HVG Ch 14

Episode 14

“…Why would I look for another nest?”

<You must repent! This place is full of landmines that will turn you into a villain. Of course, you should leave before your mental state crumbles to dust! („• ᴗ •„)>

This little shit?

“Who was the one telling me to live like a pushover, and now you’re pressuring me? Just stop sending me these damn missions already. Pointless orders, all of them. My brother is here, so where else would I go?”

Haewon brushed off his clothes in irritation and started walking again, only to suddenly turn back. There was nothing there, not even the system interface, yet he glared at the empty air as if it had wronged him, then spoke again.

“What’s the penalty for failing?”

<?(„• x •„)?>

“…Forget it.”

As if he’d actually listen. Bone fractures? Like he hadn’t already been beaten to the point his joints nearly dislocated. The “System” didn’t seem to know any threats beyond taking points or invoking some vague sense of misfortune or broken bones.

No matter what the penalty was, Haewon had no intention of following this mission. His brother was here. Someone who cared this much about him, how could he leave?

He glanced up at the blazing sun, then thought of Chorang, who must be waiting for his meal, and headed quickly toward the mess hall.

“Here for your meal?”

“Yes.”

“This is all that’s left today, so I can’t give you much. You’ll have to make do with this.”

The person in charge of serving food dropped a few meatballs from a can into his tray. At least they were heated and steaming, but the portion was undeniably small. Haewon frowned deeply as he compared it to the portion the person next to him had received.

“Why is mine so little? That guy got way more than me.”

“It’s because you came late. Look at the people behind you. If I give you more, they won’t get any. You still want it? I’m the one who gets cursed at for giving small portions every time. Do you think I enjoy this?”

“Hey, come on, move it! Can’t you see the line behind you?!”

Haewon didn’t respond. He simply fixed the server with a hard stare and stood his ground like a statue. The server tried reasoning and scolding, but finally, overwhelmed by the barrage of curses of those waiting behind, he slapped one more meatball onto Haewon’s tray.

“Fuck it. I’m giving it to you ‘cause I’m disgusted.”

Only then did Haewon ease his glare, pick up the tray, and head back to his room. It wasn’t the best feeling, sure, but surely he was allowed this much of a tantrum… This was for his Chorang, after all.

As soon as he opened the door, Chorang came running and clung to him. Haewon handed him the tray and began searching for the medicine.

“Chorang, eat your food. Hyung’s just stepping out for a bit.”

“Yes.”

Then he reached under the mattress and pulled out an energy bar, biting off a chunk and chewing. It was a chocolate bar he had bought with points from the system store the night before.

“Chorang-ah, if you get hungry, there’s something under the bed. You can eat that, alright? Don’t go outside, okay? When I get back, I’ll give you another chocolate bar like last time. Got it?”

“Got it?”

“You little rascal. You’re supposed to say ‘yes’!”

“Yes.”

With his cheeks puffed out from munching on meatballs, Chorang looked like a tiny wild animal. Haewon let out a small laugh, almost poked his cheek, but decided against it. Instead, he went to the corner, grabbed his weapon, and stood up. He dressed lighter than usual, pulled his cap low, and made sure his mask was snugly in place.

“I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be back!”

Leaving Chorang waving behind him, Haewon stepped out of the room and did a few quick jumps in place. This should be enough to last for three hours. His plan was to move fast before his condition worsened.

He checked the time on the watch strapped to his wrist. Supplies usually came in between noon and 1 p.m., and it was currently 10 a.m.

If he wanted to get there early, scout the area, and secure a spot, even this time frame was cutting it close. As he rushed down from his room, going over what he might have forgotten, someone suddenly grabbed him in a corner on the first floor as Haewon was pushing the door open to leave and spun him around.

“Hey! You saw it yesterday, right?! My brother called my name! I told you, didn’t I? My brother hasn’t forgotten me!”

“…Didn’t hear anything.”

It was Kim Il-hong, the same guy who had been at the very front of the line during mealtime, piling his tray high with meatballs. This bastard… Acting like he was reliving some emotional family reunion, he grabbed Haewon by the shoulders and babbled on excitedly. Haewon twisted free of his grip just as the nausea started rising.

“Whether it’s your brother or not, I don’t care. I’m busy, so get out of the way. I need to go get supplies.”

“Hey, perfect! I’m going too! I’m coming along. I swear, my brother’s definitely coming back. I just know he’s secretly coming to see me again!”

Wow. Sunbae, huh? Haewon had a lot to say to that, but for now, he held back.

“Uh-huh… Yeah, that sounds just fucking great.”

“You little shit, did you just say ‘fucking’?”

“Me? Why would I?”

“Oh, screw this! Acting all innocent now? Spit, spit! Get lost!”

Kim Il-hong let go of Haewon’s shirt and stepped back, cursing him out in a steady stream as he grabbed a drone and quickly caught up again.

The fortress base of the Red Cloud Guild, where they were stationed, was about three kilometers away from the Tree of Good and Evil.

From a bird’s-eye view, Seonak Island had a large tree in the center and fortress bases positioned around the edge. As a result, the guild fortresses were connected like dominoes in a ring. Behind the fortress base stretched an endless ocean, so vast that the shore was no longer in sight.

“Hey, Seo Haewon. What’s wrong with your face? Why is it so red? If you’re going to be weak again, just quit! Damn, you came here bragging about getting supplies, but you look awful. What’s your brother doing while you’re like this? It’s maddening!”

All the way to the Tree of Good and Evil, Kim Il-hong kept running his mouth without pause.

He complained about the stink of sweat from the heat making him nauseous, threatened Haewon not to get in the way of his family reunion, told him to fix that tomato-red face of his, then spat out a few more curses, saying Haewon’s silence was pissing him off. Eventually, he even widened the distance between them.

You dumbass, I already popped a handful of pills.

“That’s why my brother keeps looking for you without fail!”

“…And what does that have to do with Sunbae showing up?”

“When you’re walking around all pathetic like this, you think my brother, the kindest person in the world, is just gonna ignore it and pass by? Not a chance. My brother is seriously so kind. Look at how he cares for you just because you’re an acquaintance. If you’re gonna hide, at least do it properly. What, you praying for him to come find you or something?”

“They’re the ones coming to me, alright? They are.”

Haewon himself was dumbfounded every time Beom Ryeohan appeared suddenly here and there. He genuinely wanted to ask how the hell he always knew where to go.

“Yeah, well, if it’s precognition or whatever, how are you supposed to avoid that?”

“Precognition? Who? Sunbae?”

“You dissing my brother again? Fuck off. My brother doesn’t need any of that crap, he’s just insanely strong, okay?! That future sight thing or whatever, that belongs to that bastard Jo Seolhyeok! Isn’t he the one who’s out there constantly hunting you down?”

“Future sight? That’s just some tracking skill, probably.”

Haewon clicked his tongue and turned away from Kim Il-hong, who was still spouting nonsense. His lips, hidden under the mask, were dry and cracked. His breathing was getting heavier, too. The more time he wasted, the worse his odds became in the scramble for supplies.

<You who dream of escaping from being a villain! Feeling under the weather? Food is one of humanity’s most basic needs, but your health comes first! (´｡• ᵕ •｡`)>

–Move like lightning, faster than a sharpshooter! Get out of there now and dive straight into bed!

Reward: 100 points

Failure Penalty: Something very bad might happen?

Time Remaining: 30 minutes (29:22)

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Why you too…? As if his stomach wasn’t already cramping from the stress of his poor condition.

Haewon shoved the bright blue window aside and started moving again. Thirty minutes left. If he could get the food and get out within that time, it would be enough. Kim Il-hong, who had stopped briefly to fiddle with something, glanced over and followed behind.

So Haewon didn’t notice. He didn’t realize Kim Il-hong had launched a drone and was filming them from above.

“I mean~ What would my brother recruit some guy like this? If anything, he should be taking me with him.”

“Then please, please, go say that to his face. Ask him why he’s messing with someone who’s just trying to live in peace. Does he not have a conscience?”

“Conscience? Says the guy reeking of sweat? You’re the one who should be talking about conscience?”

“Hey… This is cold sweat, alright? And what smell, seriously…?”

Beom Ryeohan was the type to never back down once he’d made up his mind, so stubborn that people called him bullheaded. He’d been that way back in college, and Haewon doubted that had changed much over the years. You could tell just by how he dealt with Kim Il-hong.

Haewon had known Kim Il-hong for three years now. Ever since the day he barged in asking about his brother’s whereabouts, Kim Il-hong had roamed the campus like he owned the place, frequently pestering Haewon about where his brother was.

Still, sometimes the bond between the two brothers did seem touching. When he saw Beom Ryeohan treating his younger brother with that rare sense of care, Haewon couldn’t help but feel a little stirred.

But… when did things between them become so cold, like they were strangers?

“Hey, but you two… didn’t used to be like this, right? Did you do something to piss off Sunbae?”

The sound of footsteps behind him stopped. Haewon paused too and turned to look back.

Kim Il-hong stood still, wearing a strange expression, like he genuinely didn’t understand, as if he were either angry or just didn’t know how to explain.

After a moment, he scratched his head roughly and muttered, “…All of this, whose fault do you think it is?”