TGHD Ch 24

Ryubeom blinked slowly, as if hearing something incomprehensible, or refusing to understand it. But then, suddenly, he jolted with surprise.

“What?!”

He was so startled that his whole body flinched. Now that he finally understood what Yeohwi had said, he hurriedly reached one arm backward, suddenly aware of the awkwardness of their position. The realization hit him like a shock—he’d been thinking about how attractive Yeohwi looked in a situation that was anything but ordinary.

But his attempt to retreat was soon halted. Yeohwi placed his hand behind him, blocking his path, and leaned his upper body even closer.

“It’s not what you think.”

“No, it is! And besides, I’m fine now, so…”

“Ha, do you think I’ll be fooled just because you’re talking clearly? Fox Suin have an acute sense for noticing desires, you know.”

Yeohwi’s gaze lowered with a soft chuckle. Ryubeom quickly realized where he was looking and hurriedly covered himself with the blanket. In his scramble to escape earlier, he had inadvertently revealed his lower half. Yeohwi had already noted the state he was in and commented.

“You’ve probably never handled something like this alone, have you?”

Ryubeom, in fact, had never dealt with such urges before. He’d been too busy adjusting to his family, too focused to have time or mental space for things like desire. Although he’d received some basic education on the matter, he’d never given it much thought.

That made the current situation all the more shocking. Forcing himself, he shook his head and tried to push Yeohwi away.

“This… this will go away on its own if I just wait… please don’t….”

“How will it go away when you’re reacting to just my breath?”

With each breath that brushed against his neck, Ryubeom’s whole body flinched. Even the sound of Yeohwi’s voice seemed to have an effect on him, each whisper sending his mind spinning.

Ryubeom bit down on his lip, drawing blood on purpose, and dug his nails into his palm to keep some semblance of control, his voice strained.

“Stop it. If you come any closer, I might… hurt you….”

“It’s just like you to worry about others even as you’re bleeding yourself.”

Yeohwi pressed his thumb to Ryubeom’s lower lip, stopping him from biting down. That small, simple touch unraveled the tension Ryubeom had gathered with so much effort.

Then Yeohwi gently traced his fingers up Ryubeom’s jaw, and onto his ear, as if soothing a small, wary animal. Ryubeom stared at him in shock, unable to control his reaction. Every touch ignited a heat that spread to his fingertips, toes, and every extreme.

As Yeohwi’s hand traced Ryubeom’s neck, the warmth in his chest surged. His breathing grew labored again, and it became increasingly hard to maintain a clear line of thought.

“This is my responsibility, so I should be the one to take care of it.”

“No, I… ngh….”

“It’s faster this way. If you just try to ignore it, the problem will linger even longer, like embers left to smolder.”

“…I’d rather… let it be like that….”

Ryubeom shook his head. He didn’t understand what Yeohwi meant by “smoldering embers,” but all he wanted was for this uncomfortable situation to end. If only Yeohwi would step back. But Yeohwi observed him quietly for a moment before finally lowering his hand.

Just as Ryubeom was hoping Yeohwi would withdraw, he felt something pressing gently on his abdomen.

“Aah…!”

Yeohwi’s hand pressed lightly against his stomach, and Ryubeom instinctively jolted. Despite being clothed, it felt as if Yeohwi’s hand was touching bare skin. Ryubeom gripped Yeohwi’s wrist tightly, trying to shake him off, but Yeohwi didn’t pull away.

“It seems you don’t understand what it means for it to linger.”

As Yeohwi’s hand slowly traced a circle over his stomach, a faint heat began to pool around his navel. This strange, unfamiliar sensation coursed through him, all the way down to his thighs, leaving them trembling.

With an unfamiliar sense of vulnerability, Ryubeom’s voice came out in a near whisper, “Please… stop… this is strange….”

“It means there’s heat buried deep inside you, and even if you manage to suppress it now, it will keep flaring up anytime you’re around me….”

Meeting Ryubeom’s gaze with half-lidded eyes, Yeohwi asked softly, “Would you rather be in heat every time you see me?”

His lowered voice struck like a chill, contrasting sharply with the warmth between them and ringing clearly in Ryubeom’s mind. His mouth opened slightly. The thought of constantly being drawn to Yeohwi was as distressing as it was shocking.

With a look of faint indignation, Ryubeom gazed up at him, feeling a twinge of frustration at the idea. But Yeohwi only smiled quietly, seemingly amused by his reaction.

“So it’s better to let the one responsible handle it just once, so it ends.”

“Wait, where are you—”

“Shh, no need to worry. I’ll only use my hand.”

“That’s… that’s the problem, ah…!”

Ryubeom drew a sharp breath as Yeohwi’s hand moved downward, gripping him firmly before he could pull away. It was a place Ryubeom had never imagined being touched by anyone else.

However, the sudden action by Yeohwi brought about a sensation greater than anger. It felt as if he had been electrocuted, his entire body tingling and his mind going blank. The stimulation was so intense that it felt almost dizzying. Just the touch of his hand on that spot made his whole body numb.

“Ah…”

Ryubeom let out a sigh, almost like a moan, and struggled. He crouched down, standing on his tiptoes, scratching the floor, and groaning as he tried to push Yeohwi away.

Yeohwi chuckled softly at Ryubeom’s actions, as he held onto one of his arms with both hands, bowing his head and groaning.

“You’re going to break it,” Yeohwi said quietly, as if sighing.

“Ugh, you, you just need to back off…”

“It seems like you’re the one holding onto me and not letting go.”

Ryubeom flinched and looked up at Yeohwi, their eyes meeting. He tried to deny it immediately, but the moment he saw Yeohwi’s face, he couldn’t speak. The words that were about to come out, that breath, burned inside him.

From the moment he touched Yeohwi, Cheon Ryubeom had been in a constant, contradictory struggle. He wanted Yeohwi to let go, and yet… he also wanted to keep touching him. It was a very strange conflict. He kept denying it because he didn’t want to admit it, but now his throat felt completely blocked.

Yeohwi slowly brought his face closer and whispered in his ear, “This is nothing. It’s just a physiological and instinctive reaction to being bewitched by the fox’s Yogi. Think of it that simply.”

“Huh…”

“Or think of it as a simple accident caused by being drunk, or just a dream…”

He spoke softly, as if trying to soothe or hypnotize the tense Ryubeom. Deliberately lowering his voice, he spoke in a dreamlike tone, and gradually Ryubeom’s face became dazed.

But when Yeohwi moved his hand again, Ryubeom flinched. The hand that gently wrapped around and caressed his lower body was so soft that it felt like his whole body was melting, yet it was so intensely stimulating that even his fine hairs stood on end. It felt like he was walking a tightrope between two completely different sensations.

His whole body felt like it was swelling with heat. Feeling the same anxiety as when looking at a balloon inflated to its limit, Ryubeom closed his eyes tightly and struggled. He even lifted his hips, groaning as he tried to escape.

Around that time, Yeohwi let out a low sigh and bumped his forehead against Ryubeom’s.

“Look at me.”

“…?”

“Quickly.”

Unconsciously following Yeohwi’s voice, Ryubeom opened his eyes. His mind was hazy, and his vision was blurred. For a while, Ryubeom couldn’t focus, but when he finally met Yeohwi’s gaze in the darkness, he gasped. The red light circling Yeohwi’s black pupils became clearer.

He stared at the mysterious red light as if hypnotized. Like someone under a spell, Ryubeom was helplessly drawn into the sensation. Letting go of the last thread of reason he had been holding onto, he fell endlessly down, deeper and deeper.

A chilling heat spread throughout his body.

“Ha, ah…”

Cheon Ryubeom could no longer grip Yeohwi’s arm tightly; he just clung to it. Feeling the strength leave Ryubeom’s hand, Yeohwi moved closer and whispered that it was okay to lean on him. At that, Ryubeom leaned his head on Yeohwi’s shoulder as if hypnotized. When the conflict between reason and instinct ended, a dizzying pleasure came as a reward.

Ryubeom kept letting out breaths, burying his face in Yeohwi’s neck. At that sobbing sound, Yeohwi chuckled softly. The heat in his breath made the space even hotter.

“You’re so obedient…”

At the voice that seemed to find him cute, Cheon Ryubeom flinched. Sensing that he might wake up, Yeohwi tilted his head and lightly kissed his ear. Even this slight contact made him react sensitively, his ears turning red as if they would burst.

And the reaction didn’t stop there.

“They say there’s a white spot behind a tiger’s ear, and it’s true.”

Seeing something pop out from his hair, Yeohwi muttered in admiration. Following that, a long tail appeared from under the blanket, wagging, and Yeohwi felt even more amused. He lightly kissed his cheek as well. Every time he touched him, the tail reacted, which he found quite entertaining.

Cheon Ryubeom seemed to want to escape the lips, abruptly turning his head away. But the place he buried his face was Yeohwi’s chest. A laugh that seemed to come from deep in his throat fell on Ryubeom’s ear. At that breath, Ryubeom trembled, and at some point, he felt his body floating high in the air.

Feeling like he was swimming in a deep, hot sea and then suddenly being pulled up roughly, he gasped for breath. An enormous sensation rushed in, frighteningly, making his whole body tense, and Ryubeom stood on his tiptoes, struggling wildly.

“It’s okay. This is nothing…”

At the whisper that sounded like a hallucination in his ear, he collapsed as if hit by a tidal wave. Ryubeom could no longer think about anything and just let his body go limp. In the familiar warmth that enveloped him, he breathed heavily, dazed.

Every moment felt like a distant dream.

The next day.

Ilok’s parents were busy preparing breakfast. The drinking session from the previous night had continued until late dawn, so everyone looked exhausted. Ilok yawned widely as he walked, then clicked his tongue when he saw Saerok sprawled out asleep in the living room.

“Tsk, you’ll get bugs in your mouth,” he muttered, shaking his head and lightly kicking her leg. He found his sister particularly pathetic. Thinking he would never sleep like that, he moved his strangely dry mouth a couple of times. Then, he noticed someone through the large glass window in the living room.

Seeing the familiar face, Ilok immediately waved and greeted, “Ryubeom! Are you feeling better?”

Cheon Ryubeom was walking in the yard. He didn’t seem to hear the greeting and continued to look down at the ground as he walked. Normally, Ryubeom was so sensitive that he would react to the slightest sound, but today he seemed different. Ilok called out to him again, concern etched on his face.

“Ryubeom?”

“Ah! Yes, yes… Good morning.”

“Huh? You look terrible.”

Ryubeom’s startled reaction made Ilok even more confused. There were no dark circles under his eyes, so he didn’t seem to have missed sleep, but his complexion was extremely pale. Jimyo also popped her head out the window and said, “Are you hungover? You drank a lot yesterday. I thought Yeohwi would take care of you since he followed you right away…”

Last night, after Ryubeom went to the annex, Yeohwi left a few minutes later. Jimyo had to stop a drunken Saerok from clinging to Yeohwi and let him go, thinking it would be good for Ryubeom to have a friend look after him since he didn’t seem well. He had drunk too much in a short time…

Jimyo looked at Ryubeom’s complexion and asked, “Are you okay? Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

“Huh? Oh, no. No, I don’t remember anything.”

“…?”

Ryubeom’s response was strange. He seemed overly flustered by the question about remembering yesterday, and his answer was hesitant.

It was as if he was lying.

Ilok and Jimyo exchanged puzzled glances. Usually, people would lie and say they remember to avoid being treated like they were drunk. Instead, Ryubeom seemed embarrassed to recall yesterday’s events, which they found incomprehensible.

Then, Ilok sighed and exclaimed, “Ah, don’t worry, Ryubeom! Nothing happened yesterday!”

He thought Ryubeom might be worried about his cold reaction at the end of the night, so he reassured him that everything was fine. Ryubeom’s gaze wandered aimlessly as Ilok apologized for not stopping his father.

Soon, Jimyo came to a different conclusion.

“Ah, or maybe in the annex…”

She thought perhaps Ryubeom had thrown up or acted strangely due to drunkenness in the annex. Maybe that’s why he was wandering around so early in the morning. If that was the case, it was a common occurrence, and she wanted to reassure him that it was okay. But the moment she mentioned the annex, Cheon Ryubeom’s face turned pale.

And just then, someone approached from behind Ryubeom and answered Jimyo’s question.

“No, nothing happened.”

The cheerful voice belonged to Yeohwi. Cheon Ryubeom froze the moment he heard Yeohwi’s voice, unable to even breathe. He stood still as if someone had pressed the pause button. Yeohwi tilted his head and asked, “Right?”

Under the bright morning sunlight, Yeohwi’s dark eyes gleamed mysteriously. Ryubeom instinctively turned his gaze towards Yeohwi, then quickly looked away, startled. He suddenly remembered something he had to do and hurriedly moved to the side.

It was clearly an escape. He even walked awkwardly, moving his arms and legs together. Ilok and Jimyo hadn’t known Ryubeom for long, but they were surprised to see him react this way. Even when he was drunk the previous day, Ryubeom had calmly said goodbye and left.

‘He must have had a terrible drunken episode in the annex…’

They both nodded in agreement, thinking the same thing. Just then, a shout from behind announced that breakfast was ready. They both turned their heads and replied, “Yes.”

It was the morning of the second day.

Cheon Ryubeom’s strange behavior, which they thought would end quickly, continued for a long time.

For days, Ryubeom kept avoiding Yeohwi. If they were in the same space, he would quietly move to another place and avoid eye contact. It seemed like he was deliberately avoiding being together. Ryubeom immersed himself in the orchard work.

He worked so hard that the task, which was expected to take about a week, was completed in less than three days. After finishing the orchard work, Ryubeom even offered to help with the house repairs. Not only had the stone wall collapsed due to the storm, but the house had also been damaged, so he suggested replacing the roof tiles.

Ryubeom’s behavior naturally seemed strange to Ilok’s family as well. It was clear that he was avoiding Yeohwi. It seemed something had happened on “that day,” but whenever Ryubeom was subtly prodded, his face turned pale, and Yeohwi would just say that nothing had happened.

However, as time passed, curiosity no longer mattered at all.

“How does he do his work so well…!”

Thanks to Ryubeom stepping in, the house that was more than twenty years old was being transformed into a new one. He helped not only with the exterior repairs but also with the interior decoration. He easily lifted heavy furniture, and before long, Ilok’s parents had become sympathetic to Ryubeom and subtly arranged for Yeohwi and Ryubeom to have meals separately, adjusting the timing accordingly.

But no matter how much Cheon Ryubeom tried to avoid it, staying in the same house meant he couldn’t avoid running into Yeohwi.

“Master, aren’t you going to search Mansagul?”

Ryubeom, who was about to enter the annex, was startled when Yeohwi suddenly appeared from behind. He instinctively looked behind, as though trying to flee, but they were face to face. Finally, Ryubeom barely managed to speak.

“Uh… well, they’ve been working on construction around there for a while.”

“Are they installing an access-blocking fence? Hmm, couldn’t you go at night instead?”

“That’s… well, I was thinking I’d do the first search during the day. The cave is dangerous, so…”

Ryubeom looked down, speaking almost defensively. Throughout the conversation, he never once made eye contact, which made Yeohwi narrow his eyes. When Yeohwi took a step closer, Ryubeom stepped back. When Yeohwi took another two steps forward, Ryubeom retreated again, his eyes darting around.

Yeohwi closed the distance using his powers. As Yeohwi approached, almost right in front of him, Ryubeom froze, shocked by how close he was. The shock was less about the difficulty of such a spell and more about the fact that Yeohwi was so close to him.

Ryubeom tried to escape, but his back was already pressed against the wall.

“Master.”

When Yeohwi whispered his name, Ryubeom nervously looked up at him. Yeohwi watched Ryubeom’s eyelids flutter before he finally smiled faintly.

“Why aren’t you practicing mental magic? You said you did it every day until it became a habit.”

“Huh? Well, that is… because Yeohwi was hurt, so I need to be careful…”

“You told me about the injury on your shoulder before we came to Jeju, and you trained on the mountain last time, didn’t you?”

“That time, I just… forgot for a moment!”

Startled by the unexpected question, Ryubeom stammered in response. However, his excuses were so obvious that a strange smile appeared on Yeohwi’s face. Seeing that, Ryubeom shouted, surprised by his own reaction. He quickly covered his mouth in shock.

“I-I’ll go now. I promised to help move the dresser…”

Ryubeom rushed away from the scene. He had been about to enter the annex, but now it seemed like he pretended the annex didn’t even exist as he turned around. Yeohwi, watching his retreating figure, smiled faintly.

Soon, a cold voice came from behind.

[What on earth are you doing?]

“I stepped in to keep you from getting caught sunbathing in the backyard, but how could you appear so openly? What were you planning if the Master turned around?”

[From what I just saw, it seems like he wouldn’t even glance at where you are…]

Ryobeom’s tone seemed incredulous as he stared at Yeohwi, who had climbed onto the back porch of the annex. He explained that if the Master knew Yeohwi was in Jeju, it would make him suspicious, but it sounded like nonsense.

[Escaping from a tiger cub is hardly difficult.]

“The great Ryobeom can’t just let someone escape from him, can he?”

[Stop with the shameless words.]

“Why do you speak so harshly?”

Yeohwi spoke softly as though wounded, but Ryobeom ignored him entirely. Yeohwi, bored, turned his gaze away, and Ryobeom subtly studied him.

[What happened that day, before I arrived?]

“Nothing happened.”

[If nothing happened, why is the tiger cub reacting like that? And why are you just watching and smiling?]

“I’m always smiling.”

[Hmph.]

Ryobeom’s voice became even colder. The night of the trip to Jeju, Ryobeom had gone around the nearby mountains to familiarize himself with the terrain. But after what happened that night, the next morning, Cheon Ryubeom had been avoiding Yeohwi, and Yeohwi was just watching him without chasing after him.

Even though Yeohwi could easily have caught him, it was as though he was merely observing, enjoying the situation, which seemed odd. Ryobeom glared at Yeohwi, urging him to answer. Yeohwi shrugged.

“Well, it’s fun, right? When will you ever see a tiger cub running away from a fox?”

Yeohwi’s attempt to change the subject without mentioning the events of that day caused Ryobeom’s eyes to narrow. Ryobeom clearly suspected something, but Yeohwi said nothing. He didn’t specifically hide anything for Cheon Ryubeom; he just genuinely thought it wasn’t important.

What happened that day was just an accident caused by someone being enchanted by the fox’s energy. The fact that it was Cheon Ryubeom involved was unexpected for Yeohwi…

Since he had to continue working with him for his plan, he had helped to release the energy, and that was all. Of course, he found it amusing to see Ryubeom lie about not remembering the day despite clearly recognizing Yeohwi’s face.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

“I’ve never taken off my bracelet, so how could my energy have spread that much…?”

Yeohwi murmured to himself. While Cheon Ryubeom had claimed it was all his fault, it felt strange. When they kissed, he had poured some of his energy into it to make a way, but Ryobeom, being from the Cheon family, should have been able to shake it off quickly.

Even though Yeohwi wasn’t easily influenced by the fox’s allure, his reaction was odd. Was there something else?

Had he been injured somewhere without Yeohwi noticing? Since he was always getting hurt, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had picked up a wound somewhere. But Yeohwi had checked his body closely and found no such injuries. If it wasn’t a physical reason… could it have been an emotional one?

Yeohwi tilted his head, then quickly shook off the unnecessary thought. The most likely explanation was that his hybrid nature might make his resistance weaker.

As Yeohwi thought back on the events of that day, he noticed that Ryung’s eyes, which had been observing him, gradually became colder. His red eyes now carried a more menacing aura.

[You’re not… actually caring for that tiger cub, are you?]

At the sharp question thrown like a growl, Yeohwi widened his eyes. Then he slowly covered his mouth with his hand and blinked slowly before bursting into laughter. When Yeohwi didn’t immediately deny it, Ryung’s gaze grew fiercer.

Yeohwi answered with a voice full of amusement.

“He’s cute. Such a fool.”

It was a statement of pure sincerity, with no trace of falsehood.

“Without even knowing what he’s eating, he just sticks out his hand like that…”

As Yeohwi tilted his head, his dark hair fluttered. He smiled softly, recalling when Ryubeom had asked for medicine a few days ago, extending his hand without question.

Ryung, who read the satisfaction on Yeohwi’s beautiful face, parted his lips.

[…You were feeding him that?]

“Yeah. He used to be suspicious when I gave him the elixir, but now he eats it well. I think he noticed the blood smell, but he hasn’t asked any questions or shown any doubt. He trusts me so much.”

Yeohwi shrugged casually, as if it was no big deal. Ryung, though seemingly pleased by the news that Cheon Ryubeom had been fed “that,” still wore a serious expression, as though he couldn’t fully accept Yeohwi’s actions.

In the end, Yeohwi raised both hands and said.

“Alright, I admit it. I’ve been a bit too relaxed these past few days.”

[….]

“But don’t worry. Everything is going according to plan.”

As Yeohwi said this, Ryung’s anger seemed to lessen gradually, and Yeohwi playfully waved his hands, as though trying to assert his innocence.

“You told me that once all the Sagwido gates are closed, we’d be able to enter Daehogwan, right? So, we need to help with the hunting of this Imugi too.”

[…And we’ll get the bead as well.]

“Exactly.”

Yeohwi smiled as Ryung slowly responded.

In truth, Yeohwi found it amusing how Cheon Ryubeom, who had been avoiding him so much recently, still refused to go to Mansagul alone. He claimed it was because the barrier fence had been set up, but Yeohwi knew that was a lie. It was clear that Ryubeom, who had been using the barrier like a landmark, was now trying to avoid Yeohwi—likely because Yeohwi had suggested they search Sagwido together.

Yet, despite avoiding him, Ryubeom couldn’t bring himself to act too differently, hesitating to make any move on his own.

Yeohwi, now ready for the hunt, extended his hand to Ryung. After a brief hesitation, Ryung leapt into his arms, where Yeohwi caught him. Ryung usually climbed onto his shoulder, but this time, he was cradled in Yeohwi’s embrace.

Yeohwi was momentarily surprised, but he gently held Ryung in his arms. Ryung curled up, his body resting against Yeohwi’s chest as he muttered quietly.

[…Don’t forget our promise. We agreed to kill them all.]

His voice was sharp like shards of glass, but it carried a sense of something broken and shattered. The fragments of a distant past. Ryung spoke faintly, almost as if clinging to the scattered remains of something long lost, before burying his face deep into Yeohwi’s chest.

Noticing Ryung’s unease about the recent behavior of Cheon Ryubeom, Yeohwi comforted him by stroking Ryung’s back. Ryung’s white tail tangled between Yeohwi’s fingers.

“You’re really a fox, aren’t you? Trying to charm me like this.”

[I hate it when you talk nonsense.]

“I don’t mind it when you talk nonsense, though. Ouch!”

Yeohwi winced as Ryung’s teeth sank into his hand. Blood began to spill as Ryung bit down harder than usual, and Yeohwi looked at him in shock.

“Ryung, I’m the patient here. While the young master avoids me, he still worries about me, doing my tasks for me. But how can someone from the same clan…?”

Ryung, not wanting to hear more, immediately jumped out of Yeohwi’s arms and disappeared over the fence. Yeohwi let out a hollow laugh, watching Ryung’s cold back fade away.

The sound of Ryung’s grumbling, about his fangs growing sharper, echoed sadly in the air.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Cheon Ryubeom was walking around the house. He was searching for more places to repair, but after days of thorough inspections, there was no more work to do. As he became anxious over the lack of things to fix, Yeohwi followed behind him.

“Young master, I think we’ve paid our dues by staying here. Don’t you think it’s time to head up to Mansagul? Our vacation is almost over, and we’ll be returning soon.”

Unlike before, when Yeohwi would ignore him when he fled, today he casually followed, appearing at the front or behind, almost as if predicting his movements. No matter how much Ryubeom tried to escape, he would eventually run into Yeohwi again.

Finally, Ryubeom awkwardly responded when he came face-to-face with Yeohwi.

“Uh… I heard the construction isn’t finished yet…”

“Let’s use this opportunity to try out some camouflage techniques. Isn’t that what we learned for situations like this?”

Yeohwi shrugged as if it didn’t matter whether there were workers or not. The camouflage technique was one of the first mental magic skills Ryubeom had learned. Although he hadn’t perfected it yet, it would be no problem to pass through the busy workers. Moreover, if they moved while hidden, the chances of getting caught would be even lower.

“If we have to go during the day, this is one way,” Yeohwi said brightly, causing Ryubeom’s gaze to wander.

“…The ground has become quite unstable because of the storm, and the construction seems to be taking longer. Won’t it be dangerous to go now? We should be cautious…”

“Hmm, wouldn’t that make it all the more urgent to go now? Just a single storm from Imugi caused so much damage, and if the same thing happens again, there could be casualties.”

The statement effectively made Ryubeom pause. Although the path might be dangerous, it wasn’t much of an obstacle for a tiger. However, if they delayed again and another storm caused a landslide, it would be a huge problem. His sense of responsibility as a tiger clan member weighed heavily on him.

Ryubeom nodded seriously with a worried expression, and Yeohwi smiled brightly.

“So, shall we go together now?”

Yeohwi suddenly leaned closer and asked, causing Ryubeom to flinch in surprise. He knew Yeohwi liked to speak at close range, but ever since that day, he had been avoiding such proximity, making this closeness awkward. Ryubeom quickly turned his head and fumbled out a response.

“W-We’ll go, but let’s assess the situation first. Later…”

However, his attempt to move sideways was immediately blocked. Yeohwi casually leaned against the nearby wall, effectively cutting off his path.

“Why do you keep running away from me like this…”

“…”

“You said you didn’t remember that day, but if you keep avoiding me like this, it feels like you’re lying, doesn’t it?”

Yeohwi tilted his head and asked softly, and Ryubeom only twitched his lips in response.

The first thing Ryubeom had promised himself after the incident was to act as if nothing happened. In fact, the events of that night had become hazy, like a clouded memory. Once he locked eyes with those red irises, everything rational had been swept away, and now only fragments of that time remained.

If he overreacted, it would seem strange, so he thought he could just continue as usual, as he had after that first kiss. He tried to behave as though it was a “simple accident,” but the moment he faced Yeohwi, all that resolve crumbled.

Ryubeom couldn’t remember what exactly went through his mind that night, but the “sensations” he felt were painfully clear in his memory. And he knew exactly who had caused them. The memory left a strong imprint on his body.

Because of this, whenever he got even a little close to Yeohwi, his body reacted unconsciously. His breath would become erratic, his heart would race. He’d try to steady himself with deep breaths, but he still found himself avoiding Yeohwi, fearing that he might get caught.

Ryubeom hated this situation, biting his lip in frustration. Maybe it would be better to face it head-on. Avoiding it only made the formless fear grow larger. Yeohwi was also acting as though nothing had happened, so he should just follow his lead and do the same.

When Ryubeom made his silent resolution, Yeohwi suddenly spoke.

“People around here are starting to think something’s off because you keep avoiding me. Do you know what I’m hearing?”

“…What? What are they saying?”

“They say, whatever happened that day, you should just tell me it’s fine and we should reconcile quickly. That we should get along again…”

His tone was full of indignation. Ryubeom had helped reinforce the orchard and even assisted with repairs around the house, so everyone here was on his side. They were essentially forcing Yeohwi to forgive him.

“They told me not to brush it off as if nothing happened, and that I should just properly acknowledge it and say it’s okay. Hmm, when I think about it, it actually makes sense.”

“…Huh?”

“So, if we’re going to go over what happened that day, one by one…”

Ryubeom’s face turned pale. His lips trembled, and his eyes were full of desperation, silently pleading for Yeohwi not to continue.

Seeing his reaction, Yeohwi’s expression softened as he smiled sweetly.

“Hm, I don’t remember either. It really seems like nothing happened. But if you keep avoiding me, I might have to start remembering exactly what happened that day…”

“No! I mean, let’s go after breakfast. We’ll head out to search after the morning, I had planned to say that.”

The rain from earlier had made the ground muddy, so he suggested waiting until it dried a bit. This rain had been forecast, and it was only a light drizzle that would stop in an hour or so. Yeohwi recognized that this was just a last-ditch excuse to delay, but he nodded with an understanding look.

However, Ryubeom’s last hesitation was swiftly shattered.

“Boom boom! Big news! Major scoop!”

Saerok, who had been to the neighbor’s house, rushed toward Ryubeom, shouting even before she opened the gate. Ryubeom looked at her in confusion, wondering what could be so urgent.

“You know the fence work on the mountain? It turns out it’s been taking longer because they found bones!”

“…Bones?”

“Human bones! That’s right, skeletons! Human remains!”

Ryubeom’s face stiffened. A skeleton had been found near Mansagul, and police had joined in to continue the search, uncovering over ten skeletons already. One of them seemed to have been dead for less than a year.

With a grave expression, Ryubeom asked seriously.

“Are they people who’ve gone missing in the mountains?”

The road to Mansagul was treacherous, so it could just be an accident. But at this question, Saerok, with a fearful expression, shook her head.

“No, not a single one.”