Chapter 786: Twenty–Six Years Old (3)
“Co–team leader Seong Hyunjae?!”
Startled, I stared at the Sesung Guild Leader. Seong Hyunjae answered briefly.
“A team leader cannot receive settlement rewards.”
“…Right.”
“I still have the record of being team leader, so we adjusted the system slightly for Han Yujin–gun’s achievement settlement, did we not? Last night.”
“We did—wait. We were together yesterday? You and me?”
“At Sesung Guild.”
Ah, right. I had been at Sesung Guild, so of course the Sesung Guild Leader would have been there too. Normally, anyway.
But Seong Hyunjae still had a team leader record?
Team…
There had been an opposing team. Something felt like it was about to surface, but it slipped through my fingers like smoke. We did not have time, so I pushed it aside for now.
‘Cutting off the system connection didn’t count as an achievement.’
In one corner of the system window, a pending settlement indicator was floating.
For a second I wondered what that was, then finally remembered. It was none other than the achievement for defeating the King of Predation and subduing Park Hayul. Apparently, Park Hayul, a quasi–transcendent, falling under keyword application and obeying my words had counted as an achievement too.
Like Seong Hyunjae said, after we fell into the dream world and the system became unstable, there had been several rewards we had been unable to settle. We had organized them last night. Unfortunately, Yerim defeating the Mermaid Queen had not been included as an achievement. The Mermaid Queen had not died, and it looked like the system treated Sanho perfectly inheriting her title and the sea being handed over as the settlement instead.
The title was one thing, but we were also making good use of the sea, so even if it was a little disappointing, I had no real complaints.
As for Yuhyun… settlement was impossible right now. And there was nothing to add for Liette. Same for Peace.
‘The King of Predation. That should be the biggest one.’
If I had not been blanking out because of the fruit, I would have tried using it earlier.
Then I should settle my achievements…
I stopped and looked back at Seong Hyunjae.
“…Excuse me.”
I had no memory of it, but honestly speaking, it was hard to imagine that I had gotten rid of dozens of subjects all by myself. I remembered placing an item there, but that alone would not have been enough.
“About taking out those subjects earlier. Did you, by any chance, help with that, Sesung Guild Leader?”
“Do not worry. I will transfer the achievement to Han Yujin–gun.”
“…Excuse me?”
I took a step back, looking at him with suspicion.
“Why would you do that? Why wouldn’t you take it yourself?”
“Last night—”
Seong Hyunjae cut himself off and put on a face that looked terribly kind.
He looked like a scam artist.
“I promised I would give it to Han Yujin–gun in exchange for payment.”
“You’re not scamming me just because I don’t remember, are you?”
“When someone takes a loss to help another person, most call that service, not fraud.”
That was true, but it still was not in my memory, so I remained suspicious.
“There is no way the Sesung Guild Leader would provide free service to me, so what exactly was the payment? It had better not be anything that could hurt my kids.”
“I am certain I have told you, several times over, that I will not lay a hand on the children Han Yujin–gun treasures.”
“Well, you did say that since you were busy moving Sesung’s main body overseas, you wouldn’t have much occasion to run into the Haeyeon Guild Leader, either officially or privately. You said you had basically pulled out of Korea and handed things over to Hunter Kang Soyeong.”
Apparently, in Korea, Soyeong–ssi had practically taken over the Sesung Guild Leader’s duties. That was why, even after Seong Hyunjae suddenly disappeared, Hunter Kang Soyeong had been able to act as guild leader without much trouble.
At my words, Seong Hyunjae tilted his head.
“That is… from before time was turned back, is it?”
“What?”
“Even now, I have not had any particular relationship with the young master, aside from helping Haeyeon Guild briefly. Since Han Yujin–gun began disliking it, I have been especially careful with my conduct.”
Seong Hyunjae said it with eyes that looked like he was proving his chastity or something.
What was with that attitude? Even his way of speaking had felt strange for a while now.
“However, avoiding him entirely would be impossible because of Han Yujin–gun.”
“…I told you again and again that Yuhyun and I have nothing to do with—! I mean.”
Not now.
Pain throbbed through my skull.
That was from before the regression. I had grabbed him and told him not to think about using me to mess with Yuhyun. Every time, Seong Hyunjae had answered that the one he was interested in was not the younger brother, but the older one.
Although, in the end, that interest was because I could not let Yuhyun go.
In any case, even though the current Seong Hyunjae knew nothing about it, the words kept jumping out of my mouth. Because the Seong Hyunjae in my memory right now was the Sesung Guild Leader from before the regression.
Seong Hyunjae stepped closer to me, curiosity on his face.
“It seems I made quite a nuisance of myself.”
“…Yes! You pretended to be kind while trying to entertain yourself. Exactly like now!”
Even when he smiled like an easygoing, good–natured person at a glance, the gaze observing me as if I were something lower than him never disappeared. I could tell myself that, as a great and mighty S–rank guild leader, of course he might look at people that way, but unpleasant was unpleasant.
I ignored him and, with the consent of Seong Hyunjae, the co–team leader, started the settlement.
[Achievement transfer from Seong Hyunjae(S)
※ Reduction will apply due to rank difference.]
‘Huh?’
It was already set to be transferred.
So he really had not been lying when he said we promised it last night. But still, dozens of subjects. Was he not even sorry to lose that? Was he so incredible that achievements on that level meant nothing to him? Even so, several of them had probably been SS–rank.
“That man called the Sesung Guild Leader was quite cruel.”
“Do not talk like he is someone else when you have the exact same face.”
“Considering that, you do not seem to hate him all that much.”
“At least he was fair.”
That attitude of looking down at everyone under his feet, whether they were S–rank or F–rank.
Ah, Chief Song had been the exception. Seong Hyunjae’s gaze toward Chief Song Taewon had been complicated and fickle. Sometimes, he had even looked like a child holding a difficult but precious toy—
That was going too far. What kind of insane thought was that, treating the Sesung Guild Leader like a kid?
[…Willow’s little brother. It looks like he’s planning to burn this entire area before coming.]
Park Hayul updated me on the situation.
He must have been preparing to face Yerim.
“What about the other Yuhyun?”
[Uh, I can’t see well, but I think he’s safe. He can’t move, and he’s in the fire, though.]
Given Yuhyun’s skill traits, he would actually be safer inside the flames. They would increase his recovery too.
Still, it had not been settled completely.
Maybe because both of them belonged to the Gardener now.
Just thinking about that Gardener bastard made my teeth grind. It was not enough that he had taken my little brother, who had been resting quietly. Now he was touching the Yuhyun after the regression too?
Anyway, we had bought time.
The achievement settlement began, and a loading screen appeared.
Seong Hyunjae sat on the railing, swinging his long legs lightly.
“In my memory, you were saving the King of Predation achievement for dealing with the Gardener.”
What?
Wait.
Right. That made sense.
How many holes had been punched through my memory? This was driving me insane.
“You said achievement rewards seemed to be affected by the achievement details, the awakened person’s aptitude, and the current situation.”
“…Even so, it should be better to receive them together right now. As long as it isn’t a one–time use reward, I can still use it when dealing with the Gardener.”
Surely a one–time use item would not pop up.
Just then, the spiritized Peace flew upward. Maybe he saw Peace, because Liette and Chief Song came up this way.
The moment I saw Chief Song stepping over the railing and onto the rooftop, something welled up deep in my chest.
“Chief Song Taewon!”
I ran to him and hugged him tight. Tears pricked uselessly at my eyes.
“…Han Yujin–ssi?”
“I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“I knew you liked Mr. Public Servant, but aren’t you a little too happy to see him? Did something happen?”
Liette tilted her head.
Because he died—
No, because—
I could not explain it, so I quickly pulled away. Seong Hyunjae started talking nonsense about feeling wounded again. I ignored him and explained the situation to the two of them.
“So what are you going to do? Capture your little brother?”
“For now. The subjects have mostly been dealt with, and if both Yuhyuns are captured too, the Gardener will react.”
I could not say for the other transcendents, but the Gardener would not give up.
“We need to save both Yuhyuns from the Gardener somehow…”
And then, hm.
“All you need to do after that is return the lunch the young master stole from me.”
“…Lunch?”
“The subjects’ magic stones.”
Ah, right. Yuhyun had collected them.
Puzzled, I looked at Seong Hyunjae.
“What are you planning to do with the magic stones?”
“I intend to free myself from Crescent Moon. And then all of us can return home together.”
So that was all we needed.
If we used the subjects’ magic stones, Crescent Moon’s… uh, right. Apparently, her contract could be broken. That was good. Then this time, Chief Song would not end up in danger either.
“I hope it goes well.”
I had no particular attachment to Seong Hyunjae, but it was still better for him to be safe.
Chief Song looked at me with a slightly strange expression. Was it because I had said something supportive of the Sesung Guild Leader? But unlike before the regression, my relationship with my little brother had improved now. …It had gotten a little twisted again, but anyway, I did not need to bare my teeth at Seong Hyunjae that much.
“My thanks.”
Seong Hyunjae said with a smile.
“While we are at it, would you also hand over the magic stone of the Gardener or any other transcendent if we manage to catch one?”
“…Sure, I guess. As long as we can all get home safely, I won’t have any need for a transcendent’s magic stone.”
It would be a waste, but breaking Crescent Moon’s contract mattered more.
“In exchange, Silekia gets confiscated during the ranking match. If we get a transcendent’s magic stone, I would have made equipment for Yuhyun with it. To make the math work, one SS–rank item has to come out.”
“That would be difficult.”
“That is so chea—”
“It already belongs to Han Yujin–gun.”
“…What?”
I looked at him blankly, and Seong Hyunjae told me to check my inventory.
The Wings of Silekia really were inside my inventory.
Why the hell was this in here?
“If a ranking match opens, I will stand beside Han Yujin–gun and make popcorn.”
“…You’re not participating?”
“I suspect sitting in the spectator’s seat would be a novel experience.”
I stared at Seong Hyunjae.
Even before, he had given me the feeling that he might drift off and disappear at any moment, but now it was worse. It felt as though not only would he not participate in the ranking match, he would not even be found in the audience.
‘Goodbye.’
Seong Hyunjae’s voice lingered in my ear.
I had definitely seen him off before, but he had not said goodbye like that.
“Living normally, blending in with other people, isn’t bad either. Though with someone like you, Sesung Guild Leader, you’ll stand out no matter where you go.”
I pushed away the pointless thought and looked back at Yerim.
Yerim’s water had almost swallowed her opponent’s water. I had been ready to use My Kid Is The Best at the right moment if Yuhyun came, but it looked like it would be okay. Since there was a cooldown, it would be better to save it for the Gardener. I also had no idea whether the transcendents up there would be included in the skill’s application.
‘Excluding the transcendents, one, two, three…’
Including Iryn and Sanho, how many was that? There were definitely more than ten, but this damned memory of mine.
“Hayul, about the thing I asked you to look for yesterday. Have you still not found it?”
[No, hyung. I’m still searching!]
Mari–ssi had definitely said she saw it.
The heat was gradually getting closer.
Most of Banpo had already been reduced to a black wasteland swept by flames. With the pillar of water at the center, fire spread far and wide. It had long since passed the range of Yuhyun’s Melted Last Gate and was still expanding without end.
At the sight, I swallowed dryly without meaning to.
‘Fire that burns everything.’
And on this side, we had a sea that swallowed skills.
I thought they would be evenly matched, but I could not leave everything to Yerim alone.
After an anxious wait—
[Settlement complete!]
The achievement reward appeared.
A shard of broken sword melted in the red flames.
After Han Yujin left, the Lonely Conqueror title buff activated once more, and Han Yuhyun from before the regression stood against the twenty–one–year–old Han Yuhyun. But a body maintained by mana sent from the Gardener refused to move properly.
The Han Yuhyun from before the regression was a corpse.
A dead body that was allowed neither the smooth movement of living limbs nor the flow of blood drops that should have created selfhood.
The movement of mana that had made that body seem alive slowed drastically. Even with skills, he could not make up for all of it. His sword broke, and both knees struck the ground. Black flames coiled and flickered around Han Yuhyun as if protecting their master.
The other Han Yuhyun looked down at him.
“Hyung won’t let you go.”
The twenty–one–year–old Han Yuhyun spoke.
The Han Yuhyun from before the regression forced his mouth open.
“He already ate the third fruit. If hyung’s memories disappear completely, Han Yuhyun. You have to protect him. So stop here!”
Han Yuhyun felt nothing toward Han Yuhyun.
And yet, at the same time, he believed that any Han Yuhyun would protect Han Yujin. He believed that the Han Yujin whose memories had been erased would be wrapped safely in his care.
But the twenty–one–year–old Han Yuhyun had changed.
Their root was the same, but he had developed his own desire.
“You want to be twenty–six anyway, don’t you? Because hyung said so.”
The twenty–one–year–old Han Yuhyun smiled.
There had only ever been one person who could create desire in Han Yuhyun.
Even a Han Yuhyun who had given up everything and offered up his own life could not help but waver after hearing Han Yujin’s voice and seeing the hand he held out.
Because he was Han Yuhyun, he knew that with utter clarity.
“…Even so, the end is already decided. The one who stays by hyung’s side is you.”
“I miss hyung.”
Red flames licked along that entranced voice.
His throat was dry.
He was hungry, too.
Among the black butterflies, red leaves scattered.
“Han Yuhyun!”
The Han Yuhyun from before the regression tried to stand. But only three or four butterflies remained by his side, sending him just enough power to barely sustain his dead body.
The fire spread quickly.
Left alone, Han Yuhyun released a long sound that failed to become breath.
He had thought the current Han Yuhyun would be the same as him. He had believed that he would suppress himself and prioritize only Han Yujin’s safety.
But Han Yujin had embraced even fire itself, and in doing so, had made it blaze once more.
He had revived the flame that had been dying under restraint.
‘…Hyung.’
Was it truly impossible to bind a fire that had fully bloomed?
The instinct of fire, which only burned toward the end while devouring everything around it.
In Han Yuhyun’s eyes, a butterfly flying away with a magic stone was reflected.
He knew what that magic stone was for.
Crack!
The newly drawn sword, still sheathed, pressed hard into the ground.
Leaning on it, Han Yuhyun barely managed to rise.
He looked up at the pillar of water soaring in the distance and, with great difficulty, took a step forward.
–TL Notes–
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