Necromancer Survival

Chapter 176

The mage’s purposeful walk towards the other was so unsettling, I hastily held onto Seo Dawon. I spent all this effort trying to summon the blonde; I couldn’t just watch the mage growl at him like that.

The problem, though, was that no matter how much I pulled at Seo Dawon, he wouldn’t budge. Though the mage did not push me away, he wouldn’t stop his advance either; Seo Dawon only looked back when I whined and hugged his waist.

Woo Ragi, who also took a step forward, looked shocked when he saw that scene. It was as if the thought, ‘Just what am I looking at?’ rattled his head as he looked between me and his former guildmaster. “It wasn’t that the homo had some unrequited love for you?”

My face involuntarily flushed red at those words. I knew Woo Ragi, through the [Vengeful Ghost Summon Memory], had observed the extent to which I liked Seo Dawon.

However, it seemed like Woo Ragi was questioning Seo Dawon rather than me. He stopped in his tracks and asked the mage, “You touch men too now?”

“……” Seo Dawon’s face was full of contempt, as if he didn’t even want to acknowledge him with an answer. Then, after a long sigh, he replied to Woo Ragi in a placid tone, “Choi Lee-kyung and you are now in a contractual relationship; he’s not some tool to be used for your convenience.”

“I get that you got attached to him while I was gone, but… don’t try to force me. What do you want me to do about something that’s already happened.”

“You must think Choi Lee-kyung can be replaced at any time, huh?”

“……” Woo Ragi paused for a brief moment and then shrugged his shoulders. His attitude showcased his lack of denial.

Jung Garam, who had been watching the battle between his two older guildmates with a bored expression, slyly grinned. “Hyung, Lee-kyung-ie is the only Necromancer.”

“What?”

“Lee-kyung-ie is the only Necromancer available to sign a contract with us.”

“Is he really such a high-level Necromancer?”

“It’s not that… It’s that the Necromancer class itself is rare.”

I didn’t even deny that point, since it was the truth–no exaggeration needed. Woo Ragi, frowning more than before, began looking me up and down.

On top of that, Kim Olim also wedged herself into the conversation. “If Choi Lee-kyung dies, we’re finished. There’s no ‘next time.'”

“Is that why you’re trying to please him? You want me to take part in that?” However, Woo Ragi maintained his prickly attitude, as if he were some college student that had been infected with 8th-grader-syndrome late. ¹

Honestly, did the others look like the kind of people that’d treat me like some king because I was rare? How could a guy who’d been friends with them for years misunderstand his friend’s personalities more than me, who’d only known them for a few months?

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who was frustrated. Kim Olim closed her eyes and ignored him; Jung Garam mumbled under his breath–though everyone could still clearly hear–“Ragi-hyung is being stubborn again…”

Woo Ragi looked furious, but, in the end, he didn’t say anything to them and simply shot me a silent glare. His expression belied the fact that he wanted to hit me, but, despite the harshness of that glare, I didn’t find him too scary. Maybe I took confidence in Seo Dawon’s presence right next to me…

“Hey, homo. I didn’t mean to kill you, but… I’m sorry you were so fucking sloppy you almost died.”

“……”

“Ah, what? Did I say anything wrong?”

I wasn’t even angry at that ridiculous attempt at an apology. Was it because the other servants were so scornful on my behalf…? Also, because Woo Ragi was homophobic. I didn’t expect to hear nice things from someone who hated ‘homos.’

So, before the others could rush forward, I nodded; Seo Dawon stared blankly at me before closing his mouth. The hospital room soon became silent.

* * *

“Discharge? So suddenly?”

“Yes… Mm, Seo Dawon’s back at the house now too, so…”

“I-Is that so…”

A few hours later, Kim Sangyoon entered the hospital room.

He was surprised to see me packing and asked me what happened; I announced that I had recovered enough. Nevertheless, he repeatedly recommended that I just sit still in bed. Feeling sorry for him, I refused, but the other servants also told me to stay still. Once again I was forced to receive help from others.

While packing, Kim Sangyoon asked me a question in a tone that belied his disappointment, “But, how could Dawon-nim not visit even once during the entire time hyung-nim was hospitalized…”

“……” Startled, I looked at Seo Dawon standing next to me; the mage only lowered his eyes, saying nothing.

This situation was one where the mage couldn’t interfere or intervene, so it seemed a bit unfair for him to receive this criticism. The moment I opened my mouth to correct Kim Sangyoon’s misunderstanding though, Seo Dawon first grabbed onto my hand tightly, and the words died in my throat.

Looking at my expression, Kim Sangyoon must have thought I felt hurt by his words. Flustered, he apologized, “N-Nevermind. I’m being presumptuous…”

“It’s okay. But…Dawon-ie also had some circumstances…”

“Understood. I just…was curious.”

After this awkward conversation, Kim Sangyoon accelerated his packing. “Hyung-nim, I’ll move the luggage to the parking lot.”

“…Alright. Thank you.” After we left the hospital room, I gave my parting greetings and looked towards Seo Dawon. I hoped he wouldn’t blame himself or take his anger out on Kim Sangyoon for no reason.

However, Seo Dawon only gazed at the floor and had nothing much to say. The subdued atmosphere tugged on my heart. I grabbed his sleeve, but he looked back at me without saying a word and soon stood up from his seat.

“Then, if something happens, please call on me! I’ll come straight away,” Kim Sangyoon announced.

“Yes. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done during this time, Sangyoon-ssi…”

After collecting the receipt, we returned home. Kim Sangyoon said he’d move my luggage all the way inside, but, since it was only just one bag, I thought that was too much. In the end, he only brought it to the front door before backing away.

Certainly, compared to before, Kim Sangyoon’s reticence towards me seemed to have disappeared (though he still grew a little anxious whenever I reached my hand towards him). It was strange to see his sincerity. As I looked at the sports car and its loud exhaust sound disappearing into the horizon, I thought that it wasn’t possible for people to fundamentally change so much…

“…What on earth is this?!”

However, I forgot all that as soon as I opened the front door and entered the living room. There was no time to be immersed in grateful emotions when such a horrifying scene unfolded before my eyes.

“They must have forgotten to clean up.”

“It’s tiresome, so let’s have Lackey deal with it, Lee-kyung-ah.”

“What’s this, you live in a better home than what I expected. But why’s the living room so destroyed?”

The other servants calmly responded to the sight, but I couldn’t do the same.

It was as if the place bore witness to a fierce fight. The sofa was covered with some debris, and the marble floor was cracked here and there. The glass table, which had no flaws before I collapsed, was shattered into pieces. Additionally, what was with the vase stuck in the center of the TV screen?

“Did you get attacked?” Woo Ragi asked.

“The glass hasn’t been cleaned up yet, so come this way.”

However, unlike my shocked self, the servants moved around without showing much agitation. In particular, Seo Dawon picked me (who had gone completely rigid) up and crossed the living room, wading through the broken shards.

I stayed still until I was laid down on the bed. As soon as my butt touched the mattress, I jumped up like a spring and grabbed the mage. “Hey, why is it such a mess over there? Did something happen after I collapsed?”

“……” However, Seo Dawon was silent. Strangely, he avoided my gaze and looked far away.

However, soon afterwards, Jung Garam opened the door, barged in, and hugged me. As if he were telling on someone, he pointed out the culprit in an accusatory tone, “Dawon-ie hyung completely smashed everything.”

“What?”

“I tried to stop him, right? But, hyung grabbed me and threw me.”

Shocked by the unbelievable explanation, I turned towards the mage. Seo Dawon didn’t react much to Garam-ie’s frivolous words. However, seeing as he didn’t deny, it seemed that he actually destroyed the home.

“Why did you do that!” I shouted.

“I failed to control my skills.”

“Huh?”

“My concentration kept on being disturbed.” Then, Seo Dawon looked at me gently, as if I were the cause.

I thought I should let this topic go, but, once again, my heart gripped onto it unexpectedly. I couldn’t believe my heartbeat raced at the thought of him destroying the house… Wasn’t I completely hopeless? A sense of shame and futile expectation rose within me.

TL: A bit of an early update~ (I have to be on a 20 hour plane ride tomorrow, so I can’t upload then!)

We have… a non-apology…but don’t you guys worry!