Chapter 186: Mister Seong’s Birthday (4)
“This makes it the third time. Will I finally get a proper answer this time?”
Seong Hyunjae spoke as if he were generously offering me a choice, though it was laughable considering how he had pressed me into answering before.
“I believe I’ve already explained it to you.”
“I let it slide that day.”
Despite his suspicion, he hadn’t pressed further at the time. Now, his golden eyes bore down on me, as if daring me to try and escape again. The sea breeze, sharp with salt and unusually cool for summer, swept over me with a sudden intensity.
The wind lightly tousled Seong Hyunjae’s hair. Pale moonlight spilled over his light-colored locks, blending in a way that gave them a silvery sheen. As always, he waited leisurely for my response, his expression calm and composed.
Arrogant, one might say. But damn it, the Guild Leader of Sesung certainly had the right to be. It wasn’t pretension—it was simply an obvious attitude. He was that competent, after all.
In contrast, I…
“…You said you’d treat me well, but it seems that was just empty words.”
“And yet, here I am asking you with words only, am I not?”
So considerate, aren’t we? How should I explain myself? What excuse could I use to get out of this? I swallowed nervously, only for Han Yuhyun’s arm to reach around from behind me.
“Hyung.”
Pulling me close as if to shield me, my younger brother spoke softly.
“I’m here.”
Unlike the sharp tone he had earlier, his voice was gentle now. The suffocating anxiety that had wrapped around my body loosened at his words. Yuhyun wasn’t someone to feel inferior. And besides, I had already told him I trusted him. He had accepted that trust. It was okay to lean on him. My younger brother would never abandon me. He never had before.
“…Seong Hyunjae.”
Leaning slightly on Yuhyun for support, I looked back at Seong Hyunjae. His expression hadn’t changed. His gaze remained as sharp as ever, staring down at me.
How far could I go? The thought struck me suddenly.
It was true that Seong Hyunjae had been generous with me. I was valuable, intriguing, and quite useful. Most importantly, I was, for the most part, harmless to him.
Of course, I could become a threat if I ended up in someone else’s hands. But he wasn’t the kind of coward to smash something useful out of fear that it might fall into the wrong hands. Even if he lost it completely, he was the type to find a way to retrieve it intact.
He seemed to think that he already had me halfway in his grasp. Or that he could have me whenever he truly decided to. So, as long as I didn’t cross a certain line, he would continue to tolerate me. Like a pampered puppy biting at someone’s heel, only to be seen as endearing instead of dangerous.
“Well, since you’re so eager, I’ll tell you the truth.”
But what if the puppy had already finished teething? What if it had sunk its teeth deep without the owner even realizing it?
“It is related to you.”
There was no real reaction from him, as if he had already guessed as much.
“That sense of déjà vu you’ve been feeling, Seong Hyunjae, is tied to your boredom.”
Finally, his gaze shifted. The habitual smile in his eyes turned cold. I felt his hand reaching toward me, but Yuhyun moved. His arm stretched out, pulling me closer while his other hand gripped his sword.
“I’m standing right here.”
Even if my fear resistance blocked some of it, I could feel it clearly—I was standing at the edge. I could step forward or retreat.
Maybe it would be better to continue bowing my head to Seong Hyunjae. After all, he was incredibly capable. As long as he was on my side, he’d be reliable and tremendously helpful. Things had been relatively smooth so far because of that. If I backed off now, it would remain easy.
There was no real need to provoke him. The relationship was decent enough. Even if he regained his memories and lost interest in me, my skills were still useful, so he would treat me well on a basic level. Adding in the connection with the troublemaking brothers, things might not change much.
So there was no need for this. None at all.
But.
“You won’t remember it. Because I took it. When I visited your home, the memories that disappeared back then. No, not just memories—your very self from that time. I needed it to combine magic stones. And don’t even think about trying to get it back. It’s only a small part, and it’s already mine now.”
I bit you, chewed you up, and swallowed you whole. What are you going to do about it?
Clang!
Sparks flashed before my eyes. Seong Hyunjae moved, but Yuhyun’s sword blocked him. The long blade cut diagonally across my view, intercepting the hand reaching toward me. His hand retreated without much resistance.
Though Yuhyun had blocked him, Seong Hyunjae’s golden gaze remained locked on me. The color had darkened sharply, piercing me as if it would see straight through.
“Are you going to fight me? My skill cooldown just ended, conveniently enough.”
I spoke as casually as I could. If I was no longer harmless, what would he do then?
Though my voice came out sounding steady, my mind was a tangled mess. If Seong Hyunjae decided to turn away now, it would all be over. No more tolerance. He would come to take back the magic stone, and I’d struggle to stop him. Everything I had built up until now would be ruined.
“Why are you suddenly baring your teeth?”
“Because keeping my head bowed too long made my neck sore. It’s important to stretch once in a while.”
This felt like a pointless move. If I had just brushed it off, he might’ve let it go. But I didn’t want to keep sitting obediently at Seong Hyunjae’s feet. I was done quietly tolerating and internalizing everything, always watching for signs that the other party wanted to call it quits.
“I’m not yours. I can bite back like this again, or I might even sever the ties myself.”
This time, my voice shook a little. Yuhyun’s arm around me tightened slightly, as if to steady me.
“And I can also help you with that déjà vu, Seong Hyunjae. Not for you to use me, but as help that I willingly give.”
Seong Hyunjae’s lips parted slightly, as if he was about to speak, but then he closed them again. Instead, he smiled silently.
“Truly… an unexpected birthday gift.”
“…A birthday gift? Well, I guess I don’t feel too sorry for giving you grief on your birthday then.”
Originally, I had planned to just bribe him and leave quietly. But life doesn’t always go as planned. I met his gaze directly, as if to say, What are you going to do about it?
I know things about him that he doesn’t even remember. That alone would be unsettling, but I also told him outright that part of him had been taken without his knowledge.
…Maybe I went too far. It does feel like I’ve openly picked a fight with him.
“To be honest, Han Yujin, I’m very tempted to pull out that magic stone in your chest right this moment and take a look.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Iryn climbed up Yuhyun’s sword. The little lizard perched on the blade, flickering with flames.
“And I’m also inclined to use some less-than-pleasant methods to hear a bit more.”
The idea of those “less-than-pleasant methods” flashed briefly through my mind.
“Judging by how much you’re talking, you probably don’t actually intend to do it.”
“That’s because I care deeply for you, Han Yujin. I must have told you that many times.”
“That so-called ‘caring’ only applies if you think I belong to you, doesn’t it? I’m not your possession, and I have no intention of becoming it.”
“Well, people’s thoughts can change anytime.”
“Mine won’t. So, what are you going to do about it?”
“Good question. What should I do?”
Seong Hyunjae sighed, feigning a troubled expression.
“I want to reach out, but at the same time, I don’t.”
The faint clinking sound of chains echoed. His face truly looked contemplative, and seeing that made my heart race. I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. So I’m worth enough to make him hesitate, huh?
“Whether or not I’ll have to start avoiding you from now on depends on your decision, so it’d be nice if you could decide quickly.”
“…Avoiding me? That doesn’t sound appealing either.”
“Tag might be fun for a while, but you’d probably get bored quickly.”
“Indeed.”
He spread his hands slightly, then brought one arm in and bowed his head in a polite gesture. His elegant attire only enhanced the resemblance to a scene from an old classic film.
“How could a mere S-rank dare harm Han Yujin?”
“…Aren’t you tired of that line by now?”
“Whenever I feel like I might be, someone manages to remind me anew.”
Seong Hyunjae chuckled brightly, taking a few steps back. His lighthearted attitude contrasted with the lingering tension.
“The skill cooldown hasn’t ended yet, has it?”
“Apparently not. Guess I misread it.”
Of course, he already knew. But just because I lacked offensive skills didn’t mean I had no options against him. There was still My Kid Is the Best, a skill that boosted my stats and skill effects based on the number of nearby sentient beings who heard the keyword.
There were about fifty spectators nearby. It wasn’t the maximum 100%, but 50% would still be plenty. I wanted to save it if possible since it was an easily exposed skill, but if it came down to it, I’d have no choice but to use it.
Seong Hyunjae studied me for a moment, his lips curving into a faint smile.
“I’ve never been in a position where I had to bow my head.”
“That’s new and refreshing. But if you change your mind, you’ll strangle me without hesitation, won’t you?”
The tightrope walk continued. I had only taken a step further, but I could fall at any moment.
“Still, it’s not in my nature to leave things unresolved, especially when they don’t sit well with me.”
Before I could tell him to hold on for a moment, an ominous explosion erupted from below the ship.
Boom!
The deafening noise shook the ship violently. Thanks to the connection with Seong Hyunjae through Teacher’s skill, I realized what had happened. That man had managed to figure out a portion of the electrolysis-based mana control technique before I fainted.
The massive cruise ship rocked like a small sailboat caught in a storm. As planned, the passengers were evacuated to the forge for safety.
“How many birthday presents are you taking home with you? Don’t expect any next year!”
“They’re hardly proper gifts. Clearly, I’ll need a lot more practice moving forward.”
As he said, the power was lacking. The mana didn’t seem fully mixed, but still… the giant cruise ship…
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Explosions continued to erupt, consuming the vessel in flames. The deck split apart with cracking sounds.
“Hyung, we have to move. The explosions might be manageable, but getting caught in the aftermath wouldn’t end well.”
“Ah, yeah.”
At that moment, a familiar voice called out from above.
“Mister!”
It was Yerim.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
“I figured it’d be fine if I stayed airborne. I was pretty high up already. Hey, Han Yuhyun! I’ll catch you.”
“No need.”
With Blue Willow Leaves active, Yuhyun held me in his arms and leaped into the air. Seong Hyunjae also activated an item. It didn’t grant full flight, but it allowed him to hover in midair. Typical for him—those single-use items were absurdly expensive, but he had the money for it.
…He’s the type to smash a cruise ship out of sheer frustration. The thought of it made me want to cry—what a waste.
A loud, metallic screeching sound echoed amidst the continuous explosions as the hull of the ship twisted and warped. Another massive explosion erupted over the sinking vessel.
“…Could you stop already?”
“That last one wasn’t me. Looks like the mana, which should’ve initially mixed with the hydrogen explosion, went berserk a little late.”
“Excuse me, what?”
Before I could even ask for clarification, a scorching wave of air slammed into us. It was almost like a tornado, and all four of us were swept up in an instant.
“Ah, damn it. What a pain.”
We ended up somewhere on an unknown beach. Even Yerim, who had a flying skill, couldn’t hold her ground in the face of the raging gusts. Neither could Yuhyun nor Seong Hyunjae, who weren’t equipped with full-fledged flight abilities. The storm had tossed us around for quite some time, leaving us unable to even figure out which direction we were going.
In the middle of the sea, we couldn’t distinguish front from back. My phone had died, overloaded by stray electricity from the storm. Seong Hyunjae, with his handy elemental resistances, unfortunately didn’t even own a phone. Not that it would’ve mattered—communication was likely impossible in those conditions anyway.
In the end, we had to rely on the stars to roughly determine a direction and head for land. Since Seong Hyunjae didn’t have a flight skill and Yuhyun’s Blue Willow Leaves consumed too much mana to use continuously, we had to improvise. Unlike simple flight skills, the Blue Willow Leaves materialized physical leaves from mana, making it unsustainable for long durations.
Instead, we prioritized the simpler flight skill and pooled our mana potions for Yerim. The three of us—Yuhyun, Seong Hyunjae, and I—floated in the sea, clinging to a rope, as Yerim dragged us toward the shore.
“Thankfully, we’re still in Korea.”
Yerim glanced at a closed seafood restaurant sign as she made the announcement. As expected, Yuhyun, Seong Hyunjae, and I looked like drenched rats. Meanwhile, Iryn, clearly disliking the water, had perched stubbornly on top of Yuhyun’s head the entire time, swishing his tail irritably.
“I’m so exhausted I could die. Hey, Seong Hyunjae, did you really have to cause such a mess?”
“It was the perfect environment to test it out, don’t you think?”
The ever-unflappable Seong Hyunjae responded with a brazen look on his face. I really should’ve just left him in the middle of the ocean. Dripping seawater, I tried to climb up onto the road, only to slip. Yuhyun immediately grabbed hold of me.
“You okay?”
“…Honestly, saying I’m fine would be a lie. What time is it, anyway? We didn’t even get to eat dinner properly. Is there anywhere still open around here?”
We also needed to call Haeyeon or the Association. But every seafood restaurant we passed was closed for the night.
“There’s a convenience store over there! The lights are still on!”
Yerim, scanning the surroundings from above, pointed out a distant store.
Thank goodness. First, we’d head there, borrow a phone to make some calls, and grab something to eat to fill our stomachs—even if it was just instant food.
–TL Notes–
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