CH 8

Five days earlier, Han Cha-soo had just been brought to Yubaek Hospital and put on a ventilator.

That day, Baek-dam received the phone call he had been waiting for for almost two years. It was from his only loving brother.

“Sun-ah, what’s going on?”

The hand that held the receiver trembled with excitement.

It had been two years since I’d decided I couldn’t take it anymore and ran away from home to join the Heavenly Spirit Guild.

Baek-dam breathed heavily, eager to finally have his brother back in his arms.

“Are you trying to come back home? Our Sun-yi, you just realized that you’re going through a lot when you leave home. Don’t worry, we’ve been waiting for our line. The password remains the same…”

But the words that rang in his eardrums were something else entirely.

-heueueuk, hyooong. Shit, I can’t believe I have to call you with my hand, sobs.

“…Sun-ah?”

-You… come to Yubaek Hospital immediately.

Baek-sun declared to Baek-dam in a stern voice, even though he was whimpering.

-Please come over right now, save someone’s life and help me cancel his resignation.

“What, you’re calling me crying over some other bastard?”

-You’re coming or you aren’t!

He even yelled at him in a cute way. Baek-dam wondered what kind of bastard made him cry, but he decided to keep his head down.

You can’t be an older brother and beat your younger brother.

That’s how Baek-dam, the vice guild leader of Philoso, the country’s third-largest guild, and one of only five S-class healers in the world, came to heal Han Cha-soo.

“…That’s how it happened, so thank you, Han Chasoo-ssi.”

Baek-dam placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head. His fine hair waved behind him.

“If Han Chae-soo wasn’t in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any moment, Sun-yi wouldn’t have called me.”

“…Is that so?”

Swallowing his embarrassment, Han Cha-soo looked at the man in front of him.

‘This must be the man that Baek-sun really didn’t want to contact.’

Despite the holy atmosphere, the man’s behaviour was quite harsh.

But at least he’s the one who cured me, so I should thank him. Even if it was completely unnecessary.

Han Cha-soo, his head bowed, spoke quietly.

“Thank you for your help. By the way, I heard that Baek-sun had an older brother, so that must be you.”

“Sun-yi must have told you a lot about me?”

Baek-dam’s eyes twinkled, and he clapped his hands lightly.

It was an ordinary gesture, but his limbs were long and supple, exuding grace.

“You didn’t even pretend to know me, so I thought it was a waste of time, but you’re cute. He must have missed me a lot, talking about me to someone he doesn’t even know.”

He’s the type to use his first impression to make a point. Han Cha-soo sighed inwardly. I’ll have to send him back after a quick chat.

Han Chae-soo, who had been arguing with Baek-dam, suddenly stiffened. Baek-dam had taken a moment to straighten his sleeves in the middle of their conversation.

“Han Chasoo-ssi?”

Baek-dam’s delicate eyelashes fluttered around his cold grey eyes.

He did not answer my call but stared intently into the distance.

Baek-dam, who followed his gaze, let out an exclaimed.

What caught his attention was the bracelet he always wore.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it? I shared it with Sun-yi.”

Baek-dam secretly felt better and rolled up his sleeves.

“…Is it made from dungeon byproducts?”

“You have a better eye than I thought. Yes, I made it from something that doesn’t wear out as easily, since it’s in a position you have to use it a lot.”

I held up my arm for a better look at the bracelet.

The bracelet was a silvery-white snake twisting around a hard, thick wrist.

Biting its tail, the snake’s two eyes were set with green gemstones. Han Cha-soo frowned at the glint of the gem.

‘Strange.’

Why do I feel so out of place?

I don’t remember seeing such lavish trinkets in my original world. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared.

It was then that a buried memory hit Han Chas-soo hard in the back of the head.

[A horrible scream echoed through the dank cave.

“Aaaah!”

It belonged to Han Cha-soo.

Baek-dam slowly walked towards the inside of the cave.

“You’re here earlier than I expected.”

“That’s so I can watch that thing’s agonised expression longer.”

“…Heal it.”

Throwing down the leg he was holding, Jung Yiheon walked out of the cave.

“Don’t come, don’t come, don’t come, don’t come!”

Han Cha-soo’s cries did not deter Baek-dam.

“I’ll treat you again today, Han Cha-soo, perfectly, without a single sore spot.”

That way, the pain would last a little longer.

A silvery-white snake glowed its green eyes at Baek-dam’s wrist as he slowly raised his arm]

“Damn.”

Han Chae-soo swallowed hard. For some reason, this was getting on his nerves.

Baek-dam, an S-class healer. He was one of the people who participated in torturing Han Chae-soo in the original.

The reason was the same as Jung Yiheon’s. His brother died in the Frostgiant Dungeon because of Han Chasoo.

‘A healer out of nowhere. Yeah, that was Baek-sun.’

For some reason, I felt uncomfortable talking to Baek-sun that day!

There was someone else nearby to torture him.

‘Thank God Baek-sun is alive.’

If I hadn’t pushed him away, I don’t know how things would have turned out.

‘This one took advantage of the fact that he was a healer, tearing and reattaching limbs.’

Han Cha-soo shivered involuntarily as a cold sweat ran down his spine.

Oh, it’s so hard to be a villain.

‘I can’t wait to get out of here.’

“Han Chasoo-ssi?”

Han Cha-soo shuddered, and Baek-dam’s eyes widened.

“Are you unwell?”

He might not be a good speaker, but he was a healer by profession, and his face was tinged with worry as he approached.

“Even if I were a healer-.”

“No, no, no.”

A thud.

Han Cha-soo pulled away, violently rejecting Baek-dam’s consideration.

It was because the original words came back to his face as he stalked away.

[I’m the only one here who worries about you. You’re thankful, right?]

His perverted behaviour as he watched Han Cha-soo being tortured by Jung Yi-heon with a bright smile.

“It’s okay, I just got a sudden cold wind.”

“Well, you better be careful.”

Baek-dam clicked his tongue and closed the window himself.

“After all, I saved your life.”

“…”

Just a moment ago, I thought of him as the kind of guy who just talks without thinking.

Now his words gave me goosebumps.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Han Cha-soo spoke as if he were swallowing.

“You’re right. Recover quickly… and I need to be discharged from the hospital.”

I don’t want anything more to do with an arsehole like you.

Han Cha-soo’s worries were perfectly natural.

Baek-dam’s love for his sister was unquestionable.

In other words, he wanted to repay the favour of saving his brother’s life.

‘It must have been a current novel I read….’

I don’t know why each character has such a deep brotherly bond.

Han Cha-soo swallowed a sigh, and Baek-dam shook his head.

“You’re talking about leaving the hospital already?”

“I can’t live in a hospital forever, can I?”

Han Cha-soo said, averting his gaze.

“I can’t keep bothering the guild.”

“Oh, somehow, Sun-yi said something about leaving.”

”Mr Ringworm has already told you about that.”

“Yeah, he was crying about what he’d do if you left and disappeared. He was so upset about it…. Hmm.”

Baek-dam’s voice lowered as he muttered to himself.

After a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed Han Cha-soo’s hand warmly.

Han Cha-soo was about to slap him when he was surprised by the coolness of his body.

“Then why don’t you come to my guild?”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll be good to you.”

Baek-dam smiled wryly and folded his eyes in a mesmerizing manner.

“Since your body is broken anyway, wouldn’t it be better to be around an S-class healer if possible?”

Han Cha-soo was sincerely regretful.

Don’t put up with it, just punch him.

“Think about it!”

Baek-dam is persistent. Han Cha-soo finally made peace by saying that he should go to sleep.

“Haa….”

Looking out the window, the sun was already setting.

Han Cha-soo ran a hand through his greasy hair and lay down on the bed.

He felt drained, as if his energy had been stolen.

The nurse would be back in a few minutes with food.

Even as he reminded himself that he shouldn’t skip meals, Han Cha-soo slowly closed his eyes.

“…”

His steady breathing echoed through the empty hospital room.

Six days into his possession of a ticking time bomb of a villain.

For the first time in his life, Han Cha-soo drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Life in the hospital was fine.

One of the first things that won him over was the food.

The meals, served at three different times, were very plentiful and varied.

The daily changing menu showed a careful attention to nutrients and calories.

This kept my mouth and eyes happy.

“Not bad, huh?”

It was a little ridiculous to be treated like a sugar doll that could break at any moment, but it was worth it.

The bedding was replaced with something much fluffier than the first day, so it was easier to roll around in.

‘If I ask you where you bought this, will you tell me?

Han Cha-soo thought as he flattened the mattress.

“Hyung, what are you doing?”

Baek-sun, a runaway adult, opened the door and walked in.