Chapter 11: 11

Chapter 11

I said I’m fine!

 

Song Ha-gyeon:

     After closing the door, I quickened my pace to the first floor.

     ‘Did we gather any herbs that have antipyretic effects?’

     I had to stop by the lab to confirm. Sun Yihan didn’t seem to be struggling, but, when I touched his forehead, his fever was quite high. He’d better take some medicine before his temperature rises any further.

     Whether my wound had completely healed–or the fact that Sun Yihan had used some healing magic that didn’t exist…those were topics to contemplate afterwards.

     I suddenly paused in the hallway that led to the lab; right next to me was the defense magic training room.

     ‘Minhyuk is probably in there right now.’

     There was no doubt–Min Joohyuk had been there, training religiously, ever since I pushed him away and was struck in his place. I suppose I should take the time to tell him that my wound has healed.

     My wound didn’t occur because someone had let their guard down that day. It’s just that the demonic beast’s attack pattern had changed. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, and Min Joohyuk didn’t have to feel so guilty over my injury. If our roles were reversed, he would have done the same. On that day, it just so happened that he was there and I was in position to help.

Knock Knock–

     I knocked on the door, but there was no response. Perhaps it was noisy enough inside that such a quiet sound couldn’t be heard. I burst through the door without waiting any longer.

     Simultaneously, a fist-sized ball flew towards me. A thick, weighty, and thorny ball at that.

     The ball came right before my eyes before stopping midair, as if it were blocked by something, before rattling helplessly to the ground.

     “Ha-gyeon Hyungnim! Are you alright?” Min Joohyuk rushed to me. His hands shook slightly at the surprise.

     I had also cast a defensive spell, but Min Joohyuk’s casting was a little faster. He was sure to have noticed that as well. So, he should have known I couldn’t have been hurt.

     “Min Joohyuk.” I magically floated the ball that fell to the ground and placed it in my hand. He followed the item with a shaky gaze. “…You don’t really need to be so concerned.”

     “Still, Hyung-nim, weren’t you surprised? I didn’t know you entered the room, so…”

     “About the last incident.”

     “……” Min Joohyuk fell unusually quiet. He seemed to have a lot on his mind. After a moment’s silence, he continued, “I’m in charge of defense, aren’t I? I should’ve been better.”

     “In that case, the fact that we couldn’t handle the demonic beasts properly is my faul–“

     “That was simply unfortunate. Their pattern changed from before.” Min Joohyuk, answering immediately, looked serious.

     If he knew that, then why is this matter still stuck in his mind? It’s okay to move on. “…You know well. It’s the same with you.”

     Chanting, I gently sent the ball on my palm over to Min Joohyuk; He naturally received my present. Still, his expression seemed a little complicated.

     “…You’ve done well, Min Joohyuk. You know that.”

     Squeezing the ball tightly, he said, “Hyungnim. The fact that I’ve done well before cannot excuse my mistake.”

     “Enough. You’ll get hurt.” I peeled Min Joohyuk’s hands away and threw the ball far. Sensing his uneasy gaze on my left shoulder, I continued to speak, “No one is to blame. …Besides, it’s all better now.”

     I loosened a few buttons on my shirt and showed Min Joohyuk the completely healed wound.

     He opened his mouth; a trembling voice–as if he could barely believe his eyes–tumbled out. “H-How…”

     “Sun Yihan treated me.”

    “It doesn’t hur…It’s alright now?” Min Joohyuk watched with trembling pupils as I nodded my head. He stood still for a long time, accepting the reality of the situation, before slowly opening his mouth. “Ha-gyeon Hyungnim… I’m so relieved.”

     “…Mmn.”

     His tone was familiarly bright, but his voice still sounded shaken. I tapped his shoulder a couple of times before buttoning my shirt again. “…That’s enough for now.”

     In front of me, Min Joohyuk clenched his fists before relaxing them. Then, raising the corners of his trembling mouth, he smiled, “Then, I think I’ll go upstairs.”

     “…Go ahead.”

     He stepped out of the room, almost kicking the door open on his way. I thought I’d give him some time before going up myself. I had to stop by the lab and craft the medicine anyway, so this was quite fortuitous. I exited the room and, once again, ambled down the hallway.

 

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Sun Yihan:

     In the empty room, I continued to think vacantly.

     Where was Song Ha-gyeon heading just now? I still couldn’t understand what was going on.

     Dim dawn spread across the sky outside the window. Even the atmosphere felt tranquil and quiet. Song Ha-gyeon was someone that embodied this ambiance. He wasn’t the type to chatter, nor did his thoughts show themselves in his expressions. He was a hard person to read in many ways.

     Next time, I’ll take the initiative to ask Song Ha-gyeon my questions instead of waiting for him to offer up answers on his own. Just as I thought that…

Slam–

     The door opened violently.

     Min Joohyuk stood in the threshold. He breathed heavily; his brown hair was disheveled as if he had just rushed here. After meeting my eyes, he came straight to my side.

     The air whooshed out of the bed as the mattress stooped to one side. Min Joohyuk was giving me a strong hug; he smelled as refreshing as a breeze. His hands, perched on my back, shook.

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     Shaking slightly, he held me and remained silent for a long while. I felt desperation clinging to him, as if he were hanging off a rope dangling from a cliff. However, I couldn’t say anything since I felt a bit bewildered and could only blink my eyes.

     ‘Why is he acting this way all of a sudden?’

     This was all so mystifying. Was he that relieved to see me awake? To be fair, I did collapse so perhaps his worrying was justified….But, his reaction was just so…intense?

     Min Joohyuk slowly lowered his head and leaned his forehead against my shoulder. Perhaps because of my body heat, his skin felt so cool to the touch. The touch of his hair strangely tickled the back of my neck.

     He uttered, in a restrained voice, “Hey, Sun Yihan. Did you really do that?”

     Even though he spoke quietly, his voice sounded clear as if he had spoken directly into my ear. Perhaps due to his close proximity. Unlike our conversations in the past, I spoke to him in a steady and serious tone. “Are you talking about Ha-gyeon Hyung’s injury?”

     I suppose that’s the only thing I’ve done that might warrant his question. Min Joohyuk nodded his head on my shoulder wordlessly.

    “Yeah. I did,” I stated.

     “……” For a long while, Min Joohyuk seemed to have lost his voice.

     For the first time since we met–he was always happy to carry on chattering by himself–our conversation was cut short. Silence suddenly settled between us. This silence wasn’t so awkward, but I wondered why Min Joohyuk was acting this way.

     The hand wrapped around my back slowly loosened and lost its tension. As his solid weight around me disappeared, my back felt somewhat empty.

     The weight on my shoulder slid down again. Min Joohyuk’s forehead grazed down until it rested near my collarbone. Brown hair slowly brushed gently past skin.

     He slowly raised both his hands before burying his face in them. “Hnngh… Nnngh…”

     A low sob.

     His back shook as if he would collapse on himself. My mind couldn’t wrap itself around the sudden evolution of events. “Hey, Min Joohyuk.”

     I wanted to ask, ‘Are you crying?’ But, it didn’t seem like a good idea to ask someone who seemed to be crying if they were actually doing so. It’s not like I was trying to ridicule him.

     In the end, I reached out my hand unsurely and patted Min Joohyuk on the back.

     “Thank you…” He continued to sob. “I… Because of me… Song Ha-gyeon Hyungnim…”

     With every word, I felt tremors wrack his body.

Click–

     Then, the door opened again–quietly this time. Song Ha-gyeon, who entered soundlessly, sat quietly in a chair next to the bed. Then, he calmly took off his monocle and placed it in a small chest pocket.

     ‘Ha-gyeon Hyung. What’s going on right now?’ He turned towards the older warrior with an expectant gaze, asking him for an explanation. However, Song Hagyeon continued to wordlessly look towards me with a steady expression. His straight and upright posture did not sway.

     I could see myself in his calm, purple eyes; his pupils seemed to be analyzing my physical condition.

     As I looked back at the warrior, the weight leaning on me completely fell off. I tore my gaze away and looked back; Min Joohyuk’s head was bowed, deeply buried in his hands.

     His wide back had curved in on itself–is he okay?

     “Min Joohyuk, are you doing alright…?”

     As soon as I finished speaking, he stretched out his arm and firmly grabbed my shoulder. Then, he abruptly raised his head, “Thank you. Sun Yihan.”

     A firm voice. It seems like his sobs had just vanished. I couldn’t feel an ounce of instability in his voice. He was smiling brightly, though his eyes were slightly reddened. Nevertheless, an incredibly happy smile graced his face, and my heart felt somehow touched.

     After sniffling a little, he raised the corner of his mouth in a smile before adding, “Hey–I didn’t cry, got it?”

     The dawn was quickly passing us by; a strange early-morning, purple ambiance poured in through the window.

     “Sure,” I replied, absent-mindedly.

     His smile resembled the dawn exactly–clear and refreshing. It felt like a cool wind was blowing between us even though all the windows were closed.

     Soon, it was time for the blue of morning to arrive.

 

◇~◇~◇~◇~◇~◇

 

     The room became bright; it seems that the morning sun had finally risen. It seems that the fever penalty had finally finished as well–I felt completely energized.

     Song Ha-gyeon, who swept my bangs up, gently removed the small paper that he had pasted onto my forehead. Then, he touched the back of his hand to my head. Blinking as he was momentarily lost in thought, he took a small glass bottle out of his pocket.

     Vicious orange syrup sloshed around inside the thin glass bottle stoppered by cork. The warrior handed it to me. “…Your fever fell slightly. If you’re still feeling unwell, drink this.” He even added that I could drink the potion on an empty stomach before maintaining eye contact as if he were waiting for my response.

     “I’m feeling fine now.”

     As soon as I spoke, Min Joohyuk jumped to his feet and touched my forehead. “I knew it–your body felt hot.”

     He placed his hands around my neck and shoulders–one after the other–as if he were measuring my temperature in various locations. Then, he opened his mouth hesitatingly, “Hey, Sun Yihan… Why didn’t you tell us?”

     “But I said I felt fine?”

     Min Joohyuk sighed quietly at my immediate answer. Then, he raised one hand and slid it down his face. “Ah.”

     He pinched my cheek lightly before stretching it out like a rice cake.

 

 

 

TL: I’m a bit under the weather because I’ve just gotten the bivalent booster shot. (Also because I’ve been so busy T_T) So there may be more mistakes than normal (I got this chapter out pretty late)

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