TSBIRBV Ch 74

Chapter 74 An Esper Who Knows When to Act (4)

“Are those dumplings?”

Samrang asked, but Yegyeol sharply turned his head away, annoyed that she was asking questions even though she hadn’t served the soup.

“…Some ice, please.”

Even Yegyeol hadn’t expected his face to swell like this. Having only cried when he was born, he didn’t know what to expect.

‘I did cry when I was with Senior Brother, but maybe I was receiving guiding then, so my face was spared.’

“This isn’t the North Sea Ice Palace; how would there be ice here?”

“If there isn’t any, then that’s life.”

“Wait a moment.”

Grumbling, Samrang left briefly and cleverly came back with some ice.

Yegyeol, thinking she was quite a handy person, put the ice next to his swollen eye. The cold sensation seemed to awaken his senses.

“Refreshing.”

Samrang didn’t seem to have mastered ice techniques, so where did she get the ice?

“How much did you actually eat for your face to puff up like this?”

There wasn’t even a hypothesis in Samrang’s mind that Yegyeol might have cried hard last night.

“I did eat quite a lot…”

Remembering the food siege last night, Yegyeol quickly refocused and asked,

“By the way, where is Senior Brother?”

Samrang’s eyes narrowed.

She was curious about why Yegyeol, who had been obviously avoiding Haryang lately, suddenly asked for him. But Samrang didn’t think too deeply.

“…We had dinner together yesterday, so maybe something changed in his feelings.”

Samrang was quite easygoing and avoided digging into others’ emotions too deeply.

“He went out for a while.”

Yegyeol clicked his tongue with regret.

‘There’s no such thing as being full at the first bite.’

Senior Brother was not the type to get surprised and run away just because his disciple moaned a little and called his name. If he were, the situation would be less complicated now.

“When will he come back?”

“He said he’d come late at night.”

“Shall I tell Master Mun you were looking for him?”

“No.”

Yegyeol shook his head repeatedly and after glancing toward Senior Brother’s lodging, locked himself in the room.

Normally skipping walks and meals, every time the door opened and closed, Samrang’s eyes grew narrower.

Meanwhile, Yegyeol played peacefully with Yalmo. Since he had set traps, waiting for the prey to take them was not boring.

‘Samrang, I trust only you.’

Yegyeol was confident Samrang would tell Senior Brother he was looking for him.

Not even half an hour after Samrang said she would relieve her post and step down, someone quietly approached the door.

There was no sound, not even footsteps.

Certain that his awaited visitor had arrived, Yegyeol hastily tidied his clothes.

‘My belt’s messy, and my collar’s somewhat undone.’

No matter how well one prepares, these things always required utmost care.

“Gyeol.”

At that voice, Yegyeol’s lips relaxed as he confirmed the man outside was Je Haryang.

Silently slapping his cheek to keep quiet, Yegyeol put his finger to his lips and shushed. Yalmo nodded resolutely.

‘Though he doesn’t make rattlesnake sounds.’

“Gyeol, have you already fallen asleep?”

Yegyeol smiled silently at his cute companion and hurriedly got up at Senior Brother’s repeated calls.

“Wait a moment!”

Deliberately making some noise, he rushed to the door, stood still, and took in the shadow of Haryang on the sliding door.

“I’ll open it soon.”

As he reached for the door, Yegyeol unconsciously brushed the shadow of Haryang.

Even though he felt no warmth or touch, his heart pounded strangely. The man he had only met in his dreams for twenty years was truly beyond this door.

‘If I open this door now, won’t Senior Brother disappear?’

Yegyeol shut his eyes tightly and opened them again. It wasn’t time to indulge.

“You’re here?”

Peeking from slightly opening the sliding door, Yegyeol saw Senior Brother in simple white clothing, his outline softly shimmering.

Moonlight hung on Haryang’s shoulder.

“Samrang said you came looking for me.”

“Ah.”

Haryang’s otherworldly aura made Yegyeol regain his composure.

“I told her not to say anything.”

Yegyeol’s confused and helpless gaze added realism to his act.

“I only learned after asking what happened during the day. Samrang had no choice but to obey my orders; don’t be harsh on her.”

“I know. I just worried I troubled Senior Brother…”

Yegyeol fidgeted with his hands.

“I felt embarrassed.”

Seriously embarrassed.

He’d waved glowing sticks, installed light apps on his phone to attract attention, but when their eyes met, he didn’t know where to look.

“Worry.”

Haryang muttered softly.

“Yes, I worried a lot about you.”

‘Don’t enjoy making your guide worry too much.’

“I’m sorry.”

Regardless of how he felt inside, Yegyeol spoke as though sincerely apologetic.

“It’s quite late—”

Haryang seemed ready to leave, but Yegyeol held him back.

No, don’t go.

“Don’t stand there, come inside quickly.”

His sleeve was lightly pulled, but Haryang stopped, silently absorbed Yegyeol in his gaze, then stepped in willingly.

“Alright. I will.”

It felt strange to have a much bigger man follow so obediently. It was like driving a beast into a cage.

Haryang glanced inside. His eyes darkened as he looked at the bed, where Yalmo was tangled up like a snake’s shed skin.

He must have been remembering what Yegyeol did last night up there.

Feigning ignorance of his disciple’s private life, Haryang slowly took a seat on the windowsill. He looked so natural that he seemed the master of the room.

Yegyeol sat across from him. Haryang spoke frankly.

“You didn’t eat dinner?”

He hadn’t yet entered fully but stopped out of curiosity.

Samrang’s diligent work was clearly playing the role of a reliable trap.

“I didn’t have much of an appetite.”

“You didn’t have an appetite?”

Haryang’s expression grew serious.

“…There is something bothering me.”

Yegyeol deliberately withheld details, yet the subtext was apparent.

“Is it a problem I can’t solve?”

The question was cruel, coming from the man who certainly remembered how desperately Yegyeol had sought comfort during his nights of restless desire.

But Yegyeol laughed.

He had expected this from Je Haryang.

“Senior Brother can never solve it… and shouldn’t.”

Though unvoiced, the feeling blossomed momentarily and then faded in front of Haryang.

“It’s truly a pity that I cannot intervene.”

Haryang said this sincerely.

“You’re not a child of three who can cry to Senior Brother every time something happens.”

Of course, Yegyeol would seek him every time, cling tightly, and sob as if the world were ending.