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dbgdbw · 1 year

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240화

Han Yoohyun’s World (3)

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“Should your physical state undergo any changes, please arrange for a follow-up.”

Yoo Myungwoo said, retrieving the tape measure. Han Yoohyun’s height, shoulder width, and arm length had been duly recorded, with his hand even being scanned in its entirety. In contrast to gear designed to be equipped on one’s person, weapons rarely tended to change to conform to the user’s physique. Of course, it was possible to intentionally engineer that kind of feature, but typically, owing to durability reasons and the like, a static state was preferable.

Because of this, when acquiring a new weapon, having it fitted to the wielder’s specifications was the most optimal choice.

Han Yoohyun regarded Yoo Myungwoo with faint wariness. In all honesty, he didn’t consider their relationship particularly amicable.

“Is the weapon Hyung asked for not the only thing that would need to be made?”

Yoo Myungwoo looked back at Han Yoohyun with a face that seemed to ask what nonsense he was spouting.

“If anything were to happen to Han Yoohyun-ssi, Yoojinie would be hurt as well.”

Han Yoohyun found he didn’t dislike the matter-of-fact way he’d presented the statement, as though it was a foregone conclusion. And then a few days later, Yoo Myungwoo relinquished to Han Yoohyun a damage-nullifying marble. He’d assumed that it’d been a loan; but yet, he was never asked to hand it back.

He was aware the other didn’t hold any particular positive regard towards himself. Everything was for Han Yoojin. That it was so, appealed to Han Yoohyun all the more.

It wasn’t yet to the point that he would welcome him into his world, but Yoo Myungwoo was acceptable as well.

카각, sharp talons scraped along the side of the wall. Brushing aside Noah’s wrist–to force his nails to skitter against the wall, rather than gouge his shoulder–Han Yoohyun used the back of a loosely-held hand to land a powerful blow to Noah’s side. An intentionally softened assault; nevertheless, Noah’s body was still easily pushed away.

“The precise moment before the strike lands is when the partial transfiguration should take place.”

Han Yoohyun said, shifting to reset his nigh-undisturbed stance.

“From the perspective of your opponent, as it entails a sudden shift in scale, as well as the method used to attack, parrying will become more difficult.”

“Yes, but the transformation speed–”

“Will come with practice.”

Leveled with an icy gaze that told him to stop slacking, and don’t let a perfectly good Skill go to waste, Noah hurried to nod his head.

“This applies to the fully transformed state as well. The ability to quickly alter one’s bodily proportions is something that can be utilized to great advantage during combat. Analogous to fluently switching between sign language and spoken language, it can be said. Hunter Liette appeared adept at proficiently switching between the two.”

“Yes, noonim… Is quick, of course.”

He’d supposedly improved much since his bout with Liette; but seeing the feckless attitude Noah continued to display, Han Yoohyun looked at him disapprovingly. Noah still fell significantly short in an array of ways, in terms of his standards. The way he’d unthinkingly challenge him every now and then tested his patience as well.

“Then, let us go again.”

But Noah wasn’t all that bad, either. At any rate, he was seeing improvement, if in small increments.

‘Since he’s still helpful to Hyung, in minor ways.’

Proclaiming that he wanted to be of greater assistance to Han Yoojin, instead of trying to avoid the training sessions, he’d actually taken the initiative to come seek him out. If it was like that, then it was quite alright.

The ones who had entered into his world. The ones who hadn’t entered yet, but had still managed to get a foot in the door; the ones he had deemed acceptable. Accompanied by them, Han Yoohyun enjoyed the trip to Japan. There’d been no cause for concern, regarding Bak Yerim, and the outcome had been entirely in line with their predictions. It had been no different than going on holiday with Hyung, and while luxuriating in that state of affairs, they’d entered the Black Ox’s Forest Dungeon.

And then, caught up in an unforeseen circumstance, while trapped in a helpless state.

“Wait for me.”

The moment he heard those words, Han Yoohyun was struck by terror. That Hyung would be returning to save him, filled him with fear. As his anxiousness mounted, torn on how he could somehow set things to right, what had come to the fore of his drug-addled brain had been none other than the thought of Peace and Bak Yerim.

Those two, they were still there. Without question, they would never leave Han Yoojin to act on his own.

Han Yoohyun ceased struggling. He couldn’t help the way the tremors continued to wrack his distressed body, but in the deep recess of his heart, a measure of assurance had also begun to take root.

Peace, as well as Bak Yerim, they both had the ability to securely safeguard Hyung. And on top of that, there was Noah as well. The three combined, they’d be more than enough to help Han Yoojin rescue Han Yoohyun. It was as good as guaranteed that Bak Yerim would lord it over his head for a good while, that need for assistance, but even that was something he found himself anticipating.

‘...take your time, Hyung.’

Along with the others. So long as Peace and Bak Yerim were by Han Yoojin’s side, he’d have the reassurance to wait for as long as might be necessary. He had witnessed himself, too, how much Bak Yerim and Noah had progressed, through Han Yoojin’s lead. Raising Peace, advancing Bak Yerim, releasing Noah from his noona. All of it had been facilitated by Han Yoojin.

So, it would be fine. He trusted that it would be fine.

And then, finally.

“I’ll get this off in a sec.”

Hyung returned. Han Yoohyun smiled. He waited for disgruntled growling and a dressing-down, to be asked how did he even get into this sorry state. But the sound that rang in his ears was.

탕!

A brief gunshot. The thick scent of blood pervaded the air in an instant. Han Yoohyun’s eyes opened wide. How–. He didn’t understand. Peace, Bak Yerim, or Noah; it was an attack that any one of them could have easily intercepted. A healing Skill, a potion, why wasn’t anyone–

“H-hyung…!”

Through sheer force of will, Han Yoohyun raised his body to cradle Han Yoojin in his arms. Even as he took out a potion, he realized that it was too late. Holding his hyung, his gaze darted around their surroundings. All that greeted him were unfamiliar faces.

“...why.”

No one else was there. Hyung had been alone. There was only himself.

“Alpha!”

An unfamiliar person attempted to approach. Han Yoohyun forcibly wrung out the meager remnants of his mana. 화르륵, blackened flames burst into existence around him, enshrouding them in a protective embrace. A scorching wind kicked up, ruthlessly pushing back not only the one who had been trying to draw nearer, but the ones who had been standing in the back as well.

“Ugh!”

“Be careful! For now, don’t attempt to approach–”

The A-ranks remained largely unharmed, but the B-rank that had been cloistered in an alcove was pushed backwards and, head smashing against the wall, was knocked unconscious. As everyone else was forced to retreat as far as possible, his complexion pale from the depletion of mana, Han Yoohyun looked down at Hyung as he lay in his arms.

It was silent.

The sound of breathing, of a heart beating; none of it came. At this close a distance, it was impossible that his senses wouldn’t have picked it up, but Han Yoohyun still doubted his own hearing for a moment. But soon, he came to acknowledge it.

Hyung was dead.

Han Yoohyun accepted the fact. Astonishingly docilely, quietly, without a trace of a fight.

He acknowledged the fact that his world had ended.

And so, there was no longer a need to do anything. The need to howl in agony, to shed even a single tear–there was no purpose. His world had already come to an end, and consequently, any recourse or action had been rendered meaningless.

Han Yoohyun’s erratic breathing settled, calming. It slowed further and further, until it had nearly diminished to the point it became imperceptible.

It was at that moment, that new footsteps were heard.

파지직, electricity flew, and the the door that had been locked behind mana was disabled. Then, 텅, with a loud crash, the door was broken down.

“The hell’re you!”

“Wait, he’s–!”

Gnosi moved to intercept his companion as they surged ahead, but the golden chains danced forward even faster. Arcing up through the air like a whip, the chain slammed into the A-rank Guards in an instant. Easily swept aside, the Guards were flung against the wall to collapse, straw-like, in a heap. Without ever once turning his gaze towards them, from beginning to end, Sigma’s eyes remained trained on the center of the room.

The corpse, held in Alpha’s embrace.

“C-rank.”

Invariably, there was no answer. That thing was already dead. Sigma shifted his gaze–to Alpha, who, still cradling the body like a precious thing, seemed to have stopped breathing, as though he’d followed him into death. It seemed like it would have been intriguing, for certain. If only the C-rank had lived.

But now, there was little point to the matter. A mindless sigh slipped from Sigma. Suddenly, things had become dull.

“...and without fulfilling the terms of the contract, as well. A most premature conclusion.”

Though it hadn’t seemed likely. It was a swifter, and more senseless end than he’d anticipated. The feeling was akin to having a movie he’d been growing invested in, abruptly interrupted. When scattered in his surroundings were the remnants of the films he’d already seen, and it was the last movie he’d yet to watch.

How inane.

A profound sense of dismay, enough to startle himself, washed over him. Unlike a film reel, perhaps it could be augmen–

‘...wait.’

Was he dead, truly. Sigma recounted Han Yoojin’s past conduct. He had already attempted a life-risking maneuver in front of him, once. And even when it had seemed like they would push through with the seal engravement procedure, he hadn’t appeared afraid of death. But was he really so cavalier when it came to his life.

‘Not a chance.’

Sigma looked once more at Alpha, at the young man in his arms. Han Yoojin had been planning on going to Achates from the beginning. Even before he could’ve possibly known about the distance, the state of security, or Alpha’s Overloading incident. Had it really been his intention, to gain ownership of Alpha. Or had his intention always been to save Alpha, from the very beginning. If they had truly been strangers, it seemed inconceivable that Alpha would be displaying that kind of reaction.

If Alpha had been to Han Yoojin, and Han Yoojin to Alpha, a significant other. The Han Yoojin that he knew would hardly throw his life away so easily, with Alpha still bound by Achates. Though the span he’d had to observe him had been brief, he could easily be certain of that.

So then, why had he let himself come to risk so easily. Was it because he hadn’t died, in actuality…?

A dead person couldn’t come back to life. But it could be that there was an Item that made it possible for the user to appear as though they had already perished, after taking a lethal wound. Or a Skill, perhaps.

Sigma took a step forward. It felt as though his stagnant heart had begun to pick up once more.

“Han Yoojin.”

Han Yoohyun’s head lifted simultaneously. It was a reflexive movement. Crimson eyes lingered over Sigma’s form. A familiar face; but at this juncture, ultimately inconsequential.

However.

Han Yoohyun once again recalled the sound of others’ voices, calling for Hyung. They were still left. Those people. The people Hyung had counted precious.

“Ugh, kuh!”

Along with a cough, a heaving breath burst from Han Yoohyun’s mouth. Involuntary tears welled in his eyes. Gasping for breath, he clutched the body of his hyung even closer.

To Peace, to Bak Yerim, and to those other people. He needed to take Hyung to them.

“Ngh… Gk…….”

In the world that should’ve already ended, there was yet a task left for him to accomplish. Han Yoohyun forced his body upright. It felt torturous. It was difficult to breathe. It would’ve been so much easier, to just simply cease to function. But, yet again–for a final time, he needed to push himself into motion once more.

The ones who would understand that his world had come to an end. Compatriots, who would feel a similar gravitas, who would be able to offer commiseration. He would take Hyung to them, and they’d return. And then, at last, he could meet his end.

Tears spilled over from his eyes. Emotions he’d never had to feel–sorrow, a myriad of others–seemed to suffuse his whole chest, his whole being. Up to the top of his head, surging even higher. It felt as though he were drowning. Han Yoohyun panted desperately. Onerous. Why must I, to such an extent. Though Hyung was already dead. When all I’d had to do was perish alongside him.

“Give it over, Alpha.”

Chains drummed against the floor. Sigma took another step closer. Staggering, Han Yoohyun righted his posture. Give it over, he’d said.

“Hand over that corpse.”

“N…o.”

Han Yoohyun ground out the words. His voice had gone completely hoarse. He was aware that he didn’t stand a chance against the man standing before him. But he could never permit having him stolen away.

콰앙!

Negotiations had concluded with the second query. Instead of a third entreatment, the chains shot forward. They didn’t bear a lethal quality; as, if it turned out that Han Yoojin could be revived, he was intrigued by the relationship he seemed to have with Alpha.

Scraping against the ground, the chains drew around Han Yoohyun’s body. As the chains lunged for him like a snake seeking its prey, Han Yoohyun narrowly dodged the attack. At the same time, drawing a dagger out of his inventory, he took aim at Sigma. 카강, without so much as a need to dodge, the dagger was easily warded off by the chains.

“You should hardly be able to properly use a weapon, much less a Skill.”

Many of the weapons of this world required mana to function. And most of the weapons in Alpha’s inventory, being high-rank, consumed an equivalent amount of mana as well. Han Yoohyun, as he was now, would only be able to use a few of the lower-ranked weapons for close combat.

쾅! 콰앙! Rebounding off of the floor and then the wall in succession, the chains corralled Han Yoohyun into a corner. With the increased reinforcement from the Mana Hole’s power–a level that surpassed that of the previous containment room–neither the walls nor the flooring sustained even a crack.

“Kuhk!”

At last, shattering through the blade halting its advancement, the chains struck a heavy glancing blow against Han Yoohyun’s shoulder. His clothes tearing, a deep gash appeared in his flesh. Han Yoohyun’s body was sent tumbling across the ground. Wrapping his whole body around Hyung’s remains as a shield to prevent any harm from coming to him, he slid across the floor until their momentum was stopped by the wall.

It hurt. Not because of the wound in his shoulder. That kind of trivial detail hardly registered with him. It was the fact that he was still alive, when Hyung was dead, that brought him pain. Forcing his body up once more, Han Yoohyun mumbled as in mantra.

‘Why do I need to do this.’

He wished the other would simply kill him. But at the same time, he needed to protect him. He needed to go to them. He still needed to… But why.

“...n’t want to.”

If it was to be this agonizing, this grueling. It would’ve been better, if he’d instead remained perpetually alone. He should give up, late now as it may be. This kind of thing.

Han Yoohyun swallowed a sob. Even then, he still couldn’t let Han Yoojin go. Nor could he stop. Evading the attacks flying towards him, as he was scorched by the electricity jumping through the air, he continued attempting to escape. 퍼억, once again, his body was smashed into the ground. Along the line of his back, a long gash bled into view. The blood seeping out of the wound soaked his back in seconds.

Obscured by a veil of tears, his hazy vision blurred further.

He needed to give up; but he couldn’t. It wasn’t that he was repressing things, enduring them. Just, without knowing the reason why, he simply… couldn’t let go. With one arm securely crading Hyung, scrabbling against the ground, Han Yoohyun struggled to push himself back up. Perhaps he had sustained a head wound; the tears that dripped down were tinged with blood.

“...Hyung.”

I want to give up. So then, why am I trying to go back. When my all is already within my embrace. When everything had already ended here.

It was the end of his limits, now. The act of moving his body was already becoming overwhelming. So when things had gotten to this state, why couldn’t he let go, still. For what reason had he been pulled from his solitary existence; how had things come to be like this; and, just when he had nearly given into resentment over this state of affairs.

[ Yoohyun-ah. ]

A message window appeared before Han Yoohyun’s eyes. The heart that had been crushed by grief leapt forcefully.

[ Hyung’s here. ]

The newly transmitted message filled his eyes, collecting there. Dripping down, rolling down the curve of his cheek.

[ I’m alright, Yoohyun-ah. I’ll come back as quickly as I can. So. ]

“...Hyung.”

[ Please Protect Me

Until Han Yoojin is able to resurrect, let’s try to stay safe and sound! With a formidable foe as your opponent, please guard Han Yoojin’s body for five minutes＾▽＾

Reward: Minimal mana auto-recovery ]

The five minutes appeared to have already passed, and having been retroactively applied, the window for the quest showed a [COMPLETE] status upon loading. If he’d been given a mana potion, Sigma would have preemptively obstructed its consumption. But the quest window would be invisible from his sight.

Han Yoohyun immediately collected the reward. A scant amount of mana returned to him. As he pushed his body upright, Sigma regarded him with faint surprise.

“Though I’d assumed you’d given up.”

“Because I still need to wait a bit longer.”

With a blink, the last of his tears were shed. Carefully, cherishingly, Han Yoohyun adjusted his hold on Han Yoojin’s body. He’d said that he was coming back. His world hadn’t come to an end, yet. It was a relief, that he hadn’t given up. A relief, that he hadn’t stopped.

That he wasn’t alone; that he could still wait for him–it was really, truly a relief.

화르륵– Around Han Yoohyun, flames burst into existence. Fire blossomed–a hue purer than usual, shining with a faintly cerulean light.

-----

hyh ↔ ymw | polite, formal 합쇼체

hyh ↔ noah | polite, formal 합쇼체

hyh → sigma | impolite, informal 해체

sigma → hyh | impolite ‘formal’ casual 해라체

‘sung hyunjae-ssi, who was unable to even step one foot inside of han yoohyun’s world…’

note: sigma uses object language to refer to yj/the body (’that thing’ ‘it’) & in the ‘past tense’ (+ ‘if’ clause), whereas han yoohyun uses person language and ‘present tense’, even after acknowledging yj’s death, and refers to yj exclusively as ‘han yoojin’ or ‘Hyung’; mentions of ‘his hyung’ are from the narrative, e.g. ‘holding his hyung’

+ ‘hyung(형)’ & ’dongsaeng(동생)’ (1) (2) (3) (4)

i hope this ch broke u like it broke me ‘v’)b

i’ll be in korea most of next month for family matters, so probably just one more update for the rest of the year, maybe two.

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1550806575312666624

Q) is ‘luire’ riette’s surname as well? how is ‘riette’ spelled?

A) as liette is disinterested in her parents, and, furthermore, thinks she’s not received anything of worth from them, she does not use [a] surname. that’s why noah was stuck with [a] completely new (nick)name as well. it is spelled ‘Liette.’ for foreign names, typically one from an existing figure will be utilized ^^

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1548267163311427584?s=20

Q) in the webtoon, the scenario is portrayed that, in that D-rank Dungeon at the beginning, following a fairly harsh verbal exchange, han yoojin decides he would rather be the one to die to the lauchitas; in the original text, the scene that the first chapter opens on, han yoohyun’s death pov–would it be alright to ask after what you thought that meeting between the brothers would’ve been like, in the Dungeon? is it similar to what happened in the webtoon?

A) it’s similar ^^ in the novel, he never attempted to die, but if han yoojin at that time thought that han yoohyun might be safe so long as he wasn’t there, he probably wouldn’t have hesitated to kill himself. the han yoojin pre-regression is a character that tried to stay alive no matter what, but because the biggest reason for that was han yoohyun, so long as his dongsaeng’s life was at stake, he probably would’ve given up all that more easily.

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1546088397076279296?s=20

Q) what in the world happened during the incident where yoojinie made yoohyunie cry when they were younger?

A) at that time, what han yoohyun shed were crocodile tears. this was around the period he was giving his heart over to han yoojin, and by observing his surroundings (tv etc.), he had come to the conclusion that he could probably move hyung with his tears. only, he’d overlooked the possibility that, were he to start crying, his still-young hyung would also burst into tears from the shock ^^ it took a bit longer before he became capable of shedding genuine tears, and it’s only possible when han yoojin is involved. he does not even show involuntary tears, much less ones infused with emotion, if it’s not related to matters concerning han yoojin. as ‘fire,’ he is an entity who should have been fundamentally incapable of shedding tears to begin with.

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1541018644867878920?s=20

Q) since ‘spiciness’ is a type of pain, i’m curious as to whether those who have reinforced physical bodies like the s-ranks would be able to still feel the ‘pain’ of spiciness

A) though an s-rank’s senses are on the keen(sensitive) side, the repercussions of such are much reduced. particularly in the case of battle, even if they were to lose an arm, they would only feel a sufficient amount of sensation to register the fact, but be able to continue(sustain) battling without pause. as the sensory feedback is necessary to signal that something must be done, it’s not that there isn’t any pain, just that it’s not enough to cause irregularities in functioning ^^

as an exceptional case, because han yoohyun is an entity that should have been unable to feel any sensation, unless the one who is his world as a human–han yoojin–is by his side, he is nearly incapable of tasting anything as well. he is capable of sensing and distinguishing the unique characteristics that indicate whether something is spicy or sweet, so he can pretend as though he’s ‘experiencing’ them. the reason he fell prey to poisoning earlier on after he’d Awakened, was because he lacked the pertinent intel. as a born s-rank’s senses are capable of detecting most colorless+odorless poisons, if han yoohyun had been capable of ‘tasting,’ he would have judged it to be something other than food and immediately spat it out.

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1543195010807447552?s=20

Q) what were some of the things that you thought were important, when writing an entity that’s far from being human?

A) (about han yoohyun) only, as han yoohyun isn’t ‘a lifeform concerned about continued survival(self-preservation),’ he’s an outlier even among the non-human entities ^^ in polar opposite to the ones mentioned above, his natural disposition is to completely disregard the surrounding environment. the sole exception for that flame was han yoojin, and accordingly, han yoohyun only experiences change through han yoojin. no other environmental factors or beings are capable of influencing him.

vvv spoilers for cn dungeon arc vvv

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1543555608267218945?s=20

Q) irinie mentioned that fire shouldn’t be stifled, because it transforms when it’s suppressed; since the 24y.o. yoohyunie in the dungeon had not only changed from a black flame (흑염) to a black blood flame (흑혈염), but also became instilled with poison, even after reconciling with yoojinie, would he be able to recover his blue fire (청염) still?

A) as drawing forth one’s own natural affinity is a difficult task in itself, no matter which han yoohyun, so long as a han yoojin with a caretaker title is not by his side, even after rising to the rank of a transcendent, he would only be able to earn his blue fire after a very long period of development. however, as the flame would have died out before long without han yoojin becoming his world, consequently, that outcome is effectively an impossibility ^^

the reason the primordial fire was incapable of finding a fire to succeed it for that long period of time, was for a similar reason. the closer it is to being a ‘pure’ flame, the more likely it is to be snuffed out before properly maturing.

as the han yoohyun (24) within the dungeon has han yoojin (29) by his side, he is capable of fostering blue flames. however, as the han yoojin within the dungeon has the lesser ‘caretaker’ title, the effect will be far diminished than that of han yoojin’s (25), so it won’t be an easy task. because of that, rather than erasing the black blood fire to revert to a blue fire, there’s a higher likelihood that they (2429) will choose to mature the black blood fire further instead.

+ (Q&A) https://twitter.com/Chayunnn1020/status/1543566263078621184?s=20

A) (han yoohyun) sung hyunjae holds no emotions or interest towards han yoohyun. this is because he has learned of han yoohyun’s special trait(특성)–that the human charade he puts on is realized solely through han yoojin. as han yoohyun without han yoojin is simply an ‘organism’, the need to pay him any mind disappeared entirely. that is why, after the first half, he doesn’t even bother to antagonize(provoke) han yoohyun. as he doesn’t view han yoohyun as an independent entity, and considers han yoojin to be his master, when sung hyunjae initiates a conversation, etc., with han yoohyun, his conduct is no different than if he were interacting with han yoojin himself. in the beginning, he supposed that han yoojin ought to let go of han yoohyun so that he could return to being a ‘flame’; but at present, he’s now of the mind that han yoohyun is necessary for han yoojin’s mental stability. however, the change of heart sung hyunjae might still show is uncertain.

#240화 #the s classes that i raised #tsctir #sctir

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