Chapter 26: Whispered Disappearances

“Probably ran off after causing trouble.

Or got caught by the Awakener Center.

…This line of work is like that.”

I instinctively felt I shouldn’t mention that the pervert had come to our shop that day.

The guess I spoke just now was mostly to test the buyer.

“No way! He wouldn’t just run off instead of showing up to receive the Gate payout!

And if he got caught, everyone who cleared the Gate with him would’ve been taken in too!

His mercenary team is searching everywhere — it’s chaos.”

“…Ah, right.”

Maybe… I killed him…?

The thought hit instantly.

I had used too much strength on that freak without realizing it, and since I didn’t fully heal him, maybe he died quietly somewhere.

But that was unlikely.

When I ended the guiding, his body had been perfectly normal.

Still — dead or gone, what does it matter.

I didn’t want trouble, so I kept my expression blank.

People disappearing like that is nothing new.

And I wasn’t lying.

I just didn’t say everything I knew.

“Here, look at this.”

I took out silverleaf from my bag — only part of it.

Selling all at once would lower rarity.

I planned to split it across different buyers to get the highest possible price.

“This— This is…!”

When he saw the silverleaf, the buyer’s eyes flashed with greed.

The missing Cheol-min did not matter anymore.

Money always comes first.

“You’re home now? Late.”

The scent of food and a familiar voice greeted me as I entered.

I thought I’d be home first, but Jae-yul was already here.

For a long time, warmth like this felt unfamiliar to me.

I lived alone too long.

Someone greeting me when I came home… a house that felt lived in… it took years to adjust.

Five years later, I was mostly used to it.

“You’re early. I thought you had practice today.”

“Yeah. I was just tired.”

“You’re tired but you’re cooking? Move, I’ll do it.”

He still hadn’t changed out of his school uniform.

A tall guy moving in a small kitchen made the room feel cramped.

I had rushed home to cook, so seeing a tired Jae-yul doing it instead made guilt rise in me.

“It’s done. Go wash your hands.”

When I tried to continue cooking, he grabbed my shoulders from behind and steered me to the bathroom like he was controlling a puppet.

“Jae-yul, stop using strength like that— That’s cheating! Want me to scold you?”

“Yeah.”

Was he even listening?

He turned on the sink, took my hands, wet them, worked the soap into suds, and washed them himself — large hands covering mine.

“You went into a Gate again… didn’t you.”

Being this tall suits him sometimes.

He stood behind me, washing my hands the way I once washed his when he was small.

He’d gotten into the habit of these kinds of gestures — not bragging, just… close.

“Oh! Right! I made a ton today — silverleaf, it’s super expensive—”

“That’s not the point.

Your hand.

It’s hurt.

And look at the state of your skin… sigh.”

Hand?

I hadn’t noticed.

The fingertip was lightly cut.

Probably scratched collecting silverleaf.

And my hands…

Ugly, rough, callused, stained blue from the plant — made me want to hide them.

“Hey! This isn’t even a real injury. With spit it’ll be gone tomorrow.”

I shook his hands off, washed fast, dried my hands, and stepped out.

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

I acted nonchalant and sat down.

Dinner was mostly ready already.

We tried to eat dinner together whenever possible — it was our quiet promise.

But instead of sitting down, he came back holding a first-aid kit.

“What is that…?”

“Your hand. Treatment first, hyung.”

He sat cross-legged next to me, disinfected the cut, blew on it, and spread ointment with a cotton swab.

Neat. Gentle. Familiar.

“You’re overreacting…”

“This is not overreacting.

What if it got infected and turned septic and they had to cut your hand off?

I mean, I could take responsibility even if you lost a hand, but it would hurt, right?”

Cutting a wrist over this small scratch — extreme.

He gets dramatic sometimes.

It made me imagine my wrist just snapping off in his grip.

…Scary.

Better let him finish the ointment.

“I told you — if you must enter a Gate, use proper safety gear.

And leave me a message.

Why didn’t you…?”

Ah.

Lecture mode.

This wasn’t about the cut.

He held my wrists tightly and scolded me.

I responded mechanically:

“Sorry…”

“Yeah…”

“I won’t do it again…”

If I acted tough, the lecture would last an hour.

Smart people talk too well — it’s exhausting.

“Hyung.

Don’t get hurt.

You promised me.

You promised.”

He hugged my waist.

Because he sat on the floor, it felt just like when he was small and curled against me.

I placed my hand on his head.

“Sorry. I’ll be careful.”

Do I hate his nagging?

Not at all.

Compared to the cold indifference of my past, this is overwhelming warmth.

This is what keeps me alive.

“Arf! Arf!”

Bbo-ppi whined — jealous.

Jae-yul stood up with a sigh.

“I need to bathe Bbo-ppi.”

“Eat first. I’ll wash him.”

Good.

The mud-caked fur needed it anyway.

Whiiine…

Seems he hates baths.

Too bad.

“Jae-yul.”

I was folding laundry and cleaning his closet when I called him.
I usually avoid interrupting when he’s studying.

“Yeah?”

“That black T-shirt you wore the other day — I don’t see it.
Not in the laundry either.”

He hesitated.

“…Really? It’ll turn up.”

For a second I thought something bad — bullying — like before.

But no.

Who would bully someone built like him?

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Broad shoulders.
Muscles visible even under clothes.
Long limbs.
Nobody would pick a fight with him.

“No reason. I’ll get you new clothes before spring.”

I continued sorting — then noticed something in the bottom drawer.

A black-wrapped box, tied neatly with a white ribbon.

I leaned in—

THUD.

The drawer slammed shut — kicked closed by Jae-yul.

“I’ll do it.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll clean up. I’ll do it.”

“…Okay.”

His flustered expression said it all.

He was hiding something.

Maybe… someone new had entered his heart.

That box must be a gift — for them.