S Chapter 39

It’s not bad to look suspicious. Since I can’t be honest anyway, I might as well properly hide my identity. Mysticism is good.

“Don’t ask any more. You and I both have plenty of secrets. Isn’t it better if we both hide what we need to hide and get what we want?”

“……You have a point.”

U-dam agreed.

“Don’t be so proud. It only makes you look more naive.”

“Don’t treat me like a kid.”

“Because you are a kid.”

“……”

“Judging by your expression, you must be curious about my information now, aren’t you?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Let’s just say you are.”

“I said I’m not curious!”

“Oh-ho… You must be curious if I’m older or younger, huh?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Oh, talking back to your master.”

Shin Jukyeong gently flicked U-dam’s forehead, not hard enough to hurt. Neither of them realized it, but if a third party had been present, they would have seen them as quite close. Their demeanor and distance with each other were that comfortably natural.

‘I should get going soon.’

This should be enough. Shin Jukyeong concluded their conversation.

‘They must still be tracking me.’

He had taken more time than expected. It would be problematic if he were caught with U-dam like this. It was obvious that his innocent brother would be implicated and treated as a criminal. If the Hunter Association were to attack U-dam, Shin Jukyeong might truly have to turn the world against him. It would be better to separate quickly before that happened.

“Wait.”

U-dam grabbed Shin Jukyeong, who was about to disappear. Oh dear, Shin Jukyeong stumbled but turned around, pretending it was nothing. A master, after all, must always appear flawless. Not like someone who rummages through wallets.

(Choi Bon-gwang: You rascal! I was going to double it for you!)

“Why? I’m busy.”

“I’ll set one condition too.”

“What? You’re the one asking for a favor.”

“Yeah. I know. But there’s no law saying the one asking for a favor can’t set conditions, is there?”

This kind of illogic was new to him again, leaving him flustered. Who did he take after? The kid was truly audacious and cunning. Yet, despite all that, he wasn’t hateful… Tsk tsk.

‘Looking at that confident attitude, he’s probably determined to win.’

It seemed like he wouldn’t let go of his arm until Shin Jukyeong listened. Damn, he couldn’t just ignore him. Shin Jukyeong, whose insides were actually burning with anxiety despite his calm exterior, felt that wasting any more time arguing was too much.

“Speak. I’ll give you one minute.”

“It’s simple. Something even a kindergartner can keep. Don’t lie to me. It’s fine to hide things or remain silent. But nothing you say out loud should be a lie to deceive me. I’ve been stabbed in the back so many times that I’m a bit sensitive.”

“……”

“You can keep it, right?”

U-dam held out his pinky finger. It was an unspoken question, asking if Shin Jukyeong could promise. Shin Jukyeong stared at the finger his brother offered. A promise? What was there to ask? He absolutely couldn’t keep it.

Of all things, setting a condition not to lie to an extreme liar. This was more absurd than ‘My father was working part-time at a maid café!’ That’s how high the difficulty level was. What should he do if he’s told not to lie with a mouth that has to utter countless falsehoods, from the past to the present, and into the future?

Shin Jukyeong was currently at liar level (Lv) 90. How high is that? It meant he was on Santa Claus’s blacklist, on par with Pinocchio and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Most ordinary liars couldn’t even show their business cards. He was part of such a formidable group.

‘What do I do…?’

But as always, short deliberation, swift action!

‘Decision complete.’

Shin Jukyeong gently took the extended pinky finger and shook it. What was there to do?

“Easy. I hate lies.”

He was lying again. This was, in other words, ‘Did you fall for it again, little brother?’ There was no need to feel wronged for being deceived. This was all proof of being a well-adapted member of society.

There probably isn’t a single person in society who hasn’t lied at least once. If there is, that person is truly a perverted psycho, so be careful. They’re the same type as those who stare blankly into space on Subway Line 1 without listening to music. Madness among madness.

Wasn’t being an adult, from the start, about saying ‘Yes^^’ when you actually mean ‘F youㅗ’? It was wrong from the beginning to expect honesty from an adult whose life was filled with lies from their very first replies.

‘Anyway, this is all your future self, so please understand. Do you think you wouldn’t be like this? Still, your brother is a liar who repays kindness, so I ask for your leniency.’

Shin Jukyeong subtly let slip a sly smile.

“Oh, and by the way, have you ever seen a boy around my age? About this tall…”

U-dam, who had nodded with satisfaction, suddenly waved his hand beside his temple. His questioning voice was faint. He seemed to be both embarrassed and awkward.

Shin Jukyeong listened silently for a moment. But the description that followed somehow sounded like himself. Me, suddenly, at this moment? Shin Jukyeong blinked in surprise.

“Did you see him? Tell me quickly. I need to go pick him up.”

If he said no, U-dam seemed ready to go back to the club. Emotion welled up in Shin Jukyeong’s chest.

‘U-dam is looking out for me! What beautiful brotherly affection!’

He wanted to hug him tightly and express his gratitude, but unfortunately, the timing was bad. He really needed to leave soon. The Hunter Association Chairman would undoubtedly follow Eve’s traces before long. He had to go quickly before that.

“Uh. Hmm. The wandering boys, I, uh, talked to them nicely… and sent them away.”

In a flustered rush, Shin Jukyeong hurriedly said he had lectured them well and sent them off. Then, the kid gritted his teeth and glared at him. His expression changed completely, which was a little chilling. Shin Jukyeong felt a bit intimidated.

“You’re lying right away, aren’t you?”

“……?!”

What? How did he know? U-dam stared at Shin Jukyeong with sharp eyes. Unlike before, his gaze was aggressive. He was clearly convinced that Shin Jukyeong was lying.

Oh, do you need proof? Of course, there is. It’s very simple and clear. Because…

“Shin Jukyeong would never leave me behind.”

That was all the proof. But it was the perfect answer. Yes. It was an undeniable truth, however arrogant it sounded.

Yang U-dam had pretty much finished his character analysis of Shin Jukyeong. A homosexual bastard who liked him, a pure-hearted slut, an obsessive stalker, etc… Anyway, based on the trust and affection Shin Jukyeong had shown him so far, he had concluded that Shin Jukyeong would never have left him alone.

“……”

For the first time, he was speechless. But he was happy. He couldn’t express how much his brother’s certainty about him thrilled him.

‘Yes. You are my reason for living, how could I abandon you? I would never leave you all, leave you, behind. U-dam, thank you for knowing.’

Shin Jukyeong hid his unspoken sincerity behind a smile.

“I’ll let one lie slide. So tell me. You really didn’t see him? His description is…”

“Uh, hmm, actually…”

In the end, he fabricated a lie about having moved him far away after he was seriously injured, and quickly made his escape.

“I’ll come find you again next time. Until then, behave yourself.”

He shouldn’t have done that, but contrary to the awkward situation, his heart felt genuinely proud.

After stealthily returning home and giving Eve ‘food’ as promised, Shin Jukyeong had to buy a round-trip ticket on the express train to hell. The kid must have been very hungry… He was sucked dry until he involuntarily cried for help. He was completely drained, body and soul, and remained unconscious for four days straight.

When he opened his eyes again, he felt as if every bone in his body had been ground in a mortar.

“Ugh.”

He screamed just moving a single finger, so that said it all. At least he had begged enough to avoid the eel soup. If he’d drunk that too, he might have bitten his tongue off and found enlightenment.

Muscle aches, chills, headaches, nausea, and so on. His condition was the absolute worst.

“I’d rather have a hangover…”

“You’ve never even had a hangover, though.”

Instead of Eve, who was full and asleep, Kang Seo-oh teased him.

‘Do you want me to mix rice in alcohol and eat it once?!’

Shin Jukyeong’s eyes narrowed venomously. He knew it was childish annoyance. But Kang Seo-oh’s words indicated he had no idea what a heavy drinker the person lying before him was.

While others made soy-marinated crab or eggs, Shin Jukyeong lived with his own liver thoroughly steeped in alcohol. Had they ever heard of a true ‘liver sauce’? It wasn’t something to boast about, but even a gumiho would probably refuse his liver. He’d be lucky not to get drunk after two sips.

“Ah! That’s right!”

Kang Seo-oh suddenly clapped his hands.

“While you were sleeping, Young Master, hehehehehe! You see, hehehe!”

“Huh.”

“You see, hehehe!”

What was it? Was he trying to make him explode with frustration? An impatient adult like him hated this kind of thing. Shin Jukyeong’s brow furrowed deeply.

“What is it?”

“Hehehehehe!”

No matter how he looked at it, this was definitely retaliation for not letting him make eel soup.

“Hehehehe, you see… Hehehehe!”

You insolent fellow, teasing an adult? Just as Shin Jukyeong was trembling with anger, Kang Seo-oh opened his mouth.

“Do you know that the other young masters visited every single day? They’d just peek in to see if you were awake today! Their expressions were so earnest… Ugh, my heart ached for them.”

“Eun did?”

“Not just the youngest young master, but the second and third young masters too, all of them.”

“The kids?”

His sharp expression softened like silken tofu. No. Why was he telling him such precious news only now? Shin Jukyeong abruptly sat up. He suddenly felt a surge of strength.