RHFTY chapter 3

Once you successfully manifest and grow up to be an adult, then I’ll treat you as an equal. Leonard didn’t respond to that.

Chaeyi, too, withdrew his hand and slumped down.

It was getting harder to stay awake as his mind grew foggier.

He felt like he needed to sleep.

“You can keep using the bed in the room over there… So go to sleep, too.”

Chaeyi vaguely pointed to the room. Leonard, without a word, replaced the lukewarm towel on his forehead with a new one.

With that blurry image as his last sight, Chaeyi closed his eyes.

The next day, fortunately, he felt better when the sun rose.

‘It seems the fever has gone down…’

It was a quiet morning, with only the occasional sound of chirping birds.

When he turned to the side, he saw Leonard asleep, leaning against the sofa.

He had told him he could use the bed, so why didn’t he go into the room to sleep?

‘He couldn’t have stayed up all night taking care of me, right?’

That would make his feel a little guilty.

How could he claim to be taking care of him, feeding and protecting him, if things were like this?

Chaeyi sighed inwardly.

‘I really need to build up my stamina. I can’t do anything if I don’t.’

The disparity between this body and his previous one was too great; that was something he needed to address first.

Fortunately, the “novel Chaeyi” had saved up a decent amount of money, so it wouldn’t be a problem even if he couldn’t work properly for a while.

Chaeyi quietly sat up, careful not to wake Leonard.

He planned to go for a light jog around the area.

Hopefully, he could make it a regular thing.

First, build up his stamina, then work on his training.

Chaeyi quietly placed his feet on the floor to avoid making any noise.

Leonard still seemed to be asleep. he confirmed that he was and began to tiptoe towards the front door.

But just as he was about to take a step, a small hand suddenly grabbed his sleeve, startling her.

The boy who had just been asleep was now wide awake, staring at his with sharp eyes.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

What? He was awake?

Chaeyi was momentarily speechless, caught off guard.

As he stood there, dumbfounded, Leonard, apparently thinking he had caught his trying to sneak out, made a very stern face.

He looked like a predator getting excited when its prey tries to run.

“You…”

“You were going to leave without telling me.”

His voice, still thin and high-pitched from youth, took on a low tone, making the atmosphere tense.

He was just a nine-year-old Beta kid.

Yet despite his age, Leonard had an extraordinary presence that ordinary people lacked.

If it had been anyone other than Chaeyi, they might have been frightened by his feral gaze.

But for Chaeyi, Leonard was no different from any other child running around aimlessly.

“You brat… How dare you look at an adult like that. Huh?”

Flick!

Chaeyi snapped his thumb and middle finger, giving him a light flick on the forehead.

Leonard’s pale forehead turned pink.

Whether it was because he was surprised or because he hadn’t expected the flick, Leonard’s fierce gaze softened as his eyes widened.

Chaeyi bent down to meet his gaze, half-lidded.

“I’m just going for a quick run out front, you little rascal.”

“……”

“I don’t see why I should wake you up when you’re sleeping so well. Got it? Even though you were pretending to be asleep.”

“……”

Leonard, looking somewhat dazed, touched his forehead.

The way his small hands fumbled around like a broken toy was really cute.

Chaeyi smiled bitterly.

‘He still doesn’t trust me, huh.’

But he couldn’t blame him.

The Lancaster family had tried to kill Leonard to eliminate any potential threats.

If Chaeyi reported his whereabouts, Leonard would be on the run again. Or worse, killed.

Considering all that, it made sense that he was anxious.

Perhaps Leonard thought of Chaeyi as “someone who knows my identity and is being nice on purpose.”

“Now, will you let go? Or do you want to come with me? I don’t mind either way.”

Chaeyi wiggled his arm, still caught in Leonard’s grip.

He eyed his warily for a moment, then reluctantly let go.

He didn’t seem interested in going along. Chaeyi gently patted Leonard’s head.

“Alright, I’m off then. I’ll be back early, but if you get hungry, there’s some bread I bought yesterday, so feel free to eat it.”

After a brief pause, Leonard nodded. Finally, Chaeyi felt free to head out.

“Whew.”

The fresh air of the forest filled his lungs, clearing his mind even more.

“Indeed, this place is perfect for spending one’s remaining years in peace.”

However, Chaeyi had no intention of staying here permanently.

Despite having spent most of his life as a career soldier, setting aside his individual emotions to become just a cog in the machine known as a secret special forces unit, he understood what boredom and loneliness were.

People needed to live near others, after all.

Though it wasn’t feasible at the moment, both due to finances and because of Leonard, he planned to move to a house in the city someday.

“Leonard’s manifesting… it’s about five years from now, right?”

If he lived diligently, it wouldn’t take more than ten years.

Chaeyi resolved to make the most of this new life.

He would do all the things he couldn’t as Kwon Chaeyi.

After all, hadn’t he become over ten years younger?

The thought brought his joy.

He had no family or close relatives to rely on, so he had no deep attachment to the other world.

He would like to return if possible, but it wouldn’t be a significant loss if he couldn’t.

He did feel a bit uneasy about the friend who had created this novel world…

“Well, as I recall, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would have a problem just because I’m not around.”

With those thoughts, Chaeyi ran lightly around the forest, working up a sweat, and then returned home.

Since he needed to buy provisions, he prepared to head out again.

Leonard, who was helping himself to bread and milk, only glanced at her.

“This time, you’re not going to ask where I’m sneaking off to?”

“Don’t tease me.”

Leonard pouted, his short legs swinging as he wrinkled his nose in a way that was irresistibly cute.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“…Okay.”

This time, a voice came a beat later to see his off. Chaeyi, hiding a smile, went to the market, bought some small clothes for a child, two pieces of meat for dinner, and a storybook.

Leonard frowned when he saw the book, claiming it was something only three-year-olds would read, but fortunately, he ate the meat without complaint.

“Leonard, I’ll read this to you as a lullaby before bed, so come up here.”

Chaeyi, unwilling to waste the money he spent, patted the spot next to his on the bed.

Although Leonard showed a face full of reluctance, he eventually climbed up beside him.

Chaeyi earnestly read the book to Leonard, who lay beside his with a disinterested expression.

The content did seem a bit too childish for a nine-year-old.

“And then, the rabbit passing by….”

When he glanced over, Leonard was already fast asleep.

Smiling warmly, Chaeyi covered the child with a thick blanket. he thought that would be the end of reading to him, but…

“Read to me.”

A few days later, Leonard brought the book to Chaeyi and asked his to read it.

Surprised that Leonard was making a request for the first time, Chaeyi stared at him blankly.

“It’s just that… your voice is soothing, so it helps me sleep. It’s not because I find the story interesting.”

He mumbled, embarrassed.

For some reason, Chaeyi felt touched.

“Alright, let’s go to bed. I’ll read to you.”

From then on, they often fell asleep together after he read to him in bed.

Even when Chaeyi tried to leave the bed to avoid discomfort, Leonard would sense it immediately, wake up, and glare at him, so he had no choice but to stay.

Living with Leonard turned out to be more pleasant than he had expected.

Knowing there was always someone to talk to gave his a sense of security.

As time passed…

The two grew closer.

As Leonard’s wariness toward Chaeyi gradually lessened, he began to follow his more easily.

He wore the scarf he knitted for him, went down to the village with his to shop, and even confided in his about his desire to take revenge on the family that had abandoned him.

A few months ago, Chaeyi had started calling Leonard by the nickname “Leo.”

Though Leonard found the nickname awkward at first, he eventually grew accustomed to it, and it became a natural part of their interactions.

As they built memories together, Chaeyi began to feel an unfamiliar emotion, akin to paternal affection.

Now, instead of wanting to raise Leonard well for personal gain, he simply wished for him to grow up strong and capable.

He hoped that Leonard would one day awaken his powers, silence his family’s elders, and become the rightful heir without any trouble.

He also wished for him to meet a future partner, fall in love, have children, and live happily ever after.

‘That’s the best path for Leo’s life.’

As the year they had spent together drew to a close, late winter arrived, just before the early spring that marks the beginning of a new year.