Chapter 100

An absurd proposal was thrown out with absurd timing. To suggest dropping formalities to get closer to someone who had just explicitly stated they were uncomfortable… It was impossible to understand what was going on inside his head.

Standing behind Daize, Theo took a step to the side to check on Blaine. Speechless, Blaine was simply staring at Daize with a dazed expression. Theo was ready to help the moment Blaine asked, but Blaine didn’t cast a single glance his way. It was as if he were forcing his eyes to remain locked onto Daize.

As he faced Daize, Blaine felt his heart waver when he saw Theo’s blurred figure in the periphery of his vision. He wanted to run to him right this instant and hide behind that small back. He wanted to grab him and beg to go home, just to escape this place. But he couldn’t. The more he ran away, the more of a nuisance Daize would become to Theo.

Steeling his resolve to rely on Theo over and over again, Blaine swallowed hard and spoke to Daize, whose eyes were shining in anticipation of an answer.

“I don’t—”

He tried his best to deliver a firm rejection, but a furious voice suddenly thundered like a lightning bolt. “Hey! Where do you think you’re cutting in?” It was Holanghee.

“…Pardon?”

Daize asked back, looking bewildered. Holanghee, huffing with rage as she glared at Daize, rushed over in a single stride and shoved him aside.

“This kid hasn’t even dropped formalities with us yet.”

“Is it just us? He still uses polite speech with Theo, too.”

“Get in line, in line. There’s a long queue waiting.”

The voices of Father and Noquia followed in succession. Father had just stepped out of the workshop with a blunt expression, while Noquia was giggling with a group of other waiting guild members.

Daize looked back and forth between the three gatekeeper-like figures with an innocent face. Soon, he snapped his fingers and poked his head out past Holanghee, who was blocking his way, to ask Blaine.

“Ah, then how about I drop formalities first, and you can do it once you feel comfortable? Since I’m older, it’s only natural for me to go first.”

He was a formidable opponent. Holanghee’s jaw dropped, and Father and Noquia’s faces contorted. Natural, my foot.

“I’d rather not…”

“…Huh?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Ah, no, why… We can’t keep acting this awkward forever, we’re family now. I want to be like Theo-nim—”

The moment “Theo” left his mouth, Blaine’s face stiffened visibly. It seemed the man was trying to place himself on the same level as Theo, a thought that was utterly preposterous. The fact that he even dared to think that, to covet that position, to have the audacity to try—it was offensive. This man, who sought to desecrate the only sun reigning within him, felt shudderingly disgusting and contemptible.

Daize saw Blaine’s face and his words trailed off into a stammer. Warning lights flashed urgently in his mind. This was dangerous. He had to stop. One more step and there would be no turning back.

Flicking his gaze around in feigned fluster, Daize put on a deeply hurt expression and backed down.

“Fine… I guess it can’t be helped… Let’s just get close slowly. Us…”

Everyone looked puzzled as Daize suddenly tucked his tail. Why now, after he had boldly demanded informal speech even while bringing up Theo?

Carrying everyone’s curiosity on his back, Blaine passed him and headed straight to Theo’s side. After a brief exchange, he left the guild house with Theo.

In particular, Theo was practically being dragged out by the hand. As he was pulled away, he just stared blankly up at Blaine’s face like a man who had lost his soul.

The guild members watched the two of them sprint out of the guild house, tilting their heads and looking back and forth between the entrance and Daize. They had no idea what was going on.

While everyone was buzzing with questions like “What was that?” and “What happened?”, two people remained silent. It was If It’s You Then Me and If It’s Not You Then Me. They were the only ones who had been positioned behind Theo, which meant they were the ones who had seen Blaine’s expression in its entirety.

Their faces slightly pale, the duo clutched their cheeks as they looked at each other, then at Daize, then at the entrance, before looking back at each other and speaking in hushed tones.

“Holy crap…”

“That was terrifying.”

After using the warp to return to Ratteon, the two remained silent the entire way home. Blaine’s mouth was firmly shut with a look of deep distress, while Theo leaned on Blaine’s hand as they walked, staring blankly up at his face.

It was surprising. It was fascinating, and it was new. He was half-doubting his own eyes—wondering if that expression truly belonged to Blaine. He could make a face like that? He actually made a face like that.

They walked through the comfortable silence until they arrived not at Theo’s house, but in front of Blaine’s. Since it was obvious Daize would come looking for them at Theo’s, they had come to Blaine’s instead.

Once inside, Theo started toward the living room when he suddenly realized that he and Blaine were still holding hands. He stared at their joined hands in silence before giving a slight tug. Blaine, who had been a step ahead, turned around in surprise.

He seemingly hadn’t even realized they were still holding hands, looking at Theo with eyes that asked what was wrong. Theo gave a faint smile and lightly shook their interlaced hands. Blaine’s eyes drifted down in confusion, and then, his face turning a vivid crimson, he quickly let go. But Theo caught his retreating hand and held on.

Utterly flustered, Blaine—now red all the way to his neck and ears—looked back and forth between their hands and Theo. Staring up at him, Theo asked with his usual indifferent face.

“Should just the two of us go fishing tomorrow?”

No, perhaps he was smiling just a little.

“Pardon…?”

“Shall we go?”

“Yes… Yes! I’d love to! Fishing tomorrow… Ah!”

“?”

“Ah… I have to go to the Center tomorrow…”

“The Center? Is it already maintenance day?”

Theo mentally calculated the date. He was sure they said it happened once every three months, so this felt a bit early.

“No, it’s not maintenance, but…”

“Then what is it?”

“They said they’re doing an additional data backup because of the 4th generation terrorists. Since maintenance is only a few days away anyway, I thought I’d get the check-up while I’m there.”

“Then you’ll be back late tomorrow?”

“Yes… Because of the backup, it’ll be even later than last time…”

Blaine’s shoulders and ears slumped simultaneously. He looked like a puppy who had lost its owner, lost its way, and then got caught in the rain. Theo gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder and nodded slowly.

“Then tomorrow I’ll look for a village good for fishing. Let’s go together the day after.”

When he adjusted the schedule so naturally, Blaine’s eyes widened in shock.

“Really?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

Theo reacted as if it were nothing to be surprised about, but for Blaine, it was incredibly new and startling. Last time, hadn’t Theo gone to a dungeon with Aslan while he was at his appointment? But this time, Theo said he wouldn’t go with anyone else or go ahead on his own—he would wait until the day after tomorrow for him.

His heart was so full he felt as if it might burst. Blaine realized once again, more clearly than ever, how much every little act of consideration from Theo filled him with joy. Theo likely had no idea how fluttered and overwhelmed his heart was, but Blaine hoped that someday, he would.

The next day, when Theo opened his eyes, Blaine had already logged out. Waking up alone and seeing the bedroom so empty it felt chilly made Theo feel a bit lonely.

Dragging himself out of bed, Theo noticed he had mail and opened his display to check his inbox.

The sender was Blaine. The content was a simple, single sentence: [I’ll be back soon.] Yet, a faint smile played on Theo’s lips nonetheless.

Theo left Blaine’s house and headed toward the village entrance to use the warp. NPCs passed by with friendly greetings, and the players he saw looked relaxed. Everything seemed perfectly peaceful, yet Blaine had to go for a data backup to prepare for a terrorist threat.

“…….”

Were there still terrorists hiding among those nameless players? Was a randomly aimed blade still pointed at Blaine?

Theo slowly scanned the peaceful harbor village bathed in warm sunlight once more. Masked by the peace before his eyes and the comfort settled around him, he hadn’t fully grasped it until now: Blaine was still not safe.

Seeing Theo traveling alone for a rare change, a few guild members asked where Blaine was. Normally, he would have casually said he went for maintenance, but with Daize in the guild, he couldn’t speak carelessly. Daize still didn’t know Blaine was a 4th-gen. Theo vaguely brushed it off, saying Blaine had something to take care of and would likely only be able to log in by evening.

Theo lost track of time as he traveled from place to place looking for a good village for fishing. Thanks to the warps, moving between villages was easy, and he found himself quite absorbed in leisurely exploring the towns he had previously only rushed through.

Eventually, it was late evening, and Blaine logged in.

[Blaine: Hello]
[BastardKid: Oh! It’s Blaine!]

[[Marco: Hi hi]

[Father: Did things go well?]

[Blaine: Huh? What things?]

[Holanghee: Yeah, Theo said you went to handle some business? lol]

[Blaine: Ah… yes, it went well haha]

[Daize: Wow! Hi Blaine-nim ♡]

[Yorkshire Terrier: Was everything okay?]

[Blaine: Yes, thanks to you]

Theo had vaguely said he had “business,” but they seemed to have a general idea of what kind of business Blaine had gone to handle.

[Theo: You’re here?]

[Blaine: Yes! Hyung, where are you?]

[Daize: But what kind of business is it that you have to log out for?]

[Theo: Adver Village]

[Blaine: Should I go there too?]

[Daize: I was so bored because Blaine-nim wasn’t here ㅠ]

[Theo: For what]

[Blaine: Then are you coming straight home?]

[Theo: No, I’m stopping by the guild house first]

[Blaine: Then I’ll go to the guild house too]

[Daize: Yay~ If Blaine-nim is coming, I’m going to the guild house too~]

[Theo: Don’t go alone, it’s dangerous]

[Blaine: It’s just the village and there are warps anyway haha]

[Theo: …Then be careful on your way]

[Blaine: Okay ^^]

After finishing the conversation, Blaine left his house with an excited heart and headed toward the village entrance. When he used the warp to cross over to Lucilvania, a familiar face was waiting.

“Blaine-nim!”

It was Daize. It seemed he had come all the way to the warp point to greet him after hearing Blaine was coming to Lucilvania.

Blaine gave him a stiff bow and began walking with long strides. Startled by Blaine passing him by without a lingering glance, Daize hurriedly chased after him.

“W-wait, Blaine-nim! I have something to tell you!”

He caught up and stopped Blaine. Blaine stood still with his brows heavily furrowed, looking down at him as if asking what he wanted.

Daize looked up at Blaine with a radiant smile, seemingly relieved that Blaine had stopped. He lowered his eyebrows as if troubled and hesitated for a moment before taking a deep, resolute breath.

“By any chance, could you lend me some money?”