RG 140

Turns out Ryu Seonghyeon had gone downstairs to the first floor to get my dinner. I ended up having the scorched rice tea I’d missed earlier as my evening meal, and I also took another dose of cold medicine.

“They say the medicine is pretty strong. Let me know if it upsets your stomach.”

“I will,” I answered quietly, but I had no intention of whining even if it did upset my stomach. I’d already been a burden by being sick and bedridden for a whole day.

Thankfully, my strong digestive system handled the medicine just fine. Though maybe it was potent—despite all the sleep I’d gotten, I felt overwhelmingly drowsy as soon as I took it.

‘This might actually be better.’

In this condition, I couldn’t even think of stepping out into the snowstorm outside. It was better to just sleep. So, only three hours after waking up, I was back in bed and gladly welcomed the wave of drowsiness.

After sleeping soundly through the night, I woke up feeling significantly better. Only a slight fever remained, and my voice was back to normal. My throat still felt a bit tight, but that was something I’d have to figure out now.

“You’re recovering a lot faster than I expected.” Ryu Seonghyeon looked a bit surprised as he saw me getting out of bed.

“I’m actually pretty healthy, you know.”

“Hmm.” He gave me a subtle smile as if he wasn’t totally convinced. He didn’t seem to buy my confident attitude.

Damn. I guess the dependable-Support-type image was already out the window.

At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder just how low Ryu Seonghyeon’s opinion of me had sunk. Swallowing my sulky mood, I spoke to him. “Let’s get washed up and head downstairs. We should eat breakfast.”

Today marked our third day up in this mountain. We’d only gotten Song Ji-un’s permission to stay at his place yesterday.

Since I lost a full day to the cold, we only had today and tomorrow left.

‘We came up here on Monday, so today must be Wednesday. According to what the guildmaster allowed, we’ll have to leave this house by Friday morning.’

That meant I only had today and tomorrow to propose the guild scout offer to Song Ji-un. On Friday morning, we’d probably be too busy getting kicked out to have any spare time.

“I’ll try to ease his guard during breakfast and thank him properly.”

Ryu Seonghyeon seemed to catch on to my intentions and nodded.

Even if we only had two days left, approaching him too aggressively might just get us rejected outright. I thought back to the Song Ji-un from before my regression.

‘He’s different now, but I doubt his core personality has changed much.’

Song Ji-un had always been wary and firm in his dislikes. Once he made up his mind about someone, he stuck to it. Considering how many people had approached him just because of his gentle, ethereal looks—only to be harshly shut down—I was sure the current Song Ji-un wasn’t someone to be taken lightly either.

***

“It’s a relief to see you feeling better.”

“It’s thanks to the medicine you gave me. Really, thank you.”

Song Ji-un looked visibly relieved upon seeing me looking better than yesterday. The sincerity in his expression touched something in me. Moved by how he could genuinely worry about a stranger he’d only met two days ago, I couldn’t help but feel a warm pang in my chest.

‘Is he an angel?’

Even the breakfast he made was delicious. Maybe because I was still recovering, but this time, he’d even added soy-braised beef to the side dishes.

‘Is he really an angel?’

Tasting the soy-braised beef with gratitude, the familiar flavor filled my mouth.

Even before my regression, he used to share his side dishes with me from time to time. Maybe because I was basically freeloading at the guild with nowhere else to go, he’d often buy me clothes or essentials, and sometimes even packed lunch to give me.

He still cooks well, even now. It’s just that ingredients are scarce because we’re in the mountains—I’m sure he actually knows how to make even more dishes.

Song Ji-un smiled as he watched me eat with such enjoyment. “You’ve recovered quite a bit, so you should have no problem leaving on the promised day.”

“Cough, hack!” My appetite vanished instantly. 

I choked and coughed, but Song Ji-un continued speaking calmly as I wheezed, “Once you leave here, you must descend the mountain. If you try to climb any higher just because you’re feeling better, you really won’t make it back this time.”

“Cough, well, that’s…”

“The higher you go, the colder it gets. I guarantee it—not just the Support, but even the DPS next to you won’t be able to withstand it. Don’t act reckless for no reason. Just go down the mountain.”

I drank some water and replayed Song Ji-un’s explanation in my head.

It gets colder the higher up you go? That’s insane. I clicked my tongue in disbelief—then suddenly, curiosity struck. “Mountain Keeper.”

“Yes?”

“Then, have you gone up there yourself?”

The pale hand holding chopsticks flinched. Swish. His loosely tied hair shifted as Song Ji-un raised his head. His light green eyes, like new spring buds, quietly fixed on me. After a brief silence, he answered in a low voice, “Yes.”

The atmosphere made it hard to ask any further. What a shame.

Clicking my tongue, I glanced across the table and locked eyes with Ryu Seonghyeon. We exchanged a silent signal without Song Ji-un noticing.

‘Now?’

‘Yes.’

Receiving the cue, Ryu Seonghyeon gave a short, fake cough and said to me with a concerned tone, “Shouldn’t you button up your shirt, Hunter Cha Seohu? You’re not fully recovered from your cold yet. Better be careful.” For an improvised line, it sounded pretty convincing. My brother’s surprisingly good at acting.

Pretending to hesitate, I gave a small sigh. “It’s just… my throat still feels uncomfortable. If I button it all the way up, it feels too tight, so I left a few open.”

“It must still be swollen.”

“No, it doesn’t sting or make me cough like yesterday. It’s a different kind of discomfort now. Feels like a cold piece of ice is stuck in my throat.”

“Hm, that’s odd.”

“Right? I should probably go straight to the hospital once we’re down,” I added a nonchalant smile and sneaked a glance at Song Ji-un’s face.

“…”

As I expected, he bit his lip anxiously, his face filled with worry. After blinking a couple of times, Song Ji-un suddenly stood up. “I’ll be going ahead. Please, continue your meal without me.”

Grabbing his bowl, he quickly left the table and disappeared into the kitchen. Watching his retreating figure, I turned to Ryu Seonghyeon.

‘Did you see that?’

‘Yes.’

We exchanged a silent nod at the same time. That moment boosted the credibility of my theory.

Truth is, the discomfort in my throat had been there ever since I arrived at this house. No—more precisely, ever since I met Song Ji-un. At first, I thought it was just because of the cold. But the swollen throat and the sharp, prickling discomfort were two separate issues. I realized this just yesterday—when Song Ji-un briefly let down his guard in front of me.

That sensation—like my lungs and throat freezing over. As if whatever had been bothering my throat all along suddenly intensified. There was no way I could not notice. I rubbed my exposed neck and recalled what the fake had told me.

“It won’t be easy to convince him. The guy’s been hiding out in the mountains for ages, living alone because of his skill.”

“Hiding? From who?”

The fake had shrugged his shoulders. “That’s something you’ll have to find out yourself.”

‘What an annoying bastard.’

I organized the information I’d gathered so far.

Song Ji-un’s energy was incredibly strong—and dangerous. But even so, there was no real reason for him to isolate himself in the mountains for decades. That kind of energy can be sealed off like a faucet. There had to be a different reason he ran off to a remote place like this. That scratchy feeling in my throat might be related.

‘Maybe… the cold energy is so intense that just being near it causes your body to freeze…’

No, that’s too far-fetched.

I gave a dry chuckle and brushed aside the pointless thought. Right now, I needed to organize the facts.

‘Did someone get hurt because his skill was too powerful?’

That would explain why he’s hiding deep in the mountains.

‘It’s still just my personal theory, though.’

But if that really is the case, things are going to be even more complicated. Unless we find a way to deal with his overwhelming energy, there’s no way he’ll come down the mountain. And for someone like me, who desperately wants to bring him back, that was a depressing thought.

Admitting to myself how little I actually knew about Song Ji-un in this timeline, I whispered to Ryu Seonghyeon, “We need to get closer to him while we still have time.”

“That would be ideal… but I don’t think it’ll be easy.” It seemed he had also noticed Song Ji-un’s high level of wariness.

I popped a piece of short rib into my mouth and grinned at Ryu Seonghyeon.

“Just trust me.”

As expected, Song Ji-un’s braised short ribs was delicious.

***

Outside, the snowstorm was still raging. The wind was so fierce, you could hear it howling through the windows. With nothing better to do indoors, I spent my time working hard to get close to Song Ji-un. Ryu Seonghyeon followed behind me nervously.

“Come to think of it, I still haven’t heard your name, Mountain Keeper. What is it?”

“…”

“I’m Cha Seohu, by the way. Though you probably already heard that?”

“…Yes.”

“So, what’s your name? How old are you? You look like you’re around my age—should we drop the honorifics?”

I followed him around, pestering him with questions. Song Ji-un looked a bit flustered.

Didn’t matter. I was confident anyway.

Every time I’d made an effort to get close to someone, it had always worked out. Even Hyeon Dowun, who was ten times more ill-tempered and difficult than Song Ji-un, eventually gave in. And all the older sisters in the district fell for me, too, when I put in the charm.

‘Guess it’s all thanks to the face.’

Determined to make use of my good looks, I gave Song Ji-un a dazzling eye smile. “It’s kind of awkward to keep calling you ‘Mountain Keeper,’ right? At least tell me your name?”

“…You’ll be leaving soon anyway. Is there a reason for you to know my name?”

“Oof, that stings a bit. You took in a couple of guys with nowhere to go—of course I should know the name of our host.”

After staring at me with conflicted eyes, Song Ji-un let out a sigh. “What is it you want?”

“Your name. And… I’d like you to treat me more comfortably,” I responded in a serious tone. If I kept acting like I was joking, it would only hurt my credibility. When someone’s being sincere, you have to match that sincerity. “I like you, Mountain Keeper. I think it’s admirable how you go out of your way to help strangers you don’t even know.”

Song Ji-un’s eyes widened like lanterns. His ears turned red as he flustered, swallowing dryly and furrowing his brows. “L–like me? You shouldn’t say things like that. You already have a partner…”

“…Huh?”

Before I could make sense of what he meant, Ryu Seonghyeon suddenly jumped in, clearly panicked. “Wait a second!”