S Chapter 87

Chapter 87

U-dam raised a hand to cover his eyes. Fatigue was rapidly washing over him. It had been like this ever since he admitted he liked the affection Shin Jukyeong gave him. He kept finding himself trying to take care of that guy.

‘I never thought it would come to this.’

He never imagined he would care about Shin Taekyung’s son. U-dam, removing the forearm that covered his eyes, quirked the corner of his lips. It wasn’t a smile born of good mood. He tended to smile more the more uncomfortable he felt.

‘Have you completely forgotten everything you suffered? You damn idiot.’

U-dam painstakingly pulled out the past he had buried deep in his memories. They were memories he never wanted to recall again.

‘Exactly when was it…’

He didn’t know. Just when he could speak and express himself. That’s when he lost his parents. They said it was a car accident. Was it that they slipped while driving on a wet road?

Like an idiot, he believed it. In the empty house, he desperately consoled himself, saying it was bad luck, that heaven had taken his mom and dad.

And at that point, he met Shin Taekyung.

‘So you’re U-dam.’

He had extended a hand to him, who had nowhere to go, claiming to be his father’s old friend. Unfortunately, in those days, he didn’t know how to suspect anyone. Looking back now, he just seemed stupid. Or perhaps his thoughts were paralyzed by loneliness…

Anyway, when he first set foot in the mansion, following Shin Taekyung. His impressions from that time were still vivid. It was exactly like the houses in the dramas his mom used to watch. The floors were marble, the ceilings high and ornate, everything spotless as if new. It was a palace of dreams.

His own room, which he had for the first time in his life, was clean and filled with all sorts of toys. He vaguely heard he had an older brother, but Shin Taekyung didn’t bother to bring Shin Jukyeong to introduce him.

What did it matter, anyway? At the time, Shin Jukyeong’s existence wasn’t important. What mattered was the reality that he didn’t have to wander the streets begging anymore.

‘I thought such a happy life would continue…’

U-dam smiled self-deprecatingly. Because back then, he truly believed he had a new family.

But as if life wanted to teach him it wasn’t easy, happiness didn’t last long. Of course, he didn’t starve or suffer physical abuse. His food, clothing, and shelter were perfect, and he was bought whatever he wanted. But it was no different from feeding a lab rat.

From a certain day, Shin Taekyung regularly drew his blood. If he struggled, saying he didn’t want to, Shin Taekyung would persuade him, saying, ‘Your blood is a salvation and a miracle that will save many children.’

And if that didn’t work, he would even threaten the young U-dam, using everything he had worn, slept in, and eaten so far as leverage, asking if he could afford to repay it.

‘Just do as I tell you. Then I’ll give you anything you want.’

Those were Shin Taekyung’s words, whispered to a child who had collapsed dozens of times while having his blood drawn. No matter how many times he mulled it over, Shin Taekyung was clearly unrecyclable trash.

After that, he lived such a life. Every week, he was dragged away to have his blood drawn, again and again.

When he came to his senses, he would be thrown into his room. No one ever asked if he was okay. They just gave him food and new clothes when it was time. There was no comfort when he cried out of fear. If he rebelled to the point of near delirium, they would just leave a thick envelope of money on his desk and disappear.

Thus, in that palace-like mansion, the first thing U-dam learned was submission. Day after day, he would caress his bruised arms, cry until exhausted, and then fall asleep, only to repeat the cycle.

Every moment was terrifying. No. Was it loneliness?

Then one day. Several years after he first set foot in that house… Was he fourteen then? Or fifteen? He happened to overhear a phone call. It was the day he was about to rebel against Shin Taekyung, to tell him he really didn’t want to be dragged to that hellish lab to have his blood drawn this week.

‘What do you mean, demand? I told you to take care of it that day! What if the kid finds out? Can you take responsibility if he blabs behind your back? You moron! Find him and kill him right now. Make sure he can never utter such insolent words again!’

To summarize the words that followed, it was that they hadn’t yet achieved the desired results, so they needed more of ‘Yang U-dam’s’ blood. And the repeated words: ‘handle,’ ‘dispose of,’ ‘kill.’ U-dam understood then.

My parents are alive!

They’re alive, and they’re looking for me!

Why couldn’t I have suspected him? Why did I trust Shin Taekyung so naively?

And then, a severe headache. Unnatural fragments of memory. For the first time, he realized that all his memories were sporadic and disjointed.

How much had he cried, covering his mouth with his hand?

From that day on, U-dam vowed. He would right all the wrongs…

‘Well, nothing has progressed yet though.’

U-dam closed his eyes again. He folded away the recollection of his terrible past once more. Even just recalling it briefly made his head ache crazily.

‘I feel like throwing up.’

He deliberately changed the subject of his thoughts.

However, the other problems he recalled as if to evade were also too much for him to resolve immediately. The fact that he wasn’t happy even seeing Shin Jukyeong being abused by Shin Taekyung, and even wanted to protect him instead.

No matter how he thought about it, it was absurd. Who was worrying about whom? U-dam didn’t have the luxury of worrying about such things. What was important to him wasn’t Shin Jukyeong, but his parents.

U-dam slowly exhaled. It was foolish to agonize over things he couldn’t resolve immediately. Hadn’t he experienced that often enough in the past?

He would just wait until graduation. Wait until that suspicious guy, whom he called his master, found out about his parents’ whereabouts. If there was still no progress after that, then, with his own hands, Shin Taekyung…

‘But then, would Shin Jukyeong be sad?’

Ah, goddammit, again!

U-dam kicked the blanket, and his roommate complained that he was being noisy.

“What are you doing in the middle of the night! Go to sleep!”

U-dam felt wronged.

‘I want to sleep too, you bastard.’

He scrunched his face and rubbed his hot forehead against the blanket.

A year passed more quickly than expected.

During that time, his brother’s Hunter Academy life flowed smoothly, like water.

What do they call it these days, in… sseu? Sounds like an abbreviation for human trash? Popular kid? That sounds too old-fashioned. Anyway, his brother monopolized the attention of all the students, not in a negative way as before, but in a positive sense.

He no longer ate alone or was ridiculed. And that wasn’t all, was it? Furthermore, he was seen being confessed to by female students multiple times. Well, it’s hard to say if he actually dated anyone.

‘He’s a complete celebrity now.’

Jukyeong chuckled and posted a wide sheet of paper on the bulletin board.

[Mock Battle Ranking]

1st Place… Yang U-dam.

Jukyeong smiled contentedly as his eyes took in the words. His fingers, pressing in the thumbtacks, were filled with strength. It was an expression overflowing with pride.

‘He never misses 1st place.’

Jukyeong’s shoulders rose high. It was as if he was seeing his past self. Well, was it obvious? They were brothers, so their excellence must be similar. He tapped the paper a couple of times with a proud hand.

It was then. A short breeze blew past his ear, and a welcome voice was heard.

「Jukyeong.」

It was Eve.

So, guarding Kang Seo-oh and his stepmother for a year was finally over.

‘Nothing happened to either of them.’

Jukyeong realized anew that the future was changing.

With this, the ‘Cha Hee-yeon Death Incident,’ the biggest cause for Jae-min’s deviation, was resolved. That meant there was no longer a need to keep Eve with the two of them. In other words, Eve could be used for other matters.

The two problems that he had been endlessly putting off: finding U-dam’s biological parents, and finding the person who tried to kill U-dam.

「Eve had a hard time, you’re not planning to work me right away, are you?」

Quick-witted guy.

‘…Haha. Of course.’

Well, for now, I should let him rest.

“Mr. Jukyeong! Your brother was 1st place again this time, wasn’t he?”

“Requests for interviews even came from XXX. They were saying those grades mean he can pick and choose which guild to go to.”

“The older brother is talented, the younger brother is talented… Sigh. How are people like me supposed to live?”

As soon as he returned to the office, congratulatory remarks poured out. Interspersed were a few playful jokes, telling him not to be disheartened by his talented younger brother.

Jukyeong gave an awkward laugh and sat down.

“U-dam just did well, didn’t he? What did I do?”

“Still~ Ah! He’s come of age this time, hasn’t he? Did you prepare a Coming-of-Age Ceremony gift?”

His senior said with a wide smile.

…Coming-of-Age Ceremony? His hand, raised over the keyboard, paused. It wasn’t something he had specifically thought about.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Jukyeong let out a sigh and clutched his head.

Come to think of it, he had planned to give him an entrance gift last year and completely forgotten about it, hadn’t he? Those thoughts only just resurfaced.

You idiot, how could you forget that?

‘Back then, I think I was all excited and bragged that I’d do all sorts of things for him.’

This won’t do. This year, I’ll have to take care of everything, starting with his birthday. Definitely, don’t forget!

‘Then, as my senior said, let’s prepare for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony first.’

What was it again…? A Flower Bouquet, perfume, and a kiss?