History
CH 51
Name:Fairy Trap Author:Chelliace
+ - Turn on Reset
An uncanny saltiness he had never tasted before spread within Sethian's mouth, but strangely, he didn't feel any sense of repulsion or thought it was filthy. Rather, having this raging urge to consume everything about Joo Yi-Gyeol here and now, he would like to swallow them all, if there's just any.
Yi-Gyeol, who was leaning against Sethian's arms, frantically grabbed his wrist with both hands.
"You c-can't eat that!"
Yi-Gyeol looked around with a flustered expression then took off his shirt that was completely open in the front and wiped Sethian's hand. His slightly wet eyes contorted as if to accumulate tears.
"Sorry… I'm really sorry…."
Unstoppable words of apology flowed endlessly out of Yi-Gyeol's lips as he carefully wiped even to the crevices of his fingers.
Sethian said he has nothing to dislike, but it was still someone else's body fluid and had a fishy smell nonetheless. Even without tasting it, he knew how bad and pungent it would be.
'He might find it disgusting and dislike it. No, he would definitely hate it.'
He personally got it in his hands, smelled, and tasted it. But there's no way he'd like it when it's nothing close to being sweet.
Thinking that way, Yi-Gyeol felt a chill down his spine as if ice water had been poured on it, and it was so freezing to the point where his neck turned stiff. The overwhelming anxiety that he had been suppressing for 5 years on his own, and the depression that feels like falling into a bottomless abyss came and embraced Yi-Gyeol at the same time.
His flushed face turned white layer by layer every time he wiped away his body fluid on Sethian's hand. His eyes and lips trembled uncontrollably, and his bony shoulders shrank as if exposed to a horrifying fear.
After repeatedly wiping multiple times, Sethian's palms became as red as the traces carved all over Yi-Gyeol's body. Even until then, Sethian just quietly held out his hand to him without saying anything, so he was extremely afraid that he might be angry with him.
Such Yi-Gyeol was suddenly embraced around his shoulder by Sethian. A pleasant body temperature quickly shrouded over his shoulder which had been chilled by tension. Then, Sethian's lips flutteringly touched his cheek.
It was a kiss strikingly different from those times he leaves vivid traces on his body. It seems to be done unconsciously with the aim to coax and soothe him. Additionally, the instinctive butterfly kisses passed through his cheeks, ears, and down to his neck as well.
Sethian hadn't said anything yet, but the tension in Yi-Gyeol's body from being terrified slowly loosened. With just a few short kisses from him, his mind which had been eroded by thick dark clouds cleared, and the fear that had engulfed his whole body disappeared.
"Do you still think that I dislike it?"
It was a bewitchingly deep voice instead of the one full of threatening passion just moments earlier. Yi-Gyeol's non-stop wiping motion of Sethian's hand as if something was gnawing at him inside, slowly stopped.
"I told you, there's nothing about you I dislike."
It's really strange. As soon as Sethian assured him, his heart rate, complexion, body tremors, and even his breathing changed. The warmth that wrapped around his body brought him peace beyond measure.
"Whatever you do, I will never dislike you. You can do whatever you want. You don't have to cower and be wary of anything."
Sethian's words are always like spells. His words seem to control not only Yi-Gyeol's actions but also his emotions. It may be strange, but the sense of stability it brings to him was just way too good.
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Sethian went into the bathhouse with Yi-Gyeol to wash away the essence drenched in his trousers, locked him between his legs, and sat behind him. When Yi-Gyeol's skinny back touched his chest, he felt his slightly faster heartbeat.
As Sethian lowered his gaze, the dense love bites he left all over Yi-Gyeol's neck were visible. They were scarlet and vivid as if his overflowing desire were engraved on him as they were. He couldn't take his eyes off those satisfying marks, but he suddenly remembered what had happened in the bedroom earlier.
The shoulders, which had shrunk due to his self-esteem hitting rock bottom, looked so small and feeble. He thought Yi-Gyeol had already improved a lot, but as soon as he saw that trembling figure, he felt distressingly fragile. Like accidentally touching any wrong place will cause him to shatter and scatter into the air in an instant.
Because of that, he ended up doing something totally way out of character. He never thought he would ever give such light, tickling kisses.
At that moment, Yi-Gyeol turned his head and looked up at Sethian.
"Seth… Is it alright for you not to…?"
Embarrassment followed the end of his sentence. When Sethian looked at him asking what he meant, Yi-Gyeol hesitated and added.
"You said earlier that you're using my reaction… as nourishment…. Umm, what I mean is…."
The cheeks, which had been ruddy due to the heat of the bath, ripened more lusciously. His eyes glanced down his shoulder.
"…No, it's nothing."
"I'm just holding myself back."
Sethian's arm grabbed Yi-Gyeol's waist and pulled him closer to him. Unbeknownst to Yi-Gyeol, even just being in contact with him like this already causes his blood to rush down his lower body making Sethian struggle to suppress himself.
Even until the moment Yi-Gyeol released and he got to taste his fluid, he wanted to push him down on the bed and blindly hammer his hardness inside him. He wanted to forcefully squeeze open that obviously small hole and incessantly fill his warm insides to the brim until it vomits his own seed. If he could only do that, the numbing and titillating feeling inside him would be relieved even a little bit.
However, the moment he saw Yi-Gyeol shivering with fear, that feeling rapidly faded away. Although he had gained a decent amount of flesh, used his head quite a bit, and learned how to be spunky and act boldly; as expected, he was still delicate and weak.
With just a single action and a single reaction from him, Sethian becomes an infinitely weak person. Even though he usually does what he wants without caring for others, and even if he really likes this person a little too much, he was very reluctant to press and ravish him to his heart's content, who is like a glass ornament.
'How hilarious.'
Since when did he care so much about others? Besides, the other person is someone who will accept everything as long as he doesn't throw him away. Whether his body gets broken, or couldn't rise from the bed due to excessive copulation.
"Is it okay… To just do that?"
Yi-Gyeol naively asked despite his shyness. What Sethian thinks and what he wants is obviously different, but Yi-Gyeol doesn't know that either.
Sethian stroked Yi-Gyeol's hair and made him lean against him. Then he smoothly wound up his other arm over his chest. He put some pressure on the arm that could feel the bone and the heartbeat of the person within his embrace. He thought that if he even applied a little more force just like this, his bones would break with a familiar squeaking sound.
"Agh, it's so stuffy!"
With just a single complaint from Yi-Gyeol, who couldn't overcome the pressure, Sethian's strength naturally loosened. Even though he knew that he was acting astonishingly strange, he likes the sound of Yi-Gyeol's comfortable breathing, so he mindfully and gently held him against his body.
The resonance of their heartbeat clamorously pounded together, as if intoxicated with the heat of the bath.
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Upon returning to the bedroom from the bath, Kirsty, who was on guard, and Roa, with a rather anxious expression, were standing in front of the door. Only then did Sethian recall that he had summoned him to check Yi-Gyeol's condition.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, did something happen?!"
He must have been surprised by the sudden summon. As Sethian told him to urgently come and check Yi-Gyeol's condition, he seemed to have rushed thinking that there must've been something wrong with his body.
Roa couldn't relax his nervous expression even as he stared at Yi-Gyeol, who was standing perfectly still than he had expected. Because contrary to what it looks like on the outside, if there is a problem inside, no one would be able to detect it with just the naked eye unless his flow of mana is checked right away.
Roa immediately followed Sethian and Yi-Gyeol into the bedroom and uproariously asked to promptly check his condition.
"There's nothing wrong with his body, so calm down."
"But the fact that His Highness hastily summoned me…!"
"I'm sorry, it's because of me."
Yi-Gyeol apologized to Roa and made a bashful expression.
"It's my fault for making Seth worry…."
"There's nothing for you to apologize for."
Yi-Gyeol, who apologized to Roa for something he didn't deliberately do, felt dissatisfied and scrunched his face at Sethian. The aftermath turned into Sethian sending a sharp glare towards the bewildered Roa.
Roa's nervous face contained a little relief. If Yi-Gyeol's condition had really become peculiar, he would be subjected to indescribable cruelty from Sethian, but more than that, he would be terribly frustrated if the first precious specimen created by the Golden Art's golden magic was damaged.
As soon as he breathed out a sigh of relief with a heart that seemed to have suffered for ten years, he heard Yi-Gyeol's cautious voice.
"Um, sir. You said before that you used to make drugs with alchemy, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
In this world, magic and alchemy were two inseparable entities even if they wanted to. In the beginning, most magic evolved focusing on the mixing of objects or the recreation of objects using alchemy. The body in which Yi-Gyeol is moving also originated from the creation of organisms, which were initially created by combining various substances through alchemy.
"Then is there any kind of medicine that can make you fall asleep right after taking it?"
"Are you talking about sleeping pills?"
At Roa's question, Yi-Gyeol shook his head straight away. Sleeping pills in this world were no different from those used in Korea. You'll naturally fall asleep after a few minutes of taking it, but that wasn't what Yi-Gyeol wanted.
"I need a drug that will instantly make you fall asleep when you take it, just like passing out."
"Why do you need it?"
This time, Sethian was the one who asked and grabbed Yi-Gyeol's arms. He seemed to sleep soundly every night without any interruption, but now he's anxious that it's not actually the case and Yi-Gyeol was just not informing him.
"You never know what's going to happen."
"That's why I want to know the reason."
A small smile crept on the corner of Yi-Gyeol's lips.
"I just wanted to use my ability properly."
History
CH 52
Name:Fairy Trap Author:Chelliace
+ - Turn on Reset
That night.
Zair was sitting in the middle of an unlit room, deep in thought.
A few hours ago, in the afternoon when the sun was strong. The spirit possessing the crow reported about Joo Yi-Gyeol, who it was monitoring, as it did every day. Normally, instead of saying this or that, it would dig straight into his head and show what had been through its eyes, but this time, it made quite a fuss even before that.
−Zair-nim! That kid was very apologetic to Zair-nim as expected!
Judging by his voice, the young man's soul did not hesitate to call Yi-Gyeol that way, even though he was not worthy enough to call anyone a child.
−I think it will be easy to meet him separately since he wants to apologize!
The spirit that spoke with excitement immediately escaped the crow's body and burrowed into Zair's head. If he had taken the possession potion that Eda had secretly developed, he would have lost his body like the emperor or the crow, but because he had a strong mental ability and soul control, he only absorbs the other's memories.
Zair accepted the soul's memories that were naturally flowing into his head while maintaining complete control over his body.
After reading all of the memories, Zair was in fact pretty satisfied.
Not only did he(JYG) foolishly believe that he was worried about him, but he also felt guilty about the hand injury he received this time, and hoped he could make it up to him somehow. As expected, that person called Joo Yi-Gyeol was as weak and soft-hearted in nature as his appearance.
Even though it's not his fault, Joo Yi-Gyeol has a habit of being apologetic and is cautious of harming others. Perhaps because he was extremely afraid of being hated by others.
For Zair, those with personalities such as Joo Yi-Gyeol could be said to be the most suitable human being to exploit and easiest to manipulate. Eda, who met Joo Yi-Gyeol in person, said the same thing as well.
However, something still bothers him.
"He has a sharper side than I thought."
Eda said that Joo Yi-Gyeol sharply discerned the emotions hidden behind his smiling face. Then after deliberating about it for a few moments, he added it was more of a doubt than figuring it out.
However, Zair thought contrarily. He must've acted like he was simply suspicious of Eda, but in reality, he might've fully caught on to his innermost thoughts and was convinced of his hidden feelings.
'Those who fear being hated by others are sensitive to negative emotions.'
Joo Yi-Gyeol saw right through that Eda was looking down on him and prodded to find out why. But Eda repeatedly denied it, saying it was not the case when Joo Yi-Gyeol questioned. Then, Joo Yi-Gyeol's following response was inconsistently different from when he had been questioning, he smiled as he said he wanted to be close to Eda.
'Must be concealing himself while nonetheless being wary.'
So this time too. Even though he had personally laid the sophistry, he couldn't just smile and say that everything went as he wanted. Although the situation was clearly different from that time, it was certain that he would not just let go of his suspicion and vigilance.
The corners of Zair's mouth malevolently went up.
'It's not fun if it's too easy.'
Joo Yi-Gyeol's sensitivity must have come from his exhausted mind. If that's the case, there's bound to be an emotional loophole. A loophole that is soft enough to break easily when tapped.
'That could also be the reason he's clinging to Sethian.'
Joo Yi-Gyeol would habitually stare at the door from Sethian's bedroom all day, waiting for its owner to return every day. Sethian isn't particularly confining him, so he's likely to go out on his own at least once, but like a trained puppy that doesn't move without its owner's permission, he's always dutifully staying inside the room.
In Zair's perspective, Joo Yi-Gyeol was a completely passive person. A weak individual who couldn't do anything on his own without Sethian's orders and gestures, and has totally surrendered everything to him.
'But only that wouldn't explain everything.'
There has to be a reason why Sethian is obsessed with him.
The Sethian that Zair knew wasn't the kind of person who would pay attention to such a passive human being. He must've been fascinated due to some other factor and that caused Sethian to touch golden magic. In addition, he is constantly in a hurry to share his vitality and kiss him every day and leave him his mark. Even in the garden, once he noticed that Sethian was approaching, he deliberately reached out his hand, and as expected, Sethian exhibited an uncharacteristically rough reaction. It was the first time Sethian had ever been so obsessed and responsive due to a particular person.
If it were someone else, of course, he would've thought of unsettling words such as love. However, Sethian, who clearly lacks most human emotions, could not have done so.
Only 'interest' can move Sethian.
But there were significantly fewer substantial interesting elements in the person called Joo Yi-Gyeol. He is passive, weak, and one-sidedly solely sees his owner. It ludicrously doesn't make sense that Sethian let an 'all-I-have-is-you' guy by his side and cherished him.
What's absolutely special about Joo Yi-Gyeol is that his body wouldn't die even if he stays in the soul state, and he was able to wander around as a 'living soul.' In addition, Joo Yi-Gyeol is the first soul that Sethian was able to communicate with.
That was definitely something Sethian would be interested in, however, it didn't seem like he was thinking of 'mass-producing an army by using a living soul' as he did. In the first place, it would have been impossible to imagine unless a provision was put in place for the vitality that would be tremendously consumed.
'It's still vague, but I'll make sure to find out when I met him.'
If he could peek into the heart of Joo Yi-Gyeol that no one but Sethian could open, he will inevitably find out those interesting elements of him.
Knock, knock-
"Prince, a servant who was granted permission to visit has come to see you."
Zair, who was once again reminiscing the face of Joo Yi-Gyeol who he met in the garden, turned his eyes and looked towards the door. He permitted to let the person in and the door soon opened.
The young man who walked into the room certainly looked familiar. In the first place, there was only one servant he allowed to visit and that was solely the emperor's attendant. Zair's gaze reached his bandaged wrist. The hand that should have been there, is unsurprisingly missing.
Zair's smile grew even stronger. And as if in response to that, a sharp light settled within the servant's sorrowful eyes.
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"This should be the item that you wanted."
Roa visited Sethian's castle early in the morning and handed Yi-Gyeol a purse that he had brought from the tower. Once opened, it revealed a finger-length vial containing a murky gray liquid.
"It's a sleeping fragrance containing the drug developed by the magic tower. It's very potent that even just a slight scent can make anyone instantly fall asleep."
Roa briefly introduced the Sleeping Fragrance and asked with a thoroughly worried face.
"You also lose vitality each time you leave your body, so frequent use of it is absolutely prohibited."
"I understand, I'll be careful."
Yi-Gyeol made a promise not only to Roa but also to Sethian with his eyes, and carefully asked while examining the sleeping fragrance.
"Do I have to open the cork to smell it? If I collapse as soon as it wafts, wouldn't the bottle break or spill all the liquid inside if I dropped it? If so, everyone around will fall asleep…."
At the mouth of the vial containing the sleeping fragrance, a cork was serving as its lid. It's all good until you open and smell it, but the problem is what comes after that.
Roa grinned and said there was no need to open the stopper.
"Its scent is so strong that it seeps into the cork. If it's as far away as it is now, it wouldn't have any effect on anyone, but if you put it right under your nose and sniffed the plug, you will fall asleep straight away because of the sleeping fragrance fused in it. You don't have to open the lid to use it."
Yi-Gyeol conspicuously nodded at Roa's explanation, bringing the glass vial to his nose with a somewhat nervous expression. However, Sethian abruptly grabbed his wrist and blocked it.
"It's not dangerous, is it?"
Roa quickly answered Sethian's piercing question.
"We at the magic tower are working hard to create things that will be helpful to the people of our empire in all aspects, so of course, there are no major side effects…!"
"Judging from what you're saying, the fact that there are no major side effects means that there are minor side effects."
A ferocious glare mixed within Sethian's eyes. Roa smiled nervously and carefully chose the words he would release from his mouth.
"That is true with all types of drugs as long as one doesn't overuse it."
"Be precise, what kind of side effects?"
"…Aside from going out of the body, using too much sleeping fragrance may keep him from waking up for a while. Since it is a drug for sleep, even if it's just an incense, its effect cannot be ignored if it accumulates in the body for a short period of time."
At Roa's careful words, the corners of Sethian's eyes slightly distorted. Just as the words to take it back were about to come out of his mouth, Yi-Gyeol smiled at Sethian as if saying it was fine.
"I'm not planning to use it often in just a span of time anyway. And you don't have to worry too much, because if I'm just in my OOBE state, I can get back to my body and wake up in no time."
As if to appease Sethian who was still dissatisfied, Yi-Gyeol's hand that was holding the vial fell off his nose.
Yi-Gyeol looked down at the fragrance within his hand. Actually, there was no difference here than when he was in his original world, he could fall asleep easily just by thinking about it, and he also just had to imagine his soul escaping from his body before he fell asleep if he wanted it and he would escape his body without fail.
Imagining the familiar sensation that had made him sick and tired of it up until now, he slowly brought the sleeping fragrance to his nose. Just as he smelled the unique scent that characteristically comes from a cork, something sour and a potent aroma set in. As soon as he thought that it was a very unusual scent, his eyes instantly went dark.
Soon after, Yi-Gyeol was able to look down at Roa, who was looking up at him in the air, and Sethian, who had received his sleeping body.
History
CH 53
Name:Fairy Trap Author:Chelliace
+ - Turn on Reset
"Truly fascinating."
Roa couldn't control his astonishment from personally seeing Yi-Gyeol's soul withdrawal for the first time.
As Yi-Gyeol smelled the sleeping fragrance and collapsed like a powerless straw, a golden light simultaneously jumped out of his body and flew into the air in the form of a butterfly. For Roa, there's nothing that'd be more amazing than that scene.
Whether voluntarily or by force, the process by which a soul emerges from a person's body is irrefutably slow. It begins by getting surrounded by a faint stream of air from head to toe, then gathering them together to gradually form the shape of a butterfly. When the body's haze-like air is once exhausted to realize the pure white butterfly, the heart would stop and the breathing also disappears.
On the other hand, the process of Yi-Gyeol leaving his body was quite different. When the soul escapes, it usually gathers the vague air scattered throughout the body, or in short, it gathers vitality, forms it, and breaks the connection. However, Yi-Gyeol flew straight from the chest part of his body in the form of a butterfly. He didn't collect the entire body's vitality first before going out, and the shape of the butterfly doesn't look faint or weak either.
'Marvelous.'
If it were a person who couldn't see butterflies, Yi-Gyeol would've only seemed to have fallen asleep in an instant. Then they must have thought it was strange without truly understanding why Roa was in awe.
Meanwhile, Sethian, who was holding Yi-Gyeol's sleeping body, turned and looked for him with slight difficulty. He still couldn't see even the vaguest shape of a butterfly, but he could locate him even without perceiving him since Yi-Gyeol was a presence Sethian was already unequivocally familiar with.
"How was your condition?"
Since Yi-Gyeol didn't fall asleep the way he normally does, Sethian was worried that there would be some sense of disharmony or that there would be something out of place.
−It's the same as when I usually go out of my body. I'm going to wake up again now, so please take note how long it'll take me until I open my eyes.
Yi-Gyeol, who was floating in the air and looking down at Roa and Sethian, flew as if trying to pass through his body. The fast-sliding golden butterfly flew toward the middle of Yi-Gyeol's chest, and not long after it completely permeated, his body shuddered once. Subsequently, the corners of his eyes trembled, and his eyelids raised with some difficulty.
At this point, Roa was stunned once more. It was the first time he had ever seen a soul escape without exacting its own vitality, but even more so the first time seeing it enter without any obscurity and even open its eyes immediately. Usually, if you put a soul into a body, the vitality needs to spread to a certain extent first before the person can open its eyes, but Yi-Gyeol is already in a condition that's brimming with vitality, so even if his soul goes in and out of his body, he was able to rise immediately.
"How long did it take?"
"7 seconds."
When Yi-Gyeol, who's rubbing his eyes upon being placed down on the floor asked, Sethian immediately answered. Even though it was just for a really short span of time, Yi-Gyeol's eyes slightly frowned, disliking the fact.
"It took longer than I thought."
Although it was at a speed that was surprisingly fast for Roa, Yi-Gyeol still seemed dissatisfied.
"I think I could be a bit faster with some practice…."
Not long after experiencing the out-of-body phenomenon, there was a time when he went inside his body and opened his eyes without his mother or younger sister waking him up. On that occasion, there was a difference of tens of minutes between the time he saw on the wall clock just before entering his body with the time he opened his eyes. Since then, the duration it took him to wake up every time he returned in advance to his body has gradually decreased due to his repeated soul withdrawal. Moreover, Yi-Gyeol felt like it had dwindled further during his soul withdrawal in this world.
As if to obstruct Yi-Gyeol from falling into deep thought, Sethian grabbed his arm and turned him around to look at him.
"What are you contemplating so hard for? It doesn't matter even if you briskly or sluggishly wake up."
"Of course, it matters."
Yi-Gyeol's eyes flashed with determination.
"Being able to fall asleep and wake up as soon as you want means that you can expertly utilize your soul state, and your body would be less in danger."
He couldn't go far and could only slack within the castle because of his fragile body at the moment, but later on, he'll properly have to fulfill his part. In order to do so, he should proficiently be able to control his main specialty, and by doing so, he would be able to go outside the castle as well.
The range that a soul can detach from its body is not really limited, but if someone intentionally awakens the body that is in a defenseless state, the soul will be forced to return and open its eyes.[1] Therefore, even though he wants to do something like being an incorporeal spy, he couldn't stay out of his body for a long time, and getting too far away also causes an unspecified risk.
Among them, the most defenseless time is after falling asleep, right before the soul escapes, as well as when going back and waking up. The shorter the term limit is, the less the risk would be.
It was something he had never done before, and Sethian didn't even say a word about making him do something later, but Yi-Gyeol knew exactly what he needed to do and what he could do to fully utilize his ability.
'I need to master my ability so that Seth can use me appropriately.'
For Sethian, he had to be a significant and indispensable human being. In order to be recognized by him and remain proudly by his side, he must especially focus on his ability to help him.
'And I also can't stay under his protection forever.'
Now that he has gained back a bit of flesh, he had to slowly build up his stamina. He wanted to unshackle himself from being unable to do anything due to being sickly as soon as possible.
After completing the task of bringing the sleeping fragrance, Roa was quickly kicked out of the room to the point where his title of being the tower owner was disregarded. However, he doesn't feel offended since he also wanted to quickly go back and conduct a new study while endlessly reminiscing the scene of Yi-Gyeol leaving his body.[2] Already within his head, a new magic research centered on Yi-Gyeol's ability was in full swing.
After Roa left, Yi-Gyeol, who was left alone in the bedroom with Sethian, faced him directly all of a sudden and demanded bossily.
"You promised to teach me swordsmanship before, please keep it."
Thinking about what he means, Sethian recalled a conversation he had with him in the bathroom before. At that time, Yi-Gyeol said that he wanted to learn swordsmanship.
'I'll teach you the basics if you gain enough weight.'
Recollecting the answer he had given in the bath, Sethian glanced over Yi-Gyeol's body. He hasn't gained his ideal weight yet, but he thought he should be capable enough to start developing his foundation for his physical strength.[3]
"Fine. As long as you don't overdo it."
"Thank you! Let's start right now!"
Perhaps because he's teeming with motivation, Yi-Gyeol was pleasantly delighted at Sethian's reply with a radiant smile on his face. He has never thought of the words adorable and cute even after seeing a small animal that was causing a raucous before, but now he thinks those expressions fit perfectly with the current Yi-Gyeol somehow. Before he knew it, his hand was already stroking Yi-Gyeol's head dotingly.
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"Ah!"
Yi-Gyeol's shoulders recoiled and the wooden sword that flew out of his hand rolled around with a loud noise in a place a little farther away from them.[4] Probably because the wooden sword was heavier than he actually thought, it flew off and fell to the floor after just swinging it a few times even though he was holding it with a tight grasp. This is already the fifth time, so he felt sorry to look at Sethian's face who was standing beside him.
Fortunately, Sethian's expression is the same as usual. Rather, every time he swings the wooden sword and blows it away, he would check his palms as he does now and meticulously inspect them with his eyes to see if there are any injuries.
Sethian slightly frowned as he personally unfolded Yi-Gyeol's hands and looked at them. His fingertips pressed down on the somewhat thicker palm under the index finger. It was the blistered section naturally getting chaffed as he wielded the wooden sword, making Yi-Gyeol's entire hand twitch as it scraped at the same time.
"Let's call it a day here."
"No, I can do more. I won't let it fly this time."
Yi-Gyeol said while sneakily giving him a fawning glance, but Sethian was adamant.
"Stamina doesn't increase just by overdoing it. You've already moved enough."
The knights who were glancing at the two nearby were gobsmacked as they gulped air at Sethian's words. Crown Prince Sethian was the one who incessantly pushed the knights into the depths of hell once in a while, saying that stamina can only increase by rolling endlessly, so it's ridiculous to hear such a person spout such a thing.
In fact, that wasn't the only thing that was strange with Sethian who came out to the training hall today.
Seeing him bring a man with an exotic and slender appearance that they had never seen before makes them wonder who he was, but from catching sight of the exposed flesh near his neck and clavicle, they thought he was a servant who warms the prince's bed at night. However, all kinds of questions arose as everyone heard the man speak informally to their master and call him with a pet name, 'Seth'. And Crown Prince Sethian, who also heard the words said nothing and seemed to be happy with it.
What's more, Sethian was personally teaching the man basic swordsmanship. Sethian teaching someone something, it was the kind of scene that the knights wouldn't even dare to dream of seeing, making their surprise gradually grow.
The black-haired young man, as if he had never held a sword before, took a somewhat sloppy posture and slowly began to swing the sword up and down. After doing so a few times, all the knights' shoulders flinched together when he suddenly lost strength and sent the wooden sword away.
Sethian always said as well that once holding a sword, they should never let it slip out of their hands even if they get cut off, and he would also occasionally hit the wrist of the knights who were training with a wooden sword to see if they'd let the sword go. Therefore, it was only natural for them to grasp it tightly even while their wrists were broken since if they missed it, the prince would break another part of their body.
However, as if he had become a completely different person from before, the Sethian in front of them carefully inspected the other person's palm and checked whether he was hurt, then picked up and handed him the wooden sword himself.
Rather confused by Sethian's unprecedented countenance, the knights looked at Lenox and Kirsty as if hoping for an answer. But then, the two did not show much reaction even as they watched Sethian's behavior. They look composed as if they're already expecting it to happen.[5]
Pr
"It's not just anyone else but the Crown Prince, that's never going to happen. He's probably keeping him by his side because of interest."
Kirsty's words were the most plausible for 'People who have a bit of knowledge about Crown Prince Sethian' could say. Lenox had no intention of denying it either.
"Interest, you say…."
Is the discordance that Sethian only shows to Yi-Gyeol really just because of simple interest? He imagined the prince quickly losing interest and throwing Yi-Gyeol away as if he doesn't matter what happens to him.
It was a nowhere near possible picture for Lenox, who had been closely watching Sethian and Yi-Gyeol for over a month.
⋆♚⋆♛⋆♚⋆
Yi-Gyeol was semi-forced to have bandages on both hands once he returned to the room. And within the bandages, the palms, which were only slightly chapped, were carefully coated with an ointment made from high-quality crushed herbs.
'It's not even to the point that he should make a fuss….'
He couldn't even swing the wooden sword a few times because he was busy panting, but seeing the bandage wrapped around his hand made him look like a person who had wielded the sword for days.
'Let's keep your sword practice to a minimum. It's much better to do other exercises to build up your stamina instead.'
Sethian must have said that because he keeps failing to properly grasp the sword and his movements were also awkward.
He had a pretty good stamina and exercised regularly just before he got bedridden, but now he has no energy and his stamina is at the bottom as if those times were nonexistent. Yi-Gyeol's mouth tasted bitter with the helplessness he yet again realized.
After having those thoughts, he immediately gathered himself and clenched his fists.
'No big deal! I'll surely get better after doing it a few more times. Let's not dig the ground[2] for nothing.'
He should also correct this habit of his soon. His exhausted self-esteem and the depression he had suppressed for a long time would involuntarily stick their heads out if given the slightest gap. This was by no means good. To himself, and to Sethian, who is always beside him.
He patted his cheeks with both hands and woke himself up. Then his gaze turned to the books piled up on the table. Before Sethian could come back from work, he had to organize the parts he wanted to ask him to read. That way, there'll be no embarrassing mishap in which he reads the entire book like the last time.
Thinking about that moment automatically put a smile on his face.
Sethian is overly thoughtful, to the point that sometimes Yi-Gyeol thinks it's too much. He devotedly takes care of him without saying a word, and he wanted to know everything about his every move. His tone of speaking was far from being sweet, but what was contained in it was apparent affection and interest, and it was enough for Yi-Gyeol to feel happy most times.
It was the same reaction his family had when he unexpectedly got an incurable disease 5 years ago. Despite the sudden misfortune, they were infinitely warm and kind, and their love for him did not waver.
Everything just started to fall apart when his illness persisted and the house started accumulating debts. It all began to collapse very naturally.
Dark clouds overshadowed Yi-Gyeol's face once again.
'Is my family… Is everyone… Living well?'
Since completely setting foot in this world, there hasn't been a day where he hasn't thought of the faces of his family. His family was the only ones who remained next to him while he was lying on the hospital's sickbed, so it was only a matter-of-course.
At first, he thought it would be nice to somehow find a way and go back to them. Thinking that maybe there's a way to bring this body back with him. Although vitality is a problem, there must be a solution somehow. But once he thought of Sethian's disappointed expression, feeling betrayed if he knew, he was afflicted and distressed over it inside his heart for a while.
Conversely, when he recalled their cold eyes and piercing words, those thoughts expeditiously disappeared in no time. The fact that he was a burden to his family would never change, and even if he goes back and meets them, will he be able to smile at them again like before he had gotten sick?
The only place where he can laugh to his heart's content is the spot next to Sethian.
Arriving with that conjecture, he abruptly wanted to see Sethian again, who had just split up with him only a while ago. If he was with him, just looking at his current expression, from his thoughts to his emotions, he would see through everything and would probably gently stroke his head.
'Since when have I began acting so child-like?'
A jeer heedlessly flowed out of his visage. He seems to have become too accustomed to Sethian's touch.
Tok, tok.
Thinking of Sethian with his eyes down, Yi-Gyeol flinched at the sudden sound. As he rolled his eyes around and concentrated, he heard another tapping sound. Turning his head towards it, he saw a crow knocking with its beak attached to the closed window.
Not only because it's been watching over this place every day recently, but also because he knew that the crow was possessed by a soul that followed Zair, so his listless heart, which had finally settled down, tensed all over again. On the other hand, he was carrying a natural and friendly smile on his face.
As soon as he opened the window, the crow flew back for a bit, then shyly landed on the window sill.
−Did you sleep well?
Yi-Gyeol radiantly smiled at the crow who greeted him with a bright voice.
−What's wrong with your hands? Did you get hurt?
The crow alternately pointed at Yi-Gyeol's hands with its beak.
"No, my palm got a little chafed so I bandaged it. I'm more worried about Prince Zair than myself. Is he still unable to use his hands?"
To divert the crow's pouring attention towards him, he smoothly inserted Zair into the conversation.
He doesn't want to reveal information about him as much as he could. Because the more the opponent knows, the more it becomes a weakness.
Fortunately, the crow responded correspondingly.
−That's right. He was even frowning like this several times while eating today.
As if mimicking Zair, it tried to curve the small bird's forehead as hard as it could. He burst out laughing saying that it was cute, but in actuality, Yi-Gyeol was still as apathetic as ever deep down inside him.
"Did you tell him that I'm sorry?"
−Of course. He said it wasn't your fault, so you don't have to worry.
"How can I not worry when it's true that it's my fault…."
Even as his words continued, his head spun rapidly. Zair didn't ask anything from him just as he expected, and for some reason, only words that it was okay came out of the crow's mouth.
'I don't know if he really doesn't have any designs or he just noticed something….'
He opened his mouth as he rolled the hunch and Zair's disposition that he had briefly grasped around his head.
"I would have done anything if I could just apologize."
−Hmm, anything you say….
The crow's head tilted habitually and his voice rang a little low.
−Zair-nim didn't say much, but since you said that, would you like me to give you some advice? I frequently watch Zair-nim even on regular days, so I know everything, even the littlest personal thing.
A bright smile appeared on the corner of Yi-Gyeol's lips.
"Please. What do you think should I do?"
Compared to the arc around his lips, Yi-Gyeol had a smile of satisfaction carrying a different propensity within him.
Look at our gorgeous babies!
History
CH 55
Name:Fairy Trap Author:Chelliace
+ - Turn on Reset
−Do you happen to know a flower called 'Idello'?
"Idello?"
When Yi-Gyeol tilted his head to the name he heard for the first time, the crow lifted his pair of wings and swirled as if drawing a picture in the air.
−It's a very beautiful flower, but like the precious medicine evello, it's close to a panacea for traumas, so it was named similarly. Evello's tea leaves are effective for treating internal wounds, and Idello's petals are especially effective for treating external trauma. However, it is quite difficult to obtain as it is as precious as evello.
The crow, which had been waving its wings in the air, drew its neck long and met Yi-Gyeol's eyes.
−Even in this Imperial Palace, which was said to have everything, there is only one place where you can find it.
"Where is that?"
The crow's head turned and pointed out the window. What reached the end of its gaze is the garden of Emerald Castle.
−Last year, a foreign merchant gave Crown Prince Sethian Idello as a tribute before returning to his country. It was then shortly ornamented in the gardens of the Emerald Castle, which was inaccessible to anyone other than the Crown Prince and probably a dedicated gardener.
Listening to the crow's words, Yi-Gyeol could surmise what he was trying to say.
"Are you asking me to get it?"
−Don't you think Zair-nim will be touched if it's that?
"But didn't you say that it's not accessible except for Seth and the gardener?"
As he lowered his eyes with a sullen expression, the crow pulled its bird head out and swung its head around, drawing attention.
−It's been like that so far. But didn't you say that Prince Sethian is nice to you?
"Well, that's true but…."
−Just secretly steal a petal while taking a walk in the garden like the other day. I'll take it and deliver it to Zair-nim for you!
Yi-Gyeol shook his head with a bewildered expression on his face.
"Stealing, how can I do that? Going near would work somehow, but stealing… As expected, it's impossible."
−Then what can you do?
The crow's voice turned sharp.
−Why did you say that you would do anything when you couldn't even get out of this room properly? There's nothing you can do.
"That…."
−Zair-nim is in pain every day because of his wounds. It's not even difficult to do. It's just picking one petal and won't do you any harm. Are you going to do it or not?[1]
"A petal…."
−Yeah, I'm not asking for the whole flower. You just need to pick one petal, so why are you being so hesitant? So wishy-washy.[2]
Yi-Gyeol's complexion deteriorated sharply as the crow's berate continued. When his eyes trembled, it slightly wiggled its beak as if the crow was directly speaking to him.
−It's your opportunity to help someone. It's not even causing inconvenience but a chance to genuinely help someone and be appreciated.
Yi-Gyeol looked up at the crow. His eyes, which had been shaken with worries, gradually became clear and he soon nodded his head.
"…Okay. I'll do as you say."
−Good decision.
The crow flapped its wings and curved its eyes.
−Just in time, the weather is nice today so say you're going for a walk. I'll pick up the petal when you come into the room after taking a walk.
"All right. Thanks."
After answering lightly, Yi-Gyeol headed to the door in front of the crow that was still settled by the window. He told Kirsty who was standing outside the door to ask permission to go for a walk, and when he turned back around once more, he closed the window, saying he had to change his clothes pretending to be shy. The crow soared into the sky and perched on a branch just outside the window as if monitoring Yi-Gyeol's actions.
Recalling the crow outside, Yi-Gyeol's gentle expression changed into icy-cold. He pretended to go further inside to change his clothes and immediately approached the wall in a blind spot that was not visible from outside the window and sat down.
The excuse to change clothes should be only ten minutes at most.
If he spends more time and keeps the window closed, the soul in the crow may notice that something is strange.
Yi-Gyeol took out a small glass bottle that was hanging from inside of his shirt and put the stopper close to his nose. As soon as he inhaled deeply, his eyes quickly turned dark, and fell asleep.
Yi-Gyeol opened his eyes as soon as he felt his body shaking. He took his eyes off his body, which was deeply asleep in front of him, and passed through the wall where his body was resting and went outside. The spirit in the crow might be able to recognize him as he is now, but its gaze was fixed on the window. Yi-Gyeol turned and headed somewhere so as not to be exposed to the crow's gaze.
As Yi-Gyeol flew along the wall of the building as if following it, he saw the servant who received Kirsty's orders walking. He didn't know exactly where Sethian was, so following the servant's footsteps was the quickest shortcut. The servant strode forward without noticing that Yi-Gyeol's soul was closely following behind him.
The place where the servant arrived was in front of a door similar to that of the bedroom but filled with a slightly different pattern. Among them, Crown Prince Sethian's crest, which Yi-Gyeol had already become accustomed to, was distinctly engraved in the middle. On the left and right stood two familiar knights in dark red armor and two soldiers in simple silver armor.
"I brought a message from Joo Yi-Gyeol-nim."
Yi-Gyeol, who was flying over the shoulder of the servant, felt embarrassed by the title 'Joo Yi-Gyeol-nim' for nothing. It's only to ask whether he can go out for a walk, but it feels even more strange to describe it as a message.
While the servant was reporting to the knights, Yi-Gyeol passed through the door and slipped inside. Then, he suddenly felt a completely different atmosphere from the air outside, so he flinched without even realizing it.
It was certainly not where a sword sparring was being held, nor was it in the midst of a meeting that was engaged in a suffocating war of nerves. Nevertheless, the atmosphere inside Sethian's office could be said to be quite ugly.
Sitting at the desk in front of him, Sethian was taciturnly writing something, piling up so many documents that it was hard to count. And to his left was Lenox, waiting as he stood in an upright position with his hands on his back. At the desk on the right, a man he had never seen before was struggling with a serious face, stacking as many documents as Sethian.
There isn't any breathing sound within the four corners of the room but only the sounds of quills squeaking. Yi-Gyeol felt suffocated by the air more than the silence.
Although he suddenly entered the office, the atmosphere inside was full of tension and desolate as if walking on thin ice, so even Yi-Gyeol, who was in his spiritual state, couldn't make a sound. Thinking that his timing was wrong, he got anxious and tangled inside, worrying about how he could talk to Sethian when he was so focused like that.
Then, in the midst of all that, the constant squeaking sound suddenly stopped. Sethian's elegant quill halted, and his drooping eyes lifted and directed straight ahead.
He hasn't said a word yet but their eyes met. Sethian can't see his form and can only feel his presence so the premise that they made eye contact was wrong, but it was certain that he recognized this side.
Sethian's eyes frowned slightly.
"Did something happen?"
"Yes?"
Baron Ergen Ruman, who raised his head in surprise at Sethian's words, opened his eyes wide. However, Sethian's gaze did not faze as it reached the doorway.
Knock, knock一
"Your highness, the servant who was guarding your bedroom brought a message from Joo Yi-Gyeol-nim."
As if the inspection of the servant had already been completed, a knight standing guard outside spoke. Sethian ordered to let the servant come inside without taking his eyes off Yi-Gyeol. The servant, who entered the room, bowed deeply in courtesy, and delivered the simple words, 'Joo Yi-Gyeol wants to take a walk.' Even while listening to those words, Sethian's gaze did not fall from Yi-Gyeol's presence, who was awkwardly standing next to the servant.
"Go out and stand by."
"Yes, I understand."
The servant promptly went outside at Sethian's order as Yi-Gyeol stood still by the door, waiting. Ergen was somewhat chased out by Sethian's glare as well and only he, Lenox, and Yi-Gyeol remained within the office.
Sethian put down the quill and stretched out his hand to Yi-Gyeol.
"Come here."
Yi-Gyeol was paying attention to Sethian's action all along and approached at his words. Lenox didn't say anything as if he roughly knew what was going on.
As Yi-Gyeol approached the chair, Sethian turned his body and stared at his presence.
"I don't think you're going for a walk simply to get some fresh air."
He wrestled around with the wooden sword in the training hall and even went to the bathhouse so granted that he really wanted to go for a walk, there was no way he would at a time like this, so as soon as Sethian heard the servant's words, he noticed straightaway that's something's strange.
"Did Zair contact you?"
−Hmn. The crow pretended that Zair didn't order it, but he probably prepared everything. It said that there would be a flower called 'Idello' in the garden and asked me to secretly pick a petal since it's special for treating external injuries.
"Idello…."
The corners of Sethian's eyebrows rose slightly as if in ridicule.
"You mean that poison herb's petals?"
It is indeed a special medicine for treating wounds, but Idello was more famous for being called a 'poison herb' in this world. Its toxicity was so severe that if an unsuspecting person touched it by mistake and that person brought the tip of their finger straight to his or her mouth, he would immediately lose consciousness and fall into a coma.