Amidst the dim sky, Ryu Jinmu's flawless features still managed to shine. Baek Haemin stood frozen and dazed as he saw the lifeless eyes of the protagonist in Shiro's novel.
Ah… there're bags under his eyes.
Nervousness always overcame him whenever he met this man, so he only noticed now. The closer Ryu Jinmu got to him, the more Baek Haemin wanted to keep on looking at him.
How could someone look like that? Is it because of the main character's halo?
If he hadn't been moving, then Haemin might have thought he was a statue.
When Ryu Jinmu finally got close enough, he asked again.
"Why are you here?"
"How about you? Why aren't you sleeping?"
Haemin responded in a daze.
Ryu Jinmu narrowed his eyes. This spoiled young master who shamelessly sneaked out from his tent actually asked him back.
"I followed you."
"Why?"
Jinmu frowned at him, which made Haemin gasp. That finally made him snap out of it and he covered his mouth.
"I, I mean, I'm only here to take a breather. A ha ha…"
Baek Haemin looked sideways to avoid Jinmu's glare.
You idiot. Why? Why?! Why is that your answer, you idiot?! I must have lost my mind, seriously! …he's not gonna kill me for sneaking out, right?
He wanted to pull his hair out of embarrassment, but held back because Ryu Jinmu was there. He waited for his response but got nothing.
Ryu Jinmu only stared at him quietly, leaving both of them standing in the open awkwardly.
Ugh, I feel like I'm going to throw up if I continue to stay here.
He tried his hardest to smile as he rubbed his stomach softly.
"Uhm, I'll go back now…"
"What are you planning?"
He stopped in his tracks when he heard Ryu Jinmu speak again. Haemin looked at him, confused by the meaning of his words.
Ryu Jinmu's cold voice continued.
"First, you triggered the basans into going berserk. Then, you healed my members. And now, you sneaked out. Baek Haemin, just what are you planning?"
"What…? Hey, the first one was totally not on purpose and I already apologized to everyone. Why are you making it seem as if I deliberately did all of that?"
Ryu Jinmu stayed silent all day about what happened. He fought off the raging basans silently and supported the team just enough so no one would die.
He pushed Baek Haemin to heal the injured hunters, and he even let him sneak off even though he clearly sensed him coming out.
I know that he hates Baek Haemin, but isn't he reading too much of my every move?
Forget about being anxious, Ryu Jinmu is hitting a different kind of nerve from Baek Haemin right now.
Jinmu's lashes lowered.
"Because you've never done any of that before."
His fingers twitched. Haemin slightly opened his mouth but didn't say a word.
What do you mean? Baek Haemin is known as the best support hunter in the country. Surely, he's healed plenty of people before. Was he talking about me touching the basan? But that's…
His hand went from his stomach to clutching his chest.
"That's why I said it wasn't on purpose. I didn't know you couldn't touch basan. That's it, really. That's, that's also why I didn't say anything when you told me to heal everyone. I felt really bad about it, so I helped."
He frantically tried to explain, but Ryu Jinmu was not convinced. The man with striking features did not even blink while listening to him.
"Then, you're going to help only when you feel bad for them?"
Ack! Hey, why are you phrasing it like that?
He quickly replied,
"No, no, no! Of course, I'd help if there's someone in need! If someone's hurt, then I'd heal them. If they need assistance, I'd help too! Probably…?"
That last part was said so low, it barely could be heard. He realized mid-sentence that giving assistance was most definitely fighting monsters in a dungeon which made him doubt his own words.
Curious as he was about the new world he's currently in, he's still reluctant to go inside a dungeon if he doesn't have to.
The breeze kicked in, making him cross his arms. He realized he had stayed outside longer than he intended to.
He squeezed his arms.
"...I'll go back now."
As Ryu Jinmu didn't seem to want to respond, Baek Haemin went ahead and walked away. He noticed that he didn't follow behind, and it made him turn his head.
The man befitting his image as the main character in a novel was standing silently in the dark forest, staring at the sky with an expression that he couldn't read.
Haemin's mouth opened, and he continued his way back to camp.
***
The hunters proceeded to explore the dungeon, diligently fighting raging basans while they looked for the boss monster. It had been about six days of roaming around and the Blue Dragon hunters slowly started getting comfortable around Baek Haemin.
The support hunter they hired never failed to heal them, even insisting on lending his skill if a member got a small scratch. The young porter, Kang Minho, was assigned by the team captain later on as his guard due to his ability to make a barrier.
Having a reliable support made everyone feel more at ease than usual, and now, they chattered with smiles on their faces.
The team captain, Park Hanwoo, laughed as he made a toast with his members.
"Ha ha, even though the guildmaster is just observing, isn't the raid this time easier than before?"
He said after chugging down his drink.
Lee Soomin, the archer, nodded.
"That's true. It's all thanks to Hunter Haemin."
She turned to Baek Haemin, who was sitting in a corner with Kang Minho. He was surprised to hear his name and only tilted his head.
One of the hunters chuckled.
"Yeah, I thought you were going to whine after a day inside, but I've never even heard a single complaint out of you this whole time."
"Ah, I know what you mean! They always say that Haemin-ssi acts grumpy in a dungeon and doesn't heal anyone, but you healed us without saying anything. No, I have to say you're actually nice about it?"
The man on his side agreed.
"That's…"
Haemin meekly scratched the back of his head. He really doesn't know what to say.
Due to them openly avoiding him at first, he wasn't sure about healing the hunters but once he saw them suffering more damage than they had on the first day, his feet moved on their own and he rushed to the injured.
He thought they'd have an easier time if he didn't provoke the basans, but they just started attacking them once they saw humans for no reason.
I figured I'd take it easy, but knowing that I have a healing skill, ignoring them was harder than I thought it would be.
His thumb rubbed the rim of the mug. As an abiding citizen of society, his conscience wouldn't rest if he didn't help when he's needed.
Kang Minho beside him nudged his shoulder and said,
"Now that we get to spend time together, I don't understand why everyone outside always says bad things about you, Haemin-ssi."
"Ha, obviously, there's just a whole lot of them who were envious of our young master! The real Haemin-nim is actually kind-hearted, look at how he healed everyone without you asking him."
Han Jiwon joined in the conversation and puffed her chest out.
Not good, Jiwon-ah. You, of all people, really shouldn't be saying that. This guy made you wear masks because he doesn't want to see your face, you know?
He worried at Jiwon's inability to hold a grudge for her young master.
Clang.
The sound of metal hitting the ground caught his attention. Ryu Jinmu was sitting alone at a distance while wiping down his weapon quietly.
Haemin's lips parted, and he took a sip off his mug without taking his eyes off the lone image of the novel's main character.