Chapter 86: Promises Remembered

At Jaeyul’s words, the living room fell into a heavy silence.

How was I supposed to handle this atmosphere?

I had no idea what that kid was saying.

My brain felt tangled, as if it had stopped working, and I couldn’t even think of what to say.

My gaze unconsciously shifted to Lee Rihyun.

There was no reason for me to watch him, but I couldn’t help it.

He must have been just as shocked, staring at Jaeyul without blinking.

I silently wished that someone, anyone, would speak up.

“I like someone like you, hyung.

Kind, hardworking in everything… and most of all, you’ve cared for me so much since I was little.

That’s why I like warm people like you.”

“Ah, a-ah…!

Y-You mean that?!

Hey, man… you need to speak properly!

I almost sobered up from shock.”

Haa, haah…

Only after hearing Jaeyul’s continued explanation did my exhale finally relax.

I had almost misunderstood completely.

“But… Sehyun hyung, why are you acting like that?”

This time, all eyes turned toward me as I stood abruptly.

Embarrassment flushed my face.

What on earth misunderstanding had I imagined…?

Of course, Jaeyul didn’t have feelings for me.

I wanted to sit down again, but it felt even more awkward now.

“…I-I… was going to feed Ppoppi…!

Go ahead and relax!”

Ah, relief.

A reasonable excuse came out.

I grabbed Ppoppi, who had been sitting quietly beside me, and rushed into the room.

The shock had sobered me up completely.

“Woof!”

Ppoppi, unaware of my inner chaos, ran around the bed, making a fuss while I collapsed onto it.

“Ppoppi… I think I’m really losing it.”

Staring blankly at the ceiling, calming my racing mind, the previous situation started to seem funny.

What had I been thinking that made me react so strongly to Jaeyul saying he liked me?

I had even overreacted more than Lee Rihyun.

“Woof! Woof!”

“Did you… not like it at that moment?

Hmm… I don’t know.”

It hadn’t even been that long ago, yet I couldn’t remember my feelings at that moment.

Positive?

Negative?

I wasn’t even willing to dwell on it.

Not even to repeat it as a good memory.

“Pff.”

Yeah.

Ridiculous, right?

Laugh all you want, man.

“But Jaeyul, when did you get that shoulder wound treated?

That looked pretty serious.

Even an A-rank healing potion barely worked, didn’t it?”

After calming myself down in the room, I came out.

Looking back, it wasn’t something that needed so much significance.

I had just overreacted.

But the topic that came up as soon as I joined the drinking table complicated my thoughts again.

I had healed Jaeyul after he came out of the gate injured.

I had poured all my energy into it to ensure no scars remained.

A scar on such a perfect body?

Absolutely unacceptable.

“R-Really?

How are you completely fine in just one day?”

But was that a mistake?

Perhaps I should have just treated him enough to send him to the hospital.

“W-Well…”

I could have lied to avoid the moment, but I couldn’t just say the scarless healing was thanks to simple treatment.

No medicine or surgery could fully heal a critical injury in one day.

Jaeyul, meeting my gaze, seemed cautious, choosing his words carefully.

He must have been worried about causing me trouble.

“…I did it.”

I decided it was better to tell the truth now than risk a lie being exposed later.

After all, going in and out of gates, injuries—big and small—were inevitable.

I couldn’t just ignore them and not treat them.

“W-What… do you mean…?”

“Treatment.

I can handle simple wound recovery.”

The team seemed uncomfortable with a power they had never heard of before.

They couldn’t quite grasp what I was saying.

I looked around the team and then moved to Oh Seonggyu, whose hand still had a fresh wound.

Showing it directly was better than explaining it endlessly.

“Phew… well, I guess it’s better for the team to know in advance.”

Oh Seonggyu seemed reluctant but extended his hand.

I placed my palm over the wound and infused mana.

I could have completely erased the scar, but I treated it just enough for the redness to heal naturally.

“See… it’s possible.”

“…….”

Actually, this ability wasn’t completely unheard of.

It hadn’t been reported domestically, but some overseas espers possessed similar powers.

Of course, I’d never seen a guide with such an ability, nor an esper with such effective healing powers.

The team looked at the event as if they’d seen a ghost, unable to fully accept it.

“…That’s insane… SS-rank powers can do that…?”

Park Bomyeong, eyes nearly popping out, poked Ueden and asked.

“No way.

This is… very unusual.

But… should I even show this?

It could be a hassle.”

Ueden’s judgment was quick again.

That had been my biggest concern—the possibility of every emergency patient at the center piling onto me.

A nightmare scenario.

“So, I want everyone to keep this a secret.

From the center’s perspective, it might seem selfish.

But if our team’s guide treats others too, it’d be a loss for us.

If the guide can heal as well as guide, gate missions would be much easier.

Faster handling, better results.

So let’s live a little selfishly.”

Jaeyul explained the benefits of keeping my ability a secret.

The younger, ambitious team members’ eyes shone as they calculated the pros and cons.

“Agreed.

I think it must remain secret.

Otherwise, no one else can replace this guide.”

Except for Lee Rihyun, the most antagonistic member, Lim Chan was the first to agree.

Soon, everyone exchanged glances and consented to keep it secret.

Of course, not everyone’s intentions were pure—self-interest played a role.

But Jaeyul smartly highlighted what they wanted.

“Phew… finally some peace.”

“Good work.

You must be tired.

Let’s rest.”

It was already dawn when the team finally left.

Oh Seonggyu fussed about staying here, but Park Bomyeong carried him home.

The other espers had drunk plenty too but ended the night in relatively good shape.

“You did the hard work, hyung.

Thanks.

Because of you… we can finally move like a real team.

Should’ve done this earlier, but never crossed my mind.”

“No need to thank me.

It’s not someone else’s problem.

You’re the team leader, I’m on the team.

Might as well get along.

Looks like Park Bomyeong and Lee Rihyun have settled a bit, so that’s good.”

“You’re so thoughtful, no wonder I like you, hyung.”

Jaeyul, playful as usual, hugged me around the waist.

Even though he was big, the way he clung to me always looked cute…

“W-What! Let go!”

I couldn’t now.

Not after the strange words Jaeyul had just said.

Couldn’t help but… like… like… like…

I swear I hear him saying, “I like you, hyung.”

Only moments after clearing up the previous misunderstanding, and now this!

I forcefully pulled the clinging Jaeyul away.

“Hyung, you’re like this?”

Yet Jaeyul spoke with a serious expression and tone.

What now?

“The promises you make, you have to keep no matter what.”

“…What promise…?”

What promise could I possibly have made for him to speak so seriously, with such a deadly gaze?

He looked like a debt collector coming for overdue money…

“H-Haven’t you forgotten that?”

Jaeyul, a few steps away, slowly approached.

I felt a surge of alertness and reflexively stepped back to match his pace.

It shouldn’t be dangerous, yet it felt like a predator was closing in.

“W-What…!

What promise did I make…?”

But backing up wouldn’t last long.

My calf caught the sofa, and I collapsed onto it.

Jaeyul now sat right in front of me, looming closer.

It’s certain.

This is…!

Something is about to happen.

From what he’s been saying, to the closeness of his face, there’s not a trace of playfulness.

Slightly flushed, his face… enough to provoke a strange feeling.

Tense, I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for what was coming.

Instead, warmth reached me unexpectedly.

I opened my eyes.

Jaeyul, sitting on the floor before me, hugged my waist tightly.

“You promised me that no matter how much I grew, you’d always hug me.

You’d hug me forever… so keep that promise, hyung.”

Ah… my memory was hazy.

Probably before he even graduated elementary school.

A meaningless conversation from so long ago.

Yet he still remembered.

I never imagined I’d be with Jaeyul for so long back then, yet I had blurted out that promise.

“You’ve grown… and still sulking…

You have an excellent memory.”

I gently wrapped my arms around Jaeyul’s head with a tender feeling.

Honestly, feeling embarrassed again for misinterpreting him was mortifying.

His words were pure, and I alone had let my perverted mind imagine disgusting things.

“Then.

I remember everything we did together.

So hug me already.”

Right…

No more unnecessary fantasies.

No matter how big he’s grown, Jaeyul is still Jaeyul.

“Good work today, too.”

I hugged him a little tighter.