Chapter 130: Morning After and Before

Still.

“…….”

There was no need to push away even those who had caught his eye. The short days spent going through thick and thin with Nam Yuseong at the Eulwangri Gate counted as affection, if affection it was.

He wondered what to do about the people that lingered in his sight. Dokyeom wasn’t cold-hearted enough to turn away those who had come into his arms.

He admitted that using people was wrong. He also knew that regretting it now was too late.

And this time, things probably couldn’t be changed easily. Because it wasn’t something he could avoid.

Still, if possible, Dokyeom wanted to whisper these words to Nam Yuseong.

‘Bear with it a little longer.’

‘I’ll change things as much as I can, no matter what.’

‘I’ll bring you back to where the sun shines.’

That was the only apology he could offer to Nam Yuseong, who wasn’t here.

[The door opens.]

Beyond the empty elevator doors, Han Dokyeom’s vivid face was reflected. His clear eyes were rather provocative.

Now that the most important thing, his body’s condition, had recovered, all that remained was to watch how the Shanghai Association would act.

Tomorrow. The Shanghai Association’s true face would show itself when the central powers of the Sahyeon Guild gathered together.

What was in their hearts wouldn’t be known until tomorrow.

****

[The demon Orias of the ‘Lemegeton’ licks its front paw, saying it’s something it’s very good at.]

One demon, with a gaping mouth, was now licking its front paw thoroughly and babbling.

Dokyeom lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His face was haggard, and his throat was raw from being tormented all night.

“…Dokyeom, can you get up?”

At the voice from beside him, Dokyeom groaned and turned his head. He slipped his hand under his chin to touch the mark, and felt teeth marks.

“Ow ow ow…”

He had been bitten quite enthusiastically.

That morning, as if mocking the stealthy cat-like footsteps he had taken, Dokyeom had to face the three figures sitting in front of the door waiting, and pressed his back against the door.

It was Agon, Beom Yeonhu, and Dali.

All three had sharp eyes like they were looking at a thief, and Agon’s expression was especially fierce.

The silence of the calm before the storm set in, and no one spoke rashly.

That silence ended when Agon wrinkled his nose.

Beom Yeonhu deliberately avoided his gaze, and Dali fidgeted with his hands and bowed his head. That was probably their answer. In other words, they decided to look away from Agon’s actions.

In the end, Dokyeom couldn’t even struggle and got his neck bitten like an animal, having to endure Agon’s anger.

That was just a few hours ago. The clock hands were now pointing to 1 PM.

There was less than an hour left until the assembly time.

The gate was scheduled to open late tonight, and after assembly, the hunters planned to move to the gate and wait in advance.

Of course, there could be a time margin. That’s why they had to go from early daytime to check the situation, deploy personnel, and move only when everything was ready.

“Dokyeom, let’s eat first. You won’t have strength if you skip meals.”

Dokyeom sighed and got up.

Rubbing his stiff shoulders, he looked for Agon and Dali, who had disappeared, but then heard water running from the bathroom and turned his gaze there.

It seemed Agon was in the water, and Dali was maybe washing his face.

“Hyung.”

Dokyeom called out to Beom Yeonhu, who was heading toward the small dining table while looking at the bathroom. Beom Yeonhu stopped and immediately turned his head to look at Dokyeom.

“Once we go into the gate today, don’t worry about me. Just focus on the raid. No matter what, we have to complete the raid.”

“…….”

Beom Yeonhu lowered his eyes and said nothing. The corners of his mouth were tight as if he had swallowed many words.

But after a long thought, he opened his mouth heavily.

“…Dokyeom, I came here to protect you.”

“No, who said I’m going alone? I’m going with Dali.”

“Dokyeom, just let hyung…”

The conversation was interrupted as the sound of water from the bathroom stopped. It was Dali who came out of the bathroom after washing his face.

His usually calm eyes were now full of strength, as if he had heard the conversation. He looked that determined.

“Dali.”

Piee- The child stepped forward in one stride. Dokyeom gently stroked Dali’s head as Dali gazed at him like a mother. Dali’s eyes softly closed, curving prettily.

“Don’t worry, hyung. Dali is strong enough.”

Of course, he’s my kid.

Piee-!

The answer that followed Dokyeom’s words was nothing but resolute.

In the end, Beom Yeonhu had to replace his answer with a sigh. Still, his expression was slightly furrowed, as if he wasn’t convinced.

That was when they heard someone visiting.

Ding-dong- Ding-dong-ding-dong-

All eyes turned to the front door. The atmosphere quickly changed. There was only one person who would come at this hour.

The visitor pressed the doorbell hastily, then knocked urgently with anxious hands.

Knock- knock-knock-?

[Hyung? Hyung-nims? You’re not still asleep, are you? Guys, open the door. I mean, what time is it, and you’re all still sleeping? Hyungs? Do you know there’s less than an hour until assembly?]

The uninvited guest knocking fervently was none other than Baek Jiun. This guy had been sticking to this room like glue except during meals, and it was surprising he hadn’t come earlier as soon as he woke up.

Dokyeom brushed himself off and went to the small table, pouring a cup full of water. He gulped it down.

Dali was already busily hovering around the table.

Outside the door, Baek Jiun was still pulling at the door handle, calling out ‘Hyung, hyung’ desperately. He was about to blabber on about how could they do this to him, what fun would they have without him, and even about his own abilities.

[Hey, hyungs? Are you not in the room? You didn’t leave me behind, did you? Huh? Open the door for a sec. I won’t bite you.]

Still, Dokyeom stood with his arms crossed, watching the door rattle. He tapped his arm with his index finger and quietly recalled Baek Jiun’s skills.

According to [Third Person], Baek Jiun had a total of five skills, of which only about two were noteworthy.

[Confusion/]

[Enhancement(a)/]

The former was a skill to neutralize interference waves, and the latter was a self-defense skill to strengthen one’s body and protect against external blows.

Baek Jiun was at least capable of protecting himself. But that didn’t mean the [Enhancement(a)] skill was all-purpose.

So he was worried. He was concerned whether Baek Jiun should be exposed to this gate raid.

‘Should I make him withdraw midway?’

Against attacks above A-rank, that [Enhancement(a)] would be useless. If so, wouldn’t it be better to have him fall back to a safe spot?

Of course, Baek Jiun dropping out was not part of Dokyeom’s plan. Even if lightning struck right now, he couldn’t deny that Baek Jiun was needed. At this point, Baek Jiun’s abilities were more useful and desperate than anyone else’s.

He couldn’t just let such a guy rot. Conversely, even if he coaxed him to stay, Baek Jiun wouldn’t understand.

Then, just until the beginning. That much, Baek Jiun would understand and back off.

After a long thought, Dokyeom nodded and turned toward the door.

[Ah, hyung!! Should I really break in? I’ll really break it, you know? Break?!]

“I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Dokyeom rubbed the back of his neck and reached for the door handle, but then sighed softly as if remembering something. His gaze turned backward. His eyes landed on empty space.

“Right is White, left is Black?”

At that, Dali pricked up his ears, and Beom Yeonhu stared at a spot before returning to his own work.

Everyone had been aware that from the moment Dokyeom arrived last night, there was something else in the room besides them. That was why Agon, who would have ended things moderately, had been harsher. Because Dokyeom had brought someone else into his territory.

Even though there was no sign, Dokyeom nodded as if he had heard an answer and swung the rattling door open.

Baek Jiun, frozen in the pose of knocking on the door, brightened up as soon as he saw Dokyeom. But only for a moment.

“…What. Your complexion was as white as flour yesterday, and now it’s good today? Did you four eat something without me last night? What, chicken feet? Fried chicken?”

“Shut up. Come in or go.”

“Of course I came to go in, what else… No, hyung, that’s not the issue… There’s only 50 minutes until assembly now. Other hunters already ate breakfast and are ready, so why are you guys just waking up and preparing now? Ugh, these hyungs, what would you do without me? Are you going to get lost in the gate too?”

“What would we do without you? You little punk, worry about yourself. Do you think that place is the same as the Snowy Mountain?”

“I have the ‘Enhancement’ skill, so what does it matter? You’re the problem.”

Grumbling, Baek Jiun entered the room and closed the door. But soon, he smiled reassuringly at Dokyeom.

“Hey, it’s not like I’d leave you alone in a dangerous place. I came to live alone? Do you think Yeonhu hyung and Agon hyung would let me?”

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