Chapter 76: A Change of Heart

“So.”

Sagyeol staggered to his feet. Beside him, Yu Seong thrashed, having been slammed headfirst into the ground.

“Which way did they go?”

A chilling murderous intent surged from his desolate eyes.

“You shouldn’t overexert yourself yet. At least finish your potion.”

While no emergency kit was found, Lee Hyun-su’s pockets held more than just his resignation letter. Sagyeol, having ‘acquired’ an emergency potion with a mere flick of his wrist, scoffed.

“Shut up. What right does a guy who’s been unconscious this whole time have to speak?”

Lee Hyun-su felt unjustly accused. ‘But you were unconscious too…’

Regardless, Sagyeol turned his gaze to Jaehyeon, who had just downed a low-grade potion in one gulp. Unable to speak, he merely raised a finger and pointed in a direction.

Sagyeol scanned his surroundings. He was searching for the drone. Yet, it was unlikely anything could have survived such an explosion.

“Besides.”

“How on earth do you expect to find it?”

Finding a single diamond on a beach would be more probable than this. At least a diamond sparkles. Lee Hyun-su’s eyes were utterly devoid of hope, but Sagyeol paid him no mind whatsoever.

Rummaging through the remnants of the tent, he spoke nonchalantly.

“I anticipated this, so I attached a tracker.”

‘Oh… of course you did…’

“When on earth! No, wait a minute. A tracker couldn’t possibly function properly in a flood zone, could it?”

Sagyeol offered no reply. As he brushed aside a half-burnt piece of cloth, his eyes gleamed. Standing upright, he held a cube that appeared relatively intact.

Lee Hyun-su despaired. Although built robustly, he never imagined a drone could survive such utter chaos.

‘Who on earth developed that thing?!’

‘The Credit research team.’

Remembering that fact, Lee Hyun-su clutched his head, too aghast even to curse. He glanced nervously at Sagyeol. The Sagyeol he knew was more than capable of diving into the flood zone alone to rescue Yeowon.

Still, he clung to a sliver of hope. This was a flood zone, and a battle akin to a magic storm had just taken place. There was no way the tracker could be functioning.

However, the situation unfolded contrary to his expectations. Sagyeol swiftly operated the device. This meant the tracker, which should have been defunct, was working perfectly. Lee Hyun-su, realizing something belatedly, was aghast.

“Boss. Surely not?”

“Money is meant to be spent on occasions like this.”

To make the impossible possible through sheer capital, it must have cost a fortune.

“…You paid for it yourself, didn’t you?”

“Protecting the guild’s precious returnee? Naturally, it’s a guild expense.”

‘Yes. Of course you would.’

Sagyeol remained utterly unconcerned by Lee Hyun-su’s lamentations. His eyes were fixed on the device’s screen, now displaying a radar. Contrary to his expectation that Yeowon would be far away, he was stopped just a few kilometers distant.

Lee Hyun-su, about to speak, closed his mouth and tensed. He was prepared to throw himself in front of Sagyeol to stop him from rushing out.

Sagyeol’s reaction, however, was unexpected. He simply stared at the stationary red dot. As if Yeowon himself would materialize from it.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“Huh?”

Sagyeol tossed the drone he had just painstakingly retrieved to Lee Hyun-su.

“Take this, go back, and call for backup. I’ll wait here.”

Normally, hearing such words in this situation would be interpreted as waiting for backup; however, Lee Hyun-su, having known Sagyeol for a long time, understood immediately. He wasn’t waiting for newly arrived hunters or drones. His crossed arms dug into his forearms. The distinct sound of teeth grinding echoed clearly.

‘Surely he doesn’t think he’ll just come back on his own? Someone kidnapped by a monster… wait.’

Lee Hyun-su’s eyes grew cold with a sudden realization. Indeed. Was that man really in danger just because he’d been abducted by a monster?

That man was a human weapon, capable of slaughtering an entire horde of monsters, even if they swarmed him. Lee Hyun-su, who had forgotten the most basic facts in his panic, quietly retrieved the drone and infused it with magic.

The drone unfolded with a whirring sound and shot diagonally upwards. He headed towards Grisha without a backward glance.

Yu Seong and Jaehyeon, after a moment of hesitation, went to where the injured B-rank hunters were gathered. Even the B-rank hunters, who would normally feel intimidated by S-ranks, patted them on the shoulders and backs, welcoming them.

A whooshing sound filled the air. Dense thickets and lush trees blurred past. Reph galloped relentlessly through the pathless forest.

Yeowon thought absently. ‘If we continue like this, reaching the core won’t be difficult at all.’

While impossible alone, the story was different with Reph, a Rephtha renowned for their strength and speed even in the Demon Realm. Scattered monsters and even the occasional S-rank magical beasts lumbering with their colossal bodies posed no issue.

For no matter how strong one was, it was useless if they couldn’t catch their target. This creature could certainly take him wherever he wished.

Nevertheless, Yeowon attempted to stop Reph.

“Stop.”

Their speed did not diminish.

“Reph.”

The resolute voice pierced the beast’s ears once more.

A low growl rumbled. It was a grunt of full dissatisfaction, but their speed slowly decreased. The creature, having stopped somewhere in the flood zone, looked back. Judging that enough distance had been put between them, it relaxed the mane that had been taut around its body.

The jet-black mane began to undulate beautifully, like smoke, once more. Yeowon sighed and dismounted.

Reph, as if seeking affection, promptly nudged their head forward. His hands naturally stroked its chin and neck. Its sharp eyes narrowed contentedly, a sign of its pleasure.

“Everyone thought I chose you, but it was the other way around, wasn’t it?”

A soft rumble. Its handsome ears twitched with every word he spoke. Yeowon’s gaze softened as he looked at them.

The knights tried everything imaginable to capture the Rephtha. Throwing nets was basic, and it was not uncommon to see them charging with snares in hand, only to be kicked by a hind leg and sent flying.

In short, it was utter pandemonium. Even Yeowon’s attendant at the time was covered in dirt from head to toe. Yet, unable to give up, they roared like a bear and charged again.

Yeowon, standing leisurely at the back, was busy admiring the sleek and elegant Rephtha. Then, his eyes met those of one particular Rephtha. As soon as it saw Yeowon, it reared on its forelegs, pranced, and then swiftly approached, settling down abruptly before him. Anyone could see it was a chosen beast and its chosen attendant.

“It was quite absurd back then.”

A low growl. Thus began the first encounter between Reph, the pack leader, and Yeowon. As if displeased by his recollection of the moment as “absurd,” Reph lightly head-butted his attendant’s chest. Yeowon, not showing any pain, gently pushed the creature away.

“Reph. I can’t go.”

The second head-butt carried more force. Reph snorted in frustration, but Yeowon remained resolute.

“I won’t go alone.”

His feet felt rooted to the spot. Although he faced forward and looked at the Rephtha, his entire attention was fixed on Sagyeol, whom he had left behind. Even though Reph had treated him, Sagyeol had been in a critical state to begin with. Even if his critical condition had improved, he would still be in pain.

Yeowon cupped Reph’s cheek. Two eyes, darker than its jet-black fur, met his gaze. Gazing into the beast’s seemingly abyssal eyes, he spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.

“There’s someone I promised to go with.”

It was a declaration he also made to himself.

“So, I must go back.”

The beast, having perceived the deep and heavy emotions in his words, could no longer resist. Its head drooped low, and its tail and mane lost their vitality. While the tail was one thing, its limp, hanging mane resembled seaweed draped with dry ice.

Despite its pathetic appearance, Yeowon merely offered a small smile. He stroked Reph’s despondent head.

“Let’s go together. There’s someone I really want to introduce you to.”

Its drooping ears perked up. The beast lifted its dark eyes and looked at Yeowon once more.

The choice was Reph’s, but accepting it was entirely Yeowon’s doing. The creature knew this very well. Therefore, it also knew it couldn’t win. Reph, snorting like a horse, slowly moved its mane.

It coiled around Yeowon, settling him back onto its back. Yeowon said nothing more. Instead, he reached out and rubbed its neck as a gesture of gratitude.

“KRAAAAGH!”

Reph let out a mighty roar. At once, a pack of Rephtha, hidden somewhere within the forest, emerged. Reph, returning to its role as leader, began to run, guiding them. The distance that had grown between them instantly closed, and the smell of burning reached his nose.

Yeowon felt his heart pounding. A jumble of emotions surged within him. He raised a hand, habitually pressing it against his chest. Here lay unhealed scars, and chains he would never escape. Yet, beneath them, his heart had finally chosen someone to respond to.

Yeowon’s resolve hardened.

‘I have to tell him.’

The thought alone made it hard to breathe, but if he had made up his mind, it was something he absolutely had to do.

Only then did a sudden fear grip Yeowon. There was no guarantee that Sagyeol would remain the same after learning the truth. No matter how extraordinary Sagyeol was, he was still human. Would he still love him, knowing his secret? This body, this soul, already belonging to another, even if by force. Could Sagyeol truly understand and accept it?

Unable to guarantee anything, Yeowon bit his lip.

He resented his past self, who had resolutely pushed him away, saying the Three Crescent Moons Guild was impossible. It wasn’t his fault. Just as the contract of subjugation wasn’t Yeowon’s fault.

‘Stop these useless thoughts.’

He forcibly shoved away his anxiety. The dense trees blurred past, retracing the path they had taken. The smell of burning grew sharper in his nostrils. With the naked eye, he could now vaguely see the chaotic clearing.

It was a place scarred by fierce combat. And in its very center, a familiar figure stood alone, unmoving.

Yeowon dismounted from Reph.

The one who had been waiting stretched out his arms. He hadn’t taken a single step from where he stood. A strong will was palpable, indicating he would wait until the other came to him.

His chest swelled. His throat tightened.

When Yeowon hesitated, Sagyeol pulled him closer once more.

“Yeowon.”

That single word was enough. Yeowon swiftly closed the distance and threw himself into Sagyeol’s arms. With such a strong, powerful man rushing him, Sagyeol had no choice. His body tumbled backward. They rolled on the dirty ground, but neither of them cared.

Yeowon spoke.

“I like you.”

Sagyeol’s eyes widened. He froze, like someone who had received an unexpected gift, before cupping Yeowon’s cheeks.

“Say it… say it again.”

Yeowon smiled, his eyes curving. It was a somewhat bright, yet somewhat stiff smile. He hadn’t quite shed his completely expressionless facade, but even so, it was the most radiant smile Sagyeol had ever seen from him.

“I like you, Sagyeol.”

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