Chapter 137: Snow is Falling (1)
‘I should have brought clothes into the bathroom.’
I usually don’t bother, especially since it’s the en-suite bathroom connected to my bedroom. At least there was a large towel, but even wrapped up to my chest, the situation felt awkward. I covered myself anyway—what else could I do?
“Could you step out so I can get dressed?”
“Why?”
My brother’s eyes scanned me methodically, searching for injuries. The whole situation felt absurd—we’re siblings, after all. I used to bathe him when he was little, and we’d gone to public baths together countless times.
“It’s just… I’m feeling a bit self-conscious, you know?”
Compared to my exceptionally well-built younger brother, I was rather unremarkable. Not that I was particularly out of shape, but the comparison wasn’t flattering.
“You look fine to me.”
“Just… I’m embarrassed, okay? At least turn around. Iryn, you too—go over there.”
Iryn fluttered over to Yuhyun, but my brother remained unmoved. He must have sensed something was off. Left with no alternative, I clutched the towel tightly and made my way to the closet. Under his unwavering gaze, I quickly pulled on my pajama top, taking care to hide the wound on my chest. These were a gift from Yerim that I’d never worn before—what was she thinking with these chick designs?
“There’s no way everyone used the gate stone together, right? Did you come alone? What about Peace and Yerim? And in an S-rank dungeon, no less.”
I asked after turning around, fully dressed. Just asking the question made me frown. What kind of guild leader acts so irresponsibly?
“Park Yerim told me to go. Peace probably agreed, though he can’t speak. With two S-ranks, reliable dungeon intel, and experienced guild members, they should be fine. The environment suited Yerim particularly well.”
That was somewhat reassuring to hear.
“Did Yerim really agree to let you leave? Wouldn’t she have wanted to come too?”
“We settled it peacefully with rock-paper-scissors.”
“Well done.”
They’re both so considerate, reaching an agreement without fighting. Though given their physical differences, Yerim was at a disadvantage. She probably telegraphed her moves too obviously.
“Anyway, everything went smoothly after you left.”
I said, retrieving an old phone from a drawer. Good thing I’d kept it; my current phone was probably beyond recovery. All those photos and videos of the kids, gone. I should have backed them up.
“No problems at all?”
“None. The dungeon break was handled perfectly.”
From his tone, it seemed Yuhyun hadn’t spoken with Seong Hyunjae or anyone else yet. I glanced at him before quickly messaging Seong Hyunjae.
[Don’t tell Yuhyun.]
The response came instantly.
[^^]
…What was that supposed to mean? Just an emoticon, but it made me want to curse.
[I mean it. Do not tell him.]
Noah was already taken care of, and Song Taewon’s phone would be dead like mine. He’d be easy to convince later. All that remained was keeping Seong Hyunjae quiet. If I could, I’d sew his mouth shut permanently.
“Who are you messaging?”
Just as Seong Hyunjae’s reply came through, Yuhyun stepped closer. I hastily hit the power button, but Yuhyun snatched the phone from my hand. His voice was flat.
“It’s unlikely there weren’t any problems.”
“Isn’t it enough that I’m standing here in one piece?”
“You don’t look like you’re in one piece.”
“I’m just tired.”
When I mentioned wanting to turn in early, Yuhyun nodded but proceeded to unlock my phone. But there was no way he could—
“Hey! How do you know my unlock pattern?!”
“You’ve unlocked it in front of me before. I remembered it.”
“Why would you memorize that?! And why are you going through someone else’s phone?! Give it back!”
I tried to grab it, but it was futile. I was already exhausted, and this just drained me further. While I stood there panting, Yuhyun read through my messages with Seong Hyunjae, his eyes narrowing.
Well, I’m done for. A chill ran down my spine.
“…Chirp!”
Come on, use spatial movement to help your dad out. I heard Chirp’s call from the living room as it floated toward me. But before it could reach me, my brother grabbed hold of me. Not that I was sure Chirp could even move me with spatial movement anyway.
“Hyung.”
“It was just Seong Hyunjae being his usual ridiculous self.”
“He asked about your condition.”
“…What?”
“You even have a fever.”
A fever? I hadn’t noticed. Yuhyun touched me to check my temperature, then guided me to sit on the bed. Chirp landed in my lap. Chirp, couldn’t you take dad somewhere else? But disappearing now would only make things worse.
“Your body is still that of an ordinary person, hyung. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this without consequences.”
As he spoke, Yuhyun dried my damp hair. It reminded me of the old days, though our roles were reversed now.
“I haven’t been pushing myself that much lately.”
“That monster was at least A-rank. You should have evacuated, not gotten involved. Chief Song Taewon and Hunter Noah had more than enough strength. Why did you have to step in?”
“Well… I didn’t think it through.”
He was right; the situation hadn’t required my involvement. Still, thanks to my help, we’d avoided civilian casualties despite the flying venomous insects and burrowing monsters. Without me as bait, dozens might have escaped past the barricades. We might not have caught that wolf cub so easily—it could have gotten away.
‘…Maybe I should just become the official bait for dungeon breaks?’
I didn’t want to, but ignoring it would weigh on my conscience. If I could save lives by stepping in, even at some risk… Damn it. At least dungeon management was improving, so such incidents were rare. Once Seok Hayan’s team finished developing the gate locator, even undiscovered dungeon breaks would be prevented.
Please, Seok Hayan, finish it quickly. I really don’t want any more responsibilities. Just thinking about it exhausts me.
“Turn off your poison resistance so you can take some medicine.”
Yuhyun said, producing two pills from his inventory.
“What kind of medicine is that?”
“Antipyretic and painkiller. It’s mainly for magic overload, but it works on regular fevers too.”
“Isn’t that expensive? There’s normal medicine in the kitchen.”
“It’s not much.”
Coming from someone who considered a ten million won meal no big deal, that wasn’t reassuring. If it was mana-related medicine used by S-rank hunters, it probably cost thousands at least.
I swallowed the pills with a mana potion instead of water. Being hunter-grade medicine, it worked immediately, making my whole body feel lighter. Guess I did have a fever. The difference was striking. Drowsiness swept over me, and before I could reactivate my poison resistance skill, consciousness slipped away.
“Sweet dreams, hyung.”
Yuhyun’s voice faded as I drifted off. Damn brat…
— Chirp chirp.
The small bird perched on Han Yujin’s chest chirped softly. Han Yuhyun gazed down at his sleeping brother.
One pill had indeed been an antipyretic and painkiller. The other, however, was a sedative obtained from S-rank dungeons, used by high-level hunters who struggled to sleep after raids when their senses were heightened.
Beyond physical relaxation, it affected the mind, ensuring deep, genuine sleep. Despite its alluring effects, Yuhyun had bought but never used it himself. The idea of surrendering control over his body, even for restful sleep, made him uncomfortable.
“You’re too trusting.”
He murmured, though he would have been more displeased if his brother had refused or resisted. Yuhyun dialed his phone. The other party answered promptly.
“What happened?”
[Why ask me about your brother?]
“He’s asleep.”
[You drugged him, didn’t you?]
The sharp response suggested the other party saw right through him. Without arguing, Yuhyun asked.
“What about Chief Song Taewon?”
[How was the young master able to be there?]
A question answered with a question. Yuhyun responded calmly.
“I wasn’t there, which is why I’m asking.”
[Just send me one bundle of those S-rank green onions from the kitchen. I’m curious what they’re like.]
“…What nonsense are you talking about?”
[If you truly weren’t at the scene, then perhaps there really is an S-rank green onion.]
The random, incomprehensible comment made Yuhyun frown.
“Please just tell me about Chief Song Taewon. We need to plan our next steps.”
[No need to worry about Chief Song.]
Seong Hyunjae continued leisurely.
[He failed to protect him. Against me, no less. Thanks to that, Song Taewon will be determined to keep Han Yujin safe from now on.]
Watching a lamb play with a wolf must have been unsettling. He might even wonder if the lamb was actually a wolf in disguise. However, after being bitten, it was clear the lamb was simply a lamb. A shepherd dog would protect it steadfastly.
[Though in trying to protect him, he might end up causing more harm. Even pretending to be a shepherd dog, a wolf remains a wolf.]
Should he send Chief Song a message of sympathy for his internal struggle? Ignoring the low chuckle on the other end, Yuhyun spoke.
“What did my brother ask you not to tell me?”
[Oh, so he did intend to keep it from you after all.]
The openly sympathetic tone made Yuhyun exhale sharply, containing his anger. There was something this man knew that he didn’t. That fact grated on him. The hairs on his neck stood on end.
But Seong Hyunjae wasn’t someone he could simply eliminate, even if he were capable of it. That man had already become an essential presence in Han Yujin’s life. If Seong Hyunjae disappeared, there was no telling how much further his brother, already at his limits, would push himself.
The fact that Seong Hyunjae was useful and capable couldn’t be denied. So long as he remained cooperative toward Yujin, Yuhyun had no choice but to tolerate him.
“…Please tell me.”
This time, his quiet, subdued request received a proper answer.
[A wound on his chest.]
“A wound?”
[Even a B-rank healing skill couldn’t heal the scar.]
If it were just a regular injury, even a lower healing skill could easily remove any trace. Which meant this wasn’t an ordinary wound.
Yuhyun clenched his teeth and reached out to touch Han Yujin.
— Chirp!
The small bird pecked at his fingertips, as if saying, ‘Don’t touch my caregiver,’ but he gently pushed Chirp aside. The chick rolled away and pressed against Yujin’s cheek, chirping in protest.
— Chirp! Chirp chirp!
“Quiet.”
Though it was unlikely he’d wake easily, if Chirp kept chirping by his ear, it wasn’t impossible. Yuhyun gently tapped Chirp’s small beak before unbuttoning Yujin’s pajama top. Just as Seong Hyunjae had said, there was a wound. Near his heart, a small cut that looked like it had been made by a blade. A recent wound that Yuhyun had never seen before.
Frowning, he took out a high-grade potion just in case. However, even the high-grade potion couldn’t remove the small wound.
“What is this…”
[It seems Han Yujin is up to something interesting again, but he has no intention of telling me. All I know is that it’s related to a magic stone. If you focus, you might be able to sense a faint presence of the magic stone around the wound.]
Following Seong Hyunjae’s words, Yuhyun placed his fingertips on the wound and concentrated. There was indeed a faint, foreign energy there.
Suddenly, he remembered how the monsters had all rushed at Han Yujin. Monsters could sense the presence of a magic stone far more clearly than humans. In fact, magic stone detectors were created by utilizing that very ability. Which meant to the monsters, Han Yujin…
‘His body might be F-rank, but the magic stone he’s carrying is high-grade… He’s prey.’
If he could sense it even faintly, it definitely wasn’t a middle or low-grade magic stone. Even for an S-rank hunter with sensitive mana detection, it was difficult to sense a magic stone buried within a monster’s body. If an S-rank magic stone was embedded deep enough, it could be impossible to detect.
So if he could sense this energy to this extent, it was at least S-rank, or maybe even higher…
‘What are you trying to do, hyung.’
He ended the call with a heavy heart. The phone fell with a soft thud onto the bed.
When I opened my eyes, my vision was filled with white snowflakes drifting down softly. The moment I saw it, I knew this was a dream. Snow falling endlessly, branches stretching out endlessly in white.
A tree where snow was falling.
‘I guess it was about time this showed up in my dreams.’
Until now, I hadn’t really had dreams about Yuhyun or my brother before regression. Probably because of my fear resistance skill.
But now, my fear resistance skill level was lowered. The moment I let my guard down, it all came rushing in—how unfair. Looks like I won’t be sleeping well for a while. I think the skill’s effect lasts for about three days. Since it has double the effect, it might last even longer. I have so much to do, but this is really a disaster. Chief Song Taewon, you’re too much. Can’t you cancel your skill?
‘But this place isn’t bad.’
Since it was a dream, it wouldn’t be exactly like reality, but I took a look around to check things out in advance. I couldn’t move my body, but I could shift my vision. The snowfield was vast and desolate, completely empty. It felt like I was standing in the middle of an endless snowy wasteland.
Then, I saw something. A tiny figure between the thick, exposed roots of a tree.
I thought this wasn’t bad, but it really was a nightmare. Despite thinking that, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Just like a typical nightmare.
–TL Notes–
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