Chapter 204: [THE DREADED NOTIFICATION]

Her boys?

Her boys??

HER. BOYS?!

’What does that even mean… her boys? HER boys? Does she mean it like… because they’re technically under her?’

Eli sat near the front—supposedly one of the “important” guests, though he felt anything but important right now.

The whole meeting was obviously about the SS-Class dungeon, but he couldn’t focus. Not when his brain kept circling back to Kairie’s words.

Her boys.

She definitely meant Caelen and Kairo.

And the way she said it… Eli had heard enough moms scolding their troublesome children to recognize that tone instantly.

Which meant if her naughty boys were Caelen and Kairo…

Then that would make them… brothe—

“Sir Midas Ryu has arrived, along with Sir Caelen, Sir Kairo.”

Eli’s head snapped toward the door like someone had yanked an invisible string. Everyone else straightened too as Lawrence stepped aside to let them in.

The entire room rose.

Eli stood a beat late—because of course he did—still drowning in a swamp of questions he absolutely wasn’t prepared to answer.

Midas entered first, all calm authority and warm smiles, like always. He greeted people with that gentle nod that made him look approachable and untouchable at the same time.

Behind him, Caelen and Kairo followed… looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.

Or maybe just not next to each other.

Hard to tell with those two.

’Kairo and Caelen were just talking with Midas… Midas and Kairie are married… and I heard they had kids, but—no way. No. Those two can’t be…’

His brain short-circuited before it could finish the thought.

Then Midas noticed him.

Eli flinched—again. At this point he was starting to consider physical therapy for reflex damage.

But Midas’ smile only brightened.

“Elione, it’s good to see you again. I hope this wasn’t too sudden.”

’It is.’

Eli managed a polite smile that probably looked more like a pained grimace. He tried—desperately—to ignore the way Caelen and Kairo were staring at him in open surprise.

Like they had no idea he would be here.

Which confused him even more.

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” Eli said, forcing his voice steady. “It’s not every day a B-Class hunter gets to enter the S-Class meeting room.”

He meant that. Even if his nerves were eating him alive.

This room was basically sacred ground. The only non–S-Class who’d ever been allowed inside was Kairie Ryu—because she was the Guild Association Head and Midas’ wife.

Lawrence didn’t count either; he was staff. Not a hunter.

Eli swallowed hard, suddenly hyperaware of how out of place he must look. His posture, his clothes, his very existence in this room—everything felt wrong.

But he forced himself to stay still, to breathe, to not let the panic show as he watched Midas walk straight toward the podium.

’Eh? He didn’t even give Kairie a hug or anything? I mean, I know they’re powerful figures and all but…’

But no—Kairie didn’t acknowledge him either.

Because her eyes were fixed on the two strongest hunters in the room.

And Caelen and Kairo… were staring right back.

Then it happened.

Eli saw it clearly—because he was close enough to catch every shift in their expression.

Both Caelen and Kairo, who walked in with heavy, sour looks plastered on their faces… softened the moment their eyes met Kairie’s.

Just like that.

Like someone had quietly switched off their anger.

“Kairo, Caelen… you both look well,” Kairie said, her voice warm, her smile gentle.

Caelen was the first to move. He bowed his head immediately, almost too quickly for someone with his usual pride.

“Madame, you also look very well. I hope you’ve been eating properly.”

’That’s new.’

Eli blinked. Caelen wasn’t the type to fuss.

Sure, he had the charm and the whole heroic persona—but affectionate? Concerned? That was… new.

Or maybe that was reserved for certain people.

“Ah,” Kairie sighed lightly. “I’ve been eating less and less due to worry, you see. I have quite the troublesome kids.”

Caelen chuckled, relaxed in a way Eli had never seen. “Perhaps you should give them a good scolding.”

“I definitely will,” Kairie replied with a knowing nod.

Yep.

That was it.

That was the confirmation.

Not speculation. Not a theory.

A hundred percent.

No more confusion.

Caelen and Kairo…

Kairie shifted her attention. “How about you, Kai? You don’t look too well. Have you gotten yourself checked?”

Kairo’s expression didn’t shift much—he was still stoic, controlled—but his eyes softened. Just a bit. Enough for Eli to catch it.

Kairo turned his head away slightly, almost shy.

“I’m… fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Eli stared.

…They were definitely her sons.

Which meant Caelen and Kairo…were brothers.

Brothers.

’I don’t understand… if they’re brothers, why are they so…’

Eli’s brows knitted together, confusion pooling in his chest.

’And why are they all pretending they aren’t a family? Am I missing something?’

Maybe they weren’t family. Maybe they were just close to Kairie in some weird, professional, powerful-people way.

Maybe—

“Older brothers can be complicated. And unstable. You can’t always trust them.”

Kairo’s voice echoed in his mind.

The memory slammed into him so suddenly he blinked.

The hospital.

Lucas.

The way Kairo said those words—not casually, not hypothetically.

As if from experience.

And now, theorizing this? That Caelen was his older brother?

It hit different.

Because Kairo didn’t just dislike Caelen. He loathed him.

And Caelen… returned the sentiment with interest.

’Yeah, no.’

Old friends? No.

Old lovers? …Eli had actually entertained that theory for quite some time—because their tension was insane.

But brothers?

Brothers who wouldn’t even look each other in the eye unless it was to kill the other?

That was worse.

Not only were they brothers—they were the sons of Korenea’s most powerful couple.

No wonder they were both monsters on the battlefield.

But the hatred?

That still didn’t make sense.

Eli knew siblings fought. Rivalries happened. Heated arguments, jealousy, petty competition—normal stuff.

But this?

The hostility between Caelen and Kairo wasn’t rivalry. It was a wound. A deep, festering one.

Something must have happened.

Something bad enough to make two of the strongest hunters in the nation despise each other so thoroughly they couldn’t even stand being in the same room without radiating murderous energy.

Eli lowered his gaze, looking at them both—Caelen and Kairo standing stiff and silent, not even glancing at each other.

’What started their—’

Ding.

The sharp, crisp chime sliced through his thoughts.

Eli froze.

That sound.

Of all the times—

Of course the system would choose now.

The dreaded notification had arrived.

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