Chapter 59: Reckless?

He had become weak. He had thought that, with where he was currently, he would still be stronger than everyone here, even if he became pregnant. He had waited for this moment until he felt strong enough to make this decision, but with just one new reawakening, he had instantly plummeted to the point he couldn’t even help Yoon Seoyul, nor could he clear any gates, nor could he keep anyone safe in the outside world.

It had been a week since he had come out of the S+ gate with Kihyun, and his core was still damaged. Not a single healer could heal his core for him, since it would interfere with his energy, and they would only clash with each other violently. Then, if no one could do it, he should be able to do it. Only injuries to the normal human body needed to be healed with another’s energy, but for his core, only his own energy could meddle with it.

Just because no one had tried to do it before didn’t mean it was impossible. Cheon Areum was a healer and the only one able to manipulate his energy into anything—he was the best one possible to do this.

Finishing another energy bar specialized for hunters, he spread his energy out again to cover the entire house. Sitting on top of the slanted roof of their house, Cheon Areum kept everything in check. With people who had zero morals to reach their goals, Kihyun could be thinking of another way to get Cheon Areum to cower, and the ones he really cared about were sleeping right now. He was already worried about not being able to detect Rian. Now, if Kihyun decided to take him, unlike Lee Nari, he would have no other option.

He had thought of just getting an abortion to at least get his energy levels back, and as Yoon Seoyul said, no one came before Rian to him right now. He would do anything to ensure his safety, even if it meant he couldn’t have a baby. The reason he hadn’t yet given up on the baby growing inside him was because he couldn’t be this weak. No, he wouldn’t be weak.

He hadn’t transmigrated into Cheon Areum to become a weakling. He felt his core tightening painfully as he used his energy, even if he was only spreading it to surveil the house and constantly eating to keep his energy up.

“Koff… koff!”

Due to the tightness in his chest, Cheon Areum coughed but quickly covered his mouth to stifle the sound with the back of his hand. If Yoon Seoyul saw him using his energy, he would only get upset with him and call his behavior reckless.

Was this him being reckless? He knew his limits, and this wasn’t it. He wasn’t at his breaking point yet. He wasn’t being reckless.

Wiping the blood on the back of his hand with a wet wipe, he stored it in his inventory to hide it and throw it out later when Yoon Seoyul wasn’t home. Yoon Seoyul also hadn’t left his side since last week. It was about time for him to clear at least one gate if he didn’t want his hunter license to be revoked. With both of them gone from the scene, the remaining hunters had their hands full with the S-Class gates. Some of the gates were also being cleared just in time before their explosion, which was another thing to be concerned about.

He needed to get back on his feet as soon as possible. If he came to face Kihyun again, he needed to suppress him or eliminate him to stop this surge of gates and the danger of him escaping again. It was still unclear how he had escaped when Cheon Areum had given the command to kill himself. If he had broken free, the first thing he would have tried was to kill himself by any means, not escape out of there.

Having a lot to ponder over, Cheon Areum gauged his own core down to every little detail. The small, round core wasn’t too complicated. He could definitely do it.

*

“Areum.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you want to eat? You can sleep again if you’re tired instead of going with me to the guild.”

Rolled in the blanket, Cheon Areum barely listened to Yoon Seoyul, who was sitting on the bed trying to wake him. Having gone to sleep when the sun had risen and it was time for Rian to wake up, he hadn’t even gotten an hour of sleep yet. There was no way he was going to spring back up from half-asleep state and go with Yoon Seoyul.

“I feel too nauseous… not gonna eat.”

Keeping his eyes shut, he muttered in a low voice. Yoon Seoyul caressed his hair lightly.

“Should I stay home with you today?”

“….. I’m only going to sleep. You can go.”

Staying by his side for a few more minutes, Yoon Seoyul kissed him before getting up.

“I will be back soon. Don’t go anywhere.”

*

Sleeping like a log, Cheon Areum had no idea what time it was. When his lashes fluttered open, thin daylight filtered through the curtains. It was still daytime. He blinked sluggishly, his mind foggy from sleep. The bed felt too large. Too empty. A faint frown tugged at his lips.

Without much thought, he rolled toward the edge and slid off the mattress, landing softly on the floor.

Still dissatisfied.

Instead of climbing back up, he rolled and pushed himself under the bed. There was barely any space. The underside was already stuffed with a long sleeping pillow Yoon Seoyul had bought for him—an absurdly oversized one he claimed would “support proper posture.” It had long since been repurposed into a comfort object. A few folded clothes were tucked there too, half-forgotten. Cheon Areum squeezed himself into the narrow gap anyway, curling around the pillow. The space was tight. He rested his cheek against the fabric, inhaling faint traces of pheromones and closing his eyes once again.

Not long after, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the room, slow and careful as they approached the bed. Then came Yoon Seoyul’s voice—low, edged with restrained concern—as he called out for him again, unable to find him anywhere.

A brief silence followed.

With a quiet sigh, Yoon Seoyul bent down and looked beneath the bed.

And there he was.

Curled up in the narrow, shadowed space like a sulking child seeking refuge, Cheon Areum lay half-hidden, avoiding the world. The dim light barely reached his face.

Yoon Seoyul exhaled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. He reached under the bed and gently wrapped his fingers around Cheon Areum’s hand, his touch warm and careful as he gave it a light tug.

“Areum, get out and eat something.”

“I want to sleep…”

His voice was muffled, heavy with exhaustion. Yoon Seoyul’s brows knit together instantly. He crouched lower, concern sharpening in his eyes as his thumb brushed faintly over Cheon Areum’s knuckles.

“Are you that tired? Should I take you for a check-up?”

His tone softened further, almost protective.

“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No… I’m just sleepy.”

His reply was barely audible, slurred at the edges as if even forming the words required too much effort.

“Can you come out for a moment?”

“…..”

Silence.

Not even a shift. Not even a sigh.

Yoon Seoyul frowned at the stubborn quiet. The narrow space beneath the bed swallowed Cheon Areum whole, leaving only the faint outline of his body in the dimness. With a restrained breath, Yoon Seoyul lowered himself further and reached in, trying to pull him out—but the gap was too tight. His shoulders bumped against the frame, his arms unable to properly wrap around Cheon Areum. He clicked his tongue softly in frustration.

“How did you even fit in here?”

There was a faint rustle from the darkness, but no proper answer—just the subtle rise and fall of someone very determined to keep sleeping despite any chaos. After a long struggle filled with quiet grunts and the creaking protest of the bed frame, Yoon Seoyul somehow managed to pull him out.

Cheon Areum emerged inch by inch from the narrow darkness, fingers stubbornly hooked into the sheets as if clinging to the last remnants of safety. When he was finally dragged free, he let out a soft, aggrieved whine—small and breathy. He had bundled himself into a makeshift nest beneath the bed, and along with him came a few of Yoon Seoyul’s clothes—shirts and a jacket tangled around his arms, wrinkled and clutched tightly against his chest as though they were precious lifelines.

He looked disheveled, hair mussed, eyes half-lidded with sleep, still trying to burrow back into the warmth he had been so unwillingly removed from.

Yoon Seoyul didn’t give him the chance.

Before Cheon Areum could wriggle free or crawl back toward the bed, Yoon Seoyul slid an arm beneath his knees and another around his back, lifting him effortlessly. Cheon Areum barely had time to protest before he was gathered securely against a warm, steady chest. A faint sound of complaint left him—more pout than resistance before he settled. As Yoon Seoyul carried him toward the stairs, he pressed a kiss to Areum’s cheek.

Then another.

And another.

Soft, lingering pecks scattered across his skin as if reassurance could be delivered through repetition alone. Cheon Areum, still clutching the crumpled fabric of Yoon Seoyul’s clothes, squinted up at him with sleepy irritation, cheeks gradually warming from the attention.

“Yeobo…”

Yoon Seoyul only tightened his hold slightly, his expression softened in a way few people ever saw.

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