[This dungeon has been influenced by the fragments of the world and the memories of the raiders! We are currently checking for errors and recommend cautious action!

Dungeon Reference Book – A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)]

Dungeon. Han Yuhyun turned the system message over in his mind. It said it had been influenced by the fragments of the world and the memories of the raiders. And…

‘A Christmas Carol.’

The story came back to him—one his brother had read aloud when he was young. The tale of Scrooge witnessing his past, present, and future on Christmas Eve. Han Yuhyun’s eyes drifted to Han Yujin.

‘Is this the future version of hyung, created by the dungeon?’

The future, and yet also the past. More precisely, the Han Yujin from before the regression. Han Yuhyun’s brow creased. But if that was the case, why was his brother in this cramped studio apartment he’d never seen before? It wasn’t the house within the Haeyeon Guild, nor the heavily secured company housing. Beyond the half-drawn curtains covering the floor-to-ceiling window, there were no safety features except an old steel railing. The window and railing looked utterly ordinary.

Most of all, it was far too small and run-down. In the tiny space that barely qualified as a living room, there wasn’t even a sofa. A TV, a low table, a folding mattress—that was everything. It couldn’t compare to their current home. It seemed smaller than half of Han Yuhyun’s bedroom.

“You…”

Han Yujin’s voice cut through the silence. The words came out hoarse, scraping past equally dry lips.

“Why doesn’t even a phantom smile?”

“What?”

“Heartless bastard. Showing up out of nowhere, and younger too—must be a hallucination. Long hair, and what’s with the Chinese clothes?”

Han Yujin kept clenching and unclenching his fist. He looked unsettled, almost frantic.

“I’m not drunk… I haven’t touched alcohol recently.”

“Drunk? What are you talking about?”

This isn’t real. Even as he told himself he needed to find the real one, Han Yuhyun couldn’t tear his gaze away from Han Yujin. He studied his brother’s smooth hands, taking in this person who was both achingly familiar and utterly foreign.

“I said I didn’t drink. Still, at this hour, I didn’t want to be drunk. But if you were going to appear, you should have shown up younger. Before you left home. But what is this really… did ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ I get caught up in something strange? It’s been a few days since I entered the dungeon.”

“You entered a dungeon? With whom?” Han Yuhyun’s voice cracked as he shouted. A strange anxiety clawed at his chest. It’s not hyung. It’s definitely not him, but it kept feeling so real. Han Yujin laughed softly, without sound.

“Just some low-rank Hunters. Nothing happened. Nothing that would hurt you.”

“Hurt me?”

“Don’t be like that, just…”

His dry lips moved as Han Yujin continued.

“Just… can’t you smile once? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you smile, Yuhyun. Could it be that I’ve forgotten, so I can’t even conjure it up as a hallucination? No…”

“Why…”

Why has it been so long? Han Yuhyun swallowed the words. Don’t think useless thoughts. There was no reason to linger here any longer. Han Yuhyun stepped back. Seeing this, Han Yujin scrambled to his feet in a panic, leaning against the wall.

“W-wait a minute. Why are you trying to disappear already? Hey, since you’ve appeared, stay a little longer. It’s not long until midnight—I’ll go out and buy a cake quickly.”

Han Yujin’s gaze turned to the window. The sun hadn’t set yet.

“It’s a bit… bright…”

Han Yujin moved toward the built-in closet. One of his legs was clearly limping. At the sight, Han Yuhyun’s expression darkened. It’s not hyung. But to say it wasn’t… he was too much like hyung.

It wasn’t just his appearance. There was no way he could mistake this feeling, this presence. Was it because the raiders’ memories—his brother’s memories—had influenced it? Or what if he actually was the real hyung, consumed by past memories, or a dungeon monster that had absorbed a fragment of hyung’s memories?

“I’ll be right back, so don’t go anywhere.”

Han Yujin, who had been rummaging around and pulling out a black padded jacket, gave a bitter smile.

“I really am…”

I don’t know what I’m doing. Han Yujin muttered the words softly, then looked back at Han Yuhyun standing there in a daze. The corners of his lips lifted into another small smile.

“Wait just a little, Yuhyun-ah. It’s been a really long time since I’ve said that.”

If others saw, they’d say I’m crazy. But there’s no one here, so what does it matter? Han Yuhyun, you’re a bad bastard. No, I shouldn’t say things like that today and tomorrow. Han Yujin muttered under his breath, put on the padded jacket, and searched for his wallet. He was about to head to the front door but stopped at the sight of Han Yuhyun standing there as if to block his path. He couldn’t get any closer, afraid the illusion would shatter if he touched it.

“Step aside a little. Do you want to sit over there? Come to think of it, you didn’t even take off your shoes. Even if you’re an illusion, we’re inside.”

Han Yuhyun stared directly into Han Yujin’s face. His brother’s eye level was slightly higher than it was now. His skin also looked rougher. He remembered Park Yerim chasing him around, saying she’d give him a face mask, and Han Yujin being embarrassed about it. It’s not hyung. But it was hyung.

Every one of his senses screamed that the person in front of him was undoubtedly Han Yujin.

In his tangled, conflicted mind, Han Yuhyun chose what to prioritize. This was inside a dungeon, and the hyung in front of him was F-Rank. He had no Grace either.

“No.”

“What?”

“You can’t go out alone. And your leg—it’s not okay.”

Even if this dungeon was F-Rank, he looked vulnerable. Han Yujin’s brow furrowed slightly, as if to say, what are you talking about?

“Hey, I’ve been living alone for years. What do you mean I can’t go out alone? Well, it would be strange for a hallucination to say normal things. Just don’t disappear.”

Han Yuhyun grabbed the arm of Han Yujin, who was trying to somehow slip past him without making contact. The moment he did, Han Yujin’s body went rigid.

“I said no. If you’re going, we’re going together.”

“This… what…”

Han Yujin’s eyes trembled. The sensation of the hand gripping his arm was too vivid. So clear that he could never mistake it for an illusion. He tried to pull away, but Han Yuhyun’s grip was immovable. It’s not an illusion. It’s a real person. Han Yujin’s expression instantly turned vicious. The corners of his eyes sharpened dangerously.

“Who are you! You bastard!”

“Hyung.”

“Who are you, you son of a bitch! What are you trying to do, appearing as Han Yuhyun!”

Han Yuhyun, flustered, pulled the suddenly struggling Han Yujin into an embrace.

“Calm down, hyung!”

“Let go! You crazy bastard! Is it fun to mess with people! Shit, there’s a limit to pranks!”

Han Yuhyun held Han Yujin close, looking around frantically. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t completely understand the current situation either. Honestly, he didn’t want to understand or accept it.

“Let’s go outside first.”

“What?”

“Let’s not do this here—let’s go out and…”

At the words “let’s go out,” Han Yujin’s struggles ceased.

“What… what do you want?”

Han Yujin’s voice was pale with fear. His earlier aggression had completely deflated.

“Just tell me. If we go out like this now, what kind of rumors… no, Han Yuhyun, the Haeyeon Guild Leader—he’s not interested in me!”

“Hyung!”

“I don’t know what kind of trick this is, but there’s nothing you can get from me! So don’t waste your time, just tell me what you want. What do you want? I’ll do whatever you say, just don’t get me involved with Han Yuhyun. Please, just… that bastard hates me. And I hate him too.”

I’m sick and tired of it. Han Yujin spat the words out like he was vomiting blood. I was so stupid, he heard himself say. Han Yuhyun drew a sharp breath. The arm wrapped around his brother trembled faintly. The body within that embrace was also shaking slightly.

“Why… would I hate you, hyung?”

“Stop it.”

“I’m Yuhyun. I’m your little brother.”

“I said stop it! You crazy bastard! Stop it! Shut up!”

“It’s true, hyung. You… you always tried to buy me a cake for my birthday, ever since I was little. The bakery near our house even set aside a birthday cake for you every year. When it closed down when I was ten, you were so upset that other stores only had Christmas cakes.”

Han Yujin’s hand gripped Han Yuhyun’s arm tightly. He gasped several times, as if struggling to breathe.

“I remember all the presents you gave me too. I… I wanted to bring them with me. But I…”

“Let go.”

“Hyung.”

“I said let go.”

Han Yujin’s nails dug into Han Yuhyun’s arm. His voice was so quiet it could be mistaken for calm, but his nails, his fingers, were clenched so tightly they might break. Seeing him disregard his own safety, scratching and clawing, Han Yuhyun startled and released his grip.

Staggering back a few steps, Han Yujin collapsed to the floor. He curled up into a tight ball, his back turned to his younger brother.

“There’s not even a place to hide in here.”

“Hyung. I… hyung, I would never hate you. Actually, I don’t need anyone but you. It’s true. The only person I love is you. But… how…”

“Right. But how.”

The voice was bone-dry. Han Yuhyun felt his heart plummet. His brother, Han Yujin, had accepted him so readily. In fact, he’d been the one to hug him first, saying he was sorry, that he loved him.

“Hyung, I…”

“I don’t know either.”

The padded jacket rustled softly.

“Any other time, I would have told you to get lost. But… still, tomorrow is your birthday. When are you leaving?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“What do you mean, not leaving? It’ll probably just be a Christmas cake, but still, since you came…”

Silence fell. He could hear the sound of someone swallowing back suppressed emotions several times. Han Yujin stood up again.

“You don’t have to follow me. Just blow out the candles and go. You won’t have time to stay until midnight. You’re a busy person.”

“I said I’m not leaving. Wherever you are, hyung, is my home.”

“It’s cramped. For someone as big as you. Though you seem to have gotten a little smaller. What’s with that half-hearted disguise? Anyone with eyes can see through it.”

Han Yujin forced out a laugh and headed to the entrance. Han Yuhyun grabbed him again as he casually slipped on his sneakers.

“It’s dangerous to go out alone!”

“Why, did a dungeon break happen nearby or something?”

“Yeah… something like that.”

“The alarm didn’t go off. It’s quiet.”

“Anyway, no, hyung. Let’s go together.”

“I said, hey, hey!”

Han Yuhyun swept Han Yujin up in his arms. He carried his flustered brother out the door.

“You—if we go out like this, what do you think people will say!”

“I don’t care what they say. If it bothers you, hyung, I’ll get rid of them all.”

“Why, so suddenly!”

“Hyung. I will never leave you again. No matter what.”

“Really, why…”

“I don’t regret leaving you that day. I wanted to protect you. But I… I never thought we’d be apart for so long.”

Han Yujin’s lips, which had been moving as if he wanted to say something, pressed shut. In the silence, the sound of their footsteps echoed down the stairs. Han Yujin spoke hesitantly, as if letting the words slip out.

“It’s still a little early, but… did you eat dinner?”

“No.”

“Really? There’s not much at home. Should we… stop by the supermarket for a moment?”

“Whatever you want, hyung.”

It grew quiet again. Han Yujin, who had been looking down the entire time, slowly raised his gaze. He could see his younger brother’s face. It was so close—he was even being carried—but it still didn’t feel real. He felt like all sorts of things were about to spill from his throat. The kind of things that wouldn’t stop once they started, so he pressed them down and swallowed hard.

“Hey, by any chance…”

His mouth kept going dry.

“If you change your mind, or… if you’re actually a fake. Can you just end it here? I think this is hard enough as it is. I… I don’t think I can handle it.”

“I love you, hyung.”

“No, hey, you…”

“Any and every version of you, hyung.”

The past and the future—he didn’t know what had happened before Han Yujin’s regression. Only that he had saved his brother and died. Han Yuhyun looked down at his flustered brother. His appearance, his attitude, the shabby scenery of the house. The reality created by all of that felt like it was tearing his insides apart.

And yet his brother, Han Yujin…

“Guild Leader?”

Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out. It was right after they’d left the entrance of the studio apartment building. Han Yujin instinctively shrank back and covered his face with his arm.

“You look a little different?”

“Isn’t that Han Yujin? That one?”

Hunters began appearing one by one in front of them. One of them frowned deeply and glared at Han Yujin.

“That bastard’s been quiet for a while—what’s he up to now?”

Han Yujin gasped in shock. Han Yuhyun’s eyes turned cold. They all felt like S-Rank Hunters. But they were Hunters who hadn’t awakened yet in the present, so their faces weren’t in his memory.

“He looks similar to the Guild Leader, but is he a fake?”

“He is a fake. Doesn’t he feel a bit more approachable than the Guild Leader?”

“What is that damn trash trying to do by creating a fake!”

The Hunters began radiating killing intent. Han Yujin’s already tense body started trembling faintly.

“Hyung.”

“Yu… Yuhyun… no, well. You’d better stay inside. Or… go back.”

“No.”

Han Yuhyun carefully set Han Yujin down from his arms. Then he smiled warmly. Han Yujin blinked and looked up at his younger brother.

“Wait here for just a moment. It’s dangerous, so don’t move.”

With a soft whisper, a jet-black blade materialized in Han Yuhyun’s hand.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep