Chapter 239: Han Yuhyun’s World (2)
The plum blossoms bloomed unusually early. Even though it was only early February, white flowers had already appeared at the tips of the branches. Maybe it was because the weather had been warm for a few days, or because this particular spot was bathed in sunlight. No one knew when cold snow might start falling again, yet several blossoms had fully opened on the long, outstretched branches.
Han Yuhyun stopped walking and looked at the plum blossoms. He wasn’t particularly interested in flowers. It was just that his brother’s birthday had been yesterday.
As a kindergarten student, Han Yuhyun had folded paper flowers and written a card. His brother had hugged him tightly when he wished him a happy birthday.
There had been a cake. Their parents had given them a ten-thousand-won bill along with the cake, telling them to buy something tasty with their friends. Then, having fulfilled their duty, they shut themselves in their room to watch a movie. Han Yujin carefully put away the money.
That ten-thousand-won bill would be used for Han Yuhyun’s birthday. Just as it was every year.
Cake, a present, and flowers. Without hesitation, Han Yuhyun stepped over the flower bed. The blooming branches were too high for a child’s hands to reach. He climbed the tree and grabbed onto a branch with one hand. The branch was thick enough that a kindergarten child shouldn’t have been able to break it, yet with a snap, it easily snapped in his grip. He then lightly jumped down from the tree.
Discarding the thick branch, he held onto a thinner one with blossoms attached. Just then, someone approached and shouted angrily.
“You’re not supposed to step into the flower bed! Even if the branch was already broken, you can’t just take the flowers!”
Han Yuhyun turned to face the old man scolding him. Rather than showing fear, his eyes remained cold and calm.
For a moment, the old man instinctively stepped back.
The child standing before him was undeniably adorable—cute and handsome enough to captivate anyone at first glance. And yet, just from the way those cold eyes looked at him, the old man felt an unexplainable fear deep in his gut.
It was just a small child.
As if to deny his own fear, the old man raised his voice even louder.
“Wh-Which house are you from?! Where are your parents, letting you do this?!”
Without answering, Han Yuhyun turned away. There was no need to concern himself with something that only yelled at him out of fear.
He returned to his empty home, where no one welcomed him, and later, when his brother came back from school, he handed him the branch of flowers. Han Yujin smiled brightly but also looked worried.
“Yuhyun, you shouldn’t break branches like this.”
He explained to his younger brother, as thoroughly and carefully as he could, why stepping into flower beds and breaking branches was wrong. He also told him that climbing trees was dangerous. Han Yuhyun nodded. He didn’t fully understand the reasons, and it wasn’t as if any of it was truly dangerous for him, but he accepted it anyway.
A few days later, he encountered the old man again.
As the old man stiffened upon seeing him, Han Yuhyun bowed his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“…O-Oh. Alright, then.”
The old man was still somewhat unsettled, but seeing the child apologize made him smile awkwardly.
Han Yuhyun went home and told Han Yujin what had happened. His brother praised him.
‘Han Yuhyun’ was shaped like that.
From the beginning, he had been born as something that did not belong anywhere. Among the rare anomalies, he was one that stood alone. A fire that burned so fiercely it consumed everything around it, untouchable and unrestricted, existing in absolute freedom.
But Han Yuhyun was different. He had to be different.
His brother loved him. With the pure innocence of a child, Han Yujin adored his younger brother for no reason other than because he was his brother.
Han Yuhyun hadn’t reacted to that love at first. He had no reason to reject it, so he accepted it, but nothing more.
Even when nothing was returned to him, Han Yujin never gave up. Because Yuhyun was just a baby. Instead of finding it strange, Han Yujin was more puzzled by their parents, who treated his little brother with discomfort. He held Yuhyun’s hand, soothed him, and embraced him. Until the day Han Yuhyun, much smaller and weaker than his own flame, finally realized that the warmth his brother gave him was something he couldn’t let go of.
“Yuhyun, do you want me to read you a storybook?”
The more Han Yuhyun responded, the more Han Yujin became attached to him. Maybe because he had noticed that even he was being pushed away by their parents.
Han Yujin chose his younger brother over his parents.
And Han Yuhyun ignored everything else.
That included himself—the original Han Yuhyun.
“You should always be polite to adults. No, you should use formal speech.”
“Listen to your teachers and don’t fight with other kids.”
“Even if you don’t like it, Yuhyun, sometimes you just have to endure it. There are many things in life that you have to do, even if you don’t want to.”
He never understood why he had to show respect to adults. If he wanted to, he could make them tremble in fear at any time. But Han Yuhyun followed his brother’s words.
Kindergarten teachers, elementary school teachers—they were all bothersome and annoying. But he endured it.
He didn’t really have anything he could call a “friend.” But when he had no choice but to interact with others, he suppressed himself and put up with it.
One by one, under Han Yujin’s affection, Han Yuhyun was shaped into the person he became.
But there were moments of resistance.
“What would you do if I killed Mom and Dad?”
They were irritating.
If he stopped holding back, what would Han Yujin do?
Faced with his younger brother’s eerily calm question, Han Yujin’s face crumpled, his eyes filling with tears.
He pulled his little brother into a tight embrace.
“…I’m sorry, Yuhyun.”
Han Yuhyun apologized and did his best to convince his brother that their parents were just very busy. That hurting people was wrong, that if he ended up in prison, it would be difficult for him, and most importantly—that it would make his brother incredibly sad.
Even when Han Yuhyun occasionally showed his sharp edges, Han Yujin’s love for him never wavered.
At some point, Han Yuhyun stopped trying to escape from that affection.
Like a beast that breathes air submerging into water, he stepped into a world completely opposite to his nature.
A new world, with Han Yujin at its center.
To remain in that world, Han Yuhyun had to endure a lot. He had to learn, adapt, and familiarize himself with things that weren’t instinctive to him. Slowly, his world expanded. Using what Han Yujin had taught him as a foundation, he began moving forward on his own.
Even when not explicitly told, he acted in ways he knew Han Yujin would like. He avoided doing things that would worry his brother. He worked toward a future where he could protect the world they shared.
By the time repressing himself became second nature, the dungeons appeared.
“There are weird rumors going around these days. People say monsters are showing up. Some say it’s because of environmental pollution. Come straight home after school, Yuhyun.”
At first, only a handful of F-rank dungeons had manifested sporadically, so most people hadn’t even noticed the change. But Han Yuhyun sensed the shift in the air.
Without any external trigger, he realized he could now draw out his power on his own.
If he wanted to, he could burn this tiny nest to ashes and fly anywhere, unrestricted and free.
But Han Yuhyun held back, resisting his last chance to return to his true nature.
When he was finally attacked by a monster and awakened, the flames that engulfed him were a darkened blaze, one that had been endlessly suppressed.
And once again, Han Yuhyun had to endure.
“Our worlds have changed, hyung.”
Han Yuhyun left Han Yujin.
He never thought they’d be apart for long.
At most, three or four years—he could endure that much.
Han Yuhyun became South Korea’s fifth S-rank Awakened.
Even after distancing himself from Han Yujin, his world didn’t change.
If anything, it solidified.
At the core of everything—his rise as a Hunter, the establishment of his guild, the expansion of his influence—was Han Yujin.
And it wasn’t just that.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a high school guy wash his hands so diligently before eating. Han Yuhyun, you must’ve had excellent upbringing. I mean, even when we first met, you used formal speech. Total gentleman. Should I set your spoon and chopsticks for you too, sir?”
It was at the first meeting of the newly awakened S-rank Hunters, organized by the Hunter Association.
Moon Hyunah’s teasing remark came during a meal with Seok Gimyeong. Han Yuhyun, who had once poured water for Seok Gimyeong at a similar gathering, frowned slightly.
Han Yujin’s influence still lingered in his actions.
Under Seok Gimyeong’s guidance, Han Yuhyun adjusted parts of himself that were unsuitable for an S-rank Hunter and guild leader. But the foundation remained the same—Han Yujin had shaped the majority of who he was.
Moon Hyunah found it amusing.
“Looking forward to working with you, young master.”
At the end of that meal—where more time was spent wrecking the restaurant than actually eating—Moon Hyunah extended her hand.
He didn’t like physical contact.
But Han Yuhyun suppressed the discomfort and shook her hand.
Situations like this would only continue from here on out.
After that, Han Yuhyun kept enduring.
Growing the guild meant he had to entangle himself with more and more people.
Though things became somewhat easier once Seok Gimyeong and others took on more responsibilities, he still had to deal with people, follow laws, and restrain himself.
“I don’t understand why you keep holding yourself back.”
Seong Hyunjae had once asked him that in passing, having noticed his restraint.
Han Yuhyun didn’t give him an answer.
And he kept enduring.
Until things started falling apart.
Until everything became irreversible.
Until his flames, which had been suppressed for so long, finally turned poisonous.
If things had gone the way they were supposed to, he would have kept enduring.
But—
“I love you, my little brother, Han Yuhyun.”
The moment Han Yujin said those words, Han Yuhyun didn’t hold back.
No—he couldn’t.
Bringing his brother back earlier than planned and trying to protect him had set many things in motion.
But even during all of that, out of sheer habit, Han Yuhyun continued to suppress himself.
More and more nuisances appeared around his brother, but he endured it.
Even the Flame Horned Lion.
He knew the beast was part of his Monster Mounts and that it would be useful.
But he hated seeing it cling to Han Yujin.
Even after reaching adulthood, that S-rank monster still acted like a baby, constantly seeking affection in his brother’s arms.
It irritated him.
Because he understood.
Of course, it felt good to be loved.
Of course, it was natural to grow attached to Han Yujin.
Even learning a completely useless Phantom Form skill just to make its massive body smaller—
That, too, was something Han Yuhyun would have done.
The realization left him with an odd feeling.
He had been the only one allowed to act that way toward Han Yujin.
A sense of crisis crept in, as if something was being stolen from him, mixed with a faint sense of kinship.
What should he do?
Should he just get rid of it?
But his brother cherished it so much.
-Growl!
With a roar, the Flame Horned Lion’s entire body became engulfed in flames. Han Yuhyun, unfazed by the flickering fire, reached out and grabbed the thick scruff of its neck. He had no intention of harming it—this was simply establishing hierarchy.
Even with the mark of its master, a monster would always prioritize its own safety over obeying commands. That was why Han Yuhyun needed to assert dominance at least once.
He didn’t use any skills, nor did he draw a weapon. Accepting that he might get injured, he simply used raw strength to subdue it.
Thud!
The massive creature was slammed into the ground. Han Yuhyun kept it pinned. With a ferocious growl, the lion lashed out with its front paw. Taking the blow barehanded would make it difficult to escape unscathed—those claws were sharp as blades.
Yet Han Yuhyun raised his arm without hesitation, blocking the attack without any armor or skills.
Smack.
The sound of impact echoed, and Han Yuhyun’s body swayed slightly. That was all.
“…?”
Peace hadn’t unsheathed his claws.
Despite his snarling expression, bared teeth, and clear agitation, he had kept his claws retracted. He had deliberately avoided causing any serious harm.
“…You.”
It wasn’t because he cared about his master’s safety.
Han Yuhyun realized immediately—Peace was holding back for Han Yujin’s sake.
He knew how important Han Yuhyun was to the person he loved. That was why he was restraining himself.
Han Yuhyun let go and stepped back.
Peace shook himself off and rose to his feet. Their eyes met.
“…I can’t kill you either.”
-Huff.
“So, you love my brother that much, huh? But to him, I come first.”
Peace flicked his long tail, then narrowed his eyes as he shrank his form. The sharp, almost human-like expression on his face seemed to say, Shut up, I already know.
Han Yuhyun couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Yeah, you really are just like me.”
Peace’s world was also built around Han Yujin.
Just like his own.
For the first time, another being appeared in Han Yuhyun’s world.
A single Flame Horned Lion took a place beside him—someone who, like him, had always been alone.
That alone was astonishing.
He never imagined it would happen again.
But contrary to his expectations, more changes followed.
One night, Park Yerim called Han Yuhyun outside.
Then, without any explanation, she held out her hand.
“…What is this?”
“It means ‘let’s get along.’ We’re living together now, after all.”
She shook her outstretched hand as if urging him to shake it already.
Han Yuhyun still looked at her like she was speaking nonsense, making her shrug.
“I trust you.”
Park Yerim said.
“You’re annoying as hell, and I can’t stand you. But there’s no doubt that you’d risk your life to protect Mister. That part of you, at least, makes you a decent person.”
Instinctively, their differing natures clashed.
But Park Yerim acknowledged and accepted Han Yuhyun.
After all, he wasn’t a bad person.
And more importantly, they both cherished the same person.
Han Yuhyun met her gaze for a moment before finally reaching out his hand.
He also acknowledged Park Yerim.
So he figured he could endure this much.
‘…Huh?’
But it wasn’t bad.
Han Yuhyun’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Their hands touched and clasped, yet he didn’t feel the need to endure it.
It wasn’t as pleasant as touching Han Yujin, but—
It wasn’t unpleasant either.
For the first time, with someone other than his brother.
“What’s with you? Why aren’t you letting go? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“…It’s strange.”
At his words, Park Yerim yanked her hand away roughly, scowling.
“Hey! You’re not exactly normal-looking yourself! I was just trying to be friendly, and you pick a fight instead?”
“My brother said you once called me han—”
“Aaaaaah! Nooo! Nooo! Misterrrr! Han Yuhyun, bring it on! I’ll beat you up until that memory is erased from your brain!”
Park Yerim flailed wildly, determined to erase what she claimed was the greatest mistake of her life.
Ice blades shot toward him, but Han Yuhyun melted them effortlessly, letting them evaporate into steam.
He smiled.
It really wasn’t bad.
Another person had stepped into Han Yuhyun’s world.
Not identical to Peace, but similar.
A comrade in a world where Han Yujin came first.
An ally who recognized the position Han Yuhyun held in Han Yujin’s life.
He still wanted to keep Han Yujin all to himself.
But at the very least, with Peace and Park Yerim, he didn’t have to hold back.
Han Yuhyun freely pushed them away, and in return, they fought back, each trying to claim a spot beside Han Yujin.
“I went out to eat with Mister, just the two of us!”
So Han Yuhyun found work for Park Yerim to do, then took his brother out for another meal.
-Kiang!
“Peace?”
“Mister, you stay with Chirp. I’ll go get Peace.”
He also set Peace on fire—just enough to burn off the dirt he had deliberately picked up on the rooftop garden.
“Don’t forget Mister’s swimsuit!”
And when the opportunity arose, he gladly let someone else take care of Han Yujin.
Not that he ever intended to return the favor.
For the first time, Han Yuhyun’s once-lonely world had welcomed others.
He felt relieved.
He no longer had to bear the weight of his world alone.
Peace and Park Yerim were far from weak.
They had the power to protect Han Yujin.
And like him, they would give everything to safeguard their world.
With that realization, Han Yuhyun became even more shameless in clinging to his brother.
He indulged in the fact that, to Han Yujin, no one could compare to him.
He even flaunted it.
And to be honest—
It was fun.
All of it.
–TL Notes–
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