* * *
“How many times are you going to say you’re glad that ‘Gray Something’ is back? I get it already, so just eat your food.”
“Has there been no official news article yet? I feel like there should be a lot of witness reports. Can’t you look them up for me? Hm?”
“…I’ll check after you finish eating.”
“I’m done! I’m full!”
“What are you talking about? Finish everything. There’s barely anything left, and you’re trying to waste it?”
“Ugh.”
He could ask the caregivers or nurses to turn on the TV or radio, but directly handling any electronic devices himself was strictly forbidden.
Something about it negatively affecting both his body and the devices.
So if he wanted any information beyond what was reported on public news, he had to rely on Taehwan.
That included internet articles, social media posts, or even eyewitness accounts shared in online communities.
His impatience made it hard to eat on his own.
He always tried to do things by himself as much as possible, but…
Just when he was about to get frustrated, Taehwan sighed and sat down beside him.
The sound of a spoon scraping against the bowl filled the room.
“Here, say ah.”
“Ah.”
As he opened his mouth toward Taehwan, the spoon slipped inside.
Chomp. As soon as he took a bite, he heard a soft chuckle.
“You eat so well. Good boy.”
A hand gently ruffled his hair, making him feel like a puppy or a baby.
This guy…
He was really crossing the line today.
He wanted to say something, but he knew Taehwan was probably trying to distract him on purpose.
If he got angry, the topic would shift, and that was exactly what Taehwan wanted.
Fine. He’d let it slide.
But he still had to get what he wanted.
He tapped on Taehwan’s thigh.
“Mmng! Hurry up!”
“Swallow first. You always start acting weird whenever we talk about that ‘Gray Something’ Hunter.”
At those words, he immediately tried to force the food down his throat to argue back, but—thud.
Taehwan’s large hand clamped onto both his cheeks.
“Who told you to just swallow? Chew properly! Thirty times.”
“Mm.”
His voice carried so much authority that it was clear Taehwan wouldn’t do anything he asked unless he listened first.
What choice did he have?
Right now, Taehwan was in complete control.
He had to follow orders.
So he chewed.
Even though every second felt unbearably long, he made sure to chew properly before swallowing.
When he opened his mouth to show he was done, Taehwan wiped his lips with a tissue.
“You really like that guy, huh?”
“Yeah. A lot!”
“Why do you like him so much?”
“Because if I had awakened as a Hunter, I would’ve wanted to be like him! He became the kind of person I wanted to be, so of course I admire him!”
“How much do you even know about him?”
“A lot! I’ve done my research! I watched all the special broadcasts and listened to every radio segment about him!”
“The media exaggerates things. He’s probably not that amazing.”
“What do you mean, ‘not that amazing’?! What kind of nonsense is that?!”
His voice rose without him meaning to.
Taehwan was always like this.
Every time he expressed admiration for the Hunter ‘Gray Coat’, Taehwan would scoff and try to tear him down.
Sure, Taehwan had always been full of himself—he had the skills to back it up, too—but was it really necessary to be this dismissive?
“Do you know how many people felt relieved just because he came back?
Everyone was panicking about the increase in ‘Miclear Dungeons,’ but when they heard he’d returned, they cheered.
And not only that!
He made an impact the moment he was back!
Even if it was just a B-rank dungeon, clearing the boss in ten minutes isn’t easy. That’s incredible!”
“It’s not like he had some grand purpose… Maybe he was just bored and needed to destroy something, so he went after monsters instead and got spotted by accident.”
“What kind of reasoning is that?! Why would he even feel the need to destroy something?”
“I don’t know. His lips just…”
“Huh? His lips?”
“….”
“…Huh?”
He tilted his head. What was that about lips?
Curious about Taehwan’s expression, he reached out to touch his face—only for Taehwan to suddenly rub a tissue roughly against his lips.
“What the—? What are you doing?”
“…Nothing. I’ll find the latest articles and witness reports on that ‘whatever’ Hunter for you. That’s what you want, right?”
“Yes!”
His irritation at Taehwan’s weird behavior vanished instantly.
His lips curled into a grin, and he clenched his fists in excitement.
He was so impatient that he tapped on the hospital bed table.
Taehwan let out a deep sigh, picked up the tray, and stood up.
“I’ll check and come back. Wait here.”
“Okay! Come back soon!”
No matter how much he grumbled, Taehwan was always on his side.
Despite all that fuss, the information wasn’t anything groundbreaking.
The person suspected to be the Hunter ‘Gray Coat’’ had appeared out of nowhere, wearing his signature thin mask, gray coat, and full-body covering attire.
He had intervened in a boss fight that was on the verge of total annihilation.
Every time he swung his signature greatsword, the boss—whom the raid party had barely been able to scratch—was cleaved apart.
After completing the raid, he dismantled the boss’s corpse, took some loot, and vanished without a trace.
Both his appearance and combat style were unmistakably ‘Gray Coat.’ The raid party even released some footage.
But that was it.
There was nothing beyond what had been reported on TV.
He had hoped for more action since it was his return, but there weren’t even brief sightings outside of that dungeon.
“You look like you’re thinking, ‘Is this all?’”
“…Yeah.”
“But that’s really all there is.”
“I know. I was just hoping he’d do more since it’s been so long.”
He tried not to show his disappointment, but he couldn’t fool someone who had known him his entire life.
Taehwan, who had been silently massaging his legs, suddenly stood up.
“Jaehee, let’s go out. I’ll cheer you up.”
“…Huh? How?”
“Just open your arms.”
“My arms? Like this? …Whoa!”
Before he could even question it, Taehwan suddenly lifted him up.
Startled, he reflexively clung to Taehwan’s head. Taehwan chuckled.
“If you hug my face like that, I can’t see a thing.”
“Oh, right! Sorry!”
He adjusted his hold, wrapping his arms around Taehwan’s neck instead.
Taehwan patted his back and carried him somewhere.
Before he knew it, they had arrived at the hospital’s bathing area.
Without hesitation, Taehwan prepared a bath, laid him in the tub, took off his clothes, and started washing his hair.
His firm fingers massaged his scalp with practiced ease.
The warm water reaching up to his chest felt incredibly soothing.
“…Mmh.”
“Feels good?”
“Yeah… It’s nice… But didn’t I just take a bath not too long ago?”
“Doesn’t hurt to do it again.”
“…I just don’t want you to overwork yourself.”
“You’re worrying for no reason. Even if I’m a B-rank non-combat Awakened, I’m still an Awakened. My stamina is far superior to a regular person’s.”
“Hm.”
Well, that’s true.
Sometimes, instead of pushing my wheelchair, he carries me all the way up to the rooftop himself.
I’ve never seen him out of breath or struggling.
If I’m going to accept this kindness anyway, there’s only one thing I should say.
I flashed a bright smile in Taehwan’s direction.
“Thanks. You made me feel better.”
“Did I? Then mission accomplished.”
A hum of contentment escaped me.
The caregivers and Taehwan wash me clean every morning and night, but getting soaked in water like this feels different.
“Oh, right. Your dad was on TV today.”
“Ah, so that’s why you were in the lounge.”
“Yeah. It was nice hearing his voice again after so long.”
“My father loves attention. He appears on all sorts of shows, so it’s funny that you haven’t heard him in a while.”
At his casual remark, my heart sank, and heat rushed to my face.
“W-Wait…!”
“I’m joking. Why are you so flustered? It’s not like my father ever visits you, anyway.”
“Well, still… I mean…”
I—I have something to say. There’s a reason!
I opened my mouth wide, silently pleading for the chance to speak while mustering the courage to do so.
“Hm?”
“I just haven’t been watching much TV or listening to the radio lately. Hweco hasn’t been active, you know? The only news I ever heard was people wondering when he’d return or if he’d never come back at all. It was depressing.”
“……”
“So I haven’t heard anything about your dad lately either. But before, I used to look him up a lot. I know he’s busy and can’t visit. I don’t mind. It doesn’t matter since you come instead. So…”
“I see.”
Taehwan lightly tapped my forehead with his index finger, as if telling me to calm down.
I felt a little relieved, like he understood.
As for his father…
It makes sense that he wouldn’t visit me.
My father, the link between us, is gone. I get that.
I’m the problem.
After all, thanks to his father, I get to stay in this massive hospital, in a nice private room, living comfortably.
Have I been too indifferent about it?
Feeling awkward, I splashed the water with my hand for no reason—though it turned out to be surprisingly fun.
It had been ages since I last swam.
I suddenly remembered drifting in a nearly empty water park, staring up at the sky. I missed that time.
While I was lost in my thoughts, Taehwan seemed to be deep in his own, silently washing my hair.
He only spoke again after rinsing my hair clean.
“Jaehee.”
“Yeah?”
“That hunter… the one with the ‘Gray’ something name. Do you want him to take on the Miclear Dungeon everyone’s talking about?”
* * *
