NPC Fell onto My Bed C43

Chapter 43

Thud, thud.

Gu Taeheon’s footsteps thundered through An Jeonghyeok’s home—heavy, storm-charged, each one promising carnage. The closer he came, the more suffocating the tension grew. Sensing doom, Jeonghyeok tried to speak first.

“H-hey. I—uh—I told him to—”

Before he could finish, Taeheon bent down and yanked the power cable from the tower.

SNAP — clunk.

The machine died instantly, its faint hum snuffed out. Silence descended—cold, sharp, and absolute. Taeheon didn’t tear his gaze from Noah as he spoke, voice razor-tight.

“Did I tell you to do that?”

“N-no, but… Noah-nim might have been homesick, so I thought—”

The usual playful cockiness in Jeonghyeok’s tone was gone, replaced by careful pauses. Taeheon’s reaction made it clear—this was not a mood to test. And Jeonghyeok knew why: this wasn’t about a game. This was fear.

“I asked him.”

Noah stepped between them like a soft light cutting through storm clouds. He rose from the chair and approached Taeheon, stopping right before him.

“I wanted to do it, Taeheon-nim.”

“…”

So many sharp, petty questions swarmed Taeheon’s mind—Why? Were you that desperate to return? That eager to leave me?—but then Noah placed his hand atop Taeheon’s tense one, veins raised beneath the skin, and spoke softly.

“I grew bored waiting for you, so I asked if I could try the game you mentioned.”

“Y-yeah,” Jeonghyeok rushed to add. “He asked first. Iron even tried it before. Right? Iron?”

“Hmph. Indeed. Though my… replica was disgracefully weak.”

Three voices scrambling to soothe him soothed Taeheon more than logic could. The wild tension in his eyes dimmed, and he exhaled hard.

“…Let’s go home.”

“Yes. Jeonghyeok-nim, Iron. I enjoyed today.”

The two watched Noah leave with Taeheon. When the door shut, peace returned—the heavy air dissolving with them. Jeonghyeok scratched his head, exhaling in relief. Iron spoke first.

“Why was he so angry?”

Even someone as oblivious as Iron could see it—Taeheon disliked Noah touching that game. Or rather, he disliked everything about this moment. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Noah since he walked in.

“It’s obvious,” Jeonghyeok murmured. “He’s scared Noah might miss his world.”

“That is natural. One always yearns for one’s homeland.”

“And if he yearns, he’ll want to return.”

Jeonghyeok sighed.

“And Taeheon doesn’t want to let him go.”

Iron blinked, confused. “Why? His leg is almost healed.”

“…Because something more important than his leg happened.”

“What could be more important?”

“You really don’t get it?” Jeonghyeok rubbed his face. “He likes him.”

The thought alone stunned him. His bro… in a romance arc. Wild.

“But they’re both men. And Noah is a priest.”

“Iron.” Jeonghyeok scoffed. “You think gods can control love?”

If they could, no one would ever die of heartbreak.

And gods were not incompetent.

By the time they reached the apartment, night had fallen.

Taeheon said nothing on the drive back—not about the game, not about the hidden map, not about Noah’s world. Not because he didn’t care.

Precisely because if he began speaking, he’d have to confront the truth:

Noah had just found a path home.
And Taeheon was terrified to lose him.

He did not want to admit he had seen—on his phone—that cursed message about the marriage system update. Didn’t want to face the possibility that Noah belonged elsewhere. Not when he had fought so hard to live again.

Over dinner, they spoke only of Taeheon’s healed knee, his doctor’s words, and when he’d begin training again. Noah listened attentively, smiling softly.

Near the end, Noah hesitated—and finally spoke.

“Um, Taeheon-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“May I… use your computer?”

His tone shrank as Taeheon’s expression darkened.

“Jeonghyeok-nim taught me the basics. I just… want to play Last Chronicle.”

“Why.”

“…Pardon?”

“Why do you want to play it?”

Noah chose his words carefully.

“I believe… the reason I fell into this world may lie there.”

Silence crashed down like a stone.

“So you want to go back.”

“N-no! Not yet—!”

“‘Yet,’ huh. So later, you will?”

Noah’s mouth opened—but nothing came. Taeheon had known the truth from the start. Noah was never meant to stay. The day he left was always going to come.

And Taeheon—who had once been ready to stop living entirely—was now terrified of losing the person who saved him.

“I don’t want that.”

“…Taeheon-nim—”

“I’m throwing this computer out. Tonight.”

He stood, face unreadable, and cleared the table. Without waiting for an argument, he headed to the computer room. Noah sat frozen, unsure how to respond, as the sound came:

CRASH. CRACK. THUD.

Glass. Plastic. Metal. Destruction.

Soon Taeheon emerged, face strangely calm, breathing measured.

“Come here, Noah.”

Noah stood and followed. Taeheon placed his hands on Noah’s shoulders, turning him toward the open doorway.

The computer lay in ruins, shattered beyond hope.

“….”

Noah stared. The reaction he expected—rage, despair, panic—never arrived. Instead, his chest felt strangely light.

“I told you not to do it.”

“…”

“Cry, scream, curse me—won’t matter.”

Oddly, Noah felt no resentment. No anger. No sadness. Deep inside—

He was relieved.

Why?

To block the way home and feel relief—it was wrong. It contradicted everything his faith and duty demanded. He had been sent here by the gods. He was meant to return when his task was complete.

But instead, the path closed and—

He felt at peace.

To stay.
To remain.
To be where Taeheon was.

“I won’t let you go to Jeonghyeok’s again.”

Noah swallowed. Something warm bloomed in his chest.

Divine mission. Sacred duty. Devotion to Aeir. All of it felt distant now.

Taeheon mistook Noah’s silence for hurt and paused. Noah lifted his gaze.

“…I understand. Taeheon-nim, your leg.”

“…What?”

Noah’s voice was steady. Even gentle.

“You must continue treatment. And resume training tomorrow.”

“….”

Just like that, Taeheon froze. Suspicion—fear—cracked. Noah wasn’t planning to leave. He wasn’t angry.

The only thing Noah cared about in that moment—

Was him.