Chapter 21: The Observer

As soon as Min-hyeon left and he entered the chairman’s office, Jun-ho naturally took the single-seater sofa for himself. He sank deep into the plush cushions and closed his eyes, as if seeking sleep. Hae-soo settled onto the sofa opposite him, wearing a displeased expression—but he didn’t try to wake Jun-ho.

Vampires didn’t need to sleep regularly like humans to function. Everything necessary for activity—relieving physical fatigue, recharging depleted mental energy—could all be solved through blood consumption. Even if injured, with sufficient blood intake, they could return to peak condition in no time.

But ever since Do-hyeon’s death, Jun-ho had only been drinking the minimum amount of blood needed to sustain his existence. To prevent unnecessary energy expenditure, he had to rest like this whenever he had the chance. Otherwise, he’d be forced into sleep or lose control and crave human blood until the person died.

This sight of Jun-ho resting with his eyes closed had been familiar to both Hae-soo and Miran for decades. But familiarity didn’t mean acceptance. Hae-soo couldn’t understand why Jun-ho—more beautiful and stronger than anyone—would show such weakness over a single human.

No matter how cherished or beloved, to a vampire, humans were ultimately nothing more than prey. Hae-soo disliked that Jun-ho was so attached to the death of his prey. Someone as superior as Jun-ho should never harbor unnecessary feelings for mere humans. He wanted Jun-ho to stand alone, high and untouchable, where no one could dare approach.

Miran stood by the sofa with her arms crossed, her gaze shifting between Jun-ho and Hae-soo. The face of the child she cherished most among her kind—the one to whom she’d given new life—was as beautiful as ever, yet seemed somehow withered. When was the last time she’d seen that face brighten with a joyful smile? Even for a vampire who knew no forgetting, it felt like an impossibly distant memory. Miran clicked her tongue.

When Hae-soo met her eyes, he quickly lowered his legs from the table. Miran was generally lenient with her subjects, but Hae-soo still found her intimidating.

Though his posture had become more proper, Hae-soo’s face was filled with dissatisfaction. He’d sensed the two on the rooftop, deliberately waited, and appeared before them—only to be brushed off by Jun-ho without a proper word. Of course he’d be upset. Miran asked in a gentle voice.

“Jun-ho, are you still not eating properly? When was your last meal?”

As if it were only natural that he’d be keeping track, Hae-soo answered without hesitation.

“Three days ago—one person. And even that, he only took a few sips before pushing it away.”

“Stop with the useless chatter.”

Jun-ho, now open-eyed, glared at Hae-soo. Hae-soo shrugged. Miran sighed lightly and spoke in a coaxing tone.

“What are you going to do? You need to eat properly.”

“I’m handling it just fine. I’ll make sure I never go on a rampage, so don’t worry.”

“…Alright, I trust you.”

What Miran was worried about wasn’t something so simple—but seeing Jun-ho lower his eyes and avoid her gaze, signaling he didn’t want to discuss it further, she changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with that boy lately. Min-hyeon, was it?”

“Ah, yes. It’s nothing worth your concern. Just a passing interest.”

“For a passing interest, you’re investing quite a lot of effort.”

“Kwon Hae-soo.”

Jun-ho’s lips tightened as he glared at Hae-soo. Hae-soo pressed on undaunted.

“You could easily just use suggestion on him, but instead you’re deliberately not using your powers and putting in all this effort—there’s obviously something there.”

“There’s nothing. I’m just amusing myself with him. It’d be boring if it were too easy, wouldn’t it?”

“Is that really all?”

Jun-ho’s casual response drew a suspicious look from Hae-soo. With a blank expression, Jun-ho met his gaze.

“Then what else do you think there is?”

“If hyung says so, I suppose that’s what it is.”

Jun-ho’s eyes sharpened. Hae-soo stopped provoking him and backed down obediently.

“It’s good to hear you’ve finally found something to take an interest in.”

“Yes. I think I’ll be able to stay occupied for a while.”

Miran was genuinely pleased that a human had appeared who could pique Jun-ho’s interest for the first time since Do-hyeon. Compared to the eternal lifespan of their kind, a human life was but a fleeting moment—but she hoped Min-hyeon’s existence would bring Jun-ho joy for as long as possible.

Checking his messages, a flicker of displeasure crossed Jun-ho’s face. It was outside his expectations that Min-hyeon—who followed him with the eyes of a mutt waiting for its master’s hand—would reject his offer to meet first.

Choi Min-hyeon
I’m really sorry, but could we do the remaining filming tomorrow instead of today? A friend suddenly said they’re coming to visit school, so I don’t think I’ll have time today.
09:11

When Jun-ho only read the message without replying right away, another message came from Min-hyeon.

Choi Min-hyeon
Sorry.
09:12

Choi Min-hyeon
Or should I ask my friend to wait nearby and try to film as quickly as possible?
09:13

Choi Min-hyeon
I’ll ask my friend if they can come another day instead.
09:14

Though it showed he’d read the messages, Jun-ho wasn’t replying—so Min-hyeon’s messages kept arriving every minute. Jun-ho slowly moved his fingers to type a reply.

09:15
No, don’t worry about it. Let’s meet in front of the main building tomorrow at 2.

This time, Min-hyeon read the message but didn’t reply right away. What did that mean? Was he trying to play hard to get—something that didn’t suit him at all? Jun-ho exited the chat window.

A new message from Min-hyeon arrived right after. Reading the message that appeared in the notification, Jun-ho’s lips relaxed slightly.

Choi Min-hyeon
Hyung, are you upset?
09:19

Should I make him squirm a little more? Jun-ho deliberately read the message and waited without replying.

Choi Min-hyeon
I’ll just tell my friend to meet another time.
09:24

Choi Min-hyeon
Should I come straight to the main building as soon as class ends today?
09:25

How anxiously must Min-hyeon have waited for his reply before sending that message saying he’d cancel his plans with his friend? Only then did Jun-ho leisurely reply.

09:25
I’m not upset. Go meet your friend today—we’ll film tomorrow.

Choi Min-hyeon
Are you sure that’s okay?
09:26

09:26
Yeah. See you tomorrow.

Choi Min-hyeon
Okay! See you tomorrow!
09:26

It mustn’t have been easy for Min-hyeon to make friends, with Min-woo watching his every move and trying to keep him sheltered—yet he had a friend close enough to come visit him at school. Curiosity sparked. Jun-ho’s afternoon schedule was decided in that moment.

Finding Min-hyeon wasn’t difficult. Min-hyeon’s range of movement wasn’t wide, so the places he’d take a friend were predictable. As expected, Jun-ho spotted Min-hyeon messing around with his friend in the student center cafeteria. Instead of approaching and speaking to Min-hyeon, Jun-ho observed them from a distance.

“It’s hot. Stop clinging.”

A well-built man had his arm around Min-hyeon’s neck, rubbing his forehead against Min-hyeon’s shoulder. Min-hyeon tried to shake him off with an annoyed shrug. The more Min-hyeon did that, the more persistently the man clung to him.

“Your love has cooled. How can you treat me like this? Just a while ago you said you were coming to hang out—now you’re telling me not to come.”

“Hmph. Was there even any love to cool in the first place?”

“Wow. Choi Min-hyeon… I’m shocked.”

The man released Min-hyeon and sat up straight, pretending to be deeply shocked as he clutched his chest.

Only then could Jun-ho properly see the man’s face. Though his lips said things like “I’m shocked” and “I’m hurt,” his clear face smiled brightly like sunshine—and from him emanated a familiar energy. No matter how much he acted like a gentle lamb, he couldn’t fully hide the feral predator’s aura. It was unmistakably one of their kind.

Startled, Jun-ho checked again and again—but there was no doubt he was a vampire. Once he knew, the signs were impossible to miss; the man exuded the unmistakable energy of a young vampire, newly reborn.

There was another vampire near Min-hyeon, a pure-blooded human. Jun-ho gritted his teeth, holding back the urge to rush over and tear that fledgling away from Min-hyeon. The muscles around his jaw twitched with the tension.

Jun-ho exerted every ounce of effort to conceal his presence. At this distance, the still-inexperienced brat wouldn’t detect his identity. He withdrew a little further and continued to secretly watch the two bickering.

“Pretending to be shocked won’t do you any good. Who told you to be so sneaky and eat lunch by yourself?”

“Ah, sorry, sorry! I’m really sorry! But seriously, it was an act of God—how could I refuse when the heaven-sent senior who just came back from military service personally offered to buy me lunch and told me to eat together?”

“You said you ate before 11, right? That should be fully digested by now, shouldn’t it?”

“You know I have a small appetite. I’m still not hungry enough to eat.”

“I didn’t want to eat alone. Somehow, you always show up having already eaten whenever you come to see me. So disappointing.”

“Haha. Yeah. The timing just always works out that way somehow. Even if I can’t eat with you, I’ll watch you eat instead. Like this.”

The man cupped his chin with both hands and pretended to stare intently at Min-hyeon eating—Min-hyeon shoved his face away with his palm. Watching the man pout and grumble, Min-hyeon laughed cheerfully. He looked genuinely at ease, unlike when he was with Jun-ho. Silently observing, Jun-ho turned and left.

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