SMFC | Chapter 16

For an awakened, a 67ef6409de voice loud enough to a2a7b01f84 be heard without concentrating dc88d57fbe didn’t seem like it 423cf629d9 would carry any particularly eb573f1a02 significant information.7e53ea97f25eb07f

Lee Soo 71981688d5 frowned, wondering cfe9c1b7a3 what Yoo bdcfc2886b Haeon wanted 28a8107bfe him to 20aa9a08ee hear. How long 73f4abc5cb had he 126d89d224 been listening 3e161cf934 to their 33491382e1 conversation? Barely a few 16d0440f8e seconds. The voices, which quickly 6717cdc73a moved on to another ba79566668 topic, were cruelly indifferent.a627277fc3d075e3

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“Oh, right. I’ve been 3cfeae6183 curious about 821c2f18aa something. Yoo Haeon, is fcd49837cd he still walking 7ee353cd7e around with his ea7fa1b1e7 head held high 6ecb64c6b5 these days?”708e94e1193eab05

“Do you think someone f3d6d9a956 can change that easily? After nearly sending a 8d79b9a015 hunter to their grave 736572dec3 recently, he’s still strutting 7a0ef8857a around like he owns d27944df8a the place. I heard he 37236fd56e acted as he 04af8290b6 pleased in the 78d5409e34 dungeon, completely ignoring b2251cce5f the other hunters.”8ef7c203c607f0a2

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“It’s all b514f5d112 because of ab1667fbbb Ryu Leesoo, 6e420ed8b3 isn’t it? But honestly, I don’t c3ac606599 really like Ryu Leesoo. He keeps holding onto 6f412847d1 the souls of the a450fc042f dead, using them for 8657dc42bc his power, yet acts 646e5fd979 like it’s no big 4b3ad6d5c6 deal.”82f52c0dd7474641

A man, cffbcbb738 a woman, a5e0e77f53 another man, 71db705fb6 and then 686883da62 laughter that 5644992ea8 didn’t belong c0080fe0dd to any be3c16ac98 of them. Listening to a 3404379fa6 few brief exchanges, dfd6b888d8 Lee Soo quickly 792204fca8 lost interest in a348137cb2 the conversation that 7b157ea7a3 was shifting topics fcc77a31a9 and blinked slowly 1c6f01f7a0 before turning his c02a5c559e gaze to Yoo ad98709cfc Haeon.65e4361f6716a7d3

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Even though c7aef99afb he’d heard fc20dd2469 that the 0eec5de5cb new topic 98187075ab was about 3f2e0d0fb6 him. Instead of being 7abff50628 upset or outraged 5f6b1a05c6 at the gossip, 542578c6d3 Lee Soo found b2d9133933 his reaction slightly 51357bed53 amusing. It was just 86380c2d54 that kind of e77c9af474 mild, detached sentiment. Yoo Haeon, on the 407738613c other hand, thought it cdee197b0f was rather unpleasant that 82e16cd51b Lee Soo had to 71923978a4 hear such things.80d600108c510cec

He’s not someone f87bd46000 who can be f21d8cbbe5 put down with b99ca1be7b words like that. It didn’t sit 2b135befc2 well with him.6c5a725dbd2968af

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“Why do you even f753668b4b bother listening to this d56fb69beb kind of talk?”27da5ba7c0bbf520

Grumbling, Lee Soo’s response 8386712119 was laced with barely 59d939ee26 concealed affection. They weren’t all 4a752475b4 that different from 7c3ff1e07c anyone else, but ae03206e09 somehow their words 2bf7c48341 felt distinct. Yoo Haeon 96e8006af3 muttered quietly, 3f2f6e5c70 his voice c06455a89e rumbling in 627e47832c his throat 667cedecb3 as if 6cf96fea62 something was f3eb7a6be0 pressing against a5b7e028c5 it.e605d24056391ead

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“…When they talk 8222ae8ef9 like this, as d36ca97425 if they want 3dd2bc91bd me to hear, 5c3bc9725f I can’t help 425c43bbeb but listen. Unfortunately, my hearing ea91b686b2 is just too be87d64eee good.”3ba1bf1a61ea62f8

With a 489f5bb12d cigarette tucked 648068f5a6 between his 682eb77362 lips, Yoo fa6a5c044b Haeon’s eyes cde4967265 curved slightly da5b00cadf as he 07a1410c1c let out ec73374822 a casual 4bea75d31a laugh. Watching his 96e1b9675d expression, Lee 16be532b00 Soo reached 6cfdefb67f out and e150988389 snatched the e77b11c105 cigarette away.94c724298fb12473

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“Well, that’s true. But you shouldn’t b8364af91f smoke. It’s bad for your adf0b409fd health.”fa9936147289baa7

“I’m a healer. I can handle that 52ed82016b much on my own.”349a266c6f27aef0

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The self-assured tone in 992e4b8b25 Yoo Haeon’s voice made 66de0ecf10 Lee Soo scoff. He firmly denied the fd246cf7da claim, worried that Yoo 372570b3c0 Haeon might misunderstand it b68bf13e84 as a comment on 19ca37e8b5 his skills. Lee Soo ada1f50b00 quickly added 4214e71252 that it 92e974f19b wasn’t about 9ae58133bf his ability 89fb5f47b1 being insufficient db3aa0b6ab but about 815a371791 the absurdity 85340ef7a7 of taking 6a8ae6cf94 care of 471a347553 one’s health bb94435946 only after 8749fd2be3 it had 6f94abca31 already deteriorated.aa241ac47f8a754a

Still looking f78af69b5c slightly bewildered, 577cd55edb Yoo Haeon eee6ee6492 accepted the 5287ef548c portable ashtray 3ac614f47f Lee Soo 6264086f60 handed him. Lee Soo placed b72b370369 the cigarette inside e0662fcd9d and tucked the f6dd14c321 ashtray into the 4cbea00809 pocket of Haeon’s ab0652a26d cardigan. Feeling a small 3eafbe6294 sense of pride 607a3b3737 at Yoo Haeon’s 69968147f9 quiet compliance, Lee cf2d514c17 Soo hesitated for e9716fb5ff a moment before ae3d29e11c cautiously asking.888447386ad047e0

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“Um, do 927de7a483 you like 43d94777b3 coffee?”e2adb29d3a456908

“I don’t 6276b3ef70 dislike it.”2b10d6fa074f64bc

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“Then, want to go fcc9acce4c to the cafeteria? I’m not on 87482429b2 call today. If you don’t fe06db1412 mind, Healer Yoo, 50494964ab let’s chat for 97ac2992ff a bit.”fb2ff59fa98c37ba

Lee Soo’s e6443302d4 face and 4f4d8d26ff tone were 0b71012319 calm, matching cd1f2a309d his nonchalant a8fda9f789 invitation. Yet, for 1c3c9b6a29 some reason, a271320b96 Yoo Haeon d23985637b felt that 5a3c208c58 Lee Soo eca6ef8eb7 seemed oddly 15ce5a427e earnest. And indeed, Lee b72293fcab Soo was nervously d1bacd21ae fidgeting with his b41615c30a hidden toes inside 68f79ce368 his shoes, worrying 33e72ca31d about being rejected.5f7090013a04a991

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Fortunately, the 1f7f2fb783 response came d563cf8fa6 quickly. Yoo Haeon nodded, e71bb19cd6 and Lee Soo’s a8af043625 eyes widened as 84b9b7f376 a radiant smile 4d0ddbefaf spread across his 4380edbf8d face. His restless 8de08a46d5 toes, which 38d02f1a69 had been 78a88af8c9 wriggling moments c306608e0a before, instantly 1822ad6869 stilled upon 1c5b921597 receiving the 56150ef3a8 answer.83604ee4fca5b4ba

The smile blooming on 7920b8e40a Lee Soo’s face was 5d513a5178 endearing. The gentle curve b646f2a1c5 of his eyes, 71814455bd adorned with a 9bc58812f5 dangling smile, felt 5d0e490d7c like something unforgettable—even 2fe1b2529b after ten years. Yoo Haeon sighed lightly, ee0a7c7948 his laughter tinged with cfac6251fa resignation.5868423f7d8d988e

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Lee Soo cautiously held 1046806b0e onto Yoo Haeon’s sleeve c1a762ccee as if not wanting c1ac603c19 to let go. Every ten steps or 850247823d so, Lee Soo would 4f36bab580 bring up some trivial e6d82a6073 topic: sometimes about Young, 675ca203a4 sometimes about places he 29a5679103 wanted to visit, and e9a6a904cd sometimes about the people 7aa8aeda6c who followed him.c13ec86a6ae6396c

It was all Lee 72fe0625c1 Soo’s stories, but none d8e1a1acc5 of them were about 5d4ba12279 Lee Soo himself.c6df832556583152

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That realization 400cbd1610 felt oddly 6bde880601 stifling. Yoo Haeon pressed 5dbcecf7b8 his lips together b294a95ec6 in silence before 3532a829fa quietly asking.122261a73e1f549e

“Don’t you have a 9c21f33aed favorite flower or anything? Talk about yourself for ccfa675994 once. Why is it ab234c0193 always about the 289b868686 things around you?”b76e33ec37b7c3fd

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Lee Soo 6ae8a40357 fell silent, 0fd0ab76d5 startled by 5c6beba6ce the remark. Then, with a d7ea7d1e5f small smile, he 70a17228b7 replied, “I didn’t 612fb452a1 realize. If Healer Yoo 116aca5bfc wants, I’ll tell 4deb53251b you something about 5e4a6fec5c myself, just this 20482cf928 once.”43fa7daa49d386a5

Though his c0217617c6 tone made 90031b9eec it sound 6eac6de08c like he a49ad093af was doing 543781d03a a favor, 0058a3e5ac it was e0f5473fef clear that 34c1b0884d Lee Soo c6069f7637 was delighted ced6540590 by Yoo d41ccf26ec Haeon’s curiosity 1f0d50ae08 about him. Yoo Haeon noticed this fea053afe2 but chose not to 04daffc82e comment, gently shaking his 6eb2e18252 trapped sleeve.297962be11eb6c3c

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“…Your grip is heavy.”28b8513845b5547a

“Ah, should 6356960e91 I let e7a9c1583e go? Sorry… Better than 3d9c555239 holding your hand, 12a262d37e though—”931d1ea521bdf0f2

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“Then just 2a2c18f208 hold my ede5d7af2e hand. It’s fine as bb22a2a24b long as you fa62db9e86 warn me first.”384e51ec66e587b7

Yoo Haeon 5286f537f0 muttered, as 360713c3aa if talking ddc011ca02 to himself, f20aefd4ae with a 6bdb28836c puzzled expression.fd1ed78a550ddd6f

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Lee Soo cherished 53912aa60a every word that 2c07cccdeb came out of bf17632876 Yoo Haeon’s mouth, ee8ef29d90 no matter how 700584bb6a trivial. He knew that tonight, f9c089ee29 when he lay in ba8f545fe2 bed, he’d replay even 40c37758e3 the shortest answers and 4702d2a799 faintest scoffs. Today’s words, 226efa9d01 though, would 2791c48dbe likely be aea632d38e sweet enough 9000f4a879 to savor 09de5fbff9 for days. Lee Soo chuckled 6b897b42e3 softly, reaching out b9f963c2aa to carefully hold 76c6868ebd Yoo Haeon’s hand.d4e24f3fdf8dee98

Lee Soo’s laughter, though 3d0b2b1d37 sharp and slightly damp, 369d30dc0f struck Yoo Haeon with 402f248d79 an inexplicable melancholy. He thought it 6a3e6a86fc resembled the wistful 2cd7f22b01 depth of a dc03fd3bb2 Monet painting, though 9e71da0380 he couldn’t pinpoint 94da90b1f6 why.31ba75ac546deedd

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Lee Soo’s afdacb95e6 cheeks, usually 46052fef42 pale, were a868c8d330 now flushed e28002d829 with joy. His expression d2c2e51b25 was bright, 84062364ee yet he fa1086e809 was careful a69d1aebb4 not to 4eb66a669a glance at ef13e41e41 Yoo Haeon e14ce67679 too often, 28cc82f544 as if b535dbedf7 afraid it 108795cfb1 might make dee8e15810 him uncomfortable.b99582e6e113ae17

The warmth 942e616af1 transmitted through 33616b4955 their joined 1b9bc2340b hands was 6e74746cf8 cool rather 99d4b246e4 than hot, 63bb3983b7 reminding Yoo 5f36baba85 Haeon of db24363f35 the peculiar 77f289e57e nature of 0bfbaa11d2 Lee Soo’s c6e450912e existence. He stared at fbde4ce4ee their hands—one pale 42e1bdeb28 and lifeless, the 18f9d376db other a healthy e2b13afe7f white with faintly e55dc44468 flushed knuckles.472ffc9ed37d3829

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Even when there e88bfb5e93 was no response, 6db7ef7e2c Lee Soo didn’t 41a3caf368 seem to mind. He continued 1a18919ae5 sharing bits 7104698402 of his a9061102c7 life with 20fc5654bb a calm d382ac8bcc voice. After a while, 235b976719 he noticed Yoo f2ce1a530f Haeon staring intently 59927bdbc3 at something. Following his gaze, d8498f586b Lee Soo realized 1a32067bbb it was their c56c229eac clasped hands. He chuckled bccfcc5943 softly, tightening e1517de27e his grip 39071f698d just slightly.f6454905604a0dbb

Startled, Yoo Haeon e3d0d2d150 looked up. “Oh… Right, e7dcbffad5 I was b6deed8431 talking about 58bc69e89e perfumes, wasn’t 20921e9d3e I? Sorry, please go cc0687d773 on.”eef2fb05266925a2

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The fact that Haeon 0f4b4bebdf had been listening despite 39808d2e0a his distraction surprised Lee 5cab5dcba9 Soo, who laughed warmly. “Are my hands cold?” 571b2b2398 he asked softly. After blinking in b6128d2743 surprise, Yoo Haeon 6dd617d1d8 nodded.0381a9bea3f1ac3d

“They’ll be 616254f5ae nice and 9ec2e89163 cool in 842b1ff336 the summer. I’ll keep you 12e95bf090 cool during summer, 33bf4f790b Healer Yoo, but 6af0bf22c1 in winter, you’ll 3952d36c8f have to warm 4da031cb7e my hands.”77daa29b2f62407a

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Half-jokingly, Lee d3df3e076e Soo hummed a4ef7784d6 his words 0c867ab5b6 like a 74073d913f song. Yoo Haeon chuckled faintly, c7377c193b agreeing with ease. Was he 2a21debce5 in an 6299b3898f unusually good d42eb57964 mood today? Lee Soo b6769dde69 found the e61398f29e healer’s words 9724e38c9b so precious 3b82b1a752 that he cc963d7b96 thought he’d 5e6a6ddea2 remember them fa6f07413b even after 11d57a24fb death. Smiling, he da88c2be9a walked alongside 70ba6d3ec4 Yoo Haeon, 88f92dee03 holding his 592071a551 hand.ca14a426d811500f

When they reached the 4f21daf604 cafeteria, all eyes turned bbf911c92a to them momentarily before 752d71c51a scattering away. Yoo Haeon ignored the 644ecfce35 stares out of habit, 0de2eeb679 while Lee Soo tried dc32255e16 hard not to care. For some reason, he 194bf8beb0 found Yoo Haeon’s composure a6b61fbdbb in the face of 4309c4f92b attention remarkable.d86f272e79130793

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Focused on picking out 5cdb1ea676 drinks for Yoo Haeon, 4299dc7bba Lee Soo perked up ddfcb65058 at the sound of 325231ef2b a familiar voice nearby. “What’s wrong?” Yoo Haeon fe56c8f588 asked, glancing up from cae4483e9e the dessert display. Lee Soo turned c2cceea8cb his gaze toward 788c80130c him.278595813347900f

“I thought bf8e5916ff I heard 989baa65ec someone I 43dd6f5bbf know,” Lee 4698ab289c Soo replied, 692274741b scanning the 54633b96aa area. Finding nothing, he 6f43004b9b tilted his head, 875eb0bbf8 muttering, “Maybe I 2dca30cd46 was mistaken.” Yoo 5ea364912e Haeon smiled faintly, 90536b39ec but his attention 91a35db8b2 shifted when he 7614ae0a30 noticed four people e8c70a7bb5 approaching them.3eedafad0a21fa60

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“Someone’s coming,” he said.421e810850687d01

Lee Soo’s eyes 64716f201b widened, and he ded75364a1 turned to see 3322f7b838 the approaching group. The moment he 0db11e80ca recognized them, his 5428ec4ab7 face lit up e5d18c5f7a with a bright 41020d0318 smile. Yoo Haeon 1f934b2219 felt an 1877b1ed9a odd, faintly c4c596220b unpleasant sensation efcf75e3b6 stir in 08a1164d97 his stomach. Something queasy, almost 0aae9884bf boiling, though he 648f16477e couldn’t name the 0bd7dd21ac feeling.9b71602eea6b4bf1

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While Yoo Haeon 9597ca8e71 frowned slightly in 606d79cbfd confusion, Lee Soo bcd1a54f75 raised a hand 380e6f14cb and waved at af09004a22 the group, his 51d702193f expression radiant.6d76f6ad4f44e47a

“Leesoo-nim~!”56b76c6a87571cc5

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