* * *
Not long after, Song Jihee approached Doyoung with a worried expression.
“No, I’m fine. I just feel a little drained. I guess it’s because I used my ability after such a long time.”
“That makes sense. Honestly, you startled me earlier. How can you control objects so effortlessly?”
Realizing the conversation was veering toward the same type of exchanges he’d had with the Vice Guild Master of the GA guild, Doyoung paused to think about how to handle it.
Unconsciously, his gaze shifted to the god-like Beom Sinje, who was observing the water tank nearby.
Without even realizing he was doing it, Doyoung slowly spoke.
“I worked really hard for it.”
“Of course. Using abilities like that would be impossible without extensive training. But are you really sure nothing’s wrong?”
Doyoung turned his gaze back to Song Jihee, who was now trying to change the subject instead of probing further.
She seemed genuinely concerned about his well-being.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
His casual question carried a subtle undertone—did she not suspect him, or was there something else she wanted to know?
“Well, the guild leader must have carefully chosen to bring you here, right?”
“You seem to trust the guild leader quite a lot.”
“I suppose I do. Besides, from what I’ve seen so far, you don’t seem like the scheming type.”
“Really?”
Doyoung found it curious.
Song Jihee, seeing him as anything but a former villain notorious among the government and the public, was unexpected.
“Yes…”
She drew out the word, scrunching her nose as though she had more to say but was unsure if she should.
“Go ahead. If you have something to say, say it.”
Encouraged, Song Jihee glanced cautiously at Beom Sinje, who was standing at a distance.
They were far enough that her words wouldn’t reach the guild leader’s ears.
“It just seems like you’re entirely focused on the guild leader.”
Ugh.
She shuddered as if the very words made her uncomfortable.
Even Doyoung was momentarily speechless, blinking in surprise.
“Me?”
“Yes. You never take your eyes off him, not even for a second. And then, at the perfect moment, you jump in to help him.”
“Haha.”
Was that true? Reflecting on it, Doyoung realized he might have been devoting all his attention to just one person.
But of course.
‘He’s my favorite. I’ve always looked after him and cared for him.’
Even so, Doyoung wasn’t fully conscious of how deeply he felt.
“When I see that, it’s clear. You don’t just say you like the guild leader—you show it through your actions.”
“Like him…”
“Yes. It’s obvious. That’s why the guild leader treats you differently too.”
Hearing that, Doyoung felt a strange tickle in his chest, which quickly morphed into a pleasant fluttering sensation.
What does it mean to like someone?
When does one become aware of those feelings?
And how can one be certain of their emotions?
“Can you confidently say you know your feelings?”
Doyoung turned to his side, where Beom Sinje sat in a sharp suit, poised as they waited for a press conference to begin.
Three days ago, the Chunho Guild had ventured into the African savannah to investigate an abandoned dungeon ecology research lab.
There, they discovered a boss-level monster being held captive.
Collaborating with a local guild, they successfully cleared the dungeon and returned home.
Exhausted, they went straight back to work and ended up here.
“Yes.”
Beom Sinje, fidgeting with his tie, answered without hesitation.
As if that wasn’t enough, he spoke again.
“I like you, hyung.”
It was a simple confession.
And because it was so straightforward, it felt all the more sincere.
“And how? How can you be so sure?”
“Hmm.”
Beom Sinje pondered Doyoung’s question, revisiting his own feelings.
“At first, I didn’t trust you.”
“Oh?”
“One day, you suddenly appeared, claiming to be a distant relative. You didn’t really expect me to believe that, did you?”
“Well, no.”
Doyoung hadn’t put much stock in whether Beom Sinje believed him back then.
“So I started paying closer attention. I wanted to understand your intentions. Were you pretending to be nice to get closer to my father?”
It made sense.
Anyone would be suspicious of someone sticking so close to them.
Doyoung nodded in acknowledgment, only to notice a faint smile forming on Beom Sinje’s lips.
“What’s with the grin?”
Doyoung raised an eyebrow, but the younger man only looked more content.
“It’s just… It feels nice and strange, talking about our feelings like this.”
“Nice?”
What was so nice about it? Baffled, Doyoung asked again, and Beom Sinje nodded earnestly.
“Yes. I used to wonder, too—how did I come to feel this way about you? But when I thought about it, it seemed inevitable.”
“That almost sounds like destiny.”
Doyoung joked, but Beom Sinje’s expression turned as if he’d realized something profound.
“Maybe it is.”
“What are you even saying?”
When did this guy become so sentimental?
Destiny?
Just saying it made Doyoung feel itchy all over, while Beom Sinje looked more satisfied than ever.
What is it about me that makes him react this way?
“So, when did your feelings change?”
Flustered, and feeling the heat rise to his cheeks, Doyoung urged him to continue.
“When I realized you were always thinking about me.”
“…What?”
“Looking back, it’s been that way from the start. You used that distant-relative excuse to bring me into your life, sent my mom to a luxury care facility…”
Doyoung opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss. Instead, he silently listened to Beom Sinje’s words.
“You helped me awaken as a hunter, got me into a prestigious training academy, and even made sure I had everything I needed.”
“That wasn’t just for you. I did the same for Yeo Giwon.”
“True. Up to that point, I could’ve dismissed it as a rich heir doing charity work.”
The phrase “rich heir with time to spare” made Doyoung’s face twitch for the first time.
“Is that how you saw me?”
“No.”
Seriously?
“To me, you were a mystery.”
And not just that. Throughout his school life, Beom Sinje always felt someone watching over him.
It wasn’t overt, but whenever he turned around, there you were.
Once he realized it, he couldn’t help but notice your gaze and wonder why it was always there.
“Your unwavering focus on me was fascinating.”
“Unwavering…”
“Hey, what are you even saying?”
Doyoung snapped, incredulous, but Beom Sinje continued, oblivious to his disbelief.
“Still, there was a definite moment when I realized my feelings for you,” Sinje said, his tone unwavering.
“When was that?”
Finally, it seemed like the conversation was getting somewhere.
Doyoung, brimming with curiosity, leaned in closer, his upper body almost touching Sinje’s.
“It was when I found you and brought you back home. The moment I realized I never wanted you to disappear again. That I wanted you to always stay by my side.”
Sinje whispered these words, his body leaning subtly toward Doyoung.
A soft breath grazed Doyoung’s ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
He bolted upright.
“You…!”
He was sure Sinje did it on purpose.
Glaring at him with narrowed eyes, Doyoung tried to maintain his composure.
Yet Sinje remained as calm as ever, his expression annoyingly placid.
“That’s what made it clear for you? That’s just… obsession! How could that possibly be—”
“If it were just obsession,” Sinje interjected smoothly, “I wouldn’t have let you leave the house, not even a single step. I wouldn’t have let anyone else see you.”
“What?”
* * *
