35
He had come out, but Yeon Ji-ho still didn’t know exactly where Set was. He felt his legs aching from the effort of walking down the stairs.
He needed to move quickly so as not to become an obstacle for others.
Since the effectiveness of healing potions varied from person to person, he could only hope to heal soon. Yeon Ji-ho lightly tapped his right knee, which was reluctant to move due to pain, and stepped out of the inn.
Outside was a rural village, plain and simple. Especially near the inn, there were only a ranch and a lake; beyond the ranch, he could barely see a few small houses.
At least the open view made it easier to search for someone. Yeon Ji-ho limped around the lakeside.
And then he encountered him.
“Set!”
There was a large man in a black robe in front of the lake. He had his hood pulled down low, likely to conceal his identity now that he had entered the village.
But he was recognizable at a glance. It was definitely Set.
Yeon Ji-ho approached him, limping with a delighted expression. Whether he heard the call or not, Set turned to look this way. Their eyes met, revealing the odd-colored eyes hidden beneath the hood.
“……Set?”
But something was strange. His eyes, which would usually sparkle beautifully, seemed oddly dull. A sense of melancholy lingered on Set’s face.
Moreover, the moment he made eye contact with Yeon Ji-ho, he stepped back as if he had encountered something frightening. One step, two steps. The closer Yeon Ji-ho got, the more Set retreated.
“……Ji-ho, don’t come near me.”
“Why not?”
At this rate, he would end up playing tag with him despite his aching legs. Yeon Ji-ho kept approaching Set, who continued to back away. Eventually, Set, unable to bear it any longer, warned him, and only then did Yeon Ji-ho stop moving.
“I…… put you in danger.”
Set’s beautiful odd eyes turned toward Yeon Ji-ho’s bandaged thigh. Even though it wasn’t his own wound, a faint pain flickered in his gaze.
“Misfortune is reflected in my eyes, and that misfortune is contagious.”
As Set lifted his gaze to see Yeon Ji-ho’s face, a thought crossed his mind that misfortune might transfer to him upon making eye contact. He hurriedly lowered his head and even pulled his hair down to cover his eyes.
This was a very old habit of Set’s.
When he was only six years old, after being adopted into the Duke’s family, Set repeatedly heard the same words from Duke Gorgon as if he were brainwashed. His odd eyes were the reason for all misfortune.
“Your eyes reflect misfortune.”
“Really…?”
“If you don’t want to spread that misfortune to others, then cover your eyes. Ah, yes. If there’s someone you dislike, it might be quite nice to look at them with those hideous eyes.”
Since hearing those words, Set had never cut his hair that obscured his vision. He was afraid that the misfortune contained in his eyes would transfer to someone when he looked at them.
However, after he fully grew up, Duke Gorgon passed away, and Set ascended to the title of duke. Naturally, he didn’t care much about the idea that misfortune was reflected in his eyes. Even if misfortune did transfer to someone, it had nothing to do with him.
But Ji-ho was different.
“I am afraid.”
“…….”
“I am afraid that my misfortune will transfer to you, Ji-ho.”
Set looked down at his trembling hands. The one who had inflicted harm was none other than himself.
Perhaps there was a better way. A way to save him without causing any harm.
However, the moment he faced Yeon Ji-ho cradled in Hadad’s arms, Set found it hard to think rationally. He was angry. He was furious. The thought that he might lose the only thing he had ever held in his hands to Hadad made him want to kill Hadad.
“I am a demon, Ji-ho.”
A child born as a demon.
How dare he reach for the happiness that was Yeon Ji-ho. His greed was excessive, and he almost killed him with his own hands.
So Set decided not to be greedy again. It was enough to have brushed past Yeon Ji-ho once in that cave. That alone could be considered the only stroke of luck in his unfortunate life.
Set finally turned away, determined not to look back. This would be the last time he saw Yeon Ji-ho’s face. From today on, he planned to leave him in the care of Isquis and Apophis, hiding in the shadows. He had to do that. It was the right way from the beginning.
“Ugh!”
But Set couldn’t take even a single step before he had to whip his head back around. Yeon Ji-ho had screamed and collapsed to the side.
The scene of him falling sideways was captured in Set’s view. Without realizing it, he rushed over at lightning speed and caught Yeon Ji-ho’s body.
“Ji-ho, Ji-ho? What’s wrong? Is your leg hurting? Apophis…!”
Set’s voice trembled.
He had only come to say a final goodbye, but was that even allowed? Yes, it was disgusting and terrible that he was talking to himself like this, causing Ji-ho to suffer.
Set’s head spun. His face darkened as if he might even shed tears.
And in that moment, Yeon Ji-ho grabbed Set by the collar. At the same time, he lightly lifted himself up, leaning against Set. This was not the behavior of someone who had just collapsed in pain.
“I got you.”
“Ji-ho…?”
“I’m sorry for pretending to be hurt. But I can’t run and catch you right now.”
Set blinked in surprise at Yeon Ji-ho, who looked almost cheerful despite everything. Then Yeon Ji-ho held Set’s cheeks and brought their faces close together.
For a moment, Set thought they were going to kiss, but that wasn’t it. Yeon Ji-ho merely pressed his face close enough for their noses to touch, without kissing.
They simply met each other’s gaze naturally.
“I told you, Set, your eyes are beautiful.”
“……Beautiful?”
“Didn’t I say that?”
“It’s interesting… I said that, but…”
The first thing Yeon Ji-ho had said upon seeing Set’s eyes was that they were interesting. Of course, Set knew that Yeon Ji-ho’s reaction had been positive at that time. He had looked at his eyes as if they were sparkling jewels.
“I see. I’ve always thought about it but never said it out loud.”
“What did you think?”
“Set, your eyes are beautiful.”
As he said this, Yeon Ji-ho playfully rubbed his nose against Set’s sharp one. Set couldn’t step back or escape, as Yeon Ji-ho held his cheeks tightly.
“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
“But this is a symbol of misfortune… No one has eyes like this unless they were born a demon.”
“There must be someone.”
Yeon Ji-ho countered casually, as if it were no big deal, completely unaware of how Set’s heart dropped.
“……There is?”
“How vast is the world that there wouldn’t be someone with odd eyes? And even if there aren’t any here, there are definitely some in my world, though they’re rare. If you search the internet, you’ll find quite a few… Ah, but there’s no internet here.”
He had brought his phone just in case, but as expected, there was no signal or internet. As a result, the phone was crammed into a corner of his bag.
Yeon Ji-ho regretted not having shown Set the internet when he stayed at his house, to show him how special and rare odd eyes were in his world.
“And even if those eyes are a symbol of misfortune…”
“…….”
“Then I will love even your misfortune, Set.”
That is also a part of you.
Yeon Ji-ho’s lips curled up in a gentle smile. The sight of him smiling with his eyes closed tightened Set’s heart. A shiver ran down his spine.
The words that he would love his misfortune.
Yeon Ji-ho would never know how much that simple statement saved him for a lifetime. The man who had only known how to hide and run away from his own misfortune felt his eyes welling up with tears.
He didn’t know. He truly couldn’t understand.
Why was it so suffocating even though he was clearly happy? Why…?
“Set? Set? Are you… crying?”
“…….”
“I’m sorry! Please don’t cry, okay?”
Is this how tears flow?
Set moved his throat, barely swallowing. Yeon Ji-ho’s love, which had come so close, was overwhelming, making it hard to even move his eyelids. He couldn’t breathe properly.
Someone…
Had someone ever loved him this much?
Before the man who had struggled with loneliness his entire life stood someone who said they would even love his misfortune. Set crumbled helplessly before him.
“Ah, what should I do…?”
Flustered, Yeon Ji-ho began to plant kisses on Set’s cheeks one after another. The soft, playful kisses fell like rain. Set could no longer hold back and awkwardly lifted his arms to embrace him tightly.
The strength was so much that pain shot up Yeon Ji-ho’s leg for a moment, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he simply held Set, who leaned his forehead against his neck like a child seeking comfort, finding him adorable.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Ji-ho. I can’t let you go… I feel like I can’t let go at all.”
Yeon Ji-ho embraced Set, who clung to him so desperately. Perhaps it was not affection but a plea. It was the struggle of a man who had long suffered in loneliness.
