Free Web Novel“Um, shall we eat?!”
At Yohan’s words, Yoon Seungryong, who had been lying face-down in boredom, sprang up and immediately began preparing food. When the dishes were set, Yohan’s eyes widened—astonishingly, there were vegetables and meat that had been deep-fried. Lately Seungryong had been fiddling with ingredients for a while, but frying them...! Yohan’s eyes and mouth opened wide.
“How did you even make oil?!”
“If you squeeze anything hard enough, oil comes out. Here, our Yohan, this is for you.”
Grinning, Yoon Seungryong carefully placed freshly fried pieces on top of Yohan’s rice bowl. The others just tossed food into their own bowls and helped themselves. Embarrassed, Yohan murmured thank you and bit into the fried food—crunch! Happiness spread through him.... And, of course, he wasn’t the only one happy.
“Thanks to Yohan-gun, I can enjoy such a delicious meal.”
Lee Chanha once again expressed his gratitude, making Yohan answer awkwardly.
“No, it’s Seungryong hyung who cooked.... He also provided the ingredients....”
Chanha either hadn’t heard or pretended not to.
“Not only food, but you gave me clothes and weapons as well....”
“The clothes came from Seungryong hyung, and Yakrin noona made your weapon after gathering eternal stones....”
Unlike the others, Chanha had returned with nothing—not even a weapon. So Seo Yakrin had crafted a spear from an eternal stone. All Yohan had done were a few small purifications; the rest was entirely thanks to the others.
“I can only give thanks....”
“Ugh!”
Unable to endure it anymore, Yohan grabbed his bowl and fled behind Lee Hyunmook’s back. Hyunmook chuckled low and shifted to block Yohan’s line of sight. As Yohan enjoyed the side dishes his lover had placed for him, Chanha suddenly voiced dissatisfaction.
“But why does the team leader monopolize Yohan-gun? That’s unfair.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
Even Seo Yakrin, who had been quietly eating, suddenly slammed her fist on the ground.
“I can control my strength now! Only the team leader hogging him—that’s abuse of power! Got it?!” fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
She didn’t look like she had control at all. As the two blamed Hyunmook, Yohan tried to stop them in a shrinking voice.
“P-please don’t.... And there wasn’t any hogging....”
“To be honest, Yohan, you’re the same! You eat next to him, you sleep next to him, you always stay by him when resting! Do you know how lonely it makes noona feel?! You can’t play favorites like that!”
Seo Yakrin roared. When Hyunmook set his bowl down and told her enough, she immediately stopped and /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ returned to eating, but that was only the beginning. Both she and Chanha prowled about, watching Yohan with eyes ready to snatch him away.
“Yohan-ah, what do you need? Money? Power? Authority? Come to me and I’ll give you everything.”
“Yohan-gun, don’t you need a self-healing tank?”
Finally, both Seo Yakrin and Lee Chanha dropped to their knees without a second thought and began nearly begging Yohan. Flustered, he had no idea what to do. Watching with his chin propped in hand, Hyunmook spoke slowly.
“Why is everyone so dense? Can’t you see Yohan doesn’t want to be close to you?”
“No! I never said that!”
Yohan jumped up. Saying it like that—! But at the same time, he was relieved: Hyunmook looked much brighter than before.
Since the whole team had gathered again, Hyunmook’s mood had clearly improved. He didn’t talk more or laugh often, but his gaze toward the members—even Chanha, who had once betrayed them by shoving them into Bumram, and Seo Yakrin, who sometimes lost control and rebelled—was gentle, even dreamlike.
Seeing that, Yohan’s chest ached with tenderness and pity, but he also grew anxious about Seo Yakrin and Chanha, who were grinding their teeth at Hyunmook. Finally, unable to suppress the impulse, Yohan shouted out loud:
“H-He’s my lover!”
Hearing Hyunmook’s low chuckle, Yohan’s face went crimson. Regret crashed in immediately. Should he claim it was a joke? Seo Yakrin flinched as if scalded and cried out.
“What?! What are you saying, Yohan?!”
Her voice sounded like that of an aunt hearing her cherished nephew was dating a thug.
“I like Hyunmook hyung! We’re dating! That’s why we’re always together!”
Seo Yakrin’s jaw dropped. She glanced at Hyunmook, then at the others. Yoon Seungryong, calmly savoring dessert, snorted.
“See? The old man had no clue.”
That shocked Yohan too. Already knew?! Yohan’s eyes darted from Seo Yakrin, to Hoyoung who kept gaming, to Chanha who just looked sullen. None of them seemed surprised. Even though it was with that Hyunmook—and Yohan was a man! Seo Yakrin trembled in anger or shock, pointing back and forth between Hyunmook and Chanha.
“Just me? I was the only one who didn’t know? Even the newly returned deputy leader knew?!”
“How could we not? It was so obvious. The team leader was sucking on him whenever he had the chance.”
“We weren’t sucking on each other!”
Yohan’s face blazed red as he vehemently denied it, but no one listened. They had never even kissed in front of others—so why always this talk of sucking? And then Chanha, oddly reverent, spoke.
“Yohan-gun, whether you’re lovers or not, it doesn’t matter. Even as a servant, I would....”
“...Excuse me?”
“Or even as your footstool....”
Seo Yakrin hurriedly jumped in, not to be outdone.
“I’ll be your hand towel....”
“Argh! Both of you, stop it! From now on, talk like that is forbidden! Completely forbidden!”
When the uproar finally calmed, Yohan once again hid behind Hyunmook. This time, it was sheer embarrassment. He hadn’t needed to declare they were lovers—everyone already knew. Had they really been that obvious? He couldn’t raise his face. Seo Yakrin muttered in a sulky but resigned tone:
“Well, if you’re lovers, then it can’t be helped.”
Yohan’s face flamed hotter. Why did that make it worse? As Hyunmook shielded him, he spoke.
“Chanha.”
Chanha, who had eyes only for Yohan, flinched. When Hyunmook called again, he reluctantly turned his gaze toward Hyunmook’s feet.
After purification, the others had shown very clear emotions. But Chanha was unreadable. He never properly spoke to anyone else, only to Yohan. But now, the reason for that seemed clear....
“How were you at the salt lake?”
For an instant, guilt flashed in his eyes. He could not pretend not to hear. He hesitated. Yohan thought: perhaps he was too ashamed of his past mistakes to face the others, and so only spoke to him.
“A little while ago, I was drawn here by... it. That’s all.”
Yohan then understood why he had appeared at such a convenient moment. Hyunmook clarified what “it” meant.
“You mean you were drawn by Bumram?”
Chanha bit his lip hard, marring his handsome face, before answering.
“...Yes.”
Yohan’s heart grew heavy. He was glad to have found Chanha, but it was ominous that Bumram had not yet given up on him.
“Do you think it’ll happen again?”
“No, not now. After seeing this... how could I ever be mistaken again?”
Looking at Yohan’s radiant light, Chanha sighed in regret and lowered his head. With determination, he vowed:
“Never again.”
“Well, good then! And if it does, I’ll beat you back to your senses myself. I still haven’t forgotten you made me fall into Bumram! Don’t worry!”
Seo Yakrin smacked his back loudly as she spoke. Chanha winced exaggeratedly, then managed a clumsy, awkward smile.
“R-right, Yakrin... I’ll count on you.”
Was it his imagination? Yohan thought he saw blood in Chanha’s mouth. Could that blow have caused internal injury? Confused, he watched as even Yoon Seungryong, who had opposed Chanha most, shrugged.
“Well, I’ve had my own share of biting before... so I can’t really say anything.”
...Had their share of biting? Yohan’s eyes trembled. Meanwhile, Joo Hoyoung, still absorbed in his game, muttered indifferently:
“I don’t mind. I’ve never fallen into Bumram anyway.”
Hyunmook had already gotten their consent for Chanha’s return. Still, everyone voicing it again now was clearly meant for Chanha to hear. Overcome, Yohan stepped out from behind Hyunmook and shouted:
“M-me too! I’m so happy the Sunrise Team is together again!”
“Sunrise Team....”
Chanha murmured as though hearing the word for the first time in forever. The others also had complicated expressions. Hyunmook slowly looked over them all, his eyes finally settling on Yohan, who sparkled with emotion, and spoke.
“Now that Chanha has rejoined... shall we attempt another raid?”
“Raid? Where?”
While Chanha looked puzzled, everyone else turned their gaze toward the cave leading deeper into the heart of the Abyss.
