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Curious eyes swept over Jiho. Such looks are poison to him. Although the crowd naturally opened a path to the hospital room, Jiho unconsciously froze on the spot.

At that moment, someone’s hand gently patted Jiho.

“Jiho-ya, it’s okay. Calm down.”

It was Kyung Hyun’s voice. Kyung Hyun looked disheveled, like he had directly rushed over here from the scene, but the expression on his face seemed calm.

As Kyung Hyun’s warm hand grasped Jiho’s, which was shaking, Jiho’s anxiety calmed slightly. Only then could Jiho force out.

“Joo Yiwon….”

“He’s fine. He’s not in danger. You know how skilled Chungram’s healers are.”

But Jiho couldn’t really hear Kyung Hyun. That image of Yiwon being carried out of the dungeon covered in blood wouldn’t disappear, like it was ingrained in Jiho’s eyes.

“Jiho-ya.”

“…”

“Jiho, you look even worse than he does. You should calm down before you go in.”

“I’m fine.”

To Jiho, Kyung Hyun blocking his way to Yiwon only feels like an obstacle right now. Jiho pushed Kyung Hyun’s hands away and entered the hospital room.

The atmosphere inside the room didn’t seem as severe as Jiho thought it would be when he had run over.

Like Kyung Hyun said, Yiwon had finished treatment and from the outside, there was no trace left of his injury. Though he was a lot paler than usual since he lost so much blood.

But while he looks fine objectively, for Jiho, the fact that Yiwon’s wearing a hospital gown is a shock in itself. Because Yiwon has always guarded him, unshakable and unwavering.

Jiho staggered over to Yiwon’s side.

“Jiho-ya, Yiwon’s fine.”

“…Noona.”

“Looks like you were really shocked, are you okay? You’ll collapse at this rate.”

Jiho couldn’t bring himself to nod at his sister as he stared straight at Yiwon. It’s Yiwon who should be asked if he’s okay, not him, so Jihye’s concern is unnecessary. Just for today, Jihye’s affection fills him with more anger than gratitude.

“Jiho-ya.”

Just as Jihye whispered to comfort Jiho, Joo Yiwon opened his eyes. Seeing Yiwon blink slowly and look around himself as he just woke up, Jihye tsked.

Jiho didn’t pay attention to his sister’s reaction as he hurried to Yiwon’s side.

“Joo Yiwon, are you alright?”

“Eung….”

Yiwon’s voice lacked its usual strength. After the faint response, Yiwon’s eyes turned to look at Jiho. He weakly lifted the corners of his mouth to smile, but that all looked so pitiful today.

Using his eyes to scan the room, Yiwon naturally ordered everyone other than Jiho.

“Everyone besides Jiho, please leave.” 

“Hey, you still need to be treated, what….”

Jiho stopped him sternly, but it looked like the medical staff secretly welcomed Yiwon’s words. Jihye also glared slightly at Yiwon before tsking.

“Yes, yes, we’ll leave. We’re leaving, Guildmaster-nim?”

Jihye mocked like she was speaking to a naughty child who got himself into big trouble before leaving the room with the medical staff.

During this entire time, Jiho’s eyes were fixed on Yiwon.

Unlike Jiho, who was extremely worried, Yiwon was grinning annoyingly wide, like he found something incredibly pleasing.

“Honey, are you crying?”

The excitement in his tone made Jiho sharpen his glare.

“Are you blind?”

“No, I’m just shocked that Honey’s crying.”

“I was more shocked, alright? You crazy bastard….”

Jiho finally wiped his tears away in anger. With tears covering his cheeks, his face must look like a mess. But Jiho couldn’t care less about washing his face as he stared at Yiwon, who seemed fine, like he was burning it into his eyes.

The image of Yiwon unconscious that he saw through the screen still haunts Jiho’s vision. Seeing that he was going to start crying again, Yiwon stretched his hand out to rub near Jiho’s eyes.

“But I thought you wouldn’t cry for me anymore.”

“Is that even possible? You idiot. Why’d you get injured in a dungeon you never had a problem with?”

Jiho angrily scolded Yiwon who was saying something ridiculous. For a second, Jiho remembered what someone said before he came in.

‘I thought he got himself hurt on purpose.’

But this wasn’t just some small injury, it could’ve been potentially life threatening; would he have really hurt himself on purpose? Even Joo Yiwon makes mistakes. Jiho sighed regrettably. 

“Be careful.”

“Sorry.”

“Seriously, don’t get hurt….”

“Hug me, Honey.”

What is he saying when he just had his chest split open? Jiho firmly shook his head.

“It’ll aggravate the injury. Forget it, go to sleep now.”

“I feel like I’ll get better if Honey holds me….”

Jiho snorted at Yiwon’s whining. Judging from how he’s making jokes like usual, it looks like he really is okay. Jiho let go of a bit of his worry and pulled the blanket up to Yiwon’s chest.

“I’ll hug you later so sleep. Don’t overexert yourself.”

“Fine….”

In the end, Yiwon obediently agreed at Jiho’s firmness. Jiho patted the bed next to Yiwon instead of his body. Yiwon grumbled about what purpose that served, but Jiho didn’t want to place even the slightest pressure on Yiwon’s body.

Jiho stubbornly patted the bed until Yiwon fell asleep.

Jiho looked at Yiwon’s pale face, which clearly bore signs of a patient, before dropping his head to the bed. He could barely swallow down the sigh and tears that blended together.

Usually, the situation is flipped. Shin Jiho was always the one bedridden, both when they were younger and after they became hunters.

Jiho finally understands why Yiwon was always so distressed when he visited, like he was the one in pain. Because it hurts when Joo Yiwon’s hurt, and Jiho would rather be the one hurting instead.

“Don’t get hurt….”

I’d rather be the one hurt.

Jiho quietly mumbled as his eyes closed. Maybe because he could finally relax, but Jiho quickly lost consciousness even though he didn’t lack sleep. As he felt the warmth enveloping his hand, Jiho surrendered his body to sleep.

Not long after Jiho fell asleep, Yiwon opened his eyes. He sat up without difficulty and silently looked at Jiho, who was pitifully sleeping with his body bent over the bed, before Yiwon stretched his hand out.

Although Jiho is a naturally sensitive sleeper and wakes at the slightest touch from others, he familiarly accepts Yiwon. When Yiwon rubbed Jiho’s cheek, Jiho leaned into his hand. Jiho’s docile movement only hurt Yiwon even more. 

He wants to cherish Jiho. So that he doesn’t cry, so that he is always smiling. But the present Yiwon can only hurt Jiho instead.

Yiwon lifted Jiho so that he could at least sleep comfortably. An invisible force pulled out a rollaway bed and Yiwon laid Jiho on top of it.

Yiwon would prefer to give his bed to Jiho, but Jiho’s the type of person to beat himself up over taking a patient’s bed.

Joo Yiwon stared at Jiho, his… something.

There’s no doubt the two dated. However, all traces of their relationship had disappeared from Shin Jiho’s memory. 

Then is it right to call their relationship ex-lovers?

Yiwon was in denial, but he’s starting to feel half-resigned to admitting that.

Still, at least Jiho isn’t completely pushing him away. That alone made it worth him throwing his body in front of a useless monster.

“Don’t throw me away, Jiho….”

Yiwon whispered, swallowing down everything he wanted to say. Even though the reason they’ve grown so far apart might just be because he never revealed anything from the start….

But even if he went back in time, Yiwon doesn’t have the confidence to tell Jiho everything. Because how Jiho would react to his words is all so clear to Yiwon.

When Jiho woke up, the sky was already dyed red.

On top of that, he remembers falling asleep over the bed, but now, he’s lying on a rollaway bed. He doesn’t remember anyone moving him… Jiho thought he was just going to take a light nap; when did he fall asleep so deeply?

“Most things would’ve woken me up.”

Maybe it’s a patient’s inherent sensitivity. Jiho has always reacted sensitively to other people’s touch. The only one he accepts without any wariness is probably just Joo Yiwon’s familiar touch… but there’s no way Yiwon, who’s in bed from a serious injury, would’ve moved him….

Well no, he can’t really say that Yiwon’s injured anymore. Since Chungram’s healer would’ve done everything to heal Yiwon, and a potion was most likely used as well. Yiwon should’ve received treatment that would typically be more than enough to heal even old scars left on the body. He might’ve lost blood, but a bit of dizziness is nothing to Yiwon.

Unlike how he lost his mind and ran out as soon as he saw the TV, Jiho’s rationality had returned after getting some sleep. Enough to realize that Yiwon pretended to be hurt.

“I’m letting it go this time….”

Usually, he’d scold or kick him, but since it’s true Yiwon was injured. Jiho mumbled as though he was being generous and stood up.

His face was such a mess that he even thought it was a good thing Yiwon had sent everyone else out of the room. Jiho repeatedly washed his face before walking out of the hospital room to get some air.

As soon as he opened the door, he ran into someone unexpected. Jiho carefully closed the door and blocked the person from entering the room. 

“Delta’s Guildmaster….”

The person in front of him with a huge bouquet in his hands was Adrian Evert. The man smiled warmly, not much different from when they first met.

“We meet again.”

“Hello. May I ask why you are here?”

“To visit the patient, of course. I heard that he was very injured.”

Jiho felt a surge of displeasure at Adrian’s composed response. But because they were in a hospital with many eyes on Adrian’s smiling face, Jiho couldn’t outwardly express his anger.

Adrian smiled gently, unaffected by Jiho’s prickly attitude.

“Do not be wary. I am on your side.”

“Why?”

Jiho snapped back. In this situation, Adrian is suspicious and the one Jiho has the least intel on. From the outside, Adrian’s shown nothing but goodwill, however… Jiho has no way of knowing what he’s like inside.

Jiho glared straight at the other person. If there’s no point in beating around the bush….

“James Whitaker said something funny.”

He can only ask directly. Adrian’s eyes widened for a second before he chuckled.

“I don’t remember that guy having a sense of humor, what did he say?”

“That you are supporting me.”

“Is that what he said?”

“Yes. And that it involves Joo Yiwon as well.”

“That it involves Chungram’s Guildmaster, how amusing.”

Adrian didn’t seem fazed. In fact, instead of being surprised at the unexpected name, Adrian reacted so smoothly that something felt off. Adrian smiled mysteriously.

“Have you asked Joo Yiwon himself?”

How could he? Jiho blinked. Adrian calmly responded.

“Then let us ask Chungram’s Guildmaster himself.”

“I… will settle this with Chungram’s Guildmaster myself.”

“How can I endure this misunderstanding? I would feel much more comfortable if we could ask him clearly and settle this here.”

He isn’t simply bluffing. Adrian acts like he’s about to open the door and barge in.

Why is he acting like this? Why is he so confident?

But then….

System Management

Warning

There is an immediate danger approaching. Many lives are in danger.

A system window suddenly popped open in front of Jiho’s eyes.

Carrying a message impactful enough to wipe out any thought he had before.

This is the first time a system window warned him of danger like this. Jiho doesn’t know what kind of danger it’s talking about, but he definitely can’t ignore this.

While Jiho was staring at the system window, Adrian grabbed Jiho. It’s the first time this man looked flustered.

“Shin Jiho-gun?”

“…”

Instead of responding, Jiho tossed Adrian’s hand away. This isn’t the time to try anything with someone suspicious.

Jiho ignored Adrian and ran through the hallway to go outside. For now, his plan is to call someone that can help while he heads downstairs and find the source of the threat but….

As soon as Jiho opened the door, his body was teleported somewhere else.

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LaZ Bird Corner

Delta’s a trouble magnet. Why’s Jiho always getting teleported when he’s with this guild….

Also, for clarification. Jiho thinks Yiwon was pretending he was still hurt after being treated. He doesn’t know Yiwon hurt himself on purpose.

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