Si-Hun's breath hitched.
"Thank you…For everything, Arthur." Si-Hun said, his voice low.
Arthur didn't say anything and just took a sip from his tea.
"Drink. Your tea will get colder."
Si-Hun smiled and took a sip from his tea.
No one said anything, but they knew, what there was needed to be said was already spoken.
Si-Hun finished his tea and excused himself as he had to go for another raid.
"I'll leave now. Gotta go to another raid."
"Haha, kill those monsters!" Arthur said.
"Haha, see you tomorrow!" Si-Hun said while leaving.
He got out of the door with the sword in his bag, which was sticking out.
His face was calm and relaxed, but his expression was soft.
His eyes felt light but heavy at the same time.
Arthur saw him leaving and smiled to himself, feeling proud.
"I've never seen you like this." Kuro suddenly spoke.
Si-Hun glanced up.
"I almost forgot that you were with me."
The man who was seeing Si-Hun come out was standing confused.
"Who the hell is he talking to? Has he gone mental?'' The man muttered to himself.
Si-Hun got on his bike and drove away.
The man followed on his bike.
Si-Hun went straight to the portal.
There…he saw someone unpleasant.
Yu-Jun.
But this time, he was too relaxed to let his guard shake.
He got off the bike, and as soon as he did, Yu-Jun walked up to him.
"You are late…let's enter." He spoke with the same charm that was uneasy.
Si-Hun didn't say anything and just entered.
He had already handed his bag to Kuro.
He only had his dagger, the one he used in portal raids.
Yu-Jun followed, a little annoyed.
"Tchh…He's hard to get talking to." He said to himself.
The normal routine was followed.
The boss fight was harder this time.
Si-Hun helped a little.
The mana was also a good share.
Si-Hun was happy that the mana share he got was pretty much.
"The mana was expensive here…It's real earning," Yu-Jun said to Si-Hun.
"I know," Si-Hun said, not looking at Si-Hun and getting on his bike.
Yu-Jun just watched him leave and gritted his teeth.
"I had to follow him to that damn old man's house…and now he won't even talk!" Yu-Jun said angrily.
Actually…he was the one Minjun had sent to follow Si-Hun, and he took the chance.
Si-Hun was parking his bike in the parking lot when he got a call.
He looked at the caller ID; it was Su-Yeon.
He narrowed his eyes and picked up the call.
"Si-Hun!"
"Hmm…"
"You told me to tell you if I was going at night…Actually…I have to buy something for my university. Can I go?"
Si-Hun scoffed playfully, actually laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" She asked completely innocent way while furrowing her brows.
"Nothing…it's nothing."
"Then tell me?"
"Come down."
"Down?"
"Yes."
"O-okay." She said, a little confused.
He waited there until he saw her coming, wearing her long coat.
She always looked so small in that coat that it made Si-Hun smirk every time.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was here when you called."
"You'll go with me?"
"If you want…." He said, raising his brows.
"Sure!" She said, smiling, and they walked towards the store, which was near.
"You're out in this cold so often…You'll catch a cold." She said.
"I'll ask you to take care of me then." He said, eyes relaxed but playful.
Her doe eyes flickered towards him.
"H-huh?" She stuttered while looking at the road again and blushing.
Si-Hun caught her blushing and smiled in pride.
They arrived at the shop, and she got what she needed.
"Wahh…This teddy bear plushie is so cute!!" She said, picking it up in awe.
He saw her looking at it so admiringly.
He remembered himself looking at weapons with that admiration while she looked at harmless plushies like that.
It made her look even more alive.
"But I didn't bring the money…" She said to herself and put the plushie back while pouting a little.
Si-Hun didn't say anything, just picked up the plushie and put it on the counter.
"This too." He said while paying the receptionist.
Su-Yeon looked at him in surprise, her gaze so soft and her eyes innocent.
"S-Si-Hun! No…I don't want it. Put it back!" She said, protesting.
She hit his arm with her tiny fists.
Si-Hun didn't say anything, just held her fist and took the plushie.
She stopped, her heart fluttered with his sudden move.
"Let's go." He said, handed her the plushie, and started to walk out.
"Why'd you do that…?" She said, eyes tense, but even when she was angry, she looked harmless.
He didn't listen to her.
"You shouldn't throw tantrums like a child." He said, voice deep but relaxed.
"I-I'm not a child! And I'm not throwing tantrums!" She said, pouting and furrowing her brows.
"Then what are you doing?"
"I…" Her lips parted, but she didn't say anything.
"I'll pay you back." She said, looking away while brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
He stopped walking and looked at her.
"W-what!?" She said.
He didn't say anything, just took a step closer and bent near her ear.
She instinctively stumbled a little, but he caught her wrist, his grip firm and gentle.
She gasped as she felt his warm breath near her ear.
"You shouldn't say things like that…" He said, his voice a little husky.
Saying this, he leaned back and started walking, leaving her heart racing and her cheeks crimson.
"W-why would he say that?'' She whispered to herself and caught up with him, not daring to catch his gaze.
They walked quietly…until thunder decided to arrive.
She stopped in her tracks as she saw them.
Si-Hun stopped as well and looked back.
"What happened?"
"They…"
"Who?''
She pointed towards the three guys who were standing a few feet away from them.
Si-Hun instantly knew who they were.
"Not them right now…" He said.
She held onto his sleeve and gripped it tight.
"Hey…Su-Yeon…We're not that scary…" One of the guys spoke.
Si-Hun clenched his jaw tight and softly pried her fingers free from his sleeve.
She looked at him before looking down.
He then looked at those guys.
"Take a step closer, I dare you." He said, authority in his voice.
Their breaths hitched.
They didn't take a step closer.
Su-Yeon just stood there, her head low, hair falling over her face and shoulders.
She held the teddy bear close to her chest and mouth.
Si-Hun took a step closer, his eyes dark and intense.
The guy took a step back.
"Where are you going?'' Si-Hun said as he held his shoulder and stared into his eyes.
His eyes again flickered that void look, entirely black with just purple residue and a white light as his pupils.
The guy stopped in his tracks and, his breath hitching.
Si-Hun then punched him in the stomach, and he fell back, spitting blood.
Su-Yeon gasped and quickly looked away while shutting her eyes close.
Si-Hun looked back at her and took a light breath.
"Stay behind me," He said.
The other two stepped forward but stopped as they saw his dark eyes.
Their breaths trembled under his gaze.
Si-Hun held one's arm before twisting it painfully.
The guy growled in pain.
"You should think twice before stepping close." He said, voice emotionless.
The other guy's eyes turned wide as he saw both his friends getting beaten by a single man.
"Don't try to run away. I'll catch you even if you do," Si-Hun said in his low voice.
The guy stopped in his tracks and did not dare move.
This was the guy who actually touched her.
Si-Hun knew it even when she didn't tell him who it was.
He took out his revolver.
"S-Si-Hun!" She shouted.
He looked back and met her scared eyes.
He lowered his eyes and sighed while putting the gun back in his pocket.
The man, seeing his attention diverted, ran away.
Si-Hun saw him running away and used his flash to catch him as he entered an alley.
Si-Hun smirked.
He stopped in front of him and took out his gun.
He didn't think twice before shooting the man in his hand.
"You shouldn't touch any girl, let alone her, or I'll make that hand useless too." He warned before turning away and leaving.
The man groaned in pain and held his arm tightly.
Si-Hun quickly returned to Su-Yeon and saw her crouching on the ground, her knees close to her chest as she held her plushie close to her chest.
Her hair was falling over her frame, covering her to an extent.
His breath softened at her vulnerable state.
He hated seeing her like that.
He bent down to her level.
She slowly looked up at him.
"Your coat is getting dirty." He said, voice low.
She didn't say anything.
He leaned in a little closer and held her shoulders.
"Your hair is touching the ground." He said as she looked at her hair.
She quickly got up.
He helped her up, hands still gentle around her shoulders, careful not to let his grip be harsh.
"What did you do to him?'' She asked.
He looked at her and said,
"I just…punched him." He said.
"You're lying."
Si-Hun's breath caught.
"Don't think about him." He said, voice heavy but soft.
She puffed her cheeks and furrowed her eyebrows.
"You looked scary…" She said.
His eyes softened.
"I'll try to be less scary then." He spoke.
She chuckled softly.
"Let's go from here." He said, removing his hands from her shoulders.
She didn't even realize he was keeping her steady.
The walk back home was comfortable, and she felt safe knowing he was with her.
She walked with him to their apartments.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" She said, opening the door of her apartment.
"Sure…" He said and smiled at her warmly.
He opened his door and entered.
He removed his jacket and hung it on the hanger.
It was a long day.
He went to the kitchen and made dinner for himself.
The food was baking in the oven when his phone popped up.
Su-Yeon had texted him.
"Have you eaten dinner?" She messaged.
He leaned against the counter and texted her back.
"Have you?"
She saw the messages read and her cheeks turned faint red as she didn't expect him to reply so fast.
"No."
"Then eat." He replied with a little smile.
"You should eat too, as opposed to giving me orders to eat." She texted with an annoyed emoji.
"Haha, okay. I'll eat then."
"Good boy."
She realized what she had written was double-meaning, and she gasped.
He read the text, amused while furrowing his brows and smirking.
"Good boy?" He texted back.
"Sorry…" She texted back.
"It's okay. Go eat now." He said, putting his phone down.
She just stared at the screen in embarrassment.