54
Yeon Ji-ho struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. The bright sunlight was already pouring into the caravan.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw the characteristically low ceiling of the caravan. As he wondered why he was sleeping in the caravan, the events of last night came flooding back.
“Ugh…”
He tried to get up, but his body felt unusually heavy. As if it wasn’t just his own weight…
He turned his head to look to the side. There was a large man lying on his side, embracing Yeon Ji-ho’s waist and neck while sleeping. Yeon Ji-ho poked Set’s cheek.
“You’re sleeping deeply.”
Set remained in a deep sleep, undisturbed by Yeon Ji-ho’s movements or noise. Seeing him sleep so profoundly, as if he hadn’t slept in a long time, Yeon Ji-ho decided not to wake him.
Getting up was difficult due to the weight pressing down on him, but he managed to slowly slide out from underneath. Yeon Ji-ho pressed his back against the bed and wiggled his hips to slip out.
“Ow… my back.”
Though this was the second time he had spent the night with Set, the next-day pain was still unfamiliar. Patting his lower back, Yeon Ji-ho stood up from the bed and first went outside the caravan.
Stepping onto the wooden deck in front of the caravan, he felt the clear, crisp countryside air on his cheeks. Realizing from the air that it wasn’t too late yet, Yeon Ji-ho decided to move slowly.
Today, he planned to cook outside instead of in his house kitchen.
Since he didn’t know exactly what he needed yet, he had to check the list while trying things out. As Yeon Ji-ho headed towards the house, he mentally went through the items he immediately needed.
“The basic kitchen tools are all in the caravan… Ah, tissues. I need to bring some kitchen paper and tissues.”
Listing the items to bring, he arrived at the house in no time. As soon as he entered, he encountered Shango exercising with his upper body bare.
“Were you working out?”
“…Yes…”
“Wow, Shango, you have a great body too. Mr. Apophis was quite muscular as well.”
“…Mine is better…”
Before Shango could finish his sentence, there was a loud banging sound from outside, and the front door burst open. It was Set.
Yeon Ji-ho, standing in the middle of the living room, naturally turned his head towards the sound of the opening door, only to see Set striding towards him.
“Mr. Set, you’re awake… Oof.”
“…Haa.”
Suddenly enveloped in Set’s embrace, Yeon Ji-ho’s vision went black as he felt a strong pressure. He heard Set letting out a heavy sigh near his head.
“…You should have woken me up when you got up.”
“No, you were sleeping so well. I felt bad about waking you.”
“I was surprised when you were gone. I thought I had… let my guard down again.”
Set’s voice trembled uncertainly at the end. However, as if aware that he was embracing Yeon Ji-ho too tightly, he gradually loosened his arm strength.
Yeon Ji-ho suddenly looked down at Set’s feet. His feet were bare and looked strange, covered in dirt and twigs.
“Mr. Set, did you come without even putting on shoes?”
“…I didn’t think about it.”
Glancing at the entrance, only Yeon Ji-ho and Shango’s shoes were visible, with one pair missing. Realizing this, Yeon Ji-ho let out a low sigh and raised his hand.
Then he reached out to Set’s head and began to gently stroke it.
“I’m not going anywhere far.”
“…”
“But why do you keep feeling anxious?”
As Yeon Ji-ho gently admonished him, Set closed his eyes deeply. Taking slow, deep breaths, he felt his heart rate, which had been racing until he saw Yeon Ji-ho with his own eyes, slow down again.
Even Set himself didn’t know the reason for his anxiety. He knew better than anyone that this was Korea, not his world. But when he opened his eyes in the morning and Yeon Ji-ho, who he had spent the night with, wasn’t by his side…
It felt like falling into an abyss. A feeling of falling into a pit full of despair with a thud of his heart.
Set suddenly clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to control his strength. Only then did he speak.
“Next time… from now on, could you wake me up before you leave, Ji-ho?”
“From now on?”
“I’m sorry. It’s unlike me, but self-control is not easy. I can’t promise I won’t do this again. So please, compromise for me.”
Self-restraint, control, regulation, moderation.
These were indispensable words when describing Set Gorgon as a man. But not anymore.
Set earnestly asked, knowing it was unlike him. Please leave only when he was awake. If Yeon Ji-ho couldn’t promise that, Set might not be able to sleep even with him by his side.
“Alright. Don’t worry.”
Fortunately, as Yeon Ji-ho nodded readily, Set felt his anxious heart gradually slow down. Only after his heightened alertness subsided did he notice Shango standing nearby.
“…Good morning, Your Excellency.”
“Shango. Don’t take off your clothes carelessly at home.”
As soon as he saw Shango, Set issued an order as if he had never made an earnest request earlier. Shango, without any objection to those words, began to put on the clothes he had taken off.
When the Gorgon’s Beasts were together, it was natural for everyone to walk around half-naked, so being told to wear clothes might have felt strange, but Shango didn’t mind. He only glanced at Yeon Ji-ho once after putting on all his clothes before speaking.
“…Your Excellency.”
“What is it?”
“It seems… a bit severe…”
Shango said what Apophis and Isquis, who had been watching from the side, knew but couldn’t say. Shango showed a loyal attitude while blinking his eyes slowly.
“What’s severe?”
“…I don’t know much about dating or relationships, but…”
“But what?”
“In the world, they call that obsession…”
Set’s lips parted slightly, shocked by those words. Surprised, Set turned back to look at Yeon Ji-ho. He saw Yeon Ji-ho smiling awkwardly.
“Ji-ho, am I, I mean, what I said… did it sound like obsession?”
Obsession, he thought.
Set was just as ignorant about dating as Shango. But just as children are born even on battlefields, he had seen subordinates meeting women occasionally. They usually said things like this:
‘Julie is too clingy. Her obsession is severe.’
‘But isn’t that because she likes you so much?’
‘Sometimes I can’t breathe. Sigh… if only she wasn’t so obsessive.’
Had he… been obsessive?
Set, finally reflecting on himself, looked down at Yeon Ji-ho still in his arms with a thoughtful expression. He carefully asked:
“Ji-ho… Am I obsessive? Have I made you feel suffocated?”
“Ah, no, that’s… Well. Rather than obsession… Ah, right. Let’s say strong determination, or deep attachment.”
That was the same thing. The perceptive Set quickly realized that Yeon Ji-ho was beating around the bush to avoid hurting his feelings. His mouth opened a bit more.
Finally, Yeon Ji-ho moved away slightly, avoiding Set’s frozen gaze. Then, heading towards the kitchen, he changed the subject:
“Today’s breakfast is doenjang soup and kimbap! I, I’ll go cook now.”
As Yeon Ji-ho hurriedly left, Shango also started to back away. The atmosphere around Set, who had been standing silently staring at the floor for a while, didn’t seem right.
And just as Shango had taken a couple of steps away, Set quietly called out to stop him.
“Shango.”
“…Yes?”
“Was I really… being obsessive?”
“Well… Yes, a little…”
Shango affirmed with a rather troubled face. Although Shango blindly followed Set, it was impossible for him to only say pleasing words smoothly like Apophis.
Set took a sudden step towards Shango. He asked again with a somewhat angry face.
“Not strong determination or attachment… but obsession?”
“Ah, ah. …On second thought, attachment…”
“Right. It’s not obsession.”
Set firmly denied his obsession. Shango, who had been watching this scene silently, hesitated before carefully opening his mouth.
“Your Excellency. …If you’re still worried…”
“Then what?”
“You could try looking on the ‘internet’…”
“Have you finally found it?”
Set’s voice dropped dramatically. Set glanced towards the kitchen, lowering the volume of the conversation to prevent Yeon Ji-ho from hearing.
“Yes. I asked the doctor before and found a way to access the ‘internet’…”
The secret order given to Shango. He decided to use that order to avoid the current danger.
“The doctor also said the internet can tell you everything… Whether it’s obsession, determination, or attachment. Ask there…”
