IRNH C46

#46
Sihyeon hurriedly waved his hand repeatedly before the sensor of the automatic door and slipped inside through the slowly opening entrance.
Immediately, drawn by the palpable presence, he found the table where Taewoon and Kyu-min were seated without hesitation.
“Uh…”
He worried whether his earlier irritable behavior might have dampened the mood.
However, he had not expected the scene of them smiling brightly and talking about something.
‘Since when did they become so close?’
He hadn’t especially wished for Taewoon to cling only to him; rather, he hoped the boy would adapt quickly, make friends, and live peacefully.
Yeah, that was it.
‘Feels a bit…’
For a moment, his hastened steps slowed.
Sihyeon hesitated briefly, then carefully crossed the café to their table.
“Oh! Hyung!!”
“Mr. Kyu-min.”
Kyu-min, drinking the beverage vigorously, finally noticed Sihyeon and waved his hand with perhaps exaggerated enthusiasm.
Sihyeon smiled and returned the greeting with a nod.
Yet, when the husky voice that normally would have greeted him did not come, he glanced sideways to look at his student’s profile.
‘Ugh.’
The smiling face was now somewhat gloomy.
What’s going on? Is it because I arrived?
Sihyeon felt a bit downcast.
“Since Hyung is here, I’ll be going now!”
“Huh, why? Since you came out, have a meal.”
“No, I just ate! I’m really full; the food feels stuck in my throat. I think I should go rest now.”
But overwhelmed by Kyu-min’s desperate replies rushing out, Sihyeon stood dumbfounded for a moment before nodding slowly.
…He must be really sleepy.
Though concerned by Kyu-min’s slightly flushed face, Sihyeon brushed it aside nonchalantly and slowly pulled a chair to sit.
“And this…”
“Hm?”
Though appearing a bit flustered, Kyu-min soon seemed to recall something important and hurriedly pulled out an object from his pocket, handing it over.
“As I told Taewoon earlier, this is a gate byproduct. It fell from a monster Taewoon defeated, so I brought it to give it to you.”
“But why give it to me…?”
“Ah, actually, just before—”
“Goodbye, Kyu-min hyung.”
Before Kyu-min could finish speaking, an unexpected sentence erupted beside them.
Sihyeon spun his head so fast he feared his neck would hurt, his eyes trembling wildly as if from an earthquake.
Kyu-min, equally shocked, stood up abruptly, casting anxious glances between Taewoon and Sihyeon multiple times.
“Y-Yes! Then I’ll be off first! Take care!”
Stretching out his right hand and foot together awkwardly, he quickly left the café.
Of course, Sihyeon hadn’t even thought of accompanying him, too focused staring at an empty glass with a serious expression, missing Kyu-min’s departure.
‘Hyung? Suddenly?’
Sihyeon felt confused, his head spinning so much that he couldn’t even understand his feelings.
Did he feel bad because Kyu-min disappeared without a word, causing worry, but the latter was comfortably having fun?
What the hell?
“Shall we head back too?”
“Hm?”
“I feel like I caused you needless concern. I didn’t expect you to worry so much. Sorry.”
But even before Sihyeon could organize his jumbled thoughts, a gentler voice pierced his ears.
Though still respectful in tone, it carried a subtle distance Sihyeon had not felt before.
“No, no. You’re an adult and can go where you want… Then.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Damn, is this really adolescence?
What should I do in a situation like this? Unsurprisingly, Sihyeon tried to steady his confused heart as Taewoon’s attitude seemed to match his thoughts more and more.
How was I…?
Pushing everyone away, behaving like the world was only himself, speaking sharply… Ah, better not think about it. Too embarrassing.
The more he thought, the more he dug up his embarrassing past.
He realized Taewoon was comparatively very well-behaved.
“Taewoon, let’s talk a bit.”
He figured it was time to finish the conversation he had kept pushing aside.
Both of them, including Taewoon, had few people around.
Seeing Taewoon suffer alone like that made Sihyeon understand his behavior perfectly.
So, as on the video he saw on Mithube, all he needed to do was listen gently to Taewoon and help him understand the confusing feelings.
‘Yeah, like a mentor.’
Click.
A camera shutter sound echoed softly from somewhere.
Sihyeon was about to speak but turned his gaze directly to the source of the sound.
“Whoa. Hey, isn’t that Jeong Sihyeon?”
“Damn, he’s handsome. The photo in the article is exactly the same. So he really is in Gangwon-do.”
“I saw the guy. No way, is Shin Ryuha coming too?”
“Hey, that guy’s name must be Taewoon. It’s probably not out in the news yet, right?”
Hearing the chatter behind him, Sihyeon spun his head and pulled the hood over his head to hide his face.
Only then did everyone inside notice that people were feverishly typing something while holding their phones or casting glances his way.
‘Damn. I’ve been too distracted with Taewoon.’
“Master. What do you want to say?”
Then Taewoon spoke quietly.
Sihyeon looked at his student’s face amidst the intrusive voices around them.
“Taewoon, is your anxiety okay?”
He flinched.
“It’s fine. Even if not, it can’t be helped. I can’t afford to act spoiled since Master dislikes it greatly…”
Yeon Taewoon briefly looked dismayed then shamelessly lowered his gaze.
Naturally, Sihyeon grew anxious, nervously tapping his nails and whispering quietly while aware of those around.
“What do I dislike… It’s not like that.”
Sihyeon wanted to shout that he was just the only sane person around Taewoon, making him mistaken, but he pressed his lips shut tightly amid the subtle gazes.
“So, does that mean you like it?”
“No… of course, I do. You’re admirable, kind, and uh…”
Taewoon watched the murmuring Sihyeon closely, then with sparkling eyes, smiled brightly.
“Hmm… I like you too.”
Suddenly, the chair slid back noisily across the floor.
Sihyeon jumped up from the sudden loud voice without caution, scanned the surroundings to emerge unobtrusively, then helped the still-sitting smiling Taewoon to stand.
“Let’s go. First, let’s get something to eat.”
“Yes. I’ll follow.”
Damn it.
Sihyeon quickly switched topics and stepped out of the café without hesitation.
Taewoon proudly let go of Sihyeon’s clenched fist, whose hand he had been gripping tightly, then naturally intertwined their fingers.
Smiling again upon hearing the occasional camera shutter sounds nearby.
Though stepping outside, Sihyeon subtly slid his hand away and stepped back awkwardly, pretending not to notice, letting this moment suffice.
Pushing further might have caused other thoughts to surface.

After the Divine Mine appeared in Gangwon-do, instant gates frequently manifested within a certain radius.
They ranged from D to A ranks, making this place a sanctuary for domestic hunters.
Commerce began to grow around it, and even non-hunters started to gather.
So many people walked on the streets where Sihyeon and Taewoon were strolling.
Though Taewoon wore a slightly loose shirt and pants with short hems that were Sihyeon’s clothes, his tall, toned body and proportions stood out.
Of course, his radiant face today was unparalleled.
Because of that, Sihyeon soon found himself troubled by the many gazes Taewoon attracted from all directions as they left the café.
“Hm… Shall we just go back to the hotel?”
“Do as you wish.”
Taewoon’s still slightly curt attitude began to irritate Sihyeon.
Hadn’t he been anxious, rushing to find Taewoon?
And hadn’t he tried to be considerate, worried about him struggling with all the attention?
Yet Taewoon didn’t seem to understand and played excitedly with others while acting distant only toward Sihyeon.
Sihyeon felt hurt.
“Jeong Sihyeon, hang in there…”
Frowning seriously, Sihyeon tried to comfort himself as he walked aimlessly with steady strides.
Moments ago, he thought he’d give in to all demands. But changing his mind just because he felt slightly hurt would bruise his pride.
“Well then, let’s just buy some snacks and go home.”
“Yes.”
“…Ha. Do they even have sweets?”
Sihyeon kept his answer brief and turned his head slightly as he scanned the nearby street vendors, silently urging himself to endure.
Buzz.
Suddenly a sharp murderous aura poured onto Sihyeon unexpectedly in the peaceful street.
Though it vanished instantly, Sihyeon noticed it immediately.
Taewoon was the same.
Walking just behind him, unconcernedly smiling, Taewoon suddenly shifted his gaze, flicked a stone off the ground with his toe, and launched it without hesitation into a nearby dark alley.
The movement was so subtle and swift that even nearby hunters likely wouldn’t detect it at once.

Footnotes:

“Instant gates” refer to sudden portals varying in difficulty rank, familiar within the story’s fantasy setting.

“Divine Mine” is a significant location in the story, linked to supernatural occurrences.