* * *
- Kyung!
The tiny snake, upon detecting Seohwa’s poisoned state, immediately released a misty purple toxin from its small fangs.
“Stop. Don’t do it. I need to stay poisoned.”
- Kyuu?
“I have my reasons. Don’t neutralize the poison.”
- Kyung. Kyu? Kyuung?
“Good boy, Kobami. I don’t get why people say snakes are creepy. You’re so sweet and cute.”
- Kyuuung!
As Seohwa stroked its small head, the little snake puffed up proudly and forgot all about the poison.
“I’m meeting Kang Yigeon today. This time, in person. But before that, I need to check the security situation. Can you help me one more time?”
- Kkyu.
Understanding perfectly, Kobami turned invisible.
Seohwa sent the snake out of the hospital room.
Kobami skillfully evaded the eyes of A-rank hunters, mapped out the security shift schedule, and found a perfect infiltration route before returning.
Afterward, Seohwa spent time playing with Kobami, waiting for night to fall.
∗ ∗ ∗
“It’s time, Kobami.”
- Kkyu!
Just past midnight, Kobami returned to wand form.
Seohwa checked that the hallway was empty before reaching for the doorknob—then stopped.
‘Magic is best for situations like this.’
Sliding through the door effortlessly, Seohwa phased outside.
This wasn’t a skill, but a simple magic trick.
In fact, “magic” might not be the right word—perhaps it was more like sleight of hand.
In the system’s definition, mages and illusionists shared common ground.
Even though Seohwa had an anti-surveillance device to block the security cameras, he moved only through blind spots as much as possible.
Upon reaching the ninth floor, he felt the presence of A-rank hunters.
Different ones from those he had seen earlier in the day.
‘Wait… they hired four A-ranks?’
An S-rank hunter was worth a hundred A-ranks.
An A-rank hunter was worth fifty B-ranks.
With the EX-rank hunter currently out of commission, having four A-ranks stationed here was…
Seohwa didn’t doubt Simjin’s competence, but now he was curious about the guild’s financial situation.
Hopefully, they hadn’t stopped receiving fourth-tier dungeon assignments.
That was their main source of income.
‘…No, actually, Guild Leader Simjin is handling this well.’
The rumor that Kang Yigeon was in a coma had already spread.
Stationing four A-ranks to protect a vulnerable EX-rank hunter was the correct decision.
“Wait. There’s something over there.”
“I sense it too. Contact the Guild Leader.”
As expected of A-ranks, they detected even the faintest presence.
But before they could take action, Seohwa was faster.
Activating Skill [Silent Night].
The dim light vanished, and a veil of darkness spread.
“Ugh, this is…!”
“A sleep skill…!”
Sorry, but it’s not sleep—it’s hypnosis.
[Silent Night] casts its veil.
The “lambs” resist the hypnosis!
The hunters staggered, struggling to keep their eyes open.
Seohwa was impressed.
Even fifth-tier monsters succumb to this instantly—how are they resisting?
The “lambs” fall asleep.
In the end, they couldn’t hold out.
It had been a while since Seohwa last felt a thrill like this.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Checking the unconscious hunters’ belongings, he found sleep-resistance items.
Item: “A Sleepless Night”
– I want to sleep, but I just can’t!
– Sleep Resistance +1200
– Skill Protection +1200
– S-rank, crafted by Shin Seongyeon
Item: “Sleep When You’re Dead”
– You can sleep when you’re dead.
– Sleep Resistance +1200
– Skill Protection +1200
– S-rank, crafted by Shin Seongyeon
‘Oh, so Seongyeon noona made these…’
A high-level blacksmith crafted sleep-resistance gear and equipped these hunters with it.
‘I thought they were here to guard Kang Yigeon against Evil Humans, but…’
Evil Humans only have enhanced physical abilities—they can’t use skills.
Meaning these items were specifically prepared for [Silent Night].
Did that mean Kang Yigeon was just bait?
Seohwa’s suspicions deepened.
Even if it was a trap, he had no choice but to take the bait.
Seohwa phased through the door to Kang Yigeon’s hospital room.
“……”
Kang Yigeon lay on the bed.
He had no ventilator, but his IV lines had doubled.
The slow, rhythmic drip of the IV fluid shimmered with a mysterious violet hue—an unmistakable sign of an alchemically refined potion.
Seohwa’s gaze traveled up Kang Yigeon’s arm.
His once strong, chiseled jawline had become sharper.
His lips were dry and cracked.
His eyes were firmly shut, as if he had no intention of waking up.
The man who had always seemed like an unbreakable stone now looked small and fragile.
Seohwa dragged a chair beside the bed and sat down.
Closing his eyes, he reached out with his aura—then opened them again.
“It’s real.”
Kang Yigeon was truly in a coma.
Seohwa had hoped he was faking.
A long time ago… Seohwa had visited Kang Yigeon in the hospital once before.
He had entered a third-tier dungeon alone and suffered from “poisoning” due to potion overdose.
When Seohwa heard that, he had been furious.
Why had Gak Anbu sent him into a third-tier dungeon alone?
Even for an S-rank, he should have had at least three supporters.
Director Go Hyeyeol had made excuses, saying they were short on manpower.
“If he had joined my guild, this wouldn’t have happened.”
That was the only thought in Seohwa’s mind.
That day, despite his packed schedule, he had still made time to visit.
And stolen an antidote potion from Anis while he was at it.
He had been furious.
And now…
“Kang Yigeon. Did you really overdose on potions?”
Even if he wouldn’t die, there was no telling what kind of aftereffects he would suffer.
Even as an EX-rank, he had been unconscious for nearly two months now.
He knew what he was doing.
Back then, he was angry… but now, he just felt sad.
It was heartbreaking.
“Why did you do it?”
While this man was being pushed to the edge, what had the people around him been doing?
They should have taken care of him.
They should have checked in on him.
In this timeline, Kang Yigeon had always been mentally unstable.
He was someone who originally took anti-anxiety medication.
The people around him should have been more attentive.
Why did Simjin abandon his own vice-Guild Leader?
And Junyoung-hyung? Tuyeon, Wookwon, Anis… He resented them all.
But that resentment lasted only for a moment.
In the end, it was because of him.
There was no one else to blame. It was all because of him.
Because he disappeared.
Because Kang Yigeon wanted to find him.
“…They probably just thought I had a reason.”
‘That I must have had no choice but to go into hiding.’
That it was something they just had to accept.
Kang Yigeon had only suffered in hatred for three years.
Three years that were a nightmare.
But couldn’t he just think of them as a bad dream and move on with his life?
Why did he have to be so foolishly persistent…?
“Even in the next life.”
“……”
“No matter how many times the world repeats, I will love you.”
“I never knew you were such an idiot, Kang Yigeon.”
Seohwa placed the back of his hand against Kang Yigeon’s cheek.
His skin was soft, but there was a faint warmth to it.
Despite his title as the Northern Grand Duke, ruler of the frozen lands, he always carried this slight heat—a trait of a fire-wielder.
He lightly brushed Kang Yigeon’s cheek, but the man’s long lashes didn’t even twitch.
When Seohwa placed a finger under his nose, he could at least feel the faint breaths of life.
‘Hundreds of S-rank status immunity potions wouldn’t work as well as a single word from Hunter Seohwa. Just whisper his name three times, and he’d probably wake up immediately.’
Kang Yigeon’s coma wasn’t physical. It was psychological.
Hoping that Cho Wookwon’s words were right, Seohwa leaned in close.
Close enough for his lips to almost brush against Kang Yigeon’s ear.
And then, he whispered softly.
“…Kang Yigeon.”
“Don’t make me worry.”
“Let me watch over you without fear.”
“Stay strong.”
“…Open your eyes now.”
Seohwa waited.
Kang Yigeon didn’t move.
What should he do?
What if he never wakes up?
What if he’s swallowed by his own fear and darkness, never to open his eyes again…?
“……!”
Just as Seohwa was about to brush his cheek once more, he flinched.
Kang Yigeon’s lashes trembled.
His eyelids quivered.
Was he… waking up?
Was it really happening—just from his whisper?
He had wanted this so badly.
He was overwhelmed with joy, so much so that his chest felt like it might burst.
But just as much as he felt joy, he also felt doubt.
No, even if this was a psychological issue, could a few whispered words really wake him up?
‘Kang Yigeon, I’m really glad to see you again. But don’t ever do something like this again.’
Seohwa quickly stood up. Right now, he was in the form of Lee Yuje.
And if it was Kang Yigeon, as sharp as he was, he would recognize him immediately.
He had to leave.
But he didn’t even take two steps before—
A strong hand grabbed his wrist.
“Seohwa….”
At the deep, hoarse voice, Seohwa stiffened and turned around.
Kang Yigeon was holding onto his wrist.
His violet eyes were hazy, as if covered in mist.
His gaze wasn’t focused on Seohwa’s face but somewhere in the air beyond.
It seemed like he couldn’t see properly yet.
That was to be expected, given that he had just woken up from a two-month coma.
“Don’t go.”
“……”
“Seohwa… don’t go….”
A red system window popped up in front of Seohwa.
[Beep beep beep! Warning!
Oath Violation Rate Rising Rapidly!
■■■■■■■■□□ ]
* * *
