Chapter 121 – GOY 121
#121
After about four hours on the yacht, we arrived on land.
From there, we boarded a high-speed train and took another boat before finally reaching our destination.
“So this is ‘Achilles.’”
Achilles was an island that had suddenly emerged along with a giant gate about 120 years ago.
Even after the Gate Raid was completed, the island did not disappear, and several nations engaged in fierce territorial disputes over it.
However, despite over 30 years of conflict, no conclusion was reached. Eventually, under the mediation of surrounding superpowers, the island was declared a peace [Read on Read BL Novels]zone that belonged to no single country.
Consequently, the ‘World Ability User Association,’ rather than a specific nation, came to manage the island.
Since then, ‘Achilles’ was reborn as an island exclusively for ability users.
‘A dream space that every ability user must visit at least once, a small nation for ability users, a utopia for ability users. The land of freedom.’
I had often heard praises of Achilles, but this was my first time visiting.
Actually, this was my first time traveling abroad. I had stayed at Joo Seung-hyuk’s mansion, but it was hard to call that a trip abroad…
As I looked around, taking in the sights of Achilles, Joo Seung-hyuk interlaced his fingers with mine.
“Hold my hand tight. You might get lost.”
“Ah, sorry. I was acting too like a tourist, wasn’t I?”
“Not at all. Shall we go to the hotel? Or do you want to look around?”
“Can I look around?”
“Of course.”
I could no longer find any trace of suspicion or surveillance in his eyes. He now trusted me completely.
Then again, that’s probably why he brought me to Achilles.
There were plenty of places here where I could run away or ask for help. If I were to scream for help right now, someone from the World Ability User Association would appear and protect me.
Despite that, Joo Seung-hyuk showed no sign of doubting or worrying about me. On the contrary, he seemed very happy to be traveling with me.
“We’ll be staying for a few days, so buy whatever you need. [stolen content]We should get you a phone and some clothes too.”
Seeing Joo Seung-hyuk speak so excitedly reminded me of how he was as a child, and my heart fluttered. I quickly turned my head away.
Surely, there would be pity in my eyes right now. Joo Seung-hyuk said he was fine with pity, but I really couldn’t bring myself to show him that look.
Just then, Joo Seung-hyuk suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
When I asked, startled, he whispered softly in my ear.
“Because you’re too pretty.”
“…….”
“When other bastards look at Hyung, I want to kill them all.”
I was used to these kinds of remarks by now.
“They aren’t looking at me, they’re looking at you.”
“At me?”
Joo Seung-hyuk’s eyes widened.
“Yeah. Because you’re handsome.”
“Hyung is the only person who ever says that to me.”
That’s because you beat up everyone who told you that you were handsome…
There were more than a few people who had suffered a disaster after praising Joo Seung-hyuk’s appearance. But I couldn’t say that.
“They’re probably just too shy to say it.”
“It makes me feel good that Hyung thinks so.”
Joo Seung-hyuk gave a thin smile and handed me a card.
“Seung-hyuk-ah, this is…!”
This was the black card I had slipped into the pocket of Joo Seung-hyuk’s uniform.
Did he know everything? That I had returned the card and bankbook he gave me when I left the dormitory…
“It’s Hyung’s card. Don’t return it this time.”
I stared blankly at the black card engraved with Joo Seung-hyuk’s name.
From the moment I realized the original plot, my only goal was to avoid getting entangled with the obsessive yandere Joo Seung-hyuk and safely escape the story.
But yesterday, I gave up on running away from Joo Seung-hyuk.
What will unfold for us in the future?
Will the day come when I return this card to Joo Seung-hyuk? Or will I continue to stay by his side? I couldn’t be sure of either.
“Okay…”
But for now, I nodded.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
Holding hands, we walked lightly.
The streets were crowded with people. I wondered how long it had been since I’d seen this many people. Moreover, I could feel mana emanating from every single person.
It wasn’t like the Esper Academy, where ability users were intentionally gathered; an entire island was filled with them.
Office workers in suits attending to business, tourists pulling suitcases, shop clerks, pedestrians walking with their eyes fixed on their phones—everyone was an ability user.
It truly felt like a ‘nation for ability users.’
Furthermore, in Achilles, one could see buildings from various eras at a glance, from those built 100 years ago to the most modern structures. The street view, forming a strange harmony amidst the dissonance, was unique and charming.
Among the numerous buildings, the first place we headed was a phone store. I was the type who prioritized size and weight over performance.
After I picked out a light phone of a size that wouldn’t be burdensome [stolen content]in a pocket, the employee asked.
[How would you like to pay?]
[Uh, well…]
[By card.]
As I hesitated, Joo Seung-hyuk answered first in English. Then he looked at me intently. Left with no choice, I handed over the black card Joo Seung-hyuk had given me.
I thought that the moment I used this card, I would be eternally captured by the obsessive yandere and my world would collapse. But once I actually used it, I didn’t feel much of anything.
“You used the card?”
“Yeah.”
“Good job.”
Joo Seung-hyuk seemed to be in a good mood. How could he be so happy when his own money was leaving his account? He really is an incomprehensible guy.
After finishing the activation at the phone store, we went to the nearby Leslia Street.
‘Leslia’ was a world-famous luxury street. Each store had such a distinct personality that even someone like me, who knows nothing about luxury brands, found it fun to look at.
However, Joo Seung-hyuk seemed to have no intention of just browsing; he took my hand and led me into a store.
“Seung-hyuk-ah, why?”
“Hyung, you need to buy clothes.”
“I don’t really need to buy things this expensive…”
“It’s fine. Everything purchased in Achilles is tax-free.”
“It’s still expensive even if it’s tax-free…”
“Don’t feel burdened. And buy gifts for your family too. What would your mother like?”
“No! The things I gave her before were already plenty!”
I waved my hands in surprise. But Joo Seung-hyuk’s eyes had already drifted toward the women’s bags.
“It’s really okay. There’s no place to put them at home.”
“I guess we should buy a house first then. Does Hyung like apartments? Or a detached house?”
“Ah, come to think of it, I think there’s enough space for a handbag. Haha. Oh, this one would be good!”
Before Joo Seung-hyuk could buy a house, I quickly pointed to a handbag in front of me. But Joo Seung-hyuk was not satisfied with [unauthorized copy]that. In the end, I only managed to leave the [stolen content]luxury street after picking out gifts for the rest of my family.
How much did I swipe the card in just one hour… No matter whose card it was, the mental damage hit me because I was the one making the payments.
Moreover, I’m a bit exhausted. I guess shopping isn’t for everyone.
As we passed the luxury street and came out toward the beach, small food and souvenir shops lined the way.
Among them, a stall selling colorful drinks caught my eye.
“Seung-hyuk-ah, do you want to drink that?”
Though he had told me to buy whatever I needed, this time Joo Seung-hyuk shook his head.
“Not that.”
“Why?”
“Drinks sold at places like that often have drugs mixed in.”
“Drugs?”
“Yes. There are cases where they mix in low-grade drugs for ability users—worse than Dust—or mana stone powder. You get addicted without even knowing it.”
“I see. I didn’t know.”
I looked back at the brightly colored drinks. Thinking that they might contain drugs, the drinks that looked cute just a moment ago now felt eerie.
“…Seung-hyuk-ah, do you happen to do drugs?”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve never done them once.”
He answered without a moment’s hesitation.
This was also different from the original story.
The Joo Seung-hyuk of the original had strong self-destructive tendencies and had touched drugs. Although he avoided things that affected mana, like Dust.
But this time, he hadn’t touched them at all?
“Really, never?”
“I don’t. It’s a waste not to see Hyung’s face while sober, so why would I do such a thing?”
Joo Seung-hyuk added, slowly stroking my face.
“Hyung must never do it either.”
He was actually worrying about me. Seeing him speak like that, he really must have no experience. Then again, a guy who worries that taking sleeping pills is bad for one’s health would never do drugs…
“I won’t. Drugs destroy not only the individual but society as well. A Guide, who has to transfer mana to an Esper, should definitely not do it.”
“Not for the sake of the Esper, but for Hyung’s own sake, you shouldn’t do it.”
“Yeah…”
His tender words felt grateful. Joo Seung-hyuk gripped my hand tightly.
“Shall we head back to the hotel now?”
“Sure, I’m hungry.”
I also gripped his hand firmly. Walking with our hands tightly clasped in the sweltering weather, I didn’t feel hot in the slightest.
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