RHH | Chapter 4.2

Leehwan grabbed Absalom’s cheeks. As he applied a little pressure, Absalom leaned closer. Watching the red slowly spread across his cheeks, Leehwan whispered,

“If you cheat, I won’t let it slide.”

Absalom, who had been momentarily dazed, slowly smiled. Like a white peony in full bloom, his beauty left Leehwan momentarily stunned.

Their lips met. The brief kiss left Leehwan wanting more, and he chased Absalom’s lips.

“That’s my line.”

Their lips met again, briefly tangling before parting. The lips that had once known only recklessness now seemed to have learned how to tease. Leehwan caught the tongue that was trying to escape and lightly bit it. Absalom’s laughter echoed in his mouth.

Absalom’s demeanor was exactly the same as usual. It was hard to believe he had just slaughtered his own kind. Leehwan felt relieved but also conflicted.

The village chief brought them bread. Paired with stew made from venison, it made for a satisfying meal.

As they were finishing their meal, someone approached the back door. Leehwan and Absalom focused on the presence without saying a word. However, the presence just lingered without making any further moves. Absalom whispered,

“Should I go out?”

“I’ll go.”

Leehwan quietly stood up. As he opened the back door, a girl darted away like a squirrel. He reached out and grabbed the back of her neck.

She looked to be in her mid-teens, with broom-like red hair and distinct freckles. She struggled desperately to escape Leehwan’s grip. So much so that her collar stretched taut, threatening to tear.

“Let go, let me go!”

But Leehwan just watched her quietly. His gaze was fixed on the pouch hanging from her waist. Divine power emanated from it. Just as Leehwan reached for the pouch—

“Gretel?”

The village chief, pulling a cart, appeared with a flustered expression and muttered something. Leehwan didn’t miss the anxiety that flickered across the chief’s face.

If he wanted to, he could have taken that pouch right then and there. But it was obvious things would get noisy. Leehwan glanced at Absalom. The weather was already cold, and he really wanted to avoid sleeping outdoors if possible.

Leehwan loosened his grip. The girl who had fallen on her backside, Gretel, quickly scrambled to her feet and ran toward the chief.

“Did this child do something wrong?”

“No, not exactly. She was just loitering near the gate…”

Absalom stepped in instead of Leehwan. Gretel’s expression turned dazed the moment she saw him. The chief gently patted her head.

“She’s an orphan. The whole village is raising her. She must have come out of curiosity about outsiders.”

“I see. I was on edge because of the monster we saw earlier, so I ended up acting rashly. I’m sorry, miss.”

Absalom smiled warmly at Gretel. Her face turned bright red, and she nodded shyly.

The chief, who had brought blankets and pillows, handed them over and then led Gretel away. The sound of the empty cart echoed on the rough road.

Gretel glanced up at the chief. His tanned profile was tense. She clenched her sweaty hands tightly.

“Gretel.”

Her slender shoulders flinched at the simple call. The chief pretended not to notice and gently stroked her head.

“You were curious about the outsiders, weren’t you? Right?”

“Y-yes!”

“Well, it’s natural to be curious about people from outside. What did you have for dinner tonight?”

“Uncle Hans made me a mushroom sandwich.”

“You like mushrooms, so it must have been delicious.”

As the topic shifted, Gretel’s face visibly brightened. The two of them chatted softly as they walked.

Gretel’s house was a small hut in the middle of the village. The chief, who had walked her to her door, turned to leave but then stopped and looked at her.

“Gretel.”

At the chief’s serious tone, Gretel stiffened. The chief bent down to meet her eyes.

“You’ve always been such a good listener, even when you were a baby. We all care for you deeply.”

“Y-yes… I know…”

“Please don’t abandon us. If you leave, we’d all be dead within a day.”

“Abandon you? I would never do that!”

Gretel shook her head repeatedly. The chief smiled kindly and patted her shoulder.

After sending the chief off, Gretel entered her house and looked around. The small space was filled with just a bed and a table. Suddenly, the man she had seen earlier flashed in her mind. She couldn’t imagine anyone in the world being as beautiful as him.

People from outside the village. But to her, this place was her entire world. She clenched the pouch at her waist and bowed her head.

Creak—

The door opened, and the old hinges let out a mournful sound. To Absalom, it was the most awaited sound. He stood up happily.

“Welcome back, Leehwan.”

Leehwan closed the door and raised his head. Absalom watched him intently and gestured.

“Come here.”

“What? Why so suddenly?”

“Hurry.”

Leehwan moved closer to Absalom. Then, Absalom pulled him into an embrace. Wrapped in Absalom’s warm arms and his unique scent, Leehwan finally felt the reality of being back with him. As Leehwan let out a small sigh, Absalom chuckled softly.

“You’re tired, aren’t you? I’ve warmed up the bathwater, so go wash up.”

But Absalom’s arms remained around Leehwan. Leehwan wrapped his arms around Absalom’s waist. Burying his face in Absalom’s shoulder, where his silver hair was scattered, the smooth texture felt pleasantly cool. Rubbing his cheek against it, Absalom let out a small laugh.

“You’re being clingy. Who knew you could be like this?”

“Do you hate it?”

“Of course not.”

Absalom kissed Leehwan’s head and whispered.

“I’m happy.”

His voice was sweet, like cotton candy. That sweetness painted over the gloom that had coiled in Leehwan’s mind with a different color.

More. Leehwan moved, chasing the sweetness. The scent, like a forest after a summer rain, drew him in. When he came to his senses, he was sliding his lips along Absalom’s neck.

“Leehwan…”

A heated voice called him. That warmth melted away not only the lingering gloom but also his reason. Leehwan looked up at Absalom. His turquoise eyes were shaking with desire.

The certainty that they both wanted the same thing moved Leehwan. He grabbed Absalom’s neck. His fingers, stroking the back of Absalom’s head, conveyed a clear intention. Absalom let out a low moan and furrowed his brows. Just as Leehwan pulled his hand back, Absalom lunged forward.

Bang!

A familiar sound echoed through the village. Leehwan and Absalom, their lips almost touching, bit down on them simultaneously.

“What is it this time?”

“I wonder.”

Gnashing their teeth, they rushed out and found a group of Manticores crashing into the hazy barrier.

“It seems there’s a nest nearby. We should have wiped them out completely.”

They glared at the Manticores as if they were mortal enemies. Misinterpreting their anger, the chief approached.

“You’ll be safe here, so don’t worry too much.”

“We saw this earlier, but it’s a strange phenomenon. How is this possible?”

“I can’t just tell outsiders something so important… but let’s just say we have a special method.”

While Absalom and the chief talked, Leehwan stared in another direction. Gretel stood in front of her hut, her face pale. She was clutching the pouch tightly with both hands. The faint divine energy he felt earlier was still there.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Leehwan and Absalom spent a few days in the village. The chief kept probing their intentions to settle down. The villagers would often linger around them. And among them was Gretel.

While Gretel blushed every time she stood in front of Absalom, she was particularly wary of Leehwan. The strange thing was, despite that, she often glanced at Leehwan.

“I don’t like it.”

On the evening they first gave a positive response to the chief’s probing, Absalom grumbled while half-heartedly stirring the soup pot. Even as the boiling soup splashed onto his hand, Absalom didn’t seem to care.

Leehwan, who was putting dried fruits into a bowl beside him, replied.

“That’s what I should be saying.”

His tone was incredulous, but his hands were a bit rough as he moved the dried fruits. Absalom’s eyes softened at that. His stirring became a bit calmer.

As the soup was almost done, a presence approached. It was the chief, who had become quite familiar over the past few days. They waited quietly until the chief knocked on the door, then opened it.

The chief had a basket of bread in his arms. Absalom took it with a smile.

“Thanks to you, chief, we’re eating well. I’m not good at making bread.”

“That’s what neighbors are for. We have to help each other. The rabbit meat you brought yesterday was delicious. My family loved it. You caught it, right?”

Even though they guessed the monsters were starving, there were few animals in these mountains. The Manticores that appeared nearby were territorial, so Leehwan assumed they or the villagers had hunted them all.

The chief began to ramble on about trivial matters with Absalom. Leehwan quietly observed the chief.

This village was like a single organism. It was a small village with less than a hundred people, but if someone burned bread at the western end, the eastern end would know within hours.

It wasn’t just about rumors. There was a secretive air in the village, typical of those who shared secrets. Leehwan was certain it was related to the barrier protecting the village from monsters.

The reason for his certainty was Gretel. She was the only villager excluded from that secrecy. In a small village, that exclusion was quite fatal. Young Gretel, trembling from an inexplicable sense of isolation, struggled to get closer to the villagers.

It was so obvious that even after just a few days, Leehwan could tell. The villagers couldn’t possibly be unaware. So, Leehwan thought they were deliberately acting that way.

“What are you thinking about?”

It was when Leehwan’s eyes were lost in thought. Absalom, who had sent the chief away, approached him. Leehwan shook his head. Absalom narrowed his eyes.

“Are you thinking about that girl again?”

“Not just any girl, Gretel. And it’s not like I’m thinking…”

Absalom, who had been pouting, suddenly laughed. It was a playful expression.

“The soup’s done, and we have bread, so let’s eat. Oh, right. There’s a feast the day after tomorrow. Mr. Herzen caught a wild boar. Oh, Mr. Herzen is a hunter…”

What Leehwan realized wasn’t just about the village. He swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of his tongue.

‘Can I be a little greedy?’

The desperate voice he had heard one night echoed in his head.