S Chapter 58

“Is that so? Are you that sorry??”

“Huh? Uh huh… I really…”

“Ah, really! Even if I say it’s fine, you keep acting like this, and it makes my younger brother uncomfortable, you know?”

“Ah, younger brother…?”

“If you’re really that sorry, well, there is one way to repay me.”

“…Huh?”

Shin Jukyeong, who had approached the monster-obsessed freak, bared his white teeth and grinned. Somehow, he looked like a loan shark who had come to collect interest.

“Our brother’s rank is… B?”

“Huh? Uh-huh.”

“Perfect. You have one or two monsters that are skilled in searching, don’t you?”

The monster-obsessed freak blinked foolishly, then slowly nodded. Just as he expected.

‘Hmm. Done.’

Shin Jukyeong inwardly exclaimed as he looked at the shrunken monster-obsessed freak.

What a catch~!

He stretched his stiff body and waited for darkness to fall. And finally, the time came. Shin Jukyeong headed to his younger brother’s Hospital room to manifest his abilities. Perhaps because the incident had attracted so much attention, there were many guards present.

‘A bit troublesome.’

Shin Jukyeong easily evaded the Hunters and yawned leisurely. Thanks to Eve’s detection ability, he could arrive quickly.

“Guidance ended. Beep-”

‘Where did you hear that one from?’

“It’s the same, right? I even know the Subway Line 1 guidance voice! Watch your step, rat~ Watch your step, rat!”

‘…It’s “Watch your step,” isn’t it?’

“Ding? You tricked Eve again! Hmph!”

‘I’ve never tricked anyone.’

“Why aren’t you on my side? Jukyeong, be my husband now (blush). Hu. sband. Side (0.<) Naughty!"

'…'

Shin Jukyeong ignored Eve and approached his younger brother. His younger brother was breathing steadily.

He was sleeping soundly, completely unaware. A smile escaped him at the cute sight. Just looking at him filled his stomach. Shin Jukyeong smiled contentedly. He hadn't even given birth to or raised a child, yet he was feeling such emotions. Indeed, one must live a long life to truly experience it.

'Only admiration comes out.'

Shin Jukyeong muttered as he looked at his younger brother. Usually, sleeping like an angel is only allowed for children under 7, but for a high school student to accomplish such a difficult feat?

'Is this the moment his angel-ness is proven?'

Shin Jukyeong nodded resolutely. Even if Eve was disgusted, he remained steadfast.

"Bro-con."

'Bro-con…? Weak. My love cannot be defined by a mere word like bro-con.'

"Mini Shin Taekyung."

'What? Apologize right now. Rather, insult my parents.'

"I did."

'Ah, really?'

Shin Jukyeong awkwardly scratched his head.

"Sigh… Eve sometimes wants to split up."

'Are you going to keep using slang/abbreviations?'

"Don't understand, do ya? Get annoyed for no reason, do ya?"

'…No. I know too.'

"What is it? Explain, 1, 2, 3."

'Kye…! Um. It's, well, that.'

Shin Jukyeong quickly averted his gaze. Such words weren't in . Tsk. Annoying, but he’d look it up when he got home. Kyepang!

“It’s Gyepa.”

‘Enough. Whether it’s Gyepa or Kyepang.’

That’s not what’s important. Shin Jukyeong rubbed his palms together briskly, then placed them over his peacefully sleeping younger brother. His physical condition wasn’t bad. He could proceed like this.

Then, looking closely at his sleeping face again, he was once more filled with admiration. Earlier an angel, now a masterpiece. The boy really did it all. What long eyelashes he had. Shin Jukyeong unconsciously flicked a long eyelash with his index finger. It trembled. Cute.

“Alright… then, shall we make some history?”

Shin Jukyeong finished his thoughts and gathered his energy.

‘Eve!’

At Shin Jukyeong’s call, Eve responded. Cackle, cackle! Black smoke swirled and rose with a chilling laugh.

“This one looks really delicious!”

Something popped out from the middle of the black smoke. A red gem with a strange glow. It looked just like a beast’s eye. It rolled and stared at the sleeping Yang U-dam.

“I want to eat him.”

It was a voice filled with greed. If Shin Jukyeong hadn’t been there, it might not have ended with just a longing for a taste.

‘Eve. No.’

“I know~ I don’t want to die by Jukyeong’s hand.”

Eve uttered words that could have been a joke or serious, then lingered around Yang U-dam before slipping into his body. Shin Jukyeong also imbued him with energy at the same time.

Whoosh-!

A soft blue light gently spread.

‘I need to be careful. Focus, Shin Jukyeong.’

He was more cautious than ever. Though he pretended otherwise, cold sweat trickled down his chin.

Was he scared? Yes. Quite a bit. He wouldn’t deny it. However, unlike his frightened inner self, he was confident in the outcome. His clear rationality assured him that failure was impossible. Well, it meant he trusted his own skill and Eve that much.

…Yet, despite all that, he was afraid. Why? The reason was simple: he was family. If it had been anyone else, he would have done it without hesitation. As he said, the probability of failure was extremely low. But because it was his younger brother, because he was his brother, unnecessary anxiety kept creeping in. He pressured himself, believing he couldn’t make even a single gram of a mistake.

In truth, it was an action he shouldn’t be taking. A child’s body, not yet fully mature, could easily suffer serious internal injuries. Yes, just like him. Therefore, extremely delicate control was required. Side effects? Don’t make him laugh. He couldn’t possibly let Yang U-dam experience such a fate.

‘Eve. Match my pace. Even slower.’

“Even slower than this?”

‘Yes.’

“…Sigh.”

And so, ten-odd minutes passed.

“Jukyeong, at this speed, one day isn’t enough.”

Eve, who had emerged from Yang U-dam’s body, spoke.

‘Right.’

Shin Jukyeong didn’t want to place any more risk on his younger brother than absolutely necessary. He exhaled, caught his breath, and withdrew his power. Let’s stop here for today. It’s better to go slowly but stably. Eve agreed to Shin Jukyeong’s words, saying “Alright.”

“…”

His younger brother was still deeply asleep. Would he feel his body changing? Shin Jukyeong knelt and rested his arms on the bed. Even, steady breaths could be heard. It was just the two of them, without any other disturbances. For the first time in a long while, Shin Jukyeong’s expression softened with the peace he felt.

“…This is good.”

A soft murmur escaped him. For once, Eve was quiet too. As if she didn’t want to disturb Shin Jukyeong’s tranquility.

Shin Jukyeong gazed at Yang U-dam’s face for a long time. In his warm eyes, a distorted attachment subtly wavered.

‘No one can take him away.’

Instantly, sparks flew in Shin Jukyeong’s eyes. He was clearly looking with love, yet it was strangely eerie. Shin Jukyeong slowly turned up the corners of his mouth. It was clearly different from the smiles he had worn until now. It was unpleasant and damp. It was a very sinister smile. Although it had a form, it didn’t look human. For some reason, it was like that.

“…”

In truth, it was hidden behind a normal facade, but whenever Shin Jukyeong saw his younger brothers, he sometimes felt an uncontrollable, strong urge. To caress their skin, check if they were breathing, if their limbs were intact. He wanted to check, and re-check, every moment like a madman.

‘Perfect for getting locked up in a mental hospital.’

Shin Jukyeong scoffed at himself. In fact, he was aware that it was strange. That’s why he could easily feign normalcy. Because one had to face oneself squarely to concoct plausible lies.

“Hmm.”

…His rough guess was that it was post-traumatic stress disorder. Stabbing his younger brother to death, being stabbed to death by his younger brother. Listing it like this, it would be stranger if it didn’t come. Shin Jukyeong carefully reached out and gently stroked Yang U-dam’s cheek.

‘I’ll definitely protect you this life.’

“…No matter what it takes.”

Thus, Day 1 passed.

“´⊙ω⊙`) Staring.”

‘…’

“´⊙ω⊙`) Staring~ Staring~”

‘Why, why…’

“Jukyeong, teach me how to write a complaint.”

‘Suddenly?’

“Yeah.”

‘Who are you going to complain about?’

“Jukyeong.”

‘…?’

“Why?”

‘No. I was wondering if that was an agreed-upon opinion between us.’

“Eve is going to start a revolution.”

‘Where do you keep learning things like that?’

“They say even slaves in the past got to eat. Eve, a life worse than a slave.”

‘Lately, I’ve been pouring it all into U-dam…’

“(⸝⸝◞ ̫ ◟) It’s fine. If Eve starves to death, then that’s that…”

‘You really have a knack for making people uncomfortable.’

“Eh? Σ(； ･`д･´) Jukyeong… you were a human?! Not just a mold that exploits without pay?”

‘Calling a person mold. That’s too harsh.’

“(◑▥◑) Grrrrr!!”

‘…Please listen to the mold’s circumstances too.’

“Ptooey-!”

‘Ah, yes. You’re very angry.’

Indeed, it had been quite a while since he’d fed her. At this rate, a riot would truly break out. Hmm.

Shin Jukyeong, who didn’t want a revolution to happen, thought for a moment and then permitted her to eat, on the condition that she only take a reasonable amount. He expected her to refuse a couple of times out of politeness. But Eve always showed her non-human nature in situations like this. Saying “Alright,” she swiftly devoured his energy, gobble, gobble. Soon, his head started spinning.

‘Eve. Stop…’

“You don’t even bother a dog when it’s eating! Chomp!”

‘…’

“Chomp! Mumble, mumble.”

‘…Perhaps.’

“Mumble, mumble?”

‘…If it’s not too much trouble, could you let me live?’

Did he really have to beg in such a pathetic state for her to be satisfied? Only after Shin Jukyeong hung on like an ugly potato did Eve click her tongue and step back, seemingly savoring the taste.