By Zephyria 
During the few days Ak Mujin spent recuperating from his injuries, he was able to hear about what had happened after he lost consciousness.
The purplish-red sphere created by the Cult Leader possessed immense destructive power, but it was a method that exhausted all of his vital energy into the sphere, making it inherently vulnerable. Thanks to this, the moment Ak Mujin cut it down, the Cult Leader was also bound to suffer a severe, fatal wound.
Jin Geum-ryeon seized the opportunity to eliminate the Cult Leader. Thanks to this, the Cult Leader became a martyr, and seeing this, the morale of the Demon Cult followers soared, leading to an even greater escalation of the battle. Jin Geum-ryeon didn’t quite remember what state of mind he was in as he cut them down. At the time, Ak Mujin had also been caught in the explosion and presumably died, so he had been in despair.
However, Ak Mujin was still unsure whether it had truly been ‘death.’ It was as if he had merely dreamt a dream during a light nap, and now the specifics of the situation were vague and difficult to recall. All he remembered was the feeling that someone was waiting for him.
Am I being too complacent?
Even as he thought this, his left hand was busy stroking Jin Geum-ryeon’s hair. Since returning to the Sandow Union, Jin Geum-ryeon hadn’t wanted to leave Ak Mujin’s side for even a moment, and he frequently asked to have his hair stroked or insisted on holding his hand.
Jin Geum-ryeon had been quite reserved when he had first confirmed his feelings, so Ak Mujin had trouble adjusting to this sudden change in attitude. However, having caused him concern three times, Ak Mujin was determined to indulge him this time.
“Haven’t you had enough now?”
Ak Mujin, who was starting to find it bothersome, asked cautiously. But Jin Geum-ryeon shook his head, instead wrapping his arms around his waist and burying himself in his embrace.
“Please dote on me more… cherish me more.”
Ak Mujin stared down at him with a dumbfounded expression at words that even a three-year-old wouldn’t say, but he didn’t remove his hand. Jin Geum-ryeon, as if satisfied, smiled and turned his head to look up at him.
“I’m glad that I can finally bring you here.”
At those words, Ak Mujin smiled silently and looked around before turning his gaze out the window. This was the Sandow Union’s headquarters, a place Jin Geum-ryeon had once said he wanted to bring him. The arrangement of trees and flowers in the garden here was certainly excellent and serene.
“Is Cheong-aeng doing alright?”
At Ak Mujin’s question, Jin Geum-ryeon finally rose and sat on the edge of his bed. And this time, he took Ak Mujin’s good left hand and stroked it, nodding perfunctorily.
“Doctors have been coming and going, and we’ve only just gotten a moment alone, yet you’re still talking about other people. There’s no need to worry about Cheong-aeng. She only injured her arm a little.”
Jin Geum-ryeon, having voiced his dissatisfaction, looked at Ak Mujin with his handsome face, and Ak Mujin somehow began to feel sorry, even though he had only mentioned someone else for the first time today. He made a fist and cleared his throat, stroking Jin Geum-ryeon’s hair once more. Jin Geum-ryeon lowered his head so that he could stroke it comfortably.
“Alright. Then let’s talk about you.”
Jin Geum-ryeon smiled, as if satisfied with those words. And with expectant eyes, he began to massage his hand again.
“Promise me… you won’t do anything reckless like this again.”
“……”
Jin Geum-ryeon was silent for a while before shaking his head and opening his mouth.
“If there is anyone who threatens your safety again, I will do everything I can.”
“Will there be anyone like that again?”
Even as he retorted, Ak Mujin couldn’t entirely dismiss it, as the Demon Cult had been quite persistent. Putting himself in his position, if someone tried to kidnap Jin Geum-ryeon, he would certainly be quite angry as well. Ak Mujin sighed softly and pulled Jin Geum-ryeon’s shoulder, hugging him and resting his cheek against his shoulder, lowering his eyes.
“You took care of them all, so would there be anyone like that?”
At the repeated question, the body he was embracing trembled slightly. Jin Geum-ryeon seemed to be chuckling softly. Soon after, his large hand stroked Ak Mujin’s back, and then his lips brushed against Ak Mujin’s ear.
“You never know… You underestimate yourself.”
How many people had targeted Ak Mujin in the meantime? And how much had Jin Geum-ryeon wandered, fretted, and worried within that? Although the Cult Leader’s existence had been cleanly erased, there was no telling when another madman like Seo Moon-gwang might pop up. Just thinking about it, his heart was engulfed in flames once more, even after confirming Ak Mujin’s feelings.
Jin Geum-ryeon hugged Ak Mujin’s body tightly, and only after a long while did he release him and face him. Ak Mujin knew well what he wanted to say, so he couldn’t help but give an awkward smile when their eyes met.
Having decided to stay here, he had to live well in this doujinshi from now on. Still, it wouldn’t be as difficult as it had been until now. As far as he knew, the only sub-gong was Seo Moon-gwang, wasn’t it? He didn’t know how the Demon Cult had become obsessed with him, though.
Is this also a complacent thought…?
Jin Geum-ryeon, who had been silently gazing at Ak Mujin for a while, slowly opened his mouth.
“Do you…”
Jin Geum-ryeon parted his lips.
“Do you still want to return to where you originally were?”
He seemed to remember something Ak Mujin had said once. When he looked at him with surprised eyes, Jin Geum-ryeon met his gaze with a serious face.
“I… I want your happiness. If you want to go back there… I’ll be a little sad, but… I can send you back.”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s face, as he said that, looked lonely, but his eyes, as he looked at Ak Mujin, were unwavering. Ak Mujin thought that he might be vaguely sensing something, even if it wasn’t specific. Like the world inside the novel, or the world outside.
“I can’t go.”
Ak Mujin’s answer was simple and clear. Wasn’t this the only answer he could give? His white hand gently caressed Jin Geum-ryeon’s hardened face.
“Where could I go, leaving you behind?”
Even after those words were spoken, Jin Geum-ryeon’s face was uneasy for a while, but seeing Ak Mujin’s still firm face, he finally smiled comfortably. And he rubbed his cheek against his palm, closing his eyes.
“…I’ve held you back.”
In Jin Geum-ryeon’s eyes, which had lifted their eyelids again, a faint film of tears flickered. Ak Mujin’s heart ached when he saw it.
“I’m happy…”
Jin Geum-ryeon whispered, and whispered once more at a distance where his lips and Ak Mujin’s lips were about to touch.
“I’m really happy.”
It was an unavoidable thing to smile at. Ak Mujin smiled gently and immediately took his lips, not parting for a long time.
*
It was a joyous occasion that the Lord had eliminated the Demon Cult Leader, fulfilling a long-cherished wish. There could be no better news for the members of the Sandow Union in recent times.
But Cheong-aeng had a worry.
She, whose body had improved considerably, was pacing anxiously, seeing that her master had locked himself in the inner chamber with his new mistress and hadn’t shown his face for three days. No one, not even Hao Mun-ju, had taught her what to do in such a situation.
Who would dare disturb the Lord’s joyous time? No, who could even go near the inner chamber that was radiating such intense heat? She could only bite her nails, feeling helpless because she couldn’t deliver the letter from Hebei to the Lord, even though she had received it.
This letter was sent by Chun-wol. Whether Chun-wol had been a capable informant in the past, he seemed to be making quite a bit of progress in tracking down the organization called ‘Yeonbi.’
The current Martial Alliance Lord had been lying low and not showing his face lately, and Cheong-aeng was curious to see how he would react if they used this as an excuse to expose his flaws.
In the end, after two days of deliberation, she headed to the detached residence where Jin Geum-ryeon and Ak Mujin were staying. Contrary to her worries, the atmosphere was calm as she greeted the guards protecting the detached residence and walked towards the inner chamber. It seemed they were taking a break for a while… or so she thought, when she heard a moan from inside that was almost a tearful plea.
‘Stop… stop… please…’
Cheong-aeng’s ears turned red, and she hesitated, but then she looked down at the letter in her hand and, with a sense of duty, cleared her throat loudly. With that sound, the sobbing voice was instantly swallowed.
‘…Hiccup.’
She repeated the words ‘I’m sorry’ in her mind, closed her eyes tightly, and waited outside the door. Not long after, the door burst open, and a sweaty Jin Geum-ryeon, not even properly dressed, looked down at her.
“…What is it?”
Hearing the sound of rough breathing in Jin Geum-ryeon’s voice, Cheong-aeng couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes and handed over the letter with her eyes closed.
“Lord, I apologize for intruding, but I cannot delay any longer. This is a letter from Hebei.”