The Saint Just Wants to Rest 6

Yoon Taegyeom’s actions were exactly the same as Hong Seoyoon’s.

“You’re not hurt anywhere.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even though they were meeting after several years, Yoon Taegyeom, like Hong Seoyoon, didn’t doubt Ian’s identity.

“But what were you talking about with that bastard? I overheard bits of it.”

“You heard? You have no manners. Eavesdropping on other people’s conversations like that.”

“This is my tent, you know?”

Yoon Taegyeom raised his eyebrows at Hong Seoyoon.

“More importantly, Ian. Do you trust this guy, Hong Seoyoon? He’ll keep your secret, sure, but will he be able to resolve the other problems properly?”

From before, whenever Hong Seoyoon caused trouble, Yoon Taegyeom would stop him, and when the two of them started fighting, Choi Jaeheon would clean up the mess. Yoon Taegyeom was skilled at problem-solving, but when he got involved with Hong Seoyoon, they often ended up in ridiculous squabbles. Knowing this, Ian’s expression naturally darkened.

“So tell me too.”

“Don’t order me around!”

“It’s not an order, you know?”

Watching the two bicker again, Ian relayed to Yoon Taegyeom what he had told Hong Seoyoon so far. They were like family anyway, so there was no particular reason to hide it.

“Those bastards deserve to be torn apart and killed.”

That’s what Yoon Taegyeom said after hearing the story.

“Right! Wow, we actually agree on something. Now let’s rip open all those fuckers’ bellies—”

Yoon Taegyeom reached out and covered Hong Seoyoon’s mouth. A counterattack came immediately, but it didn’t lead to a fight like usual. That was because Ian was right next to them.

“Alright, I get it. Ian. You don’t want to tell Choi Jaeheon about this, right?”

“Hyung worries a lot.”

He was someone who had been worrying constantly from the moment Ian disappeared. He didn’t want to burden his hyung with more.

“Still, I think Choi Jaeheon should know about this too.”

“Why, why?”

“Your ability is quite unusual and rare.”

Is that so? There should be quite a few awakeners with healer characteristics on Earth too. As if reading Ian’s thoughts, Yoon Taegyeom continued.

“Currently, there’s only one S-rank healer in the entire world. Alice from America. Even she only repairs the body; she can’t restore the fundamental power needed for abilities. There are people with buffer characteristics too, but they don’t reach your level.”

“That’s right.”

Hong Seoyoon chimed in agreement with Yoon Taegyeom’s words.

“Even though Hong Seoyoon, this bastard, looks this stupid, he’s one of the only four S-rank hunters in our country. You restored the power of a top-tier hunter. If other people find out, they’ll try to get their hands on you by any means necessary.”

“Those bastards deserve to die!”

“That’s why I think we should know about this amongst ourselves. Including your hyung.”

“That… I suppose so.”

Ian hung his head, looking dejected.

“Just the three of us will know—me, this crazy bastard, and Choi Jaeheon.”

“Fuck. Who’s the water brat calling crazy!”

“Cursing.”

“Fine, then I take back the ‘fuck.'”

Yoon Taegyeom shook his head at Hong Seoyoon’s behavior.

“Ian. I know you’re anxious. But follow my advice. With three S-rank awakeners, we’ll be able to protect you no matter what happens.”

At Yoon Taegyeom’s words, Ian asked back in a daze.

“Three S-rank awakeners?”

He knew Hong Seoyoon was an S-rank hunter. When he had just awakened, he had bragged about it to Ian all over the neighborhood. Yoon Taegyeom had also awakened as an S-rank hunter around the same time. But his hyung, while an awakener, hadn’t received a high rank.

The last rank he remembered his hyung having was D.

Two levels higher than F, but a rank that could be somewhat dangerous for entering gates. Because of that, Ian hoped Choi Jaeheon wouldn’t enter gates.

“Choi Jaeheon is also an S-rank awakener.”

“…Why?”

It was Hong Seoyoon who answered Ian’s question.

“He re-awakened.”

There were rare cases of secondary awakening. But under normal circumstances, people didn’t reach that point. Only those who had overcome life-threatening crises multiple times achieved secondary awakening.

‘But why?’

Ian felt his heart sink.

His mind, which had been floating disconnected from reality and the past, settled down. Only now did his surroundings come into clearer focus.

“Hyung, I need to see hyung.”

At Ian’s outburst, Hong Seoyoon gently patted his back, trying to calm him down. But Ian’s heart still raced like crazy.

“First, calm down. Choi Jaeheon, that bastard is fine.”

Actually, he wasn’t fine. After losing his only family, Choi Jaeheon had worked hard to find Ian. He had visited the police station multiple times, but couldn’t find him. Still, the first year was okay. There was still hope. But when two years passed and it became the third year, Choi Jaeheon’s mind collapsed.

Then one day, a rumor spread that most of the missing people were inside gates. Choi Jaeheon thought Ian must also be somewhere beyond a gate. At first, he entered gates matching his rank, but his rank increased in an instant.

Naturally, Hong Seoyoon and Yoon Taegyeom tried to stop such a Choi Jaeheon.

“Hey! Have you lost your mind?”

The day Hong Seoyoon shouted that was the day Choi Jaeheon returned with a large wound on his abdomen. Luckily it missed the vital organs, but the bleeding was severe and he nearly died.

“That’s right. You’re pushing yourself too hard right now. Since you’re injured, rest at the hospital for a bit. I’ll arrange a spot for you.”

Even Yoon Taegyeom said this, but his friends’ voices didn’t reach Choi Jaeheon.

“I can’t. Ian might be in danger even as we speak.”

Hearing those words, Hong Seoyoon momentarily felt breathless. Was this what family was like? He wondered if he couldn’t understand Choi Jaeheon’s obsession because he himself had no family. But Yoon Taegyeom’s expression was no different.

“Don’t you think Ian would be even sadder if you died?”

Wow, that cold bastard. Even in this situation, he’s saying exactly the right thing matter-of-factly.

“I won’t die before I find my little brother.”

Choi Jaeheon said firmly, clenching his fist. That very day, Choi Jaeheon underwent secondary awakening. After receiving an S-rank, Choi Jaeheon threw himself into gates, wearing down his body. Midway through, he even formed a guild, gathering people with similar circumstances.

Since he had gathered only people like that, they didn’t refuse to clear gates without rest.

Choi Jaeheon looked excessively precarious. He seemed like he might die at any moment, so Hong Seoyoon worried in a way that wasn’t like him. Yes, that’s how it was in the past.

“Anyway, today’s gate he entered is A-rank. Unless something unusual happens, he’ll be fine.”

“Still!”

“I’ll take you home. Hong Seoyoon, this bastard happens to have time.”

“Huh? Oh. Right. I have plenty of time.”

Hong Seoyoon readily agreed to take Ian. Originally, Yoon Taegyeom would have wanted to look after Ian himself. But with the sudden change in the gate’s rank, someone had to clean up the situation.

Leave that to Hong Seoyoon?

Yoon Taegyeom scoffed. Like entrusting fish to a cat. He didn’t believe Hong Seoyoon could clean things up intelligently. Instead, since his body was sturdy, he entrusted him with guarding Ian.

“If anything happens, I won’t let it slide.”

“Nothing will happen!”

Hong Seoyoon said confidently, then scooped Ian into his arms and left the tent. This time too, Yoon Taegyeom gave a little help to avoid being seen by people.

Now Yoon Taegyeom just had to leave the tent, deal with the gathered reporters, and take good care of the Phoenix Guild members before sending them back.

He also had to look into the Management Bureau personnel who came to find out why the gate had changed.

“Ha.”

These were all things Yoon Taegyeom had taken upon himself. Hong Seoyoon had a fiery personality and was difficult to handle. Choi Jaeheon was a rational person, but after losing his younger brother, he acted even more impulsively than Hong Seoyoon. This couldn’t continue. From the moment he recognized that, Yoon Taegyeom decided he had to join the Management Bureau.

Since the Management Bureau didn’t have any S-rank awakeners, he’d join and secure the highest position possible. And he planned to support his reckless friends.

‘Because I’m the most rational and smart one.’

It was more efficient than trying to stop his friends. Based on that judgment, Yoon Taegyeom became an awakener of the Management Bureau. And as he had resolved, he had built his foundation until now while supporting those wild guys.

It wasn’t that he disliked it, but sometimes it was exhausting.

“Well then, shall I head out?”

It was time to go to work.

***

A-rank Gate. Gem Mine.

Though it was called a mine, the interior was wider than expected. At least it wasn’t so narrow that you couldn’t even stretch your body.

“Five people could stand side by side.”

“The hall in the middle is even wider.”

The guild members who entered together analyzed the gate while following behind Choi Jaeheon. More than half of the monsters they’d encountered so far were undead types. If there was an exception, it would be the gem vampire bats.

The gem vampire bats weren’t large in size, but their outer skin was hard. Additionally, they had the habit of latching on and trying to suck blood by inserting their straw-like teeth.