“Ah, I got a call. Figure out the room assignments yourselves.”
After leaving those words, Hong Seoyoon left, and silence flowed through the wide living room with only three men remaining.
“First, Ian uses the master bedroom.”
Choi Jaeheon said firmly.
“I agree with that as well. Ian-nim should use the best room. Then now we just need to decide our rooms.”
“I’m using that room.”
The place Choi Jaeheon claimed was a position where you could see it immediately when opening the master bedroom door. It was the optimal location for monitoring who came and went all night, and was essentially no different from being Ian’s doorkeeper.
“And you.”
Choi Jaeheon’s finger pointed to the study room at the far end of the hallway, toward the entrance.
“You use that one.”
“I refuse.”
Vermouth cut off his words sharply.
“Guarding Ian-nim must be done from the closest place. I’ll use this room.”
The place Vermouth pointed to was another small room right next to the room Choi Jaeheon said he’d use, that is, facing the master bedroom. That was also saying he’d watch over Ian from the closest place.
“Are you crazy? Absolutely not. You’re a quarantine subject.”
“To quarantine a patient, how harsh. Besides, if evil things attack at night by any chance, can you block them alone? I’m confident I’m the right person for the job.”
Ian narrowed his eyes watching that. It didn’t seem like hyung had talked to Vermouth like that from the beginning. At some point, his words had become harsh.
“Talking about being the right person. You’re the most dangerous.”
“I’d like to return those words right back to you.”
A tense battle of wills continued.
Choi Jaeheon tried to send Vermouth to a room even a little farther away, and Vermouth tried to defend his position by Ian’s side no matter what. Watching it made even Ian tired.
In the end, after a long argument, the person who stepped back was Choi Jaeheon. As Vermouth said, his ability to sense the presence of demons was one level higher.
Thus, a strange arrangement was completed.
In the master bedroom was Ian. In the room across from it, Choi Jaeheon and Vermouth nested side by side. The study at the end of the hallway became relegated to storage for luggage.
Night deepened.
Ian finished showering and sat on the edge of the bed.
Now it was time to do the ‘treatment.’ Vermouth’s arm had regenerated a lot, but it hadn’t sprouted yet. Still, if he properly injected divine power, it seemed like it could be completely healed within a few days.
‘Yeah, if I do it properly.’
Ian dry-washed his face. It seemed like hyung had noticed something when they were in Chuncheon. Could he do that kind of act here again? While he was agonizing for a while, a knock was heard.
Knock knock.
“It’s Vermouth.”
“Come in.”
Vermouth was wearing a training suit, unlike his usual self. He’d always worn his Holy Knight uniform neatly or been in a suit. Because that appearance was different, he unconsciously looked a bit longer.
“My, do you like this outfit?”
Only then did Ian turn his gaze from Vermouth. Then he discovered Choi Jaeheon following behind him like a shadow.
“Hyung? Why are you coming in?”
Ian asked flustered.
“I said I’d monitor. Whether you do anything funny or not.”
Choi Jaeheon stood leaning against the wall next to the door with his arms crossed. He didn’t look like he had any intention of leaving. Naturally, Ian had no choice but to be troubled. Do that ‘treatment’ in front of hyung? The act of kissing and mixing saliva? Absolutely impossible.
‘Let’s just do normal treatment today.’
Ian sent a gaze to Vermouth with that meaning. Then Vermouth shrugged as if he understood. Though his arm might never return, seeing him comply obediently made Ian feel a little sorry.
“Come here.”
Ian sat Vermouth on the bed and held his intact hand. Then he closed his eyes and drew up divine power. Warm light flowed from Ian’s hand into Vermouth. It was the most basic treatment. But the efficiency of recovering from the poison was terrible. It was the level of barely turning on a faucet.
‘This is troublesome.’
As Ian thought that, Choi Jaeheon opened his mouth.
“…Are you kidding?”
When he turned around in surprise, Choi Jaeheon was looking with a cold expression.
“What?”
“You’re not doing it properly? In Chuncheon, you made flesh grow on the severed cross-section in just one night. But now, is this enough?”
Ian opened and closed his mouth several times before shutting it. Instead, Vermouth made an excuse.
“This much is fine.”
“Funny. Don’t lie.”
Choi Jaeheon strode toward Ian.
“Ian. You have another treatment method.”
“…Huh?”
“When you really treat, you kiss. Isn’t that right?”
His heart sank heavily for a moment, but Ian quickly regained his composure. He probably heard the related story from Hong Seoyoon. He protested in a small voice.
“It’s not a kiss. I’m just treating.”
“Yeah, then let’s call it treatment.”
Choi Jaeheon answered calmly. But his eyes were rippling with deep pain.
“I’m not an idiot, I know what you did with that bastard in Chuncheon. Your lips were swollen and even your nape was red—unless you’re an idiot, you can’t not know. Plus, if you’re S-rank level, your hearing is different too.”
Choi Jaeheon bit his lips. Just imagining it felt like his insides were turning over. But this time, he had to face it without avoiding. He messed up his hair with his hand.
“I avoided it because it was painful even knowing. That my younger brother does such things to save other people.”
Choi Jaeheon let out a deep sigh.
“I really hated it so much. But that doesn’t mean I can make it so you never use your ability even once for your whole life.”
“Hyung….”
“So now I’m not going to avoid it.”
Choi Jaeheon stared straight at Ian.
“Do it in front of my eyes. Don’t do it in hiding. I won’t think badly of whatever you do. Because I like you.”
It was an outright declaration of war. Hearing that, Ian’s face burned unbearably. He’d received a confession from hyung before, but the words he heard now touched his heart more than that time. He raised his hand and rubbed his heated cheek.
“Hyung. I understand hyung’s feelings.”
But to have to kiss Vermouth in front of him. That was no different from public execution.
“But I can’t. How can I do that in front of hyung!”
“If you can’t do it, treatment ends here. I don’t care if this bastard’s arm grows or not.”
Choi Jaeheon was stubborn. Then Vermouth raised the corner of his mouth and chuckled.
“Your taste is truly unique. Do you have voyeurism or something?”
“Shut up. Before I kill you.”
“Can you kill me? Well, fine. I don’t mind as long as Ian-nim permits it.”
“Th-there’s no way I’d permit such a thing!”
“Choi Ian.”
Aaah! He wanted to scream and run away right now. He wanted to hide somewhere where neither of them were and avoid this situation. But that wouldn’t do.
Avoidance isn’t the best choice. Ian bit his lips hard and suggested.
“Can’t you at least close your eyes?”
“No.”
Oh God. Why are you giving me such a trial? Ian barely held back wanting to cry. Let’s just touch lips lightly. It seemed like a crazy situation, but he couldn’t just ignore Vermouth who lost his arm for him.
“Phew.”
Ian took a deep breath. Then he placed his trembling hand on Vermouth’s shoulder and brought his lips to him. The moment lips and lips touched, Choi Jaeheon stared at it intently. Vermouth also knew that burning gaze.
“Should we treat a bit more actively?”
Vermouth suddenly snatched Ian’s waist.
“Wh-hey, wait a second!”
Before Ian could resist, Vermouth’s lips attacked again.
“Mmph!”
His eyes spun round and round. Thinking that hyung was watching him from right behind made his head go white. Shame, immorality, and strange excitement mixed together and his whole body trembled. He knocked on Vermouth’s chest with his fist, but he only dug in deeper as if to show off.
He devoured Ian’s lips and rubbed the tender inner flesh with his tongue.
Wet sounds echoed through the quiet room.
Choi Jaeheon watched that scene without blinking once. His tightly clenched fist turned white, and his nails dug into his flesh. Red blood droplets fell from the resulting wound, but he didn’t care.
Jealousy, anger, and helplessness. It felt like his insides were burning, but Choi Jaeheon didn’t turn his head. If this was the weight Ian carried, he had to share it too.
“Hngh! Mmh! Mmph.”
How much time passed like that? Finally, the joined lips separated. Ian’s face was red as if about to burst, and tears pooled in his swollen red eyes.
“You bastard!”
Ian slapped Vermouth’s cheek with a trembling hand.
Slap!
And he rushed into the bathroom as if fleeing. Soon the sound of the bathroom door slamming shut was heard. Thus, only two men remained in the room.
Choi Jaeheon glared at Vermouth while clenching his bleeding fist. Murderous intent filled the room.
“Are you satisfied?”
Vermouth licked the saliva on his lips with his tongue and smiled wickedly. Instead of answering, Choi Jaeheon breathed roughly. He wanted to twist that neck right now.
“Aren’t you going to follow?”
Vermouth pointed toward the bathroom with his chin.
