IGWNI Ch 22
by soapaHe ran right up and threw his arms around the beast’s neck. Burying his face in the neck of the large beast, which was too big to be fully embraced even with both arms spread wide, Yoon Jaewoo burst into tears.
“Hyuung, hyung, …Jinsu hyung.”
He is comforted by the soft fur and warmth. That was the greatest virtue an animal possessed.
Yoon Jaewoo buried his face in the beast’s fur and sniffled for a long time. The beast, with the tray still in its mouth, wore a very troubled expression.
“Hyung, Jinsu hyung. …Why didn’t you come all this time.”
Yoon Jaewoo poured out to the beast the words he couldn’t say to anyone.
“I missed you. Where have you been all this time.”
The beast let out a small sigh. There was no way to tell him that he had been by his side all along.
After Yoon Jaewoo hugged the beast with force in his hands, he raised his head. The beast set down the tray it had been holding in its mouth on the floor. On the tray was a neat arrangement of only the foods Yoon Jaewoo liked. And next to it, a single flower was placed. It was the same flower Yoon Jaewoo had offered to Eustace and gotten his cheek slapped for. Seeing that flower for no reason, Yoon Jaewoo’s emotions welled up once more.
“Jinsu hyung. Thank you. Really, …you’re the only one who takes care of me, Jinsu hyung. Everyone here is just a bad guy.”
Yoon Jaewoo brought the flower to the front of the beast’s nose and whispered, thank you, once more.
The heart of Eustace, in the form of the beast Lot, watching that scene, was nothing short of troubled.
That flower was something Eustace had also placed there when he opened the bathroom door and left the tray inside.
Back then, that brat didn’t even look at the flower or anything, just pushed it out and yelled that he wouldn’t eat, so what’s all this now?
What a naughty thing.
“Jinsu hyung is the best. That bastard Eustace, …is he outside?”
About to curse, Yoon Jaewoo pokes his head out of the bathroom door. After confirming that no one was outside, Yoon Jaewoo began to ramble on about this and that at ease.
“I really hate him. Really, who does he think he is, hitting someone.”
The beast’s gaze lingered near Yoon Jaewoo’s cheek. The handprint was still faintly red.
“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Yoon Jaewoo answers with a bright smile. The beast’s expression, seeing that, hardened strangely.
Never, not once, had the Ramia smiled in such a way in front of Eustace.
“It’s true. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
When the beast’s eyes darkened, Yoon Jaewoo, thinking it was probably worried about him, turned his head this way and smiled earnestly.
You foolish thing.
Eustace gently pushed Yoon Jaewoo’s face away with his front paw. Yoon Jaewoo laughs, hehe, and happily takes the front paw in his hands. He has the innocent face of a child who has just gotten a toy.
The beast pushed the tray with its nose and brought it in front of Yoon Jaewoo. Yoon Jaewoo said, “Okay,” and plopped down on the floor to start his meal. He picked up a fruit, broke it in half, and offered it to the front of the beast. He didn’t really feel like eating it, but knowing that Yoon Jaewoo would insist until the other party ate, the beast opened its mouth and swallowed the fruit.
“Where are you sleeping today? Huh? Can’t you sleep here and go? I’ll talk to Eustace for you.”
While eating the food on the tray, Yoon Jaewoo excitedly chattered on about this and that. Eustace had been planning to watch the Ramia eat and leave appropriately, but it seemed he would be stuck here in this state for the night.
“Eustace might be a little surprised to see you, but… surely he won’t kick you out. Right. Let’s sleep together here.”
Yoon Jaewoo said, pointing to the bathtub. The bathtub was large enough for three or four adult men to fit in comfortably.
“If he kicks us out, let’s sleep over there. That’ll work.”
Yoon Jaewoo’s cheeks were flushed red as he said that.
“Huh? Let’s do that. You haven’t slept with me lately. Let’s sleep together.”
Yoon Jaewoo pleaded, holding onto the beast’s tail.
“Let’s sleep together. Jinsu hyuuung.”
The beast’s complexion clouds over as it listens to those words.
You indecent thing.
Does this young one truly not know what the words ‘let’s sleep together’ mean.
“Let’s sleep together. With me…!”
Yoon Jaewoo’s body collapsed onto the bathroom floor. The beast’s large front paw pressed down on his body as it brought its face very close.
A low growl echoed in the bathroom. Since he had had a similar experience before, Yoon Jaewoo was not as surprised as the last time.
…But it’s still scary.
It seemed that if he were to be accidentally bitten by those pure white, sharp teeth that were revealed every time it growled, he would have to bid farewell to a part of his body on the spot.
As Yoon Jaewoo lay there just blinking his eyes, the beast stopped growling. The large front paw that had been pressing down on his body moved away. Yoon Jaewoo, who had been cautiously observing for a moment, tried to get up but grimaced, saying, “Aya.”
A small, protruding stone was visible on the bathroom floor. It seemed he had hit his back on the stone when he fell. The beast’s mouth hardened.
“Why did that have to be there of all places. …Aigu, damn it. I think the skin on my back peeled off.”
Yoon Jaewoo recalled the image of Eustace yelling at him, telling him never to get hurt. He was suddenly afraid that he might be picked on for this.
“Jinsu hyung, take a look at my back.”
Yoon Jaewoo began to take off the clothes he was wearing. Then he flipped his clothes up and exposed his bare skin in front of the beast.
“Look at my back. Is it bleeding? It shouldn’t be bleeding…”
The beast sighed and examined Yoon Jaewoo’s back. The skin was scraped a little, leaving a red wound, but no blood was seeping out. It was a relief.
“Is it bleeding?”
Yoon Jaewoo asked. The beast shook its head.
“That’s a relief.”
The corners of Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes curve with a smile. It was a bright and pretty smile, like the moon hanging in the sky.
The beast stared blankly at the wound on Yoon Jaewoo’s back for a moment, then licked his back with its tongue.
“…Did you just, …lick it?”
Yoon Jaewoo asks, his eyes wide open.
Usually, canids lick bodies as a sign of affection or when they are in a good mood, but Jinsu hyung had never, not once, done such a thing. The beast had acted so aloof that it made one wonder if it even had a tongue. But now, it had licked his wound.
“Did you really… lick it?”
As if in answer, the beast licked Yoon Jaewoo with its tongue. The red wound began to heal. It seemed it would completely disappear if licked a few more times.
“Uhahaha, it tickles…”
Yoon Jaewoo collapsed onto the bathroom floor, laughing as if he would have a fit. He laughed so much that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. The beast pressed down on Yoon Jaewoo’s back with its front paw and licked the wound again with its tongue.
“Uhaha, w-wait, uhaha…, i-it tickles…”
He laughed, his body trembling every time the tongue touched him. The corners of the beast’s mouth also relax slightly.
Perhaps because he was young, the Ramia laughed often.
“Uhaha, ah…, it tickles, uhaha.”
He had intended to do it only a few times, but as the laughter didn’t stop, the beast’s playful mood also started to kick in.
“Uhaha, eut…”
When the tongue licking its way up his body reached the nape of his neck, a stifled breath escaped from Yoon Jaewoo’s mouth. However, as if he himself was not aware of it, he soon let out a laugh that sounded like rolling acorns again.
The beast, which had paused for a moment, licked Yoon Jaewoo’s body again with its tongue. This time too, as it licked up around his neck, a short, panting breath could be heard mixed with his laughter.
“Uhaha, heut…, ah, hahaha.”
The playfulness takes a turn in a different direction.
This time, the beast confines its licking exclusively to the nape of his neck. The breathing of Yoon Jaewoo, who had been laughing as if he would pass out, grew increasingly rough.
“Ah, heueut, w-wait a minute, Ji, Jinsu hyung.”
Yoon Jaewoo tried to twist his body to stop the beast, but the beast’s large front paw pressed down on his back, rendering him immobile. A tongue with small, rough protrusions swept down the nape of Yoon Jaewoo’s neck. Sharp teeth simultaneously nibbled on Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder.
“Ah, Ji, Jinsu…, ah, wait a minute, no.”
He tried to say that’s not how you do it, but it was no use. The beast sat on top of Yoon Jaewoo’s body and began to chew on Yoon Jaewoo with its mouth as if enjoying its prey.
“Eut, ah, ha, don’t…, don’t do it…”
Sharp teeth pressed down firmly on his shoulder. A thrilling sensation, teetering on the edge between pain and pleasure, makes his body tingle. Yoon Jaewoo had to flinch his body every time the beast’s teeth bit and released his shoulder.
If by any chance the beast changed its mind and put force into its jaw, Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder would surely be shattered. But the beast is only playing a prank on him. He couldn’t push it away with a serious face.
“Ah, Jinsu hyuuung…, um, heueut…, just a moment…”
The beast’s low breaths reached his ear. Yoon Jaewoo grabbed the beast’s front paw and tried to stop it somehow. But the more he did, the more the movement of the tongue licking his nape flowed in a strange direction.
“Ah, I…, heut, ha, don’t!”
Yoon Jaewoo managed to turn his head back and look up at the beast. Their eyes met. Yoon Jaewoo instinctively realized in that moment what the emotion in those blue eyes was.
“…Jinsu hyung.”
He’s aroused.
The beast’s breathing echoed even lower and rougher.
“Y-you shouldn’t do that!”
It seemed the beast was in heat. Yoon Jaewoo put strength into his arms and held on to pull his body away, but he was soon stopped by the beast’s front paws. A large, thick tongue licked Yoon Jaewoo’s face. All of it, including his lips, before he could say a word.
Surprised, Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t even think of scolding him when he heard the beast’s low sigh in his ear. At that moment, he smelled a familiar sweet scent from somewhere. Yoon Jaewoo, whose mind had already gone blank, didn’t even have the chance to think about whose scent it was the same as.
“Jinsu hyung. No matter what, you shouldn’t do this…”
The moment Yoon Jaewoo lifted his waist to get up, something hard touched between his buttocks.
“……!”
Yoon Jaewoo was horrified and looked back. The beast growled lowly and brought its face close to Yoon Jaewoo’s. Its large tail wrapped around Yoon Jaewoo’s legs. As if it wouldn’t let him go anywhere.
“Tha, um, I…, that’s not it.”
Yoon Jaewoo stuttered in fear and then gasped again, “Hik.” It had touched him even more firmly than before.
“O-of course being in heat is natural, no, I don’t mean doing it to me is natural, you’re a male and when you come of age, …eut!”
As the beast moved its body slightly, it rubbed against the space between his buttocks. Yoon Jaewoo’s face turned pale.
“I’m not a female!”
To prove that he was a male and not a female, Yoon Jaewoo fumbled with his hands and pulled open his clothes. Revealing his flat chest, Yoon Jaewoo looked up at the beast, saying, “See.” A faint smirk seemed to form on the beast’s lips.
It looked like a sneer, as if saying, who do you think doesn’t know something like that.
“See? So, Jinsu hyung, this kind of thing is for females…!”
The beast’s tongue licked Yoon Jaewoo’s exposed chest. When the rough tongue touched the nipple on his chest, Yoon Jaewoo’s face flushed bright red this time.
A hint of a smile crossed the beast’s eyes.
He didn’t have a hobby of doing such things with a young one, but he thought this might not be so bad. In any case, it would be better to do it properly once than to do that thing every morning. Whichever form it was, the imprinting would be the same, so he even had the generous thought of doing it in the form the Ramia liked.
The beast pressed down on the Ramia’s arms with its front paws. Yoon Jaewoo’s expression, pinned under the large beast, trembles pale.
“W-wait, ah, n-no…”
The beast brought its nose to Yoon Jaewoo’s face. As if to tell him to be quiet, it bared its teeth and growled in a low voice.
Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened even further in fear. His small body trembles. When it licked his face a few times with its tongue and pretended to bite with its teeth, the body pinned underneath jumps up. His expression was completely crumpled from being so tense.
It would be more appetizing if he had a more pleasant expression.
…Like this morning.
Suddenly, the image of the Ramia from this morning, clinging to him and panting for breath, came to mind. The sight of him holding onto his clothes and wrapping his legs around his waist, not knowing what to do.
The beast’s breathing grew rough. The beast bit and tore at Yoon Jaewoo’s clothes with its teeth. As the clothes were torn off at once, Yoon Jaewoo gasps, “Hik,” and flails his arms in surprise. The beast pressed down on those arms with its front paw. As it lowered its body, the space between the beast’s legs touched Yoon Jaewoo’s body.
“Ah, n-no…!”
When it rubbed slightly, the corners of Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes flushed bright red. That sight made the beast’s groin tighten. It wasn’t exactly to his taste, but it didn’t seem like there would be much trouble putting it in and coming. This much is adequate.
“Don’t, no. Jinsu hyung.”
Yoon Jaewoo, pinned underneath, says, holding onto the beast’s front paw. The beast pretended not to hear and moved its body slowly. It grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s ankle with its tail and spread them apart. It raised the claws on its hind legs to pull down his pants. Yoon Jaewoo yelled, “Don’t,” and swung his arm. Due to being caught off guard, the elbow Yoon Jaewoo swung struck the beast’s face. The beast let out a growl, “Krrreung,” and retreated. Then, the tears that had been held back poured out of Yoon Jaewoo’s large eyes.
“Heuk… eu, eut.”
Blood trickled from his bitten lip. When the beast, surprised, tried to lick the blood away with its tongue, Yoon Jaewoo avoids its face. It was the first time. The first time the Ramia had avoided the beast’s approach.
“Euk, heu, euk.”
Whether from a sense of injustice or shame, Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulders trembled.
The beast brought its head next to Yoon Jaewoo’s face again. At that, Yoon Jaewoo flinched in surprise and stiffened his body. The beast could clearly read the emotion in those eyes.
The Ramia was genuinely afraid of the beast.
The beast got off of Yoon Jaewoo’s body. The sound of a large front paw stepping on the bathroom floor, thud, was heard. Yoon Jaewoo seemed so surprised that he didn’t even notice the beast had gotten off him.
After covering Yoon Jaewoo’s trembling body with the tattered clothes, the beast turned its body.
“Jinsu hyung!”
Yoon Jaewoo snatched the tail of the beast that was about to leave the bathroom from behind. Clear eyes, brimming with tears, call out to the beast.
“Don’t go. …Don’t go, stay here.”
The young one always held on like this. Asking him to stay by his side, not to go, to protect him. Even while being scared, he always says that. Even now, the hand holding the tail was trembling.
The beast’s gaze shifts from the hand holding its tail to Yoon Jaewoo’s face. Yoon Jaewoo says, don’t go, one more time.
He wanted to ask.
What is it that you are so afraid of. When I am always right next to you.
“Jinsu hyung. Don’t go.”
The mood was broken.
The beast no longer felt the desire to do it. Since that young one disliked it so much, he had no intention of forcing it. That being said, he didn’t want to see him crying like that either. That’s why he had tried to give him space.
“It’s… okay. It’s okay.”
Yoon Jaewoo says, stroking the beast’s tail with his other hand.
What does he mean, it’s okay. When he’s so pale and crying his eyes out.
“…That’s how males are. I-it was just sudden, so it’s okay. It’s because you’re all grown up too.”
Yoon Jaewoo, while trembling in fear, explained the situation to the beast.
“So, the fact that you suddenly did that isn’t a bad thing, it’s natural, but that doesn’t mean doing it to me is natural, …it’s okay. It’s not your fault. Jinsu hyung.”
He diligently continued his explanation with a face that hadn’t even dried its tears.
“So, …I was just a little surprised, so… don’t go.”
The conclusion was a single phrase, don’t go.
The beast, after pondering for a moment with narrowed eyes, turned its body again. When it tried to approach his side, it saw Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder flinch very slightly, and the beast took a step back and sat on the floor.
Yoon Jaewoo doesn’t particularly approach this way from his spot either. After awkwardly fiddling with the tail, Yoon Jaewoo, as if he had made a decision, opened his mouth.
“Jinsu hyung. …You’re not angry, are you?”
The beast raised its head with a what-are-you-talking-about expression.
“Does where you got hit hurt?”
Yoon Jaewoo carefully reached out his hand and examined the area around the beast’s snout where he had been hit by the elbow. Fortunately, no wound was visible.
“That’s a relief.”
Yoon Jaewoo muttered that, genuinely relieved.
Eustace couldn’t understand what he meant by ‘that’s a relief’. He wasn’t of a build to be injured by such a pathetic punch, and even if he were injured, the wound would disappear after he exerted his power once. The other party was not unaware of that fact, yet Yoon Jaewoo repeatedly said so.
“It’s a relief. That you’re not hurt…”
Yoon Jaewoo gently caressed the area around the beast’s snout with his palm. The hand of Yoon Jaewoo stroking the beast’s fur was trembling slightly. The beast stayed still, letting Yoon Jaewoo touch it as he pleased. In the meantime, Yoon Jaewoo’s trembling also slowly subsided.
“Sleep here and go.”
Yoon Jaewoo says in a voice mixed with a hint of childish pleading, holding onto the tail. The beast nodded its head slightly as if to say it understood. Since he couldn’t take the beast to the bed without Eustace’s permission, Yoon Jaewoo lay down on the bathroom floor. The beast wrapped its tail around Yoon Jaewoo’s body.
I’ll have to speak well when Eustace comes. What if he throws a fit about a beast sleeping in the same room with his prickly personality.
Yoon Jaewoo, while burying his face in the tail and worrying about this and that, suddenly met the eyes of the beast looking down at him. Noticing the beast’s slightly worried demeanor, Yoon Jaewoo gave a slight smile.
“It’s okay. …I’ll win against that bastard Eustace.”
The beast’s tail momentarily tensed. Yoon Jaewoo rested his head on the fluffy, soft tail and said once more with emphasis, “It’s okay, I’ll win.”
He was an opponent he didn’t even dare to think of challenging, but in front of Jinsu hyung, Yoon Jaewoo’s honest feeling was that he wanted to act big.
“So, we just have to lock the door here.”
Although the conclusion is peculiar, Yoon Jaewoo said so and hugged the tail.
Damn brat.
The beast, looking at Yoon Jaewoo with a sigh in its eyes, gathered its front paws and rested its head on them.
Yoon Jaewoo, who had been glancing anxiously at the door, soon fell asleep, breathing evenly.
Another trying day was coming to a close.
“Eueung…”
Yoon Jaewoo wriggled his body toward a warm place. Something cozy and warm covered his body. It is a pleasant warmth.
A smile appears on Yoon Jaewoo’s lips as he remembers the being that was next to him before he fell asleep. The thought of stroking the soft, glossy, white fur from the morning makes him smile automatically.
Yoon Jaewoo stretched out his hand and embraced the warmth covering his body. He moved his hand for a long time, even in his sleep, trying to find the tail, his favorite part of Jinsu hyung’s body. However, no matter how much he fumbled, the bushy tail did not come into his hand.
“…Hm?”
Even in his sleep, Yoon Jaewoo instinctively felt that something was strange. This isn’t it, it doesn’t feel like this, it should be softer and fluffier, more pliable, …this isn’t it.
With difficulty, Yoon Jaewoo opened his eyes that would not open and examined what was next to him. Through his narrow vision, he could faintly see something white. Yoon Jaewoo stretched out his hand and snatched it.
Ah, it’s soft. Yes, it’s soft and cool like this, and it seems to have a refreshing watermelon scent…?
Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes flew open.
Yoon Jaewoo realized that he had not only wrapped Eustace’s hair around his hand but had also put it in his mouth.
“Eek!”
Startled, Yoon Jaewoo threw his body back as far as he could. Woken by the movement, Eustace frowns and stretches out his arm.
Thinking he was about to get hit, Yoon Jaewoo reflexively dodged the hand. Yoon Jaewoo’s body, which had been sitting on the edge of the bed, tilted and leaned downward.
I’m falling.
The center of his body was thrown sharply backward. He squeezed his eyes shut in preparation for the coming impact. However, even after a long while, he felt no impact on his head or back.
“……?”
「You foolish thing.」
Eustace clicked his tongue, looking at Yoon Jaewoo while still lying down. Yoon Jaewoo realized that what was holding his arm was Eustace’s hair. After pulling Yoon Jaewoo’s body up onto the bed, Eustace’s hair returned to its original state. Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly at the sight of the soft, silver hair moving with a whoosh, as if it were alive.
…I want to touch it.
At the thought that suddenly came to him, Yoon Jaewoo quickly shook his head.
It’s because I’m not fully awake. Let’s get a grip.
As he slapped his face with his palms, Eustace gave Yoon Jaewoo a look as if to say, what are you doing.
“…I’m not fully awake.”
「So it seems.」
Eustace pulls Yoon Jaewoo’s arm and holds him in his embrace again. Startled, Yoon Jaewoo flinches and stiffens his body.
「You can sleep more.」
“…I’m awake.”
Thanks to that, his sleepiness completely vanished. Eustace says, “Is that so?” and lowers his head. As the piercingly blue eyes look down at him blankly, Yoon Jaewoo’s face 괜스레 grows hot.
“When did you come?”
「I was here the whole time.」
“…Yes.”
It seemed he had probably come when he was falling asleep. But when did I get onto the bed? I was definitely in the bathroom….
“Jin…”
Yoon Jaewoo jumped off the bed without even giving Eustace a chance to grab him. The inside of the bathroom was empty.
“Where did he go?”
He checked to see if he was perhaps curled up in the bathtub, but there was no sign of Jinsu hyung. Yoon Jaewoo scratched his head and returned to the bed.
Eustace had gotten up from his spot and was tidying up the bed. He remembered reading in an etiquette book he had only read a few pages of that tidying the bed was the Maryan’s duty.
“I’ll do it.”
Although he wasn’t a real Maryan, his title was Maryan, so Yoon Jaewoo stepped up, saying he would do it.
「It’s done.」
When Eustace gestured with his eyes, the sheets on the bed were pulled taut, and the bedding neatly found its proper place.
…The servants’ salaries would be paid from taxes, so couldn’t they halve the number of servants for the sake of the nation’s finances.
“Um, have you by any chance seen a white and big dog, no, it looks like a wolf, but a very cute and kind animal? Its fur is soft and its front paws are thick, and it’s very cute. It understands words well too.”
Yoon Jaewoo described Jinsu hyung using the best embellishments he could think of, lest Eustace harbor a bad prejudice against Jinsu hyung.
Eustace just glanced at Yoon Jaewoo once and entered the bathroom without any answer.
“Does that mean he hasn’t seen him.”
Yoon Jaewoo scratched the back of his head and thought it would be better not to talk about Jinsu hyung. It was obvious without seeing it how much of a fit he would throw with that picky personality if he found out that he had let an animal in heat into the room.
After finishing his washing, Eustace came out and beckoned Yoon Jaewoo to come closer. Yoon Jaewoo hesitated, faltering.
After what happened yesterday, he had fallen asleep in the bathroom, and when he woke up in the morning, he was on the bed and in the man’s arms. He had not yet decided how to interpret this conclusion.
At this point, who should be the one to initiate a reconciliation? That guy who slapped my cheek? Or me, who was slapped?
「Come here. Ramia.」
Noticing that Eustace’s voice had more force than before, Yoon Jaewoo hesitated before approaching. Eustace held Yoon Jaewoo’s chin and examined his cheek. It seemed he was checking the spot he had hit yesterday.
“…You’re sorry, aren’t you?”
Yoon Jaewoo asked abruptly. Eustace’s eyes widen slightly upon hearing those words.
“You’re dying of sorriness, aren’t you? For hitting me, I mean.”
「Why do you think that?」
“…If not, then never mind.”
I’ve set the stage for you to apologize comfortably, so why can’t you sit down.
Yoon Jaewoo becomes sullen and mutters to himself. Eustace continued to speak, caressing Yoon Jaewoo’s cheek with his palm.
「I do not feel sorry, but it is bothersome.」
“Ah, yeees…”
I was a fool to expect a human side from a guy like this.
Yoon Jaewoo let out a deep sigh and removed Eustace’s hand.
“I’m going to go wash up.”
As he was about to enter the bathroom, Eustace grabs his shoulder. Yoon Jaewoo looked up at him with a puzzled face.
「If you get a wound, it weighs on my mind.」
Even Eustace, the Dweord of healing, couldn’t gauge in what direction Yoon Jaewoo’s body was changing. For now, he could manage the wounds under his power, but he couldn’t be certain about the future.
There is nothing as foolish and meaningless as certainty about the future. The world is made up of a series of uncertainties. Eustace, being a Dweord, had always accepted that as a matter of course. But now, the uncertainty occurring in this small Ramia’s body was not being accepted as a matter of course.
It was uncomfortable, and… extremely bothersome.
「So do not get sick, and do not get hurt.」
“You don’t say. For your bead collection.”
Yoon Jaewoo said, “Yes, yes,” and tried to pass by his side. However, Eustace held onto Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder and did not let go.
「Smile.」
Eustace recalled the image of the Ramia from yesterday, who had smiled brightly while revealing his honest feelings in front of the beast. If he saw that smiling face, it seemed like the Ramia would always be smiling just like that. He wanted to forget the discomfort of uncertainty.
“Pardon?”
「I told you to smile.」
Yoon Jaewoo wondered if something might have happened to this man’s head. Yoon Jaewoo narrowed his eyes and examined the man’s face from various angles. It could be Cox or Yatenbaum disguised as Eustace.
「Is smiling difficult? You’re not so stupid that you don’t even know how to smile, are you.」
Judging by that rude tone, it’s definitely Eustace.
“No. It’s super easy. Hahahaha. Is that good enough?”
Yoon Jaewoo showed a mechanical smile and removed Eustace’s hand that was on his shoulder. Eustace looked down at Yoon Jaewoo blankly. Yoon Jaewoo, wondering if he had saliva on his face, rubbed the corner of his mouth with his palm.
「You were laughing so often yesterday, yet today you do not smile even once.」
“Eh? What are you talking about.”
Wondering if that gentleman had had a dream, Yoon Jaewoo tilted his head. Eustace gestured to the bathroom with his chin and told him to wash his face.
When Yoon Jaewoo came out after washing his face, Eustace had already finished preparing to go out. Yoon Jaewoo changed his clothes. Because of the ruckus he had made with Jinsu hyung yesterday, his appearance was a mess. Fortunately, Eustace wasn’t interested in him, so he didn’t say anything even after seeing the state of his clothes.
After changing his clothes, Yoon Jaewoo tidied his hair. In the mirror, he still had sparkling blond hair.
“How long will this continue?”
At first, he had hated it terribly, but now he thought it would be a big problem if his hair color returned. He had learned that Malik, who gritted his teeth at the mention of Ramia, particularly detested black Ramia. Besides, the current situation seemed to be heading in a bad direction in relation to the color black.
「Well. I do not think it will change for a while.」
Eustace narrowed his eyes. Very faintly, so faintly that no one but Eustace would notice, the Ramia’s hair color had darkened.
「You will not have to worry for the time being.」
Eustace reached out his hand and stroked Yoon Jaewoo’s hair. Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head. The hand that was stroking his hair came down to his cheek. From his cheek to his chin, to the nape of his neck. Eustace’s fingers naturally caressed Yoon Jaewoo.
Is a Ramia originally a being that is stroked and touched like this every day? Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly up at Eustace and wondered what the other Ramia were like.
「Why.」
“Pardon?”
「You look like you are thinking about something else.」
“Surely you’re not reading my thoughts or something, are you?”
Yoon Jaewoo cups his head with his palms and assumes a defensive posture. As if that would hide his thoughts.
Eustace answered, swallowing a light chuckle, “Pik.”
「When you are thinking about something else, you always move your lips slightly.」
“I do?”
It felt strange for the man to point out a habit he himself was unaware of. Yoon Jaewoo resolved to try thinking of something else in front of a mirror sometime.
「What were you thinking about?」
There were times when he became curious about what was inside that small head. The inside of the Ramia’s head, who nonchalantly did unexpected things, was an unknown world to Eustace.
“What other Ramia were, …like.”
「What?」
“Other Ramia. Besides me. The ones who became beads. Did those people also like this…. Never mind.”
Yoon Jaewoo’s expression darkened rapidly after recalling the beads that filled Eustace’s office. He thought it was extremely inappropriate to bring up the topic of the beads.
「Why are you curious about such a thing?」
“I know, right. I must have been crazy. Let’s end this topic here. I don’t feel very well.”
Yoon Jaewoo waved his hand. Eustace looked at Yoon Jaewoo’s face and frowned slightly.
「Are you not feeling well?」
“No. I’m fine.”
Eustace rubbed Yoon Jaewoo’s stomach. As the cool palm rubbed over his clothes, a pleasant coolness spread through his body.
If I took this guy and opened a hospital, I’d be filthy ri…, no. Why would I take this guy to that other world.
When Eustace’s hand moved away from his stomach, he felt much better. Yoon Jaewoo offered a word of thanks in a small voice. Yoon Jaewoo did not see the corners of Eustace’s eyes curve gently.
Eustace handed him a fruit that would lessen the influence of the other Dweord’s power. After swallowing the bitter fruit in one gulp, Yoon Jaewoo steeled his heart.
May today also be a safe day.
“So, we can go out now, right?”
Yoon Jaewoo asked, grabbing the doorknob. Eustace’s hand reached out from behind and removed Yoon Jaewoo’s hand from the doorknob.
“……?”
「You have forgotten the most important thing.」
“Pardon?”
Instead of an answer, Eustace wrapped his arms around Yoon Jaewoo’s waist.
「Today too, I am not inclined.」
Eustace’s lips touched Yoon Jaewoo’s. After a moment of hesitation, Yoon Jaewoo inhaled and at the same time, opened his lips and put his tongue into Eustace’s mouth. The moment his tongue touched the inside of the man’s mouth, Eustace’s hands, which were wrapped around his waist, tensed.
Reflexively recalling yesterday’s event, Yoon Jaewoo continued the kiss with his mouth opened as little as possible. Let’s just do it moderately, let’s just get through today moderately.
Eustace moved his tongue to make Yoon Jaewoo open his mouth wider, but Yoon Jaewoo desperately resisted.
Eustace frowned slightly, as if displeased.
Finally,
“……!”
His neck was thrown back. In the space of an “uh,” Eustace pressed down on the nape of Yoon Jaewoo’s neck with one hand and attacked from above. Eustace’s tongue mixed into his open mouth, and saliva flowed in. A sweet scent spread. Just like yesterday, heat began to spread from inside his mouth. The inside of his mouth was thoroughly violated. The flesh brushed against the mucous membrane and swept over it.
He was suffocating, so he put strength into his hands to push the man away, but it was a useless act. In the end, Yoon Jaewoo had to clutch Eustace’s clothes and cling to him, barely panting for breath.
“Ha, …heut…”
Yoon Jaewoo felt it was unfair. To realize that the inside of the mouth was such a sensitive area through a kiss with a man, after living a life of twenty-three years. However, that sense of unfairness does not last long.
“Heueut!”
Eustace lifted Yoon Jaewoo’s body, pushed him against the wall, and attempted a much more intense kiss than before. It was as if he was being mauled by a beast. While panting for breath, Yoon Jaewoo begged him to stop, please, several times. Eustace ignored the small sounds made as his lips moved and pressed his lips against his.
“Haa, heut, ah…”
Sweet saliva goes down his throat. His mind became hazy. It felt as if he had swallowed an aphrodisiac. Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes became languidly unfocused. He had no strength in his body. His breath was hot. It felt like his body was heating up, and it was hard to breathe. Yoon Jaewoo blinked his eyes and looked up at Eustace.
He pleaded with his eyes for Eustace to stop, that this was enough.
Eustace’s lips move slightly away. At that distance, where their lips barely touched, Eustace whispered in a low voice.
「Ramia.」
His head was dizzy. The sound, brushed against his skin, touched his lips, caressed his ears. When no answer came back, Eustace called Yoon Jaewoo again, “Ramia.” Shiver, every cell in his body tensed. The sound of ragged breaths fills the space between the two of them. Yoon Jaewoo barely moved his lips and answered, “Yes.”
「Not yet….」
“…Pardon?”
「Not yet, not inclined enough.」
His lips were fully opened, and his body was held tightly. Swallowing the sweet saliva that entered his mouth, Yoon Jaewoo had to hold onto the man tightly so as not to fall somewhere.
…Please, may today also be a safe day.
“Alright. Then let’s talk again tomorrow.”
“Yes. Coach-nim. I’ll be going first.”
The car door closed. He closed his eyes, listening to the soft sound of the engine. The smell of the leather seats and the familiar scent of an air freshener. He hears the man’s voice saying he’s taking the outer ring road because of traffic. It seemed he had answered, do as you please, in his sleep. The wind coming in through the slightly open window gently rustles his hair. He repeatedly dozes off and wakes up. On the verge of falling into a deep sleep, he heard a very small sound. At first, it was such a small sound that he couldn’t even recognize it as a sound.
Come here, come here.
Startled, he woke up from his sleep.
“……”
It was a dream.
He lets out a deep sigh. He doesn’t remember exactly what the dream was about, but he got goosebumps. He makes eye contact with the driver, who is looking at him with worried eyes in the rearview mirror. Wiping his forehead, which was damp with cold sweat, he tried to speak as if nothing was wrong and opened his mouth.
“……”
But no words come out. Even when he moved his lips and put strength into his throat, no sound came out of his mouth.
It’s strange. This is strange.
He touched his lips with his hand and felt his neck, but nothing was different. The worry in the eyes looking at him in the mirror deepens. I have to say it’s okay, to just focus on driving. I have to…
“……!”
The eyes looking at him in the mirror had increased. One more, one more, they increase one by one each time he blinks.
He got goosebumps. He wants to scream, but the words stuck in his throat won’t come out as sound. It’s dangerous. I have to get out of this car. Even if I have to jump out of a moving car, getting out of here is the priority.
He moves his hand to unbuckle the seatbelt, but his hand doesn’t move as he intends. He barely unbuckles the belt and reaches for the car’s handle. Gurgle, the ground beneath his feet moves. He saw something sticky welling up from under his feet.
Like a living creature with a will of its own, the black sludge holds onto his feet and won’t let go. No. I have to get out. I have to get out of here. Otherwise.
A screaming sound, “Kkiiiiiik,” echoed. A black car with its mouth open rushed toward him from the front.
And he was swallowed.
“……!”
When you are too scared, you can’t even scream. Yoon Jaewoo learned that through the nightmare that had been repeating hundreds of times. He couldn’t breathe properly, and even after sitting up, he had to pound his chest with his fist for a long time.
His head was dizzy, and he felt like throwing up. Somehow, somehow, I have to do something.
「It is alright.」
A low voice is heard from his bedside.
「It is alright. Nothing will happen.」
A cool hand stroked down his back. Over and over, over and over, continuously.