<Chapter 135>
#15. Epidemic (9)
“It’s been a while.”
“Johaim-ssi?”
Melty’s eyes widened at the friendly greeting. Since he usually used the study alone, he hadn’t expected to encounter someone else here. After looking around to confirm that this was indeed the study, Melty looked at him and spoke.
“What brings you here?”
“I received permission from Calix-ssi. Did I come somewhere I shouldn’t be?”
“No! That’s not why I asked!”
Melty hastily waved his hands and awkwardly scratched the back of his head with an uncomfortable smile.
“It’s just rare for me to meet someone else here.”
“Many families strictly control access to the main house’s study. But given the situation, we need more resources now…”
As Johaim calmly continued his explanation, he wore his usual gentle smile. Melty, glancing at his expression from the corner of his eye, was able to release the tension that had unconsciously built in his shoulders. Their previous encounter had left things somewhat awkward.
– You’re special, Melty-ssi.
– I have feelings for you, Melty-ssi.
Recalling Johaim speaking with serious eyes, Melty rubbed the back of his innocent neck, feeling awkward.
“Um… Did you come to find books about medicinal herbs?”
At Melty’s question, Johaim nodded with a light smile. Along with that smile that faintly appeared and disappeared from his lips, a heavy shadow settled on Johaim’s face.
“I’ve tried using the herbs Padrian provided in various ways, but haven’t seen any proper effects.”
“…I see.”
While nodding in response to Johaim’s words, Melty’s expression immediately darkened. Noticing this change, Johaim stopped what he was about to say. Putting down the book he was holding onto the desk, he moved closer to Melty and lowered his posture.
“Is something troubling you?”
Melty couldn’t readily answer the concerned question. He felt that the moment he opened his mouth, the various emotions he had been suppressing would explode. As he bowed his head further while biting the tender flesh inside his mouth, Johaim took Melty’s drooping hand.
“Would you like to take a short walk with me?”
Melty silently nodded at Johaim’s question. Johaim neither demanded nor rushed for further response from the silent Melty. Following Johaim’s lead, Melty slowly moved his feet. The cool breeze and the scent of grass filling his nostrils calmed Melty’s heart.
“As I mentioned before, if you’re experiencing any discomfort here, you can speak freely to me.”
“And if I do?”
“If you wish to escape from here, I can hide you. And if you need other kinds of help, the same applies.”
Melty blinked at Johaim’s gentle smile and cautiously began to speak.
“Because I’m special?”
He repeated the exact words Johaim had once said to him. As if not expecting Melty to bring up that moment, Johaim’s eyes widened before he let out a small laugh.
“Yes. That’s right.”
There seemed to be no malice in his voice as he readily answered. After staring at Johaim for a moment, Melty clasped his hands together. Fidgeting with his fingers, Melty looked at him cautiously and opened his mouth.
“As I said before, everyone here treats me well. I have no complaints about that, Johaim-ssi. Um… When might the cure be available?”
“The cure?”
As if Melty’s question was unexpected, Johaim’s voice was filled with question marks. When Melty nodded without further explanation, he stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“Honestly, I can’t pinpoint when. We’re trying various approaches with Padrian, but we haven’t seen any definitive effects yet.”
Melty quietly nodded at his honest disclosure. What Johaim told him was information he already knew. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but ask repeatedly. Wrinkling the bridge of his nose, Melty spoke again.
“The severity of symptoms… varies from person to person, right?”
“Yes. Diseases naturally manifest faster in people with weaker bodies. That’s why we need to be careful. However, that doesn’t mean healthy people who get infected are safe.”
Melty nodded slowly at Johaim’s explanation. In truth, since beginning the conversation with him, there was only one thing he wanted to ask. Instead of the question that wouldn’t readily leave his lips, he asked various other questions. After much hesitation, Melty finally managed to ask about what had been constantly on his mind.
“…I heard you also visit the villa in the outskirts?”
“Ah, yes.”
Johaim nodded lightly at Melty’s question. Due to the riot caused by infected individuals in the square, some of those infected were also from the Padrian family. They were all moved to the villa for management. Since Calix was also concerned about their recovery, he had granted Johaim permission to access the area.
“Since it’s been established that there’s no chance of infection without contact, you don’t need to worry too much. They’re managing it thoroughly internally.”
Johaim quickly raised his hands, palms visible, as he spoke. At his words, Melty murmured “I know” with a faint smile. This was something he could easily guess from Calix’s behavior.
When they encountered infected people on their way back to the Padrian mansion, Calix had kept a strict distance, saying they needed to be prepared for any possibility. Unlike then, Calix now stayed close to Melty. The only difference from usual was that he always bathed after finishing his work.
‘He must be worried…’
Melty was well aware that his own mental state had been unstable since Malek was quarantined. In his dreams, Malek, covered in red blood in Melty’s place, kept appearing. Despite Malek’s reassuring smile, the blood soaking him seemed like his own rather than someone else’s.
Recalling dream-Malek, Melty involuntarily shuddered. Just thinking about the dream made his fingertips feel cold.
“Melty-ssi?”
“…Um, the people at the villa. How are they…?”
“How are they… In what way?”
“Their condition… or the atmosphere, things like that.”
Melty was prohibited from entering the villa in the outskirts. While it was established fact that it was safe without contact, the reason was still “just in case.” He regretted telling Calix about being sickly as a child, but Melty couldn’t help but agree with him.
“…My hyung is there too, you see.”
Melty murmured without meeting Johaim’s puzzled eyes. Calix hadn’t provided details about Malek’s condition. Even when faced with Melty’s desperate gaze seeking news about his brother, Calix only conveyed messages like “He’s hanging in there.” Melty hadn’t dared to ask directly, fearing what he might hear.
But somehow, he felt he could ask Johaim. As soon as he mentioned Malek, Melty felt his eyes growing hot. Finally realizing why Melty was asking these questions, Johaim rubbed the back of his neck with a troubled expression. As soon as Melty mentioned “family,” only one face came to mind. Since there were no other hamster beast-people, identifying who he meant wasn’t difficult.
“Haven’t you heard anything at all?”
“…I was told the inside could be dangerous.”
“Ah, yes, it is a place with many patients gathered. You said you were physically weak before, right?”
Melty quietly nodded at Johaim’s question. Seeing Melty’s gaze longing for detailed information, Johaim hesitated to answer. Weighing between being honest and preventing him from being shocked, Johaim’s thoughts easily leaned to one side.
“Please be honest with me. Honestly… is my hyung okay?”
