HIF 11

I Said I Was Okay

After closing the door, Song Ha-gyun headed to the first floor.

‘Did I keep any antipyretic herbs?’

He needed to check the lab. Seon Yi-han didn’t seem to be struggling, but when he touched his forehead, his fever was quite high. It was better to give him medicine before it rose further.

My wound healing cleanly, Seon Yi-han using non-existent healing magic… Thinking about those things was something to do later.

In the hallway leading to the lab, he suddenly stopped. Right next to him was the Defense magic training room.

‘Min Joo-hyuk must be here now.’

He was sure of it. Ever since he pushed Min Joo-hyuk and was attacked by Monsters, he had been holed up here. He thought he should briefly tell Min Joo-hyuk that his wound had healed.

That day, it wasn’t really anyone’s fault. The Monsters’ attack pattern had just changed. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, and Min Joo-hyuk didn’t need to feel so guilty.

If the situation were reversed, Min Joo-hyuk would have done the same. It was just that he was in that spot, and Min Joo-hyuk was in that spot.

Knock knock.

He knocked, but there was no answer. It was noisy inside, so he might not have heard. Without waiting any longer, he flung the door open.

At the same time, a fist-sized ball flew towards him like a shot. Thick, sharp thorns protruded from it.

The ball, which had come right up to his eyes, stopped with a thud in mid-air as if blocked by something. Then, it fell weakly to the floor.

“Ha-gyun hyung! Are you okay?”

Min Joo-hyuk rushed towards him. He was trembling slightly, looking surprised.

He had also deployed Defense magic just now. But Min Joo-hyuk’s Defense magic was a little faster. Min Joo-hyuk must have felt that too. So he would know that he couldn’t have been hurt.

“Min Joo-hyuk.”

He used magic to lift the ball that had fallen to the ground and held it in his hand. Min Joo-hyuk followed the movement with wavering eyes.

“…You don’t need to worry.”

“Still, hyung, weren’t you suddenly surprised? I didn’t know you were coming…”

“You’re talking about what happened last time.”

“……”

Min Joo-hyuk was quieter than usual. He seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment of silence, Min Joo-hyuk continued.

“Defense is my responsibility. I should have done better.”

“If you put it that way, we failed to deal with the Monsters…”

“That was unavoidable. The situation was different from usual.”

Min Joo-hyuk’s expression seemed serious as he replied immediately. Knowing that, why was he still holding onto that incident? It was something he could let go of now.

“…You know it well. You’re the same.”

He cast a spell and lightly sent the ball he had placed on his palm towards Min Joo-hyuk. Min Joo-hyuk naturally caught the ball. His expression still looked a little complicated.

“…You’ve been doing well, Min Joo-hyuk. You know that too.”

Min Joo-hyuk clenched the ball tightly and continued.

“Hyung. Doing well can’t be a reason to justify mistakes.”

“Stop it. You’ll get hurt.”

He released Min Joo-hyuk’s hand and sent the ball far away. He continued, looking at Min Joo-hyuk, who had an uneasy gaze on his left shoulder.

“It wasn’t anyone’s mistake. …And, I’m okay now.”

He unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt and showed Min Joo-hyuk the completely healed wound. Min Joo-hyuk opened his mouth in a trembling voice, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“How, how…”

“Seon Yi-han healed it.”

“You’re not in pain anymore… Are you okay?”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at him with wavering eyes as he nodded. Min Joo-hyuk, who had been standing still for a while as if accepting the situation, slowly opened his mouth.

“Ha-gyun hyung… That’s a relief.”

“…Yeah.”

Min Joo-hyuk’s voice was as bright as usual, but it sounded a little shaky. He patted Min Joo-hyuk’s shoulder a couple of times and buttoned his shirt again.

“…That’s enough now.”

Min Joo-hyuk, standing in front of him, clenched and unclenched his fist. Then, he raised the corners of his trembling lips and smiled as he continued.

“I’ll go upstairs.”

“…Go ahead.”

Min Joo-hyuk rushed out of the door. He thought he should go up after a while. He had to stop by the lab to make medicine anyway, so it worked out. He left the room and walked down the hallway again.

◇

Seon Yi-han continued to think blankly in the empty room.

Where had Song Ha-gyun gone just now? He still had no idea.

A dim dawn was unfolding outside the window. Even the air was quietly sinking, and everything was silent. Song Ha-gyun was definitely a person with that kind of atmosphere.

He didn’t seem to talk much, and he didn’t seem to show his thoughts on his face. He was a difficult person to understand in many ways.

From now on, he should ask Song Ha-gyun first instead of waiting for him to tell him. As he was thinking that,

Bang.

The door was flung open violently.

Min Joo-hyuk was standing there. He was breathing heavily. His brown hair was disheveled as if he had run in a hurry. Min Joo-hyuk, who had made eye contact with him, came straight towards him.

A gust of wind blew, and one side of the bed sank. Min Joo-hyuk hugged him tightly. Min Joo-hyuk smelled cool like the wind. The hand touching his back was trembling.

Min Joo-hyuk hugged him with a trembling body and remained silent for a long time. He felt a sense of desperation, as if he were a lifeline at the edge of a cliff. He was so flustered that he couldn’t say anything and just blinked.

‘Why is he suddenly doing this?’

He had no idea. Was he relieved to see that he had woken up? Well, if he had collapsed like that at the end, it was understandable that he would be worried. …But was it to this extent?

Min Joo-hyuk slowly lowered his head and leaned his forehead against his shoulder. Perhaps because his body was hot, the skin that touched him felt cool. The feeling of Min Joo-hyuk’s hair tickling his neck was unfamiliar.

A muffled voice was heard right next to him.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han. Did you really do it?”

Even though it was a small voice, it was clearly heard as if it were piercing his ear, perhaps because the distance was close. Unlike before, his slow and serious tone made him ask calmly.

“Healed Ha-gyun hyung?”

That was the only thing Min Joo-hyuk could have asked if he had done it. Min Joo-hyuk nodded his head slightly, buried in his shoulder, without saying a word.

“Yeah. I did it.”

“……”

There was no voice from Min Joo-hyuk for a long time.

The person who had been talking so well on his own since they first met suddenly became silent, and the conversation stopped abruptly. The silence wasn’t awkward, but he was curious as to why Min Joo-hyuk was doing this.

The hand that had been wrapped around his back slowly loosened. When the solid strength that had been touching him disappeared, he felt strangely empty.

The weight that had been heavily placed on his shoulder slid down. Min Joo-hyuk’s forehead touched his collarbone as if leaning on it. His brown hair fluttered and brushed against him.

Min Joo-hyuk slowly raised both hands and buried his face in them.

“Sniffle, hic…”

It was a small sob.

Min Joo-hyuk’s back was trembling as if collapsing. He couldn’t process the sudden situation.

“Hey, Min Joo-hyuk.”

He wanted to ask, ‘Are you crying?’ but asking someone who looked like they were crying if they were crying didn’t seem like a good idea. It wasn’t like he was teasing him.

In the end, he couldn’t continue speaking and awkwardly reached out and patted Min Joo-hyuk’s back.

“Thank you…”

Min Joo-hyuk continued, sobbing.

“I, because of me, Song Ha-gyun hyung…”

A tremor was transmitted from his body every time he uttered a word.

Click.

At that moment, the door quietly opened again. Song Ha-gyun, who had entered silently, sat gently on the chair next to the bed. Then, he calmly took off the Monocle he was wearing and put it in the small pocket on his chest.

‘Ha-gyun hyung. What’s going on right now?’

He sent a look asking for an explanation to Song Ha-gyun. But Song Ha-gyun silently met his eyes with a calm expression. He was upright and still.

His calm purple eyes reflected his appearance. He seemed to be checking his condition.

As he was looking at Song Ha-gyun like that, the weight that had been leaning on him completely fell away. He turned his gaze again. Min Joo-hyuk was covering his face with his hands and bowing his head.

His broad back was bent roundly. Was he really okay?

“Min Joo-hyuk, are you okay…?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Min Joo-hyuk stretched out his arm and grabbed his shoulder. Then, he raised his head.

“Thank you. Seon Yi-han.”

It was a firm voice. The sobs from just now were nowhere to be found. He didn’t feel even a hint of shaking in the words he uttered.

Min Joo-hyuk was smiling brightly. The corners of his eyes were slightly red. But it was such a happy smile that his heart tingled.

Min Joo-hyuk, who had been sniffling slightly, raised the corners of his lips and added with a grin.

“Hey, and I wasn’t crying.”

Dawn was passing. A strange purple dawn energy was rushing in through the window.

“Okay.”

He replied blankly.

Min Joo-hyuk’s smile was like the early morning. It was clear, cool, and even though the windows were all closed, he somehow felt a cool breeze blowing.

Soon, it would be time for the morning to brighten up in blue.

◇

The room brightened. The morning sun was rising. The high fever Penalty was over, and his body felt completely refreshed.

Song Ha-gyun, who had swept up his bangs, gently removed the small piece of paper he had attached. Then, he quietly brought the back of his hand to his forehead.

After blinking for a moment and thinking, Song Ha-gyun took out a small glass bottle from his pocket.

Inside the thin glass bottle, which was closed with a cork stopper, was a thick, orange syrup. Song Ha-gyun held it out to him.

“…The fever has gone down a bit. If you still don’t feel well, drink it.”

Song Ha-gyun, who slowly added that he could eat it on an empty stomach, met his eyes as if waiting for his answer.

“I’m okay now.”

The moment he finished speaking, Min Joo-hyuk jumped up and placed his hand on his forehead.

“I knew it. I thought your body was hot.”

Min Joo-hyuk placed his hands on his neck and shoulder in turn, as if checking his temperature. Then, he opened his mouth as if hesitating.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han. …Why didn’t you say anything?”

Min Joo-hyuk sighed softly at the immediate answer. Then, he raised one hand and brought it to his face.

“Ah.”

Min Joo-hyuk lightly pinched his cheek and stretched it out.