Chapter 37: The Lunatic Who Was Still Fighting Shadows While His Guide Was Eating Bulgogi with a Suspicious “Little Brother”

Lee Chae jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. It felt like he was underwater; breathing was hard. As he steadied his breath, a hand touched him. He instinctively snapped his eyes open and grabbed the wrist.

Yeo-jun was smiling, lips curled up. A chilling, artificial smile, like he was forcing it for the person in front of him. It was so unlike him it felt foreign.

“You woke up faster than I thought.”

The Lunatic Who Was Still Fighting Shadows While His Guide Was Eating Bulgogi with a Suspicious “Little Brother”?”

His face returned to normal in an instant. The last voice Lee Chae heard before passing out had been Yeo-jun’s, so he must’ve been shocked too.

The wall clock read well past 2 p.m. He’d been out for roughly four hours. The moment he saw the time, his lunch promise with Haejin flashed in his mind.

Is he mad…? It’s a special situation, he’ll understand.

He sat up in a daze and patted his pockets. —no phone, of course. Yeo-jun pressed his shoulder gently.

“You collapsed; I was so worried. You okay?”

“What happened? The guy seemed really strong—did you save me, hyung?”

“Not exactly saved. The siren went off right then, and he must’ve thought he couldn’t handle it alone, so he just dropped you and left.”

Ah, that’s what happened.

“You must’ve had a hard time carrying me.”

“Nah. You’re not heavy at all.”

“But… where’s my phone?”

Yeo-jun ignored the question, still looking shaken, and only said what he wanted.

“Aren’t you starving? You haven’t eaten all day… Let’s eat. I skipped too while waiting for you.”

Following him to the kitchen, Lee Chae saw an unfamiliar man. Same vibe as Yeo-jun but way bigger. No energy at all—definitely not an awakener.

“Oh? Yeo-jun’s back.”

“Yeah.”

The man pointed at Lee Chae with his finger. Rude as hell, but his face was so innocent it wasn’t offensive.

“That the collateral?”

“You can’t just say that to someone you’re meeting for the first time. Be polite.”

The man opened the boiling pot and stirred with a ladle.

“I… don’t know how.”

Everything felt unreal. Suddenly being at Yeo-jun’s house, this stranger… Where was this place? Who was this guy?

While Lee Chae was trying to piece it together, Yeo-jun spoke.

“Lee Chae-ya, this is my little brother, Kang Ki-jun. He lived alone overseas when he was young and only came back to Korea recently, so he’s not great with words.”

Had Yeo-jun ever mentioned a sibling? Lee Chae rummaged through his memory—nope. And overseas? After the gates opened, international travel was banned by law. Only awakeners or scientists were dispatched for special purposes; normal people couldn’t leave the country.

Lee Chae’s eyes scanned Ki-jun as he skillfully set the table. Bigger than most espers, muscles bulging. Cute face like Yeo-jun, but the scowl made him a little scary.

Cooking with that body…

“Eat, collateral.”

SMACK! Yeo-jun slapped Ki-jun’s broad back; the sound echoed.

“How many times do I have to tell you to watch your mouth? Go inside if you’re done.”

They didn’t feel like brothers—more like master and servant. Yeo-jun gave orders; Ki-jun obeyed. Ki-jun glanced longingly at the food, smacked his lips like he was starving, and turned to leave.

Lee Chae felt bad.

“Eat with us.”

“No.”

Ki-jun went into his room.

Yeo-jun smiled warmly as usual and urged the food.

“You must be starving. Dig in.”

“Okay… but your brother isn’t eating with us?”

“He ate earlier.”

But he’d looked really hungry… maybe it was just Lee Chae’s imagination.

He turned to the table. It was loaded: beef bulgogi hot pot, grilled mackerel, radish salad, various kimchi, perfectly grilled fish, rice.

He hadn’t been hungry, but the spread made his mouth water.

One sip of broth—rich dried pollack flavor filled his mouth.

As he reached for another spoonful, a ringtone rang somewhere.

Ki-jun came out and handed Yeo-jun the phone.

Yeo-jun checked the screen, raised an eyebrow, said “Yes,” listened for a while, smiled at the confused Lee Chae, and stepped outside.

“Yes, I know. No need to worry.”

His low voice cut off as the front door closed.

Lee Chae tilted his head, staring at the door.

He’d been almost kidnapped and was brought here for safety—that part made sense. But everything else felt… off. Goosebumps crawled up his arms; a bad feeling settled in his gut.

“U-um.”

He turned toward the voice.

Ki-jun was grinning awkwardly, teeth showing.

“Good?”

“Yeah. Really good.”

“I can… give more broth.”

“…No, this is plenty.”

“Humans eat less than I thought. Because small?”

Ki-jun scratched his head and stared.

He wasn’t scowling anymore; he looked like he’d answer if asked.

Lee Chae gathered courage before Yeo-jun returned.

“You’re Ki-jun, right?”

“HIEEK!”

Just saying his name made the giant flinch like he’d seen a ghost, stumbling back so hard the table rattled.

“Why are you so startled?”

“N-nothing. Why… call me?”

“Why do you keep calling me ‘collateral’?”

Ki-jun’s eyes went round. With Yeo-jun’s face, he looked oddly cute. His pale cheeks flushed red.

“That… should be nothing too.”

Lee Chae didn’t understand.

“Nothing?”

“Anyway, no. Don’t say I said it. Got it?”

“I don’t get it?”

“Ah, bad… You have to know. So say I didn’t say it.”

He kept spouting nonsense.

The awkward silence made Ki-jun change the subject first.

“Do all humans have red lips like you?”

“Huh? People’s lips are naturally red. Yours are red too.”

“Mine aren’t?”

Lee Chae stared, flustered.

The conversation kept veering into weird territory.

Maybe he really didn’t understand Korean well because he lived abroad? Or… mental issues?

Lee Chae decided to treat it as a joke.

“Then are yours green?”

“HIEEK! How did you kn—”

This time he jumped even harder, shoulders trembling.

Lee Chae laughed.

“Haha, I was kidding! Why are you so scared? Come eat with me!”

“N-no.”

“Afraid I’ll eat you?”

“No! Not scared! Actually a little scared. Because you can’t eat me.”

“So you won’t eat me?”

He nodded vigorously.

“Then you can eat with me. It’s really good.”

“Ah… can’t… if I touch…”

He muttered something unintelligible, then sat at the table anyway and just watched Lee Chae eat.

“You need rice and soup.”

“Can’t…”

His stomach growled loudly; he kept swallowing saliva but only repeated “can’t.”

He was clearly starving.

Lee Chae, wondering, scooped bulgogi onto a clean spoon and held it out.

“Try it.”

“…Can’t.”

He glanced at the door, confirmed Yeo-jun was gone, then opened wide—“HAAP”—and took the bite like a baby bird.

It was so cute Lee Chae suddenly missed his own little brother.

Our Lee Jung-ie loves meat too…

“Good?”

He nodded.

“Want another bite?”

“Can’t…”

But his eyes were glued to the bulgogi.

“It’s fine, eat.”

Lee Chae handed him the spoon.

Only then did Ki-jun start shoveling food enthusiastically.

He’d cooked it himself—why act like he wasn’t allowed to eat it? Why act so subservient to his own brother?

Too many strange things.

Lee Chae tilted his head watching him, then poured water because Ki-jun was eating too fast.

“No one’s chasing you—drink this.”

Ki-jun froze mid-bite, bulgogi in his mouth, sauce all around his lips, staring at Lee Chae.

“Collateral… is kind.”

The word “collateral” didn’t sound like a compliment, yet it didn’t feel bad.

“Huh? Me, kind? No way. People say I’m cold and heartless.”

“Weird. Among humans I’ve seen, collateral is the kindest.”

“What does that even mean?”