The Saint Wants to Rest - vanish into fiction

“…Get away from my brother right now.”

The reason that had held firm even before the lethal demonic energy of an S-grade Gate finally snapped for Choi Jae-heon. The air in the hospital room grew heavy as a sinister murderous intent erupted from his entire body. At the same time, Choi Jae-heon kicked off the floor and moved.

However, the reaction from Vermouth, who had once pacified the continent of Lancia and boasted atrocious martial prowess, was infinitely relaxed. While lightly lifting the plate of apples he had held out to Ian with one hand, he avoided Choi Jae-heon’s approach with elegant footwork.

“Mr. Choi Jae-heon. No matter how angry you are, this is a hospital room by name. Lord Ian needs to rest, so please withdraw your killing intent.”

“Do not let my name cross those lips of yours so carelessly.”

Choi Jae-heon growled lowly and tried to grab him by the collar, but Vermouth once again retreated as light as a feather, maintaining an ironclad defense of Ian’s bedside.

“In my heart, it has long been since I made a vow of eternal marriage with Lord Ian. According to the laws of Lancia, we are already soul partners.”

Ian watched the two with vacant eyes, wondering when on earth he had learned the phrase ‘eternal marriage.’

“Stop talking nonsense. It will never happen without my permission. You are nothing more than a dangerous stranger.”

Choi Jae-heon’s cold rage and Vermouth’s arrogant composure clashed tensely in the air. Watching this suffocating battle of nerves, Ian pressed a finger to his throbbing temple.

It was then that the door to the hospital room opened like a savior.

“Puhahahaha! Hey, Choi Jae-heon! Did you see the real-time trends? ‘Choi Jae-heon’s back of the neck’ is the fourth most searched term, you crazy bastard!”

Hong Seo-yun walked through the door, laughing so hard he could barely breathe while looking at his smartphone screen. Clutching his stomach, he looked ready to shed tears from the laughter. Choi Jae-heon glared at Hong Seo-yun with a lethal gaze, but he didn’t care and began to taunt Vermouth.

“Hey, Vermouth. I knew something was up ever since you started that ‘person I love’ business on the news. But our Ian’s standards are just too low. To be entangled with a guy like you. Isn’t that a national loss?”

“That should be none of your concern.”

“None of my concern! He’s my friend’s brother! Hey, Choi Jae-heon. If this guy makes a fuss about picking a wedding hall, tell me. I’ll turn that wedding hall into a sea of fire.”

Hong Seo-yun stood beside Choi Jae-heon with a spiteful smile. Though he spoke with a laugh, his eyes held a clear hostility toward Vermouth. The condition of the man who entered behind him was not much different. He was simply too exhausted to react as much as Hong Seo-yun.

“…Everyone, please be quiet. I feel like I’m actually going to die from overwork.”

It was Yoon Tae-gyeom. The deep dark circles under his eyes had slid all the way down to his cheeks.

“Is something wrong?”

At Ian’s question, Yoon Tae-gyeom glared at Vermouth with bloodshot eyes.

“Do you remember when that person dropped a public love confession to the nation on the news? At that time, we thought things would settle down since he didn’t reveal who it was, but because he hugged you so openly at the S-grade Gate site, people who witnessed it started digging up the past.”

Yoon Tae-gyeom sighed and continued.

“Because the netizens noticed everything, the phones at Stigma headquarters and the Management Bureau are both ringing off the hook. Foreign correspondents, guys from other guilds, even the Blue House is calling. I had already played the media before, saying you were just business partners, so how am I supposed to fix this situation now!”

His low voice gradually rose until it became a blood-curdling scream. Hearing that, Hong Seo-yun added with a laugh.

“What is there to fix? Stigma should just officially deny it by saying, ‘Our Healer has nothing to do with a blonde delinquent like that.'”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

Choi Jae-heon drew a firm line, but Vermouth tilted his head nonchalantly.

“Regrettably, the public has already noticed the truth. Is there any reason to hide it? This is a good opportunity to officially establish that I am Lord Ian’s partner…”

“Safety-wise, you are the most dangerous one.”

Choi Jae-heon and Hong Seo-yun glared at Vermouth simultaneously. Ian felt literally drained of energy from the noise and pressure emitted by the four men.

‘…I really just want to rest.’

Ian bit his lip at this absurd farce that had begun the moment he opened his eyes. To escape this tiring situation, he carefully pulled back the blanket. The moment Ian, who was trying to sneak to the bathroom, stepped onto the cold hospital floor.

“Uh…?”

Ian’s two legs gave way like a deflated balloon.

“Aah!”