CHAPTER 78: I NEED TO STEP BACK

Down to his last option, Cheon Areum clung desperately to Yoon Seoyul’s body. Without wasting a second, Yoon Seoyul gripped him firmly around the waist and vanished from the cleared-out area in an instant. As they reappeared just outside the cleared area, Cheon Areum immediately turned around to check on Lee Nari—only to find her still rooted in place, unmoving.

Then it happened.

The colossal reptile titan—still not fully visible to Cheon Areum due to its soaring height—let out a thunderous roar that rippled through the very air, vibrating deep in his chest. Instinctively, he clamped his hands over his ears. But Lee Nari, standing directly beneath the impending stomp, didn’t even change her expression. Her hand rose calmly into the air. Just as the massive foot was about to crush her, an intimidating burst of pink energy warped outward from her palm. In the blink of an eye, the entire titan’s body vanished, swallowed by the blinding light, leaving behind only a bomb of glittering pink sparks that shimmered like dust in the smoky jungle air.

The gate scintillated into existence the instant the boss was defeated, rising like a rippling mirror over the cleared-out area. Without a word or pause, Lee Nari walked straight through it, never sparing either of them a second glance as she disappeared beyond the gate.

Yoon Seoyul sighed breathily before taking his hand as they both walked through the gate too.

"Lee Nari, stop and listen to me!"

Streeling Cheon Areum with him, Yoon Seoyul chased after Lee Nari, who, with heavy stomps, in fact didn’t stop and continued walking away.

"Yoon Seoyul, do you want to apologize to Lee Nari?"

Yoon Seoyul stared down at him, not agreeing or denying it. But Cheon Areum already knew what kind of person Yoon Seoyul was. He might have threatened her in the heat of the moment, but the guilt afterward would eat him away if he didn’t apologize now.

"Go after her alone. I’m tired. I don’t want to run."

"Wait for me in the car."

Yoon Seoyul spoke, his eyes following Lee Nari in the distance as he handed him the car keys. Cheon Areum returned them to his hand immediately.

"I’ll wait at the entrance."

Nodding, Yoon Seoyul walked away. Cheon Areum stood and watched him run after Lee Nari, his thoughts boiling into something he didn’t want to do, but he was still a bit enthralled to do it. Yoon Seoyul and Lee Nari’s relationship was still rocky. Yoon Seoyul might try to search for Lee Nari using Inho’s skill, but maybe he wouldn’t be so taken aback if Cheon Areum treated Lee Nari nicely enough to just force her to leave Yoon Seoyul alone.

It might be a stretch, since Yoon Seoyul had never really clearly spoken about his feelings for Cheon Areum, but he did seem to want to continue whatever relationship they had right now. The only problem was Lee Nari now. If he could just somehow make her leave, then...

No. What am I thinking...

Cheon Areum rubbed his temples, walking to the other exit of the park. Just last night he had agreed to let it go, but not even a day in, he had begun to think of kidnapping her. Even if he didn’t want to torture her, Lee Nari would never give up so easily. With her ambitiousness, she’ll even endure the torture before agreeing to leave them alone willingly. There would be so many problems if he followed through with the kidnapping—how could he even consider it?

There had to be another way. If Yoon Seoyul couldn’t be pushed away or hated by him, then what could work? A fake confession of hatred for Yoon Seoyul? He had indeed not tried that. Cheon Areum checked his phone notifications before pulling out a hoodie from his inventory and a mask. It was almost time to pick Rian from the daycare.

*

The sound of the clock ticking away could be heard in the living room as Cheon Areum sat on the carpet with Rian, drawing with him or more like Rian drew random things and gave them to him to color in. Rian’s behavior had been unpredictable all day. He would usually go to bed after dinner, but today he wanted to draw with him despite it being past his bedtime.

"Hyung, this one too."

Rian put another piece of paper on the piling sheets he had yet to color in. Cheon Areum turned to his left wearily, looking at the top of the pile.

"Another flower? Is this a sunflower?"

"Hmm."

Rian hummed in response as he continued to color, and silence fell in the living room once more. Yoon Seoyul, sitting on the couch on his right, hadn’t spoken a word either. He could feel him glaring at him. Cheon Areum didn’t know what Yoon Seoyul and Lee Nari had been doing or talking about for hours. Yoon Seoyul came back home after Cheon Areum and Rian had already ordered and eaten dinner.

After that, all they had been doing is this—Yoon Seoyul sitting on the couch, staring daggers at him as he and Rian drew and colored. Yoon Seoyul didn’t ask him about why he didn’t wait for him at the exit of the park, nor did he message or call him.

As curious as he was, Cheon Areum also didn’t want to know what happened between Yoon Seoyul and Lee Nari. By tomorrow, he would pack his belongings and move out—back into the old apartment, for now, away from the characters that triggered the denouement of the book. Rian liked the daycare, so an apartment with tight security nearby would be better. And when Yoon Seoyul asks him the reason for their move out, he would just tell him he didn’t like Yoon Seoyul. No, he had started to hate him.

Surely Yoon Seoyul wouldn’t kick him out of the guild, right? It would be nice to see his face from time to time...

"Hyung... how did you get that cut on your lip?"

Drawing roughly, Rian spoke in a low voice close to his ear.

"...."

Wanting to reply but not being able to, Cheon Areum’s hands paused coloring as two vivid teardrops fell on the half-colored drawing.