72
“Yes, ah, Mr. Ji-ho will use… What?!”
Apophis’s voice suddenly grew louder at the end. Chain quickly turned his head to look at them.
“What’s going on? Why aren’t you following?”
“We’re coming.”
Yeon Ji-ho hurriedly started walking to follow Chain again, gesturing to Apophis to lower his voice. Apophis, seemingly coming to his senses, quickened his pace and caught his breath.
Then, Apophis moved close to Yeon Ji-ho’s side and whispered:
“M-Mr. Ji-ho. What do you mean? Did I misunderstand? Why would you need a potion used by pregnant women…”
“It’s a long story to explain from the beginning. I think I might be pregnant.”
Yeon Ji-ho pulled the hat he had taken off when entering the tavern back on deeply. Apophis, who was beside him, stopped in his tracks at this properly heard information, then hurriedly caught up.
“If… if it’s not too presumptuous to ask, Mr. Ji-ho, are you perhaps…”
“I’m not a woman, I’m a man. Where I come from, men can get pregnant too. We call them omegas.”
Yeon Ji-ho rapid-fire answered to the reaction not unlike Chronos’s, causing Apophis’s eyes to tremble. Swallowing hard, he opened his mouth with a hopeful expression.
“I… see. Then, does His Excellency know about this?”
Yeon Ji-ho glanced at Apophis and quietly shook his head. At this answer, Apophis’s eyes closed in dismay. Yes, if Set had known, he wouldn’t have been able to leave Yeon Ji-ho alone like this.
“…I just couldn’t tell him. It’s not certain yet, anyway.”
“But… Although I don’t know much about the conception of life, if you want to confirm it so quickly, Mr. Ji-ho, don’t you have a good reason?”
Yeon Ji-ho’s fist clenched tight. Apophis was right. He too thought his body had been acting strange recently.
Despite not being one to take naps, he kept feeling drowsy, and cooking and eating food wasn’t as exciting and joyful as before. He had also suppressed nausea and dry heaving countless times.
“I’ll get the potion you mentioned separately. But Mr. Ji-ho, if you really have conceived…”
“Hey, you two! Feeling leisurely, are we? While wearing the most conspicuous outfit here?”
As the gap between Chain and the two kept widening, Chain, unable to stand it anymore, hurried them. Finally, Apophis couldn’t say anymore and had to almost run to stand behind him.
Only after they were almost a step behind did Chain look satisfied and start walking again. After walking for some time…
Chain stopped in front of a shabby wall. He lightly knocked on the wall, and the wall that had appeared to be plain split into two, revealing a brick pattern.
“Get in.”
Inside, although furniture and objects were messily placed, it smelled more lived-in than expected. From the sofa to the bed, table, and carpet, there were traces of someone having stayed there.
“Change into suitable clothes from the wardrobe, ah, and make sure to wear a robe. Of course, don’t think about going out just because you’ve changed clothes, okay?”
As soon as the three entered, the split wall sealed shut as if bonding. While Yeon Ji-ho was curiously looking at the wall, Chain picked up an elegant glass on the table and gulped down water.
Only after finishing the water did he glance at Yeon Ji-ho and say:
“Your way of helping us is to stay here quietly.”
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of moving.”
“You don’t like me much, do you?”
At this sudden question, Yeon Ji-ho’s shoulders, which had been looking around the interior, froze. Slowly turning around, he saw Chain tilting his head slightly, looking at him.
“I have no reason to like someone who doesn’t seem to like me much.”
“That’s not it? I like you. I just… don’t like that Gorgon man.”
So that was it. Chain didn’t bother hiding his disdain for Set, and that was why Yeon Ji-ho didn’t like Chain.
“Nothing good happens when I’m with him.”
“That’s unfortunate. I’ll be with Set in the future too.”
“Reaaally?”
Chain chuckled, stretching out his words annoyingly. When Yeon Ji-ho frowned one eye, not hiding his displeasure, Chain smiled and said:
“I just happen to like men who say they dislike me.”
As he approached Yeon Ji-ho with a seductive walk, Apophis blocked him. Seeing the gesture not to cross the line, Chain’s lips protruded.
“Is it a sin to like pretty men? Oh my, how disappointing.”
“…Aren’t you busy, Chain?”
“I am. I was about to leave anyway. Nen! Come out here!”
At Chain’s short call, Nen, a boy who seemed to appear out of nowhere, silently emerged from the darkness. Chain only told Nen to guard this place well and then left through the wall the same way he had come.
Meanwhile, Apophis had already taken out a robe that fit him from the wardrobe and covered himself up to his head. He approached Yeon Ji-ho and spoke softly:
“Mr. Ji-ho, then I’ll be away for a moment. To bring what you mentioned…”
“Ah, yes. I’ll wait here.”
“While I’m gone, don’t leave Nen’s side. Although he looks young, he’s a wolf directly raised by Chain. You can feel at ease.”
Soon after, Apophis also went outside. Just like when Chain left, the split door sealed shut again, and as Yeon Ji-ho approached the wall with a curious face…
Tug.
Someone grabbed the hem of Yeon Ji-ho’s clothes. Turning his head, he saw Nen, the boy called earlier, staring at him while holding onto his clothes.
“Ah, I wasn’t trying to leave, I was just curious about the wall…”
“…”
Despite the explanation, there was no response from Nen. He just stared blankly, so Yeon Ji-ho stepped back from the wall slightly, and Nen released his grip on Yeon Ji-ho’s clothes.
I see, he’s telling me not to think about leaving.
Realizing this, Yeon Ji-ho headed towards the sofa instead of the wall. Nen stood still as if rooted to the spot, just watching Yeon Ji-ho.
Feeling awkward, Yeon Ji-ho took out suitable clothes from the wardrobe and finally took off the dress he had been wearing. Following Chain’s advice, he also put on a large robe.
Even after changing all his clothes, Nen’s gaze was still fixed on him. Finally unable to bear it anymore, Yeon Ji-ho spoke first.
“…Um.”
“…”
“So, how old…”
It was a question casually thrown out, thinking he’d have to stay with this boy until Apophis returned. However, Nen showed no signs of opening his mouth.
Just as Yeon Ji-ho was about to give up on conversation, Nen’s fingers moved. One, two, three… The child’s fingers spread out to ten, then folded back to five.
“Fifteen?”
“…”
“I see, you’re fifteen. You’re very young.”
“…”
Although Nen didn’t open his mouth to Yeon Ji-ho’s words, he responded somehow by nodding or shaking his head. Whether this was because he couldn’t speak or simply didn’t want to, Yeon Ji-ho couldn’t tell.
However, there was a limit to continuing a conversation with just nods, so Yeon Ji-ho was hesitant to start talking. Unconsciously rummaging through his belongings, Yeon Ji-ho realized he still had the chocolate he had shared with Ray before leaving the Village of Time this morning.
“Um… do you want some chocolate?”
“…”
Nen just stared at the chocolate Yeon Ji-ho casually offered, not welcoming it eagerly like Ray had. Just as Yeon Ji-ho was about to withdraw his embarrassed hand…
“Mr. Ji-ho, I’m back!”
Apophis, who Yeon Ji-ho thought had just left, returned quickly. In his hand was a sloshing potion.
At the same time, Nen, who had been quietly watching, suddenly approached and snatched the chocolate from Yeon Ji-ho’s hand. This happened just as Apophis took his place by Yeon Ji-ho’s side.
It seemed Nen thought he was handing over Yeon Ji-ho’s protection to Apophis. Judging by how he took the chocolate as soon as Apophis arrived, unwrapped it, and put a handful in his mouth.
“Did you have a conversation with Nen?”
“No, not really a conversation… I just asked how old he was.”
“Among them, that counts as a conversation. It’s an unwritten rule for all dogs and wolves not to speak unless they’re alone with each other.”
Glancing at Nen, who was wolfing down the chocolate, Apophis handed the potion he had brought to Yeon Ji-ho. Then he explained briefly.
“If you put your blood into this reagent and it turns red, it’s negative, and if it turns blue… your thoughts are correct.”
“Is one drop enough?”
“Yes.”
But how to suddenly draw blood? As Yeon Ji-ho was pondering, Apophis took out a plain dagger from his clothes.
“For blood, use this… ugh!”
And Apophis fell backwards. It was thanks to Nen’s strike from the side.
Nen moved with an agility unbecoming of a boy, then took the dagger from Apophis’s hand and spun it skillfully in his own hand.
“Hey, you son of a bitch!”
A curse burst from Apophis’s mouth. However, Nen, acting as if he couldn’t hear Apophis’s words, scurried over to Yeon Ji-ho and gently offered him the stolen dagger.
