“Is it this die or your older brother, who is trying really hard to hold back in consideration of you?”
Chi-Woo raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t like he had failed to understand what his brother was saying.
“Are you telling me to…?” Chi-Woo trailed off.
“Choose,” Chi-Hyun confirmed his worries. There was a short silence, and Chi-Woo was about to ask what the heck his brother was talking about but pursed his lips again. Chi-Woo knew better than anyone else his brother’s personality; Chi-Hyun wasn’t the type to blabber nonsense. Chi-Woo was presented with a difficult choice now, and his relationship with his brother would change significantly depending on his decision. Chi-Woo wasn’t so dense that he’d fail to realize this, but he needed to confirm it.
“What will happen if I choose you?”
“We will continue to be brothers,” Chi-Hyun replied calmly. “If you are willing to let go of this valuable item for me, I have no problem in continuing to think of you as my brother.” It was the response Chi-Woo had expected.
“…And what if I choose the die?”
“Then it can’t be helped,” Chi-Hyun said calmly. “If you’re going to act however you like without any consideration of me, why must I keep trying to understand and care for you?” In other words, Chi-Woo’s answer would decide whether or not Chi-Hyun would continue to consider Chi-Woo his brother. Chi-Woo closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He had expected things to not be easy, but this was beyond his imagination. Chi-Woo felt his heart constrict further the more he talked to his brother.
“Aren’t you being too much?”
“Before you blame me, you should look back on your actions.”
“It hasn’t even been that long since you told me it was fine if I didn’t consider you my brother,” Chi-Woo said while roughly swiping up his bangs.
“But did that ever stop me from acting as your older brother?” Chi-Hyun’s forehead creased, and his voice became sharp. “I protected you, provided a special training space for you, and personally guided you in your training. These are things I had never done for anyone—not even for Noel who had followed me for decades.” Chi-Hyun continued, “Do I really have to spell out how much it strained me to maintain the special training space while I went to the godly territory for you to understand me?”
Chi-Woo fell at a loss for words. Now that he thought about it, it was true. Even after his brother left, the space created by Image Representation was maintained. He hadn’t thought about how much it would’ve burdened his brother to maintain that space.
“But if you still don’t think of me as your brother even after all that I did, take that die and go. This instant.” Chi-Hyun flicked his hand at the die. Chi-Woo had even fewer things to say, but he gritted his teeth.
“You are so childish,” Chi-Woo said, yet there was no point in trying to provoke his brother.
“You should be grateful that I am acting childish and nothing more.”
Chi-Woo asked, “Are you holding back because I’m your brother?” His tone became harsh as he asked, “How would you respond if I weren’t?”
“Are you curious?” Unlike Chi-Woo, who was boiling in anger, Chi-Hyun’s voice and gaze were icy cold. The two brothers glared at each other for a bit.
“…Never mind that.” Chi-Hyun was the first to turn away. “Just make your choice. But seeing how much you are talking, it seems you don’t realize the stakes involved.”
“Stakes?”
“I’m sure you are well aware of Noel’s condition.”
Chi-Woo frowned at the mention of Noel’s name. He had a bad feeling about this.
“There are no threats to her life at this moment, but it’s difficult to know whether she will fully recover.”
“The treatment—”
“It’s not like she has some cold that will go away in a day or two,” Chi-Hyun continued. “Noel gave up everything, not just her life. If we had left her be, she would have crumbled into pieces and returned to nothingness, both her body and soul.”
“…”
“Recovering Noel is a very difficult task. It would take at least a couple of years… She might have to live in her current state for the rest of her life.”
Chi-Woo’s mouth clamped shut. He had guessed the situation wasn’t favorable, but not this bad.
“But,” Chi-Hyun then said, “I can do it.”
“?”
“I would have to devote a considerable amount of time and power, but I’m confident it won’t take more than a year for me to treat her.” Saying this, Chi-Hyun tipped his jaw and slumped into his chair before continuing, “But that’s only if you choose me instead of the die.”
Chi-Woo’s mouth gaped open. “Why…” He was speechless hearing what came out of his brother’s mouth. “If you can cure Noel, why—!”
“Why must I?”
“What? Are you seriously asking that?”
Chi-Hyun cut Chi-Woo off. “For me, effort and time are special resources, especially considering my position. With the time and effort I spend on treating Noel, I can do much more and save many more lives.” Without wavering one bit, Chi-Hyun said, “Thus, why must I invest myself and my resources solely on Noel?”
“…”
“And who knows what consequences would come as the result of me focusing so much of my attention on Noel?”
“…Kuh!” Chi-Woo gritted his teeth so hard that they almost broke. His brother wasn’t wrong. Chi-Hyun had led and organized the team of disorderly recruits. And especially in a time when humanity was still progressing, Chi-Hyun’s existence was indispensable. Still, how could his brother act like this…!
“So, if I take the die and leave, Noel is going to stay like that forever?” Chi-Woo’s voice trembled as he spoke. Chi-Hyun didn’t say anything, but his silence was enough of an answer.
“I thought you weren’t going to force me. How is this not forcing me? You are threatening me.”
“The choice is up to you.”
“Nonsense…!” Chi-Woo almost called it quits, but held his tongue. He needed to hold back. He needed to endure…but he couldn’t.
“Do you really have to go that far?” Chi-Woo lashed out in rage. “Did I really do so much wrong? Ah, yes, I didn’t listen to you and didn’t keep my promise, but…was it such a terrible crime that you have to go so far?” Then Chi-Woo added, “I came here to see you, brother.”
“I never told you to come,” Chi-Hyun said coldly.
“I came here to help you.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself. I never told you to come help me either—”
“But can you really say—” Chi-Woo burst out. His face twisted in rage as he spoke, “…That I was of…no help?” Chi-Woo stared intently at his brother and asked, “Who was the one who saved the fifth and sixth recruits? Or created a yongmaek and planned the capture of this capital? Or single-handedly took care of the god the Sernitas manipulated and thus gained the cooperation of the Abyss to allow the recruits from the central region to come to this area?”
“You—”
“It was also me who activated the growth system! Who helped capture Andras at the Salem Academy and revive Kabbalah so that a godly territory could be established! And with it, Vepar was extinguished! Not to forget dealing with Zepar!” Chi-Woo shouted and let out everything that had been boiling inside him. He huffed and puffed for a while and finally asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “…Can you still say…that I wasn’t of help?”
Chi-Hyun didn’t say anything. He simply looked at Chi-Woo quietly.
“…Do,” Chi-Hyun began what he had been meaning to say before Chi-Woo cut him off, “you really think you only did ‘good’?”
“Did I not?”
“You did make accomplishments that differentiated you from others,” Chi-Woo agreed. “Not results, but accomplishments.” Although similar, those two were different.
Chi-Hyun continued, “But let me ask you one thing. While coming back here, did you notice anything strange?”
Chi-Woo furrowed his eyebrows. He had noticed. The capital was quieter and busier than usual. There were much fewer people than before, and the ones he saw were all packing like they were going to move soon.
“If I must tell you, every recruit and native has decided to move out of the capital, and I mean everyone.”
“Everyone…?”
“Yes, do you have any idea why?” Chi-Hyun asked with his arms crossed. Chi-Woo shook his head in confusion.
“There are a total of 66 great demons in the Demon Empire. Although they had lost some members due to excessive wars for conquest, from what I know, they were still able to keep their number over 50 until not so long ago. I was recently informed that their numbers finally dropped below 50.” Chi-Hyun continued, “They lost two trying to capture the Abyss’ witch, and three great demons became extinguished in quite a quick succession.”
Chi-Woo was surprised by his brother’s information-gathering skills. Those were news he had heard from Evelyn, but his brother was already aware of it.
“Great demons…are formidable creatures.” Chi-Hyun’s voice settled. “Since you have a natural advantage over evil, you might not feel that way. But even the lowest ranking demon of the 66th rank has power equivalent to an entire nation if they mobilize their troops.” A great demon was usually the embodiment of fear itself.
Chi-Hyun continued, “Three such beings were extinguished very recently.” And among the three, Vepar was a valuable force who could show power on par with the upper ranks around bodies of water. And Zepar was simply a strong, high-ranking demon.
“How do you think the Demon Empire will react? Do you think they will just go like, ‘They were gone? Oh, I see.’ And let the matter slide?”
There was no way the Demon Empire would be so stupid. With Andras, the Demon Empire had been too preoccupied with other matters to deal with him, and with Vepar, the Cassiubia League had covered up the humans’ involvement in the matter. But with Zepar, it was unlikely for the Demon Empire to neglect the matter again. They would find out the cause somehow and dig through what happened. And in the process, Chi-Woo’s existence could be revealed to the world. It was something Chi-Hyun wanted to prevent at all costs.
“…It’s not just the Demon Empire.” Ch-Hyun placed his hand on his forehead like the implication pained him. “Beings that the world considered strong would follow suit. The Sernitas and the Abyss will also keep a close eye on us.”
Chi-Woo’s face paled as he listened to his brother’s fatigue-stricken voice. He now understood why others were fleeing and what was going on. After a momentary silence, Chi-Hyun made a bitter smile.
“You asked me, right? If you were of no help,” Chi-Hyun said. “Yes, you weren’t helpful. Instead, what you did created more burden on us.”
Chi-Woo looked shell-shocked. He didn’t want to listen to Chi-Hyun. He thought there was no way.
“At a time when we should be growing our size and powers in the dark, you have brought all attention to us.” Chi-Hyun revealed the harsh reality. “To tell you the truth, I have no idea what’s going to happen from now on.” And there was no force kind enough to simply watch as humanity explosively progressed. They would try to stomp them down before they became even bigger. That was why everyone was fleeing to another city. Since humanity wasn’t strong to fight the enemy forces alone, joining hands with the Cassiubia League was crucial.
“Thus, we decided to move as fast as possible,” Chi-Hyun said with a long sigh and glanced at Chi-Woo. His brother was standing still like a rock. His face looked blank as if nothing was going through his mind.
Chi-Woo shook his head and stuttered, “I…I…”
“…I know you didn’t know,” Chi-Hyun said in a low voice. “You lived like an ordinary person for over 20 years. I know I can’t expect you to think of scenarios like this beforehand and act accordingly. But your lack of understanding isn’t going to make what you have done go away.”
Thump. It was as if a giant boulder had dropped on his head. Chi-Woo had a strong sense of responsibility. He wasn’t the type to turn away from what he did. If he did something wrong, he felt accountable to fix it. But according to his brother, what he did this time was beyond what he could take responsibility for. Others would have to clean up after his mess.
‘It’s not just my brother…’ They reached a crisis that could put all mankind on Liber at risk. Thinking this, Chi-Woo’s head lowered.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m here for times like this. I’m sure there’s a way out,” Chi-Hyun said.
Yet Chi-Hyun’s words provided no consolation to Chi-Woo, because it meant Chi-Hyun would have to undertake more dangers for what he did. Chi-Woo thought he had done more than plenty during his time here, but that didn’t seem to be the case after hearing his brother out. A long period of awkward silence soon followed. Then Chi-Woo finally dragged his feet over the floor.
Tut, tut. He slowly and weakly walked up to Chi-Hyun’s desk. Putting his hand on the die, he pushed it toward Chi-Hyun rather than taking it.
“…Yes.” Chi-Hyun also had a bitter look on his face. He wasn’t in a good mood, either; it felt as if he had forced a child to give up his toy. But this wasn’t something as small as a simple toy. It was something that gambled with not only his brother’s life, but Liber’s fate as well for either the salvation or ruin of this world.
“Good thinking,” Chi-Hyun said and was about to take the die, but he stopped when Chi-Woo kept his hand over it.
“I’m not giving it to you,” Chi-Woo said in a hoarse voice, “I’m just leaving it with you temporarily.”
“…What?”
“Brother,” Chi-Woo’s voice was clearer than before. Drawn by the voice, Chi-Hyun raised his head, and his eyes widened.