IRNH C69

Chapter 69

At first glance, it simply sounded like a routine business deal that had been delayed—just the sort of thing a guild operator might say.
But if this man was connected to the Villain Alliance, it could just as easily have been a reference to their dealings.

“Hunter Association and Shin Ryuha… what the hell is going on?”

Even the organizations linked to recent events formed a disturbing lineup.
Sihyeon felt a headache forming—he was starting to suspect that the thing he was digging into might be far beyond what he could handle.

But retreating now was impossible.

Ha-jung and Gyu-min were already being dragged in.
Even if he stopped, they wouldn’t back down.

And Sihyeon accepted that.

Because if anyone had dared block his own path, he would have tracked them down to the ends of the earth.

“Anyway, I’ve been looking into something privately, and I got curious.
Did Mr. Taewoon… change his name?”

What a roundabout way to say: I did a background check and found absolutely nothing about him.

Despite his annoyance, Sihyeon barely kept his expression from stiffening.

I still don’t know the full extent of Shin Ryuha’s power, but he’s known as a ranged damage dealer.
If I strike first… what are the odds I can win—

His thoughts sharpened as he prepared for the possibility that Ryuha might dig deeper and try to use Taewoon against him.

KNOCK KNOCK.

A clear knock sliced through the tense air.

Why are there so many people today?

Grumbling silently about the disruption of his peaceful life, he straightened his expression and walked toward the door.

The familiar presence behind it made him stop complaining and lift the corner of his lips slightly.

“Come in.”

“Hyung! Oh—?”

“Oh—uh… did I come at a bad time…?”

Gyu-min and Yujun stood at the doorway, smiling brightly—until they sensed the odd atmosphere and peeked past Sihyeon’s shoulder.

They spotted a man in white waving happily at them.

Yeah.
Bad timing indeed.

They’d come without notice to surprise him with good news… yet instantly regretted it.

Between the murderous aura radiating from Yeon Taewoon—who looked ready to draw blood—and the faintly annoyed expression Sihyeon wore because of Shin Ryuha, Gyu-min could only rub the back of his neck awkwardly.

“No, I’m really glad you came.”

But contrary to expectations, Sihyeon’s mood noticeably lifted.

Every time Ryuha appeared, it drained him mentally. Today had been even worse—an unexpected power struggle, probing questions, and the man showing interest in the one subject Sihyeon absolutely didn’t want touched.

Taewoon’s origins—
A mystery even he didn’t fully understand.

He had known, deep down, but never wanted to acknowledge it.
Selfishly…
He had needed Taewoon.

He buried the sudden heaviness in his eyes and ushered Gyu-min and Yujun inside.

“But why no warning? What’s up?”

His voice softened naturally.
From the side, Ryuha muttered, “Wow, so you can talk sweetly,” but Sihyeon ignored him.

“Oh! Actually… the guild issue is resolved!”

A weight Sihyeon didn’t realize he’d been carrying slid away.

“Hyung! So I’m joining Gyu-min hyung’s guild too!
Hyung… you’re joining as well, right?”

Hearing that—in front of Shin Ryuha, no less—made Sihyeon smile with rare, smug satisfaction.

“I guess I’ve already been rejected before a confession…”

The annoying comment behind him made his eyebrow twitch, but Taewoon stepped in front of him protectively, blocking Ryuha from view, and the irritation subsided once more.

“Ahem… anyway, Yujun needs proper management soon.
But um… will Mr. Shin Ryuha be staying here?”

Trailing off, Gyu-min whispered the last part. Understandably, he didn’t want to discuss sensitive matters with an outsider present.

Sihyeon nodded.
Then he approached Shin Ryuha—still sitting coolly like he owned the room—and spoke.

“In case you didn’t hear:
our guild leader would like you to get lost.
Leave.”

Sihyeon’s face was mild and handsome, smiling faintly—
but so cold that frost might fall off his words.

The clear intent to not entertain him finally broke through to Shin Ryuha, and for a split second, his expression dimmed.
Then he stood abruptly.

What now?

The sudden shift made Sihyeon narrow his eyes suspiciously. But Ryuha’s usual playful voice returned immediately, making him shake his head.

This man was truly impossible.

“Looking at you guys like this… it feels like when we were in God’s Mine together.”

With Ryuha gone unusually easily, the hotel room felt warm and peaceful again.

“It does. Did you finish everything?”

“Ah—right, that’s what I came to talk about. Hyungnim! Please take responsibility for me!”

Silence dropped instantly.

Taewoon’s expression tightened dangerously, and Gyu-min hurriedly waved his hands.

“No! Not like that! I meant the guild!
Not—what you’re thinking!”

His frantic flailing was aimed entirely at Taewoon, not Sihyeon.

“Tch, I wasn’t misunderstanding anything. Calm down.”

Sihyeon simply watched the panicked reaction and laughed.

“Haaa… anyway. I talked to my father.
Someone else will temporarily run this branch under him.”

Meaning—
he was ready to properly support Sihyeon in tracking the Villain Association.

The declaration caught Sihyeon off guard.
He turned to Yujun, still curled up awkwardly on the couch.

Gyu-min’s decision was his own—Sihyeon had no right to object.
But Yujun… still knew nothing.

He had been kept in the dark to protect him.
Now he had joined Glory Guild, where the guild master was preparing to chase dangerous enemies.

He could no longer be left uninformed.

Especially since his connection to both Sihyeon and Gyu-min made him a likely target.

In that case… it’s safer to bring him fully under our protection.

Slowly, Sihyeon explained everything—leveling it to what Gyu-min already knew.

“There’s something I didn’t tell you.
I didn’t want to say it to someone your age.
But you need to hear it.
Then decide.”

As the story continued, Yujun’s expression twisted again and again—struggling to accept how much difficulty Sihyeon and Gyu-min had faced without him realizing it.

He had been excited lately—new abilities, sudden attention, the unfamiliar thrill of being needed.

But now he realized something harsh:

He was still being protected.
Still being helped.
Nothing had changed except his stats.

“I… I’m so stupid.”

“What? Hey—why suddenly?”

Sihyeon, unaware of the boy’s inner thoughts, looked startled by the self-loathing tone.

“I’m going to work hard.”

“O-okay… do that…”

His sudden determination left Sihyeon unable to keep up with his thought process, so he just nodded stiffly.

“Wow! Then we’re family now, huh? Haha, I knew this would happen eventually.”

“Family?”

“Yes! We’re all in the same guild. Eating from the same pot and everything!
Well, hyung hasn’t signed the contract yet… but still. We’re family!”

Gyu-min jumped in with a bright smile.

“Family, huh…”

The unfamiliar word made Sihyeon turn his head slightly with a doubtful murmur.

Ooh, he likes it.

Ah—he smiled!

Between Gyu-min and Yujun, silent excitement sparked—they had seen right through him.

Taewoon, however, stared at Sihyeon—
his pale, elegant hand tightening around his own.

A tangle of emotions writhed in his chest.

Am I not enough for him?

Yes—
he was upset.

He knew Sihyeon longed for emotional connection.
And that the one Sihyeon poured the most affection on…
was him.

Even when the affection felt lukewarm compared to his own devotion, the exclusivity had been enough to keep him content.

But after coming here—
he realized he was not the only one.

Sihyeon had so many people to share his heart with.

Ha… fck.*

Even when telling himself to take things slowly, ugly thoughts surfaced.

But he couldn’t show any of it.

Because he feared Sihyeon’s rejection more than anything.

He remembered that expression—
the cold, emotionless one he’d seen once.
It wasn’t even directed at him, and it had still been terrifying.

I wish you were alone.
So you’d only need me.

He swallowed the twisted ache alone in the midst of the cheerful atmosphere.

“Taewoon. What are you thinking so hard about?”

A gentle voice slipped into his mind.

He could never resist him.

With the last scraps of patience he had left, Taewoon forced a soft smile and turned toward Sihyeon—just as he always did.