Chapter 61

“Aren't you a vice-guild leader too?”

At that moment, a round rope materialized around Eumjigeon’s neck. The rope extended from the vase of the goddess statue. As the water stream tightly wrapped around his neck, Eumjigeon bared his teeth fiercely.

“Hey, you’re good at that?”

“Seeing what you did, I thought I could do it too.”

“So you’re an irregular, huh?”

Suddenly, all the water from the fountain shot up and poured over Chahaya’s entire body. The water stream from the goddess’s vase disappeared, and the band around Eumjigeon’s neck vanished as well.

Eumjigeon was not the type to let someone who provoked him, especially using his own element, go unpunished. The water from the fountain, which had seeped into the ground, rose again, forming a sphere. Not only that, but the landscaping trees of the apartment complex also withered and twisted, swelling into a large sphere filled with water.

A sphere large enough to easily suffocate and kill dozens of people enveloped Chahaya. Chahaya’s hair, trapped in the water, fluttered wildly.

“Kid, you shouldn’t copy others so carelessly. If you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

Plop, Chahaya opened his mouth.

‘Die.’

As Chahaya’s eyes looked up, Eumjigeon felt his body being pressed down. Crack, crack, the marble on the ground shattered like glass, sinking inward.

Under the immense force trying to crush him, Eumjigeon drew all the moisture from the ground and the surrounding area. The forest of the apartment complex withered and twisted, and the damp soil turned to sand. He used water streams as a shield to protect himself from the impact of his internal organs being flattened. The sturdy water wall shook violently, expanding and contracting repeatedly.

Crack, crack, crack, the ground split in a 50-meter radius around where Eumjigeon was lying. If it went any further, it would affect the central structure of the apartment complex. Eumjigeon struggled as if he were a planet being sucked into a black hole.

“Damn brat! Surrender! Surrender! Stop it!”

Squish, the massive sphere that had enclosed Chahaya dispersed into countless tiny water droplets. The water returned to its original place, but the withered and twisted trees could not be revived.

Cough, as Chahaya spat out water from his mouth, even that turned into small droplets that seeped into the ground.

Flashes were going off and videos were being recorded from various places. The people on the terrace of the apartment, which overlooked the fountain, were also holding up their phones.

Eumjigeon, who had coughed up blood and was gasping for breath, stood up. When he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, sticky blood came off. Damn... That kid went too far. The muttering voice was only heard by Chahaya.

“I overdid it. I apologize.”

Eumjigeon, who was injured internally, apologized sincerely. He extended his blood-soaked hand for a handshake, and Chahaya responded coldly.

“Don’t put on a show.”

Chahaya knew that Eumjigeon was a mansejong, someone who was always aware of public opinion.

If he pushed it here, he would only be the one to suffer, but when had he ever lived by such calculations?

Chahaya shook the water out of his hair and picked up the fallen beer can. Crunch, crunch, the sound of stepping on the broken marble floor was like walking on the floor of a semi-basement. As he reached the entrance and shook off his sneakers, the embedded marble pieces fell off.

Chahaya spoke to Eumjigeon.

“You’ll pay for the restoration costs.”

***

[3rd and 4th Period Club Activities]

When Chahaya and Seo Un were in their first year of high school, they joined the club “Our Neighborhood Walk.” Despite the popularity of various clubs like soccer, baseball, and movie appreciation, they both chose “Our Neighborhood Walk” without any disagreement. They would always leave the school and wander around during club time. Of course, most of their walking routes were the hills in Chahaya’s neighborhood.

Originally, the club teacher was supposed to accompany them, but the teacher gave the students freedom. Of course, the teacher was also free during that time. He would always lie down and sleep, writing only “Club Activity” on the blackboard.

The two, once outside, spent half of their free time at the PC room and the rest sitting at the playground, killing time.

“Hey!”

As Chahaya, who was on the opposite side of the seesaw, suddenly stood up, Seo Un was jolted up by the collision with the tire.

“Don’t stand up suddenly! My butt is bruised.”

“Let’s see.”

Chahaya laughed and pressed down the seesaw with his arm again. Seo Un’s legs shot up into the air. Thud, thud, Chahaya moved the seesaw up and down as if he were riding a ride.

“Got some energy left?”

Seo Un, with his legs spread wide, held onto the handles of the seesaw. Chahaya, holding the opposite handle, was lifting Seo Un into the air.

“Can you give me a ride later?”

“Do you have a conscience?”

“Why, am I too heavy? Should I lose weight?”

“Spit out the soft candy in your mouth and talk. You ate three of them.”

“Jealous?”

Again, thud, thud, he gave Seo Un a roller coaster ride. Seo Un cursed, calling him a crazy kid, but he laughed, clearly enjoying it. Chahaya looked at Seo Un’s open mouth.

The most vivid memory from the first day of school was those lips.

On the first day, they sat in alphabetical order, so Seo Un was right next to him. However, he never returned from the seat of Han Donhee, who was from the same middle school. It wasn’t until the homeroom teacher came in that he finally sat down, and only then could they greet each other.

“Friends?”

Chahaya pointed to Han Donhee and asked first.

“Yeah, we went to the same middle school. But the kids are saying you’re really handsome.”

That was their first greeting. At the time, he was amazed by how quickly those plump lips moved.

The next day, their seats were reassigned, and they ended up at opposite ends of the classroom. If he hadn’t approached first, it might have been difficult to become friends with Seo Un.

Seo Un tended to hang out with his old friends rather than new ones. He was generally bright but had a subtle introverted side.

“Let’s head back.”

Seo Un jumped off the seesaw.

His white sneakers, with their white laces, showed dirt easily. However, Seo Un had never worn a pair of dirty shoes.

Chahaya, walking beside Seo Un, looked down at his own shoes.

It didn’t make sense to say they were clean but old. Old shoes couldn’t be clean. That’s why, a few days ago, a second-year senior he had only seen a few times at the snack bar suggested he buy new shoes, saying he was always being compared to his friend.

“Should I buy new shoes?”

“Why?”

Seo Un replied that there was no need.

“They’re old.”

“They’re not torn, so it’s fine.”

Seo Un put his arm around Chahaya’s shoulder and leaned his weight on him. He jumped a few times, but it didn’t really affect Chahaya.

“Just ignore what others say. They’re just jealous of you.”

“Why would they be jealous of me?”

Seo Un laughed, calling him a poor guy, and put his hand under his chin.

“Here it is?”

Scratch, scratch, scratch, he rubbed his chin as if petting a dog.

Chahaya, noticing that he was about to bite like a dog, quickly ran forward. The difference in stride was significant. Chahaya immediately caught up to Seo Un and bit his hand.

“Ah, crazy kid! You got my hand wet!”

Seo Un not only shook his hand but also slapped Chahaya’s back.

Chahaya, suggesting that Seo Un bite him too, pressed his hand against his lips, but Seo Un didn’t do the same. At that moment, Chahaya was taken aback. The soft feeling of the lips was the most special sensation he had ever felt.

Had he ever felt so good that he wanted to laugh when touching someone? So, without realizing it, he grabbed Seo Un’s lips with his thumb and index finger.

Seo Un, with his lips still held, mumbled, “What?” Chahaya, surprised by his impulsive action, let go of his lips.

This kid is biting and putting a muzzle on me. Seo Un, complaining, rubbed his lips, saying they were numb.

Seo Un often pushed him away and deliberately leaned on him, giving him unnecessary weight. But at some point, he started to keep his distance, and if Chahaya reached out, he would deliberately move in another direction.

This made Chahaya wonder if his old school uniform smelled bad, a ridiculous thought. When others distanced themselves, he could accept it, but strangely, he couldn’t give up on Seo Un.

Is this why he came this far?

Becoming a mansejong and bringing Seo Un, who was casually used by Cha Byungcheon, into the guild.

Chahaya, looking at the sleeping Seo Un, could finally recall their starting point.

Standing on the round rug under the bed, a deep shadow fell over Chahaya. Since they were on the upper floor of the apartment, Seo Un was sleeping soundly, unaware of what was happening outside.

He could imagine Seo Un’s eyes, which would glare at him when he woke up and realized the situation. He planned to blame it on Eumjigeon’s nonsense, but what if Eumjigeon mentioned the site?

Maybe he should have just killed him earlier.

Seo Un, breathing steadily, let out a deep sigh.

Plop, lying on his side, only his ear was visible.

If Eumjigeon died, he would naturally be the prime suspect, and given that Eumjigeon was a top-tier species, it would be a headache. As a member of the Tachun guild, Seo Un might also face criticism.

Chahaya, who was about to leave, turned around and walked half a circle around the bed. Seo Un’s cheek, wrapped in a white blanket, was pressed to the side, making his lips stick out.

Chahaya looked at his own hand. The soft touch from the playground was still vivid.

“Do you like him?”

“Just friends?”

If not just friends?

Chahaya brought his hand close to Seo Un’s lips.

When his breath was blocked, Seo Un’s expression slightly changed. When he pressed his index finger on the lower lip, it was as soft as before.

...If not just friends?

Chahaya pressed his hand on the bed to get closer to Seo Un. Perhaps he hoped Seo Un would wake up. However, even as the spring was pressed down, Seo Un didn’t move.

Chahaya tilted his head to close the distance. Rustle, his hair touched Seo Un’s cheek. The breath that flowed out was very light, but his hand felt as if it was sweating, and he gently pressed his lips.

Shudder, was it Seo Un, or was it himself? Perhaps they both shuddered at the same time.

Chahaya quickly stood up, faster than he had approached. The sensation of the lips touching made his neck tingle. If he hadn’t controlled his impulse, he might have bitten Seo Un’s lips.

Chahaya moved away from Seo Un, showing his back. His steps seemed to carry a hint of anger and anxiety.

Bang! Chahaya closed the door carelessly and didn’t look back once.

...What.

Seo Un, lying on his side, was wide awake.

His eyes, wide open, were as clear as those of someone who had never slept.