CHAPTER 125…………………………
I never thought a day would come when I’d be so glad to see Kang Kwon-hoo. I ran to open the window as quickly as I could. But no matter how hard I tried, the window wouldn’t budge.
“Why won’t it open?”
“You’re trying everything, huh.”
Startled by Kang Kwon-hoo’s words, I opened my eyes wide, but it didn’t seem like he was talking to me; his expression didn’t change.
“Step back for a moment.”
I stepped back as he instructed. Kang Kwon-hoo dragged the dagger along the window frame. I could see cracks forming in the transparent barrier along the blade.
So he set up a barrier.
Kang Kwon-hoo slipped his hand into the cracked barrier and suddenly opened the window. The window frame, which had been immovable, crumpled like paper and swung open. While I was still in shock, Kang Kwon-hoo swiftly entered the room.
Meow!
Yao-ong leapt up at the sudden intruder and started meowing scoldingly. I anxiously glanced back and forth between the window and the door, worried that Baek So-hyuk might notice the barrier had been broken and come looking.
“That dagger is an item that lets you sneak into a barrier. Don’t worry—your brother won’t notice.”
Kang Kwon-hoo read my unease and reassured me first. I slumped onto the bed, relief flooding through me. My legs went weak.
“It’s been a while—aren’t you going to welcome me?”
Kang Kwon-hoo strode over and studied my face carefully for a while. That alone made me feel frozen in place. If his gaze had any warmth, my face would have burst into flames.
“Th… thank you.”
His large, warm hand cupped my cheek. The pulse of his touch seemed to fill my entire body.
Is he… going to kiss me?
Having become hypersensitive to contact because of Baek So-hyuk, I quickly pulled back. Kang Kwon-hoo chuckled as if finding my resistance amusing. Then he placed his knee on the bed and closed the distance even more. His face hovered just inches from mine.
“Uh… what about Jisoo and Jun?”
I asked to change the subject, but the question made me genuinely worried. Baek So-hyuk had said they were fine, but I hadn’t seen them myself, and a part of me was uneasy.
“Thanks to Woo-jin throwing himself again, everyone’s body is fine. They acted crazy for about a day, but once your brother said he was okay, they seemed relieved.”
Acted crazy? I was shocked. I hadn’t expected such a reaction.
“I… I’m sorry. I thought the recovery would be faster. I never imagined I’d cause this much worry. I didn’t think it was really dangerous.”
Kang Kwon-hoo seemed fine, but the fact he came here in a single step suggested he had been quite surprised.
“You should apologize.”
His sweet smile deepened.
“Unlike those people, I still feel like I’m not completely sane.”
His warm hand slid from my forehead, across my cheek, and down my neck. After a long moment, he lowered his head and pressed his nose against my neck. The bed was too narrow to escape.
“Woo-jin really is alive. Hallucinations don’t have a smell.”
I stiffened. A sudden, grim thought struck me: I had wanted to rid myself of Baek So-hyuk, but now it seemed something even bigger had followed.
“J-Jun contacted you, right? To let you know I’m here and conscious.”
“Right. He told Baek So-hyuk to inform me immediately.”
The reason I had asked Baek So-hyuk to deliver the message was simple: if the message reached Kang Kwon-hoo, he might tell me a way to escape. I hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly, though.
“You did well to call me here.”
Kang Kwon-hoo still pressed his nose to my neck, breathing. His breath traveled along my neck and down to my collarbone. Every word he spoke seemed to make my body vibrate.
“You were in that state, just barely mobile. We were preparing to move you to the hospital for intensive care. But Baek So-hyuk secretly took you out using my guild members. He cleverly left the piercing that Woo-jin had in the mountains, which delayed my tracking. I didn’t expect he’d even prepare a barrier at home.”
“You prepared a barrier in advance?”
I began to suspect that Baek So-hyuk hadn’t been in his right mind even before I collapsed.
“He pretended to be nice, but I should’ve known.”
Kang Kwon-hoo twisted the corner of his mouth.
If Baek So-hyuk comes back while I’m here, this will be trouble.
I had to escape this house immediately.
“I can’t see it now, but there’s a shackle on my foot. Is there any way to remove it? It works similarly to the handcuffs you showed me last time.”
“Destroying it is the easiest way.”
Kang Kwon-hoo finally leaned back, seemingly to examine my foot. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding since earlier.
At least Kang Kwon-hoo isn’t as crazy-eyed as Baek So-hyuk.
“That’s impossible. It’s linked to sensations, so even a small shock triggers it. Plus, if we break it forcefully, it’ll hurt him too, and I don’t want that.”
“You really go to extreme lengths.”
Kang Kwon-hoo let out a bitter laugh.
“We could take the key, or… cut off your leg. But Woo-jin, your legs are too pretty to cut.”
I hid my ankle under the blanket.
“Isn’t there a way that won’t hurt either of us?”
“Well, humans like Baek So-hyuk aren’t the type to reveal the key under pressure. Especially not in fire style.”
His fingers traced from my knee to my ankle. I shivered a little, probably from the ticklish sensation.
“If it comes to that, there is one way, though I’m reluctant.”
Kang Kwon-hoo took a bottle from his inventory. The green powder inside was something I’d only seen once in the game.
It’s an item that can break anything… S-rank, expensive, and hard to get.
“I had another use in mind, but if it’s to help the prince escape, it’s worth it.”
Prince? Goosebumps ran down my spine. But he was willing to use such a valuable item to free me, so I couldn’t argue.
He sprinkled the green powder onto my ankle. The transparent shackle gradually solidified, then cracked with a sharp ting.
“Keep your eyes closed.”
He drew out the dagger he’d used to break the window barrier and completely destroyed the shackle.
“D-Done?”
“Of course.”
Since there was no message from Baek So-hyuk, it seemed it really was broken. I shook my freed ankle a few times. My body felt lighter. Walking around the house hadn’t felt too uncomfortable, but apparently, it had been.
“So, what now?”
Kang Kwon-hoo folded his arms and asked, watching me fidget with excitement.
“What about you, Kang Kwon-hoo? Why did you come here?”
It felt odd that he asked my opinion on everything, so I asked him.
“Obviously, I came to get you. If Baek Woo-jin didn’t want to, I would’ve considered… kidnapping.”
“Then why ask?”
“I wanted you to leave on your own two feet.”
“Then I’ll let you. On your own feet.”
Without hesitation, I picked up Yao-ong. I assumed Kang Kwon-hoo would take care of the clothes.
He narrowed his eyes.
“Suspicious. Did something happen with your brother?”
I should’ve been pleased that he found it suspicious, but I felt guilty. I pressed my lips together, then spoke hesitantly.
“Why do you ask?”
Kang Kwon-hoo noticed the subtle gap. He murmured, something happened, and his expression stiffened. I could feel his mood twisting in real-time.
“If it were the Baek Woo-jin I know, he’d have stayed quietly to ease your brother’s worry. But you deal with Baek So-hyuk differently. Being so active in escaping, it’s naturally suspicious.”
Had I really been that obvious? Thinking back, my struggles to complete the “become good siblings” quest probably looked like that. Maybe I’d tried too hard to be good after that out of guilt.
But I couldn’t honestly answer about what had happened with Kang Kwon-hoo.
“Let’s talk outside.”
I avoided his intense gaze and stepped outside first. Fresh air greeted me.
