IGWNI Ch 28
by soapa“Are you alright?”
It was a question he had asked several times already. Eustace heard Yoon Jaewoo’s voice and gave a sheepish smile.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
「There isn’t, so stop your chattering and lie down and sleep.」
Eustace pulled Yoon Jaewoo, who was sitting up with his body half-raised, down to lie beside him.
Yoon Jaewoo noticed that Eustace’s hand on his shoulder was terribly hot, unlike usual, and his expression clouded over.
「Why?」
“…You have a fever.”
「I suppose I would.」
The bleeding had mostly stopped. But the wound was so large and deep, and because he had kept facing Ivnu while wrapping his arm around Yoon Jaewoo, the arm’s condition was severe.
It was a miracle the arm was still attached to the shoulder. Yoon Jaewoo had to keep checking Eustace’s right arm the entire way down the hallway, afraid it would just fall off onto the floor with a thud.
Yoon Jaewoo sat up again and examined Eustace’s arm.
“The bleeding seems to have stopped, but…”
「It will heal soon.」
“How can this possibly heal soon!”
「As Cox said, it will heal after I’m sick for a few days.」
Usually, physical regeneration could happen in the blink of an eye. Moreover, Eustace was a Dweord of healing. His regenerative abilities were far superior to other Dweords. However, a wound inflicted by a dead specter took time to regenerate. It was only because it was Eustace that it would take three or four days; any other Dweord would have been bedridden for a good week.
“Why do you have to be sick for several days when you can heal right now?”
Yoon Jaewoo’s face was still full of injustice, as if he couldn’t understand.
“Shouldn’t gods be more generous and big-hearted? Why are they all so petty and selfish?”
「Because they are absolute beings.」
“What do you mean?”
「They want only themselves to be absolute.」
“…Haha.”
「And as I’ve said before, being absolute doesn’t mean being perfect.」
“What’s the difference?”
He couldn’t quite understand.
In Yoon Jaewoo’s mind, a god was a being with absolute power and, at the same time, a perfect existence. But the four Dweords he had seen here were no different from humans. No, sometimes they were worse than humans. Even in a situation like this, where he was injured fighting for a common enemy, no one even tried to look at Eustace’s wound. Yoon Jaewoo thought to himself that he had no idea what it was they considered important.
「Do you know why the world is unfair and irrational?」
“Why is that?”
「Because people believe that the god who created the world is perfect. And Dweords are merely rulers. They cannot even become perfect beings.」
“…….”
「Of course, Malik wouldn’t agree.」
As he said this, a faint smile flickered across Eustace’s lips. Yoon Jaewoo wanted to smile along, but no smile came.
Eustace’s complexion looked paler than before.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
「I’m fine.」
Yoon Jaewoo examined Eustace’s arm again. He had said it would heal little by little if left alone, but the pace seemed far too slow.
「Ramia.」
Eustace reached out his good left hand and grasped the nape of Yoon Jaewoo’s neck. His face was pulled closer. Eustace’s tongue touched his between parted lips. It was a short kiss that pressed lightly and then pulled away with a peck. A sweet taste lingered in his mouth, and Yoon Jaewoo covered his lips with his hand with a dazed expression.
「Does your species’ bodily fluid also contain Rith?」
Yoon Jaewoo tilted his head.
“Huh? No. There’s no way…”
Yoon Jaewoo muttered and rubbed his lips with the back of his hand. Eustace pulled that hand and placed it on his own lips.
「Then why do you often taste sweet?」
“Isn’t it your Rith going back into your mouth?”
「One cannot taste their own Rith.」
Eustace bit down lightly on the back of Yoon Jaewoo’s hand, setting his teeth into it. When Yoon Jaewoo let out a small “Ouch,” a soft chuckle was transmitted through the back of his hand. Eustace set his teeth on Yoon Jaewoo’s hand and bit it several more times. He often bit Yoon Jaewoo like that.
He would nibble on his earlobe, cheek, the nape of his neck, or his hand, just like now. As if an animal was playing around.
Yoon Jaewoo offered his hand for Eustace to bite. Eustace kissed his broken nail. At the small movement of his lips, Yoon Jaewoo felt the area around his chest grow warm and flush. Eustace, who had been nibbling on the back of his hand again, suddenly called out to Yoon Jaewoo.
「Ramia.」
“Yes.”
「Don’t let the others touch you.」
“What?”
「When others touch you, I get so angry.」
“What are you talking abou—”
「I want to chop off all those hands.」
Yoon Jaewoo recalled a scene he saw in a Maryan book of etiquette. According to the book, the part of one’s own body touched by another man’s hand was also cut off. Was that why he got so angry in the office earlier? But I’m not even a Maryan…
“Excuse me. …I’m not a Maryan, right?”
Wondering if there had been a change in his status without him knowing, Yoon Jaewoo asked cautiously.
「Right.」
A short and somewhat displeased reply came back. With a slightly furrowed brow, Eustace continued.
「Because I do not wish for you to become one.」
“…….”
Yoon Jaewoo thought Eustace was spouting strange things because of his high fever. He carefully placed his hand on Eustace’s forehead.
“You have a very high fever.”
「I do.」
“It’s not just ‘I do’! You’re burning up like this…!”
Eustace grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s arm and pulled him into a tight embrace.
「You’re young, so your body temperature is high. I thought you’d be cool, but it’s gotten even hotter.」
“Then let go!”
Eustace laughed and tightened his hold on Yoon Jaewoo. Yoon Jaewoo pushed with all his might to break free, but the arm didn’t budge. Even though he was injured enough for one arm to be nearly severed, he easily overpowered Yoon Jaewoo.
Yoon Jaewoo gave up trying to escape from Eustace’s arm. It was because the more he struggled, the more strength Eustace would have to use.
As Yoon Jaewoo lay still, Eustace, who had been fiddling with his hair, opened his mouth.
「Ramia.」
It was a soft and quiet voice. Yoon Jaewoo lifted his head instead of answering. Eustace’s feverish blue eyes looked down at Yoon Jaewoo quietly.
「You are my Ramia. From now on, you do not need to kneel before anyone.」
It seemed that kneeling and begging in front of Malik earlier had upset him.
“I understand. I won’t do it.”
After answering, Yoon Jaewoo paused for a moment, then continued.
“You too, …Mr. Eustace, don’t do that either.”
「……?」
“In front of other people, no, other Dweords, to me… Don’t do that. If you do it one more time, I’ll just go and die.”
Eustace’s action of forcing him down on the desk in the office was violence, nothing more and nothing less.
He hated that. He didn’t want it. Even if it was the only way for him to survive, he didn’t want to live being treated like that.
Eustace’s hand wrapped around the nape of Yoon Jaewoo’s neck.
「Die?」
“…….”
「Are you daring to speak of death in front of me right now?」
It was a life Eustace had saved several times.
And it was a life he would save again and again, should the same thing happen in the future.
“…So, I’m telling you not to do it.”
Overwhelmed by Eustace’s cold reaction, Yoon Jaewoo mumbled his reply. Eustace grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s hair and pulled him closer to his face. Yoon Jaewoo swallowed a groan. “Ugh.” Eustace bit Yoon Jaewoo’s lip. As if an animal were courting, he repeatedly bit and released Yoon Jaewoo’s lower lip.
Yoon Jaewoo closed his eyes and parted his lips. A hot tongue stirred inside Yoon Jaewoo’s mouth. As if tasting Yoon Jaewoo, the tongue that had scoured every inch inside withdrew as unannounced as it had entered.
Yoon Jaewoo looked at Eustace, letting out a ragged breath. The saliva Eustace left in his mouth felt exceptionally sweet.
「You’re just a kid, and you’re already making that kind of face.」
“…What about me?”
「Even if you beg with that face right now, I can’t do more than this, so let’s do it next time.」
“Wh-when did I ever beg…!”
Eustace pulled the blushing and shouting Yoon Jaewoo into his chest, silencing him.
「And Ramia.」
“…Yes.”
「If you’re going to greet people like that from now on, then you don’t need to show courtesy to anyone at all.」
“…….”
「I’ll teach you etiquette myself, from one to ten, when we return to the Northern Castle, so for now, you might as well live rudely.」
“…I understand.”
Receiving permission to live rudely for the first time in his life felt strange. Eustace patted Yoon Jaewoo’s back.
「Let’s call it a day here.」
With those last words, Eustace closed his eyes. Yoon Jaewoo also closed his eyes, feeling the movement of the hand patting his back.
“…Uh.”
Yoon Jaewoo lifted his head and wiped away the drool pooled at the corner of his mouth. He checked on Eustace. He seemed to be sleeping soundly. The wet towel he had placed on Eustace’s forehead when he woke up earlier was still there.
Yoon Jaewoo sat up to change the towel again. Then he felt a sense of unease. He looked down at his own fingers. They were perfectly healed.
“Uh…?”
When he went to wet the towel, his nail had still been broken. The stinging sensation he felt when it touched the water was still vivid, but he had no idea how this could have happened…
Yoon Jaewoo looked at Eustace, who was sleeping as if dead. At the only one in this room who could heal his wound.
Eustace’s face looked paler than before. When he placed a hand on his head, the fever was still there. He couldn’t even tell if the wound on his arm had gotten any better.
And yet, …in a state like that, he was worried about something like my broken nail?
“Damn it.”
Yoon Jaewoo quickly wiped his reddening eyes with the back of his hand.
It was the first time in his life. The feeling of being properly cared for by someone.
“…Son of a bitch…”
Yoon Jaewoo cursed at Eustace in a small voice.
“…You personality-disordered bastard, for a corpse collector…, you bad bastard…”
No matter what he muttered, he couldn’t bring himself to hate the man lying there with a pale face. On the contrary, his chest just grew warmer and ached more.
“…You rotten lifeline.”
Yoon Jaewoo muttered a final complaint and sat down next to the bed where Eustace lay.
“Hurry up and get better.”
He repeated words to himself, as if talking to himself, not knowing if the other person could hear.
“If you don’t, I’m going to run away, so get better quickly.”
The moment he said that, it looked as though Eustace’s fingers moved slightly. Yoon Jaewoo quietly poked Eustace’s face with his finger. There was no reaction. He seemed to be truly sound asleep.
Yoon Jaewoo took the towel from Eustace’s forehead to the bathroom and soaked it in cold water. He wrung it out moderately and carefully placed it back on Eustace’s forehead.
He repeated this several times. In between, he also checked if the arm was healing properly. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t getting any better.
Eustace’s complexion grew paler and paler, and Yoon Jaewoo had to check several times if he was breathing properly. He was scared. Scared that he might not open his eyes again.
“…You are alive, aren’t you?”
Yoon Jaewoo spoke to Eustace.
“You are alive, right? …You’re not really going to die just like that, are you?”
Yoon Jaewoo babbled on to the person who did not reply.
“I was only thinking of getting my leg fixed and running away from here, …but I don’t know why I feel this way. Really.”
He had followed Eustace with that intention. To find the Dweord who said he would help him. But the longer he stayed here, the more Yoon Jaewoo felt that the only one helping him was Eustace.
Moreover, seeing the man with a face as pale as a corpse, he wanted to help him and take care of him. The other was a being akin to a god in this world, and he himself was a mere human, and yet… he wanted to save him.
“Aah, damn it.”
Yoon Jaewoo shook his head and stood up from his spot. He closed his eyes and thought about what was important to him right now.
Finding the Dweord who said he would fix his leg, getting his leg fixed, returning to his original world. And…
As if having firmed his resolve, Yoon Jaewoo opened his closed eyes.
Eustace lay as if dead.
Hearing a knock on the door, Yatenbaum, who was changing his clothes, tilted his head. There was no one who would visit his room at this hour.
「Who is it.」
There was no answer to his question. Due to the day’s events, his nerves were already on edge.
Who dares knock on Dweord Yatenbaum’s door and not answer, I’ll catch them and wring their neck.
He strode over and threw the door open.
「Who dares…! Oh.」
Yatenbaum’s eyes lit up as he spotted the face below him.
「Blondie!」
It was the Ramia who hadn’t even pretended to hear him after he had invited him to his room a hundred times. Yoon Jaewoo, who was wearing a hood, took it off and bowed his head.
「Blondie. What brings you here?」
“I came because I have a favor to ask.”
「I don’t know what you’re talking about, but come in first.」
Yatenbaum stepped aside from the door and gestured for him to come inside. Yoon Jaewoo stood hesitating and looked up at Yatenbaum. Yatenbaum, smiling brightly, grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s hand and pulled.
「It’s okay. I won’t eat you.」
“…….”
After much hesitation, Yoon Jaewoo went inside.
「What’s this? You’re visiting my room? You got bored of being with Eustace and came here?」
“That’s not it.”
Yoon Jaewoo shook his head.
「Then why? You came because you wanted to play with me?」
Yatenbaum took Yoon Jaewoo’s hand and led him inside. Yoon Jaewoo subtly pulled his hand back. Eustace’s words, telling him not to let anyone touch his body, had come to mind.
He had no obligation to listen to those words, but thinking of Eustace lying in bed, he felt he had to.
Yatenbaum gave a bitter smile at the Ramia’s attitude of subtly pulling his hand back.
「Alright. What is it?」
“Um, so. …Excuse me.”
Yoon Jaewoo began to gesture earnestly. He pointed to his right arm, then made a pained sound, “Ayaya.” Then he put his hands together and pretended to be asleep.
「Eustace?」
“That’s right. Yes.”
Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head. Then he pointed to his right arm again.
He meant he wanted medicine. Before leaving the office, Yatenbaum had definitely grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s hand and told him he had a medicine that could cure all illnesses, so he should come to his room.
「You want me to heal Rau?」
“Yes! Yes!”
Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head vigorously. Yatenbaum stifled a chuckle. The naive and young Ramia was definitely misunderstanding him. Yatenbaum reached out and brushed back Yoon Jaewoo’s hair. Yoon Jaewoo, unlike before, flinched and stepped back. It was a clear sign of wariness. It seemed Eustace had given him a word of caution.
「Blondie.」
Yatenbaum, pretending not to know, smiled and grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulders. Applying force so he couldn’t run away.
“Uh, he said not to grab me.”
Yoon Jaewoo muttered, looking at the hand on his shoulder. Yatenbaum’s other hand wrapped around Yoon Jaewoo’s waist.
“Huk! What are you doing!”
「Blondie. Did you come to me now to ask me to heal Eustace?」
“Yes. Um, so, could you let go of this first…”
「You really think so little of me.」
“What?”
「If you didn’t think so little of me, you wouldn’t have come to my room asking me to fix Eustace.」
A twisted smile curled at the corners of Yatenbaum’s mouth.
Yoon Jaewoo blinked, unable to immediately grasp his words. He hadn’t come here because he thought little of Yatenbaum; rather, he believed Yatenbaum was the best among the remaining Dweord, which is why he sought him out.
“…I came to ask for your help.”
They were cousins, or so it was said. Moreover, though they bickered and argued, they got along better than the other two. Though Yatenbaum had said he wouldn’t help, Yoon Jaewoo believed that if he saw Eustace’s current state, he might change his mind.
“Go and take a look at Mister Eustace. He’s got a persistent fever, his face is pale, and he really doesn’t look good.”
No matter how many cold compresses were placed on his forehead or how much his body was wiped down, Eustace’s fever wouldn’t break. The wound on his arm showed no signs of healing, and in the end, Yoon Jaewoo had come to Yatenbaum’s room. If things continued like this, it felt like Eustace might die, and Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t just sit idly by in that room waiting.
“Go help him. He’s your cousin. You two are close.”
Yatenbaum looked down with cold eyes at Ramia, who was clinging to his arm, spouting all sorts of pleas. The more he saw the anxiety and worry in those large eyes, the more his irritation grew.
For Ramia, he had resolved to take Azhar’s place, yet here she was, begging him to save Eustace.
「Ramia.」
He called Yoon Jaewoo in a low voice.
Yoon Jaewoo, startled at being called Ramia instead of Yellow, looked up with a puzzled expression.
「Do you really think I’d help someone like Rau, of all people? Are you serious?」
“…Is there a reason you can’t help?”
Ramia still seemed unable to comprehend the situation. Yatenbaum continued in a low voice through gritted teeth.
「Did you take everything I said about having you as nothing but empty words?」
“What?”
Yatenbaum pulled Yoon Jaewoo into an embrace and kissed him. Shocked, Yoon Jaewoo struggled and tried to push him away, but it was futile.
“S-stop…!”
Yatenbaum bit Yoon Jaewoo’s lips and tugged at his clothes, pulling them open. Yoon Jaewoo clung to his garments, desperately resisting, but his bare skin was soon exposed. Never before had he so resented the loosely tied clothing of this place.
「It’s a hole Rau has used, but for now, it’ll do for today….」
Yatenbaum, having said this, pulled down Yoon Jaewoo’s pants.
“Stop, don’t…! What the…!”
Yatenbaum grabbed both of Yoon Jaewoo’s arms with one hand and pinned his body with his knee. Yoon Jaewoo thrashed, trying to break free, but the more he struggled, the heavier the force pressing down on him became. It felt as though a massive boulder was crushing his body.
“Stop it! You damn perverted bastard!”
Though Yatenbaum couldn’t understand Yoon Jaewoo’s words, he could tell they weren’t kind. He looked down at Yoon Jaewoo with a smile.
「You’re telling me to help Rau?」
“You two are close! Eustace could die right now!”
「This is ridiculous. Hahaha, what do you take me for?」
“Damn it! You’re right! I should’ve seen you as garbage!”
Yoon Jaewoo glared fiercely, shouting back defiantly.
“Damn it! I’m the idiot for coming here trusting a guy like you!”
Yatenbaum’s eyes, watching Ramia wriggle and spout incomprehensible words, were filled with lust. Her trembling, vibrant energy piqued his desire.
「Yellow, stay still.」
“What? Why should I! Let go!”
「Struggling will only tire you out. Don’t you know it’ll go in better if you relax? You’ve done this before, haven’t you?」
Yatenbaum pulled out a glistening piece of flesh from his pants. At the sight of its massive size, Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened, and he gasped.
「You must be used to Rau’s, so damn it, I wish I could’ve been the one to break you in from the start.」
Muttering incomprehensible words, Yatenbaum lifted Yoon Jaewoo’s hips and positioned them between his legs.
“What, what are you…!”
「Don’t tense up. It’ll only make it harder for you, Yellow.」
Yatenbaum smiled as he groped between Yoon Jaewoo’s buttocks. Feeling a touch in an unexpected place, Yoon Jaewoo’s face flushed red as he screamed.
“You pervert! Stop! I said stop, ugh!”
Yoon Jaewoo shouted until his throat was raw. His face turned deathly pale. Tears welled in his large eyes, and his entire body trembled.
「…Yellow, don’t tell me.」
Yatenbaum’s expression hardened slightly at the unexpectedly intense reaction, and he asked.
「Rau hasn’t been using this, has he?」
His hand pressed again between Yoon Jaewoo’s buttocks. Yoon Jaewoo jerked his hips up and screamed.
“I said stop! You damn filthy pervert!”
In that moment, Yatenbaum was certain.
He would be the first to take this.
Yatenbaum burst into laughter. Seeing him shake with loud laughter, Yoon Jaewoo felt a sinking fear, realizing this guy had completely lost his mind. He had thought Yatenbaum was the most normal of them, aside from Eustace, but now it was clear that was a grave misjudgment.
「Hahahaha. Oh, I see, that’s how it is.」
“Crazy bastard, if you’re going to laugh, laugh alone and let me go! Damn it, you’re not even going to help!”
Yoon Jaewoo put strength into his body again, trying to push Yatenbaum away. At that moment, Yatenbaum turned to look at him.
“…!”
A metallic click sounded, as if something locked inside his body. He couldn’t move a finger. No sound came from his throat. Even opening his mouth to speak only let out faint groans.
「You haven’t been doing it properly with Rau, have you?」
“…!”
「I could faintly smell Rit on you, but it was weak, which I thought was odd. To think you really haven’t been using this.」
Yatenbaum’s eyes burned red with passion. He licked Yoon Jaewoo’s earlobe and neck, smacking his lips.
「I can’t believe it. That Rau left you untouched.」
“…!”
「To leave someone as delicious-looking as you alone. Is something wrong with that bastard’s head?」
Chuckling, Yatenbaum bit Yoon Jaewoo’s lips. Yoon Jaewoo tried to turn his face away but was pinned by an invisible force, unable to move.
Yatenbaum’s lips covered Yoon Jaewoo’s. A large tongue forced its way into his mouth.
No. He hated it. The invasive, reckless movement of the tongue rummaging through his mouth filled Yoon Jaewoo with visceral disgust.
「Damn, …it’s killing me.」
Yatenbaum muttered, licking Yoon Jaewoo’s lips with his tongue.
「Can you see how excited I am right now?」
Yatenbaum guided Yoon Jaewoo’s hand to his crotch. Feeling the large, dark piece of flesh, Yoon Jaewoo’s face paled even further.
「I’ll be the first to enter Yellow’s hole.」
He lowered his body, embracing Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulders. A hard piece of flesh rubbed between his legs.
Tears welled in Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes. He knew Yatenbaum had some claim over him, but he never imagined things would turn this ugly.
He hated Yatenbaum for pouncing on him like a predator, but what he hated most was that this was happening while Eustace lay unconscious.
It felt like he was betraying him, like he was breaking his promise, and that made him feel wretched and wronged.
「Why are you crying?」
Yatenbaum asked, wiping the tears from Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes.
Wouldn’t you cry? About to be taken by a man, and one with a bat-like thing at that!
「Are you scared?」
When Yoon Jaewoo only glared fiercely, Yatenbaum chuckled, stifling his laughter.
「It’s okay. It’ll hurt a bit at first, but if I train you well…. Ha, yes.」
Yatenbaum shook his member slightly while holding it. With that single motion, the massive flesh seemed to swell twice as large, nodding with terrifying vigor, revealing his desire.
「Yellow, relax. I’m going to put it in.」
“…!”
Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened. The hot flesh rubbed against the hole between his legs. The chilling sensation made his hair stand on end and his stomach churn.
「Damn, I’ll fill you up and make you carry my child.」
Yatenbaum smiled, grabbing Yoon Jaewoo’s legs. With a tug, his lower body opened, and Yoon Jaewoo screamed inwardly. The sensation of his hole being forced open made him bite his lips.
Damn it, no, no, please!
A crashing sound rang out. Paralyzed, Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t see what had burst into the room. Something large and white flew in, pushing Yatenbaum away.
The sound of something breaking, growling, and shattering followed in succession. Yatenbaum’s groan was heard.
Yoon Jaewoo felt the paralysis that had been holding him release. He sat up.
On the floor, Eustace and Yatenbaum were entangled, each gripping the other’s throat, locked in a struggle. The sheer power emanating from them was enough to turn one’s stomach just by being near.
「Haha, even in that state, you’re hiding your Lot form in front of that kid?」
Yatenbaum mocked Eustace.
「How dare a thing like you touch my Marlyan?」
「Marlyan? You call something you haven’t even used below a Marlyan? I could take her right now, you know.」
Yatenbaum laughed cruelly, grabbing Eustace’s injured arm. The bleeding, which had barely stopped, began to flow again. Yatenbaum didn’t miss the way Eustace’s face paled. He dug his claws into the wound.
Eustace tightened his grip on Yatenbaum’s throat. A menacing aura filled the room. The smell of blood hung heavy.
Yoon Jaewoo shouted, “No!” and rushed toward them. Or rather, he tried to. Before he could take a few steps, he collapsed to the floor. The two entangled men turned their heads simultaneously.
「Ramia!」
「Yellow!」
Yoon Jaewoo lifted his ashen face. As he retched, the two Dweord’s expressions grew cold.
「Get out of the way!」
Eustace pushed Yatenbaum aside. Yatenbaum also rushed toward Yoon Jaewoo. Seeing Eustace, Yoon Jaewoo, now limp, grimaced.
「Ramia, Ramia.」
Eustace lifted Yoon Jaewoo. Barely regaining his senses, Yoon Jaewoo grabbed a nearby iron fire poker.
「Yellow, are you okay….」
Yatenbaum stopped speaking as he saw the iron rod pointed at his face. It wasn’t out of fear or surprise. He simply couldn’t understand why Yoon Jaewoo, pale and trembling, was holding the rod.
Did she really think a mere iron rod could threaten a Dweord?
“…Go.”
「Yellow, for now, you….」
Yoon Jaewoo retched again. Already exhausted from earlier events, the overwhelming power emanating from Yatenbaum and Eustace made it a miracle he was still conscious.
「Yellow!」
Yatenbaum reached out to catch the collapsing Yoon Jaewoo. Eustace pulled him into his arms first. Held by Eustace, Yoon Jaewoo pointed the iron rod at Yatenbaum.
“…Get lost.”
His ragged breathing made it take a moment for Eustace to understand.
“…Don’t touch him.”
Yatenbaum smacked his lips bitterly. He knew Ramia would resist to some extent, but he didn’t expect her to bristle this much.
「Yellow, for now….」
Yoon Jaewoo swung the iron rod again. His trembling hands made clumsy movements in the air, and Yatenbaum laughed in disbelief. With pale lips trembling, Yoon Jaewoo spat out words Yatenbaum couldn’t understand.
“Don’t touch him, …to Eustace, …don’t.”
It seemed to Yatenbaum that he could almost hear what Ramia was saying.
She wasn’t trying to push him away from herself. She was only trying to protect Eustace.
Eustace’s hand, holding Yoon Jaewoo, stiffened.
“…Don’t touch him. …He’s badly hurt….”
With the face of a boy desperately trying to protect a beloved girl, Yoon Jaewoo struggled to continue.
“To Eustace…, …don’t.”
Yoon Jaewoo stretched out an arm to shield Eustace. That feeble arm could be snapped with a mere glance if Yatenbaum wished. The iron rod posed no threat. No matter what Yoon Jaewoo did, he couldn’t make Yatenbaum back down.
Everyone in the room knew that.
“…I said get lost.”
Yoon Jaewoo threatened, as if swallowing his words.
Yatenbaum’s expression darkened. This weak, young Ramia stood before him, risking her life to protect a Dweord.
Eustace’s grip tightened. He pulled Yoon Jaewoo into his embrace, holding him close. As Yoon Jaewoo struggled to threaten Yatenbaum, Eustace whispered softly.
「It’s okay. I’ll handle it, so stay still.」
“But, …the blood….”
Yoon Jaewoo’s gaze lingered on Eustace’s arm. The right arm, still bleeding, looked as though it could fall off at any moment.
“The blood …keeps….”
Tears welled in Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes. Because of him, Eustace had pushed himself to come here, worsening his wound.
Eustace closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A silver light gathered around him, enveloping his body as if to protect him with a humming sound.
The bleeding stopped. Yoon Jaewoo’s tears ceased. But Yatenbaum noticed that stopping the blood was merely an illusion, one that only worsened Eustace’s condition.
「It’s okay, Ramia.」
Eustace whispered softly, brushing Yoon Jaewoo’s face. Yoon Jaewoo stopped crying and nodded.
Watching this, Yatenbaum’s anger surged.
「You think you can fool me with that trick….」
Eustace glared at Yatenbaum with a ferocity never seen before.
—Say another word, and I’ll rip your throat out.
Yatenbaum swallowed his laughter at Eustace’s words, conveyed so Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t hear.
「Ha, damn it. This is really pissing me off.」
He slammed his hand down on a nearby table. The table caught fire and disintegrated on the spot.
「Mäden.」
Eustace, holding Yoon Jaewoo, stood up. With a pale, cold face, he continued calmly.
「This is my Marlyan. Touch him, and I’ll cut off your hand.」
「I know you haven’t done it yet.」
Yatenbaum bared his teeth, growling. Red flames flickered behind him.
「I know you haven’t entered that hole yet. That doesn’t make him a Marlyan.」
Yatenbaum was right. A Marlyan’s status was only established through direct sexual union.
「Are you saying you’ll take what’s mine?」
「If he’s not a Marlyan, I could take Ramia right now by defeating you.」
At Yatenbaum’s words, Yoon Jaewoo’s face contorted. He was frightened by the claim that Yatenbaum could take him now. Eustace tightened his grip on Yoon Jaewoo and said.
「Tonight, I will take him.」
“What?”
“…!”
「Tonight, I will hold Ramia and make him mine.」
「With that arm?」
Yatenbaum laughed, pointing at Eustace’s arm.
「You can barely stand, can you? Hahaha, Rau, quit bluffing. In your condition….」
「That’s not your concern.」
Eustace tried to pass by with Yoon Jaewoo. Yatenbaum blocked his path.
「Rau, you don’t seem in your right mind with that fever….」
A sharp wind grazed Yatenbaum’s side. A line of blood appeared on his face.
「Don’t touch my Marlyan.」
Eustace’s teeth sharpened. His nails, holding Yoon Jaewoo, grew as well. Unable to fully control his power, Eustace’s sharp nails pierced Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder. Considering their ability to cut through metal like paper, it must have been painful, but Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip, stifling a groan.
Watching this, Yatenbaum ground his teeth.
「You’ve been deceiving me all this time, Rau.」
「Deceiving?」
Eustace raised his head, his eyes gleaming menacingly as he laughed.
「Was there ever enough trust between us for such a word to apply?」