EFME 63

“It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of kicking you out.”

Muyoung replied nonchalantly, as if wondering why he was worried about something so obvious. Sunyul’s face, which had been soaked in sadness, instantly brightened.

At that bright face, Yoonjae shrugged as if to say he couldn’t help it.

“Alright, then head back for now. I’ll take care of the rest.”

At those words, Bada’s eyes shot up fiercely.

“You’re really just letting him go?”

“Then what?”

Bada’s lips twitched, his face showing he had much to say. But he couldn’t get any words out. In his stead, Dakyung grinned and whispered.

“Hyung, you just don’t like him going with the Guild Master. So pett— Ah, no violence! Ah! Ah! Sunyul hyung!”

Dakyung hastily called out to Sunyul. Bada let Dakyung go, but Sunyul had already spotted him. Sunyul couldn’t bring himself to tell him to stop and just laughed awkwardly.

Watching this, Bada was submerged in a slight bitterness. The old Sunyul would have immediately told him not to bully Dakyung. He knew it couldn’t be helped, but that made it even sadder. The fact that Sunyul had lost his memories.

Why did Sunyul lose his memories? Why did everyone lose their memories and then regain them, yet only Sunyul still had none? It was full of things he couldn’t understand.

“Sunyul, are you really going to Kwon Muyoung’s house?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m planning to.”

Sunyul replied, glancing cautiously. Bada laughed listlessly.

“Alright. Then get home safely. Rest well.”

“…Okay.”

After Sunyul and Muyoung left the hospital room, Dakyung immediately burst into the tears he had been holding back.

“S-Sunyul hyung…”

To think he has no memories.

He had been so excited while waiting for Sunyul to wake up. He thought that just as much as Sunyul had suffered, everything would resolve itself like a lie.

“Don’t cry.”

Yoonjae’s eyes were dark as he said that. As if to mock his pretense of being fine, Yoonjae was just as shocked.

Yoonjae knew everything Sunyul had gone through as I-21. He was furious with himself for knowing that and treating it as just a piece of information.

And Bada stood up with a face that truly looked like he could kill someone. He had been suppressing his anger in front of Sunyul, but there was no need for that anymore.

“Find out more information on the bastards who kidnapped Sunyul.”

“I’m looking.”

“Fuck…”

Bada spat out a curse at the fact that they didn’t even know the whereabouts of the bastards who he wouldn’t be satisfied with even if he killed them right now.

“Still, Sunyul hyung… even though he was kidnapped and all, he wasn’t… scared or anything. That’s a relief, at least…”

“Because Sunyul is strong.”

The Sunyul they knew was strong. He had a strong will, supported others who clung to him, and always held his ground without wavering.

They couldn’t imagine such a Sunyul breaking down. And indeed, even the Sunyul without memories, while seeming weak, hadn’t broken down despite going through all sorts of things.

So he would be like that in the future, too.

Of course, that didn’t mean they would forgive the bastards who tormented Sunyul.

In the place where Sunyul had disappeared from, the three men expressed and then swallowed their own grief and anger before leaving.

⊹₊｡ꕤ˚₊⊹

After seeing off Yoonjae, Bada, and Dakyung, Sunyul finally felt a little more at ease once he was alone with Muyoung.

“Lim Sunyul.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful. It hasn’t been long since you got hurt.”

“Ye… Yes.”

Muyoung was similar to before, which was a relief. Although he had acted a little scary right after he woke up.

Sunyul changed his clothes and followed Muyoung out. Perhaps because it was late, the hospital was quite deserted. Still, it was such a large hospital that there were a fair number of people passing by.

He hadn’t wanted to run into anyone, but he inevitably did.

The person was startled the moment they recognized Sunyul. Sunyul shrank back without realizing it. But the emotion in the other person’s eyes wasn’t disgust or contempt, but joy or guilt.

“M-Mr. Lim Sunyul. I’m, really… really sorry…”

“Mr. Lim Sunyul, you really… you went through so much… Oh my, really…”

“Ah, ah… Mr. Lim Sunyul, I’m a fan! Stay strong. I’m really, really rooting for you!”

After encountering people several times, Sunyul was able to witness various unfamiliar reactions directed at him. Among them were people who cried, and people who couldn’t find the words to speak. Eventually, Sunyul quietly asked Muyoung.

“Do people not curse me anymore?”

“Right. They won’t curse you, and if anyone does, I can kill them for you.”

At the violent words, Sunyul’s eyes widened.

“Because I’m human?”

“It’s not just that. What you did has been revealed to everyone through the system.”

He didn’t know what exactly the system was or what principles it operated on. But Muyoung thought that, at the very least, the system was on Sunyul’s side, and perhaps it understood humans better than he thought.

The treatment of him wouldn’t have flipped like a palm just because of the simple fact that Sunyul had returned. On the contrary, he might have been suspected and investigated in a different way than before.

But thanks to the system’s support, Sunyul became a hero in an instant.

While Muyoung thought it was a fortunate thing, he also found it a little disillusioning.

Currently, the public was simply in a frenzy. Without even thinking about what they had done. As if I-21 and Sunyul were different beings, as if there would be no problem if they just praised him now.

He felt quite disillusioned by such reactions.

Muyoung had seen people’s reactions change with the situation too many times.

During the chaotic period with the dungeons, if Muyoung was seen resting or playing even for a moment, curses would fly from all directions. It was like that even though it was impossible for Muyoung to only clear dungeons without rest, even as an S-rank hunter.

And when Muyoung consecutively cleared S-rank dungeons, they would change their attitude as if nothing had happened and praise him.

Now, he wouldn’t care what others did, but for the teenage Muyoung, it had been quite a bit of stress.

Muyoung didn’t want to make Sunyul feel that way. It was a relief that Sunyul seemed okay for now, but…

Muyoung glanced back at Sunyul. At his pure face, full of mere curiosity.

“…How was it revealed?”

“The [Savior] trait. Check that.”

Sunyul immediately checked the said trait. And he was quite surprised.

Savior (EX): A tribute to you who saved the world from the rift. While on Earth, you will not die by other means.

‘While on Earth, you will not die by other means.’

Everything that had happened until now flashed through his mind. Numerous incidents where it wouldn’t have been strange if he had died. He was stabbed indiscriminately with a knife, and poisoned several times, but in the end, Sunyul survived.

It was more chilling than relieving. It made him wonder if he had really died back then.

“Why the face.”

“It’s just, the trait seems a little weird.”

It was clearly a good trait, but it was also scary. He felt that if someone found out about this trait, they would definitely try to exploit it. Having just been kidnapped to be a sacrifice or whatnot before waking up in the hospital, he might be feeling this way even more strongly.

“It is weird. It’s the first time I’ve seen a trait with no effect.”

No effect? Sunyul checked the system window where the effect was clearly recorded.

Does the effect not show up when other people look at it?

“How do other people see this?”

Muyoung’s eyebrows twitched for a moment, as if finding Sunyul’s question a little strange, but he answered instead of asking for details.

“Check the rankings.”

‘Rankings, Lim Sunyul…’

1st [Lim Sunyul]

2nd [Muyoung]

3rd [Agnes]

4th [Gravity]

5th [Go Yoonjae]

6th [Water Spray]

7th [Supreme One]

8th [Maru]

9th [Sea of Blood]

10th [First Month]

1st

[Lim Sunyul/Lim Sunyul]

Grade: EX

Traits: Savior (EX) and 9 others

Skills: Private

The information confirmed in the rankings was simplified. When he checked the [Savior] trait there, the description was cut in half.

Savior (EX): A tribute to you who saved the world from the rift.

Why… is the description cut in half?

[The ‘Traveler of the Eternal Night’ guesses that it might be a favor from the system.]

[The ‘Traveler of the Eternal Night’ advises that it would be best to keep that trait a secret.]

Was it saying that the system revealed the trait as a favor, but only revealed half of it? Thanks to that, Sunyul could be acknowledged by people, while the fact that he couldn’t die could be hidden?

For the first time in a while, Sunyul agreed with his constellation’s words.

Of course, it seemed unnecessary to keep it a secret from Muyoung… but he thought there was no need to add to the worries of Muyoung, who already seemed to have a lot on his mind, so Sunyul decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

As Sunyul fell silent, a heavy silence filled the car. Sunyul passed the time by pointlessly opening his status window and reading his skills over and over.

And finally, they arrived home.

“Welcome back, Master. Sunyul-nim.”

Juyoung, who always welcomed him consistently, was especially nice to see today.

The problem was Muyoung.

He hadn’t noticed when they were with other people, but since their conversation in the car ended, he was strangely darker than usual. Moreover, his attitude towards Sunyul seemed to have changed slightly. The way he looked at him, too… there was a slight sense of distance that wasn’t there before.

“Um… Guild Master-nim.”

Sunyul gathered his courage and called out to Muyoung, who was about to go up. Muyoung turned his body, his face looking almost the same as usual.

“What.”

“Why are you angry?”

Muyoung’s lips twitched. He was probably about to say he wasn’t. But instead of making a false excuse, Muyoung chose to reveal his true feelings.

“I’m not angry… I was just reminded of something from the past.”

“Something I don’t remember?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“…”

Muyoung said nothing. But Sunyul was certain. If it was something that could make Muyoung angry, he had clearly done something wrong.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Sunyul decided to beg for forgiveness first. Muyoung shook his head at Sunyul.

“Don’t apologize. From now on, it’s okay for you to be shameless to everyone.”

“…Because of that trait?”

Muyoung nodded.

“Because you saved everyone.”

“I don’t want the Guild Master to treat me differently because of that. I just… I like it when you treat me like before.”

Sunyul said quickly. He liked that Muyoung treated him differently from others, but he didn’t want this kind of special treatment. He hated it because it felt like a distance had been created. Fortunately, Muyoung soon nodded.

“Okay.”

Muyoung was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth with his usual unwavering demeanor.

“Still, don’t apologize. It’s meaningless to apologize without knowing.”

“Then can’t you tell me what it is?”

“No.”

“…”

“Apologize properly when you remember.”

“I can’t do that…”

Sunyul’s face fell. But Muyoung, who usually went easy on him, didn’t let it slide this time. In the end, Sunyul had to cautiously ask something else.

“You weren’t angry so you didn’t want to bring me here, were you?”

“…It’s not that. Of course not.”

Muyoung let out a low sigh and shook his head.

“I have no intention of getting angry at the current you, who has no memories.”

“But you are.”

“I’m holding back my anger.”

“…Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Should I show you what being angry looks like?”

“Ah, no.”

“If I were going to get angry, I wouldn’t be standing here quietly like this.”

“Yes…”

True, he hadn’t seen it himself, but he imagined Muyoung would be scary when he was angry. Muyoung had an intimidating impression, a low voice, a large build, was cool, and strong.

Anyway, it was a relief that he wasn’t angry.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“No, it’s okay. What I did wrong… I’ll try to remember, somehow…”

Sunyul said, pressing down the rising feeling of refusal. Muyoung shook his head at the struggling Sunyul.

“You don’t need to force yourself to remember. You’re enough as you are.”

“But, you said you were angry.”

“There’s no reason why you have to be the one to appease my anger.”

“…Okay.”

Sunyul nodded, a little dejected. It felt like Muyoung was putting up a wall, and he felt strangely upset. Muyoung noticed his mood but just pretended not to.

Muyoung’s anger was not the kind of emotion he wanted to vent on Sunyul.

That day, just before entering the rift, Sunyul had come to see Muyoung. And every word Sunyul said turned Muyoung’s stomach upside down.

‘Even if I were to die… if I think that the Guild Master can live because of it, I think it would be okay to die.’

In that moment, Muyoung felt his blood run cold. He probably wouldn’t have been this angry even if Sunyul had pushed him into the rift and told him to die in his place.

So Muyoung’s anger was more like a plea than rage. Don’t ever do that again. Just look at what’s happening to you.

‘I’ll say what I really want to say when I come back.’

That was the last thing Sunyul had said. Muyoung suppressed the surging emotions and spoke as he usually did.

“You’ve been through a lot, so wash up and get some good rest. You don’t have to go to the guild with me from tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Now that it’s been confirmed that you’re human, there’s no need to monitor you.”

He hadn’t expected that. Sunyul’s mouth hung open with a slightly stupid expression.

“Why, isn’t that good?”

“It’s just, none of this feels real…”

“It’s okay. Nothing will happen now. There won’t be people who attack you blindly like before, so rest assured.”

“…Because I’m Lim Sunyul?”

“Because you saved everyone. Even if you have no memories.”

Muyoung soothed Sunyul, noticing his confusion.

Sunyul still couldn’t feel the reality of those words at all. To think that he, who had only been cursed at, was a hero who had saved everyone in the past. No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t feel real.

For now, Sunyul nodded and went up to his room. He washed up and crawled into bed, closing his eyes and trying to sleep. But it didn’t seem like he would fall asleep easily.

A strange emotion swirled inside Sunyul.

Anxiety and fear about the suddenly changed situation, as well as joy and elation, the expectation and trembling that something would change, the tension about hardships that might come, the questions about the question-mark-filled ‘Lim Sunyul’, the curiosity about what the past event Muyoung mentioned was…

At first, it hadn’t felt real, and when everyone was together, he was so swept up that he didn’t have a chance to dwell on it. But now that he had time to himself, all of it came crashing down on him belatedly.

Losing his memories and appearing in a dungeon as an item must be related to saving the world.

If so, did the ‘me’ of the past save everyone knowing he would go through this? Knowing he would go through terrible things?

If he had known, it probably wouldn’t have been an easy decision.

‘But…’

Sunyul thought.

If he could really save this world as the system said, if he could save it by sacrificing himself… then wasn’t it natural that he should offer himself up?

[The ‘Traveler of the Eternal Night’ laments that this is still bullshit.]

Sunyul even mulled over his constellation’s nonsense. ‘Still’ must mean that the past Lim Sunyul had similar thoughts.

It was somewhat reassuring. The fact that he had the same thoughts as his past self felt like proof that they were the same person. It seemed unlikely that one day the real Lim Sunyul would appear and tell the fake to get out of the way.

At the same time, he felt a little depressed. He didn’t know why.

He was a mess of so many emotions that he didn’t think he could fall asleep at all.

Sunyul carefully slipped out of his room and headed to Muyoung’s room. When he knocked gently, Muyoung soon opened the door.

“What.”

“I can’t sleep. Can we sleep together?”

“…Come in.”

Muyoung let out a short sigh and readily stepped aside. Sunyul scurried inside, afraid of being kicked out.

Sunyul hesitantly climbed onto the bed. Then he spoke to Muyoung, who was about to turn off the light right away.

“Guild Master-nim… Can we talk for a bit?”

“Do as you like.”

Muyoung sat on the edge of the bed. Since the bed was large, there was quite a bit of distance between him and Sunyul, who was lying down on the opposite side.

Sunyul pouted. He used to hug him so well before, but now he didn’t even do that. Now that he had regained his memories, shouldn’t they have a more intimate relationship?

Instead of pestering him for a hug like a child, Sunyul looked up at Muyoung.

“You said we knew each other in the past.”

“I did.”

“Then what was our relationship?”

“You were an esper belonging to the Ability Management Bureau, and I was the Cheongyeon Guild Master.”

“It wasn’t just that, was it?”

“Why do you think so.”

“Because if that was all our relationship was, I don’t think there would have been anything for the Guild Master to have to hold his anger back about.”

“…”

He would have either flipped out like with Jang Beomjin, or just ignored him.

Sunyul read affirmation in Muyoung’s silence. Was he spot on? Muyoung hadn’t said anything, but the strangely tense atmosphere made him nervous, and he swallowed dryly.

Sunyul wriggled his way towards Muyoung. Seeing him approach, Muyoung’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t stop him.

After getting right up close, Sunyul looked up at Muyoung’s face. Perhaps because he was such a sculpted man, he was incredibly handsome even when looked at from this angle. Sunyul, a little nervous, spoke as if he wasn’t.

“You know, Guild Master-nim.”

“…”

“I think I probably liked you.”

“You’re right.”

“Huh?”

“You did like me. Me.”

“…So I really did like you.”

The moment he heard those words, Sunyul realized anew that he liked Muyoung.

Just as his past self had, his present self also, likes Kwon Muyoung.

Muyoung knew that fact in the past; would he not know it now?

No way.

Sunyul sat up. Something that could be courage or recklessness surged up. It was probably closer to the latter. Sunyul immediately grabbed hold of Muyoung.

And he carefully placed a kiss on Muyoung’s lips.

Muyoung could have easily avoided or pushed Sunyul away if he had wanted to. But Sunyul’s lips softly met Muyoung’s and then pulled away of their own accord.

Sunyul looked at Muyoung’s face.

It was a face he couldn’t read. But he could tell that Muyoung was not in a state of composure.

“Then what about you, Guild Master-nim.”

“…”

“Did you like me?”

“…Perhaps.”

Listening to his low, cracking voice, Sunyul kissed him once more. Muyoung’s eyebrows twitched.