The Saint Wants to Rest - vanish into fiction

“Mr. Ian.”

Vermouth called out to Ian with a pale face. Even though cold sweat was pouring down like rain, Vermouth’s violet eyes looking at him were strangely excited.

“Your hands are warm.”

“Shut up. Don’t move your mouth when you don’t even have the strength.”

“Are you worrying about me? If so, being injured like this isn’t so bad.”

Ian’s eyebrows twitched.

How could such words come out in this situation? He wanted to give him a flick on the forehead, but he couldn’t do that to a patient. While Ian’s heart was burning with anxiety, the person involved acted as leisurely as someone out on a picnic. Ian tried his best not to get angry and spoke in a low voice.

“Are you truly crazy? Your arm was severed. Aren’t you worried that even the treatment isn’t working properly right now? Do you not know what that means?”

“I know.”

Vermouth answered calmly.

“However, if it is for the Saint, I could even offer up my heart. So, if it is just a single arm, isn’t that quite a bargain? As long as you are safe, I do not mind if all my limbs are cut off.”

There was no lie in Vermouth’s words. And that made Ian even angrier. This man sometimes thought of his own body as nothing more than a tool that could be discarded at any time. This was especially true when it came to protecting Ian.

That blind and twisted devotion weighed heavily on Ian’s chest.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Your body is yours. Don’t handle it so carelessly. Do you think I’ll be happy if you get hurt?”

Ian growled, letting his anger show plainly. However, Vermouth seemed delighted even by that.

“Regarding what happened earlier, just wait until you are fully healed. I truly won’t let you off easy then!”

“Haha. I am quite looking forward to that. I wonder what kind of punishment you will give me.”

Vermouth laughed, his eyes curving into crescents as if he were receiving Ian’s threats as a reward. Ian let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Truly, he was an opponent with whom words did not work.

While the conversation went back and forth, blue veins popped out on the back of the hand of Choi Jae-heon, who was holding the steering wheel. The leather handle let out a screeching sound.

When viewed through the rearview mirror, the relationship between the two seemed quite close. Choi Jae-heon found that unbearably bothersome. The exchange of all those emotions: Ian getting angry at Vermouth, worrying, and feeling sorry: felt like a complete sense of alienation to Choi Jae-heon.

Clearly, he felt grateful that his younger brother was saved thanks to Vermouth. Logically, he thought it was a very fortunate thing, but his heart did not feel the same. He didn’t know why his insides were so twisted. It felt as if someone was searing his body with fire. He felt that he should have been the one protecting Ian and lying there instead.

He even went as far as to think that.

“…We’re here.”

Choi Jae-heon said in a stiff, hardened voice.

The place they arrived at was a luxury house on the outskirts of Chuncheon that Hong Seo-yun had provided. Perhaps because it was a house obtained with great care, the atmosphere was special starting from the entrance.

“We’ve arrived! Stay here for the time being. I’ve set up various devices just in case, so it will be safe. Plus, there’s a treatment room inside.”

Hong Seo-yun added an explanation while giving them the front door password.

Following that, Choi Jae-heon spoke while setting down the luggage.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Between friends! Well then, I’ll be going now, so keep a good watch on that guy.”

“What about you?”

“Well, I have to go pick up the Buffer.”

“You can just tell him to come down.”

“No, he’s a precious person, so how can I let him travel alone? Well then, I’m off!”

He made a plausible excuse, but no matter how one looked at it, it seemed like he was running away. It appeared he was avoiding the spot in case Choi Jae-heon nagged him about hiding Ian for a week. Because of that, Ian had even ended up in danger. To speak of the exact culprit, it was the sudden Gate, but reason tends to disappear when it comes to the person one likes.

Afterward, as Hong Seo-yun disappeared to settle the incident, a strange and uncomfortable living arrangement for the three people began.

With Choi Jae-heon’s help, Ian laid Vermouth down on the master bedroom bed. Then, Choi Jae-heon set up an IV drip for him.

“Hyung, don’t you lack a medical license?”

“Awakened individuals are required to receive training in basic medical treatment. Since ordinary people cannot enter inside a Gate.”

“I see.”

However, was it an illusion that the touch of the hand piercing the needle seemed to have personal feelings involved? Although he succeeded on the first try, it looked quite painful. Ian helped with the other treatments. He couldn’t set up an IV, but his touch in caring for the patient looked quite familiar.