TBML 56

It was a name that felt unfamiliar, yet not entirely so. However, considering it was a human name, he thought it was truly peculiar. Who would name a person using the character for “crow” (烏)?

“Crow”? A bird that knows how to repay a kindness. Even as a nickname, it was strange. Were there any positive expressions that include the word for “crow”? Even with the character for “compassion” (慈) attached to the front, it was still, at the end of the day, a term referring to a crow.

Just as a child who has just learned to write scrawls his name everywhere, that strange name, “慈烏,” was written in almost every book. Nowhere was Hyunhak’s name to be found.

After thinking it over, Yiyeon recalled hearing that among scholars, the poor ones who couldn’t afford to buy books would borrow them to copy by hand or inherit texts that others had already studied.

Well, since Yiyeon was surrounded with so-called scholars who indulged in drinking and women rather than reading, and he had never seen any of them carrying books, he couldn’t verify if this was actually true. However, he simply reasoned that, aside from Hyunhak’s flashy clothes, his living conditions were just as meager as anyone else’s, so it might well be the case.

Above all, Yiyeon needed something to focus on for a moment to forget the terrible thoughts polluting his mind; he didn’t want to dig into Hyunhak’s life. After all, if he kept doubting everything about Hyunhak, it would only lead him back to dark thoughts and self-reproach.

Yiyeon tried not to think too much. Although the room wasn’t tidy, there were traces of nursing care scattered here and there. Things like damp washcloths or scraps of cloth stained with blood that had been used as bandages.

Yiyeon buried his face in the blanket. His swollen eyelids and bruised face stung. He kept his nose pressed against the blanket and tried to take a deep breath. Naturally, there was no pleasant smell. The old quilt gave off a musty, dusty odor, but to Yiyeon, it was a familiar scent that had always followed him, so it wasn’t that bad. On the cobblestone, if the quilt had emitted an unfamiliar fragrance or smelled brand-new, that would likely have made Yiyeon even more anxious.

It wasn’t just the familiar appearance of the house that relieved Yiyeon’s anxiety. Although there was no room to ask, Hyunhak visit our sitedid not ask Yiyeon anything. Just looking down at his own hands, from his fingernails to the backs of his hands and wrists, everything in sight was a mess. It was obvious without even looking how much worse off he must have been when Hyunhak first found him.

He couldn’t tell how much time had passed since he first had found him in that state, but he had taken care of someone who looked like that. Even though he had thrown a fit the moment he woke up and started talking about the village, Hyunhak didn’t ask a single question. He must have roughly guessed what had happened from the scars left on his body, but he was relieved that he didn’t bring it up.

If Hyunhak had asked him what had happened, the Yiyeon of that moment wouldn’t have had anything to say; he was certain that if he tried to choose his words, he’d end up being swallowed whole by his delusions. And Yiyeon wouldn’t have been able to beg Hyunhak to accept him the way he was now.

‘He accepted me for now, but who knows, he might change his mind as time goes on.’

However, it wasn’t long before his worries reared their heads. He was concerned that although Hyunhak had reluctantly accepted him for now, he might change his mind at any moment and tell him to return to the village.

So he had to get up as soon as possible so he wouldn’t be a hindrance. It was just that his body was in this state; otherwise, Yiyeon was naturally hardworking and used to hardship.

Although this was his first time living in such an incredibly barren mountainous region, someone lived here. If he endured a bit of hardship at first, he would eventually get used to it, and it would become second nature.

Yiyeon acted like a child who had matured early. Once a child matures, they can never truly return to their innocent self. Just like a child who makes hasty decisions upon seeing their struggling parents. A child who, even when he has things he wants to eat or do, suppresses his desires inside – thinking that doing so would be a burden in his childish mind, simply to be a well-liked, cherished child.

Since Yiyeon had lived that way until now, he thought the same about Hyunhak. If he quickly pulled himself together, worked hard, and found a way to be of help to Hyunhak, Hyunhak wouldn’t be able to easily turn him away, even if only out of pity.

Lost in these thoughts, Yiyeon tried his best to clear his mind. Just as he had pretended not to hear the [unauthorized copy]villagers whispering behind his back, and just as he had brusquely shout at Dusoe to change the subject and leave whenever Dusoe tried to reach out and touch his hand.

He deliberately buried his face in the blanket and occupied himself with idle musings: how many books were piled up, how many creases were in the long robe (presumably Hyunhak’s) shoved into the corner, and how to repair the ceiling that was on the verge of collapsing.

Just as he was deliberately filling his mind with such idle thoughts, he suddenly realized that the world was far too quiet. Just as he was about to sit up, startled by a strange sensation, Yiyeon was terrified by the black shadow looming over him. The hand that grabbed his ankle was cold, and more importantly, the aura it exuded was not Hyunhak’s.

Faced with the appearance and touch of this stranger, Yiyeon’s face turned pale. It wasn’t simply because he was scared; he was genuinely struggling to breathe. He had been fine when he was in this room with Hyunhak, but the moment he realized this person wasn’t him, he couldn’t breath.

“Hey.”

At the man’s call, Yiyeon slowly turned around. Though slightly shorter than Hyunhak, he was taller and more heavily built than Yiyeon; with his slightly drooping eyes and rounded, arched eyebrows, he exuded a unique aura. His voice, slightly high-pitched and ringing, and his manner of dragging out the beginnings of his words were peculiar. But none of that left an impression on Yiyeon.

That was because, from the moment the man approached from behind and grabbed Yiyeon’s ankle, his lips had turned blue and his eyes were on the verge of rolling back.

“You were awake.”

When he saw that Yiyeon’s eyes were wide open – though the whites were visible – the man released his grip and tossed whatever he was holding at him. Only when the man’s hand was pulled away did Yiyeon let out the breath he’d been holding. Then he screamed.

“Aaaargh!”

The sudden, piercing scream startled both the stranger and Hyunhak, who had been boiling the medicine for Yiyeon. As soon as the scream rang out, Hyunhak rushed into the room only to be met by a terrified Yiyeon screaming in fear and Zao, whose eyes were bulging in shock.

The moment Zao’s eyes met Hyunhak’s, he ran out the door like an arrow. He seemed so startled that he felt like he was going to turn into a bird.

Hyunhak ignored Zao, who had vanished as quickly as a pebble shot from a slingshot, and helped Yiyeon (who was flailing in terror) to his feet. At that moment, Yiyeon suddenly threw his arms around Hyunhak. Unable to stand or sit, Hyunhak looked at Yiyeon, who was clutching him in an awkward embrace.

Yiyeon hadn’t acted consciously; he had been so terrified that he had instinctively clung to Hyunhak to save himself. Just a moment ago, when the strange man had touched him, he’d felt as if he couldn’t breathe and was terrified out of his wits, but the moment he saw Hyunhak rush in, he knew he was saved. He clung to Hyunhak and gasped for air, as if he’d just been pulled from deep water where he’d nearly drowned.

The sound of his labored breathing in Hyunhak’s ear was unsettling. Seeing him clinging tightly and gasping for air looked so pitiful that Hyunhak stroked his back.

“…Haa…I’m sorry, My Lord. I was startled.”

As soon as he caught his breath a little, Yiyeon immediately apologized to Hyunhak. He knew Hyunhak wouldn’t appreciate all this commotion, but it was an action driven by instinctive fear, beyond Yiyeon’s control.

As a hunter, Yiyeon was more sensitive to subtle movements than anyone else, but because his hearing had deteriorated and his physical strength was waning, he hadn’t noticed Zao’s approach. Lost in his thoughts, he was suddenly grabbed by the man’s hand. And even though his mind didn’t remember, his body did, and the fear he’d once felt resurfaced.

Hyunhak gently patted Yiyeon as he burrowed into his embrace like a chick seeking its mother’s warmth. It was an instinctive and natural reaction.

“It’s fine.”

Hyunhak spoke in a calm voice as he gently stroked Yiyeon’s back. Yiyeon’s breathing was erratic and made him anxious, but fortunately, it was gradually returning to normal.

Once Yiyeon’s breathing subsided somewhat, Hyunhak thought of Zao, who had ran out of the room with a startled look on his face. Even though they had a fire going, Hyunhak thought warm clothes would be necessary for someone who felt the cold so easily, so he asked Zao to fetch some clothes suitable for Yiyeon to wear.

Even before Yiyeon came to this house, he was a crow who would occasionally go down to the village and sneakily pick up items that caught his eye. Hyunhak could have gone himself, but he wasn’t confident he could properly select what Yiyeon actually needed.

So, Zao must have brought back some suitable clothes for Yiyeon and, as he had done before, tried to help him put them on while he was still unconscious. But his actions inadvertently startled him. Since Zao felt wronged and Yiyeon’s fear needed to be allayed, Hyunhak carefully chose his words to explain who Zao was.

“He’s not a bad person. His name is Zao.”

There wasn’t a single word of falsehood in that statement. Although he wasn’t entirely pleased, he had helped Yiyeon at Hyunhak’s request, and he wasn’t human either. While Hyunhak was choosing his words to explain, Yiyeon immediately recognized the name and apologized to Hyunhak.

“……I’m sorry.”

‘Zao.’

It was a name he’d heard many times before. Written in the books scattered everywhere, and heard the last time he’d been indebted to Hyunhak. Even back then, he’d thought of him as someone who looked after Hyunhak’s well-being. Regardless of the exact nature of their relationship, since the one who owed him a favor had suddenly let out a scream and caused a commotion, an apology was only proper.

Only after finally calming down did Yiyeon regain his composure and gently push Hyunhak away. He was suddenly overcome with regret and embarrassment at having thrown his arms around him without thinking.