Almost three weeks had passed since the battle ended. And Wolryung was still unconscious. By now, many people of the alliance branch had already given up hope that Wolryung might wake up, though Jin Ho had yet to give up as his young master still looked just fine on the outside.
***
Wolryung, who was still unconscious, was having a dream. A dream of his life in the modern world. A dream where his mom and dad both were alive.
“Junho! Come down, breakfast is ready!”
Young Junho, hearing his mother’s voice, came down in a hurry.
“Hey champ. You’re gonna be late for school today as well.”
Having breakfast with his mom and dad...
Was there anything happier that could happen to him?
It was an endless happy dream.
“Ahhh, Mom! That hurts.”
“Why would you always make trouble at school, huh?! Because of you I had to endure so many humiliations from the headmaster! And you can’t even endure this pain?!”
“S-Sorry, mom! I-I won’t do that again!”
“You always say that same word, you brat! But you end up making trouble for me in the end!”
His mom’s nagging because he always makes trouble for her.
“Children are bound to make trouble, honey. It’s their age to have fun, after all.”
“You shut up!”
“...”
“You’re the reason my kind child is becoming like this!”
“...”
‘How did it become my fault here?’
His father, taking his side when his mother nags at him. Their smile, their quarrel about simple matters, then forgetting.
A life with a family.
A happy life.
A life where you have everything.
That was the kind of dream it was.
Junho didn’t want this dream to ever end.
‘Just a little longer.’
I want to live like this just a little longer.
“Happy birthday, Junho!”
“Happy birthday, my child!”
Celebrating his birthdays together.
Shopping.
Picnic.
An endless dream.
‘Let me live here forever.’
I...
‘Want to live this life forever.’
Please...
And at last, the dream ended, without him wanting.
“...”
Wolryung’s eyes were opened now, staring straight at the ceiling. Heart filled with countless emotions, yet his face showed nothing. The room was filled with nothing but silence. Then with that expressionless face his head turned toward the door.
“...”
Wolryung slowly pushed himself up then stepped down the bed. Slowly, he went toward the door and opened it.
“...”
As soon as he came out of the room he could see a young man not far off at the training ground. Clothes clinging to his skin as he was drenched in sweat, rapidly breathing and swinging his sword mid-air relentlessly. The young man looked like he would collapse any moment.
“...”
Wolryung slowly went forward toward the young man. One step at a time. When he arrived behind the young man, he didn’t talk or call out for him. He just simply watched him for a moment, standing there quietly.
He was feeling something upon seeing this young man in front of him. A feeling that reminded him of the dream. He didn’t know if it was just because he had that dream just now that this feeling was still lingering inside him or was it for something else entirely.
What was this?
Then Wolryung finally opened his mouth.
“At this rate you’re gonna collapse again, Jin Ho.”
Jin Ho’s eyes went wide as he heard the familiar voice suddenly. He slowly turned around. And soon, he could see the young man in front of him, a familiar face. Wolryung was right in front of him, standing. Jin Ho’s body started trembling as he extended one arm toward Wolryung.
“...Young master.”
Tears started forming on the corner of his eyes.
“...You are...”
He couldn’t believe his own eyes.
“Man... Look at you. Are you gonna cry or something?”
“...”
“Don’t act like we are lovers or something.”
Jin Ho’s face went stiff upon hearing Wolryung’s reply.
Couldn’t he just go with the mood for a moment?
Well...
It wasn’t bad either. At least he was acting like himself.
A warm smile could be seen on Jin Ho’s face now. And seeing it, Wolryung gave a ridiculous expression.
“Jeez... Don’t smile like that.”
“...”
“Anyway, what were you doing here? If you train like that you’ll just end up falling sick.”
“I just...”
“Well, that doesn’t matter.”
“...”
If it doesn’t matter why ask then?
“How many days has it been?”
“Hm...” Jin Ho started thinking for a moment. “I think it’s been three weeks, maybe.”
Ah, too many days have passed already? Well, considering the thought that there was a high chance of him dying, it wasn’t bad either. At least, he was alive now.
“I see. Let’s go then.”
“Huh?”
Wolryung turned and was about to go somewhere. While Jin Ho looked a bit startled by it.
“Go where, young master?”
“Don’t question too much. You’ll see. We have some business to settle.”
“...”
‘Business?’
Seeing the twisted grin on Wolryung’s face again, Jin Ho was having an ominous feeling about it.
This bastard was back on his usual self.