Mischievous Humans (2)
“……Hyung…, hyung….”
“……”
At Ren’s voice calling for hyung with a moaning sound, Temarr couldn’t say anything.
He didn’t know what to say.
After losing his comrades’ lives in the 7-Year War, he had become accustomed to the sense of loss. The pain of another corner of what little heart remained being cut away was now numb. Because he had tried so hard not to give his heart that much.
However, what words should he say to his crying younger brother, to his younger brother collapsing from loss?
‘It’s okay. Everyone dies.’
‘If you lived virtuously, you’ll be reborn.’
Ruman wasn’t like that though.
No, it’s true that he gave his life for the country, so he might be reborn.
“That’s what Heroes are.”
After thinking of such words, what he barely came up with was just this. Coco’s gaze, filled with shock, reproached Temarr.
“…How can you say such a stupid thing…!”
At Temarr’s words, Ren froze just like that.
Ren, frozen like plaster, seemed to have stopped breathing.
“Ren!”
The startled Coco hurriedly approached Ren, and only then did Kirki raise his head.
The face revealed as his snow-white hair fell to the side was smiling. His lips, which had been twitching on his face full of mischief, revealed pure white teeth.
“Kirki! Do something….”
Coco, who had been frantically calling Ren, whipped her head around and called Kirki. However, purple fury swirled in her eyes, unable to finish her words.
“You crazy bastard, you……”
“He’s alive and well!”
“……”
“……”
“…Butler! Butler! Pack! Send that damned priest back to the temple! Carriage! Prepare a carriage too! Send Priest Kirki back to the temple immediately! Or just lock him up in the underground storage!”
“Huk! Princess, why are you doing this!! That’s the problem with you, Princess! Why don’t you trust me? Who is this Kirki! Aren’t I a high-grade priest who can even revive the dead! Isn’t it because you won’t praise me that I’m doing this out of frustration!”
“You damned bastard! Stop talking nonsense!”
“Uwaaak! Princess! Please put down what you’re holding… Keuaaaak!”
Crash bang bang!
Coco shouted furiously and, unable to control her anger, grabbed the lamp beside the bed. She wildly swung the lamp while chasing Kirki, and as he ran away, quite a commotion broke out. Coco ran like lightning, not caring that her purple hair was disheveled.
But who was Kirki?
The headache of the Grand Priest. Someone who couldn’t resist mischief—there were even serious talks about whether he might be the son of Retolaveriu, the god of mischief—he was someone who made people go crazy and jump around with his damned oblivious pranks in any situation!
Kirki was running away diligently at a flippant yet fast speed, putting all his know-how into it, when long legs calmly and deliberately tripped him.
“Uwaaak! Sa-, save me, Coco-nim! No, Seton-nim! How could you trip me… Keuaaak!”
“Die! Just die!”
Coco sat on top of the fallen Kirki and pounded his back wildly.
Seton removed his outstretched leg and sighed.
“Priest-nim. That’s troubling. If Coco-nim gets angry, you’ll really have to return to the Grand Temple, but before that, you’ll have to hear the Grand Priest-nim’s scolding for three days and nights. If you play such pranks in such a serious situation, please keep in mind that I can write 50 more reports that would make 7 days’ worth of scolding possible.”
“Aak, Seton-nim, that’s too much!”
“You’re worse! You crazy bastard!”
“Princess, please stop. You must maintain your dignity.”
However, Seton’s voice had already given up.
He looked somewhat tired.
“Is it, really… a lie?”
Kirki, who had been kicking his legs wildly and struggling while laughing as if having fun, finally froze when he saw Ren’s face.
When the tears that had been gathering fell with a plop, a slight sense of guilt crossed the face of Kirki—who would be sad to be called second when it came to pranks, who had pursued only fun without any guilt or anything else. Seeing his face, Coco sighed.
“I, I’m… sorry.”
“……”
“N-no! I mean I’m sorry for playing a prank!! The blonde handsome man is alive and well! How could such a handsome man die, isn’t that a national loss!! This Kirki! I don’t let such losses happen!”
“He’s not a handsome man, he’s a Hero, you idiot.”
“Coco-nim, please come down now.”
“Hmph.”
At Seton’s call, Coco finally stood up from Kirki’s body. She didn’t forget to dust off her skirt and hands before warning him with a fierce glare.
“It, it’s real. Even though I look like this, I’m quite an amazing priest. He’s perfectly fine.”
“Is it, really true…?”
“Yes! It’s real. I, I’m really sorry.”
Kirki scratched his cheek and slightly bowed his head.
“And no apology to me.”
Kirki turned his head and played dumb.
“Where is he?”
“Ahem. He’s inside.”
Indeed, it was such a spacious room that the view didn’t reach, but there was one space partitioned off with curtains and screens inside. There were so many maids and servants that their gaze hadn’t reached that far.
“I want to go see. I think I’ll only feel relieved after seeing his face.”
“You should still be resting in bed, though.”
Kirki shook his head, then looked at Ren’s eyes and slightly turned his head.
“Then, have that person carry you.”
Kirki casually pointed at Temarr.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Temarr picked up Ren.
“Uwak.”
At Ren’s scream, Temarr was startled and froze like ice.
“Does it hurt? Did I pick you up too roughly? Did I grip too hard? Ren….”
“N-no! I was just surprised!”
Though the dried tear stains remained, unlike before, Ren’s appearance, flushed with embarrassment, was incredibly lovely.
How long has it been since he was held in hyung’s arms!
His emotions surged up and down like a roller coaster, leaving him with no energy in his body at all, but being held in Temarr’s arms felt reassuring and warm. It made him think he wanted to be held forever. Held in his cradle-like embrace, Ren momentarily forgot about Ruman and wrapped his hands around Temarr’s neck, then feeling people’s gazes, he buried his head in Temarr’s chest out of embarrassment. Not that it hid his appearance!
“Ahem. This way, please.”
It wasn’t unpleasant to look at, but somehow it was an irritating sight.
Kirki, who let out an awkward cough, gestured slightly.
Following Kirki, Temarr holding Ren, Coco, and Seton headed inside.
A maid who had been cleaning up the blood on the floor quickly pulled back the curtain, and the group was able to face Ruman with his eyes wide open.
“Ruman…!”
Even at Ren’s call, unable to hide his joy, Ruman didn’t budge.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Ruman…?”
Ren’s voice became cautious.
His gleaming golden eyes were motionless, facing the ceiling.
There was no trembling of his eyelashes or lips.
An appearance dried stiff like a dead branch. The blood had been wiped away but traces of wounds remained here and there…… Bloodstains dried on his eyes, ears, and nose where blood vessels had burst. Anxiety struck again.
Strength entered the hand wrapped around Temarr’s neck. Ren’s breathing began to grow shallow.
“What happened, Kirki…!”
Coco scolded quietly. She pinched Kirki’s arm while watching Ren’s reaction.
“Th-there’s no way? No way? Hey, surely not? Surely…?”
Kirki, who had been tilting his head in wonder, approached Ruman. The moment he grabbed his wrist to check his pulse, Ruman’s eyes rolled. His pupils dilated and his trembling lips seemed to open.
Ren, who even held his breath as his heart swelled as if facing a miracle.
“Boo!”
A cracked voice that didn’t match the spirit rang out lowly. His golden eyes sparkled.
The faces of those who faced Ruman smiling brightly while unable to move his body at all had no hint of laughter.
“……”
“……”
Temarr and Seton’s silence.
“…No, there’s someone worse than me?”
A word from Kirki, who let out a hollow laugh while still holding Ruman’s wrist.
“This bas……”
Last was Ren’s words filled with anger!
“Kekeke.”
Seeing Ruman laughing carelessly, Ren felt his killing intent boiling up.
“You damned…… How can you play such a prank! Are you crazy? Have you lost it? What’s wrong with you?!”
“Ahem. Is it right to say such things to someone who came back from the dead? You worried about me that much? Ren shedding tears drip drip, my heart hurt so much, but after all, shouldn’t good scenes demand an encore?”
Watching Ruman utilize his handsome face while smiling smooth as butter, Ren wildly waved his arms. Because he was trapped in Temarr’s embrace, his hands couldn’t reach Ruman though. If he had been let go, it probably wouldn’t have ended with just grabbing his collar.
“Ren, stay still. You’ll fall if you do that.”
“Uwaaaak!”
Unable to control his anger, Ren grabbed his own head in frustration.
“That human is crazy! He’s out of his mind, that’s why he plays such pranks!”
“I agree.”
Coco nodded in agreement.
“Ren. How rude, saying ‘that human.'”
At Temarr’s scolding, Ren had nothing to say.
When Ren was actually scolded, Ruman, who felt sorry for no reason, coughed awkwardly.
“First, thank you for saving me, Priest Kirki.”
At the greeting without any hint of laughter, Kirki nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Hero-nim! It’s the first time I’ve seen a prank more severe than mine. I really thought you were dead. How can you not even blink an eye? I was also surprised seeing that person’s face! When that white face turned red and tears dripped down, how pitiful and pathetic it was! If it weren’t for the decades of training through pranks, I would’ve gotten on my knees and begged right away!”
“What are you even talking about, Kirki. I’m embarrassed so please shut up.”
“Coco-nim! Why are you embarrassed!? I saved two lives today!”
“More importantly, is Ren okay? What exactly is his condition?”
Ruman, who smoothly cut through the arguing Coco and Kirki’s words, asked calmly. Though he had just played a terrible prank and grinned, his face was completely serious like a different person.
Ren was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak. If he had the strength, he would have plucked out every strand of Ruman’s hair!
