Chapter 125 – GOY 125

#125

“…When ​exactly ​did ​you ​see ​me?”

“I ​saw a video ​of ​you ​talking ​with ​Aaron. Your composure in ​lightly ​dismissing that fellow’s ​nonsense and the ​elegance ​with ​which ​you ​responded—I ​couldn’t help but ​fall ​for ​you.”

He gazed straight ​into my eyes with ​an intensity ​that felt ​burdensome as ​he explained ​why ​he ​had fallen in ​love.

Wait, he ​fell for me because ​he saw that…?

“…Are you ​perhaps blaming me for ​the trouble ​that ​occurred with your brother?”

I asked, wondering ​if he was taking ​a ​roundabout ​way ​of ​insulting me, but ​David shook ​his ​head.

“Not at all. ​I’ve ​completely lost all affection for ​that [visit our site]fellow. ​There ​is a limit ​to ​how ​much ​one ​can disgrace ​the ​family name. ​I don’t even want to look at ​him. My [visit our site]grandfather ​is [visit our site]making a ​fuss about rescuing him, ​but I’m ​ignoring it.”

Even if ​Aaron ​had lost his ​value as a ​Guide due ​to ​Dust Addiction, ​the ​Han family ​still ​had David.

There ​had ​been ​controversy that the ​members ​of the ​Han ​family ​lacked ​practical combat skills relative to their ranks, but David was the exception. He boasted overwhelming skill even among the S-Class Espers in the United States.

If David had offered to help with a Gate Raid or agreed to work for the U.S. or Italian governments for a certain period, the government might have jumped at the chance to facilitate Aaron’s repatriation.

However, it seemed he had refused.

Even in The Swamp of the Guide, Aaron was a selfish character who only cared for himself and didn’t hesitate to commit villainous acts, though those facts weren’t known to the public. But this time was different.

The incident between Aaron and Professor Oh had become a topic of conversation not just in South Korea, but worldwide, and the reputation of the royal family had plummeted.

I heard that the reality shows and related businesses had taken a hit so severe they were beyond recovery.

Once the damage Aaron caused his family crossed a certain line, it seemed David had completely run out of affection for his brother.

Then again, in the original story, when he went wild trying to get revenge on Lee [Read on Read BL Novels]unauthorized copyYeon-soo, he seemed more angry that someone had touched his family than he was affectionate toward his brother.

At any rate, it didn’t seem like he had come to find me for the sake of Aaron’s revenge or rescue.

But falling in love at first sight? That was even more absurd.

“Still, I am glad that this incident led me to find a gem like you, Yeon-soo.”

David took my hand and attempted to kiss the back of it.

Startled, I yanked my hand away.

“In case you’ve forgotten, I am a Beta.”

David valued traits even more than Aaron did. He was famous as a Casanova, and even his one-night stands were all Omegas.

He was not the kind of man who viewed Betas as romantic partners. Which, fortunately, was a huge relief.

“Traits lose their luster before your brilliance.”

“…….”

“What I’ve felt until now wasn’t love. I only realized that fact after seeing you.”

How can someone say such cheesy lines without even blinking?

“I wanted to rush to Korea immediately just to meet you. But I was blocked by the barriers of reality.”

You just didn’t come because you were afraid you’d be investigated if you came to Korea… Of course, I’m glad you didn’t, but hearing him talk like a tragic male protagonist was ridiculous.

“And yet, to think I’d meet you at Achirus. I suppose this is what they call fate?”

“I came here with Esper Joo Seung-hyuk.”

Publicly, Joo Seung-hyuk and I were in a relationship. The rumor might not have reached America, but there was no way David, Aaron’s brother, wouldn’t know.

“Just because there’s a goalkeeper doesn’t [Read on Read BL Novels]mean [stolen content]a goal can’t be scored. Read on Read BL NovelsJust as you moved from Park Geon-woo to Joo Seung-hyuk, this time it will be my turn.”

As expected of brothers, he sounded just like Aaron.

“You’re mistaken. I have never dated Esper Park Geon-woo.”

“It doesn’t matter. Give me a chance. You are not a vessel to be held by a brat like Joo Seung-hyuk.”

They’re exactly the same in that they don’t listen.

David was an S-Class Esper, a Dominant Alpha, and a globally hot celebrity. With his handsome looks, he had left a trail of scandals wherever he went.

But regardless of the original plot or his bad blood with Aaron, I felt no particular attraction to him.

In fact, dealing with David made me miss Joo Seung-hyuk.

“You’re being rude. Esper Joo Seung-hyuk is not someone you can speak of so carelessly. If you’re finished with your business, I’ll be going now.”

If that jerk wouldn’t leave, I could just leave myself.

As I gave a light bow and stood up, David hurriedly tried to stop me.

“Yeon-soo… Ack!”

But before he could even grab my hand, he was sent flying. My eyes widened the moment I saw the person who attacked David.

“Seung-hyuk-ah…!”

“Hyung, are you okay?”

Joo Seung-hyuk wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No. I’m really okay.”

As I shook my head, David, who had been knocked back by Joo Seung-hyuk’s attack, stood up.

He brushed off his pants and glared at Joo Seung-hyuk. David’s mana flickered with a dangerous, murderous intensity. However, the power emanating from Joo Seung-hyuk overwhelmed him.

In the thick tension, their manas clashed, forming a boundary.

The hotel security guards stood frozen, not even daring to try and intervene. The other customers in the cafe were all watching us.

If two S-Class Espers truly clashed, at the very least, this entire cafe would be blown away. If other Espers got involved, the situation would spiral out of control.

And right now, I was the only person who could stop this.

“Stop it!”

I shouted loudly. Both of them looked at me simultaneously.

“Esper David Han. I am in a relationship [Read on Read BL Novels]with Esper Joo Seung-hyuk. I’ll unauthorized copypretend I didn’t hear what happened today.”

“That is regrettable.”

David was the first to withdraw his mana.

“In that case, could you give me your contact information? I’d like to be friends first.”

“I’m sorry, but I make it a rule not to have ambiguous friendships.”

After making my rejection clear to David, I took Joo Seung-hyuk’s hand.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

He followed me out of the cafe obediently. However, he didn’t release his mana until we arrived back at the room.

But no matter how angry Joo visit our siteSeung-hyuk got, I now [unauthorized copy]knew that his visit our siteanger would never be directed at me.

As long as I didn’t try to run away….

“Seung-hyuk-ah, thanks for coming. I really disliked that man.”

I interlaced my fingers with his and looked straight into his eyes.

“You disliked him?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“He was rude.”

At that moment, Joo Seung-hyuk’s expression stiffened.

Why is he doing that? Did I say something wrong?

“Seung-hyuk-ah, what’s wrong?”

“…I’m rude too, aren’t I?”

“…….”

This brat, he knew….

“Hyung, do you dislike me too?”

He looked at me with eyes full of worry.

“You’re….”

I should say he’s not particularly rude.

I knew that was the right answer, but because it felt like such visit our sitea huge lie, my [visit our site]conscience flared and the [visit our site]words wouldn’t come out.

At that, Joo Seung-hyuk’s pupils trembled anxiously.

“What about me…?”

“You’re fine. You’re younger than me. Since you’re still young, you’re just clumsy in some areas, that’s all….”

I reached out and gently stroked his hair. Then, Joo Seung-hyuk gave a beaming smile and burrowed into my embrace.

“That’s right. I’m young. Since I’m younger than Hyung and don’t know things, please teach me if there’s something I don’t know. Teach me and keep me by your side.”

He’s only one year younger, yet his brazenness is beyond words. But why does this brazen side of him feel so cute? I must have gone crazy….

Today was the day of the Achirus Auction.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, are you really going? Can’t you just not go?”

I naturally assumed that Joo Seung-hyuk would not participate in the Achirus Auction.

Do Hyuk-jin would be murdered, and Joo Seung-hyuk might be framed. I thought that when Joo Seung-hyuk went to meet Do Hyuk-jin, he would have naturally mentioned returning to Korea.

However, both of them participated in the auction as scheduled.

“Hyung, it’s okay. I’ve prepared for it, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Joo Seung-hyuk’s expression was full of confidence. I believed he would have prepared well, but a sense of anxiety still lingered in a corner of my heart.

“There’s no reason to go. Seung-hyuk-ah, the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ is a fake. I know you might not trust me, but could you just trust me this once, even if you think you’re being fooled?”

In the latter half of the original story, the truth behind Do Hyuk-jin’s murder is revealed.

In fact, the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ currently up for auction at Achirus was a fake.

Rather than increasing the matching rate, it was a treasure that manipulated measurement devices. The grade of the treasure itself was high, but an ability to manipulate matching rates or mana levels was completely useless. Naturally, even if it were sold, such a worthless treasure could never fetch a high price. However, the scammers were brilliant.

The scammers transformed it into the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ [unauthorized copy]and put it up for bid at [stolen content]the visit our siteAchirus auction, staging a massive fraud. As expected, the Necklace of Nemesild was auctioned off for an astronomical sum, and the scammers were poised to sit on a mountain of money, but there was one problem.

If the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ were actually used, the fact that it was a fake would be exposed.

In the end, they murdered the successful bidder, Do Hyuk-jin, and took the ‘Necklace of Nemesild.’ Then, they framed it as the work of a robber targeting the treasure.

It was said that there were High-ranking Ability Users among the scammers. That was why Do Hyuk-jin was taken down.

Ultimately, this auction was nothing more than a giant scam. Therefore, there was no reason for either Joo Seung-hyuk or Do Hyuk-jin to participate.

“I trust Hyung.”

“Then why are you going to the auction?”

“There’s something I absolutely must buy. That’s the original reason I came.”

“Not the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’?”

I naturally assumed he was after the Necklace of Nemesild.

If the matching rate exceeded 30%, Guiding could be performed. If Joo Seung-hyuk was still experiencing Guiding Rejection, the Necklace of Nemesild would be essential.

“No. Why would I need something like that? I have Hyung.”

Joo Seung-hyuk gave a gentle smile and hugged me tightly. He really wasn’t interested in the Necklace of Nemesild.

Then again, if he wanted to resolve the Guiding Rejection, he would have gotten a matching rate test long ago.

“Then what are you planning to buy?”

“It’s a secret.”

The corners of Joo Seung-hyuk’s mouth curled up into a smirk. I have a bad feeling about this, but it’s probably just my imagination, right?