Hero’s Child C34

Chapter 34

Uichan deliberately acted bold, as if flaunting his nerve. The next instant, a hand reached out and tilted his chin upward. Strangely, he felt as though Hyde’s gaze had stopped upon his lips.

“If you’ll only believe it once you see for yourself, then go ahead.”

A large hand pulled him by the back, drawing him close once more into Hyde’s embrace. Pressed so tightly against Hyde’s chest, Uichan squirmed helplessly over his shoulder.

“W-what are you doing, Hyde?”

“Quiet… you don’t want to wake your friend, do you?”

It wasn’t a mere hug. Uichan’s torso had risen so high it looked as if Hyde might sling him over his shoulder at any moment and carry him off. He kicked his legs in panic, afraid to scream lest Park Rion come charging out with a ladle to strike Hyde down. He clamped his mouth shut.

Gripping Hyde’s clothes tight enough to wrinkle the fabric, he felt soft hair brush against his side. He almost reached to grab it when suddenly, he froze—something felt exposed below. He glanced down quickly, only to find his sweatpants had slipped down.

“You’re still going to deny it? Look, your pretty leg’s been hurt.”

A clicking sound came from beside him, followed by Hyde’s white hand gliding down the edge of his drawers, touching the bandaged thigh. Afraid Hyde might press against the wound, Uichan grabbed his arm.

“Probably La Épée’s doing. If it’s the leg… then it must’ve been the restraints.”

“I just—let my guard down… It only grazed me. It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad? When the smell of blood fills the air like this… you still say that?”

Hyde set him back against the wall, pinning him there so he couldn’t move. Uichan tried to pull down his shirt to cover himself, but the hand gripping his leg tightened, forcing his thighs apart and pulling him closer. Dragged forward, Uichan looked up at him with alarm.

“Uichan. Why… do you look so flustered? Your eyes keep blinking like that.”

“W-wait a second. Don’t press there… I just treated it—it’ll come undone.”

“I won’t undo it. Why would I hurt someone who injured his hands trying to break free of rope?”

“……”

Hyde’s face was different again today. Though he’d seen it countless times, for some reason, it felt unfamiliar tonight.

“They hurt my little one, so I can’t just let it slide. What should I do? Peel La Épée’s skin off for you?”

Uichan frowned at that. After all, Hyde and La Épée had crossed paths several times before. Once, they’d fought without pause for days, ending in a draw.

Whenever they met, the damage around them rivaled a natural disaster. Because of that, the Hero Association no longer dispatched La Épée anywhere Hyde appeared. The two of them tended to destroy entire cities.

And now he was talking about flaying La Épée alive?

“Why would you even… There’s no way you could. You two always end in a draw—what’s the point in saying you’ll do something one-sided? Just don’t. If Hyde gets caught, La Épée wouldn’t just take your skin—he’d take your head.”

“So you’re worried about me now—or about him?”

Hyde laughed, amused. Hearing that soft, pleased laughter, Uichan hesitated, then spoke carefully.

“Then Hyde, about the Mothership case…”

“That’s settled. I’ll talk to the others myself. As for you, Uichan—ah.”

Hyde suddenly stopped laughing. He raised his head, and their eyes met—too close, too sudden. Uichan instinctively tried to close his spread legs, but Hyde’s knee was already between them, leaving him trapped.

Hyde smiled faintly and cupped both of Uichan’s cheeks. Strangely… it felt as if something electric passed between them.

“You need to be punished.”

As Hyde’s face slowly drew nearer, it felt like a scene out of a film. For some reason, the sensor light by the front door—on the opposite end of the room—flicked on, casting a sudden brightness across one side of his face.

Maybe that was why—

“…What kind of punishment? You’re not planning to flay me too, are you?”

“Did you hear me wrong? I said I handle things as peacefully as I can.”

Hyde’s features were sharper than ever, and for a fleeting moment, Uichan thought he resembled someone else. Before he could place who, Hyde’s fingers pressed his cheeks harder, scattering his thoughts. His fingertip lifted the corner of Uichan’s lips.

“Just think of it as… sealing your lips.”

His firmly held head tilted sideways. As his vision slanted diagonally, Hyde closed in. The delicate flutter of his long lashes struck Uichan as absurdly beautiful. The next thing he knew, the hand that had lifted his lips slipped inside his mouth. A sharp, salty taste spread as Hyde’s nose brushed against his.

“Ha…”

The act spread like fire—before he even realized it, Uichan’s back hit the wall and his chin tilted upward. Something hot pressed against his lips.

It felt like… the soft fall of flower petals upon his mouth.

At first, he didn’t even understand what it was—his lips merely parted slightly. But afterward, the sensation of those overlapping lips was so vivid and heated that denial was impossible. Every time he gasped, Hyde waited patiently, guiding him gently, almost gracefully.

He brushed and tasted Uichan’s lips languidly, sucking on the lower one before easing a thick, warm tongue between them. Uichan flinched, gripping Hyde’s wrist where it held his face.

“Ah… ha…”

Why was Hyde doing this? Why now? The thought swirled chaotically in his head, but his body betrayed him—drawn in by the heat, the dizzy sweetness that fluttered low in his stomach. Hyde’s fingers toyed with his reddened earlobe, and even that light touch made him shudder.

But why…

“…does this feel familiar?”

Déjà vu. Yes—ridiculous as it sounded, it felt like something he’d dreamed before. It was his first time kissing Hyde, yet there was no disgust, no fear. Only an uncanny calm.

Their tongues entwined. Hyde’s warmth led him on, sweeping gently along his teeth, his palate, down to his throat. Whenever Uichan choked, Hyde coaxed him softly again.

Unable to bear it, Uichan grabbed at Hyde’s clothes, pulling him closer—then, desperate, pushed at his shoulder. That massive body budged only slightly, but it was enough. Their lips parted, and rough breaths spilled between them.

“Ha… huh.”

A cool draft drifted in through the open window. Uichan’s shoulders trembled. He realized then what a state he was in—pants half off, legs parted, blood seeping faintly through the bandage.

“Stop… ha, please, stop…”

He reached for his pants, but Hyde moved first—lifting him effortlessly, pulling the pants up, and setting him down again like a doll. Uichan stared at him, dazed. Hyde’s lips glistened with saliva.

His eyes were faintly red at the corners. Wiping his swollen lips with the back of his hand, Hyde met Uichan’s wide eyes and smiled crookedly.

“I did something bad to you… guess that means I’ll take the penalty.”

What came next was absurd enough to make Uichan’s brow furrow. His face screamed, Was this all a joke to you? Then, angry and flustered, he shoved Hyde’s shoulder, stomped toward the living room, and slammed the door shut behind him, locking it tight.

Left out like an unwanted guest, Hyde only laughed again. He pressed his hand to his mouth, then ran his tongue along his lip.

“You still don’t get it?”

So slow-witted…

And yet, he couldn’t stop smiling. Leaning against the wall, Hyde rested his arms on his knees and looked into the distance. On the rooftop of the opposite building, a bird with glowing red eyes met his gaze.

The sparrow panicked and flew away, and Hyde smacked his lips in faint disappointment.

“I was hoping to settle one score… seems the heroes have longer lives than I thought.”

If Uichan had asked him to kill La Épée, Hyde would’ve done it instantly. He simply hadn’t yet—but killing that man would’ve been easier than lifting a finger.

After all, it was all part of his game.

“…Why do these small fry keep poking their snouts in?”

Four years ago, he’d met eighteen-year-old Uichan and ended his wandering. If that boy hadn’t freed him, Hyde would’ve died with his vengeance unfinished, eyes open.

That naïve, unripe youth had saved him.

To Hyde, Uichan was both a nest and the ground that awakened him. He had waited year after year for that boy to grow up.

The smile faded from Hyde’s face. Lost in thought, his eyes blinked slowly. But before long, he turned his head—he’d sensed someone’s presence behind him.