“…”
“I already knew the truth then. That god… fate, this world, and the love I thought was my everything, had deceived me.”
The corners of Hadad’s mouth turned up crookedly. He couldn’t hide his scorn as he looked at Set, who was following exactly in his footsteps. Set still didn’t know how vain and empty that path was.
“Set. The only thing allowed to us is the ‘ending’.”
The red sword in Hadad’s hand slowly disappeared. It was then that his reddened eyes returned to their original green. Set silently stared at Hadad.
Hadad slowly stepped back and climbed onto the railing of the rooftop garden. Dazzling sunlight poured down on his head against the backdrop of the bright blue sky. At that moment, Hadad smiled brightly.
“So I’m going to take the only thing given to me.”
Eventually, Hadad took a step back into nothingness behind him. As if he had never existed, he disappeared like that.
***
Slowly opening his eyes, Yeon Ji-ho unconsciously smiled slightly at the sensation in his hand. It smelled of Set.
Now Yeon Ji-ho could accurately distinguish Set’s pheromone scent. No, it was strange that he hadn’t been aware of Set’s pheromones until now. It was odd that he hadn’t recognized these pheromones so full of love for him, even if Yeon Ji-ho was a heat omega.
“…Set?”
However, when he turned his head, the figure that should have been there was gone. Yeon Ji-ho’s eyes widened as he saw the piece of clothing left in his hand.
Forgetting his heavy body, Yeon Ji-ho hurriedly got up. His heart pounded with anxiety. If the clothes hadn’t been there, he would have thought Set had just stepped out for a moment, but with only the clothes there, he feared Set might have disappeared from this world.
What if, what if he had returned to his original world?
Yeon Ji-ho, with his feet half-crammed into patient slippers, grabbed the bed guard and stood up. Although his belly wasn’t very big yet, making movement not too difficult, he hadn’t started regaining his strength for long, so he couldn’t immediately put power into his body.
Without even thinking to put on an outer garment over his thin patient gown, Yeon Ji-ho rushed out of the hospital room. His eyes were moist as he searched for Set.
Stepping into the hospital corridor, Yeon Ji-ho moved forward aimlessly. He hadn’t even thought about where he might find Set. He was just anxious at the thought that Set wasn’t by his side right now.
“Set, Set, Set…”
Muttering with a mind that wasn’t quite right, Yeon Ji-ho staggered down the corridor. It felt like fear was covering his head, making it impossible to think clearly.
At that moment, a dull pain rose from his lower abdomen. Surprised, Yeon Ji-ho unconsciously stopped, grabbing the wall, and looked down. At the same time, a gentle voice was heard in front of him.
“Ji-ho…?”
Set, standing opposite, looked at Yeon Ji-ho as if he’d seen a ghost. And for good reason – one of Yeon Ji-ho’s slippers had fallen off, and his loose patient gown had slipped down, exposing his thin shoulder. It was enough to make anyone gasp, seeing Yeon Ji-ho wandering around in such a state.
Set rushed over and supported Yeon Ji-ho’s waist, lifting him up in one motion. When the loosely worn slipper fell off and hit the floor, Set paid no mind and, still carrying Yeon Ji-ho, bent his knee to pick up the slipper with one hand.
“Ji-ho. Why did you come out?”
“I told you to stay beside me.”
Yeon Ji-ho’s voice was wet with dejection. It hadn’t been long since he reunited with Set, and he was anxious that Set might have returned to his original world if he wasn’t by his side.
If there was any consolation, it was that he had found Set not long after he started looking for him. As he was feeling relieved, Yeon Ji-ho suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. Hadn’t this happened before?
However, that thought was cut off before it could deepen. It was because Set spoke to him in an affectionate voice.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone, Ji-ho. But you shouldn’t come out wearing nothing like this. Isn’t it cold?”
“…I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Does it hurt anywhere?”
Set habitually asked Yeon Ji-ho questions. He knew that Yeon Ji-ho wouldn’t express his pain on his own unless asked first.
However, Set, who had expected to hear ‘I’m fine’ from Yeon Ji-ho this time as well, looked down at him with puzzled eyes when Yeon Ji-ho didn’t answer. Yeon Ji-ho was avoiding Set’s gaze.
“…Did it hurt?”
Unable to lie but also unable to answer, Set quickly noticed the pain. Yeon Ji-ho inwardly scolded himself for experiencing contractions just because Set had left for a very short time. If he was in pain, Set would be even more upset.
“I should call a doctor.”
Set, who had already returned to the hospital room, sat Yeon Ji-ho back on the bed and pulled the blanket over his shoulders.
Set easily pressed the nurse call button, and when the nurse came in, the doctor soon followed. After Set explained Yeon Ji-ho’s symptoms, the doctor performed a brief examination and reassured them both, saying it was nothing serious and not to worry too much.
“It seems the mother-to-be was startled by the sudden absence of his imprinted husband’s pheromones. The baby in the womb would have felt it too.”
“…”
“It’s a natural symptom when you’ve imprinted, and especially when you’re pregnant, so it’s okay. Probably not just the mother-to-be, but didn’t you, sir, feel similar symptoms while you were apart?”
The doctor, standing a step away from Yeon Ji-ho’s bed, looked at Set. In response to that question, Set asked back with a somber face.
“Symptoms… such as?”
“You should have experienced symptoms like headaches or chills… Didn’t you notice at all?”
Set closed his mouth. Yeon Ji-ho’s heart pounded violently. No, no. It can’t be. Unconsciously biting his nails, Yeon Ji-ho muttered inwardly.
But Set, as if betraying Yeon Ji-ho’s expectations, answered briefly.
“I… don’t know.”
“Ah.”
The doctor’s mouth opened slightly. However, not long after, the doctor composed his expression and quietly suggested.
“I think it would be best for you two to proceed with an imprinting test.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Yeon Ji-ho asked as if screaming. He actually knew, even as he asked. Yeon Ji-ho knew better than anyone what the doctor was saying. The image of Hadad biting the back of his neck flashed through his mind.
The doctor turned to look at Yeon Ji-ho this time. Yeon Ji-ho’s vision was so blurred that he couldn’t even see what expression the doctor was making.
“It means that the person you’re imprinted with might not be your husband.”
