Chapter 159 A Blue Fog (3)
“What made you come all the way here? Haven’t you realized by now that you’re just a nuisance?”
My brother spoke in a tired manner to the extent I may have been hurt if I did not know what was going on. He was pushing me away with a plausible expression and a plausible manner like he had done for three years and would have done so for five.
I wanted to ask him how he had felt during that long time he had spent alone. At the same time, I did not want to even guess his thoughts since that knowledge may stop me in my tracks. I may want to do whatever Yoohyun wished despite the consequences.
“I’m sorry.”
Yoohyun looked shaken at my words. I had thought of some ways to persuade my brother, but nothing came to my mind now. Instead, I said what I had been thinking all this time.
“I’m sorry for being weak…”
If I had been stronger or had been more of an adult, could I have sent him on thinking that the time to let him go had come? Would I have not tried fruitless things instead of accepting my reality and use hate as a shield? I did not know since I still held my brother now.
I slowly moved while trying to empty my thoughts. Yoohyun frowned as he stared at Taewon Song, Velare, and Noah because he felt that something was not quite right.
“Yoohyun, let me explain.”
“…What are you trying to do? He seems to be an S class hunter.”
Yoohyun glared at Taewon Song with suspicion.
“It won’t work even if you involve my brother, so don’t bother.”
“That’s not what’s happening.”
“It’s not? Then why are you here…and here is…”
“You’re at MKC Seokwon Choi’s private house. You won’t remember, but…”
Yoohyun moved in confusion right in front of me without even giving me time to react. His hand pulled my arm, and I could see his cold eyes up close.
“What is this magic?”
“…What?”
“That earring.”
Yoohyun’s hand touched my ear and swept against my earring.
“It seems to be a high-class item.”
“Yes, the Sesung Guild Leader gave it to me.”
The truth came out in surprise, and Yoohyun’s brow furrowed at the word Sesung.
“Damn, are you insane?! I warned you not to get involved with guilds and hunters. Sesung? Did you go nuts?”
Yoohyun let go of my earring and instead grabbed my collar, and his face became darker as he dragged my body.
“…You seem to have become an awakened…how strong are you?”
“F class, but my skill levels are high, so you don’t have to worry. I’m being protected since they’re useful.”
While I added on the words, he seemed not to hear me. I avoided his eyes because they were too intense.
“You know all about this, and you just don’t remember because…hey!”
Yoohyun roughly bent my arm behind my back, and Noah, who had been looking at me nervously, came up forward.
“Mr. Yoojin!”
“Why is he acting like he is on intimate terms with you?”
“He’s not an enemy, and, hey, it hurts!”
While my skill will nullify a broken bone, he was just gripping my arm with force, and my shoulder was going numb. Noah urgently explained himself.
“I work under Mr. Yoojin Han! My name is Noah Luhir!”
“What nonsense is that guy speaking?”
“While it’s temporary, it’s also true. You don’t remember because some of your memory is missing. Check your inventory. You will see some new weapons, and that black contract would have disappeared.”
Yoohyun’s face grew rigid at my mentioning Diarma’s contract, and he became silent for a moment after checking the inventory.
“The contract…what the hell happened?”
“A lot happened, but nothing serious. You know all about this, and we did this to…hey, my arm!”
“I just watched? I must have been the crazy one.”
Yoohyun whispered. Well, he did try to imprison me, and I had just sneaked out in one of the attempts.
“You kept me safe, and you were satisfied…”
“Don’t say things like that.”
Yoohyun’s voice turned rough, and while he was acting like a predator, I faintly felt that his desperation.
“How do you think I let you go? I just…”
Yoohyun let his words hang, and I could not hear what he was going to say. Instead, I heard his teeth clench, and he held the sword again that he had stored to grab me.
“I don’t care about my memories and such, and a hunter that belongs to you is even more unnecessary. I should take care of those who might talk.”
Yoohyun’s aura turned murderous, and Noah jumped back in reflex at Yoohyun’s intent. Taewon Song had been silently looking at us but now changed his pose.
“Yoohyun! Stop!”
What was he going to do to take care of them? I shouted as I tried to pull back my arm.
“It will be all right when you get your memories back, so my skill…”
“Why? Are you guys close? They must have treated you right. However, they are high-class hunters and do not suit you.”
Yoohyun threatened me to just keep still and watch in a whisper and pushed me away. I chased after him to grab him back, and while he did frown, he did not avoid nor push me back.
“Don’t be stupid! Who else pays attention to me as much as you do?”
“What…”
“I know why you are acting that way. Why do you push yourself so hard when you’re my little brother?”
I put some strength on my arm and enjoyed his surprised face. When would the poison resistance skill come into effect?
“Don’t act that way. You did and suffered enough. While I am weak, trust your big brother a bit.”
“But…”
“Yoohyun.”
“…Right.”
His voice calmed down, and now he looked like his age. I really should not let him get to this state.
“Hey, you know that you’re loved.”
I spoke like I had done right after my return, but the emotions were a bit different. Yoohyun’s shoulders shook, and his face turned mellow. His arm also came around my back.
“At that time…”
“Do you remember?”
“…A bit. Yeah, I made up with you.”
It seemed that the poison was finally dissipating, and it had taken a much longer time than Noah. He needed a poison resistance skill, and I wondered where to get one.
“I’ll use a skill, so accept that, all right?”
I was about to use my teacher’s skill to get Yoohyun’s memories back when the fog suddenly began to move. It gathered around the half-broken manor like a herd of sheep. Blue fog came out from Yoohyun’s body, and it also flew inside the manor along with minute amounts from Noah and Taewon Song. While Noah tried to reach out in reflex, it was to no avail. Had that poisonous fog swallowed up the memories and then got out? Then what would happen?
“Yoohyun, do you remember anything else?”
Yoohyun briefly shook his head. Damn.
“There’s something there!”
Noah pointed at the manor, and Yoohyun grabbed me to find shelter with the other two hunters. A dark blue something was now in a position in the manor, and the fog had gathered around it to increase its mass. I used one of my skills to open the system window just in case.
[Awakened: Seokwon Choi (A Member of the Vacant Sea)
Current Stat Class: SS
Class Capacity A~S
Half-circle Sword (S) Gained
The Line on the Road (S) Gained
Sound Netting (A) Gained]
“Seokwon Choi?”
“That’s Seokwon Choi?”
The other three also looked surprised, and I also saw something that was not even human. What did Vacant Sea mean, and how had his stats become SS? He would have been an S class. Had he grown with that fog? Then what about Yoohyun’s memories?! Would they come back once that was defeated? Please say it did.
The blue thing that was said to be Seokwon Choi grew up even bigger than the house, and the structure now became completely flattened. A humanoid monster that was several stories high slowly stood up. It was literally a giant and looked like a massive doll with dark blue armor.
Fog shining with the light came out where its eyes should be, and its rough hands made fists. At the moment the giant completely stood up, something also dark and massive sprang out of the darkness with rough footsteps.
A black dragon tackled the giant, and it stumbled with a loud bang. The dragon jumped back and swung its tail, and the surrounding buildings crumbled with each passing moment. The dragon’s sharp teeth flashed, and I knew that to be a smile.
-Hey, Darling!
“Hello!”
Riette and Soyoung Kang, on top of the dragon’s head, shouted at us. They had arrived with nice timing.
***
A car stopped in front of the barricade near the fog, and the hunters from the Association that had been guarding the barricade stood still. Hyunjae Sung had come out from the car. While someone needed to check his ID for form, at least, no one came out. They just looked at each other, as all of them had heard that the Sesung Guild Leader had come fresh out of an S class dungeon conquest.
“I heard that it would not be a dungeon break, but it seems to be the case.”
Eveline, who was one of Sesung’s S class hunters, stepped out of the car and whistled at the blue fog. Hyunjae Sung also fixed his gaze on it.
“Yoojin Han’s invitation tends to be special, as nothing ends normally.”
Hyunjae Sung spoke like he was enjoying himself and approached the barricade. The fog writhed like it was alive against the headlights of the car, and the murky blue was being fickle.
“Are you all right after finishing up the dungeon?”
“You’re too kind. I have to see up close your candy box since I never had the chance.”
Eveline signed the agreement in Hyunjae Sung’s place that the Association hunter had handed over, and they were about to go back to the car after the barricade was partly removed.
The fog suddenly came over the barricade and surrounded them. Hyunjae Sung slightly raised his brows at the darkness.
“What is this?”
He could not feel Eveline’s presence, let alone the other hunters. There had to be another reason since a mere fog could not block an S class hunter’s senses.
Hyunjae Sung was considering whether to attack or move, and something appeared during that process. A familiar shape smiled in a friendly manner.
“Hello, Mr. Hyunjae Sung.”
“Yoojin Han.”
I do not like imitations. Hyunjae Sung murmured as he stared at the young man, and it began to speak.
“Do you remember your childhood?”