55.
This kind of attention was unfamiliar to Do-jin. When he was younger, he had a stutter and once he was older, he ignored anything that didn’t help his purpose. So this was the first time that people had gathered around him and were friendly.
“Han Do-jin-ssi, the clothes you are wearing today really suit you.”
A pretty woman smiled.
“Peace Guild Leader. It’s the first time I’ve seen you; I wasn’t expecting that you’d be so handsome.”
Although everyone might have had ulterior motives, it wouldn’t be easy rejecting everyone that approached him politely.
I suddenly thought of Hyeon-woo, but today was Ji Seon-woo’s birthday. Hyeon-woo would probably stick to him since they were family, after all.
I wasn’t related by blood to Hyeon-woo, unlike Seon-woo. Thinking this strangely made his heart throb. Unknowingly, it seemed that his affection had deepened during the time he was with him.
‘Well, he’s like a Dongsaeng to me.’
Since the time I had been put under the illusion curse, I had continued treating Hyeon-woo like a Dongsaeng. It wasn’t weird for me to think of Hyeon-woo as one.
“Han Do-jin-ssi!”
Responding to the woman getting his attention again, Do-jin forcibly raised the corners of his mouth.
“The view from the balcony over there is nice. Would you like to go see it together?”
He realized something as she shyly spoke with a smile. She was flirting with me. I hadn’t dealt with others flirting with me before, so it had taken this long to realize it.
’I should probably decline for now.’
She was attractive enough, but I don’t like her that way. Just as Do-jin was about to open his mouth to refuse, someone grabbed his arm.
His arm began to react instinctively, but unconsciously lost strength in an instant and sagged upon realizing who grabbed him.
“Do-jin-ssi!”
It was Hyeon-woo. He usually dressed casually in loose-fitting clothes, but for today, fitting for the special occasion, he was in a proper suit. A semi-suit with a narrow waist that fitted him surprisingly well.
A smile appeared on his face, which had previously been awkward and stiff.
“You’re here already?”
“I came early. What are you doing over here?”
“What do you mean?”
Have you forgotten something? While in thought, Hyeon-woo pulled Do-jin with more force. His body, despite being larger than Hyeon-woo’s, was dragged away.
“We have to stay together. That way you can protect me.”
Hyeon-woo appeared grumpy while he was saying that.
What was upsetting him so much? Unwittingly, he reached out his hand and gently brushed his cheek.
I had been with Hyeon-woo before, but this was the first time he’d treated me like this.
Sure enough, Hyeon-woo was surprised by the sudden action. However, he didn’t let go of his hand.
“That’s Ji Hyeon-woo. But why are you taking Do-jin away?”
Hyeon-woo replied calmly to those words.
“Because he is my bodyguard.”
“A bodyguard?”
A Guild Leader was a bodyguard. The people surrounding them began talking. The only people who knew that Do-jin was protecting Hyeon-woo on a regular basis were the guild leaders of the top 5 guilds and people from the Seon-Hyeon guild. It was natural not to know.
“No matter what, you’re the Guild Leader of a guild, so how can you be a bodyguard?”
Do-jin answered their question.
“He’s right. I’m a bodyguard.”
He admitted it. Then, the people around them shut their mouths.
“Then let’s go!”
Hyeon-woo took Do-jin and escaped from the crowd. Then, he slipped into a nearby balcony. A few people with regrets glanced at them, but they didn’t catch up. It was because Do-jin, who was being dragged, looked at them with sharp eyes.
“Hmm, what kind of relationship is that?”
The people scattered again.
And inside the balcony, Hyeon-woo was scolding Do-jin.
“What are you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”
Do-jin had no choice but to answer blankly this time.
“With how scary the world is, why are you so defenseless?”
“Was I defenseless?”
I didn’t think so. I had always been vigilant so that he could quickly respond to whatever happened. But when Hyeon-woo said this, I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Of course. You didn’t stop when the woman groped your arm earlier. Was she the only one? Didn’t you notice that someone else tried to put her hand on your waist as well?”
No. I was noticing that much. It was just a friendly gesture, so I thought for a moment about what to do.
“That is outright sexual harassment. You should have said no and avoided it!”
“Is it sexual harassment?”
“Yeah!”
It wasn’t quite like that. What kind of madman could be trying to sexually harass the Guild Leader of the Peace Guild?
“Look. Touching you with her arm like this!”
A slender, white hand gently brushed Do-jin’s muscular arm. Then, it passed through his chest and stayed on his waist. His chest tickled at the trembling hands.
“Surely she must have tried to touch your waist like this!”
I wished Hyeon-woo would touch me more. At that thought, Do-jin unknowingly grabbed the hand that was leaving his waist.
“That’s right! You have to do it like this!”
Hyeon-woo exclaimed triumphantly, whether he knew Do-jin’s heart or not.
“I know.”
It shouldn’t be like this. Hyeon-woo was just worried about me and gave me advice. Even knowing that, his hand moved involuntarily.
Do-jin’s big hand grabbed Hyeon-woo’s arm.
“This is how you do it.”
Then, a hand that slid down grabbed his waist and pulled him closer.
“You mean I have to be careful?”
Hyeon-woo, who was enveloped by Do-jin’s chest, nodded with a puzzled expression. As he watched the top of his head swaying right below him, a certain impulse soared.
‘I want to kiss you.’
Do-jin was surprised at the sudden surge of the urge. I don’t think I ever had such thoughts with my younger sister either. He rubbed his lips with his free hand.
‘How is my condition right now?’
I was sober. It wasn’t even an addiction due to skills or other drugs. But why did I feel this way? When he raised his head, he saw the moon shining in the night sky.
‘I don’t know.’
Was it because Hyeon-woo was so cute? His younger sister, Ye-won, was also lively and lovable, but Hyeon-woo was not far behind. It was a little hard to say these things when one sees a grown man, but when Do-jin sees him, his cuteness sometimes makes his heart race.
“You’re cute.”
It was a mistake to say it out of the blue.
“What happened to your eyes?”
Hyeon-woo, who had a ridiculous expression on his face, returned a sharp answer.
“I think you’re wonderful.”
Hyeon-woo didn’t think so, but he didn’t deny it. He kept saying something while keeping his head buried in his chest, and he could feel Hyeon-woo’s breath on his shirt. It was ticklish, but he didn’t hate it.
Just then, fireworks exploded outside. And a loud bell rang.
“I have to go!”
Hyeon-woo was startled and went away from Do-jin. At the same time, he felt a presence.
“Hyung.”
When he turned around, he saw Seon-woo, the main character of the party, leaning over the entrance to the balcony and looking this way.
“Seon-woo-ya!”
“It’s almost time. What are you doing here?”
A sharp gaze poked Do-jin.
“We were just talking for a while.”
“Is that conversation more important than my birthday?”
When Seon-woo made a sullen expression while doing so, Hyeon-woo quickly rushed towards him. The warmth in his arms faded to cold. After all, no matter how hard one tried, the one without the same blood cannot win. Do-jin let out a small sigh.
“No. no, it’s not that. It was an important conversation, but you are just as important to me!”
“Then let’s go, Hyung. The party will begin soon.”
“Okay. Do-jin ssi, hurry up and come out too!”
“I’ll be there in just a second.”
Hyeon-woo hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and followed Seon-woo. Do-jin, who waved his hand toward him, leaned against the balcony railing. He tilted his head back and saw the full moon.
“Dongsaeng, is that right?”
He murmured softly and closed his eyes. He was just looking at something different than usual, and it must have been that she was groping for no reason and had an ulterior motive.
Do-jin stayed still for a while and straightened his body. He was going to go inside and continue his profession of bodyguard that Hyeon-woo wanted him to do.
Seon-woo looked for his Hyung who didn’t show up even though it was time. I had to quickly find Hyung. I could tell just by asking people around me. Then I saw something I didn’t want to see. The way he was held by Do-jin on the balcony.
Do-jin would say from time to time. Hyeon-woo feels like his younger brother. He seemed to have chosen his Hyung as a substitute for Ye-won since he was mentally attacked in the last portal incident. So I was a little relieved.
His younger sister was already dead. We could use him to protect our brother. Then we could just kick him out when we don’t need him.
‘But what’s that?’
Who would hug his younger sister like that.
In the meantime, I sometimes felt anxious. He is too intimate for his sister. He knew that Bro-com was great, but it seemed a little different from that.
My heart has been overwhelmed by anxiety. I hope you will always be by my side. Since childhood, my world has been all about him. I wished we could stay together until the end of our lives. But what if you have another partner?
He didn’t want to think about it. He could have been criticized for his childish way of thinking. He wished he was the only one by his side. So the conclusion was made quickly.
Let’s get Do-jin out of the way. Things are better now than before. I thought it would be better not to have Do-jin around if I was going to keep him by my side. There were also Spotty and Kero, and there were countless talented people in the Seon-Hyeon guild.
Still, it won’t match Do-jin’s skills, but I’ll at least buy you some time.
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Davine, YaagRabRag
HM: The birthday arc is kinda long…. Maybe it’s just me….
Davine: It’s already the 2nd or 3rd chapter so you’re not wrong.
YRR: wow. The author went from barely mentioning Do-jin to THIS? -> also, note to readers. I am going to be spending less time editing/proofing the chapters, so you might notice a change in voice.
Please join the discord server. In case if we had to place all the posts into a password lock, you will get notified there and given extra details there. The updates will be activated only when we reach atleast 100 members(excluding the admins and me.) It's not much active currently.
Eh? Nooooo! I wanted a genuine brotherly affection between Hyeonwoo and Dojin😭
Oh Freak yeah! I enjoy romance but I would probably prefer it to be a slow burn (If Do Jin is the love interest)