At that point, Vermouth opened his mouth.
“To be precise, they’re closer to ‘defeated soldiers’ rather than an invasion force.”
It was Vermouth who broke the heavy silence. He said quietly while putting down his teacup.
“Defeated soldiers?”
“Yes. In Lancia, the Demon King died and the demon army was annihilated. They lost their place to stand. They’re refugees who fled to this world by squeezing through dimensional cracks to survive. For that purpose, they seem to be sending some demons first to survey Earth.”
“Of all places, why did they have to come here?”
Ian said with a bitter expression.
“Indeed. But from their perspective, it could be a disaster. Because we’re in the territory they newly chose.”
“But there’s only two people?”
“Aren’t those two people you, the Saint, and me, the strongest Holy Knight? Naturally they’d be afraid.”
Vermouth’s confidence was something Ian couldn’t match. But on the other hand, he could understand. When he was in Lancia, how many titles had been attached to Vermouth? There was a custom there of bestowing special titles on the strong or those who achieved new records.
“So then, will those demons really try to invade Earth?”
“We’ll know soon enough.”
Vermouth shrugged his shoulders. It was somewhat awkward because he was missing an arm, but there was no problem understanding the gesture.
“But I think the probability of them choosing invasion is high.”
“Why?”
“No matter how scary the opponent, aren’t we just two people? There will be those who have delusions without knowing their place. Because we’re only two people and Saint-nim has no combat ability.”
Though Vermouth shouldn’t be judged as just one person in numbers, it was a possible story.
“If they eliminate us, their most threatening natural enemies, now, this world will become a safe paradise for them. Since some of the Shadow Stalkers survived and fled then, they might try to hunt us down.”
The air in the room sank heavily.
Even a cornered rat will bite a cat. Moreover, they weren’t simple rats. They were the cruel and merciless demons barely driven out from Lancia. If the one who returned alive informs its kin of Ian and Vermouth’s existence, they’ll start moving in earnest.
“That’s troublesome. We’ll have to be careful. Just look at this incident. If the demons can artificially open sudden gates and interfere with other gates from now on, we’re the ones in trouble. Plus we have to protect Ian too.”
Yoon Taegyeom adjusted his glasses and looked at Ian.
“They might desperately target your life persistently while crazed.”
Choi Jaeheon’s expression became fierce. The fork he was holding bent. For him, who didn’t want Ian to be in danger, it was unpleasant that such things kept happening. If he had his way, he wanted to hide Ian in a safe place and lock him up so he couldn’t come out.
“Let’s think rationally for now.”
Yoon Taegyeom said coldly.
“Ian might become the target. It’s not a problem that will be solved by avoiding it. Plus, Ian is the only one who can detoxify their poison. You saw it during yesterday’s Chuncheon incident, right? Even A-rank healers couldn’t handle it.”
“There are purification specialist buffers too.”
“There aren’t many in the country.”
“Then I’ll help!”
Ian gently raised his hand. Seeing that, Choi Jaeheon’s expression became fiercer.
“I can step up. Wide-range healing is my specialty.”
“It’s dangerous.”
Choi Jaeheon said firmly.
“It’s okay. Someone else can protect me.”
“Of course. I will always protect Ian-nim.”
“You focus on recovering your arm first.”
“Even with one arm missing, there’s no problem moving.”
As expected, he was born with physical prowess. Normally when you lose a body part, it’s natural to have difficulty controlling your body.
“No. It’s still dangerous.”
Choi Jaeheon cut off Ian’s opinion sharply. His appearance of speaking without even looking was resolute.
“Hyung, listen to me. Normal healers can’t cure their poison. Without me, only the Awakeners’ casualties will increase.”
“I said no. Why are you butting in? Just stay hidden quietly.”
Choi Jaeheon’s voice rose.
“Vermouth has excellent combat ability so it doesn’t matter. But you’re different. What are you going to do when you have no ability to defend yourself? That’s suicide.”
“I can fight too! In Lancia, I saved people in the middle of the battlefield! I survived even going to the front of the Demon King’s castle!”
Ian shouted as if frustrated.
But those words rather touched Choi Jaeheon’s reverse scale. His expression twisted painfully.
“…Battlefield? Demon King’s castle?”
Choi Jaeheon’s voice trembled. Ian flinched in surprise at his expression.
“At that young age… you were dragged to the battlefield? Those crazy bastards put you in such a place?”
When he went missing, Ian was a minor. While he was eating warm meals and sleeping comfortably, his younger brother lived in a blood-splattered hell, stepping over corpses. Choi Jaeheon felt his heart tearing.
“Absolutely not. Even if dirt enters my eyes, I won’t send you to dangerous places. If you suffered there, you should rest here. Why are you looking for hardship again!”
Choi Jaeheon’s eyes were wet. It seemed to be a manifestation of guilt from not being able to protect his younger brother. Ian knew that too. But he couldn’t live forever trapped in hyung’s guilt, like a flower in a greenhouse. He thought he could rest when he returned to Earth, but that was already ruined.
“Hyung, trust me.”
“This isn’t a matter of trust or not!”
Then, Yoon Taegyeom intervened.
“Jaeheon, calm down and listen. Ian’s words aren’t wrong.”
“Why are you like this too!”
“Ian being a healer has already been revealed. It’s past the stage where you can hide it. Under current law, Awakeners must register. It’s illegal to use abilities without registering.”
Yoon Taegyeom tapped the tablet PC.
“It’s safer to register officially and work as part of the Management Bureau or a guild. You can receive legal training and personal protection. Wouldn’t it be better to let him adapt slowly?”
Hong Seoyoon, who had been quiet on the side, also chimed in.
“Right. If you can’t hide it, it might be better to reveal it confidently. With Ian’s level of ability, even if you hide part of it, the country will treat him well. Look at that guy.”
“……”
Choi Jaeheon closed his mouth. He had nothing to refute. But emotion preceded reason.
“Still, no.”
Choi Jaeheon was stubborn.
“I know how those government bastards will work Ian. What if they call him ‘humanity’s hope’ or whatever and push him to the front lines?”
The conversation ran on frustrating parallel lines. Ian couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Fine. If hyung is going to be like that!”
Ian stood up abruptly from his seat.
“I’m going to be independent.”
“What?”
“Awakener registration, activities—I’ll do everything as I please. I don’t need hyung’s permission.”
“Hey, Choi Ian!”
“We’re not even real brothers anyway!”
For a moment, silence flowed as if cold water had been poured over the living room.
Choi Jaeheon’s face turned pale white and his lips trembled. Although he had said it first, hearing it like this was hurtful.
Ian also regretted it after spitting it out. He hadn’t meant it like this.
“Right. That’s right. We don’t share a single drop of blood.”
Choi Jaeheon swept his face with his hand.
“So from now on, you won’t even treat me as your hyung?”
“That’s not what I meant! I just, I just!”
“I’m doing this to save you. Because I don’t want to lose you!”
The two’s shouting went back and forth. Yoon Taegyeom and Hong Seoyoon fidgeted and just read the room. It was a family fight, so it was awkward to intervene.
Only Vermouth was watching this situation with interest.
“Then leave. Go out and live however you want.”
Choi Jaeheon shouted in a fit of anger.
“Fine. I’ll leave even if you don’t tell me to!”
Ian shot back without backing down.
“Where will you go? Do you have a place to go?”
“……”
At Choi Jaeheon’s words, Ian was momentarily at a loss for words. There was certainly such a realistic problem. Before the dimensional transfer, all the money he had was a little part-time work savings. Since he came back, he had relied on hyung, so he didn’t even have money to get a monthly rental room.
“I-I can go to a goshiwon.”
Ian said in a shriveled voice. At that exact moment, Vermouth interjected.
“How fortunate. I happen to be staying at a hotel in Seoul. If Ian-nim wishes, you can come and stay comfortably. Just bring yourself.”
“…What?”
Choi Jaeheon’s eyes flipped.
“Why would Ian go there! Who would trust a bastard like you!”
“Aren’t you the one kicking him out? It’s my duty to look after Saint-nim who has nowhere to go.”
“Talking about duty!”
Choi Jaeheon stood up from his seat with momentum as if to grab Vermouth by the collar right away. No matter what, he couldn’t send Ian to that bastard’s place. He’d rather get him a house.
