Chapter 176
Normalizing the Seongha Group was Yoo Siwoon’s father’s dying wish and Yoo Siwoon’s own dream, and it was gradually becoming a reality.
“Just write it however you want. Make it realistic and plausible.”
Yoo Siwoon responded indifferently, as if such matters were tiresome and of no interest to him, while he rubbed his flushed face.
“After the inauguration ceremony, you’ll need to go on a business trip to Washington.”
“A business trip? What for?”
“You need to work. Aren’t you going to work? How long are you planning to avoid it?”
“…”
The implication was clear: how long would he sit here idle, neglecting the company and refusing to take responsibility?
He lacked the energy to protest. Having poured all his energy into Eunseong and worrying about him, he had no strength left to focus on anything else.
“The Future Business Division said they’ll submit their portfolio rebalancing report by this week. The unified opinion from the Future Division is to accelerate digital transformation in collaboration with Big Tech groups, and they’re exploring cooperative measures with Big Tech companies in Washington. We need to maintain the manufacturing-centered business structure of the corporation while establishing technology transfer through joint ventures. Alternatively, we could build strategic partnerships through equity exchanges.”
“…”
“We’re expecting it to take about a week.”
That meant he would have to leave home for a whole week.
“This actually works out well. Let’s take Eunseong with us. I can work, and Eunseong can sightsee and travel. He said he’s never been on a plane before.”
It was actually perfect. He had promised Eunseong several times that they would travel together but had failed to keep his word. If Eunseong called him a liar, he would have no defense.
“That’s not possible.”
At Director Nam’s firm response, Yoo Siwoon frowned. It was an immediate rejection without a moment’s consideration.
“Why not?”
“There are still Yongse Pacheon Church forces remaining within the group. They know about Eunseong, and rumors have already spread that he’s not The Great Crevice. Do you understand what might happen if you expose him like that?”
Such fabrications weren’t new, and believers who had been excited about the discovery of The Great Crevice only to be disappointed again might harbor resentment and harm Eunseong.
Yoo Siwoon couldn’t do anything about Director Nam. Without him, Eunseong would certainly cause trouble, and Director Nam played a role in gradually resolving the misunderstandings between them. Despite how irritating and unpleasant his words were, Yoo Siwoon couldn’t do anything about him.
“Why do I keep getting the feeling that you’re trying to separate me from Eunseong?”
“I’m offended. I’m merely expressing my concerns about such matters.”
Director Nam responded calmly despite feeling caught off guard, the blazing flames concealing his flustered expression.
Yoo Siwoon fixed him with a meaningful gaze. In the light of the burning flames, Yoo Siwoon’s face showed a remarkably harmonious balance that inspired admiration.
“How many people actually know Eunseong’s face?”
“…Almost none.”
“Then why should I worry about the Yongse Pacheon Church even in Washington?”
“Didn’t you say that ‘what if’ refers to a possibility of less than 1%? I’m considering even that 1% when I say this.”
“…”
Being away from home for a week—leaving Eunseong alone—was unthinkable. Not because Eunseong would be in danger, but because Yoo Siwoon himself couldn’t bear it. Moreover, Eunseong disliked him now.
“Then you stay here, Director.”
“Will you be alright without me?”
“Please speak well of me to Eunseong. Tell him I’m not crazy.”
“…”
“Is that too much to ask?”
Yoo Siwoon said, half-jokingly, half-seriously. It was also subtle pressure. Though he had invited such a response, Director Nam pretended not to hear and avoided his gaze.
With a heavy, troubled breath, Yoo Siwoon murmured.
“I truly… truly never once thought of him as just a breeding vessel.”
“…”
“How could I think that way? To me, Eunseong is…”
Unable to continue, Yoo Siwoon covered his eyes with his hand. Director Nam anxiously observed him, wondering if he might be crying. Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t crying; after rubbing his eyes once, he exhaled a helpless sigh.
No one had hoped more desperately than Yoo Siwoon that Eunseong was not The Great Crevice. He had prayed to a god he didn’t even believe in: Please, don’t let it be true. Please, make it not so.
If Eunseong weren’t The Great Crevice, Yoo Siwoon could freely, wholeheartedly love him. He could possess Eunseong again and again, penetrating roughly into him, holding his naked body against his own multiple times… Comforting, urging, and pushing himself with such thoughts, he had endured and endured until his patience had worn thin like a consumable item, bringing him to this state. While rationalizing that he wouldn’t hurt Eunseong anymore, he had anticipated this happening and still committed the act. He was becoming corrupt according to the prophecy.
Yoo Siwoon wanted to cry. He wanted to cry but didn’t know how, so he could only furrow his brow.
He wanted to ask if it was wrong. If acknowledging and confessing his feelings of affection and desire was so wrong that it deserved Eunseong’s hatred.
Even now, the desire to hold Eunseong was consuming him with the same diminishing patience as before. Yoo Siwoon was simply enduring. He thought it might be similar to the withdrawal symptoms of an addict. Merely abusing his genitals no longer provided relief. Yoo Siwoon had tasted those honey-sweet lips and experienced the overwhelming climax of sinking into those lily-pure eyes.
Greedy saliva pooled in his mouth, yearning to taste that corrupting sweetness again. Yoo Siwoon was appeasing his ominous, beast-like lust with guilt and by preventing Eunseong from taking even a single step outside his safe place.
As the bonfire’s flames weakened and died down, Director Nam placed a couple of dry logs on top. The burning logs collapsed into ash, causing the flames to flicker.
“Then I’ll stay here. I’ll arrange a new team of trustworthy secretaries.”
Though he spoke as if he had no choice, Director Nam glanced at him carefully. Yoo Siwoon didn’t suspect him at all. Despite Director Nam methodically preparing, along with Lee Joon-seung, to create a new identity for Eunseong and help him escape without Yoo Siwoon’s knowledge, he hadn’t noticed a thing.
It pained Director Nam to deceive him. But this was the best for both of them. He could no longer stand by and watch either Eunseong or Yoo Siwoon come to harm.
“…When do you think Eunseong will forgive me?”
Whenever Eunseong encountered Yoo Siwoon, he would glare at him coldly, then bite his lips unable to speak, and turn away. Though he was frigid toward Yoo Siwoon, he seemed to have proper conversations with Director Nam.
“That won’t happen.”
“…”
Yoo Siwoon, who had been staring vacantly at the red flames while asking, turned to look at Director Nam, who had spoken with surprising coldness.
“…Did I really make such a grave mistake?”
“I suppose you and Eunseong simply aren’t meant for each other.”
Director Nam answered without a moment’s hesitation. Yoo Siwoon looked shocked into speechlessness.
“Eunseong is mine. He is my mate whom I’ve waited for all my life… patiently waited for my entire life.”
According to the doctrine and prophecies of the Yongse Pacheon Church, Yoo Siwoon and Eunseong were destined partners who had met after thousands of years, and as Yoo Siwoon said, they were companions inscribed in instinct who could not help but love each other.
His fist clenched tightly. The knuckles turned white and trembled.
Yoo Siwoon believed his feelings toward Eunseong were the fulfillment of the prophecy he had guarded against and criticized.
He had no doubt. Their relationship was ordained by heaven.
They were destined to fall in love with each other.
He couldn’t understand why Eunseong couldn’t bear that fact.
Why did he reject such a formidable truth?
“Does Eunseong think so too? At first, you also despised Yoo Oseon and Yoo Seongil for believing in that prophecy. Have you forgotten? You said there were no normal human beings among them.”
“…”
“Eunseong isn’t acting this way because he rightfully hates you for lying to him, deceiving him, and destroying his family. He’s acting this way because he knows you loved him because he bears the mark of The Great Crevice. Isn’t that the real betrayal between you two?”
“…Do you also believe I love Eunseong because he is The Great Crevice? That’s a separate issue.”
“You keep insisting that he’s your wife.”
“…”
“Isn’t that why you killed Yoo Oseon and Yoo Seongil? Because you hated that, because you hated anyone else making such claims?”
Because he hated it, because he couldn’t accept it, because he now believed in the prophecy he once so despised more than anyone else, and to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled with someone other than himself, Yoo Siwoon had attempted the cruel act of taking the lives of young boys.
Yoo Siwoon, once a nonbeliever, was becoming such a monster. Becoming like those foolish people he had despised and rejected all his life.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
