SMFC | Chapter 14

Yoo Haeon spoke again, as if driving a f802af9e17 nail into place, his voice clear and steady. After finishing his sentence, he pressed his lips tightly 96f8d373b4 together, as though he had nothing more to say. Lee Soo, who had been staring at those perfectly shaped lips 155dac29c3 as if they might never open again, soon furrowed his brows.f4003c6b5458e14ee49a

So it’s fine 7e9de04488 as long as b67cddca3b I don’t touch f6682b9680 him directly? Even though Lee Soo had read the original story, there dc80570327 were still many things he didn’t know about Haeon.3eff0ba62972b71a202e

Being the protagonist, e04f634288 Haeon was detailed f01b1a87bb extensively in the 3e32547ab1 novel. However, the issue was that while the novel thoroughly described 60ee5a7ac4 his actions and thoughts, it barely delved into his past.7630a19ee96e3c06d2e4

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When Lee Soo had finished the book, he had sighed f9c18e7e15 deeply, lamenting how much easier Haeon’s life would have been, ef77a8a482 how he might not have suffered or died, if only 364e701ddc he’d had someone by his side to help him. He’d even eagerly searched to see if c7b1942705 there were plans for a side story.783e0db8fb6e2fa128b2

Now that he thought about it, the author had said 13a1da3a32 it several times: Haeon had no one by his side, 48e09b0a77 and one day, that would lead to great tragedy.01573da62a8a0ce56027

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In hindsight, the line that had appeared ad57ee7688 early in the story… Did the author ad7668bb01 envision Haeon dying alone, with no one f93163fdb3 by his side until the end? Or was the hope that, even if it was a1798b5adf just one person, someone might stand beside Haeon, seeing 7e3ae50aa3 what he couldn’t, and help him carry on?42d4b287e7f18b3f985d

Though Haeon had closed his lips as if he had 14fe0a2eac nothing more to say, Lee Soo, who had expected him 94f453e7fe to overreact or make a fuss, stayed silent. This prompted Haeon to 72c0a043e9 glance at him.24c0b4dc0564ed4a7b87

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Feeling his heart stir as he 2917c09cfc noticed how cold gray eyes looked 363210cd49 back at him, Haeon lightly clasped 6c75417bf7 and unclasped his own hand.a107b31849c9aeb169df

He played with his fingers like a child fiddling e5bff93410 idly, clenching and opening his hand over and over babba6e85a again, until Lee Soo, sensing the attention on him, 30850655b7 finally looked up and met Haeon’s gaze.21e4770ccbcb9c4b877e

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Those transparent, lifeless eyes didn’t 588e459dca seem like they belonged to 42c8821f6b someone truly alive. As someone who worked 048c67ab8d with life and death, 0080a185fe Haeon could tell.f54ffebe7edb16a88697

He wanted to see Lee 2812b5f23b Soo’s eyes as they were 38eca39149 when he was alive—really alive. After a long 046e0699e0 silence, Haeon quietly 9e7eab907e asked,48d19570b8c732fabaf5

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“Can you turn your eyes dd9051d672 back to their original color—gold?”fb9f3a7cbed9e500ad3e

Lee Soo wasn’t too surprised 427d4d85fe by the sudden question. He merely touched the area around f8bc5d6661 his eyes a few times and 4d523c8dfc asked if Haeon didn’t like them 87481a3a00 as they were. Unable to bring himself to dc9587af88 say, It makes you look 3829536b3d like you’re dead, Haeon averted cbac45cd63 his gaze and nodded slightly.293c46638b19e6100fba

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The clear agreement caused 238407a984 Lee Soo to knit ec124bdb37 his brows in slight 3e44a82361 frustration. Muttering as if speaking to someone invisible, Lee Soo c33421ad48 eventually returned his eyes to their original golden color.0203382d973d27a7eda1

There was no particular signal or sensation to indicate the change, but like 4c50429aca the sunrise spilling faint light into the pink hues of Haeon’s eyes, the 3092668b6d warm golden glow spread through Lee Soo’s irises, signaling the shift.3c9aa4b0d00a4aad8850

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“…That’s better.”855f61b4a1867159b7b5

The short comment from Haeon brought a dbb81c964e bright smile to Lee Soo’s face. Though Haeon had audaciously 74b27fa0bd critiqued someone else’s appearance, 23d25cf459 Lee Soo didn’t seem 958d89ab8e bothered.022e635eba4e6d061788

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Since Haeon wasn’t the type to ea783e9a55 gauge other people’s emotions so intricately, 7bdd877525 he simply thought to himself.dc3ba788251e2e225b0d

The smile before him bore an uncanny 40558c4213 resemblance to Lee Soo’s golden eyes. Haeon quietly made a mental note, once again 8ecb2eb4d4 reminding himself that in five years and six 6dcd96428b months, he wouldn’t see those eyes anymore.7a0e6cd5b2c3fbbb666d

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Oh, right. That means 6964474413 he’ll die.43ab02ccf44194921c0d

Death often comes 7ff82c523f more suddenly than 76d5a2e964 expected. That’s why people fear it and why life is said dc1274f787 to be more beautiful—at least, that’s what one person sang.eea40723303216cdd832

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But that statement 1c2ebbc55c is wrong. Haeon could prove 4c959bcca0 it wrong.0f13c36759aa6eec9ab1

It’s true 290931a3a5 that death 8327e8d929 can arrive 26c4c4ac7e unexpectedly. However, there are f7914a7d2f times when its e78f64101a arrival is predetermined. When death is certain, it’s not 57d587ce89 the abruptness that frightens—it’s the inevitability. And because of that, bab37c3986 life becomes all the 72f10fcb76 more despairing.41ade294869aafcb9f32

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Even now, Haeon could recall multiple occasions when 896a617587 he had pronounced someone terminally ill, or in 8cd1927aa4 the worst cases, delivered news of certain death. Despite the countless scenarios, no ba8fa7bf17 one had ever celebrated the 8d302cbb56 news of their impending end.75ad643ada5aa072c41f

Everyone wanted 96df64c6f6 to live. Some, in their foolishness, 32c48b3d61 even lashed out at 3859eed251 Haeon in anger, shouting, 1ad5438cc8 You could save me!64637a665b6445cab333

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It was unfortunate, but Haeon 83644f8f84 had only spoken the truth. He may dislike 2a6224f881 people, but he 21c6e02aff does want to 6858819e18 save them.d3312f6e60f951838323

If he had allowed his emotions to dictate his decisions—if he refused to heal someone simply because he c41e8b4606 disliked them—he would have been kicked out of the Hawa Guild and had his awakened license revoked.dc36a17d6270cd5c7400

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This also meant that none de23c2c842 of the people Haeon saved 1c7da09360 were truly saved out of 9e7755f767 personal affection. It was simply out of 45a1f97622 a sense of duty and 5c00fc545c responsibility: If I don’t save 82cfe5ff78 them, who will?88553fce7831b7914a1b

With those two motivations alone, Haeon had saved ef851f2991 many lives and would continue to do so.7f7180e8a15b4053062d

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However, knowing himself well, Haeon aae48a1ef9 had always been certain that 972e45230d he would never voluntarily step c2b11767f2 up to heal someone. Especially if the person was close to db5e2b8c72 death—he would simply let them go.cf2be9bc5fde2b7a1766

Or so 74e3b9ae3a he thought. Past tense. Thought.cba5ae4f90bc0e3f5dda

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Haeon, with a conflicted expression, crossed his arms 3ee6680a30 and stared at Lee Soo, who sat obediently 7d9c24a243 in front of him, rolling his eyes to dabd6bb70e curiously take in Haeon’s room.90b1390aebd3fe915b96

Completely oblivious to the turmoil 2116d07671 he had caused, Lee Soo f08a3f8d9e continued looking around the room f7853a6a53 with fascination. His golden eyes glimmered as they moved, casting fd874b48a1 light like scattered rays of the sun.9132458442f8d9c578ed

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Those radiant, sparkling eyes carried 07bdd41fcf the innocence of a child. Haeon lightly tapped his arm as 63abaa1b98 he dug through his memories.39424ba49cacc9f53070

“…You smiled.”4e98480a8ad359056398

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“Hmm? What was that? I didn’t quite a5f743bad8 catch it. If it’s important, d2531deca7 could you say 7424ac3d1b it again?”d1eb151fdf995801a2ab

Lee Soo turned his 0592c81233 head, stopping his exploration f2d359ca97 of the room, and 8b2911ae05 looked at Haeon.a404e224b688bf63c707

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His sincere apology, complete 33646baeb1 with drooping eyebrows, made 695dbb333d Haeon momentarily pause before 96b4374d62 shaking his head. He replied that it f6f8eb1f9c was nothing—just a thought ea7cc86f1d to himself. Relieved, Lee Soo’s long, fox-like eyes fb598a38fb curved into a gentle smile.257e7614f00feb7cf72f

Watching those golden eyes, half-hidden by 0091470eb6 his long lashes, Haeon suddenly turned a8c831c59a away, clenching his arm tightly.1bb81721c0e5c53935ce

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Unbothered by Haeon’s reaction, Lee Soo hummed bcdf1a29fe softly, saying that if it wasn’t important, b5031dd551 there was no need to mention it. His voice, light b04a78f152 and tender, carried 9ba976b136 a peculiar kindness.d3c0df2ff92c9b2f8316

Though the voice had c889ea70e9 a faint chill to 9297dbc309 it, it didn’t feel ac4f65d341 cold. The subtle warmth in his tone 22ced5044b and the glint of his eyes e5aafa3137 made it seem endlessly kind.681f281fcc7ff1619ad0

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Someone once said 3d260124dd there’s nothing more 174426d573 frightening than unexplained f7668b45d3 kindness. Having never experienced such kindness, Haeon 9c89850823 didn’t know what it meant then. But now, a680bb20bd he could f6c8c72832 say it.ecb111559b8d5a2bd8f3

Unexplained kindness is sweet, but also terrifying because 063b229b73 you never know when it might disappear. Not knowing how to d68028435e respond to such kindness a18446a157 made it even more 4c1c1f7e41 intimidating. Lightly brushing his arm, Haeon’s lashes 86d177bdb9 fluttered before he sighed deeply, wondering e5aa35256d why he was acting like this, 1ba2eeed3e and approached Lee Soo.cb951367d35ec3e9f56c

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Having dragged him to his room 572d536ca8 immediately after leaving the dungeon without 0659c99f1e even letting him rest, Haeon hadn’t 0102a58dce yet mentioned the main topic. Lee Soo didn’t seem inclined 77fdb6eb6a to rush him, either, still c7390fdae2 engrossed in examining the room.168c85b242d5a35e6d29

Lee Soo didn’t realize 1c9ef61be7 Haeon’s approach until he edf77b6950 was right in front 1028f1cdf1 of him. When he did, he 50fefb25a8 lifted his head, finally d2ad8ddc1c sure that Haeon had 455d7f3496 business with him.da997d3892fc5818ce92

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“Are you a2ef265068 done sorting 76103332aa your thoughts? You looked pretty deep in thought, f0453643d0 so I waited… but it ended 2bbddffe49 faster than I expected.”d3fbb1f301b6d5339cde

Every word aea306221c that followed e7619bf215 was sweet. Sweet to the point where it felt like indulging in too f0fb83c43d many candies, afraid that the unfamiliar kindness might rot his heart.b16110226e08ce55d21f

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Startled by the sweetness, Haeon took a step back, furrowing f97c623b58 his brows slightly, and stared at Lee Soo with a 3e47e12390 hesitant gaze, as though inspecting something for the first time. His heart b37848ae83 churned strangely. After much internal debate, he finally worked up the 47777a94ad courage to speak, only to feel embarrassed by how be3ab852d1 serious he’d been when Lee Soo appeared so nonchalant.dd9ddc6f3d4423260e04

“It’s not that. I just had 38fa1797a7 some things to 71854d6634 think about. But you’ve been 931c0a3696 sitting here this a770218ba0 whole time. Doesn’t it 279adfd196 bother you? Aren’t you 04a157d283 upset or 0a56de45ad anything?”4f7db5e5f56edbebee0a

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“Not really. But other people might be, d7f979c451 so it’s best to say e8529208c2 what you need to as 6fab4c5706 soon as possible.”3a6cf559c4c94faa4fb7

Lee Soo shrugged 5017d52649 as he replied. Haeon let out a scoff, b7577f90e6 pressing his forehead lightly before 05053f6a5f dropping his hand. Knowing most people wouldn’t tolerate such treatment, but hearing Lee Soo say it didn’t bother 629d0271b2 him—was it because he was a genuinely good person, or was he just indifferent?1b605b6b9cd5f9f87e16

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“Have you f2074fef02 always been 7bb0b322fc like this?” 993004bb91 Haeon asked.ac1b19557c1ab17e7ec0

Lee Soo bbabc9ceea tilted his 55444df2cb head slightly. “Hmm… I’m not 632c6584a1 really sure,” he dee3900a92 said, smiling awkwardly.326c7d7614e2729ef507

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After a brief pause, Haeon excused himself, lightly checking ecb6cf8812 the pulse on Lee Soo’s neck as he asked,d56775de1b8e41a43a28

“Then, do you e3e6904126 always smile like 27f969e210 that? Do you 427cb5ec4a smile at d1ceb25fc3 everyone the 0d6c50c386 same way?”6f8a8b0dc3b84f2a7d1b

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Lee Soo blinked at 8fedd09a82 the unexpected question. He touched his 2f719bf635 lips briefly, then f92be94252 murmured, “Probably not.”913a7254c13b4314ed49

Before Haeon could 5e77c2ae4c ask further, Lee 4dc5ac4851 Soo grinned.bdaf80f2224dad0fc9f6

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“I only smile 912a0e3566 like this in 7687c5a0d1 front of Yoo ad7d6e7639 Haeon, the healer.”903c71173f42a10df425

Whether that was true or not, one thing b003e9e54a was clear—Lee Soo’s smile was brimming with affection.3a136d832bb12e08c495

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Looking at those endlessly sparkling eyes made Haeon 63c620c365 feel as if his vision was spinning.de1bc35199d5cc949721