“Yeah, that takes away any reason for me to hurt myself.”

Han Yujin wiped the cold sweat from his brow, brushing back his disheveled hair. His silver eyes slowly shifted to look at the three blocking his way.

“I didn’t see the direction, and enough time has passed. It’s the search for Mr. Kim—or rather, Mr. Seong—in Seoul. Probably rarer than a Kim, though.”

“It’ll be hard within the time limit. Give up, sir!”

“Who knows? It might be easier than expected. The city is silent and quiet. Since Seong Hyunjae might have joined up with him, Director Song probably didn’t go far, and it’s not in my direction. And…”

Han Yujin nodded slightly and continued.

“He wouldn’t have gone near the river either. I have Yerim’s skill, after all. He’d avoid water-heavy places just in case. Crossing the river would be too far, so probably around Yeoksam, Nonhyeon, or at most Banpo in Seocho?”

“Th-That’s still a wide area.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

A smile formed on Han Yujin’s lips—gentle and kind at first glance.

“So why don’t you just let me go and head back to the hotel? No need to waste time.”

But Park Yerim, Han Yuhyun, and Noah showed no signs of backing down. He could slip away for now, but if he left a tail, it would only help Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon escape. If a fight broke out later, they would surely come after him.

“I tried to save my skills as much as possible.”

The incarnation body with S-Rank stats could last until dawn. But most attack skills became °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° unusable once the changeling’s power vanished. So Han Yujin intentionally minimized skill use, relying on his body and items.

Above all, his opponents were Song Taewon and now the combination of Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon. Just thinking about it made his whole body ache. Han Yujin let out a short sigh.

“No choice then.”

Without preparation, his body sprang forward. Han Yuhyun raised his sword as if waiting. The loose tails of his armor fluttered wildly, and adding a momentary burst of speed, he collided with his older brother.

Kwaaang!

The asphalt below caved in, blackening and melting under swirling flames. Thick tar stuck to their shoe soles, burning away under the heat. Enduring his brother’s strength while clashing swords, Han Yujin mercilessly scattered poison. Simultaneously, Han Yuhyun’s azure flames swallowed the poison and growled fiercely.

Clang, the ringing of silver chains echoed again. Han Yuhyun tensed momentarily, but the chains flew toward Park Yerim instead. She teleported to dodge, but the chains flowed along moonlight and quickly chased after her.

Cold mist sprinkled, and large droplets appeared around Park Yerim. Snap snap! The chains pierced the droplets, which froze rapidly. The heavy movement of the chains with ice spheres wasn’t difficult to handle.

However, the distance between Park Yerim and Noah widened!

Sensing this swiftly, Han Yuhyun closed in tighter to keep Han Yujin close. Unlike spatial teleportation, interrupting this was possible. Pressing Han Yujin toward a building to limit his escape route, just before him—

“…!”

Willow leaves appeared. Without warning, a swirling wave of leaves deflected Han Yuhyun’s attack momentarily. Seizing that gap, Han Yujin vanished. Instead of using slower flight skills, he ran atop the leaves at terrifying speed toward Noah.

Of course, Noah wasn’t just standing still. Scales and feathers quickly sprouted on his hands and arms. His sharper, more vivid golden claws glinted, and rather than dodging, he layered support skills to reinforce critical areas.

If injured, he could retaliate—whether it be wings or elsewhere.

But Han Yujin—

Tchuk!

Instead of attacking Noah, he grabbed Noah’s wrist and pulled it fiercely toward his own shoulder. With stats suited for support, Noah couldn’t resist Han Yujin’s strength. His claws dug deeply into Han Yujin’s shoulder.

“Ugh, ack!”

It wasn’t Han Yujin’s scream but Noah’s, gritting his teeth in pain. Noah’s skill: silent scream. Twice the pain of a shoulder injury might be bearable for him, but with double attack buffs plus the counter-effect to the cursed poison dragon, his consciousness blurred.

Whoosh—

A wire shot out, wrapping tightly around the falling Noah’s body. Holding him in his arms, Han Yujin gently patted Noah’s back.

“Sleep well, dear Noah.”

Sweet dreams. Pat pat, hush now. The double effect worked perfectly against the cursed poison dragon type. Plus, after severe pain and fading consciousness, the effect was even stronger—like how sweetness tastes more intense after eating something salty or bitter.

Unable to resist properly, Noah fell asleep.

“Don’t try to wake him. The skill is strong enough that he probably won’t get up.”

Placing Noah on the rooftop, Han Yujin said. Chains breaking through ice binding him clawed at Park Yerim again. Han Yuhyun looked up at Han Yujin on the rooftop.

Under the black sky with no stars, only moonlight flowed, and silver eyes shone like a pair of small moons.

“Want to take Noah back to the hotel?”

“No. But hyung, you definitely haven’t used the blue willow leaf skill, right?”

“Skills that create concrete shapes are easier to use when you say their names, but you don’t have to say it to use them.”

Han Yujin slowly brushed the back of his neck.

“If you have excellent mana control, you can use them just by willpower. Even transcendent beings can do that. Except for the elder. I heard he’s weak at that.”

Click. Han Yujin lightly kicked off the railing and jumped down. Watching him land softly on the sidewalk, Han Yuhyun took up a battle stance again.

“I don’t want to hurt my cute younger brother any more. Even if it’s just the body, I care about the heart.”

“If I did something wrong, tell me. I want to know more. Everything I didn’t know about you, hyung.”

“People live by hiding some things. Even the best people have dark parts. If you want to know everything too quickly, you’ll just end up hurting each other.”

“I love you no matter what kind of brother you are. And you want to accept all of me, right?”

“Yuhyun.”

Looking briefly at Park Yerim, who defended with water and ice chains while binding Han Yuhyun so the chains couldn’t target him, Han Yujin dashed forward. Han Yuhyun immediately followed.

“You have done nothing wrong.”

Rumbling, paving stones rose like dominoes under Han Yujin’s kick, flying toward Han Yuhyun. Han Yuhyun lightly swung his sword, deflecting the stones. Crash! A mismatched showcase shattered, sending shards soaring.

“If there’s fault, it lies with me.”

A wire swung in a circle. The flower shop display was swept away, glass shattered, and petals fluttered. Crackle, poisonous wire mixed with electricity flowed as Han Yuhyun leaned back, dodging and sliding in front of Han Yujin. Flower buds beneath his feet crushed and released fragrance.

“That fault’s mine.”

Lowering his body, Han Yuhyun slashed his sword strongly upward. Han Yujin caught both ends of the black spear and blocked the downward strike. Clash! The Sovereign’s sword extended like a whip, rising toward Han Yujin’s neck.

Han Yujin twisted his neck immediately. The blade scratched his skin, staining his pale neck red.

“The cake I lived for, at twenty-nine.”

Han Yujin flew toward Han Yuhyun, who stayed low. Han Yuhyun touched the ground with one hand, spinning and sliding as if skating. Piles of flowers toppled from the display, scattering between them.

Clack! Han Yujin stomped hard, pivoting on that foot and swung his other leg at his brother. Swish—the black hair brushed his toes, wildly scattering.

“That’s for the twenty-four-year-old Han Yuhyun.”

My poor little brother. Han Yujin’s low whisper pierced Han Yuhyun’s ear.

“Some truths are better left unknown.”

“But, hyung—”

“Sorry, Yuhyun.”

Han Yuhyun’s movement abruptly stopped. Seizing the moment, Han Yujin grabbed Han Yuhyun’s arm and pulled him almost into a hug. Sharp claws scraped Han Yuhyun’s shoulder, and an instinctive counterattack tore Han Yujin’s waist. At the same time, Han Yujin made a silent scream.

“Kuhk…”

Han Yuhyun grabbed Han Yujin’s back and coat.

“Don’t apologize to me. Say it’s my fault.”

Unable to ask about the truth that might be hidden behind an apology, Han Yujin reached out and stroked his brother’s head.

“Don’t worry, my brother. I love you the most. Any brother.”

Paralysis poison seeped into the wound inside his shoulder. Additionally, a silent skill reducing the opponent’s stats at one-minute intervals activated.

Han Yuhyun panted tightly holding Han Yujin. The mingled scent of blood and flowers was unbearably thick. Han Yujin gently patted his brother.

“Now, Yuhyun. Forget what just happened. I’ll come back to you soon.”

Before long, Han Yuhyun’s body slumped weakly in Han Yujin’s arms. His silver eyes gazed upward. The chains withdrew, and freed Park Yerim approached with a serious expression.

“I know it’s not what sir wants.”

“Yerim.”

“But it’s sir who’s getting hurt.”

“There might still be roaming hunters. So take both safely back to the hotel, alright?”

Park Yerim bit her lip and nodded.

“Even if we fail, we’re still on your side.”

Even if Song Taewon died by his hand.

“I’m sorry, Director Song, but it won’t be sir’s fault.”

“That can’t be.”

“Then don’t make us do things we shouldn’t. We will protect sir no matter what, say he’s fine, and if it’s Han Yuhyun, he’d even fabricate false evidence to prove innocence.”

Han Yujin frowned awkwardly and carefully set Han Yuhyun down.

“Sorry for being inadequate.”

“What’s inadequate! I’m about to get pissed off! Sir’s a hundred times better than Han Yuhyun! Han Yuhyun would agree too!”

“Our Yerim is so kind—”

“Not kind. Sir would cover for people killing others in a sane mind. What kindness is that?”

Han Yujin scratched his cheek, looked down at the fallen Han Yuhyun, then glanced up at the rooftop where Noah slept. Opening his mouth as if to speak, he closed it again and disappeared.

Park Yerim frowned and lifted the unconscious Han Yuhyun.

Golden wings spread beneath the dark night sky. Han Yujin purchased a tracking item at the item shop. A small ice orb appeared before him, containing a red blood droplet inside.

Brushing Seong Hyunjae’s coat collar, it was his stolen blood.

“…Honestly, tracking with a body part instead of a contract is expensive. The radius has to be wide, too.”

Han Yujin muttered.

“I know we have to kill Director Song. But that’s not the end, right? We’re spending too many points. I’ve already used several items. Just bought a new wire.”

He spoke as if convincing himself.

“I’m doing my best. And with Song Taewon and Seong Hyunjae, there won’t be time to use items. As soon as I pull one out, they’ll try to take it away. Could backfire.”

Dropping the blood droplet into the tracking item, Han Yujin continued. To persuade himself.

“So I better not do pointless things. It really is pointless. Hey newbie! Can you temporarily close the point shop for me?”

Shortly, a system message appeared:

[Point Shop will be closed until sunrise! ＞?＜b]

Now he couldn’t buy new items at the point shop. Han Yujin sighed deeply and used the tracking item. A blue glowing butterfly appeared, fluttering off somewhere.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep