IRNH C84

Chapter 84

“Wait.”

A low, grave voice—Sihyeon’s—cut through the air, as if he had finally noticed something deeper. Taewoon froze, a jolt running down his spine as he felt Sihyeon’s hand grip his shoulder. He had expected this moment to come someday, but not here, not now, and certainly not inside a Gate. His mouth felt suddenly dry.

“Yeon Taewoon, what’s wrong with you?”

“…”

Taewoon suppressed the sudden chill crawling up his arms and slowly turned his head toward Sihyeon. His internal energy still hadn’t returned—not even a flicker. There was no pretending anymore.

He had become so weak that he hadn’t even sensed Sihyeon approaching until the older man was already within a couple steps of him. There was no point trying to hide something that would reveal itself in minutes.

…Is it insane that part of me doesn’t entirely hate this? Is that… madness?

Those brown eyes—slightly lower than his own—looked up at him, brimming with worry directed solely at him. Sihyeon’s focus, unwavering even now, made Taewoon’s fingertips tingle.

Taewoon feared being useless, feared being discarded, yet he had recently realized how foolish it was to run from that fear. So he gathered what courage he had.

His reddened lips parted, after a brief delay.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

Sihyeon led him a little further away from the others to speak privately; Taewoon’s faint, fragile expression made it impossible not to.

“Go on.”

“All of the energy inside me has disappeared.”

The words, spoken so calmly from such a beautiful mouth, were utterly absurd. When Taewoon’s energy had suddenly vanished earlier, Sihyeon had leapt forward in panic, assuming Taewoon had been attacked. Losing his internal energy—or his stats entirely—had not even crossed his mind. His voice caught in his throat.

“…Since when?”

“This has happened before. This isn’t the first time.”

Not the first time.

A crushing weight pressed onto Sihyeon’s chest. He had failed to notice something this serious. This wasn’t “a small injury.” Taewoon’s body was now no stronger than that of a lightly trained civilian. Which meant he could die easily—too easily. Sihyeon felt the blood drain from his face.

“Is there a way to fix it?”

“I’m looking into it.”

“…Meaning you’ve found clues.”

His thoughts spun rapidly. That slight hesitation from Taewoon contained an answer. Late as he was to the truth, he couldn’t ignore it now.

“The Union. I think they’re involved.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Because our objectives were the same… and more importantly, I was afraid you’d decide I wasn’t necessary and leave me behind.”

His voice was small, but every syllable hit Sihyeon with perfect clarity. A pressure formed in his head; he bowed it briefly, then dragged a hand down his face, biting down hard on his lip.

“I’m not leaving you. Anywhere.”

“…I know that now. I know you won’t.”

Something swelled—tightened—inside Sihyeon’s chest, painfully and unexpectedly.

He wanted to speak, to say what rose inside him, but whatever emotion it was—anger, grief, something else—it clogged up somewhere along the way and never reached his mouth.

“Um, Master. You’re hurting me.”

Taewoon’s gentle voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. He glanced down and saw that his own hands were tightly gripping Taewoon’s wrists, hard enough that bruises—bluish and clear—were already forming.

“…You… what—are you okay??”

Sihyeon recoiled, horrified, staring between the bruises and Taewoon’s still-smiling face. His own expression was dazed, unable to process anything quickly.

Finding it amusing, Taewoon smiled more brightly and suddenly pulled Sihyeon into a tight embrace. Sihyeon flinched out of habit, but couldn’t bring himself to push him away.

“Master, if you push me off, my bones might break. That would be painful for me, wouldn’t it?”

“…I know. I’m not pushing you.”

Sihyeon’s voice carried resignation, regret, and tenderness all at once. Taewoon tightened his hold, rubbing his cheek lightly against Sihyeon’s neck where a faint crimson hue had risen.

His decision had been the right one. It always was. Even if late, honesty had never failed him. Taewoon felt good about choosing it again.

“I’m cold.”

“…Cold?”

At the moment Taewoon said he was cold, Sihyeon instinctively wrapped his arms around him again, holding him carefully.

Even as a child, Taewoon had never been this weak. Sihyeon later learned that even young, Taewoon had enough strength to overpower an adult. But now, he looked fragile enough to break at a touch. Sihyeon was afraid of even laying a hand on him too roughly.

“My back… hurts a little…”

Taewoon whispered with a faint furrow of his brow. Sihyeon panicked, immediately reaching behind him, gently touching his side and waist to check for wounds.

“…Here? Or here?”

“…No—maybe it’s my chest.”

At that, Sihyeon froze, hand halfway up. He narrowed his eyes, turning his head slightly to glare at the younger man, voice low.

“You… you’re faking this.”

“Master, you’ve gotten sharper.”

“You little—”

“Ow.”

Despite his frustration, the smallest whimper from Taewoon made Sihyeon stop immediately. It was like a magic trigger; Taewoon only needed to act hurt, and Sihyeon’s movements would cease.

“…Honestly.”

There was nothing he could do. Sihyeon let out a helpless laugh and simply held him again.

“Where the hell did they go?”

Not much time had passed when Hajung’s irritated voice echoed faintly from a distance. Sihyeon snapped back to reality, gently pulling away from Taewoon.

“Stay right next to me. Don’t leave my side.”

“I will.”

Sihyeon checked Taewoon’s wrists again for new bruising, then hurried forward. He forced down his frustration at the worsening situation.

They had two non-combatants. Hajung couldn’t use her full strength because of the Agwi’s shadow condition, and Taewoon’s recovery remained uncertain.

Earlier, Taewoon had said his energy would return soon, but over ten minutes had passed with no progress. That meant unpredictable variables could arise.

Thank god we decided to get those items first.

Sihyeon expanded his senses and rushed back toward the others. Life signatures were still flickering out in the distance. They couldn’t afford to stall.

After regrouping, Sihyeon rearranged the party’s formation, placing himself at the front. His excuse was that Hajung needed to be in the back so her flames cast shadows forward, not behind—making combat easier. It was flimsy, but the others accepted it. That only deepened Sihyeon’s guilt.

Surrounded by red internal energy, the steel blade sliced through the air. Three walls shattered instantly.

“So we just head straight this way?”

“Yes! Exactly! If you keep going, you’ll definitely sense my skill’s energy!”

Sihyeon glanced at Taewoon, who was breathing faintly beside him. Samayoon’s brightening expression only contrasted with Taewoon’s deteriorating state.

He could slow down and explain everything, but only Hajung was someone he trusted completely. He couldn’t reveal Taewoon’s vulnerability to outsiders.

He held Taewoon’s hand and sent internal energy into it. But the energy slipped right through—like passing through a sieve—and dissipated into the air. Sihyeon’s expression darkened.

It’s in there, but I can’t reach it. Neither from outside nor inside. It feels like an illusion.

Yet Taewoon only tightened his grip with a soft smile. Sihyeon forced himself to smile back.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m happy.”

Embarrassed, Sihyeon shot him a half-playful, half-scolding look. But Taewoon’s gentle reply made him squint one eye. His chest fluttered; their joined hands tingled.

They continued moving through narrowing and widening alleyways until a familiar energy brushed Sihyeon’s senses.

A formation?

He raised his hand, signaling the group to stop.

“Hold on. The energy you mentioned—does it refer to that formation up ahead?”

“…Formation?”

Samayoon looked genuinely confused. He had said walking straight would lead to his skill-created safehouse, but the presence of a formation meant something unexpected had interfered.

Sihyeon clicked his tongue softly.