EFME 69

Bada had fallen for Sunyul the moment he first saw him. Back then, it was more like a mild interest. But the closer they got, the more he learned about what kind of person Sunyul was, the more he came to like him sincerely.

Sunyul was kind and altruistic. Yet, he wasn’t a complete pushover. Bada thought his heart fluttered for the first time at Sunyul’s relentless side, the way he would cut off what wasn’t right with a firm ‘no’. He poured his heart and soul into everything, and never broke, no matter the hardship.

To those he considered somewhat close, he would offer a gentle and soft smile. That ticklish voice calling his name, “Bada-ya,” he had loved it so much. In private, the way he would soften up was lovely and beautiful.

He had finally understood the feeling of “it has to be this person,” but Sunyul already had someone he liked.

Even so, he was happy. He had liked him so, so much… but now, there were too many things to be sorry for.

Bada suddenly dropped to his knees in front of Sunyul. Sunyul was startled by Bada’s unexpected action.

“Why…”

“Sunyul, I’m sorry.”

“I told you, you don’t need to be sorry.”

“Not about that.”

What else could there be besides that? Having no clue, Sunyul just rolled his eyes, while Bada, unable to hide his grief, barely managed to open his mouth.

“The sword you gave me, I said I’d cherish it forever… but I used it up. Just, carelessly…”

Bada’s voice grew smaller and smaller. Looking down at Bada’s bowed head, Sunyul cautiously asked.

“A sword?”

“Yeah.”

A sword, out of the blue. What on earth…

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, a dream came to mind.

“…The, the B-rank sword I gave you as thanks for the enhancement potion?”

Bada’s head snapped up. His eyes, which had turned red at some point, were wide open.

“You remember?”

“I don’t remember everything, I really don’t have many memories… but I remember that.”

Afraid that Bada might misunderstand and think he remembered a lot, Sunyul quickly clarified. Bada couldn’t say anything. After a moment of silence, thick tears began to fall from his eyes.

Not knowing what to do, Sunyul placed a hand on Bada’s shoulder, then moved it toward his eyes, before finally reaching for the tissues on the table.

“Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry. I was going to keep it, forever.”

“No. I gave it to you to use… or should I buy you a new one?”

“A civil servant, with no money, how are you going to buy a new one…”

I’m not even a civil servant now, I’m unemployed. Sunyul swallowed the petty comment. Instead, he looked down at Bada with pity.

“Didn’t you use it because you needed it?”

“…It probably would have been fine even if I didn’t use that one. To be honest, I don’t even really remember when I used it. It wasn’t something to be used up like that, but I, so easily…”

His efforts to console him were in vain as Bada began to sob again. Damn it, this mouth of mine is the problem. Sunyul blamed his own mouth and looked at Bada pitifully.

The value of an object differs from person to person. To an S-rank hunter like Bada, a B-rank sword was probably a common item. So he must have used it up carelessly when he didn’t remember.

But just for the reason that Sunyul had given it to him, he was shedding tears he hadn’t shed even when he lost an S-rank item.

What on earth was Lim Sunyul to Lee Bada for him to be like this?

He had no memory, but the thought that he might have had such an impact on another person… made him feel concerned.

Because he, who was confident he wouldn’t remember the things he’d forgotten, would not be able to return this sentiment.

Hoping to offer at least a little comfort, Sunyul opened his mouth.

“Anyway, you used it because you needed it. It’s not like the past me told you to keep it forever… right? Anyway, it won’t matter.”

“…Yeah.”

“….”

“But I’m still sorry….”

It’s okay not to apologize. It’s really not a big deal. Nevertheless, it seemed Bada wouldn’t be satisfied until he apologized.

“It’s okay, Bada-ya.”

“….”

“I’m really okay.”

“Sorry….”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

Listening to the repeated apologies, Sunyul stayed by Bada’s side for a while until he calmed down.

He felt so bad for Bada that he wanted to do something for him, but he could only feel sorry that there was nothing he could do. Bada said he didn’t need anything, but maybe he should buy him a sword or something later if he got the chance.

After a long while, the calmed Bada walked Sunyul back to Muyoung’s office. Bada seemed reluctant to let Sunyul go, hesitating for a long time before asking.

“Are you going to Kwon Muyoung’s place again today?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“If Kwon Muyoung does anything weird, kill him.”

“…Yeah, okay.”

What’s the standard for ‘weird’? The sex from last night suddenly popped into his head. But that was by no means a weird thing, so….

Bada looked at Sunyul with suspicious eyes.

“That bastard hasn’t done anything weird, has he?”

“He hasn’t, why?”

Sunyul had a face that showed whenever he was lying. But since he truly didn’t think it was anything weird… thankfully, Bada just let it go.

Sunyul parted with Bada and returned to the guild master’s office.

Hearing from Muyoung that no one else was coming, Sunyul, instead of going back to the break room, occupied the sofa and played Malong Farm.

Before long, it was time to leave work, and Muyoung began to tidy up his desk.

“Did you have fun?”

“Um… yes.”

Unsure if ‘fun’ was the right word, Sunyul gave a vague answer.

“You get along well with Jeong Dakyung.”

“Ah, I was hanging out with Dakyung… but then Bada said he had something to talk about, so I went to see him for a bit.”

Muyoung’s hands, which were organizing documents, paused. He frowned slightly.

“Why Lee Bada?”

“Bada was apologizing for losing a sword I gave him. So I told him it was okay.”

“He apologizes for the weirdest things.”

“I know, right?”

“There’s no need to accept all of it. If you’re too accepting, they’ll get spoiled.”

The words felt somewhat cold. Isn’t that a bit too harsh? Sunyul thought, before quickly correcting himself. A kind person like Muyoung wouldn’t say something so cold without reason. It must be based on some truth.

‘Could he be the type to be surprisingly clingy?’

Thinking that Bada would be so wronged he’d fall ill if he knew, Sunyul also went into the break room to grab his things.

His belongings filled up a shopping bag. Sunyul shook his head at Muyoung, who offered to carry it for him, and then brought forward the hand he had been deliberately hiding behind his back.

It was the scarf he had taken out beforehand.

“Guild Master, this is a present for you.”

Muyoung took what Sunyul offered and unfolded it. Even to Muyoung’s eyes, it was a dark gray scarf with a generous length.

“You knitted it well.”

“Right?! I think it looks pretty good too!”

Muyoung casually draped the scarf over his coat. Sunyul cheered upon seeing the scarf suit him well without any awkwardness.

He was so sick of knitting after making two scarves that he probably wouldn’t touch knitting needles ever again. Sunyul looked at the masterpiece that would be the first and last of his life and nodded in satisfaction.

He quickly took the scarf off. They were in the car, after all. Sitting in the passenger seat, Sunyul thought for a moment before speaking.

“Guild Master, everyone was looking at me today….”

“It’s hard to stop them from sneaking glances.”

Muyoung said, looking troubled, so Sunyul quickly shook his head.

“Ah, no. That’s fine. Although it does feel a bit like being a monkey in a zoo….”

“Should I try to stop them from looking, too?”

“Ah, no. It’s okay! More importantly, uh… it seemed like everyone was looking at me favorably.”

“That’s probably the case.”

“Is it because of the rift?”

“You had a good image even before.”

“I see….”

Sunyul found that fact quite fascinating. Since waking up, his life had been a series of being met with caution. This, this wasn’t a bad feeling.

“You worked as an Ability User from a young age with little income and went through all sorts of hardships, there’s no way you wouldn’t be popular.”

However, Muyoung’s words were somewhat sharp.

Sunyul had burned himself out to care for those around him. Since he was always like that, he himself had nothing left. To Muyoung, Sunyul was just a precarious human who could collapse at any moment.

He never thought that someone who lived so precariously would actually save the world with the resolve to throw away his own life.

Thinking of that, anger surged up again, and Muyoung struggled to suppress his fury.

“Did you not like me much back then, Guild Master?”

He’d said that he liked him, but from the way he was talking, it really didn’t seem like it.

“No, of course not. You were diligent and capable.”

That wasn’t the kind of sentiment Sunyul was looking for.

“Not that kind of stuff.”

Only then did Muyoung let out a small laugh. After a moment of silence, Muyoung started with a “Well,” but then remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

“…I wondered why you liked someone like me.”

“Why?”

“There’s no reason to like me. There were plenty of guys who liked you.”

Sunyul’s eyes widened. No reason to like him? There were plenty. Sunyul was confident he could list the reasons he liked him, numbering them from 1 to 100.

“What do you mean, no reason? There are lots.”

“It’s even more so now. And now, even the age gap….”

Muyoung stopped what he was saying and sighed. He was suddenly hit with the reality of the age gap between him and Sunyul.

Before the rift incident, it was a six-year difference. A bit of a gap, but one could say it was reasonably okay. But now, after 5 years, it’s an eleven-year difference. A horribly large gap.

“Why? I’m old.”

Unaware of Muyoung’s inner thoughts, Sunyul proclaimed confidently. Muyoung let out a short sigh.

“You’re the same as when you were twenty-two.”

“You said 5 years have passed. So I’m twenty-seven.”

“Twenty-seven, my ass.”

“That’s not right….”

Sunyul muttered quietly, his lips parting.

‘I wandered for a very long time. An impossibly long time, too long to count….’

His mind, trying to recall the memory, was foggy, as if shrouded in mist. To the point where it was difficult to remember what he had just been thinking.

“Lim Sunyul?”

“…Yes?”

Sunyul’s head snapped around at the voice that broke through his thoughts. Muyoung was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“You were spacing out.”

“Ah, ah…. It’s nothing.”

Sunyul belatedly came to his senses. His head ached slightly, but it quickly subsided.

“Anyway, whether it’s ten years, twenty years, or a hundred years, don’t worry about it. Even if there’s a thousand-year age difference, I’ll still like you, Guild Master.”

“If it’s that much, then you should worry a little.”

Sunyul laughed at Muyoung’s words.