CH 60

“I don’t want to.”

Without a second thought, Han Cha-soo refused at once.

“Why? It’s not bad for Han Cha-soo. My brother is the one who can’t be reborn, and if we become a family, I will always be there to treat you.”

From Han Cha-soo’s point of view, it was a gesture he didn’t really need.

‘As long as I have the regeneration skill, I won’t die anyway.’

He couldn’t become a family with Baek-dam just for that.

“I’m happy enough as it is.”

Baek-dam didn’t seem to be convinced, and he looked at Han Cha-soo as if he were seeing something strange.

“Enough? That’s not enough, that’s called resignation. Think about it, do you think I’m going to make you like me now? I don’t know why you’re doing this, knowing you’re not.”

Folding his arms, Baek-dam raised an eyebrow. He thought, not bothering to hide his unwillingness.

‘It’s not a bad idea, but why does he hate it so much?’

When had Han Cha-soo ever used common sense? Baek-dam glanced at Jung Yiheon.

Han Cha-soo was the one who had rejected Jung Yiheon. If he couldn’t convince a man who refused to work for ten times his annual salary, he couldn’t do anything else.

Then don’t take the job in the first place.

“Tsk.”

Technically, Han Cha-soo had started it.

‘So why are you so blown up without knowing that you are risking your life?’

It was different from when he saved his brother with Jung Seoheon’s sidekick. Han Cha-soo saved Baek-sun with his clear will. When he couldn’t protect his brother, he risked his own life.

‘Sun-i will never forget him.’

His place in the family was threatened. If he could no longer erase Han Cha-soo from his brother’s mind, it was better to keep him under my thumb.

That was Baek-dam’s decision.

“Hah….”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to change my mind.”

He’s just shutting up. It’s annoying, it’s gibberish. Baek-dam’s eyes looking at Han Cha-soo lit up the double wick.

It was at that moment that Jung Yiheon, who had been watching, spoke up.

“I think we should stop.”

The man who had brought the blanket from somewhere else wrapped it around Han Cha-soo’s shoulders.

“You’re taking too much time with someone who just woke up.”

“Oh, thank you….”

He slipped a dull crystal into his hand. Baek-dam soon realized it was the object on the nightstand.

‘I was wondering why you put the ugly thing on the cushion, but it must be a spirit stone.’

Spirit stones usually have pastel colors, so it must be a spirit stone. Well, there was no difference between spirit stones and demon stones.

The important thing is that they are usually used as therapy for emotionally exhausted awakeners.

Somehow, he thought, he had accepted the wager more readily than he should have.

‘There’s no way that nefarious fellow is going to bend my will without thinking.’

Baek-dam watched in disbelief as Jung Yiheon placed the spirit stone on Han Cha-soo’s chest and wrapped his arm around it as if it were an egg.

“This way, it’ll come out a little earlier.”

“…I see, I didn’t realise.”

“You can hold it often from now on. It won’t break under any kind of impact, so keep it by your side when you sleep.”

“……Yes.”

“Han Cha-soo, aren’t you discriminating against people too openly?”

He didn’t say anything he couldn’t say, but his eyes were wide open. The appearance made the twisted screening even more twisted.

“I’m so upset, I have to go home and tell Sun-i that I was cruelly rejected Han Cha-soo from becoming a member of our family, but you’re just laughing like it’s nothing….”

Han Cha-soo was speechless. Baek-dam smirked as he stared at him with wide eyes, unable to move his lips.

“Hunter Baek-dam.”

Jung Yiheon was about to say something to him when he frowned.

A snap.

“Excuse me!”

Just then, a medic walked in.

“The head of the centre has asked me to come in for one more check-up. I’m sorry, can I do that?”

“Oh, yes. Please feel free.”

“Thank you, and you two can go to….”

“I’ll be right here.”

“You’re not going to kick me out, are you, our incompetent medical centre?”

Basking in the needle-piercing stares, Baek-dam shifted in his seat. At the foot of the bed where Han Cha-soo sat, facing him directly.

“Han Chasoo-ssi.”

“Haa…. Yes.”

There are a lot of people, so this one is good. Unable to ignore his words, Han Cha-soo replied in a rambling tone.

“You do realise how much Sun-i worries about you, right?”

“…I know.”

“So can you at least tell me why you’re being so cold to our brother’s feelings? I sincerely want to be a part of your family…. You keep pushing me away like that, it makes me feel bad.”

Gasps and breath-holding sounds erupted here and there. Baek-dam crossed his hands over his chest, giving off a pitiful expression.

“Please say something to make me understand-,”

A clerical voice echoed through the hospital room.

“It’s because I’m an orphan.”

“…….”

“Maybe it’s because I don’t have a family in my memory. Maybe I take family a little more seriously than other people.”

Baek-dam froze with his hand on his chest. But that wasn’t all.

“Heup….”

The entire room was enveloped in complete silence. The only sound was the occasional intake of breath.

Han Cha-soo’s voice rang out through the stifling, heavy air.

“I’ve never missed my family so much in my life…. I’ve been in and out of life and death a few times, so I’ve changed my mind. Yes, Yes, maybe one of the reasons is that I watched a brother who was as good as Baekdam-ssi by my side. I knew I needed to find my family.”

A hiccup. The man who was about to place the stethoscope on Han Cha-soo’s chest hiccupped in embarrassment.

“I, I’m sorry.”

To the medical staff who looked at him apologetically, Han Cha-soo shook his head that he was fine.

Baek-dam and Jung Yiheon had already hardened to the point where it was hard to tell if they were statues or not.

Han Cha-soo lowered the corners of his mouth as he tried to climb up and took a calming breath. His body trembled slightly, as if he was ashamed of revealing his true feelings.

He could feel the strength in the hands of the medical staff holding him. If he had to guess, he’d say it was encouragement.

‘That’s why you should have scratched it last time.’

Han Cha-soo exhaled slowly, lifting his lowered gaze slightly. Baek-dam still had the same dumbfounded expression on his face.

‘I’m sorry, Han Cha-soo’s parents, I don’t know your face or your name, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want your son to be taken advantage of.’

He hadn’t intended to use this as an excuse even if Baek-dam hadn’t pushed him, but he couldn’t help it.

“I, I mean.”

Baek-dam brushed his long hair out of his face as if he had suddenly come to his senses. The look in his eyes suggested he was about to make some sort of excuse.

‘I can’t leave it like that.’

Han Cha-soo’s eyes flashed like a hunter who has spotted a wild beast. He rubbed his cheeks as if he were embarrassed by the revelation of a secret.

“Actually, I was going to look for my parents as soon as I got out of the medical centre.”

“…….”

Looking at Baek-dam, who was speechless as if he had honey on his lips, Han Cha-soo continued with a wistful face.

“If they’re dead, any remaining siblings, or if that’s not possible, any blood relatives. I want to find anyone.”

The look of determination in his eyes and the pleading tone of his voice were a bonus.

“That’s why I can’t be someone else’s family, and I’m so sorry, Hunter Baek-dam.”

Strangely, Han Cha-soo’s words had power. They had the power to move people.

Maybe that was why.

“Hmph.”

“Hmph, hmph.”

The eyes of the medical staff who left the hospital room were all wet. One of them had blood on his lips as he tried to hold back his rising emotions.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh? Ah, go.”

He pointed to the bathroom and the team leader nodded. The employee bowed and went into the bathroom. The people left the hallway, leaving him behind.

Shoot-

“Huu….”

As he splashed his face with cold water, he seemed to regain some sanity. He swept his wet hair out of his face and checked himself in the mirror.

Nothing had changed.

“Good.”

He said, feeling suddenly shaky. Satisfied that all was well, he walked out of the building.

Passersby gave him eye contact or waved.

He naturally smiled at them or waved back and walked on. A few moments later, he was standing alone at the back of a deserted building.

No pretence of popularity. No bugging devices, no suspicious aura.

Familiarizing himself with his surroundings, he tapped a couple of times on the metal jewelry encasing his earlobe.

Click-

A few times, a harsh, tuned-in noise pierced his ears. Then a clear voice said.

-What’s going on?

The man took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and spoke.

“It seems that the little master has… gone mad… no, has lost his memory.”

-What?

“He says he needs his family.”

There was silence. A slow, slow breathing. He waited for the other man to speak.

Suddenly, laughter filled his ears.

-That’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.

If you need a family, I’ll give it to you.

A low murmur tickled his eardrums.