Chapter 241 - Han Yoohyun’s World (3)

"If your body changes, please come back."

Yoo Myungwoo said as he put away the tape measure. He had measured Han Yoohyun's height, shoulders, and arms, and even taken a mold of his hand. Unlike equipment worn on the body, weapons rarely fit the user's build. Although it was possible to make them that way, it was better if they didn't change due to durability and other reasons.

Therefore, it was best to adapt them to the user's body.

Han Yoohyun looked at Yoo Myungwoo with a bit of bewilderment. To be honest, he didn't think he had a good relationship with him.

"Wasn't it enough to just make the weapons my hyung asked for?"

Yoo Myungwoo looked at Han Yoohyun as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.

"If something happens to Han Yoohyun, Han Yoojin will also be hurt."

Han Yoohyun didn't particularly mind the words taken for granted. And shortly after, Yoo Myungwoo handed Han Yoohyun a damage waiver. He thought he was just borrowing something and would eventually get it back, but he didn't.

He knew Yoo Myungwoo didn't have any special affection for him. It was all for Han Yoojin. Han Yoohyun felt fine with that.

Although he wasn't ready to fully accept him into his world yet, Yoo Myungwoo was fine.

Click, sharp nails scratched the wall. Han Yoohyun pushed Noah's arm aside and, instead of his shoulder, made the wall take the brunt of his open hand, then struck Noah's side with the back of his hand without closing his fist. It was an attack that allowed the opponent to defend themselves, but Noah's body was easily pushed backward.

"Make the final adjustments just before payment."

Han Yoohyun said with an almost unyielding posture.

"Because suddenly changing the size of the hand and the point of attack for the opponent makes it difficult to defend."

"Yes, but the adjustment speed..."

"Practice."

Noah quickly nodded at the cold look telling him not to be lazy and leave his good skills alone.

"It's the same even when in its full form. The ability to quickly change body size can be used to your advantage in combat. The same goes for alternating between valshesis and humanization. It seems Hunter Riette is quite skilled in its use."

"Yes, because she is much faster."

Although he had improved a lot after the duel with Riette, Han Yoohyun looked at Noah with disdain due to his sometimes insecure attitude. Noah still didn't meet his standards in various aspects. Sometimes, he even annoyed him when he unconsciously showed carelessness.

"Then let's go again."

But Noah wasn't all bad either. Anyway, he was improving little by little.

"It seems like I'm helping Hyung a little."

He expressed his desire to help Han Yoojin more, even asking if he was available for training, rather than avoiding confrontations. That was quite good.

These newcomers to his world. Although they hadn't fully entered, they were decent people who were about to. Han Yoohyun enjoyed his trip to Japan. There was nothing to worry about for Park Yerim; everything was as expected. It was almost like a vacation with his hyung, and he enjoyed it as they headed to the Black Bull Forest.

And then, in an unexpected situation, he was left completely powerless.

"I'm waiting for you."

As soon as he heard those words, Han Yoohyun felt fear. The idea that his hyung would come to rescue him was terrifying. Amidst his anxiety about finding some solution, in his mind clouded by anxiety and drugs, what came up was nothing less than the idea of Peace and Park Yerim.

They'll be there. Those who won't leave Han Yoojin alone to handle the situation.

Han Yoohyun stopped struggling. He couldn't help feeling anxious, but he also felt a sense of relief deep in his heart.

Both Park Yerim and Peace had the ability to protect his brother. And Noah was there too. With the three of them, they should be enough to help Han Yoojin and rescue Han Yoohyun. Even if he received help, Park Yerim would definitely mock him, but that would have to wait too.

"...Come quietly, Hyung."

With other people. If Peace and Park Yerim were by Han Yoojin's side, he could confidently wait.

He had even directly seen how Park Yerim and Noah grew stronger under Han Yoojin's leadership. It was under Han Yoojin's tutelage that Peace grew, that Park Yerim grew, that Noah surpassed his sister. Everything was under Han Yoojin's control.

So it was okay. He believed it would be okay.

And finally.

"I'll free you soon."

My brother had returned. Han Yoohyun smiled. He waited for the gruff words and taunts of "What the hell is this?" But what his ear heard was.

Bang!

It was a short gunshot. The smell of blood spread intensely in an instant. Han Yoohyun opened his eyes wide. Why? He couldn't understand it. Whether it was Peace, Park Yerim, or Noah, it was an easily stoppable attack. Healing abilities, potions, why didn't anyone...?

"Hyung, hyung...!"

Han Yoohyun got up as best he could and embraced Han Yoojin, who was collapsing. He took out a potion, but he knew it was too late. As he hugged his brother, he looked around. Only unfamiliar faces.

"...Why?"

No one is here. My brother was alone. Only himself.

"Alpha!"

An unfamiliar person tried to approach. Han Yoohyun forcefully gathered nonexistent mana. Suddenly, black flames enveloped his surroundings to protect him. He brutally pushed both the approaching person with the wind and the people behind him.

"Ugh!"

"Be careful! First of all, don't get closer-”

The Rank A individuals barely received any damage, but the Rank B ones in the corner were pushed outward and hit their heads against the wall, fainting. As people backed away as much as possible, Han Yoohyun looked at his brother in his arms with a pale expression due to the exhaustion of his mana.

He was silent.

His brother had died.

Han Yoohyun accepted that fact. Surprisingly, without resistance, without a single objection.

He admitted that his world had ended.

Therefore, there was no need for anything else. There was no need to shout, nor shed a single tear. His world had already ended, and any action was insignificant.

Han Yoohyun's rough breathing gradually calmed down. On the verge of fading away completely, it was barely audible.

Then new footsteps were heard.

Snap! The lock of the door, protected by mana, unlocked with electric sparks. Then, with a hollow sound, the door swung open abruptly.

"Who's there?"

"Wait, I'm the author!"

Gnosi interposed before his companion could advance, but before that, the golden chains danced. The chain whip struck the Rank A guards in a single blow. The light guards crashed into the wall and fell like heaps of straw. Sigma looked around the room, paying no attention to the guards from start to finish.

The body that Alpha held.

"Rank C."

Of course, there was no response. He was already dead. Sigma tenderly embraced the body and then, looking at Alpha, who seemed on the verge of dying along with the corpse that had stopped breathing, shifted his gaze towards him. It would have been interesting, undoubtedly. If the Rank C were alive.

But now it had no meaning. Sigma sighed unconsciously. Suddenly, everything became dull.

"...It ended too easily without even paying the price of the contract."

It didn't seem likely. It was much faster and easier than expected. It felt like an exciting movie abruptly stopped halfway through. Even around him, there were only movies he had already seen, and that was the last one left to watch.

It was disappointing.

A feeling of desolation so strong that it even surprised Sigma seized him. Unlike a movie, this one might not have an ending...

'...Wait a moment.'

Was he really dead? Sigma reviewed Han Yoojin's movements. He had already given his life to him once. Even when he was willing to leave an impression, he acted as if he didn't care about dying. Did he really not regret his own life?

"That can't be possible."

Sigma looked again at Alpha and the young man in his arms. Han Yoojin had always intended to go to Akates from the beginning. Since he knew nothing about Alpha's fuss over distance and security. Did he really intend to take Alpha? Wasn't his original plan to rescue him? If he knew nothing, would he have shown Alpha such an attitude?

If Han Yoojin valued Alpha and Alpha was important to him. He wouldn't have easily let Alpha's life go, being bound to Akates, if he knew Han Yoojin. Just by observing him for a short period of time, he could be sure of that.

So why did he casually try to surrender? Was it that he wasn't really going to die...?

A dead person couldn't come back to life. But there might be elements that, by causing a mortal injury, made it seem like he was dead. Or perhaps there were abilities like that.

Sigma took a step forward. His heart, which had sunk, began to beat again.

"Han Yoojin."

At the same time, Han Yoohyun's head snapped up. It was a reflexive movement. His red eyes landed on Sigma. It was a familiar face, but now it had no meaning.

But.

Han Yoohyun remembered the voice of a stranger calling out to his brother. There were people left. There were people who valued his brother. He wanted to take his brother with him.

"Ugh, cough!"

A sigh escaped from Han Yoohyun's mouth along with a coughing sound. Physiological tears also formed. With sobs, he tightly embraced his brother's body even stronger.

For Peace, Park Yerim, and the others. He had to take his brother with him.

"Gulp... Ugh..."

There was still something in a world that should have ended completely. Han Yoohyun struggled to stand up. Breathing was difficult for him. It would have been much easier to stay still. But he had to move once again, just once more, for the last time.

For those who would acknowledge that his world had ended. For those who would share his feelings. He wanted to leave with them, return with them. And then, face the end.

Tears overflowed. The pain he didn't need to feel filled his heart, his whole body. From the tip of his head, and even beyond. He felt like he was going to drown. Han Yoohyun sobbed loudly. It was difficult. Why did it have to be like this? His brother had died. All they had to do was end together.

"Give it to me, Alpha."

The chains struck the ground. Sigma took another step forward. Han Yoohyun staggered and straightened his posture. To hand over his brother.

"No... I can't."

Han Yoohyun said, murmuring. His throat was completely closed. He knew that his current self was no match for the man in front of him.

But he could never let him go.

Bang!

The third offer was the end. Instead of persuading, the chains flew towards him. If Han Yoojin could be revived, he would have been an interesting lethal weapon in his relationship with Alpha.

The chains struck the ground and wrapped around Han Yoohyun. He avoided the chains swooping down on him with difficulty. At the same time, he pulled a dagger from his inventory and hurled it towards Sigma. Clink! Without needing to dodge, the chains slightly deflected the dagger.

"You can't even use a weapon properly, let alone your skills."

In this world, there were many types of weapons that consumed mana. Even the weapons that occupied Alpha's inventory consumed as much mana as higher-grade ones. In his current state, Han Yoohyun could only use some relatively low-grade melee weapons.

Thud! Clang! The chains repeatedly struck the ground and the walls, pushing Han Yoohyun into a corner. The walls and floor, which received the power of the mana hole, were even stronger than the cell before and didn't yield an inch.

"Ugh!"

Finally, the chains forcefully struck Han Yoohyun's shoulder as they broke through the blade blocking their path. His clothes tore, and flesh was exposed immediately. Han Yoohyun rolled on the ground. He hastened to cover his brother's body to prevent any further damage as he was pushed towards the end of the wall.

It hurt. Not from the wounds on his shoulder. He felt none of that. What hurt was the fact that his brother was dead but he was still alive. As he struggled to stand up once more, Han Yoohyun murmured over and over again.

'Why does it have to be like this?'

He wanted the author to just kill him. But at the same time, he had to protect. He had to leave. There were still things to do... But why?

"…No."

If he was going to suffer so much, if it was going to be so difficult... It would be better to be alone. He should have ended this now. This is...

Han Yoohyun swallowed his tears. However, he still didn't let go of Han Yoojin. He still didn't stop. Despite dodging attacks and resisting the currents that struck him, he kept trying to escape. With a dull thud, his body was thrown back to the ground. Long wounds opened along his back. Blood mixed with tears that fell rapidly from his eyes.

His vision, blurred by tears, became even more hazy.

He should have given up, but he couldn't. It wasn't something to endure. He simply couldn't let it pass without knowing why. Han Yoohyun tightly hugged his brother with one arm and scraped the ground as he tried to get up. There seemed to be a wound on his head, and blood mixed with the tears dripping down.

"…Hyung."

He wanted to let him go. So, why was he trying to come back? He already had everything he needed here, in his arms. Everything should have ended here.

He had reached his limit. He couldn't even properly control his own body anymore. Why didn't he let go yet? Why did he still feel this way, why had it become this, to the point of starting to resent it?

[Yoohyun.]

A message window appeared in front of Han Yoohyun. His heart, overwhelmed by sadness, beat heavily.

[I'm here, brother.]

A new message quickly appeared before his eyes, falling like a drop of water down his cheek.

[I'm fine, Yoohyun. I'll be back as soon as possible. So...]

"…Hyung."

[Protect me. Wait patiently until Han Yoojin resurrects! Protect Han Yoojin's body for 5 minutes against powerful enemies^▽^

Reward: Automatic recovery of a small amount of mana]

It had already been 5 minutes and the mission was applied retroactively, completing as soon as the pop-up window appeared. If he had received a mana potion, Sigma would have prevented him from drinking it. But the mission window was not in sight.

Han Yoohyun received the reward immediately. His mana recovered a bit. Sigma looked at him in surprise as he struggled to stand up.

"I thought you had given up."

"I still have to wait a little longer."

One last tear fell beneath the blinking of his eyes. Han Yuhyeon carefully hugged his brother's body. He said he would come back. His world hadn't ended yet. He was grateful he hadn't given up. He was grateful he hadn't given in.

It was a relief not to be alone, to be able to keep waiting. It really was a relief. Fire began to burn around Han Yoohyun with a soft sound, dimmer than usual, with a pale blue tone.