As Kwon Seoyul fell silent, an awkward stillness settled over the hospital room.
I rubbed my sore neck and let out a tired breath.
“Vice Guildmaster, you can let him go now.”
“But...”
“It’s alright.”
He wouldn’t have been caught so easily if he’d really intended to fight. Just as I expected, even after Ryu Sunghyun released the skill, Kwon Seoyul didn’t resist—he just kept crying.
His gaze, visible beneath his disheveled hair, was full of resentment toward me. With tears clinging to his long lashes as he glared, Kwon Seoyul finally spoke.
“Do you know what really pisses me off?”
“Don’t care.”
“There are people who knew about your skill before me. And it’s not just one or two. Fuck, how could you do this?”
He bit the words out, like he was chewing them in fury.
Among the so-called “brothers,” the one most emotionally unstable and easily swayed was Kwon Seoyul. He always wanted attention from the people he was attached to—jealous and clingy as hell.
When we were kids, I used to pity that about him. I tried to grant most of his requests.
Hyun Dowoon had noticed Kwon Seoyul’s warped possessiveness long ago and even warned me. But back then, I still saw “that man” and “the brothers” as family, so I couldn’t bring myself to reject Seoyul’s demands.
That was why he treated me more recklessly than # Nоvеlight # the others. I accepted it blindly even though I knew I couldn’t take responsibility for his emotional void. That’s what led to this.
I won’t deny it—I was stupid. But I had no intention of letting myself be used like that anymore.
“If that’s enough to piss you off, what are you gonna do later?”
I tilted my head and lifted the corners of my lips with a smirk. Kwon Seoyul blinked at my smile.
“There are going to be more people who know me better than you.”
“Hyung.”
“Kwon Seoyul. I know just how obsessed you are with the word ‘brother.’ The only relationships you care about are ‘him’ and the so-called brothers.”
“......”
“So stop giving a shit about me. I’m not part of that district anymore, and I’m definitely not your brother. That should be easy for you. Especially for you.”
Kwon Seoyul’s face began to twist.
It wasn’t anger.
It was a mix of emotions—shock, sadness, disappointment.
His reddened eyes shed another tear as he muttered.
“You’ll regret this. I know you will. Do you think anyone else will understand you the way we do?”
“I already have someone like that.”
No—more accurately... I had someone.
I swallowed the second half of that sentence and looked at Kwon Seoyul.
He may have been a pain in the ass, but we’d still grown up together.
And because he was someone who couldn’t hide his emotions, I had the habit of reading his expressions when dealing with him.
But now—
‘Why does he look that startled?’
Getting angry or hurt was in character for him. But this?
Furrowing my brow in discomfort, I watched as Kwon Seoyul, still not giving up, extended his injured arm again.
“You really won’t use your skill? I’m hurt. I’m seriously hurt...”
“Give it a rest and fuck off already.”
“......”
Even though he had a return order hanging over his head, he was still trying to use this skill as an excuse. It was ridiculous.
My sharp reply made both Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun glance over at me in surprise.
I didn’t care about Kwon Taehyuk’s reaction, but Ryu Sunghyun’s gaze made me slightly uncomfortable.
Seriously, I just wanted Kwon Seoyul to leave already.
As I openly showed how annoyed I was, Kwon Seoyul clenched his blood-soaked fist and tightly pressed his lips together.
“I’ll come back.”
“We’ll see. I doubt that man will give you the same order again.”
“I’ll come back somehow.”
Still crying, still stubborn, Kwon Seoyul muttered in a miserable tone just before leaving the hospital room.
“Hyung... you’re so cruel.”
“Hah.”
I was the one who got choked, had my hair grabbed, and had a skill forced on me. Why the hell was he acting like he was the one who got hurt?
Speechless, I let out a hollow laugh.
And then—I saw a familiar child standing in the hallway beyond the open door.
The one glaring fiercely at Kwon Seoyul as he left... was clearly Cha Sahyeon.
“Sahyeon.”
Since the other two were with me, I used her name instead of “kiddo.”
She turned to me immediately, her cheeks unusually flushed, and ran over at full speed.
Seeing her run toward me with arms outstretched, I got down from the bed and met her with a hug.
Watching us, Ryu Sunghyun gave a sheepish smile.
“It seemed dangerous, so I asked her to wait out in the hallway for a bit. Also... she didn’t eat yet. We had to hurry back.”
“It’s fine. You still helped me.”
“Actually, it was your sister who insisted. On the way to the cafeteria, she suddenly said she wanted to return to the room.”
“She did?”
Surprised, I looked down at the child.
Cha Sahyeon, nestled in my arms, was staring at my neck.
She was probably looking at the handprint Kwon Seoyul had left there.
‘She’s only B-rank, but her actual strength is way beyond that. Did she sense Kwon Seoyul’s presence?’
Since even Ryu Sunghyun hadn’t noticed, they must have been some distance away.
I was once again reminded how extraordinary she was.
“Ahem, Hunter Cha Seohu.”
Kwon Taehyuk, who had been quietly standing by, cleared his throat and spoke cautiously.
“Please eat here with your sister. I’ll make sure the hospital sends her a portion as well.”
“That’s convenient for me, then.”
“I’ll also bring a Supporter. That... mark on your neck needs to be treated.”
After briefly glancing at me, Kwon added:
“Unless... would you prefer to treat it yourself?”
Only then did I realize why Kwon had been hesitant. I smiled and shook my head to ease the tension.
“If possible, I’d really appreciate the Supporter. I can’t use my own skill on myself.”
“Ah...”
“Hm...”
Both Ryu Sunghyun and Kwon Taehyuk pressed their lips in thought, looking conflicted.
Their sympathetic expressions left me unsure whether I should feel grateful or awkward. Then Kwon Taehyuk sighed and said,
“Since you’ll need treatment, you should remain in the hospital for the rest of the day.”
I had no objection to that. Hospitals were suffocating, but I still needed to talk to them and wait for the Supporter anyway.
‘Considering I’ll need to transform into Cover soon, it’s better to treat the neck wound right away.’
Thank god Kwon Taehyuk offered first. Seriously—this is why you maintain a good image with the rich.
I grinned inwardly and replied quickly.
“I’ll stay. Thank you.”
“And... this is a personal question.”
Kwon Taehyuk glanced at the blood-soaked bed, then asked:
“What Kwon Seoyul said—was it true? That another Hunter from the district, one of your ‘brothers,’ might come for you?”
“Ah.”
Damn. I really didn’t want to talk about that. Especially not with Ryu Sunghyun present.
But since I’d let things spill in front of them already, it would’ve been irresponsible to say “don’t ask.” So I gave a half-hearted answer.
“Maybe. I don’t know for sure. It depends on whoever’s giving the orders.”
I trusted Ryu Sunghyun, obviously. And Kwon Taehyuk too—he’d been just as upright before the regression, and the system marked him as a “main character.”
But even so, I didn’t feel like explaining the district in detail.
‘I wish they’d just pretend not to know. But that’s probably impossible.’
It’s not something you hear about every day. Plus, C-281—the district I was born and raised in—was a place even the government wouldn’t touch. Of course they’d be curious.
‘Still, with Ryu Sunghyun here, I really...’
Groaning under my breath and scratching my forehead, I noticed Kwon Taehyuk hesitate for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Hunter Cha Seohu... once you’re discharged, will you return to your office?”
“Of course. That’s my home.”
“But it’s dangerous. What if a Hunter from the district comes looking for you?”
“That’s... something I’ll deal with myself. It’s not something the Guildmaster needs to worry about.”
Why was he so nosy today?
My patience was wearing thin, so I drew the line. But then Kwon Taehyuk, strangely, wore a look of resolve and said:
“Would you consider coming with me instead?”
“...Sorry?”
“If you’re okay with it, I can lend you a room within the guild.”
“...What?”
Stunned, I stared at Kwon Taehyuk, who stood there looking tense.
What the hell was this guy saying?

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