4.
It was Hyung’s fault, as he had abandoned his young brother and disappeared. Seon-woo instinctively chose the words that could most provoke his brother’s guilt.
“It’s okay.”
As he said that, tears welled up again in his Hyung’s eyes.
“What do you mean it's okay?”
Hyeon-woo was taken to the Demon Realm and lived there, but he knew roughly what was going on Earth. That damn fairy sometimes gave him the news. I should have threatened the fairy a little more.
During the flood of monsters and the world changing, that child was left alone with no one to depend on. It must have been very difficult. But, it’s okay? Seon-woo’s lie made Hyeon-woo feel even worse.
“No, I was really fine. Although it was very difficult and very painful.”
Seon-woo spoke to his Hyung in a low voice.
Hyeon-woo’s guess was not wrong. Seon-woo had a hard life until he was awakened. Even after awakening, he persevered in a place where there was no one to trust and took his current position. Still, he said in front of him, saying that he was fine.
“Because I believed my Hyung would come back.”
That calm voice made Hyeon-woo even more distressed.
“Look, you’re finally back.”
Hyeon-woo collapsed. Came back…did that happen? He didn’t know why his younger brother was still so kind. Seeing his younger brother speaking kind words to a person who he had resented so much, it became clear what he had to do in the future.
I will protect you. So that no one can harm you. The moment Hyeon-woo was about to put out what he was thinking, Seon-woo spoke his words first.
“So, I’l protect Hyung from now on.”
Yes, you now protect your Hyung. Huh? Hyeon-woo did not cry but raised his head and blinked at Seon-woo as if he seemed to have heard something strange.
“Because my Hyung protected me in the past. So now, it’s my turn to protect you.”
No, I’m much stronger than you think. You cannot protect me…I know I look so weak now but… Hyeon-woo made an embarrassed expression. I don’t know the standards of power on Earth, but at least I’m strong enough to compete with the No. 1 in the Demon Realm. I don’t know why you would say that.
“Kking.”
Kerberos, who had been watching Hyeon-woo and Seon-woo’s meeting the whole time, could not bear it and made a sound. Hey human, maybe not be able to protect him, you know. That person in front of you even had a fight with Albergo, who is the number one in the demon realm. It was also said that no ordinary human can defeat Hyeon-woo.
“Wang wang.”
Kerberos stepped forward to make the stupid human aware of reality, but Hyeon-woo pressed his head down.
‘Shut up and stay still.’
At the intense intention that was conveyed, Kerberos became quiet again.
Hyeon-woo thought. Yes, if that’s what Seon-woo wants. I will do everything he wants. I was tired of living with all my strength anyway. After the death of his parents, he has been running diligently for his younger brother, but his true nature was to be lazy. He wanted to rest after all the crazy things that happened to him.
“Yes. Please protect me.”
I can’t do anything if you want to protect me. Seon-woo smiled brightly at Hyeon-woo’s words. It was a smile like the sunshine.
“Yeah, Hyung.”
Then, Hyeon-woo, who was kneeling on the floor, stood up at once and hugged him. It wasn’t a hug of disgrace, though it felt awkward to the others who were watching.
The moment he saw it, Kerberos, covered his head with his adorable feet and looked down. But after waiting for a long time, nothing happened. No, something did happen. Seon-woo was walking away in the distance, while carrying Hyeon-woo in his hands.
“Waang!”
I have to follow him! Kerberos ran out hastily. And the remaining hunters and Moo-hyuk were still standing there in their same spot.
“Can I go then?”
Hyeon-woo barely opened his mouth after remaining silent for a long time.
“What if I don’t let you go out?”
Moo-hyuk replied. Actually, he didn’t intend to let him go, but the tears of the two of them made him think a lot. His body didn’t move the way he wanted. He patted his clothes to shake off the dust and turned around. He had lost this one and only first-generation missing person to Seon-woo, so he had to follow up on all the information he could get from him.
It would be better to let the once long-distance brothers reunite. Moo-hyuk thought so.
Hyeon-woo was willing to do whatever his brother wanted. He made up his mind to do so, but this was still not the case. Hyeon-woo still has a clear childhood memory. It took some time to match the strong tall man, who appeared before him with his younger brother he saw back then. That was why the first thing that came to his mind now was his younger brother, who was weak and fragile. It felt as though he was putting his brother through too much.
“Am I not heavy though?”
“Not at all.”
Seon-woo said firmly. It was true that his Hyung was too small and skinny. How much trouble did he go through to survive with a body like this? His throat was suffocated by these thoughts.
“You’re not heavy at all.”
Then, he gave strength to the arm that was holding Hyeon-woo. Hyeon-woo took some power from his body to make it more comfortable. Let’s trust my brother for now. It was with this thought, he chose to stay in that position.
“My Hyung is too skinny.”
Can you not see properly? It was true that the food of the demon world did not suit my taste, so I ate the least. Still, it’s a pretty muscular body.
“He’s too small though.” (Moo-hyuk)
I can put up with him saying I am skinny, but I can’t stand it if you say I’m small.
“It’s not like that.” (Seon-woo)
I’m over 175cm, but I can’t believe that’s considered still small. To be precise, it wasn’t that he was small, but Seon-woo was the one, who was big.
“You are too big.” (Hyeon-woo)
My little and cute little brother has really grown up a lot.
“The higher the level of the Awakened, the better his physical appearance. Naturally, he grows taller too and has a stronger body. Hyung, I am an S-class Awakened.”
What? Hyeon-woo widened his eyes. This time he was really surprised. Wasn’t this saying that the stronger the body, the bigger the body grows? Then, what’s wrong with me? His body trembled with anger.
‘You bastard! Fairy bastard!’
There were so many things he wanted to ask the fairy. But the problem was that there were no fairies here. It was said that fairies meddle like crazy in other worlds, but they couldn’t come out in the human world, so as to maintain the balance in the world.
‘I should have exploded earlier.’
In the midst of trembling from anger, Seon-woo was misunderstood. His Hyung, who was bigger than him and always looked strong, was now smaller and weaker than him. Even his body was trembling right now.
Hyeon-woo felt strange about being in a completely different position from before. Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t like him or something else. No matter how much he changed, he was still Seon-woo’s favorite person, and he was the only one in the family.
As expected, Hyeon-woo must protect him too. It wasn’t until that moment when the thought became firmer.
Seon-woo passed through a broken-down building and came out. Suddenly, the bright sun was rising in the sky, and a pleasant warm wind blew. Seeing the environment that was completely different from the Demon Realm, what Hyeon-woo had been thinking about the whole time came to mind.
‘You’re back.’
Yeah, I really came back. Hyeon-woo wanted to cry.
“Now put me down.”
Hyeon-woo wanted to enjoy the environment of the earth a little more. As if he knew that, Seon-woo lowered him on the floor. The breath he inhales felt sweet. It was completely different from the stinging atmosphere of the demon realm.
Come to think of it, fifteen was not that old. So, Hyeon-woo was the youngest among those who were taken away.
‘Now that I’m out of that fucking place...’
Hyeon-woo raised the corners of his lips and smiled softly. I don’t know how long it’s been since I smiled properly. And then, a stranger’s voice was heard.
“Guild Leader.”
A tall, slender man approached those two. Dressed in a racing suit that clings to his body, he ruffles his curly light brown hair with his hands. Then, he spoke to Seon-woo again.
“Oh my…Are you done already?”
He looked towards Hyeon-woo this time.
“Is he the first-generation returnee?”
His gaze was on Hyeon-woo, but his words were on Seon-woo. It was an act of completely ignoring Hyeon-woo. Seon-woo’s hand naturally went up and grabbed his curly hair without mercy.
Bbak!
It sounded like he was going to be attacked.
“Damn! My head!”
The man hesitated in his place and looked down, touching his head, which was grabbed on.
“He is my Hyung. Mind your manners.”
As soon as the words came out, the man raised his head.
“Yeah?”
“Do I have to say it twice to understand?”
Seon-woo raised his hand again. Then, the man threw out both hands and said.
“No, no. I understood.”
Then, he blatantly glanced at Hyeon-woo.
“You look weak.”
Power went into his fist. But before Hyeon-woo could do anything, a bundle of black fur jumped out from behind and hit the man. It was like a cannonball.
“Ack! What is this furball!”
It was a small puppy, the size of two palms. But in reality, it was Kerberos, a famous beast in the Demon Realm. Hyeon-woo’s forehead twitches as he sees Kero hit him with determination.
“Wang wang!”
Kerberos punished the rude person and stretched his chest out. Look, Hyeon-woo. I punished a rude man! When Hyeon-woo got angry, his surroundings became destroyed, but this rude person didn’t seem to know that. He probably didn’t want to be tied up and beaten up by him.
“What’s that?”
Looking at Kerberos, Seon-woo asked.
“Ah, Kero?”
In fact, it could not be told to Seon-woo that Kerberos was a demonic beast from the Demon Realm. He didn’t want to lie either. He decided to reveal only the parts that he could reveal.
“It’s a puppy.”
“Puppy? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary dog though?”
“That’s fine. But if you tame it well, it’ll be fine.”
He had been taming it with his fists all the time, but he didn’t stop the attack as he felt like it.
“But who is this guy?”
“Deputy Guild Leader.”
“Hello, my name is Seo Chan-young. I am the Deputy head of the Seon-Hyeon Guild.”
The greeting was polite, but that was it.
------
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Davine
Proofread by HM
HM: Kero is the true masterpiece of this story. It’s kinda sad that he only appears when he is significant enough in the later chapters.
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