Chapter 25: Don’t Turn Me Into a Pancake

Han-jun looked down at me as I groaned and only blinked his eyes.

“Power? What power?”

He really doesn’t know.

“Your power… y-your superpow…er, on me….”

“Oh.”

Han-jun stared down at me with startled eyes for a moment, then suddenly jumped to his feet as if he had finally realized he was using his power.

As he stood up, closed his eyes, and shook his head, the heavy force pressing down on my body disappeared.

“Huff, I almost died.”

“Sorry. What’s going on?”

Han-jun came closer as I struggled upright, examining me with a worried face.

He looked just as confused, so I couldn’t even get angry at him.

I added one more thing to my plan.

1. Increase Han-jun’s superpower control.
2. Stop Han-jun from acting like a pushover.
3. Level up Han-jun.

Stopping him from being a pushover had been the top priority, but improving his control skills just moved up to number one.

If he kept failing to control it, my life would be in danger, so I had no choice—for my own sake.

Raising one savior properly is exhausting.

It’s no ordinary task.

In the middle of the small room, Han-jun was lying down, and I was pressed tightly against the wall, lying with my back turned to him.

“Hyung, come here.”

“No.”

“Are you still mad?”

“Yeah.”

“…….”

My nose was practically touching the wall because I was stuck to it like gum, but I stubbornly maintained the uncomfortable position so he’d see just how angry I was and listen to me.

First, I had to make him notice how mad I was.

Then tomorrow, instead of wasting time helping Grandpa, I’d coax him into training his superpowers.

How should we improve his control?

Maybe we’d have to go deep into the mountains and experiment while hunting monsters.

While I was crafting this ambitious strategy, suddenly my body was pressed forward.

“Hyung, I’m sorry.”

Ah.

A dejected Han-jun had come closer.

He slowly moved up and stuck himself behind me.

I’m doomed.

I’m too stuck to the wall to escape.

Blocked from both front and back, I’m trapped.

The more he pressed against me, the flatter my face got against the wall.

I can’t breathe.

“Are you trying to turn me into a pancake?”

“Stop being mad.”

“Ah, now I’m more annoyed. You expect me to sleep like this? Is this torture?”

“Will you forgive me?”

“…Yes. I forgive you. Please get off me. I was wrong.”

Han-jun tried acting cute, rubbing himself against me, and I had no choice but to surrender.

He didn’t consider his own size at all, pressing into me until I could barely breathe.

Is this how it feels when a big dog head-butts you while trying to be affectionate?

It was overwhelming and heavy.

Before, I used to be the scared one who wanted to cling to him while sleeping.

But now, somehow, Han-jun was the one desperate to stick to me.

“Come here.”

He spread his arms wide and called me over.

The triumphant look on his face was irritating.

“…Just you wait, Han-jun. I won’t forget this.”

“Sure. Let’s see for a lifetime.”

In the end, I was once again wrapped snugly in his arms as I tried to fall asleep.

I used his arm as a pillow and draped my leg over his.

Held like this, I gradually calmed down from my simmering anger.

The darkened room was quiet.

The floral blanket smelled faintly of fabric softener.

Han-jun’s body carried a warm scent that made me feel at ease.

As I closed my eyes and listened to his breathing, just as I was drifting off to sleep,

his chest rose and fell, and I heard his low voice.

“Hyung, I’m sorry.”

“As long as you know.”

I didn’t show it, but he must have been really anxious too.

The monster appearing.

Me suddenly collapsing.

Carrying me down that dark mountain path.

And the strange power that suddenly awakened in him.

He doesn’t say it, but he must be confused and worried.

If sacrificing this one body of mine could bring comfort to his uneasy heart, I wouldn’t mind.

In a way, I’m quite the pushover too.

When it comes to Han-jun, I’m the biggest pushover of all.

At first, I approached him just to cling to the savior.

But now I’m the one risking myself to take care of him.

Maybe my heart has already…

“Hey, hey, your hand!”

I was getting emotional when suddenly I felt a hand sliding slowly down my backside, and my eyes snapped open.

If he’d squeezed like usual, that would’ve been one thing, but the slow stroking was ticklish enough to make my body jerk.

No, I was just getting into the mood!

It’s ruined!

“Ah, why.”

Han-jun replied shamelessly.

“It tickles!”

“Then is this better?”

He squeezed hard.

“That’s better.”

“Wow, what a preference.”

“…….”

Hearing that from him made my pride sting for a moment.

I mean, did I ask you to touch me?

It was not a refreshing morning.

The clear chirping of mountain birds and the bright sky were perfect, but from early morning I had to watch Han-jun enthusiastically acting like a pushover.

In the yard were Grandpa, Han-jun, and Sunduk, whose leash had been untied as she bounced around people.

Following Grandpa’s instructions, Han-jun willingly took on heavy tasks.

Just watching made my insides boil.

You’re using our precious savior to chop firewood?

That old man!

“Put that over here.”

“Yes.”

“Think you can split all the firewood today?”

“Yes. I’ll finish it quickly.”

“The roof needs fixing too….”

“I’ll do it all before we leave.”

He’s making him carry heavy loads, chop wood, and now even repair the house.

He’s treating him like a servant!

Unable to watch any longer, I stomped toward the yard.

Grandpa saw me and smiled warmly, as if welcoming another laborer.

“Oh, you’re up? The sun’s high already! Since that young man’s awake too, let’s eat breakfast and fix the roof together!”

He’s seizing the opportunity!

It looked like Grandpa was determined to squeeze every bit of labor out of us.

I ground my teeth while glaring at Han-jun, who was chopping wood shirtless.

Han-jun shrugged as if asking what the problem was.

Ugh, so frustrating!

Now I understand why Han-jun appeared late in the human-salvation scenario.

What’s the point of having power if he gets taken advantage of and wastes time instead of doing important things?

“Why are you taking your shirt off anywhere you please? Put it back on!”

I couldn’t snap at Grandpa, so my anger turned toward Han-jun instead.

“Why?”

“It’s indecent exposure!”

“It’s just us.”

“Sunduk is there too!”

At that exact moment, Sunduk was licking her own backside.

Han-jun blinked at the sight, then awkwardly put his shirt back on.

He walked up to me standing at the entrance and whispered in my ear.

“Why are you jealous of a dog?”

After uttering such nonsense, he patted my shoulder and went inside.

Unable to contain my indignation, I clenched my fist and looked up at the sky.

Above the high ridges of Jirisan, white clouds drifted slowly.

Looking at the clear sky, I suddenly thought of my mother.

Mother, your son is not doing very well.

Are you safe?

Jeju Island should be safe, right?

Someday you must realize this is all thanks to your son.

I hope that one day Han-jun will also be grateful for my grace.

He is truly ungrateful.

If one is human, one should know how to repay kindness.

When will my day in the sun come?

As I was composing a heartfelt letter to my mother in my heart, Grandpa’s booming voice rang out behind me.

“Come eat! Eat quickly so we can fix the roof!”

“Yeees….”

I trudged toward the table.

Thanks to Grandpa, who enjoyed watching survival and gourmet programs, we had a neat meal for the first time in a while.

Mixing rice with wild greens seasoned in sesame oil, I felt my stomach settle comfortably.

After days of instant food, I had been longing for such a natural Korean meal.

“Ah, Grandpa, this is unexpected. Your cooking is amazing.”

“You punk. Living alone at my age, I have to at least feed myself well.”

“Where do you get the ingredients?”

“I pick greens from the mountain, get eggs from Song-gol’s chicken coop over there. I had a small garden with cabbage and zucchini, but the monsters ruined it, so it’s useless now.”

Hearing that, Han-jun immediately lifted his head.

“It’s dangerous to wander the mountain alone. If you teach us how to pick the greens, we’ll gather them for you.”

My opinion?

The thought of another hellish hike made me bristle, but then a good idea came to mind and I quickly changed my expression into a bright smile.

“Of course, Grandpa. We’ll go up the mountain.”

Seeing my positive reaction, Han-jun looked at me in slight surprise.

What, you didn’t think I’d agree?

Did you think I was just selfish and unwilling to help strangers?

Well… I am.

“Anyway, we’ll gather the ingredients for dinner! You rest at home and fix the roof.”

“…Fixing the roof is harder, though?”

“Don’t worry about us! We’ll be careful.”

After finishing our healthy meal, I urged Han-jun to head up the mountain right away.

Though puzzled, he packed his things.

As we left energetically, I waved widely at Grandpa seeing us off.

“Grandpa! Make sure the roof’s fully fixed!”

“…Just hurry back!”

“I’ll inspect it when we return! Staying active is good for your health! Don’t just sit around!”

Leaving Grandpa with a reluctant expression behind, we climbed up the mountain.

Neither of us spoke, so the only sound was the rustling of leaves under our feet.