Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Returning Ten Years (3)

The dawn, which would usually have been quiet, began to move very busily.

The reason was, of course, because I had called Cha Yu-na to inform her that Han Seora had arrived.

'Except Baek Ha-seong is not here.'

I thought that as I recalled the conversation I had shared with Baek Ha-seong before he departed.

"Are you truly all right with leaving like this?"

"Seora will have no problem being treated even if I am not there, anyway."

"But will there not be restrictions on meeting Han Seora? Besides, you will miss the timing to clear up the misunderstandings."

"Hmm, well, that is true."

Baek Ha-seong had a detached tone as he readily admitted to my point.

However, I had no choice but to remain silent at the words that followed.

"But the request of my benefactor remains."

"...Pardon?"

"The person you want to ask a favor of is not the 'Person of the Stormy Clouds of the Baek Family,' but the 'Irregular who turned his back on the Baek Family,' Baek Ha-seong. Is that not right?"

He was correct.

The favor I intended to ask through the contract I had made with him during the final exams was one that could only be asked of the version of Baek Ha-seong who stood on the side of the Villains.

However, I also have precious people in my life, so I can understand.

I know how much happiness it brings to be able to be with someone you thought you would never see again for ten years.

'So, I was going to tell him that he did not necessarily have to go that far...'

Before I could even say anything, Baek Ha-seong spoke first.

"There is no need to be so considerate. I am simply repaying you as much as you have done for me."

"......"

"Haha, if I could not even do that much for the benefactor who returned my lost ten years, how could I call you my benefactor?"

After saying that, Baek Ha-seong vanished, leaving behind the words to contact him again when it was time for the request.

That was why Baek Ha-seong was not here now, and only Han Seora remained.

'Still, it did not seem like he was forcing himself, so I suppose it is fine.'

The last expression he had shown was a bright smile, one that I had never seen since the day I met him.

Therefore, it seemed like I could set aside my thoughts about Baek Ha-seong for the moment.

To be more honest, it would be more accurate to say that I did not have the luxury to think about Baek Ha-seong right now.

That was because...

"Haha, this is quite something. I think meeting with you, boy, is harder than soothing an upset big sister."

I was currently facing a situation where I had to have a one-on-one conversation with Shin Yu-hwan.

***

The cool autumn dawn wind was quite chilly.

No, in a way, it might not have been the wind that was chilly, but the situation itself.

As I was thinking that, sitting quietly across from Shin Yu-hwan on a bench in front of the hospital, he spoke.

"Boy."

Shin Yu-hwan called out to me after draining the coffee in his hand in one gulp.

Despite his soft voice, I opened my mouth while feeling tense.

"Yes."

"Why are you so nervous? You were not usually like this, were you?"

If you were in my shoes, Mr. Shin Yu-hwan, would you not be nervous?

I have collaborated with Baek Ha-seong, with whom you fought so bloodily, and in a broader sense, I have collaborated with Villains like Yu-hyeon and the Puppeteer.

Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Shin Yu-hwan suddenly brought up the topic of Villains.

"Boy, do you know why I hate Villains?"

"Uh, well..."

"It was because of that incident ten years ago. That is when I came to hate Villains that much."

I am aware of it.

In the novel, it was mentioned that Shin Yu-hwan came to loathe Villains due to the pain he experienced in the past.

I just did not know that the past was related to Han Seora.

"Actually, if you look at it, it would be more accurate to say that I hated the Baek Family rather than Villains. The reason Sister Seora ended up like that was because of the Baek Family."

"......"

"But you must know as well, boy, that the world is not so easy. So, I naturally ended up chasing Villains."

I had heard this to some extent from Cha Yu-na.

That Shin Yu-hwan had acted that way to uncover the fact that the Baek Family was involved with the Villains and bring them down.

And that the Baek Family and the Villains were indeed connected, which led Shin Yu-hwan to despise Villains immensely.

"It might be puzzling that I am suddenly telling you this. It will feel very abrupt."

"Well... it certainly did."

"Oho, does saying it certainly did mean that you now understand why I told you this?"

"Roughly, yes."

Yes, I think I roughly understood.

What Shin Yu-hwan wanted to say was likely this.

"In the end, since the reason you came to hate Villains was that incident ten years ago, you are telling me that I do not need to be so nervous, right?"

"Hahaha! You are quite quick-witted, boy."

Shin Yu-hwan nodded at my words and laughed loudly before continuing.

"It is just as you said. In fact, after being in this industry for ten years, it is true that I have come to hate Villains personally, but the ultimate reason was because of Sister Seora."

"Hearing those words makes the tension rush back in."

"Haha, you are surprisingly mindful of others' reactions."

"It is my secret to survival."

"Is that so? Anyway, what I want to say is this. I am not such a stingy person that I would get angry at the one who fulfilled my long-held dream."

As he spoke, Shin Yu-hwan returned to his initial soft voice.

"I do not know what it is you are trying to achieve. And I do not know what you are planning in order to reach your goal."

"......"

"But I do know one thing. No matter what I say, your plans will not change, anyway."

I did not know how to react... but at the very least, I could not deny it.

Just as Shin Yu-hwan said, I had no intention of changing my plans even if it meant being hated.

Fortunately, Shin Yu-hwan was surprisingly considerate in that regard.

"Well, so what if that is the case? In the end, it is your life. And it is not like you are going to walk an evil path just because you collaborated with Villains, right?"

"No. I can state that much with certainty."

"Yes, yes. That is enough. And frankly, I feel a sense of relief through this incident."

"...Pardon?"

I could not understand that part at all.

What on earth could he be relieved about?

"That you have learned the preciousness of being together. You always looked anxious, but it is good to see that you seem to have grown a step further."

"How do you..."

"How do I know that? It is because you and I are similar."

"Are you saying it is from personal experience?"

"That is right. I also had a time when I tried to shoulder everything alone like you, and in that process, I also came to know the preciousness of being together."

"......"

"So, it is quite a relief. It seems you realized it sooner than I did, at least. I realized that quite late."

Shin Yu-hwan's expression as he spoke looked somewhat bitter.

However, I could not offer any words of comfort.

There are times when silence is a better remedy.

Whether my choice was the correct answer, Shin Yu-hwan soon cheered up and continued.

"So, you should go and take care of your precious ties now."

"So suddenly?"

"What do you mean, suddenly? When I saw your friends earlier, they looked like they had a lot to say."

"Ugh..."

That was true.

I had escaped by saying that I had a previous engagement with Shin Yu-hwan when they were trying to hold me back and talk to me.

"You must cherish everything while you have it. Do you understand, boy?"

"...When you put it that way, I have nothing to say."

"Haha, it is not like I live life lightly every single time. The remaining complicated matters will be handled by the adults who only struck poses and could not do a single thing, so you go on ahead."

After saying that, Shin Yu-hwan patted my shoulder and stood up from his seat.

Then, Shin Yu-hwan quietly went on his way.

However, I still could not lift my seat from the bench.

Because...

"I can predict what kind of words I will hear..."

And that prediction meant that it was not a very good situation for me.

However, it was not something I could delay forever.

Therefore, after taking one last look at the spot where Shin Yu-hwan had stayed, I moved my feet.

It was to engage in a conversation that felt more like a battle than an actual battle.

Of course, this time, I was the one on the receiving end.

***

Just as Choi Yu-seong was moving his feet toward the hospital again.

Shin Yu-hwan was watching that scene from a distance.

"I think it is truly a relief. He seems to be heading toward the right path, unlike someone else."

A monologue flowed from the mouth of Shin Yu-hwan.

However, what was this? Surprisingly, a voice was heard as if answering that monologue.

"By any chance, is that 'someone else' referring to me?"

A detached voice was heard from the empty air.

An ordinary person would likely have been flustered, but Shin Yu-hwan continued the conversation naturally as if he had already known.

"There is no guarantee that there is only one 'someone else.'"

"That is true. It is a fact that both you and I are quite messed up."

"It feels a bit like trash being compared to you, but since it is not a wrong statement, it makes me even more annoyed, Baek Ha-seong."

As expected, the identity of the voice that suddenly spoke was Baek Ha-seong.

Baek Ha-seong also opened his mouth without being particularly surprised by Shin Yu-hwan's reaction.

"Is it also the first time in ten years that we have had such a calm conversation?"

"Now that I hear it, it is. We only barely managed to talk when Sister Seora was around."

"I suppose so. You were always a shy fellow back then."

"Haha, when you spout such nonsense, it makes me want to kill you."

However, even though he said that, Shin Yu-hwan did not make any particular gesture.

In a way, it was a truly surprising scene.

After all, were they not in a relationship where they had charged at each other to kill only a day and a few hours ago?

That such individuals were continuing a calm conversation like this—it would be strange if one did not feel surprised.

However, that was a story based on the standards of ordinary people.

"Did they say Seora can be treated?"

"Yeah. They said she is in a fairly stable state now, thanks to some help from the boy's friend."

The two were different from ordinary people.

Regardless of the method, did they not achieve the goal that was Han Seora?

Therefore, there was no longer any reason for the two to fight.

It meant that they were in a state where no grudges remained, which would have lingered if they were ordinary people.

The two quietly faced each other for a moment. It was Shin Yu-hwan who resumed the conversation.

"But you certainly decided to trust a Year 1 cadet easily."

"I was that desperate, and it was an inviting proposal that I could not refuse."

"That was the same for me, but it would have been better if the boy had told me instead."

"That is because I am more reliable than you."

Of course, that was not the reason.

It was simply because Choi Yu-seong had offered the proposal to Baek Ha-seong only because he did not know that Shin Yu-hwan was related to Han Seora.

"That is a very cheap provocation compared to your expression."

"Looking at the vein on your forehead, it may be cheap, but it seems to have good cost-effectiveness."

"Haha... I am telling you, you will really die if you keep that up."

Still, because he knew how to distinguish at least the time and place, Shin Yu-hwan endured it and continued speaking.

"So, how was the boy in your eyes?"

"I am not sure exactly what you are asking."

"I am asking what you are thinking right now."

"Hmm..."

After pondering the question for a moment, Baek Ha-seong offered an answer.

"He is a strange fellow. And he is a fellow who looks like he has no back."

"Hmm."

"However, he is a fellow who can soar if there is someone to support his back."

"Haha, my impression is similar to yours."

Was it because they were alumni, or was it because their paths were similar even if they were different?

The evaluation of Choi Yu-seong by Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong was almost identical.

Perhaps because of that, Shin Yu-hwan spoke with a smile as if it were interesting.

"So, are you going to support his back?"

"He is my benefactor. According to the contract, I only agreed to grant one favor, but that much would be stingy for the benefactor who found my lost time."

"Is that so? It is annoying, but even this is similar."

It was just as he said.

Shin Yu-hwan also harbored the desire to support Choi Yu-seong so that he would not collapse.

The meeting that had started as mere interest had somehow led to this point, had it not found his lost ten years?

Therefore, he had now become a fellow he wanted to protect, not just someone of interest.

Although he had not made a contract like Baek Ha-seong, Choi Yu-seong had become an existence worthy of being called a benefactor.

'Well, I am merely a part of the process, though.'

Choi Yu-seong had those he could call his comrades, did he not?

However, since they were still children with deficiencies, he intended to be that process until the time they could bloom fully.

"So, from now on, I should lighten the boy's burden."

"I do not know what you are suddenly talking about to yourself."

"I am telling you to get lost now. You have no intention of meeting other people anyway, right?"

"...That is true. I have lived a life of too many sins to face them now."

The two turned their heads after that conversation as if they had made a promise.

Of course, there was no such thing as a farewell greeting.

Because they were not in a friendly relationship where they would wish for each other's well-being.

Silently leaving to do the work assigned to each of them—that was the only farewell greeting for them.