‘A fox?’
While thinking it must be the fox brat, he didn’t move for a while. Though it was stuffy, perhaps because it was warm, a languid sensation spread throughout his body. It seemed to be the first time holding someone in his arms, but it wasn’t bad. The body scent was pleasant too. A fragrant yet peculiar scent that stirred his instincts…
Eun Seonmyeong’s eyes flew open belatedly. His hazy mind became clear all at once. Shim Iyul was inside his blanket—he didn’t know when he’d crawled in. If it were just that, he wouldn’t say anything. Shim Iyul was asleep, hugging him with all his might as if he felt suffocated even in his dreams. His face was buried in his collarbone, their chests were pressed together, and he’d even draped one leg over his body.
“…”
When a person is too dumbfounded, they become speechless. After breathing in silence for a while, Eun Seonmyeong belatedly let out a hollow laugh. This crazy fox brat! Eun Seonmyeong’s body jerked as if released from hypnosis and he pushed away the head of Shim Iyul, who was sleeping obliviously.
“It’s cold.”
Shim Iyul whined like a cat pushed away from a heater and clung to him. Eun Seonmyeong shuddered and pushed Shim Iyul away again. But as if he were a magnet, he stuck right back and even pressed their lower bodies together. The body heat of another person touching his lower region, which was sensitive in the morning and robust, was exceptionally stimulating. It hardened even more and he felt like he might ejaculate right then and there.
“Damn it. What kind of situation is this because of a fox brat in heat?”
“Noisy…”
The culprit fox brat furrowed his brow and grumbled in complaint, as if the state of someone else’s lower region was none of his business. Between his parted lips as he spoke, his red tongue briefly appeared and disappeared.
It was a while later that Eun Seonmyeong realized he was staring at Shim Iyul’s lips as if he would devour them. He thought anew how frightening the Fire Fox’s pheromones were. Irritation surged for no reason. Tsk, after exhaling a rough breath, Eun Seonmyeong grabbed Shim Iyul’s nape and bent it back sharply.
“What…”
Only then, Eun Seonmyeong brought his lips directly to the lips of Shim Iyul, who had just woken up. Then he bit down on the lower lip with all his might. The skin tore and a few drops of blood flowed into his mouth. Absurdly, the blood was sweet.
“Wh-what?! Why are you suddenly biting?! Are you a dog bastard?!”
Shim Iyul, who’d been assaulted in his sleep, protested while rubbing his stiff nape that had been forcibly bent back. What the hell? Has the Hunter bastard gone crazy? Why break someone’s neck? And why bite their lips? His neck hurt, and his lips stung.
“That’s the price for crawling into someone else’s blanket, fox brat.”
Eun Seonmyeong spoke coldly and entered the bathroom. Shim Iyul continued rubbing his neck while mulling over Eun Seonmyeong’s words, then was belatedly shocked. Now that he looked, he was on Eun Seonmyeong’s blanket.
‘Huh? When did I roll over here?’
Flustered, he blinked and carefully dredged through his memories, recalling that he’d trembled in the cold at dawn. He must have instinctively crawled toward Eun Seonmyeong seeking warmth. Shim Iyul bolted upright and kicked the bathroom door.
“Hey!! It was because I was cold!!”
And yet he bit me? When he wiped his lips with the back of his hand, blood smeared bright red.
***
When Eun Seonmyeong came out of the bathroom much later, his face was full of displeasure.
‘Fuck, my wrist is going to fall off.’
After grabbing down there and shaking vigorously, his wrist was about to give out. He cursed at having to do in his thirties what he rarely did even in his teens, and only irritation surged. He should forbid the fox brat from approaching within a 1-meter radius. It felt like he’d fallen into a bigger trap trying to avoid Kim Intaek. He shouldn’t have come to Sokcho with the fox brat. It would have been better to stay in Seoul and deal with Kim Intaek.
“Hey.”
“…”
“Hunter. It was because I was cold. I had no ulterior motives.”
Shim Iyul explained why he had no choice but to enter Eun Seonmyeong’s blanket while gauging his mood. Even now, the tip of his nose was cold. It wasn’t just because of the cold outside. The floor was freezing, and breath came out every time he opened his mouth.
Eun Seonmyeong glanced at Shim Iyul’s lips, which were bright red even though the bleeding had stopped, then turned his gaze away. Just then, the flustered call of the pension owner came from outside: “G-guest!!” Eun Seonmyeong opened the door and came out. Then he saw the owner, pale and not knowing what to do.
“Were you all right overnight? I only just realized the boiler broke down. I’ve called someone right away. The floor must be freezing, so please warm yourself in the main house for a moment.”
“That’s fine, just give us hot coffee.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”
The pension owner almost slipped several times on the snow in his hurry as he ran to the main house. Quite a bit of snow had accumulated in the pension yard overnight.
“You heard, right? The boiler broke down.”
Shim Iyul, who had belatedly come out of the room, said as he crouched at the edge of the wooden platform.
“So?”
“That’s what. But with all this snow piled up, I wonder if we can return to Seoul.”
“We’re going back. No matter what.”
“What if we slip on the frozen road while driving and get in an accident?”
“If you’re scared, you stay here. I’ll go back alone. That’s more comfortable for me too.”
“No way. If we came together, we should go back together. That way if there’s an accident, I can use you as my airbag and survive alone.”
“I almost got touched for a moment, forgetting you’re a fox brat.”
Eun Seonmyeong said as he pushed Shim Iyul’s forehead with his index finger. Shim Iyul giggled and flicked away Eun Seonmyeong’s finger.
“Why? Did you think I’d suggest we go to the afterlife together affectionately if we got in an accident?”
“Ridiculous. You can’t enter the gates of the underworld.”
“I might be able to.”
Because I’m half human. Yosu are beings born impurely, so when they die their souls scatter, which is why Reapers ignore Yosu. But Fire Foxes are a bit different. Half-human, half-yokai. So perhaps instead of scattering like dust, their souls might go to the underworld like human or animal souls. He couldn’t be certain.
‘I hope Fire Fox souls can also go to the underworld.’
Then Mother and Father could meet.
When he became briefly bitter thinking of his parents, the pension owner appeared carrying a tray. Hot coffee and toast.
“It’s kaya toast, a service I’m offering because I’m so sorry.”
“We’ll enjoy it.”
“Are you experiencing any cold symptoms by any chance? It must have been very cold overnight.”
“It wasn’t as cold as I thou… No cold symptoms.”
Eun Seonmyeong, who was about to answer thoughtlessly that it wasn’t as cold as he thought, stopped speaking. Honestly, he hadn’t really felt the cold. Rather than having a constitution resistant to cold, it was thanks to the fox who’d rolled into his arms.
“More importantly, do you know the road conditions?”
“They’ve been doing snow removal work all night, so the roads are fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
While Eun Seonmyeong conversed with the pension owner, Shim Iyul quietly picked up his coffee cup. It was an americano. Americanos are bitter so they’re not great. I prefer einspänner. As soon as we go up to Seoul, I should go to <The House Where You Are> and buy an einspänner.
Shim Iyul sipped the bitter americano to console himself. He also started eating the kaya toast. It was quite delicious.
“But why did you come here?”
Eun Seonmyeong now asked the reason for coming to Sokcho. Shim Iyul glanced back at him sitting beside him. The pension owner had crossed over to the main house and wasn’t visible.
“You ask quite quickly. What if I’d dragged you to a remote mountain to bury you?”
Shim Iyul smiled with a sinister expression and made a digging motion. Then Eun Seonmyeong’s eyes became pathetic.
“Would you succeed in burying me?”
It didn’t seem likely. Feeling awkward, Shim Iyul revealed the reason for coming down to Sokcho.
“I came to visit someone sick. Now that we’ve eaten breakfast, let’s stop by the hospital and then go up to Seoul. We need to take care of the kid’s matter quickly.”
“I haven’t eaten breakfast yet…”
Eun Seonmyeong’s hand, reaching for a piece of toast, stopped. The plate was completely empty. Dumbfounded, Eun Seonmyeong looked at Shim Iyul with narrowed eyes. Shim Iyul, brushing off the toast crumbs from his mouth, said “I should wash up,” and fled into the room.
The alleys were covered with frozen snow, but as the pension owner said, the road conditions were good. It seemed they’d really worked hard on snow removal all night.
Shim Iyul boldly headed to the hospital empty-handed. Old Man Kang, who was hospitalized in a private room, lay in bed and waved his hand toward Shim Iyul.
“You came after all.”
“Didn’t I say I would come? You look more intact than I thought.”
“It’s frustrating being unable to move, but I’m managing well enough. But are you empty-handed? No gift?”
“My face is the gift.”
Old Man Kang laughed heartily at Shim Iyul’s shameless reply.
“I’m not trying to seduce you, so what use is your face to me? And after seeing it for about sixty years, I’m getting tired of it. A ginseng root or something… Oh right, I told Seonjin’s family to have their son contact them. He showed interest, so it seems the son will personally take it soon. I told them never to sell below the price I set, so they’ll handle it well. But who’s that?”
Old Man Kang stared behind Shim Iyul.
“The Hunter.”
“Hehe. When you said you were going to Seoul to meet a Hunter, I thought you were joking, but it was true. But is it okay for a Hunter and a Yosu to travel together?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a temporary alliance. I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough. Get well.”
Shim Iyul left the hospital room in less than five minutes. Having confirmed with his own eyes that he was healthier than expected, his business was done.
Old Man Kang laughed again toward Shim Iyul’s back as he left like the wind, saying, “That’s so like you.”
