Chapter 470: Give a Peck, Get a Bushel
Chapter 470: Give a Peck, Get a Bushel
Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter-patter!
It was a dark, rainy night. I lay in bed without any lights on, staring at the window.
The moonlight seeped through the window frame, making it glow brilliantly. Raindrops would occasionally strike the glass with a tap before trickling down. The moon was half-hidden by a thick blanket of dark clouds, but it made for a rather pleasant view. I like rainy days.
“Soohyun…”
A quiet, wistful voice drifted through the silence. I turned my head to the side and saw a pair of blue eyes gazing at me. I could also see her blue hair scattered across the bed, her well-defined nose, and her beautiful lips.
I took a soft breath as I looked at her graceful features. The slightly chilly dawn air flowed in.
“Yes?”
“Today…”
“Yes…”
“…was so wonderful.”
After speaking, Hayeon smiled shyly, like a newlywed bride after her first night. I had been a little on edge when she mentioned ‘today,’ but it seemed I had been nervous for nothing. I smiled back gently and slowly moved to embrace her.
But Hayeon didn't yield to my embrace easily. She suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me. Then, she slithered up the bed and pulled me into her arms instead. A sudden, baseless irritation rose in me, and I thrashed my head from side to side. But Hayeon only soothed me gently, holding me tight to keep me from leaving her embrace.
“Mmm…”
A moan of deep satisfaction escaped her, and I looked up to see Hayeon with her eyes peacefully closed. I closed my eyes as well. Following her lead, I buried my nose in her soft breasts. Her endlessly comforting bosom gave off a sweet, fleshy scent, as if whispering a lullaby. It was then.
“Soohyun. I have something to say.”
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, my eyes shot open. Hayeon’s tone was no longer languid but clear and articulate. Sleep vanished in an instant.
I didn’t answer right away. After a moment of thought, I slowly reached out and stroked Hayeon’s stomach. This time, it was her body that squirmed.
“W-Wait a moment. Soohyun!”
“No.”
“D-Don’t touch there. I told you I don’t like it there, so why do you keep… Ah, ah! Goodness. Really…”
“…Hah.”
I let out a soft sigh. As I rubbed the area just below her navel, I felt a smooth, yet not skin-like texture. It was a tiny jewel that Hayeon herself had engraved long ago. She always became extremely embarrassed whenever I touched this spot.
The real reason I had touched her so suddenly was to indirectly tell her that I didn't want her to say what she was about to say. But the fact that she let me touch her meant she was determined to speak, no matter what. As I caressed the small jewel, I spoke quietly.
“Is this about Ahn Hyun?”
“…Yes.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. No. I’d rather you stop worrying about Ahn Hyun altogether.”
“But…”
At the word ‘but,’ I wrapped my arms tightly around her waist. So thin, so frail. How much must she have suffered, taking on that difficult position in a body like this? A sudden wave of guilt and pity washed over me, and I whispered in a gentle voice.
“Hayeon. In a world like this, a world where it’s hard enough to look after yourself, I know you’ve worked harder than anyone.”
“Worked hard? No, that’s not true. If you think that way, then you… you must have had it so much harder than me.”
“I was the one who wanted this position, but you weren’t. I’m sorry for making that decision today. But I wanted you to have even a little rest. I wanted you to finally lay down all your burdens.”
“……”
“And I wanted you to start taking care of yourself… So please, just for a little while, forget everything and get some proper rest.”
“Soohyun.”
“Ah, and don’t worry about your reinstatement. Once you’ve had enough time to clear your head, I’ll somehow…”
“Soohyun! Today, in front of me, Hyun cried. That boy shed tears. I understand how you feel, I really do. But please, just listen to me. Please?”
Even after all I’d said, it seemed she was determined to bring up Ahn Hyun. I clicked my tongue once or twice, pulled away from her embrace, and sat up.
My chest felt tight. After tonight, I wouldn’t be able to see Hayeon for a while. Because of that, I had wanted this moment to be filled with pleasant words, not headaches.
As I leaned against the wall, a bitter taste suddenly filled my mouth. Perhaps that was why my next words came out not in a gentle tone, but a stiff one.
“I’ll handle Ahn Hyun’s matter myself. I have my own thoughts on it. I didn’t make that decision without any consideration.”
“Soohyun, I know. I’m not saying your decision is wrong, nor am I asking you to go easy on Ahn Hyun. It’s just… I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.”
Hayeon sat up with me and gently leaned against my body. I wasn’t angry. Or at least, I hadn’t meant to be. I closed my eyes and spoke quietly.
“…Ahn Hyun.”
“Yes.”
“He’s fundamentally diligent. And he’s reliable enough. Even now, he pulls his weight as a User. Although he mostly does as he’s told, he sometimes shows a surprising level of insight that even startles me. He’s the type who could do much better if he just thought and acted a little more.”
“I think so, too.”
“But the incident at the Sleeping Dragon Mountains made me realize something. Ahn Hyun is definitely heading in the wrong direction.”
“The wrong direction?”
I nodded silently at Hayeon’s question.
To be honest, if I looked at this incident from another perspective, I could almost understand Ahn Hyun’s thinking. I had always taken him with me and repeatedly urged him to act proactively. Of course, there was likely another reason he acted alone, but it was probably along similar lines.
What if the area he entered hadn’t been the Sleeping Dragon Mountains? I don’t know if I would have praised him, but I certainly wouldn’t have gone this far.
The problem, however, was that Ahn Hyun had accepted the request for the Sleeping Dragon Mountains, even disobeying a direct order from me.
This incident and Ahn Hyun’s behavior reminded me of someone from the 1st playthrough.
It was me. He reminded me of myself. In the 1st playthrough, I had led my brother and countless comrades to their deaths with a single wrong choice.
That’s right. Having experienced that tragic situation, I couldn’t just stand by and watch Ahn Hyun go down the same path. That’s why I resorted to such a drastic measure. I wanted Ahn Hyun to understand himself a little better.
“Yes. The incident a year ago, and this one as well. It’s not like I didn’t give him chances. But he hasn’t improved at all. If he continues like this… he might cause a huge accident someday. The kind of incident that could endanger everyone’s lives.”
Did some of my sincerity get through? Hayeon was silent for a long time. Then, just as the raindrops hitting the window began to grow stronger, her low but clear voice sounded.
“Soohyun… what do you think of your brother?”
She was referring to my older brother. I didn’t know why she was suddenly bringing him up, but knowing Hayeon’s personality, I answered calmly.
“I love him. He’s someone I always trust, rely on, and depend on.”
“Right. And you know what? It’s the same for Hyun.”
“……”
“Hyun went through the Rite of Passage with you and has followed you since the User Academy. So he also loves, trusts, relies on, and depends on you. That’s what you are to Hyun.”
“Even so. And what does that have to do with…”
“Try to put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if your brother said something like that to you?”
At her words, I fell silent. And I thought about it. Of course, I would understand my brother’s intentions, but it would be a lie to say it wouldn’t hurt at all.
But I scoffed.
“This is the Hall Plain. If he gets derailed by something like this, then that’s all he amounts to as a User.”
“That’s not what I mean. You have expectations for Hyun, and if he meets them, you’ll be able to meet again with smiles on your faces. It’s not like you’ll never see each other again, right?”
“…So. What are you trying to say?”
“An order once given can’t be taken back, I suppose. But I think you need to watch over him and give him some breathing room, even if it’s just a little. I want to create a situation where Hyun can realize things for himself and walk his own path.”
Watch over him and give him breathing room? Create that kind of situation?
Hayeon gently placed her hand over mine and spoke softly.
“Let me try. I’m not saying I’ll comfort Ahn Hyun or take care of him. Just give me one last chance, too.”
I finally turned to look at her. An earnestness I couldn’t quite decipher was etched on her face.
After looking at Hayeon for a long while, I let out a low sigh.
The night was still dark. The sound of the rain hitting the window seemed unusually loud.
*
The next day.
The rain, which had poured as if possessed during the night, stopped abruptly as the morning sun rose, as if it had never been there at all.
The sky was blue. The air was slightly humid, but the garden below glistened with a watery light, holding the raindrops from the night. I stood on the terrace, looking down at the main gate of the Mercenary Clan House.
“Hayeon-unni! I’ll come visit often!”
“Ahn Hyun! Don’t be too discouraged! If you do well, we’ll see each other again!”
Hayeon and Ahn Hyun, who were about to leave through the main gate, calmly turned around at the cheers. Hayeon’s face was still composed, while Ahn Hyun looked gaunt. It seemed he had been suffering a great deal, just as Hayeon had said.
Still, at least for now, it seemed both of them were touched. Despite the early hour, every clan member had woken up to see them off. Even Vivian, who loved her morning sleep, was there.
Some had commented that we were kicking them out too quickly(?), but what was done was done, and it was also a way of expressing my resolve. Any member of the Mercenary Clan would have fully understood the meaning behind my decision.
I fell into thought for a moment as I watched them exchange their final goodbyes.
The conversation I had with Hayeon last night. As a result, I had issued an order to transfer Hayeon and Ahn Hyun to the same region. I had originally planned to send them to different places, but in the end, I had partially accepted Hayeon’s words from last night.
I wasn’t sure if they could do it, but for now, I decided to watch and see.
A little time passed. Having finished their farewells, Hayeon and Ahn Hyun began to walk again.
A moment later, the main gate slowly began to open. The two Users turned and walked toward it with calm steps. There was a certain loneliness to their figures as they exited the entrance. From the terrace where a cool wind blew, I watched them leave until they were out of sight.
It was then.
“…Hm?”
After passing through the gate, Ahn Hyun suddenly turned and looked up. I felt a subtle gaze on me. Although there was some distance between us, Ahn Hyun was clearly looking up at me. I didn’t look away; I met his gaze.
Then, all of a sudden, Ahn Hyun slowly bent at the waist.
Just as the gate closed completely, I saw it clearly. Ahn Hyun, bowing to me at a ninety-degree angle.
“……”
I took out a cigarette and placed it in my mouth. I lit it and watched it burn, staring at the closed gate for a long time.
A short while later.
By the time I had finished the cigarette and the clan members were heading back inside one by one, I calmly entered my office.
Just as I turned back to close the glass doors leading to the terrace, something happened.
Thud.
Click!
The moment I closed the doors, my heart sank. The sound of the doors closing was followed by another, subtle sound.
I didn’t know what kind of sound it was, but one thing was certain: it wasn’t the sound of the doors. It was clearly a noise.
I swallowed hard. No matter how lost in thought I was or even if I hadn’t activated my Sensing, I still had my sixth sense—a sixth sense I had honed for over ten years. For someone to have hidden themselves and snuck in, evading that sense?
Pushing aside my disbelief, I hurriedly turned to face the door. And in that instant.
“Soo~hyun~!”
A sultry voice burst out. At the same time, someone threw themselves into my arms. Ash-gray hair flew before my eyes.
I instinctively hugged the person back while letting out a sigh of relief. It was Ko Yeonju.
As if oblivious to her age, Ko Yeonju clung to me tightly and began rubbing her cheek against me relentlessly.
“Soo~hyun~. Soo~hyun~. I really, really missed you.”
“…Me too. But why didn’t you make any sound? You really scared me.”
“Mmm~. Mmmm~. I’m sorry~. I’ve been living like I used to for the past two months~. It just became a habit without me realizing~.”
“W-Wait a moment. I get it, so just a moment. Please stop rubbing. I haven’t even washed my face yet.”
“R-Really?! Then sniff~! Sniff~!”
“……”
Did she think she was a puppy, or maybe Ahn Sol? No, that wasn’t her image, was it?
In any case, despite my bewilderment, I was also glad to see Ko Yeonju return at such a timely moment. Then, my thoughts suddenly returned to the noise I had heard earlier. The door hadn’t seemed to open; it was still closed. So what could that noise have been? I instinctively looked toward my desk.
There, sitting plainly on the desk, were two orbs. Crystal orbs. They were emitting a light that was subtly different from that of ordinary crystal orbs. I suddenly realized what they were and frowned slightly.
“Those are…”
They were crystal orbs for video recording.