MTLNOVEL 67.
67.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
The air seeping through the tip of his nose was refreshing. Though his skin felt chilly, it gave him a sense of relief from the stuffiness he had been feeling.
“I’ll take off your blindfold.”
The view brightened. Jian squinted his eyes at the sudden light. Even though the room where Jian had been staying was dimly lit like dawn, the light from outside seemed blinding.
Though he wondered how long he had been confined for his eyes to be so sensitive to natural light, he endured it bravely. Soon, Jian’s lips parted slightly at the sight before him.
“It’s Seoul…”
“That’s right.”
In the distance, a tall tower was visible. It was the landmark in Jamsil. It had collapsed when monsters appeared but was restored a year ago.
As Jian was looking around, wondering where Gangdong, where the cafe and their home were, Sehun sat on the railing while holding Jian.
“Does your headache feel better after getting some fresh air?”
“Yeah, much better.”
It wasn’t just empty words; it was true. His round eyes busily scanned the surroundings. The building they were sitting on appeared to be a two-story house based on its height.
His gaze fell on the poorly maintained garden where trash was scattered. From the outside, it looked close to an abandoned haunted house.
It was quite different from the cleanly decorated room inside. The surroundings were similar. Houses that seemed uninhabited were clustered together, giving off a desolate atmosphere.
There was one more puzzling point. Jian glanced up at Sehun and spoke.
“If you were going to show me this, why did you blindfold me?”
“Good question. I’m wondering what I’m doing too.”
Sehun laughed lightly. Was he not planning to reveal the location of the room where Jian was confined? Judging by the feeling of climbing stairs and the time it took to reach the rooftop, the room seemed to be on the first floor.
“Maybe it’s because I’m too weak for you. Seeing you so frustrated, I just wanted to take it off.”
As Sehun nuzzled his cheek against Jian’s head, Jian swallowed a rising sigh while being held.
‘If you’re going to do it, do it properly.’
Suddenly, such a thought occurred to him. In the original story, Sehun was a cold-blooded person without blood or tears, but after meeting Jian, had he become something in between?
The story never mentioned those who experimented on Sehun.
Although it was unclear whether Sehun had already dealt with them before meeting Hyunsu, the main content of the original story was about Sehun, the leader of a famous villain group, falling in love with Hyunsu, becoming obsessed, confining him, and then developing their feelings for each other as they cleared the Tower together.
But now, the group that experimented on Sehun hadn’t been completely eradicated yet. Even after Sehun’s kidnapping incident, Hyunwoo continued to use the guild’s intelligence to pursue them.
Jian tried to recall why they first started investigating them, remembering something about the Director of the Hunter Management Bureau.
According to the information Hyunwoo provided, this body seemed to have some connection with the Director, but Jian couldn’t remember anything, so he just placed people around the Director.
Even now, Researcher Heather sometimes appeared in his dreams. Her eyes, filled with madness and obsession, didn’t look like they would give up on Sehun unless she died.
He even felt guilty, wondering if Sehun had grown into a character unable to properly deal with enemies because of him.
Although he knew Sehun was particularly weak towards him, he couldn’t help but worry because the descriptions in the original story were so intense.
“How did you get this place? Where did the money come from? This artifact must have been extremely expensive too. The allowance I gave you wouldn’t have been nearly enough.”
Until now, Jian had held back from asking questions to avoid provoking Sehun.
However, he became anxious at the thought that threats to Sehun could appear at any time, anywhere, if they continued like this. They were currently in a situation where they were isolated, without Hyunwoo or the Dark Net guild members to help.
He needed to know the source of Sehun’s money and information. And also why he was keeping quiet about his abilities.
Jian needed to know what Sehun was hiding so he could prepare himself. The once ruthless villain had now grown into someone who only cared about his hyung. If something dangerous happened to Sehun because of him, Jian would find it hard to forgive himself.
The warmth covering his crown moved away. As he turned his head, he saw eyes that appeared even redder in the sunlight.
“Do you want me to tell you the truth?”
“Yes.”
He was prepared to face any truth. After having sex, what could be more shocking?
“… What if you end up hating me?”
His wavering eyes looked as vulnerable as when he was young. Sehun’s current face overlapped with the image of him looking up while clutching Jian’s clothes until his fingertips turned white.
What’s the use of pretending to be all grown up? At times like this, he’s nothing but a little child.
“How could I ever hate you? You know that’s impossible. If I were going to hate you, I would have done it when you confined me and devoured me whole.”
Jian said playfully, bumping his forehead against Sehun’s. See? Even now, he’s quietly nestled in my arms.
Hating Sehun was harder for Jian than anything else in the world. It was much easier to forgive and return even greater love.
“So tell me honestly. What’s been happening all this time?”
While Sehun hesitated, his lips quivering, Jian swallowed dry saliva in anticipation. Although he was prepared to listen calmly to whatever was said, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“I just made someone my ally.”
“Someone…? Who?”
Who could there be to make an ally? Jian’s social circle was limited, but Sehun’s was even more so. Even after years of school, he only had one close friend, Hyunsu.
It was hard to believe that such a Sehun had made someone his ally. And someone with wealth and information at that.
Jian tried to recall the contents of the novel, but since it was originally from Hyunsu’s perspective and focused on Hyunsu’s deteriorating mental state from the middle, there wasn’t any particularly helpful information.
“Do you remember Kim Soochul?”
“Kim Soochul…”
Jian’s brows furrowed at the oddly old-fashioned name. He definitely remembered hearing it before.
However, it took a while to recall since it was from long ago. Jian’s eyes widened as he found the dusty memory.
“You don’t mean the person who caused trouble at the cafe before?”
“Yes.”
It was nearly 10 years ago. At first, he picked a fight over the taste of coffee, and later he said something about Sehun, which led to an argument and Jian almost getting punched.
Fortunately, he dodged the incoming fist and chased him away, but he had trouble for a while with customers flocking in due to a strange post on the hunter community.
He even tried to recruit Jian to join his guild. Then he suddenly disappeared, and Jian thought he had given up on his own, but why did that person’s name suddenly come out of Sehun’s lips?
“I saved his life a few years ago.”
“You did, Sehun?”
“I was coming home from school and saw him being chased by gangsters. So I helped him escape, and he was grateful, so I got his business card. I thought he might be useful since he’s a hunter.”
At first glance, it sounded plausible, but Jian had experienced friction with Soochul. That guy was definitely not the type to repay someone for helping him.
Rather, he was the type who would demand everything you had even if you saved him from drowning.
If Sehun had said he received help from someone Jian didn’t know at all, he might have been unsure.
Even though the body Jian possessed was an S-class hunter, there wasn’t much mention of it in the novel, so it would have been understandable if another powerful individual suddenly appeared.
“You know how much I hate people who lie, right?”
“…”
As Jian spoke in a firm voice, Sehun’s eyes trembled slightly. Though the color had changed, the deep and clear look in his eyes remained the same.
Jian took his arm out from under the blanket and stroked Sehun’s hair.
“You promised to talk honestly. What secret are you hiding that makes you so scared to lie to me?”
As Jian gently caressed Sehun’s cheek, which had frozen in the cold wind, Sehun buried his face in that palm and lowered his eyes.
His densely gathered eyelashes blinked slowly. After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, his eyes, now firmer, met Jian’s.
“I brainwashed him. With my ability.”
Brainwashing…
Jian’s fingertips trembled at the unexpected words. In the original story, the abilities Sehun mainly used in front of Hyunsu were telekinesis and blood-related powers.
Although it was mentioned that he had other abilities, Jian hadn’t read anything specifically about brainwashing.
As Jian bit his lips in bewilderment, Sehun’s eyes filled with a sad light.
“… This is why I didn’t want to say anything. I thought you’d be scared.”
Jian quickly shook his head at Sehun’s lowered voice, which seemed to convey how hurt he felt.
“It’s not like that. I’m not scared, just a little surprised. Sehun, you only awakened as a hunter recently, right? This brainwashing ability… could you use it before that?”