UR Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Twinkling snowflake-shaped bulbs and round bulbs, decorated in a riot of colors, lit up the sparkling LED screen, where an announcement appeared that the parade would soon begin. I-bom stood on tiptoe at a high spot where he could see the stage, stretching his neck forward.

“Do you like things like this?”

Eun Beom-ho asked.

‘Things like this.’ In other words, something everyone knows. Something childish and predictable, the sort of thing only kids would like. When you think about it that way, you can’t quite understand why it’s fun—but if you watch it with someone you like… your heart starts to race.

“This is my first time seeing something like this.”

Eun Beom-ho glanced sideways at the youthful face standing beside him. His voice had risen slightly, as if lifted by excitement. The pleasantly plump, round cheeks that puffed out beside the sharp bridge of his nose, and the softly curved corners of his lips, were incredibly endearing. Just like his name, there was a fluttery warmth about him, like spring.

“…Wow.”

I-bom let out an awed exclamation.

People dressed in glittering outfits suited to a winter snowflake parade spun around near the front of the square, decked out in colorful decorations. It was nothing surprising or new to Eun Beom-ho, but watching the happy expression on I-bom’s face beside him was a pleasure in itself. The corners of his mouth lifted gently.

‘It was a good idea to come far out here.’

If they had been near Manwol Mountain, his winds would have circled around the two of them, whispering. But Neverland was located in the southern outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. Here, the guardian spirits were the water winds, who didn’t get along with the chattering West Wind, so news wouldn’t travel to him so quickly.

Eun Beom-ho leaned back casually and watched I-bom. I-bom kept rising and lowering onto his tiptoes, looking so happy it made even the onlookers feel excited. Suddenly, Beom-ho thought that he wanted to keep I-bom smiling like this forever.

“Oh! Look over there!”

Under the blue sky, I-bom’s cheerful voice rang out brightly.

“There’s a roller… a roller coaster over there!”

His expression, fresh from watching the parade, was bubbling over with excitement. His sparkling eyes, flushed cheeks, and sweetly parted cherry-like lips were so adorable that Beom-ho almost wanted to kiss him right then and there. Yes—bringing him here had been the right decision. As if he’d never been the wary one with wide eyes before, he grinned from ear to ear and tugged at the edge of Beom-ho’s coat.

With the heavy rumble of the coaster’s wheels, Beom-ho let himself be pulled along, feigning reluctance. Then he leaned in subtly toward I-bom’s shoulder.

“Mm, so there’s a roller coaster?”

“It’s amazing. I’ve only ever seen them on TV. They say the Neverland roller coaster holds the Guinness World Record for the longest track in Korea! That’s why it’s so famous. But I heard if you don’t reserve ahead, you can’t ride it because of the crowds.”

“Really? I didn’t know it was that famous.”

He’d claimed he’d never been, but he clearly liked the idea. His round cheeks lifted as he chattered on about the coaster’s features, as if he’d looked it up in advance.

“Good thing I brought you here. If you like it this much, should we come every day?”

“Nooo…”

I-bom narrowed his eyes and clapped a hand over Beom-ho’s mouth. Beom-ho caught that hand and gently pulled it away, their fingers naturally interlacing without hesitation.

“Why not? If you like it, we can come every day. I could bring you every single day. How about we come for an entire month straight? Or even better—close the park down and have it open just for you and me.”

I-bom frowned seriously at that.

“You… you can’t say things like that.”

“Why not?”

Lowering their joined hands, Beom-ho asked the question, his casual tone laced with quiet anticipation.

“You have work, don’t you? Besides, if you only spend time with me, your friends will feel left out.”

Beom-ho let out a faint, deflated chuckle.

“I don’t have many friends. And the few I have are all busy.”

From birth, the weight of his lineage had been overwhelming. Beom-ho had lived every moment without rest, his time demanded around the clock. It had been the natural order of things for him—and others expected nothing less from Eun Kang’s grandson.

And yet, despite having everything, Beom-ho had found his life dull. Until he met I-bom, his heart had been like a locked, frozen storage room. Only after meeting him did that lock melt away like snow.

“That’s why you have to take responsibility for me, I-bom.”

The word “responsibility” coming from a man’s mouth somehow sounded embarrassing. I-bom remembered hearing it once before—murmured drunkenly. Now, with no words to offer back, he just parted his lips soundlessly.

They were making their way awkwardly toward the roller coaster entrance when the attendant at the gate stepped forward with a smile.

“Hello! The coaster is open for boarding right now. Would you like some help?”

“….”

Beom-ho’s eyebrow twitched at the words. Perhaps sensing a faint shadow in him, I-bom—who had been all set to dart inside—came to a halt.

“Do you… not like roller coasters?”

I-bom looked up at him with wide brown eyes, still sparkling. A moment ago he’d been bouncing with excitement, but now he seemed concerned about Beom-ho’s reaction.

“I’ve never been on one.”

Beom-ho smiled smoothly, as if nothing were wrong.

「Lie.」

A small whisper came at his ear—the North Wind’s voice. He hadn’t expected him to come this far; how had he even found them here?

「You get motion sickness, my lord. If you lie, your conscience will heat up.」

Beom-ho narrowed his eyes at the empty air, and the North Wind quickly stifled himself with a cough.

「I just… was worried, that’s all.」

“…North Wind.”

「What? I’m your direct spirit. I’m allowed to be curious, aren’t I?」

Beom-ho sighed and ignored him. Still, the North Wind trailed after them like he was wedging himself between the two, sticking close as if he were their personal bodyguard.

So one of them had followed after all, even though he’d picked a date spot out of range of his winds. At least the noisy West Wind hadn’t come; that was a relief. Not that he’d admit it—the North Wind would only gloat.

“Not busy, I see?”

Beom-ho muttered curtly. He could be endlessly gentle with I-bom, but his true nature—the sharp air of a predator—showed through now. The North Wind flinched at the edge in his tone.

「Huh?」

“I should tell the mountain god to give you more work.”

「…Would you really? I’m already busy. I barely had time to come here.」

“And that time you make is just to interrupt my date?”

「When have I interrupted anything? I’m providing security.」

“Not needed.”

「But if you get motion sick, you’ll need my help.」

What help? Beom-ho gave the air a flat look.

「You don’t even like vehicles. You don’t like cars either, remember?」

That much was true. Among his feline kind, Beom-ho’s resistance to dizziness was weak. He didn’t even enjoy riding in cars, and planes were worse. But faced with I-bom’s bright eagerness, he couldn’t bring himself to admit that a roller coaster would make him sick.

「All right—your choice. One: I stir up a strong wind to stop the ride. Two: I issue a high wind warning and shut down the entire park. That way you and the young student can spend a nice, quiet time indoors—」

The North Wind cleared his throat, murmuring in a low, sly tone. Unlike the childish West Wind, his mind was as dark as his direction.

“No to both.”

Beom-ho rejected him firmly.

「Why not? Your rut’s coming soon. Better to spend the time indoors than riding a stupid-looking tin can.」

Beom-ho whispered quietly, making sure I-bom couldn’t hear.

“…North Wind. Can’t you see he’s having fun? I don’t want to make the person I like cry for my own selfish reasons.”

「Humans are strange. They should be more selfish.」

“You don’t know what love is.”

「Hey—I do.」

“Then don’t make me say it three times.”

「…Tch, fine.」

The North Wind grumbled under his breath. Beom-ho snapped his fingers, drawing the surrounding air close to dampen any sound—cutting off the North Wind’s voice. Just then, I-bom turned back to speak.

“Oh, so you’ve never been on one because you’ve been busy?”

“Yes. Sadly, I’ve never had the time to enjoy it. But thanks to you, I-bom, I finally get the chance.”

The attendant, overhearing them, stepped closer again.

“Shall I help you with boarding?”

“Oh, yes!”

I-bom nodded quickly at the offer, then glanced at Beom-ho a little hesitantly, a trace of worry in his eyes.

“…It won’t be scary, right?”