I Don’t Want This Reincarnation

After looking over Han Yi-gyeol’s condition for a moment, Cheon Say-yeon narrowed his eyes and placed his hand over Han Yi-gyeol’s heart. He felt a stifling energy. Had he been debuffed?

“You really are a demanding collaborator.”

Cheon Sa-yeon put down his sword and gently pushed Han Yi-gyeol’s shoulder. He climbed on top of Han Yi-gyeol, now lying on his back, and touched his cheek.

A gentle face could be seen under his dishevelled brown hair. Cheon Sa-yeon smiled as he wiped the blood running from the cut on Han Yi-gyeol’s forehead with his thumb.

He was bruised and beaten all over, but it felt pretty good to look down at him sleeping in the clothes he bought him.

He never imagined that he would feel this kind of emotion while looking at someone else, never mind Han Yi-gyeol.

“When are you going to reveal your real name? Hm? Han Yi-gyeol.”

He tapped his white cheek as if he was playing around. Han Yi-heyol’s brow furrowed slightly in response. Every time Han Yi-gyeol responded to his touch, Cheon Sa-yeon’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction.

Holding his face, he lowered his left hand and grabbed Han Yi-gyeol’s hand. Like before, he began to slowly push his energy into his hands, interlocking their fingers.

“…ugh.”

Han Yi-gyeol’s body trembled as slimy energy entered through his palm. His brow furrowed as the rims of his eyes reddened. Cheon Sa-yeon watched all of it closely.

“Uh, ah… hurgh.”

His closed eyes trembled and opened slightly. Those soft caramel-coloured eyes finally turned towards Cheon Sa-yeon.

“Ha—Tae-heon-ssi…?”

“……”

The name that came out of his mouth, slurred like his tongue had stiffened from the debuff, was not his. Smiling, Cheon Sa-yeon held Han Yi-gyeol’s hand more tightly and pushed his energy into him all at once.

“Ah? Gasp, uh, ugh…! Ah…!”

Han Yi-gyeol’s back suddenly curved as he looked up at Cheon Sa-yeon with a hazy gaze. Although it was obvious that he was in pain, Cheon Sa-yeon continued injecting his energy into him like he was in a bad mood.

S-stop… stop…! I-I’m tired…”

“Endure it.”

Han Yi-gyeol struggled as hard as he could to escape from under him. Pressing down on him, Cheon Sa-yeon said, like he was scolding him, “I’m helping you. You should take it quietly, hm? It’s the help others can’t get even if they want it.”

“Ugh, n-no… No more…! Huu!”

“Haha, look at you.”

Cheon Sa-yeon’s warm energy completely enveloped Han Yi-gyeol from the palm of his hand. The energy that had been hardened by the debuff slowly loosened and began to move. Contrary to the burdened owner, the flowing energy expressed satisfaction. Cheon Sa-yeon smirked.

“You take it so well, but your mouth says differently… It seems that lying has become a habit.”

“Huuugh…! Ah, ugh…”

Despite the absurd accusations, Han Yi-gyeol could not refute as usual and could only groan in pain. Staring at Han Yi-gyeol, who was unable to come to his senses, Cheon Sa-yeon confirmed that his energy had returned perfectly to normal.

“Gasp, gasp…”

When he stopped giving energy, Han Yi-gyeol grabbed his face and exhaled harshly, trembling. The corners of his eyes were slightly wet—if Cheon Sa-yeon had pushed him harder, he would have cried uncontrollably. He felt a little sad at the missed opportunity.

“Cheon Sa-yeon…”

Now he was called by his proper name. Cheon Sa-yeon, feeling something in him untwist, answered, “Mh.”

“You—fucking… bastard…” With debuffs cleared, Han Yi-gyeol had clearer eyes and accurate pronunciation as he spat out abusive language. “Haa, I… I told you not to do this…”

His energy returned to normal, but his physical condition was still bad. Cheon Sa-yeon glanced at the trembling bracelet that he’d gifted him to replenish his energy and said, “I don’t think I ever agreed.”

“Just shut up, you bastard…”

Han Yi-gyeol looked at Cheon Sa-yeon with irritation, then closed his eyes, tired. His face was warm as he touched it with his hand. It was a fever, from the wounds on his body. Although his energy was somehow managed by the bracelet, his wounds still needed treatment.

Cheon Sa-yeon stood up as he held the limp Han Yi-gyeol in his arms, cradling him. Han Yi-gyeol whined in pain as he held his forehead, like he had a headache from his fever.

Looking around to find a way out, Cheon Sa-yeon spotted a man standing on the other side. It was Ha Tae-heon, looking at them as he held an SS-class coat in his hand.

Since when had he been watching? he wondered, but didn’t really care. Cheon Sa-yeon deliberately patted Han Yi-gyeol on the back and laughed as if showing off. Ha Tae-heon’s brow furrowed, dark eyes gleaming coldly.

Cheon Sa-yeon recognized the emotion on his face. Regret.

Ha Tae-heon turned his back, holding the coat so tightly that the tendons in his hand bulged. Cheon Sa-yeon, seeing that there was a stairway leading down, walked behind him without smiling.

* * *

Hazily, I could hear several people talking. I felt a throbbing headache and slowly opened my eyes.

“Uh…”

“Sleep more.”

A soft voice came from right next to me. I was barely able to turn my head to confirm who talked.

“Why are you…”

Holding me. My words came out almost like a whisper. Cheon Sa-yeon, hearing me, looked happy as he replied, “I did my best to clear the debuff, but you fainted. I had no choice but to hold you.”

“Where are we…”

“Underground. We also found the gate exit. We’re just taking out the attendees from the eggs now. There are only a few left.”

Was that so? That was a relief. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Cough, cough! What the hell?”

“…we’re in a gate?”

“You can pull them out without having to cut so much. Yes, about that much.”

“I found two more eggs here!”

“You still don’t know who did it?”

In the underground area, there was a lot of noise from all the different conversations. Everyone looked busy, but it was uncomfortable because it seemed like I was the only one being held comfortably.

“Let me down…”

“No.”

What do you mean ‘no’? I struggled hard to get down, but Cheon Sa-yeon’s arms didn’t even budge.

Cheon Sa-yeon, as if I was a child who wasn’t listening, said briefly, “Stay still.”

“No, I’m okay now, so let go.”

“You have a big wound on your back. You also have a cut on your forehead. If you don’t want to faint again, behave.”

I did think that my back felt overly hot. I remembered that I was hit in the back with lightning while I was fighting the monster. Was it from then?

Unable to overcome Cheon Sa-yeon’s stubbornness, I was held semi-forcefully by him until all the attendees were rescued and left the gate.

Thanks to Ha Tae-heon and Lee Joo-ha, who left the gate in advance and contacted the emergency centre and management headquarters, several support teams quickly arrived by helicopter.

The gate was located on Gureopdo Island, one of the islands belonging to Incheon City. Although tourists came and went, no one had found the gate, which was created a month ago, because there were very few people on the island.

I looked at the gate tucked away in the corner at the bottom of the cliff.

‘If it’s in that location, no wonder.’

Since I was seriously injured, I met a healer as soon as I left the gate. After looking over my injuries, the healer told me to go to the hospital first because there was a high risk of internal injuries and gave first aid with an A-grade hemostatic bandage. With my bare body wrapped in bandages and a white shirt draped over my shoulders, I stared blankly at the attendees who were busy cleaning up.

Among them, Ha Tae-heon and Hong Si-ah seemed to be the busiest ones. The two of them, who stayed behind to deal with the monster, talked to various people to explain the situation, from officials at the management headquarters to the media who ran over at the news.

I almost would have been dragged away, but everyone who came couldn’t stand Cheon Sa-yeon’s cold smile and ran away. Looking at the media people who were moving away in a hurry, I said to him, “I can take an interview.”

“In that state?”

I was embarrassed by his firm response, with undertones to not even dream of it. While I was fiddling with the IV in my wrist, an official from the management headquarters approached us in a hurry.

“Master Cheon Sa-yeon, I’m sorry, but could you please come over for a moment?”

At those words, Cheon Sa-yeon had an openly annoyed expression on his face. Feeling sorry that the official was getting ignored, I pushed Cheon Sa-yeon’s arm.

“You should go. I can rest by myself.”

“…I’ll be right back.”

You didn’t have to come back. As Cheon Sa-yeon left, following the profusely sweating official, another guest came along as if they were waiting for the chance.

“Ahem. Uh… Ability User Han Yi-gyeol?”

The person who approached, clearing their throat, was Lee Joo-ha, and behind her was Kim Na-yul. What did these two want with me?

“How do you feel?”

Maybe because I felt awkward that Lee Joo-ha talked to me first, I couldn’t keep my eyes in one place. I tilted my head slightly and answered, “I’m fine. Is everything okay with you two?”

“Yes. We’re just…” Lee Joo-ha, who responded with hesitation, took a deep breath. With a look of determination on her face, she said, “I heard from Tae-heon*. He said that when he was in danger, you helped deal with the monster.”

Ah, I was wondering what you wanted to say. I smiled and shook my head.

“No… Rather, thanks to Ha Tae-heon-ssi, I was able to survive.”

Kim Na-yul took a step closer and smiled. “Even so. You blocked the S+-grade monster by yourself. And you got hurt too.”

“Ah, this is…”

I reflexively covered the large gauze that covered my forehead. I wasn’t actually hurt enough that I needed all this on my head, but Cheon Sa-yeon kept nagging at the healer.

“Thank you for saving me. Master also asked me to greet you. She wanted to come in person, but things are a little…”

“I understand.”

“I hope we have a chance to clear a gate together later.”

Kim Na-yul, who gave thanks one last time, shook hands with me and went to Hong Si-ah’s side. Lee Joo-ha, who stood there without interrupting, looked at me straight on.

“I feel the same way as Deputy Master Kim Na-yul. It must have taken a lot of courage to deal with an S+-grade monster alone, so thank you very much.”

At her serious eyes, I smiled shyly and rubbed the back of my neck for no reason. It seemed that my image had changed in Lee Joo-ha’s eyes now. Did I go from being a shameless kidnapper to a person with good cooperation skills?