I ponder how lengthy he’s been sitting on the ground subsequent to my mattress. I’m positive he hasn’t been watching me all evening. I really feel like I owe him a favor.

“Is it uncomfortable…?”

It could be good to get again to mattress and sleep comfortably …Not in the identical mattress, in fact.

Anyway, if I pull my hand out like this, he’ll positively get up. So I left my hand in his grasp and turned my head barely. My thirst was rapidly forgotten once I noticed his sleeping face.

It had been a very long time since I’d seen Heo-sang sleeping face. It’s been fairly some time, however his sleeping face continues to be the identical as when he was a toddler. Even then, he used to carry my hand as tightly as he does now. Or extra exactly, he wouldn’t sleep except he was holding me.

The behavior began the day after I jumped into the ocean. He mentioned he couldn’t sleep as a result of he was afraid of the place I used to be going. Then, the primary evening he didn’t maintain my hand, I ran away, leaving solely a letter on his bedside desk.

Possibly that’s why he’s anxious even now, afraid of the place I’ll find yourself, resembling John.

Each time I have a look at you, the guilt grows, and each time you have a look at me, the damage solely deepens. This relationship, which isn’t good for anybody, ought to finish right here. That may be the best possibility, however motive had lengthy since damaged down.

‘Hyung. Why, did you permit me?’

Listening to his younger voice scared me greater than listening to my mother or dad’s voice. If Fenex had copied Heo-sang from the start, possibly I wouldn’t be right here. I’d be wandering in a dream without end, identical to that hunter.

“Silly….”

He frowned as I muttered that, and I lifted my proper hand to press flippantly in opposition to his wrinkled forehead, questioning if he was having a nightmare. Curiously, his expression relaxed. I ought to have pulled my hand away however seeing him so uncharacteristically defenseless was surprisingly encouraging.

Just a bit. Just a bit can be fantastic.

A trembling fingertip brushed in opposition to his jutting forehead bone. Tender hair tickled the again of his hand. Quickly it rested on the highest of his closed eyes. Lengthy, darkish lashes fluttered greedily down his face and brushed in opposition to his slender cheeks. His honest pores and skin seems to be even whiter in opposition to his darkish hair. Lovely. A lot in order that it’s etched in my thoughts.

Lastly, as his index finger handed the road of his lips, he got here to his senses. It was then that I withdrew my hand, deciding that sufficient was sufficient. Simeon grabs my hand because it strikes away, then brings it again to his cheek and whispers in a hushed voice,

“You may contact me, as a lot as you need.”

He wasn’t sleeping. Startled, I jerked my hand away as if it have been on fireplace.

“Oh, I assumed you have been having a nightmare.”

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

”…What? Since when?”

“The beginning.”

Ouch. I swallowed the swear phrase into my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut. Not eager to lie down anymore, I raised my higher physique and Simeon gently supported me. The ache in my thighs one way or the other appeared to worsen as I leaned in opposition to the top of the mattress.

“How are you feeling?”

“My arms are fantastic, however my legs… They’re nonetheless slightly sore.”

To not be fooled, I stabbed myself mercilessly with the knife. I couldn’t transfer the way in which I wished myself to as a result of I’d reduce my muscle tissues. I had nobody in charge however myself. I shrugged my shoulders as if it was no large deal, and Simeon set free a small sigh.

“Excuse me.”

Sitting on the mattress, he slipped his arms behind my knees and bent my legs. Naturally, the hem of his pants rose, exposing his thighs. Regardless of the bandages, I felt like he may see my naked pores and skin. Although we’re the identical intercourse, it’s embarrassing as a result of this can be a mattress and the opponent is him.

Subsequent factor I do know, he’s gently wrapping his arms across the again of my thighs, one-handed. I had prided myself on my leg muscle tissues from working errands, and it was a little bit of a blow to my satisfaction to be caught with just one hand. Whether or not he realized it or not, Simeon started to softly rub his thigh.

“Does it damage?”

“…Somewhat.”

He was fairly expert at loosening tight muscle tissues. However his fingers appeared to dig deeper and deeper, till they reached his internal thigh. My shoulders slumped as I spotted he was touching the deepest flesh I’d ever felt in my life.

He was simply checking up on me, however I tensed up and stood on my toes.

”That….”

“I do know it hurts, however grasp in there, it’s good to let it out.”

It’s not that it hurts. No, it does damage, however…!

It’s the truth that these lengthy fingers are touching my leg, a hand I’ve at all times thought was lovely. It’s an excessive amount of stimulation, each visually and tactilely. I used to be so distracted by the hand stroking my leg that the ache took a backseat.

Instantly, I spotted that he was doing this on objective. He’s the one who pretended to be asleep so he may see my response. I used to be about to inform him to cease enjoying video games to his face once I realized I used to be speechless.

“…What was that? That look.”

His face was uncharacteristically somber.

“Are you anxious about me?”

Simeon’s tone was intentionally gentle as a result of he didn’t need to sound severe, however he was agency.

“Sure.”

Eradicating his hand from his thigh, he continued in a peaceful voice.

“I’ve by no means regretted my selections, as a result of I at all times select the best-case state of affairs.”

The twitching of his forehead spoke volumes about his complicated emotions.

“It was the identical once I despatched guild members to the gate, I didn’t care about their opinions, I solely despatched those that can be helpful to the mission, and once they got here again wounded, I figured it was part of being a hunter, and apart from, as soon as they’re healed, that was that.”

Simeon stared on the wound for an extended second, then frowned.

“However then I noticed you, all mangled, and for the primary time, I regretted it.”

Simeon had a pained expression on his face, as if he had been injured himself.

He appeared to really feel responsible about my damage.

“Oh, it’s all proper. It ended safely, in order that’s sufficient.”

I smile at him, telling him to not fear about it, however his face grows darker.

“4 days.”

“…What?”

“It’s been 4 days since Shin Hajae-ssi awoke after popping out of the gate.”

Huh?

“I simply realized that no quantity of medication or potential can wake somebody who has fallen unconscious.”

My smile froze on my face.

I hadn’t realized how a lot time had handed; I assumed it was half a day or a day on the most…. I’m positive it was extra as a result of my thoughts being gnawed away by the Fenex than any blood loss or damage.

“I assumed you’d by no means get up once more, I used to be afraid I’d pushed you out on a limb.”

A self-help sneer crossed his lips.

“I’m sorry, that is my fault.”

“You don’t have to do this….”

“No. It’s made me understand a number of issues.”

His darkish eyes have been calmer and cooler than ever. It was like he was reviewing his loss in chess by himself.

“You see, it wasn’t my correct command that saved the guild members from dying, it was their capabilities. I’ve simply been fortunate thus far.”

“…That.”

“Then the alternatives I’ve made thus far have been each the perfect and the worst.”

“Simeon.”

“No, possibly not even the perfect.”

Regardless of what number of instances I name him, it’s no use. Lastly, I cupped each his cheeks and compelled him to have a look at me.

“Heosang-ssi.”

Simeon’s eyes widened on the point out of his title.

“Sufficient, simply hearken to me.”

His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened in shock.

“I imply…”

I’ve simply woken up and my head is spinning. To make issues worse, I’m not excellent round phrases, and I’m not excellent at consoling. Nonetheless, I knew what I wished to say, so I took a deep breath and let it out.

“Actually, at first, I resented you for asking me to do such a tough job.”

Yeah. To be trustworthy, if Simeon hadn’t taken me to the gate, I wouldn’t have been at risk within the first place. Between assembly the nun and getting into the cathedral, I thought-about working away a number of instances.

Nonetheless, Simeon mentioned for the time being earlier than the summons. I used to be the only option.

“However once I give it some thought, somebody needed to do it, and also you’re proper, it was the least dangerous possibility.”

That alone satisfied me. So I did it with all my would possibly.

“Okay? It was for the perfect, I simply agreed to it, and I’m positive the remainder of the guild knew that, and so they’ve been following your lead all alongside, so don’t beat your self up about it, it labored out fantastic.”

Main this large guild by yourself will need to have been tough in some ways. When a member of your guild will get damage, you’re more likely to placed on an outwardly calm face, however inside you’re most likely beating your self up identical to you simply did. In an effort to make the only option, the choice would have been made after calculating a number of instances to cut back the injury.

I don’t know how heavy the burden of being a guild chief is, so I smiled gently and stroked his cheek, hoping to lighten the load slightly.

“If this has taught you something, then we will change issues to any extent further.”

Simeon didn’t say something, simply stared at my face, and I don’t know the way lengthy that silence lasted earlier than he dropped his head in disbelief. His shoulders started to shake barely.