I tamed the First Rank Chapter 103
- HoshiMiya
- Jan 25
- 6 min read
“Do you remember what Yoo-shin-ssi said when I was contemplating whether to die or not at the Erosion Gate?”
"………………yes."
“Honestly, I wish people who want to commit suicide would just be left alone. That’s a decision they’ve made after suffering and worrying enough, so why should someone else interfere? It’s not like they’re going to suffer in their place.”
“…….”
"So when Yoo-shin-ssi said that, I wasn't offended at all………………. I really want to hold on to you right now. But I don't know how to hold on to you."
A pale hand without blood grabbed In Yoo-shin’s arm. It hurt a little, perhaps because he unconsciously used strength, but In Yoo-shin just bit his lips tightly. The reason Hyeon Gyu-ha’s voice was dry was because he was suppressing emotions that were like a tidal wave.
<I know. It means you won’t be able to hold onto me.>
The man who said that now holds onto In Yoo-shin. As if he were to let go of her hand, he would lose him forever.
“Should I not have saved you back then? Should I have ignored the will of Yoo-shin-ssi's mother, who asked that her son and husband be spared?”
The answer to the former was ‘yes.’ But the answer to the latter was...… I don't know.
“It’s not Gyu-ha-ssi’s fault. It’s me who has the problem…………….”
“I can’t hold onto you, but can’t you think about other people? During the 14 years you received as a gift from your parents, you met Park Seung-gi and the monks at the orphanage(temple), right?”
“…….”
“If you feel like your parents should have abandoned you 14 years ago.... then you shouldn’t think of them like that?”
Of course, I've thought about it countless times now. All the precious and good relationships I've met in my extended life despite my parents' sacrifice.
But still.
<Why you! Why are you alive!>
I couldn't deny my grandmother's cries.
"………………I'll try that."
Will he believe this lie? Or will he pretend to believe it? It is impossible to know.
In Yoo-shin closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Hyeon Gyu-ha's back. The man's back, which had always seemed broad, now felt very fragile.
The person who should have been angry was the one who had a hard time holding himself back. That fact weighed heavily on In Yoo-shin's heart, and he couldn't say anything else.
How should I repay this person?
***
"6-seya. Have you been having fun?"
“Squeak!”
“I wish you could eat meat with me too. Don’t you think so?”
In Yoo-shin gently stroked 6-se. 6-se sniffed harder than usual, perhaps because of the smell of meat, and rubbed his face against it.
After playing with 6-se, he laid down on the mattress and played with his cell phone. I wonder if Hyeon Gyu-ha has gotten home by now?
After the long and short conversation, Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had cleaned up the rooftop, hesitated and couldn't easily go back. He looked like he was looking at someone who would disappear at any moment if he left, so In Yoo-shin pretended to smile.
<I’m okay as long as everything’s okay. You know how I’m usually, so don't worry, Gyu-ha-ssi.>
Even after hearing those words, Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was unable to move, was forcibly pushed back and sent home. Only after seeing it disappear into the sky did In Yoo-shin return inside.
“Let’s do it as usual. As usual!”
After telling myself as if he was making a promise, he sent a text message 'as usual'.
[Did you get home safely?]
As soon as he checked the text, Hyeon Gyu-ha called him right away. Although his voice was slightly calm, it seemed like Hyeon Gyu-ha was trying to treat him like usual.
-Because it's a distance that can be traveled in just one second.
Even if you fly through the sky, it's impossible to get to Hyeon Gyu-ha's officetel in just one second, but he just snickered. Even ridiculous boasts are cute.
-If you ever have trouble falling asleep alone at night, call me anytime. I'll be there right away if you need me.
“Gyu-ha-ssi, aren’t you sleeping?”
-If the Master calls, I have to take the call immediately, even if I’m dreaming of a secret date with him at the movie theater.
“W-what kind of dream is that?”
The conversation continued as usual, leisurely and pleasantly, until the call ended with a good night greeting. In Yoo-shin felt the lingering sound of the voice in his ear and then touched the phone again.
I knew it wouldn't repay him, but I thought it might be useful to know a little more.
I couldn't pronounce 'Stoya' again, but I was concerned that it was an Eastern European name. I tried to type 'Stoya' into my phone, but my fingers wouldn't move properly as if there was an invisible, transparent wall blocking my way.
He remembered what Hyeon Gyu-ha said the other day.
<What you thought of is a concept that exists in this world as well, but because the world perceives it differently, it cannot be expressed clearly. Not only can you not say its name, you cannot even write it down.>
Then, would it be possible to completely abandon the idea of ®ÀÇ as a stoya? In Yoo-shin closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind of thoughts. I am not trying to find ®ÀÇ, but the stoya of the iron age in which I live. After thinking about it again, he moved his fingers again. This time, it was entered correctly.
I searched for Stoya and Romania just in case, but there was no meaningful information. Even if I added the gods and world kings that Nzinga had mentioned, it was the same.
'Is it an irrelevant name…….'
It seems that my guess was wrong. In Yoo-shin, who was about to close the search window, tried searching in English one last time. There were more related pages than when he searched in Korean.
In Yoo-shin's eyes widened as he slowly scrolled down. A page containing folktales from the old Serbia region caught his eye.
When the city the king was trying to build collapsed every night, he was worried about what to do and went to see a fairy. The fairy gave him advice on what he needed to do to complete the city.
The twin sisters named Stoyan and Stoya will be buried under the headstone.
Or the wife of one of the king's brothers will be buried under the plinth.
After much thought, the king made his choice.
<This city is mine to rule and belongs to those who trust in me. How can I possibly kill them and build a city for them?>
The king, who refused the advice of the fairies, persistently built the crumbling castle, and the fairies who had been destroying the king's city every night eventually retreated. Thus, the king completed the city.
“Hmm.”
I had a strange feeling, so I read the story over and over again, and 8-se came crawling, perhaps out of curiosity.
"Squeak."
“Beep.”
“Ah, I wonder what you’re reading? Should I tell you an old story?”
“Squeak!”
In Yoo-shin read the tale carefully. I had the thought that if I could somehow teach it, I might be able to teach 8-se Korean alphabet.
8-se tilted his head after hearing the explanation. In Yoo-shin smiled brightly because he was so adorable. Although not as cute as Hyeon Gyu-ha, 8-se was also very cute.
That night, 8-se quietly came out of the cage and approached the sleeping In Yoo-shin’s bedside. 8-se stood up on his hind legs and carefully rubbed his face against his Master’s forehead so as not to wake him up.
With only the moonlight streaming in from the window, 6-se witnessed the sight of the faint light spreading from 8-se's face and enveloping In Yoo-shin.
***
I had a dream.
The dream of young twins who escaped to the ends of the earth. The king sent soldiers to complete the city, and the twins, abandoned by their parents, were captured without anyone's help.
<There was at least one person who helped us….>
<There is no one in this world who can help us.>
The sister sobbed in resignation, and the brother cried out in hatred. Stoya and Stoyan. That's what the twins called each other.
In Yoo-shin woke up from his sleep amid the sobs of Stoya being buried underground.
“…….”
It was really rare for me to wake up before the alarm went off. In the hazy consciousness where the sleepiness hadn’t gone away, the afterimage of the dream floated vaguely. In Yoo-shin slowly blinked his eyebrows. What was that dream just now?
'Did you fall asleep while looking for a fairy tale?'
But didn't the king finish building the castle without burying people alive under the foundation stone? I wondered if I had a bad dream because I was worried for nothing, but the twins' appearance bothered me so much that I couldn't just dismiss it as something trivial.
The face was not clearly visible as if covered in fog, but the colors were clear. Light flaxen hair and vivid amber eyes... a familiar color combination.
His mind became complicated.
In Yoo-shin, who was slowly opening the curtains so as not to wake up 6-se who was dozing off, thinking that he should get ready for work first, almost fainted.
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
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